Countries. Religious Denominations, &c. Pop. in mill, TURKEY in ARABIA. TARTARY. CHINA. JAPAN. Mahometans occupy Palestine, or the holy Mahometans, Sabeans, and Wahabees. Mahometans, Pagans, and worshippers of Pagans of various sects, but chiefly wor- Pagans, particularly Sintoos, Budsoes, and a 10 8 10 250 * The London Society for promoting christianity amongst the Jews contemplate sending missionaries to those of that nation in Palestine. See Boston Recorder, Oct. 7, 1817. TURKEY, CHINA. Present State of Religion, &c. Bible Societies have been formed, not only at Petersburgh and Moscow under royal patronage, but in the provinces of Esthonia and Livonia, for the express purpose of printing the new testament and religious tracts in those dialects. No mission has yet been attempted to these countries, but the way is preparing by printing the scriptures in almost all the various languages of the East. A mission was attempted by the late Mr. Bloomfield at the Isle of Malta, with a view to introduce the gospel into the Greek Isles, and eventually into Turkey: but the pestilence which raged there, and the death of that missionary, have hitherto retarded the object. It is not, however, forgotten; Dr. Naudi has been attempting to excite attention to it among the christians residing on the borders of the Mediterranean; and mentions it as a promising circumstance, that there have been of late many conversions of Jews residing in those parts. A late decree in Persia has permitted the public reading of the scriptures. The new testament has been printed in Persian and Arabic. The Jesuits undertook a mission to this country in the sixteenth century, on the plan of blending the Catholic religion with that of Foe and the philosophy of Confucius; this however was disapproved by Pope Innocent X, and he enjoined a renuciation of their idolatries. In 1788 it was reported that the Catholics had, in the course of thirty years, made 27,000 converts in the province of Suschuen, and 30,000 in Nankin; but a storm of persecution gathered soon after this, and the name of christianity became peculiarly obnoxious in China. A Chinese edict lias lately Countries. THIBET, or INDIA beyond the Ganges, including the Birman empire,Malaya, Siam, &c. Religious Denominations, &c. Pop. in mill. kind of moral philosophers. (See Japanese.) The Birman and Siamese Hindoos are dis- 25 2 20 HINDOOSTAN. The native inhabitants are Hindoos (followers of Brahma) Mahometans and Persees; among whom, about fourteen millions are reckoned to be British subjects. The Afghans are supposed to be the descendants of the ten tribes of the Jews carried into captivity, to whom a mission is projected from this country. Under the article, Syrian Christians,' in the Dictionary, it is mentioned that there is a considerable body of professing christians in the interiour of the country. I would add, from the report of Dr. Kerr, the christians of St. Thomas are stated at 70 or 6 INDIA. Present State of Religion, &c. been issued against the introduction of missionaries and their books into this country, yet Mr.' Morrison* has been long employed at Canton and Macao, in translating the scriptures and instructing the natives, and has lately been joined by Mr. Milne; and though they may not penetrate directly into the interiour of China, there is no doubt but they will send in the scriptures by means of the natives, whose curiosity seems much excited. The American Baptists have a mission at Rangoon, a sea-port town in the Birman empire; consisting of Messrs. Judson and Haught. Messrs. Coleman and Wheelock were ordained in Boston, Sept. 10, 1817, to join the same mission. The missionaries at Serampore have presented a press and Birman types to their brethren at Rangoon. Mr. Judson has published a catechism and religious tract in the Birman language. More missionaries are solicited for this station. HINDOOSTAN. Almost all the existing Missionary Societies have made attempts to convert the Hindoos. The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge" has missionaries at Trinchinopally, Tanjore, Madras, and Cuddalore. The Danes, while they had possessions in the East Indies, were active in this good work. The Baptistst * Mr. Morrison has effected the important work of translating the new testament into the Chinese language. He has also trans'lated the book of Genesis and the Psalms. The Baptist missionaries in the East Indies are eminently distinguished for their zealous and successful efforts to convert the heathen. "The labours of a Carey, a Marshman, and a Ward have excited the admiration of the Christian world. Under their Countries. Religious Denominations, &c. Pop. in mill, 80,000; the Syrian Catholics at 90,000, and the Roman Catholics (strictly so) at 35,000. For the use of the Syrian christians, a Malayan version of the New Testament has been lately printed at Bombay.* For the religion of the natives, see Hindoos and Fogeys. 100 *The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions have under their patronage at Bombay, Messrs. Newell and Hall, who have lately established a printing press. There are also under the same patronage, five or more missionaries in, or near Ceylon. In 1817, five missionaries were ordained by the same board, some of whom are to be sent to Bombay, and the others are to instruct the Indians in North America. Contributions have been repeatedly made in America for the translation of the scriptures into the Eastern languages. See Dr. Holmes' discourse before the Society for Foreign Missions, 1813; and Boston Recorder, 1817. |