Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

west. The Sabbath of their stay in Hamburg was a day deeply affecting;- Mr. Oncken specially addressing them on the occasion, and the members for the last time in their father-land sitting with their brethren at the Lord's table. Before leaving their native country, they addressed a solemn protest and appeal to the Duke of Mecklenburg and to the highest ecclesiastical authority in the duchy, setting forth the reasons of their voluntary expatriation, and imploring a spirit of toleration to be exercised towards their brethren whom they were leaving behind.

During the Paris Conference, held at the close of August last, great interest was expressed in behalf of those Christians in different kingdoms of Europe, and especially the Baptists, who were suffering persecution for conscience' sake. At a meeting of the English-speaking brethren, held subsequently to the Conference, resolutions were passed to send memorials on the subject to several of the sovercigus of Europe, and a deputation, headed by Sir Culling E. Eardley, subsequently met the King of Prussia at Cologne. The facts bearing on the point were furnished chiefly by Mr. Lehmann, out of the painful experience of German and Swedish Baptists. The king professed his purpose to look further into the matter, and repeated his assurance of his interest in his Baptist subjects, and his desire to see them in a position of ease and tranquillity. He recommended to the deputation to go to Mecklenburg, and promised to write himself to his relative, the grand duke. He gave, however, no distinct promise to grant a concession to the Baptists of his own states.

The latest accounts affirm that the king has ordered a searching inquiry to be made with reference to the acts of persecution that are alleged to have taken place in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Schaumberg-Lippe, Saxe-Meiningen and Electoral Hesse, to call the attention of the respective governments to the measures proper to be pursued, and to urge the adoption of means for ensuring religious liberty to the Baptists.

The storm of this bitter indignation may not be scattered at But ultimately, we doubt not, God will cause the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain.

once.

The following table exhibits the present state of the churches and stations connected with the mission. The statistics from year to year show a steady advance in every department. The figures which at some points exhibit a large decrease, are to be accounted for from the fact that several new stations have been formed, the nucleus being gathered from those which existed previously.

CHURCHES IN GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, DENMARK, AND SWEDEN.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

Churches in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden - ( Continued).

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

The Committee having judged it expedient, for reasons elsewhere given, to close this mission, the resignation of Mr. Arnold was accepted in August. At a subsequent date the relations with Mrs. Dickson were also terminated. Mr. and Mrs. Buel returned to this country in November. The native assistant Sakellarius continued his labors as a colporteur till April 1.

OJIBWA MISSION.

PENDILL'S MILLS.-Rev. J. D. CAMERON.

In Micihgan, Rev. A. BINGHAM and wife.

One station; two missionaries and one female assistant.

Intimations having been received that the government appropriation for the school at St. Mary's would cease at the expiration of the year, arrangements were made to close the establishment, and Mr. Bingham was authorized thereon, at his own suggestion, to retire from the station. He removed with his family to his present residence, Grand Rapids, in October. Till the time of his withdrawal his labors were sedulously continued, and he

*See p. 241.

retires with honor and mutual regrets from a faithful missionary service of more than thirty years. The school retained to the last its usual number of day pupils, averaging fifty; but the number of boarding pupils had been reduced to three or four.

Mr. Cameron has continued his labors at Pendill's Mills and its neighboring settlement Neamike. At the latter place a school of ten or twelve pupils has been taught most of the year, now in charge of Norman Shegud. Mr. Cameron expresses unabated interest in his work, and his labors appear to be well appreciated. The church, most of whose members reside in his immediate vicinity, numbers about twenty persons.

SHAWANOE MISSION.

SHAWANOE.

DELAWARE.-Rev. J. G. and Mrs. PRATT, Miss E. S. MORSE.
OTTAWA.

Three stations; one missionary and two female assistants.

Mrs. Meeker died at the Ottawa station March 15, after a painful illness of seven days. "Trusting in Christ, her death was peaceful;" but her removal is deeply mourned by the Ottawas and others who knew her unobtrusive but real worth. The church still continues its stated Sabbath meetings. Two members have been added by baptism, and two have died. The present number is thirty. A weekly prayer meeting is conducted by Shaubunda, the head chief, who also leads in the Sabbath services, when no preacher is present. The station is in charge, for the present, of Mr. Pratt, of Delaware, who occasionally visits the people. They earnestly desire and need a resident missionary. French Catholics have always had an eye on this little band of believers; and now that they are destitute of a pastor, an effort is being made to induce them to apostatize from the Protestant faith. Their civil relations are still in process of adjustment. The plan which they specially favor, is to originate a school-fund by the sale of part of their lands, and to apportion the remainder to individuals, the whole population desiring to become citizens of the State.

At Delaware station the ordinary labors have been prosecuted without interruption, and with the accustomed degree of success. The congregation at public worship is increasingly large, and the attention to the word preached gives much encouragement. In the early part of the mission year the station was favored with the special influences of the Spirit, resulting in the hopeful conversion of several of the pupils and a few of the adult congregation. Ten have been baptized. The present number of the church is reported thirty. This includes only the resident members, several living with other tribes who still retain their membership.

The

The school appears to hold its place in the confidence and interest of the community; and strenuous efforts are being made by the Indians to secure the means of its enlargement. present number of pupils is thirty. The influence of the school is beginning to be felt by the older and ruder portions of the popula tion. The missionary ministers to his youthful hearers "with

much hope," but the mass of the people continue buried in ignorance and superstition, and are addicted to intemperance.

The Shawanoe station is vacant, Mr. Barker having deemed it his duty to retire, in consequence of the increasing difficulties of his position, growing partly out of civil disturbances, and partly from the supposed inadequacy of his means to labor. He has had the general oversight of the station during the past year, and has made occasional visits to it, though not sustaining his former missionary relations. The Shawanoe church maintains its visibility, notwithstanding the scattered residences of its members. Number of members last reported, thirty-one. There are one or more candidates for baptism.

wives.

MISSION TO THE CHEROKEES.

CHEROKEE.-Rev. Messrs. E. JONES, W. P. UPHAM and J. BUTTRICK JONES, and their DELAWARE TOWN -John Wickliffe, Toostoo, native preachers.

DSIYOHEE.

TAQUOHEE.-Tanenole, native preacher.

FLINT.-L. Downing, D. M. Foreman,, Gasannee, native preachers.

Five stations, eight outstations; three missionaries and three female assistants, six native assistants.

Rev. J. B. Jones, son of the senior missionary, and a graduate of the Rochester Theological Institution, has been appointed to the mission within the year. In addition to preaching, he has in charge the revision of the New and translation of parts of the Old Testament Scriptures, and the instruction of the native preachers. He proposes also to complete the translation of Pilgrim's Progress, and to revise the parts already translated, to be published entire in one volume.

The labors of the mission have been conducted as in past years. At the various stations and outstations the gospel has been proclaimed, and the Lord has confirmed the words with signs following.

Mr. Jones, the father and founder of the mission, visits the churches and preaches, as his strength and age permit. Mr. Upham generally preaches on the Sahbath, when not employed in the Sabbath school or Bible class. The native preachers have borne an honorable part in religious services. They are men of fervent piety, zealous, judicious, and of large experience. Some of them at one time suffered from delay of their remittances; but they never slackened in their work, continuing "to travel and preach with diligence and earnestness." Some of them have made extensive tours, and found everywhere earnest attention, large congregations, and eager inquirers for the way of life. During one of these tours, in the southern part of the nation, ten native Cherokees were baptized, and great seriousness prevailed in the audiences. The field seemed ready for the sickle.

To give the scattered population more ample opportunity to hear the gospel, mass meetings are held from time to time at the different outstations, of three or four days' continuance. On these occasions the native assistants bring their Testaments, and employ the intervals of the public services, assisted by Mr. J. B.

« AnteriorContinua »