Imatges de pàgina
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The mountains, | so I retained him, after returning to the city, to teach me Karen and to study in Mrs. Boardman's school.

During the first year of my residence in Tavoy, I devoted a considerable portion of my time to visiting every house in the city and suburbs, leaving at each a tract and a portion of Scripture; thus bringing into actual use my knowledge of Burman, that I was acquiring from day to day. Sau Quala often accompanied me in these excursions, and, my knowledge of the language being quite im

their tall shadows. which he was first to cross with the message of salvation, loomed up before him as he reclined amid the fragrant koempferas, whose large stemless purple and white flowers rise in crowds from the bare earth without a leaf, typical of the resurrection; while the stream, whose noisy bubbling sources had been his pathway through the gorges, rested at his feet in a quiet cove, and formed a transparent baptistery, encircled by an amphitheatre of floating water-lilies, where thirty-four of those for whose sal-perfect, he would frequently repeat and vation he had prayed and labored, were baptized in his presence, the largest number that had ever been baptized at one time in the mission-perhaps in India - on a profession of faith.

Another sun; and as another rose, his converts stood with him, a few miles lower down in this stream; but when they looked to place him in the canoe that was waiting for him, "He was not, for God had taken him."

"How doth the image of the past

"Who

enforce the sentiments I had uttered, in
more "acceptable words," though he of-
ten met with the savage rebuke,
are you? You are just like that dog
there. He knows nothing but what he
is taught. He goes or comes just as his
master orders him." He was ever un-
moved by their cutting sarcasm, and
more open abuse. He took the Bible
as it said, and Christ at his word. When
he read, "Blessed are ye when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and shall

Through all my dreams in brightness roll, say all manner of evil against you false

And, like some pious legend, cast

A veil of sadness o'er my soul." *

The same hands bore him to his garden sepulchre, and laid him down at the steps of his little oratory, where he had prayed into existence the Karen mission, and where he rests beneath the sacred tree, whose flowers are so deliciously fragrant that they have obtained a place in the quiver of the Hindu god of love, and whose impervious shade is so favorable to meditation that the Buddhists say the next Buddha will obtain infinite wisdom, and enter the divine life, while in contemplation at its foot.

ly, for my sake:- Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven:"-then he rejoiced on finding himself in circumstances which entitled him to rejoice, and he looked heavenward for the reward of his labors.

His father made repeated attempts to induce him to return to the jungles; but having found him to be a young man of promise, and desirous to stay with me, I told him to ask his father what he would ask for his son's services and make no further claim for him. When he told his father, he received no reply, but was never more required to return to his jungle home. "At that time," he says in his reminiscences, "I was very zealous in studying the word of God, and I

Talleyrand's question was not," Is he rich ?" "Is he learned?" or, "Is he religious?" but," Is he any body?" The ten days I had seen Quala in the jun-prayed with brokenness of heart. gles convinced me that he was somebody;

"Wie wird das Bild der alten Tage
Durch eure Traume glanzend wehn!
Gleich einer stillen, frommen Sage,
Wird es euch vor der Seele stehn."
Freiligrath.

I

thought of nothing else but to be skilled in the books. This occupied my whole mind continually."

As is the Karen custom, Quala had been betrothed by his parents in infancy to a girl in another village; and although

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Baptistery in Pagaye river, near where Mr. Boardman died.

TELOOGOOS.

REPORT OF THE MISSION FOR 1854-5.
The mission reinforced.

they had grown up without any mutual | Like her husband's, her name is indicaaffection, they would, in the ordinary tive of her character- Muphau, "CEcourse of things, have been married at LESTIAL FLOWER." the time most convenient for the parents. After his baptism, in accordance with the usual mode of conducting Karen courtship, he had one of the elders of his village visit the girl, and ascertain her sentiments towards him since he had become a Christian. The only remark the girl made, was, "Oh yes: I love Sau Quala amazingly now he is baptized. Had he not been baptized, I should not have loved him at all." This, in Karen usage of language, signifies a decided rejection, and they never saw each other again.

In reviewing the history of the mission for the last twelve months, we feel constrained to acknowledge the interposition and direction of an all-wise Providence, watching over us and prospering the work in which we are engaged.

The most important event to record, in view of its far-reaching results, and as indicative of the future liberal policy

There was in Mrs. Mason's Karen girls' school, a very amiable young wo-of the churches towards the Teloogoo man, whom I baptized, and an attach- Mission, is the arrival in India of br. and ment was formed between her and sr. Douglass, to join the mission, in FebQuala. The union appearing a very ruary last. In this reinforcement we desirable one for the Christian course of see the answer to many prayers, offered both, and the danger of the elders' com- up by those now in the field, and also by ing forward and insisting on the prior some of precious memory, who have engagement being imminent, we encour-retired from it for a season to recruit aged the connection, and they were exhausted health. married at the close of the term.

Several years afterwards, a pious Scotch officer, who was a frequent visitor at our house, accompanied me on a preaching tour of two or three weeks through some of the principal Karen settlements. On our return he remarked to Mrs. Mason, "Sau Quala has got the flower of the jungle. She is the handsomest and fairest native woman I ever saw." She was tall, of a commanding mien, with attractive features, and wore her long tasselled shawl thrown about her person like a Highlander, with an embroidered turban wound around her head, like a coronet; so that on one occasion, when she stood on a cliff above us in our journeyings, "There," he exclaimed, "does she not look like Helen Mac Gregor?" She is as preeminent in her mental qualities and Christian attainments, as she was in her personal charms; and has been a pattern to the Christian women in the jungles, of what a preacher and pastor's wife ought to be.

The church- Additions- Order and discipline.

During the year, four persons have been added to the church by baptism; Anama, Canakaya her son, Gangama, the wife of Nersu our native assistant, and Ellen, the wife of Samuel, who was employed for a time by the N. B. Society;-their ages vary from about fifteen to fifty years.

Anama's husband died a believer several years since, after which she was employed by the mission to take care of the chapel, and two of her children were taken into the boarding-school. In the autumn of 1852, Anama took her children from the school, and started for Vizagapatam. When she reached Ongole, she was taken sick; then her mind was aroused to a deep and alarming sense of the sinfulness of her past life, her long rebellion and unbelief — her long neglect to profit by sanctuary privileges, and the removing of herself and children from them. She felt that

The present number of church members is ten.

The church has sustained the monthly concert of prayer on the first Monday of each month, and a weekly prayer meeting on Friday evening; also the church covenant meeting previous to the monthly communion. Contributions*

God had taken her in hand, and feared he was about to call her to a fearful account. From that period she dates the change in her disposition, motives and conduct. She returned to Nellore late in the year 1854, with her family; having enjoyed during her absence the preaching of our dear friends, Messrs. Gordon, Hay and Johnston, of the Lon-after the communion service, about two don mission at Vizagapatam, who also received her children into their schools. Canakaya, her son, made good progress while in our boarding school, and was much liked by all; but seemed to be an utter stranger to religious impressions. Hardness of heart was so prominent a characteristic of the lad, as to form a painful subject of remark by br. Day and ourselves respecting him. In giving the relation of his experience before the church, it was pleasing to hear him bring so prominently to view, his deep sense of the hardness of his heart, his stout rebellion against God and his truth, so faithfully made known to him by br. Day and others. Of him also we must say, we planted,our brethren watered,-and God gave the increase.

Gangama has been a subject of anxious prayer and labor to her husband for years. After a severe trial of his faith and hope, the Lord has fulfilled his requests.

rupees monthly, are taken up to defray the current expenses of the church; and at the monthly concert, about five rupees monthly, to sustain the Nellore Mission Society.† The church seems to take a commendable stand relative to the discipline of her members. This has been called for in two instances, and was exercised with good results to one of the offending party; the other is still under censure.

Inquirers-Candidates for baptism.

Rangrah, a promising lad of about sixteen years, a member of the day school, has requested baptism. His Christian experience was most satisfactory; but we have judged it best to defer his baptism for a period, believing that the tendency of the present times is to hasten the reception of applicants into the church, rather than the reverse, to the detriment of the purity of the native churches.

Narayadu, who has already been reported as a professed believer, has not been recognized by us in any other character than as an inquirer. Our great anxiety and fear lest worldly motives may have mingled with his better feelings, have induced us to urge himdistrusting the present foundation of his hopes-to dig deeper, till he finds the solid rock.

Ellen came to us at the age of thirteen. Ignorant and uncared for, she was evidently on the road to early ruin. She made commendable progress in her studies and other improvements, from the first; but did not have any deep religious convictions of sin until her second year with us; then her sense of sin was deep, at times, for many months; but she obtained no peace of mind. Fears prevailing rather than love, she found it hard to give up her sins, especially her besetting ones of lying and pilfering. At last, she was brought into great distress of mind, on account of her long neglect of Christ's mercy, and the absence of the principal contributors

was brought, as she and we hopefully trust, to receive him as her Saviour.

Poliah says that Christ is his only Saviour, and that he prays to him daily. Perhaps he has made a little progress since our last report.

*These contributions were interrupted by

from Nellore for a season.

Formerly called "The Nellore Christian Benevolent Society."

Three applications for baptism have | sexes, we went in a company, consisting been refused.

Mode of labor.

Preaching the gospel in the morning and afternoon of each Sabbath, in the

presence of the church of Christ, observing his ordinances, and keeping his Sabbaths, we believe to be the most direct and tangible mode of setting forth Christ and him crucified to the heathen.

In addition to this weekly service, there is a daily service every week-day morn ing, for half an hour, for the benefit of the schools and others in the missionary compound, as well as for those outside. All our religious services, public and private, are accompanied with good singing. When this service is over, we station ourselves in the front verandah of the chapel, to converse with those who are inclined to call, and also to hail the crowds as they pass, and compel them to come and hear the word of God. In the cool of the day, we go out into the streets and suburbs of the city to preach to promiscuous assemblies.

We have five stated preaching places for our evening service; to which we sometimes repair on successive evenings, and sometimes occupy two places the same evening; our catechists affording essential help in these labors. These preaching places are, in the bazaar, on the bridge leading to the bazaar, at Ranganega-pettah, where is situated the principal temple of the Hindoos in Nellore on the bank of the Pennaar river, and in Nabab-pettah, half a mile east of the mission house, where is a police station, with an open room to which we are always welcomed by the native officials.

Itineracies.

The cold season was occupied, as usual, in touring in the Nellore district. We did not judge it best to take up a new portion of this great field, but rather to visit places formerly visited by Messrs. Day and Jewett, and strive to strengthen any good plans that may have been made. For the purpose of reaching as many as possible of both

of Mr. and Mrs. Jewett, Nersu, Julia and Ruth. After leaving Nellore, our first halting place was Anareddy; where we spent several days among the simplehearted people of that neighborhood. This is the home of Narayadu, whose house was always open for religious services. He journeyed with us for about

three weeks.

At Athmakoor we were cordially received by the headman of the place, who supplied us with such things as we needed, and also invited Mrs. Jewett, Julia and Ruth to come to his house; where they found a large number of females assembled to receive them and hear from them the word of God. Groups of men and women called at the tent, and gave more than ordinary attention to what they heard. Having supplied the village with scriptures and tracts, we left them for Anasamadu-pettah, a village of Mohammedans and Teloogoos, under the Mohammedan rule, but subject to the E. I. Company. By invitation, we went to the cutchery, (native court,) where we were politely received by the headman and his subordinates, composed of Mohammedans and Teloogoos. They suffered us to tell them about Christ, the only Saviour of men, although they evidently had no relish for the truth, and received, we fear, no saving impressions. The lower classes of Teloogoos, especially the women, expressed much joy and surprise at the pains we had taken to visit them with the glad tidings.

At Sakakondah we were kindly entertained by Mr. S. and his mother, and at Garamanapentah by Mr. and Mrs. L., agents of A. H. Simpson, Esq., of Nellore, devoted to raising indigo. Having taken leave of them, we directed our course easterly to Mavilladaroovoo, on the great northern road, whence Mrs. Jewett and the native girls returned to Nellore, and Mr. Jewett and Nersu went to Ongole.

Having pitched their tent within a few minutes' walk of the centre of Ongole, they had full opportunity to preach the

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