OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. No. IV. July, 1832. AMERICAN MISSION CHURCH IN CEYLON. As about half the members of the Ceylon mission church are youth who have been named and supported in the mission boarding schools and seminary by benevolent individuals in this country, it will be interesting to many to see some connected account of the growth and character of that church, and the names of the individuals composing it. The missionaries arrived in the district of Jaffna, Ceylon, and commenced their labors in October, 1816; and in one year they began to preach without interpreters in Tamul, the language spoken in that part of Ceylon, and by some millions of people on the adjacent continent. The Roman Catholics from Portugal came to the district two or three centuries before, and the Dutch followed them; but the traces of religious knowledge were slight. Eight missionaries have been sent to this field, two of whom have died. Five stations have been occupied. All the mission families and all the native converts constituted but one church until about a year since, when, in order better to secure the ends of church government, the converts residing in the vicinity of each station were associated together, and thus five churches were constituted. The missionaries organized themselves after the model of a presbytery. The missionaries have used much caution in admitting members to the church. Inquirers have been thoroughly instructed; and when hopefully converted, they have been instructed further, and counselled, and watched over, and not received to church-fellowship until the strength of their religious characters had been long tried, and they had given all the evidence which the nature of the case admits that they were born of the Spirit. After assenting to articles of faith, and entering into a covenant similar to what are adopted by evangelical churches in this country, the candidates receive the following as their rules of life. These are so modeled as to meet the various sins that are most prevalent and the temptations to which they are most exposed. Rules of Life. Since there is a perfect rule of faith and practice contained in the Scriptures we ought to examine them and compare one part with another; and, understanding them, we ought to live agreeably to them, and not trust to the writings of man. On this account, we, the missionaries, being the watchmen of the church members, and bound to teach them, by expounding the sacred Scriptures, to shun those things which they ought not to do, and to do the things they ought, make known to the members of our church in Batticotta, Tillipally, Oodooville, Panditeripo, and Manepy the following rules, which are agreeable to the Christian religion. Isaiah viii. 20. Acts xvii. 11-16. John v. 39. Rev. xxii. 18, 19. Matt. xxii. 29. 1 Peter i. 20, 21. Neh. viii. 8. 2 Tim. iv. 2-6. 1 Thes. v. 14. Titus i. 15. 2 Chron. xix. 10. Ezek. iii. 18. 1 Cor. iv. 14. 2 Cor. ix. 5. 1 Tim. ii. 1. Heb. xii. 5. 1. You are bound not only to leave all idol worship, the worship of the saints of the Roman Catholics, and what the Tamul people call gods; but you must not make any offerings to them nor give any thing for their support, nor rub sandal-wood, dust, nor ashes; nor use any heathenish ceremonies, enchantments, or prayers at a wed ding, a funeral, at the birth of a child, while cultivating the land, when going to buy or sell, or when beginning any other work. You must not have any thing to do with such customs, neither can you observe lucky or unlucky days or signs, nor use sorcery, nor consult the shasters: all these you are bound to leave, and live without the least leaning towards heathenism. [Here were inserted the texts of Scripture on which the rule is founded.] 2. We exhort and advise you not to observe any distinctions of caste among yourselves, but to live as the members of one family. In reference to office and other worldly distinctions, the inferior are to honor the superior, each walking humbly and esteeming others better than himself. [Texts.] 3. Take not the name of God in vain, nor bear false witness, nor swear by your head nor any other part of your body, nor leave her for the sake of another woman, except for the crime of adultery, nor intermarry with near relatives nor with idolaters. [Texts.] take an oath upon any other name, nor use vain and idle words; nor quote the Bible in [Texts.] an irreverent manner. 4. Remembering you have covenanted to keep the Sabbath day holy, you must not only make every necessary preparation for the Sabbath beforehand, so that neither you, nor your workmen, nor your cattle may have any thing to do on that day; but both you and your family must abstain from all worldly business, worldly conversation, and desires after worldly things, nor buy, nor sell, nor journey, nor read books on worldly subjects, nor spend the time idly, but read and hear the Scriptures and talk about them, meditate on the great concerns of the soul and on heaven, go to church and worship God, and pray with your family at home. In this way you are to keep the Sabbath. [Texts.] 5. Children ought not only to obey and honor their parents, but when they are old to support them. Parents, too, should treat their children kindly. Servants should obey and honor their masters and masters treat their servants kindly and not abuse them; wives should obey their husbands, and husbands respect their wives and be kind to them; each ought to be in subjection to kings and rulers and at peace and friendly with all. [Texts.] 6. No one should dare to destroy himself nor the life of another, nor kill any thing without a substantial reason, nor in sport, nor in anger; nor should parents allow their children to treat beasts cruelly, so that they may die-nor should any one cause abortion, nor give place to drunkenness, gluttony, anger, hatred, envy, malice, quarrelling, oppression, nor any such pas care. 8. We warn you not to steal nor assist a thief, nor allow stolen goods to be in your Use no fraud in buying nor selling nor cheat in weights nor measures, nor receive a bribe, nor take exorbitant interest, nor forge bonds, nor gamble, neither give place to any such sins. [Texts.] 9. We exhort you not only not to bear false-witness, but as church members, not to go to law with each other, nor assert any thing to be true which you do not certainly know to be so, nor accuse falsely, nor speak insidiously, nor condemn others, nor publish abroad the faults of your brethren. [Texts.] 10. We exhort you not to covet your neighbor's goods, nor be envious of the increase of your neighbor's property, but every one to be content with such things as he has, and be liberal in his feelings. [Texts.] It is not only a duty to refrain from doing evil but every one is bound continually to do good. As far as you are able, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, administer to the sick and poor, constantly desiring that neighbors, children, and friends should live a godly life. You should make known to them the Scriptures and exhort them to reform; pray for them, and in this way continually strive that the glory of God may be made manifest by the spread of the Christian religion. Moreover you should, as the Christian religion directs, set a good as lights example before all, and shine among men, considering, that as Christ has bought you at an unspeakable price, you are not your own but his, and are bound to serve him with both soul and body, and to rejoice in his glory, giving diligence to If make your calling and election sure. you do these things you will not stumble, but an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be administered unto you. [Texts.] The following catalogue gives the name of each person received into the church from the commencement of the mission, till July 21, 1831; together with the time when each was received, his age at that time, and his present standing and employment. Samuel, Catherasy, Carnatty, Lydia, July 21, 1831. Harriet B. Meigs, Mary Ann Poor, 25 Do. 21 Panditeripo schoolmaster. 40 Do. 22 Wife of Mark. 15 Daughter of B. C. Meigs. 15 Seminary. F. E. Cooley, Samuel Dana, 16 Do. Samuel Gile, 15 Do. Jonathan Grout, 14 Do. Jonathan Homer, John Kirby, John Newbold, 15 Do. Thomas Spencer, Of these 117 have been connected with the boarding schools and seminary-30 schoolmasters and superintendents--and 50 villagers, including some domestics. Of the last two classes, 30 are more than 40 years old-13 are over 50-one is seventy or upwards and one above 80;-38 were females-11 have died— 7 have been excommunicated-8 or 10 were teachers in the seminary or the preparatory or female boarding school-12 were employed as readers and catechists-4 have been licensed to preach the gospel, and another was prevented only by sickness. All but six are natives. The foregoing statements give occasion for several remarks. 1. The progress of this mission has been remarkably steady and encouraging. The Spirit of God soon gave success to the labors of the missionaries and the fruits of these labors have been thickening from year to year since. The first native received to the church as the fruit of the mission was Gabriel Tissera, Oct. 10th, 1819; three years after the commencement of the mission; and who, since the year 1821, has been a licensed preacher of the gospel. Since that period two hundred and four persons have been received-in 1819, four; 1820, three; 1821, nine; 1822, eight; 1823, five; 1824, eight; 1825, fortynine; 1826, ten; 1827, twelve; 1828, twenty; 1829, eight; 1830, six; 1831, sixty-two. Besides these several have died giving hopeful evidence of a change of heart, but without making a public profession of religion; of some of whom interesting biographies have been published in the Missionary Herald; and many others, giving similar evidence, have not yet joined the church. 2. No class of the heathen are beyond the reach of the gospel. More than half the converts have indeed been from the young; yet a sufficient number of adults, and even of the midelle aged and the aged, have been gathered in to show that the opinion commonly expressed of the hopeless state of adult heathen is not warranted by experience. 3. This mission has been favored with seasons of special religious attention and inquiry, more nearly resembling the revivals in the American churches than any thing else to be found in the history of modern missions. Three periods have been particularly marked; one in the beginning of the year 1824, another near the close of that year, and a third at the close of the year 1830. 4. The divine blessing has obviously followed the labors bestowed and been proportioned to them. More than half of the 204 church members have been members of the seminary and boarding schools. The missionaries from the several stations often visit these schools and set apart whole days for exhortation and personal religious conversation with the pupils. Such days have in nearly all cases been followed with increased seriousness and conversions. 5. These revivals have been obviously in answer to prayer. The first was traced to a day of fasting and prayer of the missionaries; the second to a communion season; and the third to a general missionary prayer meeting. 6. The history of this mission shows the benefit of concentrated action. The stated labors of the six missionaries, with the native preachers, and catechists, are principally limited to a popu lous district about ten miles square, which includes the five stations and nearly all the native free schools. 7. This church manifests a good degree of Christian activity and zea!. The youthful converts do much more for the direct promotion of religion among their own countrymen than is expected from individuals of the same age in a Christian country, and greatly aid the missionaries by distributing and reading portions of the Scriptures and religious tracts, and conducting religious meetings. Probably the missionaries can accomplish twice as much with their aid as they could do without it. They also contribute liberally, according to their means, to Bible and tract societies established among them. 8. The facts respecting this church afford much encouragement, as they show how the gospel may be propagated among the heathen by converted natives. This church already furnishes more than thirty Christian superintendents and teachers of native free schools, besides eight or ten who teach in the seminary and boarding schools, twelve or fourteen readers and catechists, and four or five preachers of the gospel; besides a theological class of 20 who are preparing for the ministry. China. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. BRIDGMAN. [Continued from p. 139.] THE last published extracts from the journal of Mr. Bridgman were written about the time of his arrival at Macao from Canton in June of last year. Journal at Macao. July 25, 1831. Gambling among the Chinese is a favorite amusement, and in its effects is most destructive to the wellbeing of society. When once commenced, it eats as doth a canker. Though perhaps the most common among the lower orders of society, yet there is reason enough to believe it prevails, and to no small extent, through all the grades, from the imperial palaces to the meanest hovels. They have a considerable variety of games in which cards are commonly used. There are few, if any, times or places, when or in which the Chinese will not gamble. The more serious-minded Chinese whom I have conversed with on the subject have many very correct ideas of the evils of this practice, so far as they affect temporal interests. Moralists and teachers of youth will sometimes use words to dissuade from the practice. But even in these cases, few as they are, the conduct does not agree with the counsels. 27. This afternoon followed to the grave the remains of Robert Williams a sailor be longing to the American ship Panther. Death came upon this man like a thief in the night. He fell from aloft on the deck, and expired in a few hours. Watch and pray, therefore, for ye know not the hour when the Son of Man cometh. Aug. 1. Last evening received letters, pamphlets, and papers, giving detailed accounts of the effusion of the Holy Spirit on the churches of Christ in the United States. VOL. XXVIII. In this land of darkness it is inspiriting to hear of such a wonderful and gracious visitation from on high. So it shall be here for the Lord has promised it. But now, oh how different! It makes the heart ache even to contemplate the scene. Superadded to paganism, are seen and felt the withering effects of a Christianity which is not Christianity. But still it is a system which great efforts are made to extend. The number of Romanists in these regions has been much increased of late. Six Catholic priests from France, young and zealous, and eight Chinese youth, educated, I believe, in Italy, have within a few days arrived here to propagate the faith. We observed the monthly concert for prayer this evening. Three persons only, besides Dr. Morrison and family, in whose house we met, attended. We have great need of faith, and great need of the constant and fervent intercessions of all our Christian friends. Three or four native Christians in China, Mr. Gutzlaff on the coast bound in the spirit to Pekin, six or eight missionaries at the Straits and at Bankok, and ourselves here, constitute but a feeble band, ridiculous in the world's eye, going to convert China. Sept. 5. Commenced the Scripture references; copying from Bagster's Polyglott Bible, rendering the references into Chinese, by the help of my boys, and for the help of Chinese disciples in years and ages to come. Return to Canton. Sept. 20. All the circumstances of a residence in China are well calculated to make one feel that he is a pilgrim and stranger here, having no continuing city. My little stock of furniture is packed this morning, expecting in the evening to set off in a chop boat for Canton. A chop boat is one which has a "chop" or permit from government, and makes it unlawful for the pirates to seize and rob or murder you. Besides it gives a specified number of per26* |