398 MISSIONARY OBSERVER. selves in bazaar preaching, and the efforts they are making. The Lord crown all with His blessing. I know one who went as long as he felt he had strength to go, and attend to his other duties as well. Very fragrant to my mind is the rememberance of those days when dear brother Lacey, and dear Sutton, and afterwards brother Stubbins, with dear old Gunga, and Rama Chundra and Bamadeb, all went regularly. Many times have I watched them go with my beloved husband, and have wished them in my heart" God speed." All, with the exception of brother Stubbins, are now in the "better land," and have received from their beloved Master the "Well done." Life has changed with me since those days; but I thank my dear Lord that I still love His blessed cause, and the beloved band in Orissa. I am only removed in body. Gxtracts from Letters. IN a recent private letter the Rev. W. Miller writes: Yesterday I had a letter from Choga stating that a young man, a carpenter, who had come to the village and wished to be a Christian, was surrounded by his friends, with a large number of people; they attempted, after all other measures had failed, to carry him off by forcethis our people prevented. It having been rumoured that the rajah's police were coming to take him off, a letter was sent asking for the preacher to return at once. The Mahout, whose case I have, I think, mentioned, is now here, and wishes to be baptized. He came in from his Math in a nice palkee, with eight bearers and a servant, and has with him more than 1,000 rupees in cash and ornaments. He has read the New Testament, in Sanscrit, from beginning to end, and has clear ideas of the way of salvation. Of course his knowledge is not perfect. He says, "I did not obtain my knowledge through preaching, but exclusively from the perusal of God's Word." His Math is a large one, and has a good deal of land, and some 100 bharans of paddy. The consequences of a profession of Christ have been clearly set before him. He expresses himself as perfectly indifferent as to these, and his determination to obey the truth. Should he prove steadfast and consistent, he may do much good. He is a very good Sanscrit scholar. He is more familiar with it than any other language. A number of the brethren will see him this evening. He is now the guest of Hurree Krusna-Ram Chundra's son-inlaw. He has disciples in Cuttack, some of whom are rich men. It does indeed seem marvellous that a man of his position and habits should be anxious to come out. We cannot but rejoice with fear and trembling. While at Pooree I received three letters from him in regard to his coming to Cuttack. You will be interested to hear that we have a son of Hugh Miller's now in Cuttack. He is a Major of the Regiment. His wife and he are Christians-members of the Free Church. They were at our last Sunday evening service, and at our prayer meeting last evening. The doctor of the regiment-a Bengali—is also a member of the Free Church. He attends our Sunday evening service very regularly. He is a nice man, and exceedingly kind to any of our people who ask his help in illness. He and Mr. Young dined with us on Sunday evening after the service. We had lots of singing, which all enjoyed. The Car Festival is to be held on the 7th of July. I intend to go to Kendrapara. A party will go to Dekanal, and two brethren join our Piplee friends. I am thankful to say we are all pretty well. New Sunday-School Rooms, Cuttack. The following circular has been received from Cuttack: Cuttack, June 12th, 1883. The Missionaries, in publishing the following list, gladly embrace the opportunity it furnishes of expressing their obligations to all who have helped in this good work, and are confident that it will gratify all the subscribers at a distance to know that the building has now been used for six months for the THE POPE AND HISTORY. 399 Oriya and English Sabbath-schools, and has contributed greatly to the convenience both of teachers and scholars. It is also used during the week for the European Protestant School, for which it is every way adapted. The accounts of receipts and expenditure have been carefully examined by the Rev. A. H. Young, M.A., and found correct. On the first inst. there was a balance due to the Treasurer of Rs. 6-6; but the account is not yet closed, as some other sums have to be received and paid. We feel, however, that it is a time to thank God and take courage. In behalf of the Mission, JOHN BUCKLEY, Treasurer. Subscriptions to New Sunday-School Rooms, Cuttack. RS. AS. P. 10,027 7 RS. AS. P. J. MacMillan, Esq. ... 10 0 0 5,461 7 6 Dr. W. F. Thomas 25 0 0 500 50 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 120 0 0 W. Miller 11 0 0 74 0 0 G. S. Adshed, Esq. A Friend, for a special object. Babu A. C. Dass Sutyanund Jacheck J. S. Rout Sada Sebo Praharaj Hurree Krishnoo Das... Bhagaban Behara... Ghanu Shyam Naik Sums under Rs. 2 Collected by Babus Hurree The Pope and History. FROM REV. N. H. SHAW. 500 0 0 30 0 0 4 0 0 22 0 0 200 15 0 0 5 0 0 300 6 0 0 800 600 12 8 6 Rs. 17,078 12 7 NATURALLY there has been much talk in Italy recently about the Pope's recent letter to three of his Cardinals, recommending a study of history. The Pope says that his predecessors and the church have not been fairly represented. He will have histories written to confute present histories; and he promises to place the manuscripts of the Vatican at the use of those who shall gird themselves to the task. The Liberal journals have, of course, all commented on this letter. They want to know if the Pope will grant the same privileges to all writers, whether they write in favour of the papacy or against it. They might spare themselves such questions. The papacy does not like clear light, but only light of its own colour. There is another question: If these new writers of history are to read up on one side only, of what value will their histories be? If on the other hand they are to read up fairly on all sides, what becomes of the index of condemned books? It is clear to those of us who know what the Catholic pulpit and press have said, and do say, in the name of history, that we shall soon be face to face with an old foe much invigorated-viz., falsehood in the form of history. Romanism is audacious. It believes that men will in time accept any absurdity for truth, if only it be forcibly asserted and sufficiently repeated. We have heard from Roman pulpits such statements as these: that the papacy has always been the bulwark of the liberties of the people; that the Roman Catholic church has never persecuted; that, as the result of Protestantism, England and Germany are immersed in vice and sensualism; and that Luther and the Reformers were given up to every abominable vice, and sought to overthrow the rule of the church that they might be unrestrained in their sensualism. What can we expect if men who talk thus are set to write history? Notes and Gleanings. COMMITTEE MEETING.-The next Meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, October 2nd, at Friar Lane School Room, Leicester, at three o'clock. All pastors of subscribing churches are eligible to attend. BAPTISM AT CUTTACK.-Four were baptized from our English congregation on Lord's-day evening, August 19th, and another was anxious in the same way to confess her Lord, and had been accepted by the church, but was prevented by sickness. Doubtless she did well that it was in her heart. It was a solemn and impressive service. Mr. Miller administered the ordinance, and J. Buckley preached from Exodus xii. 26-27 in connection with Colossians ii. 12. WORK INCREASING.-Our work at Cuttack in English is increasing. We have recently commenced a juvenile service on the Sabbath morning, after the close of the Oriya service. It appears likely to be well attended, and we cannot but anticipate much good from it. We shall be much helped in this important effort by some of our fellow workers in the good cause. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.-Our readers have probably observed in the papers, that a great International Exhibition will be held in Calcutta in December next, and it may interest them to know that the Inspector of Schools applied to Mrs. Buckley for some lace to be sent from the Orphanage. The articles sent were much admired by the few that saw them before they were forwarded. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.-I am much obliged to the trustees of the Baptist Hymnal for their thoughtful kindness in presenting me with a very nice copy; and in behalf of the brethren here I have pleasure in expressing our united thanks for the beautiful copy sent for pulpit use. J. B. PREACH THE GOSPEL, is the great commission of Christ; preaching the gospel is the mighty engine for demolishing the kingdom of Satan; preaching the gospel is the grand instrument for erecting the kingdom of the Lord.Hugh Stowell. A MISSIONARY IN INDIA was once interrupted by a Brahmin, who said, 'According to what you say, it was the devil who tempted man to sin. It is unjust, therefore, to punish man." "I will answer you," said the missionary, "with a story. A lame and a blind man were permitted by a fruit-grower to reside in his orchard. The presence of the fruit soon proved too much for them. But how were they to reach it? The lame man mounted on the blind man's shoulders, and thus they reached the trees. When the owner came, he accused them of the theft. 'Alas!' said the lame man, I could not go to the trees.' 'And I,' said the blind man, 'cannot even see the fruit.' 'No,' said the owner, 'but both together you managed to rob the orchard, and therefore you shall be punished together.' For the same reason God will punish both Satan and man.” Contributions Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from July 16th to September 15th, 1883. Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Esq., Ripley, Derby, Treasurer; and by the Rev. W. HILL, Secretary, Mission House, 60, Wilson Street, Derby, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards, may be obtained. The Luther Commemoration. THE "Outlook" gives a translation from the "Eglise Libre" of the following timely, well-balanced, and inspiring article. Within the space, the few words of this gifted historian form the most sensible and salutary contribution we have yet seen. Luther was born at Eisleben, November 13th [10th], 1483. Protestant Germany has determined to make the anniversary a great occasion. In all the countries of the world the churches which sprang out of the Reformation will join in the jubilee. They have good cause: there is no date so glorious in all modern history, because, in fact, from that date modern history, from many points of view, begins. Whatever may be our religious opinions, we must recognize that in order to close the epoch of the Middle Ages the "Reformation" was no less necessary than the "Revival of Letters." From one point of view it is matter for regret that the unity of belief and of worship was broken at the sixteenth century; and yet we cannot fail to recognize the fact that the birth of liberty-liberty in all spheres, and first of all in that of the spirit of man-could not take place till the day when a decisive blow was struck at that very unity which pressed with such a heavy weight on the human race, and crushed out all individuality. Catholicism herself has not lost in vain one part of the world. Since the beginning of the terrible struggle to which she found herself committed she has gained a moral vitality, an intellectual vigour which she could never have known had she kept that sort of universal monarchy which was at once benumbing and corrupting her throughout. What more barren, what more fatal than the embrace of a religious autocracy and of a State despotism? The path of social progress was thrown wide open from the day when the religious conscience, rising in rebellion against these two tyrannies, claimed her rights and went resolutely forward, both to win and to consecrate them. Let us recognize, then, without questioning, the invaluable services which the Renaissance has rendered to culture, that it would not have been strong enough of itself to wrest the human spirit from the dominion of scholasticism. It was not enough for men to find a bewitching delight in the wonders retrieved from the genius of the past; what was wanted was the creation of a current which should sweep away the old idols. But the source of such renovating currents springs only in the very depths of the soul of man. Whether we like it or not, it is none the less certainly the fact that it is only great religious movements that have strength enough to inaugurate a new era in history. That is why, in some sense, and taking a broad view of it, all the friends of liberty can unite at the jubilee of the great originator of that reform; for it has benefitted even its most pronounced opponents, as can be seen by comparing the state of Catholicism towards the close of the sixteenth century with what it was a century earlier, at a time when the enslavement of men's minds was equalled only by the corruption of their GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER, 1883.-Vol. LXXXV.-N. S., No. 167. 402 THE LUTHER COMMEMORATION. morals, and when all that the world had left of noble and holy souls fretted away in longings that were impotent to produce reform. The jubilee of Luther, which has just begun, has already raised some rather lively debates in Germany. Not one of the sections of German Protestantism has been willing to stand aloof from this great ceremony. The advanced section, which has substituted for the ancient Reformation confessions of faith certain philosophic notions which are in reality the denial of those confessions, has announced that in Luther it will magnify most of all the great insurgent, the more or less conscious emancipator of modern thought. It is in this sense that the town council of Berlin has expressed itself. The members of the orthodox section have protested earnestly against such an interpretation. They have declared that to them the true Luther belongs, and that they will do honour in him to the religious reformer. We shall catch the echoes of these discussions yet again throughout the celebration of the jubilee which will not reach its climax till the 10th of November. For ourselves, we are of opinion that no one can be denied the right of choosing what he likes best in the great anniversary, so long as the great past is not distorted by party spirit, and so long as history is not falsified. The freethinker of the 19th century has perfectly good ground to proclaim that Luther, just because he ruptured religious unity for the sake of liberty of conscience, has contributed powerfully to set knowledge and thought in all directions free from the yoke of intolerance; but he would be beyond his rights if he were to seek to efface in Luther the man of positive and militant (vaillante) faith; for the Reformation without faith is not the Reformation at all. In like manner the evangelical Protestant has abundant justification for laying hold of that higher element, and bringing into prominence all that the Church owes to Luther for his beliefs and for his piety; but he has no right to stifle the great cry for liberty sent up by the Reformer as a mighty tribune of the Christian people. We say this just by way of reminder to the religious party called the "old Lutherans," who smother under the letter which has waxed old the free spirit of Luther, claiming all the while that they have secured it fast in the words of their old standards as you might keep an eagle in a cage! They have made a mummy of him. They don't like it when you get him out of their little vestry (sacristie) and bring him into the fresh air. We are all aware that in fact there is nothing more dangerous for mummies of all sorts. The Ultramontane party in Germany has not been content with merely keeping quiet. They have shown the most violent hostility to the jubilee, and have seized the opportunity to heap the vilest outrages on the memory of the Reformer. It remains none the less the fact that, broadly understood, the jubilee of Luther is in every respect worthy to call forth a universal sympathy. It has no mere national significance. Although Luther belongs first of all to Germany-in fact may be regarded as its representative ideal in the sixteenth century; for he possesses all the characteristics of the race carried to their highest development, he belongs none the less to all humanity as one of her most glorious sons, clothed with the only sovereignty which is of divine right, that moral sovereignty which exerts its influence over a generation, and sends out |