joined them, and received the faith of the Pope.

Again in the year of our Lord 1753, came to us some holy Jacobite-Syrian Fathers from Antioch, who turned us to our true ancient faith, and set up a High Priest for us.

We now have fifty-five JacobiteSyrian Churches in Malabar: and, as the Franks are more powerful and rich than we are, they are hourly laying the trap of the Pope for us, and, from the power of a kingdom filled with idols, the heathen have subdued us, Jacobite-Syrians, just as Pharaoh king of Egypt subdued the children of Israel, and had no pity.

And, as the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and delivered the children of

Israel from the house of bondage of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so the Lord beheld our sorrows and afflictions; and there have been sent to us an illustrious leader named Macauley, and Mr. Buchanan the illustrious Priest: and when they came to us, and saw our subjugation and sorrow and poverty, they brought us forth from the house of bondage and consoled us with kind words and assisted us with money.

After this, another illustrious leader was sent to us, named Monro, and as Joshua the son of Nun brought Israel to the land of promise, and put them in possession of Canaan, so did this illustrious discerning, and prudent leader, bring back and save us poor people from the hand of violence:

and he built a school and one church for us, in the place called Cotym; which he did with great trouble, labour and expense, in order, that our eyes, made dim by the depth of our poverty may be opened by the knowledge of the declarations of the holy and divine books. All the deacons, moreover, and children who are taught in the school of our place, are cherished by the assistance of this illustrious leader.

Again, the Priest Benjamin,* the Priest Joseph,t and the Priest Henry,+ our spiritual and temporal friends, brothers, and assistants, whom you have sent to us, that they may root out the thorns and tares from among the children of God, are anxiously seeking all the requisites for the redemption of souls; as well as constantly teaching all the deacons and children of our place the English lan

guage.

The books of the New Testament which ye sent us; we divided, and gave to the churches in Malabar; and, with great joy, does every man present his prayer unto God for you: and we trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is merciful to those who shew

mercy, that he will give you a good reward in the day of Judgment, even thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold, for your work and labor for us, and that he will make us rejoice with you. But we are unable to recompense you by any earthly riches: the more however, shall we supplicate God daily that your dominion may be increased, and that he would subdue those that hate you under your feet and daily may your preaching in Christ Jesus be increased; and may God raise up among you leaders who fear God, and who are kind to the endued

:

poor,

also with knowledge and prudence!

We have heard, too, that the people for us, that he would supply and of your land are beseeching God complete that which is defective and imperfect, both in our bodies and souls.

Respecting Samuel the Priest,§ who is held in honor by us, we received the letter which he sent by the hand of Joseph the Priest; and we read and understood what was written in it; and very much did we rejoice, with exceeding great joy, on account of your friendship for us. And may the Lord, who both hears prayers and Mr. Baker. Rev. Professor Lee.

*Mr. Bailey. +Mr. Fenn.

grants petitions, lengthen your lives and increase your peace!

But we call to mind the adage, "A glance is enough for the intelligent," and avoid prolixity. Besides, James, the honored Priest, will make known to you all that is going on among us. And I, the Metropolitan, Mar Dionysius, your friend, very cordially salute you: also Abraham the Priest, our obedient servant, and all the deacons, and children that are in the school. All the Priests moreover, and deacons, and the whole congregation of Christians who are in all the churches in Malabar, salute you. May grace be with you all: even so, Amen!

Our Father which art in heaven, &c.
Remain firm in the power of Jesus!
In the year of our Lord, 1821.
On the third of the month Ranum

the first, Friday. From the school
of Cotym.
(Signed)

MAR DIONYSIUS.

SUPERSTITION IN INDIA.

From the London Missionary Register. The following is an affecting instance of the delusive power of idolatrous superstitior, in the minds of the Hindoos, related in a letter from the Rev. H. Fisher, of Mecrut, to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society. A Fakeer was observed, by the road side, preparing something extraordinary, which having never been observed before, excited a curiosity to draw near and examine his employment. He had several Hindoo pilgrims round him, on their way from the Holy Ghaut, who assisted in preparing the wretched devotee for some horrible penance, to which he had voluntarily bound himself, in order to expiate the guilt of some crime which he had committed long ago. His attendants literally worshiping him, kissing his feet, calling him god, and invoking his blessing. A large fire

Rev. J. Hough.

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was kindled under the extended branch of an old tree; to this branch the Fakeer fastened two strong ropes, having at the lower end of each of them a stuffed noose, into which he introduced his feet, & thus being suspended with his head downwards over the fire, a third rope at a distance towards the end of the branch was fixed, by which he succeeded with one hand, to set himself in a swinging motion, backwards and forwards, through the smoke and flaming fire, which kept blazing by a constant supply of fuel ministered by many of his followers; with the other hand he counted a string of beads, a fixed number of times, so as to ascertain the termination of the four hours, for which he had doomed himself daily to endure this exercise for twelve years, nine of which are nearly expired. A narrow bandage is over his eyes, and another over his mouth, to guard against the suffocating effects of smoke. By this means he says he shall atone for the guilt of his sins, and be made holy for ever. The last half hour of the four hours, his people say, he stands upright, and swings in a circular motion round the fire. On coming down, he rolls himself in the hot ashes of the fire. The boys went to see him again in the evening, when he was engaged in his prayers, but to what or whom they could not tell. I asked my little congregation what they thought of all this; they sat silent, with their eyes cast down, and sighed heavily; at length Anund turned to Matthew Phirodeen, and passing his arms round his neck, exclaimed with the most touching expression of affection, as well as of gratitude to God-"Ah my brother! my brother! such devils once were we! but now, (and he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and elevated his whole person,) Jesus! Jesus! my God! my Saviour!"-It was very affecting.

Turn to God, and he will turn to you,

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CIRCULAR.

To Ministers of the Gospel, managers of Auxiliary Societies, and other Friends of the Missionary Cause. Dear Brethren,

In the progressive affairs of the UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, a crisis has arrived of interest, of promise, and of action, in several respects unprecedented in our previous history. Briefly to acquaint you with our present circumstances and engage your liberal and zealous co-operation in our future efforts, are the objects of this appeal.

The Society now occupy five Missionary Stations among the Heathen tribes within the boundaries of our country; and an exploring agent has reported a sixth as highly eligible, which the board wish to occupy as soon as practicable.

The expenditures of the past year have been increasingly great. Our treasury is exhausted, and the Board are largely in advance in sustaining the operations of this institution.

We can, however, adopt the apostolic language," perplexed; but not in despair." In our dependence is "In our strength. The Lord God of the holy Apostles owns our enterprise. In Jehovah alone is our confidence that it will prosper-that the everlasting gospel shall ultimately visit and bless every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

To combine the resources and efforts of the christian public more extensively and adequately in this glorious work, the Board are convinced that a wider diffusion of information on missionary topics and events especially in relation to this Society, are both desirable and indispensable. They have therefore taken incasures to render the American Missionary Register, as a vehicle of missionary intelligence, at once more widely circulated, more permanently established, and more easily obtainable by all classes of the American communi

ty. They have assumed this publication as their own, and have appointed their domestic secretary to be their editor. It will henceforth be issued monthly, in numbers of 32 pages each, and neatly executed at the reduced price of $1 50 cents per annum.

When it is considered how interesting have already been the developements of the missionary cause, and how splendid and momentous are its prospective triumphs, who would deliberately forego the possession of that Monthly intelligence which such a publication will supply, and such a pecuniary trifle procure? What christian parent can allow himself to feel indifferent to the questions: Shall my children remain ignorant of these wonderful works of God, the brightening presages of Zion's ultimate enlargement and millennial glory? Shall I neglect to furnish my family with this entertaining and increasingly valuable publication? Shall I lose any opportunity of being a co-agent with God himself in speeding through the world such a divinely affective system of "glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men ?""

In thus changing the basis and appropriating the responsibilities of the American Missionary Register, the Board have incurred a heavy obligation, and will need, and they trust, receive a larger and more prompt assistance from their Auxiliary Societies, from the individual ministers and members of the three denominations, whose union constitutes under God, the being, the strength, and the honor of the Parent Society, and from all the friends of missions and of man to whom directly or indirectly this circular may come.

For a detail of the particulars of interest connected with our missionary operations, & of the principles & facts in relation to the general cause, we refer you to the current statements of our publication.

It is our reiterated request and entreaty that something may be immediately and energetically done."Come over and help us," is the Macedonian prayer which is borne to our ears on the pinions of the western winds. Help us-and us-and us-successively say the needy and perishing tribes of our own degraded species! And what shall we answer? Shall we say-Desist-expect nothing from us-we cannot retrench our superfluity, nor lift a finger to relieve you-live, die, go to judgment in your blood-we will not send you the gospel of salvation-the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, occupy us and exclude you, and dissuade us from honoring the mandate of our beloved Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, authoritatively saying, Propagate Christianity throughout the world, "preach the gospel to every creature!"

In presenting and urging these claims upon your attention, our earnestness may, we know, wear the semblance of importunity. But need we assure you dear brethren that our motives are not sordid--but the love of Christ constraineth us-that we mean not, that ourselves should "be eased and you burdened." The time, the toil, the care which are necessarily expended in managing the concerns of the society, would, if you could experience them, enable you better to appreciate the present appeal, and induce you more zealously and steadily to co-operate in our labors. The theme and the occasion demand earnestness. We are pleading with professed Christians-pleading for our country and our kind, for our souls, for Jesus Christ, & the Church which he purchased with his own blood.

In the conclusion we respectfully request that ministers of the gospel would read this paper to their respective congregations, and make a collection for the object-that they

37

and their people would pray for us at their monthly concert meetings-that they would endeavor to procure subscribers for the American Missionary Register, and to inspire and maintain a missionary zeal within the circles of their influence; and finally, that each one should feel and assert the privilege of doing something.Thus may much, very much good be most easily accomplished; and the re-action of cheerful giving, to such an object and from a proper motive, will render the habit more easy, the character noble, and the gracious reward a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. No donation will be slighted because of its smallness and let those that are made be forwarded as soon as practicable to Mr. Zechariah Lewis our Treasurer and Domestic Secretary, No. 38, Broad-street, New York.

On behalf of the Board.
SAMUEL H. Cox,
JOHN KNOX,

}

Committee.

ZECHARIAH LEWIS.
New-York, Jan. 8, 1823.

TENT PREACHING

The Home Missionary Society of Eng. have established Tent preaching in the out skirts of the Metropolis. Hearers are numerous and attentive.

"The attempt having succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectation, the committee resolved to pur chase a Tent and appointed a SubCommittee to carry the same into effect, under whose direction the New Tent was fixed at Camden Town, on the 14th of July; and the Committee continue to receive the most pleasing accounts of the benefits which have, under the divine blessing resulted from their humble exertion, especially in leading many persons to attend constantly the preaching of the Gospel at the Tent, who have never previously entered a place of divine worship.

The attendance increases every Lord's day; more than 200 in the

38

morning, 500 in the afternoon, and upwards of 500 in the evening.

In strict accordance with the professed object of the Home Missionary Society, which is to carry the pure Gospel where it is not, in the villages of our native country, the Committee intend to continue the exercise of Tent preaching during the summer and autumnal months, in such parts of the environs of the metropolis as shall appear to be the most suitable, and not likely to interfere with stated places of divine worship.

The Home Missionary Magazine for Oct. says:

Since our last account of the proceedings at the Home Missionary Society's Tent, stationed at Camden Town, on every returning Sabbath day; the standard of the Cross has continued to be lifted up there to hundreds of immortal souls, many of whom, but for the erection of the Tent would probably never have heard of the way of salvation, as the following well demonstrate; and many similar instances might be stated:

A respectable middle aged female, resided in an adjoining village, who felt a great antipathy to the Gospel, and would not enter a place of worship where it is preached, was induced to stop at the Tent, out of curiosity, and remained during the service, which affected her so much that she determined to renew her visit, which she did several times, and adopting the advice invariably given at the Tent, of searching the Scriptures, she determined never to go to any Church or Chapel but where the Gospel is preached, and has since become a regular attendant at the Tent.

A woman living in Camden Town, having attended the preaching at the Tent, persuaded her husband, who was a notorious drunkard & swearer, and never went to a place of worship to accompany her thither, which he ccordingly did, and has since regu

larly attended: and, to use the woman's own words, he has become quite a changed character, has ceased to frequent the public house, and, from being a cruel he has become a kind husband. The committee feel the liveliest gratitude to Him who said "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled," for the great success which has hitherto attended the preaching at the Tent.

COMMERCE AND RELIGION.—OUR DUTY TO SEAMEN.

"Besides the incalculable importance of seamen to society at large, in this and in every future age; another motive to labor for their improvement is found in our own condition. I refer to the superior advantages of him who inhabits the land, over those

Whose march is on the mountain's wave,
Whose home is on the deep-

"Exempt from the toils, and hardships, and dangers, inseparable from the sea-faring life, we enjoy blessings to which the sailor is almost, if not altogether, a stranger. Are we afflicted? the minister of religion is ever at hand to strengthen and to comfort us. Are we sick? the anxiety and affection of our families watch over and soothe us. Are we unfortunate? there are the friends to advise and assist us; there is the domestic circle to embosom us in the arms of its love. Is the Sabbath come? we can go up to the house of God, and share in the public worship of a whole nation. Are the hungry to be fed, and the naked to be clothed? are the widow and the fatherless to be visited in their affliction? Is the gospel to be sent to the poor, and the missionary to the heathen? Is the house of God to be built, and the Sunday School to be established? Ours is the privilege, and ours is the blessing. Shall we not then make a large return for such opportu