--- Are you not satisfied with the Korân, and with your own religion?' No. Can you prove to me that the Korán is a revelation from heaven ?'---'Come, come: tell me how much money the English Mollabs have given you for becoming a Christian.' 'Read the Gospels, and reflect seriously on them: and, at the end of three days, you will not ask me that question. Remember, your Father, your honour, your reputation, are all at stake: it will be for your advantage in this world not to change your religion.' 'What will that avail me, if I must suffer the wrath of (iod in hell for ever? You will be persecuted.'. The (iospel saith, And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other.' On hearing this reply, the Persian Gentleman was confounded, and said, Why do you not tell your Father these things?' By the blessing of God, I intend to inform him,' was his reply. "He slept none during the course of the night: but was engaged in constant prayer both for himself and his Father. "April 23---Mahomed Ali still professes his attachment to the doctrines of the Cross: and says that he is determined, by the grace of God, to make an open profession of his faith in Christ. The Persian Gentleman has been using every means in his power to withdraw him from the faith of the Gospel : but without effect. That Gentleman acts in the capacity of mediator between the old man and his son. He is a man of extensive knowledge, and approved piety in the Mahomedan Faith: yet so successfully has Mahomed Ali applied to his conscience the arguments with which the Gospel furnishes him, that he has come to the following conclusion--- Perhaps you may be right. You may have truth on your side." The Directors add-- His Father, acting under the influence of his Persian friends and his own inveterate prejudices, treated him with the utmost harshness, when he perceived his determination was fixed to become a Christian. He has been exposed to much contumely and reproach; and has been confined, and beaten with great severity. The Missionaries, under the impression that his life even was endangered, conceived it to be their duty to provide for his safety, by soliciting the aid of the Governor, by whose authority he has been lodged in safety in the Mission House. A few additional extracts will unfold the nature of the trials to which this convert has been exposed, and the blessed state of mind which he has been able to preserve under them all : "Upon inquiring of Mahomed Ali, as to the state of his mind during the time that he had been confined by his Father, he said that it was in the most peaceful and happy state, notwithstanding all the wrangling and abuse to which he had been exposed---that his tongue was quite tired, by the perpetual discussions which he was obliged to enter into with crowds of Persians who visited at his Father's---that God had, indeed, been mouth and wisdom to him; for that, upon no one occasion, had he not been able to give them such answers, as they could neither gainsay nor resist so that the Father declared to his Son, 'The Bevil has more power over you than even the Englishmen have; for if they were to preach and argue as you do, all the town would renounce our Prophet, and become Christians.' "The meekness with which he was able to bear their ill usage, strikingly exhibited the deep influence which his Christian Belief exercised over his heart. One man called upon him for the purpose of arguing with him and after giving him many bad names, began to pray to that God, who neither is begotten, nor begets-this is one of the distinctive titles of Ged by Mahomedans-that, before this week was ended, he would show his just displeasure against this apostate, by causing him to die. After he had finished, M. Ali said, 'You have now prayed for me: I shall pray for you:'---and, raising his hands and his eyes to heaven, he entreated that God, in His mercy, would lead this man into the true way of salvation, and deliver his soul from the pains of hell. After he had done, he added, 'You have called me by many hard names: and you know that if you had done so a few weeks ago, I should have broken your mouth for it; but now they produce no such irritable feelings. I am able to bear them all.' "We have no doubt that the meekness which he has allalong displayed, will have a strong impression on the minds of those who have had intercourse with him. "When he came to us, be said his head was still painful from the blows which he had received from his Father; and added, I have suffered much since I saw you, but Christ suffered much more.' " Baptism of Mahomed Ali. On the preparation for the Baptism of this Con-vert, the Directors thus speak :- After Mahomed Ali was lodged in the Mission House by the civil authorities, the Missionaries flattered themselves that their anxieties on his account would now be allowed, in a great measure, to pass away. They were, however, speedily revived, by the proposal of the Archbishop of Astrachan, that Mahomed Ali should be placed under the charge of a Greek Priest, with the view of his receiving the necessary instructions, previous to his being admitted into that communion, by the rite of Baptism. The missionaries respectfully stated the nature of the privileges which they, as Scottish Colonists, possessed; and, finally, it was agreed, that the right of the Missionaries to receive this Persian Convert into Church-fellowship, should be referred, by both parties, to his Imperial Majesty; Mahomed Ali, in the mean time, being permitted to remain under the charge of the Missionaries. The letter which the Missionaries addressed to Prince Galitzin, the Minister for Religion, was accompanied by a petition to the Emperor, from Mahomed Ali, soliciting that he might be allowed to receive Christian Baptism from those who had been the instruments of his conversion. We have much pleasure in annexing the reply of Prince Galitzin-confirmatory as it is of the privileges granted, in 1806, to our Missionaries in Russia-granting the eager wish of this converted Persian, strengthening the hands of our Missionaries in that country, and breathing the true spirit of Christianity. To the Members of the Scottish Colony, residing in Astrachan, Messrs. Glen, Ross, M-Pherson, Dickson, and Mitchell Your most agreeable Letter, dated Astrachan, 7th May, respecting the conversion of the Persian Mirza Mabomed Ali Bey, and the enclosed petition from him to his Majesty the Emperor, I have duly received. I was, at the same time, favoured with a communication from his Grace, Abraam, Archbishop of Astrachan and the Caucasus, relative to the same subject. Taking a cordial înterest in the conversion of this Young Persian, I considered myself bound to embrace the earliest opportunity of bringing it before his Imperial Majesty; that the pious wish of Mirza Ali Bey, to obtain the sacrament of Holy saptism, might be fulfilled with all possible despatch. His Majesty the Emperor having himself perused, with the greatest satisfaction, the account of the conversion of this Mahomedan, has most graciously been pleased to order me, Gentlemen, to inform you of his Majesty's pleasure, that this Persian should receive Baptism in the Communion with which he wishes to be united. This measure is in perfect accordance with the privileges graciously bestowed, on the 25th December, 1806, on the Scottish Colony settled in the Government of the Caucasus: in the articles of which, is contained a sufficient decision, authorizing them to receive, by Holy Baptism, all who are converted to the Lord through your instrumentality. The delight with which I communicate to you this pleasing intelligence, is equal to the cordial joy which was afforded me by the perusal of your interesting letter. May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed and glorified! May his blissful reign be extended every where throughout the earth! Requesting you will transmit, in future, an account of those individuals, who, like this Persian, are converted with their whole heart and soul to the faith of Christ; it is with pleasure that I, at the same time, assure you of my sincere good-will towards the ob ject of your Society, and my constant readiness to render you my services, and all necessary protection. St. Petersburg, May 30, 1823. Under this high sanction, the Baptism of Mahomed took place, in the presence of Greeks and Turks, Persians and Frenchmen, Britons, Germans, and the dwellers in Armenia. The service was performed by Messrs. Glen, MPherson, and Ross, in English, Turkish, and Persian, so that all understood some part or other of the service. Previously to the administration of the ordinance, Mahomed Ali made the following Declaration of his Faith: "When the Most High God, of his boundless mercy, presented to me the tidings of the Gospel, I read and saw that it gave information concerning a Saviour, whom God Most High had made a propitiation for His sinful servants. I next reflected on my own sinful actions, which I had committed in times past; I saw myself a sinner, and perceived what an enemy to God sin must be ; in myself, I had no hope of life or salvation from the wrath of God. I then compared the Gospel with other sacred books, namely, the Psalms, the Law, and the Prophets; and saw that, in sense, they were in perfect unison with one another, respecting the forementioned Saviour; nor could I find the slightest discrepance between them. After this, I was drowning in a multitude of thoughts; but, at all times, I earnestly entreated God Most High to show me that way in which alone the salvation of the soul is to be found, and that He would perfect His will concerning His servant. "And, after some days, in a remarkable manner, my heart, and soul, and my whole frame, gave me testimony that the blood of Christ has become a propitiation for all my sins, and if I should at this time die, I had nothing to fear. "To the praise of God, from that hour to this, my belief is, that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God-that His blood was shed for the sake of sinners-and that, except the Holy Books above mentioned, there is no oracle from God. My faith increases daily; and my hope is, that it will continue to increase." Subsequent advices bring the encouraging information, that the work, thus happily begun, is ex tending its influence over other Persians. Miscellany. EDITORIAL APOLOGY. The publication of our February number was delayed about two weeks, by a fire which occurred in the Printing Office on the 3d of February, and which destroyed a part of the printed sheets. The last proof had been read, and the number was nearly ready to be issued when the fire occurred. In addition to the printed sheets, the Society sustained a loss of about 40 reams of paper. A friend of the Society has suggested, that this loss would soon be counterbalanced, were the persons who contribute to our funds at the Concert of Prayer, to add a little to their Monthly Contributions. transmitted to us a donation of eighty-five dollars, closes her note by expressing the hope, in which we most cordially concur, "That the Presbyterian Church may soon deeply feel, that their wealth comes from God, and that He requires a portion of it to be expended in His service." A Clergyman, in kindly tendering bis services to solicit donations and take up collections among his own people, and in several adjacent Congregations, writes as follows: The late Circular Address of the Managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society to the Friends and Patrons of the Missionary Cause, I have read with pain and with pleasure. With pain, that you are permitted to labour under embarrassments for want of pecuniary means; and yet with pleasure, that you can, and still do, plead for the cause in which you are engaged. Possessed of feelings so deep as is manifested in their address, the Managers must be waiting with no inconsiderable anxiety to know the result of their appeal to the hearts of the Christian public. With regard to myself, Sir, I have felt after the perusal of it, that something MUST BE DONE. It is the cause of our Redeemer. It must not be abandoned; and I am quite persuaded, that Christians cannot abandon it. Not No, Sir; not unless a great portion of the Christians of our country have become entirely insensible to their interests, their duty, and their engagements. Many of us have engaged to support this cause. only, by entering into solemn covenant with Him whose cause it is; not only by giving assurances of support to the Managers of the Society; but we have made a solemn engagement with those who have gone forth as the Heralds of Salvation to the Heathen. Never, Sir, can I think of the scenes which immediately preceded their departure from the city of New-York; of the pledges which were then given, to which my own heart, and it seemed every heart around me, responded; and not feel that we have solemnly engaged to remember them in our prayers, and not feel that their support in the western wilderness must be furnished by Christians at home. But where are the thousands, who, with me, witnessed, or took a part in those interesting scenes? Can it be that they have redeemed their pledge? I fear not. TEMPLE OF JUGGERNAUTH. The following Account of the Temple of Juggernauth is extracted from a Paper respecting Orissa Proper, or Cuttack, laid before the Asiatic Society at Calcutta, March 8, 1823. CUTTACK owes much of its celebrity to the temple of Juggernauth. The town of that name is calculated to contain 5,741 houses. Every span of it is holy ground, and the whole of the land is held free of rent, on the tenure of performing certain services in and about the temple. The principal street is composed almost entirely of Mutes, or religious establishments, built of masonry, with low pillared verandas, interspersed with trees. The climate of Juggernauth is said to be the most agreeable and salubrious in India during the hot months, the southwest monsoon blowing from the sea at that season in a steady and refreshing breeze, which seldom fails till the approach of the rains. The edifices which composed the great temple of Bhobunsir stand within a square area enclosed by a stout wall of stone, measuring 600 feet on each side, which has its principal gateway guarded by two monstrous griffins or winged lions, in a sitting posture, on the eastern face. About the centre of the great middle tower, Burra Dewal, or sanctuary in which the images are always kept, rises majestically to a height of 180 feet. Standing near the great pagoda, forty or fifty temples or towers may be seen in every direction. All the sacred buildings are constructed either of reddish granite, resembling sandstone, or of the free stone yielded plentifully by the neighbouring hills. The elevation of the loftiest is from a 150 to 180 feet. The stones are held together by iron clamps, and the architects have trusted for the support of their roofs to the method of placing horizontal layers of stone projecting one beyond the other, until the sides approach sufficiently near at the top to admit of the block being laid across. The famous temple of Juggernauth, in its form and distributions, resembles closely the great pagoda of Bhobunsir, and is nearly of similar dimensions. It is said to have cost from 40 to 50 lacks of rupees. The dreadful fanaticism which formerly prompted pilgrims to sacrifice themselves under the wheels of the Juggernauth rut'h has happily ceased. During four years that Mr. Stirling witnessed the ceremony, three cases of self-immolation only occurred, one of which was doubtful, and might have been accidental, and the other two victims had long been suffering from excruciating complaints, and chose that method of ridding themselves of the burden of life, in preference to the other modes of suicide so prevalent among the lower orders. The self-immolation of widows is said to be less frequent in the vicinity of Jugger nauth than might have been expected, the average of Suttees not exceeding ten per annum. There is this peculiarity, as performed there, instead of ascending a pile, the infatuated widow lets herself down into a pit, at the bottom of which the dead body of the husband has been previously placed, with lighted fagots above and beneath. In 1819, a most heart-rending spectacle was exhibited. The wood collected for the fire being quite green, could not be made to burn briskly, and only scorched the poor sufferer, who must have endured the greatest agony, but without uttering a shriek or complaint. The attendants then threw into the pit a quantity of rosin, covering the living body with a coating of this inflammable substance, which attracting the fire, the skin was thus gradually pealed off, and the miserable victim at length expired, still without a groan. The Black Pagoda on the sea-shore,though in a ruinous state, is still about 120 feet high, and well known to mariners. There is a fabulous tradition among the natives of the neighbouring villages which is said to account for its desertion and dilapidation. They relate that a koomba puthur, or loadstone of immense size, was formerly lodged on the summit of the great tower, which had the effect of drawing ashore all the vessels passing near the coast; the inconvenience of this was so much felt, that about two centuries since, in the Moghul time, the crew of a ship landed at a distance, and stealing down the coast, attacked the temble, scaled the tower, and carried off the loadstone! The priests, alarmed at this violation of the sanctity of the place removed the image of the god Surya to Pooree, and from that time the temple became deserted, and went rapidly to ruin. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, During the month of February, 1824. 85 00 5 22 From Dr. David Hanford, a free-will offering, 5 00 From the Christian Benevolent Society of Middletown, Orange Co. N.Y. to constitute Wm. Little, Sen. a life member; by the hands of the Rev. Wm. Blain, 30 00 Collected at the monthly Concert in the Rev. Church, N. Y. Contributed in February. From a little boy in the family of Do. by Do. From Mrs. Sarah E. Austin, first payment, for educating an Indian child at Seneca Mission School by the name of Ruth Judd, Donation by a Widow, 12 00 From a friend in Wilkesbarre, Penn. first pay- 7 00 3 00 8 10 12.00 30 91 12 00 From the children of a Sabbath School at Stony Brook, N. J. by Mr. James Morrow, 1 50 From a Clergyman in Pennsylvania, the tenth part of his marriage fees for 1823, From the Auxiliary Society of Lamington, N.J. by Mr. Cornelius Vanderbeck, Tr. through the Rev. Dr. M.Dowell, Collection at the monthly Concert in Wilmington, Del. by the Rev. E W. Gilbert, From Thomas Witherspoon, first payment for educating an Indian child by the name of Anna Maria M Mullen, by Do. From the Aux. Soc. of Danville, Pa. by the Rev. J. B. Patterson, Avails of a Mission Box, kept by Miss Margaret Patterson, for the redemption of Nicholas, a coloured man at Harmony, by Do. From a few individuals in Derry, Pa. for the same purpose, by Do. From a number of little Misses, for the Cataraugus Mission; by Miss Mary A. Reed, From the Ladies of the Presbyterian Congregation in the City of Lancaster, Pa. to constitute their Pastor, the Rev. William Ash 5 00 25 00 43 00 12.00 33 00 20 00 S 50 56 mead, a life member; by William Kirkpatrick, Esq. 30 00 From the Aux. Soc. of Lancaster, Pa. by do. 18 00 Collected at the monthly Concert in the Presbyterian Church in Do. by Do. 7 85 25 64 $ 00 10 00 Collected at the monthly Concert in Bedford, 4.00 81 00 6 00 From Mr. John Moir. his An. Sub. Contribution from the Congregation in Mt. Morris, N. Y. by the hand of the Rev. B. Foster Pratt, Collections at the monthly Concert in the Presbyterian Church at Saratoga Springs, by the hand of Wm. L. T. Warren, Esq. Avails of a Mission Box, kept by Mrs. M. S. Leavitt, of Saratoga Springs, by do. From the Female Reading and Sewing Society of Parcippany, N. J. by Rev. John Ford, 18 00 A Collection in the Presbyterian Church in Owego, Tioga Co. N.Y. after a Sermon, and reading the Circular of the U. F. M. Society, by the hands of D. G. Hubbard, Esq. From a friend of Missions, through the hands of 11 00 16 81 69 From a Sabbath School in do. by do. Beach of Mendham, New-Jersey, by do. 10 00 Avails of a Missionary field by Mr.Amzi Babbit of do. by do. 11 42 Gollected in the Presb. Church in do, by do. 15 58 From Mr. J. Borland, 10 00 Collected in the Congregation of the Brick Church in Beekman-Street, New-York, Collected in the Presbyterian Congregation in Cedar-Street, New-York, by the Rev. Mr. Crane. |