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most of whom were in a fearfully ignorant and depraved condition, and needing as much the efforts of faithful missionaries of the Cross as the heathen by whom they were surrounded.

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Our brother, Mr. G., had already commenced a Sunday-evening service for the benefit of this class, and was encouraged by the attendance. We preached alternately in an upper room in the fort, belonging to the widow of the former missionary, and were generally pressed for room. little before this subscriptions were set on foot for the building of a new mission chapel, to which the Christian public of India responded very liberally. It was with some difficulty that we could get a suitable piece of ground, but we at last succeeded in obtaining a piece near one of the principal streets of the town. The work proceeded with all possible expedition, and we soon had the gratification of witnessing its walls rising to our view.

We were not long settled down in our new habitation before our hearts were

grieved to behold around us the ensigns of a soul-debasing idolatry, and our ears were pained with the horrible sounds of tomtoms, and other instruments of heathen music. Heathen and Mahommedan festivals frequently passed our house in the middle of the night, disturbing our rest, and exciting within our minds the most painful emotions. During the first year my attention was chiefly directed to the study of the native language, which must be the great object of attainment to every faithful missionary of the Cross in a heathen land. We also commenced a native orphan-school, for the benefit of the native females. The rea

instruction, but Christian influence also, and daily made the subjects of exhortation and prayer at the family altar. 3. We found this the only practical method of gaining any influence over the female part of the population. The native prejudices against female education, the positive injunctions of the Brahmins, and the tyranny of Hindoo custom during the past two thousand years, were all arrayed against any effort made to raise the poor degraded females of India.

It has even been made a question of discussion, amongst their learned men, whether a female really has a soul, or whether she is not to be classed with the irrational creation.

To illustrate this remark, I may just relate the following incident, which took place shortly after our arrival at Vizag :- A respectable Brahmin, with two of his friends, came one Saturday evening to visit the new missionary and his wife, of whom he had heard various reports. At the time he called we were engaged in holding a prayermeeting for the revival of religion amongst professing Christians, and the conversion of the heathen. The Brahmin, who understood English a little, was not a little surprised to hear that his people had been made the subjects of prayer by the churchmembers present, and asked, with some surprise, what the men had been praying for. Mrs. P. replied, that the Hindoos might be turned from dumb idols, to serve the living God. "What!" said he, with some surprise, "do you believe that all our people are in darkness ?" "Yes," was the reply, "and therefore we come from England to teach them." The question was then put to him, "Have you any children? if so, we shall be glad to teach them." "I have one child," said the Brahmin. "Well, then," said Mrs. P., "send her to our school." "But she is a female child," said the Brahmin, with some astonishment; "female child can't learn, ma'am." "But," said Mrs. P., "I have learnt to read, and if you teach your children, they can learn also." The Brahmin replied, "Ma'am white lady, but black woman can't read." "Well," said Mrs. P., "I will show you that black girls can learn, when taught." A few of the elder girls were then called up, and, in the presence of the Brahmin and his friends, read part of the Scriptures in their own language, and then in English. After which, appropriate questions were put to them relative to the meaning of what they had read, to which the girls gave ap

sons for our establishing this institution were as follows:-1. As a refuge for destitute children, concerning whom it might be said, No man cared for their souls, or their bodies either. There are vast numbers of children in India, who are either turned out in the streets to beg for themselves, or are made the tools of the cruel and avaricious of their countrymen. By providing for such objects of charity, we were exhibiting to the heathen a practical illustration of the benevolent nature of Christianity, and its vast superiority to the caste and selfish charity of their own system. 2. To get the native children entirely under the influence of Christian instruction and example, and to cut off their connection with heathen customs and heathen society. Our day-schools, though useful to a certain extent, were not much blessed in the way of conversion, owing to the strong counteract-propriate answers. After this the Brahmin ing influence exerted by the parents of the children, and, in some cases, by their schoolmasters.

The children of our orphan-schools were not only brought daily under Christian

lifted up his hands in astonishment at what he had heard, and said, "Well, what do I see!" Mrs. P. then asked him, "Is my word true?" "Yes, ma'am," was the reply, "your word true, true; black girl can

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read." "Well, then," said Mrs. P., "why don't you send your child to learn?" "Alas, ma'am," said the Brahmin, "these are low caste girls-how could my girl learn with these?" Why not get some of your caste girls, and let them learn to read together?" The Brahmin replied, "If I can get twelve of my people to join me,I will send my girl." After this he made a low salaam, and left

us.

We never heard that he succeeded in influencing his people in joining him in the benevolent work of educating their females. It is, however, interesting to know that the Hindoos at Madras have at length been aroused from their fearful apathy on this subject, and have at length established a Hindoo free girls' school for the higher and respectable classes.

I must not omit to mention here the strange reports that were circulated in reference to our orphan-school. Some affirmed that we were educating the girls for prostitution; while others asserted that we only intended to kidnap the children, and that, after keeping them with us for a time, we were going to ship them to Europe, that they might become useful slaves to the English people. These false reports, and others of an equally foolish character, were industriously circulated, and firmly believed, by thousands, so that it was some time before we could obtain any additions to our school.

We went forward in our work, trusting that time and Providence would clear away the false aspersions that had been cast upon our work. Our trust was in the word of God: "Trust in the Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt dwell in the land."

In September, 1836, we were rejoiced to witness the completion of the first temple ever raised in this heathen town to the honour and worship of the one living and true God. This was indeed a matter of no small joy to our minds, especially as the difficulties of obtaining the ground, and raising the sum necessary for the building, were not few.

Amidst so many temples erected in honour of lying and cruel deities, it was indeed a matter of devout congratulation to every sincere lover of the truth, to witness one devoted to the worship of the Holy One of Israel, and one where the glorious tidings of salvation through the blood of the cross would be faithfully proclaimed every Lord'sday. We could enter with spirit into Ezra's feelings, when, after his return to his native land, he beheld, with joy, the city and temple of his forefathers emerging from the ruins of the past seventy years; and, when kneeling before the God of heaven, he supplicated with holy earnestness that He would appear on behalf of his people, and grant them a reviving after their bondage. Three services were held on the day of the

opening of this Christian temple-two in English, and one in Teloogoo. Brother G. and myself officiated on the occasion. The attendance was encouraging, and the collections were good. The chapel is a neat and commodious building, 50 feet by 40, with a commodious vestry behind, and is capable of seating upwards of 300 persons. On sabbath evenings it was generally well attended, and the preaching of the truth was accompanied with the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power. Some of the most degraded of our fellow-countrymen, who had formerly been the greatest hindrances to the gospel, and foremost in every vice, became quite changed characters. cerning these we might say, as the great Apostle of the Gentiles said of the converted Corinthians: "Such were some of you, but ye are washed, ye are justified, ye are sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

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Our degraded countrymen and the East Indian population were not only addressed from the pulpit, but repeated visits were paid to them in their own houses, tracts and copies of the Holy Scriptures were distributed amongst them; and in this way, also, some were reclaimed from the error of their ways.

During the first year of our residence at Vizag, we were privileged to add ten fresh members to the little church that had been formed in this station, making the number in communion to be twenty-seven, including the mission families.

In my next I hope to give you some further account of this important mission. In the mean time, believe me, ever

Yours sincerely, in the bonds of
the Gospel,

Islington, Dec. 14, 1847.

EDWARD PORTER.

THE CROSBY-HALL LECTURES.

WE have but just been made aware, before going to press, that this valuable course of Lectures, of which we have spoken elsewhere, is to be published in a volume. The particulars will be found in our advertising sheet; and we do earnestly hope that an effort will be made to circulate by thousands this cheap issue of a most important series of Lectures on Free Education.

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BLESSED ARE THE PEACE-MAKERS."-Vide p. 210.

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SAMOA.-" BLESSED ARE THE PEACE-MAKERS." AMONG the most prominent and blessed results of Missionary labour in Polynesia has been the almost entire discontinuance of those barbarous wars which once made these beautiful islands to flow with blood. The peace and safety that now prevail, where sanguinary and unrelenting foes were wont to meet in mortal conflict, supply a most powerful testimony to the humanising power of the Gospel, and constitute a rich reward, if no other could be found, for the labours of Christian Benevolence on this part of the Missionary field.

Probably no group of islands in the Southern Pacific suffered more deeply from intestine wars before the introduction of the Gospel, than the Samoan Group; but, since the entrance of the word of life, the principles of peace have laid a firm hold of the native mind, and, by a large majority of the islanders, the practice of war is now viewed with abhorrence, equal to the savage delight with which it was formerly pursued. The following communication, however, will shew that the sanguinary spirit of former days has not yet wholly died away.

In the island of Manono, at least, a large number of natives retain their warlike propensities, and, in the middle of last year, they made a hostile descent on one of the districts in the neighbouring island of Upolu. They committed great havoc; but the inhabitants, chiefly members of the church and congregation under Mr. Sunderland, though they received the strongest provocation, made no resistance, and the invaders, after wantonly destroying the property of these peaceloving Christians and desolating their lands, finally departed. Mr. S., writing on the 23rd July last, thus relates the particulars of this painfully-interesting event :The last four months has been a period of great anxiety. The word of the Lord seemed to be prospering, and the people were willing to assist any good work for the advancement of the truth amongst themselves and those who are living in the dark lands to the westward. But how soon may the brightest sky be overcast with clouds, and the fairest prospects blighted! We were rejoicing over the kindliness of the people in preparing bread-fruit houses for the teachers; their anxiety as to their spiritual interests; their liberal subscriptions at the May Meetings, amounting to 683 gallons of oil, and 67 dollars; the means they were adopting to increase their contributions during the forthcoming year. But all our plans have been frustrated; the people are scattered; and the whole of the Aana District is forsaken. The circumstances are the following: :-

A Malaga, or travelling party, from Manono, in three large canoes, containing about 150 people, set out to the eastward, calling at all the lands on their way. It was said they would not call at Fasitoo, (a part of Aana), on their return, as they were angry with the people of that land. One of our Chiefs, on hearing the report, said, "It is not right for the Malaga not to call [meaning that it was significant of hostile intentions]-let us watch." A party of seven young men consequently kept watch on the night when the Manono people went down, lest they should fall upon them in the night.

The Malaga went down the next day, but did not call at any of the lands in Aana. This was considered an insult, and a proof that they were unfriendly. An exaggerated account of the conduct of the Fasitoo people, in watching on the occasion, was taken to Manono, and it made them very angry, as indicating suspicion and distrust. They called a meeting, at which several persons spoke and said, "We must punish that land, Fasitoo-we must have a war." During all this time the Aana people were sitting quietly in their villages, having punished the individual who told the young men to watch, saying, That such conduct was not proper. Great was their surprise when they heard of the conduct of Manono: they immediately dispatched messengers to that island to explain the whole affair, begging them not to think of war, as the consequences might be so destructive to the work of God in Samoa, and declaring that there was no intention on the part of the Aana people to insult them.

With this explanation we thought all would pass off well; but, to our surprise, they still appeared bent on war, and said they were determined to punish Fasitoo. Several deputations of the people, the Missionaries in Upolu, Brother Heath, and the two Consuls, G. Pritchard and J. C. Williams, Esqrs., waited upon the old Chief, Pea, to dissuade him from hostilities, but obtained no satisfactory answer.

We left Manono much discouraged, and told our people to consider what plans they thought would be best to secure peace, or at all events to prevent bloodshed. They resolved

to take away all the children and women and the infirm, that in case of an attack those who were strong might escape and leave their lands to the war-party. It was distressing to bid "Good-bye" to many who had listened to the word of life, and seemed to rejoice in it. The tear would steal down the cheek as they turned from our doors, shewing the conflict within. When all was settled as to their wives and children, we expected daily the Manono people to make the attack upon Fasitoo-several days passed away, but at length we saw them approaching. They came in eighteen large canoes filled with people, dressed for war: they landed, and commenced their depredations by seizing the food, making ovens, cutting down bread-fruit and young cocoa-nut trees, plundering the houses, and taking away everything that the people had left behind.

On the Thursday morning, Brother Heath and myself visited the scene of their depredations, and it was distressing to see the destruction they had made, and the savage appearance they presented,-armed with clubs, spears, guns; their bodies painted black, red, and white. They behaved civilly to us: we besought them to desist from a course of conduct which could only end in their ruin, and advised them to go away. The Chief, Pea, came, entreating them not to stay any longer, but to return to Manono. There was some fear that they would go to the adjoining village, and we heard a shout and saw great numbers of people running towards the next village. We went after them, but found they had been disappointed, for a large body of church members and candidates were seated at the boundary of Fasitoo.

It would have been an interesting sight to every friend of peace and humanity to have beheld two or three hundred church-members, and those who wished for peace, sitting on the ground, neatly dressed, clothed in their right mind, endeavouring by moral means to overcome those of their own nation who were thirsting for blood. There they sat in a body, when the war-party came up, endeavouring to break through them (p. 209): they expostulated, and begged them to desist; on which the war-party threw up their clubs, pretended to spear them, fired their guns over their heads, and returned to the seat of their depredations, cutting the beautiful bread-fruit houses, and in every way seeking to enrage the Fasitoo people and those who wished for peace. Having done all the mischief they could, they returned to Manono. As there was reason to expect a further attack from Manono, the Aana people were in great excitement, and the difficulty of advising any course was very great. If they stopped on their lands it would be to fight-to leave their lands, and seek protection elsewhere, would be construed by the opposite party into a manifestation of hostilities. They determined to wait until the war-party had their meeting; and, so soon as their decision was known, to act accordingly. While the Manono people and their party were deliberating as to the course they should take, the Aana people resolved to leave their lands, stating, that if they stayed there and Manono make an attack, war would take place, and lives be lost; that although this was the first generation in Aana that had cast off their lands, yet on account of the word of God they would leave in peace.

A deputation of the Chiefs waited upon me in the night, requesting we might have a farewell service in the morning, as they were going the next day. I met with the people according to their request, and we had a very interesting and affecting meeting. Some said, "Ah! we could leave our houses and lands, but what is most grievous to us is to leave our Sion, where we have listened to the words of Salvation, and drunk the Water of Life."

In the meantime the Manono people had been holding meetings, not knowing what to do on account of a Chief and his party urging that they should give up the war, as there was no reason why they should fight. He said to Pea, the Manono Chief, "Why do you wish to fight?" He said, "It is my compassion to the fighting-party who are now collected. I do not wish to send them away as they have come to my assistance." The other Chief replied, "If you have any compassion for the warriors, give up the war-where is your compassion if any are killed? Let us go to the meeting and dissolve the assembly, that all may return in peace, lest the anger of God rest upon us for persevering in war."

They went to the meeting, and it resulted in the public announcement that it was the desire of the Chief, Pea, that all hostilities should be at an end. The consequence was, that those who wished to fight were exceedingly angry and disappointed that all their preparations for war should thus be rendered useless.

I waited at Leulumoega to know what would be the issue. The war-party on their return home called at Aana, and commenced cutting down the bread-fruit and banana trees; but the worst part of their conduct was the cutting of the bread-fruit-houses, an act which in Samoa is considered a great insult, equivalent to the maiming of the person. They stayed a day and a night in my district, doing all the mischief they could, and then passed on to their own lands. Since that time all has been quiet, and there is no sign of hostilities at present.

Our great aim is to keep peace; and as soon as the bad feeling is somewhat subsided to request the people to return in peace, and live in peace. Thus far the Aana people have acted a noble part, bearing with insult and spoliation for the Gospel's sake. It has been a trying time for all parties, and has brought out the characters of the people, shewing what the Gospel has done to pacify the minds of a once savage and warlike race.

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