صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

the Lord, they have learned to love the courts of his house. Were there only one well-attested instance of this sort, it might justly be considered as a sufficient return for the bounty of those who support this institution, and for the labours of those by whom that bounty has been dispensed.

"It must not be forgotten, that, while it was one object of this Committee to provide for the spiritual wants of their immediate neighbourhood, another was, to contribute to the general designs of the Society itself; to throw its mite into that treasury, the contents of which may truly be said to be dedicated to the service of the Lord's house. Accordingly, the sum of 761. has been paid to the Society's treasurers, being one-third of the donations and subscriptions received by the District Committee; and, in addition to this, the sum of 16., being one-third of the money for books sold within the district."-The donations and subscriptions for the year amount to 2281. and the sales of books to 481.

Most earnestly do we wish that an institution such as this were in operation in every parish in the kingdom. The plan of offering books to the poor at a cheap rate, instead of bestowing them as a free gift, is most wise, and we are glad to find the members of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge adopting this among other improvements in the machinery of benevolence. Formerly, with the most pious and charitable intentions, a notice was affixed to the books issued by the Society, entreating that no person would sell its publications. The Bishopsgate Committee receive and invite "annual subscriptions or occasional contributions, however small;" so that besides their more wealthy contributors, their list of subscribers contains many who give from 2s. 6d. to 5s. annually. And why, we would ask, in spite of the charge of meanness and cruelty which has been so strangely urged against receiving small gratuities, should not the alms even of the labouring classes themselves be welcomed, when thus bestowed for their own benefit and the benefit of others? Why should a subscriber of half-a-crown yearly, or, as is a common practice in some other institutions of a weekly penny, (according to the apostolic injunction, 1 Cor. xvi. 2.) be deprived of the luxury of casting his mite into the treasury of Christian benevolence, in behalf of a cause equally dear to the rich and the poor, the young and the old, to male and to female, if they

alike feel, as they ought, a personal concern in the religion which they profess? Most justly does the Report before us remark, that "it will be the constant prayer of all who feel the power of the Gospel in their own hearts, that he who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, may bless the labours of his servants in the work of converting souls, and day by day enlarge the boundaries of his kingdom upon earth."

Fully concurring in this devout aspiration, we earnestly pray for the blessing of God upon this institution, and upon those who have conducted its concerns with so laudable a spirit of wisdom, conciliation, and zealous piety.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Twenty-fourth Report of the Society having been lately published, we are enabled to lay before our readers as copious a summary as our limits will allow, of its proceedings during the year.

West-Africa Mission,

Of the West-Africa Mission the Committee know not whether to speak with joy or scrrow. In no one year has it ever suffered a greater loss in its friends and labourers-while in no one year, has there been a more evident blessing on their labours. Those who have died, have died in the Lord; thanking God for calling them to this work, and glorifying his holy name in the midst of their sufferings. The surviving missionaries seem to have had their faith elevated above the trying circumstances in which they have been placed, and to have become more entirely united, and devoted to their work.

An extract of a letter from the Rev. G. R. Nylander, dated July 21, 1823, very feelingly details the destitute state of the colony, and of Freetown in particular, in respect of religious instruction:-" By the removal of so many of our number, places have become vacant; and others, that were vacant before, remain still unprovided for. Freetown is almost destitute, Two simple-hearted and pious chaplains are much wanted in Freetown; and two missionaries of the same description will find plenty of employment. There is a congregation of about 200 disbanded soldiers, in a place called the camp: these people, and about 200 more near the camp, have no teacher. One Sunday, after having attended to the duties of the church at Freetown, I called at the camp; and saw about 100 people assembled in their little

church-a wattled house with grass roof: one of the soldiers had acted as minister. In subsequent letters, the destitute state of several of the country towns is forcibly depicted.

The late Sir Charles MacCarthy also pleaded earnestly for further aid. "As long," says he, "as I have my health, and his Majesty may require my presence on the coast, I shall promote, to the utmost of my power, the religious instruction of this part of his dominions; and more particularly so, of the liberated Africans, who, from the forlorn condition in which they are landed, more peculiarly call for assistance. Here, as every where, assistance and means are required; otherwise all must end in unavailing wishes. I shall end this letter, by again expressing my sincere thanks for the aid which I have obtained from the Society; and leave it to the liberality of your own feelings to be thoroughly convinced, that, in regretting the want of a sufficient number of zealous missionaries, I am thus bearing the strongest and most positive testimony to the value which I set upon the labours of those whom I have had."

The Committee were anxious, not only to supply the colony with teachers in its present state of urgent need, but to make the best arrangements in their power for the future. In reference to this subject, they determined to propose to his Majesty's Government, that the Society should take on itself the preparation and support of all the English clergymen which were found necessary for the service of the colony, whether in Freetown or in the towns of the liberated Africans-these clergymen to be approved by his Majesty through the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department the Society having the power of placing them, with the concurrence of the Governor, as local circumstances may require. It was proposed that Government should provide, in each of the country parishes, for the education of its inhabitants, and for their civil superintendance, under the authority and direction of the clergyman. This arrangement has been since settled, and will regulate the future measures of the Society.

Considerable difficulty has arisen in conducting the Adult Schools among the liberated Africans. It appears, however, that, in proportion as religion influences the people, a desire of knowledge and diligence in attaining it discover themselves.

To native teachers the Committee look, under the peculiar circumstances of Africa, with earnest hope, that, while special atCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 280.

tention is paid to their due instruction and preparation, the blessing of God will be granted; and they adduce satisfactory proof of the competence of the natives to acquire all needful knowledge.

The Committee trust that the arrangement with Government, in connexion with the supply of labourers by means of the Institution at Islington, will enable the Society to pursue its objects in Sierra Leone on that scale which is required both for the good of the colony itself, and for its efficient influence on the surrounding tribes; for both these objects are comprehended in the Society's design.

To instruct the many thousands of natives who were liberated from slave vessels was a task of peculiar difficulty, under the circumstances of a climate so unfavourable to Europeans. Before any considerable progress could be made, these natives, speaking many different languages and dialects, were to be made acquainted with the English language; as it was most important to melt them down, as soon as possible, into one community. The Christian Institution also was established in order to train native teachers, not only for the service of their countrymen in the colony, but to convey the knowledge of Christianity to their own tribes, whenever a way should be open to them.

The Committee continue to avail themselves of every opportunity in their power to obtain accurate information relative to the mission, from unbiassed persons. A Naval Officer on the station thus writes on this subject:-"Regent, and the other liberated towns, have surpassed my most sanguine expectations, in all points of view; and I trust this good work will prosper. If God is on its side, who can be against it? And that His Spirit has wrought wonderfully in the hearts of hundreds, I think there are evident marks. Indeed, I myself found such, in the visits which I made to their huts. Their conduct at church is, beyond every thing, good. I had the pleasure to see about 1700 in the church at Regent, and to join with them in praising God from whom all blessings flow. My feelings, on this occasion, were more than I can express. I was present, most likely, at the liberation of many of these people, when I was on this station, me years ago. Then the place was an impenetrable 'wood, the haunt of wild beasis: and now, to find myself in a good church, with so large a congregation, offering up my humble prayers and thanksgivings to that God who has been pleased hitherto so mercifully to preserve me-you may better conceive, 2 L

than I can express, the feelings of one so situated. The children's improvement astonished me much. I passed four days in the mountains. Regent was my headquarters, and I did all in my power to elicit truth; and you may judge what delight I have experienced, from finding every thing so much surpass my expectations."

We cannot follow the Committee through the details from all the stations; but we shall select as a specimen a few particulars respecting the interesting settlement of Regent. The report of the late Mr. Johnson, written about a month before his lamented decease, gave the following particulars.

"As it respects Regent's Town, the work of the Lord is proceeding as before. Divine service has been regularly attended by the communicants and the other inhabitants. The schools continue to improve. We have had several additions to our congregation and the schools, by the arrival of slave vessels; and our population now amounts to upward of 2000 persons. The people behave quietly and orderly. The youths in the seminary continue to walk worthy of the high vocation wherewith they are called. They have made considerable progress in their studies, and promise well for future usefulness.

"The number of scholars is 1079. There are 710 persons who can read. The number of the communicants, including 48 candidates, will be about 450. Our last anniversary of the Regent's-town Branch Missionary Association was very interesting. The collection after the meeting amounted to 10. Since October last, 7470 bushels of cassada and 1421 bushels of cocoa have been issued; and there is now enough in the people's farms to supply them with half rations throughout the year. The new road to the sea is nearly completed. Some of the people have begun to trade in the country: one canoe has been purchased, and another hired for that purpose: one man has already delivered two tons and sixteen bushels of rice. The fishery has ✓ commenced, and promises to become a permanent benefit to the town."

From Sherbro country, Mr. Nylander reports well of the continued endeavours of the brothers George and Stephen Caulker te ruct the natives under the authority of their family. Divine service is regularly performed in Bullom. They read prayers, and sing hymns; and read portions of Scripture, of George Caulker's translation, when he addresses the people on the passage read. G. Caulker, anxious for his own improvement that he may be the bet

ter able to instruct his people, has applied to the Society for a small library, which the Committee have readily presented to him. The Committee continue to afford every assistance in their power to this first attempt of native chiefs to benefit their own country.

"The cause of true religion," remark the Committee, "cannot, indeed, but have to contend with many and serious impediments, in a station, surrounded as this is on every side, by the empire of those antichrists which God has, in inscrutable wisdom, permitted to degrade and oppress the church."

Mediterranean Mission.

A printer has been sent out for the ser. vice of this mission, who took with him founts of Greek and Arabic types. Mr. Jowett had determined on a visit to Syria, in order to carry his researches into that part of the surrounding shores which he had not before explored. He was well furnished with the Scriptures and tracts. His purpose was to reach Jerusalem with all convenient speed, and to spend about six months in Syria. At Alexandria, he had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Salt. Here he received an application by the British inhabitants, requesting the assistance of the Society in obtaining for them a stated English minister. Many circumstances concurred in rendering such an appointment highly important; and a clergyman so situated might render most valuable aid to the objects of the Society. The Committee promised the assistance desired, as soon as might be in their power.

Of the general state of things in that part of Egypt, Mr. Jowett writes: "It has been a matter of great joy to me during these few days, to compare the present state of things with what it was five years ago. God has certainly blessed, and is still blessing, His cause in these parts. It is impossible to say to whom, or to what, in particular, this is owing: it is the result of a series of impulses, which have, from year to year, been communicated to Egypt. May the Church Missionary Society have the means promptly to meet the wants of the people! But my mind is more deeply impressed than ever, with the need which we have of more labourers."

Having availed himself of the opportunity of entering afresh into many interesting topics relative to Egypt and Abyssinia, Mr. Jowett left Alexandria for Syria. In this visit he collected much interesting information on various points connected with the future objects and operations of the Society.

[graphic]

(To be continued.)

PARIS BIBLE SOCIETY. We have received the monthly" Bulletins" of the Paris Bible Society, up to a recent date, and wish that our limits allowed us to translate very largely from these interesting documents. Feeling as we do most deeply interested in all that concerns the promotion of true piety in France, and especially in the religious prosperity of our fellow-Christians of the Protestant communion, we have learned with the greatest satisfaction the success with which it has pleased God to bless the operations of this most important institution. For the present we must content ourselves with the following passages from the documents before us, to which we may find another opportunity of again adverting.

The Society most properly lays down as the foundation of all its proceedings that truly Protestant and Scriptural maxim, that "the sacred books of the Old and New Testament contain the foundations of our faith, all the principles which should guide us in the present world, and all those truths which lead to happiness in that which is to come. Hence the primary duty of a Christian is to read and meditate upon the Bible, and the greatest blessing which man can offer to his fellow-creatures, is to place this Divine book within their reach."

Speaking of the success which has followed the exertions of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Committee justly remark: "It would be a great mistake to imagine that these magnificent results are due principally to the richer classes of society. For in the first place the English Government has no connexion with the Bible Society, although the princes of the royal family, the ministers of state, and the nobility, may individually be members of it. More than two thirds of the sum it has received proceeds from the voluntary contributions of artisans, mechanics, and labourers; it is the produce of their savings; it includes even the mite of the widow and orphan."

The Committee proceed to point out the great importance of a Biblical Institution, with reference to the peculiar circumstances of their own communion.

"The French Protestants have not been strangers to the general feeling which is bringing evangelical Christians back with renewed ardour to the regulating code of their faith. To the reasons which their fellow-Christians in other countries had to promote this object, their peculiar situation added others still more urgent. It was necessary to supply in the bosom of their own families the loss of those Bibles

which were destroyed at the period of the suppression of the Reformed Church; a loss which could be but very partially repaired during the years of revolution and war which succeeded without interruption from the re-establishment of their rights till the restoration. It was necessary also to provide for replacing those Bibles, which, although they had escaped destruction, were no longer fit for use, the language not being sufficiently intelligible. It was necessary to supply the increasing wants of successive generations, to whom the improvement in intellectual education, which is generally perceptible in the most numerous classes of society, renders reading at once more easy and more necessary. The importance of the measures which supply this deficiency appear with an increased weight of evidence when it is considered that the Protestants are scattered in the midst of a large Catholic population, and that they are destitute in many places not only of public worship, but also of every means of religious instruction. Must not this motive render the possession of the Bible even more indispensible (if we may so speak) to them than to their fellowChristians in other countries? And if it be recollected again that France is deprived of all those public and private institutions which, since the time of the Reformation, have in Protestant states supplied the ordinary demands by new editions of the sacred Scriptures, is it not absolutely necessary for the French Protestants to establish among themselves a special institution, which alone is capable of supplying wants so various, and so calculated to affect every benevolent heart?"

It must be truly gratifying to British Protestants to witness the zeal with which the cause of Bible Societies is espoused by the members of sister communions on the continent. "With few exceptions," remark the Committee, "all the Reformed consistorial churches possess biblical establishments, which proves that their ecclesiastical authorities unanimously acknowledge their necessity and utility. In the small number of those churches which are still deprived of Bible Societies, measures are being taken to establish them as soon as possible."

The parent and auxiliary committees have wisely taken every opportunity of giving the utmost publicity to their proceedings.

"Independently," they remark," of the wish which the several Committees felt to give an account to the subscribers of the disposal of the funds which were intrusted to them, they resolved to under.

take this task from the conviction which they feel, that the prosperity, and even the support, of the Bible Society in France, absolutely requires that its object, its principles, its constitution, its labours, the amount and expenditure of its funds, the names of the persons who compose it, and of those who manage it in all its departments, shall be made as public as possible, and that it is by this publicity that every effort that malevolence or ignorance may direct against the simple and eminently religious object of this institution, will be defeated."

The Society have distributed, directly or indirectly, more than fifty thousand copies of the holy Scriptures. Without such an institution, it would have been difficult, not to say impossible, to supply a very small part of the necessities which éxisted in France.

Among the Bibles printed under the direction of the Society, is a stereotype impression in large octavo, according to the version called Ostervald's; of which 4,000 Bibles, and 2,000 Testaments are already struck off, and a new impression is going to be put to press. The Society is making preparations for publishing Bibles in various sizes; among others a Bible in folio, or in quarto, for the use of families and for public worship, and pocket Testaments.

In order to offer to the French Protestants a constant supply of Bibles and Testaments of the two versions of Martin and Ostervald, the Society requires very considerable funds; which, the Committee remark, depend principally upon the support of female Bible Societies, and the numerous Bible Associations, which are already formed in Paris, and in other parts of the kingdom. Some of these latter are composed of artisans and mechanics, others of agricultural labourers, and many even of children at school. These, as well as the female societies, are established, the Committee state, upon the model of those with which England abounds: their object is to collect weekly and monthly contributions, either to procure Bibles for those of their members who are still destitute of them, or to increase the general funds of the Society, and to enable the central Committee to meet its official expenses, to procure new stereotype plates, and to make gratuitous grants of Bibles for Paris and the departments. These last amounted, last year, to the sum of more than 28,000 francs, without reckoning the depôts of Bibles and Testaments which have been established in different parts of the kingdom. The Committee attest,

that "the Bible Societies and Associations have already produced the most beneficial effects in France. They have reanimated Christian piety; they have brought the members of the two Protestant communions, formerly too much dispersed, nearer together, and have formed a new bond of union between the Reformed Churches. They have exhibited to all classes of society, Protestants zealous in the cause of religion, which is also that of good order and good morals." And they add: "The purity of the Bible Society's objects, and the publicity given to all its operations, which their very nature exposes openly, and renders incompatible with any design foreign to the simplicity of its aim; in short, intentions so perfectly upright, and so benevolent, cannot fail of conciliating the good will of Christians not of our communion, and ought to secure to us more and more of the high protection of a government which justly considers the support of religion as among the first of its duties. But the most solid support of our confidence, and the only immoveable foundation of our hopes, is in that Divine Providence which, in the sight of the principal nations of the five divisions of the globe, has already impressed upon the labours of the Bible Society the seal of its august sanction, by granting to them a protection which may justly be compared to that with which it surrounded the first heralds of the Gospel and the enterprises of our glorious Reformers."

The Committee give the following striking epitome of the rapid advances of the Biblical cause. "In 1804, a small society of friends to the Bible is formed in England: in 1824, three thousand Bible Associations, more or less numerous, are employed in distributing it in every part of the globe. In 1804, the parent Society receives contributions to the amount. of six hundred pounds for the promotion of its object in the beginning of 1824, its receipts have amounted to more than a million sterling. In 1804, measures are taken for printing some thousands of copies of the Bible in English and Welch: in 1824, more than five millions of copies of the sacred Scriptures in an hundred and forty languages of every part of the habitable globe, had been dispersed by the exertions of Bible Societies. Who can calculate the amount of good which has hence resulted? God only knows it; but eternity will reveal it. But does not this unexpected success prove that God favours the efforts of associations employed in the distribution of his word?"

« السابقةمتابعة »