Missionaries at Gruenekloof.

Encouraged by the hopeful prospect, the Brethren at Gnadenthal appointed the Missionaries J. P. Kohrhammer and J. H. Schmitt to labour at this new station: where they entered on their work March 24th, 1808; and continued together till May, 1810, when Brother Kohrhammer was succeeded by Brother J. G. Bonatz from Gnadenthal : Brother Kohrhammer retiring to that Settlement, where he died in the Lord, in May 1811. From May till December, 1810, the Brethren Bonatz and Schmitt had the charge of Gruenekloof, when they were joined by Brother J. M. P. Leitner from Europe; who removed to Gnadenthal in October 1811, leaving them again in the sole care of the station till August 1812, when the Brethren J. G. Schultz and J. Fritsch, from Gnadenthal, were united to them.

Extracts from the Diary of Gruenekloof.

(For the Years 1808 and 1809.)!*

March 15, 1808.-We left Gnadenthal, accompanied by Brother Kuester and his wife. We were commended by our Brethren in fervent prayer to the grace of our Lord and Saviour, and the guidance of His Holy Spirit, for the new work, committed unto us.

March 24.-We arrived safe at the place of our future abode. The text of Scripture appointed for this day* was remarkably encouraging to us: Isa. xliv. 21.

March 27. We set out in a waggon to visit the Hottentots in Lauws Kraal, and informed their Captain, Klapmus, that we wished to see and converse with his people, and therefore requested him to convene them for the purpose. In a short time, about 100 men, women, and children assembled. We went with them to the

* Books of texts, for daily meditation, are circulated yearly throughout the Brethren's Churches.-EDITORS.

shady declivity of a hill, bordered by a poplar wood, a fine spring of water refreshing the ground. Hither they had conveyed an old broken settee and some old chairs for our accommodation; and after singing a few verses, Brother K. addressed them on the view we had in coming hither, to make then acquainted with their Saviour, shewing how He, out of love to sinners, and to redeem them from sin and death, and reconcile them to God, had suffered the death of the Cross. The Hottentots listened with great apparent devotion, and afterwards expressed their thanks in a lively manner.

They were then told, that all those who wished to hear the word of God, and to live in conformity to it, should seek, if possible, to place their huts nearer to their teacher's dwelling. They agreed to the proposals made to them in this view; and on the day following, several came to ask leave to live on our land.

March 30, 1808.-We measured off eighteen lots of ground for huts and gardens. The huts or cottages are to stand in two parallel lines, inclosing the garden ground.

April 1.-We saw with pleasure that the Hottentots went diligently to work, to put up their huts upon the before-mentioned lots; and on the 2d, two out of the eighteen were already inhabited.

April 3. Brother K. preached for the first time in this place to a considerable number of Hottentots. They were all very still and attentive; and afterward expressed their gratitude in a manner which encouraged us to hope, that the word of the Cross will approve itself in this place also, as the power of God unto salvation.`

April 9.-Being Palm Sunday, we had again many hearers, and were diligently visited by the Hottentots during the week.

On Easter-Sunday great attention prevailed among our audience, while we endeavoured to set forth Jesus, who died, rose, and revived, that he might raise us up unto newness of life.

April 24. We acquainted the Hottentots that we were now ready to begin to keep schools, and should be glad to see both men, women, and children, come to be instructed: they should therefore consider about it, and those who wished to learn, might have their names written down, but none should do it by compulsion,

April 25.-Sixteen women and eleven children came to

beg for instruction, both in reading and in the Christian Doctrines. We took down their names, spoke with them of the benefit of Christian Instruction, and gave them leave to attend.

May 2.-We began our school with 14 men, 23 women, and 22 children. For the present, the men will have two, the women two, and the children four schools in a week, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays there will be meetings for the children, to which also the adults have leave to come. The daily evening-meetings will be held, as usual in our settlements.

May 8.-Upward of 70 Hottentots attended Divine Worship.

May 11 and 12.-Several Hottentots called upon us to speak about the state of their souls. Pitt Seldon said: Wherever I am, I cannot get rid of the thought, that all is not right with me. When I am at work with six or seven other men, and they are conversing about things, which formerly I delighted to hear, I am like a deaf man. I cannot bear to hear it, but must go alone into the woods, and cry to God for mercy; then I feel somewhat comforted." We encouraged him not to cease crying to the Lord, till he is assured of the foregiveness of his sins,

To hear such expressions from the Hottentots is in deed very agreeable; but we have had experience enough to know, that with many of them, they are mere words, and not to be depended upon. The manner of living among them is more beastly than human, and they are continually exposed to evil: but we wait the Lord's time, and pray him to work a thorough conversion in them.

June 10.-Two Hottentots were admitted as candidates for baptism, Pitt Seldon and Catharine Pieters; and on the 12th, a woman, Gried Dikkoppf, who had been a candidate at Gnadenthal, was baptized by Brother K. and called Mary. This being the first baptismal transaction here, many heathen attended and were deeply affected by it.

June 18.-With our neighbours, and the white people in general, we live in peace, and enjoy much friendship and regard from them; though some were disposed to think, that by our collecting the Hottentots into one settlement, we should prevent them working at the farmers'. We have fully explained to all who inquired

about it, that we by no means wish to detain them, but ather encourage them to diligence; and especially see to it, that they keep their word with the farmers and do their work faithfully, according to the precepts contained in the word of God. To this all the farmers both about Gnadenthal and the Capetown can bear witness.

Aug. 19, 1808.-By occasion of a man, called Boy Kleenboy, obtaining leave to live on our land, we again made our people acquainted with the rules of the settlement, and desired them to avoid transgressing them. At present we find it to be a difficult task to settle their disputes, as they are apt to quarrel about trifles, and will not be pacified, till a Missionary interferes, and speaks seriously and decisively with the parties.

October. Having hitherto narrowly observed the external conduct and manner of living among our Hottentots, with a view to advise and lead them by degrees into more order, cleanliness, and regularity of hiving, we thought we would now begin to give them an opportunity of speaking with us individually concerning the state of their souls, and made a regulation with that view. We will quote some of their expressions.

David Trompeter said: "I am sitting in the midst of my sins, as a man sitting in the fire, and am ready to be choaked and consumed by the anguish of my soul. I stretch my arms out toward heaven, and cry, Lord Jesus, give me but one drop of thy grace, to quench the burning fire within." He was encouraged to continue to cry for mercy, till he had obtained the remission of sin in the blood of Jesus.

Jacob Adams expressed himself thus: "Sin is my mas ter: I seek forgiveness and deliverance, but cannot find and experience it. It is all in vain, and over with me." The Missionary replied: "This is not consistent with the word of God: Jesus says, Seek and ye shall find: therefore it is only a proof that you are not as yet in earnest, and do not seek as you ought."

Diana Constable said: "Our Saviour will certainly not receive me." The sister, to whom she directed this speech, replied: "You have never yet come to Jesus, and yet you say positively, that He will not receive you. Go and try. He never yet cast out one sinner that came to him." She seemed struck with conviction, and answered with great humility: "I will follow your good

advice.

Most of them confessed themselves sinners, and seemed to be desirous of being saved. A few, however, boasted of their having very good hearts; and others, of their having made good resolutions.

Oct. 19. Old Pitt Jaeger, a candidate for baptism, came to a Missionary, and said: "I come to ask a question of you. First, what is to be done with me now? and secondly, what is to become of me?" The Missionary answered: "You think because you have been admitted as a candidate for baptism, that you are now soon to be baptized; but let me tell you, you must first know Him who instituted baptism, and what is meant by that holy ordinance; for Jesus says not only, He that is baptized, but, he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. Are you acquainted by faith with Him, as a Saviour, who has redeemed lost sinners by His precious blood, and has power to forgive your sins? Are you willing to forsake your wicked life, and to devote yourself to your rightful Lord and Master? If you are, then the fruits of your faith will be seen: and as to what will become of you, you will be reconciled to God; and through the merits of Jesus, be delivered from the power of sin and Satan. You will know God as your gracious Friend and Father, and that you are a pardoned sinner. Then as to what will be done with you, you will be numbered with God's people, and every good gift will be im parted unto you." He began to weep, and said: "I have no more any words to make;" and went home in deep thought.

Some girls came to day and asked, how they must pray, before they went to sleep at night. They added, that they had learnt that hymn, Dearest Jesus, come to me, &c., and were told, that they might repeat that, and pray that he would reveal himself to them.

Jan. 1, 1809.-The Hottentots came in parties, to congratulate us on the entrance into the new year, and we had many desirable opportunities of speaking to them of our Saviour, and exhorting them to turn to Him for salvation. A woman said, that she thought every minute of her time lost for soul and body till she had leave to live on our land.

Jan. 8. Another family came to request leave to live on our land, whom we desired to consider it well. We repeated to them those things which it will be necessary