EAST INDIES. BELLARY. THOUGH Our Missionary brethren in this portion of the field of labour have not recently been privileged to witness any remarkable manifestation of the Divine power and grace in calling sinners out of darkness into the marvellous light of the Gospel, and the Native Christian community is still, as compared with the mass of heathenism by which they are surrounded, but a little band,-we are happy to learn that several young persons who had long enjoyed the advantage of Christian instruction, have been led to abandon the idolatrous system of their forefathers, and to cast in their lot with the people of God. With reference to these interesting cases, and also to the death of an aged believer, the Rev. J. S. Wardlaw writes as follows, under date 7th December ult. : "I had the satisfaction, some months ago, of baptizing Philip and Matthew Connell, two youths brought up in our orphan school. They have both, I trust, received the truth in the love of it, and are sincerely desirous of serving the Lord. They are engaged as compositors in the printing-office, and give me every satisfaction. The Lord keep them stedfast in the faith, and enable them to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things! Each of them, after their baptism, gave me a short statement regarding himself: these statements I have translated, and now forward to you. Though they contain nothing of a remarkable nature, they are still in many respects interesting, they breathe a very pleasing spirit. "Shortly after the time referred to, we had the pleasure of admitting into the fellowship of the church the son of our late esteemed and much-loved brother, Samuel Flavel, and another youth, the son also of Christian parents. They, too, go on steadily and well; may they grow in grace!' "Not long since, Brother Coles had the further pleasure of baptizing Elizabeth Boyle. She has been for a number of years in the orphan school, has received much instruction, and has been with others the subject of many prayers. Mrs. Thompson took great interest in her; and to that dear departed one she is deeply indebted. I trust she has felt the power of a Saviour's love, and in making a profession of his name, is acting in sincerity of heart. Since her baptism, she has become the wife of Catechist John Reid. "I should mention, that old Moses, of whose baptism I formerly sent you an account, has gone to his rest. He died two or three months ago, after a very short illness. There was, I regret to say, no Christian friend with him in the hour of his departure; but those persons who were near him-one of them an inquirer after the truth-say that he spoke frequently of Jesus, recommending those around to put their trust in Him; of his willingness to leave the world, and of his desire to go to heaven, and be with his God and Saviour. I cannot entertain a doubt that with the departed spirit of this aged believer all is well-that, 'absent from the body,' he is 'present with the Lord,' -free from sin and free from sorrow. Mary, the female convert in the same village, continues firm in the faith, and exemplary in her deportment. She happened to be at Bellary when Moses died, and so did not witness his last moments. I am now on my way to Rayalacheruru, and hope to hear a little more respecting the old man's death. May it prove to have been the means of blessing to others!" Autobiography of "Matthew Connell," one of the youths referred to in Mr. Wardlaw's Letter; the account of the other, Philip Connell, being omitted for want of room : "By the mercy of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I am permitted to write the following brief account of myself:-My parents were heathens, and I was born in heathenism. My name was Soobanapooree. In my childhood I was ignorant of the true God, and of the Lord Jesus our Saviour, without any knowledge of my own sinfulness. I was taught to worship idols, and to attend to idolatrous rites, till I was ten years of age. At this time Major Mc Carthy arrived at the place where I lived, and erected a school, appointing a Catechist to teach the Canarese and Mahratta languages, and to superintend it. Mahratta being my native tongue, I was soon enabled to learn it. I was also taught Tamil, and in about six months could read the Gospel of Luke. The Catechist conducted Divine service on every Sunday with those Christians who belonged to the battalion. I also attended; but regret to say I could not understand what the teacher said, and of whom he was talking. Though light is shown to a blind man, yet he cannot perceive it: thus I was spiritually blind, and could not see the light of the word of God. Shortly after, my mother was attacked with disease, and died. The Catechist knowing that I was poor and destitute, pitied me, and took me to his house, and protected me as his own son. Shortly after this, he also died; in consequence of which his wife, accompanied with her son and myself, proceeded to Bellary. After her arrival at this place, the Rev. Mr. Thompson kindly admitted me into the Orphan Asylum. I praise God for the dealings of His providence, for if I had not been put into this institution I should have been poor and destitute, without any true knowledge of Christ. He in his mercy has brought me to see the evil state of my heart; has released me from the bonds and snares of Satan, and rescued me from darkness and from eternal death. When I entered the Orphan School I was twelve years of age, from which time I was brought, through Mr. Thompson's kindness, to read the Canarese, Telugu, and English languages. He took much interest in me, could not bear to see me going astray, and corrected me, by punishing me for my faults. He also gave me good advice, and sought to teach me to walk in the fear of God; and his labours, I trust, have not been altogether in vain. He cared for me, also, giving me food and clothing, and latterly put me in the printing-office, by which I have been enabled to support myself. Mrs. Thompson having fallen very ill, it was necessary that Mr. Thompson should leave for his native land. He at that time gave me, with tears, very affectionate counsel. For all his kindness towards me, temporally and spiritually, I praise God, and pray that he may be rewarded in a tenfold increase. "Mr. Wardlaw remained in the Mission, and was my protector and friend. He has given me great assistance in every way, and has cared for me up to this present time. He also married me to the daughter of one of the catechists, for which I am very thankful. But above all, I am happy to say, I was by his instrumentality led to seek baptism, and admitted into church-fellowship. To God Í render humble thanksgiving for bringing my soul from darkness, and from the shadow of death, to the light of eternal life. And may he assist me by his Holy Spirit to walk stedfastly in the good way, and in the exercise of firm faith in Jesus Christ! To that God, who is able to bring many souls to his fold, be glory, praise, and power. May the darkness of heathenism be dispelled from the nations, and the kingdom of Satan, and all that is contrary to the religion of God, be abolished! and may the kingdom of Christ Jesus prevail! Let all people praise and inagnify his holy Amen. (Signed) name. "MATTHEW CONNELL." ANNIVERSARY SERVICES OF THE BENGAL AUXILIARY TO THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THIS Auxiliary, which is sustained by Christian friends in the city of Calcutta, and has been in operation many years, continues to prosecute its Evangelical labours with great energy. Under the Divine blessing, by means of an efficient organization, it has rendered very valuable service, more particularly in Calcutta and its immediate vicinity, by diffusing authentic information in regard to the objects and claims of Christian Missions, by enlisting the sympathies and active co-operation of many excellent persons among the Anglo-Indian community, and by the liberality of its contributions in aid of the objects of the parent society. To the members of the Ladies' Society in connexion with the church and congregation at Union Chapel, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Dr. Boaz, the Directors are in an especial manner indebted, for the persevering zeal and activity with which they have devoted themselves to this work of faith and labour of love. We have the pleasure to announce, that the anniversary services of this Auxiliary were held at Union Chapel, Calcutta, in December last. They commenced on Sunday, the 15th, by the delivery of two impressive sermons: that in the morning by the Rev. Dr. Boaz, from Zechariah iv. 6, 7 ; and that in the evening by the Rev. J. Mullens, from Isaiah lxii. 6, 7. The Public Meeting was held the following Wednesday, at Union Chapel, under the presidency of A. Grant, Esq. The edifice was well filled; several effective addresses were delivered, and the attention and interest of the audience sustained throughout. "We have seldom," adds the reporter, “attended a more instructive or interesting meeting of the kind in India." The financial statement read at the meeting gave the following gratifying results-The income realized by the Auxiliary during the year amounted to 9312r. 6a. 9p. (931l. 4s. 10d.) Expenditure, 8712r. 2a. 2p. (871l. 4s. 3d.) Balance in hand, 600r. 4a. 7p. (60l. Os. 7d.) Of the total income the Ladies' Society has collected 3362r. 1a. 3p. (3361. 4s. 2d.) The balance in hand was further augmented by the collections after the sermons and the meeting, which produced the liberal sum of 1100r. (110l.) ITINERANCY UP THE RIVER ISAMATTI, IN BENGAL. (Concluded from page 29.) MR. PARKER'S JOURNAL. "Taki, Tuesday, the 8th.-Early in the morning, Chandra, Kailas, and myself went on shore to reconnoitre. This is an important and populous village, one of the largest in this part of the country. Formerly there was a very flourishing English school here, supported chiefly by Babu Kalinath Ray, the principal Zemindar of the place, and under the general superintendence of the Scotch Missionaries. After the death of the Babu it was shut up, and so remained for a long time. I was glad, however, to find on making inquiry that it had been re-opened a few months ago, though not in connexion with any of the missionary bodies. In our early walk we met with some members of the Zemindar's family with whom I talked about the school, and proposed to come and visit it, to which they readily agreed. We returned to the marketplace, and there made known the word of God; and afterwards went back to our boat for breakfast. About half-past ten we proceeded to the school, and spent a couple of hours examining the different classes. The number of pupils at present is not more than about sixty; and as the teachers are all native, and the superintendence and management of the school is entirely in native hands, I was not surprised to find that it was not in a very flourishing state. I hope our visit and the books we left behind us, may serve as a wholesome stimulus. The present Zemindar (brother to the deceased Babu) was away from home: but a younger brother-an intelligent young man-with several other members of the family, were present, and appeared to be much pleased with our visit, and begged that if we came that way again, we would not fail to repeat it. With their approval, after examining all the classes, I proceeded to give books to a few in each class who appeared the most deserving; three boys in the first class received each a Bengalí New Testament; to the other classes I gave in the same way the Four Gospels, or a single Gospel, or Genesis, or some tracts, according to their several capacities. It was perfectly well understood that these books were portions of our Scriptures: but the proprietors of the school appeared not to have the slightest objection, on that account, to their being given. May the blessing of God rest upon them, that they may result in good! " PREACHING IN THE MARKET. "Hitchindia,the 12th.-A large market is held at this place on the Saturday afternoon. We, therefore, left Bagundi, where we had been for the last two days, after leaving Taki, and came here, where we had a very excellent congregation. Immediately on our arrival, about mid-day, my two native friends went ashore to examine the place and converse with the people; and in the afternoon, when the market people were assembled, we all went together, and took up a good position, a short distance from the bustle of the crowd, on the ruins of an old native house. Being thus raised above the level of the crowd, we could address them with advantage. About 200 persons assembled, and listened with much attention, while Kailas, Chandra, and myself explained to them the message of the gospel. And here, I may remark, that it was the gospel that we preached, both there and elsewhere. I was glad to see that my native brethren took care to make this the prominent subject. Whatever the topic with which they started, they did not fail to show before they closed that all their hearers were sinful, and in danger of perdition, and that Jesus Christ is able and willing, and he alone, to save them all. We continued our work till it was quite dark, the people still willing to hear what we had to say. Some men, in order to hear the better, climbed up a tree beneath which we were standing, and sat very quietly for a long time on the branches. I thought of the account Luke gives us of Zaccheus, and prayed that to some of these people, as to Zaccheus, salvation might indeed come. "Ballia, Sunday, the 13th.-We came with the night-tide to this place, a large village on the western bank of the river, and having a market on Sunday and Thursday. Went on shore early in the morning, and in an open space, in the centre of the village, soon collected a number of people together. About sixty or seventy, nearly all intelligent and respectable persons, came around us, and with them discussion was kept up for a long time, till we began to feel tired, and in want of refreshment and rest. So we gave them some books, and told them we should remain all the day, and would again come ashore, to preach to them, in the afternoonthey might come, if they wished, to converse with us in the boat. CONTROVERSIES WITH MOHAMMEDANS. "The Musulmans are very numerous at this place. We were told that more than half the population belong to that creed, and here, as usual, they were bitter against the truth. Chandra went out for some time alone, and began to converse with the people. A Musulman Zemindar came up (a tall man, rather advanced in years, who paid us a visit on board next day), and addressed him in a very angry tone, ordering him to go away, and not preach there, or he would beat him. After a while, by the advice of some other persons, they went together to the principal Maulavi, who had some conversation with Chandra, and very sagely proposed that each of them should throw his sacred book (himself the Koran, and Chandra the Bible) into the fire, and that whichever survived the ordeal, that they should both regard as true! Chandra more wisely suggested that they should first of all examine well which of the two books was the true one, and then, having done this, commit the false one to the flames. The Maulavi professed himself quite ready to enter into such investigation-not with Chandra, but with the Missionary, who was to go to him for that purpose, as it would be beneath the dignity of such a great man as he to come to the boat. I did not hear of this proposal till the following day, when we left the place. "When Kailas and I went out to join Chandra, we found him surrounded by a crowd of people, near to the market-place, engaged in discussion with another Musulman, about the punishment due to various kinds of sin. The discussion was maintained with much animation on both sides, and the opponent was strengthened by the co-operation of one or two of his co-religionists, as zealous and bigoted as himself. They soon got deeply engaged on various points of the Mohammedan controversy, which, while of course interesting to that portion of the audience who held that faith, was rather impatiently endured by the Hindoo portion. I afterwards endeavoured to gain their at tention to subjects of general importance, affecting all of every creed and every land,— the moral law of God as contained in the ten commandments-the guilt of all man kind as breakers of this law-and the Divinely appointed remedy, the blood and righteousness of Jesus. But after addressing them for some time, I found that an unkindly feeling had been excited. They were not in a condition to hear more just then. It was moreover beginning to get dark; and as many of them showed a disposition to become noisy and riotous, I determined to return at once to the boat, and not then give away any more books, lest we should have a repetition of the scene we had witnessed at Taki. We got back again as quietly as we could, but not without being saluted by a few handfuls of dirt, as we descended the bank of the river. After dark, we had several visitors come to us for books, and in particular four or five Musulmans, who were much better behaved than many of their brethren, received our books with thankfulness, and remained on board for a long time, conversing about them. From these men we got information that was of much use to us respecting our journey. SOUTH AFRICA. KAFFIR WAR. Ir must have been with inexpressible pain and anxiety that the friends of Missions in South Africa have perused the intelligence recently received from that part of the world, on the subject of another Kaffir War. The Directors have not yet received letters from any of the Missionaries in the locality where war has broken out, and which they account for by the numerous and pressing engagements of their brethren in those parts, amidst the alarming circumstances into which they have so unexpectedly been thrown. They anxiously await the arrival of the next vessels from the Cape, which they trust will bring letters and details, although possibly not intelligence of a later date than that already received. All the information at present possessed by the Directors has been derived from the colonial newspapers, and from which they gather that, under intimations of approaching disturbances, Sir Harry Smith, the Governor, proceeded, at the close of last year, to British Kaffraria, and having, as he supposed, adjusted affairs, he returned into the Colony; but was soon again summoned into the |
