here. Others told me that they had some from places distant from Cuttack in a westerly direction 150 miles, and others twice the distance North. Such facts show, I think, forcibly the importance of visiting the festival even when the attendance may not be large, as it affords such facilities for widely diffusing Christian Knowledge. Thus another blow has been struck at this gigantic system of idolatry, this mighty tree which has struck its roots so deeply in the soil of Orissa. We shall not live to see the final blow by which it will be felled to the ground; but we shall know of it in heaven, and our humble labours, blessed by our gracious Lord, are hastening on this glorious consummation. It will be a jubilant day when Juggernaut is fallen-is fallen-shall be sung by myriads of blest voices, and heaven and earth rejoice together. While staying at Pooree we enjoyed a pleasant social evening with a Christian family residing there, It is pleasing to state that the head of this family was aroused to think of salvation by the solemn and earnest appeals of the "Persuasive." His mother gave him the book when he was nine years old; it lay neglected for several years, but was afterwards read, and blessed be God not in vain? Who can calculate the usefulness of that book? This gentleman referred several times with interest in our conversation to "Dr, Pike," as he naturally enough called him. He was then reading the Memoirs of our late venerable Secretary, and thought it a very instructive and profitable work. This reminds me of another thing-all the copies of the "Persuasive" that I brought out with me have been given away to those who, I have no doubt, will carefully read it. If any dear friend reading this should have a spare sovereign, and will kindly forward it to the Secretary a fresh supply will be sent when opportunity offers, they will be wisely and prayerfully distributed; and let us hope that at the last day the author, the donor, the distributor, and at least some of the readers will rejoice together. The kindness of two or three friends (one especially) on my leaving England has enabled me to do more good in this way than I previously could do, while by the kind help of the Tract Society, I have a good supply of useful books for sale. We ought to have such books as the "Persuasive" to give away when a favourable opportunity presents itself, for in this country good books are not so easily obtained as in England, and many of the Indo-British have a very scanty supply. I must not forget to remind my readers as well as some of our own countrymen that last year we were unable to attend this festival in consequence of the disturbed state of India. Now blessed be God things are different, though the effects of the late terrible outbreak will long be felt. This also is the first Rath jattra we have attended since the entire severance of the connection between the Government and the Temple. Before leaving Pooree we walked on the shore, and saw the remnants of the wreck of the "Golden Era." Afterwards we visited the burial ground. I was pleased to see that Mr. Bampton's tomb had been repaired and beautified. I stayed at Piplee with Mrs. Buckley on my return several days, and we both found the change of scene and congenial society very pleasant and profitable. I am sorry to say that Chintamuni whose baptism I mentioned last month, has been seduced by family influence and absconded. This is very discouraging, still we do not despair. We have known similar instances in which converts overcome by the persuasions of heathen relatives have proved unfaithful, but they have returned with much sorrow, and many tears, and have been steadfast to the end. May the good shepherd bring back the wandering sheep to the fold, and grant that he may wander no more. On the first Lord's day in this month, Mr. Bond was baptized. It was to all of us an occasion of much solemn and pleasurable feeling. Brother Stubbins preached in Oriya from" If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest," and I administered the solemn ordinance. In the afternoon the Lord's supper was administered, and our friend was received into the church in the accustomed way. Brother S. delivering a suitable aud affectionate address. It was gratifying to us all to welcome amongst us the husband of dear Brother Lacey's only daughter. I am sorry to say that Miss Harrison's state of health has been recently such as to occasion grave anxiety to us all. She is now through the Lord's goodness much better, though I fear not strong. And how sad the accident to Brother Bailey's left eye.* Well, the Lord reigneth over such things. Here the mind rests, and the assurance produces a sweet and heavenly peace. Yours, faithfully, J. BUCKLEY. *This is a serious affliction. It is feared that Mr. Bailey has lost the use of one eye.--ED. LETTER FROM THE REV. W. BAILEY. Berhampore, via Ganjam. 66 MY DEAR BROTHER GOADBY.-Not | you call yourself a Brahmin do you? many days ago I received an interesting Yes! I am a Brahmin, don't you see the communication from your beloved son at sacred thread. A thousand sacred threads Piplee. I was thankful to hear of his may adorn your person, but you are not progress in the language, of his love for a Brahmin except in name, when that the work, and of the happiness he felt in thread was given you by your Gooroo, did laying the foundation for future usefulness you not swear by the God of fire, that in Orissa. "you would never tell lies"-how many lies have you told? That you would "treat your aged parents with honour and respect," and how often have you abused them, and wished them dead. That "you would never eat more than once a day," and you eat thrice every day of your life, That "you would never sleep in the day"-why half your time is spent in sleep. That "you would be diligent in the study of the shastras.” What books have you studied? (he tries to repeat a stanza from the Bhagabot but fails, so help him out with it) Aye and "you swore too that you would never manifest anything but good behaviour towards all," and what has been your conduct to day—your own books declare that "the Brahmin (so called) that cannot control his temper, tells lies and is unmerciful, is nought but an outcast." The young gentleman found that he had got into difficulty, and begged I would say no more about Brahmins that day. Some of the viler sort, got behind a house, and pelted us with stones, &c; but I was determined not to move until I had finished my address. I do not covet such scenes, I would much prefer a quiet audience; but when our opponents are thoroughly put, down they seldom attack us again, but we would never forget that while Christ is the begining and ending of our ministry, that it is our duty as the ministers of truth to attack every form of error and superstition. PREACHING AT POOREE. We returned from Gopalpore last week, and have once more returned to our work in the Bazaars of Berhampore. Last Saturday we attended a festival of Juggernath. The idol was placed on a platform of masonry, and quite exposed to public view under the most favourable circumstances. The ninth incarnation of Vishnoo is the most detestable thing to be worshipped that was ever seen in any age or country; but when his face is scraped of all the adornments of red and white paint, he does indeed look horrible, quite enough to frighten any one but a Hindoo. While one of our native preachers was expatiating on the folly and wickedness of idolatry, a young Brahmin from one of the temples charged him with a volly of abuse, "who are you, you wretch that dares to speak to us about the God we worship you were once a Hindoo like myself, but you, you have lost your caste become a Mussulman eating cows flesh," &c. &c. As the contest waxed rather warm, I thought that I had better see if I could not cut down this scion of Hindooism myself, so I requested our native brother to retire. I began by saying you have all heard the charge against this christian preacher. I have now a charge to make against this Brahminical sect, and of its truthfulness, or otherwise I shall leave you to judge. I charge them not with eating the flesh of the cow, but I do charge them with grinding and eating human bones; but especially with the selling of their own daughters! I have spent much time in various parts of Orissa, have visited nearly all the shrines, have mingled with nearly every caste, have read, perhaps, more of the Hindoo shastras than any of you; but I never knew any but Brahmins to sell their own daughters, sell your own child, why it is like selling yourself! and how often girls of fourteen sold to miserable old men of seventy for a few rupees, and then at the death of the old wretch doomed to perpetual widowhood you all know. I then turned to the young man and said, The With the size and attention of our congregation we have certainly no cause to complain, but in returning home how oft have we to exclaim like the prophet "who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" longer I live in India, the more am I convinced of the absolute necessity of the "spirits' power" to ensure success. We preach to men who have "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like the corruptible man," who have "charged the truth of God into a lie," and nothing but the mighty power of God can turn them from their abomi nable idolatries. We preach to men that are "dead," and nothing but the voice of Him who is "the resurrection and the life" can awake them from their death-sleep. We often envy the success of the early Missionaries as recorded in the sacred canon; but we are I fear too apt to forget the secret of their successes, were we baptized even as they in the same spirit, "endued with" the same "power from on high" then should we be as successful as they in gathering fruit unto life eternal. If we lack this essential, Hindooism may be attacked till we are white with age, and it will still stand like a mighty colossal image mocking us for our pains. GOVERNMENT SCHOOL.-A fortnight ago I attended the examination of the scholars in the Government School at Berhampore, the Commandant of the station occupied the chair, and delivered a very effective address. At the request of the Inspector, I conducted the Oriya part of the examination; it may be interesting to some of our friends to know that all the Oriya works used in this as in other Government Schools in Orissa, were printed at our press. Eleven of our Christian youths attend this school, and two of them acquitted themselves very well indeed at the examination. William (the son of our native preacher Jomnauth who died at Pooree,) was called out to work a a problem from Euclid, and Daniel the son of Denabundhoo was presented with a scholarship. A BEAR AND A SNAKE.-By way of variety I shall now refer to two or three little incidents that may amuse your juvenile readers. When in England I sometimes found that what amused children also pleased others of larger growth, perhaps it may be so in this instance. About a fortnight ago I went to our new village, on my way I had to pass between two mountains, the path was very narrow and on either side to the base of the mountains was a good deal of low jungle, a christian servant before me stopped suddenly saying, "I hear the sound of a bear!" I said, I think you are mistaken, the sound you hear comes from a herd of buffaloes in the jungle. He paused for a moment or two, and out came a great black grisly bear within about ten yards of the place where we stood; he set us full in the face and seemed quite disposed for an attack, we retreated a few paces and he passed into the jungle. The first time I turned my head round I saw him standing on his hind legs looking very fiercely at us; we had scarcely recovered ourselves from the fright, when two more came out and a fourth was heard not very far off. I began to think we had got into a very queer place, we had no weapons and could in no way have protected ourselves had an attack been made. I believe bears are far more dangerous than tigers, the tiger will only attack in secret places, but the bear will attack in an open place as well as in the forest. During the last cold season I slept one night in a mango grove, and had no covering except that which the trees afforded. About midnight one of my servants awoke me saying "a bear, a bear!" I looked up and there was the unwelcome visitor only a few paces from us. I am not very nervous, but I would much rather bears keep a respectable distance. In this country, however, you find annoyances at home as well as abroad. A few nights ago I was going to bed, and was placing the lamp upon the table, when a spotted snake more venemous even than the Cobra Capella, raised its head and showed its forked tongue, had I not seen it, in all probability I should have been bitten, and the natives affirm that the bite of one of these is certain death; since then we have killed two more of the same kind in the house. One night this week our little Jessie suddenly burst out crying and in going to see the cause, I saw an enormous centipede close to her head, happily the dear child was not bitten, or she would have suffered intensely for several hours. I have no wish to frighten any one from coming to India, but I would have all to know that we live not in an Elysium All who come hither should bring out a good stock of patience. for I think there is no country under heaven where so much is required, In a few days a year will have rolled away since our valedictory services at Nottingham, the scenes and circumstances of that day will never fade from my memory; it has been to me a year of great trial, but a year of great mercy. To Him who redeemed me be all the praise I will not write more lest I may weary you. Our united love to all your household, and to all the dear old friends at Loughborough. Ever yours affectionately, W. BAILEY. LETTER FROM THE REV. W. HILL. Berhampore, Ganjam, July 28th, 1858. MY DEAR BROTHER GOADBY,-Through the tender mercy of the Most High, we have been spared to see the commencement of another rainy season. Only a few short weeks ago and nature looked barren, scorched, dead; now she is "dressed in living green," and very much reminds me of spring-time in England. The Baileys and ourselves spent the greater part of the hot season at Gopalpore, a place eight miles distant, and close to the Bay of Bengal. In comparison with the fierce, withering land-winds, we found the Sea breeze very cool and refreshing. While we were there Mrs. Bailey and their dear boy Charlie had a severe attack of fever. Charlie has quite recovered, but Mrs. B. though much better is still very feeble. You will be very grieved to hear that last Friday week brother Bailey met with a sad accident, by which his left eye has been seriously injured. It was feared that the sight was for ever lost, but the doctor now hopes that it may be partly restored. That you will cherish a similar hope, I am quite sure. To lose one eye would indeed be a great trial; but whatever may be the issue, we know that He who notices the fallen sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads will overrule the event for good. It is a great mercy, as brother B. observed, that our eyes have escaped uninjured. The accident took place under the following circumstances. Sister B. broke the top of her smelling-bottle stopper, leaving the lower part in the neck of the bottle, Brother B. hoping to get it out, put the bottle in a vessel of water which he had on the fire; but with no apparent results. No sooner, however, had he taken the bottle out of the water and put it into a towel which he held in his hand than it burst with a loud report, and a piece of the glass struck him in the eye. He immediately sent over for me, and I called in the doctor who has been very kind and attentive ever since. We all felt it a great mercy to have a doctor in the station in such a time of need. For several months at the beginning of the year we were without one, the nearest being at Russel Kondah, sixty miles distant, nor is it at all likely that he could have left his duties there even if he had been called. By the blessing of God upon the means used our brother is rapidly recovering, for as a matter of course the body to a very great extent has sympathized with its suffering member. The eye also looks much better, and to-day, brother B. was telling me that he thought he could distinguish objects moving about. I trust that we shall soon be able to inform you, that in part at least, he has regained his sight. There is a proverb that "troubles seldom come alone," and this we have found true in our experience. Since the above accident occurred we have had several other distressing dispensations of providence, having lost three out of our native christian community by that fearful scourge, the cholera. As we had no cases during the hot season, we did hope to escape altogether this year. Alas! however, we know not what a day may bring forth. Last Thursday this disease broke out in the Boy's School. Jonas, one of the elder Khond boys, was the first attacked. Brother B., not being able to go into the school sent for me. I was with poor Jonas many times in the course of the day and gave him medicine, arrowroot, &c., but all efforts were in vain as he died in the evening. The nature of the disease prevented my saying much to him, as to the state of his mind in prospect of eternity. On one occasion when I stood near him he exclaimed "O God, my Father I am a great sinner," on another he said "O Lord come quickly, come now." Just before he died he repeated many portions of hymns and passages of scripture. Not liking farming he had come from our new village to attend the Government School at Berhampore preparatory to going into the hills, or Khond country, as a school-master. He was not permitted, however, to carry his intentions into effect. We trust that he has reached that land "whose inhabitants never say I am sick." He was a member of the church. Early on Saturday morning another boy name "Sam" was attacked. At brother B's request I wrote to the hospital and obtained medical assistance, and also medicine. As soon as I saw the poor lad I thought him "sick unto death," and so he was, for in less than six hours after being attacked he was a lifeless corpse. So rapid and fatal is this most fearful of diseases. Poor Sam was a kind, good-tempered, cheerful lad, and I trust he had a saving interest in Jesus. He was a candidate for baptism, but not a member of the church. On Friday, he assisted to carry poor Jonas to the grave. On Saturday we laid him in the grave adjoining. Both were interred in the Government burial-ground, this being in accordance with a recent regulation which states that Government burial-grounds shall be for the interment of christians of all nations. The same regulation states also that the ground shall be divided, one portion being reserved for those who are interred according to the rites of the Anglican church, the other being reserved for christians of other denominations. Several months since Brother Bailey and myself, met the chaplain upon the ground and made the division, so that henceforth we shall have "a place for our dead," and not have them scattered up and down as they have been hitherto. Matthew Mar, as she was called, the mother of our native preacher Matthew, was the third whose loss we have been called upon to sustain. For many years she has been the matron of the boy's school, and a faithful, valuable servant has been. She attended upon the two boys whose removal I have noticed, and wept over them as though they had been her own sons. After their death it was thought best to send the others off to the new village. Matthew Mar, wishing to be where the boys were, was sent also Before leaving Berhampore, she called at our house and said to my dear wife "Mamma pray for me, my mind is full of trouble." On the way she was taken unwell, but was better again in the evening. The next morning she was attacked by cholera, and early on the following morning she fell asleep in Jesus. She was upwards of sixty years of age, and had been a member of the Berhampore church for a number of years. We have no doubt but our loss is her gain. There have been no cases of cholera since this, and I trust that both ourselves, native christians, and school children, will be preserved from this pestilence which walketh in darkness, and this destruction which wasteth at noon-day." cholera, of the Rev. J. Thomas of CalLast Sunday we heard of the death by cutta. He has been in this country upwards of thirty years, and for many years has had the charge of the Baptist Mission Press But I must draw this letter to a close. You will think it full of "lamentations and mourning and woe." Yours, affectionately, WILLIAM HILL Foreign Letters Received. BERHAMPORE-W. Hill, July 31st. CUTTACK-W.Brooks,June 26th, Jul.10th. -J. Buckley, June 28th. CUTTACK.-J. Stubbins, July 24th. Aug. 17th, Sept. 2nd, 3rd. PIPLEE-G. Taylor, June 28th. Contributions RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, From August 20th to October 20th, 1858. |