them carefully, that no one might see them. These books I read in the middle of the day, and at night when nobody observed me, and was soon fully convinced by them that the Hindu shastras were false; for I saw that the debtas were fallen beings, and sought only the gratification of their evil passions. Besides, they represented Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiba to be each a god, and yet one and the same. But these were ever at variance, as the stories in the shastras show, how then can they be one and the only true God? Neither did they ever do any thing for the salvation of men. I further recollected that God is omniscient; but each of these three debtas performed actions which the others were not cognisant of. This is another proof that they are not God. I also learned from these tracts, that the Hindu shastras contained many contradictory statements, from which I inferred that they could not come from God, but were the work of men. Feeling this, I began to say to my relatives, 'The Christian religion is true, let us embrace it.' At this some of them chided me, saying it was false. My father, however, replied, 'This religion is true, it is not false!' My father was well disposed toward the Christian religion. Having heard of the Holy Scriptures, I thought that I should like to procure a copy of them, and read it. One of the Christian preachers before mentioned, soon supplied me with the New Testament. I read it secretly. Here I saw that Jesus Christ was set forth as the only Saviour, and that he gave his life for our redemption. My mind now became convinced that the bible was true and genuine. By means of another book, I learned the ten commandments, and from the same book I also learned that all mankind are descended from the same original parents, named Adam and Eve, and that consequently our various Hindu castes are of human origin. From this time I began to visit frequently the native Christian preachers mentioned before, and also to go on the Lord's day and sit by the door of the chapel, and listen to the preaching, &c. As I heard, I felt that this is the true way to worship God, and I thought that I should like to worship him thus also. With these impressions I took the opportunity one day to say to my father, and my uncle, who was my father's elder brother, 'Come, do let us embrace the Christian religion.' My father replied, 'Yes, in time we must all come into this way;' but my uncle made answer, 'If you do become a Christian, I will take all that you have, and drive you from this place.' Alarmed at his threat (for he being at the head of the family had the power to execute it), I remained quiet for a little while. Some days after, I ventured again to visit my Christian friends, and there received from one of them a little book called the Child's First Reading Book; th's I read at home, and on coming to the fourteenth lesson I found these words, The chi'd who fears God, and strives to keep all his commandments, will certainly be blessed of him should even his parents forsake him, cr for any reason turn against him. God indeed will never forsake him.' By these words I was greatly comforted. Soon after this my uncle was taken ill and died, and when his funeral obsequies (shraddha) were performed, I felt that all hindrance to my professing Christianity was removed, and I determined therefore to cast in my lot with Christians, which I did by giving up my caste on 28th Srabon, 1249, i. e., about two years since." Here follow some rather long details of his interviews with the Christians for this purpose, which it is unnecessary to give; suffice it to say, that he was baptized at Lucky antipore during the rains of last year, and united himself with the baptist church there, much to the satisfaction and joy of the Christian people at that place. He is still living, and by his uprightness, simplicity of manners, affection to Christian people, desire of knowledge, and zeal for the gospel, is manifestly a most pleasing monument of the sovereign grace of God in the gospel of his dear Son. It is lamentable to add that the young man's father, of whom he makes favourable mention, was induced by his neighbours, about the time of the uncle's death, to undertake a pilgrimage to Gaya, and has never since been heard of. BARISAL. Extracts from Mr. Bareiro's letters appear in the Oriental Baptist, which give an encouraging view of the state of mind of many around him. I returned from Dhan-doba the day before and a spirit of prayer among them. Our yesterday (Nov. 25th) after an absence of twelve labour in this respect has not been in vain; days, which were spent in instructing the new evidences of divine faith show themselves, and and old converts, who, I am happy to say, have prove that they are treading the right way to manifestly undergone a good change, as their heaven. In addition to this delightful work, conduct shows. There is a feeling of love we were engaged likewise in preaching to the inquirers, of whom fifty-eight put on the Lord by baptism on the last Lord's day, the 22nd instant. The smallness of the number, compared with the number admitted in last October, gave us time to visit the houses of those brethren and sisters who live within an hour's journey, by water, and considerably less when it is dry, from Dhan-doba, and quietly to pursue our work. The brethren and some sisters who live at a distance came on Saturday, as they were previously informed by the brethren (who were sent by me to the villages), so that their number, with those who lived near, was about a hundred. Striking Cases. had a very good effect, he settled down in calmness of temper, saw his danger, and, together with his wife, embraced Christ as his only Saviour. The advice of a dying father, an old hearer of ours, to embrace Christ as the only Saviour, given to a lad of about fourteen years of age, had such an effect on him and his mother, that he came with some of the candidates and offered himself to join us, which he did, as we could not keep him out when we saw the grace in him. His mother, who is a believer, could not come, as there was no one, where she was, to guard her house. You will be glad to hear that the example of contributing after communion, which we as a whole church set to them on the first Sunday of this month, has had a very good effect. It was nearly three rupees this time, and has been of great assistance to the poor of the flock. They are all now acquainted with the object, and admire it, and are willing to contribute their small mites toward it. Discussions among Brahmans. Dec. 1st, 1846. I forgot in my last to inform you that when I was last out, a high caste brahman came to me to request from me a tract which pointedly alluded to the "devtas" and their incapacity to save, as for want of such information he was not able to carry on a discussion in favour of Christianity which was carried on at a meeting of brahmans held to consider the truth of the Christian religion in consequence of my recent baptisms. This man told me that he maintained that Ram could not save others, or he could easily have prevented Ravan from eloping with his wife, Sita, which he did not. I handed him the tract called the "Settlement of the Question Among the occurrences while I was out, I might mention three which struck us with wonder and praise, as showing that God was verily with us. A man showed the greatest animosity to his wife, and threatened to kill her if she embraced the Christian faith, and every one who encouraged and abetted her. In this strait she came to us, not knowing that her husband was closely following her. When he came up he protested against her conduct, which, he said, proceeded not from a sense of good, but from evil, as he was certain that some of the converts had poisoned her mind with a design to ruin him. His ferociousness drew all the brethren and sisters around him while I was seated in the midst advising him to desist from his conduct. He said, why did she not inform him of her intentions, and then after a lapse of time they would both join us? We observed, that we had nothing to do with him, but with his wife, as she appeared to have a sense of eternal danger. The woman fell at his feet, entreating him, with us, to forgive any conduct in her that might have appeared amiss to him. He would not. I then prayed for him, and desired him to take his wife with him, which he did after a great deal of further bickering and noise. I did this that the man The brahmans and landholders are fabrimight not raise any evil story against the cating ridiculous reports in reference to the place or the brethren. The next morning he late conversions, such as that the Company came to me bathed in tears of repentance. Bahadur was trying to convert these people confessing his sins, and expressing the most only to send them to colonize settlements earnest desire to join us. As there was no belonging to them, or to fight their battles. doubt of the sincerity of his sorrow, for he Another report gives out that I baptized said that he had not had a wink of sleep on the 115 persons by putting them in water account of his sins, or of his faith in the up to their waists, pouring the blood of fowls Saviour, we admitted him, his wife, and his over the head, and giving each a piece of mother-in-law, who, with her daughter, had beef to eat! Others give out that the converts will be shipped to the Sunderbunds to An old hearer, whose affections were alien- manufacture salt, and that they have been all ated from us by worldly prudence, came one branded with red hot iron in certain parts of night and began accusing some of the brethren the body. Immediately after the baptism as the cause of the distress he was then in there was a report raised that the landholders with his wife, as they had branded him to had waylaid me, sunk my boat, and placed every one with the epithet of being a Chris- me in jail! I need not say that these reports tian, and in this style he continued, grew are made up merely to deter people from warmer and warmer every hour, almost the embracing Christianity, now that the landwhole night. Next morning I called him holders, with the brahmans, have failed in before all, and remonstrated with him. This their threats and ill usage. satisfied us before as to their faith. of Salvation." Ridiculous Reports. CHITTAGONG. Mr. Fink is at present at Serampore, having proceeded thither under medical advice, in consequence of the severity of a disease with which he has been attacked periodically during the last ten years, arising apparently from the unhealthy nature of the district in which he resides. At the meeting of the Association of Baptist Churches, held at Serampore in December last, he read a report, of which he has transmitted a copy, giving an account of missionary operations at Chittagong during the preceding year. We have had the happiness of adding seven souls by baptism, and we have a hope of a few more, who, we sincerely trust, will give themselves up soon to the Lord. We have not excluded any. We have to record the removal of two persons by death, who died in the faith of the gospel. We had in our last report thirty-nine members. We dismissed two to Serampore church. We have now forty-two members, showing an increase of only three during the year. We have two schools. The one at Chandgao contains about fifty boys. The attendance during the rains is very irregular, and this is owing to the inundation of the surrounding lands. The town school contains about thirty boys, who are taught English. The blessed scriptures are introduced in both the schools. We have preaching daily to the heathens, who flock to hear us. There are two meeting-houses in the town for Bengalí preaching; one of them has lately fallen into ruins by a storm. There Hindoos and Mohammedans attend in numbers to hear the blessed gospel preached to them every day. The word of life is also preached on the roads, the ghauts, and all the markets of Chittagong, near and distant. The people around pay much attention to the gospel, and light and knowledge are spreading in every direction. At Chandgao our native brethren have meetings every day, and all our members, both men and women, are improving in divine things. The people, who seemed so much embittered against us, appear friendly, and they show less of that persecuting spirit, and gladly attend to listen to the word. Saroda, the widow mentioned in our report some years ago, has at length left all her relations and friends, and at once decided for Christianity, much to our joy and encouragement. She has three children with her, who all attend to instructions daily. She has also three other sons advanced in years, who have left her, but we entertain hopes of them, as they love their mother. We feel confident that the good attempted among the villagers will spring up at a future period to the glory of redeeming grace. We have also regular services in the chapel on week-days, namely, twice on every sab bath in English and twice in Bengalí, among the members of the church and others who attend. Also we have service on Thursday evenings in English. On Tuesdays and Saturdays we have again Bengalí services for our native Christians. We have extensively carried the gospel all over the Chittagong district; visited the melas at Sittakund, Kattalyah Khal, and Soorjokhola, and whenever we have known people to assemble, we have made it our constant and happy duty to carry the gospel thither. Scriptures and tracts have also been distributed extensively, yet demand for them increases. We have applications for large books, and many have evinced much scriptural knowledge when interrogated; and these prove that they have not made an improper use of our gifts. There are few Roman catholics who love to hear of a crucified Saviour residing at Chandgao, but they are afraid to show themselves to us regularly. Such is their dread of the priest whose influence is paramount. AGRA. From this city Mr. Dannenberg, who labours in connexion with Mr. Williams and Mr. Makepeace, writes as follows: The heat is so overpowering here, as that it is dangerous either for man or beast to be out after nine o'clock in the morning. I have never felt the heat so much in my former station, as I have felt it this year in Agra. The thermometer, in the shade, is from 130 to 140, and more, Farenheit. Thanks be to God, my poor labours have not been in vain in this station. A Hindu, by caste a Rajput or Brahman, has been arrested in his sinful career, and I trust brought to a saving knowledge of the Saviour. He had some seven or eight years ago beard the gospel preached by brother Thompson in Delhi, are encouraged to go forward in the name of the Lord, who wills that all men should be saved." There is a very interesting Hindu in Sainya, who has for some months been thinking seriously about his soul, and inquiring after the way to eternal life. We trust that he will soon confess Christ openly. He is very regular in his attendance at the prayer-meetings. being at the same time in the service of victorious over all its enemies, and therefore Sikandar Sahib. Shortly after this he left his employer, and became a faqir, wandering from one place to another, seeking rest for his soul; he spent some time in the jungles, after which he came to Matura, the famous holy place of the Hindoos, but not being satisfied, he left, and passing through Agra, heard me preach in the Tirpoliya, where he entered into discussion, and opposed me, but being defeated, he quietly left us. He was, however, deeply impressed by what he had heard, and came the next day to our native preachers to inquire more concerning the truth. On another occasion, when I was engaged in addressing a crowd in the market-place, he passed by, and hearing a man opposing me, he came forward, took my part, and confuted the opponent. The following day he came to me, saying, "that he had been deeply impressed, and was convinced of the truth of Christianity; that our books were true, and that his were false, and the invention of man; that he had been practising austeritics for many years, and had also visited several famous places of pilgrimage, but his mind was not at ease; he now believed Christ Jesus to be such a Saviour as he needed, and had sought for. I explained to him the way of salvation by Christ more fully, and he was so much struck by what he heard, that he at once, without hesitation, gave up his shasters, or sacred books, to me, and accepted in return a New Testament. He soon after renounced caste, and has ever since continued with our native brethren, and appears to be a genuine convert. He is of a very willing disposition, reads his Testament very diligently, and 1 trust that "the love of Christ constraineth" him, and that he is daily "growing in grace and in knowledge of the Redeemer." For two months past he has accompanied the native preachers and myself on our preaching excursions, and will be baptized (D.v.) on the first sabbath of next month. Pray for him, dear brother, that he may be kept through faith unto salvation, and become a "shining light" to his benighted countrymen. The Lord has also blessed our humble labours in the villages. A Hindu in the village of Sainya has also been added to the church, and I have good reason to think him sincere. He has been tried much on account of the religion of Christ, but he has come out of the fire as gold well purified. Since the 5th of October last my labours have been chiefly directed to the district which we have particularly under our cultivation. This district, which has been allotted to brother Makepeace and myself, has not been cultivated so much as that which is under brother Williams's care. In some of the villages we have been very kindly received, and have much encouragement; but I am sorry to say that we have also many opponents. But we have the proise that the gospel shall conquer, and be In the month of November I made a tour in connexion with brother Makepeace, to Bhuteshwar, distant about fifty-five miles from Agra. It is a famous bathing-place of the Hindus, and we visited it at the period of its great annual mela. It is kept in commemoration of the marriage of Mehadewo, or "the great god," one of the most obscene of the heathen deities. When we arrived but few people were collected, but as the great day drew nigh crowds were pouring in for the purpose of bathing and making offerings to the idol. What a painful thing it is to see man, created at first in the likeness of his Maker, bowing before a lifeless stone! Alas, how much is his understanding darkened! Yes, it is a beart-rending sight to see them rush for a drop of Ganges water for the purification of their hearts. In that place is a temple in which there are figures of Mahadewo, his wife Parwatti, and their son Mahes, cut out of stone. I have seen the poor Hin dus gazing on them with the deepest adoration and astonishment, bowing down and making their offerings before them; and more sad to think, that they bring their little children with them, who are taught to do the same, and when leaving the temple they, with their children, cry out, "Bam Mahadewo! bam Mahadewo!" Seeing all this, a missionary in India may lose all his courage, and well might he say, "Who is sufficient" for such a work as to put down the kingdom of Satan, who is leading these poor people captive at his will? But "the Lord is with us," who has said, "I will do it." Had the missionary not the word of God on his side, had he not his promises, which give him vigour to prosecute his work, and had he no grace, which does support him, he would soon throw down his arms and abandon the field. At the end of the fair a very interesting man, of high caste, came to me expressing his belief in what he had heard, and seemed much affected. He visited our tent for three nights, and the day he was leaving the fair he came, assuring us of his sincerity, promising that he would not forget what had been declared to him, of the truth of which he was quite convinced. We had more hearers than we were able to address. We preached as long as our voices could be heard; we also distributed many books, which were gladly received, and returned home quite fatigued and exhausted. May the Spirit of God, accompany the word which has been preached in much weakness, with demonstration and power, and where the raja lives, and his troops are simany, many thousands come forward to le-tuated. This place is larger than that porclare themselves on the Lord's side! We have just returned from another excursion to Gwalior. I had cherished a desire for some months past to visit that place, as we had been meeting with many of the inhabitants of that city, who seemed very favorably disposed, and desirous of reading our books. We left home on the 28th of December, 1846, and returned on the 14th of January, 1847. It took us five days to reach Gwalior. We preached in all the villages through which we passed, and many heard the gospel with great attention. On the 3rd we began to preach in the city of Gwalior. Many hundreds heard from our lips the gospel of Jesus Christ, and sometimes my congregation consisted of more than four hundred persons, who listened with the utmost attention. We had but very few objectors. Many seemed struck with the truth, and were obliged to say that their gods were not the true God, and their religion not divine. We preached for three days in the city, and also distributed many hundreds of gospels and tracts! On the 6th we went to the Lashkar, tion of Gwalior denominated the city. On the morning of the day on which we commenced our preaching I went a little before my native preacher, who was bringing scriptures; I took as many as I could put in my pockets, and soon reached a large open place, where I began to read a part of the fifth chapter of Matthew, for the purpose of collecting a crowd, and in less than five minutes I was surrounded with not less than from three hundred to four hundred people, who heard very attentively. All were serious, and many seemed to feel the power of the truth. After having preached as long as I was able, I distributed the books I had with me, and returned to look for my native preacher. I soon found him, and took our stand in the principal street. We had splendid congregations, and preached till we were quite exhausted, and then distributed a large number of books. We continued for three days our preaching in the Lashkar, and were kindly received, and had as many hearers as could conveniently stand in the street. May God bless our poor and humble labours, and may they not be in vain. BENARES. In the Benares Recorder of the 24th of November, 1846, we observe the fol lowing statement : Bazar Schools. departments..... An examination of the English and Vernacular Schools, connected with the Baptist 1. Sudder bazar, Secrole, English, and Urdu Mission at Benares, took place on Saturday morning last, at the house of Rev. G. Small, one of the missionaries. We were present on 2. the occasion, and were much interested by Urdu and Persian ditto... Hindi ditto, about........... Total 21 26 35 82 the very satisfactory exhibition made. The 3. Chowhatta, Rajghat, Hindi, and Urdu, about 45 number of scholars being greater than could. be all accommodated at once in the hall, the Grand total of scholars in attendance different bazar schools were first examined one by one, giving place to each other in succession; and then the several classes of the principal school (in Bengalitolah) stepped forward and gave pleasing proofs of their attainments in general, but especially religious knowledge, through the medium of the English, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali tongues, all of which are taught at that institution. We have been favoured with a statement of the number of boys attending the several schools, along with a list of the studies completed during the year by the highest class of the English department in the last-named school, which may serve as a specimen of the system there pursued : Bengalitolah Central School. English department Bengali ditto 30 Studies completed by the first class of Bengalitolah School. 250 1. Holy Bible, all Genesis in Bengali, and about half in English, by most of the boys. Matthew, the whole translating from English into Bengali and Urdu, and half of Sermon on the Mount by heart. 2. Catechism (Keach's), first fifty questions. 3. English Instructor, No. 3, to page 115. 4. Ditto, ditto, No. 4, to page 25. 5. Geography (Clift's), all Asia. 6. Grammar (Lennie's), to 16th rule of syntax. From this outline of studies, as well a from the general intelligence and proficiency exhibited by the scholars (especially of the higher classes), we think there is much 51 ground for congratulating the missionaries on 13 the success of their labours, and for encouragement to the public to continue and extend their liberality in aid of such educational schemes. 29 123 |