Mr. Deer was left alone till Mr. Weitbrecht joined him in 1831,—Mr. Jetter having been previously removed to Calcutta. On the 14th of June, 1831, Mr. Weitbrecht arrived at Burdwan, "grateful for the quiet, and the prospect of successful labour on every side." He could not at first get possession of the Mission-house set apart for his residence, and was obliged to take up his abode in one corner of the low damp building which was used for a boys' school on week-days, and for a place of worship on Sundays. His bed, and other little articles of furniture were placed behind a screen, and in these uncomfortable quarters he studied by day, and reposed by night. Soon after he came, Mr. Deer left for a change for his health, and going to Europe did not return again, so that in about seven months from his arrival, Mr. Weitbrecht found himself "English preacher, pastor of the native flock, superintendent of the vernacular schools, containing many hundreds of boys, and Evangelist to the heathen." He felt his position to be very responsible and very difficult. My misery," he writes, "sometimes almost weighs me down, until I have poured out my heart to Jesus with strong crying and tears." 66 "We are just now engaged," he wrote, "in establishing a seminary at Burdwan, in which English, Sanscrit, Persian, Arabic, and Bengali will be taught." The superintendence of this school, the general work of the Mission, and his studies to perfect himself in Bengali, so as to be able to go out with his Bible in his hands to the highways and hedges, gave him ample occupation. He longed for the time when he would be able to preach to the natives in their own language, "for until then," he wrote, "he could not consider that he had begun his real missionary work." His unremitting study soon fitted him for this, and we find him recording that his English and Bengali services on Good Friday were visitations of grace to him, and he hoped to his congregation also. From this period on to the end of 1841, Mr. Weitbrecht laboured on incessantly at Burdwan; sometimes rejoicing over new converts, often distressed at the persecutions which overtook those who joined his little flock of native Christians, and now and then sadly discouraged by the backsliding of some from whom he expected better things. He itinerated in the districts around him, extending his journeys sometimes to great distances, and proclaiming the Gospel in Bengali wherever he found opportunity. During the early part of his residence at Burdwan, he visited Serampore, "where," he says, "he was received with such true brotherly love as to impress him at once in the most favourable manner with the spirit of these dear Baptist missionaries," and he adds, "that he left exceedingly refreshed and gratified by all he had witnessed." He also formed the acquaintance at the same time of Dr. Duff, with whose plans he was much delighted. He became a favourite with the Rajah of Burdwan, a young man of fourteen. On his first interview with him, he gave him and his attendants, a number of wealthy Hindoos, an address, containing a clear compendium of the most important truths which concern man's salvation, and applied his subject with earnest faithfulness. Of the 2,300 rupees which a new school-house for the Mission cost, 1,500 rupees were from the Rajah. Mr. Weitbrecht eventually became English tutor to this young nobleman, and received a salary of 150 rupees a month for devoting to him one hour every afternoon when he was at home. This money he faithfully disbursed for missionary purposes. On the 7th of March, 1834, he was married in Calcutta to one "who had been prepared, by a peculiar course of providential discipline, to take an active part in missionary work, and had already enjoyed some little experience of it practically." In her he found a help-mate, indeed, and he could say, after his union to her, "the roughnesses of my missionary course are now much smoothed." And "our native Christian females have now what they so much needed, a mother who cares for their temporal and spiritual improvement." The following extract will convey some idea of his daily occupations :— "When at Burdwan, Mr. Weitbrecht commonly sallied forth at six in the morning, on an elephant supplied to him by the Rajah, which carried him often several miles to a school, where he spent two hours in examining and preaching, and returned home by ten or eleven to breakfast. He then attended to the secular business of the Mission and to study till two, when a palanquin and bearers arrived from the palace to carry him to instruct | the Rajah. On returning from thence he dined, and then gave a singing lesson to the boys, and at sunset went to preach again. After tea he read or wrote letters, or his journal. On Wednesday he had a weekly service for his native flock; on Friday he usually remained at home in the morning and prepared an English sermon; on Saturday evening he held a devotional service with his brethren or the native Christians. This was the usual routine, varied according to circumstances; but his missionary excursions were frequent, and whenever the weather or other engagements permitted, he set forth on longer or shorter tours to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond." The 29th of April, 1834, was his thirty-second birthday. "In all probability," he wrote in his journal, "the larger part of my life is spent, and how little have I served the Lord or laboured for Him! Grant, O Jesus, that I may become more pure, more humble, more faithful, till the end come." In the June of this year he suffered from an acute attack of inflammation, brought on by the pressure of his constant week-day engagements, and arduous Sabbath duties. When he recovered, his desire was to be more and more diligent in his calling. Among other trials with which they had to contend, they often experienced great danger and heavy loss from hurricanes and floods. One of the latter is described, which swept away the town of Burdwan, so far as it consisted of mud huts, and partly destroyed the new school and other buildings of the Mission. Much misery and suffering followed. In a few weeks the orphan asylum was filled with some forty starving orphans, who at first resembled living skeletons, some of whom were beyond recovery and died, while others took a year to rally. In one respect it was overruled for good. Mr. Weitbrecht took the opportunity afforded by the entire destruction of every building to re-arrange the compound, on the most orderly, beautiful, and healthful plan; so that it has ever since been quite remarkable for its salubrity. With For some time after this inundation, however, the place was very unhealthy, and Mrs. Weitbrecht's health suffered much, which was an additional trial to him. He was also much discouraged by the imputation of unworthy motives as having actuated him in some of his efforts. respect to this he could write, "All is a necessary discipline, sent in tender love. I am He that justifieth thee.'" He was also called to mourn the loss of more than one valued friend and supporter of the Mission, as well as that of several native converts. Of one of these latter he says, “I mourned for him as a father for his son; but he is with the faithful Shepherd, and I hope to meet him again among the host of faithful Hindoos who are gathering before the Lord in glory." In February, 1835, he rejoiced at the birth of a daughter-only in the November of the following year to mourn over her early loss. This new trial had a most chastening effect upon him; and when, soon after, he became the father of a lovely boy, he wrote: "Thus has the Lord in great mercy sustained us in a heavy trial, and crowned the end of the affliction with a new blessing. Oh! we would love this Friend of our souls more dearly than we have done before! We will become more devoted, more zealous, and more useful in our work!" Neither was this blessing spared him long. The following June saw him deposited in the same grave where seven months before they had laid his little sister. The sadness of this double loss continued to hang over them for some time, and both his own and Mrs. Weitbrecht's health suffered severely. The birth of another daughter, however, again filled their hearts with gladness; and their little family circle was afterwards still farther increased. Incessant labour of body and anxiety of mind continued to weaken him more and more. He was obliged to request the Rajah to discontinue his salary as tutor, in order to stop the mouths of uncharitable insinuators. This incident exhibits to us in a very remarkable degree the manly integrity and decision of Mr. Weitbrecht's character. The journals of several extensive missionary tours, which followed each other in rapid succession, are full of interest, and convey a lively impression of Mr. Weitbrecht's earnestness and diligence. These had not the effect of restoring his strength, which continued to decrease. At last it was arranged that he should proceed to England; and he left his flock at Burdwan, under the care of Mr. Lincke. On Christmas-day he wrote :— "Almost under the Line, and in nearly the same latitude where I celebrated this blessed day eleven years ago on my way to India. How much have I seen, and learned, and experienced during that period! Yet even I, a poor sinner, can say with all my vileness,― "Preserved by faith, by power divine, A miracle of grace I stand; I prove the strength of Jesus mine,— Miscellaneous Papers. JUSTICE, OR ITS OPPOSITE? THREE members of a Deacons' Court were walking together in a street of one of our large towns. A little routine business had just been transacted, and they were wending their way homeward, well pleased that the meeting had not been longer. The pleasant thoughts of fireside comfort and fireside conversation were, perhaps, occupying their minds, for none had spoken for awhile. At last Mr. John Paterson, whose business habits as a foreman of a large coach-manufactory made him a valuable member of the Court, broke the silence by addressing himself to Dr. Cowan. "When did you say, Doctor, that our minister would be "In about a-week, I believe." "Has his tour been successful?" asked the third party, Mr. Parker, a solicitor in excellent practice. "Not very. Too many other claimants of liberality in the field." "By the way, is it fair, gentlemen," said Paterson, "to ask Mr. Strachan to go away from his church for such a purpose?" "Who else, Paterson, is to do it? You can't go. My friend, the doctor, and I can't go. And every elder and deacon we have would say the same thing, give the like excuse.' "If it be a necessity, it is a hard one. But I suppose, doctor, it does not need your medical education or experience to tell that when our pastor comes back from his month's expedition, he will return very different from what he would have done, had the journey been one of healthful recreation." "No doubt of that. But, when in our position, we want here a fine church, to bring ourselves into notice in these architectural days, such a demand upon our minister's strength can hardly, perhaps, be helped." "I was thinking, gentlemen," again remarked Paterson, "that we should welcome our minister back again with some token of our regard." "Give him a vote of thanks," said the lawyer, "and make the composition as neat and elegant as you like." "What suggested itself to Paterson's mind, has also floated through mine," said the doctor. "Our funds, at present, do not admit of a considerable present, but we might make some one, I think." "But allow me to remark," said Paterson, "that a present now, even if a large one (could our congregational funds allow), would, in my way of thinking, not be so good as a systematic and yearly increase. We all might give more. Dr. Guthrie's sermon has, (I read it last Sabbath evening,) stirred me at least up. My sister and I live comfortably together. I have saved money, she has a little of her own; I shall, for this year at least, double my annual contribution. But I shan't take money away for that, from the schemes of the Church." "Do as you like, Paterson," said Mr. Parker, "with my six children I cannot imitate your bachelor liberality. All right, though, for you." 'But, Parker, I have one child more than you have; and I confess that what Guthrie's sermon did for our friend here, the reading of Dr. Vaughan's essay in his second volume did for me. I had not courage to mention the thing publicly in the Deacons' Court, but if nobody else will, I shall take an early opportunity of doing so. 66 Well, Cowan, do as you please. I think I do well if I abstain from following the example of Hickson, the grocer, who, when the fifth child came, gave, and continues to give, only half of what he used to do. Hickson, I say, is doing better than either of us; his children do not need, at least do not get, so expensive an education as either yours or mine will." "Hickson's shabbiness is proverbial. But he is, at least, better than his brother-in-law, Daniel Turner, who, when he married his second wife, left the Methodists and went over to the Church, as it modestly calls itself. He thus united two things not often combined, frugality and fashion; no longer a minister to pay, and at least the chance of being asked out by great folk.” "To come back to where we started from," added Paterson, "is not the higher rate of everything this year, and the prospect of that dearness continuing, a reason for doing what we can for the minister? Many don't know what he gets. I have met with several who have thought his income nearly twice as great as it really is." "I would not put it on that ground only," said Dr. Cowan. "Whether prices rise or fall, the ministry is underpaid. We expect (and think we shall never get on in this town unless we get) something like first-class preaching, and Mr. Strachan has only 140l. a-year, and no house. He ought to have 2007., and not a farthing too much." "Well, Cowan, I don't dispute that. Don't class me with those vulgar fellows that think if a pastor has only a little more than they have (not so much, indeed, everything being taken into account), no need for more. In town and country such people are to be found, and their remarks are very foolish indeed." "More than foolish, Parker, criminal. But in your position in society, are you not, of course without intention, acting much the same way as these vulgar people do in theirs? Your talk of your minister is always respectful, and, no doubt, your wish is that he should have a thoroughly respectable income, but you won't lend a helping hand." "We have involved ourselves in a heavy debt for the church. 1,800l. of debt is not soon cleared off." "True, Parker, but it was your influence that rejected the other plan, by which 7001. would have been saved. Little more than a thousand pounds would have been to pay this day if the plan Paterson and I supported, had been taken." Well, and is not the spire far finer than those of the two new Episcopal churches, All Saints' and St. Clement's?" "We could have done without such a fine spire. The tower in the other plan was, to my view, though less ornamental in appearance, a very fine one. You won't actively oppose the plan at the Deacons' Meeting?" "No. But if you retreat, it will fall to the ground. Cath, the manager, raises 67. additional for Mr. Strachan.' "I mean," replied Dr. C., “to propose 1701. for this year, not as a terminus, but as a step in the right direction. And if Paterson and I work with all our heart, we may-though you, we regret to find, will not support us-carry our point. How, on his present income, can Mr. S. buy the books he wants?" "You forget that he subscribes to the town library." "I do not forget that. But you forget that no theological books are admitted there, and without solid theological lore a minister's mind does not get the proper professional furnishing. Our subscriptions to the town library do not exempt us from the necessity of purchasing legal or medical tomes for our own shelves." "Don't you think, gentlemen," said Paterson, as they proposed to part, "that there is reason to fear for the success of the London College, if congregations do not raise their standard of liberality? "* "No doubt, Paterson, a capital remark. Professors will lecture to empty benches, if we and others do not do our duty. Young men will seek other professions. God grant that the Church, on both sides of the Tweed, may awake in time to her duty!" The sons in our wealthy families rarely devote themselves to the ministry. Many, beside, moreover, who might otherwise have been most efficient men in that office, have given themselves to the pursuit of science or of literature, to the professions, or to the REV. R. TREFFRY, JUN. No one can travel extensively in England without being struck with the manner in which Wesleyan Methodism, and its offshoots, have interlaced the country with their chapels. In small country places where, but for them, no Gospel sound might have ever been heard, we find their little meeting-houses hardly bigger than a school, and chiefly served by their local preachers, who, after a hard week's work in their different callings, spend the Sabbath, not in idleness and sinful pleasure, but in expounding the glad tidings of salvation to people yet less lettered than themselves. But with all this extensive activity — and, in a good measure, just because of this extensive activity-we find that Methodism has contributed but little to England's lettered theology. Wesley, himself, was an author on a large scale, but beyond Methodist bounds his works are little known. Adam Clarke was famed throughout other Churches as almost the only man of learning among Wesleyans. Samuel Drew threw lustre around a very humble origin, and an equally humble occupation, by his bold metaphysical speculations. ferior to these, and a native of the same remote county with the last-named, the younger Treffry has, in his brief and disease-chequered life, given to the Church catholic works which it will not willingly let die. Not in In November, 1804, at Camelford, in Cornwall, Richard Treffry, jun., was born. The place of his birth was one of those Cornish boroughs whose factitious importance and hereditary venality were destroyed by the Reform Bill. Famous in old British history as the scene of the death of King Arthur, and now only visited by the occasional tourist on his way to the neighbouring ruins of Arthur's Castle, at Tintagell, Camelford will long be interesting to the lovers of piety and the admirers of intellect, as the birth-place of the author of the work on the "Eternal Sonship." Receiving his education at the Wesleyan school of Kingswood, he was bound apprentice to a London printer. Seduced from his fair youthful promise by evil company, his indentures were cancelled and he returned home. Recovered by God's mercy from his sinful courses, he obtained the position of tutor in a Kentish enterprises of commercial life. This, we are assured, is the course of affairs in the United States, and this, we scarcely need say, is very much the state of things in Great Britain. "The estimate of ministerial labour has not risen at all in the same proportion with that of other labour." Dr. Vaughan's "Essays (contributed to "British Quarterly ") Vol. II. |