more who are passing on to the unseen world almost in the same state of awful ignorance, and leaving prospects but little better for the next generation? Let every one search into the secrets of his own heart, and examine the actions of his own life, and see how the matter stands. O ye ministers of the churches, are you fully, faithfully, and fearlessly performing your part in this work of faith and labour of love?" It is of the last importance that you inform yourselves well on the subject of missions to the heathen-that you preach often to your people respecting their obligations to send the Gospel to them-that you show them publicly, and from house to house, the connexion which their endeavours for the good of idolatrous nations has with their own individual, family, and congregational prosperity and happiness-and that you endeavour to raise up more labourers from among the people under your care, to go to the ends of the earth on the service of Zion's king. * *** * ** O ye professors in colleges, seminaries, and academies, in the diffusion of Christianity among the heathen, you have a most responsible part to perform. As you lead on the pious and holy youths under your care in the path of useful knowledge, and unfold to them the wondrous scheme of salvation in its various bearings, would it not be in perfect accordance with your other efforts for their good, and, indeed, the crowning service of the whole, sometimes to say to them, "Beloved pupils, heavy tidings from the East-mournful news from the plains of Goojurat-nine millions of heathen, and only two missionaries among them--should not some of you go far hence to those tribes-would it not be proper especially for you who intend to enter the holy ministry, to lay your Saviour's last command before you, and to fast and pray over it for some time, with a view of ascertaining your duty in respect to those idolaters-as it respects a station for glorifying God and doing good to the souls of men, not one more suitable can be mentioned-meditate deeply on these things, and may the Lord direct you to a proper decision!" By such appeals, how soon, under the blessing of God, would many in all probability come forward to the work of the Lord among the heathen, and by this very means most effectually serve the churches in their native land. May you have grace to act according to the will of God in this matter! O ye parents and heads of families, in looking round on those over whom you preside, and especially when viewing the children that God has given you and brought to mature age, and praising him for the grace bestowed on them in beginning a good work in their hearts, do not you frequently wish that they may in future * * * be employed among the poor heathen, while life remains, and at last die surrounded with all the evidence of successful labour? * Should any of them wish to engage in this high and holy enterprise, and be possessed of solid piety, experience, talents, and a sound constitution, -by the love of God to a lost world, the dying agonies of the Redeemer, and all the purifying, strengthening, and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit, I entreat you to encourage them to devote themselves to the service of God, among these heathen, saying, "Go, dear children, go, and may God Almighty go with you, and make your way and your work prosperous!" If you thus act from love to God and compassion for the souls of your perishing brethren, you will never in time regret your decision. your sacrifice, your devotion, and in all probability, it will be matter of joy to you through eternity! O ye holy, humble, and consecrated young men, who are now students of theology, or who are endeavouring in the fear of God to decide on the momentous question whether it be your duty to enter into any of the seats of learning, and prepare for the sacred ministry, what, O what shall I say to you? My heart is oppressed, my breast heaves with compassion for the heathen, and my whole soul invites you to gird on the Gospel armour, and come forth in the name of the Lord to the post of labour and honour, and to tread in the steps of prophets, apostles, confessors and martyrs. Allow me therefore to speak freely to you. While ministers ought to stir up their people to support and extend the Gospel-professors in colleges to exhort their holy, devoted, talented, and promising students to make sacrifices for the name of Christ, and the good of the heathen, and parents to devote their sous and daughters to the service of God among idolatrous nations, is it not your solemn duty at present to inquire deliberately and prayerfully if you ought not, from love to Christ, reverence for his authority, regard to the glory of God, and compassion for the heathen, to consecrate yourselves, your time, your talents, your all, to the service of the Most High amongst these deluded people? There is, my dear friends, an urgent and immediate demand for a host of Missionaries, who are willing to present themselves living sacrifices to God, and to offer themselves up, in the spirit of holy and self-denying love for India's good. Let me then entreat you to deliberate most solemnly on this subject-to fast and pray over it-to study the character, conduct, and fearful prospects of these heathen, as faithfully delineated in the word of God, and made known to the churches in the communications of modern Missionaries— to view and embrace the promises of the Motives and Encouragement to exertion. I have now, Christian brethren, told you my tale of woe, and endeavoured to stir up your minds to perform, with holy energy, your part in the great work of causing the streams of God's mercy to flow through this idolatrous land, in order that its polluted inhabitants may be purified. Let not the manifest folly, or evident grossness of any of the facts which I have mentioned, prevent you from viewing the picture in all its aspects. I have copied from real life, and in no way exceeded the original; though I have often fallen far below it, especially in regard to those filthy scenes which common decency frowns from her presence. Do not, I beseech you, call my urgency in impressing the wants of this people on your attention, stirring you up to busy, intemperate zeal. The cause I plead is that of destitute millions, who are rapidly passing unprepared into eternity. Something more, something great must be quickly devised, and perseveringly executed in their behalf. The world in all its tribes is to be converted through the instrumentality of Divine truth, in answer to the prayers of God's people, by means of their individual and united exertions; and nothing which you are enabled to do in this cause, with a single eye to his glory, can finally fail of success. A vast amount of Missionary labour, faith, and prayer is still required in order to illuminate this dark land; but long and dark and deadly as has been its night of gloom and horror, that night shall come to a perpetual end; the abominable temples which now crowd its hamlets, villages, towns, and cities shall be razed to their foundations-its idols be cast to the moles and the bats-its gods be all famished-yea, its entire idolatry, with all its abominations, its curses, and its crimes. be swept off from its whole surface, and Christianity in its fullness, freeness, and purity, be received as the religion of its inhabitants! The events of the present time, the word and oath of God, the mediatorial character and kingdom of Jesus, and the promised influences of the Spirit, unite to confirm our faith, and to direct our longing eyes to this termination of all your holy wishes, your believing prayers, and your scriptural exertions. Then this province will become one of the most happy and delightful regions on earth, and the whole country exemplify the import of the designation, its key-city, Surat, BEAUTY, now bears, because "the beauty of the Lord our God" will be upon it! Oh! that this view of Goojurat, in its religious and moral aspects, may lead you all to feel aright the glorious privilege of aiding more abundantly this holy cause; and by your prayers, your property, or your personal services to assist in hastening on this delightful consummation! May the Spirit of God soon be poured out on all flesh, the whole earth be filled with his glory, and you at last be glorified in him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Such, Christian brethren, is the prayer of your obliged friend, the servant of the churches, for Jesus' sake, ALEXANDER FYVIE. Surat, May 15, 1837. THE MISSIONARY SHIP CAMDEN. THE arrival of the Camden, at Cape Town, on the 1st of July, the first intelligence of which reached us through an indirect channel, was intimated in the Missionary Magazine for October. The following communication, which we are persuaded will be read by the friends of the Society with devout and grateful acknowledgment of the mercies which it records, has been since received from our honoured and beloved brother, the Rev. John Williams, and the devoted brethren who have gone forth with him to the distant islands of the Pacific, in the service of their Divine Master. It is addressed to the Foreign Secretary, under date Cape Town, July 10, 1838, as follows: REV. AND DEAR SIR,-It is with feelings of lively gratitude that we unitedly address a letter to you from this place, and present you with some of the interesting particulars of our voyage. You are aware of our having put in at Dartmouth, and of the kind attentions we received from our Christian friends there. The wind becoming favourable, we sailed from that hospitable place on the 18th of April, and arrived in safety and in health at the Cape of Good Hope, on Sabbathday, 1st July, after a most delightful voyage of a little more than ten weeks, without having experienced a storm during the whole of our passage. As it is deemed unsafe for vessels to ride at anchor in Table Bay, we put into Simon's Bay, where we found three ships undergoing repair, having sustained considerable damage from the heavy gales they had encountered, while we had been graciously conducted the whole of the distance without having had a fear excited. We passed in sight of the Madeira, the Canary, and the Cape de Verd islands, and enjoyed a most enchanting view of the stupendous peak of Teneriffe. In crossing the equator, instead of adopting the absurd practices usual on such occasions, we set apart the day for the purpose of returning thanks to our heavenly Father for his goodness in conducting us thus far in safety and in peace. In the forenoon a discourse was delivered upon the wonders of God in the deep, and in the evening a special prayermeeting was held. We have enjoyed our religious services, we are happy to state, without any interruption, and on the first Sabbath of every month we have commemorated the Saviour's death, when our excellent captain, the officers, the stewards, and several of the seamen, have united with us. practice with continued diligence, hoping, by the time of our arrival at Tahiti, to bave made considerable progress. We were happy to find our esteemed friend and fellow-labourer Dr. Philip, and his family, in excellent health, and were rejoiced to hear of the prosperous state of the Society's Missions in the interior. We have had much pleasure in visiting a num ber of the infant schools in Cape Town, and think that most beneficial results may naturally be expected to arise to the coloured population of this place. We beg to refer you to our private communications for such information upon various topics as our short stay has enabled us to procure. We are delighted to inform you that a valuable addition has been made to our number in Mr. Ebenezer Buchanan, who is thoroughly acquainted with the Infant School system. Having received the offer of his services, a consultation was held, when after obtaining Dr. Philip's opinion, it was resolved that his services should be accepted, which, we trust, will meet with the approbation of the Directors. We beg to inform you that we are under great obligations to the ministers and many Christian friends in Cape Town and Simon's Town, for their kind attentions. Beseeching an interest in your prayers, we subscribe ourselves, with much affection, Yours very sincerely, J. WILLIAMS. W. DAY. THOMAS Joseph. R. THOMSON. JOSEPH JOHNSTON. Of Captain Morgan we cannot speak in too high terms. While we admire his skill and attention in conducting the ship across the trackless deep, we are at the same time delighted with his humble deportment, and his unaffected piety. We sincerely hope that his life may be spared many years, to convey the messengers of the cross on their embassy of mercy to the numerous islands in the Pacific, which are yet ignorant of the Gospel of salvation. Several of the brethren meet the men in the forepart of the ship, on those evenings which we have not set apart for a religious service, and we trust that their labours have been blessed. A portion of every day, with few interruptions, has been employed in receiving instruction in the native languages, and we purpose to pursue this In connexion with the preceding letter, the subjoined communication, addressed to the Directors by Captain Morgan, the gentleman to whom the navigation of the Camden has been confided, will also be perused with lively and hallowed interest, as bearing testimony to the goodness and mercy of God in raising up an individual so suitable to engage in the holy and important undertaking on which he has entered :: Camden, April 14th, 1838. Off Dartmouth-roads. GENTLEMEN,-I have the pleasure to inform you, that all our crew who signed the articles are on board, at the respective stations appointed them. All your beloved Missionaries are well, exclusive of the usual consequences of the motion of the vessel. Never did a kind Providence more favour the departure of a vessel than that with which the Camden has been favoured. We believe Heaven has smiled on us, and CHARLES G. STEVENS. GEORGE CHARTER. HENRY ROYLE. WILLIAM GILL. July 18th, Friday. We are putting to sea this afternoon. we go out with the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace. The God of love and peace, we trust, is guiding us with his eye. May your Missionary servants of the Most High God be made abundantly useful, and may the blessing of the heathen who are ready to perish come down on your heads, who send out labourers into God's vineyard, to call the heathen from darkness to the glorious light of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And may those who go out weeping, bearing precious seed, re turn bringing their sheaves with them, rejoicing. I desire to be grateful myself for your kindness in receiving me to so high and important a station, and hope my talent will be employed under the wisdom and grace of God. To be employed in this way is my highest ambition, and I would not exchange my station for any on earth. I believe I am where God would have me to be. Our vessel sails well, and, I believe, is every way such as will be useful to the purpose for which you intend her. We be- Your affectionate and humble servant, KAT RIVER MISSION, SOUTH AFRICA. THE spiritual trials and anxieties occasioned to the people of the Kat River Settlement, by the prolonged but unwilling absence of their venerated pastor and his son; the great difficulties with which they had to contend during the same period, from a combination of circumstances unfavourable to their social and moral advancement; and the spirit of pious submission and reliance on God manifested by them under those severe and multiplied chastisements; have been noticed in the account of the station contained in the last Annual Report of the Society. The arrival of Mr. Read, jun., at the Settlement, in March, 1837, and the pleasing state with regard to their religious interests, in which he then found the people, have likewise been communicated through the same medium. At that time, although the claims of duty had obliged Mr. Read to separate 10 members from the Mission church, he had the sacred privilege of receiving 65 others into Christian fellowship, including 12 who had been under suspension. From the date of the report furnished by the Rev. George Barker, to the period above mentioned, an interval not much exceeding twelve months, the progress of education in this part of Africa has also been peculiarly encouraging; the number of schools having in that time increased from 9 to 15, and that of children from 400 to 1,120. The arrival of Mr. Read, sen., at Cape Town, on the 6th of February last, with the Rev. Dr. Philip, Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner, and the Chief Tzatzoe, was announced in the Missionary Magazine for July. While in Cape Town, Mr. Read received letters from his son conveying the most cheering accounts of the settlement. One of these, dated in January, brought the grateful intelligence that 50 adults had recently been received into the church by baptism, and that a similar number remained as candidates for the same ordinance. Thus animated and encouraged, Mr. Read embarked from the Cape early in March, with the intention of proceeding to Algoa Bay, where, after a perilous passage of nine days, he landed in safety. Having visited Port Elizabeth and Bethelsdorp, and enjoyed the happiness of fraternal intercourse with the brethren engaged in the work of God at these stations, our brother, accompanied by a part of his family who joined him at the latter station, Jan Tzatzoe, and a number of Christian Hottentots, proceeded on his way to Kat River. Under date 9th June, an interesting communication has reached us from Mr. Read, embracing the particulars of his journey from Bethelsdorp to Philipton,* with a view of the eminently gratifying and auspicious circumstances under which, in conjunction with his devoted son, he recommenced those valuable and important labours from which he had been so long and so unnecessarily withdrawn. After mentioning his departure from Bethelsdorp, Mr. Read thus proceeds : I soon found myself in the wilderness again, with my dear family and part of my flock. What a happy night was the first night in the open air! Often had I, when lying on feather-beds in England, longed for this change. At last it was realised, • Mr. Read's place of residence on the Kat River. and I felt that I would not surrender it again, except for very important purposes. I left Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner at Bethelsdorp, where they will remain for a few months. The chief and I proceeded together, with six wagons; two of the chief's brothers and several of his people had met him at Port Elizabeth. We halted only a few hours at Graham's Town. The next day a number of the Kat River people met us at the Konap River, with relays of oxen, twelve for each wagon. A few hours after we met other spans, and similar accessions to our party were continued every two or three hours successively, until we arrived at Philipton. Numbers of our people, men and women, on horseback or on foot, came forth to welcome us, and when about twenty miles from Philipton, I had the pleasure to meet my dear James and his two sisters. The Caffre chief Macomo, with his suite, also met me, and accompained me until we arrived at a place opposite his residence, where we halted for the night. Macomo presented us with a fat cow, but the numbers to be fed were so great, that the meat was soon eaten up. Here again, for the first time, I had my basket of sour milk; it was most delicious, and I gave up every other refreshment for it. We spent a happy evening in prayer and praise in the open air, by the side of a rock, similar, I suppose, to that at Horeb, before the water gushed out. Next day I went forward on horseback, escorted by about forty persons, many of them the heads of parties connected with us. Formerly my arrival had been generally announced by the firing of muskets from the different locations; this, as my dear friend Mr. Campbell knows, is an old custom; but, considering my return was in answer to earnest prayer, the people had resolved that not a gun should be fired, but that all should assemble in chapel, to unite in public thanksgiving. Consequently, on our arrival at Philipton, the people repaired to the place of worship, and spent a considerable time in prayer and praise, after which I went to my longforsaken but not forgotten closet. Next day (Saturday) the people poured in from every quarter, and on Sunday I preached in the open air to a great multitude of attentive hearers from the words, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The Caffre chiefs, Macomo, Tyali, and Botman, with several of their people, were present. Administration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. After service, continues Mr. Read, my son baptised six adults, and the church united in the celebration of the Lord's. supper. About 300 members were present. A stranger would be best able to describe the scenes of this day; floods of tears flowed down the cheeks of those assembled to partake of the sacred emblems. In the evening we had worship as usual in the Caffre language; this is a service which always affords great satisfaction, and we trust it is, through Divine grace, rendered profitable to many. Mission Schools. On this subject Mr. Read writes:-I found things in general nearly in the same state as before the war. The return of my son had been very timely, and his labours have been greatly blessed. Schools were multiplying as fast as native teachers could be raised. The native schoolmasters are performing their duty with great credit to themselves, and improvement to the children. We have now 15 schools, and upwards of 1000 children under daily instruc tion. The governor, Major-general Napier, was lately here, and expressed high satis faction at what he saw and heard. A part of the children, from nearly all the schools, were present, it being the yearly examina tion. One class of one of the out-schools was examined. The children read English very fluently, repeated many scripture texts, were examined in grammar and in geogra phy, and that by a Hottentot boy, their own schoolmaster, and all in English. A gentleman who was present said afterwards, that his Excellency was deeply interested in these schools. The Governor has promised us every protection and encouragement. The Fingo children begin to attend our schools in great numbers, so that the latter will be greatly increased, and when we have more infant schools established, our number will be nearly doubled. At present, excepting the Fingo children and infants, nearly every child is at school, and that without trouble on the part of either the children or the parents. The schoolboys (who act as monitors) are fine youths, very desirous to have the children in order, and each to have his own class the most forward. My second son Joseph teaches the school at Philipton, which now includes 130 children. A private class is instructed every morning at daylight, in grammar, arithmetic, geography, &c. Two of my daughters have the care of the infant school, which con tains 60 children, and two others conduct the sewing school. Progress of Religion. By the blessing of God, the work of con Mr. and Mrs. Schreiner subsequently proceeded to Philipton, on the Kat River, and arrived there June 21. |