* an officer of the palace, was also con- soldiers, were ordered to build a stone demned to pay fifty dollars; but both of house. On arriving at the appointed these penalties were afterwards reduced place, they had to raise the stones, and to one-half, and all the degrees of honour carry them to the building, for a whole which the (Christian) officers in the army, year, and they were compelled by their and in other departments of government, taskmasters to work hard every day, had enjoyed, were forfeited. without any adequate supply of food or clothing. The distressed Christians who have been subjected to this degradation and misery, have since been branded by their enemies with a peculiar epithet, significant of the queen's dislike to their religion. They are called 'Tsihianarana,' or, That which is not to be imitated."" Missionary Magazine. "On the 29th of March, upon the petition of the officers and people, the queen consented to reduce the redemptionmoney imposed upon the wives and children (of Christians) who had been made slaves; but, on the following day, the wives and children of those Christians who had suffered death were condemned to irredeemable slavery. "The following is an enumeration of the sufferers by the late persecution :"18 persons put to death,-viz., four by burning, and fourteen by being thrown over the rock. "6 individuals, whose wives and children were made slaves. "27 preachers condemned to pay half the value of the persons of their wives and children. "42 persons who brought back their books, and were to forfeit half the value of their persons and property. "27 preachers, and those that brought their books back from the province of Vonizongo, were to suffer the same punishinent. "1643 persons were adjudged to pay, as an atonement for the sin of worshipping the true God, three bullocks and three dollars each; but of which sum one-half was remitted. "109 slaves were condemned to be flogged, with twenty stripes each, before the people, and to work in chains during the remainder of their lives. "2 persons were condemned to pay fines; one of one hundred, and the other of fifty dollars; but one-half of the amount was afterwards remitted. "6 persons who had been punished before, were condemned to work in chains for their lives. "1 slave, for preaching the Word, was condemned to work in chains for his life. "1 slave, taken by the queen's officers, received a similar sentence: "Making altogether a total of 1903 persons who have been called to suffer the various punishments above indicated, for the alleged crime of having embraced or favoured Christianity. "On the 10th of November, the Christian officers who had lost their honours, and been reduced to the rank of common AMERICA. REPORT OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. -1851. The following is the summary of operations of this admirable missionary society :— "The Committee have now completed their survey of the different missions. It will be seen that the Board has twentyfive missions under its care, embracing one hundred and ten stations, and thirtythree out-stations. In connexion with these missions there are one hundred and fifty-one ordained missionaries, and two licensed preachers. Eight of the ordained missionaries have also received a medical education, and there are seven physicians who are not preachers. Of teachers, printers, &c., there are twenty-five; and of female assistant missionaries, two hundred and one. The whole number of the labourers, male and female, sent from this country and now living, is three hundred and eighty-six. Eleven native pastors, and nineteen other native preachers, with one hundred and twelve native helpers, make the whole number of native assistants, not including schoolmasters and comparatively uneducated helpers, one hundred and forty-two. The whole number of labourers now connected with the missions, foreign and native, who depend for their means of living and usefulness on the treasury of the Board, is FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT. "The number of churches formed by the missions is ninety-two. These contain twenty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty-three members in regular standing. The admissions to the churches by a profession of faith, during the year, were one thousand two hundred and four. In this connection it should be stated, that the contributions received by the Board from foreign lands, the amount of which is steadily increasing from year to year, was 12,184 dol. 16 c.; and a considerable portion of this came from these native mission churches. "The seminaries for training native preachers and teachers are seven in number, and contain three hundred and thirtyone pupils; and there are seven hundred and eight pupils, male and female, in twenty-two other boarding-schools. The number of children in free schools is twenty-two thousand three hundred and thirty-four, about half of whom are at the Sandwich Islands, and supported by the Hawaiian government. "Twelve printing establishments are in operation in as many of the missions, with seven type and stereotype founderies, and type for printing in nearly thirty languages. During the past year 52,669,739 pages are reported to have been printed. This swells the amount of printing from the beginning, in all the missions, to 948,589,286 pages." SANDWICH ISLANDS. The moral condition of those islands is peculiarly interesting at the present moment, as they form the link which connects American enterprise in California with the eastern hemisphere, whose dark places may be destined to receive light from the western world. The Report states, that "Of the 38,296 who have been received into the churches, 21,738 were living and in regular church-standing; which appears to be just one-fourth part of the population of the islands. The additions to seventeen of the twenty churches were 859. The deaths were 1277, considerably exceeding the number of admissions; and to the deaths should be added the excess in the number of excommunications above the number restored. More than ten thousand church members have died in connection with the church from the beginning. It is a hopeful circumstance, that there were, in that land so lately barbarous, so many as as 1374 Christian marriages during the year." The liberality of those churches de serves our notice. "The contributions of the natives for various religious objects, reported from twelve of the more able stations, were 8605 dols. This does not, however, include all that was given for erecting places of worship at those stations. It is worthy of remark, that some two or three hundred dollars of this were given for the suffering French missions in South Africa, just about the time when representatives of the French Government were committing outrages at Honolulu. The amount contributed in cash during the year ending in May last, was 15,965 dols., besides all that was done in building and repairing churches. A missionary society, auxiliary to the Board, has been formed, for the purpose of sending the Gospel to other clusters of islands." IRISH MISSIONS-DOON. THE following extracts from the Morning Herald give an account of the late confirmation of 274 converts in the above mission: "SIR,-Many Christians in England have rightly judged that the chief cause of the misery, crime, disloyalty, and political difficulty of Ireland is Popery. They have also most correctly judged that the chief cure for all its evils is the judicious development of the peculiar Bible-God's Word, together with the machinery of the Established Church. For the gratification and encouragement of such persons, I write this brief description of one of the most remarkable events in the religious history of Ireland,-the confirmation by the Bishop of Cashel of 274 converts from Romanism in Dromkeen Church, county Limerick, on Saturday, September 20th. "In the month of August last, his Lordship held his confirmation in his dioceses of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore. Then, seventeen converts from the parishes of Cullen and Ballybrcode, both in the district of Doon, were confirmed. But for a variety of reasons he deferred the administration of this ordinance of the Church for the large body of the converts in the parishes of Doon, Tuogh, and Pallas Green. Saturday, the 20th ult., was the day finally appointed. It was, indeed, 'a day much to be remembered.' The weather was remarkably fine. The Bishop arrived by railway at Dromkeen at 9.40, a.m. The Rev. William Pennefather of Aylesbury, acted as his chaplain. The Rev. J. E. White, secretary of the Irish Society of London, and ten other clergymen from different places, were present. The secluded little church not being able to accommodate more than 200 persons, it was necessary to divide the candidates; and accordingly at the morning service 172 persons from the parishes of Doon and Tuogh were in the country, and do still live, without fear of consequences. Upon such a population the Irish Society commenced its operations about four years since. The Bible circulated by that Society has revolutionized the people. It has produced a blessed change. The evil spirit has been driven out. Now, Scripture Readers declare the doctrines of God's Word from house to house, several hundreds of children are taught in our schools, and three missionaries in the district preach Christ crucified,' from day to day. Crime has retired before the light of the Gospel,-no case of murder has occurred during the last two years. Per confirmed, and at the evening service 105 | to have been engaged in murder,—not from the parish of Pallas Grean, of whom in one or even two cases, even in mid-day three were Protestants. Englishmen assassinations. Such persons have lived will be surprised to learn, that it was considered advisable that a magistrate and ninety policemen should be on the ground, as the priests had publicly threatened from the altars of their respective chapels, that 12,000 men and all the Tipperary Boys' should be at the church to prevent the confirmation. The prudent arrangements of the Government cooled the ardour for an affray, and the poor converts were unmolested. My flock, many of whom had to walk from six to eight Irish miles to the church, were treated by all the inhabitants with civility. I rode with the principal party, (about 100,) and could not expect more perfect quiet in a rural parish of Protest-secution has been violent. Last year a ant England. strong police force was necessary to con"Confirmation is one of the most affect-duct our converts to and from church on ing and beautiful rites of our holy religion. It is a season for heart-searching. But it is peculiarly trying to the convert from Romanism, and to the Irish peasant in particular. The Church of Rome has taught him that confirmation is a sacrament that cannot be reiterated without sacrilege,' and popular superstition has filled his mind with the horrible apprehension of any person who is confirmed a second time becoming mad, or being smothered between two feather-beds. The Romish peasants of Doon are quite astonished that our 274 converts were not punished by God, for submitting to the imposition of the Bishop of Cashel's hands, by coming forth 274 raging lunatics. "But there are additional facts deeply interesting, which tend to impart peculiar importance to the subject of this letter. Doon is situated on the borders of the two counties of Tipperary and Limerick, -unhappily notorious for bloodshed and demoralization. Doon was the concentration of the vilest and most lawless population of both counties. In the life of the late rector of Doon, part of his house was converted into a police barrack; for many months he was guarded by day and night by eight policemen, and could not walk from his own door without an armed protection. Not many years since, the sale of a cow, seized for tithe, was effected by a very strong force of police and military, supported by artillery, who were resisted by 60,000 men, every neighbouring county sending its contingent. Ribbonism, seizing of arms by night, drilling by midnight of large parties, faction fighting, murder; such were the pursuits of the people. I have met many persons who are well known Sundays; but even this has ceased. The Irish Society supports us nobly. Our confirmation in Dromkeen Church, conducted in peace, arraying so large a number of living, intelligent, immortal trophies of the power of the Gospel over vice, prejudice, and religious bigotry, proves that the country is ours: Popery, and its consequent evils, are expelled, if only we are faithful to our high mission, if the Irish Society be duly supported. If England will repel Popish aggression from her Protestant constitution, she must fight the battle for truth in Ireland. For what England has done and is doing to enable us to carry on this warfare, I and my brethern are most grateful.-I am, sir, your obedient servant, "WILLIAM FITZPATRICK, Irish Society Missionary at Doon. DOON GLEBE, PALLAS GREAN." FRANCE. CENTRAL PROTESTANT SOCIETY. THE labours of this Society, in connec- "Six months ago, in the department of the Seine and Oise, the inhabitants of a cluster of villages, to the number of five hundred, abjured the Church of Rome for the faith of Protestantism; and no suitable pastor to take charge of them, has yet, after all efforts, been procured. When was the exhortation, Pray ye the Lord of the vineyard, that He may send forth labourers unto His harvest,' ever more necessary? Romish fold, and sent the Principal of the Seminary to deal with them. But all his attempt failed, and the latter returned in confusion, with the confession to his superior, that further attempts were hopeless. The facts speak for themselves. "Last summer, in the neighbourhood We vouch for their perfect accuracy. of Troyes, a religious movement took We could have multiplied them as well place close to the villages of Estissac and as added details of still higher interest, Thuisy. The minister of Troyes, the but this will be done in our next reports. Rev. Mr. Recordon, on the invitation of We might have spoken, for example, of the inhabitants, instituted the evangelical our station at Siouville, where a hundred service among them, and the worshippers sheep, reclaimed from the Romish fold, amount, at this moment, to 700 persons. are feeding under the care of the good After many an effort to find a resident Shepherd in peace; at Eulbef, where 250 pastor, which proved unsuccessful, and Catholic workmen, and at St. Opportune, after forcing us, in pity, to detach one where 250 inhabitants, hear weekly the for a time from a less populous district, preaching of the pure Gospel from the they have been supplied within these few lips of devoted ministers; at Crêvecour, days with both a minister and a school- &c., and at La Martel, where numerous master, while the Town Council of Troyes Roman Catholics have been severally have decided, that both the church and converted to Jesus Christ; at the High manse of the place shall be devoted Pyrenees, where our excellent brother, from henceforth to the celebration of Mr. Frossard, exercises his most laborthe Protestant worship,-the majority of ious and blessed labours; and at many the inhabitants having abjured Catholi- other places where our Society has estabcism.' The Bishop of Troyes did every-lished its agents; but enough has been thing in his power to lead back these said to convey an idea of its nature, its stray sheep, as he thought them, into the spirit, and its aims." Notices of Books. The Story of Nineveh. By the Author of "The Faithful Promiser," "Night Watches,"" Morning Watches," &c. Edinburgh, PATON and RITCHIE. 1852. THIS is one of the most beautiful little books, externally and internally, which we have met with for a long time. We cordially recommend it to young readers, for whom it it specially intended, and as cordially thank its accomplished author for his many valuable contributions to our useful and cheap literature. NOTE BY THE EDITOR. THE Editor, at the end of a third volume | zine? Do you know the difficulties of of his Magazine, begs to say a few words to his readers, by replying to some of his correspondents, whose communications he has hitherto been unable to notice. Rev. A. C. thus writes,-" Your Magazine has not been so good this year as last." I am very much, Rev. Sir, of your opinion. But the Editor confesses that he himself, and not the friends who have generously aided him, is solely to blame. But have you, Rev. A. C., ever tried to edit even a threepenny Maga doing so when overwhelmed with other labours? Do you know, also, how much easier it is to find faults than to mend them?-to blame bad writing than to write better?-to point out what should be done than to do it ?-and, finally, Rev. Brother, is one subscriber, in a parish like thine, where there might be fifty, a great encouragement to the Editor, or his friends, to put their "hands to the wheel," or their fingers to the pen, with more vigour and earnestness than hitherto? Yet we promise you, that if you keep your one number even, (in spite of low fiars' prices,) we shall endeavour to make the next volume far more useful than any of its predecessors, and worth the great sum of 3s. per annum! But what we should do, is the point referred to by J. P., minister of "My advice," so saith our adviser, "is to give sermons once more; but let them be short; and along with these, give original (but also short) labours, however humble and defective, have not been quite in vain; but have given to many instruction, and have also been blessed for the good and comfort of earnest spirits. We sincerely thank God for this; for unless some such fruits were gathered, how heartless our task would be! The Editor returns his warmest thanks to his friends,—would he were permitted to mention them by name!—who havé interesting and practical topies; some-only during this last year, but sibed the thing, in short, for Sabbath reading; and leave out criticisms, except for the sake of good spicy extracts." This advice coincides so entirely with the Editor's own judgment, that he means to follow it. "And why not," asks a learned Doctor from the north, "make it more a Church Magazine?" Because that higher field has been left to our able contemporary, "Macphail;" as such an object can only be attained by a large Magazine. But it is intended to make our publication so far "a Church Magazine," by ministers communicating information through its pages to the Church, as to what their own congregations are doing for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, both at home and abroad; and also by affording practical hints for the better working of our noble Presbyterian system and Church constitution. But the Editor hopes never to forget, that there are other branches of Christ's Church in Scotland and out of it, in whose welldoing in God's sight we should, as Christians, rejoice, and whose ill-doing we should, as Christians, deplore. We shall still aim at writing for the intelligent classes, but cannot meet the demand for articles "suited to those who are very ignorant." For we do not believe any literature can be created to meet the wants of the uncultivated and wholly uneducated. Such persons must be taught by living men, and not by dead letters. In order to read with profit, there must be a good reader to be profited, and intelligence to be taught, as well as intelligence to teach. commencement of his Magazine. He feels also grateful to those readers who have hitherto supported and encouraged him, and who are willing still to countenance an honest endeavour to supply a useful and cheap periodical to the communicants of the Church of Scotland. His thanks are also due to the press. He has received much assistance from many "Church papers," (though very little from others so called!) while the criticisms of newspapers unconnected with, or opposed to the Church, have often been generous, and always fair. As to contributions, the Editor begs respectfully to repeat what he has said in former notices, that he does not wish any sent to him. But those willing kindly to aid the Magazine by their pen, are requested to have the goodness to communicate first with the Editor as to the subject, &c., of their paper, giving their name, at the same time, in confidence. But useful extracts from books, or facts as to good doing in any parish or district in connexion with the Church, will henceforth always be most thankfully received. The Editor eschews all "original poetry,” until the less known productions in English literature of poetic genius are exhausted. And now, courteous reader! let us part friends, resolved as friends to meet again in Volume IV., with a sincere wish to do good, or to receive good, and to 66 carry one another's burdens." We promise to give more time and attention to the Magazine than we have hitherto done. Will you promise to give us your We have reason to believe that our kind and hearty co-operation? PATON AND BITCHIE, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. |