1 |
|
“...view to offer them in sacrifice to their god Oro. These
were, however, humanely ransomed by Captain Campbell, and _
the vessel retaken.
| The Missionaries also received a letter from. Pomarre, re-
questing them to return to Otaheite, when the war should be
over. But there being, in their opinion, no prospect of such
an event, they were induced to meet for the purpose of
deciding whether they should give up the Mission, and re-
move to Port Jackson, or elsewhere, as opportunity should
offer. © And on a consideration of all the circumstances which
had occurred respecting this Mission, together with their _
expulsion from Otaheite ; the destruction of their houses; the
loss of their property ; the improbability of the restoration of
Pomarre’s authority ; and, even in case he should be restored,
the great slaughter which is likely to take place before peace
and tranquillity could be restored: it was agreed that the
Missionaries should embrace the first opportunity for a
removal.”
On the 17th...”
|
|
2 |
|
“...Directors have signified their full approbation of Mr.
\ Marsden’s kind and judicious proceedings, and have cheerfully 5
| repaid the sums of money which he thought it expedient to
| apply for the use of those Missionaries whose circumstances
required pecuniary assistance. They have also solicited his
r continued attention to the brethren and sisters, and have
particularly recommended Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell, and the four
females who accompanied them from this country to reinforce
the South Sea Mission, to his care They haye thought it ~
/ |...”
|
|
3 |
|
“...instruction of youth; and that by their instru-
mentality many of the rising generation may be trained up in
the good ways of God. :
Such, according to the latest accounts received by the
Directors, is the actual state of the Mission to Otaheite and
its neighbouring islands ; a mission which originated in the
purest benevolence, and which, when it is considered as an
energetic attempt to introduce the everlasting gospel into the
very numerous islands of the South Sea, must be acknowledged
to be of great importance. That Divine Being, whose sovereign
will it is to exercise the faith and patience of his servants,
even with regard to objects which he approves, has not been
pleased to grant to the Directors that success which their
hopes, and the opening prospects of the Mission, led them
to anticipate; and to his will they desire most submissively to
bow. The event will, they are sure, be.met with corre-
spondent feelings on the part of the Society at large.
The Directors do not, however, consider...”
|
|
4 |
|
“...the Rev. Mr. Marsden and our Christian friends in
that colony, who were anxious to accommodate them, and to
promote their future comfort and usefulness.
: Mr. Marsden is of opinion that ihe Otaheitan Mission may
' be renewed with a probability of ultimate success, if a vessel a
150 or 200 tons were sent out from England with a suitable
investment for Port Jackson and the islands of the South Sea ;
and which, by trading among them, and procuring their produce,
would soon cover the whole expense of the equipment, and pro-
vide for the support of the Mission, while it would secure the
. | means of intercourse with the Missionaries. The greater part
- 4 of the Missionaries now at Port Jackson have signified, by let-
o4 ters to the Directors, their readiness to resume the Mission, if
- | this plan can be adopted either by the Society or by individuals,
| and a suitable opportunity should be presented by the restoration
. of tranquillity at Otaheite.
| :
'...”
|
|
5 |
|
“...The Society will recollect how much the heart of our zealous
and. venerable friend, Dr. Vanderkemp, was set upon at-
| tempting a Mission to the numerous inhabitants of the island
: of Madagascar. To facilitate this important measure, appli-
- cation was made to his Excellency Lord Caledon, through the
medium of the Colonial Secretary, requesting that, if possible,
some vessel in his Majesty’s service, might touch at Algoa
Bay, and by taking the doctor and his companions on board
there, prevent the great expense of the removal of four families
and their effects to the Cape. His Excellency was pleased to
assure Dr. Vanderkemp of his readiness to promote his views,
- but did not think it probable that a King’s ship would, from
the nature of the service, touch at Algoa Bay. The Directors
remain uncertain whether the Doctor still intends to attempt
that mission ; but considering that having been at times very
seriously indisposed, they are rather inclined to request his
valuable services in...”
|
|
6 |
|
“...most gladly received as fellow-labourers, whose .
assistance would allow the brethren who were there before to :
make itinerating excursions among the colonists. The Brethren
Wimmer and ‘Pacalt diligently embraced all the opportunities
which occurred on their journey from the Cape, to preach the
Gospel], which many heard with most pleasing avidity, and
there is reason to hope, with much profit. Soon after their
arrival, an arrangement was made by the brethren, with refe-
rence to the intended mission to Madagascar, Messrs. Pacalt, :
Ulbricht, and Verhoogd, determined to accompany Dr. Van-
derkemp; while Messrs. Read, Wimmer, and Smit, consented
to remain at Bethelsdorp.
Our indefatigable brethren, not content with doing all the
good in their power at Bethelsdorp, made some excursions into
the interior of the colony. Dr. Vanderkemp visited Stuur-
man’s Krall, &c. and preached many sermons to the people.
Brother Read took a journey into the country of the Caffres,
accompanied by the native...”
|
|
7 |
|
“...have received from the Lord, in making us, his poor and un-
worthy servants, useful to the heathen. To one man, named
John, we lent some clothes, such as he had never before worn;
and while we were dressing him, he burst into tears, and joy-
fully cried—* O what great things God does for me, who am
a poor sinner! O God, strengthen me that I may always re-
main faithful to thee, to the last moment of my life!’ ”’
There is a pleasing prospect of being able greatly to extend
the Namaqua Mission, if a sufficient number of labourers can
be procured. A chief, named Kagap, accompanied by his
sons and others, expressed a wish that the Missionaries would
go with them to instruct their people ; they also assured them
that another nation, called Field-shoe-wearers, and another,
residing at Karaghill, wished to hear the gospel.
Mr. Albrecht informs us, that upwards of 1200 persons, in-
cluding men, women, and children, are under Missionary in-
struction, of whom about 300 reside at Warm Bath;...”
|
|
8 |
|
“...furnished with suitable Missionaries and suffi-
cient funds to enable them to report to the Society the com-~
mencement of a Mission in every one of them.
What has been hitherto attempted ts indeed but little com-
pared with the magnitude of the object. Though an entrance
has been made on the borders of the Chinese, the Burman,
and Mahratta empires, yet to penetrate into the interior of
these vast countries, to acquire the various languages of the
people, and to preach the Gospel of the kingdom to their al-
most countless millions, is an honour and gratification in re-
serve for others to witness and record. Assured, however, of
the final triumph of the Cross over all nations, the Directors
desire to be found diligently using such means as God may
put into their hands: and whenever, in his infinite wisdom,
he sees fit to deprive them of any of their faithful Mission-
aries, they desire to bow in silence, and adore his imscrutable
dispensations. An event of a more painful nature the Direc-...”
|
|
9 |
|
“...seeing each
other once more, they took their last farewell till they shall meet
again beyond the grave. His children were also, at his request, ° i
brought to his bed-side. The scene was affecting beyond descrip-
tion. In regard to the state of our brother’s mind, during his
affliction, say his surviving colleagues, it was calm and serene
from first to last; his words were few, owing to his great pain
and weakness. When asked what he was most anxious about,
he replied, ‘* The concerns of the Mission, more particularly
the translation of the scriptures; but,’? added he, ** God can
carry that on without my means, so that my life is not neces-
sary on that account.”? He particularly desired that we would
take care of Ananderayer, the Christian Brahmin, who assisted
him in translating the Scriptures, and of his wife, and that he
should continue at that work. He expressed his wish also,
that his Brethren Gordon and Lee should continue at that
station, and write immediately to the Directors to...”
|
|
10 |
|
“...whole soul
had been most actively engaged. He had also a strong desire
to see a church of Christ formed in the Mission. In this also
he was gratified; for just three months before his death he
‘administered the Lord’s Supper in English, for the first time,
and ina manner peculiarly impressive. This was, alas! the
last public service in which he was permitted to engage.
The affliction of this event was at the time much enhanced
) by the severe illness of Brother Gordon; but subsequent
accounts have been received of his returning health. To
comply with the request for more Missionaries, and to
strengthen this promising station at Vizagapatam, the Directors
have forwarded to India, by way of America, Messrs. Spratt
and May, and by way of the Cape of Good Hope, Mr.
Thompson, the first of whom the Directors had intended for the
long projected: Mission to Surat, and the latter for a Mission
to the Greek Islands, which are now necessarily postponed
for the present, though by no means entirely lost...”
|
|
11 |
|
“...been
executed in a terrible manner only for using a gilt chattra
(a kind of parasol,) which is considered as a treasonable action
in the common people. Two other men were executed with him
for having accepted a bribe to screen him from punishment.
Mr. Pritchett will, we hope, in due time, proceed to
Ava, the capital of the country, where, by acquiring the
knowledge of the language, in, the speedicst and most advan-
tageous manner, he will be better qualified to effect the great
object of his mission, by translating the sacred Scriptures, and
preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ to the perishing
heathen. ‘When the Directors shall have received from their
now solitary Missionary a more particular account of his
situation, and of the necessity of his receiving additional aid,
they hope to be provided with the means of furnishing him
with such assistance as he has been deprived of by the death
of his colleague.
eee
OODAGHERRY, IN TRAVANCORE.
THE last accounts from our Brother Ringeltaube...”
|
|
12 |
|
“...natives, that the fostering hand of Govern-
ment would not be withheld, but would, in all probability,
co-operate in forwarding the benevolent views of the Society
for the instruction of those whom Providence has placed under
their care, As this gentleman was on the eve of returning to
Ceylon, the Directors have written to their three Missionaries,
Messrs. Palm, Erhardt, and Read, to this effect, and that they
should embrace the opportunity which now offers of pro-
secuting the work of their Mission, by going to such parts of
the interior as the Governor in Council may be pleased to
appoint; so that by a residence among the people, they may be
able more speedily to acquire the language, that by the in-
struction, particularly of the children, in the pure principles of
the doctrine of Christ, a foundation might be Jaid for raising
Christian churches, among the native Cingalese, :
——
CHINA.
¢ By Mr. Morrison’s Journal it appears that he continues to
apply himself with the-most-commendable...”
|
|
13 |
|
“...likely to be adyan-
, tageous towards the support of this expensive Mission.
When we consider Mr. Morrison as the first Protestant
‘Missionary to this vast country, and as the translator of the
sacred Scriptures, the word of life and salvation, into the lan-
H guage of ‘three hundred millions of souls, we cannot but in-
“treat the prayers of the whole Society that the great Head of
the Church may be pleased to prolong his valuable life, till he
shall not only haye completed the translation, but printed
and circulated it through all the regions of that extensive
empire. :
As Mr. Morrison greatly needs, and earnestly desires a
coadjutor in his arduous work, the Directors are still look-
, ing out with anxious hope for a devoted man of sufficient
talents to unite with him in the great undertaking—a measure,
which, however expensive, appears to be necessary for the ,
| relief of Mr. Morrison, and the stability of the Mission,
: WEST INDIES, &e.
fe
i From the vast regions of the East, we now...”
|
|
14 |
|
“...death of Mr. Post, who had been the honoured
instrument of introducing the Gospel to this colony, several
other valuable friends have been raised up to encourage
and promote the same good work. It appears that the
white inhabitants are, in general, favourable to the object
of the Mission, especially those residing on the eastern coast,
who are the best acquainted with it, having had an oppor-
tunity of hearing for themselves, and whose negroes have also
attended. Some of these are proprietors, and others re-
spectable managers. One gentleman of considerable in-
fluence, and of very respectable character, who has several
estates under his care, is very friendly. There are others, who
at first opposed the Mission, but, on seeing the good effects
produced by the Gospel in the conduct of their own slaves, or
on those of the neighbouring estates, have applied to Mr.Wray,
desiring him to instruct their negroes, saying, that his mi-
nistry had proved a great blessing to the people, and to all con-...”
|
|
15 |
|
“...opening at Mahaica for the preaching of the Gospel is
likely to be a great blessing to the Missionary cause in this
country, as it will be supported by the first people in the
~ colony. The chapel will be built principally for the white
gentlemen and ladies, and the free people of colour ; but it will
open a way, I trust, to instruct all the negroes on the many
estates around, and on other parts of the coast. And I hope
in time preaching will extend all the way to Berbice.”
On the state of the Mission at Resouvenir, he observes, ¢ I
take this opportunity of sending some account of the work of
God among the poor negroes. I trust he is daily revealing his
arm among them, and causing many of them to believe the...”
|
|
16 |
|
“...subscrip-
' tions however have increased to £750, exclusive of £100
voted by the Directors, and a committee of gentlemen has |
been appointed to carry the design into effect. In the mean
time, divine worship is regularly carried on in a room hired
for the purpose, where from 150 to 200 persons attend, some
of whom are slaves, In the course of the year he has
repeatedly visited several estates on the coast. A gentleman
of considerable influence appears particularly favourable to the |
design of the Mission ; he has invited him to his own estate
to preach to his slaves, and appears to be anxious that they
as well as others should enjoy the means of salvation: he —
has also obtained permission from the Governor for Mr. Adam
to act as he might. think best for spreading the Gospel in the
remoter parts of the island. Several of the proprietors having
expressed a wish to have their people instructed, he has access
to eight estates, containing about 2500 negroes. This en-
couraging prospect has induced...”
|
|
17 |
|
“...borough. A good number of persons attend the Missionary
prayer-meeting once a month, and a meeting for improvement
in psalmody every week. Some who formerly discovered a
dislike to the word, now attend diligently, and observe the
Sabbath as they never did before. Many of the negroes kept
the last Christmas in a manner that differed much from their
forrmer customs; some of them are evidently much re-
formed, and a few appear to be seeking, in good earnest, the
salvation of their souls:
This Mission, like others in the West Indies, is very ex-
pensive; the articles of life being at times exceedingly dear.
Bread was two shillings per pound when Mr. E. wrote last.
NORTH AMERICA.
; Se it
Mr. Prpceon spent the pfeatest part of the last year at
Prince Edward Island, where, it appears, his labours have been
acceptable. He speaks of this situation as being well calcu-
lated for Missionary exertions. The people are numerous and
glad to hear. In the summer season fresh arrivals are conti-
nually...”
|
|
18 |
|
“...embarking for Canada. The Directors entertain
pleasing hopes of their proving useful Missionaries‘of Jesus ~
Christ. — :
Besides these, five German brethren, who were educated at ~~
the Missionary Seminary at Berlin, under the Rev. Mr. Je-
nicke, have been taken under the patronage of this Society,
ordained in England, and are about to sail for the Cape, as
soon as a suitable conveyance can be obtained. OW
Tue Directors, having thus presented to the Society a general
view of the state of every Mission under their care, sub-
mit the whole to their consideration, and trust that they will
find in it occasion for thanksgiving to God. This institution
has now subsisted nearly sixteen years, during which, about one
hundred Missionaries have been sent forth ‘* to heathen and
other unenlightened nations.’’ "They have not been uniformly
successful; the Sovereign Ruler of the Church has not seen fit
to gratify all their sanguine expectations ; but he has been
pleased to bestow such gracious tokens of...”
|
|
19 |
|
“...particular revelation as the incarnate God. He
first administered. the New Testament ordinance of baptismy
and his was the, high honour of baptising him who came £* to
fulfil all righteousness.’’. To his character the attention of all
ranks was awakened ; the people listened with wonder and de-
light to the good news he published, and hailed him as the
_ blessed herald of that dispensation,
Which kings and prophets waitéd for, aes Ot
: And sought but never found: ek
Before John entered upon his mission; he pursued a course!
of preparatory study‘in’ the wilderness. To the desert \bis
steps were early directed, and there, under the gracious tuition
of the divine Spirit,he cultivated the endowments, principles,
and tempers-which rendered him “‘ ‘such a burning and: shining
light” in the work to which he was designated. But, what-
ever were the advantages of this solitude to: himself, or the
design of it as to others, it effectually precluded the:suspicion
of partiality in the testimony he gave...”
|
|
20 |
|
“...and clear, while they can
serve God, aiid at the same time gratify their carnal passions
and advance their worldly interests, they will proceed with zeal
and alacrity ; but, ‘* when tribulation or persecution ariseth,”’
—when ease and interest must be sacrificed,—when liberty
- and life must be exposed, then they are immediately offended,
and soon give up the cause in which they expect nothing
but labour and suffering. John the Baptist had counted the
cost of Ais mission, and from the first hour of entering upon
that mission, he appears so crucified to the allurements and
terrors of the world, that he was not ashamed to deelare the
testimonies of his Redeemer before kings, although he knew
it was at the peril of his life.
Herod held the character of John in high estimation; and
notwithstanding all his resentment against him for the fidelity
and keenness of his reproofs, he still reverenced him in his
heart, heard him gladly, and did many things according to his...”
|
|