MISSIONARY HERALD.

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of this Society will be thankfully received at the Baptist Missionary House, No. 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London: or by any of the Ministers and Friends whose names are inserted in the Cover of the Annual Report.

Our friends in London and its vicinity are respectfully informed, that Mr. Benjamin Shepheard, 2, Gloucester Terrace, Hoxton, has been appointed Collector of the Annual Subscriptions to the Society, now due.

which, we are thankful to say, is the case with Mrs. Yates, and our partners in life. We desire to be thankful for the blessing of health, as without it, we could do no good, but must prove burdensome to ourselves and others. Yet the tenure on which we hold it, is slender indeed; we feel as though standing on the brink of the grave, and

though healthy and strong at present, seem

to expect the summons to bid us enter, and almost wonder that it has not been served. Numbers are falling around us; our time may soon come, yet we know that He, who has hitherto upheld us, holds the keys of death, and the unseen world; and feel persuaded, that, if he has any thing for us to

To the Committee of the Baptist Missionary do, he will make us immortal until it is

Society.

Calcutta, July 12th, 1827.

VERY DEAR BRETHREN,

done. If he has not, our continuance on earth must be useless, and, consequently, not desirable. Yet, as he has brought us here, and put us in situations of trust and labour, we do hope that he has something for us to do, and desire to be found doing, or attempting it, depending on him for ability and success. He has opened a door; we doubt not, an effectual door, and presented to view a field, wide and extensive, and white for harvest. The labourers are few, very few. We are but a handful of

We are again permitted, by an ever indulgent Providence, to address you on the subject of our labours, our prospects, and our feelings; and we do it, as on former occasions, with mingled sensations of pleasure and pain. Surrounded by the sick, the dying, and the dead, both Native and European, we have been, and still are, graciously preserved; though not without oc- men unequal to the task, but the Lord of casional intimations of our liability to dis- the harvest has bidden us to put in the ease and death. About the date of our sickle, and who will say, India shall not be last, brother G. Pearce was exercised with reaped,-India, through the Gospel, shall & painful affliction, which, for a time, excited not yield a large harvest of immortal souls our fears, and for several weeks interrupted to God? Independently of the promises of him in the prosecution of his labours, when God, we are persuaded, from what is going it pleased God to restore him to health, and forward around us, that preparations are to enable him to resume his work. We being made for mighty changes in the senhave also felt some anxiety on account of timents and practices of the people in this the repeated indisposition of brother W. H. country; changes known fully to none but Pearce; but, in his case too, our fears God, and contemplated by few, but those were disappointed, as he is spared and re-whose hearts have been expanded at the stored to tolerable health. The rest of us cross; and whose calculations are founded enjoy a considerable portion of bodily health, on the word, the faithfulness and the power

In referring more particularly to the different departments of labour in which we are engaged, we shall begin with the English. In this, although we have not been favoured with any great success, yet we have had success; success for which we desire to be thankful, though it has not been equal to our wishes. To the church in the Circular Road, where brother Thomas labours, several additions have been made within the present year, two of them the children of Captain Kemp: three candidates are now waiting for baptism, and there are two or three other persons whom we expect to come forward in a short time. The three candidates for baptism are soldiers of H. M. 14th foot, who, like many others in the same class of society, have been brought to this country to become acquainted with the way of salvation. From several circumstarces, we feel inclined to hope that there is a good work going on among the soldiers in the Fort, but they are subject, though the bad conduct of their comrades, to regulations and restrictions which, in their case, prove injurious, preventing their attending at our chapel as they would. It is pleasing, however, to know that, when God works, no difficulty can present an effectual barrier to the influence of his grace.

of God, who can and will subdue all things, | mans to take joyfully the loss of property even India, to himself. Our present suc- for the sake of Christ. cess is, indeed, far from equalling our wishes, and we often meet with what pains the mind, and depresses the spirit. Yet it is not all of this character; no, we meet with | many things which cheer and encourage us. We feel confident too, that could you meet with many of our own countrymen, or their descendants, who have been brought to the knowledge of the truth by the divine blessing on Missionary labour; or attend our brethren in their labours among the Natives, you would often see and hear what would rejoice your hearts, and strengthen your hands in the good work. The serious attention, and apparently deep interest with which many hear the word; the nature of the questions often put to the Missionary; with the replies sometimes given to his enquiries, and the observations frequently nade; would please, by proving that knowledge has been communicated and is increasing; that attention to the word is excited, that thought is exercised, that the heart is touched, and that there are some, probably more than we are aware of, who are "not far from the kingdom of God." We have much reason to believe that there are many who are only prevented making an open avowal of Christianity by the consideration of the great loss of property to which it must subject them under the present state of the Hindoo and Mussulman laws. We cannot approve their conduct in this particular; for we know who has said, "If any man love father, mother, brother, sister, wife or lands more than me, he is not worthy of me." Yet to do it requires great grace, and great decision of character. The loss of property, to which converts are in many instances subject, must operate as a powerful barrier to the success of the gospel in this country; we may exhort the new made convert, and urge the powerful arguments with which the Saviour has furnished us, but to reason and talk, and probably, to convince of duty, is much more easy than to do, when by doing the individual is at once hurled from ease and respectability to beg. gary and shame. Some seem afraid to give the attention they otherwise would, lest this should be the result; and others declare that they are Christians in belief, and every thing short of what would expose them to the deprivation of property. Measures to remove, if possible, this obstacle, are under consideration; we hope they will be successful; but, whether they be, or not, we are sure that the difficulty will be either removed by man, or surmounted by God. We only need a portion of that influence so abundantly poured out on the primitive Christians, to enable Hindoos and Mussul

In connexion with the church in the Circular Road, a Ladies' MissionarySociety has been formed, and though has existed only half a year, it has already realized nearly a thousand rupees, and promises to continue productive.

At Howrah, where brother G. Pearce preaches twice on the Sabbath, the prospects continue encouraging, though no addition has been made to the church.

A Sunday School has been lately established there, which we hope will prove beneficial to those for whose welfare it was commenced.

In the Benevolent Institution, at present containing 206 boys and 104 girls; in all 310, consisting of Portuguese, Indo-Britons, Hindoos, Mussulmans, Chinese and Armenians, brother and sister Penney continue to labour. Nor are they without frequent opportunities of observing the good resulting from their labours. This is apparent, not only in the general improvement, but in the religious knowledge and Christian deportment of not a few of those who have been under their care. Numbers give good evidence of a change of heart, and gratefully ascribe that change, under God, to their instructions. Most of those who have been long with them leave with thankful feelings, and seldom fail to give subsequent proofs of their sense of obligation. Letters are often

coming from one or another containing ex- | high opinion of his character, and loved him pressions highly gratifying and encouraging for his apparent resemblance to Christ and to our brother and sister, and scarcely less zeal for his glory. We doubt not but you pleasing to others. feel for us and for him, and will unite your In the superintendence of the Printing Of-prayers with ours, that he may be speedily fice brother W. H. Pearce is kept almost restored. Having given this statement of incessantly employed, even to the injury of facts, as they relate to us and our work, we his health, and consequent danger of shorten- would now close our communication with an ing his career on earth. Yet this close ap- earnest desire that the spirit of God may plication to business seems absolutely ne- direct all your measures, and crown with cessary, on account of the great demand his blessing, all your efforts to promote his there is for his services in that department, glory, wherever made. and the difficulty or rather impossibility of getting a proper assistant, whom he does not train up himself for the work. He has lately succeeded in obtaining a European youth, who he hopes in time may considerably relieve him. Several works are printing under the patronage of Government, the proceeds from which will greatly aid the Missionary fund; besides several works immediately designed for the intellectual or spiritual improvement of the heathen.

We remain,

Dear Brethren,
Your's in the Gospel of Christ,

JAMES PENNEY,
W. H. PEARCE,
G. PEARCE,
JAMES THOMAS.

On the subject of temporal privations alluded to in this letter, we annex the following remarks, extracted from the Auxiliary Missionary Herald (Calcutta), for the same month.

"As the condition of native converts with respect to their claims on hereditary pro

In native work, besides what little we do ourselves, we have brother C. C. Aratoon and a native brother, formerly employed by the Serampore brethren, constantly engaged in Calcutta or its neighbourhood, and brother De Cruze occasionally. Brother Kirkpatrick occupies the Howrah station. By them the word of God is proclaimed in va-perty, may not be generally known to our rious places several times each day, and some thousands hear the word every month. The congregations vary from half a dozen to 100 or 150. Many come and hear a few words and then retire, but numbers continue the whole of the time. Many hear with great attention; some cavil, others inquire with seriousness, and some advocate the cause of Christ against their objecting countrymen.

readers, we beg to submit to their attention a few remarks, in order to excite compassion, and call into operation measures for their relief. Before the occupation of this country by the present governors, it had been enacted by the Hindoos, and ratified afterward by the Mussulmans, that persons who were fallen, (i. e. had forfeited caste,) forfeited at the same time their right as inheritors. This law, we are sorry to find, remains At Chitpore, where brother G. Pearce re- in force to the present day, to the great presides, we have been under the painful ne- judice of Christianity, as well as the severe cessity of laying poor Paunchoo aside from injury of those who embrace the religion of his work, owing to a variety of things in his Jesus. This law, unlike many others which conduct, of a character altogether unbecom- exist only in the archives of a kingdom, is ing the gospel. Most of these improprie- generally known among the Hindoos, as it ties arose, probably, from his being so long has long been suspended in terrorem over from under the eye of a European brother, them, not in reference to Christianity merely, and having too much to do with the secu- but every thing which would subject them to larities of the station. This induced a the loss of caste. The existence of this law, worldly spirit, and the love of money, to therefore, cannot but be considered as a great obtain which, unjust methods were adopted, obstacle to the progress of the gospel, since and this, on inquiry being instituted, was by a profession of Christianity, a person renfollowed by sad equivocation in language, ders himself obnoxious to its penalty. Many and a determined assertion of innocence, instances might be adduced, if it were neceseven when guilt was clear. Yet these sins sary, (some of which are known to the wriof Paunchoo are the peculiar vices of the ter, and of others he has been informed,) of country, and vastly different in the estima-several respectable Hindoos who profess to tion of natives from what they are in ours. Paunchoo has excellencies, and we cannot but hope that he has tasted that the Lord is gracious, and that he will again be brought to walk humbly before him. It has been a sore trial to us, as we had formed a very

believe the gospel, and express a strong desire to unite with British Christians, but who have not courage enough to plunge from the elevation of wealth into poverty at once. The influence of this law is felt, not only at the time when an individual has approached

sire to ameliorate the condition of the inhabitants of India affords strong encouragement, that such an application would not be made in vain."

to the threshold of a Christian church, but it | the attention of our rulers, whose known demeets Christianity at the very onset. When the gospel knocks at first for admission, it represents it as a most unwelcome visitor, and too often succeeds in shutting the heart completely against it-often, too often withholds the feet from entering the house of God, the hands from receiving the written messengers of mercy, and the mind from an investigation of the claims of the gospel, lest conviction should seize, and compel it to embrace a profession, the penalties of which are so painful.

This state of things not only proves a great hindrance to the ready acceptance of the gospel, but often places Missionaries in embarrassed circumstances. The feelings of Hindoos generally towards native converts, are quite in unison with the spirit of the law that disinherits them : the consequence, | therefore, most frequently is, that as soon as a Hindoo declares himself a Christian, he is at once expelled his family, and cut off from further intercourse with them. Deprived of property and friends, he is cast upon the world to seek his livelihood. If he obtain employment among his countrymen, it is only to experience similar treatment, as soon as his character is known. To whom, then, must be betake himself for relief? to whom can he go, but to Christian Missionaries? To them he is necessitated to bend his course, and upon them the burden falls of supporting him. When this is the case, which is not unfrequent, the weight must generally fall eventually upon Missionary Societies, (the reason of which is obvious,) and consequently divert the application of their funds from a wider diffusion of the gospel. This is certainly very lamentable, not only because the funds of these societies are by no means adequate, when wholly applied to the wants of the country, but also on account of the unkindly influence which a state of dependence too frequently produces on the

mind.

There is also another point of view, in which we would present this subject, and that is, of persecution. While this state of things continues, a Christian Hindoo is persecuted for conscience sake, since in following the dictates of his conscience he suffers this loss. In this, it may be said, that as a Christian he ought to lay his account. True, as a Christian he ought, but not as a man, nor as a subject of that realm, whose glory it is that it recognizes, on behalf of all under its dominion, (with the exception of the Hindoos,) the rights of conscience. As a subject of Britain, then, he may respectfully claim that right, and the friends of religion may claim t for him. We earnestly hope, then, that ithe friends of Missions, both here and at

The following extract from the Journal of of a Baptist Missionary in Calcutta will partly show the occasion of these remarks.

"After preaching at Chitpore road chapel, having enquired if any wished to receive scriptures, or tracts, in looking round I observed a young Baboo of respectable appearance sitting on one of the benches, apparently considerably interested in what was going on. I asked him if he would accept of a book. Yes, he replied, if you will give me a Christian catechism. I wished to present him with the Gospels in English and Bengalee, to which he objected, saving, I have the whole Bible in English, which I not only read, but believe it to be the word of God. Do you indeed ? said I. Yes, he replied; for I am a Christian. I enquired whether he belonged to any church, to which be answered in the negative, yet added, that he had a strong desire to unite with Christians, from which he was deterred only by the present state of the Hindoo law respecting inheritance, and the disposition of his relatives, who when they knew that he had avowed himself a disciple of Christ, would immediately disinherit him. Being asked respecting the period when he came to the knowledge of the Saviour, he said that he had been instructed in English, and recommended to read the Bible about 14 years ago by an elderly English gentleman, of the name of Scot, from which time he had become convinced of its truth.

"In the course of conversation, he gave me his name, and referred me for the truth of what he had said to two respectable English gentlemen. He also added, repeating it three or four times, that he knew several respectable and rich Bengalee gentlemen, who were similarly situated with himself, believing the truth and excellency of the Christian faith, but fearing to confess freely their sentiments, lest they should be plunged at once into poverty,"

The following letter, though of a prior date to the articles we have inserted, will be read with interest as describing the impressions and feelings of one to whom the country and its inhabitants were comparatively new. It was written by Mr. George Pearce to the Secretary, and dated Doorgapore, May

home, will feel so interested in this subject,
as to bring it as speedily as possible before 22, 1827.