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illissionarri Department.
[ From the Watchman of the Valley .]
Messrs. Editors, —'I'lie following lines, expressive of that
sweet confidence in God which every Christian should pos
sess, were written by one of a missionary company, and sung
on board a ship before landing on the coast pf Africa.
A. Bushnkll.
We need not fear on Afric’s shore,
The pestilential air,
Since lie whom augel hosts adore,
Will guard and guide us there.
No lurking danger in disguise,
Can give a fatal wound;
Without our God shall bid it rise
To make His grace abound.
il
Secure in Him we may confide.
Nor fear a threatening ill;
Beneath His wings our souls shall hide,
And culmly wait llis will.
The path He’s marked for us to tread,
With patience we’ll pursue;
And with llis mantle o’er us spread,
Go all our journey through.
We’ll seek to win degraded souls,
To how at Jesus’ feet,
And own the grace that freely rolls,
With heavenly richness sweet.
And when he bids life’s dreaded cue,
Unclasp these mortal ties,
May Jesus Christ our spirits own,
And boar them to the skies.
C 11 1 N A.
Canton, May 12, 1817. ,
f■car Brother Buck, —1 have not written much Journal
for a long time. My regular every-day duties are so regu- ,
la r and unwarving that any notice of them would soon be-11
c ure stale; and though 1 have a predilection for making;
excursions into the country, which would give some variety
at least for journal writing, if not for extensive usefulness
also, yet 1 have not had the pleasure of gratifying this desire]
in much extent tor want of foreign aid to superintend my du l
tics at homo. This l regret. I propose, here, giving you
a brief account of a short excursion into the country in com
p.i:.’ with u German missionary who has lately arrived.
Four German missionaries liave just arrived in China, and
me now at Hong Kong, who intend to go into the country.’
(*u ‘ of them came to my house on the filli instant, and intro- 1
duced himself to mo by the German name, Genhelir, hut
•in- o lie arrived ut Hong Kong be has taken the Chinese
name, IB; much better than the other one, too, lor 1 am
sure that a Chinaman nor an American either, would never
know how to pronounce his German name; and hence 1
sli ill call him IP, his Chinese name. He informed me that
h ; wished to spend a few days among the people of this vi
cinity, making excursions into the country around, and that
ho wished to slurt out the next day. lie has been at llong
Kmg about a month. 1 invited him to make my house his
home, and join me in eating rice with chop sticks—rather a
ri, tisile qualification for living or traveling among the peo- 1
pic. He gladly accepted the invitation, and I went with 1
him to procure a boat lor the morrow. We got a suitable;
bout at one dollar per day to start the next morning among
the villages in the country. On our return lie proposed go.
it.g through the process of becoming an initialed Chinaman ;l
us yet he had very few of their characteristics—with a very
fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, foreign garb, German
twang, and only one month s knowledge of their language.
But he had already bought himself some China clothes and a
tail, a most requisite appendage of Chinese costume. He
sent lor u barber, sat down and had his head shaved all over,
excepting u small spot on the crown, to which, after being
blacked, the tail was plaited. He took off his foreign garb,
and put on his Chinese dress, and wo took dinner together
v. it li the chop sticks. *• Thus ended the first lesson.”
May'7th. —This morning vve embarked, all in Chinese
o..'tame, lp, myself, and linve Chinese assistants, with some
boohs lor a tour among the villages. As the tide was run
ning down, (for we have strong tides here,) we went with the
cu: rent and name to a village in about two miles, where wo
s: pped and went among the people. One old man refused
our books with disdain, but many others not only received
to. :n cheeriully, but asked for more. We distributed all the
b.>>ks we wished to there, and preached to the people on sev
eral occasions as opportunity ottered, nud then left for the,
n m village. About three miles further we came to i* large
vi. ge or two thousand people* or upwards. Here we di-|
v. a ; o.’ie of the assistants went with me distributing books,
a.: I the others stayed with teacher lp preaching to a large
e mpany. Wo made a tour round the village, which is
r. o r a neat little place, built up with brick houses, geuer
;.!:y only one story high. Chi our tour around, besides dis
ti.-e.iting the books and looking at the place, we stopped
twice to preach to the people, to which they listened attentive
ly. At one place an old woman, nearly eighty years of age,
came to my ieetand kneeled down as if she was going to
pray. All were kind, polite and quiet. Some wanted more
hooks, and 1 invited them to follow nte to the boat and get
them, which they did. Several came to the boat, among
whom were two oIU men who professed to be elders of that
j lace. They requested us to preach to them, that they
n. glu make known the doctrines more extensively among the
i.
inhabitants of the place, which we did most cheerfully, and
then gave them books. They gave us an approving word, I
made their obeisance and politely took leave. Another, af- i
ter learning our object, and hearing the gospel, invited us to t
go to his village, still farther in the country, and preach i
there too. The village at which we were, about five miles 1
from the Uet-Tung chapel, would be a good station for the
floating chapel at which to have weekly or monthly regular
|service. We visited another or two smalt places on our re
iturn home, where we preached and distributed books.
May hlh —l was engaged to-day and did not go, but teach
er Ip took the assistants and went among the villages, with ■
‘the usual good success.— lncident. It seemed to be time that
■he should take another lent) in Chinese tactics. He had in
jcuutiously taken his truflai board with him, in which he
had 15 or 20 dollars w Money, which was known to the] ;
;boatmen. lie preferred! c-piug on board to avoid the mus
qukoes; so, aliout 11 o’Jjkk at night, some 15 or 20 Chi
ineae came and robbed hiflnf bis money and the trunk which
contained it, nolwithstarjing the boat was very near the;
chapel, and many other boats in the immediate vicinity ; but |
through the niercilul protection ot God, they did not injure;
his person nor take any thing but the trunk containing the
money and its contents, not even the other trunk nor his
watch. This, however, left but two much reuson to suspect
that the boatmen had a hand in the matter. But I endea
vored to console him with the opinion that they would not re
turn again that night —that as the matter was no better, it
was well it was no wo’xse, and, indeed, it was rather a small
lee for un experimental lesson, for which others had ofte_n
I paid hundreds. “ Thus ended the second lesson.”
j May Ot/i.—Teacher Ip and three of the assistants went to
day again among the villagers. Another Incident. —This 1
evening a little after dark one of the assistants came in say- j
ing that teacher Ip was talking strangely, wishing them to j
go to Cau ton, and wondering whether he should see me to-H
night, and the liko; and fie wished me logo and sec wimt;
| was the matter. The idea struck trie very affectingly and !
| forcibly that the poor fellow had not only lost his money but]
{ llis mind also, through the lust night’s robbery I 1 went tojj
the boat irnmi diulely, and lie came to meet me, exclaiming]
lin what 1 thought a wild voice, “why are you come—l little]]
expected to see you to-night—where did you come from?”] 1
|This confirmed me in my fears, that he was not right in his |
jinind. But I began to talk to him, and asked him if lie did!,
not know that was my house? At last he seemed just to cornea
to himself, and through mercy proved to be right enough in,
llis mind, at which 1 was greatly rejoiced, though 1 suppose]
lie had been lost during the day, and was still lost when he’
l] returned, which is not uncommon for a stranger at anew
place. 1 had to. use great precaution when 1 first came to
Ganton, to avoid getting lost!
May 10 th. —Teacher 1 1 and myself, concluded to sturt out
i this morning on a two days tour. \V o took three assistants,
1 some books, mid started up the river. But we had not pro
ceeded far, until both the boatman and the assistants demur- (
red at going so far into the country tit present. They seein
|jed to fear difficulties. We did not very readily concur jn]
die notion of relinquishing our intended tour, but argued the
matter with then# considerably, and insisted on their proceed
ing according to our directions; but they held the reins, or
rather the helm in their own hands, and uniting against our
wishes, overruled our design, and only went to a large vil
lage about five or six miles above in another direction. We
preached several times, and distributed books at this place.
1 think this would bo another good station at which to have
stated services in the floating chapel. On our return, we‘
had preaching at five or six places, fulfilling the command
—“as ye go, preach,” and distribute books. The people]
generally listened attentively and aclod politely. | Many;
j.inore seeking books than we could supply ! In two ins:uficeS,t
I like the Saviour, we stood o:i the boat pushed ofl’a little from
the shore, and preached to large and attentive congregations;
on the land!
1 feel some regret that 1 have not an opportunity of doing
.more of this kind of work among the villages. Should 1 everjj
be fortunate enough to have missionary aid, able to take my
services at home, when 1 shall be absent, 1 hope to do so. 1
feel [wersuaded that if foreign missionaries would condescend
to wear the Chinese costume and tail; and perhaps sutler a||
robbing and beating now and then, they might publish the
I'gospel extensively in the country ! And are we any better I
1 than tho apostles? They suffered many beatings, and went
on preaching as if they had not been beaten at all! And as
I to wearing the Chinese costume and tail, tiiat would soon;
: become easy from habit, i speak from experience! The’
Emperor, though a foreigner, yields to this custom—shaves!
his head and wears a tail; and doubtless the apostle Paul
would do so if here, who “became all things to all men, that!
!'by all means lie might gain seme.” 1 think it will be ab-j
solutely requisite to wear the Chinese costume aud tail if a 1
,missionary would travel extensively among the people, and!
preach to them unmolested. The Catholic missionaries do!
1 so, and go where they please. And those German mission-!
Tries are arranging their matters to do so, and expect to be!
allowed to go where they please. Dr. Medhurst did so so
year or so ago, and went far into the country. Mr. Milne!
did so, and came through the iuteeior of the country from
Ninpo to Canton —a journey of several hundred miles, which!
rook him thirty-eight days to perform! And, indeed, the
Chinese say, that teacher lp might almost go where he pleases
now, without detection, notwithstanding his un-Chinese ap
pearance at first; how much more readily will he be able
■ho do so when lie shall have acquired the language and be
eome somewhat sunburnt. It strikes me rather forcibly that
it is through tins means that we are now totind the whole
country accessible to us. The real barriers have been re
moved; the Christian religion is tolerated through the nation,
•ii and five ports are fully open to foreign intercourse by treaty.
These are the grand requisites. Aod now it is almost cer
tain that there will be no official notice taken of our going
almost any distance into the country, provided we make no
Disturbance among the people. This is the case at the north
and will be, I presume, here. Eating, wearing and acting
like the people in external matters of minor importance, is
the way to pass quietly among them without disturbance
Nor is it certain we should be undisturbed, whatever might
be the stipulations of treaties, if far in the interior, wearing
our foreign dress and acting the foreigner in every other re
spect. VVe should be esteemed a spoqies of wild animals,
almost, and curiosity, at least, would take any liberty with
us. It has pleased the Lord to open China sufficiently wide
to try the missioniiUes faith, humility and self-denial, and
those who possesafin reality tbeg neatest amount of these de
sirable qualifications will be ena bled to go the farthest among
the people, and bq likely to do the most good. Give us
Apostles in faith, zeal*, numilhy and self-denial, and it is
not certain that tve shall npt have apostolio success in win
ning souls to Chlfet. Yours most affectionately in gospel
benJs, iM I. J. ROBERTS.
[Front’ihr Alabavy.l Baptist.]
The Board of Domestic Missions of the Southern Baptist
Convention, at its rtgulatj.,monthly meeting,; December 14,
1847, adopted the following Preamble and Resolutions:
Whereas, duringlhc past few mouths, the Great Head of
the church, by an inscrutable providence, has removed sever
al of our most talented’and efficient missionaries, from posi
tions the most prominent arfrl important, and also one of the
Vice Presidents of this Board; therefore
Resolved, That in the
Hinton, S. S. Parr and. £ W|j|L!A3t; M. Teton, this Board
lias been deprived of of eminently successful
] laborers; the iuterests of religion, education and benevolence
j have lost ardent and effectivtTirieads and supporters; and the
ctkurcbott over which they, have cause to mourn for
able and beloved Pastors, taken from their flocks in the prime
of life, and in the midst of usefulness,
j Resolved, That we extend our kindest Christian sympa
thies to the bereaved families of the deceased, and fervently
!commend them to God of the widow, the Father of the
‘fatherless.
i Resolved, That wp deeply sympathize with the churches,
thus deprived of faithful pastors.
| Resolved, That, while we bow in humble submission to
the Divine will, ft becomes us to lift our hearts in earnest
prayer to Almighty God. that lie would stay his afflicting
j hand, spare the remnant of devoted missionaries now in the
field, and raise up others to fill the places of those whom He
has been pressed to remove.
Resolved, That, m the death of brother Absalom Janus,
of Peulield, Ga., this Board and the denomination at large
! have lost a member who was wise in council, energetic in
action, and liberal in the support of every good cause.
Hrmtvert, That wo cjtMwl to Oo lmily 4'i>- lrut>>r, <■
severely bereaved, our Christian sympathies, and supplicate
iu their behalf the blessings of I liui who assures us, “that all
tilings work together for good to them that love God.”
Resolved, That a copy of the above be sent to the be
reaved families and churches of the deceased.
J. HARTWELL, President.
M. P. JiiWETT, Rec. Sec.
Recent Intelligence. —Letters have been received from
brethreu Shuck and Tobey, dated as late as July 23, Anjier,
ilsland of Java. The voyage of our brethren and sisters had
•been extremely unpleasant. All were, however, in tolerably
good health. Subsequently, we learn by a letter from Lon
jdon, they reached China on the 27th of July. Their safe ar
rival should be cause of devout thankfuluess to God Mi
ssionary Journal ,
A Worthy Example. —The Rig Hatchy Association of
West Tennessee, at their annual meeting, recently held at
Piney Grove, liardaman county, resolved to become respon
sible for the regular support of amissionary to China, and
have already in good pledges, nearly secured the. amount
necessary for this object. This measure of our brethren in
die West is, worthy of ,all commendation, aud we may hope
that the day is not distant, when, through their exertions,
many of the blind devotees of a'foal superstition will be re
joicing in the hope of the gospel.— Mitsioitary Journal.
The purpose of missions is tho diffusion pf the gospel: and
there is no form of temporal and earthly, or of eternal ami
spiritual good, which the spread of Christianity does not pro
duce. So obvious is this truth, that no reflecting person can
fail to perceive it: so strong is its appeal to philanthropy, that
no one, except he be utterly selfish, can avoid wishing to ad
vance the missionary cause.
£ss”l have seen the little pearls of a spring sweat through
tho bottom of a batik, and penetrate the stubborn pavement,
till it bath made it fit for the impression of a child’s foot;
and it w-as dispersed, like the descending dews of a misty
morning) till it bad opened its way, and made a stream large
enough to carry away the ruins of the undermined straud,
i and to invade the neighboring gardens; but then the des
;pised drops were grown into au artificial river, and an in
tolerable mischief. So are the first entrances of sin slopped
with the antidotes of a hearty prayer, nod checked into a>-
briety by the eye of a reverend man, or the counsel of a sin
gle sermon: but when such beginnings are neglected, and
our religion hath not in it so much philosophy, as to think
anything evil so long as we can endure it, they grow up to
ulcers and pestilential evils; they destroy the soul by their
abode, which at their first entry might have been killed by
the pressure of a little finger .—Jeremy Taylor.
[January