THE GOSAIN, OR HINDOO DEVOTEE. OUR engraving this month represents one of the Religious Devotees so numerous in India, and popularly known by the name of Fakeers. They are divided into many different Orders, more or less distinguishable by their costumes and the modes of penance or austerity which they practise. The principal Orders in Northern India are the Gosains, one of whom is represented in the engraving; the Bairagees; Jogees; and Sunyasies. But there are many other Orders, the Disciples of which abandon secular life, and devote themselves to that of Religious Ascetics. Some of them remain almost always seated at one place, generally under the shade of the wide-spreading peepul-tree, which is regarded as sacred by all the Hindoos; but a still greater number travel about the country, and especially frequent holy places, such as Benares, Gaza, Allahabad, Juggernath, and Burdwan. At some of these places many thousands of these Devotees are often to be seen at once, during the great Hindoo Festivals. They subsist by the alms of the people, and these are often liberally bestowed on them upon such occasions. They include in their number men of all Castes of Hindoos, not a few of them being Brahmins. The sentiments of the different Sects vary, but their principal doctrine is, That sin has its seat in the bodily organs, and is to be destroyed by mortifications of the body, and by abstracting the mind from material objects. When the soul entirely escapes from the influence of Matter, it obtains absorption in the Divine Essence, which is, according to the Hindoo System, the highest form of Salvation. Whatever may be the variations of doctrine among these sects, they generally agree in this tenet,-That salvation is only to be secured by the subjugation of the bodily organs, and the passions in general; and hence the various austerities practised by them. Some of the best Converts to Christianity in India have been from among these Sects, and several of the most excellent of our Native Preachers were once Devotees. Among these is Isaidas, the devoted Native Evangelist of Benares, supported by christian friends connected with the church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of Kensington. According to the custom of his fraternity, Isaidas spent a number of years in visiting the most sacred places of the Hindoos, and was passing through Benares on his way to a celebrated idol-temple in the North of India, when he was arrested by the voice of a Native Missionary, the late Narpat Singh, who was preaching in a Bazar by the way-side. The fervid and powerful eloquence of the preacher, in beseeching his countrymen to seek salvation through the Son of God, rivetted his attention, and made a deep impression on his mind, issuing eventually in his decided conversion to Christ, and the acknowledgment of His name in baptism. Isaidas is a most diligent reader of the Scriptures, and an able, zealous, indefatiga ble preacher of the Gospel. He often accompanied Mr. Buyers to the native festivals to spread the knowledge of the Saviour; and, on one occasion, when to avoid the extreme heat of the day the people travelled at night under the light of the moon, he spent whole nights in preaching the Gospel to the passing pilgrims. “Often,” says Mr. Buyers, "I heard his voice at two or three o'clock in the morning, telling his perishing countrymen of the love of Christ." MADRAS. THE PASTOR RESTORED TO HIS FLOCK. THE charge of the native church at Pursewaukum has again devolved upon our brother, Mr. Drew, who reached Madras from England, after visiting the Missions in Travancore, June 30th. Speaking, at the commencement of the present year, of the increase of the work of God in this section of the Madras Mission, he observes: I rejoice to know that, during my absence, the people have made steady and happy progress in knowledge and piety, under the pastoral care of my esteemed brother Mr. Leitch. The congregation of native believers now presents one of the most pleasing sights that my eye has ever looked upon in India. The average attendance is about 200-a poor people-very low amidst the ranks of men, but very precious, I believe, in the eyes of Him who has bought them with his blood. Humble as they are, well do many of them know that they are sitting with Christ in heavenly places. Nothing can exceed their devout and intelligent attention. Many of the christian women have been educated in our Boarding-school, and are now exemplary wives and mothers. We are reaping in them the blessed fruits of the self-denying labours of our dear sisters in the Mission. At the mention of a passage of Scripture, it is very gratifying to observe these wo men taking up their Bibles, and to hear the rustling of the leaves as they turn to the passage; and still more to see in them and in the men the sparkling eye and the grateful look when some new view of the blessed Saviour's work reaches their heart. On my first arrival, several days were given to receive the members of the native church, with their families, that we might mutually express our joy and gratitude at being permitted to see each other again in the flesh-a blessing for which we seemed for so long a time to have been hoping against hope. It was very apparent to me that those visits were visits of the heartthe heart touched by spiritual feeling: it was the welcome of those who rejoiced in the return of a Pastor who had already broken to them the bread of life; through whose instrumentality they had already received many blessings; and through whom they hoped to receive still more and still larger blessings. ENLARGEMENT OF THE NATIVE CHURCH, Through divine favour there has been an addition of fourteen members to the church. Among these are several in whose call from darkness to light the grace of God has been exceedingly magnified. One of our newly-received members, (writes Mr. Drew,) is Martha, an aged disciple. She is the mother of one of the members of the church, and a lively Christian. On the conversion of her son from heathenism, she was greatly opposed to Christianity; and so strong were these feelings, that, at his baptism, and even at his marriage to a young person who had been educated in our Boarding-school, she refused to be present. It pleased God to make the son the happy instrument of the conversion of the mother: her other sons were absent, and this one was confined to the home by illness for a considerable time. During this period, he was incessant in prayer and effort to bring her to the knowledge of Christ, and God blessed the means. Her mind was softened-she saw the truth of Christianity, believed it, and was baptized. Her walk is BAPTISM OF now very consistent: she argues against idolatry with her other children, who still continue in heathenism, and prays for them. Another of the new members is a convert from Popery, eighty years old, whose gray hairs show that life is nearly gone. On the brink of the grave she has been led to renounce the errors of Romanism, and receive Christianity. She is the grandmother of a Catechist, and had long held out against every attempt to change her opinions. A zealous young christian woman, the wife of one of our schoolmasters, herself a convert from Popery, was made the means of effecting this happy change. Our aged sister possesses but little knowledge, but I was much affected by the earnest way in which, with a tottering body and tremulous lips, she expressed her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. CONVERTS. The power of the Gospel to purify and elevate the most degraded has often been exemplified in the history of Indian Missions; and the following facts, from the correspondence of Mr. Drew, supply an interesting illustration of the words of the Apostle, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen; yea, and things which are not to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence." On a recent visit to Poonamallee, (writes Mr. D.,) it was my privilege to administer baptism to seven persons-three adults and four children-the largest number which it has yet been my happiness to admit at one time to a profession of the Faith. There are circumstances of deep interest attending their baptism. They were Pariars-out-casts -who, from time immemorial, have been trodden down and oppressed by the men whose miserable serfs they are. They bore all the marks of this long oppression; their bodies were thin, attenuated, and ill-formed; their skins black and shrunken, hanging in wrinkles over the forehead. One of them, however, was the head-man of his village, (for they have so much of authority left to them,) and the habits of thought and business showed themselves to some extent in his face. But these down-trodden beings have been made free by Christ; and they now came to declare their faith in Him, and to put in a claim to the riches of His inheritance. As I spoke to them of these riches -of the price at which they had been bought of the family of God into which they had come-the kingdom of heavenits joy-its crown; and then locked upon the beings on whom all this was to be conferred, it seemed as if it could not be-as if, to such misery, such greatness could not come. But when in lively terms they spoke of their faith and their hope, and I saw the light of the jewel of the soul, which, though buried so long, had not been destroyed; I rejoiced in my heart at the marvellous grace of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. Some of the high-caste heathen-their former lords-were present at the baptism: it was evident they were deeply struck; and intense attention was imprinted on their countenances, when I addressed the converts on the privileges, the dignities, the duties of the new state on which they were entering. These proud men must have felt the wonderful grace of the Gospel, in such condescension to such poverty; and they will speak of their feelings, and who shall say how far the news will spread? Many of them were present on the Sab bath, sitting on the side-benches, (for they would not sit on the same benches with the Pariars,) and hearing with great attention. Oh! that the word may reach their hearts also! BELLARY." THE WARDLAW INSTITUTION." THE friends of christian education will be gratified to learn that, among the recent vigorous efforts of our Missionaries in India to advance its interests, our devoted brethren at Bellary have succeeded, by means of a special subscription not yet closed, in erecting on their station, a spacious and substantial building, in which they have commenced a superior ENGLISH AND VERNACULAR SCHOOL, under the most encouraging circumstances. In addition to the more general reasons which prompted this important undertaking, the aggressive efforts of the Romish Church within a recent period, and the concurrent endeavours of the Brahminical Priesthood to revive the declining power and dying splendours of Hindooism, furnished our brethren with powerful special motives to attempt the formation of the Institution which forms the subject of this article. The particulars are taken from the correspondence of the Rev. William Thompson, under date of September last : Our last Annual Report (writes Mr. T.) would inform you of our proceedings in the Educational Department of the Mission. Since then increased views of the importance of the subject has led to a large proportion of our time being devoted to it. We had long had it in contemplation to establish a good English and Vernacular School for the benefit of our Orphan and Christian Boys, as well as to train up School masters with superior knowledge and good habits for teaching. Such a school promised also to increase our influence among the more respectable classes of the native community, most of whom are desirous that their sons should learn English. We hoped also that, if our labours were conducted with prudence and vigour, God would vouchsafe to bless them to the conversion of some of the Pupils who might be committed to our care The time, too, seemed to have come when we were called upon in Providence to attempt, not only to maintain the ground we had taken up as a Protestant Evangelical Mission, but to enlarge our operations and to adapt them more entirely to the changing circumstances of the people around us. I mentioned in a late letter, that we have no fewer than four Roman Catholic Priests at Bellary-two from Maynooth, and two from Goa. They are all zealous men, and I fear that their labours are very prejudicial to the interests of Bible Christianity. They have lately built a substantial chapel, making the fourth belonging to the Roman Communion in Bellary alone; besides buildings of more humble pretensions for the use of the natives in the bazars and villages. Hindooism of late has again been lifting up its head. A large new Idol-car has just been built by a wealthy Silversmith, and dedicated to one of the temples with great expense and pomp. The Brahmins, in the spirit of rivalry, immediately began a subscription for another Car, and are said to have raised 4,000 rupees. Nor is this confined to the Brahmins. A Jungum Gooroo died here some time ago, and his followers have spent 10,500 rupees of the money he left behind him in erecting a Chuttram to his memory, containing his tomb, which is devoutly worshipped by his deluded followers. This man, soon after I came to Bellary, seeing me in the Bazar near his house distributing tracts and conversing with the people, invited me in and presented me with sweetmeats. He seemed to me partially deranged; but I strongly suspected that he was more "knave than fool;" whilst the poor infatuated people evidently regarded his madness as a proof of his divinity. Thus we see that the propagators of falsehood, error, and superstition, are every where at work; and surely this is not the time for the friends of the Redeemer to fold their arms in security and ease. We have a mighty battle to win or to lose in India, and fight we must or quit the field. Soon after determining on establishing the English and Vernacular School, I wrote, through my beloved father-in-law (Rev. Dr. Wardlaw) to the young people in connection with George-street chapel, Glasgow, and obtained from them the promise of cuniary aid. With a zeal and liberality beyond all praise, they offered to adopt the intended Institution as their own, and to contribute annually to its support. Thus encouraged I made an appeal to the In pe dian community, which was generously responded to by placing 915 rupees (at my disposal for this object. In the meantime the most respectable portions of the native community took the alarm, and have ever since shown the most determined opposition to the new Institution. It is said that they have applied to Government for a part of the surplus Pagoda funds which have accumulated at this Presidency, and have announced their intention of carrying on their educational plans on a scale of grandeur and entire subserviency to native prejudices, which will drive the Missionaries out of the field. Though quite aware that much of this was mere vapouring, yet from the high station of the men who had taken the lead in this opposition, and the bitter spirit they have displayed, it seemed to be necessary to the character of the Mission to extend our own plans, and anticipate their movements. This has been done at an expense of 2,700 rupees, more than one half of which has been already raised. The building is spacious and of the most substantial kind, having a brick terrace-roof, and is well raised and thoroughly ventilated. It was opened on the 28th of August, with appropriate services, and called the "Wardlaw Institution." The average attendance of the Pupils, including our christian boys, is eighty-one. We are connecting with the Institution a Library and Museum, towards both of which I have received some valuable contributions. No part of our labours at Bellary, since I joined the Mission, has caused so much excitement among all classes, but more especially the higher classes of the native community, as the establishment of this School. And this has been heightened greatly by the late events in connection with the Free Church Institution at Madras. At a meeting of some of the most influential Brahmins a few weeks ago, it was said by one of them, "Those who send their boys to the Missionary School had better cut off their knots of hair, and take off their Brahminical Threads at once." And this remark was responded to by the Yet, notwithstanding, we have some of the most respectable boys in the Pettah under our care, and many persons have promised to send their boys when the excitement has subsided a little. Our prospects at present are very cheering, and I trust that in the end it will be seen that we have been directed by an all-wise Providence in entering on this new and enlarged sphere of labour. rest. MISSIONARY LABOURS IN THE TELOOGOO COUNTRY. In the course of last autumn, our brother, Mr. Gordon, performed an extensive and interesting Missionary Tour through a part of the country to the West of Vizagapatam. The result of his observations on the moral condition of the native mind; the disposition of the inhabitants towards the doctrines of the Cross, in contrast with the unholy character and destructive tendencies of Hindooism; and the amount of encouragement which he experienced in the prosecution of his self-denying labours; are recorded in the following passages of his journal :— of corn-the rice, jouna, and ragy, being the principal ones. The village is small, but prettily situated on the slope of a hill, on the top of which there is a dilapidated Hindoo Temple commanding a picturesque view of the country. Soon after I arrived, I went out to the rear of the Bungalow and addressed a few people who were passing by. Two proud-looking Brahmins who were at some distance, on seeing me, came and joined the party: one of these, an elderly, vile-looking man, accosted me as follows, "Why did you come here? Why did you bring these books? We do not want them. You are men of influence, and servants of the Company, and therefore you fearlessly go about preaching Jesus Christ. These books are of no use to us-all your trouble is in vain if we had power we would do the same, and go from place to place preaching about our gods, and root out the Christian Religion from our land." I told him not to be angry, but patient; hear what I had to say, and not oppose me before he heard me speak: he then, putting on an angry countenance, slunk away. I read the tract, "The Way of Salvation," and a few of the people appeared to listen attentively, but others only made light of it. Aug. 15, 1846.-Arrived at Ankapilly last night, after a fatiguing journey of eight hours from Vizagapatam, the roads being very bad from the heavy rains which have fallen of late. At six o'clock this morning, I went into the town and addressed a number of people, chiefly of the Lingum Caste, and read and explained to them the tract, "The True Way of Salvation:" they heard very attentively. One man said, "If I embrace your religion, what will you give me-will you give me rice?" I replied, That it was not our object to gain people in this way, but to preach the Gospel to them; that the truth was powerful, and would work in the mind genuine conversion." "Then what am I to do?" said he. "How do you live now," I asked, "do you not work for your bread ?" Yes; these hands and feet, all work, and so I live."-"Well," said I, "so should it be still; if God feeds you and protects you, and keeps you while you so sin against him, do you think he will forget or neglect you when you really fear him and love him, and keep his commandments? Certainly not. Now think of your state; reflect on your dreadful condition as a sinner in the sight of God; repent and believe the Gospel; and pursue your lawful avocations." He seemed convinced, and then left me, taking a tract. 66 Another man, with a proud, look, said, "God is the author of sin and good-every thing proceedeth from him." To this I replied, "If you came to my house and stole my money, whom would the Judge punishyou or that God whom you say is the author of sin ?" "Me." "Then it is clear that you are the guilty party and not God, and you would be justly punished and not God. Man is clearly the author of his own actions." The people smiled and said, "He can answer nothing now." The poor young man seemed ashamed of himself and slunk away. Aug. 17.-A lovely day! Left Cassimcottah this morning at three o'clock, and at five got out of my palkee and rode on horseback to Tellamunchilly, which is our resting place for this day. Found the country pretty on either side of the road, about a mile distant, are tremendous hills covered with thick underwood, and between them and the road, several fields of different kinds Aug. 21.- Remained at Rayaveram, under a shady tamarind-tree, close to the village. Having arrived late last evening, could do nothing with the people; so after commending my servants and myself to the care of Him "who never slumbers or sleeps," I retired to rest, and rose in the morning much refreshed. From an early hour in the morning until three o'clock, I was busily engaged with many people from the village, so that there was no need for me to go far for a congregation. The tracts read to-day were, "Spiritual Instruction,” “ On Caste," and Juggernaut." The people heard gladly, and but little opposition was manifested. At three o'clock, I left this place and arrived at Dimmedy by five. Our road was through extensive paddy-fields, which were all verdant and rich, and our halting-place was under a banyan-tree, on the banks of a nullah which lay between us and the village-I visited this place about seven or eight years ago. Here, from five to seven o'clock, I was busily engaged in talking |