are very kind to us." The Collector, unknown to them, wrote to the Governor in Council, requesting that they might be allowed some acknowledgment for these services: accordingly they received an allowance of ten pagodas per month. Dr. Kerr also obtained for them the privilege of sending their letters postage free. Arab con vert. 5. Some time before, Dr. Kerr had baptized a A young young Arab, who was now at Vizagapatam. This year he was seriously ill; and during his sickness. the Missionaries visited him, prayed with him, and were happy to find that his greatest consolations arose from the blessed truths contained in the Word of God. After his recovery they began to instruct him in the English language. He was very zealous in endeavouring to gain converts to the Christian religion, and kept several Natives in his house, under a continued course of religious instruction. In those days of moral dearth in India, one instance of this kind was encouraging to those who were labouring for the conversion of the Natives, and it must have rejoiced the heart of Dr. Kerr to find that his disciple continued so steadfast in the faith, and so diligent for the salvation of others. mence tions. 6. While studying the Teloogoo language, the ComMissionaries continued to officiate in English on the ment of Lord's Day, and also set apart three evenings in the operaweek for the instruction of the East Indians who were engaged in the military service. They likewise opened an English School, under a Native Christian, who accompanied them from Madras. Among the scholars were three young Brahmins; and the School was so highly appreciated, that several of the pupils came thirty miles to attend it, and others from shorter distances. In the following January (1806) they were encouraged by the frequency with which the Brahmins called on them to converse about religion. They СНАР. V. Mission had seldom less than four or five with them, some of whom spake openly in favour of the Gospel ; others opposed what they heard; and a third party endeavoured to parry the truth with affirming, "that it is all one, and he that adheres strictly to the tenets of the religion of his country, will be accepted of God, and admitted into heaven." The Missionaries, however, did not attend exclusively to the Brahmins. When able to speak the language well enough to enter into conversation with the Natives, they visited the surrounding villages, and proclaimed to their numerous inhabitants of all castes the Gospel of Salvation. 7. Through the exertions and influence of the Collector, they obtained from the Zemindar a spot of ground for their Mission premises. This gentleman having procured for them the sanction of the Madras Government to build upon it, they began to erect a habitation, which was finished by the month of November. By this time they had under their care between thirty and forty young persons, twelve of whom were children of caste, and the rest East Indians. Several of them could already repeat the Catechisms and other elementary works put into their hands. The good effects of these incipient exertions were soon apparent. The miserable state of the numerous youth in their neighbourhood induced them to devise more extensive means for their instruction; for which purpose they drew up an address, accompanied with a plan, for a Free School, which was circulated through the settlement, and met with general support. The European community contributed liberally towards the erection of a School-house, besides monthly subscriptions for the maintenance of the scholars whose parents could not afford to pay for them. The Governor, Dr. Kerr, and other friends at Madras, contributed to the same object, and they met with every encouragement to go forward. By the liberality of their friends they were enabled also to distribute rice on the Lord's Day to the numerous distressed objects who came to them for charity. Their Free School contained an equal number of boys and girls, and they procured the services of a pious young Englishman to instruct them. ries' encou 8. While encouraged by the steady increase of their MissionaEnglish congregation, and also by the improvement ragement of some, their patience was greatly tried by the and trials. drunkenness which prevailed among the soldiers, invalids, and pensioners; for besides their anxiety for these men's own souls, they were pained at the scandal which their intemperance presented in the sight of the Heathen, and feared that it would hinder the propagation of the Gospel among them. They met, also, with other difficulties; but in them all they consulted their steady friend, Dr. Kerr, how to proceed, and he never failed to give them the wisest counsel. Mr. Cran1, in one of his letters acknowledging this kindness, after rendering thanks to God for raising up one who was both able and willing to strengthen his hands and encourage his heart, added "I will not thank you, however, for what you have done in support of the Missionary cause. The spread of the Gospel is as dear to you as it can be to me." "May you shine in this dark country till you behold the Sun of Righteousness rising to shine on India for ever. Then, and not till then, may you say, 'Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." He then encouraged himself by reference to the Saviour's meek endurance of the contradiction of sinners against Himself. 9. They studied the Teloogoo language with such Their Te (') Mr. Des Granges was gone to Calcutta to be married. loogoo Transla tions. V. CHAP. diligence, that this year they produced the translation of some Tracts, composed chiefly of texts of Scripture, which Dr. Kerr printed for them at the Asylum press. They were greatly pleased with the type, and the accuracy with which the work was executed. "This specimen," Des Granges wrote, brightens our prospect of one day seeing God's Holy Word printed in the native language." "What pleasure would it be," wrote Cran to the same friend, "to have a few thousand copies of the Scriptures circulating among the Natives in their own language. But this will be a work of immense labour. It is our firm opinion-I believe we borrowed it from you— that a native can give but very little assistance in translating the Bible. After making many trials of the most capable Natives around us, we find that no dependence can be placed on a single sentence. Hence, till we get a more extensive acquaintance with the Teloogoo, our intended translation will not go on very fast. We make some attempts however every day." "That Missionaries, who believe the Scriptures, should execute the work in preference to employing a graceless Brahmin, few will deny; not to mention, that a Brahminical translation would only be of use among his own tribe; for the lower classes would not understand it." At the same time they were at work upon a translation of the English Liturgy, several parts of which they had executed. Mr. Cran, though a Presbyterian, wrote to Dr. Kerr, "The Articles of the Church of England express our religious sentiments, while we consider the Form of Prayer as one of the most noble specimens of human composition." But as yet they had no native congregation to use it, and do not seem to have been sanguine in their expectation of speedy conversions from among them. Already they might have baptized several, had they allowed them to retain any vestige of caste; but this they determined to resist at the outset, rightly judging it to be the safest way of commencing their career, both to test the sincerity of those who proposed to join them, and also to raise a barrier in the way of others "who might have selfish ends in view." of their 10. The success of their School at the end of the Progress first year was sufficient to encourage them to pro- Schools. ceed. While some of their pupils made good progress in elementary knowledge, the hearts of others, they remarked, seemed to be under the influence of Divine Grace. These manifested a cordial affection for their teachers, and their attachment to heathen rites and superstitions was rapidly decreasing. Their prejudices of caste, also, were wearing away by the silent influence of education. After School the young Brahmin was to be seen working in the garden with the Parriah, and that of his own accord; for the Missionaries avoided every unnecessary interference with their feelings. It was already pleasing to find many of the scholars unwilling to leave School when their education was completed, "though they received nothing for their attendance but their learning, and," as the Missionaries expressed it," that degree of civility which one man owes to another." Some of their scholars boarded with them; and they considered that the establishment of such Schools would prove highly conducive to the spread of Christianity.1 But they did not confine their attention to these Schools. Their Journals furnish pleasing proofs of their constant endeavours to enlighten the minds of the adult Heathen, by embracing every opportunity () The above is written chiefly from their private letters to Dr. Kerr of Madras. We now proceed to use the Reports and Missionary Transactions of the Society. |