D'URBAN, FORT-PEDDIE. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. George Chapman, dated Graham's-Town, October 21st, 1850. THOUGH dating Graham's-Town, my present communication will refer chiefly to D'Urban, Fort-Peddie, at which place, in consequence of the removal to town for a season of the Minister stationed there, I have spent the last three months. On With the general character of our work at the D'Urban station you are fully acquainted. I may, however, prior to laying before you a few extracts from my journal, remark, that at the "Post," as Fort-Peddie itself is termed, we have an European congregation, consisting partly of soldiers stationed there, and partly of English residents, with their families. At present we have no chapel there, but conduct service in a building lent for the occasion, meeting the congregation twice on the Sabbath-day, and attending other services in the course of the week. At the station our congregations are exclusively native, being a mixture of Fingoes and Kaffirs: the former, however, greatly preponderate. the Sabbath the chapel is opened with the first dawn of the day, at which time a goodly number assemble to hear God's word: the morning is then filled up by prayer-meetings and school duties. In the afternoon the people again assemble to hear from the lips of the Missionary the word of life: this is followed again by the school, and the day is closed with prayer and praise. On each morning of the week, as the day dawns, the chapel-bell is heard calling together either those who meet in class, or who meet for prayer, or to hear God's word. To a stranger the effect is pleasing in the extreme, and on the mind of the native Christians is evidently attended with beneficial results. They see the propriety, ere the frame is wearied by labour, that the soul should be free; and feel that, prior to encountering the trials of the day, it is well to fortify the mind by the word of God and by prayer. To us who labour in this part of our Lord's vineyard, it is a source of higher gratifi'cation than can be expressed, to see so many of these once benighted and ignorant ones now walking in the light, and evidently striving to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of Christ Jesus our Lord. Before leaving the station, I met the classes both at D'Urban and at the substations, for the purpose of renewing their quarterly tickets. The following extracts may serve, in some degree, to indicate to you the state of the classes, and also the progress of the work of God in the Circuit. Fort- Peddie, Sunday, September 29th. -At the morning service our preaching-room was crowded to excess, owing chiefly to the fact of all the European soldiers stationed here being present. The present company has been here but a few days. Their Captain was our fellow-passenger to this country. He is, I trust, a real Christian, and is evidently desirous of promoting the spiritual welfare of the men under his command. At his own expense he has opened a select and suitable library for the use of the soldiers, and has also commenced a day-school for their children, and an evening-school for the men themselves, several of whom appear to have derived benefit from the attention paid to their moral and spiritual welfare. In the afternoon I preached at D'Urban, from Matt. xviii. 15-17: a lengthy dispute among the native Christians was the immediate cause for the selection of this text. In the evening I preached again at the Post: the Divine Presence was felt at all the services. October 1st. I visited the Ggora, a native location, at which place we have a Teacher, an active and useful man: there are two classes here, one met by the Teacher, the other by his wife; that of the former numbers nine full members, and thirteen on trial; that of the other, six, all on trial. I was much pleased, on meeting them for the renewal of their quarterly tickets, with their state of religious experience: several bore delightful testimony to their enjoyment of that peace which passeth understanding; the others, one and all, seemed in real earnest for salvation. After meeting the classes, I spent some time in hearing and deciding a case which, but for the Christian conduct of the Teacher, might have led to much evil, and been the means of great discord in the peaceful little Society. This location is about fourteen miles from the station, the road to it being of the most wretched description: loose stones, rugged rocks, and a redundancy of the mimosa-thorn, with its prickles of from three to five inches in length, render the journey extremely tedious. 2d. In the afternoon I baptized all the members (save one, who was absent) of an European family; the service was deeply interesting: the elder branches of the family were greatly affected, including those of the rising generation who had attained to an age to understand the nature of the solemn service in which they were engaged; and each, from those of twelve years old and upwards, seemed fully resolved to consecrate themselves to the Lord. After the service, we sang a hymn, but most of the young persons, eleven in number, found it difficult to find utterance; yet, amidst many tears, they occasionally joined in offering themselves to the Lord. The sentiment of each heart seemed to be, "My Father, wilt Thou not from this time be the Guide of my youth?" 3d. I preached at six A. M., to a good congregation. At eight A. M. I left for Cesina, where I met the class for tickets, and was much refreshed in spirit by the state of mind of the members, about half of whom enjoy a clear sense of God's pardoning mercy, and all the others seem in real earnest. The Native Teacher stationed here is a sensible man, and seems to find delight in his Master's service. At noon I returned to the station, the day being excessively oppressive, a hot wind blowing over the parched land. 4th. I was engaged all the afternoon with Native Class-Leaders. In the evening I met the English class at the military post, and was cheered to find that one who met last week, for the first time, has since last Sabbath found peace with God: he is a private belonging to the 91st regiment. Another of his comrades met this evening, an humble seeker of mercy. 6th. In the morning and evening I preached at the Post, in the afternoon at the station: it pleased God to cause the word to take deep hold upon many, who retired from the house of God in distress, saying, "If these things are so, 'what must we do to be saved?"" Many who hitherto have been but nominal Christians were in great bitterness of spirit, and cried loudly for mercy; while those who had believed were filled with joy. 10th. I rose at dawn of day, and in the cool of the morning started for Newtondale, where I met the people, and gave tickets to the Society. Most of the members at this place are among the number of those who feel their sins to be a burden: a few, however, could bear testimony to the fact of their acceptance in the Beloved. Mr. Kidd, the Catechist, is labouring zealously and with considerable encouragement. With the assistance of the native members, he has nearly completed a nice little chapel, conveniently situated both for himself and the people on the station: personally he has laboured hard in the erection, beside having to superintend the labour of those who have wrought with him. The building, when finished, will afford accommodation to all at present on the station, and will do credit both to the Catechist and his charge. It will be completed without assistance from the Society's funds. 11th. At a quarter before six A. M. I met a class for tickets; in the afternoon, the Native Teachers; and afterwards, at the Post, the English class. The members recently added seem to be pressing towards the mark for the prize of their high calling. A poor backslider, also a soldier, came this evening. He seems truly penitent, and in earnest. Sunday, 13th. This has been a day of joy and wonder. In consequence of the long-continued and extremely severe drought, from the effects of which much cattle had already died, and famine began to look the people in the face, the grass being burnt up, the springs most of them dry, and the corn failing to spring up, or, if springing up, withering in a day, -we agreed, at the Teachers' Meeting on Friday last, to set apart this day as a day of humiliation and prayer, and that, at all the out-stations connected with the Circuit, united supplications should be made for rain. At five A.M. many of the people assembled in the chapel. The morning was cloudy, and a light mist moistened the atmosphere. At a quarter before eleven A. M. I conducted service at the Post. At noon, the day was clear and hot; the natives had spent the whole morning in prayer. At half-past one P. M. we met in the chapel. A large company had assembled, exclusively natives. I addressed them on God's promise to Israel, (Deut. xi. 13—15,) and directed them to consider the multiplied sins of their fellow-countrymen, together with their own unfaithfulness and offences; and then referred them to Jer. v. 23-25, and pointed out, that as then, so now, iniquity on their part would turn away God's blessing from them. Many wept, and were bowed down greatly. I then requested two of the Leaders to pray; and while they called upon God, the Divine Presence overshadowed the assembly: the men trembled, the women wept aloud, until at length the cry of all rose as the voice of one, drowning the voice of him who in prayer was then telling to Him who reads the heart the sins and misery, the wants and woes, of the congregation. Amidst the cries and groans of humbled souls, God answered from above; for, while some were beginning to rejoice, the sound of not distant thunder mingled strangely with the wailings and supplications of the humbled multitude. We sang and prayed, confessing sins, pleading for personal mercy, and asking for providential interposition; the deep feeling of the people seeming momentarily to increase in intensity: some on their knees, many prostrate, calling upon God; and others, with streaming eyes, and uplifted hands, look ing up to Him who only could answer. The deep-toned thunder again rolled over us, and in a moment the "clouds poured down fatness." The voice of the congregation was all but lost in the sound of the abundant rain, which now fell heavily on the slated roof of our sanctuary. Our prayers were turned into praise; but many still wept over their sins, and seemed, on this solemn, but joyous, occasion, anew to dedicate themselves to God. At half-past four the meeting broke up, in order that those who had come from a distance might have the opportunity of returning home by daylight. At five, the meeting was re-opened, and God was again present to bless. Spiritual benefits were conferred; while much rain also continued to fall in the course of the evening. The people, both Christian and Heathen, see and acknowledge the hand of God in this day's mercies. May the impressions produced be lastingly beneficial! On My extracts must close here. the 18th we left Peddie; and on the evening of the following day reached Graham's-Town, thankful to God for all His mercies. The whole country bears sad evidence of want of rain. Even the Great Fish-River has ceased to be a running stream: its fine flow of waters has given place to stagnant pools. Much prayer is being offered that God may remember the land in mercy; and there are appearances which indicate that He is about to answer. MISSIONS IN WESTERN AFRICA. SIERRA-LEONE. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James Edney, dated Free-Town, I HAVE the pleasure of informing you of our safe arrival in this colony. We arrived in Free-Town harbour on Sunday, the 1st instant, and early the following morning the brethren, Messrs. Raston and Hart, came on board the "Dale Park," and conducted us to the Mission-house at Free-Town, in which I and Messrs. Gilbert and Fletcher are still residing. We were highly favoured as to the weather during the whole of our voyage; but, early on Sunday morning, the 1st instant, we experienced one of those alarming tornadoes, which so frequently prevail in this part of the globe, and which are so dreadful in their effects. It was the most severe tornado that was ever witnessed by any person on board the "Dale Park." The Captain was evidently somewhat alarmed, and feared that he would have had to cut off the mainmast, to save the vessel. It came on quite suddenly, and almost as suddenly passed away; and was immediately followed by a fine, gentle, cheering sea-breeze, that continued to favour us till we had safely cast our anchor in the harbour of Free-Town. During the half-hour that it lasted, many hearts were lifted to God in earnest prayer for deliverance. We felt, however, that we were safe; being fully persuaded that we were in our providential way, and that the winds, the waves, and the seas were all under the Divine control. While at sea, I was much pleased with the conduct of my two worthy colleagues. They were both very diligent in the improvement of their minds, and persevering in their efforts to benefit the sailors. When the weather permitted, we held Divine service every Lord's day, and had prayer and the reading of the Scriptures every evening in the cabin. The Rev. Mr. Bultman, of the Church Missionary Society, was very friendly and affable. He, my colleagues, and myself, conducted the religious services in turn, and most of the passengers gladly united with us. On Thursday, the 5th instant, Mr. Gilbert commenced his Mission at Sierra-Leone, by preaching at Zion chapel, Free-Town, to a crowded and deeply-attentive congregation. The last Sabbath was one of the most happy Sabbaths which I have spent for many years. I preached at Zion chapel in the morning, and at Grassfield in the evening. A very gracious and heavenly influence prevailed at both services: the simplicity, earnestness, and deep attention which were evinced, reminded me forcibly of those happy seasons I enjoyed while labouring in the West Indies; and I felt truly grateful to the God of my mercies, that I was brought to this colony, and again permitted to labour in promoting the instruction and salvation of the nations of Africa. This is the work in which my heart rejoices, and in which I am willing to live, and labour, and die. May the great Head of the church condescend to crown my feeble efforts with success! MISSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES JAMAICA. We have still to regret our want of more full and detailed information respecting the awful visitation of malignant cholera in Jamaica, as affecting our Missions in that colony. We devoutly thank God, however, that in some places the calamity has been abated or arrested; and that none of our beloved Missionaries, as far as we yet know, have been among the sufferers. The subjoined letter from the Rev. Henry B. Foster contains, in the former portion of it, painful but instructive particulars; and in the latter part of it, conveys most delightful intelligence of a revival of religion in the St. Ann's Bay station, which authorises the hope that the late heavy chastening will be sanctified, by the mercy and grace of God, to the spiritual benefit of many. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Henry B. Foster, dated St. Ann's Bay, December 27th and 30th, 1850. You have undoubtedly received intelligence, from the brethren on the south side of the island, of the awful judgment from God which has fallen upon our land, and by which so many thousands of our population have been rapidly swept into eternity. That fearful disease, malignant Asiatic cholera, broke out first at Port-Royal, early in October, and in its desolating progress cut down one-third of the inhabitants of that seaport. After spreading to Kingston and Spanish-Town, and carrying off thousands of victims in each of those large towns, it continued to spread, with appalling virulence, from town to town, from village to village, and from preperty to property, with such insidiousness and deadly effect, as to leave even the most distant places hardly a hope of ultimate escape. The sword of the destroying angel cut down its first victim at St. Ann's Bay on the 7th of November. The individual had been over to Kingston, and returned two days before his seizure; and, but a few hours before his death, had been ridiculing any fear of contagion, and boasting of his health after coming from the midst of the dead and the dying. The cases on the Bay soon increased: death after seizure was fearfully sudden,-in many instances only a few hours; and on Sunday, November 24th, the mortality for that day alone was twenty-five. During the last fortnight there has been, through God's mercy, a gradual abatement of the pestilence. Yesterday there were two deaths. The loss in the population of St. Ann's Bay is estimated at fully one-third. Some houses are almost emptied of their occupants; and clusters of graves are now the visible and mournful trophies of death's conquests. The lamentable necessity, if one may speak plainly, that existed for such a manifestation of the Divine displeasure against this demoralised land, has been for some years distressingly evident, and has filled the minds of God's people with apprehension that some dreadful calamity would soon betoken the exhaustion of the Divine forbearance, and plunge us, as a people, in a state of lamentation, mourning, and woe. Immorality, in almost every form and in every grade of society, had risen to a most revolting and dreadful pitch. Adultery and fornication were deluging the land in an overwhelming flood of licentiousness. Sabbath-breaking, among many of the higher olders, was becoming the rule, and observance of the hallowed day the exception. Thousands of backsliders from our own and other churches were living in open adultery or fornication; and, if parents, were not only sanctioning their children living in the same state, but were allowing them to live in fornication under their own roof. Horse-races, grog-shops, and dancing-booths for midnight revelry, and every kind of impurity, were prolific sources of the country's demoralisation. The energies of the righteous few were almost paralysed with discouragement, because of the abounding and increasing iniquity; and, previous to the breaking out of the cholera, this Christmas was looked forward to with dread, from a fear that its usual festivities of dancing, masquerading, and "John-Canoeing," would sweep off into the vortex of dissipation nearly all the young people. The great majority of the many thousands swept off by this awful visitation has been, I believe, from the ranks of the ungodly; still, judgment has visited "the house of God," and our churches have suffered, and in some places are still suffering, a serious loss of members. From the St. Ann's-Bay Society fiftysix have been cut off since the cholera broke out here; a few at Ebenezer and Pope's-Bay; making in all, as yet, between sixty and seventy. May this rod of affliction be sanctified to the good of our souls! Three of those who died at St. Ann'sBay were old Leaders; one, the oldest on our list,-Mrs. Trusty. She was attacked in the chapel, while we were holding a special service. I visited her on the following day; and though her case presented some hope of recovery, she was perfectly willing to die or live, calmly and confidently resting on her God and Saviour. In this peaceful and happy state she continued until she exchanged mortality for life. At this time I was seized with a severe bilious attack, which confined me to the house above a week; but in a statement furnished me by Mr. Reynolds, our excellent Teacher, there are some facts illustrative of the power of Divine grace, which I feel desirous of transcribing here : "1. Rosanna Tracy, a member. On entering the door of the house where she was dying, she called me in a most cheerful manner; saying, Come and see how happy I am. O blessed Jesus, glory be to Thee! I am most happy: I shall soon be in heaven. Tell every body how happy I am. I feel my heart full of the love of God. I shall soon be in glory. You see what a blessed thing religion is: O it makes me happy!' She said much more in the same strain: and this delightful state of mind remained until her death. Every one felt it good to be in her company. 2. Charlotte Forsyth, a girl in our day-school, aged thirteen years. On entering her room, she said, with a most cheerful countenance, and happy state of mind, I am very happy: I am going to heaven. I feel the love of God in my heart. I have no fear of death. I do not want to live; but die, and go to heaven, to go to Jesus. I hope, when my Teacher dies, he will have a crown of glory placed upon his head.' answer to questions put to her, I found her steadfastly looking to the Lord Jesus, and triumphing over sin and death. She died the same night. In "Two boys, also scholars, gave pleas ing testimony, with their dying breath, that they were going to glory; and another girl, M. A. Wilkins, I am told, died very happy. "I visited several of our members in their dying moments, and generally found them very happy in God; and several who anticipated death, but recovered, have given pleasing testimony to the work of Divine grace in their souls. One (Mrs. Smith) said, 'Why should I be afraid to die? What is religion for, but to prepare people for this ? visited many of an opposite character; and how great the contrast! In several cases no inclination was felt to talk about spiritual matters; they would die as they had lived in others, a state of despair seized their minds, especially in the case of one or two infidels; and some most hardened and wicked characters were crying for mercy." The foregoing extracts from the abovenamed statement will suffice to show that we have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." December 30th.-I have now to add what I am sure will cheer your hearts, as it does ours. In the midst of this awful visitation, the Lord is very graciously pouring out His Holy Spirit's influences, and making this fearful calamity subservient to an extensive and glorious revival of His work. I have already personally conversed with, and |
