THE

FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

MARCH, 1844.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. THE following notices show the progress of the gospel among some of the isles of the sea. They are of a varied character, and will awaken various emotions, amongst which will surely be a lively feeling of gratitude in the heart of the pious reader for what God hath wrought.]

Burder's Point, Tahiti.

Mr. Darling reports that the whole of the population connected with this station are under instruction, and that nearly the whole attend the public services on the Sabbath. Cheering evidence of the divine presence and blessing is found in the fact, that the church has received an accession of 25 members. Among the believers who have entered into the heavenly rest, Mr. Darling especially adverts to one individual of very interesting character, named Utami Vahine, the wife of the principal chief of the district.

Haweis Town, Tahiti.

The venerable Missionary labouring at this station states, that the sphere of his exertions has received pleasing tokens of the divine favour in the past year. The church has had an accession of 70 communicants, and the members generally have maintained a walk and conversation becoming the Gospel. The number reported by Mr. Davies, as united in Christian fellowship under his pastoral care, is 466.

After stating that, since the organization of the church in 1821, there had been admitted to the privilege of communion 800 persons, many of whom have been removed by death, Mr Davies thus expresses his sentiments of gratitude and joy in relation to the departed members of his flock :

"In regard to this goodly company, about 226 in all,most of whom we hope have safely arrived in the heavenly world, there is ground, not for boasting, but for thankfulness and humiliation; also for encouragement, as it proves that the means that have been used have not been employed in vain, and that we may still use them in hope of success."

"She made," he observes, an honourable profession of the Gospel ever since the commencement of the station, more than 20 years ago; being always ready and active in forwarding every good work. She was long afflicted, and when released by death, she departed rejoicing in the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. Her husband, who had been most attentive to her during her long illness, felt the stroke very much. The natives were not always so kind to their dying relatives, but the Gospel has made a wonder-progress and result of his labours :ful difference amongst them as regards

Papeurin, Tahiti.

Mr. Joseph, whose entrance on the duties of this station was noticed in our last Report, speaks as follows, of the

"In the congregation no particular al

their attention to social and domestic du-teration perceptible. The attendance is

ties."

Church-members, 130.

VOL. XII.--5

good on the whole, though the results are not what we could wish. The children and

"It has been a source of encouragement and hope to us, to perceive that the In reference to the circulation of the people in general ascribe their present Scriptures, Mr. O. observes:

Griffin Town.-In reference to the and death, and expresses his firm assurgeneral aspect of the work at this station,ance that they departed to be for ever Mr. Howe writes :with the Lord."

"Among these," he observes, 66 was an individual called Ahui, formerly a heathen priest; he came forward about four years ago, and gave decided evidence of a real

"The people are now exhibiting an increased desire for instruction, and have begun of their own accord to erect a new school-house of a superior kind. There appears to be a considerable moral im-change of heart from the first. During provement among the people. The cus- his short Christian course, he manifested tom, once prevalent among church-mem- an unusual earnestness in seeking salvabers, of teaching the children to sing songs tion, frequently observing that he had befor the dead, instead of teaching them gun too late, and must make the more Christian hymns, is now discarded. The diligent use of the brief period that retendency to licentious conversation-our mained. I called on him a short time begreatest curse-has, through the blessing fore he died, and asked him how he felt in of God on our efforts, in constantly de- the prospect of death? He observed, nouncing its wickedness, received a pow-"Though I walk through the valley of the erful check. A breach has also been shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for made in the ranks of the "tutaeauri" or thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, worthless class, (as they are called by they comfort me." common consent,) and ten of these very persons have been added to the church, while ten more are attending the class of inquirers."

Maiaoiti.

When Mr. Barff last visited this interesting settlement, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered to the church, and 13 additional members were received. Mr. Barff found the people living together in harmony, and regularly attending the worship of God and other means of instruction. The contributions to the Society amounted to 655 bamboos of oil. The school-children, 120 in number, were making good progress in knowledge.

Huahine, of the Society Islands.

Mr. Barff reports that there has been uniformly a large attendance on the preaching of the Gospel, at each of the stations under his care. The churchmembers generally continue to manifest a consistent walk and conversation: they take great delight in divine ordinances, and the Lord's Supper is especially hailed

by them as a season of spiritual privilege and profit. Some of the members have been removed by death, but Mr. Barff bears cheering testimony to their Christian character, as manifested both in life

Since the people have been in possession of the Scriptures in their own language, they have evinced their high appreciation of the heavenly treasure, by studying its contents with the utmost zeal and diligence.

Church members, 411; schools, 2; scholars, 826.

Borabora, of the Society Islands.

The interests of religion and morality at this station are decidedly on the advance: much good has resulted from the conduct of the Chief Tapoa, whose example naturally exerts a powerful influence on the minds of his people. Mr. Rodgerson states that, although a large quantity of ardent spirits had been landed for sale among the natives, scarcely any of the church-members had fallen under the temptation. This must be regarded as a strong encouragement, when it is borne in mind that drunkenness was formerly a besetting sin among the natives of this island. The public services are well attended; from 600 to 700 being the usual number of the congregation on the Sabbath; and 11 members have been

added to the church. The people have contributed 100 dollars to the funds of the Society.

Rarotonga, of the Hervey Islands. Ngatangiia-Our Missionary brethren in this island have had to sing of mercy and judgment; their trials and their consolations have abounded. Mr. Pitman refers as follows to a destructive temporal calamity which has occurred since the date of his last report. The spirit and temper of the people under this visitation is particularly worthy of remark :— "A dreadful storm in the month of April, which was preceded by one of a similar character in February, summoned us to witness what in a little while the Arm of Omnipotence can effect, and then left to contemplate the inscrutable nature of the divine proceedings. The effect of those awful visitations was visible in the almost total destruction of our large chapel, and of the bread-fruit, and other trees, on which the natives chiefly depend for food and clothing. Our poor people have ever since been subsisting upon the roots of the Ti and plantain-tree. They have, however, planted extensively, and will, I trust, speedily reap the fruit of their labour.

"I am happy to say that our chapel has since been re-erected, and divine worship was recommenced on June 20th last. I never remember an occasion on which the people have laboured with greater spirit and cheerfulness than at the time they were engaged in rebuilding the chapel. In less than a day they raised a stone wall up to the window-sills, all round the chapel, measuring 334 feet, two feet thick, and near three deep, having previously prepared the lime; and the next day they built an outside stone wall, much longer, but not so thick.

pleasure to state, that by far the greater part of those who died gave us the most encouraging assurances as to their eternal salvation. How cheering the thought, to meet so many in the realms of everlasting light and joy; and how animating to the faith of the churches to know that their efforts to save immortal souls have been crowned with success!"

A great spirit of inquiry still exists among the people, and a religious awakening appears to have commenced among the young. has employed much of his time, and he hopes that amongst them "may be found many who are taught of the Spirit."

With the latter, Mr. P.

There has been an addition of 27 members to the number united in church-fellowship. In the commencement of the year, Mr. Pitman spent a few weeks at Titikaveka, and found the Mission, under the charge of the exemplary native teacher Iro, in a highly interesting and progressive state.

Church-members, 134; schools, 9; scholars, 2,050.

Arorangi.-The excellent young Chief of the station, in announcing the amount of contributions, viz. 301. 17s. 6d. from the Local Auxiliary to the Parent Society, writes as follows:

"Our Friend and Brother-this is concerning the growing of the word of God and his church at Arorangi. We are greatly rejoiced while thinking of your compassionate love to the heathen, and the great work which you are doing by your Society. Ours is a land of no property; nevertheless, we have contributed arrow-root, and for the three years now fallen behind us we have assembled at one "The disease to which I adverted in place. No ships have come to buy until previous letters, as having carried off so now. Now Mr. John Williams has come, many of our people, has this year also and we have given over the property to swept into eternity, from my own sphere him. We were heathens formerly, and of labour, 276 persons, young and old, in- did not do this good work; but when Wilcluding some of the most valuable assist-liamu came, and brought our first teacher, ants in my schools. The population of who was Papehia, then we found life, and this island has, consequently, greatly de- the darkness fled. It was as Paul has writcreased since we first came to it. The ten, 'We were once darkness,' Eph. v. church-members and myself constantly 8; and afterwards, as John says, ch. i. 5, visited the sick, and it affords me extreme' The light shined in the midst of dark

ness, and the darkness comprehended it || various uses. Some of them soon followed not.' Then it was that we knew that our advice, and others are now imitating good was the Word of God. Then were their example. The island begins to asour idols abolished, and now we are sume a garden-like appearance. The bush thinking that this shall be the growing of has been cleared away, and large tracts of the Word of God in the lands that yet re- land are under cultivation." main, who know not the salvation and the loving-kindness of God. This is the conclusion of the word. Saved be you.

The work of Christian education is carried on in this island upon an extended scale, and with great promise both of temporal and spiritual good. There are 8 adult schools, containing 440 scholars; and the juvenile schools, 2 in number, contain 600 scholars. In addition to these there is an infant-school, in which 140 children are under instruction.

Report Lond. Miss. Soc. 1843, p. 27-33.

WESTERN INDIA.

faith of the Gospel: we witnessed their FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND MISSION AT

closing scenes, and heard with satisfaction their dying testimony to the preciousness of a Saviour's love.

BOMBAY.

Brahmanical Opposition.

The baptism of Narayan has excited the native population of Bombay to an intense degree. The native papers are engaged in the liveliest discussion of that transaction, and of every thing connected with the spread of Christianity in India. In a great assembly of the Brahmanical inhabitants, held in one of the chief temples, the following determinations have been come to, and have been published in the journals of the party :

"On the 14th day of September, 1843, all the Brahman inhabitants of Bombay met together, and passed the following resolutions :—

"In January I visited the dying bed of Vae, the governor of the district in which my house stood. He was one of the few who connected themselves with us soon after our first landing on these shores. His natural disposition was proud, hasty, and resentful; but, as he placed himself under our instructions at an early period, and was steady in his attendance, he soon gave decided evidence that our care was not bestowed upon him in vain. His state of mind in the prospect of death was truly enviable. In answer to a question which I asked him as to the ground of his hope, he repeated, in an "Whereas Christian Missionaries, othemphatic manner. Neither is there salva-erwise called Padris, having come into tion in any other, for there is no other this country to make known their religion, name under heaven given among men distribute Christian books, and preach in whereby we must be saved.' This was various ways, to induce the people to emthe last time he could speak to be under- brace their religion,—and for this purpose stood; and in a few hours afterwards his have also established numerous schools; spirit entered the eternal world. and whereas the children of Hindus attend these schools for instruction, and being ignorant of their own religion, and hearing the missionaries constantly abusing the Hindu religion and praising Christianity, some of them have lost their reason, and, forsaking their own good religion, founded

"In the prosecution of our labours, we found it necessary to attempt soine change in the social and domestic habits of the people. We urged them to build themselves houses in the cottage-style, light and airy, and divided into apartments for