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p. 447 of our last Volume), on the 3d of December; and those who embarked in the Esther, on the 9th of January. The Rev. H. During and his family, in the Betsy and Ann, landed at Freetown on the 19th of January. It being market-day at Freetown, many of the people from Gloucester, of which Mr. During is Superintendant, were attending the market, and received him and his family with even tumultuous affection, conducting them to Gloucester in a sort of triumphant procession.

Mr. Johnson has suffered much from Ophthalmia: the sight of one eye is considerably injured.

Wesleyan Missionary Society.

The Society proposes to establish a Mission in Jerusalem. One zealous District

Treasurer conceives that Fifty Friends may be found, who would think it an honour to subscribe Ten Guineas each toward the outfit of a Missionary for a Station so interesting: he pledges himself for two such friends, at least, in his own district, and invites the Treasurers of other Districts to do the same, This is an efficient method of provoking to love and to good works, as it combines the advantages of division of labour, with the stimulus of example.

The Rev. David T. Jones, appointed to the North-West-America Mission, took leave of the Committee, on Friday last, May the 30th, to embark at Gravesend, on board the Hudson's Bay Company's Ship, the Prince of Wales, Captain Davison, for York Fort, in Hudson's Bay.

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Page 120, the Contribution from the Guildford Association included 157. 10s. 6d. from Albury; and that at page 200, included gl. 38. from the same Branch, and 11. from the Wonersh Branchat page 200, the Contribution from the Shropshire Association should have been 220l., and the Total 15157, 08. 6d.

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Missionary Register.

JUNE, 1823.

Biography.

LIFE OF MATTHEW STACH,

ONE OF THE FIRST MISSIONARIES OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN GREENLAND.

(Continued from p. 206.)

FIRST VISIT TO GREENLAND.

In this First Visit to Greenland, Matthew Stach spent seven years. He visited it again, in 1742, 1749, 1753, 1754, and 1757; and left it finally in 1771.

Difficullies on first settling in Green

land

Of these difficulties, Crantz gives the following account:

Immediately on their landing they repaired to Mr. Egede. He gave them a cordial reception, congratulated them on their undertaking, and promised them his assistance in learning the language. They next fixed on a spot for building on, the nearest habitable part of the coast, to which they afterward gave the name of New Hernnhut*; and, having consecrated it with prayer, began to run up a Greenland hut of stones and sods, in which they might find shelter, until they had erected a wooden house. They bought an old boat of the captain, in which they intended to procure themselves food by fishing. It was an early season, and the snow disappeared a month sooner than usual; yet the cold was so severe, that the turf often froze in their hands. On the 6th of June, they had so far finished their hut, that they could enter it, pulling down the tent of boards, in which they had bitherto lodged. Directly after the ship had sailed, June 15th, they laid the foundation of their dwelling.

• Hernnhut signifies "The Lord's Watch."

June, 1828.

house. They likewise began to build a house for such Greenlanders as but it was long before there was any might resort to them for instruction 1 use for this.

The dwelling-house being completed, they next turned their attention to the means of procuring a maintenance, and to the acquisition at first attended with great difficulof the language. These things were ties. They had but indifferent success in hunting and fishing, as these occupations were strange to them, and they could not imitate the Greenlanders in the use of the kajak. The first time that they went out to seek for drift-wood among the islands, they were overtaken by a storm; and when they had reached home with great difficulty, the wind during the night carried away both wood and boat: the boat was brought in a few days by the Greenlanders, much damaged. This occurrence appeared to them in the light of a warning not to engage themselves too far in temporal cares; and they resolved, like their countrymen, the Silesians and Lusatians, to earn some necessaries by spinning,

Mr. Egede, who had kindly offer. ed to help them in learning the language, gave them his written remarks to copy, and his Sons explained them. But it may easily be imagined, that they had to struggle with most appalling difficulties. They were obliged, in the first place, to learn Danish, in order to understand their instructors: it was, then, no 2 I

cessary for them to acquire a clear idea of the technical terms of grammar, with which they were wholly unacquainted: and, lastly, to make themselves masters of the uncouth Greenlandic declensions and conjugations, through a number of unusual moods, and an almost interminable variety of suffixes. Besides this, a copious vocabulary was to be committed to memory, the Greenlanders having often ten different words for one thing. It was very natural that they should frequently be wearied with such a course of study especially as the Natives themselves would enter into no conversation with them; and, as if inspired by the Wicked One himself, even stole away the manuscripts which had cost so much trouble. But the invincible love of the Missionaries for these poor savages, cheered them in their tedious task, and fortified their minds against desponding reflections.

Two hundred families, amounting to perhaps 2000 souls, were at that time resident in Ball's River; but they were scattered among the islands and bills, to fish, catch seals, and hunt deer; and, toward winter, they made voyages to their acquaintance, upward of a hundred leagues north or south. A life so wandering left the Brethren but little hopes of gaining access to them, still less of making any permanent impression on their minds. No proffered advantages could tempt them to remain for any length of time at the Colony. Some, indeed, paid a passing visit to the Brethren, but it was only from curiosity to see their buildings, or to beg needles, fish-hooks, knives, and other such articles, if not to steal. If the Brethren sought them out in the islands, they seldom found any one who would give them a lodging, even for pay; and, instead of entering into discourse with them, they were continually asking whe. ther they did not intend to be gone. Temper and Spirit of the Brethren in Extremities

In a Letter written to his brother, in Hernnhut, about this time, Matthew Stach says—

Though far distant rom you in body, I feel myself joined to you in spirit; forasmuch as we both have

enlisted under the same banner, and are become soldiers of Christ, though' serving in different companies. I am here upon a recruiting party, to bring souls to the knowledge of Him and His salvation. We have named our Settlement New Hernnhut, to shew that we are under the guidance of the same Spirit which rules in your place.

The dreadful ravages of the Small Pox which took place at this period, were stated at pp. 171 and 172 of

Their effect

-our Volume for 1821.
on the Brethren is thus spoken of
by Crantz:

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As the nation now seemed to be almost extirpated, and the country round New Hernnhnt was shunned as the nest of the plague, the Brethren had enough to damp their ardour. But repeated strokes of adversity had taught them firmness: they had often before beheld and adored the wonderful ways of God; and they came from a place where they had seen the words of the Apostle realized-He calleth the things which are not as though they were. Their desire to spend their lives in the service of the Heathen had not been a hasty impulse; and they were steadily resolved to wait for years, before they would relinquish their aim. When, therefore, they were advised to return, as the land was depopulated, they cheerfully replied-" God's ways are not as man's ways. He, who called us hither, can still keep us to fulfil His purpose."

To complete their troubles, they were all three attacked by an erup tion, which increased so much in the winter that they could scarcely move their limbs, and were frequently obliged to keep their beds. Very probably this disorder was the scurvy, so common in northern countries; towhich they would be rendered the more liable by the change from habits of labour to a sedentary life, in a cold, damp habitation. One of them, however, was always able to wait upon the rest, and to go with the Colony's boat to visit the sick natives. The attentions of Mr. Egede and his Wife were constant and sincere.

Temper of the Natives.

The Second Year of the Mission,

1784, was entered on, under the same discouraging circumstances as had marked the progress of the first. But the Brethren diligently occupied themselves, in searching out the resorts of the Natives, and in labouring to do them good. It will appear from the following extract, that the temper of the people was sufficiently trying :

Toward the end of the year, the Brethren were rejoiced by the re-appearance of some of the Natives. They assumed a very, friendly deportment, and were very fluent in flattering expressions, by which they endeavoured to soothe the Europeans into liberality. As long as the conversation turned on seal-catching or the state of other countries, they listened with pleasure; but as soon as religious topics were started, they grew drowsy, or set up a shout and ran away. When the Brethren were accompanied by the Minister (Mr. Egede) on their visits, the Natives showed them more respect, and sometimes acquiesced in the truths which he stated, by saying, "O yes, we believe it all;" and even desired farther instruction. But it was very apparent, from a variety of circumstances, that their seeming interest in religion, if not dissimulation, proceeded solely from veneration for the person of the Missionary.

Arrival of the Brethren Bochnish and

Beck

In compliance with the request of His Majesty, that more Missionaries might be sent to Greenland, the Brethren despatched two of their number thither in this year, 1734. One of these, Frederick Boehnish, was recalled from a journey for this purpose. He had been previously destined for the Mission at St. Thomas, but arrived too late to join the company that was proceeding to the West Indies. Being desired to choose one of two Brethren, Daniel Schneider or John Beck, for a partner, he fixed upon John Beck. This Bro. ther had been before imbued with the Missionary Spirit by a Letter of Matthew Stach's from Greenland; and, in the sequel, had signified his intention of engaging in the service to his Elders: he therefore accepted

the appointment without any demur; nor had he ever occasion to repent, as his labours among the Heathen were blessed with abundant fruit.

agreeable; for, besides hard usage, Their voyage was far from being they were obliged to put up with a great deal of mockery and abusive language. We mention this, in order to excite gratitude in those Missionaries who undertake such voyages at present, for the many tokens of friendship which they enjoy from a class of men, who took all imaginable pains to torment their prede

cessors.

Matthew Stach had thus the pleasure of being joined by his old friend Boehnish, fellow-labourer who had caught and by another from himself the Missionary Spirit. The intelligence of their appointment arrived very seasonably.

Just at this crisis, two of the Missionaries had begun to think of returning; as they could not see what could be gained, by remaining in a country which seemed almost depo. pulated, and where the small remnant of inhabitants showed no tokens of any interest in religion. But Matthew Stach could not resolve to go away. He often recollected a text which had had a great share in impressing the first impulse which he received to engage in Missionary Labours-At the evening it shall be light: and determined to stay alone, Egede kindly offering his services, rather than forsake his charge, Mr. while he remained in the country. ants were coming, and ascertained But when they heard that two assisttion to support the Mission, and the the determination of the Congregafavour of the King, they prosecuted their exertions with renewed courage.

Employments of the Missionaries

Being illiterate men, they found great difficulty in studying the grammar and peculiarities of an intricate language. However, young Mr. Egede, who had learned the language from the Natives while a child, and spoke it with fluency, assisted them very faithfully, and practised with them twice a week in German and Greenlandic.

They also endeavoured, as much

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