The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, May 16, 1825, Image 2
freer utterance, or poured forth its
hnntinz songs and battle cry; but never be
fore have I beard these sons of the forest
speak, in their own energetick and eloquent
manner, of righteousness and of judgement
to come; in deep tones of feeling, sing the
great Redeemer’s praise; and, bending the
knee, supplicate the gift of the Holy Spirit.
If these be the fruits of missions, who will
not aid tbe work ? W.
LAST MOMENTS OF Q.UEEN KEO
PUOLANI. .
A few weeks ago we announced the death
of Keopuolani, the mother of Riho
riho, tbe late king of the Sandwich Islands,
and stated that for some lime previous to
her sickness, she had given good evidence
of real piety. A letter from Messrs. Rich
ards and Stewart, inserted in Ihe Missionary j
Herald, gives an interesting account of her j
last moments. She waa not supposed to be \
dangerously ill until the Bth of September,
when tbe missionaries repaired to her house
expecting to see her die.
$ “As they entered the room, says the let
ter, she said, with her head a little raised,
aod a sunile on her countenance, “ Maitai.” j
As much as to have said, Yon are very kind
io coming to see me at this time of night.
She. pressed the hands of the females ia a
very affectionate manner, and 9aid, “ I love j
the great God;” and soon after she said;
again, “Great is my love to God ”
The missionaries regret that in conse
quence of their ignorance of the language
and the want of an interpreter, they were
ut able to learn as much as they wished
respecting the state of her mind during her
sickness. Providentially, however, on the
morning of the day on which she died, Mr. j
Ellis arrived from Honoruru.
“ We had felt a very strong desire,” say
the missionaries, “ that he should come, and j
viewed his arrival at that time, as a special
smile of Providence. He immediately
found that she had spent much time, during
her sickness, in conversing with and warn
ing those about her to prepare for death.
It appears that her own hopes of a blessed
immortality brightened to tbe last.
“During the day on which She died, she
’slept, almost constantly. When we were
told that she had made a particular request
t® fee baptized, or, ro her own words, “to
•have wat-*r sprinkled upon her ih'itie name
of God,” we hesitated, in consequence of
her lying in so stupid a sta’e. We said to
the king, “ Perhaps it is not best.” He re
plied, *• Why is it not best ? What is the
harm? My mother gave herself to Jesus
Cbri-t before she was sick. Why may she
not have water sprinkled on her in Ihe
name of God, like Ihe people of Christ?
Shall sbe be denied because she most soon
die?” This he ?id with tears in his eves,
and with an emphasis which reached our
hearts.
Although it was too late for her to re
ceive any personal benefit from the ordin
-———.upi .iw thqt thoe around her fell
so deeply on the subject, that ivec JJTimTTTO
Bt once to comply with the request. Mr.
Ellis addressed ihe people on the subject of
baptism, and then, by administering the or
dinance,’ introduced this chief into the
Church of Christ- at the Sandwich Islands.
It was an overwhelming sight, not only to
nv but *o the natives who witnessed it.
They listened with awful solemnity, when
they saw what was done. The king said,
Surely she is no more ours: she formerly
gave herself lo Jesus Christ, and now we
believe she is his, and will go and dwell with
him.” Alter her baptism she gave nc signs
of intelligence. She breathed for about an
hour, and then her spirit took its flight.
THE TAHETIAN CHRISTIAN.
Maree m a roan of fine natural talents,
and is not destitute of acquired ones : being
able to read and write well, and acquainted
with some of tbe first rules of arithmetick.
H** is possessed of a surprising memory, a
quick perception, aod a good understanding,
with a sound and penetrating judgement;
while, to crown all, he is a man of genuine
piety and ardent zeal in the Saviour’s cause.
He was one of tbe first who publickty em
braced Christianity among these islanders,
and, before it became general, his life was
often m jeopardy, through his profession of
it. More than one attempt was made, by
a number of wicked fellows, to shoot him
anti a littia praying company who used to
meet wittrnim, that they might together
worship tbe true God. On one of those
occasions, these meo having found him and
hi* little party at prayer in a place appro
printed for the purpose, levelled their mus
kets at them, with a view to execute their
cruel design, when, as though withheld by
an ooseen hand, they had no power to draw
their triggers before their attention was ar
rested by tbe prayers offering up by Ihe in
tended victims of their fury. When these
were ended, the men went in and sat down
with Maree and his company, confessed
wbat their intention had been, and told them
not lo be afraid, as they should not molest
them any more; which promise they kept.
Maree is much respected among the peo
ple both for his piety and talents, and also
as having been made a Judge, from tbe es
teem entertained for him by Pomare: be
cause, as the king use.d to say, “ he bad em
braced Christianity at the mouth of a tnns
ke!;” and for his persevering attachment
to his professioo; and moreover, as the
king said, “ because he knew Maree would
regard the laws, and do justice.” Ue has
keen in the habit of preaching occasionally
for some considerable time with acceptance,
and I trost with usefulness. lam persuad
ed it would warm your heart to hear him
preach, although you would not understand
the language.
THE CONCORD PRESBYTERY, >
? Met at Bethaoy Meeting house, iu Itedeli
county, on Thursday, the 7th of April; and 1 1
the session closed on Saturday. On Sun
day, the sacrament of the Loid’s Supper
was administered to more (ban 600 commu
nicants. The concourse of people jwas itn-,
mease ; nod tbe scene waa rendered more
solemn aod impreseive, by the pretence of j
the venerable servant of God, the Rev Ja*.
Hall, D. D. now upwards of eighty year* i
of age. Indeed, we have seldom witnessed 1
a scene of more deep and universal inter
est, than when this aged disciple of Jesus,
standing on the confines of the invisible
world, broke to the waiting people the
bread of life. Silence pervaded tbe vast
crowd; every one seemed eager to catch
the lessons of divine instructions which fell
from his lip 9. 1 could not help repeating
to myself the words—“ The good man, in
the decline of life, appears like the Sun in
his evening declination; he remits his
splendour, yet retains his magnitude; and
j pleases more, though he dazzles less.”
During tbe session, several candidates
! read sermons as parts of trial for liceosure.
| They afforded pleasing evidence, that, in a
little time, they would stand forth accepts
ble heralds of the cross. Two applications
for ordinatioo were made ; and others are
soon expected to be made. We derive
much pleasure from the reflection, that the
! waste places of Zion are building up—-as
1 well as from the increasing numbers of the
Concord Presbytery. — Western Carolinian.
American Bible Society. —Tbe Treasurer
! of the American Bible Society, acknowledge
1 es tbe receipt of Jive thousand one hundred
und ffty six dollars during the month of
March. Os this sum 120 do.’ .rs were to
constitute Ministers members for life; 20 to
constitute laymen members for life; and
2807 from Auxiliary Societies. The issues
: from the Deposi'ory to the. same month
were, Bihles, 6052; Testaments, 5738; to
tal, 11,840; —value, £6526.
A SABBATH IN ITALY.
! From the Rev. 1). Wilson’s Letters from the Con
tinent.
j After dinner, (at MitanJ at half past
! three, we had our second English service,
and then we hurried out to see, what
yon will think incredible, in a Christian j
country, altars set op in the open air to the ,
Virgin Mary, with bangiog*, festoons of|
lamps, priests offering prayers, the streets
hung with lamp? on cords stretched across;
them, (fie houses and squares gaily adorned !
■ with carpets and lights ; tbe churches open
and illuminated, with crowds passing in and I
out; while priests were giving relicks to ;
kiss to the devotees who came kneeling at!
the altar in the most rapid succession ; and
soldiers were parading about to keep in or- 1
der tbe assembled mobs. I never was so !
astonished in all my life. Religion wa, in !
fact, turned into an open noisy amusement. 1
Before Ihe Cathedral itself, there was an
amazing crowd to witness Punch and his
wife —literally Punch and his wife: priests
were miogled in the crowd; and the thing
is so much a matter of course, that every
picture of this Cathedral has, I understand,
v*hi auditory in.lhfLfjye. ground;
thus the farce is kept op throughout this
sacred day. And what is all this hot the
ceremonies of Ancient Roman Heathenism
coloured over with Modern Roman Christi
anity ? The resemblance between Popery
and Paganism in Italy strikes every impar
tial observer. There are the same pros
trations—the same offerings—the same in
cense—the same processions—the same vo
tive tablet*—the same adoration of images
—the same vows, pomps, reveliings, &c.;
tbe names of things only are changed. And
oh, what a lamentable, what a heart-break
ing reflection is it, that the Sabbath is quite
unknown here as the day of sanctification
and holy rest! Doubtless in so vast a popu
lation there are many secret disciples of
the Lord Christ, who “ sigh and cry for
all the abominations that be done in the
midst thereof:” but as to the mass of the
people, the Sunday is forgotten, oblitera
ted, lost—uay, it is turned into the very
worst day of all the week—no idea enters
their minds of the divine purpose and mer
cy in it; “ 1 gave them my sabbaths, to be
a -ign between me and them, that they
might know that I am the Lord that sanctify
them.” I should ‘conceive there are but
very, very few Bibles amongst all this pop
ulation of one hundred and fifty thousand
souls. O, what do • Protestant countries
owe to Luther, Calvin, Zningle, Cranmer,
Ridley. Knox, &c. who, under God, res
cued them from similar darkness! And
what obligations are they under, to walk
in tbe light whilst they have it!
A NOBLE EXAMPLE.
In tbe early part of tbe winter, tbe Bible
Society of the county of Monroe, in this
state, appointed an agent to go through their
limits, and take the necessary measures
for ascertaining the number of families des
titute of the Bible. The agent visited eve
ry school district, and appointed persons to
go round, make the necessary inquiries, and
send in their reports. On tbe 10th of last
month, a full meeting of tbe Society was
held, at which delegates were present
from all parts of Ihe county. At this meet
ing i( was declared, as tbe result of a com
parison of all the reports, that there were
at that time within the limits of tbe county
1200 families destitute of the Bible! Where
upon the Society immediately and unani
mously adopted tbe following noble resolu
tion :
Resolved. That every family in the coun
ty of Monroe shall be supplied with a Bi
ble
Within a few days after Ihe adoption of
this resolution, orders were transmitted to
the agent of the American Bible Society
in Ibis city, for 1200 Bibles aod 790 Testa
meats, accompanied with the assur
ance that they should all be paid for in 60
days after the books were received. Five
hundred dollars have already been remits
ted, and from the success of tbe subscriptioi
wkich hah been opened in all the towns of
tU> county, no doubt remains that the whole
sou will be paid within the time mention-
Ylere is an example of Christian energy
an| liberality worthy of universal imitation.
cannot sufficiihtly admire tbe despatch,
the system, and the skill with which our
weitern brethren have conducted this busi
ness. It is scarcely a month since their re
solution was taken, and in one month more
they will have supplied 1200 lamilies, em
bracing at a moderate calculation 6000 souls
with th* Word of Life. In one mouth
more there will not be an individual among
40.000 inhabitants of the county, who may
not make |jie oracles of Divine truth his
daily study. The citizens of Monroe have
delivered themelves from the reproach
which still cleaves to every other district
in our land. Why caonot their example
be followed by every county in tbe state,
and by every state in the union ? How an
imating would be the spectacle, if this
whole nation would rise in Christian majes
ty, and resolve llwi there shall no longer be
a family in America destitute of the Bible
Is it too much to hope that ihe example of
the citizens of Monroe will lead in the end
to this glorious result —JV. F. Observer.
GREECE.
From the Baltimore American.
A youth of Vermont by the name ot J. P
Miller, feeling the Are of liberty glowing in
j bis bosom, applied to the Greek Committee
at\Roston, -slating his wishes to engage in
the recovery of Grecian
freedom. He was furnished with a small
sain for an outfit, and with letters addres
sed to Prince Mavrocordato. On his arri
val ke presented his letters, and was cor
dially received by the Prince. The follow
is an extract from the letter of this gallant
and geoerous youth:
“i had been here but a few minutes,
whei I saw a soldier enter Ihe door hastily.
He tsked me if I was an American; I an
swered io the affirmative. He grasped
my land in ecstacy, exclaiming at tbe same
i time, that he also had the honour to belong
j to tbat country ; that his name was George
I Jariis ; that he was a native of the state of
I New York, and being at Bordeaux in 1822,
j thence, by the approbation of his father,
j came via Marseilles to Hydra, and engaged
j i* the Greek navy, in their glorious strug
• gfe with the Turks He made thirteen
: voyages with the Hydriots, and since that
| tine he has been employed in the army,
with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He 1
has been iD a number of engagements, and ;
ba< distinguished himself as a brave officer, j
From him I have learned much of the state j
ot Greene. Their success against ihe j
Turks, and the sacrifices which they have!
made this year for their liberty, are great |
er than any recorded of Greece in the days
of her ancient glory. But what must be
tfie feelings of a man, who looks with a
{hilantliropick eye on the scenes of misfor
tune, to see soldiers who have been fight
i*g the enemy all summer, now coming to
their commander to beg bread to keep
them alive.”
Hr interview with the Prince he thus
describes, at tbe conclusion of which the
American peeps out:—
“ The Prince received me with much
politeness, and expressed bis satisfaction
at the Conduct of our government, in re
gardlto the interest it takes in the sufferings
of Greece. He asked, me many questions,
in reference to ihe views which were en
(ertaised by the Americans of the charac
ter of tbe Greeks. To all his- questions, I
endeavoured to give as correct answers as
possible. I told him that all the exertions
which the differqntftcommittees were mak
ing iu America,-mere for the liberty of
Greece; and that it was my opinion that
nothing further would be done by the Amer
icans, if ihe Greeks should consent to ac
cept- of a foreign King.—He replied that
nothing but a foreign force would ever
plaae them under a King. I told, him I was
willjng to bear arms in Greece, so long as
thete was a prospect of being free, but no
longer.”
The following is an extract from a letter
Prince, announciog the arrival of the
young enthusiast.
“You know Greece, but you know it as
oppressed by the Turkish yoke. Every
thing is now changed. We too, in imitation
of the Americans, have resolved to recov
er rfir liberty, and assume a place among
civilized nations. God grant that we may
bp as fortnnate as you in the result. The
success which the Greeks have obtained,
both on laud and at sea, in the campaign
just closed, inspires us with confident hopes
—and there is now no one, as formerly,
who. will pretend to question our indepen
dence.
[Cannuunicated for the Missionary.]
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION SOCIETY
OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, GA.
This Society met at Carnesville, on the
25th of .March last, and after adopting some
regulations, that were offered as an amend
oient to their Constitution, the delegates
from the different schools, were called on to
read their reports, from which we have
drawn off the following.
1 . Pleasant Grove. This school com
menced Bth of August last; is under the di
rection of a President, Vice President, Sec
retary, Treasurer, and five Managers; has
one Superintendent, seven male and eight
female Teachers. The number of Schol
ars is sixty—thirty-two females and twen
ty eight males. It has had frequent pasto
iral visits and the President, Secretary, Su
perintendent, four of eight
of the Teachers and six sßllars are pro
fessors of religion. Both parents and chil
dren manifest an atSXiefy for (by Prosperity
2. Mount Pleasant. Began bn the 13th
of March last, under flattering auspices with
81 Scholars; since it has increased to 106.
It is managed by 2 Superintendents, 7 male
aod 3 female teachers; 8 of Ihe teachers
are members of the visible Church and a
number Oi the learners.
3. Union Came into operation on the
6th of February last. It is composed of 20
male and 18 female pupils, and has 3 male
and 3 female instructers.
4. Mount Bethel, was instituted in Octo
ber last. It is under the control of 2 Super
intendents, 4 male and 4 female instructers,
of which all except 2 are professors of re
ligion. There are 40 male and 37 female
learners. They have many pastoral visits,
aud generally evidence an attentive and be
coming seriousness.
5. Middle River was commenced on tbe
sth of December last. It has 41 male and
36 female scholars; 5 male and 4 female
teachers; 4 of the pupils have become in
structed. None are professors of religion,
nor do they have any supplies or visits by
preachers of the Gospel. They attend to
the recitations of Scripture, and there is
reason to believe it will cootinue aod flour
ish.
6. Grove Level, was formed in October
last, and has on its list 30 male and 35 fe
male learners; has 1 Superintendent, 3
male and 3 female teachers. It is favoured
with the preaching of the Gospel monthly ;
and appears to be something on the decline,
owing to the want of books and premiums.
But it is confidently anticipated that it will
revive and increase greatly so soon as a
supply of these can be had.
7. Centre, was instituted on the 20lh of
March last, and is under tbe care of a Su
perintendent, 2 male and 2 female instruc
ters, aod has 18 male and 11 female learn-
8. Double Branch. Began on the sth of
November, 1821, and was conducted hy 4
male teachers and had 57 learners. The
4ih of April, 1824, thi9 school adopted the
plan recommended by tbe American Sunday
School Union, and has siuce joined our So
ciety. It has a President, Secretary, Treas
, orer and 5 Managers, 1 Superintendent, 4
| male and 4 female teachers, (2 of the latter
! profess religion) and 26 male and 26 female
learners. It is conducted with harmony,
and frequently attended by an elderly mm
ister
9. Providence. This school has 53
learners, 14 adults and 49 children, under
the direction of a Superintendent and 6
male and 8 female instrocters.
10 Liberty. Instituted in October last.
It has 42 scholars, the children of parents
belonging to various denominations, and
! managed by a Superintendent, 4 male aod
2 female teachers, of which one half of each
are members of the Church. The number
of pupils is small as yet, but by uoanimous
exertions they hope to be the means of ef
fecting some good in the general cause.
11. New Hope, was started on the 17th
of April last, and consists of 39 male and 44
female learners, under tbe management of
a Superinteodent, 5 male and 4 female
teachers; 6 of the teachers and a number
of the scholars are members of the Church.
12 Saleh, was instituted on the 9th of
JaDuary last, and has 24 male, 17 female
aod 8 black scholars. It is atteuded by 3
male and 3 female teachers.
13. Redwine’s. This school has been in
operation for some time, bat has latterly ta
ken up tbe plan recommended by the A. S.
S. Union, aod joined this Society.
The whole number, as far as we have
been enabled to ascertain, is about 100
teachers and 750 learners, of which 48 are
professors of religion. In our next report
we feel encouraged that we shall be more
correct and satisfactory.
ADDRESS.
To our friends in adjoining counties we
offer the above, whether or not they may
think we are desirous to make our boast.
If it awaken a spirit of like emulation, we
shall consider our end to be accomplished.
We look around us, and see many precious
yontb, coming forward, infullcareer & proud
with hopeful prospects. They enter tbe
world with hearts expanding like spring
flowers to receive every gale that sweeps
along. We say, shall the foul grasp of iu
fidelity, vanity and sin, lay on them a with
ering touch? Shall they lavish all their
sweet odours on the blighting blasts of igno
rance and delnsion? Conscience shrinks
from the reflection! The word of God re
proaches as! Benevolence reproaches! and
love to Jesus bids us, up and be doing!
Christians, wbat is tbe state of moral educa
tion in your neighbourhood ? Are children,
on the Lord’s day, permitted to go in com
panies from house to house ? Have they a
loose rein giveo them, to wander at discre
tion ? To blend w j|Me votaries of dissipa*
Tionr in n6l l motcv%l ia ill the
scenes of contaminating vice ! nod does it
not force from you the tear of sympathy ?
Did yon ever take an evening walk to thfi
river, end witness tbe little bands strolling
l up and down its banks ? Hear them utter*
j ing repeated vollies of profanity? Rending
; the very air with whoops and (he loud
j laugh! Imprudently making sport and cuf
fing each other? And did yon experience
no solicitude to close this drama of folly and
shame? Could you devise no melhodtoob
; struct the current along which they were
borne ? No way in which you could employ
j them more profitably, and render yourselves
useful? If you will attempt a laudable en
terprise, we propose you our plan. We
have established Sabbath Schools; we have
rewards that we confer agreeably to the in’
dustry of the scholar; if he can read we !.
low him to commit to memory portions of
Scripture; if not, we attend to him and re
munerate him for punctual attendance.
This we have found to answer mir expecta
tions. Many attend our instructions, who
would otherwise be spending the day in
idleness and immorality. Many come,
whose opportunities have been so contract
ed, that almost at (he age of maturity, are
unable to read, and would uot at present
dream of being confined to a school on tire
other days in the week. Their progress in
learning is such as to afford us encour
agement and animate us to the continuance
of our project. We rejoice in the work;
we deem it not only good, but pleasurable*
While we are keeping, as it were, the latent
corruptions o"f the humaD heart in a kind of
subordination, we are aiming to communi
cate strength to the soul. While we are
suppressing errour, much .emptiness apd
impiety, we are endeavouring to implant
some gracious troths which we hope-will
blossom and bear fruit to tbe glory of God.
We contemplate as our successors.
That they are our sons and to be the com
panions of our sons; the pride and joy of
our country. We wish them to fill our pla
ces with dignity. Religion bestows on man
all bis honours, and its principles we must
infuse into their minds, because we would J
have them appear respectable in society.
How many are there now in the prime <sf
lite, surrounded with a flood of imperfec
tions and buried iu disgrace, who are mere
chasms iu the community and their charac
ters in value lighter than nothing, who once
were promising and commenced fair for em
inence ; and wbat is the reason? The fault
lies in the manner in which their morals
were cultivated. Tbeir parents were care
less, imprudent, or irreligious; they were
without friends; they had no restraints irn-
posed upon them on theSabbatb; they were
the directors of their own conduct. Church
was inconvenient, or probably none that
they were disposed to go to. They could
not be in a slate of neutrality; they become
weary and must saunter from home; they
get into wicked company, form injurious
connexions and by degrees are led on till
they are entirely ruined. Had there been
an institution on a scheme similar to the one
we pursue, they might have been prevent
ed and saved from the traio of degrading
miseries in which they are involved. They
might have remained unsullied and have
held an honourable rank in the scale of be
ing. It is true, every one will not come to
our schools, but there are great numbers
who do, that would have been engrossed inj'’
wantonness and sports, and if we cap be ben
eficial either in enlightening the under
standings of a few, or be the means of cas
ting a barrier in the way to any criminal vi
olations, our laboor is profitable. ‘ Besides,
we have this consolation; that when we
have acted our parts, which are interesting
as well as delightsome, God will smile upon
our feeble efforts. we are
exhibiting a regard for the sanctions of His
will and imparting a knowledge of the same
to others, He will fix the impression and
shew to our hearts some tokens of appro,
bation.
We should be gratified were we visited
more frequently by ministers of the Gospel,
when they are passing near; it is our desire
that they call and countenance our exer*
tions. The suitable attention of our pupils,
when they do preach at our schools \vjl|
warrant us to press our demands upon them.
There being some who are members of the
Church and others that display seriousness,
i* pleasing; and the thoughts of being in
strumental in removing apprehensions; and
enlivening, cautioning and confirming those
who have surmounted their doubts, would
doubtless be joyous to them as it would be
grateful to us. We extend our invitations
to any of whatever denomination, as in our
object, we are united: and we believe if
they will meet with us once, they will feel
an inducement to return. Our cause is no*
ble! we gladly bail the approach of tba
day, when we are called to our schools! we
triumph in the grandeor of the undertaking I