THE MISSIONARY HERALD. VOL. LI. SEPTEMBER, 1855. No. 9. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. LETTER FROM DR. ANDERSON.—No. 3. BATTICOTTA, CEYLON, MAY 26, 1855. Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions: At the close of our conference with the Madura mission, we assisted in the ordination of Winfrid, the first native pastor in that field, as you have already been informed; and then, on the first of March, we took palankeen for Negapatam, on our way to Ceylon. The distance from Madura to that port is one hundred and seventy-five miles; and all the way there is an excellent road, the result of British enterprise. Our route was through Trichinopoly; and from the top of its famous rock we had a view of a cultivated plain extending on all sides to the horizon. At the foot of it we worshiped, on the Sabbath, in one of Schwartz's churches, where Mr. Thompson's ear detected German strains lingering in the music. The missionary is now an Englishman, of the Propagation Society, whom we have occasion to remember with respect. Tanjore, a name familiar to me as household words, lay also on our way, and we spent two days there. Mr. Pope, brother to the missionary at Trichinopoly, has charge of this station, under the Propagation Society, and gave us much valuable information. Schwartz's monument, erected by his pupil, the Rajah, is in the Company's church within the Fort, not now in use; but his mortal remains were buried in the mission church, a mile or more distant. Of VOL. LI. 17 course there are interesting associations connected with the grave of such a man. He was a missionary of the highest order. But his missionary plans have not proved successful; and it is doubtless for our instruction that the causes of their failure have at length become apparent. This Christian village, where natives had liberty to build on mission lands, now containing some eight hundred souls, does not encourage the repetition of such experiments. But Schwartz's great error (perhaps a necessary one in those days) was the allowance of caste among the Christians. It was a great evil; and the resolute endeavors of Mr. Pope to root it out from among his people, for the past four years, have almost deprived him for a time of native helpers. He has found it, he told us, almost like commencing his mission anew. This journey completed nine hundred miles of palankeen traveling in India. Such traveling is done chiefly in the night; and we have generally slept enough on the road to be able to spend the day in writing. Our palankeens were transferred at Negapatam to the small quarter-deck of a native brig bound to Colombo, and, having been lashed to the deck on either side, were our cabins from Friday evening till Monday noon, April 2, when we had the pleasure of landing on the coast of Jaffna, within a couple of miles of Tillipally. Our attendant plucked a dry ola leaf, scratched upon it the fact of our arrival, and sent it off by a messenger. It was the first Monday in the month, and we knew that Mr. Meigs must be attending the missionary prayer meeting at Batticotta. But the means of conveyance soon came, and we were driving over a perfect road, through palmyra groves and paddy fields, to the venerable mission house. In the early evening, Mr. Meigs returned, and gave us a most cordial welcome; and soon afterward the brethren Spaulding, Lord and Burnell came, the last bringing the much desired letters which were awaiting us from kindred and friends. How much there is sometimes crowded into moments of existence! Our home for the night was at Oodooville, where we had the pleasure of greeting the revered Mrs. Spaulding, with Miss Agnew, the valued teacher in the boarding school. The next day we saw most of the brethren, and fully arranged our plan for visiting all the stations. This laborious but agreeable service occupied somewhat more than a fortnight; and, the preliminaries being at length all arranged, the special meeting of the mission began on Wednesday, April 25, and was not brought to a close till May 22. The meeting of the Mahratta missions occupied sixteen days; so did that of the Madura mission; the Ceylon meeting was held twenty, days. Two other days, meanwhile, were devoted to meetings with native Christians, chiefly for conference on the subject of caste; and one was given to a united prayer meeting of missionaries laboring in this province, which proved to be a very interesting occasion; Episcopalians, Wesleyans, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists uniting with one heart to pray for the world's conversion. At the meeting with the native brethren, above referred to, they put forth a declaration, which is their own, with some necessary help; and since the meeting, I understand, ninety-eight males, church members, have subscribed their names to it, including all the leading minds in the native churches. It is as follows: "We, the undersigned, do solemnly pledge ourselves and affirm, that we will wholly renounce in ourselves, and discountenance in others, all caste and other distinctions and usages in society, which tend to foster pride, impair the affections, and hinder the kindly offices of Christian love; and that we will not object to eating any kind of food on account of the caste of the person or persons by whom it is cooked, or offered to us." We were ready to think that our cup of blessedness could not be more full than it was at the close of each of the two protracted meetings on the continent. But here it is running over. We came to Ceylon, as you know, with expectations of missionary problems hard of solution, and practical views among our brethren not easily harmonized. In both respects we have been most happily disappointed. Our visit was evidently at the right time, and we cannot doubt that we were sent of the Lord, to aid our brethren at a critical juncture in their mission, when past successes and all their experience required a re-adjustment of their working system. At the opening of their meeting we stated, with all possible frankness, what seemed to us to be the actual position of their work in its more important relations, and what modifications appeared to be desirable. We were pleased to see, as the meeting advanced, that most of the changes suggested by us were but an expression of the views of the mission. The tendency of mind in our brethren, under the pressure of experience, was all in the same direction with our own; and after the facts had been so arranged as to bring out their actual relations to each other,-a thing easily done,—no protracted or earnest argumentation was needful. So far as I know, the results that have been embodied in some twenty reports, are sustained by the unanimous voice of the mission. The English language, which has acquired an alarming ascendency in the native mind as a means of acquiring wealth, is to be thrown entirely out of our station schools, out of our female boarding school, and out of our Batticotta seminary; even should it be expedient, for this and other reasons, to suspend the seminary for a year or two. The length of residence and the number of scholars in the two seminaries are to be reduced. The village school system, besides becoming wholly vernacular, is to be composed in part of Christian schools; and the whole is to be raised in character, and to aim more than ever at self-support and self-propagation. What is perhaps more important than all else, a beginning is to be made, and has been made, in organizing village churches, and ordaining native village pastors. The printing establishment, somewhat reduced, is to be sold to native Christians; or, if that plan should fail, it is to be placed under their superintendence, with a view to its taking root in the native Christian soil; and our printer is expected to remove to the Madura mission, with the intention of occupying one of their six new and desirable station districts. It is among the great mercies in our visit to this part of the world, that we have been permitted by our gracious Lord to assist in ordaining the first in the series of native pastors in each of our three principal India fields, the Mahratta, Madura, and Ceylon. I wrote you concerning the first, and Mr. Thompson wrote concerning the second. I will now briefly speak of the third. This ordination was on Thursday, the 24th of May, at Karadive, an island five miles from Batticotta, and within the district assigned to Mr. Howland. Eight men and women, residing there, were dismissed the Sabbath previous by the Batticotta church, to form this new church. Some of them were once proud Vellalas; and two were from the degraded, outcast Pariahs; but all now one in Christ Jesus. The mission had delegated the organizing of this church and the ordaining of its pastor to a committee of five, with the understanding that the Deputation should assist. It was matter of joy to us all, that on this committee was Mr. Meigs, a member of the first company of missionaries which arrived in 1816, and Mr. Spaulding, who came with the first reinforcement in the year 1820. I did not wonder that one of these respected fathers of the mission gave utterance in his prayer to the exclamation of old Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace." It was a day of historical interest, long to be remembered. The pastor elect bears the cherished name of Cornelius. Though not born in the province, and but little conversant with the English language, and though there were native preachers of much longer standing, he has labored there acceptably for some time, and is of good report among the people for piety and zeal. His call of God, to lead the way in this new form of our work among this people, was undoubted. One of the two deacons elected was Paul, of pariah origin, but, with his wife, among the most excellent of the company. The heathen are said to be much incensed at seeing her presume to dress with Christian modesty, and seat herself on the same mat with her fellow. Christians. I was pained to see that Cornelius and Mr. Howland both had some difficulty in bringing them forward to occupy their appropriate places among their brethren and sisters in Christ. This was partly in consequence of their diffidence, partly from fear of the heathen. The sermon was preached by Mr. Meigs; the ordaining prayer was by Mr. Spaulding; the charge by myself; the right hand of fellowship by Mr. Thompson; and the address to the people by Mr. Howland. This last was very touching. "My children," he said, "can you leave me? These are my children. Why do you leave me? Who leads you away?" More he said in the same strain. Paul wept, and all were moved. It was the voice of their old shepherd; but, notwithstanding this, he was most hearty in the arrangement; and that they all knew. It belongs to this movement for village churches and village pastors, that the people shall do what they can, though it be very little, towards the support of their pastors. A promise to this effect entered into the written call to Winfrid, at Mallangkinerû, in the Madura District. Mr. Howland dwelt strongly on this duty; and it was pleasing to hear afterwards that this view gave increased interest to the movement in the minds of the native Christians, convened from other parts of the province of Jaffna. The day following was a fitting termination of our official intercourse with the respected and beloved brethren of this mission. Early in their special meeting, they unanimously voted to dissolve their ecclesiastical body, as unnecessarily complicating their system, and to do all their missionary work hereafter by means of their simple missionary organization. This would leave the native churches to develope themselves wholly distinct, and give the mission great advantages as an originating and presiding agency. But, inasmuch as the missionary body was to stand thus separated from the native churches, the desire was awakened that a church might be formed of the missionaries and their families. Such a church was actually formed thirty-nine years ago by the first company; of which but a single member now remains on the ground. It was resolved to organize the new church on the same Confession and Covenant with the old. On Friday last it devolved on me, in view of my long connection with the mission as Secretary, to propose the Confession and Covenant for adoption to the eighteen members of the mission, and to preach a sermon; after which Mr. Thompson and myself administered the Lord's Supper to this truly missionary church. A more heavenly season I certainly never enjoyed, and scarcely expect to enjoy, this side of the "better land." As I looked around on the devoted band, it was with a strong confidence that their names were all written in the Lamb's book of life. I am, Dear Brethren, as ever, most truly yours, R. ANDERSON. INTELLIGENCE FROM THE MISSIONS. Strong's Esland. LETTER FROM MR. PIERSON. righteousness and justice established upon them.' After talking with him some time, he said that if we were disposed to take a passage with him, and cruise along through the Kingsmill and Radick groups, stopping at some ten or twelve or more of these islands, he would take us to Strong's Island; but it would be three or four months before we should arrive at the end of our jour It will be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Pierson An unexpected Intervention. The circumstances in relation to their securing a passage are mentioned by Mr. Pierson, under date of May 22. After speaking of the detention at Honolulu, which might have been protracted indefinitely, he says: Captain Handy has been visiting these islands regularly for about seventeen years for cocoa-nut oil, has become well acquainted with many of the natives, tain extent. Indeed, he had lived upon and understands the languages to a cerHe is very desirous to have missionaries one of the islands for several months. settie upon both these groups of islands, In conversation with a man a few days especially upon Radick's and Ralick's since, I happened to ask him if he knew chain. There are no foreigners residing of any opportunity by which we could upon them; and we might preoccupy the reach Strong's Island during the sum- ground, and so avoid many difficulties mer. He replied that there was a vessel that come from wicked foreigners who in port, engaged in sperm-whaling and have gained influence before the arrival procuring cocoa-nut oil; and as the of missionaries. These chains of islands Kingsmill Group is the region for the are both under one king; and all speak oil, possibly he would cruise beyond for one language. The Radick and Ralick whales, and so touch at Strong's Island. chains compose Marshall's group of Upon this suggestion, I went to see the islands. They lie near together, and captain, and asked him where he in- contain at least fifty thousand inhabitended to cruise. He replied, "Among tants. He says this is one of the most the Kingsmill Islands." I inquired if interesting places in the world for a he would visit the Caroline Islands. He mission. said, "No." I told him that I wished to find a vessel that would go to Strong's Island. He said that he was not going into that region. He said that the best he could do would be to take me to the Kingsmill Islands and leave me there; and probably in a few months I should find a passage to Strong's Island. Hawaiian Missionary Society, Mr. Pierson was follows: Mr. Damon and myself called upon the captain immediately, but he said that He then turned, and looked at me very he could not do anything without first closely, and asked, "In what capacity consulting his officers. He took us on do you go?" I replied, "As a mission-board, and summoned the mates and ary." He looked at me very seriously steward to the cabin, and told them that for a minute or more, without saying a there was "a great talk on shore, and word; after which he said, "I have a some people wanted to put missionaries mind to take you to Strong's Island; on board for the islands." The first for I love the missionary work. I want mate said, "I for one am glad of it. missionaries to be placed on every island We need a missionary among us; and in the ocean; and I am willing to do I am willing to take them." Another what I can for the cause. Whalers said, "Whalers have done so much evil have been a curse to these islands long to the people on those islands, that I enough; and I am determined to do will do anything I can for their good. what I can for their good, so as to have I like the plan; and I want the mission 66 |