so much of spiritual joy and triumph shed over the final scene, that the depth and poignancy of the sorrow felt at his removal are more than mitigated, they are almost banished, by the emotions of joy and gratitude which they have originated in our minds." From Mr. Ridsdale's letter, and from one of nearly the same date, written by Mr. Godman, it appears that plain indications of Mr. Hodgson's failing strength, and of a slow yet steady advance of internal disease, had appeared for the last six or eight months. In the beginning of March, he became so unwell, that Dr. Abercrombie, his medical attendant, prohibited him from preaching; a prohibition with which he had the greatest difficulty in complying, and which gave him very great uneasiness at the time, and continued to do so, until at length the disease assumed a decidedly serious form, and he was quite laid aside. "His whole soul was so thoroughly imbued with love to his work, that he clung to it with a tenacity which nothing could loosen but the absolute force of circumstances. This necessity at last became evident even to himself. Then he saw the uselessness of further discomfort on the subject, and resigned himself entirely, and with a perfect acquiescence, to the will of his heavenly Master;"-still, however, occupying himself, as actively as circumstances allowed, in caring for the general affairs of the District, until altogether unfitted for any kind of exertion. "He had put on the harness in his youthful days, with no boasting, but with that deep humility which characterized his whole course; and he wore it, and laboured and died in it; for he never put it off but with death. It was laid aside only when his Lord had honoured him with a glorious victory." From the first he was most anxious for the sanctification of his affliction, and addressed himself with more than usual earnestness to spiritual subjects. At one season he suffered much from the assaults of Satan, as well as from the severity of his bodily disease; and for a time some degree of comparative depression of mind was thus experienced. But even then he repeatedly declared, that he had not the slightest doubt of his "acceptance in the Beloved." He was perfectly at rest on that subject, and felt that he was on the Rock. "The heaviness only preceded a coming joy,-the strife, a swiftly-approaching triumph. The light soon appeared in its brightness; and, from that time, it shone more and more unto the perfect day." Many, it is stated, were the memorable and delightful sayings by which he expressed his unshaken confidence in God, and his joyous hope in Christ. "Forty years ago," he said, "I chose the Lord for my portion for forty years I have laboured in His service: I choose Him still. It would be absurd," he emphatically added, "in me, to think that He would leave me now; especially after so many interpositions of His providence in my behalf, as I have witnessed." He manifested, to the last, his wonted deep anxiety for the prosperity of the work of God in the District which he had so long and ably superintended; and one of his latest prayers for Africa was, "Shine upon this benighted land!" On the day of his death, he said, "I have had such a delightful view of the heavenly Zion, the Jerusalem above! But O, how pure, how holy! It would almost make one tremble to enter! But all our unfaithfulness, all our short-comings, may be forgiven: they are forgiven, through the blood of Jesus. O, I see the pearly gates; they are open for me, unworthy me! I shall enter!" Only three hours before his departure, as his friends stood around his bed, he exclaimed, "I have victory, victory, victory, victory, through the blood of the Lamb,-the blood of the Lamb, the blood of the Lamb, the blood of the Lamb!"and added, "He is mine, mine, mine, for ever, for ever, for ever!" And then, after conversing in a most pleasing and edifying manner about death, heaven, and some of his deceased relatives, he again exclaimed, in a clear though weak voice, five times in succession, "Victory, victory, victory, victory, victory!" What reader of these recitals does not feelingly say, "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ?" Mr. Godman says, in conclusion, "His remains were borne to the silent grave amidst the tears of multitudes. On leaving his residence, the funeral procession was composed of persons from Simon's Town, Diep-River, Wynberg, Rondebosch, and other villages, and of a great number of the respectable inhabitants of Cape-Town. As we proceeded to the burial-ground, hundreds more joined the solemn train; so that, by the time we reached his sacred resting-place, it was thought that there were five or six thousand persons assembled to pay him this last mark of respect,-showing the high esteem in which he was held." We have to add to these affecting notices of the deceased, the intelligence that his sorrowing widow and daughter have safely arrived in England. May God be their comforter, guardian, and all-sufficient friend! POSTSCRIPT. Wesleyan Mission-House, London, FEEJEE MISSIONS. We have just received, and hasten to lay before our friends, the two following communications from Feejee. They are both important, and both highly gratifying. The first is from the journal of the Rev. R. B. Lyth, and states the cheering fact, that the King of Lakemba has at length publicly renounced Heathenism, and, in connexion with other persons of influence, has declared his adherence to the profession and worship of the Christians. The second, which is a letter from the Rev. James Calvert, will be read with great interest, as containing good news from Vewa, and especially an admirable letter from Captain Fanshawe, R.N., to the Chief of that island, which we hope may be successful in at least diminishing the fearful amount of murder and cannibalism hitherto so prevalent among these deluded Heathen. To Captain Fanshawe, and Mr. Pritchard, the British Consul, our Society owes its respectful and grateful acknowledgments, for their friendly and truly Christian efforts in this matter. Extract from the Journal of the Rev. OCT. 19th, 1849.-We praise God for what our eyes have seen and our ears have heard this day. Tuinayau, the King, has made a public profession of Christianity, and with him five others, Richard B. Lyth, Lakemba, Feejee. including the only remaining Priest, and others of his near friends. There has been great joy in the city, and in the whole island. Sunday, Oct. 21st.-A memorable Sabbath in Lakemba,-the King, for the first time after professing himself a Christian, attended the house of God, and joined with his people in worshipping Him who is " King of kings and Lord of lords." Tui Tumbou, another influential Chief, bowed for the first time before the Lord. The Chief of the town of Nasankalau, on hearing, the other day, that the King had lotued, [that is, openly professed his belief in Christianity,] ordered the chapel-drum to be beaten, and immediately went to the house of prayer, and, with several of the remaining Heathens of that town, knelt before God in token of his becoming His will ing subject, and his people God's people. So the language of the Prophet has its literal accomplishment: "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.-Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also." Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James Calvert, dated Vewa, Feejee, I HAVE the pleasure to inform you of a visit of H.B. M. ship, the "Daphne." She arrived at Vewa on the 29th of September, 1849, and left, ultimately, on the 8th of October. I was on board with Tui Veetee. We sailed to Rewa in her, to try to restore peace fully between the long-contending brothers. Captain E. G. Fanshawe, with Mr. Pritchard, made strenuous efforts to cause the brothers and Tui Veetee to give up hostilities. Mr. Pritchard preached to us on the Sabbath. Messrs. Williams and Hazlewood were taken to their Circuits in the "Daphne." The following is a copy of Captain Fanshawe's letter to Tui Veetee: "H.B.M. Ship, Daphne.' "At Sea, October 10th, 1849. "TO TUI VEETEE.-Being now about to leave the Feejee Islands, I am led, by an earnest desire for their welfare, and also by a sincere esteem for yourself, to address a few words to you in the language of friendship. "These beautiful islands have been, until now, the scene of the grossest impostures, and the most degrading superstitions, that have ever disgraced mankind, leading in their results to practices in which treachery and murder are the stepping-stones to the vilest passions and appetites. "No people ever did, nor ever will, become great and honourable whilst sunk in so profound a depth of ignorance and crime; and it is because I know you to be far too intelligent to be deceived by the flimsy superstitions which surround you, that I would entreat you, for the good of your country, to use your powerful influence in stopping those abominable cruelties which disgrace it, and which cannot be thought of without disgust by any en lightened mind. I am confident that you cannot contemplate the kidnapping of unoffending women and children to supply a cannibal feast, nor the murder of a wife on the death of her husband, without shame for the cowardice of the former, and for the folly of the latter, as well as for the cruelty of both. "Depend upon it, such practices cannot last; and great will be the honour acquired by that Chief who has the courage to oppose them. There is one man, and only one man, who can effectually do this, and that man is yourself. I would say to you, therefore, Do not leave for another the opportunity which has fallen to your lot of conferring so great a blessing upon your country. Let it be seen that cowardice and cruelty are no longer to be forced upon your people by a gross and ridiculous superstition. They are an industrious and intelligent people: let them be protected and encouraged, and they will become great and prosperous;-how much greater will be the ruler of such a people! "These few words have been written in the spirit of friendship: they are intended to promote the real welfare of your country, and your own true dignity and honour. I therefore trust that you will give them your serious attention. "I will conclude with a request, which I make because I think it will in a very great degree forward those objects: "We must expect that in a short time your father will be numbered with the dead. According to a terrible practice to which I have alluded, many women of his household would be murdered in cold blood on this melancholy occasion. Let me ask, as a personal favour, that you will interpose your authority to save these poor women from becoming the victims of such atrocious The above was sent to me for the Chief; a translation of which I read to him. I visit Bau frequently. The Chief and people generally make many inquiries about religion, and show me kindness. I wrote to you last month by Manilla, informing you that the King of Lakemba, and many persons in his dominions, had embraced the truth. The reports are favourable as regards the King, and most of those who followed his example. Some of his children had joined the Papists; but when I last heard, the King was requiring them to cast their beads away. Mr. Lyth was pretty well when I last heard. Mr. Williams is not strong. Mr. Hazlewood is vigorous, and will soon have a Dictionary ready for the press. The "Wesley" has just brought us two brethren. They will greatly help and relieve us. I am much surprised, by a peep at the Stations, to learn that you did not appoint any one to Feejee at the Conference, though you then knew of our state; but I suppose you could not. Our small schooner is of very suitable size. Will you be kind enough to send us, for her, two hundred sheets (two cases) of sixteen, eighteen, or twenty ounce copper, as may be judged most suitable for a seventeen-ton craft, and a sufficient quantity of one-inch copper nails ? The replacing of her present copper will be needed by the time we receive this from you, and the expense will be great from Sydney or Auckland. Some dissatisfaction has again been manifested at Nandy by the Solavu people, the latter requiring our churchmembers to offer the first-fruits of their yams at the heathen temple. The Solavuns had proceeded towards Nandy, ransacking and burning one house, and threatening to attack the houses of the natives on the Mission-station. They had returned without making any attack. I have sent the Chief of Vewa over, hoping his influence and teaching may be of use. On the 23d we held our Missionary Meeting. The chapel was crowded, and great attention paid to the addresses. Subscriptions and donations amounted to about £30. The natives contributed seventy-six mats, forty-four baskets, three bows and arrows, seven pieces of sandalwood, sixteen fans, sixty-two clubs, eleven hand-clubs, one pillow, thirty-one spears, four ladies' dresses, five waterpots, four combs, and one pig. A few days after the arrival of the new Missionaries, we went to Bau, and saw an oven opened, in which a very large man was cooked. Two young Chiefs, one of rank, have lotued at Bau. They are opposed, but I hope firm. Our public services have to be discontinued for a few Sabbaths, until the excitement subsides. LONDON DISTRICT. WE rejoice to report, that the usual Quarterly Meeting of the Committee of the London District Auxiliary Society was held at the Centenary-Hall, on Friday, October 11th, 1850. It was very numerously attended, and was eminently happy and harmonious. It was delightful to find, that the receipts from the Branch Societies in this District have already exceeded, by the sum of more than £100, the receipts up to the same period of the last year. The cause is God's ; and "of His own" His faithful people will continue to "give to Him" for its support and extension. Several legacies have also been recently announced ;— -a mode of Christian contribution which, we trust, will not be forgotten by those to whom it may be the most convenient one. LONDON-PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE. |