1863.]

MEMOIR OF THE REV. ABRAHAM GOONESEKERA.

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symbols, and, regarding them as the magical charm by which the English were so prosperous, he stamped them on his new coinage. The reality represented by the symbols, scriptural Christianity, is indeed the life and strength of the English nation. It is this which has raised the national character: it is for the sake of this we have been providentially permitted to conquer. Let this great reality become current in the dominions of the Maharajah of Cashmere, or wherever else, and the people will be benefited, and the country raised. Faithful men, who, like the Missionary from Lahoul, undergo dangers and fatigues to make the Gospel known, are the greatest benefactors of mankind.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. ABRAHAM GOONESEKERA,

NATIVE CHURCH MISSIONARY, CEYLON.

In the removal by death of the late Rev. Abraham Goonesekera the Christian Church in Ceylon has lost a sincere and pious member, and the Ceylon Church Mission one of its most valued native agents. But though his spirit has returned to God who gave it, and his body now rests in the grave till the archangel's trumpet shall sound, his memory is dear to those who knew him, and will be long cherished in the hearts of many.

The following particulars respecting the earthly career of this good man are here brought together with a view to magnify the grace of God in his providential and spiritual dealings with his servant.

Mr. Goonesekera was a native of Galle, and was born of heathen parents about the year 1803. Of his childhood little is known. He seems to have been brought up at first in heathenism. It is related of him that he once went as a Buddhist boy into the temple to offer his evening flower. When he had done so, he looked into the idol's face, expecting to see a smile of approval; but he noticed that the great eyes stared on without any expression of pleasure in them. So he thought so great a god would not condescend to accept a child's offering. Soon after, a man came in, laid down his flower, turned his back, and walked carelessly away. The boy again looked in the idol's face, and thought he should see an angry frown at this disrespect, but the eyes stared on as before. He then began to think the image had no life in it at all— Ps. cxv. 4. 8.

In the year 1818, the Rev. R. Mayor commenced the Baddagama Church Mission station. Mr. Goonesekera's parents then removed from Galle to Baddagama to be engaged in secular work connected with the station buildings, and their son Abraham became one of Mr. Mayor's first pupils. He earned a good character for diligence and conduct and was subsequently sent up to finish his education at the Cotta Christian Institution. After his studies were finished, he was engaged for a short time as a pupil teacher, and, soon after, as a catechist. Then began a course of steady persevering usefulness, which terminated only with his life.

In the year 1839, he was admitted to deacons' orders by Bishop Spencer, and to priests' orders on his lordship's next visit to Ceylon in 1843.

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MEMOIR OF THE REV. ABRAHAM GOONESEKERA.

[JAN.

Soon after his ordination in 1839 he was removed to Baddagama to assist the Rev. H. Powell in the duties of that station. Here he laboured with fidelity to the cause of Christianity, and with sincere attachment to the Church Missionary Society, for a period of twenty-two years.

He won the respect of all who knew him, and gained the entire confidence of the several Missionaries under whose superintendence he was successively placed. None of the flock committed to his care lacked his sympathy or affectionate and faithful counsel. As a preacher he excelled. His sermons were based on the fundamental truths of the Gospel, and were well supported and illustrated by scriptural references. They generally set forth the duties of the Christian, or the necessity of repentance and faith in the Saviour; and in such homely and forcible terms that the most ignorant of his hearers might have profited, whilst there was abundant matter for the more intelligent and thoughtful. His manner in general was quiet and unassuming, but when preaching he was lively and full of energy.

He entertained a very strong attachment to the Church Missionary Society. He loved its principles. He admired its efforts to publish salvation to the heathen, and he heartily concurred in its plans for self-support and self-organization among the native Christians. I believe that he did all that it was possible for him to do in furtherance of these aims of the Society. As a proof how grateful he felt to the Church Missionary Society, he earnestly requested Mr. Mooyaart, the chaplain of Galle, a few days before his death, to convey to the Parent Committee a message to the following effect. "Tell that great and glorious Society, who have been the means of spreading the Gospel among so many different nations of the earth, and who were inclined by God to send their Missionaries to Baddagama in the year 1818, which led to my own conversion and that of my wife and nine children, and of my parents, brother, and sister, that I desire with all humility to offer to God and to them my grateful thanks for the benefits we have received at their hands. And I beg also to return my best thanks to the Ceylon Branch of the Society for all they have done for us."

For the last few years of his life he was frequently ailing, and his constitution gradually weakened; yet he was never known to be absent from his duties if he had strength enough to get about. His last illness commenced in April 1862. Though his case appeared hopeless from the first, the doctors strongly recommended his residence in the Friend-inNeed Society's Hospital, and that he should be supplied with plenty of most nourishing food. Here he was visited almost daily for nearly two months by the Rev. E. Mooyaart, and most kindly supplied with every nourishment and comfort that could be desired by Mr. and Mrs. Mooyaart. And though it did not please God to restore him, the few remaining days of his life were thus rendered comparatively comfortable and happy. When settled in this retreat from active life, he seemed to take a retrospect of the past which led him to speak of himself with deep humility and tears. He appeared to think much of his own unworthiness, and frequently alluded to his shortcomings; nevertheless his hopes were built upon the merits of Jesus Christ alone, and his confidence, though most humble, never seemed to leave him; not a

1863.] MEMOIR OF THE REV. ABRAHAM GOONESEKERA.

word escaped his lips which showed that he had any ance with God.

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doubt of his accept

This sense of unworthiness seemed to lead him to think of others engaged in the Mission work, for on one occasion, after thus speaking of himself, as as I was leaving him to visit Baddagama, he entreated me in the following words "Call the native agents together, and beseech them, dear Sir, with tears, to be faithful, self-denying, and earnest in the performance of their duties." On another occasion when I had called in my horsekeeper (a native of Baddagama) to see him, he addressed him in a most earnest, affectionate, and simple manner. It was as if he was speaking to his own child for the last time in his life.

His patience and self-restraint during the whole of his trying illness won the admiration of his attendants. It is well known how terrified the heathen are at the approach of death. No Buddhist, however meritorious, meets death calmly; to him all is dark and uncertain: but our friend anticipated his departure for weeks before it took place with the greatest composure. He dwelt upon the certainty that he would not recover, the circumstances of his funeral, and made allusions to his future residence in heaven so minutely, that it was evident the subject was in no way distasteful to his mind. He frequently reminded me of a person about to set out for a long journey to see a dear friend or relative, rather than of one preparing for death. And yet a deep solemnity characterized all he said. The only drawback to perfect composure of his mind seemed to me to be anxiety for the future welfare of his large family, which he was leaving with but little provision. But when assured all should be done that was consistent with the principles and practice of the Church Missionary Society, he did not again recur to the subject. Mr. Mooyaart has added the following remarks. He writes"During many interviews which I had with the late Mr. Goonesekera for about a month before his death, I could not help being struck by the cheerful faith and calm devotion apparent in his conversation and behaviour. Christianity was a fixed principle in his character, and it was manifested with such humility and simplicity as to prove the deep root it had taken in his heart. There was no pretension or ostentation, but a childlike spirit showed how much he partook of the mind that was in Jesus. Such an instance of the power of Christ's religion in its influence on the character of a native Singhalese is peculiarly cheering, as evidencing how thoroughly the native mind can be moulded by its blessed principle; and it is a great encouragement to persevere in the good work of training up native catechists and ministers from their earliest years to become, by God's blessing, useful to their fellow-countrymen. Mr. Goonesekera's life and labours may be fairly pointed to as a most encouraging result of the numerous advantages he had enjoyed for a period of upwards of forty years in connexion with the Church Missionary Society. And although perhaps his noble unobtrusive career of quiet usefulness for more than twenty-two years at Baddagama, where he lived and died, may present little that was remarkable, to strike the eye and attract the attention, yet his unaffected Christian piety and the solidity and influence of his character and ministry are like mellow fruit,

to reward the care and labour of the excellent Society, whom he so long and so faithfully served, while they afford a practical illustration of the principle Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.'

"As I visited him almost daily for about four weeks I had many opportunities of reading the Scriptures and of praying with him, for which he seemed ready and grateful. One day, after my repeating a few choice passages from God's word, he exclaimed 'How beautiful! What a train of jewels!' and seemed at a loss for words to express his admiration and delight. His mind was kept in 'perfect peace,' and the confidence he reposed in his Saviour was calm, deep, and abiding, shewing the sense of his own unworthiness, and at the same time his entire dependence upon Christ as the rock of his salvation. I had the satisfaction of administering to him the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper a week before his death, which he received with much reverence and humility, expressing the comfort and refreshment he had derived from such a commemoration of our Saviour's dying love."

As his end drew near, and it became more apparent that he would not recover, he felt a strong desise to return to Baddagama and die in the bosom of his family. This most natural wish was granted him. He returned to Baddagama, and within a few days breathed his last, on Friday evening, June 27, 1862. He retained his mental vigour and peace of mind to the last, and died blessing his children, and commending them to the care of his heavenly Father.

Next day he was buried in the churchyard adjoining the beautiful church of Baddagama, in which he had so long and so faithfully ministered the word of life; and close to the grave of the Rev. C. Greenwood, late Missionary of Baddagama. Mr. Mooyaart kindly went over from Galle and officiated at the funeral, which was attended by a large number of the residents of Baddagama. [Ceylon Church Missionary Record.

THE REV. THOMAS KING OF ABBEOKUTA,

(From the Iwe Irohin.)

THE Rev. T. King, Native Missionary, died on the 23rd of October, at Igbein, Abbeokuta.

"In the midst of life we are in death" is a truth of which we have been reminded very frequently of late. Death has been very busy at work among the chiefs of the country: one after another has been called away to render an account of his stewardship to God. The Christian church has also been called upon to give up one and another that have been respected and loved among us. The year has not come to a close that has seen the death of Mr. Wilcoxon, then Mrs. Mann, among the Europeans; and now we have been called upon to mourn over one, who has left us, to enter into his rest, from among the faithful band of native agents of the Missionary Societies here. The Rev. T. King was a native of Emere in this country, and, like many others, was torn away from his country and home to satisfy the love of money both of the black and white man; and he, too, like many others, was delivered from captivity and

1863.]

ABBEOKUTA, ITS CONDITION, &c.

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brought to Sierra Leone. There, after having become a Christian, and having been fitted by instruction for it, he was employed, for some years, as a schoolmaster. After the return of the Niger Expedition under Captain Trotter, he was sent up the Niger with the expedition sent to form a settlement and model farm at the Confluence, where he acted with great credit to himself, amidst many difficulties and dangers. He subsequently joined the Yoruba Mission as catechist, and was stationed in Abbeokuta. In Abbeokuta he had the great satisfaction of meeting his aged mother, then a convert to Christianity, and other relatives. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Vidal, and Priest by Bishop Weeks. For some years past he has had charge of the Igbein station, and under his Ministry a number of converts have been added to the church. He also translated a large portion of the Scriptures and several catechisms into the native tongue: as a translator his loss will be much felt. He was much esteemed by the European Missionaries and his native fellow-labourers in the Lord's work. To the praise of God who gave him grace to be faithful, it must be said, that he did not seek the aggrandizement of his family, but with singleness of purpose laboured only to fulfil his high calling in Christ. In the prospect of death he felt anxious about his family, and sorry that he had not laboured more abundantly for the Lord. He did not expect, for some time before his death, to recover. He asked several times to be remembered at the throne of grace, and our prayers that his affliction may be sanctified to him. He will be long aud affectionately remembered in the Mission as a faithful brother and faithful fellowlabourer in the Lord's work. His remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, together with the white Missionaries and native agents of the various Christian churches in Abbeokuta.

After the funeral, a great outrage was committed by a heathen relative. He sent a party to the house who threatened to plunder the premises of its contents, and succeeded in leading away a horse. He set up a claim to the property of the deceased as a relative, and thought to take forcible possession. He has since been compelled by the force of public opinion to restore the horse.

ABBEOKUTA, ITS CONDITION, AND THE NEED OF PRAYER

ON ITS BEHALF.

WE desire to place before our readers extracts from the letters of our Missionaries in the Egba country, by which they will be enabled to understand its distracted state, and the need of earnest prayer that these evils may be overruled for good, and for the furtherance of the Gospel.

The Rev. G. F. Bühler is stationed at Abbeokuta, and has every opportunity of making himself accurately acquainted with the real state of affairs, which he thus describes

During the last few months, events of such magnitude have succeeded each other, that nothing like them has occurred in this Mission since its commencement. It is true, wars had been occasionally carried on, but since that dreadful civil war, forty years ago, they have never been so general,