ticularly. With the sweetest remembrance | Baptist minister has been recently received

ASIA.

GHAUT AT HURDWAR.

On the banks of the Ganges, in the province of Delhi, very near the territory of the Seiks, is a town called Hurdwar, at which a fair is held annually in the month of April. Pilgrims flock thither to bathe in the Ganges, the time being deemed by the brahmins peculiarly auspicious; while myriads of buyers and sellers repair to the spot, to transact business in cattle, shawls, jewels, and many other kinds of merchandise. Prefixed is a view of one of the principal ghauts, at which visitors land and ablutions are performed. Missionaries are accustomed to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by these scenes, to meet multitudes to whom they could not otherwise gain access, and proclaim to them the glad tidings. In a recent letter, Mr. Thompson says, "One of the hearers at Hurdwar, who followed and joined us at Gurhmuktesh war, has now been united to the Christian church by baptism, making the second of my Hurd war hearers, and the fifth of the pilgrims at both fairs, who have joined us from the ranks of the heathen. Two of these, Sukha Mirr and Budd Seu, are now, I humbly trust, before the throne, having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, whilst the remaining three are in the vineyard of their Lord on earth."

The course adopted by our brethren on these occasions, and the reception with which they meet, are described in a letter written by Mr. Williamson of Sewry last May, a portion of which will be found on a subsequent page.

SERAMPORE.

Our brethren at this station are making arrangements for rendering the college buildings available to the interests of the community, and especially for training converted natives of India for missionary service. There is very much in the following letter from Mr. Denham, dated May 21st, that will afford the reader pleasure.

It must not be forgotten years have passed, my efforts, at no very distant period I hope away since the duties of the college were to see two or three young men, as the first suspended, that every thing is to be done, fruits, speaking the languages and able to even to the obtaining of pupils. Our inten- preach the glorious gospel of the blessed God tion is to commence as soon as possible, and to the people. After these may we not hope to prosecute our work noiselessly until such to furnish one or two young men successively time shall elapse as will test its character and to strengthen the hands of our brethren? By ensure general confidence. Workmen are these means your cares as well as our own now on the building to do what may be ne- would be lightened, to say nothing of the cessary, and we hope to be in a position to saving of expense with regard to the funds of receive students in the course of a month or the society. To expect a succession of lasix weeks from the present date. Having bourers from Europe to meet the growing proceeded so far in the work of the station, a emergencies of the Indian field, is to expect place so dear yet so long overlooked, I begin what is utterly hopeless and undesirable. to look forward with anxiety to this ad- The men we should be anxious to see multiditional branch of labour, and to the re-plied in our churches in India, are such men inforcement of the mission from the Anglo- as brethren Thompson, Smith, Page, and Indian young men and the more promising Robinson; while such men as Smylie (who native members of our churches. If God is one of the humblest men in India) would graciously spare my life and health, and bless be raised up amongst us from among the

middle class Europeans who visit the land. These men all speak the languages like the natives, and possess an intimate knowledge of the native character. With one exception, they were all from Serampore. Another and similar band is now required to aid in the work, and to supply the many desolate spots which otherwise will not hear the gospel for years to come. You have set an object before me, which I am ready and willing to follow, and I hope in a reasonable time to satisfy you we have not laboured in vain; in the meantime remember me in your prayers at the throne of heavenly grace, that health, and strength, and God's blessing may be upon

me.

sentiments and mode of operations be based on scriptural warrant and apostolic example.

"God has visited the Gentiles, and taken out of them a people, and after our departure' we are anxious that as a people they may be established, and by them the boundaries of the church be extended. The duty we owe to God, to ourselves, and to our successors, as well as the heathen, urge us to make some effort to accomplish this, or at least to take some precautionary measures to facilitate it. Every reader of the New Testament must be aware of the similarity of our work with the early teachers of Christianity, and it would be well for us did we follow them more closely in preaching and teaching the gospel. May I here introduce to your notice a They were not, generally speaking, pastors, memorandum I found among the papers of but evangelists; some few may have been the late Mr. Mack? It is not in his hand-settled over particular churches, as perhaps writing, but I know the hand, and coming as James at Jerusalem, but the majority were it does from a man who had been a half left free for labour. Scripture, as well as the century in the work, may entitle it to some necessity of the case, urges this on our attenconsideration. To suit the place I have tion. With the exception of those of our slightly abridged it. number who may be engaged as translators, printers, tutors, and so on, the missionary should be left free from pastoral charge: for instance, let a pergunnah or several pergunnahs, be considered as a missionary sphere. In order to effective labour, the missionary should have the entire oversight, together with the East Indian and native preachers, as many as may be afforded him. Let these, as circumstances may require, be appointed pastors and teachers;' let the teachers be settled in the most promising central villages to raise new bands of Christians; let the missionary be at liberty to visit every part periodically, and let all meet occasionally as brethren for mutual consultation and prayer. Thus would the superintendent be in a position to instruct, encourage, reprove, or comfort, and be prepared to enter on new plans of usefulness, as circumstances might require, and an important step would be gained towards attaining that unity of purpose neces sary to efficient labour, which is enjoined and sanctioned by the apostolical founders of our faith.

May I be permitted to suggest a few plain thoughts which have occurred to me while thinking of the cause of Christ in India? Though they appear to my own mind practicable, and the plan they are intended to illustrate adapted to missionary operations in general, yet I fear they will expose me to the charge of exercising myself in things too high for me. If an apology be necessary, I will make one. The subject has long held my attention, and I have surveyed it again and again in the field of labour, and am prayerfully anxious to learn the way by which its millions may be effectually won to the Saviour. I have dwelt on this almost to despondency; for it is a fact known to all the churches, we are in numerical strength much less efficient than we were twenty years ago. We have been called to mourn the removal of many beloved brethren and devoted fellowlabourers by death; the strong men of the mission-men who had braved the storms which laid their contemporaries low. The time is now come for us to turn the facts before us to profit, and endeavour to make the "Another important point would be likebest possible use of the men and the means wise gained; our East Indian and native we can command, for we have little reason to brethren would be raised from their present expect the European and American churches anomalous position, to one similar to that will send a strong re-inforcement to India. which the primitive converts attained, and They have in hand already plans which ren- which our friends at home expect. Many of der this next to impossible, it is therefore our East Indian brethren may be included, imperatively necessary for us to do something these being fitted to become pastors; their with the materials we have at our command. local knowledge, key to the native mind, and The Master may soon summon us to follow their adaptation to the climate, point them out our fathers and brethren to our long home. as better qualified, other things being equal, "We shall have little occasion to depart from the faith and practice of our ancestors; may the spirit, and piety, and prudence that characterized their measures, mark our own, while at the same time we are careful our

*The late Mr. Moore, of Monghyr.

for this office; though some might be employed to greater advantage in particular spheres of labour. The plan appears to possess a third recommendation, it would give an aspect of stability to our operations, as well as greatly promote them. In case of death or removal by illness or other causes, stations

need not be suspended nor their efficiency so | sensibly weakened. The work might go on. The neighbouring missionary could visit the widowed station occasionally, and the loss be comparatively untelt. Newly arrived men might engage in the work with much advantage to themselves and the mission in general."

These remarks may be left to make their own impression. The sensitively modest man who made them never dreamt they would meet your eye. I merely add, several important stations and branches of labour at this moment hang, humanly speaking, on single lives; Dacca, Delhi, Jessore, and other stations may be instanced.

with on this side the river. Brother Robinson and myself take the time from sunset till dark in these visits. The other evening we went to Tittighur, a notoriously wicked place. The first object that met our eye on landing was the body of a human being from which the vital spark had just fled.* A brahman was reading the Muntras, a cloth was loosely cast over the body, some bundles of wood lay at a short distance. Several brahmans were sitting in a dhingy just by, talking in an unfeeling way. We inquired of what had the person died? "Of cholera," was the reply. They were unwilling to talk, and we sickened at the sight, and passed on toward the bazar. In doing so, our way was by the heathen temple. Before one of the fanes lay a dying man, an emaciated being, but quite a youth. We spoke to him, and found him, as may be expected, dark and drear in soul. How could it be otherwise? the heathen have

slunk away. We gave some few trac's, principally to brahman youths, as the adults with one or two exceptions were unable to read. A Mussalman asked me if we had any suitable for him. I gave him one in Bengali ou Aets xvi. 30. I mean to furnish myself with Shujah Ali's tracts for every future occasion.

As regards ourselves, we are through mercy well, proceeding slowly, but I trust good is being effected. Several have been added to the church during the last nine months, as you will see by the Association Circular. In" no Comforter." Such scenes make a man addition to those mentioned, I baptized two in earnest when he can collect a people to artillery-men, a serjeant and a young man of hear the gospel. In the bazar we found some promise, and a son and daughter of many willing to listen, and to these we did brother Johannes, who were at that time not fail to tell of one who died to save. One residing at Serampore. We have two or old man to whom our attention was directed, three other young persons of European ex- and who seemingly listened with interest, all traction, and some natives, of whom we at once broke out in expressions which gave entertain good hope that the word has been an awful insight into the depravity of the blessed to their conversion. Not a day passes heathen. Brother Robinson stopped him, but the gospel is preached in one or other of and spoke kindly but very solemnly to him, the languages spoken around us. Mr. Robin-after which he became more silent, and finally son, myself, and Bhugwan, have been enabled notwithstanding other duties, to go out regularly among the people of the villages both sides of the river. I think I mentioned in one of my letters that the soldier who had opened his house for us at Barrackpore, was removed to another station, so that we were obliged to discontinue our English services. On his removal we commenced what we The following week we went to Muniramdeemed to be still more important and greatly pore by boat. This is a neat village on the needed, and more in accordance with our main road a little higher up the river. The missionary work, namely, services in Urdoo appearance of the place was very pleasing. and Hindee. We have the aid of Bhugwan We found some Hindoos at work in a hut in this department. He was, as I believe you close by, and in order to converse with them, are aware, a brahman from the upper pro- asked the name of the place, and who lived vinces. He is altogether with me, and is a there. While speaking to them a brahman great comfort to me. The station is far from made his appearance, and observed us indiscouraging, though, like all military sta- quiringly. Mr. Robinson turned, and said tions, fluctuating. Several respectable men to him, "We were asking the name of the have held long and repeated conversations village." "Mohashoy." "You are a resiwith us. Two native doctors have called dent here, I suppose?" The reply was in several times; they thankfully received the the affirmative. "What people live here, New Testament scriptures. Tracts and such what castes?" These were enumerated. portions of the scriptures as we have in Urdoo," Where is the temple ?" "We have none." Hindee, and Punjaubi, have been given; for "What, no temple' What then do you we have men from all the distant provinces worship?" His replics soon opened our way, occasionally. Who knows how far these a crowd of people ventured round to listen, portions of the word of God shall be carried? and a few brahmans joined the group. Not Could we follow their wanderings, perhaps it one ventured to defend their system or their might be written of them, "then were fulfilled gods, and the great God who made heaven the words of the prophet," Isaiah lv. 11, 12. These men, generally speaking, are much more noble than the people we have to do

• On our return the body was about half con sumed, a ghastly spectacle.