Notes of the Month.-General. Our Free Will Baptist brethren held their last triennial meeting at Lowell, Massachussets. Their present number of churches is over twelve hundred, (1,298,) the number of members 59,791, of ordained preachers, 1,044, and licensed preachers, 202. The increase of the past year has been, eleven quarterly meetings, and ninety-two churches, but what number of members we know not. Mr. Guinness is in America. With men like Cheever in New York, and Edward Ward Beecher in Brooklyn, he is not likely to attract permanently any great crowds in the empire city, when the public curiosity has been gratified by seeing him. Mr. Spurgeon has left the Surrey Music Hall because the proprietors have thrown it open for Sunday evening amusements. He is now preaching in Exeter Hall. Mr. Brock preached to a vast crowd of working men in the Britannia Theatre, Old Hoxton, on Sunday, Dec. 18. Biblical scholars will rejoice at the surprising success of Dr. Tischendorf's tour in Palestine. He has visited, under the protection of the Czar of Russia, the head of the Greek church, nearly all the Greek monasteries in Palestine, and has, after a year's absence, returned to St. Petersburg laden with very valuable manuscripts and palimpsests. Twelve palimpsests of the ninth century, containing, besides other things the Pauline epistles in Arabic; an entire manuscript of the Old and New Testament of the fourth century, found in the library of the convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai; and a very ancient manuscript of the Samaritan Pentateuch complete, from Sichem, are among the treasures The whole have been exposed to public view in the city of Petersburg. GENERAL. 31 THIS year opens less gloomily than the last. Rumours are afloat about the more peaceful intentions of Louis Napoleon, and all eyes are turned to the coming Congress at Paris. Cavour is to be the representative for Sardinia, which suggests a change in the schemes of the great French Sphinx. Antonelli, the robber peasant grown to be chief adviser of the pope, is the representative for Pio Nono. Neither Lord John Russell nor Lord Palmerston attend. Cowley and Wodehouse are named as the English representatives. An eminent French periodical, speaks in terms of the highest praise of our Parliament, and calls it, the Parliament at this juncture, of the world. The English members of the Congress will be under its control, and this, the same journal regards as a guarantee for peace and freedom. We sincerely hope events may fulfill this prediction. At home M.P's are starring about the country; Bright advocates direct taxation at Liverpool; Roebuck at Bath, wariness towards the French; and Palmerston figures among his old friends at Romsey. Parliament will meet this month, if public papers are to be trusted, and then-talk, talk, as before, but let us hope the great theme will be, not increased armaments, but the new reform bill. In Denmark a palace has been destroyed by fire, and the crown prince is insolvent. In Sweden religious toleration is advancing, Lutheran clergymen meeting to discuss publicly with Baptist ministers. In Germany indignation is excited against the Jesuits, who have over-run the country. Prussia is about to send her invalid King to the Isle of Wight. France promises, if her ruler can be trusted, to be more lenient to Protestants. Spain is still acting on the defensive Lombardy that speedily; but until the North in the war with Morocco. is panting for brighter days. Garibaldi appeals to the ladies of Italy to lay aside their superfluities for the great national cause. The inquisition has been abolished in Romagna. Naples suffers from the Grahamizing propensities of her police. Austria is said to be on the eve of a general disarmament, the result of a deficient exchequer rather than a pacific policy. Hungary is seething under a Protestant protest against the exactions of the edict promulgated against them last September. Poland is grumbling under the disappointment of hopes of liberation fondly cherished on the accession of the new Czar. Russia is triumphant in the Caucasus, and Schamyl asks for a residence in Turkey, and permission to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. In China, western barbarians are treated with rudeness by the Emperor; and in America public feeling is aroused by the execution at Charleston of Old Capt. Brown, of Harper's Ferry notoriety Some predict a dissolution of the Union; others the certain downfall of slavery. God grant freedom to the negro, and "To live in hearts we leave behind, The severe weather in the early part of December caused the death of several destitute people in Middlesex. The Serpentine was crowded with skaters on Monday, December 19, the ice cracked, and more than fifty men, women, and children were immersed. One little lad was drowned. Other deaths and accidents have occurred at the same celebrated skating-place. Good news from Ireland is getting no novelty, or else one would be agreeably startled to hear that pauperism is fast on the decline in the Emerald Isle. Missionary Observer. ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FREE WILL BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Annual Missionary Meeting of our Free Will Baptist brethren held during the Triennial General Conference of the denomination at Lowell, Mass., appears to have been an unusually interesting and spirited one. The noble sum of six hundred dollars was collected on the occasion, a pledge and earnest we trust, of greater things in behalf of Orissa than our friends have hitherto ventured to attempt. We have pleasure in giving a report of the proceedings from the Morning Star. Thursday Evening, Oct 6th, 1859. The meeting was called to order by Rev. J. Stevens, the Vice President. Brother D. P. Cilley read the hymn, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun," &c., which was sung by the choir, after which prayer was offered by brother Burgess, of Maine. Brother O. R. Bacheler, who has been acting as Secretary since the decease of brother E. Hutchins, then presented the 26th Annual Report. Of this we give a very brief sketch. Our last Report announced the death of the Recording Secretary, Rev. F. Moulton. We now record the death of the Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Elias Hutchins. He had served the Society in this capacity for eighteen years. His labours will not soon be forgotten. A good man has gone from our midst. On whom shall his mantle fall? Progress has marked the efforts of our missionaries during the year. The gospel has been preached, the Scriptures circulated, and the influence of a christian life has been doing its silent work; and the promised fruit has been realized to some extent. Some few have found strength to make sacrifice of caste, and have become new creatures in Christ Jesus. The lives and health of our missionaries have been precious in the eyes of God. Dangers have surrounded them, but they are safe. The fearful storm that passed over India, flooding it with carnage and death, came nigh to them, but the Almighty voice whispered amidst the tempest of human passion, 'Thus far, and no farther." The missionaries at the different stations do not report any very marked or noticeable changes, except that sister Crawford, who had charge of the Girls, Boarding School at Balasore, has been obliged to return on account of her health, and the School is now in charge of brother Smith and his wife. We are also called to mourn the death of our oldest and ablest native preacher, Rama Das. He became connected with the mission in 1840. Long and faithfully has he laboured-a living illustration before the heathen, of the apostolic injunction to be 'diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' He was ordained more than ten years ago. He was always ready to go anywhere for Christ, and never seemed weary of his work, though often weary in it. He had great power to interest his bearers, and his manner was very winning and consolatory. We all remember how regularly he attended the meetings of the church, and how he was called upon to reconcile any difference in the christian community. We have heard the heathen say of him that he was a good man. The heathen will no more listen to his exhortations, yet the influence of his life will long remain a demonstration of the power of Christ to save. The station at Midnapore, formerly occupied by brother Dow, has remained several years without missionary labour. Brethren Hallam and Miller will soon re-occupy the station. Sister Crawford reached our shores in May last with her health somewhat improved. For nearly eight years she 34 Anniversary of the Free Will Baptist Missionary Society. has toiled to bring up from a low and degraded state the girls committed to her care. Most of her pupils, as they have grown up, have given evidences of piety. Balasore has been her principal place of residence, but she has sometimes remained in the christian village with none but natives within thirty miles. She has done her duty, and returning, as she does, for a season, we welcome her to our homes, our hearts, and warm christian sympathies. Brother and sister Miller sailed for India in August last, bidding their country good bye with cheerfulness. The treasury of the society is almost empty, and 1200 dollars are immediately wanted to make up the semi-annual remittance to the missionaries, now over due. The mutiny in India has stimulated the missionary associations to a greater activity, and a new impulse has been given to the labours of the missionaries in the field. Our own society, however, has been less affected than others, and has seemed to fall in the rear of the European societies. The report was accepted and ordered to be printed. At this point in the exercises the following lines on the death of bro. Hutchins were read, and afterwards sung. The lines were received by sister Hutchins from some unknown friend, through the post office: Solemnly, tenderly, meet we to-day; All vain were the heart sobs, the tears and the That God in his mercy. his servant would spare. Blest, blest, be his memory, though parted awhile, Still thoughts of our union our grief shall beguile, Bright hope of a meeting whose joys none can tell. Where the good of all nations together shall dwell." During the singing, intense interest was apparent in the congregation, and it was proposed to take up the collection for missions at this point, instead of at the close of the meeting, as had been intended. The plan was adopted, and bro. Burr proposed to be one of a hundred to raise The five hundred dollars on the spot. hundred five dollar subscriptions were about one hundred obtained, and dollars more in smaller sums. It is impossible to describe the anxiety manifested by the brethren and sisters present to relieve the necessities of our mission, and those who were so circumstauced as to make it possible for them to contribute, evidently felt that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Before the collection was completed, bro. J. L. Phillips commenced speaking (Bro. Phillips is the son of our beloved missionary, Rev. J. Phillips,— was born in India, and is now pursuing his college studies, intending to return to India as a missionary, as soon as he can finish his studies and be sent out by the society. He had prepared an address for the occasion, but owing to the peculiar circumstances of the evening, he substituted an entirely extemporaneous, but earnest and effective appeal in behalf of the cause most dear to his heart.) Bro. chairman and friends of the The hand of the Reaper no pleading could stay, foreign mission: The lateness of the The call of the Master allowed no delay; night, hour will admit of my making but few remarks, and passing over the two Where the hands never weary, the eyes never speakers appointed before me, places dim, The Infinite Father had need of him ; Had need of him there, where the good and the As ministering spirits his bidding may do. He passed;-his sorrowing ended for ever. me in unusual embarrassment. To say that I am interested would be a most meaningless employment of terms. It would be a most simple expression to say I love the cause more than I love anything else in the world. You have been informed that I was born in a heathen land, and that my father is a missionary. Among my earliest recollections are the practices of heathenism. How often I used to wish that the influences of christianity more generally propagated in India. Often have I witnessed the were Anniversary of the Free Will Baptist Missionary Society. swinging festival, where many natives, as penance, have inflicted extreme pain upon themselves by swinging upon iron hooks thrust into their flesh. The various forms of penance which I have witnessed have given me such an idea of heathenism, that I feel to-day that I am a stronger friend of foreign missions, from the fact of having witnessed these things myself. Among my earliest impressions was the idea that the heathen were under condemnation. I used to talk to heathen children in relation to their forms of worship They said there was a great weight of condemnation resting down upon their hearts. I inferred it from the uneasiness and restlessness which characterized them. They were always aiming at something better. After witnessing this spirit on the part of the heathen, I was allowed to see those who had become converts, and to talk with them. Rama has often told his story to me. When a brahmin himself, and roaming about as a priest of the heathen, how often be used to feel that all their tortures, and penances of every kind, were worse than useless! I felt still further confirmed that the heathen were under condemnation, from the study of the bible. Some think it is better to let the heathen alone, that it will be all well with them that it is not our duty to send them the gospel. It seems to me it may be the prompting of natural sympathy, but I cannot believe, as I have listened to the experiences of them, that it is the spirit of enlightened piety which tells us to let the heathen alone. If, then, the heathen are under condemnation, the natural inference is, that there is a duty devolving upon us towards the heathen. This duty has been presented by various speakers, but what I wish to speak of is, that foreign missions pay. Some say they do not pay. They say that money laid out in the cause of education and home missions is well in vested, but not that laid out in foreign missions. I believe the FOREIGN It pays well in two MISSION PAYS. different ways: 1. The Foreign Mission pays, because it proves likely to afford a glorious means of grace to us at home. It has been the means of stirring up the Spirit 35 of Christ in hearts that had hardly imbibed any of it-the spirit of universal pity-of love to our own race-of self-sacrifice and consecration to God. 2. That the Foreign Mission pays, is seen more directly in the success that has attended the labours of the missionaries in heathen lands. Could we trace the whole country of India, from one end to the other, and contrast its present state with its state sixty years ago, we should be impressed with the success which has attended the missions. Here is a living argument to show that they have paid. I have but a few moments to speak, and am therefore embarrassed. But if Foreign Missions pay, will you help the Foreign Mission? There are various ways in which you can help it. You can help it by your prayers. A few weeks ago I was here with one who has now gone to India, and asked you whether you would pray for him. Do you remember the Beverly since it sailed? Have you most earnestly offered up your supplications to God that he will help those missionaries? You pray for your friends at home.With those prayers for your friends, will you send up your petitions for the millions of the perishing heathen? You can aid them by your contributions. Will you yield to the generous promptings of your hearts which bid you give for this purpose? Will you give to the missionary cause? I find that the cause of missions as conducted in England is more systematic than in this country. What is the result? The General Baptists, who are fewer in numbers than the F. W. Baptists, are supporting nineteen missionaries, while we have only ten, and five of them are at home. I have but few more words to say. This plea for missions is not a plea of my own. Although my own heart feels deeply, this plea comes from millions of my countrymen, who are looking for assistance to this land of gospel light aud liberty. The plea comes from Rama's grave with eloquence which no lips can express. Rama pleads for missions here to-night. And not only from Rama's grave, but from the grave at Dover, comes the appeal, Will you not help the Foreign Mission?" Will ་ |