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VARIETIES.

All.

MATERNAL INFLUENCE.-Whoever has what proportion of their numbers had pious cultivated a familiar acquaintance with the mothers. They were greatly surprised and details of religious biography, will have delighted on finding that, out of one hunbeen struck to observe, in most frequent and dred and twenty students, more than a hunimpressive examples, the power of such in- dred had been blessed by a mother's prayers, struction, particularly as administered by and directed by a mother's counsels to the mothers. To so large an extent is this Saviour. Though some of them had broken power realized, that when we witness the away from the restraints of home, and, like admission of fresh members into the Church, the prodigal, had wandered in sin and soror listen to the narratives of personal ex- row, yet they could not forget the impresperience presented by candidates for ordi- sions of childhood, and each was eventually nation, at least if any favourable impres- brought to Jesus, as well as proved a mosion is known to have been made upon their ther's joy and blessing." Is it not a natuminds in earlier life, we almost instinc- ral reflection, what might be the probable tively expect to hear them acknowledging amount of good, secured through its whole their unspeakable obligations to the care extent, if every mother, who had herself exand watchfulness of the maternal character. perienced the blessings of salvation, should Whether it be, that infinite benevolence vigorously discharge her obligations, not would requite in this form the priority of to her children only, but for the welfare of woman in the first transgression, even as, society and of the world ?—Rev. Dr. M‘c in unutterable condescension, it assigned to her the exclusive parentage of our great Deliverer; or, whether it be only the result of that peculiar combination of assiduity and mild forbearance by which the piety of a christian mother is wont to be distinguished; or, whether the heart yields itself, with a less reluctant submission, to one whose sex forbids the competition of mere force, and the exercise of physical exertion; or, whether there be, in the absoluteness of our dependence on her in the first years of life, an efficacy to win and to subdue, when every other influence would be tried with out effect; or, what other cause may be assigned, I know not: but the fact is certain, that the instructions of such a mother are, in innumerable instances, productive of more valuable and permanent results than all other forms of instrumentality together; and I doubt not that, at the last day, they will

JUSTICE AND MERCY.-God said to the

my fellow.

It

sword of justice," Awake Oh sword! against
my shepherd and against the man that is
Smite the shepherd."
obeyed. It smote him all along the highway
of life. It followed him from Bethlehem
its strokes fell thick and heavy.
to Calvary. There on the top of the hill,
As it
smote him, its glancings darkened the sun;
its strokes shook the earth; they shook hell;
they shook the universe. It smote him until
justice was satisfied, and then it fell to the
ground at the foot of the Cross. There it lay
it changed to a sceptre of mercy. That
until the morning of the third day, when, lo!
sceptre has been waving in the world ever

since.

is not a man, woman, or child here, who It is waving here now; and there may not touch it.-Dr. Beaumont.

be confessed to have been rivalled, in the ANSWER OF PRAYER." At the first magnitude of their effects, only by the ac- annual meeting of the Baptist Missionary tual proclamation of the Gospel, and the Society, held in London, Mr. Fuller and dissemination of the Holy Scriptures. What Dr. Ryland preached in the Dutch church, encouragement is thus afforded to pious Austin Friars. In his discourse the latter mothers, I need not now stay to point out; adverted to the happiness of Dr. Carey in but what impressive views of their respon- having two sons, Felix and William, devoted sibility are connected with the fact, it is of to missions. But,' said he, there is a more importance to submit to your at- third who gives him pain; he is not yet tention. Allow me, therefore, to attempt turned to the Lord.' Then, making a its corroboration by the citation of a single solemn and lengthened pause, during which testimony. I will do so in the terms in tears flowed abundantly from his eyes, he which it is embodied in one of those very exclaimed in a shrill and vociferous voice, useful publications issued, under the de-Brethren, let us send up a united, univernomination of "Anecdotes," by the Reli- sal and fervent prayer to God, in solemn si gious Tract Society, not being aware of the lence, for the conversion of Jabez Carey." authority from which it is derived. A few The appeal was like a sudden clap of thunyears ago, some gentlemen in America, who der, and the pause afterwards as intensly were associated in preparing for the chris- solemn as silence and prayer could make tian ministry, felt interested in ascertaining it; two minutes, at least, of the most pro

found devotional feeling pervaded an as- nouncement of that conversion which had sembly of perhaps two thousand persons. been so earnestly sought, nearly, or quite The result was striking. Among the first synchronous with the season of fervent sup. letters received after this event was the an- plication."-Cox's History, Vol. 1, p. 241.

FIRE SIDE REFLECTIONS.

Or home and all its charms
Can I forbear to sing;

POETRY.

There shelter'd from all rude alarms, Sweet pleasures round me cling. There by the bright fire-side,

All earthly comforts meet;

And there, when troubles rise, I hide And find a safe retreat.

In yonder peaceful cot,

What sweet delights are there? The humble mind survey's its love, And breathes the simple prayer. For favours such as these,

Lord, fill my heart with love;
Thee may I strive in all to please,
As angels do above.

My wants thou dost supply,
By thy paternal care;
When e'er I call, I find thee nigh,
To hear and answer prayer.

Oh what a happy home!

Where humble trust resides; It cheers whatever trials come, And whispers, God provides.

Is this alone the strain

That tunes the harps of home? Are there no days of grief and pain? Does sorrow never come?

Yes! sorrow, grief, and pain,

May come with all their care; But humble trust revives again, And whispers God is near! He still supplies my need, And cheers me with his grace; I on his promises will feed, And gladly seek his face. Of home and all its charms, Why should I cease to sing? There shelter'd from all rude alarms, I triumph in my King. Ripley,

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W. BLOUNT.

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THE GATES OF SOMNAUTH, AND THE PROCLAMATION OF LORD ELLENBOROUGH, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

OF INDIA.

SOME few weeks ago we read in the public papers, a document purporting to be the proclamation of the governor-general of India, addressed "to all the princes and chiefs, and people of India ;" and representing that the victorious army of the English had obtained, and would bear in triumph, the gates of Somnauth, as the happy result of their war with the Affghans. The whole affair was so pompous, so ridiculous and wicked, that we thought it must be the production of some humorous scribbler, who, contemning the wicked and revengeful conduct of the English army in Caubul, wished to throw an air of ridicule on the war and its results; as we could not conceive it possible that a professedly christian governor, sent from a professedly christian country, would act so absurdly as to issue such a document. The document, however, is a true one, it was issued by the governorgeneral, and for the proof to our readers how far the governor-general can descend in the patronage he gives to the basest forms of idolatry, we will insert it entire.

"NOTIFICATION.

"Political Department, Simla, the 16th November, 1842. "The governor-general is pleased to direct the publication of the following letter, which, translated into the Hindoo language, has been transmitted to the several princes and chiefs to whom it is addressed, and circulated generally throughout India. "By order of the right honourable the governor general of India.

T. H. MADDOCK,

Secretary to the government of India, with the governor-general." "FROM THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, TO ALL THE PRINCES AND CHIEFS, AND

PEOPLE OF INDIA.

"MY BROTHERS AND MY FRIENDS,

"Our victorious army bears the gates of the temple of Somnauth in triumph from Afghanistan, and the despoiled tomb of Sultan Mahmoud looks upon the ruins of Ghuznee.

"The insult of eight hundred years is at last avenged. The gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your humiliation, are become the proudest record of your national glory; the proof of your superiority in arms over the nations beyond the Indus.

"To you, princes and chiefs of Sirhind, of Rajwarra, of Malwa, and of Guzerat, I shall commit this glorious trophy of successful war.

"You will yourselves, with all honour, transmit the gates of sandal wood through your respective territories to the restored temple of Somnauth.

"The chiefs of Sirhind shall be informed at what time our victorious army will first deliver the gates of the temple into their guardianship, at the foot of the bridge of the Sutlej.

"My brothers and my friends,-I have ever relied with confidence upon your attachment to the British government. You see how worthy it proves itself of your love, when, regarding your honour as its own, it exerts the power of its arms to restore to you the gates of the temple of Somnauth, so long the memorial of your subjection to the Affghans. "For myself, identified with you in interest and in feeling, I regard, with all your own enthusiasm, the high achievements of that heroic army, reflecting alike immortal honour upon my native and upon my adopted country,

"To preserve and to improve the happy union of our two countries, necessary as it is to the welfare of both, is the constant object of my thoughts. Upon that union depends the security of every ally, as well as of every subject of the British government, from the miseries whereby, in former times, India was afflicted; through that alone has our army

now waved its triumphant standards over the ruins of Ghuznee, and planted them upon the Bala Hissar of Cabul.

"May that good Providence, which has hitherto so manifestly protected me, still extend to me its favour, that I may so use the power now entrusted to my hands as to advance your prosperity and secure your happiness, by placing the union of our two countries upon foundations which may render it eternal. (Signed,)

"ELLENBOROUGH."

And then it was ordered, that the conveyance of these gates should be attended with every mark of honour, and that the soldiers, both officers and men, should receive especial pay for this homage to sin. Read the following:

"BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, the goveRNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA." "Political Department, Simla, the 16th Nov., 1812. "Major general Nott having, in pursuance of his instructions, removed the gates of the temple of Somnauth from the tomb of the Sultan Mahmoud, of Ghuznee, and brought them with his army to India, the governor-general is pleased to make the following orders, with a view to the secure and honourable transmission of those illustrious trophies of victory to the temple from which they were taken by sultan Mahmoud, in the year A.D. 1024. "Major-general Nott will select an officer from amongst those who were present at the capture of Ghuznee, to accompany the gates of the temple to Somnauth, and to commu. nicate with the several chiefs through whose territories the trophies will be carried, for the purpose of making every necessary previous arrangement for their safe reception and transmission, and for the avoiding of confusion on the march.

"This officer will receive an allowance of 1000 rupees a month.

"Major-general Nott will likewise select from amongst the officers and soldiers present at the capture of Ghuznee,

"One captain, one lieutenant, one assistant surgeon, two subedars, two jemadars, ten havildars, ten naicks, one hundred and one sepoys, two native doctors.

"These officers and soldiers will form the escort of the trophies from the bridge of the Sutlej to Somnauth.

"Captain Herries, of her Majesty's 43rd regiment, aide-de-camp to the governorgeneral, and a detachment of the body guard, will accompany the escort.

"The officers and soldiers escorting the trophies will receive double batta during their special service; and all the native officers and soldiers will have one year's furlough granted to them on their return to their respective regiments.

"By order of the right honourable the governor-general of India.

"T. H. MADDOCK,

"Secretary to the government of India, with the governor-general." Before proceeding further, we may just inform our readers, that Somnauth is a town on the coast, in the southern extremity of Guzerat; that it is now inhabited solely by Mahomedans; and that the temple, from which the gates were said to have been taken by Nadir Schah, the Mahomedan conqueror, A.D. 1024, is now in ruins, and what remains is converted into a Mahomedan mosque; so that unless this devout governor-general intends to dispossess the Mussulmans, and take a squadron of Brahmins under his especial patronage, and restore the temple to its original uses, the whole affair is ridiculous as it is impolitic and wicked.

An English gentleman in India, who was present when the proclamation was officially read, remarks as to the feelings and views of the Hindoos:— "Not only here around me, but throughout India, the impression made by this document will be, that the whole war was undertaken to regain the gates of Somnauth, and that this is but the prelude to restore Hindooism to its pristine glory." On the contrary, the Mussulmans look on it with vexation and scorn. The writer above mentioned remarks, "A Mahomedan gentleman was with me when I read it, and he turned away in evident confusion and disgust;" and he adds, "If his lordship, or the whole Calcutta

council, had set their wits to work to discover a thing which would offend the Mahometan populuation, they could not have devised a more suitable one than this declaration."

An Indian paper inquires, "Will the governor-general procure a fresh idol, and set the brahmins to re-consecrate the defiled gates?" and another states, that "lord Ellenborough knew, or ought to have known, that the temple of Somnauth was dedicated to Siva, and the odious Lingum worship in its most detestable impurities." We have heard both of this idol and its worship, in half-suppressed whispers from our missionaries, and assure our readers that neither the object of worship, nor the obscene rites connected with it, could be written for publication, or spoken in any assembly by any person having the least sense of decency, to say nothing of the purer sentiments inspired by true religion.

What then shall we think of the conduct of the representative of our virtuous queen of the representative of the British people in this affair? To say it is an insult to the English nation; to say it is degrading to the British name; to say it is outrageous to the religious feelings of those who are labouring to turn the Hindoos from their "abominable idolatries," is not saying enough; it is a deliberate offence against God, who has given us power over the millions of India, that we may teach them "his way," and it is highly desirable that every christian community should protest against it, and cause their voice so to be heard in the British senate, that not only this, but all state patronage of Hindoo idolatry, should be discountenanced and discontinued. We are happy to find that the subject has already attracted the attention of an important assembly in London, and we gladly insert their resolutions :

"The following resolutions were adopted by the board of Congregational ministers resident in and about London, at their monthly meeting, held at the Congregational library, on Tuesday, Feb. 14th, 1843:

"1. That the members of this board, as christian ministers, and supporters of missions to the heathen, have read with deep concern the proclamation of the governor general of India, on occasion of the re-capture and restoration of the gates of Somnauth, which in the judgment of this board contains sentiments and language unworthy of a British statesman, and manifesting respect for pagan deities and their worship, stained as they are with impurity and blood. This board cannot but consider such proceedings on the part of the public authorities of a professedly christian people, so remarkably raised by Providence to dominion in that region, as highly offensive to Almighty God, calculated to confirm the Hindoos in their attachment to their ancient superstitions, and so to impede the laborious and costly efforts of the British Churches in favour of christian missions among that people, at a time when their own unaided resources seemed insufficient any longer to uphold their falling idolatry. And that while this board have no wish to solicit the interference of any government, either to enforce christianity or to suppress the idolatry of conquered nations, they cannot, as ministers of Christ, be indifferent to any proceeding on the part of our rulers, in which they employ the influence and station delegated to them by the public, to advance idolatry and to depreciate christianity; and as such a course of proceeding has been adopted by lord Ellenborough, in his proclamation, this board feel themselves called upon to invite the attention of their fellow-christians throughout the empire to so flagrant a breach of the trust committed to his lordship, and to request their application to the legislature to remedy the evil already done, and to prevent the recurrence of any similar act of mal-administration.

"2. That the resolution now adopted be put into the form of a petition to both houses of parliament, and confided for presentation to such members of both houses as the Committee appointed for the arrangement of this business may deem most suitable.

"WM. STERN PALMER, Secretary."

Is it not desirable that petitions, in the spirit of these resolutions, be sent
VOL. 5.-N. S.
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