:

Missionary Operations.

PORT OF LONDON.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORT.

During the past two months, some circumstances have occurred to hinder the regular performance of my duties. For about a week I was laid aside by indisposition, and more recently we could not go on the river for several day's on account of the large masses of ice, which came down and lodged amongst the ships, thus preventing boats coming near to the tiers. Engagements connected with the sea, and ships, and sailors, are constantly liable to uncertainty and disappointments. One night, having previously engaged a vessel, I went on board to conduct a service, but the captain, the mate, and the crew, with the exception of one man, had gone on shore. I, however, found another captain in the tier, who kindly allowed me the use of his cabin for the meeting. Another evening, (the day of the high tide,) I went to hold my service, when I found not only the ship, but the whole tier, had been driven from their moorings down the river, and had to return unsuccessful. But notwithstanding those hindrances which we now and then meet with, I have reason to hope that some good has been effected through the mercy of God, even since I presented my last report. One mate whom I visited and prayed with, and directed to Christ, when he was expecting to die of the cholera, was led to thank God at one of our Bethel meetings for His mercy in sparing his life. He observed in his prayer, that if God had taken his life he would have been unprepared to die. There is every reason to hope that severe affliction has been sanctified to his spiritual good. At the same meeting, his captain, who had for some time been under serious impressions, endeavoured to call upon God in prayer. His tears seemed to choke his utterance, but he was able to offer up the short but availing prayer, "God be merciful to me a miserable sinner." At a service on board of the Linton, (being her first voyage,) I observed a sailor much affected; the next morning, visiting him in the forecastle of his ship, I pointed out to him the way of eternal life, through a crucified Saviour. He said he had been a great sinner and was very anxious to find pardon. That evening, at a meeting among themselves, he prayed earnestly for mercy, and while he was in port he followed the Bethel Flag from ship to ship, and offered up his simple but beautifully expressive prayer. At a meeting on board of the Perseverance (I trust the "fruit will be seen after many days," some seemed much affected by the Gospel message. Several seamen, after the address had been given, engaged heartily in prayer. This ship was lying opposite the Tower, near where the Newcastle traders lie. We had never had a service previous to that time on board of any in that trade; but on this occasion, the captain of one of these vessels, seeing the Bethel Flag flying near to his ship, had come to the meeting, and seemed much pleased with the service. Two or three things seemed to interest him very much; one was, an old sailor who was present, whom he had once had as his mate, who was at that time such a daring infidel that he used to deny the existence of a God, and was so depraved in other respects that he was obliged to part with him. He felt astonished to see him there, listening to the Gospel with attention and apparent feeling, and still more so at the simplicity and sincerity of the prayers offered. Hearing him express pleasure at being present, I took the opportunity of soliciting the use of his ship for a similar meeting. He observed that if it were known he had been there that evening, he would be laughed at by his fellow captains, and he feared we could not get a sufficient

company out of their ships' crews for a meeting. I told him, I would gladly go, if he could only get half a dozen; so he gave consent, and I accordingly held a service on board the following night. We had his cabin comfortably filled, seventeen were present, amongst whom were two captains, belonging to the same company. One of these said, he would not have liked to have had the first meeting, but in future, any time when his ship was at liberty, we were to have her. The captain observed, "Then I have had the honour of hoisting the first Bethel flag in this trade, and when we are up, Mr. Lonsdale, don't make yourself strange, but come on board and see us, and whenever circumstances will admit, there is the ship for you for a Bethel meeting." I hope the time is coming, when we shall have free access, not only to this company, but to every ship that comes into port; for though at present there are many who excuse themselves, and object to hoist the Bethel flag, yet we seem to be making a little headway amongst them, by getting a ship now and then which has never had a service on board before; and when once admitted, we seldom, if ever, find any difficulty in a future application. I have attended to the visitation of ships on the river, and in the London and St. Katherine's docks, endeavouring to do good, by speaking a word when opportunity offers, and by distribution of religious tracts and copies of the holy Scriptures. I have also visited the sailors' lodging-houses, and have spoken with seamen, endeavouring to persuade them to attend the house of God. My prayer is, that God may bless the labours of his servants, and that the souls of our seamen may be saved.

Since my last report, I have held 20 services afloat, attendance 291; and 14 on shore. I have paid visits to vessels, 626; and to sailors' lodginghouses, 288; I have sold 102 Bibles and Testaments, and distributed 2,100 tracts.

REV. C. VON BÜLOW'S REPORT,- -FOREIGN SEAMEN.

I have of late suffered very much from the inclemency of the season, especially on my water excursions; I have been detained again and again by severe colds, and thus my exertions have been curtailed and limited, but as there have not been so many foreign vessels, the deficiency has not been of so much consequence as at other times it might have been.

In visiting the foreign vessels in the several docks, and distributing tracts, selling Bibles and New Testaments, I have on the whole been well received, especially on board of the Spanish ships. On board of one of these, the captain received me very friendly, bought a New Testament, and desired me to bring him more tracts. On my second visit, we had a good deal of conversation, and the old proverb was verified, "Like master, like men," the crew showing me great courtesy, and giving me all assistance. On a Norwegian ship, I was hailed by the mate, who, on seeing me, called out, "Oh, I have looked and longed for you." We had much conversation, the crew were very thankful for the tracts I gave them. I also gave them a few copies of the last printed tract, to give to their friends in Norway. I can indeed give testimony to the fact, that this tract seems, at least, to have put down the swearing on the Norwegian and Danish ships, but I trust it has been an instrument of doing more than can be heard or seen at present. The attendance at the appointed services have been small, and only composed of Germans. The lodging-houses have been visited, and tracts distributed to sailors of different nations, as well as to the German emigrants, of whom I found a good many, who had returned from America, very much dissatisfied. Others were on their way to America, some of them seemed to be in an awful state, and they had so much influence on their companions, that none of them attended my services at the Sailors' Church. May the Lord have mercy on them, and deliver them from their dreadful intoxication. I have twice visited the Dreadnought, teaching and exhorting the foreign seamen, giving them

the Scriptures and tracts in their native languages. I found there an Italian, who could also speak and read the German and French languages. I had several conversations with him; he disclaimed the universal bishop and all the Roman saints, whom he considered as dead men, that could neither hear or help anybody, and that Jesus Christ was the only mediator between God and man. I gave him tracts in the different languages, but he preferred to have the German Bible. Among those of other nations, there was an old man, the son of a General, who was very courteous, but seemed to be very unhappy. I took great pains to instruct him, but I cannot say more than that he was very attentive, and did not say anything against it.

I have only had one service in the Sailors' Church, and three at Blackwall, attended by 35 persons; the visits to lodging-houses have been 15; and on shipboard, 192. I have sold 7 Bibles and 25 New Testaments; and distributed 1488 tracts.

PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS.

RAMSGATE.

REPORT OF MR. PHILLIPS.

From the prevalent easterly winds during the past winter, there has been little shipping in our harbour. I have embraced every opportunity, when vessels came in only for a few days, of boarding them, and have circulated a number of tracts in various languages. The attendance at the sailors'-room increases, and many tracts and magazines have been distributed amongst those who attend. The families of several who reside at Ramsgate are in regular attendance, and are constantly visited at their houses. The sailors have for some time complained because there was no flagstaff to show them where the chapel was. Several pounds have, during the past month, been laid out on the improvement of the room-in the gas, erection of stove, and fixing staff for Bethel flag, in the hope that it will be the means of drawing more to the room. The attendance of sailors has increased from the hoisting of the flag. The principal things we are now in want of are hymn-books, and I should feel obliged to the committee if they could make a grant of three or four dozen. I trust, if spared to labour here another twelvemonth, we shall see great results among the sailors.

Temporal relief has been administered to those who have been wrecked and brought on shore, and also to those left widows, and their orphan children.

In my December visits, I found the captain and his family who were wrecked on the 4th day of March, mentioned in my last report. The captain said :-"I thank you for your attention and prayers, and the tracts you gave us. We have often spoken of you, and remembered you in our prayers in return. The conversation and advice you gave us were deeply impressed on our minds, and I bless God the whole circumstance has led us both to lead a new life; and I have since joined myself to a Christian church. A few hours before the gale, I was cursing and swearing and ridiculing a pious mate I had on board, whom it used to be my delight to persecute. His constancy in the faith, and the kindness and affection shown me in return, often surprised me, and his calmness and composedness of mind in the storm led me to believe there was something in religion I had not yet discovered. In the storm I was led to feel my awful state, and prayed that God would preserve me. The Lord heard my prayers, and the mate just spoken of had the pleasure of introducing me into Christian fellowship. I never could believe such a change could take place in a man. I cannot

describe the joy I now feel and the happiness I enjoy-nothing seems to molest me; and all the displays of God's glory and wisdom around me, open to my mind a subject for meditation, and lead me to praise and glorify him, instead of blaspheming him."

Well,

One day, conversing with a group of sailors on the depravity of man, and the consequences of sin-on the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the righteous, one replied, "Can you tell us of any one who came from heaven to tell us about it?" I replied, "Yes, I can. Jesus Christ came from heaven, and he has told us in the Bible of its glories; and also, of the miseries of hell-how we may escape the one, and enjoy the other." I have asked that question many times before, but never had such an answer. Can you tell us of any one else?" "We need no other, for God hath sent his Son into the world to die for us, and whosoever believeth," &c. "I cannot believe the Bible, it is such a mystery." "Do you believe anything to be a mystery? Do you believe anything you cannot understand?" "No." "Do you believe the wind blows?" "Yes; I can see and feel that." "Can you tell me what the wind is?" "No." "Now Jesus compares the work of the Spirit to the wind-the wind bloweth,' &c. We see the effect of the wind, but cannot tell what the wind is--so we see the men who once blasphemed God turn, and love and honour him--men hear the Gospel preached, and are convinced of sin and converted to God by his Spirit. We cannot tell what the Spirit is, but we see the effects of his work." He replied, "That's all right enough; your gun is too strong for me. Good day." And he walked off. The others listened attentively.

In conversing with another company, an intelligent captain said, "A gentleman once asked me how it was my men were not more acquainted with the doctrines of the Bible? I told him, because they had neither time nor opportunity to learn. As for his ship's crew, they spent all the time they had in reading the Bible, that's more than your gentlefolks do; for I think, instead of studying the Bible, to know their duty to their fellow-creatures, they study to know how they may deprive the poor of the blessings of this world, to support themselves in luxury and idleness; and this we find among those who call themselves Christians, and we are now suffering under it. We often thank God, his grace cannot be purchased with money; if it was, we poor sailors would come poorly off. But, thank God, the poor have the Gospel preached to them, and every one that thirsteth for it may drink to the full, without money and without price. We have the start of them in this unspeakable gift. And methinks, if they do not take care, we poor sailors will have the start of them at the judgment-day.'

In another conversation with some fishermen on the observance of the Sabbath, one captain said, "Some years ago, my father was brought to know God. He left off going to sea on Sunday. All his companions mocked him, saying he would ruin himself. His reply was, I will try it for one year, and see if God's promise is not true- there shall be no want to those that fear God;'" and at the close of the year he was £100 more in pocket than any year before. Here he had answers to his prayers, and a reward for his faith. I have always walked in his steps, and by constant prayers for His guidance, I have never found His promises fail. I always manage to have done early on Saturday evening, in order to prepare for Sunday."

The tracts amongst the foreigners have been thankfully received; and I have not found one vessel without the Scriptures in their own language. Many similar cases I might mention.

I have paid 469 visits to ships since my last report; visited 791 families, and distributed 920 English and 566 foreign tracts.