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with those of his brethren. He can-poor. It receives boarders and also not bear the idea of sleeping in death city scholars. In 1809 the two city gymnasia were united with it; so

FRANCKE'S ORPHAN-HOUSE AT
HALLE, IN GERMANY.

with strangers. It is a part of the same feeling that at present the schools of the orwhich sometimes urges those who phan-house are the only classical die at home to give such particular schools in Halle. 4. The German directions respecting their burial-to school, originally established for the be laid thus and so, beside a parent children of the poor; but now coor child, husband or wife, brother or sisting of four divisions, two of which sister, lover or friend. And it is a are for boys and girls who pay for part of the same feeling which prompts their tuition; while the other two to the erection of tombs, and the en- are free schools for the poorest class. closure of private burying grounds; All these schools serve also as a sort that cultivates the cypress and weep- of seminary for teachers, indeed, the ing willow, and plants roses among greater part of the instructors are stuthe dead. dents of the university, who spend an hour or two every day in giving lessons at the orphan-house.-As an appendage to the orphan-house may also be regarded the Canstein Bible From the Biblical Repository. Institute, founded in 1712, by the HALLE, is the seat of Francke's baron von Canstein, an intimate friend celebrated orphan-house. This stands of Francke's. The object of it was, in no connection whatever with the and is, by means of standing types, university; except that the direc- to furnish bibles in different forms at tors of the former are, and always the very lowest rates. More than have been, professors in the latter.-two millions of bibles, and one milFrancke commenced his exertions in lion of testaments, have thus been behalf of orphans in 1694 with two in circulation. children, to whom a third was add- The revenues of the orphan-house ed, before he had a thought of any establishment come from the followlarger establishment. From this ing sources. 1. Various large farms small beginning it grew up in a few and other real estate. 2. Several years to an immense institution, or secret medicines, bequeathed by the cluster of institutions, not only for inventor, which had formely an imorphans, but for the education of all mense sale of more than $20,000 anclasses of children and youth. The nually; but are now unimportant. establishment now consists of the fol- 3. An extensive apothecary's shop. lowing schools. 1. The orphan- 4. The book and printing establishhouse, in which nearly 500 children ment, commenced by a young man of both sexes have been educated.-who printed a serinon of Francke's, Boys of bright parts are prepared for the university; the others mostly learn trades. The number formerly admitted at once was 200; but the diminished revenues do not suffice at present to maintain more than 100. 2. The royal pædagogium, in which boys of the middle and higher classes are received as in a family, and regularly educated. 3. The Latin school, intended by Francke as a classical school for the children of the

put

and afterwards was sustained and advanced by the sagacity of the latter, until it has become one of the most important in Germany. 5. The money paid for tuition and board. 6. The royal bounty. 0. Th The present

king of Prussia was the first to aid the diminished funds of the establishment by an annual appropriation. 7. Charitable contributions. These were formerly very great; indeed the whole establishment sprung from

Baneful influence of Astrology on the Hindoos.

275

charity; but of late years, they have portion as the spirit of Francke has almost entirely ceased. disappeared in the German churches,

In

There is one principal building of so also it has ceased to direct even very large dimensions, fronting on a the work of his own hands; and that large square or place; from each end" holiness to the Lord" which was of this, other buildings extend back once inscribed on all these walls, exforming a court 800 feet long, which ists no more except in name. is closed at the other end by the deed the state of all the orphan-house buildings of the pedagogium. These schools was generally supposed to be were all erected in the life time of such, as to require a thorough examFrancke, and through his agency;-ination and many reforms. Commisand the holy faith and energy of this sioners for this purpose were appointremarkable man were in nothing ed by the government in April last; more fully displayed, than in the one of whom, on the religious state of manner of their erection. They were the establishment, was Heubner of built literally in faith; having been Wittemberg; but no intelligence has undertaken by him without resour- yet been received of the results of ces, except in his dependence, under their inquiries. God, or charitable contributions; and these not only yet realized, but not yet even promised. Not unfrequent-BANEFUL INFLUENCE OF ASTROLly was it the case, in moments of despondency, when not a groschen more remained to pay the workmen, and the good man had poured out his soul in prayer to God for help, that he received, often by the post, from persons known and unknown, sums sufficient not only to pay off the debts already incurred, but to carry on the work for a time without further difficulty or risk.

OGY ON THE HINDOOS.

The remarks upon this subject, which are subjoined, were made by the Serampore missionaries.

It is only a resident and close observer, who can imagine what a baneful influence prevails over the eastern world, and especially thro'out Bengal, by means of astrology: witness only the annual almanack, formerly written, but now regularly printed at the native press in Cal

year

On the rising ground at the east end of the long court above mention-cutta. Referring to the moon and ed, there was erected last winter a stars, as the ruling powers of the bronze statue by Rauch, representing over the vegetable and animal creaFrancke supported by two orphans. tion, the seas, the clouds, and solar This monument is in the first style of rays-we have minute predictions as art; but one beholds it with less to the wind and rain-as to heat and pleasure, because it is so much at cold-as to corn and herbage-as to variance with the whole character of the increase and decrease of inhabitthe man, whom it was intended to ants-the increase and decrease of honour. The buildings which sur-property-as to the diseases which round the court, and the thousands of are to ensue, add their cures―auspupils who have gone out from them picious and unlucky days, &c. Were upon the theatre of life are the strong- this production regarded only with a est evidence of Francke's pious char-smile-did it awake notice, or excite ities and unwearied energies, and no dread-it would be unworthy of constitute his best and most endur-remark; but the case is far othering monument. These institutions wise. The Divujnas, a regular orwere all founded in prayer, and for a der of astrologers, with one of these long time nurtured in piety and a almanacks under their arm, travel pure and living faith; but in pro- the country invoking the sun and

propitiating the planets for hire ;while their prophecies are received with unwavering confidence by the poor natives. Even the opulent retain an astrologer, as they do a physician; and all important secular movements are under his regulation, for one verification is quite sufficient to cover ten failures, and the Hindoo still abides by this system of delusion and fraud. Numerous are the occasions in which the wealthy family demand the aid of this man; as if he could bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or guide Arcturus with his sons; or as if men had been made only for the stars.

THE SERAMPORE COLLEGE.

The ninth report of this institution, (for the year 1829,) states, that a charter has been granted to it by the king of Denmark, which has given stability to the establishment.The plan resolved on by the college council, since the receipt of the charter, is described in the following passages from the report.

It being necessary, now the charter has been received, to fix on some definite period of study, and on some scale of qualifications which may entitle the students to degrees of honor, the council of the college have, The birth of ev-as a present arrangement, subject to ery child is one important moment those modifications which experience for his feats; yet, in this instance, may hereafter dictate, adopted the folthough every thing is said to depend lowing plan; that a period of five on a clear view of the heavens, as years be allowed to students, after few of the Hindoos enjoy the advan- they have completed their grammattage of a watch, the true time of birth ical studies, for the acquisition of must, on a stormy and starless night, Sanscrit and English, of European be merely a guess; for it would be science and general knowledge, toendless to relate the childish expedi-gether with a knowledge of the hoents for obtaining certainty. Every ly scriptures, which are read daily. year has its unlucky days, and every During this period they will receive family movement a new calculation. a monthly allowance from the college Such is the influence of astrology on funds and dine in common. At the the family or within doors. But expiration of this period they will be here it does not end; its malignant expected to pass their final examinapower is daily crossing the path and tion with a view to their obtaining procedure of the husbandman, as such degrees of honor as their profiwell as diving into the bosom of ev- ciency may deserve, and to relinery family, whether rich or poor-quish the support of the college, in thus draining the people of their order to make room for the reception substance, and tormenting them with of other students on these funds. It visionary apprehensions. In short, is contemplated that the fixing of this so powerful is the sway of this bane- definite period will prové a stimulus ful system, that one of the noblest to their exertions by setting before sciences, astronomy, is entirely sub- them a definite prospect, relative to ject to its authority. Its nostrums their future course. Should it hapare all locked up in the Sanscrit lan-pen in the course of time that honoguage; and in this state all over In-rary degrees for proficiency obtained dia, let not the reader forget, it forms in this college should form a recoma part of religion-so that upon an absurd scheme of celestial calculation has actually been erected a most extensive system of priestly gain or pillage!

mendation to situations of respectability, it is not too much to expect that other native students, not on the foundation, but who support themselves, may enter their names on the college book, and passing through a regular course of instruction, seek

Abolition of Widow-Burning in India.

277

these honorary degrees with a view are enabled to announce the total to respectability in life, and thus ex-suppression of that horrid rite of suttend the beneficial influence of the tee throughout the whole British Ininstitution without increasing its ex-dia. It were vain and idle at this penditure.

moment to enter into a discussion of Under the new classification, five the practicability, or otherwise, of an of the senior native students will be earlier abolition, or to infer from what considered as commencing their has now been done, that it might course of higher studies from the have been effected with equal secufirst term of 1830, who will be ex-rity and facility many years back.pected to pass their final examination with a view to honorary degrees for their proficiency, in the last term of 1834. This plan, which may be modified as future experience may suggest, appears necessary to give consistency to the operations of the college, and bring the system of instruction into regular order.

It is rather for the Christian to rejoice that he lives in an age when the Lord is going on; and if in the act under consideration, he can trace a successful invasion of the kingdom of Satan, and a despoliation of the ruler of darkness of some small portion of his revenue of blood, let it serve to remind him, that his warThe council of the college have fare is, as that between the Israelites this year organized the course of En- and the devoted nations of Canaan, glish instruction for the native stu- one wherein neither parley nor treadents, to which they have also ad- ty can be admitted. Let the presmitted a select nember of heathen ent victory, then, serve to strengthen students not resident in the college. and encourage him, in the strength Mr. Joshua Rowe has been appoint- of the Lord, to the perfecting of that ed to the situation of English tutor. which remains to be accomplished. The number of applications for ad- Many strong holds of superstition missions into this class has been con- have still to be assaulted, and it is siderable; and it is hoped through the duty of every believer, as he this course the advantages of the col- daily becomes more enlightened, and lege will be extended more widely is brought to a steady, abiding sense to the country at large. The pro- of the value of the soul-contemplagress made by the youths in the En- ted through the sufferings of the Reglish class since it has been re-or-deemer,-to be earnest and constant ganized; has been highly encoura-in pouring out his petitions at the ging, but from the shortness of the throne of grace, that the work which period which has since elapsed, it is now begun, may go on and proswill scarcely admit of any precise de-per, till "the kingdoms of this world

tail.

ABOLITION OF WIDOW-BURNING

IN INDIA.

The editors of the Oriental Christian Spectator, published at Bombay, from which the article is taken, after noticing some of the events which have occurred in the present age, opening the way for a general diffusion of knowledge and piety, remark

These things are particularly pressed upon our minds, now that we

shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

We know not that we can conclude this subject better, and at the same time summarily record the va rious stages of the abolition of this horrid rite at the different presidencies, than by subjoining the remarks upon it from the Bombay Gazette of the 5th ult.

"In the former number of our paper we noticed the abolition of suttees by an enactment of the Bengal

government, which passed the coun-the reverence for the practice of sutcil on the 4th of December, 1829.- tee,' A similar enactment passed council

"With the exception of this one at Madras, under date the 2d. Feb- province, under this presidency, sutruary, 1830. tees have been of rare occurrence."Our cotemporary in his last num-For the four years above mentioned, ber, has alluded to the abolition of no suttee had occurred in the Zillahs suttees under this presidency, in a of Broach or Ahmedabad, and only manner which differs from the one one is recorded for the Zillah of Suadopted at the other presidencies;-rat, and one for the Zillah of Kaira, but which will be equally efficacious. within the same period. "The southern Konkan is, we believe, the only province under this presidency where the practice of suttee is frequent. On examining the printed papers laid before parliament on the subject of suttees, it appears that three-fourths of all the suttees which take place under the Bombay presidency occur in the southern Konkan. In the period of four years, 1824 to 1827 inclusive, the total "With the foregoing picture benumber of suttees in the returns, is fore our eyes, we have only to offer stated at 158; 114 of which number our sincere thanks to the present ruoccurred in the southern Konkan a-||lers of India, for having abolished so lone; being about 28 annually for unnatural a right, and not to cavil at that province, and 11 annually for the means by which a hitherto foul the rest of the Bombay territories. stain on British legislation has been The historian of India

"The Calcutta division of the Bengal territories, has ever exhibited the most striking exemplification of the horrid practice of suttee: the total return of suttees, under Bengal for 1823, is 575; 340 of which occurred in the Calcutta division alone! In 1826, the return gives 518; 324 of which occurred in the same divis

ion.

"Respecting the southern Kon-removed. kan, there is a striking fact recorded will record the names of Bentinck, among the printed papers of 1821, Lushington, and Malcolm in imperand 1823, namely, that when the ishable letters, and future generations southern Konkan in the dominions of will be taught to revere their memthe Peishwa, late head of the Ma-ory."

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brattee state, came into our posses

sion, the inhabitants voluntarily dis- Lutheran Wagazine. continued the practice of suttee, in FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1831 consequence of understanding that it was repugnant to the British laws, Death of Rev. Doct. Schaeffer.-It and only resumed it on finding that is with heartfelt sorrow, that we anit was tolerated by the British gov- nounce to our readers, the death of

ernment.'

"In a dissent, signed by John the Rev. F. C. Schaeffer, D. D. PresHuddleston and William Taylor Mo-ident of the Evangelical Lutheran ney, Esq. from the court's resolution Synod of the state of New York, in March, 1824, referring to the and Pas.or of St. James Church, in committee of correspondence, para- the City of New York. The deceasgraphs for Bengal, on the subject of suttee in India, the before mentioned was for several years subject to a ed circumstance, as regards the pulmonary complaint, which gradusouthern Konkan, is adduced, as a ally wasted his strength, and termin'striking fact in proof of there being ated his earthly existence on the 26th nothing like religious enthusiasm in ult. in the 39th year of his age.

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