100 8 6

145 12 6 2263 8 0 7. 2409 0

6

s. d.

2586 1 10

175 3 11

63 18 4 7.2825 4 1

The sale of Publications, above specified, was at reduced prices, their value having peen 29641. 8s. 10d.

NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE
SOCIETY.

FORTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY.

At noon, on Tuesday, the 11th of May, the Earl of Roden took the Chair at the Annual Meeting, held at the Argyle Rooms. Major Close, one of the Secretaries, read the report; from which it appeared that upward of 4200 Bibles and Testaments had been issued during the Year.

State of the Funds.

The receipts of the year were 22771. 7s. 9d., and the payments 23247. 78. 1d. Considerable progress has been made in liquidating a debt due from the Society, but about 6001. yet remains unpaid.

The collection amounted to 1717. 15s. 2d.; of which the sum of 717. 12s. consisted of Donations and new Subscriptions.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

Sermons.

Wednesday morning, the 12th of May, at Surrey Chapel by the Rev. H. Townley -the same evening at the Tabernacle, by the Rev. T. Smith, M.A., of Rotherhamon Thursday evening, the 13th, at Totten-, ham-Court Chapel, by the Rev. Edward Irving, M.A.-on Friday morning, at Christ Church, Newgate-Street, by the Rev. W. Pryce, Perpetual Curate of Loudwater, Bucks.—and, the same evening, at the Poultry Chapel, to the Members of Juvenile Auxiliary Societies, by the Rev. Dr. Collyer. This Evening, the Communion was administered, as usual, at four different places.

Annual Meeting.

At half-past ten o'clock on Thursday morning, the 13th, the Chair was taken at

Among the resolutions offered on the occasion is the following:

---That, while this Meeting feels grateful satisfaction in reference to the general state of the Society's affairs, it cannot but express its unfeigned sorrow at the affecting events which have recently taken place in the Colony of DEMERARA; its deep regret that intolerance and persecution should have been so awfully manifested, its solemn conviction, that, notwithstanding all the efforts of calumny and injustice, the legal and moral innocence of their esteemed Missionary the LATE REV. JOHN SMITH has been established, on the ground of unequivocal evidence, its affectionate sympathy with his Widowed Relict and Mourning Friends---relieved by the consolatory remembrance, that, while the honour of a Martyr's Name invests his memory, the Spirit of Glory and of God rested upon him in the scenes of arduous and faithful exertion, in the hour of trial, and in the prospect of immortality; and, above all, the Society cannot but express its hope, that, from the justice and liberality of the British Legislature, a reversal of the fatal sentence may be obtained, and its cheering persuasion, that, in the results already secured, these disastrous events have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel.

Salaries, poundage, rent, furniture, pub

lic meetings, and incidentals

The collections at the sermons were 1017. 3s. 8d.; and that at the meeting 55l. 15s. 10d., besides donations and subscriptions, which amounted to 591. 17s.

The object of the Continental Society, which was formed in 1818, is " the diffusion of religious knowledge on the Continent of Europe."

Infidelity, in various forms and under different names, has deeply infected the continental churches and nations. Bible Societies have happily been the means, both of bringing together those sincere Christians who mourned over the spiritual desolations of their respective countries, and also, by their means, of stemming the overwhelming torrent of error and impiety. In this juncture, the Continental Society has a wide and promising field opening to its labours; the cultivation, however, of which confessedly requires the exercise of great circumspection. The interference of Foreigners in the religious state of a professed Christian country, must at all times have a tendency to excite jealousy; and to expose, of course, their agents and representatives to ill-will and opposition: the Society pursues, therefore, the wise course of employing none but native ministers: wherever these are found, of any of the continental communions, able and willing to assist in the diffusion of Scriptural Light in their own immediate neighbourhoods, by preaching and by the distribution of the Scriptures and Tracts, they are assisted in this work by the Society, as far as the funds will allow. There are now twenty ordained ministers of this description, who are thus promoting the objects of the Society, at various stipends, according to circumstances, from 50l. to 80l. per annum.

The Society, while it employs truly

GREENLAND MISSION.

VOYAGE OF J. CONRAD KLEINSCHMIDT

TO THE SOUTH OF GREENLAND.

Object and commencement of the voyage. Having received a commission from the Directors of the Missions of the Brethren, to visit the southern parts of Greenland, in the neighbourhood of Staatenhuk, in consequence of the great desire expressed by the heathen in that quarter, to hear the gospel and be converted to Christ, I set out on the 3d of July, 1821, accompanied by the best wishes and fervent prayers of my fellow-labourers at Lichtenau, and commended by them to the care, protection, and blessing of the Lord. Difficulties and dangers were to be expected; but confidence in my Almighty Saviour made me fear no evil, and I committed myself and my company into His faithful hands. My commission was to procure the best information respecting the state of the country, and the disposition and character of the heathen inhabitants of southern Greenland, to ascertain whether any insuperable difficulties existed, to prevent the establishment of a fourth mission of the Brethren in that district; and, finally, to sow the seed of the Word of God, among the heathen who might fall in our way, in dependence upon the divine blessing.

As we stepped into the boat, on leaving Lichtenau, that venerable servant of God, our late Brother, Jacob Beck, took leave of me with great affection, and exclaimed, “Go thou in the name and with the blessing of God. The joy of the Lord be thy strength, and do thou His work with gladness."

Number of persons embarked for the enterprise.

Passing by the warm baths, we saw the Greenland Brother, Frederick, according to appointment, coming to join us with his boat. He was willing to undertake this expedition, and to yield us every assistance; for on such a voyage in unknown seas, amidst floating ice, by which these thin boats are so easily injured, it is desirable, VOL. V.

32

and indeed highly necessary, to have two boats in company, by way of guarding against accidents. Of this we had a proof the first day; Frederick's boat sailing before us, struck upon a sunken rock, and, by giving us immediate warning, prevented our heavy and deeply laden boat from running upon it, which might have been attended with dangerous consequences.

Our company consisted of the national assistants, Benjamin, Frederick and Shem. The two first having their families with them, and eight Christian women from Lichtenau were engaged as rowers. Thus the whole company consisted of thirteen adults, besides four children.

Unexpected hinderance.

We made about thirty English miles on the first day, and in the evening arrived at Nennortalik, the last Danish establishment towards the south. I was most kindly received and entertained by our good friend, M. Aroe, the resident Danish merchant. But here we heard to our great sorrow, that, towards the south the sea was completely covered with drift-ice, and that no passage could be found for our boats. To increase our apprehension, a violent storm arose from the same quarter, which never fails to drive the floating ice towards the land, and to make it impossible to proceed. I therefore went to bed under great depression of spirits, and cried to the Lord to grant us His help: for I began to fear, that the whole aim of our undertaking would be frustrated, unless God should please to remove this difficulty. Waking in the night, I betook myself again to prayer for help and comfort, when that Scripture occurred to my mind with great power, Zechariah viii. 6,-" Thus saith the Lord of hosts, If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts." I took courage, and could trust in Him, whom "wind and waves obey." On the 5th, the storm ceased and the clouds cleared away. Climbing up a high hill, and turning towards the south, I beheld, with surprise and joy, that, as far as my

sight would carry, very little floating ice was to be seen.

Interview with a party of the Southland Heathen.

On the 6th we proceeded, a boat with heathen from the south having joined us, by which our little flotilla was augmented to three boats and eight kayaks. This forenoon we passed by a steep and lofty promontory, considered very dangerous to double. Some years ago, a boat filled with Southlanders was upset there, and all on board perished; another was crushed to pieces by the ice, and a poor old woman had her leg cut off, by the pressure of the closing flakes. Having heard that in this neighbourhood several boats full of strag gling Southland heathen had lately arrived, I felt a great desire to visit them, and speak to them of the way of salvation: two of our men in their kayaks served as guides. In the evening we discovered their camp: on seeing us approach, they called to us to come forward, promising to accompany us to the south. We found here twelve tents, and as many on the other side of the water, Alled with a great number of people. When I stepped on shore I found myself in a crowd, all pressing forward to bid me welcome; and before I could begin to address them, both old and young frequently exclaimed: "We are quite in earnest, we will all be converted." When I replied, that having that opinion of them, I had felt a great desire to visit them, and to speak to them of their Saviour; they answered: "Well, then, you are indeed worthy that we should thank you, and we will pay attention to your words." expressing my surprise at finding such a host of people here, they said: "What, did you suppose that we heathen in the south were only a few? O no! we are a great multitude!" Soon after, poor old Ajangoak, whom I had seen twenty years ago at New Herrnhut, and who has since grown quite blind; came creeping along, supported by a stick. He appeared deeply affected, and said: "I repent, truly, that I formerly paid no attention to your words, and that I have put off my conversion so long. I am near unto death, but I always exhort my children to remove to you, and to be converted, which they promise to do." His children confirmed his words. The poor old man heard with great eagerness what I told him of Jesus and his love to sinners.

On

No sooner had we pitched our tents than the people from the opposite shore came over in boats and kayaks, and expressed their gratitude for my visit, by their friendly faces and words of welcome. Among these hea

then I discovered two families who, when I lived at Lichtenfels, spent a month on our land during the summer, and at that time gave us hopes, that they would be converted. One of the women used to come to the Chapel, and often appeared much affected. We were, therefore, sorry when they left us, and returned to the south, and now that we met them again unexpectedly, they could not sufficiently declare their satisfaction. They said: "We have never forgotten how you persuaded us to be converted, but we could not forsake our country. Now, however, we sincerely intend to be converted to Jesus." The many heathen I found here gave me enough to do. I was so much occupied in listening to their expressions of thankfulness that they were favoured to hear the Word of God, and in exhorting them, that I had scarcely time to eat or drink, my tent being continually filled, and the entrance to it crowded with persons eager to be admitted, as though some curious creature had been brought for a show. To all these I repeatedly explained the object of my visit, and that my Brethren had sent me to them, because we could not bear the thought, that they should be lost, but wished to teach them to know Jesus, and find eternal life and salvation in Him. They replied: "This indeed is the main reason, why we wish to be converted, that when we die, our souls may find a good passage into eternal rest." In the midst of my discourse, a woman exclaimed, "O yes, because there is a Saviour, He is surely worthy, that we should desire after Him." I answered: "To Him we owe our souls and bodies, for He has redeemed us with His most precious blood." I rejoiced to find that the three assistants I had brought with me, both here and in every place confirmed my words. They were never ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but confessed Him boldly before their heathen countrymen, declaring to them, that if they did not turn to Jesus and believe on Him, they could never be saved. "We were," said they, "no better than you, and children of wrath, but we have found pardon and rest for our souls with our Saviour." I frequently heard them conversing in this way with their countrymen, and was much affected, especially when they described the love, mercy, truth,and grace to be found with Jesus, and how pleasant it is to know Him as a Saviour, and to live in communion with him. The heathen often exclaimed, "nuennekau, nuennekau," that is pleasing, that is pleasing.

Old Ababale, who is considered by the natives as possessing great eloquence, and is much respected by them, after declaring that it was his sincere desire to be convert

ed to Jesus, turned to his countrymen, and pointing to me, said: "This is a good man, and a great believer, (meaning a true Christian) and if it is your intention to be converted, then attend to what he says." Many of them declared to me and to the Greenland assistants, that when they heard of us, on the evening before our arrival, they could not sleep for joy. One of them, however, honestly confessed, that the news made no impression upon him, yet as soon as he saw me, he felt in his inward parts a great desire to be converted.

First public Meeting.

As the day was far spent with conversation, I called them all together to a public meeting. None remained behind in their tents; even old blind Ajangoak got somebody to lead him to the place, and I suppose that upwards of 300 were assembled in the open field. I sat on an eminence, the assistants close to me, the men sat down to the right, and the women to the left of us, in regular order. There was no need of commanding silence, for the old people immediately exhorted the young and children to sit quite still "Take your caps off," they cried, "fold your hands, and make no noise." Both old and young obeyed this direction, and I could have wished that all our dear friends, who love the cause of God among the heathen, had been present to behold such a scene, and to see so many hundred heathen sitting in silent devotion, listening to the word of God. I first sang a hymn, and then delivered a discourse on the words of our Lord-Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel unto every creature: after which the assistant Benjamin began, and seemed not to know, from zeal and fervency of spirit, where to stop. But though both discourses were long, the attention and eagerness, with which they were heard, did not in the least abate. Among other words of exhortation, Benjamin said: "All that you have now heard of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and of His bitter sufferings and death for us, is strictly true, and no falsehood. We have made experience of the power thereof in our hearts. We came out from among the heathen, and have attained to true happiness and rest in Jesus, and as you are here like sheep going astray, we come to show you the way to Him, for you may all become as happy as we are."

this day of rejoicing to us all, was peculiarly suited to our situation; Ps. cv. 40, 41"He satisfied them with bread from heaven. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out."

Nutarmio Bay.

On the 7th, all the inhabitants of the twelve tents on our side of the water set out with us for the south, and on the way we were likewise joined by two boats from the opposite side, the owners saying, that they must bring us to their dwellings near Staatenhuk, and there receive us properly. We had a very pleasant voyage, till within a short distance from Staatenhuk, where we encountered such a quantity of ice, that we could not penetrate it, and were thus separated from our heathen friends, most of them venturing among the ice, while we hastened for safety towards the shore. I felt not a little alarmed to see our miserable skin boats tossed up and down among the fields of ice and the vast icebergs; in case of any accident, there existed no means of escape. It often happens, that the icebergs burst, with a tremendous crash, and fall into the sea. If kayaks or boats are near them, they are instantly swamped and lost.

We were now glad to get back to shore in safety, and having found a small bay called Nutarmio, we spent Sunday the 8th quietly in it. In our forenoon service, I spoke on the determination of the apostle to preach Jesus and Him crucified to every description of men. Benjamin seemed quite full of the subject, and some heathen entering our tent, and beginning to converse about a variety of subjects, he unexpectedly rose, and gave out and sung several verses from the Liturgies treating of our Saviour's passion. As soon as he began, all the heathen assumed an attitude of devotion, and were quite silent. We joined with all our hearts in Benjamin's liturgy, which indeed was attended with an enlivening sense of the presence of Him, of whom it treated.. The heathen then said: "Oh, it is most pleasant to hear, if but our ears were opened!" by which they meant to signify their desire to understand the expressions concerning our Saviour. In the evening service we prayed the Litany; all the heathen being present, and appearing very devout and attentive.

ty of Greenland.

On the 9th, the ice lay so thick, about the coast, that I feared we should not be able to proceed. However, at noon, one of our heathen friends came running down from