Second letter of Mr. Doumin. 27th Oct." It would be impossible to "From the time of my arrival I had meetings almost every day that I was not absent; but as it became very fatiguing, dear brother Lepoids judged it to be necessary to fix on a particular day for a meeting. We fixed on Tuesday evening. That meeting was given out, and there are never less than fifty or sixty persons; last Tuesday there were at least one hundred and fifty; and as our room could not contain so many people, I listened attentively to the words of the Saviour. In the evening they came to the number of thirty persons, for the pur-give you day after day the details of the pose of having a little meeting; they work of the Lord, not only in the vilwere pleased, and returned in silence lages which we visit, but even in the vilafter worship. The morning of the 16th lage which I inhabit; for to do this, I I became acquainted with the mayor of should have to send you a journal of thirthe village. He came to my neighbor's, ty pages every month. I will give you no doubt to ascertain what had passed a general account of the work at Sinceny. the previous evening;—at that moment I went to my neighbor's to inquire where the mayor lived, that I might pay him a visit. This is the mayor before you,' said he. I excused myself to him for not having called on him the day after my arrival; he accepted my excuse, and told me that he had received a letter from the préfet concerning me, and asked me if I had formed the project of holding meetings of more than twenty or thirty persons. I replied that the constitution ordered the door left open, that those left me perfectly free in that respect, in the court might hear. All went off yet that I had formed no project; and with order; no noise was made, nor is added-'We have the habit of maintain- there ever any. All the hearers paid ing family worship in each family every great attention to the preaching and to day, and you understand very well, sir, the word of God. that if some of the neighbors wish to "But these meetings alone are not come and join in that worship, I shall what should make us rejoice; they are not turn them out of the house. At our our little familiar meetings, which we worship we read a chapter of the word have almost every day. There are five of God, and exhort those present to for-young people who regularly attend those sake evil, to do good, to obey the laws, little meetings, besides a young girl who, to love one another, and to serve the I think, understands the way of salva Lord; we close by singing a hymn and tion, and two others who come near three prayer. Of this he expressed his appro-fourths of a league in all kinds of weather bation. to be present on those occasions. Still "Every evening we have a little meet-more, there is a good mother of sixty and ing of thirty, forty, fifty persons, and in some years, who declares herself serithat number there are some souls truly ously in favor of the gospel, as well as serious. Six young people with two her two sons-in-law. women manifest a desire to obey the gospel, and they have formed the resolution of conversing with me in private, the days that I am at Sinceny, of the things which concern their eternal salvation. I seriously believe that the Lord has a people in this village. There is still a oven-room, of no service to me but which young married man, who wishes me to teach him to read; and a family led back to God by means of Mr. Lepoids, will soon request baptism." "One thing which shows that there is something more than curiosity in the case of our young people, is, that they have set themselves to work to make benches to seat the people. I have already four of them; and as I have an is newly built, they have formed the project of making a little pulpit for my accommodation, because they have noticed that in the evening I have to stoop very much in order to read in the bible. Here we are, then, about to have a little them there. I left him at Chauny with chapel. "There are two other young people who have requested me to teach them to read. I have consented, and they come every day, an hour before the meeting, to take their lessons. "As there are people who wish to know the difference between our doctrines and those of the Romish church, I have adopted the following method. I cite a doctrine of that church and afterwards I make them find for themselves the passages indicated by me which combat that doctrine; and I call on this and that one to explain the meaning of those passages. This excites in them a deep interest, and the meetings increase daily. In this way the present month has passed. There are already fourteen doctrines condemned by the word of God. Afterwards I show them that the business is not merely to reject error, but that they must each day substitute for an error rejected, a truth which they have recognized. We close the evening with prayer. out making myself known, but the following Tuesday he came himself to the meeting and recognized me; the next day he came again with the others. "There is one thing more which I think worthy of remark. The other day that good mother whom I mentioned above, in the name of all the friends asked me if there would never be any meeting at Sinceny on the Sabbath, and she added, What will be said of us if we have no worship to take the place of the mass?' That saying struck me, and I resolved to establish worship at Sinceny on the Sabbath. It was done two Sabbaths ago. The first day br. Miel officiated; the last Sabbath it was myself. We had about fifteen persons; they are those who seem to espouse the gospel. The good mother arrived first, dressed as though going to mass, with her New Testament under her arm. I think this is significant." In a letter six days later, he says: "Two words more;-the good work goes on continually at Sinceny. That idolatrous holiday which they call All Saints, we had full one hundred persons at the meeting;-all passed with order and decorum.” Mr. Willard proceeds: "I recently started at five o'clock in the morning for Salency. It was not yet day, and I fell in with a young man who was going to Flavy. This young man asked me if I was from Sinceny. I replied that I had lived there for a short time. He asked me if I knew the ProBrother Doumin had been at his post testants who had come there to live? I six weeks when he wrote the last letter. answered 'Yes.' 'It appears,' said he, A few of the villagers had been to 'that they say mass every evening; Chauny to hear Mr. Lepoids, but no spehave you heard them yet?' I told him cial efforts had been made for that place. that they did not say mass, but explained This is truly encouraging. It shows that the gospel. 'It seems,' said he, that the Spirit of God is abroad in this land, the curé does not like them; he lately turning the hearts of these perishing went to the mayor to have him stop multitudes to the Saviour of sinners. their meetings.' I asked him what the mayor's answer was. He said,The mayor answered that he could not hinder them. Thereupon the curé said to him; But, sir, that is frightful; since this Protestant is in the place, the young people come no more to church. The mayor said he had no means to hinder them.' I asked him, then, from whom he had these details, and I found that he lived at the chateau, and had learned Full employment-Denain and its villages. I have so little time to write these days, that I shall not be able to communicate with you often. Our brethren also are so entirely occupied that they seldom send me any details. They come home from their courses at midnight, and in the morning they sometimes scribble a line to say that all goes well;—and start again on a new course. The encourage ment is very great here now, and I wish we had a few more men of the right stamp. But I am persuaded that the Lord will find them for us when he judges it best. The political position of the world on this side of the flood is very unsatisfactory, and we are expecting an overturning in France before spring. It may be put off indefinitely, but it must come. The tempest is brewing, the horizon already looks wild. Pray for us, that God may shield us when the tornado bursts forth. Nov. 27.-Brother Thieffry spent last night with us. The work under his administration is at this moment very encouraging, and I wish we had a good colporteur to station at Denain. Thieffry has recently visited a village where he is greatly encouraged. He was invited to another where he was well received. These two villages are in the vicinity of Denain, and in one of them the meeting is wholly composed of Catholics, who have left the "apostasy" within a year. REPORT OF MR. BERTHOND. The reader will find some account of Mr. Berthond at p. 387, last vol. He was one of the six baptized at St. Etienne last year, at the time of Dr. Devan's visit to that city, and had been previously employed in another connection as a colporteur evangelist. His report is for October. Colportage at St. Etienne. The commencement of this month was unfavorable for my work, as I was detained at home much of the time by indisposition. But when able once more to exercise my calling, I visited those persons who had formerly purchased bibles, and found some in a very interesting state of mind. In one house, where I had visited before, and several of the other brethren had called, the family consists of a man and his wife, who seem exceedingly anxious to be instructed in the truth; but alas! the priest had become acquainted with the circumstance and had given them a terrible lecture. They however, a little less afraid of him than formerly, told him that he was try ing to make them believe a falsehood. The priest, to be revenged for what he called their heresy, left no measure untried, until he had taken from them their work, the only means of their subsistence. But as the Saviour never deserts those who turn unto him, he has enabled them to procure other work, which the priest cannot influence. I shall continue to visit them from time to time. I also returned to visit the family who purchased of me a bible on account of a little book they had read, entitled, “ Gabriel Galand." They seem more and more disposed to lay aside the errors of the Romish church; but my dear brethren who shall read this report, pray the Lord that he will give them not only to renounce their errors, but also to embrace the truth. As for me, I will try to plant and water this little field, with God's aid, but it is he who must give the increase. That which I have found most interesting, (I speak of those who know not the Lord,) is the case of a family in which neither the husband nor the wife can read. When I first visited them, I offered them as usual the word of God." They replied with some eagerness that they had purchased a testament some days ago, but as they could not read they were anxious to find some charitable person who would read it to them. You can think what ought to be my joy in hearing such words. I replied that I would occupy myself in doing what they wished. They seemed full of gratitude, and said that I could not render them a greater service. We agreed, then, that I should visit them every Monday evening, as that evening they were more at leisure than at any other time. Monda evening having arrived, I fulfilled my engagement, thankful to my Master who had given me so favorable an occasion of announcing his blessed gospel. There were to have been assembled some of their neighbors also, but by an unforeseen circumstance I arrived too late for my purpose. They then begged me to return the next evening. I did so, and took with me two friends of the gospel. Our interview was a serious one. My audience was composed of ten grown persons and some children. After the ex ercises, several questions were put to us, to which we by God's help replied. They seemed satisfied, and invited me to continue to visit and instruct them. I have returned every Monday, and had the pleasure of seeing the number of my hearers augmented. ripen; always, however, inviting them in a spirit of love. Other interesting cases sometimes present themselves. Let us all unite in praying the Lord that he will more clearly manifest himself to them, and let us meanwhile be filled with zeal; for what a terrible account will we have to render to him, if we neglect the work to which in his goodness he is pointing the finger. I have since visited some of whom I hoped good things, but have been much hope for them. One family has much rejoiced and even surprised me. The father of the family, though a simple and ignorant man, understands so well what is announced to him that it is astonishing to hear his answers. In this case we can well say, "I thank thee, O Father, that thou hast revealed these things to The last time, a woman was there who was so happy to hear the word of God that she could not desist from interrupt- disappointed; however I have still some ing me every moment, to express her joy and surprise. "O, how happy they are who take God's word for their rule.” "O how happy I am to receive these holy instructions; for until now, I have been deceived by priests, who only teach lies instead of God's truth." "I have often heard that the priests deceived us, but now I know it surely." Several others the simple and ignorant." I have made in the little assembly, spoke very much in the same manner. They all offered me their houses to preach in, and some expressed their decision to attend worship at our chapel; but not all, for many are as yet only. Nicodemuses, and I thought it not wise to press them too closely, but to let them alone awhile to other visits, but they do not merit particular mention. I wait, according to the promise of the second police officer at St. Etienne, for liberty to continue my sales in a few days. I visited Feurs, but found them apparently in the same state of coldness as heretofore. May the Lord arouse them. OTHER BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSION- seem anxious to learn. No difficulty has ERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. SURVEY OF THE MISSIONS. South Africa. been found in obtaining congregations ready to listen to the preaching of the gospel. The numbers who assemble at different stations vary from fifty to six (8 stations and 3 out-stations; 12 mission-hundred, and sometimes as many as one aries-one a physician, 12 female assistant missionaries, and 4 native helpers;-total, 28.) The circumstances of this mission, during the past year, have been encouraging. The colonial government continues to manifest the same friendly feeling towards missionaries and missionary operations, as heretofore, and to pursue towards the natives a magnanimous and humane course. At each of the stations free schools have been established, and both children and adults thousand; and they are represented as listening, generally, with apparent interest, and conducting with much propriety. At nearly all the stations there have been evidences of a divine influence among the people, though the older stations, Umlazi, Umvoti, and Inanda, have shared most largely in the blessing. Prayer meetings have been sustained with much interest at the older stations, and the native converts take a part in them with a good degree of readiness and propriety. The monthly concert has been observed also, and has been, often, a very interesting meeting; and the liberality with which some of the natives have contributed out of their deep poverty, is well worthy of serious consideration by many members of the churches in our own land. There are now eight stations found among the Zulus, on either side of Port Natal, and at greater or less distances from the sea coast, each in the midst of as many people as one missionary can preach the gospel to; and there are four missionaries yet to be stationed. Three of these, Messrs. Abraham, Wilder and Tyler, with their wives, sailed in April last, and arrived at Cape Town on the 13th of June. Churches have been formed at several of the stations, in one of which are twenty-one members. Fif teen were added to this church during the past year, and sixteen to another. The manifest influences of the Holy Spirit, and the consequent change in the moral and religious character of some of the people, have awakened opposition on the part of others; but no more than was to be expected, perhaps no more than is, on the whole, desirable. The prospects of the mission are brightening, and cheering anticipations with reference to the future may be indulged. West Africa. (3 stations; 5 missionaries, and 3 female assistant missionaries ;-total, 8.) The arrival of Messrs. Wilson and Bushnell and their associates, on their return to the mission, in August of 1848, relieved Mr. Walker in some degree of his loneliness. Mrs. Griswold's return, however, as it proved in a mysterious providence, was but to testify in death her deep interest in the spiritual renovation of that continent; and Mr. Wheeler's physical constitution soon proved to be wholly unsuited to the climate, and he is now in this country. Progress has been made by the mission towards the interior, Mr. Walker having formed a new station at Okâla, at least seventy miles up the river from the station first formed. This places him in the neighborhood of the Pangwes, a powerful and numerous people, who are pushing their settlements onward towards the ocean. Mr. Preston is at a new station not so far up, but he can see the hills now occupied by the Pangwes from an eminence near his abode. These brethren regard their stations as more healthful than the one near the coast; though that is believed to be much more favorable to health and life, than the one formerly occupied by the Board at Cape Palmas. The mission church contains now more than twenty members, of whom several have been received within the year. Ten or twelve boarding-scholars, in the school at Baraka, were hopefully converted, during a season of unusual religious interest, when the power of the Holy Spirit was obviously felt. Two schools have been sustained the past year; one a day school at Prince Glass's town, and the other, a mixed day and boarding-school at Baraka, about six or seven miles from the last named place. These schools appear to have been pros perous and promising, the one at Baraka especially having been visited, as already mentioned, by the special influences of the Holy Spirit. During the latter part of the year there had been preaching regularly in some of the Mpongwe towns and villages, and occasionally in all. The congregations are stated to have been gradually increasing, and the attention given to the means of grace encouraging. Here, as in South Africa, the incipient triumphs of the cross have excited some opposition; but, on the whole, the history of this mission also for the past year has been encouraging, and serves to excite strong hopes that it is the design of God, ere long, greatly to bless the labors of his people in behalf of Africa. Rev. Jacob Best sailed from New York on the third of November, to join this mission. Greece. (1 station; 1 missionary, and 1 female assistant missionary.) Mr. King has not been molested dur ing the past year, though he has again commenced preaching in his chapel and has distributed religious books as formerly. A few young men who attend his ministrations, are in an inquiring state of mind. In one of his most recent letters he says, "I have, every Sunday afternoon, at five o'clock, a Greek prayermeeting, in which two Greeks habitually take a part, reading the Scriptures, and offering an extempore prayer. I consider them brethren in Christ, of whose spirit they seem to have received, and who mourn over the moral desolations around us." He is decided in the opinion, that the mission should be continued. His most active and reckless persecutor, and the author of the slanders noted in the report of 1848, has fallen into discredit with his countrymen, in consequence of recent literary impositions upon them. |