TO BE READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, MAY 1, 1845. This year has been one of quiet labour, unmarked by any unusual appearances. The seed has sprung up unforced. The plants are therefore the more healthy, and afford perhaps the surer pledge of future extension and productiveness. aries, more than half of whom are permitted still to aid the mission cause in foreign lands. INDIA. In surveying the various fields of the SoNo missionary has been compelled to re-ciety's labours, India, where its work of turn to this country through the failure of mercy commenced, claims first attention. health or other adverse cause. This circum- The Committee begin as usual with TRANSLAstance has indeed deprived the Society of the TIONS. aid of their missionary brethren at the anniversary meetings of the Auxiliaries throughout the country; but the Committee feel assured that what may be thought the loss of the auxiliaries at home, will be regarded as the gain of the stations abroad. It ought to be a matter of thankfulness, that, through the kind providence of God, the agents of the mission are all at their proper work in foreign fields. This feeling of thankfulness, however, is not unmingled with sorrow. The Committee have been called to deplore the loss of one of their most devoted missionaries, the Rev. E. Daniel. He died at Colombo, after a few days' illness, on the 2nd of June, 1844, at the house of the Hon. Sir A. Oliphant, Chiefjustice of Ceylon. They have also to record the death of the Rev. J. D. Ellis, late missionary to India. He was compelled, by declining health, about three years ago, to revisit his native land; and, after protracted suffering, borne with great resignation, fell asleep on the 9th of February, 1845. To this list must be added the name of Mrs. Evans, who had recently entered with much zeal on her station in Manchester, Jamaica. Translators... Rev. William Yates, D.D., Rev. James No new versions have been commenced during the year, but considerable progress has been made in the preparation and publication of works previously undertaken, and several reprints of portions of scripture formerly issued have been completed. In all there have been printed during the year : The distribution of the sacred volume has kept pace with the publication of it, not less than 50,000 volumes having been issued from the depository during the year. The expense of this most important department of the Society's labours has been borne, to a very considerable extent, by the Bible Translation Society, and the American and Foreign Bible Society, whose united contributions have amounted to £1516 1s. ld. On the other hand, the Committee have to report that their missionary brethren abroad have been strengthened by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Makepeace at Muttra: Mr. and Mrs. Davies at Colombo: Mr. and Mrs. Jones at Morlaix, Brittany: and Mr. and Mrs. Buttfield at Belize. There is every reason to hope, too, that the "Dove," with her passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Newbegin, Mr. Dr. Yates is now engaged in preparing for and Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Prince, and Miss the press, the Old Testament in Sanscrit. Vitou, has reached Fernando Po, carrying Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, and the books additional aid to our brethren in that field. of Isaiah and Daniel are already printed. The Committee have also engaged Mr. Heinig, His heart's desire is to finish this work, and at Patna; and have accepted Mr. and Mrs. it is hoped that by the close of another year Kingdon, of Jamaica, as missionaries to Be- we may be able to report that the translation lize. Mr. Law, of Bradford College, has also of the whole of the scriptures into this the been accepted for Trinidad; Mr. Lewis, of sacred language of the East, is complete. Bristol, for Ceylon; and Mr. Flanders, of The funds for this translation are not yet all Eye, has been accepted as a missionary, though his destination is not fixed. Since the formation of the Society, there have been sent out or accepted 195 mission supplied; but the Committee believe that a statement of the necessities of the case will, as in previous years, draw forth large and wil ling offerings from the friends of the Re deemer, to aid in completing this important | undertaking. Female Missionaries-Mrs. Yates, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Wenger, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Leslie. Native Preacher-Shem. Female Missionaries-Mrs. Pearce and Mrs. Denham. Of the general state of the mission in India, 1838. INTALLY.-George Pearce, W. H. Denham. the Committee have to give an account, in some respects more, and in others less encouraging, than in previous years. Native Preachers-Four Students of the Native Christian Institution. Mrs. Morgan. Native Preacher-Ganga Narayan. 1824. NARSINGDARCHOKE, and six neighbouring vil In Calcutta and its neighbourhood, the 1820. HAURAH and SALKIYAH.-Thomas Morgan and eight churches contain in all 426 members. The additions to these churches have been, by baptism thirty-six, being four more than last year; by restoration and letter, thirtythree. On the other hand, fifty-seven persons have been excluded, most of whom have been 1830. drawn aside through the influence and mis lages.-J. C. Page, W. Thomas. Four Native Preachers. LAKHYANTIPUR, and five neighbouring villages. -G. Pearce, F. De Monte. Four Native Preachers. representations of agents of the Society for the 1830. KHARI.-Native Preachers—Jacob and another. Propagation of the Gospel. At one of the stations, however, where last year we had to make a similar report, there has been a reaction among the people, and many of them, having manifested much contrition, have been restored to the church. On the whole, there is in Calcutta, a decrease of twenty. The number of schools is sixteen; and the average attendance of scholars 1038. In other parts of India, there are sixteen churches. Fifty-one persons have been baptized; the total number of members being 488. The number of schools is twenty-three; with an average attendance of 820 scholars. In the important work of strengthening their stations in India, the Committee have done something, though much less than they could have desired. Mr. Makepeace has gone to Muttra; Mr. Denham to Calcutta: and at Patna, Mr. Heinig has been taken up by the Society, and seems likely to prove a valuable accession to Mr. Beddy. India, however, still presents the melancholy spectacle of vast districts, each containing a population of upwards of a million, in many instances without a missionary; while, in others, a single labourer only is seen, "mocked by the hopelessness of his work, and dispirited by the loneliness of his separation." Mr. and Mrs. Davies have also gone to Ceylon. Even, however, if the life of Mr. Daniel had been spared, that field would have been very insufficiently supplied. Now, since Mr. Daniel's removal, the necessity for additional aid has become most urgent. The Committee regret that they cannot yet report the appointment of a tutor for Serampore. Negociations, however, are now pending, with a view of supplying that important post. The training of an indigenous agency in each country to which the gospel is sent, is a work, the importance of which it would be difficult to overrate. Eight Stations-Twelve Sub-stations-Thirteen Missionaries-Eight Female Missionaries-Sixteen Native Preachers. DISTRIBUTION OF MISSION STRENGTH. Mr. Dr. Yates, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wenger, and C. C. Aratoon, continue to devote themselves to the work of biblical translation, to which Mr. Thomas adds the superintendency of the Mission press, Mr. Wenger the charge of the church in Kalinga, and C. C. Aratoon the important duty of preaching to the Armenians. Dr. Yates has suffered during part of the year from severe illness, but is now reW. Thomas and Mr. F. De Monte, has the stored. Mr. Pearce, in connection with Mr. charge of the churches at Intally, LakbyantiPur, and Khari. He is also superintendent work he is aided by Mr. Denham, who is also of the Native Christian Institution, in which busily engaged in preparing to aid Dr. Yates and Mrs. Evans superintend the Benevolent and Mr. Wenger in the translations. Institution, though Mr. Evans has been compelled through ill health to resign the pastoral Small has removed to Benares, and the Native charge of the church in Lal Bazar. Mr. Institution is now under the care of a pious native. Mr. Page has been appointed pastor of the church in Budge Budge, and is much engaged in preaching to the heathen. None of the missionaries of the Society who have been during the year in actual service in India have been removed; but the Committee have to notice with regret the death of the Rev. W. Moore, sent out by the Society forty years ago, who, though for a series of years supported by his own exertions, continued even to the end to promote its interests by active labours in the cause of the Redeemer. I. PREACHING TO THE HEATHEN AND In Calcutta the word of the cross has been I. CALCUTTA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. preached week after week by Messrs. Leslie, Station formed. 1801. CALCUTTA.-W. Yates, D.D., C. C. Aratoon, James Thomas, John Wenger, W. W. Evans; Andrew Leslie, Shujaat Ali. (Three churches.) Wenger, and Aratoon, frequently also by Messrs. Page, W. Thomas, and De Monte, and by some of the members of the church in Lal Bazar. Among our native brethren living in Intally several have been daily in the closing scene. The congregation seems engaged in the same work. At Haurah, Mr. to be gradually increasing, and to assume a Morgan, with the aid of a native assistant, has character of greater steadiness. The week continued to proclaim the gospel regularly, day services also are better attended than and that not only at Haurah itself, but also in formerly. A sabbath-school has lately been all the adjacent villages. Similar labours commenced. The present number of memhave been engaged in by Mr. Page and his bers is 71. native assistants in connexion with the Budge Budge and Narsingdarchoke stations. In the neighbourhood of Lakhyantipur the gospel has been preached in sixty-three villages by Mr. De Monte and his fellow-labourers. Several excursions also have been made during the year, with a view to spread the gospel. Thus Messrs. Leslie and Evans visited the annual mela at Saugor in January last. In the early part of February another trip was made by Messrs. Leslie, Page, and Wenger to the south western limit of the district of Jessore, during which the gospel was preached by them in many villages on the way. 2.-Church in Lal Basar-Mixed. Pastor Vacant. Native Preacher ............ Rambari. This church defrays the expenses connected with the chapel. The schools are mainly supported by private contributions. This church has been much tried, during the year, by the retirement of the Rev. W. W. Evans from the pastoral charge. This event took place in the early part of June, since which time the Rev. J. Thomas has acted as temporary pastor, and the English services have been conducted by Messrs. Denham Though the immediate success of these and Brooks, with occasional aid from other labours in the conversion of souls is not ap- ministers. The services in Cooly Bazar have parent, much good is done. Christ is preached, also been continued. The three native schools many thousands have been told and under- at Cooly Bazar, Kidderpore, and Allipore are stand the saving truths of the gospel. It is in a promising condition; and another school also certain that the superiority of Christianity has been opened by one of the members at over the false religions prevalent, is secretly Garriyá, about eight miles south of Calcutta. acknowledged by many who have not courage Several religious services are conducted by enough to forsake the ranks of idolatry and individual members, in the native language, Muhammadanism. And finally, the great at the Lal Bazar and Cooly Bazar chapels adversary seems to feel that some impression and a considerable amount of time and labour has been made upon the minds of his deluded is devoted to the important work of making subjects. The Musalmans all over Bengal known the gospel to the heathen and Muhamare greatly alarmed at the danger to which madan population. The present number of their religion is exposed. They have pre-members of the Lal Bazar church is 122. pared tracts and books in opposition to Christianity, and have sent, or are sending, emissaries in every direction with a view to strengthen the tottering cause of their false prophet. The Hindus, on the other hand, every where retreat from the shattered outworks of their idolatrous system into the citadel of vedantism, the metaphysical philosophy of their sacred book. Even this is encouraging; for although vedantism can only with difficulty be assailed by metaphysical arguments, yet it can neither stand the test of practical life, nor afford any solid consolation to a burdened conscience. So that the superiority of Christianity over such systems may easily be felt even by those who are unable to refute them. CHURCHES IN AND NEAR CALCUTTA. 1.-Church in Circular Road-English. Pastor..................Rev. A. Leslie. resources. Although this church has, during the last year, experienced a decrease of four members, there are several encouraging circumstances connected with it. In the case of two, at least, of those who were called to their eternal rest, the power of faith was signally displayed Attendance at the Schools. Hindui school at Cooly Bazar...30 boys. 3.-Church in Kalinga-Native. Pastor............ .Rev. J. Wenger. The pastor's salary is defrayed by the Parent Society; the other expenses mainly by the church itself. This little church, now numbering twentynine members, has during the year sustained a diminution of one member; and owing to the removal from its neighbourhood of the Female Boarding School, the congregation also has slightly diminished. The attention of the people is very encouraging. 4. Church at Intally-Native. salaries of the Missionaries and Assistant Pastors, persecution. It was found necessary to exalso those of six native preachers. clude fifteen members from the communion This church, now numbering thirty-five of the church. Under these distressing cirmembers, has during the year enjoyed spi- cumstances the church betook itself to earnest ritual peace and prosperity. The congregation prayer. Those who had seceded recently beconnected with it, amounts to about eighty gan to seek to be reconciled and re-admitted. persons. Among the stated hearers are three The present number of members is 34. hopeful inquirers, two of whom are persons of superior intelligence. Four native preachers, connected with the church, are engaged almost daily in proclaiming the gospel to their heathen and Muhammadan countrymen. This church has, during the year, received an increase of eleven members, and now numbers seventy-three communicants. Its spiritual 8.-Haurah and Salkiya. Missionary and Pastor......Rev. T. Morgan. the other expences are defrayed by a local Auxiliary Society. The church in this place is partly English and partly native. The English church has enjoyed peace and prosperity, and several of the members have been actively engaged in doing good by visiting the sick, spreading the gospel, and distributing tracts. The native portion of the church has been exposed to severe trials by the malicious opposition of some native adherents of the Propagation Society. These enemies, however, have overshot the mark, and brought disgrace upon themselves, whilst it is believed that those whom they wished to injure, have become more stedfast in the faith. The total number of English and native members is twenty-six. Mr. Morgan is nobly supported in his work by the liberality of friends on the spot, whose contributions have not only covered all the local expences, but also enabled him to commence new operations. The Jubilee School, which is an English school resembling the Benevolent Institution, is in a prosperous condition, and numbers nearly seventy scholars in daily attendance. Three new schools have been opened during the year in villages situated at some distance from Haurah, and hitherto they promise to succeed well. The total number of children in attendance is 160. SCHOOLS IN CALCUTTA. 1.-The Benevolent Institution Has continued during the year to prosper, state is, upon the whole, encouraging. As and to afford to a great number of young the native Christian population, which amounts people, chiefly from the poorer classes of the to about 200 persons, is scattered over several Christian population of this city, the elements villages, seven services are held on the Lord's of a sound education. The number of boys day, and nine on week days. Mr. De Monte, in attendance has been about 250, and of girls assisted by four native preachers, labours about 120: but the number of names on the rolls is considerably larger. assiduously for the conversion of the surrounding heathen population. Six times at week the gospel is proclaimed among them, not without much that is encouraging. 7.-Church at Khari-Native. About 50 miles south of Calcutta. 2. The Native Institution. The Native Institution at Intally, intended chiefly, though not exclusively, for Hindus, was closed for a short time, for want of funds and from other causes. But the Baptist Missionary Society having pledged itself to support the head master, it was opened again, and placed under the superintendence of Mr. This church was severely tried, in the early Pearce. An examination has been held, when part of the year, by the defection of a large about eighty or ninety boys were present, and influential portion of the Christian com- who showed that they had derived great bemunity, who went over to the agents of the nefit from the plain English education which Propagation Society, and forthwith com- it is the design of the school to impart to menced a system of petty but most harassing them. |