Rev. Mr. Mitchell, at the request of the Honorable Chairman, concluded the meeting with a most appropriate prayer.-O. C. Spec. [Extracted from O. C. Spectator.] 2. EXAMINATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INSTItution at MADRAS. The establishment of the Church of Scotland's Mission in Madras, we noticed in a former number. It will be seen from the following extract from the Spectator (Madras) newspaper, that under the able direction and most zealous personal endeavours of Mr. Anderson, it already promises to effect great good in the Christian and general education of native youth. "We give insertion with pleasure to the following report of a late examination of the St. Andrew's School. It is drawn up by one wholly unconnected with the institution, and but confirms the accounts given on all sides of the highly gratifying character of that examination. The Rev. Mr. Anderson is an enthusiast in the task he has undertaken, and this evidence of the usefulness of his labours, must be an acceptable return to him. The school that enjoys his superintendence, and whose state thus reflects such high credit on his valuable exertions, has our warmest wishes for its coutinued success. 'Yesterday we had the pleasure of attending the First Annual Examination of the St. Andrew's School since it was placed under the management and direct tuition of the Rev. Mr. Anderson. The School is peculiarly designed for the instruction of Natives in the most approved branches of English education, and is in connection with the Mission of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 'The examination bore the strongest testimony to Mr. Anderson's judgment, energy, and Christian zeal; and to the admirable adaptation of schools of that nature to the advancement of the religious and social interests of all classes of Natives. No system could have had a fairer or fuller trial; and no trial could have been more successful. Upwards of 200 pupils attend the institution, of whom 195 were present; and the way in which they acquitted themselves in every department and in every class, was in the highest degree satisfactory. We were especially pleased with the knowledge of Scripture History which they had acquired, and (which was beautifully elicited by Mr. Anderson), with the accuracy and extent of their knowledge of profane History-Geography-Arithmetic-English Grammar-and even the etymology of the words derived from Greek and Latin :—with their examination of each other on the first three topics-an examination which was conducted with much spirit and acuteness, and in which caste seemed to be obliterated altogether, or was apparent in mind alone. We were also greatly pleased with the Essays written by several of the youths of the 1st class, and by the young natives and others who attend the Wednesday evening meetings for discussion and essay writing. This was perhaps the most interesting part of the examination, as proving, on the part of the pupils, no little mental cultivation, as well as idiomatic knowledge of English. Five or six English boys, and a few East Indians also attend the school, and are sprinkled among the three highest classes, with a view to improve the English of the Natives; and by their daily intercourse, and the mutual action of their minds upon one another, to advance the objects of the Institution. The mutual examination of one another, by the pupils in every thing they have been taught, is a peculiar feature of the system, and in the perfection to which it is now carried, in India; it pervades every class, and creates great interest in the pupils. Every boy is thus taught to communicate all he receives to his fellows. It has led the youths of the first class to seek for knowledge in every quarter. It has created a spirit of inquiry and given a power of thinking, which will fit many of them in a short time for being efficient teachers of their countrymen. 'The writer of this notice, being quite a stranger to the country, and unconnected with the school in question, though he expresses his approbation with the greater freedom, may the more readily be allowed to bear an impartial testimony. He cannot but think this examination an era in the history of the Madras Missions. It is certainly a thing of great importance, that so many young men of respectable families, should have connected themselves with an Institution which gives them not only a fair English education, but a knowledge of Scripture History, and of the doctrines and precepts of Christianity. Such an education is in the last degree important, not only from the advantages which the pupils themselves may derive from it-whether in the way of mental development or religious impression-but also in the gradual influence for good, which they are likely to exert on Indian society in general; but especially on the lower classes of the community which can be influenced most effectually through the medium of the higher. Scarcely any thing in the course of the examination pleased us more than the interest taken in it by the adult Natives who attended: an interest apparently so keen as to lead us to the hope, that if other schools on the same system should be established by other religious bodies, similar results would follow. For the sake of the admirable education conferred upon them, they have shewn the greatest willingness to be taught any thing their teacher may choose to communicate. Secular advancement is doubtless the motive of the majority. But what of that? They obtain valuable information; they are taught to think for themselves; they are trained up in the light of Christianity. And, if in consequence of such an education, they should rise higher in society than they otherwise would have done, their influence will only be the greater, and, we may hope, the more beneficial. 'At the close of the examination, extracts from several of the Essays referred to above were read, and prizes distributed to the most meritorious of each class. An Essay by Narrainsawmy on Female Education, with special reference to the females of India, was read throughout, and was deemed worthy of the prize-a prize given by James Scott, Esq. consisting of 12 Volumes of the Library of Useful Knowledge, handsomely bound. Of the European residents, present on the occasion, the following names have been mentioned to us.-The Hon'ble Mr. Sullivan had engaged to preside, but was prevented by indisposition, and in his absence, the Rev. Mr. Bowie, was called to take the chair. Colonel Cadell; J. Horseley, Esq.; Colonel Kitchen; A. F. Bruce, Esq.; W. Bannister, Esq.; J. F. Thomas, Esq.; James Scott, Esq.; Walter Elliot, Esq.; Captain Maitland; J. Law, Esq.; Captain Brown; Captain Rowlandson; G. Waters, Esq.; A. Robertson, Esq.; J. B. Key, Esq.; Captain Smith; Capt. Freshfield; Rev. Messrs. Winslow, Drew, Caldwell, and the Rev. J. Tucker; and many others, with not a few Ladies and a large assemblage of Natives, probably not fewer than 150.'” This success, as the result of a single year, is most encouraging. Mr. Anderson, we have learned from a private source, began with 59 boys and young men; and there are now upwards of 200 under his charge. If he had a colleague, and we trust that one will be sent to him without delay, the Seminary could be indefinitely enlarged. It is not the least pleasing fact connected with it, that 168 of the pupils contribute each half a rupee monthly to its funds. Mr. Anderson has a weekly meeting for the special improv ment of his more advanced pupils and others who choose to attend him. We trust that with additional help, he will soon be able to add to his present most important engagements, that of declaring to the inhabitants of India, "in their own tongues, the wonderful works of God." Minimum Temperature observed at sun rise. Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the month of March, 1838. Temperature. Wind. 129,917 76,5 67,7 68,1 Cm. 2 ,976 79,5 84,078,2 N. ,926 76,267,4 68,2 E. b s.,980 79,0 81,577,5 ,952 85,3 92,0 82,4 N. E.,902 84,2 93,5 85,0 N. ,956 83,5 89,8 83,5 N. 3 ,85+ 77,0 70,8 70,2 s. ,896 80,2 4 ,852 61,4 80,9 80,0 Cm. 84,0 77,2 ,845 81,280,2 79,6 N. ,900 80,5 83,282,5 N. ,890 84,2 93,8 85,2 N. E. ,970 79,7 81,5 78,2 W. ,954 82,3 88,0 82,2 N. ,892 83,2 91,2 86,0 W. N. W. W. W. E. ,864 85,0 88,2 82,4 W. ,887 84,5 92,0 86,1 w.Nw.,893 79,8 85,5 82,9 Cm. N. ,980 75,0 72,070,5 N. 86,0 80,5 N. ,944 77,8 80,8 78,5 E. 88,0 80,5 s. ,910 80,2 83,879,5 W. E. Cm. E. E. THE CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. No. 73.-June, 1838. MISSIONS-INDIA-THE CHRISTIAN BRAHMAN. I-The Christian Bráhman, or Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Character of the converted Bráhman Bábájí. By the Rev. HOLLIS READ, American Missionary to India. 2 Vols. Ir is the recorded opinion of the Abbé Dubois, that "under present circumstances there is no possibility of converting the Hindus to any sect of christianity.' The Scott Warings, the Twinings, et hoc genus omne of other days, sounded the alarm, and did much to persuade the proprietors of East India Stock that their gods were in danger through the indiscreet zeal of Missionaries, and that unless the converting expeditions (as they were pleased to call them) of British zealots, were put down, and the land forbidden to Missionaries, India would soon be filled with anarchy and bloodshed, and throw off the British yoke. Doubtless a spectre even less horrible than this, was sufficient to frighten the worthies of Leadenhall Street out of their consistency. The alarmists for a time succeeded in imposing upon the fears of the interested, of those who, though they were fearful of interfering with the morals and religion of the native, had no objection to handle his money. Severe statutes were enacted against these converting expeditions, and many difficulties were thrown in the way of Missionaries. For, to the disgrace of the East India Company it stands on record, and history will hand it down to future ages, that the first British Missionaries to Bengal, persecuted and driven out by the Government upon which they had a natural claim for protection, were succoured and encouraged by a foreign state! Since the days of the Vellore mutiny, (for that was the peg on which the alarmists chose to hang their calumnies,) Missionaries have increased twenty-fold; they may be seen in all parts of India; but we hear nothing of the anarchy and bloodshed which were confidently predicted. There VII. 2 s are no indications of revolt-no opposition to the measures of Government-no disaffection to the British rule, on account of the liberty and protection which are extended to Missionaries. So then those spectres were the mere creations of the fancy heated by malice, or terrified by the dread of losing its darling ten per cent. The grounds of attack upon Missionary labours, have of late years been shifted: the enemy dislodged, by the experience of years, from his former position, has comfortably betaken himself to another. The cry formerly was "the British Empire in India is endangered by the Missionaries." The same voice now proclaims the conversion of the Hindus an impossibility! That the conversion of the Hindus is impossible, in the light in which the enemies of the Gospel, and probably the Abbé himself viewed the subject, we fully admit. When we consider the moral degradation of the Hindus, the fetters of caste by which they are bound, the blinding power of an ancient and cunningly devised superstition, the prostration of the public mind to the mandates of a designing priesthood interested in hoodwinking the ignorant, the force of prejudice and the power of long cherished habits, and above all the corruption of the human heart, on the one hand; and on the other, the paucity of the means employed, the small number of Missionaries who labour, the difficulty of communicating religious knowledge in a strange language, and by persons little acquainted with the habits of thought, and peculiar modes of expression of the people whom they teach, when all these and many other circumstances are taken into consideration, we are not surprised that, according to human calculation, the conversion of the Hindus seems an impossibility. But all these difficulties vanish before the influences of God's Spirit: this work must be accomplished "not by power, or by might, but by my Spirit alone, saith the Lord." The work is too stupendous, too great for human might or sagacity; but human effort accompanied by the influences of the Spirit has converted Hindus and will convert them, though they were an hundred-fold more degraded. We are inclined to think that much has been done, and yet few have been brought under the saving influence of the Gospel. This may appear paradoxical, but let us explain. In reference to the general and indirect influence which christianity diffuses, it would be easy to show that much has been accomplished. The people, especially in this Presidency, are acquainted with the way of salvation through Christ. Many of them are convinced of the absurdity of Hinduism, and ashamed of its grosser practices. By the preaching of the Gospel, the distribution of the Scriptures and religious books, and by the establishment of Christian schools, an amount of moral and religious knowledge has been diffused, which is |