1. EDWARD BALM (station, Nagercoil).This teacher, 'whose conduct we have long and attentively observed, continues to afford increasing evidence of piety and devotedness to the work in which he is engaged. He is a prudent and active labourer, and diligent in the study of the sacred Scriptures. 2. J. W. VENNING (station, Anandanadangoodiyiruppu).-The conduct of this teacher affords us great satisfaction. He possesses good talents, and considerable mental energy. We trust his wife is a pious woman, who is desirous of being useful to her own sex. She continues to assemble the women of the congregation, at stated times, in her own house, when she reads the Scriptures, imparts instruction, and prays with them. 3. JAMES CRAIG DAM (station, Etambly). This teacher is diligent and much esteemed by the congregation. Many, even of the heathen, respect him, while from others he meets with opposition, on account of the firm stand he has made against the injustice practised on the poor. 4. ROWLAND HILL (station, Puttalum).— This teacher is diligent. In addition to his more regular and public duties, he assembles a class of young people once a week for reading the Scriptures and prayer. There are several young persons of both sexes belonging to this congregation who were formerly under instruction in the school. They can read well; and, we may hope, such an exercise as that just referred to will be of the greatest use to them; as it will preserve a remembrance of the truths they have already learned, and make them familiar with the word of God. 5. JOHN PALMER† (station, Tamarakullam). He is a devoted man, indefatigable in his work, and we believe the Lord has greatly blessed his labours. Meetings for reading the Scriptures are held most evenings of the week in the different villages where the people reside. 6. DUMFERMLINE (station, Muchlingoodiyiruppu). This teacher is truly devoted to his work, and God is blessing his labours. Several families have lately made a profession of Christianity, and joined the congregation. 7. PHILIP DODDRIDGE (station, Agatesuram). We have reason to believe that this teacher is faithful to his important trust, consisting in the care of this congregation. There are four schools in this vicinity subject to his superintendence, and several small societies of the people that meet in their different villages for reading the Scriptures and prayer. A few young people who were educated in the school at Agatesuram take part in these exercises. * Of Edward Balm, see Monthly Chronicle for January, 1831. + Of John Palmer, see Monthly Chronicle for January, 1831. 8. WILLIAM MILNE (station, Paracherivilly). He is a man of active habits, and much devoted to his work. 9. JOHN FOXELL (station, Sandadyputhoor), is also diligent in the work to which he has been appointed. 10. TIMOTHY EAST (station, Kundal).— This teacher has here an important field of labour, in which, we hope, he faithfully occupies his talents. 11. DAVID STEWART (station, Kalvilly).— This teacher has long given us much satisfaction. He is a diligent labourer. 12. JEHOIADA BREWER (station, Cannankullam). He has here a large sphere of labour. Besides giving instruction to the people of two congregations, he has the superintendence of six schools, and visits ten of the adjacent villages for the purpose of reading the word of God to the heathen. 13. GEORGE HAMILTON (station, Koodenkullam). This teacher is, we hope, diligent in the work to which he has been called. The people of his congregation have had to contend against the opposition of their heathen neighbours, which, we are thankful to observe, they have been enabled to over come. 14. CHARLES SEYMOUR* (station, Mylaudy). This place was the original seat of the mission in Travancore. The congregation here prospers by the diligent labours of the teacher. A considerable improvement is visible among the old people, while a few individuals show very satisfactory evidence that they are washed, and sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Several families have made a profession of the gospel, in connexion with this congregation, within the last six months. It may not be uninteresting to observe, that sixteen persons, who were members of this congregation, are either regularly or occasionally engaged in making known the truths of Christianity to their countrymen. 15. RICHARD KNILL† (station, Tittavilly). This teacher is diligent in his labours to edify this congregation, and to diffuse the knowledge of God in the neighbouring towns and villages. *Of Charles Seymour, see Monthly Chronicle for April, 1831. + Of Richard Knill, see Monthly Chronicle for April, 1831. SOUTH AFRICA. THEOPOLIS. Extracts of a Letter from the Rev. George Barker, Missionary, Theopolis, dated 20th December, 1831; addressed to the Directors. HONOURED FATHERS AND Brethren, Instead of a lengthened journal, as has hitherto been my custom, I beg to lay be fore you the following condensed report of the state of this institution, hoping that in the absence of more gratifying details it will prove acceptable. The congregation continues good, and in this respect the late emigration to the Cat River is scarcely felt; our place of worship on the Lord's-day is generally filled. The congregation averages about four hundred in the morning; in the afternoon, about two thirds of that number, as many leave to attend their cattle; in the evening, still fewer, owing partly to the distance at which many reside, and the time of worship being their milking-time. On week-day evenings the congregations vary from thirty to sixty and upwards, according to circumstances and the state of the weather. One pleasing indication of good, is the fact, that we have had for some time past more strangers present on the Lord's day than I ever witnessed before at Theopolis. These come from the neighbouring farms, and some of them from a greater distance. One man in particular, a slave, is very regular in his attendance, and is the only slave that I know of in our vicinity; I hope well of his moral character. The general demeanour of our assemblies is highly becoming the worship of God. Solemnity pervades the whole congregation, and the attention apparently seldom flags, in a single instance, during the service. The candidates for baptism are on the increase; the service allotted to them has assumed an interesting aspect. It is highly gratifying to observe a recent awakening among the people, which is most apparent among the females, and includes several young persons; but on this subject I wish to speak with caution at present, and to pray that it may prove a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. The number of communicants now on the lists, after the emigration to the Cat River, is, males, thirty-two; females, forty-four; total, seventy-six. Four new members have been admitted this year. The attendance on the sacramental services chiefly depends on how many of the members are at home at the time of its administration. The greatest number at one time, this year, has been forty-nine, the least thirty-six. The general conduct of the communicants is worthy of praise, and if we have to mourn over a Demas-like spirit in some, or now and then to contend with a Diotrephes, the generality conduct themselves as upright Christians. Three adults have been baptized (who now stand candidates for communion), and six children. Nine couple have been married. The number of children on the records of the school is one hundred and sixty-two, but the attendance has not been so correct as we could wish. The adult Sabbath school continues to be superintended by natives; and many are making progress in reading, particularly the slave above alluded to. The attendance is sometimes rather thin. Our evening school has fallen off in num. bers for some months past, owing, in part, to some of those who attended having left home for employment. Just now it is at a stand on account of the harvest. Some, however, have made progress in writing. The Auxiliary Missionary Society realized the sum of £6, which we voted to assist in ceiling Union Chapel, Graham's Town. With regard to the temporal state of the mission, owing to the heavy drought of last year, the harvest was not very productive, and some families have been in want of the means of subsistence. Our general work on Monday has been partially suspended, as many of the people manifest a dislike to it, and it has been confined to the repairs of roads, &c. This year cultivation has been extended beyond any preceding year since the emigration to the Neutral Territory took place. Our crops of barley have turned out very good, the little wheat has failed, the maize promises abundance. Our people possess thirteen waggons, eight of which are at this time serviceable, and thirteen ploughs, almost as many ploughs as we possessed previous to the emigration to the Cat River, when the population was much greater. Three of the ploughs are of English make, to which they are becoming partial. Fourteen families have joined the institu tion this year, six of whom brought no property. The other eight families brought fifteen oxen, thirty-four cows and calves, six horses and one old waggon. The fourteen families consisted of sixty persons, including children, many of whom have again left for employment. I hope we shall soon be able to establish a Temperance Society-they are being established in different places; I preached on the subject last Lord's-day. I have first desired to see that most pernicious custom of giving spirits to Hottentots abolished, and have written to the preparatory committee of a Temperance Society, now forming at Graham's Town, to that effect. This is a necessary step to our proceeding, as most of the intemperance among the Hottentots is the fault of others more than themselves. one can reflect on the almost universal custom in our villages, of paying for occasional services with nothing but brandy, without horror; and I have told the committee, that unless this custom is abolished a Temperance Society will be a mere pageant. I anticipate much good from the interest now taken in the abolition of intemperance, for which interest we are much indebted to the editor of the colonial newspaper, Mr. Fairbairn. No Our eldest girl is at Cape Town, to learn the Infant School system with Miss Lyn dall. I am happy to inform you that the utmost harmony exists among us. I respect Mr. Sass* as a father. He does what he pleases, and is always willing to assist me. He takes one service out of three on the Lord's-day, and if I am absent he is always ready to supply my place. It is not often, however, that I am from home, unless it is on an extraordinary occasion, or I go occasionally to assist Mr. Monro at Graham's Town. I hope to have a continued share in your prayers, and of all those who have the welfare of Zion at heart. (Signed) GEORge Barker. BETHELSDORP. Letter of Rev. Adam Robson, Missionary at Bethelsdorp, dated February 4, 1832; addressed to the Directors. HONOURED GENTLEMEN, As a vessel is now about to sail from Port Elizabeth to England, I embrace the opportunity of writing to you a few lines. I have recently had a narrow escape from an accident. In returning from Port Elizabeth one Sabbath evening, after service, my horse fell with me, and wounded my side and leg. Providence preserved my life, and I am now recovering from the injury which I sustained. May I be enabled to hear the warning voice, and to double my diligence in that great cause to which, in reliance on divine aid, I have devoted myself. The state of the institution, as it respects religion, is much the same as it was last year. The establishment of a Temperance Society inspires me with hope that the cause of God will be more extensively promoted at this institution, the adjacent villages, and in the neighbourhood. There is one also established at Port Elizabeth. Intemperance has hitherto been one of the means whereby Satan has maintained his sway over many, and he will not quit his strong hold without resistance; yet I am confident that, by the divine blessing on persevering and zealous efforts, these Societies will succeed. The attendance on divine service, both during the week and on Sabbath, during this year, has been very good, and the gospel has not been preached entirely in vain. Some careless sinners have been awakened, some backsliders reclaimed, and some, who have given satisfactory evidence of being the recipients of vital piety, have been received into the bosom of the Christian church. During the past year I have baptized seven * Mr. Sass, having become infirm, through years, has not the exclusive charge of any department of the mission, but renders such assistance as he is able.ED. teen children, and eight adults; ten members have been added to our communion, and seventeen couple have been married. It would give me much pleasure to be able, on good grounds, to inform you that all who have made a profession of religion exemplify, in their deportment, the sanctifying tendency of its doctrines, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; but it grieves me to state, that many are neither so steadfast, zealous, nor humble as they ought to be. Others, however, are to me a source of joy and gratitude, and in Christian intercourse with them I have experienced much comfort. May the Lord increase their number! There is a silent, yet energetic, eloquence in consistency of character. Sabbath school continues to prosper, and the average attendance is from one hundred and eighty to two hundred. The progress which some adults make, especially those who are under serious impressions, in acquiring the knowledge of letters, is astonishing. One man, the father of ten children, who has not been above a year here, and who knew not the alphabet when he came, is now reading the New Testament. The The day school, which is under the superintendence of Mr. Head, is in good order, and highly improving. Some of the children, with considerable fluency, can translate the English into Dutch, and the Dutch into English-can write well, and have advanced as far as the rule of three in arithmetic. The average attendance is between one hundred and one hundred and ten. This has been, on the whole, a favourable year. We have not had such frequent and fine rains in any season since I came to Bethelsdorp, and more ground has been cultivated than I have seen at any former period. The people have had crops of oats and barley; and though the rust has been in the corn, yet they have not entirely failed. The success with which their industry has been crowned has given an impulse to their feelings; and plans are now being formed for rearing, on a more extensive scale, this year on which we have now entered. There has been plenty of grass for the cattle; the oxen are in a good condition, and the cows give plenty of milk, which is a great means of subsistence. Being able to obtain a livelihood at the institution, the people avoid much temptation, and have the opportunity of sending their children to school, of attending the preaching of the gospel, and enjoying the means of grace. I have much reason to be thankful that Mrs. Robson and my children are quite well. Humbly and earnestly soliciting an interest in your prayers, that the influences of the Holy Spirit may rest on myself and labours, (Signed) (Letters Received unavoidably postponed.) A. ROBSON. DOMESTIC MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. MONTHLY MISSIONARY PRAYER-MEETING. BELLARY. BELLARY (or Balhary) is situated in N. Lat. 15°. 1., E. Long. 76o. 55'., and is the capital of the western division of the Balaghaut ceded territories, as already intimated under the article CUDDAPAH.* It stands on a tract of level ground, in the midst of a mountainous country, which conduces much to the salubrity of the climate. The streets of Bellary are wide and regular, running in parallel lines, and crossing each other at right angles. The houses, though built, as is common in the East Indies, with mud, have yet, compared with many other Indian towns, a neat and cleanly appearance. What is called the Coul Bazaar contains a population equal to that of the town of Bellary, composed of a mixed multitude, of whom a considerable proportion are camp-followers, who, being chiefly Malabars, speak the Tamil language. The native population of Bellary speak Canarese. The aggregate population amounts to about 36,000 souls, one fifth of whom are Mohammedans; the rest are Hindoos, or, as they are called here, and in some other parts of the East Indies, Gentoos. The number of Brahmins at Bellary is comparatively small, and they appear to possess less influence, and also less prejudice, than are in general found among their order in many other parts of India. The Society's mission at Bellary was commenced in 1810 by the Rev. John Hands, whose original destination was Vizagapatam, whither he was prevented from going by obstacles that appeared to be insurmountable; while, on the other hand, he seemed to be providentially directed to Bellary. At this place he met with the most respectful treatment from both the civil and military authorities, and, during the first year of his mission, commenced a stated service for the benefit of the European residents, which was performed on the morning of the Lord's-day. This service was, also, attended by several Indo-Britons. Some of the Brahmins sometimes visited him at his dwelling-house, for the purpose of conversation. The latter, on those occasions, were not unfrequently constrained to admit the superiority of the Christian doctrine to the tenets of their own superstition; while they inflexibly, though vainly, maintained that an irresistible fate discharges mankind from moral responsibility. The common people, also, were willing to listen to the message of the missionary, and manifested a disposition to admit the folly of idolatry, but none to abandon it. Native Services, &c. For several years the missionariest employed every means in their power to impart the knowledge of Christianity to the natives at and in the country around the station, by conversing with and addressing them on the subject, in the vicinity of their temples, at their annual and other festivals, in the bazaars and other places of general resort, and by distributing among them tracts in the different vernacular languages; but it was not till 1815 that they were able to report that many among the people had acknowledged the excellence of the Gospel, and manifested a desire to know more of it. It was at this period that a spirit of inquiry was excited, and that the prospects of the mission began considerably to brighten. Beside the residents in Bellary, who were desirous of receiving Christian instruction, many from the surrounding country visited the brethren at the Mission-house, to inquire concerning the "new way;" among whom were some who appeared to be under the influence of decided religious impressions. In 1817 Mr. William Reeve joined the mission. The spirit of inquiry increasing more and more, a suitable place, situated in the road leading from the town to the Coul Bazaar, was in that year purchased for the accommodation of those natives who were desirous to converse with the missionaries. During the same period, Auxiliary Missionary * Vide page 166. + Mr. Joseph Taylor, now missionary at Belgaum, joined Mr. Hands in 1813. and Tract Societies, and a Reading Society, were established. In 1818 an Auxiliary Bible Society was added. In 1820 three stated native services were commenced, by which, and other means, much Christian knowledge was widely diffused among the people, several of whom afforded satisfactory evidence of the influence of divine truth on their hearts. In this year a printing-office was erected for the use of the mission. Mr. Joseph Taylor having, in 1820, removed to Belgaum, Mr. William Howell, who now labours at Cuddapah, joined the brethren at Bellary. The native services were in that year increased to five, all of them being well attended, and by many regular hearers. In the month of November of the same year, two Hindoos (a father and his daughter), the first-fruits of the Bellary mission, were baptized. In 1821, the late Mr. H. Chambers* joined the mission. In 1824 the number of native converts was increased to six, while others, beside acknowledging the sin and folly of idolatry, ceased, in part, to observe its rites and ceremonies. In 1825, in which year Mr. William Beynont joined the mission, the number was increased to seven, and in 1827 to nine, of whom one afterwards relapsed. In the latter year the number of native services was increased to six, and the Tamil congregation greatly enlarged by the accession of several families who had been led to renounce the communion of the Romish church, solely in consequence of reading the Scriptures. In 1828 the native services were increased to seven; and eleven native converts, of whom some had formerly belonged to the native mission-church at Bangalore, were, in the same year, received into communion with the native church at Bellary, making the total number of its members eighteen. In 1829 they were increased to twenty-two. This number varied, in the following years, by the addition, on the one hand, of six members, and the loss, on the other, of nine (five by death, and four in consequence of the exercise of church-discipline), so that, according to the last return from the station, the number of members in the native church was nineteen, all of whom afforded credible evidence of the sincerity of their Christian profession. Native Schools, &c. In 1812 a school for native children was commenced, and a school-room erected for their accommodation. In 1816 three more native schools were established; in 1817 the number was increased to seven; in 1818, to eleven; in 1819, to fourteen; in 1820, to fifteen; and in 1821, to sixteen. Between the years 1821 and 1826, the number of native schools fluctuated between fourteen and seventeen, and in the latter year advanced to twenty. From the commencement of the schools in 1812 to 1826, the number of scholars under instruction (of whom, in most of the schools, a small proportion were girls) gradually increased from 50, which was the first number returned, to 864, which is the highest to which they have attained. During this period much Christian and useful general knowledge was disseminated in Bellary, and throughout a tract of country surrounding it, embracing a circuit of nearly twenty miles. In consequence of the advised relinquishment of the more remotely-situated schools, and the increase of private and free schools established at Bellary, the number of the native schools belonging to the Society's mission has been latterly reduced to twelve, and that of the scholars to between 300 and 400. In the remaining schools a great improvement has been effected, particularly in regard to the fitness of the masters, and the efficiency of the superintendence, which, it is hoped, will add greatly to their practical utility. The languages taught in the schools are chiefly Canarese and Tamil, and from their commencement they have been decidedly Christian schools. In 1819 a Sabbath school, and a school for adults, were established. Mr. Hands, soon after his arrival at Bellary, encouraged by the British residents there, established a Charity-School, which has been ever since liberally supported by voluntary * After about eighteen months, Mr. C., on account of ill health, removed to Bangalore. + Now at Belgaum. |