Chapter IV: Part 4

In consequence of the recent removals of the 61st and 97th regiments
from Colombo to other parts of the island, our English church has
been almost entirely scattered; but a small number are now again
collected, who have been regularly organized into a Christian
society. Our schools, which at the commencement of the year were
much diminished by the alarming prevalence of the small-pox, have
again recovered to in general their former size; especially the
female school in our own yard, conducted by my own family, which now
numbers more than fifty scholars, who have made very rapid progress
in reading and in needlework. I fear unless we can obtain further
assistance in this school, it must for a time be renounced, as my
eldest daughter appears, by a continued pain in her side, to labour
under a liver complaint, which renders a relaxation of her labours
indispensably necessary, even if a removal to a colder clime be not
requisite to save her life. Our schools, with the exception of one,
which, on account of local circumstances, has for a time been lately
discontinued, are the same in number as at the conclusion of the
last year--and the number of attendants nearly the same.

The inhabitants of this part of the island have been much afflicted
lately by a dreadful flood, which no one living ever recollects to
have been equalled. It came on suddenly and unexpectedly, at
mid-night, like the judgment day. By it multitudes were roused from
their slumbers, and obliged to fly for their lives. Many were killed
by it; the houses of others destroyed--and being near the approach
of harvest, the injury done to the rice and other crops is
incalculable. Many of our members have suffered severely from it, in
the loss of their little property, in the destruction of their
houses, and in the bodily privations they have endured. I went on
Wednesday last to preach at a village where one of our members
lives, and the account he gave me of the perilous condition in which
he and his family were, was most heart-rending. The water rose as
high as the shoulders of a tall man in his house. His dwelling was
washed away. He and his son were obliged to ascend to the outside of
the roof of a bungalow, where they remained two days without food;
if they called no one could hear them, they could get near no one,
nor any one near to them. There, amidst the pelting of the rain--the
howling of the wind--the creaking of the trees--and the fear of the
place on which they were sitting falling, they were obliged to
continue. The government, with the most commendable diligence, sent
boats laden with rice and dried fish, as far as they were able; and
a subscription has been opened to afford relief to the sufferers,
which has been liberally supported. I engaged persons, whom I
supplied with money, to go among the most needy in and near to
Colombo, and give them food to prevent their dying with hunger. Our
meeting-house at Hanwella has been entirely destroyed by the
inundation; and, in the present state of things there, I do not
think it expedient to build it again. A small bungalow will be
erected for the accommodation of those who wish to hear the word of
God; and I hope to obtain a sufficient quantity of timber from the
wreck to erect a little place of worship at Byamvillee, if I can
obtain sufficient subscriptions for it.

I have now my hands completely full in preparing an answer to a
Catholic priest's reply to a tract I published on saint and image
worship. I believe I mentioned the original tract, entitled, "St.
Antonio," in my last, which has excited no small stir among the
papists in this place. An abusive and crafty reply has been
circulated by them, to which the Tract Society here has deemed a
rejoinder requisite. As I was the person who began the assault, the
burden of preparing it has fallen on me. The drift of the answer
will be to disprove the authority of tradition--to destroy the
claims of the Roman Catholic church--and show the vanity of the
arguments by which they endeavour to support their soul-destroying
idolatry. It will occupy, as far as I can judge, about 250 pages,
and is now nearly ready for press. Indeed the first sheet is gone to
it; but as the Wesleyan press works very slowly, and they have two
or three other works in hand, it may be some time before it makes
its appearance. O that it may be the means of leading some of the
multitudes of the deluded people by whom we are surrounded, to
consult the Bible for themselves!

* * * * *

SEEBPORE.

We are thankful to report that our friends Mr. and Mrs. Penney, and their companions, arrived in safety at Calcutta, about the end of September. Two months afterwards, as our readers will perceive by the following letter, Mr. and Mrs. George Pearce rejoined their missionary associates, with health mercifully recruited by their voyage.

By the good providence of God my dear partner and I arrived once
more in Calcutta, in safety, about the end of November last, after a
speedy and pleasant passage to the shores of India, of three months
and twenty days. The voyage proved very beneficial to the health of
us both, but particularly so to Mrs. Pearce, who landed here much
stronger than she was when she left Bristol. We had the happiness of
finding all our immediate associates well; and that Mr. Penney, with
his companions (with the exception of Mrs. Anderson, of whose
lamented decease you have long ere this been apprised), had arrived
in safety. I mentioned in my letter to you from Madeira, that the
Captain of the St. George had requested me to conduct divine service
on the Lord's-day. This I continued to do till the close of the
voyage, and I had the happiness to witness the regular attendance of
most of the passengers, as well as the ship's company. We have to
speak in the best terms of the treatment we received from the
Captain and officers of the ship, and also from the passengers.

I should have written to you before this, but I was anxious to
inform you at the same time of the station we are to occupy in
future. That point is now settled, and Seebpore, the place I
mentioned to the Committee when in England, is to be the place of my
future labours. Here I have already obtained a house, situated on
the bank of the river, about a mile and a half below brother
Thomas's, at Howrah, and am now residing in it. The spot will prove,
I hope, a very eligible one for native work, as we are in the midst
of a very dense and respectable Hindoo population, with ready access
to numerous villages a few miles in the interior. With the exception
of one or two schools for teaching Bengalee, under the patronage of
the Bishop's College, there is nothing being done here, for the
instruction of the heathen in the knowledge of Christ; and I believe
of late years, nothing has been done. As far as I know of Calcutta
and its suburbs, there is no spot that I am aware of, that needs
missionary efforts more than Seebpore, and none more eligible. May
the blessing of God attend the efforts now about to be made for
their spiritual benefit!

The brethren have requested me also to resume charge of the
Luckyantipore station, and to take the oversight of Kharee also, as
brother W. H. Pearce is desirous of relinquishing it, in consequence
of his increasing work in Calcutta. This I have consented to do, not
however without being in some measure sensible of the arduous nature
of the work now devolving on me; especially as the number of people
at the stations have considerably increased, and are greatly
increasing. I would, however, humbly look to Him who giveth strength
according to our day. This department of my work will occasion my
leaving home for days together several times in the year. The
brethren have also considered it proper to divide the Christian
Boarding School; and as Mrs. Ellis was desirous of some relief,
owing to the increase of the schools, her weaker state of health,
and the increasing cares of her family, Mrs. Pearce has been
requested to take charge of the girls' department; which she has
consented to do; and in the course of a few days expects to enter
again on this interesting sphere of labour. I have little more to
add, excepting just to mention that, about ten days after my
arrival, I accompanied brother W. H. Pearce on a journey to
Luckyantipore, where we had the pleasure of baptizing eight natives.
A full account of this interesting journey you may soon expect.

Under date of the 9th of December, Mr. Anderson remarks:--

Since I have no interesting intelligence to communicate respecting
my own labours in this country, perhaps I may be privileged to speak
of the good that has apparently resulted from the labour of others.
And here I would refer to the native church, over which W. H. Pearce
presides as the pastor; it is impossible to contemplate but with
feelings of interest and gratitude, upwards of sixty of your
fellow-creatures, who were once in the darkness of heathenism, now
uniting in rendering worship to the true God. There is an appearance
too in many of them, that would indicate that they live very near to
God--that they are none other than the meek and penitent followers
of the Lamb. I would not forget to mention the schools at Chitpore,
under the care and superintendence of my esteemed friend the Rev. J.
Ellis; they speak highly of the diligence and devotedness of the
labours both of himself and of his dear partner in life. Having been
requested to examine them in history, geography, and the Scriptures,
I complied, and the result was most satisfactory, and beyond all
expectation. I would that I could say any thing to stir up the minds
of the friends at home on behalf of these valuable institutions. In
addition to the five youths, who have publicly professed their faith
in Christ by baptism, and who afford unequivocal proof of a change
of heart, there are two others, who will speedily follow their
example. We bless God for these fruits, which we hope are but the
earnest of a future glorious harvest.

* * * * *

DIGAH.

We learn, by a letter from Mr. Lawrence, dated the 22nd of November, that he was about to remove from this station to Allahabad. At that large and populous city, which, it is expected, will be the seat of the new presidency, he will be joined by Mr. Anderson, and both will labour in conjunction for the benefit of the native population of Allahabad and its neighbourhood. The reasons for taking this step have been explained at length to the Committee, who concur in the arrangement, and trust it will promote, in an increased degree, the great object in view.

* * * * *

JAMAICA.

The tenor of recent letters from this island is, on the whole, highly satisfactory. Our brethren on the north side are actively engaged in rebuilding their chapels. Mr. Knibb writes from Falmouth, under date of the 20th of February:--

My church is, I hope, in a prosperous state; most of the backsliders
have returned with weeping and supplication, while the inquirers are
pressing forward to the kingdom of God. Since my return rather more
than 200 have been baptized; their experiences have delighted me; I
do believe that the Lord has been with them of a truth: full 1000
are now waiting for examination. I shall proceed slowly and
prayerfully with them, and I hope shall receive assistance from
above. Most of those who have been baptized were praying for five
years, during which time, their conduct, as far as we are able to
discover, has been consistent. My plan is this, I examine each one
privately, Mrs. K. talking with the females. The deacons are
appointed to examine into their conduct, and I get them to talk with
them. I then call a church-meeting, read over the names of those
whom I have examined, and of whom I think favourably, and request
any member present to mention any thing they know against any one.
If nothing is said, I receive them for baptism. I speak as plainly
as I can, and I feel that, if they are deceived, I am clear of their
blood.

On February the 14th, the corner-stone of the new chapel was laid,
and a glorious day it was. Being Saturday, the country friends could
be with us, and they came from various distances of ten to fifteen
and twenty miles round. About half-past three the service commenced.
We had erected half our useful tent, and had provided a temporary
platform under it. Brother Hutchins commenced by giving out the
102nd Psalm:

Let Zion and her sons rejoice,
Behold the promised hour;
Her God hath heard her mourning voice,
And comes t' exalt his power.

Brother Burchell read several short and very appropriate portions of
the word of God, and engaged in prayer. Brother Tinson gave a short
address; when he and brother Dendy, with myself, proceeded to lay
the stone, which had previously been prepared, and a cavity made, in
which was placed a bottle containing a short account of the
formation and the history of the church and the laying of the stone,
with the coins of his present Majesty in it. After reading aloud the
inscription, I placed the _medal_ struck in commemoration of the
abolition of Slavery, presented to me on the 7th of August at the
City of London Tavern. When this part of the ceremony was completed,
which excited intense interest, brother Dendy gave a most
appropriate address for about fifteen minutes, and we sang,

Now let the slumbering church awake,
And shine in bright array;
Thy chains, O captive daughter, break,
And cast thy bonds away.

The collection was then made, which amounted, with the one on Lord's
day for the same object, to £104. 10s., of our money. I then
addressed the multitude assembled, urged upon those who were
emancipated an attention to their duties, and having, as I thought,
a fit opportunity, as two or three magistrates were present, assured
them that I was still the foe of slavery, and the friend of the
oppressed; and that, while they acted right, I would defend them,
let the consequences to myself be what they might. Another hymn
being sung, brother Dexter concluded in prayer. Though nearly 3000
persons were crowded together, the utmost order prevailed, while to
me it was truly a happy day.

On the Sabbath-morning (the fifth anniversary of my recognition as
their pastor), the ordinance of baptism was administered to
seventy-two persons. The place selected was the sea, at the point of
a beautiful cove; full 2500 persons were assembled, no unseemly
noise was made, or gazing curiosity manifested. We commenced by
singing and prayer. Brother Burchell administered the ordinance; it
was one of the most solemn seasons I ever had the pleasure to
witness. On returning home numerous were the greetings we received
from our happy friends; the narrow road was lined for nearly half a
mile with them--truly it was a scene I longed that you should
behold. Brother Burchell preached in the morning; I received the new
members by the right hand of fellowship in the afternoon, and
administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which was a solemn
season, and rendered additionally so by its being the anniversary of
my pastorate among them; which brought to their and to our minds our
dear departed brother Mann. At the conclusion I tried to sing the
hymn we sung at his death, but they wept and sobbed aloud. Oh, they
did love him, they still love him, and he was every way worthy of
their love. Brother Tinson preached in the evening; and, rather
fatigued _in_ but not _of_ the exercises of the day, we closed our
fifth anniversary.

The first stroke of the foundation was struck on the 10th of
February, the anniversary of dear Mann's death; it was not done by
design, but was purely accidental. The corner-stone was laid on the
anniversary of my release from prison, being three years from that
period.

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.

Mr. and Mrs. Quant embarked for Nassau, in the Little Catharine, Captain Kopp, on Monday, May 11th; and Mr. and Mrs. Shotton, for Jamaica, in the Witton Castle, April 28th.

LIST OF FOREIGN LETTERS LATELY RECEIVED.

=East Indies= Rev. W. H. Pearce Calcutta Dec. 8.
---- G. Henderson Berhampore Dec. 9.
---- G. Pearce Seebpore Jan. 7.
---- Ebenezer Daniel Colombo Dec. 27.

=West Indies= ---- H. C. Taylor Old Harbour March 6.
---- J. Clarke Jericho March 21.
---- W. Knibb Falmouth March 17 & 24.
---- T. Burchell Montego Bay Feb. 23, &
March 17 & 24.
---- F. Gardner Kingston March 30.
---- B. B. Dexter Montego Bay March 16.
---- J. Coultart Sydenham March 11.
---- J. M. Phillippo Spanish Town March 26.
---- Joseph Bourn Belize Feb. 7.
---- Edward Baylis Port Maria Feb. 10 &
Mar. 13
---- Knibb, Abbott,
& Dendy Falmouth Feb. 7.

* * * * *

_Contributions received on account of the Baptist Missionary
Society, from April 20, 1835, to May 20, 1835, not including
individual subscriptions._

_Collected in Scotland by_ Messrs. =Groser= _and_ =Flood=.

Dunfermline:
Collection at Baptist Chapel 5 0 0
Mr. Dewar 2 0 0
-------- 7 0 0

Capar:
Collection at Mr. Watson's 3 0 0
Collected by Mrs. Sturrock 3 11 2
Bible Class 0 10 6
Collected at the Secession Church, Aug. 1,
(for Negro Education) 3 0 0
-------- 10 1 8

Kirkaldy
Coll. at the Baptist Church 8 0 0
John Fergus, Esq. 2 0 0
David Landale, Esq. 1 1 0
-------- 11 1 0

Anstruther:
Auxiliary Baptist Society 1 3 0
Baptist Church 2 15 0
Collection 1 1 6
Missionary Box 0 10 6
-------- 5 10 0

St. Andrews:
Collection 2 2 6
Miss Wilson 1 0 0
-------- 3 2 6

Auchtermuchty:
Collection at Dr. Taylor's 1 10 0

Perth:
Coll. at Mr. Newland's Church 5 6 6
Do. at Mr. Thompson's 5 8 0
Do. at the Independent do. 3 6 1
Perthshire Bible Society (T) 3 15 9
-------- 17 16 4

Dundee:
Aux. Society, by Mr. A. Low 10 0 0
Baptist Meeting, Seagate 6 0 0
Baptist Meeting, Baltic-street 4 0 0
Chapel Shade Penny-a-week Society, by Alex. Doeg 2 0 0
Cards, by Mr. James Low 0 14 0
Collection at the Public Meeting at the
Rev. Dr. Russell's 13 13 8
-------- 36 7 8

Forfar:
Friends at Kerrimuir 0 7 6
Public Meeting 1 17 2
-------- 2 4 8

Brechin:
Society for Missions, Tracts, &c. 3 0 0
Collection at Mr. Blackader's Church W.I.F. 3 9 0
-------- 6 9 0

Montrose:
Secession Church 7 12 0
Monthly Prayer-meeting 1 1 0
Penny Society, by Mr. Mudie 5 0 0
A Thank Offering 2 0 0
-------- 15 13 0
Arbroath:
Collection at Mr. Ramsay's 3 3 6

Aberdeen:
Collection at South Silver-st 6 10 2
Do. at John-street, including £2. 10s.
from a Friend 6 10 0
Do. at Mr. Penman's 2 2 0
Do. at Mr. Spence's 2 10 0
Do. at Mr. Stirling's 3 13 4
Do. at Mr. Thompson's, Sermon and Public Meeting 7 7 0
Donation from Missionary Society in
Mr. Angus's Congregation 2 0 0
From Female Servant Society 2 2 0
From Rev. Mr. Biggs' Church, Fraserburgh 3 0 0
Friends at Fogyloan W.I.F. 1 0 0
Friends, per G. Laing W.I.F. 1 0 0
-------- 37 14 6

Elgin:
Coll. at Mr. Pringle's Chapel 3 0 6
Baptist Meeting 5 0 0
-------- 8 0 6

Banff:
Coll. at Mr. Murker's Chapel 2 16 6
United Prayer-meeting 1 10 0
-------- 4 6 6

Pitgair:
Friends, by Mr. J. Farrier W.I.F. 1 0 0

Mill Seat:
Collection at Mr. Morison's Chapel 2 0 0

Glasgow:
Coll. at Rev. Dr. Heugh's 10 0 0
Rev. Mr. Thompson's, Hutcheson Town 7 18 0
Public Meeting 2 8 2
Rev. Mr. Paterson's 5 0 0
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1 11 6
Rev. Mr. Anderson's, Relief 4 19 0
---- Mr. Macleod's 11 14 0
---- Dr. Wardlaw's 4 2 10
---- Dr. Beattie's 2 17 0
---- Mr. Oris, Female Assoc. 4 0 0
Subscriptions, by Mr. Swan 14 6 9
Do. do. for T. 2 4 0
Do. do. for S. 1 19 0
Do. for _Jamaica School_ 1 1 0
-------- 74 1 3

Huntley:
Collection at Rev. Mr. Hill's 11 0 0
Missionary Society 3 0 0
Youth's ditto 1 0 0
-------- 15 0 0

Paisley:
East Relief Church, Dr. Thompson's 9 13 4
Baptist Church, by Mr. Watson 3 0 0
Mrs. Dunn W.I.F. 1 0 0
Collection at Dr. Ferrier's 2 6 1
Do. at Independent Church 2 12 8
-------- 18 12 1

Insch:
Collection at Rev. Mr. Campbell's 3 3 0

Greenock:
Collection at Baptist Chapel 7 7 6
Do. Union-st., Secession Church 3 3 2
South Parish Church 2 6 6
-------- 12 17 2

Edinburgh:
Collection at Elder-st. Chapel 14 6 4
Do. at the Tabernacle 14 7 4
Do. at Mr. Johnston's Chapel, Nicholsons-street 5 0 0
Do. at Dr. Brown's, Broughton Place 10 0 0
Do. at Mr. Cleghorn's, North College-street 6 0 0
Do. at Mr. M'Gilchrist's, Rose-street 11 11 5
Do. ditto. Public Meeting 7 6 8
Do. at Mr. French's, South College-street 2 14 6
Do. at Mr. Wilkes, Albany-st 4 15 8
Do. at the Baptist Church, Pleasance 6 7 10
Do. at Elder-street Baptist Church
Missionary Society 3 3 0
-------- 91 2 9

Remitted by Mr. H. D. Dickie, Edinburgh:

St. Andrews Missionary Society 4 0 0
Ditto Second donation 2 0 0
-------- 6 0 0

Leith:
Leith Auxiliary Missionary Society 5 10 0
Lochee Society for Propagating Christianity at
Home and Abroad 3 0 0
Dumfries and Maxwelton Penny-a-week Society 3 0 0
Friends in Edinburgh and Leith 15 11 4
Ditto ditto T 0 10 6
John Turnbull Hawick, Esq., for Chapels 1 1 0

Friends in Aberdeen, viz.:
Dr. J. Walker, Lynturk 0 10 0
Mrs. J. Wright, Echt 0 10 0
Ditto for Chapels in Jamaica 0 13 0
-------- 1 13 0

Collected by James Dick 0 8 8
----------
£424 11 7

To the above list we subjoin the following note from Mr. Groser to the Editor:

My dear Brother,

When you publish the recent contributions from Scotland, I will
thank you to acknowledge the kindness which Mr. Flood and myself
experienced throughout our tour. At Edinburgh, at Glasgow, at
Dunfermline, at Kirkaldy, at St. Andrews, at Dundee, at Perth, at
Aberdeen, and at many other places; in short, every where that we
went, we were received with the greatest cordiality. More pulpits
were open to us than we had time or strength to occupy, and we were
compelled to pass unvisited some towns and villages where we had
reason to believe we should have found a hearty welcome. The thanks
of the Committee are especially due to the ministers of the
Seceding, Independent, and Relief denominations, for the readiness
with which they admitted us to preach and collect in their
congregations. Among those churches also which are known
technically as Scotch Baptists, we found much to admire and esteem;
and nothing but more frequent intercourse with each other appears
necessary to create between us and many of their ministers, entire
communion an fraternal confidence.

I am yours truly,
=W. Grosef=.

Boxmoor, Friends, by Miss Church, (Sunday-school £1) 5 15 0

Reading, Auxiliary Society, on account, by Mr. Williams 38 0 0

Miss Cadby's Missionary Box 1 5 5

Oakingham, collection and subscriptions, by Rev. J. Coles 21 7 2

Otley, (Suffolk), by Rev. J. Sprigg 1 15 7

Hitchin, Missionary Association, by Miss Palmer 17 17 0

Poole, subscriptions, by Rev. S. Bulgin 2 1 0

Coate and Bampton, by Mr. Huckvale, (for Jamaica) 4 0 0

Ridgmount, Friends, by Miss Cuttriss 1 18 6

Great Shelford, subscriptions, by Miss Nutter 6 0 0

Suffolk, Society in Aid of Missions, by Shepherd Ray, Esq. 25 7 6

Bewdley, collection, &c., by Rev. G. Brookes 3 0 0

Missionary Box at Mr. Day's, Commercial-road 1 6 6

Exeter, balance of contributions, by Mr. Commins 44 17 7

Harlow, small subscriptions, by Miss Barnard 3 16 6

Hemel Hempsted, collection, &c., by Mr. Ford 21 12 2

Bath, subscriptions, by Rev. O. Clarke 8 1 0

Sway, contributions, by Rev. W. Mursell 6 0 0

St. Alban's, collection and subscriptions, by Rev. W. Upton 31 6 9

Harpenden, do. do. 3 18 6

Kent, Auxiliary Society, on account, by Rev. W. Groser 25 0 0

Dunstable, collection and subscriptions, by
Mr. Gutteridge, jun. 50 3 6

Lymington, &c., by Rev. J Millard 12 0 0

Canterbury, Subscriptions by Mr. Christian 8 12 10
Collected by Miss Philpot and Mrs. West 19 5 0
-------- 27 17 10

DONATIONS.

Edward Giles, Esq., _Clapham Common_ 50 0 0

Mrs. Giles, _Do._ 50 0 0

John Baylis, Esq., _Ponder's End_ 30 0 0

B. L. Ward, Esq., _Stanground_ 21 0 0

Mr. Dunnicliff, _Clifton_, near _Ashbourne_,
by Rev. W. Hawkins 5 0 0

_Widow and Orphans' Fund._

Lady, by Rev. John Neave, _Portsea_ 2 0 0

* * * * *

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The thanks of the Committee are returned to Mr. B. L. Ward, for twenty-four of his pamphlets "On the Importance of Missionary Effort." To Mr. J. E. Mogridge, Birmingham, for a parcel of books and pamphlets. To Miss Dafforne, Camberwell, for magazines, and a parcel of small books and lesson boards. To Mrs. Risdon, and Friends, Pershore, for work bags, pincushions, needle-books, &c. To Mrs. Jacobs, of Wingham, for a similar parcel. To Friends, by Rev. J. Pilkington, for ditto. To a Young Friend, by Rev. J. M. Cramp, for pincushions, &c., prepared during long confinement in a sick chamber; and to Ladies belonging to the Baptist Chapel at Canterbury, for a box of useful and fancy articles for the schools in Jamaica.

J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.