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INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICA.

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

revise and print the Chinese Bible-conformed to the English Bible-and they even propose to call it The received Chinese version: although our missionaries testify that baptism is not only veiled, as in the English scriptures, but is truly and clearly perverted, by these transfer brethren. Their version can never be received by us. The same has been adopted with the Greek scriptures, and open violations of the sacred text have been

The American and Foreign Bible Society held its meeting for the appointment of officers in the lecture room of Dr. Cone's church, Broom Street, New York, on Tuesday, May 11th, at 9 oclock, and at 10 assembled in the church, to hear the annual reports of the treasurer and the board of managers. The president, the Rev. Dr. Cone, in address-resorted to, to cover up the first command of ing the Society, said :

"Brethren and Friends of the Bible cause, We welcome you to another anniversary of the American and Foreign Bible Society. Although some of the southern auxiliaries have withdrawn from our union, and we have not been able to obtain several bequests, for want of a charter, yet the receipts of the current year exceed those of the corresponding twelve months of the preceding year, and we have, therefore, good reason to thank God and take courage.

"Unity of purpose and great harmony of action have characterized the meetings of your board of managers, and their various and ofttimes onerous duties have been discharged with promptitude and cheerfulness.

"Our opponents, by their relentless and persevering hostility, have frustrated our oft repeated efforts to procure from the state legislature an act of incorporation; and we must now wait until, according to the provisions of the new constitution, an act shall be passed, under which all the religious and benevolent institutions in the state may secure a name in law. We shall then be competent to receive and hold moneys bequeathed us by the friends of God and man, even though we should persist in maintaining that Jesus Christ was immersed by John the Baptist, and that the patrons of this society ought not to be disfranchised for following him as dear children."

"In the further prosecution of our labour of love, a conflict, severe and protracted, must be anticipated. We stand alone, opposed by all the pædo-baptist Bible societies in the world. We have religious bigotry, and numbers, and wealth, and national establishments against us. Infant sprinkling must be perpetuated, or they must crumble and decay; and the transfer dogma will be used to the utmost. China is to be a great battle field. The British and Foreign Bible Society have pledged to the paedobaptist missionaries there any amount of money necessary to

Zion's King to his believing children. This system will be carried on, until believers' baptism, written as it is in the New Testament as with a sunbeam, shall be either mystified, or totally blotted out of every transfer version. In this matter we stand alone witnesses for Christ. But the path of duty is plain, and I feel sorrow in my heart for the immersed believer who is either ashamed or afraid to come up with us to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Buy the truth and sell it not, O ye followers of the Lamb.*"

The additions of the year to the list of life members amount to 309, making the whole number 2229. New life directors 26; whole number 315.

The publications of the current year amount to 18,320 bibles, and 26,200 testaments. Total 44,520. The whole number hitherto published at the depository amounts to 211,639.

The issues of the year have been 12,983 bibles, and 27,053 testaments. Total, 40,036.

An account of stock was taken on the 20th of April, which comprised 10,091 bibles, and 12,699 testaments, bound. Total 22,777. Of the bibles, 69 were German, 276 Welsh; Testaments, 1,115 German, 520 Welsh.

The gross receipts of the society during the past year amounted to 31,739 dollars, 94 cents; expenditure, 28,158 dollars, 91 cents; balance on hand 2,013 dollars, 66 cents. Increase of receipts during the past year, 533 dollars, 6 cents. Paid for printing bibles, 17,665 dollars, 86 cents; salaries, 6,063 dollars, 28 cents. The publications of the current year amount to 18,320 bibles, and 26,200 testaments. Total, 44,620 ; the whole number hitherto published, 211,639 volumes. Total number of issues during the past year, 40,036.

BAPTIST COLLEGE, MONTREAL.

The friends and supporters of this important institution will be gratified to learn

that its history during another year is amply encouraging. The students have manifested commendable diligence. In addition to their collegiate engagements, they have, in various ways, been usefully employed in disseminating the gospel. The station at the Cross has been regularly supplied, and much good has been done there. The jail and hospital have been visited with as much regularity as possible. Three theological classes have received instruction during the past year.

The junior class, which was formed at the commencement of the winter session, has entered on the study of scriptural theology, and completed the examination of the history of the church previous to the Council of Nice.

By the second class, which was formed at the opening of last summer session, a larger portion of the course of scriptural theology has been studied. Ecclesiastical history has been investigated, as far as the close of the thirteenth century. Instruction has been also given in intellectual philosophy and

rhetoric.

The first class has finished the course of scriptural theology. Ecclesiastical history, from the council of Nice to the Reformation in the sixteenth century, both inclusive has been studied. The epistles of Barnabas, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Polycarp, and the epistle to Diognetus, have been translated. A course of lectures on Ministerial and Pastoral Duties has been delivered to this class.

Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History is the text-book in that department. The original authorities, together with Waddington, Gieseler, and other authors, are also consulted.

In all the classes, essays on theological or historical subjects have been written by the students; each class furnishing an essay every week.

Sermons, prepared by the students in rotation, have been read and examined weekly.

Instructions in algebra, geometry, and general history, has been given to a junior class.

In the languages, the following studies have been followed:

In Hebrew, the senior class has read the minor prophets; the junior, Exodus, Ruth, and the first ten Psalms, with a constant attention to the grammar of Gesenius.

The first Greek class has studied Herodotus and the Odyssey of Homer; the junior, Jacob's Greek Reader, and Kühner's Grammar.

The first Latin class has read Virgil's Georgics and Horace; the second, Cæsar and Cicero; the third, Cæsar. Zumpt's Grammar and Doderlein's Synonymes have been in frequent use.

In Chaldee, the portions of Daniel written in that language, and the Mishnic tract, the Pirke Avoth have been studied. The Syriac

VOL. X.-FOURTH SERIES.

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version of the minor prophets has also received due attention, having been translated and compared with the Hebrew.

Critical essays have been required every

week. Roediger's edition of Gesenius's Hebrew Extra grammatical instruction in Grammar, Kühner's Greek Grammar, Zumpt's last Latin Grammar, and in the principles of Comparative Grammar, has been given every Wednesday to most of the above-mentioned classes.

On Wednesday afternoons, practical questions have been discussed by the students in the presence of the tutors, whose opinions on the subjects introduced have been separately given at the close of the exercises.

The annual examination of the students took place on Thursday and Friday, May 13 and 14. The Rev. Messrs. Gridley, Wilkes, Taylor, and Girdwood, kindly acted as examiners. Their testimonials are very gratifying.

It should be borne in mind by the supporters of this institution, that all the pursuits and inquiries of the theological students are directly connected with their preparation for the ministry. Everything is made to centre in the Bible. lightened, and prayerful investigation is reUntrammelled, engarded as all-important.

GOVERNMENT EDUCATION IN THE COLONIES.

In the Montreal Register of May 20, we find the following important observations:

The inhabitants of the British colonies are required to be very vigilant at the present crisis. Success in England will embolden the triumphant party to make the same experiment in the dependencies of the empire. In fact, Earl Grey has begun to interfere, and has enunciated sentiments so nearly allied to Prussianism, that there is abundant reason to be alarmed. We allude to his circular to the Governors of the West India islands, enclosing some "brief practical suggestions" on the education of the coloured races in the British colonies, written by Dr. Kay Shuttleworth. The frequent references in these "suggestions" to the importance of religious instruction, and to the manner in which moral and religious training ought to be carried on, indicate the wish to assimilate the colonial to the English plan. This is further indicated by the fact that Earl Grey has transmitted copies of the suggestions' to all the governors of colonies. The remarks of the Trinidad Spectator' are much to the point

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"The desire and seeming determination, on the part of the government, to have the youth in the colonies educated, deserve the highest commendation; but, from the documents referred to, there is ground to fear that any educational measure adopted or

sanctioned by the present Secretary of the Colonies, will have in it the elements of its own destruction. We allude to the frequent references, in the Despatch' and in the 'Brief Practical Suggestions,' to religious instruction. In our estimation, religious instruction is essential to the well being of man. We feel serious alarm with regard to the educational measure likely to be conferred or forced upon us by the government at no distant day. If it proves purely secular, we shall hail it, and receive it with open arms; but, if it interfere with man's allegiance to his Maker-if it trench one hair's breadth on liberty and conscience, even through the medium of the purse-we will fearlessly and loudly denounce it, and strain every nerve to render it nugatory, because, if winked at, being essentially unjust and impious, it could not fail to prove a fearful, political, moral, and religious curse. We do trust that Lord Harris will give this important subject his best consideration.

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Earl Grey's Despatch, and in B. Kay Shuttleworth's Brief Practical Suggestions,' having Privy Council authority, there are frequent reference to prayers and religious instruction. We should like to know what royal stereotyped prayers are intended to be used in the school, whether those of the church of England, Scotland, Ireland, or India; all of which are sanctioned by British authority and supported by Britain's treasury-a fact that will remain a blot on the page of Britain's history till the end of time. In Trinidad we have already more than enough of statepaid religion. It is a burden and not a benefit."

In his despatch to the Governor of Guiana, Earl Grey uses the following language :

"To whatever extent the schools might succeed or fail in bearing their expenses, I cannot but indulge the hope that the legislature of the colonies will acknowledge the paramount importance of causing such schools to be established, and will make such provisions as may be required for the purpose. And if it were necessary to raise money by a new impost, I should not object on the part of the crown, to a tax falling directly on the people at large, provided the proceeds were made exclusively applicable to the education of their children; nor should I indeed be averse to any well-considered law, which could constrain the parents of children not exceeding a specific age, to send such children to school (under a penalty for neglecting to do so, unless for cause shown,) and pay a specified sum for their schooling. The choice of the school should be left, of course, to the parents, provided only it were certified by some public functionary to be appointed for the purpose, or by some minister of the gospel, to be a school competently conducted." We must be on our guard. An approxi

mation to the new plan exists among us, says the editor of the Montreal Register, in the elementary schools of Canada East, the majority of which are schools for teaching Romanism, and very little else, of any real value or utility. The episcopalians, it will be remembered, have strenuously endeavoured to obtain government support for separate schools of their own. We are in danger, and the only way of escape appears to be the adoption of a strictly secular plan of education. In schools supported by the public funds, in whole or in part, the hours of instruction should be fixed, and during those hours the teacher should confine himself to general knowledge. At other times, if requested by the parents, and then at their charge, he might communicate religious instruction: or, if preferred, the priest or minister might avail himself of such opportunities. At any rate, let not religion, in any form, however imperfect, be connected with taxation.

ASIA.

CHINESE ASSOCIATION.

Dr. Barth, of Wurtemberg, has forwarded to the editor of "Evangelical Christendom " extracts from a series of remarkable com. munications which have reached him in the last three years from an association in China, for the propagation of the gospel of Christ. They are adapted to excite a desire for knowledge rather than to satisfy it, as they leave unanswered many questions that naturally arise in the mind. The first letter was signed by twenty-one persons of different trades, among whom, says Dr. Barth are "two missionaries from Europe and America, who are naturalized in China, the rest native Chinese." He adds, "From this time (June, 1844) the Chinese Association sent regularly every month an account, which I published in my missionary periodicals, and expressed my readiness to receive contributions for them, with the express condition, however, that other existing Missionary Societies should not suffer thereby. These reports have, in various instances, excited an interest in Germany, and I was enabled, by the contributions of individuals who have the cause of the Lord at heart, to send this association in the course of the last two years between £400 and £500. At my request, the Basle Missionary Society likewise resolved to aid their labours, by sending two of their missionaries to under. take the direction of a portion of their native preachers, and by defraying the expense of their maintenance. Moreover, the Rhenish Missionary Society at Bremen consented to send two missionaries to superintend the la bours of native preachers in another district.

"In order to give a view of the present state of their labours and prospects, as well as to show something of the sentiment and spirit

by which they are animated, I shall communicate some extracts from the monthly reports from the close of the year 1846, and the beginning of the present year. Gaëhan, the secretary and correspondent of this association, and, as it appears, its director, whose rich experience and burning zeal are generally known and unquestionable, writes"At the close of the year it is necessary to settle our accounts; and from these it appears, that our debts amount to no less than 800 dollars, whilst we have pledged ourselves in anticipation for 2000 dollars. And with all this, the salaries of most of the labourers are so low, that they must necessarily be increased. In such circumstances our faith in the eternal and rich Lord would certainly waver, were it not that his promises are yea, and amen. But to show that we really confide in his truth, and expect all from his boundless grace, we agreed upon the following resolutions. "We must render the growing church at Miau every aid, and therefore voted to its minister eighteen dollars. Ming, at Tiotchis, wants our support, and consequently we transmit to him twenty dollars. According to the latest intelligence, a new congregation has been formed at Shantshufu, and it is of importance, in a brotherly manner, to strengthen the hand of the preacher, Wang, in his labours, who has just returned thence. And we are determined to prosecute the mission at Kiangsi, and this for the plain reason, that from thence the circulation of books can be carried on upon a large scale. And as the Lord has vouchsafed his blessing on our efforts in the conversion of souls at Hunan, we have a plain indication that we are to carry on his work there with diligence. Among the inhabitants of Kiajingtschu, a great love for the word is manifested, and we can cherish the hope of gathering a congregation there, and that the Lord will grant his blessing on our effort. We do not regard money, therefore, but the eternal will of our blessed Lord."

"Fin has, in the meanwhile, entered on his journey to Tokien; Gin and Hu went to Tungkwan; Fat went to Tamtsui; Hira and Tik to Haikung, and Hiüntau went to Pathiang, &c., in order that, in consequence of the undertakings at a distance, those in the immediate vicinity might not be forgotten. A letter from Tshit, describes his distressing situation, and great need of money at Tiojio, where he lives with his mother, seventy years of age. In the town itself, where we laboured a long time without any apparent success, there are fourteen persons whom he considers as converts, and who are ready for baptism. Pia (the Mandarin) gives us a description of his journey to the sources of the Pearl river, from whence he intends to reach the shores of the river Yangtsze. He has preached at several places, though with fear; and a man whom he met at Hunau

was so struck with the truth, that he made a journey of ten days, in order to receive fur ther instructions in Christianity at this place. We cannot, certainly, complain of want of earnestness in these people. Likewise the journals of the brethren labouring at Canton and Tutsan have arrived. It is particularly cheering, that these brethren endure all manner of ill-treatment willingly; and, though pelted with stones, preach the gospel of peace incessantly.

The 13th of December, 1846, there were seven persons baptized here, a doctor, a shopkeeper, a servant, two schoolmasters, and two peasants.

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Tshong has been the instrument of bringing five persons to the Lord in the place of Ciajingtshu, among whom is a learned doctor, the first of this kind of men that has embraced Christianity. The prospects in those distant regions are very cheering. The inhabitants have a great desire for books, and read incessantly, and have a reputation for literary talents throughout the whole empire. 'We are daily urged by our brethren to send them out. Loming thought that it would be worth the trial to go out without money. In the course of this year our fifty labourers, including books, travelling expenses, &c., have cost about the same sum as three English missionaries, with their fami lies, in the sea port towns.

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"Since the formation of our association, the number of converts, or baptized, amounts to 304, which gives not even one individual for a million of the population in China. This is indeed deeply humiliating, and quickens us to earnest prayer and devoted labour. However, in the year 1846, the blessings have been much more abundant, than in the two preceding years taken together."

Some further extracts are given, after which Dr. Barth says,

"The Chinese Association has now fifty labourers, who, at least, are just as effectual as so many European missionaries in the first three years of their stay there can be. For, in the first instance, they have not to acquire the language, nor yet the manners of the Chinese, and their way of expression, and hence lose no time. Then they have no difficulty in travelling through the interior of the country, whilst hitherto European missionaries have not ventured to go beyond the seaport towns. Moreover, they do not suffer from the climate, which obliges so many a missionary to return home before he has hardly entered on his work.

"The mission, through natives, is besides much cheaper. They need no outfit and passage money across the ocean, and, as Chinese, they live so simply and frugally, that ten of them need no more than a single European missionary. And, as they are procurable in any number, especially as the work of conversion proceeds, because the

converts are usually willing, provided they have the needful talents, to be employed as preachers of the gospel; in this way there can be accomplished, with the same sum of money, ten times more than in the usual way. So much is certain, if China is to be brought to Christ, and who will doubt this?it must be done through the Chinese them selves.

"And, as they have the desire, and ask to be thus employed, kindly come to their aid, my brethren in England, and thereby enable them not only to will, but also to do."

ROMISH BAPTISMS IN CHINA.

The Protestant minister in Foix, France, writes in the following manner to the editor of the Archives du Christianisme :

"Last Sunday, H. Verroles, Bishop of Colombo, Apostolic Vicar of the province of Manchoo, Chinese Tartary, who has lately returned from that country, preached in the large church at Foix. He related to us many wonderful things of the doings of himself and his fellow labourers in that part of the Chinese empire. I repeat here, only what he said about the manner in which baptism is imposed

on the children of these heathens.

"As the missionaries are not sufficient for the requirements of their immense field of labour, baptizers are educated and prepared. For this office new converts eligible for the object are chosen. They are, however, not instructed in the doctrines of the Christian religion; as this cannot be the means to save souls and to make proselytes. These men are simply taught how to administer baptism, and to know something about diseases of children and their remedies, just enough to apply some medicines, either beneficially or injuriously, and to know whether the disease is mortal or not. This is amply sufficient for the purpose intended, which is, not to cure the diseases of the children, or to relieve them, but to baptize, and to open to them by this sacrament of regeneration the gates of heaven. "Thus instructed, the baptizers wander through the country; and at whatever village or town they arrive, they make it known, that they possess the art to cure the diseases of children. As soon as their arrival is made known in the place, the mothers hurry to bring their sick children to them. They examine the children carefully, feel their pulse at the fore-finger, and declare with an important mien, that the child is dangerously ill upon this they ask for water in order to wash quickly the child's head. The mother, superstitious enough, runs for the water; and the so-called doctor takes the water into his hands and pours it over the head of the child, while he repeats the words appointed to be used at baptism. Thus is the child baptized, without either the knowledge or the will of its parents.

"With the aid of this stratagem" (our ingenuous preacher used this word), " 40,000 heathen children have already received baptism; and 20,000 of them regenerated by baptism have died. The difference of these two figures will show you, that baptism is administered to all the children that are presented, whether they be mortally ill or not."

Instead, therefore, of instructing these poor heathen children, their ignorance and Lies and deceit superstition is imposed on.

are unblushingly made use of, in order to impart unto them grace, and to lead them to the truth! And the superstition of these poor people is confirmed, while they are made to believe, that through mysterious and unintelligible words the diseases of their children are cured.

EUROPE.

PERSECUTION OF BAPTISTS IN PRUSSIA.

From a letter addressed by Mr. Lehmann to a lady in this country, with a sight of which we have been favoured, it appears that he and his friends in Berlin have recently undergone much affliction. He has had repeated attacks of dangerous and painful dis ease, and has met with great opposition from the civil authorities. "Many severe measures," he says, "have been executed against us. They have taken from me a fine of thirty dollars. There was a probability that I should go to prison for six weeks, but I was not yet worthy of that honour. One of our dear brethren, however, in Templin, is by this time in captivity. They forbid very severely the circulating of tracts there. My time has been much taken up in writing memorials, and protests, and petitions for all our afflicted brethren. Meantime, the Lord raises up children of stones. There are many ready to follow Christ in baptism; and, as soon as I can recover strength, I must go itinerating from village to village and from town to town. We have received a patent of toleration; and it might be thought that persecution was now entirely at an end, but that does not appear to be the case. We must pass, apparently, through other fiery trials.

"Our building of the meeting-house goes on pretty well. In a month or six weeks we hope to see the roof on it. Our narrowed means have compelled us, however, to begin with a part only of the intended building, and when we have recovered strength we shall go on and complete the rest.”

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