THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. VOL. IV.J Saturday, October 1, 1817. [No 2. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. Speeches at the 13th Anniversary, (continued fom page 8.) Thanks to the Vice-Presidents were moved by W. T. MONEY, Esq. M. P. 66 My Lord, "Never having addressed such an assembly before, I hope I shall meet with indulgence. In proposing the thanks of this Society to your Vice-Presidents, I should feel that I had undertaken a task to which my powers were quite unequal, if it required that I should expatiate on the merits of those eminent personages, and their services, in the cause of Christianity; but the distinguished exertions which they have made to forward the glorious work in which we are all engaged, have been too conspicuous, and too often the theme of admiration in this place, to make it necessary for me, in submitting my proposition, to do more than indulge the impulse of my own feelings, in assuring them that their services are no less appreciated by their countrymen in the East, than they are by their fellow Christians at home. From that distant quarter of the globe, where the Gospel is widely diffusing its blessings, I have lately returned; and among the delightful enjoyments which awaited my return to my native land, one of the most gratifying to the best feelings of my heart has been to be associated with this excellent Institution, whose great and pious exertions to circulate the Scriptures among the natives of India, I have had the happiness to witness. and, as far as depended on my humble efforts, to promote. Having passed many years in India, particularly on the western side of the Peninsula, I venture, at the suggestion of some friends in this Society, to offer a few observations which have occurred to me, on the state of Christianity in that interesting portion of the British dominions. I consider, my Lord, that the first great step taken to propagate the Gospel on the western side of the Indian Peninsula, was the establishment of a Bible Society at Bombay :-that Society was formed under the auspices of one of your Vice-Presidents, Sir Evan Nepean, who, I understand, solemnly pledged himself, before he took his departure from this country, to promote the objects of this Society. That pledge he has amply redeemed. I am happy to take this opportunity of declaring, from my own personal knowledge, that, by his example, his influence, and his purse, he has largely contributed to advance the great cause under his government, and to extend its blessings wherever the British authority could favour its adoption. At the formation of the Society at Bombay, it had to encounter the strongest prejudices, which had been excited in the minds of the natives, who were led to fear that some measure of compulsion B 18 Speech of W. T. Money, Esq. at the was intended for the introduction of Christianity among them; bụt no sooner had the motives ascribed to us been expressly disclaimed, and our real objects clearly explained, than all apprehension vanished from their minds. The Second Annual Report of the Society will show how far it has succeeded in promoting the views of the Parent Society, what difficulties remain to be encountered, and what measures have been employed to overcome them. "A primary object, in the contemplation of its founders, (and as essential to the attainment of its end,) was, the instruction of the lower orders of British Protestants in India, and the establishment of schools for the education of Indian children; an object which, I have reason to believe, is in a course of successful prosecution. The late Dr. Buchanan, in his Christian Researches, has observed, that European example, in the great towns of India, was the bane of Christian instruction. However just that observation may have been, I can now bear testimony, from some experience, that, since his time, the morals of every description of British residents in India are greatly improved; a zeal for religion very generally prevails, and our conduct is more in unison with our doctrine, and better calculated to diffuse it. This change is to be attributed to the circulation of the Bible, to the Ecclesiastical Establishments which Dr. Buchanan recommended, to the labour of many able and pious Missionaries, and to the example of some of the highest in authority, an example always of powerful effect, and which, for the happiness of the governed, should ever be an indispensable requisite in the selection of a Governor. "I have been the more induced, my Lord, to notice the im provement in the moral and religious conduct of my countrymen in India, because a Roman Catholic Missionary, in a letter addressed to one of the Vice-Presidents of the Bombay Auxiliary Society, while he states our public and national virtues to be the subject of praise and admiration with all castes of Indians, represents them as treating our domestic manners and vices with the highest contempt; a greater libel than this, on the British character, was never published. .: "The great diversity of dialects which prevails within the limits to which the Bombay Society directs its attention, extending from Cape Comorin to the Isthmus of Suez, forms a considerable impediment to the speedy circulation of the Scriptures. The Society has endeavoured to overcome the difficulty, by increasing the number of translations; but, as the work of translation is necessarily slow, we should not overlook the practice of the Portuguese, who taught their language to the natives of India, and made it a vehicle of their religious instruction. Their language has survived their empire in the East, and continues to be the medium of propagating their mode of worship, with a degree of success with which our Church, in the present zenith of our temporal power, cannot keep pace. "The Portuguese language would soon lapse into disuse, and its accompanying superstitions be supplanted by the pure faith of 13th Anniversary of the Br. & For. Bible Society. 19 the Gospel, if the English tongue were generally spoken by the natives, whose attachment would be increased by their identifying themselves with those whose language and religion they had made their own. It is by cultivating the language of Protestant Christians, and by the increased intercourse with them, which its attainment will produce, that the faculties of the natives are to be expanded, and their affections conciliated. As their judgment ripens, it will be prepared to let in that heavenly light, by which alone the Pagan can be led to cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they have made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and the bats.' "What sort of abominations the Christian religion has to overcome, (and which, by the divine blessing on this Society, it will certainly overcome,) will sufficiently appear from the following fact: "About ten or twelve miles from Poonah, there is a being, impiously styled the living God; I went to see it; and I found it to be an ignorant and pampered youth of fourteen or fifteen, apparently in a state of idiocy, and surrounded by votaries, paying him adoration. His history is briefly this:-About a hundred and seventy years ago, a Brahmin, of some consequence, said, that he had been informed, in a vision, that there should be seven incarnations of the Deity in his family: the promised number having concluded their mortal state of existence, the people interested in the farce set up a supernumerary, which was the boy I saw; and when asked if this did not exceed the number originally promised, they unblushingly said, it was very true, but added, it was a proof only that God could do more than he promised. "But, my Lord, to return to that important object, the education of the Indian youth. The natives themselves are not adverse but favourably disposed, to European instruction. Of this a memorable proof has been given, in the foundation of a College at Calcutta, by the Hindoos themselves, for the education of their children in European branches of learning. On the other side of India the disposition is equally favourable; some of the principal natives having solicited that a schoolmaster might be sent for from this country, to instruct their children, and they would liberally remunerate him with any salary the Government should think adequate to his services. It is, my Lord, to the great attention which has been paid to the early instruction of the children of natives, that, under the divine influence, Ceylon owes its pre-eminence in religious knowledge. That beautiful island, where I had the happiness to pass some time, surpasses the continent of India, as transcendantly in the fruits of Christianity, as in the luxuriant growth of its natural productions." [After referring to certain interesting facts, in support of this assertion, and paying a suitable tribute of respect to the government of General Brownrigg, as patronizing all measures for the propagation of the Gospel, Mr. Money proceeded:] "There is no part of the globe, my Lord, in which this Society 20 Speech of W. T. Money, Esq. at the has more able and more zealous Auxiliaries, than in the Island of Ceylon the ministers of the established church, and the missionaries of different sects, emulating the delightful example of harmony which prevails in this Society, cordially unite in the propagation of the Gospel: the only contest between them, is a competition to do good, and to accomplish the sublime object of their common mission-the conversion and salvation of their fellowcreatures." [After expressing how much the Society was indebted to Mr. Tolfrey,* the Cingalese translator, and observing, that the natives were prepared for Christianity, Mr. Money resumed:] "A remarkable and interesting proof lately occurred, of the slow, but certain tendency of knowledge and civilization to promote the cause of Christianity in the East. "The Chalcas, or cinnamon peelers in Ceylon, are the most industrious, intelligent, and useful of the Cingalese, but they are not of the highest cast. On this account, they have been refused admission into the order of priesthood. Resenting this seclusion some years since, they selected one of their youths, of the most promising talents, and sent him to Ava, where the religion of Budhoo prevails, to study its mysteries, and receive ordination. On his way, he remained some time on the continent of India, in the British territories; acquired the Sanscrit language, and generally cultivated his mind. He continued some years in Ava, and was distinguished by the Sovereign of that country for his eminence in religion and learning; but, on his return to Ceylon, to execute the high functions of the priesthood, it appeared, that the measures which had been taken to qualify him for the pagan ministry had defeated their end, and raised him far above the duties he had to fulfil. The grace of God had opened to him the Book of Eternal Life, and he, and one of his friends and pupils, who had accompanied him to Ava, determined to become Christians, and were baptized, during divine service, in the church at Columbo. He aspires to become a Christian clergyman, and there is good ground of hope, that the conversion of this acute and learned heathen, will accelerate the general conversion of the natives, which, in the opinion of the most competent judges, must be accomplished, and at no distant period. A circumstance also occurred in my own family, so apposite and striking, that I hope it may be allowable to relate it. "Between two and three years ago, I went from Bombay into the Mahratta country, for the health of my family; and we encamped in the bosom of a beautiful grove at Lanocoly, about thirty miles from Poonah. One day, as our little girl, not three years old, was walking through the grove with her native servant, they approached an ancient and deserted Hindoo temple; the man, quitting the little child, stepped aside, and immediately paid his * Intelligence has since been received, that death has deprived the Society and the world of this learned, pious, and indefatigable Translator. 13th Anniversary of the Br. & For. Bible Society. 21 adorations to a stone Bull, that was seated at the door of the temple. When he returned, the following dialogue took place between them: Saumy, what for you do that?'- Oh, Missy, that my god.'- Your god-why your god a stone-your god no can see no can hear no can move-my God see every thingmy God make you-make me-make every thing.' "We remained at this sequestered place for four months, and the scene have described was frequently repeated. Saumy never failed to repair to the temple, and the dear child never failed to rebuke him for his idolatry. He became, notwithstanding, very much attached to her; and when he thought she was going to Europe, he said to her, What will poor Saumy do when Missy go England?-Saumy no father, no mother.' She instantly replied, Oh, Saumy, if you love my God, he will be your Father and Mother too.' "The old man, with tears in his eyes, promised to love her God. 'Then,' said she, you must learn my prayers.' And she taught him the Lord's Prayer, the Belief, and her morning and evening Hymns. And, one morning, when we were assembled to family worship, Saumy, of his own accord, quite unexpected, came into the room, took his turban from his head, laid it on the floor, and, kneeling down, audibly repeated after me the Lord's Prayer. From thenceforward there was a visible change in his whole conduct, particularly in his regard for truth. He became anxious to learn English, that he might read the Bible, and, in a little time, he accomplished the task. But I fear I am trespassing on that indulgence which I ought not to abuse; I shall therefore conclude, by submitting the motion which I hold in my hand.” The Rev. GEORGE CLAYTON, (Independent Minister,) after a brief reference to the speech of the Mover, proceeded as follows: "These votes of thanks, though in some sense customary, and matters of course, are not unmeaning or unimportant. I always view them in the light of a testimony-solemnly and deliberately given-not merely to the individuals immediately concerned in them, but to the Scriptures themselves, and to the Society which is devoted to the dispersion of them. When I look at that Society, Gentlemen, not as I behold it to-day in this crowded Hall, where all is acclamation and triumph, but when I view it in the calm retirement of the study, and as I have lately done through the cur tains of a sick chamber; I can truly say, I am rapt in admiration of its constitution and movements; it comes over me in those forms of grandeur and majesty, which I have really no language to describe. I look with amazement and delight at the unincumbered simplicity of its plan; for it gives the Bible, and the Bible onlyat the amplitude of its range; for the field is the world-at the multitude of its agents; for these are not easily calculated-at the vastness of its resources, which exceed the most sanguine expectations at the magnificence of its successes; for these are now emblazoned in every dialect of the earth, and quartered on the escutcheon of many a crowned head in Christendom. But, Gentle |