rior rank and education, he knew how to accommodate himself to the poor and illiterate. This rendered his pastoral visits welcome and instructive to all.

"Disinterestedness formed a prominent feature of his character. He often engaged in services, forming no part of his official duties and which required much time and attention, from no other motive, than to advance the public weal, or promote the comfort of individuals; without seeking his own emolument, he rejoiced when he had it in his power to help those that were needy.

"His mental powers were considerable and were not suffered to lie dormant; for, notwithstanding his multifarious official avocations, he was constantly enlarging his knowledge of general literature. He could accomplish much in little time, and being till the last blessed with a sound constitution, was able to endure great fatigue both of study and active employment. His talents as instructor and educator of youth will long endear his memory to his pupils. He had compiled a Compendium of Geography, on an improved plan, which was in the press at the time of his death. It has since been published and gone through several editions, and been introduced in several schools in no connection with the Brethren.

"As a minister of the Gospel his constant aim was to humble the sinner, exalt the Saviour and promote holiness.' In the manner of his delivery as well as in his illustrations of divine truth, there was something which seldom failed to attract attention, and rendered him generally a popular preacher. To engage in this part of his calling was of all others the most pleasing to him. He truly delighted to do the work of an evangelist and to be constant in season and out of season." A Sunday seldom passed, on which he did not employ the evening, after performing his regular services at home, in proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation in some neighbouring village or hamlet. Nor were these labours of love restricted to the Lord's Day. He frequently engaged in them during the week. Those young brethren, who were preparing for the ministry, found in him a kind friend and wise counsellor. He was wont to take one or the other of them with him when

going out to preach, or visit his flock; and thus to give them what may be called a practical lecture on the duties of the pastoral office.

"He was from principle sincerely attached to the Brethren's Church. He was convinced of the purity of her doctrine; for his own experience had taught him the value of her steadfast adherence to the Word of reconciliation; and he prized her discipline and government as calculated to promote the true happiness of all genuine members of her communion. Yet this predilection did not alienate him from other Christians. He loved all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ; and gladly co-operated with them in every undertaking designed to advance the Redeemer's Kingdom on earth."

SECTION VII.

Proceedings of the Brethren in ASIA-Situation of SAREPTA-Suffers twice from Fire-GREGOR's visit to the colonies on the WOLGA--Renewal of CALMUC mission-Labours of the Missionaries-Persecution stirred up-They and their converts retire to the SAREPTA territory-Are forcibly expelled-Christian CALMUCS seek the protection of the RUSSIAN Government-Are baptized in the GREEK Church-WIGAND's visit to the HUTTERIAN Brethren-Account of this community.

SAREPTA, being the only Settlement of the Brethren's Church in Asia, and containing a population of not more than five hundred souls, lying moreover in a district, where for many miles round there are neither towns nor villages, cannot, in its local circumstances and its internal history, furnish many details of general interest. In the absence of these it is gratifying to observe, that, during this period likewise, the original design of its formation was not lost sight of, though various impediments still obstructed the execution of that design to the extent at first contemplated.

A congratulatory address from the congregation at Sarepta having been presented to the Emperor Alexander, on his accession to the throne, petitioning at the same time for a renewal of their privileges; his Imperial Majesty issued an edict, dated the 15th of September 1801, and the first year of his reign, in which the congregation at Sarepta is mentioned

in highly approving terms.* Anew secured in their ecclesiastical privileges and in their civil rights as a separate community, the outward prosperity of the Settlement was advancing, and every opportunity afforded to the inhabitants to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Their distance from the theatre of war in 1806, and at the time of the burning of Moscow, preserved their persons and dwellings from the miseries and disasters inflicted on other congregations. And by the prompt adoption of precautionary measures, when in 1807 the plague broke out in Astrachan and spread terror and death till within fifteen or twenty miles of the Settlement, they wholly escaped the contagion.

But while neither war nor pestilence interrupted their tranquillity, they were twice during this period put into great jeopardy by the breaking out of destructive fires. The first broke out in the night of August the 18th, 1803, in the sawmill, and had probably been kindled by friction. It spread with such rapidity, that the flames blazed through the roof, before the engines could be got ready, and the excessive heat rendered every exertion for extinguishing the fire ineffectual, till the saw-mill, the two corn-mills, with the adjoining dwelling, and the bridge over the Sarpa had been laid in ashes. Providentially the wind blew from the north, and drove the flames away from the Settlement. By the second conflagration, which happened on July 16th, 1812, a whole row of dwelling-houses, together with the workshops and outbuildings

* Of this Ukase (or edict) the following is an extract: "The Colony of Sa. repta, by the regularity of its internal constitution, by the spirit of unity, by the morality and distinguished industry and exemplary domestic regulations of its inhabitants, during a period of thirty-seven years, has merited the protection granted to it by the government, together with the several immunities and privileges enjoyed by it; and has uninterruptedly justified the same. In consideration hereof we condescend to accept the petition of this congregation—and by this our Imperial letter confirm to said congregation, in the most gracious man. ner, all those privileges, which have been granted to them in the year 1767 by our beloved Grandmother, and in the year 1797 by our beloved Father-and we anew ratify these privileges to them, in the firm confidence, that, under the protection of Government and the Laws, and the advantages granted to the Brethren of this congregation, they will not cease by zealous endeavours to promote the public weal, by exciting others to imitate their industry, good order and all other civil virtues."

became a prey to the flames, and much property was destroyed. On either occasion the loss, both of individuals and of the community at large, was very considerable. But when the distress became known in other congregations, it called forth their brotherly sympathy, and liberal contributions were remitted to Sarepta, Hereby the sufferers were by degrees enabled to retrieve their losses. The mills also were as soon as possible rebuilt, for in their insulated situation these works were not only absolutely necessary for the convenience and the very subsistence of the inhabitants, but a public benefit to the whole neighbourhood.

Not unmindful that it was a principal part of their calling to propagate the Gospel by all means in their power, the congregation at Sarepta continued their former endeavours, both among their nearer and more distant neighbours, and at one time with a brighter prospect of success, than during any anterior period. The erection of colonies of German settlers along the banks of the Wolga has been mentioned in a preceding chapter, and likewise that several of these colonists were served with the Gospel by the Brethren, on the plan of their European Societies.* These labours were still continued, and, besides the regular attention bestowed on the Societies, a Brother from Sarepta occasionally made an extensive tour through these colonies. To mention but one of these journeys, the minister, Brother Gregor, in 1805 travelled through a circuit of some hundred miles, visiting twenty-nine colonies, and having almost daily an opportunity of delivering a testimony of the grace of God, sometimes in churches, belonging to the Lutheran and Calvinistic communions, and at others in private houses. He concludes his Journal with the following general remarks.

"Comparing the present situation of these colonies with what it was when I visited them twenty years ago, the following results present themselves to my mind. The close fellowship, the love and union among the awakened have rather decreased; but respect for the Word of God and the ministers of the Gos

* See Vol. II. p. 49.

pel is greater and more general than formerly. The present time has this advantage, that among the ministers, appointed for the several parishes, the number of those who preach the Gospel in its purity, is much larger than it used to be. I have become personally acquainted with thirteen ministers of that description, and I heard of others. Each of them has a large field to labour in, which by the yearly increase of colonies, is constantly becoming more extensive. Formerly the Brethren were rather despised in many parts of this country; but now they are esteemed, and made cordially welcome wherever they visit. Even in places where the clergyman was absent I was, by the warden and elders of the parish, requested to preach in the church; and the private meetings, I held with the members of our societies, were frequented by many strangers. Thus have I had an opportunity of discoursing, both in public and in private, on the one thing needful, with about fifteen thousand souls."

Several circumstances concurred to give a new impulse to their endeavours of instructing the Calmucs in Christianity. For this purpose two Brethren, John Gottfried Schill and Christian Huebner, in 1815, took up their residence in the horde of the Choschut tribe. They were chiefly employed in distributing copies of the books of the New Testament, as they were successively issued by the Russian Bible Society. At first the books were gladly received and carefully read by many, and afforded the missionaries frequent opportunities for pressing the truths of the Gospel on the attention of the CalEven some of the Gellongs (or priests) were not averse from discussing the doctrines of Christianity. By degrees, however, they began to fear, that if the German religion (as they called it) were to be generally diffused, the absurdity of their own superstition would be detected, and they would be deprived of the honor and emoluments, flowing to them while

mucs.

* See Historical Sketches of the Missions, p. 433-436 2nd. edition. There it is stated, that the Missionaries resided in the Derbet horde. This was inserted from an English publication. The author has since seen a German account of this Mission, published under the sanction of the directors of the Missions, where the horde is called the Choschut.