And if we stop at each station, and inquire what has been done to bring the Gospel to bear upon the surrounding masses, we shall be everywhere furnished with ample proof, that the truth has fully enlightened the understandings and gained the approval of many, and is powerfully leavening the community at large. By means of scriptural education many a youth has lost his faith in Hinduism, and learnt that Christianity is both true and Divine; while by means of preaching, conversation, and the perusal of tracts and portions of the Scriptures, many an adult has done the same, being no longer Hindu in conviction, though not yet Christian in profession. And now let us visit the great city of Madras. Here, in addition to the usual machinery of bringing the Gospel into contact with the native mind, we behold a large and powerful system of Anglovernacular education-based upon the Bible, and entirely pervaded by its soultransforming truths steadily at work, moulding the minds of several thousands of youths of the middle and upper classes; and, through the Divine blessing, touching the hearts of not a few, and leading them to Christ. Several of these we see becoming efficient Preachers of the Gospel, and often do we witness crowds of Heathen attentively listening to their earnest and telling words. Great has been the power put forth by this system on a class of native minds, scarcely to be reached by any other instrumentality, and great are the results it has already accomplished; while greater still seem to await its progress. But it involves most arduous and persevering toil, and, in such a climate, often do the labourers literally groan under "the burden and heat of the day." But they see that in their work, which bids them go forward, and not be weary of well-doing, knowing assuredly that the rich harvest-time will certainly come in its appointed season. But let us now collect our statistics, and state what at present is the result of Missionary operations; not for our own praise, but for the glory of Him without whose blessing all our works would end in vanity and confusion. We have, then, as the fruits of Missionary labour in Southern India, and the entire island of Ceylon : 1. More than one hundred thousand persons who have abandoned idolatry, and are gathered into congregations receiving Christian instruction. 2. More than sixty-five thousand who have been baptized into the name of Christ, and have thus publicly made a profession of their Christian discipleship. 3. More than fifteen thousand who have been received as communicants, in the belief that they are the sincere and faithful disciples of Christ. 4. More than five hundred natives, exclusive of Schoolmasters, who are employed as Christian Teachers of their countrymen, and who are generally devoted and successful in their work. 5. More than forty-one thousand boys in the Mission-schools, learning to read and understand the holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation. 6. More than eleven thousand girls rescued from that gross ignorance and deep degradation to which SO many millions of their sex in India seem to be hopelessly condemned. Looking at these leading results, may we not exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" Surely, "this is the finger of God!" Here are the palpable evidences of the Divine power of the Gospel, -evidences which are yet destined to constrain many a Heathen to abandon his idols, and turn to the now despised and hated name of Jesus. IN reference to the field yet unoccupied, the Statement proceeds :— BUT we desire especially to invite attention to what yet remains to be done. Much ground is yet unoccupied, and many of our present stations are weak and languishing for want of a sufficient staff of labourers. In the territories of the Nizam of Hyderabad-the largest native state in Southern India, and which has been almost miraculously preserved from the flood of revolution which has swept over Northern and Central India-and in the Nagpur territories, we have a population of thirteen millions, covering an area nearly three times the extent of England. With the exception of a solitary Mission with two labourers at Nagpur, in connexion with the Free Church of Scotland, the whole of these great countries is entirely unoccupied, and they can have been but slightly influenced by other Missions at a distance from their frontiers. In the northern sircars on the east, and in the ceded districts of Bellary and Cuddapah on the south of the Nizam's dominions, countries together larger than England and Wales, we have more than six millions and a half of people, with only nineteen Missionaries, or three to each million; while in the Cuddapah district, especially, the fields seem already whitening to the harvest. The rest of the Telugu country is far from being fully occupied by the few stations and Missionaries which it contains. In the north-western half of the Mysore territory, there is a large, and, as yet, entirely unoccupied field, containing about one million and a half of people; while in the kingdom of Coorg there is only one Missionary. In the collectorates of Coimbatore and Salem, there are but two Missions, with each a single Missionary, for about two millions of people; while in South Arcot and other large districts of the Carnatic among the Tamil people, there are none at all. Moreover, the provinces best occupied are far from being sufficiently so; and it is a most serious error to take up new ground before we have fully manned our older stations, and taken possession of the districts immediately around them. In the whole of Southern India, including Hyderabad and Nagpur, we have a population of forty millions of people: and were the present Missionaries equally distributed over the whole, they would not exceed four to the million. But such an equal distribution is neither desirable nor possible. Large centres of population and influence must be efficiently occupied, and fields which the Lord has already blessed should be diligently cultivated. To do this, a large addition to our strength is needed, while still more labourers are required to take possession of the new ground. Thus, then, it is abundantly evident that a great work yet remains to be done even in Southern India, the scene of the first and most successful Missions; while in Central and Northern India it is still greater. We have said nothing of Ceylon; but much that has been said respecting Continental India applies equally to it. THE subjects of Itinerant Preaching among the natives; Education, especially Anglo-Vernacular education based on the Bible; and the whole machinery of Missions, namely, Boarding-Schools, as nurseries of the churches, and as having supplied some of the best Native Teachers and Preachers, and the most efficient Schoolmasters, Printing-Presses, the production of a pure and cheap literature, a well-qualified and regularly erdained Native Ministry;— all pass in for review, and are shown to require larger support than they have yet received. The churches of Britain, of America, and of the Contirent of Europe, are requested to use their influence with the British Government in favour of Christianity in India. WE do not desire the Government to use any coercion, either direct or indirect. All we require is simple Christian consistency in all their proceedings which have a bearing on religion; the introduction of the Bible into all Government schools, to be read daily by these of the pupils who do not object to it; and, especially, the entire cessation of all patronage and countenance of idolatry and caste. Looking back on the past history of the British Government in India, it is notorious that the unwise and sinful course we now deprecate has been followed to a most lamentable extent : and, although the more offensive manifestations of the Government patronage of idolatry may have been removed, the great fact of that patronage remains just where it was; and the native opinion respecting it is unaltered. According to the Memorial of the Bombay Missionary Conference, recently addressed to the House of Commons of Great Britain an i Ireland, it appears that more than fifteen lacs of rupees (£150,000) are annually expended by the Government for the support of Hindu temples and Mohammedan mosques in the Presidencies of Bombay and Madras alone, to say nothing of Bengal. Now, we must believe that this is one great cause of the heavy calamity God has permitted to come upon the Government of British India. May the lesson now so painfully taught be truly learnt! Whether it be so or not, the duty of all who profess to take the Bible as their rule is plain. They are bound to testify against the wickedness of such conduct, and to declare that it admits of no defence whatever, unless we are to ignore our Divine Christianity, or refuse to obey its precepts. We We repeat it, we plead not for any kind or degree of coercion, but simply for honest Christian consistency. would interfere in no way with any man's conscience, so long as he does not make it a reason for doing that which interferes with the natural and social rights of his neighbour. Within this limit, we would have the conscience of every man left free, and would neither persecute nor allow of persecution, but would maintain complete toleration for all. The system hitherto has been, deference to idolatry, and indifference to Christianity. We plead for the reversal of this system; and we call on all the friends of Christ, and Ilis cause in India, to support us in our just demand. Let all Christians persevere in this truly righteous course, until every vestige of this unholy and Goddishonouring alliance between a Government professedly Christian and Heathen idolatry and caste is entirely removed. We are deeply convinced of the very great importance of this, as connected with the evangelization of India. AFTER most urgent and affecting appeals on behalf of the great interests which are advocated, the paper concludes :— Al Non can we doubt that God will provide the men for this work. This is His special prerogative, and we may rest assured He will not disappoint us. ready, we trust, He is moving many of the young men in our universities and schools of learning and theology to take upon them this office, the noblest and most truly honourable they can fill. The service is arduous and difficult. It involves many painful trials, and requires no ordinary faith, and zeal, and spirituality; but there is a greatness and a grandeur connected with it which are en inently fitted to gratify a holy ambition. The influence of an eminently able and devoted Missionary may be felt throughout a nation down to the latest ages. We appeal, then, to all young men whose hearts the Lord has touched with compassion for the perishing millions in India, and we call upon them to give this work their most earnest and prayerful consideration. We ask them to look at it in the light of eternity, and in its relation to the great plan of human redemption, and to make their decision at the foot of that cross on which the Son of God poured out His life for the salvation of a lost world. Ootacamund, Neilyherries, South CHINA. MACAO. THE proclamation of peace at Canten, consequent on Lord Elgin's treaty with the Imperial Government at Pekin, has opened the way for the return of the Missionaries from their place of refuge at Macao. Mr. Smith will, however, remain st Macao, to follow up the impression which has been made on the Chinese population of that city during the two years' residence of the Missionaries there. IT affords me very great pleasure to inform you, that the long period of hostilities has at length closed, and that we have received intelligence of the proclamation of peace by the Governor-General Wang, which has been to us a source of no ordinary joy. This has come to pass just when we most needed it. For some two months the Chinese, in obedience to the orders of their officers, were busily engaged in removing both themselves and goods to their native villages, until Macao was nearly depopulated, and the different streets, from the number of shops closed, seemed to be enjoying a long Sabbath. The influence of this upon the few Chinese that remained was very sad. They looked panic-stricken; and when I sent the boy to purchase articles, he generally returned as he went, saying, the shop-keepers were afraid to let him in. I think the few who dared to remain were very fearful lest their own Government should employ spies to watch all their movements, and afterwards punish them or their families for wilfully disobeying the command to return home. You may be sure we were put to a little inconvenience by the general removal. Washermen would not wash, bakers would not bake, so that we were compelled to fall back upon our own resources. Provisions, which have been very high for more than a year, rose to famine-prices. Most of the foreign residents lost all their Chinese servants, some leaving with more dollars than they had a right to. To add to all this, the Portuguese Government was a little apprehensive of an attack by pirates. To prevent anything of this, the militia were called out, and every possible precaution taken. All this took place while we had reliable information of the fact, that the Treaty had been made and signed; but, not having been made known through Chinese sources, it was as if it existed not; nor did the people hear of it till they had been in their native places for some time. We are glad that Macao is resuming its busy aspect; although those who do business on a very large scale do not make haste to return. It has been decided by the Mission, that it is most desirable for us to have a station in Macao, inasmuch as it is a fair field for Missionary labour; and also, interested; and, at the close, some admitted the idea was entirely new, but could not gainsay it. Some, indeed, asked us for further conversation and explanation. On another occasion we had been showing that the Chinese notion respecting original purity was false, as proved by experience. We then quoted several passages of Scripture to show that our doctrine of original depravity was in consonance with experience. We then showed that their notion of man's ability to recover himself was also false; that his good acts could not by any possibility atone for his sinful ones. We then pointed them to the true source of morality and virtue, even the atonement of Jesus Christ, and pressed them to accept Him as their Saviour. At the close an honest-looking fellow came, and asked me how he should worship God, &c. We put the language of the publican into his lips, repeating it again and again. Who knows but that this man may get to heaven?-Rev. Samuel J. Smith, Macao, September 25th, 1858. 66 CAPTAIN GRENFIELD, of H.M.S. Amethyst," has laid the Society under deep obligation by the marked protection he afforded to Mr. Cox at Canton, when he endeavoured once more to establish himself there in the month of June last. that it will be a good sanitarium for the Mission, with little or no additional expense. It has been decided-quite unexpectedly to myself, and much against my feelings, for I had fully set my mind upon returning to Cantonthat I should be the first to occupy this place. I must confess to have felt the change much; but I feel also that it is my privilege to sacrifice feeling, however just and reasonable, to the general interests of my Mission. Never, since the Gospel has been introduced to the Chinese, has Macao been so blessed as within the last two years of our residence here it has indeed been Macao's visitation-day. Thousands have heard, more or less, of the Gospel which is able to make them wise unto salvation. And what are the effects? The present may not make them known; but faith says, the future will. An impression has been made, as evidenced by the conduct of the people; and we may hope that the confidence of some has been shaken in their Heathen deities. Walking along the streets, we are frequently greeted by the Chinese as Preachers, Jesus, &c.; and sometimes they imitate us as we stand at the doors of our preaching-place inviting people in. For a month or more we had great difficulty in getting any one in to hear us; but, since the people have returned, our congregations have been good. Mr. Preston and I have had some very interesting and encouraging services. After speaking, we generally endeavour to engage the people in a conversation upon something they have heard. The other day we were talking perils among the Heathen, which are to some men on the folly of idol-worship, because the idols were only wood, or clay, or stone, formed by men. says one man, "we know they are real, for we hear their voice;" and, to instance what he thought would be a convincing proof, said, "The thunder we hear what is that but the voice of a god?" I asked how it was that his god should choose such strange times to speak, generally in excessively hot weather; that in the clear cool weather he should be always silent? He did not know what to answer. I told him, also, we had thunder in our far-off country, and could clearly explain its cause. The listeners looked quite amazed, not knowing whether to believe me or not. On another occasion we had been endeavouring to show that as a table, watch, and steamer must have had a maker, so must a tree, the sun, moon, stars, &c.; and that the Maker of all was the proper object of worship. The Chinese were "But," : Many instances have occurred in the history of the Missions, in which Her Majesty's naval officers have conferred benefits on the Missionaries when in never to be forgotten. The British name and the British flag are honoured by such conduct on the part of those who are placed in authority. AUSTRALIA. ᏴᎪᏞᏞᎪᎪᎡᎪᎢ, THE number of members [as reported at the Quarterly Meeting, August 5th] was 591, being an increase of 152 on the number reported at the last Conference. There were also 42 candidates for membership. On the 19th of January last, Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., Governor of Victoria, in the presence of at least fifteen thousand persons, laid the foundation-stone of our new church in Ballaarat West. The Building Committee, on that deeply-. interesting occasion, presented to lis Excellency a gold trowel, set in an ivory handle, and ornamented with specimens of quartz, in testimony of his great kindness in laying for them the "monumental stone," and also as a memento of the golden resources of the Ballaarat district. On the 18th of July, the Rev. Daniel Draper, Secretary of the Conference, solemnly dedicated it to the service of the Most High. He delivered two lucid and effective expositions of our theology, and in such a manner as to delight and instruct the crowds who sat at his feet. In the afternoon the Superintendent Minister preached to the Teachers and scholars of the township, and of neighbouring Sabbath-schools. About eight hundred, including parents, were present. The children appeared much delighted in being recognised, in these services, as an integral portion of the church; and it is believed that many of them were savingly impressed by the affectionate counsels given them on the occasion. The financial result of seven openingservices is £403. The total cost of the erection, including gas-fittings and extras, will be a out £4,750. The amount already received is about £2,000; and it is hoped that in four years the entire balance will be met. I am happy to say that a new era in our educational affairs has begun here. We have secured the invaluable services of Mr. George Oldham, a Westminster student, for our township-school; and ence a month he and Mr. Kent, from Cornwall, meet the other Teachers, with a view to their improvement.— Rev. James Bickford, Ballaarat, August 12th, 1858. SOUTH AMERICA. DEMERARA. OUR Kingston chapel, although not quite finished yet, was opened for Divine service on Thursday, September 30th, by our Chairman, and the Rev. Mr. Scott, of the London Mission. On Sunday, Messrs. Cleaver and Greathead preached; and on the Tuesday following, Mr. Griffith closed the cpening services. The entire series was a festival to our friends at Kingston: all seemed to feel that God was with us. If we had not the "cloud" filling the house, we had, to a gracious extent, the presence of the Divine Spirit, whom that cloud symbolized. The collections amounted to upwards of 213 dollars, exclusive of donations. I am glad to say that, with the enlarged chapel, (now eighty-two feet by fifty,) we already perceive an enlargement of the congrega tion.-Rev. David Barley, Demerara October 25th, 1858. WEST INDIES. ST. KITT'S. DIEPPE-BAY is a small village with a population of about five hundred: it is sixteen miles distant from Basseterre, the capital of the island, and is situate at the base of Mount Misery, a lofty mountain of volcanic origin, whose summit is almost always covered with thick clouds, from which circumstance, I believe, it derived its name. The Mission-premises here are commodious, and the site on which they stand advantageous, being open to the Atlantic, across which a refreshing and invigorating sea-breeze is nearly constantly blowing. : The two stations under my more immediate care and supervision are DieppeBay and Tabernacle. At the former place there are 414 members in Society, and at the latter 341 in each of these places we have a day and Sabbath school in active operation. The Dieppe-Bay chapel is capable of accommodating about seven hundred persons, and the chapel at Tabernacle will seat nearly five hundred. Both places of worship are well attended on the Lord's day, and I believe a spirit of serious concern has been awakened in the minds of our people in the abovementioned places. I admitted at DieppeBay 18 persons, and at Tabernacle 22, on trial for membership last quarter. We held our Missionary Meeting at Dieppe-Bay on the 24th ultimo : the attendance was large, and our people seemed to vie with each other in giving practical expression of their sympathy with the great Missionary cause. The donations and subscriptions in this place for the year 1858 amounted to the noble sum of £33. 68. 9d., being £13 in excess of the receipts of last year. The Missionary Meeting at Tabernacle was held on the 25th ultimo. The contributions from this station towards the Mission fund are £12. 10s. 11d., being a little in advance of the amount collected last year. On both the above-mentioned stations our people are in indigent circumstances; so that, in doing what they have done towards sending the Gospel to the "regions beyond," I may say, "their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality."-Rev. Walter Garry, Dieppe-Bay, June 8th, 1858. |