No. 4. Religious Siscellany. "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold, thy salvation cometh." CARLISLE, FEBRUARY 7. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. We have been favored by a friend, with the Missionary Herald, for January, 1823. The Herald is published in Boston, by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and contains a number of interesting letters from different stations established by this Board. We shall extract such parts as appear most interesting; our limits not permitting us to give them in detail. MISSION IN CEYLON. JOINT LETTER OF THE MISSIONARIES. With what pleasing anticipation must the friends of the glorious cause of missions, view the success which attends the means made use of at the present day for evangelizing the heathen? The establishment of institutions, for the spread of the word of God, is a sure indication, that the blessings of the Gospel, and of civilization, are taking permanent root among these benighted people. The intelligence furnished by those who are engaged in the dissemination of the gospel among the heathen, often affords us the information, that natives. are zealously engaged in the same object. In our extracts it will be seen that societies are establishing among the heathen, which bid fair to cement the follower of Christ in the benight Vol. I. ed corners of the earth, more closely in the bonds of Christian union. The letter, after confirming the report of the death of a much beloved man and friend of missions, Dr. Worcester; and also the death of a little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richards, introduces the following intelligence: Bible Societies formed by the Heathen, and others. Of the cause of Christ in general in this district, we rejoice in being able to speak with encouragement. At the commencement of 1821, a Tamul Bible Society was formed in Jaffapatam, consisting mostly of native Christians; and on the 17th of Nov. one of the same description, composed almost entirely of heathens themselves, was formed at Mallagaim, which lies nearly in the centre of the parishes under our care. These two associations pay an annual subscription of several hundred Rix dollars for the spread of the word of God in their own language. It cannot be supposed that men, whose system of religion is condemned by the principles of Christianity, could contribute to the circulation of the Bible from proper motives; but, whatever be the object, we rejoice in the belief, that the example may do some good, & that the habit of giving to such an object, however small be the contributions, may be instrumental of the happiest results. On the last day of the year, a Branch Bible Society, auxiliary to the Colombo Bible Society, was formed in Jaffnapatam. In this are united Malabars, Portuguese, Dutch, English, and A 50 Preaching the Gospel.-Boarding School. mericans. The formation of this society was the most interesting event we have witnessed in this place. Sums amounting to 1,200 Rix dollars annually, were subscribed, and an interest was excited, which we trust will not soon subside. By the well directed efforts of these societies, we cannot but hope that light will spring up and knowledge be increased." pel, by sending our boarding boys to read to the people, has become interesting and greatly useful, as it not only enables us to communicate the truth to hundreds in a day, who must otherwise remain uninstructed, but at the same time teaches our boys to defend the Christian religion from all the false accusations and vain objec-tions brought against it by the heathen. Nor is it less interesting to state, that the females which have joined our in the cause, and often seek opportunities, by going to different houses, of and are sometimes successful in percommunicating truth to their own sex, suading a few to break away from their former customs, to go to the house of worship, and to listen to a preached Gospel. "Some schools," says the editor of the Herald, "which had been suspen-church, seem to take a lively interest ded for want of funds, had been resumed. The spasmodic cholera, that dreadful scourge to the native population,---after having swept away thousands, had nearly ceased its ravages. Sunshine had returned after the storm; and quietness after a seaBesides these methods of spreading son of general confusion and alarm. the knowledge of salvation through The schools, which had been depriv-Christ, we have taken tours, in which ed of half their scholars, were again filled; and the congregations attending on the public preaching of the word, had, in most cases, become as in times past. The following para-plies with us, as it would be altogether graphs should not be abridged.” - Preaching the Gospel. We feel confident that there never has been a time, when we could more emphatically say, "knowledge is increased." After the more regular services in the forenoon at our stations, on the Sabbath, six missionaries, three native preachers, and fifteen or twenty of our most forward boys in the boarding schools, whom we generally "send forth by two and two," are able to go into villages, fields, streets, and from house to house, for the purpose of preaching the gospel, or of reading tracts or extracts and portions from the Scriptures; and as many of the places at which we preach are previously appointed, we not unfrequently have small congregations. The method of spreading the Gos we have visited most of the parishes imprudent to depend either upon the The Boarding Schools. It By some of the above remarks, you will understand that our boarding schools continue to be a source of great encouragement. We have re Admission to the Church.-Christian Marriage. cently commenced a school of this description, at Manepy, so that we now have one at each station. Perhaps it may be thought by some, that we are forsaking the more appropriate work of a missionary, and confining our attention too much to the education of these children and youth. But it should be distinctly understood, that the care and instruction of these schools devolve, in a great degree, on the females of our mission, assisted by natives; and though domestic duties may prevent them from laboring, to any great extent, among the people, they may in this way be very useful to the cause. In these schools, much religious instruction is daily given, and all possible care is taken to keep the scholars from the contaminating influence of heathen customs. change effected in the habits of these children, by the discipline of a few days only, is exceedingly interesting, and the number from these schools who have been added to our church, sufficiently proves, that the moral influence of such discipline is most happy in its effects. Admission to the Church. The We are sorry we cannot give this item of the letter. We can only find room for a curtailment by the editor of the Herald on the subject. The church at that station consists of 32 members, 17 of whom are Malabars; and have given satisfactory evidence of spiritual communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. All of these persons had been more or less opposed by their relatives. Several attempts were made to withdraw the two girls from the school, and often, when they went to hold religious conversation with the women, they were rediculed, and sometimes abused. Their conduct at this time,' say the missionaries, 'gave us the best 51 proof of their being renewed in heart.' Smead, being at a greater distance from his relations, who live at Trincomalee, has been less opposed; though his uncle came to Tillipally for the purpose of reclaiming the offender, "who had brought so much disgrace upon his family." Smead, in return for the arguments, sarcasms, reproaches, and abuse of his uncle, earnestly entreated him to attend immediately to the salvation of his soul. Two others from the heathen have otfered themselves as candidates for admission to the church; but, though nothing appears against them, while their is much in their favor, a longer trial seemed to be expedient. One of them, whose name is Pandarum, resides in Tillipally; the other resides in Oodooville, and is the husband of the woman above mentioned. A Christian Marriage. At Tillipally, on the 3d of April Daniel Smead and Miranda Safford, both members of our church, gave their friends and relatives an opportunity of witnessing a Christian Marriage. This was a new circumstance. The ceremony, conducted by Mr. David, was in the church, & in the presence of many heathens, principally the relatives and friends of the couple. This marriage has, for several reasons, produced considerable excitement among the people. The parties are of different casts. Smead is of the Vellale cast, which, on this Island, is second only to that of the Brahmins. Miranda is of the Chanda cast, which is comparatively low. According to the custom of the people, an individual of one of these casts cannot marry nor even eat with, an individual of the other. But, at this time, prejudice and custom lost their influence, and all united in partaking of a feast prepared for the occasion on our premises. One of the most extraordinary circumstances in the view of the heathen is, that Smead and Miranda are in the habit of eating together. This practice, does not obtain, even among the Roman Catholics of this country; and the heathen think it quite intolerable that a woman should eat with her husband. We feel gratified, that this event has had a good effect, and that three girls of good cast, from the village where this girl lived, have, in consequence, been offered to become members of the school. The concluding remarks in the letter, though not new, are deserving of very attentive consideration. It cannot be supposed that a cause, in which the temporal and eternal welfare of so many souls is involved, can be carried forward without constant and extensive efforts; neither can it be supposed that He, from whose undiminished treasures all the nations of the earth are supplied, has committed his cause to such weak instruments, without pledging himself to bestow all needed aid. We feel that he has thus pledged himself, and that he will not only redeem his pledge, but that for any temporal enjoyment, which is, with proper feelings, sacrificed for the cause of Christ, he will restore a hundred fold in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting. We exhort all to prepare for a long and vigorous struggle with the powers of darkness, and to put on the whole armor of God: for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.--Much land remains to be possessed, and the missionary stations, already occupied, are but poorly furnished with laborers. Every individual follower of Jesus should distinctly understand, that the work of proclaiming the Gospel to all nations, is not the work of a day. It is the proper business of life; and may not be accomplished, more till our children's children more fuily comprehend the nature and extent of the promises, and more promptly obeying the commandments of God, shall labor more faithfully, suffer cheerfully, and contribute more liberally, to forward this glorious cause. In the bonds of Christian fellowship Most truly yours, J RICHDRDS, CHOCTAW MISSION. The journal last received from this station, by the Board, contains several items of much interest. Owing to the circumstance, of other selections sufficient for our present number being made, we are only able to give the following letter of an Indian Chief, with the remarks of the editor of the Missionary Herald respecting it. The captain of the Sixtowns, whose name is Hwoo-la-ta-hoo-mah, or, in plain English, Red Fort, is an active, energetic man; possessing a great share of intelligence and firmness. He rejoiced much that there was to be a school in the district; but was very sorry it was not to be in his clan. As the school at the Long Prairies was designed to be small, and it was desirable that there should be two in the district. Mr. Kingsbury gave assurance, that he would write to the Prudential Committee to have good persons sent out, to open a small school among his people. Hwoo-la-ta-hoomah himself also wrote a letter, stating the laws he had made for the government of his people, and his wishes relative to a school. This letter Letter of an Indian Chief. has been received. Possibly the language was dictated by some white person; but, for aught that appears, the hand-writing is his own. The writing is not elegant; but then it is not bad; and it often becomes our duty to read letters, which are less plainly written. Excepting a few cases of punctuation, we give the letter unaltered. LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF THE SIX TOWNS. Sixtowns, Choctaw Nation, Oct. 18, 1822. HWOO-LA-TA-HOO-MAH, chief of the Sixtowns to the Society of good people, who send Missionaries to the Choctaws. Brothers, The first law I have made is, that when my warriors go over the line among the white people, and buy whiskey, and bring it into the nation to buy up the blankets, and guns, and horses of the red people, and get them 53 ther's wives, and run away with them. We have now made a law, that those who do so, shall be whipt thirty-nine lashes. And if a woman runs away from her husband, she is to be whipt in the same manner. The Choctaws, some of them, go to Mobile and New Orleans. I have told my warriors to stay at home and work; and if they go and do not get back in time to plant corn, their corn is to be burnt down. The number of men, women and children in the Sixtowns, is 2164. I want the good people to send men and women to set up a school in my district. I want them to do it quick. I am growing old. I know not how long I shall live. I want to see the good work before I die. We have always been passed by, and have had no one to advise and assist us. Other parts of the nations have schools; we have none. We have made the above laws, because we wish to follow the ways of the white peple. We drunk; the whiskey is to be destroy-hope they will assist us in getting our ed. The whiskey drinking is wholly stopt among my warriors. The Choctaw women have long been in the way of destroying their infants, when they did not like to provide for them. I have made a law to have them punished that no more innocent children be destroyed. The Choctaws formerly stole hogs, and cattle, and killed them. I have appointed a company of faithful warriors to take every man who steals, and tie him to a tree, and give him thirty-nine lashes. It has been the custom with the Choctaws, when there are three or four sisters, and they marry, that they all live together in one house. I do not want it to be so any longer. I have told them to move away from each other, and settle by themselves, and work, and make fields, and raise provisions. The Choctaws have taken each o children educated. This is the first time I write a letter. Last fall the first time we make laws. I say no more. I have told my wants. I hope you will not forget me. HWOOLATAHOOMAH. Some may smile at the above system of jurisprudence; and some, perchance, may feel the need of professional skill, to explain the latter part of the statute which respects the going to Mobile and New Orleans. For ourselves, we regard these laws as the certain prelude of a more perfect code. The evils which they aim to suppress, viz. intemperance, infanticide, idleness, &c.--are the very evils, which were hurrying the Choctaws to final ruin as a people. The laws are as wise as those which have marked the rise of any other nation from a state of absolute barbarism; and they exhibit all that simplicity in form and language, |