Translations. Another fact in our missionary history is, that the Madras Bible Society, auxiliary to the Br. and For. Bib. Soc., or rather the General Committee of that society, at their last meeting, which I happened to be here in time to attend, ble either to perform well what devolv-| Committee of the Madras Bible Societyed upon me in both departments, or to bear up longer the burden that was crushing my spirits and my life down to the dust. All things prayerfully considered, although I feared what has since come upon the church here, only one of two things appeared possible to be done; either to relinquish the idea of being a Teloogoo missionary and de-adopted a resolution similar to that of vote my whole time and talents to the the parent society, in reference to English department, and try to make translations and revisions,-requiring something of it; or else, relinquishing them to be in all cases, conformed to my labors in English, to remove into the principles of " the authorized English version." the Teloogoo country, be a missionary Thus directing the to the heathen, and really commence transfer, and forbidding the translation our Teloogoo mission anew. The of words relating to the ordinances, former, it is needless for me now to and requiring that wherever doubt or say, I could not under my circumstan- obscurity exists in the English verces do. The latter was the only alter- sion, the same should be perpetuated native. I removed, and have since in the language into which the transbeen entirely given up to the interests of lation is made. This rule, as adopted the mission in the native department, by the committee, extends to revisions --so much so, that until I now came as well as to translations, and in accordto Madras, I had not preached a single ance with it, in the revision of the sermon in English since I left Madras Teloogoo scriptures, which has been last year. I have, from many causes, for some time proceeding under their been unable to do what seemed really direction, the Greek words relating to desirable in the way of correspond- the ordinance of baptism have been ence during the year. I trust, how- adopted, with Teloogoo terminations, ever, that God will help me, if my life which words, to a native, however inis spared, to do far more writing, and telligent, and however desirous of preaching, (to the natives of course) learning the truth, can have no meanand praying, this year, than I did last. ing whatever. The resolution adoptI feel the need of a close walk with ing this rule, was warmly discussed God; and of being divested of worldly and strongly opposed at the meeting cares, and of laboring more and more of the General Committee, but was for souls. But though I do thus feel, finally carried. Some few stood out and though I do thus labor, it can to the last, and when overruled, they never accomplish what needs to be resolved to enter their solemn protest. done in the English department in Madras. Neither br. Van Husen nor myself can feel it our duty to engage in this department, under existing circumstances, and yet we are both deeply impressed with the claims of Madras on our denomination. The circumstances I have mentioned above, speak for themselves. I might add, that there are now two other individu als who desire to be baptized, and quite probably I may baptize them ere I leave. Several others are almost convinced of their duty in this respect, -but what shall be done with them? The church is not in a proper situation to receive them. Probably some of those who are still steadfast, will ere long be turned away; and should any new ones be baptized, there is no hope of their walking consistently for a long time as insulated individuals without connexion with any body of chris tians. A Dictionary of the Bible, in Tamil (the language of Madras, and of all in which I am informed, the ordinance south,) has just issued from the press, of baptism is at some length expounded, and is positively declared to be performed by sprinkling water upon the candidate. From what has been already said,and I might easily fill another sheet with important considerations on this subject,-the Board will see the importance of having a missionary at Madras. The relation which this position would sustain, not only to the Teloogoo mission, but to the whole of southern Hindustan,-to Burmah and to all the other missions in this quarter of the globe,-is worthy of serious cousideration. A missionary in this place, though chiefly devoted to labours in the English department, would hold a near relation to the native field, and would acquire a know ledge of the Teloogoo language, so far at least, as to be able to read it. But I know, from some experience, that it requires no small labor to sustain the duties of a Baptist minister in this place, even were he devoted wholly to the English department. ticularly to call the attention of the Board to this subject. They are aware that Messrs. Gordon and Pritchett, London missionaries of Vizagapatam, previous to their death, translated the entire bible into Teloogoo. The new testament, Genesis, twenty chapters of Exodus, and the Psalms, have been printed by the Madras Bible Society. The remaining portions of the old testament have been in the hands of the society twelve or fourteen years. It is due to the society, however, to state, that it has been embarrassed in its op erations for want of means. That Messrs. Gordon and Pritchett's version should be perfect, could not reasonably be expected. The late Mr. Reed of Bellary, was engaged at the time of his death in revising this version. He died a few weeks since, and entered, we doubt not, into his rest. He was the only member of the Teloogoo committee on revision thoroughly qualified for translation; and he in his revision of Matthew, which is all I have seen, has transferred the Greek terms relating to baptism with Teloogoo ter Undoubtedly the heathen have greater claims to our direct labors, than English and country-born nominal christians, and I am still fully of the opinion that I was two years ago, when I wrote to the Board on the subject; that if there be only one missionary on the coast, and he is considered as devoted to the Teloogoos, Madras is by no means the proper place for him. But circumstances are now changed. The Teloogoo mission is commenced, and, I trust, is moving onward successfully. We have two missionaries, with their families; one native assistant; one East Indian, (M'Carthy) a fine youth who loves the cause much, and who is preparing, as we trust, for an efficient fellow-laborer; and another native convert, baptized in September last, who already does assist, though not as yet recog-minations.* In Mr. Pritchett's printed nized in that capacity. If God spares us all, we shall hope to do something for his cause in the Teloogoo field; and now, were another suitable man sent out, we should be quite willing to have him remain at Madras. We do earnestly entreat the Board, if possible, to send a man fitted for this place. We have every reason to believe, that were a Baptist minister at this station, God would greatly bless his labors, and honor him as the instrument, not only of converting sinners, but of leading other inquiring minds to a knowledge of the truth. Once more I unite my voice with that of my worthy colleague, in earnest entreaty to the Board,-forget not Madras,-forget not your Teloogoo mis version of the new testament, Snanamoo, is used to indicate baptism,-a term that signifies bathing. Moonáhoo (verb active,) signifies to dip, to immerse, to sink under a liquid, and is so used by the people. In view of these facts, your missionaries will feel an embarrassment in circulating the present versions. They cannot do so without feeling that a part of the word of God is withheld from this numerous and interesting people. The present seems to us an important crisis. The field will doubtless soon be occupied by others, as the missiona ries both of the A. B. C. F. M. and of the London Missionary Society, have signified their intention of urging upon their respective Boards, the appointment of persons specially designated to the department of Teloogoo translation. And from the specimen above given, the Board will readily perceive *See remarks of Mr. Day in the preceding letter. Mr. Day says-"The word here used, is unknown to Teloogoo writers or readers, except such as have lived since the days of scripture translation. It is a new-coined word, by some missionary in Tamil, and thence introduced into the Teloogoo translation. Moonáhoo, and its corresponding verbal noun, have precisely the meaning of baptizein and baptisma, in Greek, and are the words which we uniformly use in designating the ordinance." the consequence of having the work of translating the scriptures into the Teloogoo language,left wholly in the hands of those who give to them such an interpretation, or of those who are bound by the rule adopted by the American, and the Br. and For. Bible Societies. Must then your missionaries be subjected to the necessity of circulating versions that are made to conform implicitly to the present English version? Must they be content to continue on in their work, under the painful conviction, that a part of the word of God is concealed from these 8 or 10,000,000 of heathen among whom they labor? Or will the Board, the representatives of the denomination with which we have the honor to be connected, give to this people the whole bible faithfully translated? And if the latter, by whom shall it be done? We are willing to do what we can, but we feel that this work cannot be required of us. A man possessing the requisite qualifications should be sent to Madras. That place possesses ample facilities for the accomplishment of the work. Its relative position with respect to the A'sám, the Burman, Si- | amese, and especially the Teloogoo mission,-its Teloogoo population and its central location in reference to the great field of missionary effort in the east, are considerations which I am sure the Board will not overlook. May the God of all truth direct you, and render you instrumental in spreading the pure light of the gospel over the darkness of the heathen world. My health is very good, as is also Mrs. Van Husen's and that of our associates. Arracan. other complaints, and has not yet en- It was not a small comfort to me to visit our dear friends in Ramree and Sandoway. I distributed about 4000 tracts in villages, and preached the gospel to many attentive assemblages of people. In obscure villages, I found persous who had on some former occasion heard more or less of the chrisSickness in Mr. K's family-Cholera- tian religion, and were eager to read Visit to Ramree, Sandoway, &c. and listen to the word of God. I canPreaching. MR EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF Several circumstances prevent my writing the Board as fully as I could wish. 1 had intended doing so at the close of 1840, giving a pretty full account of the last year's labors, and its results, but this must be deferred for a time, if not altogether. I have had no small amount of trials to grapple with during the past six months. All the family have been ill more or less, but our eldest child has been a great sufferer from fever and not doubt but that truth is gaining ground, while idolatry, in the minds of multitudes, is being slowly, but certainly undermined. Persecution of the Karen christians. A report is every where in circulation, that the king of Ava has sent out an order, that all who have embraced the religion of Christ must recant or be beheaded; and that all "white books" must be burnt. How far this may be true, I am unable to say; but In a few days, I intend visiting a number of villages in this district, where I have been invited, and where I hope to plead the Savior's cause before a great multitude. I shall also have an opportunity of distributing a few books and tracts to advantage. that the king is capable of adopting | formed me that he died in a serene such a course, and pursuing it to the frame of mind. utmost, no one acquainted with his character can doubt. At this moment the christian Karens are suffering imprisonment, torture, and fines. To flee from the country is impossible, unless they abandon their wives and children, so vigilantly are all the mountain passes guarded. Their sufferings demand our sympathy and our prayers. I cannot learn that the Burman converts in Ava and Rangoon are suffering. They are too few and too much lost in the crowd of a large city, to awaken attention. But not so with the Karens; they meet for worship in large assemblies, scattered among a great number of villages. Mr. Abbott, however, will give a full account of these things. Course of missionary labor-Converts and inquirers. Barens. EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR, The Mergui station, to which Mr. B. is at tached, embraces seven or eight villages, scattered among the hills, and along the banks of the Tenasserim river. At most of these villa ges, native assistants and school teachers are stationed, and they are visited, usually, by the missionaries, during the dry season. Mr. Ingalls is devoted more particularly to the Burman, and Mr. Brayton to the Karen (Pgho) department. A Pgho chief-Favorable prospects—Influence of a Burman. In my last letter to the Board, I mentioned this place, and I will now give you an outline of what has been done among this class of people (the Pgho Karens) here. My course of labors in this town are the same as when I wrote last. A few of our old inquirers have entirely fallen The latest published intelligence off, but then the better part are still inquirers, and a few cheer us with the from this station is contained in the letters and hope that the truth finds a resting-journal of Mr Ingalls, in the March number of place in their hearts. There are also the Magazine. many new visiters, and among them some who have been bitter opposers. All the principal priests call at the house and hear the truths of the gospel. None of them oppose, at least openly, and one recently confesses that he believes. Our assemblies are not uniform; 20 perhaps is the lowest number and 100 the highest, though very rarely there are more than 100. A few give evidence of a change of heart, and at times have been ready, apparently, for baptism, but still delay. We need a time of refreshing from the Lord's presence, to quicken our faith, to warm our hearts, and to clothe the word with divine power. We need to enter more vividly into the real condition of immortal souls, and to feel a just sense of our accountability. I should have mentioned the reception of a large box of testaments, parts of the new testament and tracts in Bengali and Hindostani, sent by Mr. Thomas from Calcutta. Old Ku-la-pa, a Mug assistant, preaches very well in Bengali. Several Mussulmen of very respectable standing in the town take At the close of the season, however, pains to hear the gospel. Since my I again saw the chief in the city, and last, another of the disciples has gone he requested me to send a man to his to his rest. He died while I was ab- place to teach the children their own sent, but the assistant, Ku-la-pa, in-language. I felt it my duty to comply Soon after my arrival in Mergui, the chief of all the Pghos on this river, called at my house and listened attentively to the truth. He appeared very anxious to have his children and others learn to read. He appeared so well, that our hopes were somewhat raised in respect to him and his people. But when the Burmans learned that he had been to my house, they spared no pains to turn his mind from the truth. And when we visited his place, the first of last dry season, we found a Burman priest living at his house. We soon found that this human deity had gained so much influence over the people, that it was useless for us to try to do anything while he remained among them. with this request, and accordingly sent | his influence, and am confident it has Kon-blon-pau, at the commencement been decidedly favorable. Although of last rains. The first of November last, I came here, with Mrs. B. and spent about two weeks. We found that the children had been much averse to the idea of learning to read their own language. There are several causes operating to produce this aversion. It is something entirely new. Some are afraid; others are ashamed, &c. Besides, they universally connect the idea of learning to read with becoming Christians. Therefore to make up the mind to learn to read, and to be a disciple, is about the same thing. One young man, however, (the chief's son) had learned to read quite well. He then said he had made up his mind to become a Christian. A number of children told us, "We wish now to learn to read." The Burman priests have ceased calling, and even arrackpedlars now shun this place. One young man with a small family, said he wished to learn to read, and would build a zayat at his place, (a little above here) if I would send Kon-blon-pau there. One family, who had formerly heard the gospel from br. Mason, said they wished to be with the disciples and serve God. The state of things was such, that we felt it our duty to spend most of the season on this river. Accordingly, after making one tour to Ka-mah-kah, we returned to this place the first of this month. At an expense of about 20rs, I have put up a little place, where Mrs. B. is to remain and teach the children, while I go from place to place. Mrs. B's. health is at present quite good. Since our return, we find that the family mentioned above, do not appear quite as favorable as they did. Still, we do not give them up. The young man who has learned to read, also appears a little off. The chief himself is so much engaged for the English at the coal mines, that he has no time to attend to his soul. The Burmans are unceasing in their efforts to oppose the progress of truth here. The children say, "We are waiting for our parents." The parents say, "When all become Christians, we will." Though our present prospect is not flattering, still we are not disheartened. Our hope is in God. But we feel the need of more humility, faith, and holiness. I mentioned before, that Konblon-pau had been stationed here as an assistant. I have now had an opportunity of witnessing the effect of no hopeful conversions have as yet appeared among the Pgho Karens on this river, still I think considerable has been gained in favor of the truth. In our visit to Ka-mah-kah, we found the little band of brethren there, though in the midst of wolves, apparently strong in the faith. We spent about three weeks in that region, but found the people very strongly attached to their old customs and the Burman religion. At the close of the rains, Tondee and his family came to this place. Here I had the pleasure of baptising two of his daughters, which make the whole of his family that have been baptised, except one little girl. These, with one convert from Maulmain, make the Ka-mah-kah church at present number thirteen. It will probably be my duty, as soon as another rainy season, to commence the translation of the new testament in Pgho Karen. 1 say commence, for, though we have Matthew now in print, yet, as it was only translated by a native from Sgau to Pgho, it needs so much revising, as to require nearly as great an amount of labor, as it would, to take it in the commencement. EXTRACTS Germany. FROM A LETTER OF MR. ONCKEN, DATED EDINBURGH, (SCOT- Intelligence from Denmark-State of the church in Hamburg-Baptists in Pomerania. I hasten to transmit to you the two enclosed letters from our beloved brethren at Copenhagen, from which the Board and our churches in the United States may learn the prospects of the infant cause in Denmark. I hope it will rouse them all to fervent prayer at a throne of grace on their behalf, aud also, that it will induce the Board to send some faithful man to plead the cause of these oppressed followers of Christ. Ecclesiastical and civil power are united, and are using their utmost efforts to suppress the truth. Let us bless God for the uncommon degree of holy submission and fortitude which our suffering brethren manifest, and let us confide in our faithful God, that the victory will ultimately fall on the side of his persecuted saints. |