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“...foreign clime, 1 know, in
part, what would be their answer to the question: they
would say, “ The God of Jacob has wonderfully dis-
played the power of his own gracious and mighty arm,
enabling the worm Jacob to thresh lofty mountains, '
to overcome obstacles that appeared insurmountable,
and enemies that seemed invincible.” Could we hence,
and now, conyerse with the spirits of saints made perfect,
what would they say? What answer, think ye, should
we have from those very faithful and laborious Mission-
aries, Eliot, Brainerd, Schwartz, Vanderkemp, and such
servants of Christ? Were we able to converse this day
with the zealous Whitfield, who, about fifty years ago,
preached with such heavenly light and fervour in this
place, might we not anticipate his unequivocal answer
to the question? And, ye godly, faithful, and zealous ;
Reformers, with all the noble army of Martyrs; ye, also,
the countless myriads of Christian Ministers, and true
Christians, who have fought the good fight, and finished...”
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“...and lanes of the city, and bring in hither
the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
: And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast com-
: manded, and yet there is room ;” (verses 21, 22.) These
| words seem to show us the sending of the Gospel, with
the great and speedy spread thereof, among the Gentiles,
, or among many heathenish and idolatrous nations. Of
. this spread of it we have, by the great goodness of our
| God, heard, read, and seen something. But is the com-
| mission to be still extended, greatly extended, and made
more effectual? So it appears; and blessed be our gra-
cious God, for this declaration of his gracious good-
| will. Consider the next verse; and does it not remain
yet to be fulfilled? “ The Lord said unto the servant, Go
out into the highways and hedges ;” that is, to the very
| numerous, and still more distant and miserable objects,
or outcasts, that are yet to be found, out of the visible
church, and in all the desolate and benighted corners...”
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“...12 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTIANITY,
plation, on occurrences simply incidental, and by relations
extremely remote. An expression of pious and grateful
regard, instantly suggested to bis mind the universal
diffusion of his doctrine ; and he pronounced: “ Where-
soever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world,
there shall also this, which this woman hath done, be told
for a memorial of her.” The success of his disciples ine
: very limited and: temporary mission, bore him onward to
a period: yet in advance: “ [saw Satan, as lightning,
fall from heaven.” The request of a few pious Greeks for
personal intercourse with him, appeared, in: his view, the
first fruits of that harvest, of which we are still expecting
the fulness. “ Now,” he exclaimed in holy rapture,
“ Now, is the Son of man glorified.” In a word, antici-
pating this glory which should follow, he endured the
cross, despising the shame :—“ And I,” said he, “ if I be
lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
This example...”
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“...PLAN OF THE SOCIETY.
factors of £100 or more, may attend,sif they please, with the
Directors, at any of the monthly meetings. On any emergency
the Directors shall call a general meeting of the Society, to whom
their arrangements shall be submitted: nor shall they enter upon
a new mission till they obtain the general concurrence.
VI. Tur Funps—Arising from donations, legacies, subscrip-
tions, collections, &c. shall be lodged, as soon as collected, in the
hands of the Treasurer. The Directors shall place in the ~~
funds all monies so paid, whenever they exceed £300, until they
are required for the use of the mission; excepting it appears to
them prejudicial to the interests of the Society.
VII. Sataries.—The Secretary shall receive such a salary
as the Directors may appoint; but the Directors themselves shall
transact the business of the Society without any emolument.
At the annual meeting, held the 12th of May, 1814,
Resolved, That a copy of the Fundamental Pensiple, adopted
at the...”
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“...assiduity of
attention which it is practicable for them to afford; and
they trust that the Report which they have now the satis-
faction to present, will evince that neither your contri-
butions nor their endeavours have been altogether in vain.
| SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.
Tue Mission first undertaken by this Society naturally
| claims the first place in oar Annual Report; and the Direc-
| tors are happy to say that the aspect of our affairs in the
Islands of the South Sea becomes more and more checring.
In our last Report it was stated that the regular congre-
| ‘gation at Eimeo consisted of 300 persons, and that the
number of those who attended the school was nearly the
same; but from the last letter received from the Mission-
aries, dated September 6, 1815, it appears that the number
B...”
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“...they may acquire habits of industry, and
advance in civilization, no Jess necessary for their moral be-
| nefit than their temporal comfort, have agreed to send out a
person qualified to teach them how to avail themselves of
| the natural productions of their soil; by which both the
natives, and the families of the Missionaries, now fast increa-
| sing, may be employed and supported, and the expenditure
| of the Society on account of this Mission be reduced. 3
This becomes more than ever necessary on account of
the expected extension of the South Sea Mission; for the
brethren at Eimeo tell us that ‘‘the circumstances of the
natives in several of these islands call for the establishment
of three or four missionary stations, including as many large
B2...”
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“...4 TWENTY-THIRD REPORT OF
schools,” By the co-operation of the Missionaries lately
sent out, and that accession which may be hoped for from
some of the converted natives, this very desirable object
will, we trust, be shortly attained.
The Directors cannot refrain from inviting all their
brethren of this Society, to anite with them in grateful
admiration of the grace of God, so eminently displayed in
the Otaheitan Mission. When the hopes of all were nearly
exhausted, and when some unfriendly voices loudly pro-
claimed that the Mission was abandoned—then it pleased
God to arise and help us; and thas to evince to the whole
Christian world, that the excellency of the power by which
the change was effected was solely divine: then it was that
in the district where the Missionaries resided, the principat
priest openly renounced heathenism, publicly committed his
idol to the flames, and united himself to our Christian
friends: others followed his example, both in Eimeo and
Otaheite; morais were...”
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“...they have reason to fear that the
despatch may have failed, by the loss of a vessel coming
from Port Jackson. -
We are concerned to hear of the death of Mr. Shelley,
formerly a Missionary at Otaheite, and who has since
traded from Port Jackson among the Southern Islands.
He was particularly acquainted with the chiefs of Tonga-
taboo, among whom it was his earnest desire to establish a
mission, and to which he would have lent his aid. The Di-
rectors were disposed to encourage the design, and wrote
to him to that effect; but death has puta period to his
efforts for that purpose.*
————
CHINA.
WueEn the Mission to this great empire was first con-
templated by our Society, no sanguine hopes were enter-
* since this Report was made to the Society, the Rev. Williain
Cowper, one of the Chaplains of New South Wales, has had the good-...”
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“...events will finally
remove the obstacles which at present impede the full and
: free diffusion of the truths of revelation in China. These
obstacles have lately been increased by the unsettled state
of political affairs in that country, and the jealousy enter-
tained of all religious efforts. This has rendered it neces-
sary to proceed with great caution and prudence,—qualities,
in most cases, no less necessary than promptitude and zeal;
- and the Society, cannot but be thankful that, in a mission
of so arduous a nature as that in China, their Missonary
has combined these qualities in an eminent measure.
The letters received during the last year, detail various
and new difficulties with which Mr. Morrison has had to
contend, and which have impeded in no small degree, the
execution of bis purposes. He has, however, commenced
new and large editions of the Chinese New Testament, —
both in octavo and duodecimo, which will probably be
executed at Malacca rather than at Canton. Mr. M. is
enabled...”
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“...look to
heaven for a blessing.”
It ought to be recorded, to the honour of our American
brethren, that through the good offices of two of our foreign
Directors, Mr. Bethune of New York, and Mr. Railston
of Philadelphia, the sum of £400. sterling was collected in
the United States, in aid of translating the Scriptures into
the Chinese, and transmitted to Mr. Morrison, at Canton.
Closely connected with this Mission is that at
MALACCA.
Mr. Milne informs us, that the wishes of Mr. Morrison,
of himself, and of the Society, respecting the formation of
a settlement for the Extra Ganges Mission, have been in
a good measure accomplished.
* This work will be comprised in four or five quarto volumes, price to
Subscribers half a guinea each part. The whole work not to exceed Ten
Guineas. Subscriptions received by Black and Co. Leadenhall Street ;
and at the Missionary Rooms. :
NV. B.-A Second Number has arrived since this Report was made-to the So-
ciety.
. A letter has since arrived, stating that...”
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“...September
last, when both Mrs. Lee and himself were seriously ill; so
that it was feared a voyage to England must be tried as the
Jast resource for the recovery of their health.
Mr. Lee however, unwilling, if it could possibly be
avoided, to quit the scene of his labours, was resolved to
proceed to Berhampore, a populous town, about 20 miles
from Ganjam, and there abide, if his health would permit,
in order to form schools among the natives, and endeayour
to render it a branch of the Ganjam mission.
Mr. Lee, being at Madras when the Moira arrived, had
an opportunity of meeting with Mr, Mead and Mr. Render,
whose intention was to settle in Travancore, as assistants
to Mr. Ringletaube, who, on their arrival, found he had left
that station. Before, however, it was possible for the Di-
rectors to know that the station was vacated, they sent out
Mr. Mead and Mr. Render, in order to assist Mr. Ringle-
taube; or, in case of his removal, which they had some
reason to apprehend, to officiate in...”
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“...children is considerably increased,
and a far greater number of persons attend the preaching
of the gospel. ‘The scholars daily and publicly repeat their
catechism, which attracts the attention of many. Another
school is also supported in the neighbourhood.
In September, 1815, Mr. Dawson joined the mission at
Vizigapatam, to the great joy of Mr. Pritchett, who much
needed his assistance, Mr. Gordon having been so
grievously afflicted with a liver complaint, as to oblige
him to withdraw from his labours, at least for the present,
and take repeated voyages for the recovery of his health.
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson were, when he wrote, in perfect
health, and we trust will prove valuable acquisitions to this
mission.
BELLARY.
The letters received from this station are very encou-
raging. Great numbers of the native heathen, from the
surrounding country, call on the Missionaries to make en-
quiry about “‘ this new way ;” and some of them appear to
have received serious impressions :. but the fear of losing...”
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“...use of a Press, which they humbly. trust that
the authorities in India, convinced of their integrity, and
prudence, and of the utility of their endeayours, will grant
them.’ They are also proceeding in the great work of trans-
lating’ the Scriptures inte the Canaara language ; but,
through the illness of their Moonshee, they haye not, been
able to make’ the progress which they desire...) »
_ SURAT." a 78
In our last Report we had the pleasure to announce the
commencement of this long-intended mission, by our valued
brethren Skinner and Fyvie. The latter was, in.a short
time after his arrival, seized by an illnéss ‘so violent as to
threaten the immediate termination of his life and, labours ;
but on his removal to Bombay, and by the blessing of God
on the medical attention of Dr. Ogilvie, to whom the Direc-
tors wish to express ‘their grateful acknowledgments, he
was happily restored, and enabled, with’ Mrs.F; to return
to Surat, and proceéd in his missionary work.»
The city of Surat; which...”
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“...anxiously desirous of more assistance ;
“ We live,” say they ‘in one:of the most populous regions
in the world, and O how affecting is it te behold thousands
and tens of thousands of immortal souls daily worshipping
the work of their own hands; for the people are wholly
given to idolatry.” Beside the city of Surat, the Mission-
aries have their eye on two places north of it, Baroach.on
the Narbuddah, and Cambay at the upper end of the gulf:
each of these places requires two Missionaries at least. O
that the great Lord of the harvest: may thrust forth many
more able labourers into his vineyard !
The Directors, fully convinced of the necessity of
strengthening this mission, have just despatched, on board
the Asia for Bombay, Mr. Donaldson, one of their Students
at Gosport (with Mrs. D.) and hope ere long to augment
the ‘number of labourers in this most important station.
-u ion + pMAURITIUS, or Istz or France.” |
«The last. accounts from Mr, Le: Brun are very anima-
ting’; his: schools have...”
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“...22 TWENTY-THIRD REPORT OF
STELLENBOSCH,
(Twenty-six miles north-east of Cape Town. )
The ministry of the Gospel in this place, by Mr. Bakker,
is still accompanied with the Divine blessing; and the
people, grateful for the privileges they enjoy, are generous:
in their contributions, not only for the support of this:
Mission, but also for the extension of the gospel in other
places ; as a proof of which, they have paid, in the course
of the last year, to our agent at the Cape, the sum of 400
rix-dollars.
CALEDON,
(About 120 miles east of Cape Town.)
Mr. Seidenfaden and Mr. Wimmer, the Missionaries at
this place, report, that the preaching. of the Gospel is
attended by the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit. So
many are enquiring, ‘‘ what shall we do to be saved?” that
much of their time is occupied in conversing with them.
The church consists of 67 adult persons; and there were
many candidates for baptism. Mr. Seidenfaden says, that
his house, in which he preaches, though spacious,...”
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“...THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. - 23
HIGH KRALL,
(In the District of George, about 300 miles east of the Cape. )
Mr, Pacalt gives us a favourable account of the state of
his mission. About three hundred persons are attached to
the settlement, but cannot attend constantly, on account of
their scattered situation, and various employments. Twenty-
two converted natives, among whom was a man nearly 100
years of age, have been baptized, and others appear to be
seriously concerned about religion. A school is supported,
in which many receive daily instruction, The progress of
civilization is very encouraging.
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“...Mr. Williams and Tzatzoo, who returned to Bethelsdorp =~
to procure necessary articles for their intended settlement,
removed to Caffraria in the month of June; and we have
the satisfaction to learn, that they were received in the
most friendly manner; that the Caflres appear to be very
desirous. of religious instruction, and that already some
pleasing indications of success have been observed. Mr.
Ulbricht, a Missionary of experience, intended soon to
follow them, his heart being set on that mission; but we
have not yet received information of his having done so. It
may be feared, that want of health detained him,
GRACE HILL,
Formerly called Thornberg, in the country of the Wild Bushmen,
about five days journey north of Graaff Reinet.
Mr. Read, who visited this new station on his way to
Lattakoo, among some of the wildest and most uncivilized
E2 ;...”
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“...people in search of them, and to inyite them to come among
us, and a few have complied.”
Mr. Sass has judged it expedient to remove his residence
to the north side of the Great River, where he finds a great
number of Bushmen.
Mr. S. has lately entered into the marriage relation with
Caatje, a daughter of Paul Engelbrecht, who some time ago
was chosen chief of the Orlams.
JOURNIES TO LATTAKOO.
It may be proper here to observe that some of the bre-
thren, who, were designated to commence a mission at
Lattakoo, having proceeded on their way as far as Griqua
Town, continued there for some time, waiting for the ex~
pected arrival of Mr. Read, who intended to accompany
them. But being impatient to make a beginning, and
having received information from Lattakoo faveurable to
their wishes, determined themselves to make the attempt.
Accordingly, on the 7th of February, 1816, Messrs. Evans,
Hamilton, and Corner, accompanied by Captain A, Kok,
Hendrick, Kruisman, Masson, and G. Kok, left Griqua...”
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“...THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. a
wiseries, cry for the success of the Lattakoo mission. I
encourages me, amidst the difficulties that have occurred, :
that the old lion would not roar as he has done, if his king-
dom were not about to sustain a severe shock.”
Mr. Read, when about to commence his journey to
Lattakoo, says, ‘‘I always considered this mission to Lat-
takoo as a very serious undertaking. ‘The man who goes
there must go with his life in his hand; for there Satan
reigns without controul, and to dethrone him requires
nothing less than divine power.” Mr. R. however, was
not intimidated with the subject, but says in his dast letter,
“If the Lord permit me to date my next letter to you from
Lattakoo, I shall be ready to say with Simeon of old,
‘ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.” )
BETHANY, :
Formerly called Klip Fountain, in Namaqualand, (about two
days journey north of the Great River.)
It will be recollected that Mr. Schmelen, who on his
return from a journey to...”
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“...Auxiliary Societies, both in town and
country, we also tender our grateful acknowledgments, for
their generous, and in some instances, princely contributions ;
our obligations to our Female Friends, for their influence,
activity and liberality in the auxiliary supplies they have
afforded, are unspeakably great; and we cannot but notice
with feelings of peculiar and parental affection, the offerings
of our pious youth—our Juvenile Societies—among whom
we descry the future Subscribers, Directors, and Mission-
aries of the rising generation, who shall succeed the present
race, and far exceed us, we hope, in their efforts, and in
their success ; but language cannot express the delight and
gratitude of our souls in beholding the zeal of the Auxiliary
Societies, who must certainly be accounted the ‘sheet
anchor” of our Institution. :...”
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