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Baptism of a Child.

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Dec. 11. Sabbath. In my visits this afternoon, I gave a tract to a young man, in which their sacred incantations prayers, called muntrum were written. After reading a little, he expressed much grief at having unworthily read the sacred prayers; he took off his turban, beat upon his head, and said, "Alas! I should not have heard them." He meant, he should not have heard them, before he is judged worthy by his gooroo or brahmin instructer, who is to teach him those prayers, in person. Distributed a few tracts, and spoke to a few individuals in their houses. 25. Sabbath. My infant son was baptised this morning, immediately after serThis is my second child. I lost my first-born son last year. He died two months and a few days old. May the Lord make this new-born child a blessing to me and to his church.

mon.

Letter.

The following is a letter from G. Tissera, dated Batticotta, January 25, 1832.

Since I sent my former journal, several years have elapsed. During this time I have frequently made notices of my labors among the people, but, as they are by far too much to send for once, I have selected the last part of my journal, which comprised the transactions of about three months. From the latter part of June 1828, till about October 1829, I was in a state of derangement, and was much afflicted in that situation. But through God's blessing on the means used for my recovery, I was permitted to regain the right use of my intellectual faculties, and have since that time been performing the duties of my station, as usual. I heard with sorrow the death of Dr. S. Worcester, the first secretary of the Board, and one, who, for a long time, took an active part in its concerns. "How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." His successor, Mr. Jeremiah Evarts, from what I know of him, was a very able and good man; but I have heard that this good man also is no more. He is gone to enjoy the fruit of his labors. He is gone, eternally to see and enjoy his Savior and his God. Though we may rejoice at his fruition of eternal rest, yet our loss of him has been matter of grief to me. While these events are of a melancholy nature, there are others of a more cheering aspect, among which is the success of the gospel among these heathens, though that success is but partial. The church members have increased to above two hundred. About fourteen joined the church on the 19th instant, four females and about nine males, all of whom received baptism, except two

boys, who received it formerly when their parents joined the church. It is pleasant once in a while to see a number standing up and presenting themselves to the Lord. A much larger number so presented themselves six months ago. But I am sorry to say that there have been some falls among church members. This however is what we may reasonably expect among a hea then people, enveloped in the darkness of paganism, and but just emerging from its influence. The preached word is heard with more attention, and has more hearers, than formerly. The improvement, by the education of youth, you are and will be made fully acquainted with, by the various journals and communications of this mission. The seminary at Batticotta has not been surpassed by any in the island. Other schools also of the mission have generally answered its expectations. I have heard from the missionaries of the late and unexampled revivals of religion in America. In almost every respect we have much cause for gratitude to God. We are called upon to praise him for what he is doing. You will hear from the missionaries, of the death of Miss Harriet Meigs, and Whelply, once a student and since an assistant in the seminary. They both died in hope. Whelply was particularly useful as a practitioner in medicine. He was much loved during his life, and much lamented in his death.

EXTRACTS FROM A COMMUNICATION OF N. NILES, NATIVE PREACHER AT BATTI COTTA.

Licensure First Sermon-Mode of Spend ing the Week.

ON January 20, 1831, I was licensed as a native preacher, and on the same day preached a sermon in the church at Tillipally. The text was, Jeremiah i, 6-7. "Then said I, Ah Lord God behold I cannot speak for I am a child! But the Lord said unto me, say not I am a child for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." While employed by the missionaries at Batticotta, my general course of labor both in the seminary and among the people is as follows. Every morning, at sunrise, I attend prayers in the chapel with the members in the seminary and conduct the service. About 100 persons usually attend. From half past seven o'clock to ten, I am engaged in the preparation of sermons, examining the scriptures, reading church history, the scripture help, Horne's study of the Bible, &c. The time from ten to twelve o'clock, is spent in correcting the Tamul translations, prepared by some members of the first class, and also some other translations. Every afternoon of the week, except Monday and Saturday, I spend among the people to distribute tracts and publish the glad tidings of salvation through

Jesus Christ. On Monday forenoon, I go to the Bazar at Changany, to distribute tracts and converse with the people. On Saturday evening, I usually hold a religious meeting with those in the seminary, who have some concern for the salvation of their souls.

On the Sabbath, when I am not called by other missionaries to preach at any of the other stations or in any other places, I remain at Batticotta and attend the various religious meetings and hear the scripture lessons of the second, third and fourth classes, and also preach in the chapel when it is my turn.

The present number of the boys in the three classes above mentioned, is seventy.

What I have written above will give you some idea of the manner in which I spent my time for two or three months after I was licensed. I shall now make some extracts from my journal, beginning

March 14. Went to the bazar, at Changany and distributed tracts. When I was distributing them, a boy of eight years old, who is taught in one of the native free schools under the care of Dr. Scudder, ran to me and asked me for the tract on the subject of eclipses. There was a great demand for the tract. I did not give the tract immediately to the boy. I made him stop and read a tract to the people, which he did accordingly. After this boy went away, and having heard a brahmin talk at the bazar about taking my tracts and tearing them to pieces, he came and whispered in my ear and said the brahmin intends to receive tracts from you and to tear them before your face, do not go and talk with him. This brahmin, of whom the boy came and spoke, was a Batticottian. He saw the people receive the tracts relating to the Mundirams and to eclipses. He was quite sorry in these days. I noticed that the tract, which Mr. Poor, the principal of the seminary, wrote on eclipses, is having a good effect upon the minds of many of the Tamulians. I heard even the haughty brahmin, Sinnim confess that they are not able to calculate eclipses as correctly as the English astronomers. Also the notary public, at Batticotta, after he read the tract, said, it is a lie, to say the serpents devour the sun and moon.

22. As the women in the country generally have strong prejudices against attending church, Mrs. Meigs and Mrs. Poor, intend to go to the villages and hold meetings with the women, at the schoolmaster's houses. This afternoon, Mrs. Meigs went to Changany, to the house of the schoolmaster, who is a church member, and held a meeting there. I spoke to eighteen or twenty women on the advantages of attending the church of God on the Sabbath. They were very attentive. After the meeting, Mrs. Meigs asked the wife of the schoolmaster to come to church the next Sabbath. She said as Mrs. Meigs

had come to her house, of course she ought to come to the church.

24. Mrs. Poor went to east Araly, and held a meeting with the women. She gave a brief account of her brother, who went to Africa as a missionary and died there, and also the motives of her coming to Ceylon. Afterwards I read to them some things from a tract. After the meeting, a woman said, all the things which were spoken in the meeting are very good. But as soon as a man heard this, he scolded the woman and said, be quiet and go to your house, so the woman said no more and went away. The man forbid the woman to come any

more.

April 11. I could not make the people hear me read tracts at the bazar, as the ensuing day is the new year's day with the Tamulians. The people were busy in buying and selling. However, I met some individuals separately and talked to them and gave them tracts.

One of my acquaintances appeared with ashes on his forehead. I was a little displeased. He said he had left all Tamul ceremonies except rubbing ashes. This also he will leave as soon as he can be convinced of the truths of Christianity.

Monthly Concert.

May 1. Sabbath. Mr. Meigs went to the island Caradive to preach. I preached to the people in the afternoon, in the chapel, on Heb. xii. 3. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

2. As it was our monthly prayer meeting, I was prevented going to the bazar. After I opened the meeting with singing a hymn with the seminarists, called two of the church members, Chester and Winfried, to give short addresses in the meeting. They spoke on the subject of prayer. Winfried, the scholar from Palamootta, is a very good young man, who is much acquainted with the holy scriptures and who is able even to make sermons. Fourteen young men in the first class are committed by the principal of the seminary, to my especial care, that I may assist them in preparing public addresses on religious subjects in Tamul. I hope they will in this way be better prepared to attend the theological studies under Mr. Winslow, at the time of their leaving the seminary, one year and a half from this time.

Comparison of Christ with an Idol.

3. The first man whom I met with, was the notary public of Batticotta. Though this man has heard the gospel many times, still he is a rank heathen. When I spoke to him about the Savior, he said the Savior, of whom I spake, is their Mooroogumooty, the son of Siven. The mistake with the

Christians is in calling the name differently, || comparing all parts with each other. I was but I told him it is not so; when we com- told by the brahmin that about fourteen of pare the character of Mooroogumooty with them have determined to examine the bible that of our divine Savior, it appears that he as a committee and to write arguments is not a God. While we were conversing against it. thus, one of his neighbors came and scolded the man, and said, are you going to become a Christian? Why do you hear what that man says, &c. After a little while I left the house of this man and went to another place. A poor old man was very attentive to what I said, and told me that he would attend the church on the ensuing Sabbath.

4. As Mr. Meigs is not able to attend the appointed meeting to-morrow, at Panditeripo, for the children from the native free schools, he gave me his subject, viz. "That youth is the most favorable time for receiving the truth."

Meeting with the School.

May 5. We had a pleasant meeting at Panditeripo, with about three hundred and fifty children. When Dr. Scudder requested, that those among the children who not only pray morning and evening but also have earnest desires for the salvation of their souls, should stand up, about a hundred of them stood up. The number of girls is greater now than formerly. About ten years ago, when Mr. Poor said that the custom of Tamul girls learning, will gradually prevail in this country, we did not then much believe him.

13. In my conversation with Pariatamby, a rank heathen, I told him that God forbids worshipping idols. He said they worship idols because they do not see God with their naked eyes. Furthermore he said, as Christians commemorate the Lord's supper according to the commandments of their Savior, so they worship idols because it is commanded by their god Siven. At last I told the man we shall be guiltless in the judgment day of his blood, because we have plainly told him the danger in which

he now is.

19. As the brahmin Sinnayar and the old maniagar came and requested me to get for them the whole bible in Tamul, I went and got for them from Mr. Poor, the pentateuch and the gospels. Besides this, a pandaram, of Sittemberem, whom they call Tampyran, came to the seminary for the purpose of getting a government paper, to be translated, I took the opportunity for conversing with the man, and gave him the tracts on eclipses and instructions to Christian teachers.

Committes for Examining the Bible.

June 5. Sabbath. In my conversation with a man from Sulipoorem, a village belonging to Changany district, I endeavored to prove to him that there is no transmigration of souls, as Tamulians think, but he would not consent to it. I repeated a verse to him in Tamul, which shows the absurdity of transmigration, but he gave another meaning to it.

6. In the morning we had our monthly prayer-meeting. In the meeting, N. Perkins read a translation on the nature and the duty of prayer; afterwards I read to the seminarists Ezra's prayer and made a

few remarks.

7. This forenoon the schoolmaster Changarapully, one of the church members, came and told me the people are despising him for bringing his wife and sister to the church. Another schoolmaster, who is also a church member, is greatly troubled in his mind whether he should bring his wife or not. He saw the other church member's wife come to the church and knows he should bring his wife also, but he cannot prevail on her to come.

9. Went to east Araly with Mrs. Poor: advised our schoolmaster's sister to attend the church on the Sabbath, but her reply was, as she is a woman of high caste, she cannot come to church. I told her that the wife and the sister of Changany schoolmaster came to the church, but she said "As they are people of lower caste they may come but I will not."

12. Sabbath. Preached in the chapel from the text "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

22. In the evening, in our church members' meeting, they have recommended twenty-two boys as candidates for the admission of the church.

26. Sabbath. As this is the last Sabbath of the term, and the seminarists are soon to go to their houses, I thought to remind them how they had spent the term in spiritual affairs, and preached to them

on the text "Now advise and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me."

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF CHARLES
A. GOODRICH, NATIVE PREACHER ᎪᎢ

CEYLON.

An account of the licensure and public designation of this young man, as a preacher of the gospel, was given in the number for April, p. 105.

May 30. The brahmin Sinneyar came this forenoon to the station and called me Reasoning about Image Worship. and said, though he had got the pentateuch and the gospels, that is not enough, he May 1, 1831. Sabbath. In the forenoon wants the whole bible, for examining and I attended preaching at the station. In the

afternoon the catechist and I went to a school at Chunnagam, a village nearly a mile and a half distant from the station and saw many people waiting our arrival, of whom several were head men of the village. When we were sufficiently near to hear their loud talking, they seemed to be arguing and disputing with one another, some in favor of the Christian religion, and others in favor of the Tamul religion. As I did not hear all they said, I can mention only one question, put by a man who spoke in favor of the Christian religion, and the answer to it. Your religion, said he, teaches you to worship one God, why then do you worship Pulleyar and so many other inferior gods? Then those who defended the Tamul religion, answered, if we want to go and see a king we should first see his minister or servant, so we should worship Pulleyar and others to obtain favor from the supreme God. The other then replied, as God is every where, we can have access directly to him and see him whenever we wish with our own minds. When they were thus arguing, we went and exhorted them, saying many things about the subject of their dispute, and urging them to seek salvation by Christ, to which the majority of them assented because they saw that what we said was rational.

2. In the afternoon I went to Conterody, a village nearly a mile distant from the sta tion, in order to visit a sick man who is very friendly with me; and seeing many people were assembled I was excited to exhort them. Having said some things about the mortal body and told them that those who believe on Christ as a Savior and walk according to his law, will hereafter possess an immortal body and dwell with God. Some of them opposed me and the truth, saying, "who has been to heaven to see these things and come again to the earth, the missionaries or you?" Then I said, neither the missionaries nor I have been to see these things and make them known, but the Lord Jesus Christ who came down from heaven. I also seriously exhorted the sick man, and he expressed by sighs his grief for not having sought salvation.

Interview with Pagans-A Reviler.

May 3. Afternoon, went to North Oodooville and found a man who used to bear false witness in favor of any who would pay him, and began my exhortation by saying that all men are sinners, but among them some are very great sinners and that they will suffer much in hell unless they are saved by Christ. Then he asked, as if he did not know any thing about Christ, who is Christ? Upon which I spoke of the person and character of Christ and the way to receive him as our Savior. After hearing me, he asked, how can I believe this, while our religion is all given by wise men. He asked this, thinking that the missionaries

invented the Christian religion. Then I answered, the religion of which I now tell you is given neither by ignorant men nor wise men, but by Christ, who is greater and more wise than all wise men. In this way I exhorted him for a long time and he seemed to understand the truth of the Christian religion.

5. Went to Conterody, in order to see the sick man mentioned above; there were many persons, men and women, and among them was a brahmin who came to make poorja to Siven, in the name of the sick man; which they say serves to drive out the devils which cause the sickness. He seeing me exhort the attendants, spoke angrily with me, and blasphemed Christ by saying that he was a spurious child. Then I said no, do not add to your torments in hell by saying so, because he is a divine being, he has a heavenly Father. After saying many things about Christ's birth, I began to show to the people the deceptions which the brahmins practice, and the ruin which they bring upon the people and closed my remarks with an exhortation. Many of them seemed surprised, some murmured and others expressed their approba tion of what was said.

6. Friday afternoon, after the usual meeting at the station, Mr. Winslow, the catechist and I went to hold a meeting at a school at Kallakattuvan, nearly a mile distant from the station, and found about fifty men, five or six women, and a number of boys waiting our arrival; beside which, many were still coming to the meeting from the village. I opened the meeting with a native song-the catechist read a tract and explained it. Mr. Winslow then rose and exhorted them respecting what they had heard read. The majority of the attendants, with silence, heard what was said. Two or three of them put many questions which were answered to their satisfaction.

Pretended Miracles.

May 10. Afternoon, went to a village near and met with a man, his wife, and his grand daughter, and exhorted them, saying that there is no profit in worshipping Siva, Ammal, &c., and proved that they are not gods and goddesses. They used to go to Vattapally, a place three days journey from Jaffna, every year, to make offerings at the temple of Ammal, in which they say many miracles are performed. One is, that the priest makes a lamp burn with water from a pool instead of oil, and another is, a pot made of clay is wound round with thread and filled with rice to be boiled. When boiling the fire does not consume the thread. They tell also of many other miracles. These three heard my exhortation attentively and expressed their approbation of it.

16. Forenoon, I went to a bazar, at Chunagam, and spoke with a poet about

the Christian religion. He was offended at my speaking, and said, you need not speak with me for you are a Christian. Knowing him to be a grandson of a native minister in the Dutch time, I asked him, has there been no Christian among your relations. He was surprised at my question, and spoke with me in a friendly manner. I then said to him, there is no disgrace to me in your calling me a Christian. No one can be saved without Christianity. That religion shows the way to obtain the pardon of sin and eternal life, but yours the way to hell. In this manner we conversed with

one another but he seemed careless.

20. In the afternoon, after the usual meeting at the station, the catechist and 1 went to Inneville north, and found about thirty men and a number of boys of the school, whom we exhorted, and also read to them a tract called the true way. Among the people was one called Moothalee, who spoke very foolishly and abused us, but though he abused us yet we continued our exhortation. Many heard attentively but there was no sign of their receiving Christianity.

June 2. In going to a neighboring village, I met a native police officer, and exhorted him seriously, saying, though you have heard the way to heaven for many years, yet you seek it not. What is the reason, do you think that you can live so forever? No, do not be careless. Seek Christ, he will redeem you; but if you neglect him he will neglect you in the day of judgment. On hearing this, he went away alarmed without speaking much with me.

3. The catechist and I went to preach at Poottoor, a village at a distance of nearly ten miles from the station. We found a few men and a number of boys of the school. Before sermon we heard the boys read, and explained to them what they read. Afterwards I preached a sermon about leaving the sin of idolatry, and showed to them that idolatry is a sin like others; to which though many present assented, yet some of them said, we do not worship images, but we worship God, looking at the idol as a remembrancer. Then I said, no need of looking at an idol while you may see him with your mind and worship him in your heart. A man, who is somewhat learned, asked me what is the difference between thinking that there is a being at a certain place, and worshipping God by looking at an image. Then I said it is not right for any one to worship God thinking that he is at a certain place as creatures are. In this way we argued, and afterwards returned home. In the afternoon I preached at the station.

The preceding extracts from the journals of these native preachers may be considered as specimens of their knowledge of English, and the manner of spending their time,

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IN November last, the members of the Bombay mission, after much consideration, resolved to

form a new station on the high lands of the adjoining continent. One important reason for this measure, was the feeble health of Mr. Graves, who had been obliged to reside for nearly a year and a half on the Neilgherry hills, where the climate is comparatively cold. As these hills are not in the Mahratta country, it was thought highly desirable, that some elevated situation should be sought out, where the Mahratta language spoken, so that Mr. Graves might employ his knowledge of that language to

the best purpose, in a climate suited to his infirm state of health. Another reason, which induced the mission to this measure, is the importance of a more extended field of operation. There is now no obstacle existing on the part of the Bombay government, to missionaries residing in any part of the presidency. The health of the missionaries, at this new station, is tolerably good.

We have just heard, by our friends in Bombay, of an opportunity of sending directly to Boston, and we judge it proper not to let it pass without writing you a few words, to inform you of our circumstances and labors here. Before this comes to hand, you will doubtless have heard, by communications from Bombay, that the mission, in November last, decided on the expediency of occupying a station on the continent, and fixed upon this as the most eligible place.

We left Bombay on the 9th, and arrived here on the 20th of December 1831. We had an opportunity of giving Christian instruction and distributing Christian books in many villages, by the way. Nothing occurred during the journey, worthy of particular mention.

Situation of the Station.

The city of Ahmednuggur is situated on what may be called the table land of the Ghauts, in a plain 12 or 15 miles in extent, each way, and is about 175 miles, a little north of east, from Bombay. It is estimated to contain a population of 50,000; and since it has become a military station, it is increasing in population. It was once the seat of the Mussulman power, in this part of India, and appears from its palaces, mosques, acqueducts and numerous ruins, to have been a place of much splendor. It

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