and other excellent men. The information which the 'Directors were then able to communicate, was highly gratifying to the friends of the Society, as it afforded the pleasing hope of considerable success. This hope has since been realized in an abundant degree; and the Directors, having received great satisfaction from personal conferences with Mr. Kicherer, in his late visit to England, have requested him to draw up the following Narrative of his Mission, which we doubt not will be read with great interest and delight, by those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

The great Head of the Church, the Author of all spiritual gifts, appears to have been, for many years, preparing this valuable Missionary for his arduous and honorable calling. At a very early period of life, when reading the Voyages and Discoveries of Captain Cook, he conceived the generous idea of enlightening the benighted heathen; his whole soul was engaged in the benevolent desire of conveying, to the regions and shadow of death, the light of the glorious Gospel; but how such a wish could be accomplished, he was unable to form the most distant conjecture; he knew not then that there was such a being in existence as a Christian Missionary. Nevertheless, HE, who doubtless "separated him from his mother's womb" to this apostolic work, kept alive in his heart this spark of holy zeal, until the time arrived, when it should burst forth into that sacred flame which we have lately witnessed.

Soon after the Missionary Society was formed in London, information of its establishment reached the, Protestant

1

Protestant Churches of Holland. Our brother, wo was a member of one of those Churches, happening to spend an afternoon at the house of a pious friend, his Minister also came to pay a visit to the family, when he communicated the pleasing intelligence which he had just received, That a Society was formed in England, for the purpose of sending the Gospel to the Heathen; and that a Ship, laden with the Heralds of Salvation, was about to sail for the Islands of the South. It is impossible to describe the sensations of our worthy brother. He was transported with joy unspeakable. No information in the world could so much have gratified the long-formed wishes of his heart. He delayed not to offer his services to the Society, by whom they were gladly accepted, together with those of the invaluable Vanderkemp. How eminently Mr. Kicherer is endowed with talents for the Missionary work; how indefatigably he has laboured in the wilderness; how fervent in spirit, how faithful to God, how highly favoured in the success of his ministry-will fully appear in the following pages, which, we doubt not, will be read with pleasure and profit by those "who love our Lord Jesus "Christ in sincerity."

The public has lately been gratified by a new spectacle the appearance of three converted Hottentots in many of our religious assemblies.

* Hot

tentots

*The Hottentots were not brought to England by desire of the Society. Evil-minded men in Africa, enemies to real godliness, and who always endeavoured to obstruct the conversion of

these

tentots have seldom been seen in Europe; Christian Hottentots never. Thousands can witness with what simplicity, propriety, and animation of spirit they were enabled to confess their faith in Christ before the largest congregations, leaving no doubt on the minds of the most incredulous that they were indeed taught of God"." These ocular proofs of the power of Divine Grace, on some of the most abject of the human race, have happily served to remove

these people, used to insinuate that the religion taught by the Missionaries was false, not being that which was received by European Christians. Many of them had therefore long expressed an earnest desire to ascertain this matter for themselves. Mr. Kicherer, having occasion to return to Europe to recruit his health, and to settle some domestic concerns, was willing to comply with their desire. We rejoice in this determination, which has occasioned so much sa tisfaction to multitudes, and proved the occasion, with God's blessing, of the most substantial benefit to many souls. The report which they will carry back to Africa, may also be attended with incalculable advantage to their countrymen."

T

It may not be improper here to add, that they were introduced to many of the most elevated and distinguished characters in London, who were pleased to express the highest satisfaction with the interview. They were surprized to find so great a change effected in so short a time, and were convinced that Christianity is the most powerful instrument of Civilization. In this point of view, the efforts of the Society will be applauded, and we hope assisted, by the Philosopher and the Philanthropist.

་་་་

An Account of the public examination of the Hottentots, with the answers they gave, without previous preparation, to questions proposed by different Ministers, may be seen in the Evangelical Magazine for December, and in the Supplement. Correct Likenesses of Mr. Kicherer, and of the Hottentots, are prefixed to ́the Evangelical Magazine for January

the

the scruples of many persons, who doubted of the practicability of converting the heathen; and have already increased the friends of this Society. We trust the perusal of this Narrative, and the other African Accounts contained in the present number, will produce a similar effect; and, by increasing the friends of the Society, enable them to extend their efforts to many other nations, whose deplorable state loudly claims our Christian compassion, and invites us to "Go over and help them." The Directors and Members of the Society will now pursue their labours of love with redoubled ardour, thankful to the God of all grace, who hath granted to the African Heathen, repentance unto life, and who hath opened the door of faith to the children of Ham; encouraged thereby to hope that their future labours will not be in vain in the Lord.

THE