The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, May 16, 1825, Image 2

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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