apostles and proplets, and all the multitude of the redeemed, before the throne of God and the Lamb.-To the Father of mercies, and God of all grace, everlasting thanks are due, for such examples of living and dying, such scals to the missionary cause. Mr. Richards, after burying his friend, remained at the Cape, with no very material alterations in his case, until the 25th of November, when, not finding an opportunity for a direct return to Ceylon, he embarked for Madras;-hoping that, in no long time, he might thence get back to his wife and his brethren at the seat of the mission. His letters, written at the time, breathe a spirit eminently Christian. [See Pan. for June, pp. 278-280.] The latest letters from Ceylon make mention, that intelligence had just been received of Mr. Richards's arrival at Madras, in much the same state of health, as when he left the Cape.*—He is in the hand of his Divine Master, the sovereign and gracious, and all-sufficient Lord of missions. Living or dying he is safe; and the cause, to which his heart has been so evidently devoted, will be advanced. Our Ceylon mission, thus afflicted and weakened, has been regarded with deep sympathy and concern. The purpose of your Committee, as expressed at the last annual meeting, to use all diligence in strengthening the mission, and all care to prevent a failure of its hopes, has not been dormant. Immediately after the meeting, the resolution was decisively taken to send more missionaries to Ceylon; and Messrs. Miron Winslow, Levi Spaulding and Henry Woodward, were appointed for the service. On the 4th of November, at the Tabernacle Church in Salem, the individuals now named, and Mr. Pliny Fisk, were publicly set apart for the service of God in the Gospel of his Son among the heathen, by solemn ordination. In impressive tokens of the divine presence;-in a deep felt interest in the holy cause;-in a lively and exalted participation in the appropriate services; in union of sentiment and feeling, and fellowship in the breaking of bread,-the occasion was equal to any, which your Committee had ever the privilege to witness. The hope was entertained, that the three brethren designated for Ceylon, might be embarked in a few weeks after their ordination, and preparations for the purpose were actively put forward. No opportunity, however, was offered for conveyance to the field of their labors, until after the lapse of the winter and spring. The delay was irksome; but Providence had a kind intention. Just in season to go at the time finally fixed upon, yet not without the necessity of great despatch in preparation, John Scudder, M. D. a young physician of good professional reputation and practice in the city of New York, and of well established Christian character, after having long deliberated on the subject, came to the determination to make a sacrifice of his worldly prospects, and of all that could attach · him to his native country, for the benefit of the heathen, and the glory of Christ. Being apprised of the expected departure of the three waiting missionaries, he made a solemn offer of himself, his wife and child, to be sent with them to Ceylon. Since this Report was made, a letter has been received from Bombay, which mentions the arrival of Mr. R. as the seat of the mission in Ceylon. Dr. Scudder had for several years entertained serious thoughts of the ministry; had addicted himself to theological reading and study; and been accustomed to take a part in social religious exercises. It would, therefore, accord with his feelings and desires, to prosecute sacred studies, enjoying the aid of the brethren with whom he might be associated, daring his passage and after his arrival, until it should be deemed proper for him to receive ordination; and, in the mean time, and ever afterwards, to hold his medical science and skill sacredly devoted, and to be employed as opportunity should be afforded, for the benevolent purposes of the mission. Desirable as it was, that the deeply deplored breach, made by the removal of Mr. Warren from the mission, from its hospital, and from the miserable multitades to whom his medical practice promised to open the most hopeful access for the Gospel, should be supplied; your Committee could not but regard the offer of Dr. Scudder, as signally providential. His testimonies were ample and satisfactory; and he was gratefully accepted. On the 8th of June, the three ordained missionaries, and the beloved physician, with their wives, having previously received the instructions, and the affectionate counsels and exhortations of the Committee, embarked at Boston, on board the brig Indus, bound to Calcutta, but engaged provisionally to touch at Ceylon. It was a scene of sacred and melting tenderness; and while the parting hymn was sung, and the valedictory prayer was offered,-devoutly commending them to the grace of God for the holy and arduous service to which they were devoted,— a numerous assemblage of friends and spectators attested the deep sympathy and interest, with which their hearts were affected, by many tears. It may be hoped, that the fervent desires of many hearts are in gracious remembrance with Him, who rules the clements; and that within three or four weeks from this time, a scene scarcely less tender, a scene not of parting but of meeting, will be enjoyed in Ceylon. The circumstances and operations of the mission at Ceylon are considerably different from those at Bombay. As there has been extant for many years a good translation of the Scriptures into the Tamul or Malabarian, the common language of the northern part of Ceylon, where the mission is established; our missionaries there have no occa sion to employ themselves in making a translation, an arduous work, which occupies no inconsiderable portion of the time and laborious attention of our Bombay mission. Nor have they yet at Ceylon got the printing establishment into operation. They have a press and types, both Tamul and English, and apparatus and paper; and in no long time, it is hoped, will have a sufficiency of hands for commencing the printing of the Scriptures and other books and tracts. An edition of the Tamul Scriptures is greatly needed; as are also other books for their schools, for distribution, and the various purposes of the mission, The labors of this mission have consisted chiefly, hitherto, in preaching to the people, establishing and superintending schools, and instructing children in the family: with the necessary preparations for these important departments of labor. At the three stations of the Bombay Mission, the brethren are in the midst of large cities, comprising in all not less than two hundred thousand souls; and throughout which they preach and distribute books and tracts to people in the streets, at their houses and temples, and different places of resort, as opportunities are afforded,-but without the satisfaction and advantage of stated places and regular assemblies. The Ceylon mission is in a country of villages, where the people, though not thinly scattered, are yet very differently situ uated from those in crowded cities. In general they are less deeply immersed in the darkness and corruptions of paganism, and have more activity of intellect, more knowledge and more disposition to listen and inquire, than the mass of the Hindoos of Bombay. Besides Tillipally and Batticotta, the two stations of the mission, the brethren have six other large parishes under their particular care: Mallagum, Milette and Panditeripo, belonging to the Tillipally station; and Changane, Oodooville and Manopy, belonging to the station of Batticotta. In these parishes, as formerly reported, there are ancient church buildings and glebes, which our missionaries have been permitted to occupy, and which, after considerable expense in repairs, are of great advantage to the mission. And within these parishes chiefly,though not solely, the brethren have bestowed their labors and attentions; making their circuits from week to week, for preaching, visiting the schools, and the various purposes of the mission. For a considerable time, they would of course preach to the native people only by interpreters; but now, for more than a year, both Mr. Poor and Mr. Meigs have been able to preach in the language of the country. The instruction of children, however, has been with them, from the beginning, an object of very earnest attention. They early took the resolution to establish schools in all the parishes under their care, the superintendence of which should be assigned in divisions to the several brethren of the mission; and to extend the system to as great an amplitude, as they should find themselves able. But their operations have been retarded by the afflictive dispensations towards Messrs. Warren and Richards. In a joint letter bearing date May 24, 1818, Messrs. Meigs and Poor say: [See Pan. Feb. p. 78.] Only six months after this in his journal of November, Mr. Poor states: [Sec Pan. for Sept. p. 419.] These statements shew a rapid and very animating increase. The total number of pupils under the care of Mr. Meigs at this time, is not in any of the communications so definitely given. In September, however, two months earlier, he had five schools-four in Batticotta and one at Changane; and was intending soon to establish others in Manepy and Oodooville. It may be pretty safely estimated, that at the close of the year 1818, the period to which the present Report brings down the history of the mission, the total number of pupils in the schools, belonging to the two stations, was about seven hundred. Highly gratifying, also, is the success in obtaining children to be held under the special care of the missionaries, and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, in their families. In Mr. Poor's there were, at the last dates, twenty-four native boys; to whom, or the most of whom, select names were given, denoting them as the beneficiaries, respectively, of particular societies or individuals in this country; and of whom, as to their minds, their behavior, and their improvement, very pleasing accounts are given. The number in Mr. Meigs's family is not stated; but would seem, from facts and circumstances incidentally mentioned, to be considerable, and fast increasing. In this place the following brief extracts from the journals and letters of Messrs. Meigs and Poor, may be interesting to the Board, as they will shew, in varied lights, the state and labors, the spirit and prospects of the mission. In the journal of the Batticotta station, Mr. Meigs writes: [See Pan. May, pp. 225-230.] The next are notices by Mr. Poor, in the journal of Tillipally. [See Pan. Aug. pp. 376-978, and Sept. p. 417.] In their joint letter of May 24th of the last year, the brethren say, [See Pan. Feb. p. 76.] To the extracts now given your Committee will add only the following, from the latest joint letter, bearing date Oct. 16, 1818. After several particular acknowledgements of donations from societies and individuals, for the education of children in their families, the brethren proceed to say:-[See Pan. July, p. 319.] These extracts afford ample evidence that the brethren of this mission have been laborious in their work, and much reason to hope that their zealous labors will not be in vain in the Lord. When joined by those, who are now on their passage, the mission will be strengthened, its schools may be multiplied, and its operations extended. Supyen, the interesting youth noticed at some length in the Report of the last year, was, at the time of the latest dates, upon the coast of the neighboring peninsula, still suffering from persecution, but apparently steadfast in the faith. Of Maleappa it may reasonably be hoped, that he will not only prove himself to have been made a partaker of the grace of the Gospel, but also be a helper to the mission and a blessing to the heathen. Mention is made in the letters and journals, of one or two others, hopefully turned from darkness unto light; and of a prevailing conviction on the minds of not a few, that their idolatrous system is vanity and a lie. [To be conchided in our next.] DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, from Sept. 16, to Oct. 23, 1819. [In the following list of donations, the letters S. I. M. stand for the Sandwich Island Mission, or the Mission to Owhyhee and the neighboring Islands. Abington, Ms. Fem. Benev. Soc. for the Sand. Isl. Mis. Total. 35 50 162 00 23 00 50 150-200 Arundel, Me. Henry Clark, a boy 6 years old, for the hea. sch. Ashby, Ms. Several ladies, members of the Cent Soc. The monthly concert, 20 00 Augusta, Me. A missionary box kept in the monthly concert, for the ed. of hea. chil. by the Rev. Benj. Tappan, The Fem. Mite Soc. by Sarah Eveleth, Treas. The Juven. Mite Soc. by James Bridge, 10 00 5 00-15 00 120 00 [These two sums, together with the payment of $15 in April last, are for educating a child at Brainerd.] Barre, Ms. Fem. Cent. Soc. by the hand of Mr. C. Jenkins, Belchertown, Ms. A weekly confe: ence, for the S. I. M. by Justus For- Berlin, Con. Fem. Benev. Soc. by Elizabeth Goodrich, Treas. Bethlem, Con. From a family, Bloomfield, N. Y. Dea. Buel, by Mr. E. Loomis, Bluehill, Me. Ladies' Cent Soc. for the ed. of hea, chil. by the Rev. Jona. The Children's Soc. for the same object, A bal. to make change, Boscawen, N. H. (W. parish.) Cent Soc. by Martha Little, Treas. for the mission at Brainerd, Boston, Ms. Mr. Whitney, by Mr. S. T. Armstrong, a sum found in the street, Total. 12 87 Contrib. after a Sermon in the Old South Chh. by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, 15517 From "S." for do by do. 2.00 Members of the Old South Church, for the educ. of a child named Joshua Monthly concert of the Old South and Park Street Churches, for the mission to Jerusalem, Ladies, for Mary Mason, remainder of an ann. payment, by Mrs. Storrs, An individual, at the close of the communion service in Park Street chh. 30 00 A lady, by the Rev. Mr. Dwight, for S. I. M. Dea. Edward Phillips, by Mr Armstrong, for S. I. M. Two collections in Park Street Church, viz. On Friday evening, Oct. 15, and Saturday morning, Oct. 16, for S I. M. Boxborough, Ms. A gentleman, for S. I. M. Boxford, Ms A lady, by Dr. Woods, for S I. M. $2; for Am. Ind. 1 75, 3 75 1.00 20 00 184 14 2. 00 5 00 Brattleborough, Ver. A lady, for S. I. M. Bridgetown, N. Jer. The Presbyterian church, by the Rev. Jona. Free 10.00 7 72 14 89 14.00 42.05 303 97 2.00 1. 00 50 20 00 Brimfield, Ms. Subscription by ladies, for S. 1. M. Capt. Daniel Chamberlain, for the mission at Brainerd, Brookfield, Ms. Contribution in the 1st parish, for S. I. M. by the Rev. 24 00 74 28 44 31 Mr. Jesse Bannister, 2.00 Individuals in the 2d parish, for S. I. M. by the Rev. Micah Stone, 3; the Relig. Char. Soc. of Females, $1, 4.00 Brooklyn, Con. Mr. Tyler, for S. I. M. 2.00 • See also Note to p. 523. † This amount includes the total from both the E. and W. parishes. |