TO TRAVANCORE AND TINNEVELLY.

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to receive them, provided that they found them worthy of admission into our Communion: it is, in short, a Parochial, and not an Episcopal question. At the same time, I utterly disclaimed all desire to make proselytes, among the Syrians or Roman Catholics, by any other method than the force of truth, exemplified in our doctrine and discipline, and, above all, in our lives.

TINNEVELLY.

General View of the Progress of the Gospel.

Jan. 5, 1841: Moodaloor-I want words to express my astonishment at all that I see in this land of promise. The word of the Lord is covering it. I am no enthusiast, in the abuse of that term; and, looking at the state of things in my diocese as an Overseer ought to look at them, with a steady eye, I am not deceived by appearances, and most assuredly I would not willingly deceive others; but I unhesitatingly declare, to all who are interested in the progress of the Gospel in India, that this is a land of promise. In other parts of the country, I find the poor Native Christians a little flock dwelling among wolves. Here we have Christian villages-villages entirely Christian. It is a glorious sight; and I thank God and take courage, as I look at it.

Confirmation at Satankoollam.

At Satankoollam, where I have passed two happy days, I had the comfort of confirming 250 persons, who, I am assured by their excellent Minister, can give a very satisfactory account of the faith that is in them. It was indeed a cheering sight, to see young men and maidens, old men and children, crowding around the altar of the only true God, to receive, at the hands of the Bishop, a blessing in His name, upon their promise that they would endeavour from that day forth, through the aid of the Comforter, to keep their baptismal vows. All were strikingly and yet most simply devout;-not the slightest affectation of rapture, but the holy and chastened spirit of prayer and praise was upon them. I addressed them at some length, and all appeared much interested in what I said.

Aspect of the Native Christian Villages.

I cannot describe the effect produced upon the mind in this country by a visit to a Christian Village. One almost

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VISIT OF THE BISHOP OF MADRAS.

feels at home again. Every countenance speaks joy and welcome; and the Native Christian greeting, "God be praised!" sounds most cheering. The poor simple people throng about my horse, calling down blessings on my head; and follow me to their little church, where I speak a few words of kindness to them. Such has been my reception in three of these villages, which are the property of one of our Church Societies, and are, in fact, little Christian Colonies. Each has a resident Catechist; and they are regularly and frequently visited by the Missionary of the district, who knows his sheep, and is known of them. The men are almost all climbers of the palmyra, which is to them almost what a cow is to a poor man in England: the women are generally employed in weaving the coarse cloth of the country; and the Catechist is in the habit of assembling them under the shade of the wide-spreading tamarind-tree, where he explains to them some passage of Scripture as they work. The women are consequently better instructed than the men, who are necessarily occupied apart from each other by their daily labour; but great care is bestowed upon all, and the parochial system is in full activity.

Testimony of the Bishop to the Efficiency of the Travancore and Tinnevelly Missions.

I certainly had no conception, until I came into Tinnevelly, either of the extent or of the strength of the Christian cause in this most interesting district. I had heard of it; but was in the habit of asking, doubtingly, Can these things be? I have now not the slightest doubt whatever. I particularly dislike and avoid all exaggerated statements respecting "the" Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and I would as studiously endeavour not to mislead others as to escape being misled myself; but I affirm it, as my deliberate conviction, that the Parochial System of the Church of England is in active operation in Tinnevelly. The plan pursued by the Missionary Clergy, both here and in Travancore, seems to me particularly well adapted to accomplish their object. Their doctrine, I have every reason to believe, is simply, truly, and fully, that of the Church of England, neither turning to the right hand nor to the left, but faithfully delivering that message which the Church has committed to them; while their discipline, and the management of their congregations, is wholesome, godly, and primitive.

The

WHEN St. Paul sought to impress upon the Corinthian converts the duty of contributing liberally. toward the relief of the poor saints at Jerusalem, he referred to the noble example which had been set by the Churches of Macedonia: 2 Cor. viii. 1-5. same example may be adduced, with peculiar force and propriety, to inculcate the duty of liberality in behalf of efforts for the spiritual welfare of our fellow-creatures. The Rev. J. Graham, in his Sermon before the Society at its 31st Anniversary, notices several points in the Apostle's reference which are deserving of especial attention. He remarks:

The Apostle rests his appeal to the Corinthian Churches entirely on the unparalelled self-denying love of Christ, exhibited in its effect upon the Macedonian Churches, as described in the preceding verses of this chapter (2 Cor. viii); whose example, borne out by that of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, he proposes for imitation. That example instructs us in the following branches of this duty: (1) In exemplifying our compassion and kindness, we must contribute our assistance with ready cheerfulness. Brethren, says the Apostle, we do you to wit (we make known to you) the grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia; who were willing of themselves (to contribute); praying us, with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift. (2) We must be careful how we admit. the expenses of a family, VOL. II.

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the claims of other charities, the difficulties of the times, or any other pressure upon our circumstances, as an apology for our parsimony. In a great trial of affliction, he proceeds, the abundance of their joy (in the Lord), and their deep poverty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Being very poor (as a Commentator remarks on the passage), and much afflicted, they, notwithstanding, with great cheerfulness and joy made a rich contribution. (3) We must not be satisfied with doing what costs us little, in time, labour, or self-denial; nor with giving just what we can entirely and without sacrifice spare: for he bears them record, that having given themselves first to the Lord, they gave to their power, yea, and beyond their power. And our compassionate Redeemer, from being divinely rich, for our sakes willingly emptied Himself, of ease, dignity, glory, life. (4) We must not confine our benevolent regards to our friends, neighbours, and countrymen. The Macedonians sent their contributions into another quarter of the globe; and Christ interposed for aliens, for them that were afar off from the Church and family of God. (5) It is not the temporal wants and woes of men that must principally engage our sympathy: the supreme object of Christ's humiliation was, not to relieve bodily sufferings and maladies (though He did not overlook these), but to give light, mercy, grace, and glory, to SOULS that were ready to perish.

BENARES.

THE REV. J. P. Mengé, Missionary at Gorruckpore, arrived at his Station in June 1841. On his way. thither, accompanied by Mrs. Mengé, he visited several of the fields of labour occupied by his Missionary Brethren; and, among others, he remained a short time at Benares.

In a Letter dated Dec. 28, 1841, he gives the following concise account of this noted city and its Mission:

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We reached Benares on the 11th of June, and were kindly received by the Rev. F. E. Schneider and his partner. I longed to see the city itself, which is confessedly the chief place of Brahminism and Idolatry in the North of India, as well as a stronghold of Mahomedanism. Our Brethren

THE AGED CONVERT OF GORRUCKPORE.

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reside at Sigra, some little distance from the city. On the Monday morning Mr. Schneider and myself went to see the famous minarets. With no little exertion I climbed to the top, and was abundantly rewarded for my trouble. The whole city was presented to my view. The streets of Benares are very bad: they are narrow, and exceedingly dirty, and numbers of cows and dogs obstruct your way. These animals seem to be left to themselves-the cows, I suppose, because they are too holy to be disturbed; and the dogs, because they are unclean in the sight of the Hindoo. However, from the minarets, Benares presents a very different aspect. On one side you see the noble river majestically winding through the region which is considered so sacred by the Hindoo idolaters. On the other side, trees with their pleasant green foliage, and vast plains, meet your view; and when you look upon the temples and mosques, aspiring toward heaven, and their gilt ornaments sparkling in the sunshine, you might feel transported at so glorious a spectacle, if you could divest yourself of the thought, that these magnificent buildings are consecrated to the devil. Upon descending from the minarets, I accompanied Mr. Schneider to the Free School, and was glad to see so many boys assembled to receive instruction through the means of our Missionaries. I was likewise much pleased with the Orphans, who receive their education in the Mission Compound.

SHEIKH RAJI OO DIN, THE AGED CONVERT OF GORRUCKPORE.

SHEIKH Raji Oo Din was a Mahomedan of rank, influence, and education, and sincerely devoted to the false religion which he professed. Hearing that his nephew had, by the ministry of the Rev. M. Wilkinson, become convinced of the truth of Christianity, and was about to be baptized, he proceeded to Gorruckpore, with a full determination to use forcible means to compel his relative to renounce his new creed, and to return to the religion of his ancestors. To the entreaties of his nephew, that he would read the New Testament, and not condemn opinions which he had not examined, he turned a deaf ear; but when Mr. Wilkinson explained to him the peculiarities of