Now that, by the Gospel, you are instructed, admonished, and admitted to the ordinances of Christianity, you are removed from your former deplorable condition, and made participants of blessings, as favourable to holiness and happiness as Israel even enjoyed. Your advantageous change depends not on yourselves, but on the mercy you have received; your safety and happiness rise from the stock with which you are united, whose root and fatness you partake." H.* REV. WILLIAM ORME ON A STATEMENT IN BISHOP HEBER'S JOURNAL. To the Editors.-In common with other readers of the Journal of the late excellent and amiable Bishop Heber, I have enjoyed a high degree of pleasure in perusing its interesting details. The spirit which pervades it, and the information which is diffused through its pages, are highly creditable to the intellectual and christian character of its lamented author, and must produce the most favourable impression on the mind of every reader. One or two passages struck me when it first appeared, as injudiciously introduced, though, I believe, with no unfriendly intention. The opinions expressed were, probably, hastily formed, from the informa tion communicated at the time by those on whom the Bishop fully depended; and were not intended by him to meet the public eye. Had this been the case, I have no doubt those opinions would have been reconsidered. Averse, however, to express any feeling that might seem unfriendly towards a Prelate, whose loss to India every friend of religion must deplore, I thought it better to allow one passage in particular to pass unnoticed. As, however, my attention has been repeatedly called, of late, to this passage, regard to the interests of the Loudon Missionary Society induce me, though reluctantly, now to refer to it. The passage is the following; speaking of the schools in Bengal, the Bishop says: " Our chief hindrances are some deistical Brahmins, who have left their old religion, and desire to found a sect of their own, and some of those, who are professedly engaged in the same work with ourselves-the Dissenters. These last are, indeed, very civil, and affect to rejoice at our success; but they, some how or other, cannot help interfering, and setting up rival schools, close to ours, and they apparently find it easier to draw off our pupils, than to look out for fresh and more distant fields of exertion and enterprise."-Vol. III. p. 247. 2d edit. As it is well known that the London Missionary Society has many schools in the vicinity of Calcutta, it may be supposed that the Bishop refers to the cperations of its Missionaries in that quarter. I say nothing of the extraordinary circumstance of connecting any class of religious persons with a sect of infidel Brahmins, as interfering with the benevolent exertions of other Christians, or with the principle of action which seems, I think, unkindly to be attributed to those who are described as Dissenters. Nor do I wish to say any thing on what would appear very discreditable, if true, that such rivalship should On Bengal Auxiliary Society.* the 25th of October a large bungalow was opened as a school for the education of native boys in Bengalee and English, and also for native preaching. The school presented a very encouraging appearance. Most of the scholars were sons of respectable families in the neighbourhood. The expense of the building was defrayed by the exertions of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and of the Ladies of the Female Branch of the Bengal Auxiliary Society. The inhabitants also of several adjacent villages had requested Mr. Hill to establish schools, and it was his intention to comply with their applications; but in consequence of the subjoined letter, received from the Rev. Daniel Corrie, written by him as a member of the Calcutta Diocesan Committee, it was thought advisable by the Missionaries to relinquish the station. prevail in heathen country, among those who ought to have but one common object in viewthe salvation of the heathen. Far be it from me to impeach the integrity of such a man as Bishop Heber. But I have no doubt he was completely misinformed in this matter, as it is very evident he was in regard to the conduct of the British and Foreign School Society, referred to in the same letter; and it is to correct this unintentional mistake, that I now write. It is well known, that both the Baptist and the London Missionary Society had many schools in India before any were set up by the Church Missionary Society, and which were patronised by the Government of India itself. The field is so large, that there is little temptation to interfere with each other; and interference, I believe, on the one side or the other, has very rarely taken place. Where the juxta-position of the parties has unavoidably occasioned an exposure to interference, I believe every thing has been done to prevent collision, and to manifest the Christian dispositions of the labourers.. 66 Calcutta, Nov. 27, 1823. My Dear Sir-I am sure you will receive the communication I am about to make to you in the spirit in which it is intended. "The field of missionary labour in this country is large enough for all the Missionaries of the various Societies at present in the country, without interfering with each other. The differences which subsist between them as to the mode of conducting their labours, however well understood among ourselves, are not understood by the natives, and would, I apprehend, were they prominently brought before them, serve in many cases as a hindrance to the accomplishment of the object we all aim at. On this account, and on this alone, I am requested * A voluntary Society, at Calcutta, established in aid of the London Missionary Society's Missions in Bengal. Dd 66 My brethren in the mission have embraced the first opportunity of considering the proposal made to them by the Diocesan Committee, and in reply have authorised me to say, that we desire to cherish nothing more ardently than a spirit of peace and unanimity with all that love the Lord Jesus Christ; that the appearance of an opposite disposition would be painful to us, and, therefore, we accept the proposal contained in your letter, namely, to resign the missionary station at Tally Gunge to the Diocesan Committee, under the consideration of the expenses, &c. incurred by the erection of the buildings at Tally Gunge, being reimbursed to the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society by the Diocesan Committee. to communicate with you on the 66 66 'I am, Rev. and dear Sir, "Your's sincerely, (Signed) "M. HILL." Mr. M. Hill having thus vacated the station at Tally Gunge, in compliance with the wish of the Diocesan Committee, it was deemed proper, after due deliberation, by his brethren of the mission, in which determination he himself fully concurred, that he should remove to Berhampore, in the vicinity of the city of Moorshedabad, province of Bengal." If after reading this statement and correspondence, the public are not fully convinced, that the Missionaries connected with the London Missionary Society, are actuated by a very different principle from that which is animadverted on by Bishop Heber, I am sure nothing I could say would be likely to produce conviction. I could add more, but I believe it to be unnecessary. I may only state in conclusion, and subject himself to the censure of the Directors. that any Missionary of our Society, known to act in the manner found fault with, would be considered as violating the principle of the Society-the letter, as well as the spirit of his instructions I am, Gentlemen, &c. &c. Mission House, Austin Friars. DR. DODDRIDGE'S LETTER TO THE UNITED CHURCHES AT To the Editors.—HAVING seen, C. J. H. "At a church meeting, October 1, 1741, our dear and reverend brother, Mr. Job Orton, having declared his purpose of leaving us on the invitation of the united churches at Shrewsbury, was solemnly recommended to God by the prayers of the church-several hours being spent in that exercise: and then was dismissed to the said churches at Shrewsbury, by the following letter, signed by the pastor in the name of the church. "The church of Christ assembling on Castle Hill, in Northampton, to the church of Christ in Salop assembling. "Dear Brethren and Friends, beloved in our Lord-As the providence of God hath seen fit to remove from us to you, our reverend and dear brother, Mr. Job Orton, who has for many years resided amongst us, and has of late years, with great honour and acceptance, ministered unto us, and assisted us under the office of an elder, though we cannot resign him without the most affectionate and tender coucern, and deep regret; yet being obliged to acquiesce in the determination of the Great Head of the Church, though it is a very painful one; we feel it our duty, by these letters, to dismiss him from our stated communion, which accordingly we hereby do: heartily blessing God for all the advantages we have enjoyed by his ministry and presence, and earnestly praying, that his labours may not only be highly acceptable and delightful to you, as we are persuaded they must be, but that they may be crowned with abundant success. We cannot doubt, that your conduct to him will be so obliging and affectionate, as abundantly to demonstrate the sense you have of the singular favour of providence to you, in sending amongst you so able, so affectionate, so zealous a labourer; and we earnestly desire your prayers for us, that God may make up to us, by his immediate presence and blessing, the unspeakable, and otherwise irreparable loss which we sustain by his removal from us. 66 Signed by the unanimous direction of the church, at their church meeting, Oct. 1, 1741, in the name of the whole Society. "P. DODDRIDGE." POETRY. TO ONE OF THE SCENES OF MY CHILDHOOD. "I ask but this, again to rove Through scenes my youth has known before." THOUGH round thee, sweet Woburn, no streamlet is flowing, Though by thick planted woods all thy prospects are bounded, While by furze-cover'd heaths the deep valley's surrounded-- For oft in these woods, where the larches are bending With my friend, or my book, have I joyously wander'd, Here, too, have I watch'd the sun's glorious dawning, And sweet are the visions of memory now, As I rove once again through thy fir-planted dell; For they give a new charm to the scenes which I love, On past deeds of my childhood as fondly they dwell. My heart with the warmest affection is glowing, And can time ever cause the rememb'rance to cease; For friends, who still bear in my trials a part. No, faint when that heart's latest pulses are beating-- B. |