Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

per month: they also subscribe about 12 rupees per month to the Bible and Church Missionary Societies; and we obtain, about the same sum from the European Invalids for these Societies. But really I feel pained to accept so much from them, being satisfied that they are willing beyond their means and power.

I wish I could get some worthy pious Ladies to take the state of our poor destitute Widows into consideration. I know there are numbers of benevolent Ladies who would gladly take one or two Widows on their lists; but "Who will bring it before them?" is the question.

We have Public Hindoostanee Service three times a week; besides a Meeting for Prayer every Sunday Morning, and a Monthly Prayer-Meeting for the Propagation of the Gospel. Our Christian Attendants are from 80 to 100, and Heathens from 3 to 30.

Since the above was written, Mr. Bowley has baptized another Adult.

Of the state of the Schools, he gives, in the Letter just quoted, the following report:

The Society has Three Schools here, at present; all of which are going on as well as could be expected.

1. The First is the ENGLISH FREE-SCHOOL, for the Children of Invalid Native Christians and Heathens, and has 32 attendants, of all descriptions, who read any books that are put into their hands. Several Boys from this School have been put out to business. The Heathen Lads who attend it manifest a greater desire to get forward than the Christian, in hopes of obtaining what they deem respectable situations in English Departments: hence, they come out of choice, while the others are compelled to attend. But our greatest difficulty is to procure a competent School Master, blessed with a willingness of mind to do good in the best sense of the word: could such a person be obtained, it would raise the School very much, even in the eyes of the Natives; and I make no doubt but we should soon have a great number of Scholars, who would deem it a favour and an honour to be admitted. Our present Teachers are Invalid Soldiers, who instruct the Boys in reading, writing, and arithmetic; but these they cannot explain in the Country Language.

2. The Second is the School for NATIVE CHRISTIAN WOMEN AND FEMALE CHILDREN. About 40 attend regularly. The Women learn to read the Hindoostanee New Testament and Catechism; the Children, English and Hindoostanee, besides sewing and knitting. This is certainly the most beneficial institution that we have here. A Christian Widow, who is also the leading person in our private meetings for prayer, &c. is the Teacher. She has another Old Widow for her assistant, to

teach the Catechism by rote; who, though illiterate herself, is blessed with the best memory to retain what is delivered in public. 3. The Third is the PERSIAN SCHOOL, and has 26 Pupils; among whom are some Lads clever in the language. More than the half of these Boys attend the English School with the Christians, and do not object to read the Bible or any other good book.

The HINDEE SCHOOLS have been suspended since the death of the Teacher; who was a Christian.

A suitable Hindee Teacher has since been found. Some other parts of this Letter from Mr. Bowley will be heard with pleasure, as indicating the true spirit of a Christian Missionary; while they will serve, at the same time, to enforce the duty of unwearied prayer, that the abundant grace of the Holy Spirit may be poured out on the labours of all who have to toil among these willing captives to the God of this World.

Among the people in our neighbourhood, I find it impossible to obtain a regular and stated hearing, either in the marketplace or any where else. I might go daily, and spend my breath for nought in the Bazar; but I should have to speak to the wind, as only a few passengers would stand to hear, but scarcely any of the inhabitants of the place-not for want of a desire, but from fear of losing caste and suffering the taunts and reproaches of their friends. The only alternative which I have, is, to walk about the streets, and to visit the resorts of Pilgrims, in quest of those who will hear or argue. They have, notwithstanding, in a great measure, the witness within themselves, that Christians are right, and possess the only Religion that will stand the test of close investigation.

I long for that blessed day, when a body of Missionaries shall be stationed at Buxar, Ghazeepore, Benares, Chunar, Mirzapore all on the banks of the Ganges, within a day's journey from one another; and also at Jionpore, which is a most populous Mahomedan City: to this place I went, a few weeks since, and found the people eager to possess the Gospels and Pentateuch, and all alive to argument; but the novelty of the thing might have been the cause, as we find to be the case every where. Were each of these Stations, or two or three of them, occupied by two Missionaries, a circuit could be formed, for the distribution of books and public preaching, in all the Towns and Villages on both banks of the river; which might successively be kept up; or a Missionary might set out every two months, at the same time visiting the Fairs which take place. In this manner, Schools might also be established, and regularly visited.

in FIVE.

More might be done, I think, with the Divine Blessing, in ONE year, on this or some such plan, than can be effected otherwise A hearing is required, and this I long to obtain: I could, in that case, proceed with faith and confidence; being assured that the Word would not return void. I could almost weep in the dust for want of a hearing: alas! it is hard living without it, when thousands are perhaps for want of it annually dropping into torments!

The thought of our want of more Missionaries, burning with zeal and flying with the Everlasting Gospel, burdens my soul. But I must not dwell upon it-God will, in His own good and gracious time, send out to us such men.

In reference to your Letter to me, I beg to say that I feel greatly obliged for the books which you promise; though, alas! my immediate and necessary calls leave me little time for improving my own mind. I feel such a desire and relish for books, that I could devour them; but this pleasure I must deny myself daily, in order to make way for my other imperious duties. I could devote much time of a night to study; but that would be deemed imprudent, and would doubtless ultimately frustrate our object. More hands would make every thing practicable, pleasant, and easy.

Of myself, I must say, that, hitherto, the thoughts of CHRIST, in His work and offices, have kept up my head out of deep waters; and will I trust keep me, through the storms and tempests that may await me in time, and through the river of death till I reach a blessed eternity.

Mr. Greenwood, with his family, is in the enjoyment of good health. Besides preaching in the Church three times a week, his Pupils take up his time. We live in harmony; which is a great blessing.

I am now writing under the roof of my much-loved friend, and the Society's zealous Missionary, Mr. Morris. He says he shall not be easy, until he has mastered the language, and is able to preach to the Heathen in the highways. With such a spirit, he cannot be long, ere his wishes will be accomplished. He kindles the flame in me when he says, "I hope we shall labour together among the Heathen: " Amen! May God grant it.

Mr. Adlington is gone to Calcutta.

Great and Wonderful are the exertions of the Churches for the coming of the Messiah's Universal Kingdom; and they loudly call for the earnest, importunate, and wrestling prayers of Christians every where: those who are thus praying, are holding up the hands of Labourers; and doing their part in furthering the greatest of all undertakings, and in bringing down blessjngs from on high.

The Committee regret that Mr. Bowley's Journals

have not been regularly received; as his manner of delineating the state and mind of the people among whom he labours conveys a lively impression to the Reader, both of the difficulties and the encouragements which they present to a Missionary*.

Of Buxar, which was visited by a Native Assistant from Chunar, no report has been received.

Lucknow.

The Corresponding Committee remark on this Station

No material alteration is reported to have taken place in the state of the School kept by Mr. Hare. He continues to labour in his usual manner, under growing years and infirmities; and has expressed a wish to be supplied with an assistant.

Mr. Corrie observes that it seems of importance to maintain this Station, if practicable.

Of Bareilly, which is next in order, no intelligence has been received.

Meerut.

Many interesting particulars respecting this Station were given in the last Report. Of the spot selected by the Rev. Henry Fisher, the Company's Chaplain for the erection of a Christian Village, and of the state of some of the Christians, he thus speaks

The ground for Bethany cannot be obtained in the place I wish: its vicinity to Meerut and local advantages render it liarly desirable. I must, however, look out elsewhere.

pecu

Buhadur and Matthew Phiroodeen are at present here. The , latter (converted Naik of the 25th Regt.) receives his pay regularly from the Brigade Major, and lives in Anund's old apartments over the Meerut Gateway: he is married to a Young Woman, who was with us as a Catechist, and was baptized in order to their union by me.

Kowabee.

At a Village of this name, about forty miles northwest of Delhi, Mr. Fisher has established David Jysingh as a Schoolmaster to the Saadh Children.

*Extracts are given in Appendix IX. from the last Journal which has been received from Mr. Bowley, which is that for September 1820.

This Village is central for the other Villages where the Saadhs reside. Anund Messeeh, from Meerut, itinerates among them.

Mr. Fisher, with two of his sons and two of the Native Christians, visited these parts. The people received him joyfully. They had learned from Anund of his intended visit; and of a plan to build a School House, for the more convenient instruction of their Children. The ground was marked out for the School, 50 feet by 25, with a house for Anund. The Saadhs will build houses, and form a Village, on a regular plan, near the School. They purpose to name this Village Henreepore, after the Christian Name of their friend Mr. Fisher. The ground has been very kindly given by two friends, an European and a Native.

Mr. Fisher had much and very interesting conversation with both Saadhs and Jhats, on the benefits of Education, and on the blessing of the Scriptures. They expressed their readiness to read them, and their admiration of all that they heard Anund read and explain.

David had been very irregularly attended by his Scholars. Mr Fisher purposes to visit the people several times a year, in order to encourage and direct them*.

Agra.

Abdool Messeeh appears to have arrived at Agra, in the beginning of March of last year, after his Ordination at Calcutta, which has been already reported. Some of the chief circumstances of his voyage are thus stated by the Corresponding Committee:

Abdool, in his Journal, relates several particulars, which will be read with much pleasure. His Ordination had so authenticated him, as a character approved by the Society, that on his way up the country he was treated, wherever known, with the most marked respect.

* Further particulars of Mr. Fisher's Visit to the Saadhs, of which a summary is given above, have been printed, since the Anniversary, from the Report of the Corresponding Committee, at pp. 339 and 340 of the Missionary Register for August. Among these, is a beautiful and striking scene of the grateful acknowledgments of the Saadhs to Mr. Fisher.

« ElőzőTovább »