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the truth will thus be erected, and Christ will see of the travail of his soul among a people of whom even a bigoted Romanist was compelled to confess, that "they are intellectual by means of their good sense, their industry amounts to genius, their phlegmatic temperament makes them virtuous, and with them passion is reason."-Lectures on Foreign Churches.

INDIA.

INADEQUACY OF MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN

INDIA.

(From the Calcutta Christian Herald.) "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest," Matt. ix. 37, 38.

1. The population of British India is now considered, by the best statists, to be upwards of one hundred and forty millions.

2. For this population it is doubtful if there are so many as two hundred European and American missionaries; that is, only one missionary to every seven hundred and fifty thousand people.

3. If ministers of the gospel were supplied to Great Britain and Ireland in the same proportion, there would be only eighteen in all England, four in Scotland, and eleven in Ireland-only thirty-three in the whole United Kingdom.

4. The population of the small district in which Calcutta is situated, called the Twenty-Four Pergunnahs, exceeds the population of the whole of the West India Islands, and there are several districts in Bengal which are still more populous.

5. There are several districts in Bengal, like Pubna, Rajshye, Bogora, and Mymunsing, in each of which the population exceeds a million; several large districts and popu lous towns, in other parts of India; several extensive dependent countries, like Oude and Gwalior; and several important neighbouring countries, like Cashmere and Nepal, which have no missionary at all.

6. There are several extremely populous districts, like Jessore, Midnapore, Dinagepore, Bheerboom, and Burdwan, which at present have only a single missionary each.

7. The state of the people who are thus neglected is such, that there exists among them religious bands of systematic murderers, called Thugs, and other bands of men who live by the fruits of violent burglaries, and

perform religious ceremonies to Kali in celebration of their successes.

8. In the whole of the vast provinces of Bengal and Behar, it has been ascertained that the proportion of individuals who can even read is as five and a half to one hundred; and the lack of knowledge in some other parts of India is still greater.

9. A large body of the people of India are under the influence of such fearful superstitions, that myriads annually leave their families and homes, to undertake pilgrimages to distant temples, where, for the most part, the Brahmans whom they reverence live in idleness and sin; and of these pilgrims many thousands die of cold, starvation, and diseases, on the roads.

10. It is an ascertained fact, that in some parts of India mothers, from a depraved sense of duty, constantly sacrifice their female children.

11. So little has Christian England yet fulfilled her obligations to the people of India, that her Government has only within a few years ceased to support idolatrous temples, to compel her troops to pay homage to idols passing in procession, to administer idolatrous oaths in her courts of justice, and actually to teach in her colleges, together with the fallacious sciences of the Hindus, some of the very religious errors which the missionaries have to combat.

12. The expense of the Burmese war was twelve millions sterling, and the expense of the Affghan war was six millions; but not a single rupee does the Government spend

on Christian missions.

13. The present state of the public mind in India, notwithstanding the comparative smallness of the Christian means that have been employed to elevate the condition of the people, shows that the labours of the missionaries have not been in vain in the Lord, and bids us thank God and take courage.

14. The Bible is translated into Bengali, Hindustani, Hindee, Tamul, Marathi, Urya, and nearly all the dialects of India; scriptural tracts and school-books in all these languages are now prepared, and are annually circulated in great numbers; there is a thirst for education; the English language is spreading; old prejudices are giving way; the missionary schools are well attended; and the word of God is listened to attentively by crowds, at fairs and festivals. "The fields are white unto the harvest.”

"Who, then, is ready to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord ?''

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MISSIONARY MAGAZINE

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Chronicle.

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THE BRAHMIN SURRENDERING HIS SACRED THREAD.-Vide p. 577.

INDIA.

BAPTISM OF A KULIN BRAHMIN.

OUR esteemed brother, the Rev. Joseph Mullens, of Calcutta, has recently transmitted the following account of the conversion and baptism of a young Brahmin of the highest order, who, by his public profession of the Gospel, has given up all for Christ. We trust that in due time he will come forth, strong in the Lord, as an able minister of the New Testament; that he will make full proof of his ministry among his perishing countrymen; and be kept faithful unto death. Our engraving represents the scene of his baptism, in which he appears in the act of surrendering to the Missionary the Sacred Thread worn by his order-the distinction which, of all others, they most value, and the surrender of which is the most costly and painful sacrifice that a Brahmin can make.

In the letter I wrote by the mail of August 5th, I expressed the hope that I might often be permitted to send from this land good tidings concerning the progress of our Saviour's cause amongst its people. I am happy in having this hope somewhat realised in my present communication. At the time the mail left, there was a young man with us who had earnestly requested to be baptised, as he was anxious, on full conviction, to bear the name of Christ before his idolatrous countrymen. After careful examination into his motives, his request was complied with, and he was accordingly baptised August 10th.

His name is Mohesh Chondro Banarji. He is a Kulin Brahmin of most respectable family. He had received his education in the Calcutta Christian Institution, but left it more than two years ago, before his studies were completed, in order to enter into business. At the time he left, the religious instruction imparted to him had made no impression upon his mind. About five months ago, however, in the course of God's providence, he heard one of our Catechists preaching. The theme was, Salvation from the power and punishment of sin through Christ. The word touched his heart, and he went home to fear and to pray. Shortly after, he came to Mr. Campbell, and wished to remain with us. He was advised, however, to return home, to think more deeply of the step he was proposing, and, if on mature conviction he was firmly resolved to forsake his idols, to endeavour to bring his wife with him. Five weeks ago he returned: he said he had thought and prayed much: he felt that Jesus Christ alone could save him from sin, and, as he trusted in Him, he must profess himself a Christian. He had endeavoured to persuade his wife to come with him, but, being young and timid, she had refused. The plainness and candour with which he stated his views, and especially the steady and constant reference he made to the necessity and fulness of Christ's salvation, as applied to himself, deeply interested all who conversed with him. As far as human knowledge could go, we had no reason to suspect his sincerity.

The occasion of his baptism was a very solemn one. It took place at Union Chapel, in the presence of a large and deeply-moved congregation. Mr. Boaz preached an excellent sermon, most appropriate to his case, from Matt. x, 37-39. I then gave a brief outline of his history, and asked him a few important questions respecting the object he had in wishing to be baptised, to which he gave satisfactory answers. In conclusion, I asked if he were willing to give up his Brahminical thread-the sign of his union to the Supreme Godhead, and that which entitled him to idolatrous worship. He now viewed it only as the sign of bondage to Satan's kingdom, and cheerfully surrendered it. I then baptised him, amidst the tears and sobs of many who felt the hard trial to which he has been subject at the beginning of his course, in giving up father and mother, and wife, and home, and kindred, for the Lord's sake.

He is now living at Bhowanipore, and continues his studies in the Institution. He is consistent and diligent in his work, and he is happy. May the Lord preserve him faithful to the end, and fulfil towards him his own promise in giving him a hundred-fold more than he has surrendered, even in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting! It was pleasant to see present at his baptism the three young men who two years ago had gone through the same trial for the same cause. Though only one of them is studying for the ministry, they all bear a character for uprightness and consistency, and are most usefully employed.

Thus God has been favouring Northern India; and he has done so not a little during the present year. In all parts has His kindness been shewn in blessing the labours of His servants. At the commencement of the year, our brethren in the Free-Church Mission were privileged to see six of their students come out from among their heathen friends to profess the Truth. Our Baptist brethren have also seen many lately added to their churches. These things have excited much opposition and much hatred. Infidelity and idolatry are both striving to resist the cause of the Redeemer; but "He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet."

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE OF A HINDOO FEMALE CONVERT. THE following narrative has been received in a late communication from our brethren at Bellary. It is the history of one who was once an open enemy of Christ, and a cruel persecutor of his people, but whose heart has been subdued by the omnipotent grace of that Saviour who is able to change the lion into the lamb. On the occasion of her baptism she received the name of Jessie, and the aged disciple, who tells her own tale, is spending her few remaining years in preaching, by her consistent conduct and lovely example, the faith which once she sought only to destroy.

I was born at Tholoor, a place near Madras, and am now about eighty-five years of age. I was an idolater, and frequented Triputty, Conjeveram, and other places of sanctity, for the purpose of obtaining merit, by offering sacrifices and performing various ceremonies. I believed that the gods I worshipped were true gods, and considered all the enjoyments of this world as emanating from them. I believed, also, that if I served those gods faithfully in this world I should be blessed in Heaven hereafter. I had ten children, but four were taken away from me by death. Six are now living, and have children and grandchildren.

The husband of one of my daughters got employment with a gentleman, whose duties obliged him to remove from place to place. It so happened that this gentleman was removed to Bellary, at which place my daughter became acquainted with the Rev. S. W. Flavel, and other Christians. Shortly after, I and my family heard that my daughter (now called Bathsheba) had forsaken the gods of her forefathers and embraced Christianity; at which we were very angry, and sorrowed much for her. My children, who were then with me, wrote to my daughter in some such words as follows:-" You have forsaken our gods, and embraced Christianity, on account

of which we exclude you entirely from our family, and no longer consider you as our sister: we do not want you to come again to us, neither do we at any time intend to see you. And, moreover, you have caused much sorrow to our aged mother before her death, and have disgraced our family."

Not liking to hear my children speak so ill to their sister, I tried to pacify them by saying that what we heard of my daughter was only a report, and that, as she had always been very devoted to her gods, and very scrupulous in discharging the ceremonies of her religion, this report of her having embraced Christianity might be false, and that it was therefore best to proceed cautiously. But our hearts continued to be pained from the constant recurrence of this circumstance.

I resolved on taking a journey to Bellary, so that I might have an opportunity to speak with my daughter personally, and try if possible to bring her over again to heathenism. I accordingly came to Bellary, and having made many kind inquiries relative to her temporal welfare, I asked her whether it were true that she had forsaken her gods, and embraced that new religion (meaning Christianity) which was only of late introduced into this country. Her devotedness UU 2

to the Christian Religion being greater than I had supposed, I was very much enraged at her, and finding all my endeavours fail, I addressed her thus:-"My having come so far on your account has been of no avail to you. Have you no pity for me? or is your heart made of stone? Has anybody given you medicine, so as to turn your mind? and is it right that you should abuse those gods who created you in my womb, and have ever since preserved you? If you will now give up your new faith I, your brothers, sisters, and relations, will rejoice over you as one risen from the dead, and will, in acknowledgment hereof, worship and praise our gods." My daughter replied, That all my advice was useless; and then she most affectionately advised me to embrace the Christian Religion. At which, becoming enraged, I fell upon her and beat her, and spat upon her, and immediately left the house.

As I was going out I met Mr. Flavel, whose very appearance I hated, knowing that he was the person who had been so instrumental in turning the minds of many people, and that of my daughter also. He took me to his daughter's house, and begged me to stay there till my anger cooled, and he had spoken to Bathsheba. She spoke very kindly to me, and instructed me regarding my soul, at which I was very much pleased. His daughter also took a warm interest in my spiritual welfare. After a few days my daughter came to me, and took me to her home, and behaved very kindly towards me, and when asked by her to attend divine service, I went for the first time without making any objection, as I used to do. Though the service appeared to me somewhat strange, yet there was a something in it that delighted

me much; and after going home I told my daughter that God had opened my heart, and that I now felt great delight in hearing the word of God.

From this time I accompanied my daughter to the meetings held in the houses of pious women, and these were entirely conducted by females. The more I frequented these meetings the more I was delighted with them. I was also much struck with the kind manner in which the Christian women behaved to me. Several times I was sent for by my relations, but was unwilling to go. Gradually my belief in my gods became weaker, and I was ultimately led to conclude that there was no truth in them, and that they were only the workmanship of men's hands. When I think of the manner in which I treated my daughter; of the hatred which I had towards my minister; of my sin in worshipping idols, which are no gods; and of the many years I spent in serving Satan, I am led to cry out to God for mercy, and ask him, through Jesus Christ, to pardon all my sins, and grant me grace to spend the remaining few days of my life in serving Him, and glorifying His Son Jesus Christ.

Feeling a desire to be united to the people of God in this place, I went to the Rev. Mr. Flavel, and spoke to him, expressing a wish to be connected with the church before I returned to my relations. Having instructed me further in divine things, he took me to the Rev. W. Thompson, who spoke very kindly to me, and Mrs. Thompson told him to give me her name. On the 22nd of Octo. ber, 1843, I was baptized, and received into the church, and on that day commemorated with the people of God a Saviour's dying love.

DEATH OF A NATIVE EVANGELIST AT BANGALORE.

THE Native Teacher at Bangalore, who received the name of PAUL SUGDEN LEES, at the request of the friends in Yorkshire, by whom he was supported, has finished his course with joy and entered into rest. During the brief period which he spent in the service of the Saviour, he manifested much zeal and fidelity, and afforded great promise of future usefulness; but his sun has gone down while it was yet day, and from his few services he has been called to enjoy the rewards of the faithful servant. Under date of September, our brother Mr. Rice, with whom he was more immediately associated in Missionary labour, thus conveys the affecting particulars of his death :—

DURING a late visit to Oosoor, a large town about twenty-four miles from Bangalore, that fearful disease, the cholera, in the course of the night, seized the native evangelist who accompanied me (P. S. Lees). He had been actively engaged with me in preaching and conversing with the people until eight o'clock on the preceding evening, and we had both been anticipating an interesting and use

ful day of labour on the morrow. But the morrow's sun found him a dying man. He aroused me at half-past two in the morning, with the sad intelligence that he was very ill. Although the symptoms appeared suspicious, yet there was some reason at first to hope that it was merely a violent bilious attack. It soon, however, became manifest that he was the subject of that terrible malady which

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