Newspaper Page Text
194
(Driginal.
For tlo* |ndt(i.
A Letter from Central Africa,
TO TIIK ALU ifXI OF MERCER IM \ E/ISJ7A.
B V II n V. *’ M. 11. C /. A H K .
[ CONTINI Kl*. ]
*1 suppose a few words respecting the seasons
would very much aid in giving shape to your no
tions of the country. The first indications we have
of Spring, as with you, so with us, are in the month
of March. At this time the dry season is begin
ning to draw to a close. The clouds become hea
vier, which together with the husky appearance
of the elements, arising from the burning of prai
ries and clearing farms, presen ts a parked similar
ity to the same season in America. A l this time,
or a little earlier, may be ©ecu branches and glens
brilliant with the bhWuns of decorated trees,
while all nature begins to come forth with life
and Ireauty. In the months of April and May
still more are we delighted with the-rich profu
soon, of nature, and nature’s gladdened crea
tures. The sun bright in the deep blue skv,
the rain, catting the husbandman to his labor, and
refreshing all nature, the bracing air, the singing
birds, the rejoicing multitude, the beautiful farms,
and the vast panorama of earthly beauty stretch
ing to the farthest horizon, awaken delight within
us, and call forth songs of gratitude and joy. In
the months of May and June, there is much rain
two or three days rain, partially in the day, then
several days acceptable weather. The mornings
are generally foggy, and injurious to health. At
nine or ten o’clock one may go out with safety; of
course there are some exceptions. This is perhaps,
principal farming season—here we have two crops
during the year. There is but little that marks
the Summer months—June and July are very
rainy, perhaps the most disagreeable in the year.
The water courses have then reached their maxi
mum height, rendering both farming and travel
iug disagreeab'e. In the month of August there
is much cloud, but generally little rain—hence the
appellation of the little “dry season.” Os the fall
months, September and Octolrer are rainy, and
bear much the same relation in appearance to the
other seasons, as the Autumn of America. Nature
begins somewhat to change its appearance, and
vegetation has reached its maximum and verges
to decay. Towards the end of November, hs the
rains have nearly all ceased, the prairie, the farms,
and all the trees of the forest, that shed their leaves
begin to assume the appearance of an American
scene in Autumn. At this time farming opera
tions have nearly closed. In the Winter months
save the evergreens, everything appears to he
parched and crisped tinder the scorching rays of
a tropical sun. Yet every change in the seasons
is hut the sequence of nature’s laws. During this
season, one of the most pleasant, there is but very
little rain, but genera ly enough water for all n-
UJ£ ‘sit- ’
appearance to the elements Then also we have
the harmatians blowing from lie desert, but not.
so strong hk to cause any particular annoyance.
The last season it was scarcelyobservable. From
the foregoing remarks,yon may form some idea as
to the malaria and predisposing causes to l.hrv-sick
linesfl of the country. “As to the former, there is
but little reason to believe we have it, while the
latter are rather to he traced to the atmosphere
and temperature, th in to any local cause found
in the character of the soil, or the position of the
land. Farther remarks would be inconsistent with
the design of t his letter.
1 now beg your indulgence while I speak of Yo
rnha as a Kingdom. Bv referring to the neces
sarily very imperfect sketch of a map here enclos
ed, you will the better impress on your memories
the position of the country. The circumjacent
countries you will also observe. This Kingdom
in its extent forms a figure, similar to the square,
and contains about twenty thousand square miles,
being therefore one third the size of Georgia, and
with a population very nearly the same. This pop
ulation is confined almost wholly within towns
and cities, in consequence of the devastating wars
that rendered a country life next to an impossibil
ity. You need not be surprised therefore to learn
that we have here some very large cities, contain
ing hundreds of thousands of inhabitants. The
population of one million is divided ljtween
twenty-five towns and cities, not one of which ex
ceeds three days journey from a central pevot.
Ilorrin three days journey from the Nig-**, ad the
chief Mahommedan city, is reputed to !*e the lar
gest in the Kingdom, and together with its su
burbs contains perhaps not less titan three hun
dred thousand souls. Such is the extent and pop
ulation of this interesting Kingdom. And, more
over, when we consider its position, soil, streams,
and mountains, and the many uatural facilities it
eujoys, we may with confidence look forward to the
day, when, uuder the beneficeQ'. hand of ‘the Cre
ator, it will rejoice and blossom as the rose.
My acquaintance with the language of ihe
eouutry although yet limited, authorize me to speak
in most flattering terras. Its basis,-.aqseeptibility
of improvement, and its present state, would
excite within you emotions of interest, jind
pleasure. I fancy to see it dating, back to
the nationalities of the Cituaauites, before their
dispersion, and even now claiming some affinity
though remote, to the Hebrew, Greek and Latiji.
Many of the idiomatic expressions; are the He
brew; the construction of the language is similar to
the Greek and Latin. There are very few pure
Baxon words, but find some equivalent in Ypruba.
One striking peculiarity is the fact that, there is no
want of equivalents for Scriptural terms. For in
stance, for’ God, Lord, Almighty, Savior, Mediator,
Priest, Redemption, Faith, repentance, heaven,
hell, Oalan, Ac., respectively, Olamn. Oljewa, O!-
, fed inf i a re, Alaigbowai, Aluta, Irapada, lgbagl-n,
Tronopiwada, orun, oran-apadi, esfur. In fact the
extent to which this language has !>ee cultivated,
places this people above that state called barba
rism. It has such a basis, so great a variety of
expression, and so wide a scope, that a continued
acquaintance with enlightened nations, would so
mature and develop© it, that it would become the
fsiast qf an enlightened Voruban. I ob
serve that the great facilities ol intercourse and ac
quaintance, have verf materially contributed to its
present growth.
As already remarked, the late wars, that came
so near destroying the Yoruba Kingdom, had a
very marked effect in drawing the people into
large towns and cities, for purposes of defence and
safety. ferrin the whole Kingdom of one million
inhabitants, there are only twenty-five or thirty
towns and cities, in which, with one or two exeep
tians, the whole population reside. The towns
generally, or portions of them are vary compactly
built, and surrounded by a mud wajl, six or eight
feet high, that subserves all the necessary purpo
ses of defence. I know one town of this descrip
tion that tirade seven or eight successful repulses of
the enemy. There is otic marked peculiarity in
building, as regards the city, which interferes with
regularity or comfort. An unoccupied lot is free
for any one without price or expense. Tlie houses
are all one story, four-square, built of mud, with a
couittyard surrounded by the piazzas or porticoes,
that are formed by the projection of the roof, as it
extends towards the ground. This you will easily
comprehend when you remember these Itouses
have a width only of seven or eight feet, and a sim
ilar height. The roofing is it lit tie complicated,
formed as it is of so many materials; Ist., a net
work of slicks or forks; 2nd.,, the palm sticks laid
at right angles, across an under layer of sticks; ,3d
the reeds at right angles, across the palm, form
ing'a complete net work; 4th, the grass drawn
over these reeds. We term such buildings com
pounds, as containing not only large families, but
closely connected friends, thereby making a bouse
Sometimes, equal in population to a small village.
Many a village in Georgia has a population less
than one of these dwellings. You may well im
agine theu that these conqroiinds have from ten
to fifty small rooms, when the length of one side
of a house is 150 or 200 feet, long. The little a
partments of these compounds have hut one door,
no windows, and though without light, I have of
tentimes found them comfortable. You know
it is happy for a man to accomod Te himself to
circumstances. The floors are mud, but so beat
and rubbed, with the excrement of horses or cows,
as to prevent the rising of dust, This process is
sometimes so frequently performed, especially by
the wealthier class that the walls shine as if they
were piaster**!. The <-nmpnmids of the aristocra
cy, for (he most part, have two apartments, the
latter where, everything, as provisions, or “plun
der” are kept, and occasionally a small residence
in the center of the court yard.
Family government is truly pal.rian h.-il. With
in every eompompd there is a governor and his
subordinates, to whom every one else pay marked
man ol greatest
flneuceTtmhur by the Superiority of age, or strength
sos intellect. He has here collected around him
his wives and children, perhaps -m.mv relatives,
and some -friends, all of whom yield to him
obedience, as Irelonging to one and the same
household. This is an interesting and beautiful
feature in their character, and developes itself in
that, mutual interest, and feeling, they entertain to
wards one another, when brought in contact with
the bust ling world. Remember, that lam relating
no eastern tale, adorned with beautiful figures,
and highly wrought liyJ>erl>oles—but facts, facts.
Lei us now cousider some of their manners and
customs. And I suppose that a city is a city ev
erywhere, and very much the same in the general
principles of etiquette, in as much as continued in
tercourse of large bodies of men, under anything
like regulation and decency, has a marked ten
dency to develope the “poli.e” of our natures.—
At least so it is here, among a people, sup
posed to he, by general opinion, the most degraded
‘•n emili. Their general intercourse is marked hy
kindness and politeness, and manifested by their
numberless salutations, continually breaking in
upon the ear wherever you go. If you meet an
acquaintance thiee or four times in fifteen min
utes, he has"a kind salutation lor you upon his lips.
The lower classes bow or prostrate themselves be
fore their superiors, at the same time saluting con
tinually; while they sometimes receive from the
object of their respect, a token of good will in his
quietly placing his hand upon him. Equals fre
quently shake hands, at the same time inclining
forward, or stooping down. But their most mark
ed respect is shown in private visits. Then vou
are either invited or conducted in, with every mark
of respect, your health, family, Ac., inquired after,
and then seated according to your position as a
man of honor. Were disrespect shown you it
would be an opprobrium on the house. The con
duct, the language, and the kindness of your host,
would seldom call forth your disapprobation. In
fact, without enlarging, their comtnou intercourse,
with every necessary exception for peculiarity of race
and circumstances, is just similar to that of anv well
regulated American community. In fact the simi
larity i9 so gieat, as to strikingly refute the absurd
idea, that the African is u hind of a creahire , very
/different from the humane while man. The dress
of the Yornban has but little variation. The gen
tleman’s costume consists of a large cloth thrown
around the shoulders, and falling to the knees,
leaving the right arm bare; a pair of trow sees
drawn around the loins, and reaching to the knees;
a small cloth capon the head; and the robe some
thing like a flowing-gown, worn principally by the
gentry and nobility. This latter class also sometimes
wear velvet caps. The dress of females consists
of a doth drawn around the waist, and reaching
near the ankles, and one similar thrown over the
nboulders. I tie dress of the children is similar to the
above description. The costume of the Mahorn
medAn varies slightly from the Yornban. Their
dress consists principally of a large robe; trowsers
girded around their loins, and reaching to the an
kles, with a large hag of cloth hanging loosely lie-
THE CHE I ST IAN INDEX.
tween the legs; and the turban, which consists of a
while cloth wrapped in folds around the head,
drawn under the chin, with a small piece placed
over the mouth. They are a people very fond of
show and dancing. At all times and seasons of
the year in various parts of town, may be heard
the song nnd shout of joy and festivity—more
however of this rejoicing at the end of the year, in
ti e gathering in of the crops. The occasions of
lliesedestivities are prosperity, funeral ceremonies,
and marriage. At such limes friends, neighbors,
and acquaintances are called together, the drums
sounded, the dance begun, men and women, all
engage, and ere night sets in, yon may wonder if
strong beer has not done its work. I believe this
drink, on siich occasions, is the “magnum bound*”
of the feast. Estrange as it may seem, the funeral
ceremony generally furnishes an occasion lor the
most marked display, interesting and joyful to the
native in proportion to the wealth of the deceased.
Some times this ceremony tnav he postponed for
several years, in consequence of the inability of the
family to show the deserved respect to their tie
ceased relative. They will also go so far as to beg
publicly for mony, and even to reduce themselves
to slavery, for the purpose of gratifying this foolish
and wicked desire, —a desire that ends in the
squandering and throwing away to the rabble of
nearly every cowry in their p tssession. On very
important occasions, when a chief m in dies, thou
sands may be seen in tlie market, collected togeth
er, for the purpose of gaining applause from tlie
people, by skill in dancing, or for gathering the
cowries that are thrown in every direction. Every
tribe or nation has its peculiar mark on the face.
These are generally cut at an early age, sometimes
in great numbers and at much cost to the sufferer.
It is not, as some would suppose, a mere relic of
barbarism, but of very great necessity to the peo
ple of the respective nations, in securing them
from the clutches of the slave stealer. These marks
also are found in great numbers on the bodies of
females, designed as ornaments. Circumcision is
very common. The men generally have their
heads shaved, the children almost universally.
The women pay some little attention to ornaments,
such as plaiting, Ac. Culinary operations are gen
orally performed in the open air or under small
sheds along tlie streets. Here you see their pots,
ovens, every lit iug for cooking, and an abundance
of every kind of provisions. The principal meal is
at night after the labor of the day has been per
formed, ami tlie cooking women, who make this bu
siness their profession, have all things ready for the
hundreds and thousands that flock around them.
Avery heavy business of this kind is done on the.
great thoroughfares, near the customhouses, as tlie
jreople go out to their farms. Here you may sec
pots of corn beautifully while, having been ground,
then boiled, and-drunk as a soup—several kinds
of bread, several preparations of yam, several
kinds of palaver < f sonce, Ac.. Ac bit no rat ,
bats, worms, monkeys, A of which however, you
tuny find something, of ev ry description, in the.
market, to please even tlie most set-lid iotas epicure,
from a snail or mushroom, to exquisite mutton.
But hear in mind, the above’ mentioned articles,
are for sale to tlmse who desire to bee one purcha
sers. The day is begun, bv the aristocracy, with
-drinking corn- soup, early in the morning; followed
by a meal at eleven or twelve o’clock, aud conclu
ded with the principal one at night. But Ido not
believe, that, with most persons, there is much uni
formity; they seem to gratify the appetite when
veer it calls for food, of which there is, nearly at all
times an abundance.
The knowledge, intelligence and arts of the
people, considering their situation ami opportuni
ties, make them interesting to ’a stranger, and
give promise of future elevation. Os course their
knowledge of the world, and acquaintance with
philosophical and scientific pri eipfes amount to
nothing; but their insight into the ordinary affairs
of life, ami the instructions which they have deriv
ed from tlie force of circumstances, and their
continual intercourse are worthy our coinmen
dation, and illustrate tlie proverb of Solomon.
“As iron, sharpened! iron ; so a man sharpeneth
the countenance of his friend.” You will t he. bet
ter understand the extent of their knowledge, from
a cursory view of their various arts and employ
ments. Carpenters, tailors, weavers, tanners, ar
tists, chalk-makers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, bar
bers, saddlenrakers, ornamental workmen, Ac.,
may be found in our cities, ‘Phis department be
longs principally to tlie men. The women are
the makers of all cooking utensils, and water-pots,
of doth, hoes, wedges, knives, bill-hooks, clothes, sad
dle-cloths, bridles, c aps, bats, mats of various kinds,
baskets,sword ornaments, beautiful moroccoes, Ac.;
for if T make out my bill too long you will not be
lieve me. But, the market!*, by far, the most in
teresting and instructive spectacle, in which von
have their knowledge, Ac., concentrated. Here
is the most astounding variety, not only of their
own produce and labor, bat many European arti
cles, some from the coast ami others by the wajt
of the desert. Imagine if you please between 20
and 30,000 people assembled together with the
merchandise and articles of various countries for
the purposes of trade, and bringing into contact,
one with another, their knowledge of human na
ture and business. Besides hero is a market for
almost everything conducted in harmony and on
right principles —a place for everything, and with
everything in its-place. The trade of the country
is carried on to tlie most astonishing extent; car
avans always on the wing, “to and fro;” the Bir
mingham cloth exchanged for the swords of Malta.
Should I enlarge ever so milch, your imagination
would (lag ere it reached the point which the peo
ple have attained, as traders and common artists.
But however deservedly high they stand in the
respects already mentioned; as agriculturists, tillers!
of the soil, the true foundation of a nation’s stahil
ity, I hardly fear, all things considered, to make a
comparison with any country. In every direction
from the city of I jaye, farms extend to the distance
of ten or fifteen miles, with much ol the land in a
state of fine cultivation. Some of the most beau
tiful and flourishing farms, I ever saw, are in Af
rica. It is almost impossible for you* to conceive
the extent to which this department of human in
dustry has been carried. Miles on miles of culti
vation will sometimes stretch out before tlie eye,
without a termination. All this Labor is perforin
ed by the means of a'small luxe, with a handle IS
inches long and set at an angle of about forty-live
degrees. The principal articles of produce, are. In
dian corn, guinea corn, yams, potatoes, peas,
pumpkins, water-melons, sugar cane cotton, Ac.
Between Ijaye and Arogan, the capitol, distant,
about eighteen miles, the farms meet; and on the
Haddon road, there is.a separation of only a few
miles. These farms are cultivated by the people,
©f the towns, who g > out and come in every day,
hearing their loads on the head. I. compute that,
not less than ten thousand people go out daily to
their farms, for the purpose of tiding tin* soil and
supplying the markets. While s caking of this
department of labor, it may be wellt.it mention,’
the kinds and variety of domestic animals. A*.—
horses, cows, sheep, goats, swine, some of tlie
finest, to which add p’geons, fowls, some da *ks,
turkeys; with nearly all of which the market is
daily supplied, besides v irion i kinds of wild meat,
and game. Well, perhaps by this time, the epi
•reurean will say, we had as well be iri Af’rici as in
America. My reply would he, and for this I should
render thanks to the Giver of every good gift, I
have never had reason for one moment to repine.
The government and laws are simple, hut well
adapted to the present condition of the people.
The Yoruba Kingdom, at present, has only a nom
inal King, and mty more properly be called a lim
ited Monarchy. The government by which Ijaye
is ruled is depotic. It is custom, and violated only
at great risk, that the smaller towns pay tribute
to tlie larger, while every town and city is inde
pendent in the manag -uient of its own affairs, and
the punishment of offenders. Every chief has life
court advisers ami flatterers, sharing authority
with him, in proportion to his cunning or despot
ic rule. In this town, law is most rigidly enforced,
visiting such offenses as theft, murder and adul
tery witli death. The chief is law and judge,
hearing and deciding daily all eases brought lie
lore him. The rigid enforcement of law, has se
cured for the town that, reflect and position, not
easily t<> I>e lost, so long as tlie present ruler shall
occupy \l he helm of Slate. Laws, ! suppose, are
made’ to suit particular emergencies. < >ne of tlie
most striking customs founded, I imagine, on law,
is the ordinance for keeping females and wives in
a slate ol servility to their husbands and masters.
Scarcely anything would better accomplish tire
object, imposing as it, does, on tire super?,tilions,
reverence and credulity of the female sex. Into
this wonderliil mystery, all hoys, at. n suitable age,
are inducted. At. certain times, some strange mi
known being ol another world, say jdiey, makes
his wonderful appearance, in the streets, most fan
tastically dressed from head to foot, not tlie
least part of Ids body discernible, ami with an
altered voice. This is the. devil man. No one
touches him, not.even the chief, inti on pain of
death. All reverence him, particularly that part
ofthe population to restrain whom is Ids pecu
liar province. With such laws, under a des
potic Prince, who rules for the good of his people,
you need not be surprised to find, as is the case,
good order, and weil regulated society. Several
have been decapitated within the last two years,
for the crimes of adultery, murder, treason ami
theft; and only several —this number too within a
population of seventy five thousand. I have never
seen a fight between two men, since my arrival,
and very seldom hear of tlretl or robbery. To give
you an idea of the chief in the administering of
justice, two of his heathe\?t were beheaded a few
/lays ago, for the crime of theft. But with all
their order, and strict government, they have no
written language, no schools, and nothing like
systematic education: Thera is an institution in
tlie country of a secret, order, something similar, f
imagine, to ancient masonry. —The children are
remarkably sprightly, apt and energetic; so much
so, I would hardly err in saying, they are far bet
ter acquainted with the ordinary affairs of life,
even at a very tender age, than those in Georgia,
who are only trained to tell tire length of a river
or the population of a town. This morning [ saw
a few small children building a little house; at ten
o’clock the rafters were on, and some were sitting
under it, spinning cotton; this evening it was cov
ered.
I will hasten to consider an interesting topic,
the moral condition of the people. They are
very peouliar heathens; and perhaps no peop'e
have retained clearer ideas of tjie Supreme Being.
Such is the nature of their reiigious belief and tlie
extent of their reiigious knowledge, that they may
be denominated semi heathens. They are idol
worshippers, it is true, and have numbers of
false deities, but attribute all creation to one Great
Being, who rules over all. Any child can tell you
it is God that made him. The Supreme Being is
viewed by the informed as all-powerful, holy, just,
perfect in all things, and the destroyer of the wick
ed. They believe in heaven, a place for the
good, in hell a place for the wicked, and the devil,
the great evil Spirit. Their views of these truilis
you will frequently hear explained in a plain, sim
ple manner, by the elders and informed among
the people. Yet they act very contrary to their
bt-lief in corrupting the knowledge they have. The
pst, 22nd and 23d verses, Ist chapter Romans,
dearly express the state in which they are now
found. Hence they have many idols, which they
‘onte.iid were given to their fathers hy God, for
the purpose of affording temporal blessings.
These powers they believe to have been granted
to their respective deities and protectors, who are
inferior to the great, Being over all. They have
some idea of a mediator, hut 1 am inclined to he
lieve, they look upon those beings, more as die
givers of temporal good, than reconcilers bet ween
God and man. I admit frankly that whatever
knowledge they may have of these important
truths, is greatly by their evil and a
bominable practices. Their principal deities are
Orisha, Bhango and I fa, Tlie former is made of
wood ; tire second is the God of thunder,
dreaded most hy lire people, and perhaps as much
bo, on account of the pillage and tlrel't of his fob
lowers, who ineke it their duty and happy privi
lege, to seize everything in a house struck l.v
lightning; the third is tire palm nut, \yorn around
the wrist or some other partTof the person, ami
to whom belongs the great 1 1 igh piiest of the j
con n Irv.
(To he continued .) -w
* -** •
Foi l lie I relax.
American Bible Union.
11 AMBt’KG < >.-!. .'i I. i Ks('i.
VV. 11. Wvckokf. Cor. S-'e. Am. Uihlv l'/Aon.
My Beau Brother: — l Have tow (In* pleas
ure of transmitting to vou my account with the
Union to (Act., 1850. Yon will perceive there
remains a balance due to the Union of sl9l 05.
Out of this, however, T have had to pav the first
quarter’s salary to the six colporteurs, mi that on
the first of January, I fear l inav not have a suffi
cient sum in hand to pay the 2d quarter's salary.
I have procured a set of plates of tire New Tes
tament and ofthe Psalms ofDtvid, in 32 mo., .at
a very low price, and ten thousand copies have
been published for circulation. At present, there
is a very great demand for this. You will be
pleased with the work when you see it.
You will receive with this, full extracts from the
colpojtears journals, and from these documents
you will see the amount ol labor which these de
voted men have performed. I have had personal
interviews with all the six brethren, during the
year, in my missionary tours ; and I am happy
in being able to bear testimony to their zeal and
fidelity. Some indeed have labored above ureas
ure, and were undermining their health ; and I
had to entreat them to suspend their labors for a
few weeks and take a little rest.
Bn>. Tltcklcirbiirg, from Buckeburg, was here
last week, where I heard that the persecutions had
ceased for the present, a blessing for which, under
God, they were indebted to the King of Prussia.
The doors now open for the spread ofthe word
of God, and the proclamation of the Gospel, are
now so numerous, in the. regions where Bin. Teck
leuhitrg labors, that he entreated me if possible, to
engage another colporteur to lalmr with him.
Bro. Koch.—Through the generosity of a he
loved brother, Bro. Koch, has succeeded in build
iug a little house at Geestendorf, near Bremer
haven,The only resoil to obtain a firm footing, as
the local authorities and the clergy are much op
posed to every effort made hy ns to spread the
Gospel. *
Bro. Meyer lost the concession for the free im
portation of Scriptures, and the permission for coi
portage, which a year or two ago the Hanoverian
Government had generously given him. It was
taken from him again, through the intrigues of
the clergy, I fear, as is usual. The clergy are our
better enemies. In consequence of these hin
drances Bro. Meyer left Hanover, and has for lire
last few months, been biborinrr in tire
oils district of Sieger la alia.
1 saw him, however, recently, I was cdMffilN ‘
that if returned to Hanover, It is toils would soon
lie over; and I therefore urged him to take rest
for four weeks, which lie has done in part, bv la
boring less.
Bro. Moyer is by birth a Hessian ; and there Ire
ing no lal>orer at or near Gassel, I have request
ed him to make Unit city life chief residence for
tlie present. We have between twenty and thir
ty brethren in the city, and several in the immedi
ate vicinity.
Bro. Pfenning is laboring much among Roman
Catholics, and often at Hildeslieim where large
numbers would come and hear him preach,—-but
alas! we have no place, not even “an upper
room ” to meet in.
Bro. Volker attempts to circulate the word of
God and proclaim the glad tidings in Holstein, but
as there is another brother engaged in similar
work by another Society, I propose to remove him
to another hitherto unoccupied t eld.
Bro. Wimlolf.—Our dear brother Windolf at
Hamburg, continues to be instant in and out of
season in the Master’s work. lie and Bro. Rett
mah, Colporteur of the A. A F. B. S. are doing
much, very much for the emigrants going to the
United Stales. To them we owe it that we have
had the privilege of holding extra religious services,
at which we have preached the blessed Gospel to
hundreds. Our chapel has been more than once
crowded to overflowing.
Oh, my dear brother, if I look at our work as a
whole, I have more reason for liolv gratitude for
the past, and stronger encouragement for the fu
ture, than ever before.
During the summer and autumn, I have assist
ed in the formation of five new churches, and the
opening of one ofthe “ sheds,” for which I plead
ed so earnestly in America. The above shed has
been chiefly raised from American dollars.
Oh, my heart lias leaped for joy in seeing the
grace of God in so many places this summer.—
Our work is extending, and with it our influence
on the millions of my nation. Oh, how much
has ln*eu already achieved. We have about sev
enty churches with sir thousand members—real
meml>ers—not paper members, whose names are
enrolled in the church books, merely, but of whose
assistance nobody knows anything. Our preach
ing stations now exceed Jive hundred in number,
and if our American brethren knew how to esti- 1
mate the blessings we send them annually in 1856,
we sent. 390 dear Christians from our ehuyebes—
they would not compel mo to leave my home, my
church, and my missionary worky for a begging ‘
tour to the churches in England at the preset!t
moment.
If you receive anything for the cause in Ger
many during the ensuing month, please to send
it to me m London, care of S. Wilkin, Cassey Cot
tage, Hampstead, London.
I rejoice to hear of your success Tin aT’nion.—
May the feud increase yon more and more*—
With brotherly love to yourself and to the Board.
Your affectionate brother,
J. G. ONCKEN.
• For 11n- I mlcv.
Marietta Baptist Churches.
. “We the undersigned council of brethren, from
Hightower, Tallapoosa, Middle Cherokee, and
Rock Mountain Association©, to whom all matters
of difference between tire ‘two bodies known to
tire country, as the Ist and 2d Baptist churches in
Maiietta, have been refered for our investigation
and final decision, have heard the written sped
| float ions of grievances, which each church has piv-
I sered against tire other; and have also heard a
I statement of each church made by its committee,
authorized hy its own act, to act for ii, together
witli all the proof, that each has been able-to ini on
to siteAifm it* charges against tire other; or to re
but or explnif) the charges made by each against
the other; and ©fler prayerful meditatiou and re
flection we trust by no other spirit
than a desire to Jo justice between the parties,
and to advance the cai%e of Christ on earth, and
to proinoto the peace and harmony of the Baptfet
denomination; have made* the following award
between the parties:
Ist. Wo believe and so award that the. Rev. E.
C. Jolitjson and those who applied for let tors.uf
dismission from the Marietta church, with him,
exhibited an improper spirit in leaving the church
rather abruptly, before its conference had ended
on the day the order granting them letters was
passed, and in making, to say the least of it, un
guarded and unpleasant remarks, which conduct
altogether, did not exhibit proper respect and
brotherly feeling towards the churches which had
jttsr grant and them letters; and tor this conduct
they are due, and should make a Christian - ac
knowledgement to said church.
2d. We further find that since that time there
has existed a bad state of feelings between the
brethren on both sides, that frequent hot and an
gry altercations have taken place between them ;
that some ot l em do not speak to each other,
ami dial they have said many hard things of each
other, evincing the want of a proper Christian spir
it: tor which we think and so award, they are m -
der obligation to make mutual acknowledgements
to each other.
3d. We are of opinion and so award that tire
said members who had applied for letters, and to
whom letters had been grant'd by an order of
said church, placed upon its minutes, had the right
to form themselves into a church without having
had their letters written out by the Cijerk, as each
and every one of them knew that, an order of the
church had been passed granting letters to each
and every otiier one of them included in said or
der—we arc of opinion that it is the order passed
by the church granting the letter which dismisses
the. member, and not the mere act of lire Clerk
in willing it out, and that the letter is only tlm
evidence of the action ofthe church in dismissing
the mem her, and that where the church receiving
the dismissed member, or the new church being
organized has knowledge of the acjjpn of rlmt
fehurch granting the letter—the'produiion of the
yntter is nottnecessary, -X ‘%
2S®do. thMtho
./atton commenced by traWf Sn’Srer.ffJF
the day after the order wa" s granting them
letter* ;lIK j completed on Saturday before these
ond SaXUth , n January, 1854. Was and Is a
Baptist church, in our opinion, was
not to prevalent Baptist usag.
as no I ,esbyy v was ca,Jed in, which is the us,tcre
of the denomuHion, and is in our opinion, L
better course, thV, not indispensably nectary
to the existence ot\ ..i,,,., , ~
\ church. We also think a
proper respect for thL* , i , ~ ,
■ , \ , \ rßt church would have re
quired that the inem\,.. . ~ ,
/ sl,ouM liave procured
from the Clerk the letteV , , . , r ,
, . , , . . , “Tinted by the order of
the church, <uki should hiV . > • . .
r Voted with less haste,
and in the exitibittotnof a 1\ . ..
, , , .... .V spirit towards Ihe
first church ; while in our itnX
... . . . . Npent these irre><--
ulartues in the organization of h , , °
, , , . . \second church
uo not rentier its organization vo\
existence as a church. Still they \ l ,rt ' cnt ‘ ,s
.... * ,\v that the
manner ot its organization is not to b\
ed to the denomination as a precedent" 1111 ’
sth. Taking the view we do of tlie exV (
the second church as’ a church, we further^ 1 .
that the juifediction of the first church ovAUj *
members to whofti she had granted letters ce\’
so soon as the second church was organized, a\
that the order subsequently passed by the liWf
church excluding said members as well as tl\\
consequent orders passed excluding ofeer menu
iers who had been dismissed by them b; letter,\
for joining said second church, was illegal, aid we
award that said orders of exclusion be all reseed
ed by said first church. We are also of opinion
that the rebaptism by the Pastor of the first
church of a member previously baptized by the
Pastor of the second church, was improper, but
we are of opinion madttStgr .
the Pastor ofthe first church
en by him tor his course in
improper motives cannot justly be attribnted -to
him in the performance of said act.
Gth. We acquit the fissfehurcb of the charge
in reference to granting the order of exclusion
a called session of the church, the evidence has
not satisfied our mini*, that the order was passed
at a called session, though some of the members
seem so to have understood it. We also think
that in passing the order excluding a number of
ife members for joining the second church after
its organization without having notified said mem
bers; the first church departed from Baptist usa<.-e
and set a precedent that should not he followed’
it being a principle of justic* that no member
shall Ire excluded from a eUrch, at any time or
on any charge, without,first having an opportuni
ty for a hearing before (he church.
Tih. We decide that it is theuluty of each mem
ber ot each church who has made any harsh ex
pression about a member of the other in an hon
est, meek, spirit, to rise and tender an acknowl
edgement to those with whom tlie unpleasant dif
ficulties were had,and in token that the acknowl
edgements required are .in good faith made and
received in a Christian spirit by the parties mutu
ally. We request that while a hymn of praise is
ftmniber