my friends," she said, "that if I had known all that was to transpire, I should have wished to come." ." When asked, if she desired to live? she replied, "I should like to live, and labor among the heathen, and to train up my little one to the same work also, to which, from its birth I have consecrated it." But she was desirous that the will of God should be done, and often repeated the lines which have expressed the sentiments of so many dying saints, "Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are." She had frequently requested her husband to pray with her during her illness. But on one occasion, on account of her increased weakness, he declined, upon which she remarked, "Well, we will soon praise together." Burmah. CHUMMERAH. LETTER FROM REV. J. H. VINTON TO DR. BOLLES, DATED JAN. 23, 1835. Sketch of preaching at Maulmein. Rev. and dear Sir, Ere the reception of this, you will probably have received our joint letter, which gives an account of the various incidents of our passage, and our safe arrival at Maulmein. The first Sabbath after our arrival we were privileged to hear the man whose praise is in all our American churches. True, he preached in Burman, but though I did not know the meaning of a single sentence he uttered, still my attention was never more closely riveted in any sermon I ever heard. Were I to fix upon any one characteristic of the preach er, which, perhaps, more than any other, rendered his discourse interesting and impressive, I should say it was earnestness of manner. It was. impossible for any one to escape the conviction that his whole soul was in the work. Every tone, every look, every gesture spoke out in most emphatic language, to tell us that the man was seriously in earnest, and himself believed the truths he uttered. But what contributed not a little to the interest of the occasion, was the appearance of the assembly. Every hearer sat motionless, every eye was immovably fixed upon the preacher, and every countenance seemed to change with every varied expression of sentiment; now beaming forth joy, as though some joyous news from the other world had just reached them, which before had never gladdened their hearts-now depicting a feeling of anxiety, as though their immortal all, or that of their friends were at stake; and next of deep solemnity, as though standing before their final Judge. Reception at Chummerah. We left Maulmein the 2d inst. and on our arrival here, were received by the native church, and indeed by the whole village, with expressions of joy, such as are seldom witnessed on the arrival of a long absent, yet endeared friend. Even the children were not content, without letting us know the interest they felt, by joining their parents in carrying our things up the steep ascent to the house. At evening the whole village came together for worship. It was a season of deep interest to me. I told them as well as my scanty knowledge of the language would allow, the object of my coming among them. The greater part seemed drank up with interest at the thought, that one was to be devoted to the work of making known to them the messages of mercy through a Saviour. The next day they brought us such fruits and vege tables as the land afforded, and indeed they have continued to make their offerings in such abundance, that hitherto we have been more than supplied. These, though of trifling value, are like the woman's two mites, which in the sight of God, were of more value, than all the offerings of the rich; and seem to presage the pouring out of that divine blessing, annexed to bringing in all the tithes into the store-house. Hitherto our time has been prin-known; but I am looking for a glocipally occupied with attention to rious harvest of souls. The oath the sick. The day after our arrival, and promise of God is, that the blestwo were violently attacked with sed Jesus shall have these darkened remittent fever, the next day two multitudes for his inheritance, and more, and the day following three though I am most unworthy to be more. We were applied to for employed as the instrument to accounsel, and though poorly prepared complish a work so glorious; yet I to give medical advice, or administer trust the Lord will deign to use me, medicine, yet we were obliged to do that the excellency of the power may both, and, with the blessing of God, appear to be of God and not of man. all have recovered, or are recovering. I have baptized two, and shall Our success has given us an almost probably baptize again next Sabbath. unbounded influence over the na- Inquirers are multiplying, and I trust tives, and I trust, will be the means the time is not far distant, when this of opening a wider door for our fu- whole land shall be Emmanuel's ture usefulness among them. land, a mountain of holiness, over which the blessed Jesus shall reign without a rival. RANGOON. General State of the Mission. Feb. 23. We have a school of more than twenty scholars. Some of them are now members of the church, and the rest we are expect- EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM MR. ing, with the Divine blessing, will soon be brought into the fold. Indeed we have encouraging indica HOWARD TO DR. BOLLES. Hostility to the Mission. Imprison ment of Ko Sanlone. Rev. and dear Sir, March 10, 1835. tions, that a number of them have already bowed to the yoke of Christ. Six have asked for baptism, but we have put them off a little, that they A vessel is about to leave this port may give us farther evidence of the to-day, and believing that it is our genuineness of the change. A little duty to acquaint you as far as practime since, Mrs. V. proposed to them ticable, with the state of the Misthat they should come to our house sion here, I hastily drop you a line. weekly, when she would spend an From the time I last wrote, till the hour in instructing them—and pray-14th of Feb., Mrs. H. and myself ing with them. At the time ap- pursued the study of the Burman pointed they all came, and at the close, inquired if they might come the next day, saying they were unwilling to wait a whole weck for another such meeting. She consented, and has since met them daily. In my daily excursions among the natives, I am frequently thronged with the little creatures; and what is still more interesting, they not unfrequently join me in proclaiming salvation through Jesus. I have commenced a course of village itinerancy. My plan is to spend from two to three hours each day before evening worship, in going from house to house, and praying and beseeching all I meet in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. What will be the result, remains yet to be language, and nothing occurred worthy of special notice, unless it be the fact that there appeared to be a general increasing attention to religious instruction, and the channels in which the streams of life were flowing to these perishing multitudes seemed daily widening and deepening. The rulers, especially the Woongee, had exhibited toward us tokens of special regard. Some, however, of the inferior officers appeared jealous of our influence and were a little disposed to annoy us by urging us for presents, seizing and carrying away the cook for a disregard of their fire laws, &c., although authorized by the Woongee. Feb. 14. Brother and sister Webb with their little son, departed for and asked what he must do. (This Seet Keh is an inferior officer, and to use the phraseology of the English residing here," he is the head man that I thought it best to go, and that Moung Shwa Thah might go with him and inform me of the result, and I would render him all the assistance in my power. They went, and Moung Shwa Thah returned in about an hour saying, Ko Sanlone was questioned with regard to his preaching, and confined for further examination. I went to see the Woongee in the afternoon, having Mr. McCalder as my interpreter. On entering into the presence of the Woongee, and being seated, he came toward me, and very pleasantly said, This is the American teacher, and turning to Mr. McCalder, said, What does he want? I told him that one of the rulers had confined one of my men, and I had come to see him about it. What has he shut him up for? he asked. I said I did not know. Ah! he replied, I think he gives writings, that the ruler does not like; and turning to Mr. McCalder, said, Go tell him to let him go. We went out, and proceeded as far Maulmein, and, unprepared as we were for our situation, we were left alone. Brethren Brown and Cutter, who had just arrived from Ava, embarked with them. As I could of this street.") I told Ko Sanlone neither speak nor understand much of the Burman language, br. Cutter left with me Moung Shwa Thah, a Maulmein convert, who had been employed in the printing department and understood so much of the English language, as to enable him to interpret a little. Br. Webb also left under my care Ko Sanlone, who had been preaching and giving tracts in his verandah, and who has, for a considerable time, been the only native Christian at Rangoon who has possessed courage enough to speak or act publicly, in favor of the cause of Christ. As br. W's house and mine are on the same street and near together, and br. W's house has the best verandah. Ko Sanlone continued his labors there after br. W. went to Maulmein. About this time br. Judson sent me two Karen Christians, Too-noo and Moung Pyau, hoping that they might prove valuable assistants to me, in acquiring the language, and performing other missionary labor. Their wish was to go to some of the nearest as the court house, where a very Karen villages, and be absent a large number of officers were conweek: I consented to it, and as we vened, and Mr. McCalder was inwere pursuing the study of Burman formed, that the Ray-woon desired language, we made arrangements to speak with him. It was then aswith reference to studying the Bur- certained, that the Sect Keh had exman one part of the day, and the Ka- cited the minds of all Rangoon ren the other. At this time we had against Ko Sanlone, and they were with us five boys, and three girls of resolved if possible, to put him to the Rangoon Karens, beside the death. When Mr. McCalder was Karen boy David Jones, about 12 seen with me, it was suspected that years old, whom we brought from we had been to the Woongee on Maulmein, and who had been for this business, and they anticipated years with Mrs. Judson. Beside very justly the result, and were rethese were three or four, who lived solved to counteract it. When they that came daily, to whom Mrs. learned the fact, with reference to H. gave instruction, in several Eng- the Woongee's decision, they all lish branches. In respect to all rose upon their feet as by an involthese, we labored unmolested, and untary impulse, and exclaimed that with the cheering hope that our it was a disgrace to their nation to labors were not in vain, till the morn-permit this man to overthrow their ing of the 25th inst., when Ko San- religion, and proceeded in a mass to lone, after having been on the ve- lay before the Woongee their comrandah about an hour, came in and plaint. The charges brought against said the Seet Keh had sent for him, Ko Sanlone, were many, and ut near, Christian of Maulmein, about 18 years old, belonging to the printing department, but remaining with br. Howard in my absence, as interpreter and teacher. MR. WEBB, terly false no one indeed unac- only subjoin a translation of a letter quainted with the Burman character from Moung Shwa Thah, a native can imagine the baseness of their conduct in this affair. The Woongee, I have no doubt, felt himself obliged to forsake the path of justice, and unite with the multitude against the innocent; and still it is believed, that another man so intel- LETTER OF MOUNG SHWA THAH TO ligent, so liberal in his views, so honorable in his dealings, cannot be found in the whole nation. Ko Sanlone was now delivered over to these merciless wretches, who insulted him in every way they could devise. He was imprisoned, loaded with chains, sometimes made to labor hard; but I cannot proceed, for the vessel that carries this, is now about to hoist her sails. I shall write again very soon. Suffice it to say, that Superscribed, "To Ko Dway.-Please to give this into the hands of the American teacher." church which is in Maulmein. Be"I, Moung Shwa Thah, to the cause Ko Sanlone lives in the city of Rangoon, and preaches and gives books, the rulers have seized and accused him before the Woongee, in order to put him to death. The Woongee, however, said "Let him his release was effected on the 8th go of March, attended, however, with considerable expense. Every native Christian in Rangoon, or nearly every one, has been subjected to a fine, and all Rangoon is filled with fear. Our house has been surrounded by a mob, sometimes for hours. But still the Lord is with us, and we rejoice that it is our privilege to labor in this empire of darkness. Further particulars of the imprisonment of Ko Sanlone, are given in the following translation of a letter, addressed by Moung Shwa Thah to Mr. Webb, who was then residing at Maulmein, as mentioned in the preceding letter. Mr. W., after stating that the feeble health of Mrs. W. had induced him to leave Rangoon for a time, says, We have just received accounts from Rangoon, which have saddened all our hearts. A few days after we left Rangoon, a Seet Keh, the same vile petty ruler, who broke up br. Kincaid's school, and whipped Moung Dan, and his fellow teacher, sent for Ko Sanlone, our faithful brother, who has been preaching on the verandah, and giving books for the last six months, and put him in prison. But as br. Howard will give you an account of the affair, I will for this time. Still the anger of the rulers was not appeased. They therefore consulted together, and when they had replied to the Woongee, he ordered to put him in prison and in irons; which they did, putting irons upon his ancles and about his neck. "There were from Maulmein, 3 Karens who had come to ask for baptism, one Christian, and one boy who does not yet believe, and 3 Karen school-boys; in all 8. These were all put in the stocks. Seven of them, however, the ruler of Maubee being their bail, were released from the stocks. "Ko Sanlone's burden is heavy. But although the rulers desire to touch his life, by the power of God I trust deliverance will come. Yet though he obtain his release, it will cost much money. "Now because of Ko Sanlone's troubles, and because he has no money, I hope that the church will make him each according to his ability, a little offering, that he may be free.* Ma Min-boo (Ko Sanlone's wife) intends to sell their little daughter, Shway-mee. Too-noo is *The church here, have raised 78 rupees for his relief. † For slave, to raise money for her father's release, or for providing for his necessities while in prison. very pictures are worshipped. Not to reverence them, and fill their ricepots, is hell. We easily then account for the violent opposition, which we have found daily on the verandah, where the Gospel has been proclaimed. I wish it may be fully knownthat the churches may know how to pray, that the opposition here is very similar to what we find among universalists and infidels in America. But this shows that the Gospel is adapted to the people here as there. Let then the opposition of the enemies of the cross only nerve, with Karens baptized at Rangoon in 1834. asked to be baptized. And in one instance, I was obliged to send away 21 who came a day's journey, 13 of who wished baptism, for want of a Karen interpreter, as none of them could speak Burman sufficiently, to conduct an examination. We have a number of interesting young Karens, who, if educated, would make valuable assistants. Alluding to the intelligence received from Rangoon, Mr. W. remarks:— This will be a heavy blow to in-greater strength, the arm which holds quiry, but we are by no means to the sword of the Spirit at home and look upon it as a strange thing. It abroad; and may the Divine Spirit has to me been rather wonderful, make "the word the power of God that there has been no more opposi- unto salvation." tion before. We have come with an express design, to destroy their religion, and we tell them so distinctly, Since my last date, Oct. 12, 1834, and all their idol hopes we call vain. I have baptized nine more Karens, The very things they doat on, we in all thirty-one, and yet we have call sin. What they rely on, as their rejected more than half who have salvation, we say will prove their ruin. Their heaven, we say, does not exist, and their sacred books we prove before their eyes a falsehood. În fine, our religion is in almost all particulars precisely different from theirs. We certainly have no cause to anticipate the prosperous promulgation of the Gospel without persecution; this persecution only proves to my mind, that the kingdom of darkness sees that light breaks in. And how can they think otherwise. From Rangoon to Ava, tracts have been scattered and read, disproving their sacred things. More than 30 thousand of these books have been given in Rangoon alone, during the past year, and they have produced My dear Sir, effects. The Burmans, like all other people, are strongly attached goon for Ava on the 17th of Nov., to their religious system, and never give it up without a severe struggle. Here are the customs of their ancient fathers, which they must not violate. Here is a reverend priesthood, whose She is not a Christian. Her only offence is, that she has attended our little boy, and brought water for our use. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM River Irrawaddy, MR. off Yat t'haung, Feb. 2, 1835. Br. Brown and myself left Ran with two assistants to go the whole of the way to Ava, and one to go as far as this place. We took with us a large quantity of books and tracts, and set out with the full intention of making a faithful distribution of them to the multitudes on this river, and which I think we have accomplished. |