may be among them. It was indeed pleasant to witness the school prospering greatly. Many readers show that they have been diligent and made decided improvement. As Borigélong I found a great movement indeed; a full house, and nineteen inquirers making great efforts to become good readers. Many of these may very soon be received into the communion of the Church. As some of the Church-members have been fortunate in raising corn, many contributed of their increase to the funds of the Society. "At Taung the Church is going on steadily, the meetings are larger, and there are nine inquirers, five of whom may soon be baptized and admitted into the Church. They belong to the highest families of the Batlapi tribe, and are very courageous for the cause of God. Mahura, the chief, had lately shown that he was very jealous of his own honour; in a great passion he broke one of the windows of the chapel, threatened to set fire to the whole building, took down the bell, and carried it to his own kchotla to call his own picho. The only reason for this outrage was, that believers would not obey him, and that they had made a commando and killed a man connected with stealing, without judge or jury. I had to show him that the commando was made by heathens only, who forced a young lad, belonging to a family who were believers, to go with them. When they overtook the offender, the heathen party gave a gun to the young lad, as their custom is, and ordered him to kill the offender. The young lad, being thus forced by one who was his uncle, and not refusing as he ought to have done, killed the said offender. Mahura then said that chiefs, when they found thieves, often killed them without judging. I then said that a heathen custom and heathens themselves destroyed his authority and government, and not believers, for not one of them was connected with the said commando, and the young man bad done what his father and mother and all believers hated. Not being able to defend himself, Mahura delivered to me the bell, and said, 'I give liberty to all the people to hear the word of God, to make a profession or not, as they please; and I give liberty to the children of believers from the heathen rites, unless they flee to them of themselves.' I answered, 'This is all we want; the word of God is powerful, and the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. The gospel has come for the salvation of you and all yonr people. If the believers are guilty of crime, judge them, and punish them publicly, but do not break the windows, threaten to burn the chapel, or take down the bell from its place.' Strange to say, Mahura refused to settle this matter with the Church before I visited them, and then earnestly entreated me to return and dwell among them, and all the people earnestly desire the same thing. The Baralongs, whom I formerly mentioned, are still attending the services of the Church at Taung, and many others are gathered from other tribes. If you could see the propriety of allowing me again to resume missionary labour among this people, I have good reason to believe that now many are quite ready to embrace the word of God. "At the Bamairas I found the Church going on steadily, only complaining of many dispersing far in quest of food. The native teacher, Gasebonoe Moffat, is one of the best of his class. The meetings are well attended, the school is making progress, and there are seven inquirers. Motlabani, the chief, is very favourable to the cause of God. On my return home, I had great pleasure in receiving some voluntary contributions to the Society, from these warm-hearted people. I had, also, several meetings of real heathens, at Mohangku and at other places, whom I showed their lost state, by nature and by practice, the great Saviour of sinners, and salvation through faith in his name. In the whole of my late journey I saw more of real prospects of success of the gospel, than ever I have seen at any time of my past missionary life." Contributions in aid of the Society will be thankfully received by Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, Bart. Treasurer, and Rev. Ebenezer Prout, at the Mission House, Blomfeld-street, Finsbury, London; by Mr. W. F. Watson, 52, Princes-street, Edinburgh; Robert Goodwin, Esq., 235, George-street, and Religious Institution Rooms, 12, South Hanover-street, Glasgow; and by Rev. John Hands, Society House, 32, Lower Abbey-street, Dublin. Post-Office Orders should be in favour of Rev. Ebenezer Prout, and payable at the General Post Office. WILLIAM STEVENS, PRINTER, 37, BALL YARD, TEMPLE BAR. |