PUBLIC MEETINGS IN MAY. TUESDAY, May 1.-Morning, at 11.-Meeting of the Church Missionary Society, at Exeter Hall. Evening, at 6.-Meeting for the Christian Instruction Society, at Finsbury Chapel. Right Hon. Lord Henley in the Chair. Evening, at half-past 6.--Sermon for the Irish Society, at St. Clement's Dane, by the Hon. and Rev. Baptist W. Noel. WEDNESDAY, 2.-Morning, at 11.-Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, at Exeter Hall. Evening, at half-past 6.-Meeting of the Society for Promoting Ecclesiastical Knowledge, at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Street. John Brown, Esq., in the Chair. Evening, at half-past C.-Sermon for the Prayer-Book and Homily Society, St. Mary's, Strand, by the very Rev. the Dean of Salisbury. THURSDAY, 3.-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the Prayer Book and Homily Society, at Exeter Hall. Right Hon. Lord Bexley in the Chair. Noon, at 12.-Western Religious Tract Society, at Willis's Rooms. Marquis Cholmondeley in the Chair. Evening, at half past 6-Sermon for the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, at St. Clement's Dane, by the Rev. W. Jowett, M. A. Evening, at 6.-Meeting of the Sunday School Union, at Exeter Hall. Right Hon. the Earl of Roden in the Chair. Evening, at half-past 6.-Sermon for the Newfoundland and British North American School Society, at St. Barnabas, King Square, by the Lord Bishop of Calcutta. FRIDAY, 4-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, at Exeter Hall. Evening, at 6.-Meeting of the Book Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge, at Exeter Hall. Rev. Rowland Hill in the Chair. SATURDAY, 5.-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the London Hibernian Society, at Exeter Hall. Marquis Cholmondeley in the Chair. MONDAY, 7.--Morning, at 12.-Meeting of the British and Foreign School Society, at Exeter Hall. Lord John Russell, M. P., in the Chair. Morning, at 12-Meeting of the Port of London and Bethel Union Society, at the City of London Tavern. The Right Hon. Lord Mountsandford in the Chair. Evening, at 6.-Meeting of the London Itinerant Society, at Finsbury Chapel. Rev. W. B. Collyer, D. D., in the Chair. TUESDAY, 3.- Morning, at 6.-Meeting of the Religions Tract Society, at the City of London Tavern. Morning, at 10.-Meeting of the Congregational Union, at the Congregational Library. Morning, at half-past 10.-Sermon for the Port of London Society, on board the Floating Chapel, by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, D. D., of Stepney. Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the Naval and Military Bible Society, at Exeter Hall. Evening, at 6.-Public Meeting of the Irish Evangelical Society, at Finsbury Chapel. Evening, at half-past 6.-Meeting of the Aged Pilgrim's Society, at John's Street Chapel, Doughty Street. Lord Mandeville in the Chair, Evening, at half-past 6.-Sermon for the Newfoundland and British North American School Society, at St. Clement's Dane, by the Rev. H. Melville. WEDNESDAY, 9.-Morning, at half-past 10.-Sermon for the London Missionary Society, at Surrey Chapel, by the Rev. J. Thompson, D. D., Paisley. Evening, at 6.Sermou for the London Missionary Society, at the Tabernacle, by the Rev. John Morison, D. D., Brompton. THURSDAY, 10.-Morning, at 10.-Meeting of the London Missionary Society, at Exeter Hall. Noon, at 2.-Sermon for the General Society for Promoting District Visiting, at Portman Chapel, Baker Street, by the Lord Bishop of Chester. Evening, at 6.-Sermon for the London Missionary Society, at Tottenham Court Chapel, by the Rev. John Jones, Birmingham. FRIDAY, 11-Morning, at half-past 10.-Sermon for the London Missionary Society, at St. Ann's, Blackfriars, by the Rev. W. Bolland, A. M. Morning, at 11.-Meeting of the British Reformation Society, at Exeter Hall. Evening, at 6.-Communion of the London Missionary Society, at Sion, Orange Street, Silver Street Chapels, &c. &c. SATURDAY, 12-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society, at Exeter Hall. His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester in the Chair. MONDAY, 14.-Nocn, at 12.--Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Protestant Union, for the benefit of the Widows of Protestant Ministers, at the Congregational Library, Finsbury Circus. Evening, at 6.--Sermon for the Home Missionary Society, at the Ponitry Chapel, by the Rev. G. Clayton. TUESDAY, 15.-Evening, at 6.-Meeting of the Home Missionary Society, at Exeter Hall, Strand. Thomas Thompson, Esq., in the Chair. WEDNESDAY, 16.-Morning, at 10.-Sale of Useful Work for the Home Missionary Society, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. THURSDAY, 17.-Noon, at 12-Meeting of the General Society for Promoting District Visiting, at Exeter Hall. The Marquis of Cholmondeley in the Chair. FRIDAY, 18.-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the Society for Diffusing Information on the Punishment of Death. at Exeter Hall. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex in the Chair, TUESDAY, 22.-Noon, at 12.-Meeting of the Temperance Society, at Exeter Hall. Bishop of London in the Chair. Evening, at half past 6.-Meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Peace, at White Hart Court, Gracechurch Street. WEDNESDAY, 23.-Noon, at 1.-Meeting of the Association for Promoting Rational Humanity towards the Animal Creation, at Exeter Hall. The Right Hon. Lord Porchester, M. P., in the Chair. FOR MAY, 1832. ANNIVERSARY OF The London Missionary Society. ARRANGEMENT OF THE SERVICES AT THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY. Evening, Poultry Chapel.--Public Meeting for prayer for the influences of the Holy Spirit, on the Society and on all Missionary operations. With a short Address. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9. Morning, Surrey Chapel.-Rev. James Thomson, D.D., Paisley, to preach. THURSDAY, MAY 10. Morning. The PUBLIC MEETING will be held at EXETER HALL, IN THE STRAND. The Chair will be taken precisely at ten o'clock. Admission to the Hall will be by TICKETS, for the Platform, the Central Seats, and Raised Seats, respectively. The Platform will be appropriated to the Directors of the Society, both town and country, and other individuals who may take part in the proceedings of the Meeting, together with all Ministers who are members of the Society. For the Central Seats, Tickets will be furnished : To Annual Subscribers of Five Pounds, or to a family contributing Five Pounds, or To Presidents, Treasurers, and Secretaries, of Auxiliary Societies-One Ticket each. For the Raised Seats, Tickets of admission will be supplied to all other persons, Subscribers or Contributors to the Parent Society, or to its Auxiliaries and Associations, so far as the Hall will admit. N.B. No Individual can be entitled to a Ticket in more than one capacity. A Committee for the delivery of Tickets will attend at the Mission House, Austin Friars, from twelve o'clock till three, on Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, days of May. Ministers, who are members of the Society, will be supplied with Tickets for themselves and friends, on their sending, on any of the above-mentioned days, a list of such as ale entitled to them, and wish personally to attend. Evening, Tottenham Court Road Chapel, Rev. John Jones, Birmingham, to preach. FRIDAY, MAY 11. Morning. In the Church of St. Andrew Wardrobe, and St. Ann, Blackfriars, Rev. William Bolland, A. M., Vicar of Swineshead and Frampton, Lincolnshire, Domestic Chaplain to the Right Honourable Lord Teignmouth, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, to preach. Evening. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be administered at the following places of Worship, to those Members and Friends of the Society who are Stated Communicants, and who produce Tickets from their respective Ministers; viz. SION CHAPEL................... ORANGE-STREET CHAPEL SILVER-STREET CHAPEL Rev. George Collison.... to preside. Rev. Robert Winter, D. D... Rev. James Bennett, D. D............. KENNINGTON CHAPEL... CLAREMONT CHAPEL.... ST. THOMAS'S-SQUARE CHAPEL Rev. George Clayton... Rev. John Angell James, Birmingham The Morning Services to begin at Half-past Ten, and the Evening Services at Six o'clock. A Meeting of the Directors of the Society, both Town and Country, will be held at the Mission House, 26, Austin Friars, on Tuesday, the 8th of May, at Three o'clock in the afternoon. MISSIONARY HYMNS (New Enlarged Edition) price Sixpence, may be had of the Pub. lishers of this Magazine, and at the Doors of the Chapels, VOL. X. X LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, EAST INDIES. VIZAGAPATAM. Extracts of a Letter from Rev. James Dawson, recently received; addressed to the Directors of the London Missionary Society. HONOURED FATHERS AND BRETHREN, My last letter to you was dated the 15th December, 1830. In that communication I mentioned that my health was not good, and, I regret to say, that, with the exception of a few intervals, it has been in a declining state ever since; and during the hot season I expected every day to be laid aside from my labours by sickness. I have a complaint in my breast, with frequent difficulty in breathing, accompanied with debility and depression of spirits. This, I consider, has been brought on by the effects of repeated attacks of severe fever, and the influence of the climate, together with that of my numerous engagements. At present I am quite unable to give you a detailed account of the mission; but should my health improve, now that the weather is more favourable, I hope to be able to write you more fully in my next. Exigency of the Mission. My object at present in writing to you is to request you will take this mission into your serious consideration, and provide for it. In consequence of my state of health, the anxiety I feel respecting the mission has added to my indisposition, and greatly depressed my mind. May I be allowed to beseech you to consider what a multitude of souls are here perishing for lack of knowledge? I sincerely hope you will feel interested in their behalf, and not leave them without the means of instruction. It is unnecessary to mention that the seed of the word of God has long been sown among many in this place and neighbourhood, and accompanied with fervent prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to render it effectual; and I have no doubt that, after the seed time, the harvest will follow; and I trust those whom you send will be honoured to gather in the fruits in their season. Encouraging Indications. I am happy to say there is an increasing desire among those who read and hear the subjects of religion, to understand every thing they contain. The questions put to me respecting passages not easily under stood, give me reason to believe they hav inquiring minds, and anxiously wish to un derstand every thing respecting the religion of the Bible; and I can say, in reference t many under Christian instruction here, tha they are not far from the kingdom of heaven It gives me much satisfaction to perceive tha many have teachable dispositions. Seldom do any of those I am instructing bring for ward the least objection to any thing they read or hear in the sacred Scriptures; on the contrary, in general all admit that the subjects are excellent, and their desire is daily to understand them better, and feel their influence on their hearts. They are regular in their attendance, and evidently give a decided preference to the religion of Jesus Christ, the blessings of which I hope they will ere long enjoy, and renounce every vestige of idolatry, and be not ashamed or afraid publicly to profess the truth. I have often much regretted that the state of my health has prevented my enlarging on the subjects which seemed so much to engage their minds. The day of heavenly light is dawning upon them, and every interesting religious tract or pamphlet, lately put into their hands, they read and explain to each other with gratitude and pleasure. I requested the Religious Tract Society of Madras to print the three first chapters of Genesis in Teloogoo, in the form of tracts, which give an account of the Creation, the State of Innocence, and the Fall of Man; to which proposal they kindly ac ceded, and sent me a good supply, which I made the subjects of the Teloogoo services for a time. Afterwards I proceeded to expound the Epistles to the Corinthians, both of which sections of Scripture have been attended to by the hearers with much satisfaction. Lately I received a few copies of the first part of the Pilgrim's Progress, translated into Teloogoo by the Rev. Mr. Howell, of Cuddapah, which the people read and hear explained with interest and pleasure; and their knowledge of the character of the pilgrim, and other characters there represented, far exceed my expectations, as they had never seen such a book before. The most intelligent natives, who have read the Scriptures, are delighted to read and hear the similitude of the Christian pilgrim leaving the City of Destruction, and the circumstances connected with his journey towards the Celestial World. The questions they ask respecting the different characters evidently show they are inquiring after the truth of the Christian religion in every way it is brought to their view. I sincerely hope that this (to them) new and valuable book will prove a great blessing, especially to those who have been accustomed to hear the doctrines of Scripture, and are prepared to pursue, with interest, subjects founded upon the word of God. The Mission Church. I am happy to inform you that I have reason to be satisfied with the conduct and Christian deportment of the church members, excepting some little differences which have taken place among them, but which, I hope, are now settled. They keep together as a little flock surrounded by enemies to religion, and are persecuted for religion by those who call themselves Christians. They attend regularly to family worship, and occasionally hold social meetings among themselves, when they read the Scriptures, and three or four engage in prayer. You would be delighted to hear how fervently they pray for the conversion of the heathen, and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit to render the means of grace effectual among them. Some of them, not long ago, were heathen, and others, who stand nearly related to them, still continuing such, naturally dispose the former to seek their salvation. They are never absent from public worship, unless sickness prevent, or when it happens that any of the men are on guard. By their exemplary deportment and kind entreaty, they bring many of their neighbours with them to hear the gospel; and several persons who live near them join in their family worship. Since I last wrote you three members have joined the church. The small society which I mentioned in my last communication, which was formed among the members of the church, and a few others, to aid by monthly subscriptions the fund of the schools, hitherto supported by local contributions, has not declined; but, by the active exertions of those who have the management, they have been enabled (not without considerable labour) to collect the usual monthly subscriptions. It is among those who are not the members of the church they find the difficulty of collecting the money. At the monthly missionary prayer-meeting a small sum is collected, which is as much as could be reasonably expected, as most of those who contribute are poor, and also give their monthly subscription to the society above referred to. The School Department. The schools are the same in number as formerly stated, and are doing well, with the exception of one which is not in a good situation; but as yet I have not been able to get a school-house in a more suitable place; and should I not succeed in procuring ground to erect a house, nor find one to rent, I intend, should my health permit, to do away with the said school, and open a new one in a village in the country, where several of the inhabitants have often requested me to begin a school among them. The teachers and scholars in general continue to give me satisfaction as to their progress in learning, and especially in their increasing acquaintance with the Christian religion. We had a public examination, in March last, of all the best scholars in seven of the schools in and near the town. The Directors will be glad to find I have two valuable friends in the excellent Chaplain of the station, and Major Brett, whose kindness and hospitality the Deputation from our Society experienced when in the south of India. The chaplain and the major both engaged in the examination, and several friends to the instruction of youth were present. The chaplain, in a solemn and interesting manner, examined several classes of the best scholars on chapters of the Teloogoo Testament, which they read each by a verse in rotation; and the chaplain put the questions in English (being then unacquainted with the language) from the same verses. I was interpreter, and put his questions in Teloogoo, and gave their answers in English and Teloogoo, that all present might understand them. Every question which the worthy clergyman asked was very important, and the answers he received were, beyond his expectation, satisfactory. The major heard the lessons of the younger classes in catechisms, &c. Some of the scholars wrote verses and answers to questions of catechisms, by dictation, on Palmyra leaves, and on sand, in a neat and correct form. Considering how quickly they wrote the verses, &c., their examiners were highly pleased with the progress they had made in the knowledge of the Scriptures; and their readiness in giving answers was considered as a proof that they were acquainted with the subjects on which they were interrogated, and had, for a considerable time, been conversant with them-which was the case. Much labour has been bestowed, and pains taken, to make the native youth (many of whom are sixteen, eighteen, and some twenty, years of age) well understand the word of God. The Westminster Assembly's Catechism is now in use in the schools, which the teachers and the best writers among the scholars are writing on the Palmyra leaves, that those who have committed to memory the three catechisms, formerly used in the schools, may begin this excellent catechism. Circulation of Scriptures and Religious Tracts. A few months ago I applied to the Auxiliary Bible Society at Madras, for a fresh supply of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, and the gentlemen of the Committee kindly voted an additional supply of all the gospels, and sent me one hundred and fifty of each; I, therefore, had the pleasure of receiving six hundred gospels. The Religious Tract Society not long ago sent me two thousand tracts in Teloogoo, among which were several hundreds of new tracts-viz., on the Creation, the Fall of Man, and some of the late Swartz Dialogues, translated from the Tamil, which are in every way suited to give those, under Christian instruction, a just account of the nature and excellencies of the Christian religion; and at the same time to expose to public view the folly and absurdity of the pagan religion. As stated above, I have had more applications of late for copies of the Scriptures and religious tracts than in any former period since I have been labouring among the people here; and I trust the spirit of inquiry is becoming more and more general among all classes who can read, though I must except the Brahmins; their opposition to the spread of Christian knowledge is what every missionary must expect, because by it their craft is in danger. Ignorance, delusion, pride, error, and unbelief, are the pillars which support their abominable system; but, notwithstanding their de termined opposition to the Christian religion, the streams which make glad the city of God, and which will, under the Divine blessing, turn the barren desert into a fruitful field, are conveying their benign influence secretly among the native population of this place and neighbourhood; and, when it shall please God to pour down the influence of the Holy Spirit, these heavenly streams, which at present the enemies of our religion cannot perceive, will become a mighty current, and carry the delusions of the people, and the prejudices of the Brahmins, into oblivion. At a late native feast I gave each of the school teachers a supply of a few gospels, and many tracts, and requested them to converse with those who generally, on such occasions, come to the schoolhouses, and to ascertain who could read, and were desirous to obtain those books, and give them a supply. Persons from the country are more disposed to receive our books than those in this place. By these means I endeavour to put many books into circulation by my own hand, and that of others, and hope to find, ere long, that much good has been derived from the perusal of them. (Signed) JAMES DAWSON. SOUTH AFRICA. CAFFRARIA. Letter of the Rev. F. Gottlob Kayser, Missionary at Buffalo River, Caffraria, dated 9th December, 1831; addressed to the Directors. HONOURED Fathers and Brethren, I hope that my last letter, of the 23rd of June, ultimo, has reached you. I therein informed you that, with the gracious help of my God, I had translated the Gospel by John into the Caffer language-referred to some facts which led me to hope that better times for spreading the gospel among this people were approaching-and to the increased number of them resident at the station; and also mentioned the distinct departments of labour occupied according to mutual agreement, by Mr. Brownlee and myself, respectively. I have now to add the following particu lars-A Caffer, who lived at the station, has, since the 12th of August last, held prayer-meetings in his house, after the Sabbath evening service, and, not unfrequently, twice also during the week days; in these exercises he is joined by some Caffers and Finkoes, who likewise reside at the station. As his house is situated very near to the fruitgarden, which belongs to, and surrounds our own dwelling, I am able to hear them singing and praying every time they meet. I sometimes hear three of them pray in turns. . Oh! I thank my gracious Lord for what my ears hear at those times. Sometimes my own heart unites with them in prayer, being very joyful in the Lord, who, I doubt not, will, through the blessing of the Holy Ghost, bring good out of these meetings. On one of these occasions I observed that the meeting had been attended by twelve persons, of both sexes. In the same house I often hear, late in the evening and very early in the morning, the voice of prayer from the Caffer and his wife, who reside there. I am led to believe, by conversation with this Caffer, and with others concerning him, that he is not far from the kingdom of heaven. Some time ago he said to me and my Brother Brownlee, "I feel that there is in my heart no good thing-that I know nothing-and that I am a great sinner." Our Finko, also, is now convinced that he cannot help himself, and that none can help him but the gracious Lord. For some time after he was awakened to a sense of his sinfulness, he sought peace by a more attentive performance of his duties; but at that time he thought God would have been unjust had he executed upon him the threatening of eternal damnation. But now he sees and acknowledges that his sins are many, and that there is no help for him, but in the mercy of God. The good attendance of the Caffers on the Sabbath, during the former part of the year, as noticed in my last letter, has continued to the present time. On some Sabbaths the church was so full, both morning and afternoon, that a number of persons were unable to obtain admission. Sometimes the Caffers assemble half an hour before the service begins, and of these a considerable propor tion take their seats in the church. A good part of the congregation appear to be very attentive to what is read or addressed to them; and, in the Sabbath evening service, |