66

"A course of lectures was delivered by Mr. Ferry, last winter, on the doctrines and practices of the papal church, which were listened to by a full and solemn congregation.

direct answer. When they saw I Preaching, Church, &c. There either could not or would not eat, has been, during the past year, public they proposed uniting in prayer, in worship with preaching two or three which they each led in succession. times on the Sabbath, with the reguHere I was filled with that happiness lar exercises of the Sabbath school, which I hope to enjoy in heaven. I and one or two meetings for prayer do not know but that my enjoyment and conference, or preaching, during was as great as it was possible for my the week. A part of the time a meetsoul to have, arising from a view of ing has been held on the Sabbath in the love, the nearness, and glory of the Fort. Six were received into the the Saviour. I seemed to see it, to church in January, which now confeel it all, in a fullness of joy beyond tains about 60 members. Much seriexpression. At the close of prayer ous attention to the means of grace my mind run on this hymn. Alas has prevailed through the year. and did my Saviour bleed!' and without expressing the wish I had to hear this hymn sung, Miss C. in a few moments commenced singing it. The whole hymn possessed my soul in mingled joy, and wonder, and love. "School. The number of pupils in Especially the last verses, so that the schools during the year has not was here as much lost to myself in been mentioned; but it is supposed the bliss of joy, as I had been before to be about 130 of both sexes. in the anguish of despair. Perhaps, several classes were lately examined my countenance told my feelings; in reading, writing, arithmetic, geogand Miss O. asked me if I could now raphy, and ancient and modern histolove that Saviour. I answered, I ry, in the presence of many citizens hope I do. This was the first inti- and traders, and acquitted themselves mation I had dared to give of the honorably. peace of soul. But my joy had swallowed up all fear, and I could not resist the answer. Now I had such a love for all around, as well as for the Saviour, that I could have folded them to my bosom. For two days following, night and day, there was little or no abatement of this happiness. I appeared to be in a new world every thing led me to God: not an object did I see but seemed to say, 'how glorious and lovely is the great God."

:

The following statements will give a summary view of the condition of the mission.

The

"Other notices. A juvenile benevolent society, formed among the youth of the school and village, contributed, during the year ending in January, $125; which is appropriated to missionary purposes.

"An Auxiliary to the Board has been organized among the gentlemen residing at Mackinaw and in the vicinity, and those engaged in the fur trade of the interior."

MADAGASCAR, a large island in the Indian Ocean, discovered by a Portuguese, in 1492. It lies 40 leagues E. of the continent of Africa, from which it is separated by the strait of "Begun in 1823: one station, two Mosambique. It extends 900 m. from missionaries, three male and eleven female assistants.

N. to S., and is from 200 to 300 broad. The inhabitants, amounting to more "William M. Ferry, missionary and than 4,000,000, are divided into a superintendant; Mrs. Ferry: Wm. T. number of tribes. They are comBoutwell, missionary; Elisha Loomis, monly tall, well-made, of an olive teacher; Mrs. Loomis: Martin Hey- complexion, and some of them quite denburk, mechanic; Mrs. Heyden- black. Their hair is black, but not burk; Abel D. Newton, mechanic; woolly, and for the most part curls Miss Eunice Osmar, Miss Elizabeth naturally; their nose is small, though M'Farland, Miss Delia Cook, Miss not flat; and they have thin lips. Hannah Goodale,Miss Matilda Hotch- They have no towns, but a great kiss, Miss Betsy Taylor, Miss Sabri- number of villages, a small distance na Stevens, and Miss Percis Skinner, from each other. Their houses are teachers and assistants. pitiful huts, without windows

or

chimneys, and the roofs covered with them. In the interior are some Arabs, reeds or leaves. Those that are dress- who introduced into the island many ed in the best manner, have a piece of of the arts of civilization. It is probcotton cloth or silk wrapped round ably owing to the influence of these their middle; but the common sort emigrants on the neighboring tribes, have still less clothing. Both men that many of them exhibit evident and women are fond of bracelets, marks of a state of improvement connecklaces, and ear-rings. They have siderably removed from barbarism. little knowledge of commerce, and The Rev. Messrs. Jones and Bevan exchange among themselves goods were sent by the L. M. S., in 1818, to for goods: gold and silver coins this island, and commenced their misbrought by Europeans are immediate- sion auspiciously. These devoted laly melted down for ornaments, and no borers were soon called, however, to currency of coin is established. There experience heavy afflictions in their are a great many petty kings, whose persons and families; which were folriches consist in cattle and slaves, lowed by the death of Mr. Bevan, and and they are always at war with each by Mr. Jones's removal from his staother. There are only some parts of tion to the Mauritius, from a decline the coast yet known; for both the air in his health.

and the soil are destructive to stran- In the autumn of 1820 his Excelgers. lency R. T. Farquhar, Esq., Governor The Madagasses believe in one only of the Mauritius, concluded a treaty true God, the Creator of all things, with Radama, King of Madagascar, and the preserver and supreme Ruler having for its object the total extincof the universe; whom they call Zan- tion of the slave traffic in that island. gahara. When they speak of him, With the full approbation of the Govthey do it with the greatest degree of ernor, Mr. Jones, being sufficiently solemnity and veneration. Though recovered, accompanied the agent, they consider him so infinitely exalt- Mr. Hastie, to the court of Radama, ed, that he does not stoop to notice the by whom he was received with much concerns of men; yet he has delegat- cordiality. The King, being satisfied ed the government of the affairs of with the views and objects of the sothis world to four inferior lords, whom ciety, which were explained to him they denominate lords of the North, by Mr. Jones, wrote to the Directors South, East, and West. One of these for missionaries to instruct his people only, they consider the dispenser of in Christian knowledge, and also in the plagues and miseries of mankind; the useful arts. It was Mr. Jones's while the other three are engaged in intention to have returned to the Maubestowing benefits. The souls of all ritius, after the conclusion of the treagood men, they believe, will, after ty; but in consequence of a formal death, ascend to Zangahara, and en- invitation from the King, he consentjoy perfect happiness in his presence, ed to remain at Tananarivou, when while all bad men will be tormented, the King allotted to him one of the according to their demerits, by the royal houses as his residence, with evil spirit, which they call Anggatyr. servants to attend upon him. AccordThe four great lords are regarded by ing to a stipulation of the treaty althem as having great influence with ready alluded to, 20 Madagasse youths Zangahara. Each family has its guar- were to be instructed in useful arts, dian angel, who conveys their prayers with a view to promote civilization in to the four lords, who are the only their own country; of whom 10 were medium of access to the Deity. Some sent for this purpose to the Mauritius, appearances of Judaism are seen a- and 10 soon after arrived in England, mong these islanders. They practice and were placed in the Borough circumcision, and offer the first-fruits school, to be instructed in the English of harvest. Of a Saviour they have language on the plan of the B. and F. no knowledge. The language of the S. S. In the mean time, the King Madagasses is very melodious, and is placed under the care of Mr. Jones, said to be copious; though it had to receive an English education, 16 never been reduced to a written form native children; of whom 3 were till since missionaries resided among children of his own sister, and one of

the three was heir apparent to the they amounted to 22, and the number crown; the rest were children of of children to above 2000. The three different nobles. schools successively formed at TananThe Rev. Mr. Griffiths arrived in arivou were united into one, which the spring of 1821; and in June, 1822, the King denominated the Royal Colthe missionary brotherhood was in- lege. From this seminary, containing creased by the arrival of the Rev. Mr. about 270 boys, 50 of the highest giftJeffreys, accompanied by Mrs. J. and ed and best instructed were sent to four missionary artisans. The valua- take charge of the schools in the counble patronage of the king remained try. Public examinations of the boys' undiminished. After providing for and girls' schools took place in the Mr. Jones a dwelling-house contigu- presence of the King, some of the ous to the royal school in which were members of the royal family, the genupwards of 40 children under his care, erals of his Majesty, and Jas. Hastie, he afforded considerable assistance in Esq. the British agent, which were the erection of a commodious habita- highly satisfactory. Messrs. Jones and tion for Mr. Griffiths, together with a Griffiths commenced preaching in school-house attached, capable of con- Madagasse in February of the same taining about 200 children; and also year; their congregations consisting allotted a house for the use of Mr. usually of about 1000, but occasionally Jeffreys and his family. Allowances of as many as 3 and even 5000. Sevwere also ordered for each of the mis-eral parts of the Scriptures had also sionaries, by Governor Farquhar, as been translated, and some books were well as for the artisans. On the arri- prepared and preparing for publicaval of the latter at Tananarivou, the tion. On the 21st of April, Mr. JefKing gave them a piece of ground for freys removed to Ambatoumanga, a their residence and for the carrying large village situated about 20 m. from on of their respective trades. About Tananarivou, where he commenced a 2000 of the natives were employed to school for boys, and Mrs. J. another prepare the ground for the erection of for girls, and conducted stated servithe requisite buildings. By direction ces in Madagasse. It having been of the King 3 Madagasse youths were judged expedient that the artisans placed with each of the artisans; two should superintend the schools, Mr. of them respectively as apprentices, Canham removed to a village about and the other as a servant, of whom 12 m. from the capital, where he had very favorable reports were made. a school of 110 boys; and Mr. RowOne of the artisans, Mr. Brooks, was, lands to another village about 15 m. however, suddenly called from his distant from the same, where he had earthly engagements. a school containing 100 boys. Each

At this early stage of missionary of them superintended apprentices, effort, good effects appeared; among who learned their respective trades; which may be noticed the suppression and Mr. Chick was diligently emof common swearing; though it should ployed on the Sabbath in catechising be stated, to the reproach of multi- children; and on the week days in tudes called Christians, that it was his trade. In the following year, the the custom of the inhabitants of the labors of the missionaries were conkingdom of Ovah to swear by the tinued; the translation of the Madaname of the King and by the name of gasse New Testament was completed; the Queen, not by the name of the a printer, a cotton-spinner, and a carAlmighty Creator and Benefactor of penter, were sent out; and the mismankind. The B. and F. B. S. made sion was deprived of a valuable agent a grant to the Madagascar mission of by the death of Mr. Jeffreys. About 50 English Bibles and 200 Testa- this time some of the Madagasse youths, one of whom had been at his The kingdom of Radama, now call-own earnest request baptized, arrived ed Imerina, is divided into 4 provin-at the capital. ces; in all of which, during 1824, On the 27th of July, 1829, King schools were established, with the Radama died. By the intrigues of sanction, and under the patronage, of one of his queens, a number of men the King. At the close of the year of the highest rank were put to death,

ments.