and liberal, if they adopt some plan for the quent setting aside of small sums, rather than wait till some particular period for contribution comes annually round. Let it be borne in mind from week to week, (1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2,) or perhaps from day to day, as is done in many families; and a small sum thus regularly and frequently given is not felt, and yet at the close of the year it becomes a considerable amount. In this respect the farthing-a-day plan, and other expedients that have been suggested, are likely to work advantageously; and when we consider there is scarcely an hour when we are not making some outlay, to a larger or smaller amount, for our own ease, and to promote our own comfort, it does appear unreasonable that contributions for what is so great and important should be lost sight of, and only come into notice at occasional and remote periods. This suggestion will easily and readily be attended to, if the habit of contribution is made the subject of serious and conscientious deliberation. 3. It must be acknowledged that scarcely any part of this subject needs to be pressed on the public attention more than the necessity for more regular and fervent prayer. It is truly lamentable to hear, in some places, that the prayer-meeting for the universal spread of the Gospel of Christ, often commands less attention than a prayer-meeting held under ordinary circumstances. Whether there is a want of zeal in furnishing the information which would give such meetings a lively interest, or a want of appropriateness in the prayers which are offered; and whether the want of attendance arises in some cases from a want of edification, we cannot take upon us to decide; but we fear that generally, where there is a want of desire to be present at a meeting specially held to pray for the conversion of the heathen, it arises from there being a want of interest in the work to be accomplished; and we would exhort every one to examine himself on this point, and to consider not merely that his absence on such occasions is injurious to himself, but is exerting a lamentable and injurious influence on the minds of those who observe him. It is not, however, to seasons of public supplication that we would confine this remark. If prayer for the success of Missions had its appropriate place in the services of the domestic altar, it would have a beneficial effect on all the members, and especially the younger members, of the family. Who that has been present at the worship of a family where all the features of the mission work pass under somewhat rapid but distinct and devout notice, has not found' Tet on his own spirit most beneficial? It reminds young persons of what they have heard before-it will suggest many inquiries which the head of the family will be glad to meet, and it will diffuse a devout and serious influence over all their thoughts and intentions in reference to the work of God. This may deserve even more distinct notice, and therefore we remark 4. That the fathers of families, and those who are at the head of educational establishments, would do well to avail themselves of the openings afforded by the study of geography, history, and other kindred subjects, to refer the young and others dependent on them to the facts which missionary intelligence affords, as illustrative of such subjects, partly for the sake of the illustrations they supply, but still more for the sake of improving favourable opportu nities to introduce what is important and profitable. Let us direct our children to read what will draw their minds in this direction, and turn the stream of domestic conversation in this channel; and in this way we shall always be adding, in a small measure, fuel to the flame of Christian zeal which burns in their hearts. It is of great importance that this be done in a way that engages and invites, so that the work may have associated with it ideas which are not only solemn and important, but attractive and inviting. The union of the two is likely to make them influential, and to secure important and pleasing results. Our hopes are and must be from the young in our churches, and whatever contributes to bring them forward into active and efficient service, is laying the foundation for great and extensive good at no distant period in the history of the church. We have thus referred to some things deserving the notice of four distinct classes of persons; but perhaps the circular of the Directors may be designed to call forth opinions respecting the desirableness of employing some kind of local agency, by assigning one particular section of the kingdom to a distinct visitor, according to the plan pursued by the British and Foreign Bible Society. That, however, is a point with the practical working of which the writer is so little acquainted, and one which must be judged of by ministers and gentlemen knowing the wants of particular localities, that it is better to be left in their hands. The design of the present paper has been to show, that, quite irrespective of all such helps and such excitement, a great deal may be done by all classes among us towards stirring up each other's zeal, and increasing the general efficiency of the Christian community. E. C. I THE MISSIONARY MAGAZINE AND CHRONICLE, RELATING CHIEFLY TO THE MISSIONS OF The London Missionary Society. SUBSCRIPTIONS and DONATIONS in aid of the Funds of this Society will be thankfully received by the Treasurer or Secretaries, at the Mission House, Blomfield-street, Finsbury, and by Messrs. Hankey, the Society's Bankers, 7, Fenchurch-street, London; in Edinburgh, by Mr. George Yule, Broughton Hall; in Glasgow, by Mr. Risk, 9, Cochranestreet; and in Dublin, by Messrs. J. D. La Touche and Co., or at 7, Lower Abbey-street. MORANT BAY STATION, JAMAICA. IMMEDIATELY subsequent to the promulgation of the Act for the abolition of slavery in the British Colonies on the 1st of August, 1834, the Directors proceeded to bring into operation the measures they had contemplated in reference to the important island of Jamaica, whose population at that time included nearly one half the entire number of the West Indian negroes. Four brethren, Messrs. Wooldridge, Hodge, Barrett, and Slatyer, were appointed to the southern parts of the island; and two, Messrs. Vine and Alloway, to the northern. These brethren arrived at their respective stations in December, 1834. In April following, Mr. Hodge commenced his labours at Morant Bay. On arriving there he was permitted by the magistrates, at the instance of Thomas Thomson, Esq., (a steady and liberal friend of the Missionary cause, residing in the locality,) to hold Divine service in the public court-house. The measure of encouragement VOL. XVI. 2 s which attended this effort opened the way for an extension of Missionary labour in the vicinity, and out-stations were soon formed on two neighbouring estates, Belvidere and Retreat; at a later period a third out-station was established on another estate, named East Prospect. At each of these places the Gospel was preached at regular intervals. A church of 26 members has been formed' at Morant Bay, and by the latest accounts we learn that the congregation amounts to 450 people, with an average attendance of 400. The congregations at the out-stations, Retreat and East Prospect, are also large, and contains numerous candidates for the fellowship of the church. The progress of Sabbath-school instruction on these estates is also highly encouraging. In 1837, a new chapel was opened at Morant Bay, by Messrs. Wooldridge and Hodge. The solemn occasion is thus noticed by Mr. Hodge :-"The chapel was opened for the worship of Jehovah on the 26th of this Month [March.] It is named Devonshire Chapel. I invited Messrs. Vine and Alloway to preach on the occasion, but in consequence of their distance from Morant Bay, and the peculiar circumstances of their stations at this juncture, they were unable to comply with my request. Mr. Wooldridge was present and preached. We had a crowded congregation. The sum collected was 117. 14s. 2d., which, with the subscriptions that I had previously received, amounted to nearly 3407. currency, that is, more than 2001. sterling." The chapel is the property of the Society. It is 50 feet long, 40 feet wide, and is capable of holding 500 people. Mr. Hodge adds :-"No part of the chapel here is devoted to school-purposes, but the land with which it is connected, and on part of which it stands, is 129 feet long, and 80 feet wide. It is an oblong square; the chapel stands at the south end of it, there is consequently sufficient ground for the erection of a school-room, and also a dwelling-house, should it be thought desirable." A school-house to contain 200 children is already in progress of erection, and nearly completed, on the ground mentioned by Mr. Hodge. The local proprietors not only express themselves favourable to the interests of education, but unite with the negroes in requesting the establishment of additional schools. The Directors had the satisfaction to send out, in 1835, Mr. and Mrs. Howell, to act as schoolmaster and schoolmistress at this station. Having embarked from London on the 19th of November of that year, Mr. Howell and his wife arrived at Port Morant on the 11th of January, 1836. The day-schools contain 80 children, some of whom manifest considerable advance in mental and moral improvement. In consequence of the failure of Mrs. Hodge's health, Mr. Hodge was compelled, in April of last year, to return with Mrs. Hodge and his family to England. His connexion with the Society has since amicably terminated. After the departure of Mr. Hodge from Morant Bay, Mr. Howell assumed the charge of the station, which he continued until relieved by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Benjamin Franklin, who embarked for Jamaica on the 22nd of last December. Mr. Franklin arrived at Kingston on the 12th of February last, and proceeded, on the 14th, in company with Mr. Wooldridge, to his station. The commencement of his labours as a Missionary of the Cross has been attended by an encouraging measure of the Divine blessing. Writing under date, 11th April, in reference to the newly received members of the Mission Church, Mr. Franklin observes :— "Of these, I believe, it may truly be said, that they have sincerely repented of sin, and are entirely resting on the Redeemer for salvation. When attending at the Lord's supper for the first time, on the first Sabbath of this month, they appeared melted with grief while I addressed them on the important and sacred relation on which they had entered, the duties expected of them, and gave them the right hand of fellowship in the name of the church. There are now about 30 persons professing to seek the Lord with full purpose of heart, and wishing to unite in church fellowship. I cannot but hope that the hand of God is with us, and that we shall be favoured with still further displays of his grace in the salvation of immortal souls.". HUAHINE MISSION, SOUTH SEAS. AMONG the recent communications from the South Seas, the following has been received from our brother, the Rev. Charles Barff, of Huahine, under date October 6, 1837. The statements it embraces are calculated to afford a more than ordinary measure of holy interest and gratification. Mr. Barff, in addressing the Directors, thus writes: HON. FATHERS AND BRETHREN,-It is with unfeigned gratitude to God, I record the progress of the Gospel here through another eventful year. Public Services.-The beneficial effects of the exclusion of ardent spirits are great beyond calculation, both in a temporal and moral point of view. Instead of squalidness in dress, and impropriety of behaviour, the people now all appear in decent clothing, and conduct themselves with order and decorum. But the most happy effects are observable in the improved moral state of our people; the congregations are uniformly good on the Lord's-day, and the weekly lecture on Wednesday is also much better attended than formerly. Baptisms.-Numbers have come forward during the past year, and offered themselves as candidates for baptism, who evince an unusual degree of earnestness in seeking the one thing needful. Nearly all of them are from that class of people who lived in the neglect of the means of salvation, and in the pursuit of every debasing sin; but who are now, we trust, truly born again, have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Church Members.-A considerable addition has been made to the church during the past year, chiefly from among the young, who have been in the constant habit of attending our day and Sabbath-schools from infancy, and in whose hearts the good seed of the word appears to have taken deep root. Tears of joy were frequently seen to run down the cheeks of the parents on the admission of their offspring to church-fellowship. The deacons and I continue to meet candidates for baptism and communion on Monday evenings, to instruct them, and inquire diligently into their experience of that change of heart so essential to the true Christian. We continue also to visit the church members at their houses, and find it edifying to ourselves, and we trust profitable to the people. At a monthly prayer-meeting for the deacons only, I give a short address to place before them continually their obligations to that holy walk and diligence which their important office requires. Church discipline has been necessary only in few instances during the past year; and has been soon followed with beneficial effects in producing a manifestation of godly sorrow, which we trust is genuine. Our regular church meeting every Friday afternoon, appears to be a season of spiritual profit and delight; and, to use their own words, "E amu raa maa na te varua;" a feast for the soul. A number have been removed by death; all advanced in years except one, Rubena, who was not more, I suppose, than 30 years of age. He was predisposed to consumption, which, together with an attack of influenza, removed him speedily from his family and the church. He had been an active deacon for some years; he was blessed with grace when young, and continued to adorn his profession by a holy walk and conversation till death. I do not recollect any one whose death was so generally regretted, on account of his activity in doing good, though every one appeared to feel confident that their loss was his gain. His end was peace. Schools.-These have been better attended than in former years, both by adults and children; and a desire after knowledge, particularly of the Holy Scriptures, has much increased among all classes, and their improvement in reading, writing, &c., is truly gratifying. We have established, during the past year, an out-station at Maeva, to which place the deacons and I go in rotation. The school there is well attended, and the congregation attentive to the Gospel. Mrs. Barff, and our daughter Louisa, continue to meet the native females, who are church members, ever Monday evening, for reading the word of God and prayer. The Press. Several tracts and schoolbooks which I have translated, are ready for the press; but I have been unable to print them this year, on account of our exertions to supply, as far as possible, the pressing wants of the Samoan Mission. A large number of publications have been issued from the press in that dialect; and yet the Missionaries state that the supply is but as a drop in the ocean. In addition to the Scripture selections, I have a history of the Bible in that dialect in a progressive state. BORABORA. Having adverted to the encouraging appearances of the island in its secular interests, Mr. Barff proceeds to notice the circumstances of a visit which he had been enabled to make to the neighbouring islands of Borabora and Maiaoiti. In the last Annual Report, it was our painful duty to state that the contentions among the natives in the former island had severely checked the progress of the Gospel there; but we expressed a hope that in Divine Providence a salutary change would take place in the interval between the receipt of the next communications from Mr. Barff, and those which supplied the distressing intelligence then given. This hope has, through Divine mercy, been amply realised. Mr. Barff, writing in October last, states: During Mr. Platt's absence to the westward, I went round to the stations, as far as Borabora, and was happy to find the state of things much better than formerly. The congregations were good, and the schools well attended; during my visit fourteen new members were received to communion, &c. Mr. Platt has visited them since. I trust the Directors will soon be able to send them out a Missionary. ΜΑΙΛΟΙΤΙ. In July last I visited Maiaoiti, and found the station in prosperity, under the superintendence of Tamore. He reported that the people were steady in their attention to the means of grace, and the children in attending school; 16 infants were baptised during the visit, and 13 new members received to church fellowship, chiefly young persons. I have thus far endeavoured to give a faith ful account of the progress of the cause of I remain, yours affectionately, BERHAMPORE MISSION, NORTH OF INDIA. THE following are the extracts from the journal of the Rev. Micaiah Hill, of Berhampore, in continuation of the gratifying statements which we were enabled to furnish in our last number: (Continued from p. 135.) I July 14.-I had an excellent congregation this morning, and preached so long that I felt too fatigued for a second sermon. however went to the farm where the mulberry is thriving. I expect no direct returns from it this year, as all I can realise must be expended in planting new ground. I require 900 rupees for this purpose, and hope I may be able to obtain this amount from the produce. Should I surmount the difficulties of the present year, and extend the cultivation according to my hopes, I am told the farm will yield the orphan asylum 4,000 rupees annually. This would be a delightful provision for our orphans, would enable us to increase their number largely, and, perhaps, to give employment to some who are suffering greatly for conscience sake. A letter from the Rev. William Ellis, re ceived a few days ago, informs me of the kindness of the Directors in conceding to my desire to remain at Berhampore. I feel really grateful for their delicate attention to my feelings, and bless God for it. I can. not, however, refrain from noting in my journal, that if I know myself I have made conviction, and not feeling, the rule of my choice in preferring Berhampore. My ha bits are now so Indianised that I should like to be buried, or rather absorbed, în na tive work alone. I am as willing now to give up my acquaintance in India when duty calls, as when I left my widowed mother and friends in England, more than 15 years ago. August 10.This evening I preached opposite our house, and for some part of the time had a large collection of hearers; after I had retired, perceiving six or eight |