WE reached Bhobaneswara about six in the evening, and as we passed through the town the people came out in hundreds to look at us. But my thoughts were not with the gaping crowd, but on the scene around me. You perhaps can imagine how you would feel if you saw splendour and poverty, magnificence, glory, and desolation all together. On all sides were the most gorgeous temples in ruins, the carving and sculpture far exceeding anything I ever beheld; unequalled even by that of ancient Greece and Nineveh, which I saw at Sydenham. And yet the dwellings of the people were most miserably poor. There seemed to me a history as well as mystery which I wished to look into. The temples were evidently built by people of taste, refinement, and high civilization, and their religion of a higher and purer kind than the present system of Hindooism What had led to the degeneracy of mind and society which was so plainly written on everything around? Our tent was pitched at the corner of an immense tank, more beautiful than the Pooree ones, and larger. Two sides of it were thronged with the temples I have before mentioned, some large, others small, and many of them looking very picturesque from being covered with a kind of ivy and creeping trees, which had sprang out of their ancient walls. Bhobaneswara in the days of its splendour, which were from A.D. 617 to 660, was considered one of the greatest cities India ever saw. Whichever way you turn, you see the domed temples before you, some standing erect in their majestic desolation, others almost buried by the jungle. The architecture of the whole is much the same in character, nothing coarse and vulgar, but chaste and refined. There are said to be 999 of them, formerly there were a thousand; but Master Juggernaut did not choose to remain, so took his departure and ensconced himself at Pooree. The largest temple was supposed to have been completed in 657, and took forty-three years to erect. As you wind though the jungle to this wondrous place, you may often truly exclaim, "there are lions in the way," for at the doorways of many of the temples there are immense griffins, or winged lions. We examined many of these ancient spots; with the exception of one or two they are all left desolate. tenements for the wild beasts and bats, but over this we did not mourn. By six o'clock the next morning we left for Khunda Gera, a place about six miles further on. It consists of a number of rocky hills, varying from 150 to 300 feet in height, and almost perpendicular. They abound in caves and caverns, and also a number of what appeared to me, to be ancient temples, but which are the ruins of palaces once belonging to the Rajahs. The view from the top of the loftiest rock, which is crowned with a white temple, containing some beautiful and remarkable marble images, was most splendid. The country is quite flat for a number of miles in every direction, and almost entirely covered with jungle, as was also these hills, and abounded with tigers. I am glad we went this trip, though I feel sad as I think upon things I have seen. I love to think of the wild, woody country, its lofty rocks and trees, and the playful, mischievous monkeys, whose tricks excited many a hearty laugh: but never, not even at Pooree, did I see human beings more debased and grovelling-more lost to every sense of shame. It is a rare thing to hear an unconverted man speak a word of anger, even to his son, without it being of the vilest and most licentious character. What need there is for exertion for every nerve and faculty to be employed to its utmost tension, to work and labour for the salvation of this benighted land! Blessed, powerful, and holy is that gospel which can transform the vilest into a miracle of grace, and a fit temple for the Holy Spirit.' in the other scale, that will preponderate all. Again: in connection with these doctrines of merit and transmigration, the Hindoo has before his mind not the idea of eternal life, but nothing but a continued succession of births, being whirled and driven all through the revolution of ages like a feather on the mountain torrent. The end of all Hindooism is absorption into the Deity-the loss of individual consciousness. HINDOOISM.-There is not about the Hindoo system any idea of holiness. It is true the elements of sin exist in all countries, but in your country there are also the elements of holiness. In the lowest depths of London, people know that there are holier and better men than themselves existing, and though they are low down in the deep darkness, they can see the light shining above them. But in India all is bad; the gods are bad; holy men even are wicked; all around BRAHMINISIM ON THE DECLINE.-There are wicked; all is one putrescent mass is a considerable amount of scepticism throwing out miasma, and malaria, and abroad in reference to Brahminical power. death all around-just like your Thames The Brahmin says, "I will keep off the last summer. The nearest approach to a cholera, or small-pox;" but one or the character amongst the Hindoo is included other comes and takes away the eldest boy. in the one word merit. There are certain The Brahmin profess to cure disease by actions meritorious, such as bathing in charms; but there is his wife, she had been the Ganges, gifts to Brahmins, gifts to ill for the last ten years, and he cannot religious beggars. Let a man abandon cure her. He promises to give rain, but his home, gather around him every ele- the drought continues. All these things ment of misery, and banish every element have gone on for a great number of years, of holiness, and be as unhuman and but we have gone amongst the people and wretched as he can, and that is a source created a doubt amongst them. Now they of great merit. There is another source come and ask,-"Can the Brahmin curse? of merit; that is, to hear religious books Can the Brahmin send a snake into the read. Now, it is said in one of their house? Can the Brahmin give us a books: There was a man that had a blessing? Are we to be afraid of him? cow-not an unusual thing; but this was I went to a market once for the first time, a wonderful cow. A large army came were no missionary had ever been; and near, and this wonderful cow supplied there were hundreds of people there, and that army with all manner of provisions; all of them came and p:ostrated themselves in fact, she proved a valuable commis- before the Brahmins, and they took the sariat. When the army was going away, water pots, and collected all the dust off the king said to the cow, Now, I want the Brahmins' feet, and put it in and drank you; I can't part with you." The cow it. That is a meritorious act which I went to the owner and said, "What am I forgot to tell you. I think that is the first to do? They want to take me away." time I went to that market. At four The man said, "I can't help it; you must o'clock in the Afternoon I was surrounded do the best you can." So the cow went by about 300 men, in the very same and assailed armed men of all descrip- market, and they said, "The Brahmins tions, and annihilated that army. Now, are all cheats; the Brahmins are all imwhat is the sequel? It is actually said, postors; they are a proud, wicked race. that if a man reads this and believes this, We shall not honour the Brahmins; we he will have wealth, and honour, and will worship God and hononr God ourgreatness, and happiness beyond the grave. selves; because God is our Father as well Was there ever a greater outrage on the as the Father of the Brahmin." Yea, my intelligence of men than that? Well, fiinds, the poor Brahmins-I am not then, inseparably connected with the dead to all feeling- -come to me and say, doctrine of merit is that of transmigra-"Sir, why do you diminish our influence? tion. In proportion to the amount of merit will be the amount of repose in heaven, the amount of happiness in after birth. Now, in all this there is no morality, no recognition of Providence, no gratitude to God or man. Whatever a Hindoo has, he feels that he has deserved it all in a former birth. The tendency of all this is to develope and strengthen the very essence of sin, and that is selfishness. Let a man be guilty of as many crimes as he likes, if he only has merit enough, money enough, to put 66 We are really hard up. Often we cannot eat more than once a day. Why do you tell the people not to give us anything? You are a padre, and so am I. We are brethren; we are gentlemen together; and it is very improper for you to do that." But I am obliged to tell them, "I am a man, and profess to be a man, and teach the people: you profess to be gods, and tell falsehoods, and the people have found you out.-Rev. T. Morgan, of Howrah. NATIVE WORSHIP IN INDIA.-Petitions having been presented by certain zealous INTELLIGENCE. "missionaries" in India, the one praying for a repeal of the regulations of the Bengal and Madras codes, vesting the superintendence of land granted for the support of mosques and temples of religion in officers of Government; the other praying for the suppression of the cruel and inhuman practices at the great Hindoo festival of the Churruck Poojah. Lord Stanley, the Secretary of State, has addressed the Governor-General of India in Council, instructing him to bring the first point under the consideration of the Legislative Council. As regards the second, the Government do not press any immediate legislative interference in the matter, but suggest that the practice he discountenance by the LieutenantGovernor of Bengal as far as possible. NINE AMERICAN MISSIONARIES FOR INDIA. The General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, last November, authorised the sending out of six mi-sion families to reinforce our mission in India. In less than five months they were all appointed by the bishops. These nine missionaries are the Revs. C. W. Judd and wife, E. W. Parker and wife, J. C. Waugh and wife, J. R. Downey and wife, and James M. Thoburn.-New York Christian Advocate. THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY BAZAAR AT THE APPROACHING ASSOCIATION. The Derby Committee wish to remind the friends of the Foreign Mission, that whatever they intend to do for the Bazaar, must now be attended to at once; the committee specially request that all articles for the bazaar should be forwarded as early as possible in this month, and would name as the latest day the 15th; also, that every article should be marked with a price the donor wishes it to be sold for. If the carriage be paid the better, but if this be not convenient, probably in most cases, the carriage may be paid as far as the Railway Company will book the package, addressed to either Mrs. Josiah G. Pike, St. Mary's Gate; or to Mrs. George Wilkins, Queen Street, Derby. The gifts from the abundance of the rich as well as the offerings of the poor, will alike be thankfully received. The special pressing claims of the Foreign Mission have been repeatedly brought to bear upon the thoughtful generosity of our churches in this matter. The Derby Acting Committee are now, therefore, hopefully waiting for numerous pleasingly liberal responses to these appeals. They suggest that the Foreign Mission is the common cause of every church in the connection, and that it is alike the duty and the privilege of every one able to do anything to help, to the utmost of their 239 power, in this special effort for the mission was LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-The annual meeting was held on Thursday, May 5, in Exeter Hall, which filled on the occasion by a large audience, including a great number of ministers. The chair was taken at ten o'clock by the Lord Mayor who was, however, too much indisposed to address the meeting. The Rev. Dr. Tidman, the foreign secretary of the Society, read the report, which commenced by stating that the year just gone by was the most eventful and auspicious that had yet passed over the Society. The interior of South Africa, the extremities of India, China, and the Japanese Islands, were now opened to the labours of the missionary. The financial report of the Society showed that the subscriptions, donations, legacies, &c., amounted to £54,799, being an increase over the same items of last year of £2,713. It was, indeed, gratifying to learn that there had been an increase in the receipts of the last year in every item beyond the amounts of the previous year. The total income from the ordinary sources amounted to £73,288; the expenditure was £67,303; showing an excess of income over expenditure of about £6,000. The total receipts of the year amounted to £92,641 including extraordinary sources. Thirteen new missionaries had been sent forth during the past year, exclusive of 600 native agents of every class. The total number of missionaries employed was 154. The expenditure for special missions to India was £11,084; and for China, £7,507. The missionary students numbered twenty-one, but at least double that number would be required for new missions before their term of study was completed. The report, which was of considerable length, entered into a variety of details, showing the operations of the Society in India, China, and various other parts of the world. The Rev. J. Graham, E. Corderoy, Esq., the Rev. Canon Miller, Sir. Morton, Peto, M.P., the Rev. E. Storrow, the Rev. E. Dale, Dr. Cumming, and Dr. Legge, successively addressed the meeting. MISSIONARY SERVICES.-On Lord'sday, May 8th, the annual sermons for the mission were preached at Berkhampstead and Chesham by Revs. H. Wilkinson, J. Lawton, and L. Preston. Deeply interesting missionary meetings were held at Berkhampstead on Monday evening, at Chesham on Tuesday evening, at Ford on Wednesday; sermon in the afternoon, and meeting in the evening; meeting at Wendover on Thursday evening, and at CONTRIBUTIONS. RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. From April 20th to May 20th, 1859. A Friend, for Scarlet Cloth for Native Preachers BERKHAMSTEAD. Collections & Contributions BILLESDON. £. s. d. 050 Carley-street 20 15 1 £ s. d. LEICESTER. Collections and Contributions 23 0 10 R. Wilkinson, Esq., Totteridge New Church-street Chapel, Pad- tributions 110 23 11 1 9 6 8 North-gate.-W.D.Ditchett, Esq. 200 LOUTH. 10 0 0 MARCH. 3 Cash on account Collections & Contributions 62 0 CONINGSBY. Cash on account .. CRICH. .. 4 17 9 OLD BASFORD. PETERBOROUGH. Collections and Contributions.. 20 0 0 PINCHBECK. Collection & Contributions .. 5 9 0 Collection and Contribution .. 2 3 6 Collections and Contributions.. 5 9 6 3 10 9 3 11 6 LEAKE & WYMESWOLD. Collection & Contributions WENDOVER. 22 17 10 Collection and Contributions.. 4 0 10 Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by Robert Pegg Esq., Derby, Treasurer; by the Rev. J. C. Pike, Quorndon, near Loughborough, Secretary; and by the Revs. H. Wilkinson, and W. Miller, engaged, during their sojourn, in England, as Travelling Agents for the Society. EVERY Christian must expect that his religion will be put to the proof. It may have been tried already. If not, a time of trial will come; a time when its real character will appear, when it will be seen what hold it has upon his mind, and what it will do for him. Till this trial come, we can know but little of ourselves. Almost any religion will stand, when there is nothing to put it severely to the test. It is persecution, temptation, the changes of life, the approach of death and eternity;-these are the things which shew us what manner of persons we are, and often fill us with shame and confusion by the discovery which they make. It is laid down as a principle in the Divine record, having all the force of an axiom that, "They who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution." We can never be sufficiently grateful to God for the religious freedom we enjoy in our favoured land. Sitting under “our own vine and fig tree," none may dare "to make us afraid:" the attempt is perilous. Yet the lapse of years, and the adoption of the wisest political regulations can effect no change in human nature. 66 The flesh still does, and ever will, war against the spirit; these are contrary the one to the other. Opposites can never harmonize. The sword of persecution may rest and rust in its scabbard; but the spirit of enmity in the carnal mind never slumbers or sleeps. Men, as fallen creatures, abhor sanctity, because it is the reflection of God's image; and their language is, "Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." A certain kind and degree of persecution is in constant and too successful operation even now. When the children of this world wish to fix a stigma upon a man's character, they say, with a sneer, that he is "a saint," or among the saints." When young persons are beginning to set their faces toward the heavenly city, how often is it said, "What, are you about to be numbered with the saints?" The finger of reproach is still pointed against the new convert; even now, the generation of the serpent hisseth against the seed of the woman; they "sport themselves," they "make a wide mouth," they "draw out the tongue" in derision. Peter was forewarned of his peril from a method of assault not less despicable than this. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted |