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civilized life; has reduced their language to a written form; has translated and printed the whole New Testament and portions of the Old, as well as prepared a vocabulary, a grammar, and several primary school-books. A Christian church has been formed, of fifty members, in addition to many who have died, cheered in their last hours by the hope of eternal life. This has been accomplished in the midst of perils by sea and land, among savages thirsting for his blood, or by their spells hoping to destroy his life. During the absence of Mr. Saker the mission has been well sustained by the brethren on the spot. More than once their lives have been endangered by the violence of wicked men, and by the hand of the incendiary. But God, in his Providence, has protected them; unappalled they have gone on their way. The Rev. J. Diboll opened, early in the year, a new station at John Acqua's Town, where a house and small chapel have been built. From time to time many villages in the vicinity have been visited. Mr. Fuller has commenced a mission at a place called after our esteemed Treasurer, Mortonville; and Mr. Pinnock has continued to labour with assiduity and success at Victoria. Eight persons have been baptized, and twenty-seven are candidates for admission to the church. The Committee have also heard with feelings of satisfaction that the brethren in Fernando Po, under circumstances of increasing difficulty and privation of the means of grace, continue steadfast in the truth of Christ Jesus. Neither the allurements nor the policy of the Romish priests, have availed to turn them from the faith.

WEST INDIES.

In Trinidad the most noticeable incident is the completion of a new chapel in San Fernando, and the removal of the debt on the excellent structure in Port of Spain. The native brethren at Montserrat, early in the year, had to suffer the loss of their sanctuary from fire, but have vigorously commenced the collection of materials for its reconstruction. Considerable additions have been made to the native churches, which, with one or two exceptions, are reported as improving in spiritual gifts and in purity of life.

Notwithstanding the influence of the American war-in some islands exercising a most pernicious influence on the morals of the people, and in others, by the diversion of trade, creating great distress and emigrationthe churches in the Bahamas may be said to be in a flourishing state. A hundred and twenty persons were baptized during the year, and four hundred others have presented themselves as candidates for the sacred rite. The population of the coral islands which rise in such numbers from the great bank that closes the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, is said not to exceed thirty thousand individuals; yet among these children of slaves, emancipated by the act of the Legislature of Great Britain, the missionaries of the Society have been honoured of God to collect into numerous churches some 2,900 persons. These, added to inquirers and candidates for baptism, with the almost equally numerous converts of other Christian bodies, shew that a very large and unusual proportion of the population is under Scriptural instruction, and has openly professed religion. To a very large extent, these native churches are self-supporting. They erect their own chapels, contribute towards the support of the pastors, and their leaders give themselves actively to the work of Christ. The return of the Rev. W. K.

Rycroft to the Turks' Islands has been most warmly welcomed by all orders of the people, and he reports a great improvement in the spirit of the governing class. For the present the prospects of the mission at Puerto Plat, in the island of St. Domingo, are dark in the extreme, and must remain so, till the war of independence now proceeding shall terminate in the complete expulsion of the Spaniard, and the overthrow of their usurped rule.

HAYTI.

Early in the year a very interesting journey was undertaken by the missionaries to the northern part of the country, to visit a number of Baptist brethren, the fruit of the labours of the American Churches in former years. They have frequently expressed their desire to place themselves under the Society's care, but their distance from Jacmel rendered this impracticable. The settlement of Mr. Baumann at Port au Prince, the capital, will now allow an occasional visit, and the object of this journey was to ascertain their condition. At Cape Haitien a few Baptists were found, but without organization or discipline. At St. Raphael and Port de Paix there exist two small churches, with whom the missionaries enjoyed fraternal and Christian communion. Church meetings were held at both places, and at St. Raphael a native brother was set apart as pastor of the little church. Two of the Christian friends at Port de Paix were brought to the knowledge of Christ in Jacmel. While continuing independent of the Society in their pecuniary arrangements, the occasional visit of the missionaries will be of great service in preserving the order of these small Christian communities, and in quickening their spiritual life. The work in Jacmel continues to present some encouraging features. Five persons have been baptized, one of them a young man living eighteen miles from the town, in a locality where by God's blessing he may be very useful. He is very zealous for the Saviour's glory, and has already induced two or three of his relations to attend Divine worship. Others are expected soon to join the church. Many in the town are silently seeking, if not serving the Lord Jesus, who would openly profess him, did they not fear a repetition of the hubbub that was raised last year by the conversion of Adelaide. The work of the Scripture readers continues to be most useful in its results. "Lolo," says Mr. Webley, "is quite a model Scripture reader, and eminently suited to his work. Every week, as regularly as the Friday comes round, his horse is saddled, and his weekly journey into the mountains is performed. And when I tell you that already he has been useful to the conversion of twenty-four souls, you may judge how assiduously, zealously, and successfully he has performed his mission of love." Mr. Webley notes, as a sign of general progress, that marriages have been more frequent than ever known before. But as a counterfoil to the marvellous spirit of inquiry which exists, some painful cases of murder, and even cannabilism, have come to light. Hayti is still a dark place, and intensely needs the light of Divine truth and love.

JAMAICA.

From the Report of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Committee are grieved to learn that during the last year there has been a considerable

decrease in the number of church members, chiefly attributable to the reaction arising after the period of revival in 1861. The influence of this decline in spiritual life has been greatly increased by the depression in agricultural and mercantile pursuits, of a kind more serious than the island has for many years experienced. With few exceptions, the returns of the churches reveal a state of poverty, in many instances distressing. In some districts long and severe drought, wide-spread sickness, the low price of produce, the great cost of provisions, the dearness of apparel, and the partial cultivation of many sugar estates, have combined to produce very prejudicial effects on the churches. With poverty has come an unusual amount of crime among the general population.

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Yet this painful picture is not without relief. With two or three exceptions, the churches of the Union have enjoyed peace; death has spared their ministers; chapel building and repairs have gone on; and the contributions for missionary purposes exhibit a considerable increase. compared with the three previous years, the balance of increase in their membership on the last three is largely in their favour. Thus the brethren met in council were encouraged to look for better times, and to seek at the hands of God prosperity.

JUBILEE OF JAMAICA MISSION.

The meetings of the Union were this year held at Montego Bay, in order to celebrate the commencement of the mission in the island fifty years ago. On the 23rd February, 1814, the Rev. John Rowe, sent out by the Society, landed in this town, and began those Christian labours which have resulted in the overthrow of slavery, and the large accessions to the Church of Christ which half a century of faithful and divinelyblessed toil has secured. Baptists, indeed, already existed in the island, the fruit of the labours of coloured men from America; but since then about 106 Baptist ministers have laboured in the colony. How great the contrast now with the dark days of superstition and bondage! In connection with the mission, there are upwards of seventy organized churches, having more than 25,000 members, 3,000 inquirers, 90 day schools, and 13,000 Sunday scholars. There are upwards of eighty chapels, and numerous parsonages, which, with the means of grace and the stipends of the ministers, are maintained by the liberal gifts of the people, without government or foreign aid. Thirty-nine pastors watch over the spiritual wellbeing of the Churches, of whom twenty are coloured men, who, with one or two exceptions, received their theological education at the Calabar Institution. A department of the College is devoted to the training of schoolmasters. A Missionary Society raises about £1,200 annually for the spread of the Gospel at home and abroad.

Social and temporal blessings of no common value have been secured. Slavery is a thing of the past; Sunday markets are abolished; equal civil rights are enjoyed, irrespective of colour or race; marriage is honoured; thousands of the peasantry possess freeholds; education is unfettered, and urged on all; persecution for conscience sake is unlawful; superstitious and wicked practices, though encouraged by some in whose minds linger the superstitions of Africa, are driven into dark places.

To bless God for these mercies, the people gathered in Montego Bay,

crowded the chapels, and sang with loud hallelujahs the praises of the Lord of Hosts. Ten thousand people met to celebrate the festival; "and it is significant," says a public writer, confirmed by the Governor of the island, "of the great moral restraint this class of religionists is under, that not a single police case has resulted from this mammoth and memorable demonstration."

It is with deep regret that the Committee, owing to the recent crisis in the pecuniary affairs of the Society, found themselves obliged to postpone in this country a public expression of their sympathy and affection for their brethren. They still hope that the Jubilee Year of the Jamaica Mission will have its celebration here; and the Churches, to whom the work of God in that island is still dear, will, in some suitable method, express their attachment to the brethren, labouring with assiduity and zeal to perfect the work so graciously and divinely blessed, and show their abiding interest in the welfare of the negro race.

CALABAR INSTITUTION.

The Institution at Calabar has continued to enjoy the efficient services. of the Rev. D. J. East. His strength, however, is overtasked, owing to the failure of the Committee to find a suitable successor to the late Mr. Gunning in the Normal School department. This has necessarily led to a diminution of the number of students, but the applications for admission far exceed the strength of the tutor to cope with them. One theological student has left to commence a home mission at the east end of the island, where he has to conflict with a fearful amount of ignorance and sin. His labours promise to be very successful. In the theological classes there are now five young men under instruction, and eight in the Normal school.

EUROPE.

The mission in Brittany continues to present a gratifying aspect. The chapel at Tremel has been completed, but not opened. The application to the Government of the Emperor for an authorization remains unanswered. Meanwhile worship is carried on in the adjoining house, with signs of God's presence with His servants. At Morlaix, notwithstanding some opposition, Mr. Jenkins reports the work to be truly and increasingly encouraging. The new edition of the New Testament has been completed at press, through the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society. An inviting opening being presented, by the Providence of God, Mr. Bouhon has removed to Guingamp, where he has received many indications that his labours are useful and welcome. The public functionaries seem more disposed to sustain the rights of Protestants. The children of a Protestant were turned out of a school by the bigoted mistress, because their father had listened to the teaching of the missionary. This outrage on liberty of conscience the authorities, on appeal, immediately redressed, and the children have returned to the school. Notwithstanding that the priests prevent the booksellers from keeping the Bible on sale in their shops, and denounce from their altars the labours of the servants of Christ, their denunciations are little regarded. It is obvious to all that the times are witnessing a great change in the sentiments of the people of ancient Normandy.

It now only remains for the Committee to mention the humble but greatly blessed labours of Mr. Hubert, a native of Norway. Early in the year, this lowly brother presented himself before them. Charmed with

his simplicity, his godly sincerity, and his zeal, the Committee, aided by a liberal donation of the Treasurer, consented to support him for a year in his native land. He returned to Holmstrand, his birth place, but afterwards removed to Krageroë, a small town on the western coast, of about 7000 inhabitants. Although much opposed by the state clergy, his labours have resulted in numerous baptisms, and in and around his home he has had the honour of leading many of his countrymen to the Saviour. The Committee have resolved to continue their support another year.

CONCLUSION.

The Committee leave the facts of this Report to speak for themselves. They show that in all parts of the mission field the Lord is working with His servants. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law."

A VISIT TO BONYEALI.-HOPEFUL DEATH OF A CONVERT.

BY THE REV. J. H. ANDERSON.

Four days after my return one of our converts, a man named Ram Choron fell asleep in Jesus. He was one of that body of persons of the shoemaker caste who five years ago embraced the gospel in connection with my labours in the west of the district. When nearly all his associates, shrinking from the persecution and trial which ensued, endeavoured to regain their caste, he stood firm, withstanding all solicitations to forsake the path of duty, and enduring all the annoyances to which he was in consequence subjected. He soon learned to read the Bible, which he greatly prized, and read diligently. On one occasion, when his neighbours had been trying to get him away from the place, and refused to help him to erect a house in the room of one which had become untenable, he told them that he was resolved to keep in the True Path, and that if they would not help him, he would put up a little shed with his own hands, and stay among them. His upright behaviour and meekness caused him to be respected by all who knew him, and his influence told powerfully on his erring neighbours. When they found that they could not be re-admitted to caste, some began to wish to make a gain of their religion. The Roman Catholic priest of Jessore rendered one or two of them a little help, and a few joined themselves to his flock. But although Ram Choron was strongly urged to join that body, he steadfastly refused. His illness was brought on through a visit to the Sunderbunds ten months ago, after which he suffered very much from diarrhoea. We had him brought to our house, but could not succeed in checking the disease. In conversation with him, he gave me good reason to believe that he was prepared to die. On one occasion, when I asked him whether he thought the Saviour would receive him, he said "Yes," and evinced surprise at the question, having concluded that Jesus had assuredly saved him.

After his burial, and his mother's return home, I resolved to visit the bereaved family on my way to a part of the district where I wanted to distribute Testaments for the Bible Translation Society. I took two Christian youths with me. We started on the 11th February, and reached Jhingergatcha, the place of my for mer residence, in the evening. It was market-day, and I arrived in time to preach. On the following morning I went to Bonyeali, and comforted the mourners. Before Ram Choron's death he had once and again expressed his desire that his

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