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80% to 100% During sickness he receives one-third of this income.

The church "offices" are generally performed where the pastor resides, though this arrangement is not stringently insisted upon. Confirmation does not take place before the fifteenth year of age; and a knowledge of reading and of the catechism are prerequisites. The communion is administered twice a year, viz., at about Easter and Michaelmas. Marriages are performed from Advent to Passion-week, previous to which each couple are betrothed, in presence of the pastor, and undergo an examination in reading and religion.

In 1808, a fund was established for the relief of the widows and orphans of preachers. It was aided by Imperial grants, and had a capital of 50,000 rbl. b. a. (2,500l.) It is under the management of a provost and two preachers, the latter of whom are annually appointed. Every married preacher contributes yearly 20 rbl. b. a. (1.) If the number of widows and orphans is not great, the former receive 200 sil. rbl. (351.) yearly, and the latter, 50 sil. rbl. (81. 5s.)

The number of children at school in 1832, was 14,686. In that year the births exceeded the deaths by 2,466. We may suppose, therefore, that the number of schoolchildren would be at least 16,000, in 1836, when the Protestant population was 82,333. The school accommodation, therefore, was complete in regard to numbers; not so in regard to the quality of instruction. The period of attendance is from the seventh to the fifteenth year, and the school-hours from eight to twelve, A.M., and from two to five, P.M. But the children are able to attend only during the winter half-year, from October to Easter, as they are employed during the summer in the fields. The subjects prescribed for them to learn are, reading, writing, reckoning, catechism, singing, prayer. Very few boys, however, learn to write and reckon well, and it is seldom that any of the girls attempt it. One reason of this neglect is, that the parents are too poor to pay for books, &c.; another, that they are indifferent to the improvement of their children; and a third, no doubt, lies in the children being absent during the whole summer, which renders any great advancement on their part almost impossible. The teachers are inadequately paid by the congregations, and are but ill qualified for imparting any better instruction. Their preparation for the office is left to their own exertions,

This is not surprising when it is borne in mind how little opportunity is furnished in the Russian system for the free exercise of whatever intellectual talents may be possessed and cultivated. The movements in the rest of Europe may, however, help to break off the fetters under which the serfs of the Northern Empire groan.

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The above particulars, derived from the most direct and authentic sources, appeared to us likely to interest our readers. We cannot look upon this western colony on the borders of Asia, and surrounded by an oriental population, without feeling that their position is important, and their influence likely to be great. We anticipate much good from the existence of a Protestant community in the heart of a dominion where the corruptest form of Christianity, that of the Greek church, is established by law. At present a despotic government prohibits them from making known the truth among their benighted neighbours; but perhaps the time is not far distant when even the Czar of all the Russias will be compelled to give to his subjects some degree of constitutional freedom. If the concussions of the south and west of Europe lead to this result, amongst the many confusions which they are bringing about, they will confer no small benefit upon a large part of the human race. The truth will then "run to and fro in the earth," and a purer form of worship will receive the voluntary adherence of those who have long "sat in darkness and the shadow of death." We regard, indeed, the errors of the Lutheran Church as a serious obstacle to the spread of true and vital godliness; but with all its defects, it is unspeakably in advance of the Eastern Church. The sermons, prayers, and hymns which we have noticed above as being in general use, indicate that evangelical truth is proclaimed.

In the meantime we trust that the ministers will be qualified, by faith and earnest. prayer, for the responsibility and high vocation to which a favourable change of things may call them; and that the people, by increasing piety and knowledge of the Scriptures, will be prepared to become "witnesses for the truth." How far the present ignorance of the word of God is chargeable upon the neglect of ministers we cannot say, or how far it may be occasioned by poverty. If the latter cause operates, we should rejoice to see the British and Foreign Bible Society add to its numerous benefactions that of enabling all the poorer inhabitants of the Protestant colony in Saratow, to obtain, at a merely nominal price, those "Scriptures which are able to make them wise unto salvation."

VOL. XXVI.

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE

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Chronicle.

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NATIVE YOUTH OF INDIA DESTROYING THEIR IDOLS.-Vide p. 378.

BELGAUM.

THE REWARDS AND PROSPECTS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.

AMONG the varied encouragements connected with the Missionary work in India, the progress of Christian Education is one of the most prominent and delightful. In this department of labour the reward is indeed abundant, but it is richer still in the promise of future fruit. A more inviting field of benevolent effort cannot well be conceived, especially when it is borne in mind that it is capable of indefinite extension, and waits but cultivation to multiply its increase a thousand-fold. If the happy results of Education in India were confined to the cultivation and enlargement of the intellect, and the improvement of the social condition of its inhabitants, it would still repay and demand our exertions; but, as this is a work which frequently issues in the conversion of the youthful heart to God, and powerfully contributes to the overthrow of that vast system of idolatry which age after age has corrupted the worship and destroyed the souls of the poor Hindoos, it possesses incalculable value, and claims the utmost efforts of christian zeal and compassion.

The appended statement, recently received in a letter from Mr. Beynon of Belgaum, corroborates and enforces these remarks:

In the course of last year (he writes) we had a greater number of applications for schools than in any preceding year. Several of the applicants expressed a willingness to defray one-half the expense, if we would take the superintendence; and, had we the requisite funds and could give them efficient superintendence, we have no doubt that we could establish schools, on Christian principles, throughout the country.

Most of the boys who remain a few years in our school attain a tolerably correct knowledge of the principal truths of the Gospel, and if they should continue in a state of alienation from God, and without hope in the world, it is not for want of knowledge in the understanding, but because they hate the light, and will not come to the light. We have an interesting fact corroborative of this which occurred in the school at Shapore :—

Three Lingait boys were sent by their relations, a few days before the Gunaputee Festival, to bring home some clay to prepare the image. They reasoned among themselves on the foolishness and sinfulness of the custom, observing, how very contrary it was to the word of God, which they had been taught. While reasoning thus, they came to the decision among themselves, that it was not only wrong in them to prepare the clay for idols, but also sinful to worship them at all, and they determined at once to destroy their idols. They accordingly proceeded to act upon the decision, and taking out their little images from the silver boxes suspended to their necks, they broke them to pieces, and then threw the fragments into the Well. (Engraving, p. 377).

This, when known, greatly disconcerted and annoyed their relations-efforts were made to compel the youths to wear the idol again, but, for some time, to no purpose. Two of them at last yielded, but the third, an interesting lad about eleven years of age, positively refused. He was often punished, deprived of his food, and hooted at by the boys in the streets; but he continued firm, and not only refused wearing the idol and worshipping it, but ceased to worship his Gooroo, (heathen teacher), and he declined taking the food or water consecrated by him.

We saw much of this interesting youth: he spoke with great abhorrence of the sin of idolatry, and the little fellow was deeply affected when relating his own feelings and experience. We should have been happy could we have taken charge of him, but his mother would not give him up; and, as a last resource, to bring him back to idolatry, he was removed to a village about twenty miles distant. What his state of mind is we know not-all we have heard is, that he attends the Government School. If the Lord has commenced a good work in him, He will carry it on to the great day.

APPEAL OF A MISSIONARY RETURNING TO INDIA.

WE strongly commend to the solemn consideration of our Christian readers the following statement from the Rev. E. Porter, now preparing to embark, on his return to Cuddapah. It conveys an impressive view of the extraordinary facilities which exist for the extension of Christianity in India, and urges the spiritual claims of that vast and interesting country, especially the Teloogoo Districts in which Mr. Porter is more immediately concerned, on the sympathy and resources of the British Churches. The fact that there are but twelve European Missionaries labouring among a population of ten millions of heathen crowded together in a single Province is calculated to awaken the most painful reflections, and no argument can add to the force and urgency of its silent appeal. Our brother thus introduces the subject to notice :

The "John Williams" has returned again to the islands of the South, and the messages from the brethren and sisters of the Southern Isles have been delivered by their faithful representatives. They have received the warm welcomes of the juvenile, and the more calm congratulations of the senior, friends of Christian Missions. A few months since, and Captain Morgan, with his band of devoted fellow-voyagers, received and bade an affectionate farewell to British Christians and the shores of Old England. They have been followed by many prayers, and many a tear of Christian sympathy and affection has been shed by the friends and relations of that devoted band of faithful men who have not counted their lives dear to them so that they might accomplish the one great and all-absorbing wish of their hearts-to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Dr. Legge, and his youthful Christian converts, has appeared before the Christian Public, and many a friend of China has felt his heart gladdened as he has listened to the simple and affecting detail of God's dealing with their souls: no doubt many a prayer has been offered up to the God of Missions, that, by the grace of his Spirit, He would multiply these plants of righteousness ten, yea, a thousand-fold. But they, with their devoted fellow-companions, are gone; the sails of their vessel, filled with the breeze, have been seen wafting them down the British Channel to the distant land of Sinim, bearing with them the inestimable treasure of the Word of God-the glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. The big tear has rolled down the cheeks of many brothers and sisters as they have said to each other "Farewell!" The hearts of affectionate parents, too full for utterance at the departure of their beloved children, have, in the retirement of the closet, commended them with earnest prayer to the care of Him who holdeth the winds in his fists and the waves in the hollow of his hand. Oh! may He, Who comforteth those that are cast down, speak peace to their troubled hearts, and say unto them-"Great is your reward in heaven."

But whilst the Southern Seas and China have thus engaged the sympathies and prayers of the British Churches, India, with her teeming millions, has occupied but a small share, comparatively, of public attention. True, indeed, our beloved brother, Mr. Boaz, has brought more prominently before the Christian Public the education of native youths in the Northeastern Metropolis of India, which will doubtless prove a blessing far beyond the power

of present calculation,-a blessing to thousands yet unborn; and, as successive teachers go forth from this Christian Institution, they will each gather around them a youthful band, who in their turn will gather others; and so, like the circles formed by the throwing of a stone into smooth waters, circle after circle shall form, until the first has expanded beyond the limit of our vision.

But is all done when these objects are attained? Is there no farther effort required? Ah! yes, far more! There are the vast Provinces of Southern India to care for-there are twentyfive millions of souls in the Madras Presidency, speaking four different languages, for whose spiritual welfare comparatively little has been done by the Christian Church,-with the exception of the Tamil people to the south of Madras, amongst whom there are at present more Christian Missionaries labouring than among any of the numerous tribes of India. For the spiritual benefit of the Teloogoo people, who number upwards of ten millions of souls, the Christian Church has only furnished twelve European Missionaries. A little more than a Missionary to half a million. Truly we may say "What are these among so many!"

There are many reasons why a special effort should be made for India at the present time. Never, at any period in the history of that deeply-interesting country, was there so wide and effectual a door open for the evangelization of its degraded inhabitants, than at the present moment. Never was there a time when Jehovah, by his wonder-working Providence, more plainly addressed his people in the words of the inspired Prophet-" Go through, go through the gates, prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway, gather up the tones, lift up a standard for the people." Peace, universal peace, has been established from Cape Comorin to the Himalaya Mountains; and at present there appears no enemy that has either the will or power to invade our vast Eastern Territories, and disturb the peace and security of one hundred millions of our fellow-beings and fellow-subjects. The Mohammedan, Mahratta, and Seikh powers have all in their turn yielded to the valour of British Arms ; and, notwithstanding the imperfections connected with our government in the East, it is pleasing to know that the Hindoos in general rejoice in the rest and security which they experience under our dominion, in comparison with the anarchy and bloodshed which they suffered under their former rulers.

The glorious tree of civil and religious liberty has been deeply planted in India, and its roots have already struck deep into the soil of that long-oppressed and degraded land. Missionaries of the Cross, of every name and denomination, have full permission to teach and preach Christ Jesus throughout every part of India's wide Empire-none daring to make them afraid. The writer of this has travelled hundreds of miles in the Southern Provinces of India, and frequently lifted up his testimony against the prevailing idolatries and superstitions of the natives; yet, with very few exceptions, he has felt himself as secure and free from molestation as in any part of his native land. True, indeed, he has had at times to endure reproach and scorn for the truth of Christ, even as the Apostles had in the prosecution of their arduous work; but, on the other hand, he has frequently been saluted by the cries of many whose understanding, enlightened by truth, and whose consciences bearing witness to the purity of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, have been led to exclaim-"This is true, this is true, and we must embrace it." The natives of India are now far less attached to their ancient superstitions than they were; and the chain of Caste is gradually melting down under the plastic force of European Education and Christian Truth. A general knowledge of the Gospel has spread far wider in India than in Spain and Portugal. Many may be found in the neighbourhood of all our Mission-stations who would be able to give you as clear and correct an account of the leading doctrines and facts of Christianity as the children that are brought up in our Sunday-schools at home.

The connection between the British Government and the established Idolatry has been absolved in a great measure; though there are remnants of it still remaining in the land, which, we hope, will ere long be removed. We may also mention the abolition of female infanticide —of the inhuman rite of suttee-the improved moral and religious feeling of the European

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