Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

revelation of his will. How small are the objects of orators, and poets,-of moralists and legislators, compared with the renovation and salvation of a single soul? What are the embellishments of human society, the gratification of curiosity, or of taste, to a mind deeply intent on recovering a lost world to God and holiness, on raising up, from the ruins of the apostasy, heirs of immortality, children of God, trophies of the Redeemer's sacrifice? To establish the liberties of a nation is deemed a great achievement; and so indeed it is, comparing merely temporal things with each other. How great a cause of exultation is it, then, to liberate immortal beings from the bondage of sin, and lead them forth from their prison house to the enjoyment of pure and heavenly freedom? To this high and holy ministration the press will hereafter be more devoted than it has ever yet been. The time will arrive when it shall be no more the panIder of vice, the apologist of crime, the incentive to pollution, the instrument of sophistry and error. In those favored days, HOLTNESS TO THE LORD will be inscribed, as with a sun-beam, on every page.

So far as you may be intrusted with the management of the mission press, let this sublime destination be held continually in view. Let it be your constant aim, that when the truths of religion are professedly taught, nothing but pure, plain, simple truth should be found;-evangelical truth, unsophisticated by human additions, unimpaired by retrenchments, the suggestions of human wisdom, unincumbered with human philosophy in any form, but supported by the veracity of God, and certainly to be accomplished by his power and his faithfulness. Let your standart be high, in regard to the purity and tendency of whatever you permit to be published. We have no fears, indeed, that you, or your brethren, will ever consent, that a press furnished in so disinterested a manner, and for so excellent a design, should be desecrated, by being applied to any unworthy purpose. It is not enough, however, that positive evil be avoided; let eminent good be done. Let the character to which you aspire in this department of your labors be such, that, could you be transported, by a happy anticipation, into the full blaze of the millennial day, you would have no occasion to blush for the motives which prompted, or the effects which followed your publications.

The Field of Labor.

The field before you is extensive and inviting. You will not be compelled, like many of your brethren in different regions, first to form a written language, and then, beginning at the elements, to create for yourself a reading population. Around the whole circuit of the Mediterranean, multitudes are able to read, and vastly greater multitudes are desirous of learning. The Greeks, particularly, are inquisitive, apt to learn, and fond of possessing books. Some of them have knowledge enough very earnestly to covet more; and all, so far as our information extends, are willing to be taught. They are in just such

a state as eminertly to need instruction. Accustomed to reverence the Christian name, and to suffer many indignities and privations on account of their profession, they need the supports and consolations of genuine Chris tianity. The pure and simple doctrines of the New Testament, if fairly and steadily presented to the mind, will chase away the phantoms of superstition, which have been stalking abroad during so many ages of darkness.

The exertions of the British and Foreign Bible Society embrace so wide a range, that a press is not primarily demanded in Western Asia, for the publication of the Scriptures entire; though it may probably hereafter be usefully and profitably employed for this purpose. But at present, and during the first stages of religious inquiry, select portions of the Scriptures, printed in such quantities as to be very extensively distributed, promise to answer a valuable end, by attracting notice, and preparing the way for complete copies of the Bible. Short tracts, also, expressing the great truths of the Gospel in the words of Scripture, may be reckoned among the most effectual means of exciting attention, and leading to the demand for direct personal labors. School books, formed upon the principles of unadulterated Christianity, with the design of early imbuing the mind with heavenly truth; and introducing, at the same time, all the modern improvements in rudimental learning, must be of inestimable value to such a people as we are contemplating.

BOMBAY.

MR. Hall and Mr. Garrett write, that they are now printing an edition of the Gospel of Luke, (2,500 copies,) which exhausts the stock of paper, which was sent them from this country some years ago. They are in want of increasing funds to print portions of Scripture for distribution, to meet the increasing demand.

DONATIONS.

To the donations already acknowledged, as for the Sandwich Island Mission, we add Gregory's Dictionary of the Arts and Sciences, and Brown's Philosophy of the human mind, from the Rev. Dr. Flint, of Hartford. The value of these books is about $40.

Also, a small waggon, from Dea. Henry Morse of Paxton. Value $45.

MISSIONARY HERALD.

ALL subscribers, who do not signify their wish to have the work discontinued, will have the ensuing volume forwarded to them as at pres ent. A notice of discontinuance should be communicated in season to reach the publish. er by the first of December.

The friends of the work are reminded, that the commencement of a new volume is the most favorable time for obtaining new subscribers.

ERRATUM:-In consequence of the Editor's absence an error was admitted, p. 318 of this number, where it is stated, that Mr. Fisk was with Mr. Parsons at Samos, June 16, 1821. Mr. Parsons was then alone

THE

MISSIONARY HERALD.

VOL. XVIII.

NOVEMBER, 1822.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE A. B. C. F. M.

THE thirteenth annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was held in the Philosophical Chamber of Yale College, Sept. 12th, and 13th, 1822.-Present,

The Hon. JOHN TREADWELL, LL. D.
Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D.

Hon. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER,LL.D.
Hon. JOHN HOOKER,

Hon. JOHN C. SMITH,

Rev. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D.
Rev. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D.
Rev. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT, D. D.
Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D. Ď.
Rev. ZEPHANIAH S. MOORE, D. D.
Rev. JAMES RICHARDS, D. D.
Rev. JEREMIAH Day, D. D. LL. D.
Rev. HENRY DAVIS, D. D.
Rev. JOSHUA BATES, D. D.
JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq.
Rev. WARREN FAY.

The Rev. PETER STARR, of Warren, Con. and Mr. ANSON G. PHELPS, of the city of New York, took seats as honorary members.

The session was opened with prayer by the Vice President; and, on the second day, by the Rev. Dr. Morse.

The Hon. John Hooker, Hon. John C. Smith, and Gen. Van Rensselaer were appointed a committee to examine the Treasurer's accounts, and report to the Board.

A council having been convened for the purpose of ordaining Messrs. Richards and Bishop, with a view to their being sent as missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, and Mr. Goodell as a missionary to Palestine; and the council having approved the candidates, and being ready to proceed to the services of the ordination; the Board adjourned, at 10 o'clock, A. M. of the 12th, so that the members might be present on the solemn occasion. The Rev. Dr. Miller, of Princeton, N. J. preached from Isa. Ixi, 4; the Rev. Dr. Flint, of Hartford, Con. delivered the charge; and the Rev. Mr. Hawes, of Hartford, presented the right hand of fellowship. The introduc

VOL. XVIII.

No. 11.

tory prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Lewis of Greenwich, Con. the consecrating prayer by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, of Hatfield, Mass. and the concluding prayer by the Rev. Mr. M'Ewen, of New London, Con. After the ordination, a large concourse of the professed followers of Christ, united in the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

At 7 o'clock, P. M. of the same day, the Board attended public worship, when the annual sermon was delivered, in the presence of a numerous and highly respectable audience, by the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, of Salem, N. Y. from Malachi i, 11. The Rev. Dr. Morse offered the prayers.

The Rev. Drs. Morse, Chapin, and Lyman, were appointed a committee to present the thanks of the Board to the Rev. Dr. Miller for his sermon, to the Rev. Dr. Flint for his charge, and to the Rev. Mr. Hawes for his right hand of fellowship, and to request a copy of each for publication.

The same Committee were directed to present the thanks of the Board to the Rev. Dr. Proudfit for his sermon, and to request a copy for publication.

The Prudential Committee presented their Report, which was ordered to be printed.

The Committee appointed by the Board to examine the accounts of the Treasurer, and the expenditures of the past year, having attended that service, report: That from the Treasurer's accounts, it appears that there were paid out, during that peri od, for the several missionary stations, as follows; viz. the stations at and near

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

The committee have examined the charges at the several stations, and are fully satisfied, that the monies intrusted by the benevolence of the Christian public to this Board, have, under the direction of the Prudential Committee, been faithfully and economically expended.

The committee have particularly attended to the items contained in the last of the above mentioned charges. The great variety of these items, which respect the general operations of the Board, and relate to all their concerns at home, and generally to their missionary stations abroad, are such, that the committee cannot be particular in their report, on this part of the subject referred to them. But they do report, that, after carefully attending to the several charges, which constitute the said sum of $9,292,59, they find none that could have been dispensed with.

Per order, JOHN HOOKER, Chairman. The Rev. SAMUEL AUSTIN, D. D. of Newport, R. I. and the Hon. JONAS PLATT, of Whitesboro, N. Y. were unanimously, by ballot, elected members of the Board.

The Board then made choice of the following officers, for the ensuing year.—

The Hon. JOHN TREADWELL, LL. D. Pres.
The Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. Vice Pres.
The Hon. WILLIAM REED,

The Rev. LEONARD WOODS, D.D.
JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq.

SAMUEL HUBBARD, Esq. and

The Rev. WARREN FAY,

Pru.Com.

JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq. Corres. Sec.

The Rev. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D. Rec. Sec. HENRY HILL, Esq. Treasurer; and CHESTER ADAMS, Esq. Auditor.

Resolved,

That the thanks of the Board be presented to the President and Fellows of Yale College for the use of the Philosophical chamber, the present session.

Resolved,

That the Rev. Mr. Merwin be requested to present the thanks of the Board to his society for the use of their meeting-house in the public religious exercises of this session; and, also, to the choir of singers for their assistance on the same occasion. Resolved,

That the Rev. Mr. Taylor be requested to present the thanks of the Board to his society for the use of their meeting-house in the public religious exercises of this session; and, also, to the choir of singers for their assistance on the same occasion. Resolved,

That the thanks of the Board be presented to those families and individuals in New Haven, whose kindness and hospitality have been experienced by the members, during the present session. Resolved,

That the next annual meeting be held in the city of Boston, on the third Wednesday of September, 1823, and that the Prudential Committee be requested to make the arrangements requisite for that meeting.

The Rev. Dr. Moore being, by previous appointment, the preacher at the next annual meeting, the Rev. President Day was chosen to preach in case of his failure.

The Prudential Committee were authorized to provide for preaching at the next annual meeting, in case both of the preachers already appointed shall be providentially prevented from attending.

Resolved,

That the thanks of the Board be presented to all societies, churches. and individuals, who have contributed to its Treasury, during the past year; and by whose increasing liberality, the Prudential Committee have been enabled to carry forward the designs of the Board with augmented confidence.

Resolved,

That it be the duty of the Prudential Committee to compile and publish a Re

That_Samuel H. Walley, Esq. Henryport, including their Report for the last

Gray, Esq. the Rev. Sereno E. Dwight, William Ropes, Esq. and Thomas Vose, Esq. be a committee to report to this Board,

[ocr errors]

year; a statement of the Treasurer's accounts; such a detail of donations as may be deemed useful; extracts from the min

utes of the present session; and such other documents as they shall judge expedient.. The session was closed with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Miller.

REPORT OF THE

BRETHREN,

PRUDENTIAL COMMIT

TEE.

Another year has passed, and brought its cares and responsibilities, its perils and changes; but in no respect is the revolution of time so worthy of attention, as with reference to the progress of the Gospel. The anniversaries of Missionary Institutions, as they bring under review a most interesting chapter in the history of Providence, are hailed with strong and peculiar emotions by the friends of the Redeemer.

But such is our frail condition, that even the sacred solemnities of these joyful occasions are invaded by the recollections of friends and associates removed by death; and the voice of congratulation and encouragement is interrupted by the sighs of mourning, and the whispers of condolence.

Soon after the last annual meeting of the Board, two of its members were summoned away from their earthly labors and sufferings; and more recently a third has followed them.

The venerable PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, after a life of distinguished usefulness, protracted to more than fourscore years, has been released from the infirmities of this mortal state, and raised, we humbly trust, to the employments of a higher sphere, and the society of the blessed. In the former part of his life, he served his country in the discharge of various offices of high honor and respon sibility; but his last years were crowned with peculiar glory, as they were zealously devoted to the circulation of the Scriptures, and the promotion of religion. He felt a lively interest in all the benevolent exertions of the present day; but his remaining strength was especially directed to the Bible cause. To this he gave his property with a munificent hand; to this he also gave his time, his counsels, his influence and his prayers.

Though he was not able generally to attend the annual meeting of the Board; yet on one occasion he was present, in this very room, and took a leading part in the deliberations of the meeting. It will long be remembered, how much his heart was alive to the wants and the miseries of Pagans, and how earnestly he desired the universal promulgation of the Gospel. At different times he imparted liberally of his property to our Treasury, and, in his last will, while remembering many objects of great public utility, he did not forget the

claims of the heathen. Among the provisions of that instrument, five hundred dollars are bequeathed to the use of the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall; and a tract of new land in Pennsylvania is devised to aid the general objects of the Board. After the death of his daughter, five thousand dollars are to be paid toward the same general objects. May the directors of all the public charities, which this eminent man wished to promote by the testamentary disposal of his property, have wisdom and fidelity to apply his benefactions in such a manner, that his amplest expectations of good shall be more than realized; and may all, whom Providence has favored with wealth, habitually show during life, and in the only act which can prescribe the use of their property after death, that they acknowledge God as the only rightful Proprietor of all that they possess, and hold themselves strictly accountable as his stewards.

Not

The late Mr. THOMPSON and Col. LINCKLAEN were pillars of the churches to which they respectively belonged, and ornaments of Christian society. In the midst of great activity, and enterprise, and success in temporal pursuits, they delighted to magnify the grace of God, and did homage to the efficacy of evangelical religion. long after the meridian of their lives, while all their powers were in full vigor and their usefulness was increasing, disease was commissioned to assail them, and to bring them gradually down to the grave. Obvious is the lesson, which these inroads upon our number are designed to teach us; and powerful the admonition to be diligent and faithful in every labor of love, to which Divine Providence may kindly direct our feeble agency.

MISSION AT BOMBAY.

WE shall abridge the Report for the Herald, as much as possible, consistently with giving to the public those particulars, which are important in the estimation of all, who wish to have in their possession a brief history of the several missions.

After mentioning the return of Mr. Bardwell, the Report expresses the following opinion respecting his case and prospects.

THE Committee are happy to say, that after having freely conferred with Mr. Bardwell on the interests of the mission, the encouragement to increased efforts in its support, and the exigency which required his own removal, they cordially sympathize with him in the severe affliction, which compelled him to relinquish a field, on

which his heart was, and still is, so intent- || ly fixed. Were there any probability, that his constitution could bear the continued heat of a tropical climate, he would esteem it a great privilege again to unite in the labors of those brethren, with whom, during an absence of six years from Amer ica, he had been so intimately associated. The effect of the late warm season upon his health confirms previous apprehensions; and makes it more and more certain, that residence in a temperate climate is necessary to his usefulness, if not to the preservation of his life.

The particulars of Mr. Newell's death are then given, and the following character is subjoined.

Mr. Newell was one of the four young men, who first offered their services, as missionaries from our country to any remote part of the heathen world. Immediately after the institution of this Board, he was taken under its patronage; and, having finished his course of theological studies at Andover, and attended medical lectures in Philadelphia, he sailed with the first missionaries for India in February 1812. During the embarrassments at Calcutta, and the severe personal affliction, occasioned by the removal of his beloved wife, and his subsequent pilgrimage till he found a field of labor at Bombay, his attachment to the missionary cause remained firm, and his confidence in God unshaken.

As a

enjoyed the privilege of sowing it, in a soil long desolate and barren, unvisited by showers from heaven, and uncheered by beams from the Sun of Righteousness, yet capable of fertility, and destined, at some future day, to yield an abundant harvest; so that he who has sown under many discouragements, and they who shall reap the long expected crop, will rejoice together. And however the subject may now be regarded by a thoughtless world, or by Christians half aroused from the lethargy of ages, the time will come, when the names of those, who have even attempted a new mission to a land of idolaters, or have put forth their hands to a new translation of the Bible, will be transmitted to future ages with most affectionate veneration. They seek not honor from men; nor is it proper that they should. Still we may advert to the estimation, in which beneficent labors will be held, when the true value of the Gospel shall be generally apprehended, and the interests of the soul adequately consulted.

Mr. Garrett joined the mission in May, and immediately began to superintend the printing business.

Under the head of preaching the Gospel, no change of importance had taken place. The missionaries availed themselves of all the means in their power to make known to the heathen the great truths of the Christian religion. Mr. Hall had greater facilities and more encouragements for preaching, than either of his brethren; but he seriously need. ed a mission chapel, as a place of stated public worship, at Bombay.

In the department of translations, the remaining parts of the New Testament, and some parts of the Old, are ready for the press, and the whole Bible can be printed, as fast as the means shall be afforded. Books are now distributed in all the tours for preaching and visiting schools The mission press is em

missionary, Mr. Newell was distinguished by great tenderness of feeling, uncommon modesty, and a low estimate of his own attainments. The woeful condition of the heathen oppressed him much; and a view of the magnitude and responsibility of the work, in which he was employed, weighed heavily upon him. Though generally enjoying comfortable health, he had many presentiments, as his letters testify, that he should continue but a little while in his allotted station. But whatever might be the divine will concerning himself, and the termination of bis labors, he earnestly deployed by the Society for Promoting Chrissired the perpetuity of the mission, the triumphs of divine truth, the exaltation of his Redeemer. The journal of Mr. Nichols records, under the date of May 19th, that Mr. Newell, then on a visit to Tannah, had conversed much on the interests of the mission, and on different methods of doing good to the natives. On the 30th of the same month, the message for his release arrived; his spirit took its flight; and his mortal remains were followed to the house appointed for all the living. Though not permitted to see with his mortal eyes the seed of the word springing up and bringing forth fruit, he had

for years

tian Knowledge, and may probably be employed by the Bombay School Book Society.

The design of educating heathen children is prosecuted with good success; though, in consequence of a deficiency of funds, ten schools had been suspended. Fifteen are still continued, the whole number having been twenty-five. On the subject of ten schools being suspended, the Committee say:

It is possible, however, that one important benefit may result from this occurrence, apparently so disastrous. Many well-wishers of the cause, who have been

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »