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“...are happy to mention, that their letters to the Mis-
sionaries, written at different times, from the year 1802 to
1806, together with a great part of the books, stores, and
necessaries, which had also been sent out, but which had
been detained at Port Jackson for want of suitable means of
conveyance, were received by the Missionaries in November
J806. It was intimated, in the last Report, that measures had
been taken for dispatching a vessel from Port Jackson to
Otaheite, on the service of the Mission : this has been hap-
pily effected ; and the Hawkesbury, a small vessel of about
20 tons, fitted out for a trading voyage by her owners, has
made a safe, though rather tedious, passage to Otaheite ; the
Arrival of which gladdened the hearts, and supplied the neces-
sities, of our brethren. The Directors indulge a hope, that
the owners of that vessel have received such a return of
articles from Otaheite, adapted to the wants of their Colony,
as will,together with the premium paid for the voyage...”
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“...God—that there
Mission, as it respects the growing
ability of our brethren to dispense the word of life in the
language of the natives, and the impressions which they
appear to make on their minds. They indulge the pleas-
ing expectation, and would encourage it in the Society,
of soon hearing that the word of God has been made quick,
and powerful; that some souls have been penetrated by it,
and obliged to exclaim—“ What shnll we do to be saved ?”
Another source of encouragement is derived from the con-
stancy which...”
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“...improving
their knowledge for the best of purposes. Besides preaching
and catechising in tbeTaheitean language, they have, by this
time, composed some short forms of prayer, and a sketch of
the Scripture History, for the use of the natives.
The district of Matavai is still the residence of the Mission-
aries, and the principal seat of their labours; but other parts
of the island, as well as some of the adjacent islands, are occa-
sionally visited by them; and wherever they go, they endea-
vour to diffuse the savour of the knowledge of Christ.
From this detail of circumstances, and from the last letter
which has been received from Otaheite, (and which will be
read to the Society,) the state of the Mission, up to December,
1806, will be briefly but impartially narrated. A more
extended and particular account, is reserved for the Trans-
actions of the Society.
If it shall please Cod to preserve the lives of our brethren
at Otaheite ; to continue to them the protection and favour or
the natives;...”
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“...1?
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
AFRICA.
BETHELSDORP.
In their last Report, the Directors gave an account of the
circumstances connected with this station, soon after the
return of the brethren Dr. Vander Kemp and Mr. Read from
Capetown ; and the improved aspect of the Mission, in con-
sequence of the re-possession of the Colony by the English
government. They now proceed to give a concise statement
of the events which have occurred up to October, 1807, the
date of their last letters; referring, however, to the publication
of the periodical Transactions for the more minute details.
It appears that the opposers of the instruction of the Hot-
tentots continued to manifest their malignity in an unabated
degree ; and that their misrepresentations had some influence,
for a season, on the minds of those in power : so that the bre-
thren looked back with pensive recollection to the govern-
ment of General Dundas, whose name, they say, will ever be
remembered with gratitude by the Missionaries, and the...”
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“...TO THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
15
successor is provided, on whose ability and faithfulness she
can depend : but as it is not probable that such a one should
be found in the Colony, the brethren express a hope that
God may dispose the heart of a pious woman in Europe, of
such a description, to devote herself to this difficult, labo-
rious, and important service.
With respect to the internal state of the Mission, our bre-
thren mention, that they have occasion for humiliation before
God, on account of their own lukewarmness in his work,
and the deviations of some concerning whom they had enter-
tained the most pleasing hopes, as well as because of an
observable diminution of fraternal love and spiritual conver-
sation. On these accounts, a few of the Hottentot brethren
and sisters, deeply impressed with the fear that God was
about to take away his Spirit from this people, have united
themselves not only to wrestle with God in their behalf, but
also to reform their own conduct; to stand firm against...”
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“...e intimated
that the number of heathens to whom our brethren Anderson
and Kramer administered the Gospel, was about 800; and
that they were introducing among them the knowledge of
agriculture, and other improvements ; so that we consider
this to he a station of great and increasing importance, and
trust that we shall soon be cheered with the welcome intelli-
gence that the labours of our brethren have been attended
with eminent success.
NAM ACOUAS.
The most recent information concerning the Mission to
this distant and uncivilized nation is contained in a letter
from A. Albrecht, dated Cape Town, the 1 Gth May 1807, in
which he mentions that his own and his brother’s endeavours
among these heathens continued .to be attended with a divine
blessing. They labour among several distinct tribes, which
they distinguish by the names of the River, the Oorlam, the
Bastard, and the Namacqua Hottentots; each of whom would
willingly possess them as their own ministers exclusively.
T hey express a desire...”
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“...28
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
qualified Minister and Missionary has yet offered for this
place; its manifold advantages as a central station for our
Missions on that side of India have been often pointed ou^
to the Society ; and the Directors trust that, ere long, the
tvay will be clear and the instruments ready for reinforcing
the Mission, where it is so imperiously needful and desirable.
Our latest accounts from Dr. Taylor at Bombay state that
he continued actively engaged in acquiring the languages
necessary for translating the Holy Scriptures; viz. the Sans-
crit, the Marhatta, Hindoostanee, &c. &c. His constant
calls for fellow-labourers leave us only the pain of regretting
that any difficulties should stand in our way. But the abso-
lute necessity, and the sacred unqualified obligations under
which the Society are laid by the very nature of our institu-
tion, to send or to carry the light of Divine Revelation to
every accessible heathen and unenlightened country on earth,
as far as our...”
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“...y to learn, from a letter written by him at sea,
off the Straits of Sunda, dated the 13 th of August 1807, that
he had proceeded so far on his voyage in safety, and
expected to arrive at Canton early in September.* Mr. Mor-
rison, continued to study the language while on board ; and
the Directors repose the fullest confidence in him, that he
will pursue the object committed to his care, with the most
unremitting diligence and strict fidelity,
MISSION TO THE JEWS,
Among the objects committed by the Society to the care
of the Directors, the Mission to the Jews is not, in their esti-
mation, the least important. It presents, indeed, peculiar
difficulties, which experience shews to be no less formidable
than in anticipation they were supposed to be. The social,
as well as religious and moral, condition of the Jewish people,
is doubtless unfavourable to that freedom of inquiry which
the nature of the object presented to them necessarily
demands. It is not, however, by any means to be presumed...”
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“...learn of them. The ten-
dency of union among Christians, even to the large extent
of The Missionary Society, is now no longer a specu-
lation. It has been brought to experiment. It lias been de-
monstrated by facts. Should any, on a superficial view of
the transactions of this large Society, feel disappointed that it
has done no more in converting the heathen world to the faith
of Christ, let such persons be persuaded to suspend their ob-
jections, until they have attended to the influence of Mission-
ary exertions in the circles where they have been made.
Whatever be the fact respecting the present influence of these
combined exertions on the moral and religious state of the
heathen...”
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“...THE FAITHFUL MISSION AKI Es’ REWARD, 105
hope of going to heaven when they die, though destitute of
any experience of a divine change having passed on their
hearts. Nor need I detain you with combating the presump-
tuous conclusions, which so many draw, that the heathen
may be safely left to the religion of nature, and no doubt
saved without the knowledge of Christ, or obedience to
his gospel. You, my brethren, have not so learned Christ:
you know that there is salvation in no other name but that
ol Jesus; that the scripture hath concluded all under sin;
that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; that the wages of
sin is death eternal; that nothing can save the soul from this
death, and hide the multitude of sins, but the conversion of
the sinner from the evil and error of his ways, through the
redemption which is in Jesus Christ, revealed to, and received
by, as many as the Lord our God shall call. However
contemptibly these doctrines...”
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“...LIST
OF
DISBURSEMENTS
fBOM JUNE 1, 1807, TO JUNE 1, 1808.
On account of the Mission to Otaheile
On account of the Mission to the South of Africa
On account of the Mission to the East Indies, including Ceylon
On account of the Mission to Deraerara
On account of the Mission to Tobago
On account ot the Mission to Malta
On account of the late Mission to Monte Video
Oil account of the Mission to the Jews
On account of the Missionary Seminary at Gosport
Extra Expenses incurred by the Students, chiefly in Travelling
On account of tire Printing, &c. of Dr. Doddridge’s " Rise and
Progress, &c.” in French
Williams and Smith—their accounts for Books, See. for sundry
Missions - -
Joseph Burditt, for Religious Tracts for Ditto
Expenses attending the Anniversary Services
Mr. Arrowsmith, lor Maps
Carriage of the Library bequeathed by the late Rev. Mr. Win-
ter to the Society from Rnnswick to Gosport
Travelling Expenses of Rev. Messrs. Campbell, Cullison, and
Frey, during their tours
Disbursements made...”
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“...Canada and New Bruns-
wick, Newfoundland, Ceylon and Tranquebar, Connecticut, Nova
Scotia, Coromandel Coast, East Indies, &c. &c. With the Rev.
Mr. Kicherer’s Narrative of his Mission to the Hottentots Also an
interesting Report concerning the State of Religion in France. In
TwoVols. 8vo. Price 17s. boards; or in 16 Numbers, at Is. each.
NUMBER XVII. Containing the Introduction to Vol. III.—
Extracts from the Annual Report of the Missionary Institution at
Bethelsdorp.—Extracts of Letters from Dr Vander Kemp and Mr.
Read.—Coranna Mission.—Extracts from Mr. Anderson's Letters.
—Specimen of the Daily Journal of the Missionaries Anderson and
Kramer.—Namacqua Mission.—Extracts from the Journals of the
Missionaries C. and A. Albrecht, and Sydenfaden.—Extract of a Let-
ter from Mr. C. Albrecht.—Otaheite.—Journal of the Mission-
aries’ Proceedings.— Extract from the Missionaries' Public Letter to
the Directors, Price Is.
NUMBER XVIII. Extracts of Letters and Journals of the
Brethren'I aylor and Loveless...”
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