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to ttenMbese Exertions. Rather would
the calculating Chrisuao conclude, that all
exertions roust be unavailing. Hut the age
of cold calculation is passing away. Sove
reign Giace wonderfully blesses the use of
appointed means, and bows the stubborn
will, even of the rebellious Jew. More, it
it/believed, have been made trophies of that
grace within the last ten years, than for
ages preceding. A few have pnblickly pro
fessed their faith; —a far greater number
are restrained by fear. Nor let that-Cbris
tian, who is unwilling to employ his wealth
in extending the Redeemer’s kingdom, con
demn this timidity. Nor let him who can
not, at the Saviour’s bidding, joyfully burst
every tie that binds him to his home, bid
adieu to kindred, friends, and country, and
run to rescue heathen millions, condemn
the Jew, for refusing to make a profession
which requires far greater sacrifices. But
the success of those efforts is not to be esti
mated by these few conversions merely.
They are preparing the way for a richer
harvest. They are fast eradicating prejudi
ces, which constitute the great barrier to the
conversion of the Jcxvs.
While no efforis were making for their
conversion, even good men, dwelling chiefly
on their vices, were brought to despise
them, and to regard them as deserving the
notice, only of penal statutes. But no soon
er are such efforts commenced, than these
feelings are lost in the consideration, that
they are fellow immortals, whose eternal
welfare has been criminally neglected,—
that they are heathen who must be chris
tianized. This changes hatred into love.
Hence, where any considerable efforts are
making, they do actually meet with a kind
attention, hitherto unknown. Instead of
persecution, they behold Christian sove
reigns elevating them to the rank of men.
Instead of that cold neglect which they are
taught to expect from Christian neighbours,
they how see them tenderly alive to their
best interests, searching out their ignorant
and visiting their distressed, contributing at
the same time liberally of their substance,
to provide for their instruction, and to alle-
viate their wants. Even Jewish prejudice,
cannot withstand kindness, prompted by af
fection. It must, it doe 9 give way before
it. Thus the tfay is prepared Tor the ex
ertions of the Missionary 7 . He comes si
lently, and almost unobserved among them,
as a fellow inquirer into the great truths of
religion, claiming no pre-eminence, he en
ters into conversation respecting their own
Scriptures. This pleases the Jew, —it en
lists his affections. Inquiries are then
‘started, calculated to lead to an examina
tion of the truths of the Gospel; and that
the*e may be pursued, he is presented with
that precious volume. A spirit of inquiry
is thus excited, which has already led thou
sands to examine those truths; and this
spirit is increasing wherever such efforts
are making. This course disarms Jewish
prejudice, and ensures the Missionary a
friendly reception. It soon enables him to
collect respectable Jewish audiences, and
pot un requently is he invited, even in their
synagogue to expound their Law.
Their prejudices against the JYezv Testa
ment are giving vay.—Tlm is owing chief- i
Jy to its translation into Hebrew. When
presented in that language which every
Hebrew venerates, it seemed at once di
vested of all that rendered it hatefuL It i
excited the curiosity, and gained the atten
tion of the learned. It was received and
perused by multitudes, and by those too,
who would nave regarded it, in any other
dress, H 9 an abomination. This paved the
way for its admission into the humbler
walks of life, in languages intelligible to all.
Five years 9ince, it was with extreme diffi
culty, that the New Testament could be
placed in the hands of a Jew. Now the
Missionary is thronged with Jews, eager to
receive the piec.nes treasure. And
‘.•iputje'thts eagerness? See the multitudes
assembling m the corners of the streets, lis
tening to one of their number, as he reads
the words of this strange book. This is
noi a solitary instance, —the scene is daily
re-acted. In view of these thing®, who can
forbear exclaiming-wbat hath God wrought.
Are they not evidently the harbinger of a
better day, —a day of brighter hopes to Is
rael ?
But will not Christians again forget the
Jews, and thus suffer the work of their con
version to be made the privilege of other
times?
Each effort is made so to re-act, as to
stimulate to a still greater effort. Every
research brings to light nevr miseries, and
new wants; these excite new sympathies,
and new exertions. The Macedonian cry
is waxing long and loud, re-echoing from
mountain to mountain, and from land to
land, awakening multitudes, and urging
them onward <o the glorious enterprise.
The cry is even now reaching the Ameri
can Zion, —here it is beginning to sound, it
must —it will be heard throughout the
Worlj. The cause iocreases daily io pop
ularity. Kings and princes are interesting
themselves in its success. The slumbers
of the Christian world are breaking, while
those already awake, encouraged bv the
prospects, are pressing onward with tenfold
vigour. Every thing seems to join in the
animating cry— onward.
However these efforts for the conver
sion of the Jews may be regarded by oth
ers, for our own part,—when we look at
the Jewish character, and think of the for
midable barriers it presents to their con-
version ; when again we consider how
these barriers, long deemed insurmounta
ble., are giving way before systematick ef
fort; when we consider the nature of these
efforts, the spirit with which they are made,
and the success which attends them; when
we consider the Apostolick zeal of the
Jewish converts; —we feel assured that
the day of Israel’s redemption draweth
uigh; that the middle wall of partition,
which has so*long separated Jew and Gen
tile, ie tottering to its base; and that the
‘time is fast approaching, when Mosaick
rites shall forever cease, and Judaism shall
no more be known but in nartke.
RANGOON MISSION.
Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr Jud
son, to the Rev. Mr. Bolles, of Salem, dated
Rangoon, May 5, 1821.
u Rev. and dear Brother —Your kind and
encouraging letter of June last, reached
me in Bengal, just after I had written you.
We returned hither, on having partially at
tained the end of our visit, the restoration
of Mrs. Judsoo’s health.—Her disorder is
not indeed perfectly eradicated; but the
manner in which she has sustained tbe pre
sent hot season thus far is most encourag
ing. I have baptized one only since my
return. All the old conveits remain stead
fast. Some shine bright, and some emit
only a glimmering light; but none have
gone out. There are several hopeful in
quirers, some of whom give satisfactory ev
idence of being true converts; but (hough
they have been examining the Christian
religion for many months, thev are not yet
quite ready to take the decided, the irrevo
cable step, that of swearing allegiance to
the Lord Jesus, ic the water of baptism.
“ The Burmans are a slow, wary, circum
spect race; but their pertinacity in maintain
ingan opinion deliberately adopted,will bear,
I imagine, due proportion to their tardiness
in adopting it. This trait in their charac
ter witl render missionary operations among
them less rapid in the outset, but move ef
fective and permanent in the issue.
“ Our prospects, in regard to toleration,
have lately become more encouraging, iu
consequence ofthe friendly disposition of
the present Viceroy, and the probability of
bis holding bis situation for some time.
“ I am just forwarding some portions of
the New-Testament to be printed at Se
rampore, under the superintendence of
brother Hough. I long to see tbe whole
New Testament completed, for I should
then be able to devot£ all my time to
preaching the gospel from day today; and
even now, the latter appears to be the
more pressing duty. May the Spirit of the
Lord be poured out A. JUDSQN, jun.”
Late Missionary Intelligence.
By the last arrival from Liverpool, our
i theological publications for March were
I received, but not in season to make any ex
tensive extracts. From a hasty perusal of
the articles relating to Missionary opera
tions, we are decidedly of opinion that the
efforts for enlightening and civilizing the
world are greatly on the increase. The
experience which is gained in these opera
tions is of the roost important use, and is
much calculated to abridge the labours
which were heretofore considered indis
pensable. We will instance 7 in one partic
ular, which is peculiarly striking. It was
at first considered ♦he “most expedient I
method of circulating the gospel, that Mis
sionaries from Christian countries should
be the grand medium of communicating di
vine truth; and originally, indeed, it could
not be otherwise; hut as it has pleased a
sovereign God in numerous instances to
convert the native heathen, it is now seen
from fact, that they are to be honoured as
probably ihe most successful instruments of
circulating divine truth.—There is a native
preacher at Bangalore, in India, who has
been named Flavel , whose u fervent piety,
mild disposition, active and disinterested
conduct, as well as his careful observation!
of providence,” have been considered as
entitling him to this venerated name.
This native .preaches every Lord’s-day
morning, and afterwards converses on re
ligious subjects with those who may de
sire it. He is frequently thus employed
till about 4 in the afternoon.—He preaches
also on Wednesday mornings and Friday
evenings weekly. Six natives under his
instructions, have expressed strong desires
for baptism, who if really converted to
God, are the seals of his ministry.
In different parts of India, as Benares,
Cbinsurah, Surat, Amboyna, and Siberia,
gospel light is diffusing, useful tracts are
circulating, and the scriptures are spread
ing by the means of translations.
Ch. Watchman.
— —
PULPIT ELOQUENCE.
Close of an address to Sunday Schools , by
the Ilev. Thomas Raffles , of Liverpool ,
England.
Can we estimate the value of a single,
an immortal soul, a deathless being? By
what standard will you calculate it ? With
what objects will you compare it? Con
ceive ol every atom io the composition of
the universe a gem. Could you make the
calculation as many times as there are
atoms, and tell ns the mighty sum, it would
fail, to convey to us any adequate idea of
the value and importance of a single soul;
for when all thie wealth were expended in
the pursuit of happiness, the spirit would
be still in the dawn and infancy of its exis
tence —panting for a felicity it could not
purchase. Will you then attempt the cal
culation and tell us the amount? Before
you pronounce the mighty sum—pause.
Have you considered the duration of eter
nity ? If you have not, I adjure you ponder
it well ere you form your estimate of the
work. I now command, and the souls for
whom I plead. The abyss, at whose brink
I shudder; the ocean at whose immensity
I am confounded; may be fathomed and
defined—eternity ! What adventurer ever
stretched his pinions abroad on that abyss,
and returned to the shores of time with ti
dings of the opposite coast? -’Tis a gulf
that has ho bottom, an ocean whose rude bil
lows ever roll and never find a stand.
Myriads of myriads of ages, heaped up till
fancy fails and numbers are exhausted,
leave the boundless waste of duration un
explored. They have deduced not an at
om from eternity. Y-es, these myriads of
ages, that spirit whose worth you are to
calculate, must inherit, whilst eneb,
rolls, adds to its capacity for happiness or
woe, till its sense of felicity or pain is as
exquisite ns tbe periods of its duration are
eternal.
“ Before yon form ynnr estimate look up
to Heaven. See the mighty preparation
making there for its reception. What
realms of bliss for the immortal spirit to ex
i-plore and to possess. What golden streets
through which to walk ! what palaces of
i pearl in which to dwell! what streams ot
| celestial pleasure of which to drink I and
with what crowns of costly gems to be
adorned. Hark ! ’tis the song of the re
deemed. To him that loved us, and wash
ed us from our sins in his own blood, and
has made us kings and priests onto God
his Father ; to him be the glory and domin
ion forever and ever, Amen. Then they
strike their golden harps and pour the se
raphick strains again.
“ Before you form your estimate, look in
to hell. Look through its dungeons of des
pair, behold its magazines of wrath, and
see its instruments of vengeance play.—
Single out a solitary victim, and listen to
his agonized complaints—these chains for
ever !—these fiends forever !—this gnaw
ing worm forever I—and then he shrieks,
whilst a thousand echoes like a thousand de
monsstartiog from their caves,reply forever.
MASONICK CIRCULAR.
Louisville, Kv. March 50, 1822.
Worshipful Sir a (id Brother ,
We have the pleasure to announce to
you, the formation of a Society in this town,
styled the Palestine Masonick Missionary
Society of Louisville , the object of which is ;
to assist in spreading the Holy Scriptures,!
“ the Great Light of Masonry” in those
countries from whence it was received, and
particularly in the Holy City Jerusalem,
formerly so eminent, as the seat of our an
cient solemnities.
Our worthy brothers Parsons and Fisk
are now employed in or near Palestine by
the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, in circulating the Bible,
and it is expected that soon,printing presses
will be sent from this country for the pur
pose ot printing the scriptures in various,
languages under their superintendence.
The ignorance, superstition, and dark
ness, prevalent in that once favoured land,
open a wide field for the benevolent enter-
prise of toe “ Sons of Light,” and the pre
sent is an au-picioos moment in which to
prove the sincerity of our professions of
good will to all mankind, by rendering ;
back to Ancient Jerusalem first, some of
the rights, lights, and benefits which have
been so freely 7 bestowed on us and of which
she has for ages been deprived.
Our Society was formed on the recom
mendation of Clarke Lodge,No. 51, assem
bled in conjunction with most of the frater
nity in this town (composing a very numer
ous assemblage) for the special purpose of
considering the expendienev of such a
measure—and we have the pleasure to say,
there was not a dissenting voice.
The Constitution of the Society is hereto
annexed, and we were appointed a commit
tee in behalf of said Society, to correspond
with the Worshipful Masters of Lodges io
this country on this informing them
of our objects, and soliciting their co-opera
tion, by the formation of similar societies,
or in any other way, that they, or the
Lodges over which they preside, (should
they think proper to submit the subject)
should adopt.
Fraternally Yours,
Edward Tyler, Jr.
Charles B. King,
Thomas M’Clanahan,
Chy. Whittelsey,
William S. Vernon.
It Is truly gratifying to &e an Association, re
spectable for its numbers and weight of character,
and venerable for its antiquity, engaged in promo
ting the circulation of a Book, on the truths of
which the best hopes of the human family are
founded; and without which the whole world
would be shrouded in the samemantle of dark
ness, superstition and vice, that now covers those
regions where the Bible and its institutions are
unknown. It is hoped and believed, that
example here shown will not be lost upon the
Masonick fraternity in other portions of our
country.
SLAVE TRADE.
The following details, (copied from the Lon
don Quarterly Review) are drawn from state
ments laid before the British House of Commons.
They show the vigour and atrocity with which
the trade is prosecuted, as well as f the righteous
retribution which sometimes falls upon the wick
ed as the effect of their crimes.
[Columbian Star.
The French ship Le Rodeur, of 200 tons
burden, sailed from the Port of Havre for i
the river Calabar on the coast of Africa,
where she arrived after a prosperous voy
age, and anchored in Bonny on the 14th
of March. Her crew of 22 men, had en-!
joyed perfect health, and this continued du
ring her stay of three weeks, while she re
ceived on board 160 negroes, with whom
she set sail for Guadeloupe on the 6th of |
April. No traces of any epideraick had
been perceived among the natives ; the
cargo, (as it is called) no more than the
crew, exhibited any symptoms of disease ;
and the first fortnight of the voyage to the
West Indies promised a continuance of all
the success which had seemed to attend the
earlier stages of the expedition. The ves
sel had now approached the line, when a
frightful malady broke out. At first, the
symptoms were slight, little more than a
redness of the eyes ; and this being confin
ed to the negroes, was ascribed to the want
of air in the hold, and the narrow space
between the decks, into which so large a
number of those unhappy beings were
crowded—something too was imagined to
arise from the scarcity of water, which had
early began to be felt, and presST
chiefly upon the slaves ; for they were in
lowed only eight ounces, which was soon
reduced to half a wine glass per day. By
the surgeon’s advice, therefore, they were
suffered, for the firt time, to breathe the
purer air upon the deck, where they were
brought in succession ; but many of these
poor creatures being affected with that
mighty desire of returning to their native
couutry, which is so strong as to form a dis
ease, termed Nostalgia , by the physicians,
no sooner found they were at liberty, than
they threw themselves into the sea, locked
in each other’s arm, in the vain hope,
known to prevail among them, of thus be
ing swiftly conducted to their homes.—
With the view of counteracting this pro
pensity, the Captain ordered several who
were stopped in the attempt, to be shot or
hanged in the sight of their companions;
but this terrible example was unavailing to
deter them ; and it became necessary, once
more, to confine them entirely to the hold.
The disease proved to be a virulent oph
thaltpia, and it now spread with irresistible
rapidity among the Africans, all of whom
were seized ; but it soon attacked the crew
—and its ravagos attended, perhaps its vio
lence exasperated, by a dysentary, which
the use of rain water was found to have
produced. A sailor who slept near the
hatch communicating with Hie hold, was
the first who caught it —next day a lands
man was taken ill—and in three days more
the captain and almost all the crew, were
infected. The resources of medicine were
tried in vain—the sufferings of the people
and the number of the blind were daily in
creasing—and they were in constant ex
pectation that the negroes, taking advan
tage of their numbers, would rise and des
troy them. From this danger they
only saved by the mutual hatred of the
tribes to which these unfortunate beings
belonged, and which was so fierce and un
extinguishable, that even under their load
of chains and sickness, they were ready
every instant in their fury, to tear one an
other to pieces. But another alarm now
the Frenchmen ; one only of (heir
number had escaped disease ; and if he
too should be stricken blind, (hey could no
longer hope ever to reach the shore. It
had fared so with a Spanish ship, which
they bad met on the voyage ; every one of
her crew had lost his eyes—and having
thus been obliged to abandon all direction
of their course, they had pitifully intreated
help of the French, who could neither
spare any one to their assistance, nor make
room for them on board their own vessel.
The Spaniard, the Leon, has never since
been heard of, and the Frenchmen, seeing
their destruction that was inevitable,envied
tbe fate which seemed more speedy and
less miserable than their own. 4
The consternation now became general
and horrid—but it did not preclude ealeu-;
lation—for 36 of the negroes having be
come quiie blind, were thrown into the sea
and drowned, in order to save the expense
of slaves rendered unsaleable, and to obtain
grounds for a claim against the underwri
ters. The survives at length reached
Guadaloupe on the 21st of June, in the
most wretched condition. Tbe only man
who had escaped the disease, and thus been
enabled to steer the vessel into port, caught
it three days after their arrival. Thirty
nine of the negroes had become perfectly
blind — l 2 had lost an eye — and fourteen j
were blemished in a greater or less degree.
Os the crew, 12 including the surgeon,
wholly lost their sight—the captain and 4
others became blind with one eye—and
four were partially injured. On the 22d
of October they reached Havre. Early in
the following year the vessel was again
commissioned—and the command being
again intrusted to the same captain, she
was once more sent to ravage the unoffend
ing hamlets of Africa, unappalled by the
signal vengeance wherewith Providence
had so lately visited these enormous trans
gressions
Dreadful as are (he scenes disclosed in
the case of the Rodeur, there are even
worse horrours disclosed in the parliamen
tary papers of which the abstract lies be
fore us. In March 1820, the Tartar, com
manded by Sir George Collier, boarded
a French vessel, called La Jeune Estelle of
Martinique, after a long chase. The cap
tain admitted that he had been engaged in
the slave trade, but denied that he had any
slayeson board, declaring that he had been
robbed of his cargo. The English officers
however, observed that all the French sea
men appeared agitated and alarmed, and
this led to an examination of the hold.—
Nothing, however, was found ; and they
would have departed with the belief that
the captain's story was a true one, had not
a sailor happened to strike a cask, and-hear
or fancy he heard, a faint voice issue from
within. The cask was opened, and two
negro girls were found crammed into it in
the last stages of suffocation. Being bro’t
upon the deck of the Tartar, they were
recognized by a person who had before
seen them in the possession of an American
who had died on the coast. An investiga
tion now took place, and it was ascertained
! that they formed part of a cargo of fourteen
slaves, whom the French captain had carri
ed off by an attack which he and bis crew
made on the American’s property after his
decease. This led to anew search for the
other 12, whom he was thus proved to have
obtained by the robbery—when a platform
was discovered, on which the negroes must
have been laid in a space of 23 inches in
height, and beneath it a negro man was
1 found, not however, one of the twelve,
jammed into the crevice between two wa
ter casks. Still there were no traces of’
those 12 slaves—and the French captain
persisted in his- story, that he had been
plundered by a Spanish pirate. But sud
denly a most horrible idea flashed across
the minds of the English officers and men ;
they recollected that, when the chase be
l ■ rft . i , A ‘ ’ *>, ■
1 gao, they had seen several casks floating
; past (hem, which, at the time, they could
not nccouut for—but tfow, after the ex
amination of the one which remained on
board the Jeune Estelle, little doubt could
be entertained that those casks contained
the wretched slaves, whom the infernal
monster had thrown overboard, to prevent
the detection that would have ensued, ei
ther upon their being found in his ship or
by their bodies floating exposed on the sea.
The Tartar was now so far to the leeward,
that it became impracticable to beat back
again with the least chance of falling i Q
with those casks.
The intimate connexion between slave
trading, and all the atrocities of a piratical
life, has been remarked in every stage of
the history of Africa. These papers fur
nish recent instances of this, which but too
plainly prove, that men are inured through
it,to all the worst habits of violence & con
temptbf human life, which marked its ear
lier periods. \
In the month of Sept, last, the Sieur Lt~
moine, master and owner of the schr. l’Es
poir, or the Bambouche, left the Mauritius
under English colours, shaping his course
towards the coasts of Madagascar and of the
Mozambique. He fell in with a Portu
guese vessel, laden with negroes and gold
dust. An eagerness and thirst ofgain seiz
ed upon his soul —he run alongside of the
Portuguese vessel, and immediately killed
the mate by a musket shot—having board
ed her he soon obtained possession of tbe
vessel thus attacked—and his first ques
tions were addressed to a Portuguese CfW
nel, aged 50, of whom he inquired whena
the money and gold dust were deposited.
After this short interrogatory, Letnoine
purposely stepped aside, and a maD named
Reineur, who was behind him, with a pistol
blew out the unfortunate Colonel’s brains
But these crimes were not enough to satis
fy their savage inhumanity. The master
of the captured vessel, alarmed by the rap
id succession of these massacres, threw
himself overboard, in order to escape a
more immediate death. Vain hope! the
fury ofLemoine and his accomplices was
not yet allayed: They pursued him in a
boat, and having soon overtaken him, cut
him on the head with a sabre. The unfor
tunate man, feeling himself wounded,
caught hold in order to support himself, of
the boat in which his murderers were, who,
profitting by this last effort of despair, bad
the cruelty to run a sword into his throat,
the point of which came out at the side of
the neck of their victim: the body disap
peared, and they returned on board fatigu- *
ed, but not satiated with murders! They
shut up in the hold the remaining Portu
guese sailors; and, after having taken off
the rich cargo, they scuttled the ship, and
sunk her with the crew they had thus shut
up.
The horrid facts in the Case of the Ro-.
deur, took place in 1819, aqd were subse
quently published in a scientifick work at
Paris. The British minister made repeat
ed complaints of the violation of the treaty
for the abolition of the slave trade, and
presented the frightful details for their con
sideration. ‘ The Rodeur sailed from one
of the most populous and busy sea-ports of
France—landed the blighted fruits of her
accursed adventure near the principal mart
of the greatest French colony—returned t?
the well frequented shores of the mother
country, with the miserable remains of the
guilty crew—and sent them forth into
crowded cities, marked on their fronts with
the mark which Divine justice had ordain
ed, to make them the witnesses of their own*
guilt, whithersoever they might gdT—All
the facts were enforced upon the attention
of the ministry—yet, no steps whatever
were taken to punish the offenders, or in
terrupt them in their guilty profits;—the
owners divided their plunder, and quietly
proceeded to undertake anew enterprise
of the same kind, which they were permit
ted to plan under the superintendence of
the very same person who had perpetra
ted the former! It i9 true that for the sake
of appearances, a kind of sham inquiry was
made ; and although the captain, the mate,
the blind surgeon, and the blind crew, were
all upon the spot, and although the terrible
particulars had been published, as above,
in the leading scientifick work at Paris, yet
they affected not to be able to make any
discovery implicating the vessel or crewj
tam msmwabt.
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, MAY 13, 1822.
In removing the prejudices, and silencing the
objections against doing any thing for evange
lizing the heathen, nothing has been so effectual
as the success with which missionary efforts have
been crowned. These are facts from which there
is no appeal. And they afford a striking illustra
tion of the power of that Gospel which maketh
wise unto salvation.
The last intelligence from the Sodth Sea Isl
ands, continues to be of that oheering character
which has for a few yeaA animated the beartdof
those who have been actively engaged in exten
ding the kingdom of the Redeemer. It will be
remembered that the inhabitants of these islands
were sunk to the lowest degree of moral degrada
tion, when the first band of Christians under (he
auspices of the London MissiolMy Society com
menced their labours among them. It was not
to be expected that a nation rnde,barbarous, and
cannibal, would immediately welcome a system
of doctrines and duties diametrically opposed to
their hahits and prejudices. But by persevering
exertions’, and a firpi reliance on the promises of*
Cod, they were encouraged to hope far success.
Their prospects were frequently dark and gloo
! my ; and minds less ardent, less persevering than
theirs, would have abandoned the field without
reaping the fruit of their labours. But the scene
was to change. The isles of the sea were to re
ceive the law of God, and become subject to his
rightful dominion. This nation, the most barlw-