Page images
PDF
EPUB

our own native language, expressed their heartfelt. gratitude in tears of joy in their eyes, considering that hitherto they could not be purchased under 25s. sterling, at least. This was a work of unmingled satisfaction to the Committee.

"Literary Intelligence from India," at this period, announced the journey of Dr. Buchanan from Calcutta to Travancore, and his interesting discoveries respecting the Syrian Christians. That intelligence states, "It ought to be mentioned to the praise of the present Bishop of the Romish Church on the coast of Malabar, that he has consented to the circulation of the Scriptures throughout his diocese. The Malayalim translation acquires, from this circumstance, an increased importance; since there will be now upwards of 200,000 Christians in Malaya who are ready to receive it. The translation of the New Testament has already commenced under the superintendence of the Syrian Bishop."

"Things were proceeding in this prosperous manner," observes Mr. Owen, "when, on a sudden, the horizon of the Society was darkened and a storm arose, which frowned defiance upon its eastern labours, and seemed to portend the annihilation of its plans for disseminating the invaluable blessings of Divine Revelation through the regions of Hindoostan." In the month of October, 1807, a pamphlet appeared under the title of "A Letter to the Chairman of the East India Company, on the Danger of Interfering in the Religious Opinions of the Natives of India, and on the Views of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as directed to India." This "Letter" was

ascribed to T. Twining, Esq., who had recently returned from Bengal. To a second edition of the Letter, Mr. Twining affixed his name, as "late Senior Merchant on the Bengal Establishment."

Mr. Twining's Letter was replied to as far as regarded the Bible Society, by a Letter from the Rev. J. Owen, the Clerical Secretary of the Society. Another publication was soon after issued by a Major Scott Waring, entitled, "Observations on the Present State of the East India Company, &c." with nearly seventy pages of preface, in remarks directed against the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the propagation of Christianity in India. The two writers were substantially agreed; but while the former recommended interference in general terms, the latter "humbly submitted a plan for correcting the evil," to the consideration of his Majesty's Ministers, the East India Company, and the Legislature." The substance of his plan is thus expressed: "The most, and indeed the only efficacious measures, are the immediate recal of every English missionary, and a prohibition to all persons dependent on the Company, from giving assistance to the translation or circulation of our Holy Scriptures."

Many friends of the Society were somewhat alarmed at this combination. But the subject of missions was ably vindicated by the Rev. A. Fuller, Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society, justifying the principle of missions to the heathen, and the conduct of the Baptist Missionaries in India, against the charges of Major Scott Waring. The Bishop of London and Lord Teignmouth, also, published vin

dications of the Bible Society; and so convincing were these defences, that Mr. Twining, dreading the result of his motion, of which he had given notice, on the day of meeting, December the 23rd, declined bringing the subject before the Court of Proprietors at the India House.

a

Opponents and defenders of the Society arose at the same time in India. For, on the removal of the Marquis Wellesley from the government of Bengal, certain measures were adopted, which Dr. Buchanan, in 66 Memorial" addressed to his successor, Lord Minto, dated November 7th, 1807, declared to be "dishonourable and injurious to Christianity." These were especially," the withdrawing of the patronage of Government from the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Oriental tongues ;" and "attempting to suppress the translation of the Scriptures entirely." This memorial, for its "temperate firmness," was worthy of a minister of Christ, and it had some good effect, in preparing the way for the triumph of the Bible in the East.

Diligent zeal distinguished the Committee of the Bible Society at home; and grants of the Holy Scriptures were made to Goree, Sierra Leone, Gibralter, New South Wales, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada, in English, Spanish, and Gaelic. Similar grants were made to our schools and charitable institutions, and to the Schools in Ireland, both Protestant and Catholic; and no less than 7,000 copies of the New Testament were supplied to the French prisoners in England.

Every opportunity was eagerly seized to aid "the

sister Kingdom," and this solicitude was met in the autumn of 1807, by the institution of a Bible Committee by the Synod of Ulster; and in December a Bible Society was established for the city and county of Cork, under the patronage of the Bishop of the diocese, while the Archbishop of Cashel was numbered among the Vice-Presidents of the Parent Society.

Desolating war now raged over the fairest parts of Europe, and correspondence with England was interdicted to the nations in alliance with France: still the cause of the Bible Society progressed. The German Society at Bâsle contrived to transmit an encouraging report of the printing of the Scriptures; and even the Berlin Bible Society, while the nation was groaning under the pressure of poverty, through the war, was proceeding with the Bohemian Bible.

Information was received from South America, stating that the Spanish Testaments despatched to Monte Video in the past year, had been received with gratitude and gladness by many of the Roman Catholic priests, as well as by the people; but they were soon called in by the Bishop of Buenos Ayres, under the severest Ecclesiastical censures. From North America it was reported that the Mohawks in Upper Canada regarded the Gospel of St. John as a great "treasure," and petitioned for a further supply "for the use of the Roman Catholic and other Indians inhabiting lower down the St. Lawrence."

The fourth Anniversary of the Society was held, therefore, at its usual time in May, its numerous members and friends rather forgetting their trials,

while celebrating the triumphs of the Society with "feelings of wonder, and gratitude, and joy."

THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE SOCIETY, 1808, 1809.

DARKNESS and distress, through the terrible power of the French Emperor, overspread the nations of Europe as the Bible Society entered its fifth year. But its Directors, confident in the goodness of their cause, and seeking only the happiness of all nations, prosecuted their labours with assurance of ultimate triumph. There were many things to inspire them with courage besides in the promises of God written in their Bible.

In those countries which were kept under French domination, the Bible cause proceeded steadily. An edition of the entire Scriptures had been completed at Berlin for the Protestants in Bohemia and Silesia; and now, "while the wounds of Prussia were still bleeding," an impression in the Polish dialect was undertaken, aid being expected from London. The Committee made several grants, amounting to £800, inducing its projectors to enlarge the edition from 5,000 to 8,000 Bibles, and 2,000 Testaments. The Bâsle Society were enabled to complete their German Testament in the spring, and the entire Bible in the autumn of 1808. This Society also, aided by grants from the Parent Society, made successful efforts to supply their Protestant neighbours in the South of France with French Bibles.

In Sweden, a noble beginning was made to supply the humbler classes of the people with Bibles, for

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »