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MISSIONS IN CEYLON.

POINT-DE-GALLE.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William H. A. Dickson, dated August 15th, 1850.

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IT is now some months since I wrote to you; but the uniform character of our proceedings prevents that variety which invites to frequent detail. have continued to visit all our out-stations once in the month, as I before proposed, which, though it occupies me two weeks in each month away from home and more immediate Circuit duties, strengthens them, and prevents that decay which often occurs from want of efficient oversight. In June last I opened a new chapel at Amblangodde, which we have built for the accommodation of the people by the assistance of our friends there, aided by a trifling grant from some private available funds. The district is intensely Heathen, and I trust the chapel will prove a place of salvation to many. The other places in the Amblangodde Circuit afford little room for gratulation, which is mainly to be attributed to the inefficient working of the station, as its only supply is a young and inexperienced Catechist, who is wholly without influence in the neighbourhood, and the state of the funds prevents a more efficient appointment. Mr. Rodrigo continues to labour on the Belligam station, and the school there is now in a more satisfactory condition. The people generally manifest an awful indifference to truth, and an equally eager pursuit of degradation, in the abominable rites of demonworship. Sometimes, however, apathy gives place to opposition; and a few Sabbaths since, a company of Buddhists collected under a sacred banian-tree immediately in front of our chapel, at the hour of public worship, with the avowed design of putting it down by a clamorous chanting of Banu, the sacred writings of the Buddhists. Remonstrances were vain, and the interference of the police-officers was almost leading to its being brought before the Magistrates; but, as I happened to go down at the time, I succeeded in inducing them to accept a promise that the annoyance should not be repeated, without prosecuting the adversaries, which could only lead to irritation of feeling on one side, and unholy influences on the other. Litigiousness is a characteristic of the natives, and by it they often abuse both the law and liberty they are under; and our people are frequently too weak in grace to suffer wrong, as well as too weak in faith to labour amidst trials.

Our aged native brother Salmon is in charge of the Matura station; and I trust our work among the burghers at least is advancing. There is a much greater outward decorum, and desire for the means of grace, than formerly existed, and a change, I trust "the great change,' is observed in the lives of a few.

I visit the families in their own homes when I am on that side, and make it a rule while thus employed to let the conversation be only on serious and eternal things. The schools are still by no means what I could wish, though they have been gradually improving through the year. What is most necessary in this Circuit is a healthy Singalese work; and I regret that the appearances of that are not more promising. The Catechist at Dondra has suffered much opposition in his work, chiefly through the influence and intrigues of the Patagania Schoolmaster, who was dismissed, as mentioned in my last, for the performance of some Buddhist and devil ceremonies.

Difficulties are doubly formidable to a Singalese; but I trust a discipline of trial will make our Catechist "add to patience experience, and to experience hope."

Last month I opened the new chapel which we have been for some time building at Goddapitiya, and preached to those lovers of carnal demon-worship on the spiritual worship of God, who is a Spirit. I say carnal demon-worship; for the devils to whom they offer are beings who are believed to delight in flesh and blood, and to them they attribute all bodily disease and physical deformity. Our new chapel is small, but neat, and pleasantly situated on an eminence in the midst of this degraded people. I was happy also to find our school there considerably improved, and the work altoge ther in a more promising state. But the condition of the people is deplorable indeed. In these jungle-villages Buddhism has become a practical nullity before the fiercer and fouler form of devil-worship. So demented are they, that the more intolerably abominable the demon is supposed to be, the more assiduous are they in performing ceremonics to his honour.

Even poor frail men, disreputable Singalese, who lived and died within the memory of some in the present gene

ration, receive an apotheosis, and are honoured and supplicated in festivals and orgies; while the Creator is altogether forgotten, unmentioned, unadored.

How sad it is to think, that in such a district, where spiritual wickedness is enthroned, and multitudes perish in sin, the limits of our grant permit us to station only one poor solitary Catechist, aided by occasional visits of a Missionary from a distance of forty miles, a great part of which is through jungle!

I am much depressed at the extent of the southern section of the South Ceylon District, and its peculiar difficulties, compared with the paucity of labourers. Cannot the Committee make us a special annual grant of at least £100 for the more efficient occupation of these junglestations, teeming with degraded devilworshippers? Though we should all work ourselves to death, we alone could not efficiently occupy the ground; and the Chairman wrote to me last week that there was no probability of our having further help at present, as the ordinary grant is fully absorbed in existing appointments.

Respecting Galle Circuit, properly so called, I have but little to add, though that little is, I hope, encouraging. Our work has been maintained; and within the last few months two or three new classes have been formed, and there are some manifestations of Divine power and grace. I was invited, a short time since, to visit a Portuguese woman, who had not been in a place of worship for upwards of twenty years. I did so, conversed with

her, and invited her to our Portuguese service on Sunday evening. She promised to attend, and did so reluctantly; but I was happy last week to receive a letter from her husband, stating that she had felt the service profitable, and was desirous of becoming a regular attendant; and that he himself had marked a great change in her conduct.

There is an interesting case of a Singalese convert, now an applicant for baptism. He is a well-educated young man, of a wealthy Singalese family of the Velala or highest caste; and his father is a rigid Buddhist, but says that since his son has become a Christian upon inquiry and conviction, and not in name and for secular purposes, he will not oppose him. The young man was formerly a strenuous defender of Buddhism; but, from conversation with an excellent Christian schoolmaster, and the studious consideration of Christian tracts and pamphlets, and the sacred Scriptures, he has become entirely convinced of the truth of Christianity; and, after much consideration and prayer, is desirous of public baptism, which I hope shortly to administer. All hail Emanuel! of the increase of His government there shall be no end; and these scarce first-fruits are pledges of a harvest coming, when long-withstanding Buddhism shall finally and for ever fall.

My health, I am thankful to state, which was a few months back very seriously impaired, is now considerably improved; and I trust that the amendment will be permanent.

MISSIONS IN WESTERN AFRICA.

SIERRA LEONE.

THE subjoined letter from one of our Native Assistant Missionaries at Sierra-Leone has been received by the officers and Committee of our Society with more than common pleasure, and is earnestly recommended by them to the careful perusal and prayerful consideration of our friends, and of all who feel a Christian interest in the welfare of Africa.

The writer is one of the liberated Africans, who, since his rescue from slavery, and transfer to Sierra-Leone, has been, we believe, truly and effectually converted to God. He was for some time an approved student in our Institution for the training of native Africans, commonly called "King Tom's Institution ;" and is now regularly recognised and employed as a Native Assistant Missionary at the YorkTown station.

The necessity and advantage of raising up, both in Africa and elsewhere, a Native Agency, not to supersede, but extensively to co-operate

with, European Missionaries in evangelizing their heathen fellowcountrymen, have long been deeply felt by our own and other Missionary Societies. We regularly make a considerable annual appropriation from our General Fund for this specific purpose; and that it is well and beneficially expended, the case of Mr. Decker furnishes one instance, among many others of similar interest and encouragement. Our readers, we are sure, will thankfully recognise in such instances the genuine work of God's Holy Spirit, in renewing the heart of a once-benighted Pagan, and in inspiring sentiments of love to Christ, and of compassionate and self-denying zeal for the salvation of men, such as this letter abundantly indicates. This specimen, and as a specimen we give it publicity, of the piety, Christian simplicity, humility, and devotedness of Native Missionaries, is in the highest degree pleasing and stimulant.

It is delightful to find that the converted Africans themselves, in their little devotional assemblies, evince so much awakened feeling of concern about this matter, and so touchingly make it one frequent topic of their united prayers to God. Let Christians at home more and more fervently join them in such supplications.

Mr. Decker's offer of service on a proposed Mission to the Gallinas, is exceedingly interesting. Who can read or hear it without emotion? Of course, it will require mature investigation, and we trust that it may soon, by an increase of the Society's pecuniary means, be brought under the favourable consideration of the Committee. not a call from God?

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George H. Decker, Native Assistant
Missionary, dated York, Sierra-Leone, April 9th, 1850.

HAVING an opportunity, I gladly embrace it, by writing you these few hasty lines. I know you will be very glad to hear from me, as you have not heard from me since I was received as an Assistant Missionary on probation.

You are aware, Sirs, that I was recommended by the District-Meeting in December, 1847; and I was kindly received and appointed to the said office of an Assistant Missionary on trial, by the Conference assembled at Hull in the year 1848.

The District-Meeting thought it advisable and necessary for me to labour in the York Circuit, in which I am now at present; and I am endeavouring, by God's grace, to be useful, and to do my utmost. But I must say to you, Sirs, this office to which I am called is an important one. I do feel my unworthiness and insufficiency; sometimes I am ready to shed tears. Who am I, and what am I, that the Lord should call me to such work as this?-poor unworthy dust as I am, just fit to sweep the chapel and to clean the Missionaries' shoes, much less to be called a Missionary, a Wesleyan Missionary, a Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This is enough

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to humble my soul. When I "look to the rock whence I was hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which I was dug," I cannot help but exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" I do feel indeed that I was called by God, and moved by his Holy Spirit, to preach to my fellow-countrymen the unsearchable riches of Christ. I began to call sinners to repentance in the latter part of 1837, and since then to the present the Lord has always blessed me in my preaching. The very first time I went to preach, some poor sinners were brought to Christ: this led me to believe that the Lord had called me to labour for Him. And I cannot tell you of the hundreds who have been brought to God through my instrumentality; the Lord has used me as an instrument in His hand; He has blessed my labour abundantly: to Him be all the praise and the glory. There is nothing in this for me to boast about; instead of boasting, I often feel sorry that I have done so little, comparatively speaking, for my Master. After all, I am "an unprofitable servant." Once I used to be proud; but since I received a more abundant baptism of the sanctifying Spirit, in the year 1842, I feel power over sin; and all slav

ish fear is gone.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth me from all sin." Anger is gone, pride is turned to humility, the love of God is shed abroad in my heart. Before I enjoyed this greater blessing, I was too fond of self-love and self-praise; I used to be troubled with my own will. But this beautiful hymn of ours now suits my case, and I sometimes sing :

"O hide this self from me, that I

No more, but Christ in me, may live;
My vile affections crucify,

Nor let one darling lust survive!
In all things nothing may I see,
Nothing desire or seek, but Thee!

"O Love, Thy sovereign aid impart,

To save me from low-thoughted care;
Chase this self-will through all my heart,
Through all its latent mazes there:
Make me Thy duteous child, that I
Ceaseless may, Abba, Father,' cry!"

Now I feel that all self is gone, and my soul is as a little child in the arms of my Saviour.

"Humble, and teachable, and mild,
O may I, as a little child,

My lowly Master's steps pursue!
Be anger to my soul unknown;
Hate, envy, jealousy, be gone;

In love create Thou all things new! "Let earth no more my heart divide; With Christ may I be crucified,

To Thee with my whole soul aspire;
Dead to the world and all its toys,
Its idle pomp, and fading joys,

Be Thou alone my one desire!"

The Lord has called me into the work, and I will be no longer mine own, but give up myself to His will in all things. Before I became a Travelling Preacher, I used to think if the Lord should ever call me to go into the interior or out of the colony, whether I should be willing to go. No, was the reply. My proud heart could not consent to this. "I want to be in the colony, to go from one Circuit to another. I want to be with my friends. I do not wish to go away from home. I cannot bear the thought of parting from my aged mother," &c. I loved ease. But at present I am ready to say, "Send me wherever Thou pleasest. Lord, I am willing to go, and ready to leave father, mother, sister, brother, and all, to go any where and every where, when it shall please the Lord to call me."

Why should I speak of ease and comfort, when others have left their home, their friends, their beautiful country, for the burning sun of Africa? I say, if they will make such a sacrifice

for us Africans, I think we ought to make it ourselves. When I think of the many valuable lives that have been lost in so short a time, and many that have dropped in the field almost before they began to sow the precious seed with which they left their native land, it is indeed a grief and pain to my heart. Many a time have I been praying,

Lord, raise Native Agents, raise men in Africa after thy own heart, to carry the Gospel to the interior!" The white Missionaries have done all they could on the sea-shores; but I say, if the Gospel is to go into the interior, it must be chiefly by us Native Agents. But I am so thankful that the Lord is now raising us for this great work. Amongst the Church and the Wesleyans every effort has been made for this purpose: thank the Lord, it is not fruitless!

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My congregation in York meets regularly once a month, in what is called Missionary prayer-meeting, to pray especially for the Missionary Society, for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, for Missionaries abroad, &c. every meeting I always read an abstract of some letters written to the Committee, from the different stations, by Missionaries. It is very interesting indeed to the people. Afterwards, I call some of them to pray. To hear of their pouring out their souls to God in behalf of their fellow-countrymen in the interior, living in heathenish darkness, will be interesting and gratifying to every British Christian's ears, especially those who have thrown in their pounds into God's treasury, for the conversion of the Heathen, and for the civilisation of Africa. I think it will be well for me to repeat their own phrases on this point:"Lord, save poor Africans! Send the Gospel to our father and mother that live in our dark country, where the Gospel no reach yet: they have bad hearts; they sell one another; they make war, and do all bad things. Do, Lord, pardon and forgive them. The Gospel make us good, and it can make them good. Lord, save our Missionaries! They left father, mother, and all, and come to teach us poor Africans. They never live long; they die; yet this no make them tired to come. Bless our Missionary Committee: make them no give up to send us Missionaries, because all our country people are not saved yet. But, Lord, make our countrymen Missionaries, to carry the Gospel home to our father-land: they can live long in this country, pass white man," &c.But, Sirs, though these words are uttered

in broken language, it is with such an agony of mind, that I believe they reach the Majesty on high.

I do not wish to take up your time with a long writing; but I must open to you my mind at once, and tell you of a subject which lies very heavy on my mind. Doubtlessly you may have heard of that long war in Sherbro' :many lives have been lost, many sold to slavery. That bloody war lasted for about seven years. But, bless the Lord, through the efforts of the Governor of Sierra-Leone, there is peace between the contending nations or tribes; the war is at an end. Civil men have done their duties so far. Also at Gallinas the slave-trade has been given up by the exertions of the British cruisers. The Chiefs have signed treaties, and drove away the Spanish slave-traders out of their land.

As I went down the wharf one day, I saw hosts of Spaniards walking about on the beach. I was anxious to know where they came from. The answer was, From Gallinas." "And where are they going?" "To Freetown," was the reply. "Why, and what for ?" said I. “O," says a man, "to look for passage to the Havannah. The slave-factories are all broken up; the Chiefs delivered up all the slave-traders; and signed a treaty, that no such traffic will be carried on amongst them any more." I am sorry that I cannot dwell upon every par ticular now on this subject: I shall leave it for next time. But, Sir, I was overjoyed. Never was there a news which make me so happy in this world as this. If I had disposal of myself, I would sail the next day, to plant the standard of the Cross on the shores of Gallinas.

On the month of August, 1848, Prince Ar-mar-rah, from Gallinas, called to see

me.

If you

We had a very long conversation. One particular thing we conversed about was, the subject of religion. I asked him, how would he like to have Mis-ionaries sent to teach him and his people about Jesus Christ. He said, 66 Very much. And why don't you come now? War is done; no more slave-trade. You must come to teach us your book; we want our children to learn. come, we will be glad to receive you." I told him, "I shall be very happy to come, if the Committee sends me." I told him, "I am not my own; a servant and wherever my Master sends me, I go." He said, "You ought to come, because it is your mother's country; and we will be very glad to receive you." I told him, that I shall

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write to the Committee in England; and if they send me good answer, he will be sure to see me, or some one else; so I make him present of a very beautiful Bible; and he was very much pleased with it, and promise to get some one to read it to him. And when he was taking leave of me, he said, "Don't you forget to write to your masters in England; tell them we want somebody to come and teach us, and to tell us about God palaver." About two months previous to this, a brother in that part wrote to me as follows:"I want you very much to come here. Will you come ? Do come. And now,

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since God has stilled the contending elements, and given peace to the country, how very important that we take the field, before Mahomedans, or some other, have pre-occupied the ground, and closed the doors against us! brother, can't you come? come? Do come, and we will soon have a Mission far in the interior." Now, dear fathers, you see from this we have a call from the interior, from the neighbouring country: shall we say, No, we cannot go ? I have been praying about it all this time, and I feel that the Lord has called me to go; and shall I say, No? Shall I refuse? Will you hinder me? Our Mission is established in this colony we have here sixty-seven Local Preachers and Exhorters, and many other labourers besides: while the neighbouring countries are perishing for want of Teachers. If any other Christian, or Christian Ministers, can feel satisfied in their minds, I cannot. At present I am just as one out of its element. I thought it was the design of the Committee that every Missionary resident at York should visit Plantain-Island. It grieves my heart, when looking at the Report every year, to see entered, "York, PlantainIsland, &c.," when that island has never been visited but once or twice; and as since the late war the island was given up and became desolate, all the people have removed to the main land. No Missionary living at York could give due labour to the PlantainIsland. He has enough to do, and plenty to take up his time, and cannot do justice to it on account of its distance. If we are to have a Mission established in those places, it must be a distinct one. It ought to be called Gallinas Mission. The Church Missionaries have gone to Gallinas and Susoo country to establish a Mission. And what are we doing? If you will only appoint a European Missionary for the head, and send me

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