DOMESTIC MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

MONTHLY MISSIONARY PRAYER-MEETING.

BANGALORE.

BANGALORE is situated N. Lat. 139. 0'., and in E. Long. 779. 42'., in the territories of the Rajah of Mysore; and is distant about 215 miles from Madras, above the level of which it stands about 3000 feet. Its elevated site renders it highly salubrious, the cold being healthy and bracing, and the heat not, in general, too great for European constitutions. The country around is pleasingly wooded, and varied with sloping hills. Bangalore is one of the most extensive military cantonments in peninsular India; and the town, which is fortified, was founded by the celebrated Hyder Ali. The aggregate population of the place is computed to be from 50,000 to 60,000, of whom about a half inhabit the Pettah, and the rest the Malabar Town. The inhabitants of the former (of whom a small proportion are Mohammedans) chiefly speak Canarese. Those of the latter principally speak Tamil. The Mohammedans, among themselves, usually speak Hindoostanee, but they, also, generally, understand the languages of the people among whom they dwell.

The Society's mission at Bangalore was commenced in 1820, by the Rev. Messrs. Forbes and Laidler.* They were received, on their arrival there, with much kindness by Major Mackworth, who zealously engaged in the promotion of their object. The missionaries immediately commenced the work of Christian instruction, according to the attainments which they had made, and the means then at their command. In the following year (1821) a small chapel was built for the use of the mission, for which the Society was chiefly indebted to the active zeal and liberality of Major Mackworth.

Native Services.

Stated religious services, for the benefit of the natives, were then commenced, and were usually performed by Mr. Samuel Flavel, who is, now, labouring in connexion with the Society's mission at Bellary. The attendance fluctuated between 25 and 50. To these stated services, were added occasional conversations with the natives on the subject of religion, and the public reading and explanation of the Scriptures; which awakened among some of the people a spirit of inquiry, and induced them to apply for the mission publications. In 1822, nineteen adult natives were baptized, and three converts from heathenism placed under preparatory instruction for the office of native teacher. In 1823 seven more adult natives were baptized, and thirty-one admitted to communion. In the same year the native congregation in the cantonment considerably increased. In April, in that year, Rev. Hiram Chamberst joined the mission. In 1824, in which year a church was formed among the heathen in the Fort; where the preaching of the Gospel was statedly attended by a numerous, but fluctuating, congregation. The number of adult natives baptized in the course of that year was 15. In May, this year, the Rev. William Campbell joined the mission. In 1825 a spirit of religious inquiry was more extensively excited, both among the Canarese and Malabars, many of whom were led to express their decided disapprobation of idol-worship, whether pagan or papal. While, also, some of the people renounced Hindooism and embraced Christianity, others rejected Popery, and professed themselves Protestants. The number baptized by the missionaries belonging to each of these classes having become considerable, persecution was directed against the native converts, which, however, they were enabled to suffer with Christian fortitude and

* The former laboured at this station till towards the middle of 1823, and the latter till 13 December, 1826.

↑ Mr. Chambers died on the 7th of June, 1825, on a proposed return to Europe, for health.

In

patience. In 1826 the attendance of the Canarese congregation underwent considerable reduction. During the first eight months of that year 17 adult natives were baptized, and the number received into church-communion, during the same period, was 13. 1827, 1828, and 1829, the native congregations fluctuated considerably. In the latter of those years, in the course of which 7 more adult natives were baptized, the attendance averaged about 80. In 1830 it fluctuated between 40 and 60; the number composing the native church being 18. In 1831 the number in communion was 25. During that year stated social meetings, for prayer and religious conversation, were commenced among the natives, by many of whom they seem to have been carefully improved. In the same year the native Christians, connected with the Society's mission at this station, erected, at their own expense, a convenient place of worship in the Choola, capable of accommodating upwards of 100 persons.

While the means of grace were thus afforded to the inhabitants of Bangalore, those in the villages around (of which there are about 20, containing not less than 7000 inhabitants) were not neglected by the missionaries. So early in the history of the mission as 1825, an earnest desire to receive Christian instruction was manifested by the latter, and from that year the Gospel has been occasionally proclaimed to them, either by the missionaries themselves, or by native converts prepared by the missionaries for the office of teacher. Those native teachers who commenced the work in the villages suffered much persecution, but the results were the strengthening of their attachment to the Gospel, and their advancement in personal religion. The benefits of the Bangalore mission have been also extended to more important places, and situated at much greater distances from it than the surrounding villages-viz., Mysore, Seringapatam, Hontoor, Commonellee, Kingerre, and Beggoor. The seminary for preparing native teachers was commenced in 1823.

Native Schools.

In consequence of the strong prejudices of the people at Bangalore, this branch of the mission was, for several years, in a far less flourishing state than the same department at many other of the Society's stations. In 1822 the number of boys instructed, under the wing of the mission, was, at one time, between 200 and 300; but, an opposition to the schools having been excited among the people, a very considerable reduction, in consequence, took place. From 1822 till 1826 they were in a languishing state; but in 1827 they revived, and several new schools were established. In 1827 and 1828 the number of the schools was 10, of which 5 were under the superintendence of Rev. Mr. Reeve, who joined the mission in the former of those years, and 5 under that of Rev. Mr. Campbell. The former consisted of one Tamil, two Teloogoo, one Hindostanee, and one Mahratta. These schools had to struggle with formidable obstacles, from the violent prejudices of the people, who objected to the introduction of Christian books into them. The latter were Canarese schools, and all the books, used therein, Christian. The number of boys in these schools (of which one is a kind of preparatory school to the seminary for teachers) was, in the lastmentioned year, 164. In 1829 the schools, generally, were in a prosperous state, and the prejudices of the people, against the introduction of Christian books, greatly abated. In 1830 one of the Teloogoo schools was relinquished, and, in the following year, the schools were reduced to 3-viz., one Canarese, one Teloogoo, and one Mahratta, containing, in all, 92 scholars. The progress of the children educated in the several schools has been, generally speaking, good, and the benefits resulting to them, from the instruction (especially the Christian instruction) received therein, important. Many of the boys have exhibited satisfactory evidence of genuine piety; and from the Canarese preparatory school, in particular, several have been received into the Seminary for native teachers who do honour to their Christian profession by their consistent conduct, and render valuable aid to the mission in the proclamation of the Gospel, the superintendence of schools, and the distribution of the Scriptures and tracts, of which latter, numerous copies have been, from time to time, dispersed

at the mission station, and in the surrounding country. The number of native females whe have received Christian instruction at this station has been but small, owing to the strong aversion prevalent among the Hindoos against the education of their women.

English Services.

Stated English services were instituted shortly after the commencement of the mission. In April, 1821, a Christian church was formed, composed of 31 members, chiefly consisting of soldiers. In the following year there was an addition of 40 members, of whom 8 were converts from Popery. In 1823 a Sabbath-school was commenced. From this year till 1830, with some intervening fluctuations, the congregation increased, till, in the latter year, it was found necessary to enlarge the chapel. This chapel, which is called the Mission Chapel, is usually crowded with attentive hearers; and the preaching of the Gospel therein, we are happy to say, has been blessed to the conversion of many, especially among the military. In 1830 the number of communicants was 33, and, in the following year, the church received an addition of 3 members.

We cannot conclude this article without observing, that the missionaries who have laboured, and still labour, at this station, have done and now do so, under peculiar local restrictions, and other disadvantages, resulting, chiefly, from the circumstance of the station not being under the British Government, but under that of the Rajah of Mysore. "The difference of feeling (says the late Deputation of the Society to the stations in this, and other remote parts of the world,) shown in those provinces which are under the English Government, from what is seen within the territories of the independent Rajahs, cannot but excite the fervent prayer, that the time may soon come when the yet independent provinces of India may be added to the English dominions. In the one case, every facility is given to missionary efforts, and, in the other, every obstacle is opposed to the propagation of the Gospel." The members of the Society will unite in praying that, either by means of the triumph of that Gospel over the native princes, and other native authorities in the East Indies, or by the beneficent operations of Providence, or by both, all obstacles to the dissemination of Christianity in India may be speedily removed; and that the labours of the missionaries at this station, and all the other stations in that part of the world, may be prosecuted free from all political restrictions, and with extensive and still-enlarging success.

18 September, 1832.

ANNIVERSARIES, &c.

EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE.

The anniversary services of the Hull and East Riding Auxiliary Missionary Society. were as follows:

On

On Friday evening, June 8th, a prayermeeting in Hope Street Chapel. On Lord'sday, June 10th, sermons in Fish Street, Hope Street, Holborn Street, and Nile Street, Chapels, were preached by the Revs. Dr. Wardlaw, John Clayton, A. M., Calvin Colton, A. M., and James Parsons. Monday, June 11th, the public meeting was held in the morning, and, by adjournment, in the evening, in Fish Street Chapel. In the absence of William Lowthrop, Esq., the chair was taken, in the morning, by the Rev. E. Grindrod, of the Wesleyan Society, and, in the evening, by the Rev. J. Morley;

and the following gentlemen delivered addresses on the occasion :-Revds. Dr. Wardlaw, John Clayton, A. M., Calvin Colton, A. M., James Parsons, Samuel Kidd (Missionary from Malacca), J. Mc Pherson, C. Daniell, and E. Morley. On Tuesday evening, June 12th, Mr. Clayton preached in Hope Street Chapel, after which the Lord's Supper was administered to stated communicants of different denominations, when Mr. Clayton presided, and the following ministers took part in the distribution of the elements:-Revds. J. Wilkinson, J. Mather, T. Hicks, G. Flocker, J. Sibree, and J. Sykes. The whole of the services were considered peculiarly interesting, and the collections amounted to upwards of £20 more than those of the preceding year.

In connexion with the above auxiliary, the following services have also been held :At Beverley, on Lord's-day, June 10th, in

The Officers of Auxiliary Societies are earnestly requested to accompany their Remittances with correct Lists, having the Names of Places and Persons alphabetically arranged, as in the Society's Annual Report.

[Collections, Anonymous Donations, and all other Donations of £5, and upwards, received from 1st to 31st July, 1832, inclusive.]