WESLEYAN MISSIONS.

EUROPE.

SWITZERLAND.-CANTON DE VAUD.

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THE hope which we ventured to express, in our last Number, respecting the cessation of the religious persecution sanctioned by law, and carried out under the influence of the ruling powers in this fessedly free and liberal canton, was greatly encouraged by a subsequent letter from Mr. Gallienne, dated Lausanne, March 15th." During the month of February, indeed, some fresh instances of grievous outrage and oppression were experienced by several evangelical Ministers, and their pious flocks; but still there appeared to be indications of better days; notwithstanding the barefaced assertion of some of the persecuting party, "that the sovereign people had a right to do away with all the Momiers," that is, with all scripturally pious people. "But the most favourable feature," Mr. Gallienne remarked, in the letter just mentioned, "is that no new Decree has yet appeared. In order to render the Full Powers,' granted by the Grand Council, executory, a Decree or Arrête on the part of the Council of State at Lausanne was necessary. The Decree of Full Powers' is only a sword in the scabbard, and can only be unsheathed by an Arrête from the Executive. This has not appeared. There does not therefore actually exist any prohibitory law against religious meetings; although attempts are sometimes made to disturb them.-Meanwhile our own meetings are perfectly quiet, and greatly blessed. We hold three every week. Some of these number as many as fifty hearers at one time. Hitherto, neither house nor hearers have failed us. ing my absence at Nismes, several of the Ministers of the Swiss Free Church officiated for me, and greatly edified our people. Our trials have been, and are, blessed to us. But we rejoice with trembling. The sudden gales on our lovely lake, even in the midst of a beautiful summer's day, often remind me of the instability of all human affairs; and I feel that while we hope for the best, we must be prepared for the worst. May He prepare us, whose love is as great as his power!""

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Thus cheeringly, yet tremblingly, wrote Mr. Gallienne on the 15th of March. We lament to state that his hopes and ours have been painfully disappointed. The sword, to use his own allusion, has since been unsheathed. The dreaded Arrête has at last appeared, and is of the most intolerant character. We subjoin his latest letter to our Committee. The Arrête itself is before us; but we have not room to insert a lengthened translation of it. Its severity will easily be inferred from its resemblance, but with considerable aggravations of its former stringency, to the Decree of November 24th, which we have already printed. We can only now call upon our readers for the renewed exercise of their Christian sympathy, and for the offering up of their fervent prayers to God, on behalf of our own friends, and of the other more numerous Ministers and disciples of Christ in the Canton de Vaud, on whom the pressure of this unjust Arrête is likely to fall. And we will still hope in God, that by the time of the meeting of

VOL. IV.-FOURTH SERIES.

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the Grand Council in May, the advocates of religious freedom in that superior Court will have acquired increasing influence, and become the successful majority, instead of the defeated minority. By that, or by some other, instrumentality, may it please God to send deliverance and liberty of worship to his people!

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Matthew Gallienne, dated Lausanne,
April 1st, 1848.

"WE must hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst." Such were, I believe, the concluding words in my last letter. You will see by the enclosed enactment, just issued by the Council of State, that it was indeed prudent to mingle fear with hope, in looking on our prospects in religious matters. Still, I must frankly own, that I was, for one, hardly prepared to expect such a Decree as the present. No, after such a prolonged time of suffering as that which had been inflicted upon the Christian people of this country; after the severe rebukes received by our governors from different quarters; and at a time when the world is in commotion, and fetters seem everywhere to be breaking asunder; no, under such circumstances, and at such a time, one could hardly expect that, in this Protestant, and in many respects enlightened, country, such measures of intolerance and persecution were at all possible! But so it is. You will see that not only persons who officiate, but those who lend their houses for prayer, are exposed to penalties; that it is not even necessary that disobedience to this persecuting edict be verified by the agents of the State, but that two witnesses (and you may easily imagine that it will never be difficult to procure such) suffice to denounce and condemn a few praying people. You will also perceive that, over and above the heavy fines (from £3 to £22 sterling) to be inflicted, it has been deemed proper to add banishment to their parishes for Vaudois Ministers, and expulsion from the country for foreigners. The 10th Article declares, it is true, that an authorization to meet may be obtained on certain conditions; but these conditions are such as to render such a clause perfectly ridiculous; for, First, such authorization must be asked for by the municipal authorities of the parish where such meetings are to be held. Now, what municipality will be disposed so to do, or would dare to do it? Secondly, Such meetings must be shown not to be likely to disturb the public tranquillity. Thirdly, They may be closed immediately, should any such disturbance occur. Now

we know how a mob may be got together, to serve the purpose of those who dislike prayer. Fourthly, Certain other conditions would be annexed to the authorizations granted. What these other conditions would be, may be guessed at by present proceedings. In fact, all this seems worse than ridiculous, and gives to every sincere and honest mind inexpressible pain.

You would doubtless like to know what circumstances have brought about the present manifestations of hostility; but I really am at a loss to conjecture; and those whom I have consulted on the subject are equally unable to account for them. There are actors behind the scenes. There are evidently some persons, who urge on the Council with threats and intimidation, and who, unfortunately, are but too sure to be obeyed. And this fact renders our situation still more painful. That a large proportion of the most intelligent, wealthy, and influential part of the nation should be thus treated, to please the caprice and assuage the hate of a few, and a few only, insignificant men, is really too bad! But in this is "the patience of the saints." Our Master has cause to chastise and humble us, and he uses and employs in the work whom he thinks proper. O, may we say with true submission: "I was dumb and opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it!"

A few lines will sum up the few events which have preceded the appearance of the present enactment. As I said in my last, some slight disturbances had taken place at the commencement of the year, and it was then said that a law was being prepared to close the few small meetings which were held in private. The revolution in France, and the establishment of the French Republic, put a stop, it is conjectured, for a time, to such an intention; and thus the matter rested till last Sunday. (March 26th.) On that day, without any known cause, threats were renewed against Christians, and it was thought proper for us to adopt still more prudent measures. Our morning service was to have been held at ten, at a friend's house, where we had already met before,

with much comfort; but before the hour, a neighbour kindly warned our friends of the threats preferred against them, and entreated them to disperse. They thought it better so to do, as large numbers of idle, mischievous men were about the premises. A few moments after, the police entered the house. But they were disappointed. A gracious Providence had again shielded us. It was so particularly in my case, as being most exposed; for as I was coming to the place of meeting, the friends were leaving. A few minutes later, I had probably been torn from my beloved flock, and condemned to exile! A few friends met, an hour after, in another house, where I managed to meet them; and we found it very profitable while meditating together on Nehemiah iv. The circumstances mentioned in that chapter present many striking points, which very much agree with our state and duties.

Yes, blessed be God, we are still disposed to labour and to fight the good fight of faith. And, strange as it may appear, we are not yet without hope that the day of our deliverance is not very far off. An influential Christian friend told me this morning, "This Decree does not shake my hopes as to the liberty being granted

in May." He thought that these are the last throes of an expiring adversary. However this may be, certain it is that many, very many members of the Grand Council are prepared to vote for liberty, and to protest against present measures, -measures which so very far exceed the limits prescribed in the law granting the pleins pouvoirs.

I hope that neither yourselves, honoured Sirs, nor our friends in England, will be discouraged by present proceedings. We are fighting a battle, in which we are sure to win, even should we win

by suffering. "Be of good courage," said our blessed Lord, on one occasion, to his disciples, " be of good courage: have overcome the world." But, strange to say, He was soon after nailed to the cross. In appearance the world has overcome, and not the Saviour. Well, be it so in the eyes of unbelievers; for to the eye of faith the cross-the bloody, ignominious cross-became the place of victory, and a throne of glory; and there the "Man of Sorrows" spoiled principalities and powers; he made a show of them openly, "triumphing over them in it." May we be found, through grace, thus faithful in the fight, and certain of the victory!

GERMANY.

MISSION IN WIRTEMBERG.—WINNENDEN, &c.

AMIDST the storms and convulsions which so generally and deeply agitate, in their political relations, so many of the continental nations, it is most consolatory and refreshing to those who are interested, more than in anything merely secular and temporal, in what concerns directly the spiritual kingdom of Christ, and the salvation of men's souls, to receive tidings of a religious revival in one important district, at least; and we hope that similar cases of the quiet but effectual extension of God's own gracious work are not wanting in other places. We rejoice to publish some brief passages from a recent communication of our beloved and honoured German friend, who is employed as the chief Agent of our Society in Wirtemberg and the surrounding country. His simple and unostentatious but devoted labours have long been signally owned by the Lord; and we strongly bespeak for him, his coadjutors, and his congregations, the prayers of British Christians.

WIRTEMBERG.-Extract of a Letter from Mr. Christopher G. Müller,

dated Winnenden,

So dark as is our horizon in temporal things respecting politics, and amidst various burnings and plunderings, I have, after all, to make known to you a particular outpouring of the Holy Spirit. By some means a new door of labour was opened to us, into a woody part of our

March 24th, 1848.

country, and among some of the roughest people that can be found in this part of the Continent. We began at one village; and now we are spread over above forty different places in that vicinity; and still in all directions the cry is, "Come over and help us." We have in

our religious meetings such a sight as was never seen here before. Awakened sinners by fifties and hundreds cry to God for mercy; and many are enabled to rise up, and praise the Lord, being loosed from the chain of their sins, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. In the course of a week, twenty, forty, fifty, have found peace in believing, and this has continued for a considerable time. At a distance of from twenty to forty English miles from Winnenden, whole families and neighbourhoods are singing the praises of Almighty God. If they have formerly wronged any one, they go and make restitution, even to a halfpenny, confessing their sin, and begging pardon, even where the parties did not know that they had lost anything.

We have now better prospects of full liberty of conscience, and of preaching the Gospel freely to others. Of other prospects I will not speak at this time, nor about the number of members in our Christian fellowship. O, my dear English brethren, help us to laud and magnify the Lord for his tender mercies toward us. This work of grace has included both old and young, rich and

poor.

All people wait with great anxiety, in reference to the things that are to come. Some religious people expect a sort of general dissolution of all social union, and dispossession of true Christians; and are talking about a flight to Jerusalem! But all our preaching is, "Flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold of eternal life; and so you will be prepared for all that may be to come." I rejoice that my people, by whom I am surrounded, are a praying people; and I often think that they live, though in great simplicity, yet in greater security than those who are in the midst of arms and bustle. I have been asked for my advice; and my answer has been, "Neutrality." But as there are some disturbers, I have enough to do to recommend and inculcate quietude. I am glad that I am now sixty-three years old. For forty-two years of this precious time I have known "the Lord merciful and gracious, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." From my fourth year, I had no rest in sin. I have now been for forty-one years an unworthy member of the Methodist society; and this day, in the midst of all the storms of nations, I can say, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us."

SOUTH SEAS.

FEEJEE ISLANDS.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas Williams, dated Somosomo, November 30th, 1846.

SUNDAY, August 30th, 1846-Services as usual: my appointment was to preach in English. At the commencement of this service Tuiilaila came in: he took his seat close by my right hand, placed his hands on the table at which I stood, and sat staring at me nearly the whole time. At the close of the service he thanked me! I fear he likes hearing the truth in English better than in Feejeean; for he has little will either to understand or practise it. I preached in the native language in the afternoon.

The day following Ra Ugeawa died. He was one of a class of men who do much towards keeping Feejeeans in the thraldom of the devil. He professed to hold intercourse with the unseen world, and was much feared by the natives in this neighbourhood. Being a near neighbour of mine, it is scarcely reasonable to suppose that we could avoid collision. And more than once we clashed together. By some it was thought my kitchen was set on fire, in 1843, at his instigation. He attempted several times, by intimida. tion, to extort property from me. Finling

that appeals in the name and authority of the gods of Feejee were unavailing, he came with the dread name of Jehovah on his lips, declaring that the great God had commissioned him "to be my defence against war and fire, and for such services to receive payment at my hands." Every muscle of his body appeared convulsed, and he trembled from head to foot whilst delivering his message. His countenance, at the best of times very unprepossessing, might, on this occasion, have passed for a demon's. Nor was it improved, or his shaking lessened, by my informing him that I discredited his commission, the arm of God was my defence; and that, as my Bible said nothing about my being indebted to him, and he had no written order upon me, I would give him nothing which he demanded. I tried to convince him of his folly in thus deluding himself, and attempting to delude others, and urged him to serve the true God; and he left me in a rage.

I visited him twice during his afflic tion, and saw him at other times. He

conversed freely with me, and had food from my table. A few days before he died, he confessed the folly of his past life, and said that his high pretensions were false, but determined to die a Heathen. His wife wished to be strangled; but I assisted in preventing that.

Sept. 12th. I took the Mission family over to a small island in the Somosomo Straits for the improvement of their health. Taking advantage of our absence, the chief women assembled to strangle a poor woman, formerly a Chris. tian, and who, on the death of the late King, contributed one of her fingers to make up the hundred required as a token of love for him. The stump did not heal readily, and from that time she became very teeble; and as she had taken to her mat, and required that her food should be prepared for her, her friends thought it might save trouble to kill her. A Tonguese, knowing of their design and of our absence, interposed and saved the woman from strangling ; but he was told she must not return again to the chief town, "as no one would love her after the ladies had said she ought to die."

The Tonguese, it was found, acted from interested motives, thinking that she would soon repay him for his trouble by serving him in the capacity of a slave: a few days convinced him this was not likely to be the case; so he threw her upon my colleague's hands, who took care of her until the close of her earthly career. We encourage a hope, that the poor woman, who, when thus forsaken, returned to her profession of Christianity, and appeared sincere in her cries for mercy, found that mercy at the hand of her God.

Several strangers attended our services on Sunday, the 13th; but some of them showed how little they had profited by what they heard, by stealing several articles from our servant's room.

We pursue our labour amidst much that is painful and discouraging; but we are not unmindful of an omnipotent God, or of his gracious promises; encouraged by these, and cheered by his love in our hearts, and the glimmering of brighter days, we faint not. Still remember us in your prayers.

FEEJEE ISLANDS.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Thomas Williams, dated Somosomo, December 26th, 1846.

You are aware that for several years past, the brethren in this District have aimed at effecting a translation of the whole New Testament as speedily as comports with the importance of so great a work. The desirableness of putting the Scriptures into the hands of our Christian natives, as soon as they are able to read them, is plain; and particularly so now that dark-minded Popish Priests follow so quickly on our track, seeking, by every means within their power, to deprive our infant churches of the genuine consolations of the Gospel in this world, and of any well-grounded hope of eternal happiness in the next. The energies of the District have been particularly directed to this end during the past two years. Circumstances have rendered the present a favourable time for a special effort of our press, and judicious arrangements have been made to keep it employed; and we are encouraged to hope that we may have the high satisfaction of seeing a complete version of the New Testament in Feejeean, by June or July next. Six of the minor Epistles, being part of the share of translations for this Circuit, were put into the hands of the Language and Translation Committee last year.

About the close of last September we

completed a new translation of St. Luke's Gospel, and I wrote out a fair copy of it. As we had already prepared a part of the second Epistle to the Corinthians, we were able to forward a complete copy of it also to the abovenamed Committee, by an opportunity which presented itself in the latter end of October. Thus we have forwarded the whole of this Circuit's portion.

Whilst thus employed, we have been from time to time encouraged by the reception of sheets of Matthew's Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles, executed in a style much to the printers' credit; and, what is of far greater importance, well translated, the natives themselves being judges. Great pains have been taken, nor have they been taken in vain.

Serious demands have been made on my time during the last quarter, by the duties of compounding and dispensing medicines, sickness being common among the natives, and the stranger Tonguese. If the beneficial results of my administrations were gauged by the measure of gratitude expressed by my patients, little good would appear to be done. Happily for them, this is not the case. A short time ago I was called up in the night to attend the King, who was taken ill. Twice I had to ford the swollen stream