The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, August 01, 1825, Image 1

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THE MISSIONARY. No l -Vol. VII.] NEW CHURCH IN BOSTON. Od the 2Q(h of June, the Corner Stone 6f n new Congregational Church was laid by the Rev. Mr. Wimer of Boston, “in the name of the Father, and of (he Son, and. of the Holy Ghost.” In the cavity of the stone, were deposited papers appro priate to the occasion, and a Silver Plate bearing a suitable inscription, Immediately after the cer emony, the Rev. Mr. Green, of the Union Church in Boston, addressed the audience as follows: My Christian Friends, —Here is to be erected a house fordhe worship of Hina whose throne is heaven—whose footstool is earth. Some scenes become solemn and august from the recollection of the past or a view of the present; but the visions which (duster around this devoted area, gather their power to expand find elevate and awe ihe sou!, chiefly from the anticipations of the future. You have seen that Corner Slone laid in Ihe name of Ihe Father, Son, and Holy Ohnfi, nod-M^ilk>a T | may add, in Ihe gen uine spirit of Christian benevolence. The zeal which has commenced and is carrying forward this holy enterprise, was not kindled .nor fanned by brotherly discord, or repui five prejudices, e.visting io our present Re ligious Societies. No; love to Christ aod the souls redeemed by bis blood, forms the cement which shall bind together all these stones: and on these walls, as they rise in taiymt grandeur, shall be inscribed, “ Holy Union.” A battlement and a watch-tower must this building indeed he; for where on this sinful earth, can a temple stand true to heaven without assuming this character? But the Weapons whtetl it irtH hn-l wp.m the ror rounding foe, we trust in God will ever be spiritual. Though mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and sub Verting the foundations of the empire of .sin, they must be drawn only from the ar aiory of the Gospel. We expect, brethren, that there will he earnest contention; —but it shall only bs for “ the faith once deliver ed to the saint?;” it shall only he with the powers of the darkness of this world, and with spiritual wickedness in high places. Wa most firtnnly believe, a portion of that expansive benevolence which brought she Saviour from heaven down to earth has breathed through all these movements. The self 5-tne spirit. which i$ building churches—and raising The standard of the Cross in Bengal,, Ceylon, the Isles of the our western wilderness with one hand, —with (be other is repairing the waste places of our American Zion, distrib uting the word of life, erecting temples, redeeming this goodly heritage of our pious fore-fathers from errour and death. Chris tians of the 19th ceotnry have begun to awake from the slumber of age*; and, through their instrumentality, the waters of life are flowing over the earth What we behold on this spot, and abroad in our land, of the unparallelled success of the truth, is u portion of the refluent wave, coming with augmented power to fertilize and refresh the shore whence it originated. Behold ye friends of the Redeemer, this advanced position of die Lord’s host. Ob serve well this land mark of their progress, and take courage ! ’ The other day, on yonder Mount,* we witnessed the laying of the Corner Stone of as'ructure, which is to rise the proud mon ument of the nation’s glorv, arid transmit down to future generations a more vivid re me:nbrance of the martyrs ol liberty. We have assembled this morning to lay the Foundation Stone of a monument whose erection is in payment of a far deeper debt of gratitude;—which is to 9tand as a remem brartcer df unspeakably more exalted achievements. ‘‘lmpossible!” cries an un* believing world “ Where are the ten thousands of eager countenances: Where are the pomp, and show, and circumstance ? But I appeal from the tribunal of earthly minded man. I ask the patriarchs and prophets, who view these things from the eminences of eternity. 1 appeal lo the glo rified apostles with the whole host of the redeemed. I ask a verdict of the. Holy an gels, who rejoiced over one sinner that re pente'h; who are now, I doubt not, sur rounding this place, as they did Dothan, with thg triumphant chariots, anticipating the thousands and tens of thousands who shall be born of God on this spot*; with the news of whose conversion thyr will be per milted to make more intense Ihe joy of heaven, and swell to a loftier note the praises of redeeming love. May we oot suppose that on this deeply interesting occasion, the sainted spirits of Cotton. Norton, Davenport, the Mathers, Prince, Coleman, Cooper, and many others are booking down upon u°, and saying— “ Our children, the children of our prayers and labours, -inward, onward, in your work •Bunker Hill. MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1825. of redeeming mercy.” We catch the in spiration of their voice, and on (his sacred spot, we pledge ourselves never to rest, till this land of our father’s sepulchres becomes as the garden of God. The walls here to be erected, are to re sound from Sabbath to Sabbath with the Ju bilee of the world’s redemption. The space they enclose is ever Io be considered a< the vestibule of heaven. The tower which is here to rise, is to remind every passenger of that love which was stronger than death; —of that arm omnipotent to subdue and save, which has opened a glori ous way from earth up to heaven. We are animated with the cheering hope that we are rearing this house for the days of Millnnial glory Delightfully interesting to our hearts is the thought, that this Stone which we have now so solemnly laid in the name of the one Jehovah, Father, Sod and Holy Ghost, may rest undisturbed, in its bed, when Ihe sun in his course round the world shall shine on none but Christian nations, and the shout shall be heard through the universe, “ The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.” But let the solemn reflection reach all our hearts, —the day draweth nigb, when these earthly sanctuaries shall have accom plished their grand design; when the re deemed of the Lord shall all be gathered in; when of this and of all other temples, there shall not be left ooe stone upon an other; when even the pillars of the earth shall be moved, and this whole materia! fubrick dissolved :—0 God, grant that ere that day of dread decision shall arrive, we may all be found in (he city which hath foundations, where the Lord God Almighty and (he Lanili shall be our everlasting tem ple. From the Christian Mirror. ON BEARING INSULTS WITH PA TIENCE AND MAGNANIMITY. Mr. Editor, —In a late communication I intimated, that 1 should, when convenient, relate a few anecdotes of heathens and men of the world,’ who by passing over insults and returning good for evil, have pot nom inal Christians to the blush by coming near er !o the commands of their divine Master, than they. The following are principally from memory. When Xerxes invaded Greece, there was, in the Greek councils, a difference of opin ion, concerning the best place for eogaging the enemy. Tliemistocles urging his opin ion with some warmth, Euryhiades lifted up his cane over him, in a menacing manner. “ Strike says the Athenian general, ‘■'•but hear me “ Thp Lacedemonian admiring his command of temper, hade him speak what he had to say. Plutarch says of Pericles, “ Such was his self command, that when a vile and aban-’ doned fellow loaded him a whole, day with reproaches and abuse, he bore it with pa tience and silence, and continued in pnbiick, for the despatch of ome urgent affairs. In the evening, be walked gravely home, the blackguard following and insulting him with the most scurrilous language, the whole way. And, as it was dark, when he came to his own door, he ordered nue of his ser vants to take a torch and light ihe man home.” Two young gentlemen, I believe officers, were playing at backgammon, in a publick coffee room, in Paris, when one thoughtless I v replied, to the observation of the other, “ O what a story l” The other, immediate ly snatching up the tables, gave his friend a blow on the head, and, as if stnpified aod astonished at his rashness, sat down, re gardless of the consequence. The injured man arose and addressed the company in these words: “Gentlemen, you thiok that I shall take the life of my friend, for this rash act of his. But, could I now see bis heart, I should find it torn with anguish and sorrow, for what he has done, and that he suffers a thousand times more pain, than l do from the blow 1 have received. I shall therefore not take his life, but I will take the life of any one of you, who dare to utter the least reflection on my honour.” All were silent for a moment. Bravo! claimed an old knight of St. Lewis. Bravo! echoed round the coffee room, and Ihe friends resumed (heir game. A part of the story* worthy of the imitation of Chris tians, but the beauty of the action is spoiled by the concluding threat. Two bloods of the highest order were bantering one another at a coffee house, when one dared (he other, to go and spit in the face of an officer of high rank and tried courage, who sat in a box, reading a news paper. No sooner said than done. The officer calmly took his handkerchief, and wiped bis face and said, “ Young man, cot^d I wipe your blood from my conscience a9 I can jyour spittle from my face, I would in stnntljr put you to death. But I disdain to stain my conscience or my sword with yoor blood.” It is a beautiful saying which the duke of Orleans used, when he ascended the French throne, under the title of Louis XII. He had many bitter euemies, who had done him great injury; but he quieted their fears by publickly declaring, that “It ws not for the king of FraDoe to revenge the injuries done to the duke of Orleans.” This was the same king wlo said, “I should rather see my courtiers laugh at my avarice, than my people weep tmy extravagance.” It was for sentirnerfs like these, rather than for his victories that he wa9 deservedly .called the “father of his people,” a truly glorious title. In 1754 ths father of our country was stationed at Alexandria, with a regiment, of which he was Colonel. At an election for members of the Assembly, Washington grew warn, and said something offensive to a Mr. Pa?ne, who was opposed to him, and who, at ne blow of his cane, brought onr hero to/he ground On hearing of this, the wh>le regiment was under arms in a momenj and io rapid motion- toward Ihe town btrniog for vengeance. Washington whs so f|r recovered as to go out and meet his enraged soldiers, and after thanking them ftr such evidence of attachment, he begged ,hem, by their love to him and their duty , topeturn peaceably lo their barracks. Findiig himself the aggressor, he resolv pd to make Mr. Payne the honourable rep aration of asking pardon. Early next mor ning he/wrote a polite note to Mr. Payne, to meet bitn at the tavern. Payne took it for a challenge, and repaired to the tavern in full expectation of fighting. But what was his surprise, on entering the chamber, to see, in lieu of a brace of pistols, a decao <er of wine aod a pair of glasses on the ta ble. Washington rose to meet him, and of sering him bis hand with a smile, began— “ Mr. Payne, to err sometimes is nature, to rectify erreur is always glory. I believe I was wrong,'in the affair of yesterday; yon have had, I think, some satisfaction; and if you deem that sufficient, here is my hand, let us be friends.” An act of such sublime virtue produced its proper effect on Mr. Payne, who, from that moment, became the most enthusiastick friend and admirer of Washington. When we contemplate the conduct of the illustrious men, whom I have named, how contemptible and mean appear the manner* of the little great men of the present day. who have so little knowledge of true grea ness, as to suppose, that to revenge an in sult is more honourable than to forgive it, and that honour is gained by the perpelra, lion of crimes, which set the laws of God and their country at defiance. MONTHLY CONCERT IN BOSTON. Osages. —At the Monthly Concert last Monday evening, the Corresponding Secre tary read extracts from a Journal kept by the Missionaries at Dwight, in the Arkansas Territory, giving some account of lb Schools attached to that station. The ex amination of the Girls’ School took pine- January 11th. It consists of five Classes: the first containing 12 scholars—second 3—. third 7—fourth s—fifth 5, The last men tioned Class is so far advanced as to spell with great accuracy and read well iD any book; the 4th and 3d are able to read in the New Testament. Besides the exerci ses in reading and spelling, the different classes, attend to several other branches of knowledge, according lo their degree of advancement; and all recite from memory occasional lessons in the catechism, hymns, Bible, &c. The Boys’ School wasexamin ed the day following. It contains about an equal number of scholars as the School for Girls; and in about the same state of for wardness. Sandwich Islands.— An extract of Jan. 31, 1824, from the Journal of Messrs. Richards & Stewart, at Lahaina, Island of Mowee, represents that for the last fortnight there bad been an unusual interest manifested by the natives in Ihe business of education. Fifty had called on the missionaries early that morning for spelling books; and 150 more in the subsequent part of the day. At least 100 were obliged to go away unpro vided tor, the stock of books on hand being inadequate to the supply. On visiting the chiefs of the Island, Feb. 2, the missionaries found them busily employed in study at their dpsks, with their servants seated around them on mats, and engaged in the. same pursuit. It is worthy of remark, that, though the Chiefs seemed at first disposed to monopolize the advantages of instruction, they dow wish these advantages to be ex. tended to the meanest ot’ tbe people. The eagerness of adults and men in high power to acquire knowledge, and in order to this their -willingness to submit to the study of its simplest rudiments, is more than had Been anticipated by tbe most sanguine friends of Missions. Society Island*.— Mr. Ellis, after remark ing what an interest it gave to the occasion, to think that this same Monthly Concert was observed throughout Christendom, des cribed tbe manner in which it is ordinarily conducted at the Society Islands. There, not as in England and America, toco thirds of the adult population punctually attend ; —and they come with hearts warmly en gaged in the Redeemers cause. The ex ercises are introduced by singing a hymn, in which the natives unite with a sincerity and devotion not easily described. Next a prayer is offered, usually by one of the na tives A native then reads a portion of di vine truth, which has been previously se lected for the occasion. This is followed by the narration of religious intelligence from abroad, which thp missionaries obtain through Religious Publications received from .America and England. Such intelli gence is listened to by the natives with the utmost interest. When the accounts are unfavourable, a gloom may be seen to come over thcircountenanr.es, as if they had enf lefed some personal calamity. Ami vvh-v, on the contrary, the news of revivals anrt sissionary success reaches their ears, they almost exult at the brightening prospect. In Hie prayer which is offered at the close of this narration, one of the natives usually Ifttds. With great fervency he prays for those who have done so much to send the glad news of salvation to the long neglected Society Islands—he prays that the same light may shine upon all the Islands of (he I’acifick—lie prays for England—he prays, for America—he prays for India, and tbe whole world. “Your best friends, I had almost said, are there.” * The Anniversary meeting of the Auxilia ry Missionary Society in these Islands is a kind of Jubilee. Tbe nalives on that occiv sion assemble at the missionary stations, anil pray that the blessings which Christianity* has conferred on them, may be extendedl through the world. Os IGjoOO or 18,000* inhabitants on the Islands, about 10,000 are annual subscribers to this Society. And though they are generally poor, and oblig ed to procure what they give by manual labour, they have paid in support of this ob ject during the four years past no le-s than, SIBOO. The first thing, after gathering their harvest, is to set apart a portion suffi cient for the payment of their annual sub scriptions. The remainder of their pro duce they exchange, not as formerly for rutn, and powder, and weapons of death, but ior the implements of husbandry, and other articles appropriate to the reign of peace.— Rec. & Tel July 8. From the Columbian Star. GLAD TIDINGS. Intelligence from various parts of our country, of the gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Churches, and of addi ions to their numbers, constitutes, in our -'imation, one of the most interesting items to the columns of a religious newspaper. It affords us much pleasure, therefore, to be able to lay before our readers the annex ed statements. Alabama. The following extract is made from n letter to the publisher, wrilten by the Clerk of tbe Hurricane Baptist Church, in Wash ington couniy, Alabama, dated May 17: “With satisfaction, I avail myself of the present opportunity to forward you a des cription of a divine outpouring of God’s Ho ly Spirit, on the inhabitants ol Hurricane. In October and November lasi this work commenced. On Saturday before the sec ond Lord’s day ih November, six joined by experience and baptism, which occurrence appeared to enliven the hearts ot many old professors. Since that time until the pres ent, sixteen have put on Christ, solemnly dedicating themselves to him by baptism. Three instances have occurred, of men with their wives going down into the water, and jointly, by the solemn ordinance, putting on His yoke, which is easy. These humbling instances appear to dampen the spirit of persecution, and overpower the saints with joy. Two have joined by restoration, and five by letter, which gives us the number 23*; which, taking into consideration our scattered population, and remote situation, enables us to feel that the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Yea, he has caused his righteousness tr> flow a a mighty stream Tbr monuments o * Ourtwholc number is 46 at present, thoweh tome bate removed.