Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

Notes of the Month-General.

GENERAL.

271

list of Baptist ministers who are The Prince and Princess of Wales accredited members of the Union, have done little else since their and that they be requested to con- marriage than attend entertainments sider whether any alteration in the in their honour. By far the grandest principle on which their names are was the one given at the beginning inserted in the list, or removed from of June in the Guildhall. Marvellous it, can be made with a view to the changes in the way of decorations increased efficiency of the Union.' were effected through the skill and taste of Mr. Grace. Upwards of 2,500 guests were present. Later in the month Oxford became the 'host' of the royal pair. In regard to this last, part of the programme was the conferring of the honorary degree of D.C.L. on the Prince and several illustrious visitors. Rev. C. Kingsley was set down for one, but through the narrowness of Drs. Pusey and Mansell at the Hebdomadal Board the Regius Professor of Modern History in the sister University had his as

THE two discoverers of the source of the Nile, the potomalogical puzzle of centuries, have arrived in England --Captains Speke and Grant. Captain Speke has already been known to fame as the companion of Lieutenant Burton in his exploration of Zanzibar, where he was in imminent danger of losing his life. Captain Grant was wounded in the hand at the siege at Lucknow. They are both described as sun-dried and gaunt as grey hounds, with their long and wearisome travel, and speak of the fearful effects of the slave trade in the districts through which they passed.-The Parliament seems little busier than last session, and gives increasing proofs of its indisposition to agree to any decidedly liberal or progressive measures. Lord Chelmsford has again, in the House of Peers, shown his puny spitefulness toward Dissenters, and thanks to the tenacity of the Duke of Newcastle, has been defeated. The ig-'noble' Lord opposed the clause in the Bill for the management of the Duchy of Cornwall which granted permission to the Prince of Wales to sell land for Dissenting chapels, or minister's houses. He also objected to Dissenting ministers being called in the Bill 'spiritual persons,' a phrase legally applicable toChurch clergymen alone

name

struck out. The undergraduates did not forget this piece of bigotry in their uproarious cries when the degrees were being conferred in the Sheldon theatre. The Queen has returned from Balmoral to Windsor, and is now entertaining the Queen of Prussia, who has just arrived in this country. It is thought that the visit is not altogether disconnected with the present unhappy state of affairs in Prussia. The King has gone off to talk matters Francis Joseph Joseph of Austria. The state of the Prussian atmosphere is getting sultry. We may expect some day before long to be startled out of our propriety by the news which reaches us from the Vaterland. It takes a good deal to rouse the German, but when he is aroused-woe betide the unhappy cause of his anger. French Imperialism has consoled itself for the loss of a few seats in the Chambers

over with

by the good news from Mexico. | The celebrated preacher - Ward Puebla, after more than a month's Beecher, is now on his way to siege, is in the hands of the French. The three powers-England, France, and Austria, have sent a joint-note to Russia on the condition of affairs in Poland. We fear but little practical good will come of it. Meanwhile the insurrection, or revolution, struggles on-the eye of some being strained with vain looking toward France for material help. The American conflict is still devouring thousands of lives. Vicksburg has not been taken by the Federals, and President Lincoln has had to undo the arbitrary acts of General Burnside at Detroit.

Europe for several months' furlough. His bitter speeches about England and English policy will greatly alter the reception which will be awarded him. Perhaps to those who think they are most patriotic when endorsing every slander against their own country — his presence will be wondrously welcome. But the man who says that America will never forget the Trent outrage, and will take an early opportunity of repaying it-can scarcely expect that Englishmen should give him the most cordial and national of greetings.

Marriages and Deaths.

MARRIAGES.

June 4, at Camden-road chapel, London, by Rev. C. Bailhache, of Watford, Mr. Samuel Hield, of Leeds, to Mary, second daughter of the late Mr. John Heaton, publisher, Leeds.

June 8, at the Baptist chapel, Princes Risborough, Bucks., by Rev. J. J. Owen, Mr. F. Percival, Upper Clapton, London, to Maria, youngest daughter of Mr. Samuel Adcock.

June 9, at Dover-street chapel, Leicester, Mr. William Fowkes, to Miss Barbara Ann Reeve.

June 11, at St. Andrew's-street chapel, Cambridge, W. S. Aldis, Esq., of Trinity College, to Mary, eldest daughter of Rev. W. Robinson.

DEATHS.

October 22, 1862, at Burton-onTrent, aged 67, Mr. Thomas Norton, the senior deacon, and one of the first members, in 1824, of the

General Baptist church in that town. Our departed friend was much beloved, and having lived to see the desire of his life accomplished in the erection of a handsome chapel and the prosperity of the church, he died in faith and peace.

March 23, at Heathfield, Halifax, Mary Ibbotson, last surviving daughter of the late Samuel Ibbotson, Esq., of Lower Spring Head, Clayton, aged 75.

June 2, at Southampton, a few days after his return from Madeira, Mr. Wilberforce Cox, aged 30, youngest son of the late Dr. F. A. Cox.

June 6, at Wolverhampton, aged 32, Rev. David Lawson Matheson, B.A.

June 10, at Loughborough, aged 74, Alfred Elliott. His end was peace.

June 13, at Llangollen, Mary, the beloved wife of Thomas Hughes, Esq., and only daughter of Rev. J. Pritchard, D.D. Fell asleep in Jesus.'

Missionary Observer.

EXTRACTS FROM THE

FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT.

Ir is a matter for devout thankfulness to Almighty God that at Cuttack, the first and principal station of your Society, no less than thirty members have during the year been added to the Church by baptism, while the local subscriptions for various objects connected with the Mission are said to be larger than in any previous year, amounting to nearly £400. At your other stations, encouragement is to be found not so much in the numbers added to the Church, as in sundry little incidents that have come to the knowledge of the brethren, which show that the light of divine truth is really spreading among the heathen, that the christian literature which you have introduced is being extensively read and pondered by the people, that many have ceased to worship idols, and are convinced of the truth of christianity, while here and there may be found individuals who secretly offer prayer and praise to Christ.

Your valued native brother Thoma, having honourably passed the usual period of probation, was on January 1st of the present year publicly set apart to the work of preaching the gospel. The service was held at Cuttack during the sittings of the Annual Conference. Thoma, on this occasion witnessed a good confession. The particulars which he gave of his early history from the time when a little child only four year's old, he went with his father and mother to Cuttack, and entered Mr. Sutton's school-of his boyish indifference to true religion and his subsequent conversion-of his first attempts to make known the gospel, his call to the ministry, and his purposes in relation to the important work, were alike interesting and satisfactory.

BERHAMPORE.

In accordance with the recommendation of the recent Conference at Cuttack, Messrs. J. O. Goadby and Thomas Bailey have removed from Berhampore to Russell Condah, and Mr. W. Hill has returned to his former sphere, after a residence of three years at Cuttack, where he had efficiently conducted the affairs of the Printing Office during Mr. Brooks's absence in England. Mr. Bailey writes,

At our last church meeting three candidates were proposed for baptism and three or four for restoration.

as

а

Berhampore for some time past has been getting smaller European station; in fact we have not half the Europeans in the district that there were formerly. There will, we hope, be a slight change for the better, as the Civil Court for the district is to be placed here. Mr. Hill and myself have had something to do with this. We hope the change will in more ways than one be for the good of the Mission.

We have been improving our chapel lately, and this week a friend sent us a small harmonium, for the English service, a very nice toned instrument. Miss Packer will play it. I have had to be precentor on all occasions, and when one has to preach as well, it is rather hard work, especially in the hot season. India, though the land of poetry is certainly not the land for much English singing.

GIRLS' ASYLUM.

Miss Packer says,-The past has been to us a year of great mercy, for we have not had a single case of death or serious illness; in fact the children have enjoyed almost uninterrupted health throughout the whole of the year. Two of the elder girls have

been married during the year; one to the schoolmaster of the boys' school at this station, and the other to a young man engaged as schoolmaster to the rescued Meriahs at Gotoli.

the Government school, and are learning English; the remainder are educated in the vernacular only. The teacher is a native christian, and the son of our late native brother Latchman Das. He is a young man of good abilities, and in many respects is well qualified for his work. Religious instruction-being re

forms a prominent part in the educational course of the boys.

The elder girls have been engaged as usual during their leisure hours in knitting and crochet work, which has been disposed of in the neigh-garded as of paramount importance bourhood, and the proceeds of their labour have been laid by for the children when they may leave the school. We beg to tender our thanks to those ladies who have helped us by purchasing their work; and we shall be glad to be able still to employ the girls in this way, as it tends to promote the habit of industry, and also places them in a better position when they leave the school.

Present number of scholars, twenty-two.

MR. HILL'S REPORT OF THE BOYS'
ASYLUM.

On our return to Berhampore in January last, we received charge of this institution from Mr. Goadby. Owing to the marriage and removal of the elder boys our number has been very much reduced. Years ago the Asylum was chiefly supplied by Government with rescued Meriahs, but as the Meriah sacrifices have been abolished, and the agency for the suppression of those sacrifices been broken up, we are not likely to have further accessions from that source. Two only of the rescued Meriahs remain in the institution. The number of orphans being so small it was thought that it would be a saving of expense if these were put out to board among our native christians; but as by this arrangement they were not kept under proper restraint, it has been deemed best to take them back to our own premises, where they will be under our immediate inspection and care. The number of boys now in the institution is twenty-one, twelve of whom are boarders and the remainder day scholars. Two of the more intelligent and advanced boys attend

Among the day scholars there are several whose parents are in very poor circumstances, and it would be a real charity if we had funds to receive them into the institution. We desire, therefore, to commend the institution to the sympathy and prayers of all who feel an interest in the well-being of the rising race of Orissa.

There are three others of our christian youths who attend the Government school; one of whom, at a recent examination, obtained a prize and free scholarship.

GANJAM.

The name of Ganjam has not appeared prominently in your reports for many years. It was the scene of the early Missionary labours of your esteemed friends Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, but was relinquished as a regular station of the society at the end of the year 1845. Since that period however it has been frequently visited by the Missionaries from Berhampore, distant only about eighteen miles, and occasionally by the brethren from other parts of the province. For several years Ganjam has been considered very unhealthy, and it has been almost if not entirely abandoned as a residence for Europeans. It was really painful to see a town once so full of life in such a state of dilapidation. On every hand buildings were not only tenantless but roofless, and extensive gardens and orchards once abounding with the choicest plants and trees were covered with the rankest jungle. Latterly there has been a decided

[blocks in formation]

As

improvement in the sanitary con- The harvest is indeed great." dition of the town, as well as in its they had been so short a time at the general appearance and commercial station, a formal report of their prospects. It is not more subject labours could scarcely be exto epidemics now, than are other pected. Instead of this Mr. Goadby places in the Zillah, and the climate has prepared a paper in which is as genial as at any other seaport he describes the feelings with on that coast. A canal from the which they enter upon their new Chilka Lake to the mouth of the and interesting labours, and gives Ganjam river has been sanctioned much valuable information about by the Governor of Madras, and the Khonds. Their ideas as to the when the contemplated canals by the atonement, and the future state, Irrigation Company are completed, are very striking-suggestive of a a very considerable amount of pro- singular nearness to the doctrines duce will be brought to the town for of revealed religion, and yet of a shipment. As timber abounds in people still groping in uncertainty, the district, it may become an im- feeling after the Lord, if haply they portant place for ship building. might find Him. It is surely During the last cold season quite a reasonable to believe that the fuller fleet of small crafts was repaired and clearer discoveries of the gospel there, and a brig of about 300 tons on these and kindred subjects will burden was being built for a mer-prove peculiarly welcome to such a chant at Berhampore. For some people. time past your brethren have been anxious that more attention should be paid to this populous town. The case was brought forward at the last Annual Conference, and was referred to the Berhampore Missionaries to do all they could either for its temporary or permanent occupation as a sub-station.

[ocr errors]

RUSSELL CONDAH.

The anticipation indulged in your last report that two Missionaries would shortly be stationed at Russell Condah in Goomsur has been happily realized. Early in the present year Messrs. J. O. Goadby and T. Bailey removed from Berhampore to take up their abode in that town. Mr. Goadby has since been diligently studying the Khond language, and had made his first attempt at preaching in it; while of Mr. Bailey he writes, "My estimable colleague is plodding on at the Oriya with very encouraging success. He has not commenced the Khond, and is not thinking of doing so until the year after next; which will give him three years at the Oriya. We are out every day preaching. The number of villages within a radius of four miles is upwards of forty!

PIPLEE.

AFTER expressing his regret that there had not been any additions to the church at Piplee this year, Mr. Taylor remarks,-We feel it a mercy, however, that those who had believed through grace, have amid temptations and snares, reproach and derision, been enabled to hold fast the beginning of their confidence; and that we have not had a single case of serious church discipline. Some of the members have evidently grown in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The mother, brother, and sister of Dama joined the nominal christian community in January last.

Another addition is that of Sebo Sahu, an oil vender, and a native of Pooree! This is the first case, so far as I know, of a Pooreeite breaking caste to join the christians. He visited us several times early in the hot season, and soon manifested a desire, and finally a determination to cast in his lot with the christians. We received him with fear and trembling, mingled with feelings of joy and thanksgiving. He did not display much acquaintance with the

« VorigeDoorgaan »