MISSIONARY REGISTER. FOR OCTOBER, 1831. SUBSCRIPTIONs and donations to the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, for Foreign Missions, &c. should be transmitted to Heman Lincoln, Esq. Treasurer, at the Baptist Missionary Rooms, No. 52, Washington-Street, Boston. The communications for the Corresponding Secretary should be directed to the same place. EXPENSES OF IDOL WORSHIP. The immense expense which the heathen lavish on idol worship may well put to shame the parsimony of those, who in Christian lands give grudgingly to diffuse the benevolent system of the gospel of Christ. Mr. Pegg, in his Cries of India, presents a catalogue of the host of officers, sixty-eight in number, who attend on the Temple of Juggernaut, in Orissa, and also multiplied items of expense, which are all willingly borne by the idolatrous people. The annexed cut presents a view of the splendid temple in Orissa. We extract the following statement of the provisions which are furnished. "It may be easily supposed," observes Colonel Phipps, "that a very large establishment of priests and others is attached to such a temple as Juggernaut. One of the head men stated the number to consist of 3,000 families, including 4000 families of cooks to prepare holy food. The provisions furnished daily for the idol and his attendants consist of 220 pounds of rice, 97 pounds of kullye (a pulse) 24 pounds of moong (a small grain), 188 pounds of clarified buffaloe's butter, 80 pounds of molasses, 32 pounds of vegetables, 10 pounds of sour milk, 24 pounds of spices, 2 pounds 20 pounds of salt, 4 rupees (10 of sandal wood, some camphor, shillings) worth of fire-wood: also 22 pounds of lamp oil for lights at night. This holy food is presented to the idol three times a day! the gates are shut, and no one but a few personal servants are allowed to be present. This meal lasts about an hour, during which period the dancing girls attached to the temple dance in the room with many pillars. On the ringing of a bell the doors are thrown open, and the provision is removed. The food prepared for sale, or bespoken by the inhabitants, is not brought into the large tower, but collected in the Begue Mundeer, where it can be seen and sanctified by the idol from his distant throne! "In addition to this food, a very considerable extra quantity is allowed for the great festivals: and, in order to make this superstition as profitable as possible, the priests have decided that nothing can pollute the food prepared in the temple-it may be conveyed to any place-it may be touched by a Musselman, or a Christian, without becoming unfit for a Hindoo. Nothing can be more convenient than such a belief, as Hindoos in general must eat their food where it is cooked, and a thousand things may pollute it. The consequence is, that the cooks are employed to prepare food for most of the pilgrims, at a quainted with different people's They subsist price which varies according to circumstances. the demand, and is always high- by bringing maha presaud (holy est during the festivals. It is said food), which they give to differthat a few days before the festi- ent persons, and get what they Some one says val of the Ruth Jattra, food is cook- can in return. ed within the court of the temple of the bad ones, "What a curse for at least 100,000 pilgrims; and to Christendom are the priests it will easily be credited that, on of Christendom:" surely one may these occasions, the 400 families of say, 'What a curse to Orissa, and cooks have full employment. The to a much greater extent of counpotters make earthen pots of try, are the pundas and priests of three sizes; the food is carried Juggernaut." away in them, and they form a kind of standard measure: and, as Let Christians, who enjoy the none but new pots can be used, ordinances of the gospel, cheerthe consumption is very great, fully and gratefully furnish that and supports a great many families. The only interruption to this support which the Lord requires cooking is during the time the for his ministers, and also for all idol is traveling in his car to the the benevolent efforts which Chrisplace where he was formed, and tianity demands. Although the returning to the temple; nine days blessings of the gospel are inestiin all." The number of pilgrim hunters mable, and stand closely associamust be considerable; the same ted with immortality, yet probagentleman stating," One of the bly few in Christian lands have in principal natives related that a Purharee, in 1821, despatched 100 the amount of expenditure come agents to entice pilgrims; and the up to that of many of the heathensuing year received the premi- en. um for 4,000 pilgrims! He was at that time busily employed in instructing 100 additional agents in The love of Christ should burn in Christian bosoms with heavenly ardour, and excite them tionable to the magnitude of gos ENGLISH HOME MISSIONARY all the mysteries of this singular to deeds of beneficence, proportrade, with the intention of sending them into the Upper Provin- pel blessings. ces of India." This fact Colonel P. related to the Author at Cuttack in 1822, and declared he would state it to the Marquis of Hastings on his arrival in Calcutta. A Missionary in Orissa, visiting Kontiloo (or Cooloo), about 90 miles from Cuttack, referring to the pundas, or pilgrim hunters, says, "I am informed there are forty of these missionaries of idolatry in Kontiloo. Nov. 1826." Another colleague in Orissa writes under date "Ganjam, Aug. 1826, I inquired how the pundas knew what to expect (of the pilgrims); and he said that some of them would come and stay two or three months in such a place as Ganjam, by which means they became ac SOCIETY. This Society, in England, is similar to our Domestic Missionary Societies, and is laboring to diffuse the blessings of the gospel through the villages and destitute neighborhoods. Its anniversary was held in London, June 21, at which Mr. Malcom, from Boston, attended. We extract from 'The World,' an English paper, the following outlines of his address." The Rev. Howard MalcoM, could not refuse, for the Society's sake, for the sake of his own country, nor for his own sake, to say a word or two, as he had just been requested to do. Were it not from a sense of duty, he would rather continue to listen to such delightful remarks as the meeting had already heard. He recollected, a few years ago, having visited the sea-shore of Jersey, where the masts of a vessel were shown him, and the circumstances of the wreck were narrated, with all the order of recent occurrence, by some of the men who had perilled their lives in endeavors to save the crew. The vessel was within a few feet of the shore, and passengers and crew from the rigging waited in hope of deliverance, but notwithstanding all the efforts which were made, not a single soul was saved. After detailing the circumstances connected with the melancholy event, the reverend gentlemen proceeded to ask, whether, if any individual he was then addressing had been present at the wreck, they would not have felt a chivalrous energy to attempt to save a life? But what was it to attempt to save a life? It was to defer for an hour or two, or a year or two, the dissolution of a poor piece of clay, that must ultimately die. It was but prolonging a life, which, if spent as before, would administer to the everlasting condemnation of him upon whom they conferred it. Though no raging storms surrounded this meeting to excite their feelings, yet there were souls perishing on every side to call forth their energies. They were met to save souls! O, glorious enterprise! who would not feel, who did not feel, that to save a soul which should live for ever and ever before God, was an object of supreme importance? How blessed the thought! Surely they would display ardor, surely their best feelings would be aroused by the consideration, and they would form the determination that while life lasted they would give themselves to the employment. When sending forth missionaries to roam abroad, scattering divine truth, they were perhaps only sowing seed which would perish. But in the cause of Home Missions they were sinking wells in the valley of Baca. From those wells streams of everlasting life. would spring up. Wherever a church was planted, they were securing durable instruction, the establishment of Christian institutions formed after the direction of Jesus Christ. In proportion as churches prospered at home, contributions would be received towards every good object abroad, and thus perennial springs would arise, making the world fruitful as autumn till the end of time. It was his happiness to have been the gratuitous Secretary of an institution like this in America during twelve months, when he was obliged to relinquish his office; and never should he forget the earnest entreaties contained in the letters he received, to allow missionaries to remain in the stations appointed to them, if funds could be raised for the purpose. How did a penny grow estimable when it would furnish a good man with a tract. He thought that if letters, such as he had adverted to, could be laid before a meeting like the present, they would need no report, no speeches, for the simple eloquence which those letters contained must touch all their hearts, and would inspire them with a desire to accomplish whatever could be effected. In America they had often caught the holy fire kindled in a land that he had been taught from his earliest lisp to call the mother country. It would delight the present meeting if he could fully set forth the operations of American Christians, and would show that England need not blush to own her daughter. Just in proportion as British Christians came to the help of the Lord against the mighty, in that proportion did they, by their example, set the world on fire with a holy flame. They knew that British Christians never did more than their duty; and, therefore, if British Christians did thus, they felt they ought to go, and do likewise. In proportion as we transfuse the fire which glows in our own bosoms to those around us, we accomplish far more than the Carthagenian father who endeavored to perpetuate his feelings in the bosom of his son. They produced an effect upon millions and millions. Let them then to-night do a noble deed. Not to the praise of man be it spoken, but to the honor of God, that the situation of this Society was so encouraging. They had not to heal disorders, and reclaim dissentients; all that was now necessary was to march onwards in the holy work. Do it they must, for an infinite God invited, and a sense of duty prompted. Let each one determine to give more systematically than he had ever done before to this great cause. How much, he would ask each individual present, did they give?-Sufficient to enable a missionary to give away a Bible? He had often queried how much a Christian ought to give. During the Levitical economy, God required of his people one tenth for the priests. The priests, however, were nearly a tenth of the people, and therefore did not roll in aflluence upon poor neighbors! Another tenth was to be given to the poor, and the offerings that were to be presented according to the Mosaic law, absorbed about another tenth. God also required from the Jews one seventh of their time. Had they not then better determine to give a tenth, or even a seventh of their substance to God, and divide it among religious Societies, according to the best of their judgment? They could then tell every beggar, be he reverend, or one driven to their doors from bodily distress, that they had apportioned their money in a way which they believed to be according to the will of God, and no reasonable man could desire more. He did not, however, wish to limit them to one seventh; men of large fortunes might give one half, and if some were to give nine tenths, it would be much better for their Mr. M. conspiritual interests. cluded by alluding again in a feeling manner to the importance of the object before the meeting. MATERNAL SOCIETIES. We have on former occasions ex pressed our deep interest in the formation of Maternal Societies. They at first excited pleasing anticipations, and the results have in many cases exceeded the hopes of the members. During late revivals many children have been subjects of grace. Every year indeed may not in each Society present alike flattering results; but persevering and faithful efforts will always accomplish good. Let therefore the members of every Maternal Society encourage and stimulate each other to the course becoming mothers who profess godliness. Second Annual Report of the Charles town Baptist Maternal Society. Another year having glided swiftly away, the period has arrived for another annual report of the experience which our Heavenly Father has granted us since we celebrated our first anniversary. On this second anniversary of our beloved Maternal Society, we again acknowledge the goodness of Gop in preserving the lives of all our members, so that death has made no inroads; and likewise in the encouraging fact, that no one through discouragement has forsaken us, but on the contrary our number has increased, and with our number we trust, that our souls have advanced in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. the year, committed to the silent grave Two of our Society have, during their beloved infants. Although we cannot speak of the gracious goodness of God in converting our children, as in the former |