RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MR. KICHERER'S JOURNAL. Mr. Kicherer's Journal, from Feb. to Dec. 1805, has lately been received by the Directors, and translated: the principal events which it relates have already been given to our readers; but a few extracts may not be unacceptable: "JUNE 29, Cape of Good Hope. We had a solemn meeting of the South African Missionary Society; in which the President took leave of the brethren with an appropriate Address, which was answered by Mr. Kicherer in their name. 30. We departed from Cape Town, notwithstanding the entreaties of many friends, who said it was impracticable for us to proceed, on account of the dry season; and that our oxen would have nothing to eat on the way. They assured us, that we could not go till the latter end of August: but we resolved to move forward by short stages." After this they met with many hindrances. Their waggon did not follow them to Stellenbosch, as they expected; and the driver ran away, and took The waggon, eight oxen with him. however, was recovered, August 3; At and on the 5th, six of their oxen. Stellenbosch, they also procured a litOn the 21st they tle corn for seed. proceeded on their journey. On the 25th, they lodged at Mr. Borman's, at On the 29th, the village called Pearl. Mr. Wiese lent them two men and eight oxen to help them through the defile at Rodes and. They were assisted by various other friends, in seveOn ral future stages of their journey. Sept. 21, Mr. T. Van Aarden assisted The mountain them with two men. was so difficult to pass, that their wag- "Oct. 8. We arrived, at twelve at "Oct. 18. We saw with pleasure the poured down, which occasioned our "21. We renewed our instructions in "26. We commemorated our pro- 28. This day arrived the four men "Nov. 3. Brother Botma, who was "Dec. 31. We thanked the Lord for the blessings received this year! We are now 103 persons altogether." THE FALLEN MOUNTAIN! A MOST dreadful accident has lately taken place in Switzerland, which has destroyed several villages in the Canton of Schwitz. On Tuesday, the 2d of September, at five in the evening, the Knippenouhl Rock, which formed the summit of Mount Rosenberg, was on a sudden detached from its situation; and at the same time part of the mountain gave way, and fell into the valley which separates the lake of Zug from that of Lauwertz, overwhelming the whole of the villages of Goldau-Roethar, Businger, Huzloef, three par's of that of Lauwertz, and some houses in the One part of the village of Stein. mountain fell into the lake of Lauwertz; which caused such an agitation in the waters of the lake, that they overthrew a number of houses, chapeis, mills, &c. along the southern shore of the lake; amongst others, the mill of Lauwertz, where fifteen persons were killed, and buried in the ruins of the buildings; all the parts of which we dispersed with such violence, that only the foundation remains. Upwards of a thousand persons were the victims of this calamity. A society of thirteen travellers were on the road from Arth to Schwitz: nine who walked first perished, the other four escaped. Five minutes sufficed to complete this disaster. There is nothing to be seen but melancholy ruins through an extensive district, which presented one of the richest communes of the Canton of Schwitz. In this convulsion, enormous masses of rock were carried through the air to prodigious distances. One can scarcely believe one's eyes when we see these phænomena. Every instant one sees houses, some forced on one side, others cut in two and separated at great distances, and others carried more than a quarter of a league from their foundations! The lake of Lauwertz has lost above a quarter of its extent. That rich plain, which was so beautiful, now presents a hill of near 100 feet in height, a league and a half in length, and as much in breadth. During the search which has already been made, twenty persons were dis covered dead, at the entrance of the village of Goldau, men, women, and children; some having their arms, others their heads, others their legs, separated from their bodies, and the bodies of some cut in half. We have coasted along the foot of Rigi, where the greater part of those who survived the catastrophe took refuge. An old man whom we met, said to us, "I had sons, daughters, and a great number of grandchildren: I had a wife, and other relations. I only remain!" A little girl said, "I have no longer father nor mother, brothers nor sisters!" A woman had lost her mother, busband, brother, sister, and five children. The villages of Goldau and Rothen, consisting of 15 houses; that of Busingen, of 126; and that of Kuzlock, have totally disappeared. Of Lauwertz, which lost twenty-five houses, there remain ten buildings, all much damaged. About twenty years since, General Plyffer predicted this catastrophe, from the knowledge which he had of the nature of the mountain. A Professor of Schwitz said, That above Spietzßeu was a sea of water, which had undermined the rock for several years; and that below there was a cavern of great depth, where the waters were engulphed. The quantity of water which has fallen during the preceding years, has very much hastened this catastrophe: and the rains of some weeks past have decided it. It is impossible to calculate the extent and consequence of this misfortune: the damage amounts to many millions! The most unfortunate circumstance is the probable extension of this disaster, particularly on the side of Arth. A mass of stones, situated on the top of the rock which is removed, and a wood, which has already quitted its place, appear now ready to fall. Among the fallen ruins, is a considerable quantity of water, which at present forms a swamp; but being constantly augmented by the rivulets, will work itself a way; and the dreadful Two consequences are incalculable. hundred-and-fifty men are constantly engaged in cutting a passage for the water; in cutting a road on the Rizi, to open a communication between Schwitz and Arth; in searching for the bodies of the sufferers, and burying them; and in affording assistance wherever wanted. A woman and child were found alive and unhurt under the ruins, where they had remained a whole night. It was hoped that some other persons might be extricated alive. the While we feel the mest tender commisseration for many hundreds of our fellow-creatures, thus crushed to death at an unexpected moment, and hurried into the eternal world, we are naturally reminded of that far more awful day, in which such a calamity as this, ter rific as it is, will be earnestly desired, - when rather than dreaded; — kings of the earth, and the great mes, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every freeman, shall hide themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and shall say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the LAMB, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shali be able to stand?" Rev. v. 15—17. Ah! what is the sudden and irresistible crash of a rock or a mountain, compared with the weight of the wrath of the Lamb! O that by the expectation of this awful day, men of all ranks and conditions may be influenced to make their application to him, while he yet appears in the displays of his grace and mercy, to "kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and they perish from the way, even when his wrath is only Blessed are beginning to be kindled! all they that trust in him!" RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. GERMANY. very re Extract of a Letter from a wear IN some parts of Swabia, a horrid sect has lately arisen, of which I have received the following description from different quarters: The men white cockades; the women distinguish themselves by something worn in the bosom. They deny Christ and the holy Trinity in a blasphemous manner; and declare the Emperor Napoleon to be the only true God: they renounce marriage, church, and sacraments; call every one Thou; and will not submit I do not know how to magistrates. numerous these mad people are; but that they are dispersed throughout a considerable district, and maintain such A subsequent letter from another HOME INTELLIGENCE. Report of the Committee of the Hibernian Society, for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland. THE Committee, anxious to acquire every information within their power to fit them for the discharge of the important trust confided to them, soon after the formation of the Society, among other means employed, commenced an extensive correspondence with intelligent Christians in Ireland, in order to ascertain the real state of that country, with the view of forming a ground-work for regulating their fu ture proceedings. To enable the subscribers and others, The province of Connaught, which The province of Munster, which comprizes several counties in the south, In The province of Leinster stands next in order; which, though much more favourably circumstanced than the other provinces already mentioned, is stated to of acquiring religious instruction. be in some places destitute of all means the county of Kilkenny, which belonge to this province, we are happy to state that there is a monthly meeting of clergymen of the Established Church, whose zeal has stirred up very many, with blessed effects. and whose exertions have been attended The province of Ulster, inore generally called the North, is by far the most enlightened part of Ireland; and the desire of hearing the gospel seems increasing among its inhabitants. Many difficulties stand in the way of the establishment of Sabbath-School-, as most of the Roman Catholic priests are hostile to them; but, in many instances, these difficulties have been Much depends on the cha overcome. racter and prudence of the teacher. Many of the Protestants would send their children. As children in the south have no em ployment, it is thought that week-day schools would meet with more encouragement there. It is presumed, that Roman Catholics would have no objection to their children being taught to read the Bible as a school-book; and that many of the parents, who cannot read themselves, are anxious that their children should learn. The annual expence of supporting a free-school for instructing fifty children on working-days, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, would, in some places, amount to 20 1. where part would pay for their children; in other places, between 301. and 40 1. In some places, a salary of rol. would induce gentlemen to contribute the remainder. Some judicious correspondents recommend, that all the children should pay a small sum; which would cause the school to be better attended than if it were entirely, or in part free. It is thought that no persons qualified to teach these schools could be ohtained in the south; but that some might be had in the north of Ireland. It appears, however, that teachers from England would be preferable to either. In many places the disposition of persons of property and influence is friendly to the improvement of the inferior class of inhabitants. Ia some, it is to be lamented, a total indifference prevails. It is thought that many of the Roman Catholics would thankfully receive and eagerly read the Scriptures, could they obtain them at the same time, it is to be feared, that many of their priests would exert their influence to prevent them. It appears unnecessary to circulate the Scriptures or religious Tracts in the Irish language, as there are but few, if any, who can read Irish, who are unacquainted with the English language. While the Hibernian Society were engaged in obtaining information from all parts of Ireland, respecting its present circumstances, in order to ascertain where their exertions were most needed, and could be best directed, they have not, in the mean time, been negligent to use means for the difusion of knowledge in dit country. They have sent Bible, Testaments, and religious Tracts, to the amount of 1051. for imBediate circulation; and spelling wooks to be sold at a low price. They have likewise had a preacher labouring for two or three months in the city of Cork, and itinerating in its vicinity; and have, at diferent times, voted small sums to assist various zealous ministers in that country, in their excursions. Under the auspices of the Society, Bibles and Testaments, to the number of several hundreds, gratuitously sent by the public, have been forwarded to Ireland, to be distributed by persons in whom the Committee can most implicitly contide. Their inquiries have of late been directed after suitable persons to itinerate in various parts of the sister kingdom; and the Committee indulge a hope, from the favourable reception which has been given to the various applications made by them for that purpose, that the Lord will prepare and send forth labourers into those large fields," white already to harvest!" The Committee have also paid particular attention in forming a plan for instituting schools in every parish in Ireland; in which, as it respects religious instruction, no tract or catechisat of any religious sect or party is to be introduced, but the Holy Scriptures It The deplorable ignorance and awful irreligion which prevail in the sister kingdom, should operate as a powerful. stimulus to the liberality and ardent exertions of the religions public. is to be lamented, that the state of freland has not made that impression on the minds of those who profess Christianity, which is wretched circumstances were calculated to prodare. Are our fellow-men, yea, our own couns trymen too, perishing for want of the bread of Heaven, which falls so thick around our habitations! and shall we supinely say, "Be ye warmed, be p RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. led," without stretching out, yen, reaching forth our hands to the poor and needy for who are so poor, so Reedy, as those who are perishing for lack of knowledge? It is therefore heped, that Christians will be excited to come forward to the assistance of those from whom the call is loud indeed," Come over and help us ;" and that in consequence of timely aid from the contributions of Christians of all denominations to second the efforts of the Society, multitudes, who have hitherto been the dupes of Ignorance and the slaves of Superstition, may be brought into the glorious light, and enjoy the full liberty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Signed, by order of the Committee, S. MILLS, Treasurer. J. CAMPBELL, Secretary. * Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received. by the Treasurer, No. 20, Finsbury Place. Persons disposed to itinerate in Ireland, are requested to send their names and address to the Secretary, at Shacklewell, near London, HAPPY EFFECTS OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN NORTH WALES. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. T. I SHOULD prove myself unfaithful to my promise to you, were I not to give you a little further account of our children and young people, and the happy progress they make in acquiring the most important of all knowledge, the knowledge of the Book of God. That the great God should condescend to give us a BOOK, I never think of, now of late, without astonishment and praise. I can say, I have really seen the worth of it more than I ever did before, since I have been constantly in the habit of seeing with what agerness and pleasure the poor .children treasure an amazing quantity of it in Last month I visited their memories. many parts in all the six counties; and it rejoiced me much to find that Sunset up in most day-Schools are now districts. The number of schools and of scholars in each is much increased this summer, beyond what they have been at any period before. Not only children and young people, but many middle-aged, and some grey-headed, have not only learnt to read, but have learnt many chapters out. within these them. sermons. six months. In many districts, all at- These, my dear young friend, are the pleasing accounts I have to give you of the Lord's tender mercies to our poor dear children. Dear they are indeed; beyond expression so! I reckon this one of the happiest years of my life! I feel what I never felt before in the 4 D |