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Missionary and Religious Entelligence.

CALCUTTA.

1.-DEATH OF RAJA RAMMOHUN ROY.

We record with unfeigned regret the death of this distinguished individual. We have watched his career with anxiety; and though it has ended too soon for him, and for our hopes, there is not a brighter on the annals of his country. Others have equalled, or surpassed him, in genius, in learning, even in boldness of thinking; but if they were able to burst their own mental shackles, they used their influence to rivet yet more closely those of their countrymen. He alone, when he rose above the prejudices, rose above the selfish feelings of his class, and devoted his great talents to the general welfare of his country. In this respect, he may be advantageously compared with the most eminent of the ancient philosophers, who, if we except Socrates, seem to have made no practical efforts for the moral improvement of the community. But here the comparison ends. The mind of Rammohun Roy was not, in the highest sense, philosophical. Brilliant, versatile, highly accomplished, and often striking out bold and original thoughts, it was unequal to the higher task of arrangement and generalization; it was wanting in depth, perseverance, and decision. The marks of his country were upon him; opinions, ever shifting, because their foundation is on sand, and a metaphysical acuteness so great as to cloud and confuse the judgment. If these sometimes led him to unworthy compromise, or to rash and hasty decisions, it is matter of sorrow, rather than of blame. At a time of unexampled darkness, he was the first to hail the coming light, and to point it out to others: he laboured incessantly for the mental and political regeneration of India, and, in spite of persecution and reproach, he remained at his post until the end. Amongst his countrymen he has left no successor, and he never had an equal.

There is another, and to us a more interesting point of view, under which this great man may be regarded. It is that of a highly cultivated intellect, without fixed principle of any kind, suddenly brought into contact with modern science, and the pure and heavenly light of Christianity. Truth obliges us to say, that the trial proved too much for him. His mind sunk under it. He was dazzled and confounded; found himself incapable to decide, and delivered himself up to the impressions of the hour. What his religious opinions were, or whether he had any, it is perhaps impossible to discover. We regret deeply on his own account that he was not established in the truth, and the more, that in the all-wise providence of God he had opportunities of benefiting his country, which no other native ever possessed. On these points, however, we hope to enter at more length, when we receive the Life promised by the Editor of the Reformer, which many are anxiously looking for. In the meantime we take leave of this illustrious individual, as of one whose memory we revere and whose failings we would bury in the grave.

2. CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN TRACT AND BOOK SOCIETY.

The annual General Meeting of this valuable Society was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, 4th February, W. H. Bird, Esq. in the chair. The Report was read by the Rev. Mr. Gogerly, and occupied much of the time of the meeting. Amidst other interesting matter, it adverted to a new feature in the operations of the Society, and a very encouraging one, inasmuch as it originates in the improved intellectual condition of the native youth. It was stated to be the determination of the Committee, while they used increased diligence in preparing and distributing useful tracts, to translate into the native languages, standard English works of a large size, such as the Pilgrim's Progress, Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, and Baxter's Call: and that some of these were in a state of consi

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derable forwardness. For further particulars, we refer to the Report itself, which will soon be in circulation. Several eloquent and stirring speeches were made, and a spirit of harmony and Christian zeal seemed to pervade the meeting. Resolutions were moved and seconded by Rev. Messrs. Dealtry, Mather, Duff, Lacroix, Campbell, Sandys, Mackay and Gogerly, and by Messrs. Woollaston and Hough,

3.-CALCUTTA CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

The tenth Anniversary of the Calcutta Church Missionary Association took place on the evening of the 18th Feb. in the Old Church Rooms, when the Venerable Archdeacon Corrie took the chair. It was peculiarly gra tifying to see a very large and respectable meeting assembled to celebrate the

event.

Resolutions were moved and seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Dealtry, Fisher, Hæberlen and Sandys, Messrs. Mangles, Corbyn and Cooke, Lieut. Dougan, Baboos M. C. Ghose, and K. M. Banerjea.—Enquirer.

4.-A BRIEF NOTICE OF THE ORIGIN AND OBJECTS OF THE EVANGELICAL

SOCIETY OF GENEVA.

A recent number of the London Christian Observer contains some notices of this truly interesting Society. To all sincere Protestants, Geneva, "the cradle of the Reformation," must stand forth prominently as one of the most distinguished cities on earth-a city that must ever be as sociated with the most hallowed recollections. Great was its glory and widespreading its renown in the days of Zuinglius and Calvin. But it was doomed to experience the fate of the seven churches of Asia. Its light which, for a season, shone so brightly, became soon eclipsed: its candlestick was removed and it sunk into utter desolation under the blasts of a cold, withering Socinianism. How cheering then the thought that of late, this celebrated city has begun to exhibit symptoms of renovation—that its fallen palaces and ruined walls have begun to be rebuilt-and that it promises fair to rival its original glory. The honour of having originated the work of restoration must be attributed to Mr. Robert Haldane, a Scottish gentleman, who visited Geneva some years ago, and was blessed of God as the instrument in "shaking the dry bones" that lay thickly scattered there as in the valley of vision. But as it is not our present purpose to give a detailed account of the rise and progress of the second reformation in Switzerland, we have only to announce the delightful fact that it continues steadily to advance. Of this various circumstances conspire to furnish decisive evidence and amongst the rest, the recent formation of "the Evangelical Society of Geneva." This Society was instituted in the year 1831, and its pious designs are, by the blessing of God, greatly prospering and enlarging. The Society may be considered as a general union of the friends of Evangelical truth in Switzerland. Its labours are apportioned to several distinct committees, each of which gives in a distinct account of its proceedings at the general annual meeting. In the first report are found the following details: divine worship, and schools, comprising a daily school, a sunday school, an infant school, and a class of catechumens; the distribution of the Scriptures, Tracts, Evangelical Missions, and the School of Theology; and under each of these heads is to be met information of a description highly encouraging.

But passing by these at present, we crave the special attention of our readers to two more recent documents of engrossing interest, viz. 1, "A letter of encouragement and fraternity, lately addressed to the Committee of the Evangelical Society, signed by no fewer than one hundred and twenty-three ministers of the national church of the Canton of Vaud :" and 2, "The answer of the Geneva Committee."

The letter from Vaud has been translated as follows:

"To the Members of the Committee of the Evangelical Society of Geneva. "Very dear and honoured Brethren,-It is with lively interest that the undersigned ministers of the holy Gospel in the national church of the canton of Vaud have learned, by means of the circular which you have addressed them, the formation of the school of Evangelical Theology; they feel the need of it, and they consider it a duty to express the joy which they experience.

"You declare that it is your determination, in regard to the condition of man, the grace of God, the nature of the Saviour, the work which he has performed, and that which he still performs for the salvation of his people, to profess the scriptural doctrines proclaimed by the Helvetic Confession of Faith. This assurance is dear and precious to us. Regarding these doctrines as the fundamental object of the Christian faith, and as those alone which are capable of producing in the heart true regeneration, life, and peace, we could not observe without pain these holy truths attacked in writings published by members of the clergy and of the academy of your canton; but soon were our hearts rejoiced; and we doubt not that God, who alone is good, to whom we render thanks, is blessing your labours and those of the servants of Christ occupied in the same field; and is causing the great truths which are the foundations of our common hopes to resume among you their wonted honour, and is rekindling the torch of a simple and vivifying faith in the bosom of a church which for many years made its light to shine in the midst of the reformed nations.

"Our wishes accompany your efforts for the advancement of the reign of our Master and Saviour. We shall remember you in our prayers, and we entreat you not to forget us in yours. The good pleasure of God be with you, and direct the work of your hands."

As might be anticipated, the Geneva Committee lost no time in replying to the above communication. Accordingly, the directors of the School of Theology undertook the task. And in their letter they embrace the favourable opportunity afforded, for giving larger publicity to their profession of Christian doctrines, and for making more clearly understood the real nature of their present situation. The reply enters at great length into their topics: but the following is the Observer's analysis of the doctrinal part of its con

tents:

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"After expressing their joy and gratitude at this mark of Christian affection on the part of so many Christian ministers, the Committee remark : "We have risen up in the name of the doctrine, and we have declared aloud our adherence to the faith of the church universal, and of the reformed church in particular, of which we are members." Then follow explicit declarations in regard to those momentous doctrines which had become nearly obsolete in the Church of Geneva. On the Deity of Christ it is observed.-"We have confessed, with all ages, and with all the churches, that Jesus Christ is really God; and we have done so because we are convinced that if he were only a creature, though the most excellent of creatures, he could not save us. that obedience which he might thus render to the God who had created him, he would owe to him on his own account; nothing would be left him wherewith to discharge the debts of his brethren. He only can be a true mediator between God and man, who has part on one side in the nature of God, and on the other in the nature of man. To deny the real Divinity of Jesus Christ is to take from man the only means by which he can re-enter into communion with God; that is, to render his salvation impossible." Equally clear and satisfactory are the views which are taken of the nature of man, of justification by faith, and of the conversion of the heart to God. "A man,' it is remarked," introduced, were it possible, into heaven with his old heart, would have no more enjoyment of it than a deaf man would have of an harmonious concert, or a blind man of the magnificence of our Alps and of our lakes; and fain would he flee from a place where there was nothing which he loved." An animated and joyful remembrance that these great truths are such as have been professed by Christendom in general concludes this part of the letter. "Whom, in the whole period of the church's duration, have we against us? Some false teachers: Theodotus the tanner, who at the commencement of the third, or at the end of the second, century, first denied the Divinity of Christ; Notius, Arius, Pelagius, Socinus, and some other obscure persons, who appeared on different occasions, to give rise to different heresies amongst believers, and whom they rejected from their bosom. And, on the contrary, whom have we with us? The whole church of Christ, represented by those illustrious teachers who have not ceased to combat the false wisdom of the world; first, Peter, Paul, John, Jude, Luke, and all the Apostles and Evangelists; at a later period, Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin, Irenæus, Tertullian, Cyprian, Athanasius, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom; and when, after a long season of mourning, the church resumes its glo

ry, Luther, Melancthon, Zuinglius, Farel, Calvin, Knox, Beza. We have with us the church universal of all times; and at this very moment, in confessing these fundamental truths of our religion, we speak not merely in harmony with your national church, dear brethren, but also with the national churches of the whole Protestant world. This magnificent accord of centuries, this voice universal, greatly confirms and establishes us; and whilst we regard this cloud of witnesses which surrounds us, our weakness obtains consolation, and we feel fully convinced that we have not done too much, in lifting up our voice with theirs, and in founding a school for imparting instruction in that faith which they confess."

Next follows a long account of the ecclesiastical relations of the school of Evangelical Theology, &c. but our limits preclude us from indulging in farther extracts. We must therefore conclude with the Observer's closing remarks, heartily echoing our own concurrence :

"Those readers who have mourned over the degenerate churches of Switzerland, without being apprised of the hopeful symptoms of a revival which, by the mercy of God, are now conspicuous, will be no less surprised than gratified at the above correspondence. That so large a proportion of the pastors of the Canton de Vaud should have signed the above address; and that the Geneva reply should display such respectable signatures as those of Merle-d'Aubigne, Steiger, Hævernick, and Galland, (M. Gaussen was absent in England,) is far more than we could have dared a few years since to anticipate. But the arm of the Lord is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; and we rejoice to believe that a work has commenced in Switzerland which will not cease till the once honoured churches of that "cradle of the Reformation" shall again become " a praise in the earth."

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5.-PROTESTANT CHURCH IN FRANCE.

Every thing connected with the efforts now made to disseminate divine truth in its purity, whether amongst Mohammedans or Heathens, Pagans or Paganized Christians, is fraught with interest. On this account, we doubt not our readers will be gratified with the following detached parts connected with the present condition and prospects of the Protestant Church in France :

"There is not in France any thing that answers to the current phrase in this country, of "the religious public." Religious books are few in number, and since the Revolution, new Roman Catholic publications are scarcely heard of. Protestantism, we rejoice to say, is more active; and though, compared with the wants of the people, the religious press has effected little; yet, compared with its feeble exertions a few years since, it is doing much. There are now several religious periodical publications issued in Paris, which are truly Evangelical in their doctrine and spirit ; namely, The Sower, the Journal of Missions, and the Friend of Youth; besides the longer established Archives du Christianisme." The Religious Tract Society has also issued many useful publications. We have not enumerated, "The Protestant," and some other publications, because their doctrine is not Scriptural, but tinctured with Neology.

"Conversions are frequently occurring from Popery to Protestantism. The following is a recent and remarkable illustration. The town of Malaucene, in the department of Vaucluse, which is connected with Avignon, where formerly dwelt the Popes from Clement V. to Gregory IX., has always been under the most bigotted dominion of the Roman Catholic priesthood. On every side are chapels and niches dedicated to papal saints; and the true worship of God had been superseded by the grossest idolatry. Lately, however, some Bibles have penetrated the place, and the perusal of them has been conspicuously attended by the blessing of God. M. Renuous, a pious Protestant minister, hearing that some of the people were assiduously studying the word of God, and were even preparing to throw off the yoke of Popery, repaired to the place, and has been labouring diligently among them in preaching the doctrines of salvation. The attendance at his discourses has already increased from twenty to two hundred : thirty heads of families have sent in a declaration to the mayor, that they are determined to live and die Protestants; and have demanded the protection of the laws as a religious body. M. Renuous describes his discourses as being interrupted with the frequent exclamations of his astonished and delighted auditors; contrasting the blessedness of simple Christian truth, and the offer of free pardon through the blood of the Saviour, with the follies and penances to which they had been accustomed.

The plan of circulating Bibles and Testaments in France by means of the hawkers has had a most beneficial effect; for not only have copies of the word of God been by this means widely diffused, but, in various instances, the perusal of these copies has prepared the way for the stated preaching of the Gospel. This was poor Kieffer's favourite plan, and he wished to extend it as much as possible.

Nov.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES.

[Where the place is not mentioned, Calcutta is to be understood.]

MARRIAGES.

7. At Muttra, Lieut. Larkins, N. I. to Miss Battely.

At Malacca, Robert Diggles, Esq. to Eliza, only daughter of Samuel Garling, Esq. Resident Councillor at Malacca.

DEC.

28. At Kamptee, Captain Philip R. Chambers, Mad. Eur. Regt., to Charlotte Catherine, eldest daughter of Lieut.-Colonel J. Wahab, C. B.

JAN.

10. At Bombay, H. F. Owen, Esq., to Mary Stanley, widow of the late LieutenantColonel W. H. Stanley.

20. At Pondicherry, Ensign Edward Slack Master, 13th N. I., to Isabella, daughter of the late Capt. Cameron, of the Bengal Artillery.

21. At Byculla, P. W. Le Geyt, Esq. of the Civil Service, to Pawline, eldest daughter of G. W. Anderson, Esq.

22. Mr. Daniel Isaac, Apothecary, to Miss Mary Gage.

25. John Thomas Corrie, Esq. to Miss Jane Mills.

27. Mr. Thomas Gurr, Honorable Company's Marine, to Miss Maria Dias.

At Madras, Lieut. E. Roberts, 49th N. I. to Jane, daughter of Capt. Prendergast, H. M. Service.

At Dinapore, Mr. Thomas Alexander Pereira, to Miss Maria Guest.

29. Mr. B. F. Harvey, to Miss A. M. L. Heberlet.

31. At Allahabad, Capt. Edward J. Watson, 59th Regt. to Jane Campbell, third daughter of the late R. M. Thomas, Esq.

FEB.

3. Capt. William Boothby, to Anne Francis, daughter of the late Mr. Smith, Lambeth, London.

5. At Kurnaul, William Cockson, Esq. Adjutant, 9th Light Cavalry, eldest son of Lieut.-General Cockson, of the Royal Artillery, to Elizabeth Lucy, youngest daughter of Colonel T. G. P. Tucker, H. M. Service.

7. Mr. Patrick Julius De Vine, to Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson.

15. At Dum-Dum, Frank G. Fulton, Esq. to Hariett Frances Georgiana, daughter of the late George Morse, Esq. M. D. of Clifton, Gloucester.

DEC.

BIRTHS.

2. At Sultanpore Factory, Purneah, the lady of A. J. Forbes, Esq. of a son. 11. At Singapore, at the house of J. Conolly, Esq. Mrs. Symers, of a daughter. 14. At Ahmedabad, the lady of Charles Scott, Esq. Medical Establishment, of a daughter.

JAN.

1. At Jaulnah, the lady of Capt. J. D. Audry, Sub-Assistant Commissary General, of a son.

2. At Lall Baugh, in Moorshedabad, Mrs. Anne Burnett, of a son.

7. At Sea, on board the ship Atlas, the lady of Capt. George Wright, 10th N. I. of a daughter.

11. At Mhow, the lady of Dacres Fitz Evans, Esq. 16th N. I. of a son.

12. At Allahabad, the wife of Sub-Conductor A. Bethune, of a son.

13. At Trincomalie, the lady of George Rumley, Esq. M. D. Assist. Surg. Ceylon Rifles, of a daughter.

15. At Sattara, the lady of Major G. J. Wilson, of a son.

17. At Chirra Poonjee, the lady of Henry Chapman, Esq. Civil Assist. Surg. of a

son.

At Serampore, Mrs. N. I. Gantzer, of a son.

24. The lady of Lieut. J. R. Bagshawe, 7th Regt. of a daughter.

26.

FEB.

In Fort William, the lady of Capt. Mansell, 39th Foot, of a daughter.

1. At Agra, the lady of Lieut. C. S. Reid, Artillery, of a daughter.

7. At Seebpore, the lady of E. Thompson, Esq., of a son.

10. Mrs. L. Mendies, of a son.

14. The wife of Mr. C. L. Vallant, of a daughter.

Mrs. A. M. Pereira, of a daughter.

16. The lady of R. S. Homfray, of a daughter.

DEC.

DEATHS.

26. At Hansi, Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Pidding Bishop, of the 27th Bengal Infantry, Commanding at the Station. The officers of the 27th, in testimony of their esteem and

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