proved on oath that he was the in-fear that Dissenting registers were dividual named in the affidavit: invalid, have endeavoured to diupon the reading of which," vest their minds of their religious says an eminent Counsel, "his objections, and for the sake of a Honour was pleased to order a sum good register of their children's of money, amounting to nearly births, have taken them to the 4001., to be paid to that indivi-parish churches and had them dual; so that his Honour must have sprinkled! It is hoped, after readconsidered the affidavit as suffi-ing the above statement, such incient evidence of the time of his consistent conduct will never be birth." repeated, which is certainly "doing We hope the above instance will evil that good may come;" and for satisfy persons of the Baptist de- which there can no longer be any nomination, that if their children's plausible excuse. We strongly adbirths are registered, either in a vise parents to enter the names of book belonging to the congrega- their children, and the days of tion to which they respectively their birth, in their family Bible, belong, or in their family Bible, as as the book most likely to be taken well as at Dr. Williams's Library, care of; and also to have the sigan affidavit to the identity of the natures of the doctor and others person, by two competent wit-who were present affixed; that in nesses, will be sufficient evidence the event of their being dead at of the birth in a court of law. the time such evidence is requirWe have been informed that ed, their hand-writing might be some Baptist parents, from the attested. J. I. REVIEW. Brief Memoir relative to the Serampore (Continued from p. 516.) they had been informed by their esteemed brother Fuller, that the sum which they could engage to send out for the support of six brethren, their wives and children, was about 3601. annually, it became necesfor them to look around and see whe sary selves, meet, if possible, their missionary expences, and manage their own affairs, co-operating at the same time with their brethren at home who desire to promote the common cause. It so happened that the views of his brethren who had lately arWe attempted to shew, in our last Num-rived, fully coincided with his own, and as ber, that the terms "Serampore Missionaries," as applied to designate a separate body from the Society at whose expense they had been sent out to India, was a complete misnomer; and also, that until after the death of Mr. Fuller, nothing had been said by the brethren at Serampore, from which it could have been imagined that they were not the bona fide missionaries of the Society in England. In proof of these remarks, we adduced an extract from their ever memorable form of agreement, entered into in 1805, by the missionaries at Serampore, in common with all the other missionaries at that time in India, and also an extract from a letter of the late Rev. Wm. Ward, written October, 1813, which stated that all the property which had been realized by himself and Drs. Carey and Marshman, whether of houses or printing stock, &c. was "the property of the Society." The attentive reader of Dr. Marshman's "Brief Memoir" will perceive, that the whole force of his argument for the purpose of attempting a justification of his conduct in breaking off from the Parent Society, rests upon the statement, that immediately after his arrival in India, so early as the year 1800, the missionaries at Serampore had considered themselves unconnected with (6 Cothe Society at home, except by operation," in common with all "who desired to promote the same common cause!" Let the following paragraph be carefully and cautiously read :— "The ideas which Dr. Carey entertained from the beginning, respecting the manner in which missions can be effectually supported, were simply these, that whatever aid individuals might require at first, they should as soon as possible support them ther they could by unexceptionable means reduce their principles to practice. With this view, in February 1800, (one of their brethren having died,) the five survivors entered into a voluntary agreement, by which they resolved to form out of the product of their individual callings, one common stock, devoting it under their own direction to the support of their families and the cause of missions, and interdicting all private trade. Their eldest brother having lived some time in India, had brought with him from Mudnabatty various articles of value; for these, the brethren recently arrived, therefore paid him, with a view to their individually proceeding in the course intended. In August 1800, their brother Fountain died, and in July 1801, brother Brunsdon, so that the three survivors, Carey, Marshman, and Ward, were left to pursue what had been originally contemplated." p. 32. This statement, in regard to what Mr. Fuller told Messrs. Marshman, Ward, Grant, and Brunsdon, prior to their leaving England, viz. that all the support which they and "their wives and children" were authorized to expect from the Society, was but about 3601. annually," ought to have been supported by incontestible evidence. Nothing like it appears in the "Periodical Accounts" of that period, nor will any who knew Mr. Fuller, and were acquainted with the solicitude which he constantly expressed for the comfort of the missionaries, soon give credit to a representation so injurious to his character. What! when there was a large balance in hand, after all the expences had been defrayed of sending these missionaries, and their wives and chil P P dren to India, is it conceivable that the noble minded Secretary should have told them, that they must not depend upon the Society for more than half the sum necessary for their support? have felt, and how indignantly he would have expressed himself, had any one acquainted with the fact since disclosed, said to him, "Notwithstanding the Serampore brethren have not issued a declaration of independence,' they yet consider themselves only as co-operating with those brethren at home who desire regards any kind of dependence on the Society, be assured every thing they have purchased, and all they have ac We are confident, as regards all the missionary objects which Dr. Marshman attributes, in pages 33 and 34 of his "Memoir," to the union of the mission-to promote the common cause; but as aries at Serampore, that they were all assisted by the annual grants sent from the Society at home! We are certain also, that these remittances were made un-complished, has been without receiving der the supposition that the missionaries either funds or directions from their at Serampore were the missionaries of brethren in England!" p. 59. the Society; and if this were not the fact, we repeat, there was great disingennousness in those missionaries, that their friends at home were suffered to labour under such an erroneous impression, and to propagate such a delusion. But if at that early period of their residence at Serampore, they became a separate body, why did they settle in trust for the Society, the three first houses purchased by funds from the product of the missionaries' labours, and the money sent from England. Dr. Marshman says, that until the year 1810 they united their funds with those sent out by the Society, but afterwards kept them distinct ! Why, then, we again ask, had they not made it known? Our firm conviction is, that had Mr. Fuller lived till now, the Christian public, whether in India or in England, would never have heard either of "dis-had accomplished their object, to find tinct funds" or of "Serampore Missionaries." Dr. Marshman quotes, p. 50, a sentiment of Mr. Fuller, from a letter written to Mr. Ward, March, 1813. "We do not consider ourselves," said he, "as legislators for our brethren; but merely as co-workers with them. If ever the Committee begin to legislate for India, I should expect they would issue a declaration of independence, and I should not be sorry if they did." We feel obliged to Dr. M. for this quotation, because it fully proves what we have asserted, that Mr. Fuller never dreamed the Serampore brethren had become an "independent body." We can easily conceive how disappointed he would It is not, however, difficult to perceive the intention of Dr. Marshman in giving this quotation; it is what lawyers would call an inuendo, the proving of which nullifies an indictment. We deny the implied accusation, that the Committee of the Society, since the death of Mr. Fuller, has attempted to legislate for the brethren at Serampore: -on the contrary, their conduct towards them has been uniformly that of deference, respect, and affection. They have invariably united conciliation with firmness in refusing to compromise the rights or to surrender the property of the Society: instead of their filling the station of legislators, or attempting to do so, it has been their hard fate for ten years, like that of Sysiphus in the fable, to roll a stone up the mountain, and after thinking they it rolling back again with accumulated weight, and increasing their difficulties. The only attempt at proof, made by Dr. Marshman, of these legislative attempts in the Committee, is given in p. 61. He states that a letter, sent from Oxford, December, 1816, contained "various resolutions, tending to invest the Serampore brethren with the direction of the Society's affairs in India." Surely, this was not in the tone of legislation! And this, it appears, is the only ground on which the "Serampore missionaries" have thought it indispensable to their comfort and usefulness, to "issue a declaration of independence!" For the history of the measures which produced the open rupture be tween the missionaries at Serampore | in the painful feelings which the event might occasion; but they also felt that they could not consistently continue to vote the funds with which they were intrusted to a body asserting entire independence-who would still appeal to the public by a separate agency-whose demands were continually rising-and for the support of stations which were to be governed by the irrespon While the Committee are conscions of having fulfilled the trust reposed in them with the utmost tenderness towards their brethren at Serampore, they entertain no and the Committee, we must refer our readers to the last Annual Report, and to the "Brief Memoir" of Dr. Marsh man. Soon after, it seems, the arrival of Dr. M. in England, he proposed to the Committee, in November, 1826, that one tenth of the general receipts of the Society should be granted to the Se-sible council of a college. rampore brethren. This was complied with, on the alone condition "that regular information be given of the mode in which the money so voted should be ex-doubt that their constituents will feel the pended." In less than three months after this, and before Dr. M. had received any fresh instructions from his brethren in India, he made a new proposal, that as 2,4001. per annum was indispensably necessary for the missionary efforts either made or contemplated at Serampore, he declined asking any specific sum, but wished to know how much the Committee would grant, leaving him to apply to the public for the remainder. force of the reasons under which they have acted. May it please God to overrule this event, however undesirable in itself, to the furtherance of the gospel of his Son !" p. 57. We have understood (though it is not mentioned in the Annual Report), that a short time after this disruption had been effected, by the unreasonable demands of Dr. Marshman, a letter was received, signed by his colleagues, the Rev. Dr. Carey, Messrs. Mack and Swan, and Mr. J. C. Marshman, expressing their high approbation of the treaty which Dr. Marshman had made with the Committee in November, viz. that one tenth of the general receipts should be annually remitted to the Serampore station. From this circumstance, and others which might be mentioned, it is certain that to Dr. Marshman, without the direction or concurrence of his associates, is this unhappy measure to be solely attributed. Instead of complying with this request, it appears the Committee proposed to take upon the Society the whole expence of supporting, not merely four of the out stations which they learned had, after Dr. Marshman left Serampore, been placed upon their funds, but all the out stations; thus providing for the whole Missionary expenditure and thereby relieving the Serampore brethren of the burden of which they complained. As a proof, too, of their anxiety to prevent disunion, they pro- It remains to be known whether the posed "that the superintendence of the venerable Dr. Carey will approve this stations should be confided to Drs. Carey last measure of his colleague, and sancand Marshman during their lives, only tion the disruption which he has effectreserving to the Society the nomination ed, without, as we think, any just cause of their successors." Dr. M. it appears, whatever. We hope, on account of the resolutely objected to this arrangement, reputation which Dr. C. has obtained, and the Committee as determinately and because we have the highest opiadhered to their proposition; the dis- nion of the simplicity and integrity of union, therefore, became inevitable. his character, that he will be found to The manner in which the Committee disapprove of the separation; and that state this circumstance, is highly cre- he will soon again be known as the ditable to their feelings and conduct-affectionate coadjutor of the Committee, and as the faithful missionary of the Society. "In admitting the conviction that it bad become expedient for the Society and the Serampore brethren henceforth to act altogether separately, the Committee were fully aware of the unfavourable impression which might be produced, and deeply sympathized We cannot conclude this article without expressing our firm persuasion, that the conduct of the Committee, in reusing to relinquish the claims of the Society upon the first purchases made should effectually lead all who are enat Serampore, and by refusing to vote ployed in conducting those missionary the funds of the Society, without hav- undertakings, to act up fully to the ining a control over their management spired directions, “Let no man glory in after the deaths of Drs. Carey and men:-he that glorieth, let him glory in Marshman, will be generally approved; the Lord." If the members of the Society so that they will still share the confi- have thought more highly of their senior dence and liberality of the Christian missionaries than they ought to have public, both in the Indies and in Bri-done, considering them to be “men,” tain. But surely, on reflection, Dr. M. however eminently distinguished as miwill feel cause for bitter regret, that he nisters of Christ, they have now been should, on such light grounds, have se- taught, painfully taught, their folly and parated himself—that he should, if his in- their sin, in having so done. Is not fluence be sufficient(whichwe apprehend God speaking by this event to the Soto be the case), rend away for ever the ciety, as he did to Gideon (Judges Serampore station from the Baptist | vii. 2.), “The people that are with thee Missionary Society. And for what pur- | are too many for me to give the Midianites pose is all this opprobrium and danger into thy hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves incurred? To secure for the missionaries against me, saying, Mine own hand hath at Serampore a state of independence; suved me?" that is, that they may be a separate body from the Society at home! But had their connection with the Society been maintained, which demanded from them no sacrifice of the liberty of managing exclusively their own affairs; which required from them no acknowledgement of inferiority, as though they were AN exquisite piece of writing, in the the servants of the Society; how much author's best and happiest style. His disunion would have been prevented remarks on the resurrection of the wiamong those ministers and others at dow of Nain's son are admirable throughhome, who are earnestly and equally out. But we cannot assent to the desirous of promoting the cause of the startling proposition,' as Dr. Styles Redeemer in India, by the instrumen- himself calls it, without more qualifying tality of the Baptist missionaries! We and modifying than he is willing to shall not cease to lament that the day allow ;-we cannot generalize on a subshould have ever arrived, to witness the ject where divine sovereignty is all in existence of two Particular Baptist all. Every man's days are numbered: Missionary Societies for propagating the whether they shall be many or few, deGospel in India; and that it has be-pends altogether on the will of God. come necessary for others belonging to It was best for Jonathan to die in his the denomination, besides the Commit- youth, and it was best for David, his tee of the original Society, to have their beloved friend, to die "in a good old names published as receiving "sub-age, full of days, riches, and honour." scriptions and donations in aid of Missionary stations, Translations of the Scriptures, Schools, and Female Education." A Funeral Sermon, occasioned by the What was the age of the amiable young female whose death occasioned this discourse, the preacher has not told us. That Dr. Marshman has, by these It was best for her, no doubt, to die measures, made a breach, and a wide when she did; but let us not be guilty breach, in the Society, is a most affect of such a non sequitur, as to infer, that ing fact. It is possible, certainly, that therefore it would be best for every these events may turn out for the fur-young disciple to die in youth. He that therance of the Gospel in India, though we cannot at present discover their tendency to effect it: unless, indeed, it hath "the key of David," will determine on every case singly and separately; and let bereaved parents and |