The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, May 25, 1821, Image 4

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AT SULKEAH. From th* Calcutta Journal of Du. SG. Suttees,* o often and so justly deprecated y y et *ry Christian spectator as disgraceful * tolndiS, are stilt unfortunately oi no un common occurrence. A rite of this kind which took place at Sulkcahlast Thursday in the person ot a vpung Hindoo Female, immolated on the pile as her deceased husband, ncro ~ been witnessed, not merely to arouse heart-rending sympathies, but most unequivocally to exemplify a case of he cruellest murder. I was informed tha the deceased had fallen a victim to Cholera, a • <l. niiTiif * tllltl accraaru utiu - - . some tune during the preceding night; nod hi. infatuated widow determining to be come a Suttee.fhe corpse had been brought some mile* from the intenour to mix in ashes with it? living partner by the river ? side. This aeal, by the bye, appeared rather extraordinary! a* all *be parties concerned were of very inferiour casts.—- ) The devotee wai a good looking woman ot seventeen or eighteen years of age, and on this occasion 11s many others,, regardless of maternal feMmgs, h id left an infant child at home to come to the awful pile. Then first care on arrival, about 9 o’clock in the . s Horning, was to take measures to procure ■ } C o-al authority for this pious sacrifice, am) delay occurred iu consequence, an opportunitv was offered to several F ‘.ronr an Gentlem 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 fertile ,1 with re- j ligioos bigotry, so bewildered and occupied j with the phantom of a terrified ami diner-i de.red imagination, that no persuasion j could prevail, because none, however for cible, cc.dd-bs understood. The wring emotions of her scat bwt created such a degree of frenzy or madness that she a!- *"1 j ♦ rr tinnH’fr wnrlil ready seemed to belong to another world Yet when a gentleman present observed to her that in giving her file to he destroyed, she was not only acting contrary to the will of God, : but also doing an injury to si*. cietv by leaving her child unprotected, she erinced the most poignant anguish that ca;V possibly be conceived. Wiih a look of wild and pitiable distraction she said, “ Speak no.t of my child—Why do you wound my bosom with the idea ? Then re lapsing into superstitious ravings, she added, But that child no longer belongs to me— i am not its mother, or wherefore did ! suf fer thi death four times befire at this age ; ! shall I not complete my immortality ; and i, know that I am doomed to crimination 1 twice again after regeneration”—so pow erful is bigotry over the noblest affections of nature ! Amidst the scene of sorrow and misery, it may not be aini-s to glance-tor a moment at the behaviour of the surrounding mob. V Here nothing but merriment, laughter and lobscenity, abounded in all direction. Not Li man oi woman amongst them seemed to (have a heart to pity, or understanding to Judge. One sally of wit set the whole ait lsence a laughing for half an hour, and fcave occasion to many more good jokes. ’ p Come on, (cried a wag,)ye women of Sul /keah, hs many as are fond of lire and hus /-bands, now is your time to hug and to bum'’ ’ —another on the importunity of the unfor tunate wretch who was the subject of their merriment, to he put out of misery as quickly as possible, tauntingly replied, 11 Don't be impatieitf, my dear, you will be among the faggots soon enough.'’ Indeed, so far was any religious solemnity from be ing attached to the • cca.-iou. that no levity,, confusion am] ioilrr... *■* twin g-eater than were exhibited in the conduct: of both Hindoo and Mussulman spectators. ] At length about 6 o’clock, it was announ--. (that the sanction of the magistrate had ved. The writer of this article now a i approached the devotee, & endeavour by exciting a love of life, to induce her mounce berintenfion. lie told her that .> had any fear of future poverty or dis <, all the gentlemeu 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. J-|er last words however, betrayed arotfh-secret vascillation. She sard, “ How can 1 go back ?” The expression, with the look and action which accompanied it, im-! mediately struck me as importing, “ how j 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 rnother-in-law, she stepped upon the pile. A scene ensued which I shall never re collect but with horrourand 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 be disappointed if possible, be 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 onr province to m<ike any objec tion. He heaped such an unusual weight of heavy logs at and faggots on the bodies, as effectually rendered the living as incapa ble us the dead, from ever rising beneath their pressure. In this stage of the ceremo ny some of the mob cried out, “ koon,koonj in Petitions tragedy would SfKi IjJJ formed behind the curtain. As soon a* th action of the fire caught let bod£ he slriiggHngs of this unhappy victim in thy devouring element, would have melted %j heart formeJ of adamnnt. ... •* [ Who, within the pale of Cb . r ”‘j"° l £’ j could view this scene without sighimg I the depravity ofhoman nature—who leav , it without laineuting that practices so aborn- j inable should be tolerated. Ht'RKar.u. FROM TUI RBT.I DIST MXOAJtsr. ACCOUNT OF THE workof god in NASHVILLE DISTKIOT. , Nashville Ilistrict, pet. 15th, Rt-t). Dear Brethren—l wou'd communicate the intelligence coataioe.l *.i the tollowing letter to one of our Bishop ß , if I knew where a letter could read* him in safety : hut as afflictions have prevented their con templated route through this country, I !takr the privilege of making the communi cation to you, tf,at you may, ifynjj'think proper, give st a place in our Magazine, and by that means, let the lovers of Jesus know what God is doing far us in Tennes see. In the opening of last siring, we witness ed something more tinm an ordinary atten tion to the ministry of'the word, especially in those parts of Nashvi’ e and Lebanon circuits, which lay adj* inirtg- There were frequent awakenings and conversions in other parts of the district; but this seemed lobe the point where ibe prospect of the work was the mast promising. On Satur- J day the 21th of June, sfyiai-terly-M.-cting j commenced at Ross’ Meeting-House, Nash ! ville circuit, Wilson cwnty The preach iorsfrom Lebanon circuit attended with u, together with many ot-tho mein hers from both circuits. They hgtiogit the tire wiik inem The meeting continueduntil Tues day, and the Lord crowned it with seven teen converts. Thus far the work pm- grossed, rather silently indeed, but very sweetly ;.and during one quarter in Leba non circuit, upwards of two hundred were added to the church, niLabout one -hundred souls converted at the regular circuit ap pointments. The expectations of the peo- Iple were up. Zion travelled. The pro- I lessors were sending their prayers to hea ! ven, and the general attention of the peo j pie, seemed to be turned toward our ap ; preaching Camp-meeting, which commenc ieJ on Friday, July 14th, at Center-uieet : ing-house, in Wilson county. Thursday j was a day of incessant rain, and the pros -1 pect seemed very unpromising: But on Friday morning, the material sun arose without a cloud to obstruct his cheering rays. All natdre seemed to smile, and eve ry thing was calculated to,inspire the hu man mind, and call forth its energies in praise to God. The people began to col- j lect very early, and came in crowds from * every direction. The Camp-ground had ! been considerably enlarged ; but still we | had to double the lines of the tents. Thir ty-three preachers, and 1 think not iess than five thousand people, attended this meeting. Divine service commenced on Friday at 2 o’clock. After a sermon was delivered, the order of the meeting was published, and an invitation given 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 again invited into the altar, about fifty were supposed to be on their knees when we engaged in prayer for them, and hefc>r n°xt nnu riur*. “f-vbent found the bles sing. On Saturday moru!nK-wt.Jui-riia a sermon was delivered, and the altar Was 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 sermon delivered ; but just at thaj 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 bis 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-reat Jehovah was in Camp. We did not attempt to preach in the afternoon, or at night. Ihe convictions and conversions were al mo.-.t perpetual; and on Monday rnornin- it was estimated there were eighly-six souls WHO professed to get converted through the preceding day and night. At seven o’clock i Mon,sa y m °rning, the ordinance of bap -1 tism was administered to seven aduits, and twenty-five children ; a divine power rest ied upon os, and the Lord was present to sanction the ordinance in which we are caded by his name. The sacrament of the I Lord s Supper was then administered to several hundred communicants. It was a j time of sweet communion with each other and with our Lord. We closed the admin istration of the ordinance with a sermon, mu ® n . ,T UeS<,ay ,he roeeting ended. I hrough Monday, Monday night, ami Toes day, until the close of the meeting, fiftv ; mght professed to find the Lord. About lorty mourners were on their knees, when ! * What we call an altar at Camp-meelinir, is a place immediately in front of the stag,:, from twenty to thirty feet square, inclosed with hand rails, with a door at each corner. This is fur nished with seats, and the ground covered with pl nce clean and com fortable, for the purpose of kneeling, in lime of prayer, but mourners, and those who la bour with them, are permitted to get within it the men on one lide, and the women on tfce oth ground, and othefi on tl'*' r ‘ va y hoina ; making mall two lundivd and two, who professed faith in the. Jesus, On Tuesday inoyning wi opeal a drfbr lor the admission of mem tuts, m4i ou 4 fctplred and eleven joint'd fie Chdjch, sixty ol i whom‘Were young n*%i. . | Ido not rememheedhat saw more ; agreeable weather iar la meeting iff trty : j life; aud such was tl c>nfiual ‘and glori-, | ous display of divine sowfcr, that the altar, * was never empty of mourners Irom. the i I lime they were fit?! it, pntil ! the nseetmg ended, except when they ,tv carried out that ve nught\adinipistgr -the | ordinances* ofhaptlftn pnd the lord's ?UDy | per ; neither did th* people alt leave the j stage, day or night, /rfftn the beginning to the end of the meetipg. ’-Hie cries apd j groans for mercy aoaoq# tlid distressed were perpetualthe spoils offthe young converts and old professors weft almost without intermission; argl socji a k-nse of the divine presence prevailed, that ftseeni- ed to impose a sojeinf <pve upon the.,peo ple as they entered the encampment, so that we had no iiiterriijjiifyi, nor a single in stance of misbehaviour worth not icing during} the meeting. An agecj sjmer was heard trt say, “ He never haiLseefithe like before, — God had sanctified the ground, and none could walk upon it withjut feeling awful.” No opposition, uor a tingle remark was heard ngai(tt the realty of the work. Some who had once besti opposers of reli gion, acknowledged t!u| believed this work to he genuine. Whej the congregation was addressed on Tuesday, a request was made that all, noton! those who had ob tained religion, but those also who intend ed to seek it in good e.rncst, should get on their knees anff join ir pfayer ; audit was ‘remarked that there vas not an individual present who vlid not drop on his knees, This t*iw followed by afuru'**) cry former* cy throughout the congregation. We could no longer got 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 upon one of the seats, and looking over the congregation, exclaimed, u O Lord must h .iTift l- ive these people, and leave this place !’’ This was repeated three times with an ejapha-as that seemed to penetrate every heart, ns though it was the language of each individual present. 1 have been a little more particular jn 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 tile surrounding counties, and its iiiflneuee experienced more than one hun dred miles in less than a week. The Rev.. 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 this meeting, and pronounced it to be the greatest time they had ever seen. Onr camp-meeting * for Cany Fork Cir cuit commenced on Friday, July 21st, at Goudbope, in Warren Cos. This, upon the whole, was a great and food time. The country is but thinly in habited, and our congregation was comparatively small, though larger than usual at that place- We had sixty-eight converts, and thirty-one joined society. Another Camp-Meeting was held at the same time near Shelby ville by the Presbyterians, and Methodists joint ly. This was the tim of the anniversary of their “ Bible Society. r The Lord fa voured them with his pce'enery nHout seventy’ professed faith iri Christ, amongst whom were some of thft students belonging to the Academy. VVe have had a gracieoVwork in Duck river circuit. The Quarterly meeting, June 10th, at the Big-spring meeting house in Maury county, was turned into a little camp-ineeting. It war anew place, an* but few people attended ; however the Lord was with us and gave ns twenty-six converts. Our regular camp-meeting for this circuit commencdd 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 on Thursday, August 3d. at Salem in Bedford county, and ended the Tuesday fol lowing. This was among the greatest mee tings 1 ever saw. The work, commenced with the commencement of the meeting, and continued without intermission day and night. On Saturday afternoon we had to fix a second stand, in another part of the 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 we-preached at 11, and three o’clock ; and here the arrows of conviction fastened in the hearts of many sinners, and when wounded they would im mediately fly to the Camp-ground, as to a grand hospital, for there God was healing the sin sick souls, and bringing the dead to; life. On Monday morning I baptized thirty one children and twenty adults, and admin istered the Lord’s Supper to four hundred and eighty Two hundred ithis meetioftWl oau fcmdreFiindlbity eight joneif.43dt.tys v One of the on of Belial cauw so |j,is meeting, and fixed his tent at n cenveiweot distance from the en ! campmfnt, whore h^it,tended ic enjoy him self, with -his wicked cotfenanions; hut as lie did not c brae until Fridfly,. o mo of them ; came betore him, nd got religion, and as others came, they were under cun viction, and left him, until, he said, he had lost even his Class-Lender. On Saturday e vening about half an Lour after the cmi- Aliwv -vi'riemi liahinff up, ha came walking j down through the Camp-ground, and stop where I Ivappenedtobe standing; at Unit juument the work was going on most yleitously at both singes, and in at least twenty tents; niui.qftfr turning and looking ; all ryutid for some pigment? u Well, said . Lev. if tlys i*not enqugli to fret hell, I’ll be ho wafsLy piiroelf, we pitied liirn. but did nothing with hiu), as we saw he : could do us fin harm. j An extra held in Leb | anon circuit,at Ebenezer, n Wilson county, commencing August Iftth, and ended the Tuesday following. This i? a place where Camp-meetings havff been held for many y.eaiA; but this meefing exceeded all the rest; the people cnuic 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 Kev. Valentine Cook attended I his meeting, and preoched on the subject of baptism with uncommou power and great usefulness. The sermon was much blest, to the people. The Camp-meeting for Richland circuit commenced August 2§th, at Pisgah, in Giles county, and ended the.. Tuesday following. I This is a place whichf?od has highly hon j on red with signal displays of his priver on former occasions. The people c.’.tie out) expecting to see gracious times, a \t <hey j nsl disappointed. r * seventy-two converts, and sixty-r ve joined society. The Camp-meeting for Nashville circuit commenced September Bth, at Mount Nebo in Williamson county, and ended the Tues day following. Here we had to contend ! with strong prejudices against Methodism,! nevertheless, God was with us; the worki of conviction was general, and deep in the 1 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-meeting for Stones-Yiver cir cuit commenced on Thursday Sept. 21st. atj Windrows Meeting-House in Rutherford ‘county, and ended the Tuesday following. | Here, 1 may say, the faith of the Christians ’ rose to i£? proper point, and became the full persuasion o f the truth of God's promise , and the confident expectation that He zoou/d be ■mth 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. The camp ground was to twice its former size, and yet fully one third of i the tents were outside of the lines. Two stages were erected and seats made for the accommodation o* 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 round the stage to hear preaching with as much attcnlion as if there was no rain fall ing. The time was glorious beyond de scription ! It is impossible for rtie to give an account of particulars. , Three hundred I and fifty professed conversion, and two ) hundred and two joined society.! On Mon day morning I baptized twenty-five children ; and fifty-six adults, arid administered the Lord’s Supper to nearly six hundred coin ! municants. Murfnet-sborough, the county j town, and at present the seat of govern i tnenl in this state, shared largely in the | benefits of this meeting. We have raised ; a society there of more than forty mem j hers, and the prospect of an increase is ve ! ry promising. On comparing the numbers returned at Conference with the former numbers, 1 1 find that we have a nett increase of eigh i teen hundred and twenty members in the i district, and in order to have a. correct idea of the work, it must be recollected, j that besides the deaths and expulsions, at least five hundred members have emigrated from this district, to Missouri, Alabama and Jackson’s purchase over Tennessee river, . in the course of the past year. | 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 j viction in the hearts of sinners has been regular, powerful and deep ; their conver j s i°n °r deliverance from sin and guilt clear j 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 usefulripsa from some of >-them,inthe Lord’s vineyard. Upon the whole, it is the greatest work, th most * It is evident, there must have fycensomc 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 oi converts at ourCamp-ineetings, is, two men *re appointed to go round to the tents every morning to make particular inquiry at each tent, and set down flic 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 an J order. * 1 SomHuces seems lil;.. tfcjOttrT i!:a<Attel ; religion moot; iv 11 !i Very little that cHrße called opposition; and many who neither profess, nor Appear to have any desire to get religion theujselve* 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 bis spirit, and may the hallowed lire spread until all the inhabitants of the earth shall rcjoico-m his salvation. To God he all the glory. Pray lor us, dear brethren, that this year may be as the pass, and much more abundant. We look fur it and ex pect it. The district is well supplied with preachers, men oftalent3,mpn of zeal, am! in the spirit of the work. May the Lord bless lfteir labours. 1 remain as ever, your very sincere bro ther in Christ, T. L. DOUGLASS. From the Nciv 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 Vide Presidents, took the chair and commenced the exercises, by reading a pkrt of the 10th chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. The Report was read by the Rev. JoshrY Soule It was gratifying to the friends of the Missionary cause (otJearn from thi9 in teresting document, that although this So ciety is still in its infancy, much good has resulted from its labours, particularly among the VVyandott tribe of Indians; ma ny of whom, under the instrumentality of Methodist Missionaries, have forsaken Ihe worship of gods made by their, own han£, i and are now worshipping thg only living God- .Missionrries h ■■■ been appointee 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 i•• Methodist Missionary Society of 1 America.” Every member oi - the Con | lererice present at the annual meeting in January last, became a subscriber. At the same time, they determined on new efforts to supply the desliiute within their bounds with preaching, and to select a suitable site for a missionary station among the Choctaw | Indians. To meet the expense incuired | 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 i thousand dollars may be annually raised in ; this way from this conference alone, and it *s to be placed entirely at the disposal of the bishops. Host. Recorder. THE SLAVE TRADE !is stated at present (o be confined to the j Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch and French. . It were to be wished there were no Ameri cans engaged in it. Portugal is the only i Christian nation that has not agreed to abol \ ish thri inhuman tratfick—and even she, has , united in it, as immoral, inhuman, and un just !—Where, it might be asked, is the pot I 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 be sa i cred, but the necessity that exists in the present case for disturbing them, affords us a lesson to which it well becomes us to attend. There is not a skull rudely tom 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 : cells luxurious fancy must have reigned, or u wisdom held her empire /” from those sockets which now shew forth horrid emp tiness, 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 honouiedanc! courted in life; but 1 in death—she is shrunk from, as ah object so horribly appalling, (hat every sense is disgusted, and we turn from her with these agonizing reflections—“ to this completion must ®e all come at last.’’’ Pilgrim, Ihy so journ here is short—lhy life is beset with pain, peril and trial; make it thy duty, then, iij thy pilgrimage, to do all the good thou cans! —banish from thy heart thy ba ser passions, and above all place thy reli ance on him who is able to lift thee froirV the loathsomeness thou hast just viewed, w glory unspeakable. PRIDE Is as lorn] a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one line thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be alfeofa piece; but poor Dick says, ‘it is easier to supnress (he first desire than to satisfy all that follow it ; r and it is as truly folly for the poor to ape t„be 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 than gratitude.