The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, May 25, 1821, Image 2

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” ‘ * ar **’ ’ 1 i- 4 ~ . ‘ f* *•■ ‘,T'•: : ''• * 7?CTTEE~ at sulkeah. From tkt Calcutta Journal of Dec. 16. Suttees, so often and so justly deprecated Lvjevei v Christian spectator as disgraceful tolnnia, nre stilt unfortunately of no un- common occurrence. • A rite of this kind which took place at Sulkeah last Thursday in the person of a vpung Hindoo Female, immolated on the as her deceased husband, neru onfvlohave been witnessed, not merely to arouse heart-rending sympathies, but most unequivocally to exemplify a case ot he cruellest murder. I was informed tha the deceased had fallen a victim to Cholera, some time during the preceding night ; and his infatuated widow determining to be come a Sul fee, the corpse had been brought some, milt* from the interiour to mix m ashes with its living partner by the river s side. This Mill, by the bye, appeared rather extraordinary, as all the parties concerned were of very inferiour casts.— concerncu wcipui j - The devotee was a good looking woman ot seventeen or eighteen years of age, and on this occasion as many others, regardless of maternal feelings, had left an infant child at home to come to the awful pile _ Then first care on arrival, about 9 o’ctock in the morning, was to take measures to procure ‘legal authority for this pious sacrifice, and a/sotne delay occurred iu consequence, an opportunity was offered to several Lnrone anGentlero-*> who were attracted to the -spot to endeavour, if possible, to prevail on her to relinquish her rash design ; but her mind appeared already so fortified with re-j ligious bigotry, so bewildered and occupied with the phantom of a terrified and disor dered imagination, that no persuasion could prevail, because none, however for cible, ccabl-bs understood. The Jarring emotions of her *out *•* oreaied such a degree of frenzy or madness that she al ready seemed to belong to another world Yet when a gentleman present observed to her that in giving her life to be destroyed, she was not only acting contrary to toe will of God, : but also doing an injury to so ciety by leaving her child unprotected, she evinced the most pcigr.ant anguish that can j possibly be conceived. With a look off wild and pitiable distraction she said, i “ Speak no.t of my child —V hv do you ■ wound my bosom with the idea ! Then re- j lapsing into superstitious ravings, she added, j But that child no longer belongs to me— j lam not its mo,liter, or wherefore did ! suf fer t!fi= death four times before at this age ;! shall 1 not complete my immortality ; and 1 know that I am doomed to crimination ! twice again after regeneration’' —so pow erful is bigotry over the noblest affections of nature 1 Amidst the scene of sorrow and misery, it may not be amiss to glance-fora moment at the behaviour of the surrounding mob. \ Here nothing but merriment, laughter and \obscenity. abounded in all directions. Not (a man oi woman amongst thorn seemed to (have a heart to pity, or understanding to lodge. One sally of wit set the whole nu isance a laughing for half an hour, and Lave occasion to many more good jokes. ’ p Come on, (cried a wag.) ve women of Sul fite ah, as many as are fond of lire and bus /-bands, now is your time to hug and to bum'’ j —another on the importunity of the unfor tunate w retch who w as the subject of their merriment, to he put out of misery as quickly as possible, tauntingly replied, “ Don’t be impatient, my dear, you will be among the faggots soon enough.’’ Indeed, so far was any religious solemnity from be ing attach-d to the -xca-ion.that no levity,; confusion ami inch re.,.-. • — l-1 [,, ’Cn greater than were exhibited in the conduct ; of noth Hindoo and Mussulman spectators. At length about G o’clock, it was aunoun it hat the'sanction of the magistrate had ‘■ red. The writer of this article now a i approached the devotee, & en.leavour by exciting a love of life, to induce her mounce berintention. He told her that s had any fear of future poverty or dis *, all the gentlemen present pledged nselves to provide comfortably for her, that they would immediately give her rs: I had noticed with some hope gradual decay of her resolution as time sed. and I was sanguine in believing might be recovered. Still to the very ’ edge of the pile, she was deaf to all entrea ty. Her lust words however, betrayed mudtt secret vacillation. She said, “ How cao l go back?” The expression, with the look and action which accompanied it, im mediately struck me as importing, “ how can I suffer the shame and reproach of such impiety.” The usual Poojah being now performed, she was hurried to her doom; and employing the remaining moments of life in blessing her family, and tenderly re commending her child to the care of her mother-in-law, she stepped upon the pile. A scene ensued which ! shall never re collect but w ith horrour and indignation. The devotee’s father-in-law, who, through out the occasion had shown the most exe crable anxiety to clo-e the business, now came forward with a thick rope to tie her down ; so that if any attempt was made to escape, it should prove unavailable.; but by the interference of Mr. , he was frustrated in his design. Determined, how ever, not to he disappointed if possible, he next produced two long bamboo poles, and would have fastened these across the pile, but being again prevented, he had recourse to a more infallible expedient, to which it was not our province to mpke any objec-1 lion. He heaped such an unusual weight of heavy logs aid faggots on the bodies, as 1 effectually rendered the living as incapa- 1 ble as the dead, from ever rising beneath their pressure. In this stage of the ceremo- ■ ny some of the mob c.ried out, 11 ioon, koon , I in fictitious tragedy would bM formed behind the curtain. As soon as tb action of the fire caught her body, the struggling* of this unhappy victim in the excruciating agonies ot ifeat , n ®' ( devouring element, would have united heart formeJ of adamant. , . ; Who, within the pale ot Chns.iinitj,j could view this scene without sighing r the depravity of human nature—who leav , it without lamenting that practices so abom-j inablc should be tolerated. Hcrkaku. I 1 FROM THE KST.I PIST MAtAatSE. 1 ACCOUNT OK THE IVuRKOFGOD IN NASHVILLE DiS'fKICT., Nashville liistrkit, pet. 15th, 1320. Dear Brethren—l wou'd communicate the intelligence contained •; the following letter to one ot our Bishops, ii 1 knew where a letter could reach him in safety : flmt as afflictions have prevented their con |lemplated route through tin* country, I take the privilege of making the communi cation to you, tnat you may, ifyou'think’ proper, give it a place in our Magazine, and by that means, let the lovers of Jesus know what God is doing for us in Tennes see. In the opening of last soring, we witness ed something more than itt ordinary atten tion to the ministry ofithe word, especially in those parts of Nashvi'de and Lebanon circuits, which lay adj* ioirtg There were frequent awakenings and conversions in other parts of the district; but this seemed to he the point where the prospect of the work was the m ist promifirrg. On Satur day the 24th of June, -aQuafterly-M. eting commenced at Boss’ Meetit)g-House, Nash ville ctrcnil, Wilson oiwinty The preach ers from Lebanon circiut attended with u, to<rether with many of-iho members from both circuits. Thcv benight the fire wiHt -,nem. The meeting contimieduntil Tues day, and the Lord crowned it with seven teen converts. Thus far the work pro gressed, rather silently indeed, but very sweetly; and during one quarter in Leba non circuit, upwards of two hundred were added to the church, amLnhcut one bund ret souls converted at the regular circuit ap pointments. The expectations of tlie peo iiile were up. 7!on travailed. The pro- I lessors were seninng their prayers to hea 1 yen, and the general attention of the peo j pie, seemed to be turned toward our ap | proaching Camp-meeting, which connnenc jed on Friday, July 14th, at Center-meet -1 ing-house, in Wilson county. Thursday was a day of incessant rain, and the pros pect seemed very unpromising: But on ■Friday morning, the material sun arose without a cloud to obstruct his cheering rays. All nature seemed to smile, and eve ry thing was calculated to.inspire the hu-! man mind, and call forth its energies in I praise to God. The people began to col- j lect very early, and came in crowds from ! every direction. The Camp-ground had j been considerably enlarged ; but still we ( had to double the lines of the tents. Thir- j ty-three preachers, and 1 think not less j than five thousand people, attended this : meeting. Diviee service commenced on Friday at 2 o’clock. After a sermon was delivered, the order of the meeting was published, and an invitation giren to the mourners to come into the altar;* about thirty came forward, and before sun-set, four of them professed conversion. At candle-light we had another sermon, the mourners were j again invited into the altar, about fifty were supposed to be on their knees when ! we engaged in prayer for them, and before ; next found the bles sing. Dn Saturday moruiiHf jst suu-rKc a sermon was delivered, and the altar Wa nearly filled with mourners. We had preaching at eight, eleven, and three o’- clock,hut the work was too great to admit of preaching at candle-light; we had the trumpet blown according to the order of the meeting, for the purpose of having a s-rmon delivered ; but just at tha) moment two or three struggled into liberty and rose praising God, while several- others sunk under the power of conviction. We saw it was impossible for the people to hear preaching, so we declined-if, and consented that God should work his own way, and thirty-one souls professed to find peace with God during the day and night. On Sabbath we had preaching at sun-rise, at eight, ten. and eleven o’clock. The work was o-r eH t Jehovah was in Camp. We did not attempt to preach in the afternoon, or at, night, i I ht: convictions an*l conversions were*al~ | most perpetual j and on Monday mornin* it | was estimated there w ere eighiy-six so°uls WHO professed to get converted through the 1 preceding day and night. At seven o’clock on Monday morning, the ordinance of bap tism was administered to seven adults, and i children ; a divine power rest ied upon us, and the Lord was present to sanction the ordinance in which we are caded by his name. The sacrament of the Lords Supper was then administered to i several hundred communicants. It was a ; t * m ® °/ *weet communion with each other and with our Lord. We closed the admin istration of the ordinance with a sermon, ‘mu °” 3 Ue *‘ ,a y Ihe meeting ended. I hrongh Monday, Monday night, ami Tues day, until the close of the meeting, fiffv eight professed to find the Lord. About Jorty mourners were on their knees, when i What we call an attar at Camp-meetioir, is a place immediately in front of the stage, from j twenty to thirty feet square, inclosed with hand l rails, with a door at each corner. This is fur rushed with seats, and the ground covered with forMhl 60 ? to .r der 0,6 P lace •>” and com ; sortable, for the purpose of kneeling, in time of prayer. Aone but mourners, and those who la j bour with them, are permitted to get within it | the men on one side, and the women on tfee otl ’ ground, and o<hop on t*ir way hoineV making mall two uodrv*d nnd who professed faith in the, laftd Jesus. On Tuesday piqming tvf oftm®i J* lor the i admission of mettiUFs, mil. one hundred and eleven joined pe Chtg-ch, sixty ol I whom were youiurmfti. j Ido not reir.cmhefidliat l ever saw more ; i agreeable weather Sir *a meeting iff Ifty | life ; and such was tlrq conlfaual *antl glow- j ! ous display of divine pnvtec, that the altar, i was never empty of im> twiners I rota the i i time they were fitsil it, until | j tho meeting ended, ppep<when tl|py ♦***■*, {carried out that we Injghty administer the ; ordinances* of baptlfui find Ibe Ldrd’s Stipr {per; neither did the people atC leave the. stage, day or night, ,frdra the beginning to 1 the end of the ruei’tqiy. The cries and j groans for mercy among tliA. distrksseu were p rpetualthe jpovjls ofijie young; converts and old professors work almost without intermission; niyf sucli a V'ttso of the divine presence prevailed, that ed to impose a sqleini qtve upon pleas they entered the encampment, so that we had no iuterrufliipn, nor a single in stance ofmtshehaviotir worth noticing during the meeting. An aged spnef vvas heard to say, “ He never hatLseepthe like before, — God had sanctified the ground, and none could walk upon it wilhiut feeling awful.” No opposition, nor a tingle remark was heart! agaiiTst the n>s!y of the work, ttorae who had once hew opposers of reli gion, acknowledged tht| believed this work to he genuine. VVhef the congregation was addressed on Tudulay, a request was made that all, not on!; those who had ob tained religion, but those also who intend ed to seek it in good e.rncst, should get on their knees ant*, join irpruyer ; and it was ’remarked that there vas not an individual present who did not drop on his knees. This tens followed by agJ:rvvcf*t crv for mer cy throughout the congregation. We could no longer get the mourners into th.e altar, it was altar all over the Camp-ground. When the meeting was drawing to a close, a young man who had obtained religion, stood up on one ot the seals, and looking over the congregation, exclaimed, “ O Lord must I- anff f ive these people, and leave this place 1” This was repeated three times with an ets-Hia-is that seemed to penetrate every heart, as though it was the language of each individual present. I have been a little more particular in giving an exact account of this meeting, because it is considered as being the com mencement of the greatest work that ever was seen in the western country. The holy afflatus was felt like an electrical shock, in the surrounding Counties, and its influence experienced more than one hun dred miles in less than a week. The Kev. Edward Morris, John McGee, John Page, and Charles Ledbetter, who have been in struments in planting the gospel in differ ent parts of the United States, and are known by many of the old Methodists, were at Ibis meeting, and pronounced it to be the greatest time they had ever seen. Our camp-meeting * for Cany Fork Cir cuit commenced on Friday, July 21st, at Goodbope, iu WnrrenCo. This, upon the whole, tvns a great and food time. The country is but thinly inhabited, and our congregation was conparatively small, though larger than u s ual at that place- We had sixty-eight converts, and thirly-one joined society. Another Camp-MeetiDg was held atthe same time near Shelbyville by the Presbyterians, and Methodists joint ly. This was the time of the anniversary of their “ Bible Society.’’ The Lord fa voured them with his pcfeoe'rv n-huni seventy professed faith ir Christ, amongst whom were some of fhA students belonging to the Academy. We have had a graciedVwork in Duck river circuit. The Quarterly meeting, 1 June 10th, at the Big-spring meeting house in Maury county, was turned into a little camp-meeting. It wap anew place, but few people attended ; however the Lord was with us and gave ns twenty-six converts. Our regular camp-meeting for this circuit commemcdd on Friday, July 28th, at Zion, in Maury county, and ended on Tuesday following. Here the Lord gave us eighty-two converts, and sixty-four joined the Church. 1 baptized twenty seven children and sixteen adults, and ad ministered the Lord’s (supper to upwards of four hundred communicants. Our Camp-meeting for Bedford circuit began on Thursday, August 3d. at Salem in Bedford county, and ended (he~Tuesday fol lowing. This was among the greatest mee tings I ever saw. The work commenced I with the commencement of the meeting, i and continued without intermission day and : night. On Saturday afternoon we had to fix a second stand, in another part of the 1 Camp-ground, it being impossible to preach at the stage already built, when the mourn ers were collected in the altar. On Sab bath morning at eight o’clock we had a sermon delivered at the lower stage, after which it was absolutely impossible to preach within the limits of the encampment any more that day; such were the cries of the distressed and shouts of the young converts, nothing else could be heard It was there fore reported to the people, -we would, preach in a grove about three hundred yards distant; one of the pulpits being move able, was taken up and carried to the place, and the people not engaged in the encamp ment attended. Here wo-preached at 11, and three o’clock ; and here the arrows of conviction fastened iri the hearts of many sinners, and when wounded they would im mediately fly to the Camp-ground, ns to a grand hospital, for there God was healing the sin sick souls, and bringing the dead to r life. On Monday morning 1 baptized thirty one children and twenty adults, and admin istered the Lord’s Supper to four hundred and eighty Two hundred ’ ri £ ,it jrinetMtfri. ty. #fi of the softs of ‘ Belial cacao To this melting, nnd fixed his tent ot i cumpmqnt, xv|tere intended ic enjoy him sell, with Lis iricked companions j but ns he did not chine until Frijny, , flm e of them j came betore him, nnd*got religion, and as . others entue, they were a'.cswk under cou viction, and left him, until,Tie said, he had i lost even his Class-Leader. On Saturday , evening about half an hour after the can-1 i Also wail l Ikwhuri up, b* enme walking | i down through the Camp-ground, and atop i pedj*er where I happened to he standing; i at that moment the work wns going on most gloriously at both isinges, and in at least 1 twenty teats ; arulofttr turning and looking 1 all ryuud for some guuments “ Well, said i not empigb 1° fret hell, I’ll be ho we pitied him, but did nothing with hiu), as we saw he could do us no harm. Ah extr.i Camp-meeting was held in Leb anon circuit v nt Ebenezer, m Wilson county, commencjjig August lfltli, and ended the Tuesday following. f l'his is a place where Carnp-meetings hav6 been held for many ygara; but this tneeiing exceeded all the rast; the people came praying and believ ing, and God was with them. One hundred and eighty-two professed to he converted, and one hundred and twenty-five joined society. The Rev. Valentine Cook attended this meeting, and preached oil the subject of baptism with uncommon power and great usefulness. The sermon was much blest, to the people. The Camp -meeting for Richland circuit commenced August 25th, at PiSgah, in Giles county, and ended the Tuesday billowing. This is a place which.vfod has highly hon oured with signal displays of his pr#ver on former occasions. The people Cf.’.ue out expecting to see gracious times, a \i they j icafio aak dwafipniated. ‘Om Lord >- *4 seventy-two converts, and sixty-rive joined society. The Camp-meeting for Nashville circuit commenced September Bth, at Mount Nebo in Williamson county, and ended the Toes- day following. Here we had to contend I with strong prejudices against Methodism,! nevertheless, God was with us; the work! of conviction was general, and deep in the! hearts of the people, and we had some of! the most distinguished and bright conver sions 1 ever saw. According to the returns made, ninety-two* professed to be conver ted, and ninety-six joined society. Our Camp-meetiDg for Stones-Yiver cir cuit commenced on Thursday Sept. 21st. at j Windrows Meeting-House in Rutherford, 1 county, and ended the Tuesday following. | Here, I may say, the faith of the Christians rose to proper point, and became the full persuasion of the truth, of God's promise , and the confident expectation that He would he . with us. Many of the young converts from ■ the other Camp-meeting attended, and num-; bers under conviction, came for the express purpose of getting their souls converted. 1 The campground was enlarged to twice its former size, and yet fully one third of ! the tents were outside of the lines. Two stages were erected and seats made for the ! accommodation of two congregations, with in the lines of the encampment, and ano ther some distance on the outside. Altho’ Thursday and Friday were days of almost! incessant rain, the people appeared to be entirely regardless of it; they came in their ] carriages, fixed their tents, and collected j round the stage to hear preaching with as’ much attention as if there was no rain fall ing. The time was glorious beyond de scription ! It is impossible for me to give an account of particulars. , Three hundred j and fifty professed conversion, and two | hundred and two joined society.! On jVlon ’ day morning 1 baptized twenty-five children | and fifty-six adults, and administered the i Lord’s Supper to nearly six hundred com i muniennts. Miirfsetsborough, the county j town, and at present the seat of govern ’ ment in this state, shared largely in the | benefits of this meeting. We have raised j a society there of more than forty mem j bers, and the prospect of an increase is ve ry promising. i On comparing the numbers returned at Conference with the former numbers, I find that we have a nett increase of eigh teen hundred and twenty members in the i district, and in order to have a. correct idea of the work, it must be recollected, ; that besides the deaths and expulsions, at least five hundred members have emigrated from this district, to Missouri, Alabama and Jnckson’s purchase over Tennessee river, in the course cf the past year. I The character of this revival is the least mixed with what is called irregularities or extravagancies of any that I ever saw.— We have had nothing of what is called the jirks or dance among us. The work of con i viction in the hearts of sinners has been regular, powerful and deep ; their conver | sion or deliverance from sin and guilt clear and bright, and their rejoicings scriptural and rational. I think fully half of those who have been the subjects of the work are young men, and heads of families ; many of them the most respectable in the country, men of education, men of talents. We an ticipate help and usefulnfss from some of sthem, in the Lord’s vineyard. Upon the whole, it is the greatest work, the most * It is evident, there must have some neg lect or mistake in this instance, as the number of convert* appears to be less than the number added to the Church. Our method of ascertaining the number of converts at ourCarnp-meetings, is, two men *re appointed to go round to the tents every morning to make particular inquiry at each tent, and set down the number converted through the preceding day and night. • t When we open a door for the admission of members, they are invited to take their seats in the altar; their names are then taken down, to gether with the names of the places where they wish-to meet in class ; and they are instructed to attend, according to rule ar 4 order. country in aotsHLiccs seem* JHta bowing tlßkur r meets with very liffle that cwrfie Bulled opposition ; and many who neither profess, nor appear to have any desire to get religion themselves, manifest an uncommon degree of solicitude that others should obtain it, and express a high satisfaction at seeing the work pros per. May the Lord continue to pour out bit spirit, and may the hallowed tire spread . until all tlie inhabitants of the earth shall I rejoice in Ilia salvation. To God he all the I Pray for us, clear brethren, that this year may be as the pasj, and much more abundant. We look fur it and ex pect it. The district is well supplied with preachers, men of talents, men of zeal, and in the spirit of tho work. May the Lord bless their labours. 1 remain as ever, your very sincere bro ther in Christ, T. L. DOUGLASS. —-oro.‘s;ozoo—r From the New York Spectator, May 8. METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Last evening the second anniversary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis copal Church was celebrated in the meeting house in John street. At 7 o’clock the Rev. Bishop Georgs, one of the Vice Presidents, took the chair and commenced the exercises, by reading a part of the 10th chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. The. Report was read by the Rev. Joshtjj Soule It was gratifying to the friends of the Missionary cause toriearn from this in teresting document, that although this So ciety is still in its infancy, much good has resulted from its labours, parlicularly among the Ujandott tribe of Indians; ma ny of whom, under the instrumentality of Methodist Missionaries, have forsaken the worship of gods made by their own hanoj, and ore now worshipping thg only living ftsuwoif G0d.... Missionaries b?v* been appointed to labour among the Choctaws; and it is intended to send more aid to the Wyaudotts. THE METHODIST CONFERENCE in South Carolina have resolved itself into a Missionary -Society Auxiliary to the •* Methodist Missionary Society of Noißk America.” Every member of- the Con ference present at the annual meeting in January last, became a subscriber. At the same time, they determined on new efforts to supply the destitute within their bounds with preaching, and to select a suitable site for a missionary station among the Choctaw Indians. To meet the expense incurred by carrying these plans into operation, it is proposed that in each of the societies con nected with the conference, a weekly cent collection be made and appropriated to these objects, distinct from all other collec ’ tions. It is calculated that ten or fifteen thousand dollars may be annually raised in this way from this conference alone, and it *s to be placed entirely at the disposal oi the bishops. Host. Recorder. THE SLAVE TRADE is stated at present to be confined to the Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch and French. It were to be wished there were no Ameri cans engaged in it. Portugal is the only Christian nation that has not agreed to abol ish thb inhuman tratfick—and even she , has united in it, as immoral, inhuman, and un just ! —Where, it might be asked, is the pol icy of persevering in a system that confes sedly involves immorality, inhumanity, and injustice ? [76. From the Metropolitan. “ Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him?” Alas! alas! what is he indeed? If thou must needs know, reader, turn thy steps to the grave-yard, and there behold ; him in all his loathsome nothingness. The remains of the dead should indeed he sa cred, but the necessity that exists in the present case for disturbing them, affords us a lesson to which it wp)l becomes us to attend. There is not a skull rudely torn up from its prison house by the unfeeling spadesman, that has not been like ours full of ethereal spirit, shapeless and ghastly as it may now appear ! Yes, in those holiest cells luxurious fancy must have reigned, or u wisdom held her empire /” from those sockets which now shew forth horrid orop- Kness, eyes once beamed “ that kindled in love,” and wept for the departure of those whom they themselves have followed. Perhaps the owner may have been as beau tiful and bright as Hebe in all her fresh ness, and honouied and courted in life; but in death—she is shrunk from, as ah object so horribly appalling, that every sense is disgusted, and we turn from her with these agonizing reflections— 11 to this completion must we all come at last.” Pilgrim, thy so journ here is short—thy life is beset with pain, peril and trial: make it thy duty, then, iri thy pilgrimage, to do ail the good thou canst—banish from thy heart thy ba ser passions, and above all place thy reli ance on him who is able to lift thee froinf the loathsomeness thou hast just viewed, w glory unspeakable. PRIDE Is ks loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one tine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be alfeof a piece; hut poor Dick says, ‘it is easier to supnress the first- desire than to satisfy all that follow it ;* and it is as truly folly for the poor to ape tjie rich, as for the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox. Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore. An act by which we make one friend, and one enemy, is a losing game, because revenge is a much stronger principle then gratitude.