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THE

BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXVIII.

AUGUST, 1848.

NO. 8.

American Baptist Missionary Union.

MAULMAIN MISSION.-Letter of Mr. Ma- They have a very neat little chapel,

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In the following brief notice of the Dongyan church, its house of worship, its parsonage, its charitable fund supplied by monthly subscriptions, and especially its organization as a Domestic Missionary Society, we have a graphic representation and promise of what may be expected of Karen churches in home coöperation with missionaries, for the evangelization of the Karen people. Nor is it a solitary specimen; though it is seldom that the fact is brought to view with such distinctness and impressive beauty. The letter is dated March 22, 1848.

I have recently returned from a visit to Dong-yan, where with my family I spent three weeks. The Dong-yan church had sixty-seven members last year and one has since died, leaving the present number sixty-six; no other changes having taken place. While there, two were examined and received by the church for baptism; but I was too unwell at the time to administer the ordinance; so I left them for br. Moore to baptize after he comes.

I regard the field that has been allotted to br. Moore, second to none in the provinces; both as regards importance and interest. Dong-yan is in the centre of a more populous region of Karens than I know of any where else; and they are exclusively Pgho Kareus. There is a very good beginning made in the church, which embraces some of the most respectable and wealthy families in the settlement.

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the wooden floor and wooden sides of which they paid for themselves; and that is more I believe than any other of the Karen churches in this province have done towards their wooden chapels. They have supplied themselves with an ample number of good seats, after the model of those in our Episcopal church. They were the first Karen church on the coast thus to seat their chapel, but their example is now in the course of imitation by others. Add to this, the church have built, at their own expense, a convenient bamboo house for the accommodation of the missionary when there. They have also a good bell, a present from the Burman church in Maulmain, they having had two given to them; and

I saw

a communion set, that was sent from America. Then, to keep the chapel roofed and supply any other pecuniary demand upon them as a church, they have a church fund, to which they make monthly subscriptions. nothing wanting to make the church as complete as any at home, in external matters, except a Missionary Society; so while there, I went to work and formed one. The plan was for then to send forth a preacher from among themselves to preach the gospel to others, the church pledging his support. This they did, and the man was forthcoming. There was a man in the church who had studied with a view to the ministry with br. Brayton and again with br. Bullard, and was in Mrs. Bullard's school last rains; but no requisition being made for his services, he was now engaged in business. When the inquiry was made, "Who will go for us?" he offered himself. He gave up his business, threw his basket over his shoulder, and followed

by his wife, walked down to the boat |ciety, states that he had recently bapwith me, and I took him up to Gyne, opposite the mouth of the Houngbrau; and there I let them go like Noah's dove, to wander to and fro in the wide region watered by that river, with Crung-pung as the base of their operations, in the confident hope that they will return with an olive branch.

EXTRACTS FROM THE TENTH REPORT OF THE MAULMAIN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

It may gratify our readers to have in this connection further notices of Dongyan and other Karen churches, and generally of the operations of the Karen department of the Maulmain Mission the past year. The annual report, published at p. 259 of our last number, was imperfect, our accounts from the mission being less complete than in former years. We are indebted for these additional facts to the Tenth Report of the Maulmain Missionary Society, published at Maulmain in November, and which came to hand after our last Magazine was out of press."

Sgau Karen assistants-Baptisms by Aupaw Duty of converts to help support the gospel

-Value of native labor.

The assistants of this department have (until the 1st of October, 1847) been under the supervision of Rev. Mr. Vinton, with the exception of those engaged in theological study. In consequence, therefore, of his temporary absence to America, it will be impossible to state particularly the labors of these assistants, as has heretofore been done. The papers noting the work and the success which has attended it, are not at command. From the fact that no

tized sixty-six persons. After stating particularly the instruction in connection with which these persons had been admitted to this ordinance, he mentions that he had especially explained to them their duty to help support the gospel. They objected that they were poor and could do nothing. He replied, "Before you received the gospel you could cheerfully give much to support your sins,-why can you not now give a little to benefit your own souls and to save the souls of others? If you love the world more than you love Christ, you cannot be saved,-you are not yet true disciples." They could answer him no more,-and they agreed to make a beginning of a half rupee each per year. The amount is indeed small; but it shews a tendency. We think it betokens, what has often before been stated, that this Society will not always be requested to support the gospel among the Karens. It is a pleasing fact that many of the assistants are thinking, feeling and talking upon this subject. They say the teachers have been long with them, and that it is time they began to support themselves.

In this department of Karen misexperienced during the past year. From sionary work, much solicitude has been the diminution of funds, it has been feared we might be under the necesants. Nothing could be so fatal to the sity of dismissing a part of the assistKaren Mission as such a step. It is well known that, for years past, the most successful efforts to win souls to the cross of Christ, and for a large part of the year to watch over the churches, have been made by them. By far the larger proportion of those ceived it through their instrumentality. who have received the gospel, have reTo dismiss, therefore, the native assistants, is to write "Ichabod" upon the Karen Mission. Yet this has been

changes have been mentioned, it is supposed that the assistants have been employed as before reported; and from avoided during the past year, only by intelligence which has reached us at different times from Buriah Properties by the Karen missionaries themthe assumption of heavy responsibiliand from the stations nearer Maulmain, it is known that their labors have been attended with the usual blessing of God. Large numbers have been reported as having received the gospel. A letter just received from Aupaw, whose name is well known to the So

The receipts of the Society in subscriptions and contributions for the year ending July 1, 1847, were Co.'s rupees 2470—1—2,or more than $1122.

selves.

Pgho Karen assistants-Letters of Dong-yan,

Kayang and Crung-pung churches. Bab-mee left the service of the Society and the mission at the close of the last year. He complained that be could not live on seven rupees per month, and demanded higher wages. When Mr. Bullard refused to comply with this demand, he left the mission

and the mission work. Still he has | Binney's school at the commencement been reported as preaching to the church in Dong-yan nearly every Sabbath throughout the rains.

As in former years, Ko Chung-pau has been employed in Dong-yan, visiting from house to house, attending upon the sick, watching over the spiritual interests of all, and, in general, discharging those duties which usually devolve upon the pastor.

The following extracts from the letter of the church at Dong-yan to the Association that met there in January last, may be appropriately introduced here in connection with the report of his labors.

of the rains. As Kayang is the centre
of his field of labor, the following ex-
tracts from the letter of the church at
that village are here introduced:-
"Brethren of the Association! our
hearts are very warm, and we hope
and pray, all of us, that God will pour
out his Spirit in Dong-yan.
"There have been added by
baptism,
Suspended,
Present number,

Number of Sabbath school
pupils,

615

15

9"

Kai-mak, as in the previous year, has been located at Crung-pung, but itinerated extensively during the dry

"As a multitude of God's people have assembled with us this year, our hearts are made very happy. We re-season, and gave much satisfaction to ceive you, all of you, with our love, and our good things. Brethren! we receive you to our hearts and to our houses; and hope that God's blessing will come with you; and that your holy conversation and fervent prayers will warm up our hearts.

"We, the disciples of Christ in Dong-yan, remain steadfast, but still our hearts increase in holiness very slowly.

"Our minds are dark, and our hearts are hard, yet we remember the love of Christ, and that he poured out his blood for us. We see our neighbors in the road to hell,-we pity them, we tell them God's commands; but still our hearts are not warmed up. People in Dong-yan become Christians very slowly; they love darkness rather than light.' They do not, however, revile as formerly, but listen attentively.

"We have received by baptism, 10 by letter,

66

46

66

Died,

Dismissed,

Present number,

Sabbath school pupils,

66

2

2

16

67

44

8

66 teachers, "Eighty-six rupees eight annas have been subscribed for general purposes, with which we have repaired our chapel, and furnished it with seats."

Mr. Bullard. At the commencement
of the rains he entered Mr. Binney's
theological school, where he remained
at the date of this report. The follow-
ing extract from the letter of the church
at Crung-pung to the Association, may
be regarded, in part, as a report of his
labors :-"Through God's mercy we
are all well and happy. The grace of
God that we have received, we do not
hide. We tell every one, that the
world may hear. This year two have
come out of the devil's hands, and be-
come Christ's disciples. We look to
God that the Holy Spirit may be pour-
ed out and all become Christians.

"Suspended,
Present number,
Sabbath school pupils,

Pgho Karen boarding school.

1

12

11"

This school averages twelve males and eighteen females. The studies pursued are reading, writing, geography, natural philosophy, arithmetic and the scriptures. Sewing is also taught as usual. All, with two exceptions, are progressing well in their studies. One class of five girls has committed almost perfectly the "Child's Book," Elements of Natural Philosophy, and the gospels of Matthew and John. Another class from Rangoon, who when they came did not know the During the rains of 1846, Chong-te- alphabet, have studied and recited yeih was a member of Mr. Bullard's twice through the catechism and the school. After the school closed he gospel of Matthew. The first class in was employed nearly the whole of the arithmetic, instructed entirely by Miss dry season itinerating; and a part of Vinton, has made very commendable the time he travelled with Mr. Bullard. proficiency, and has also studied surHe was zealous in spirit, and indefati-veying, under the supervision of Rev. gable in labor. He was ultimately sta- Mr. Vinton.

tioned at Kayang, but entered Mr. It may be recollected that in last

year's report Mr. Bullard spoke with deep interest of his class of bible students. Of this class, three are continuing their studies in the Karen Theological Seminary. Two are connected with this school, and one is preaching in Burmah Proper. But others, on hearing of the sudden death of their loved teacher, turned again to their paddy fields and to their fishing ponds. Though God in his own infinite wisdom has sorely chastened this people in removing from them their only remaining teacher, yet there is cause for rejoicing in that he has not wholly withdrawn his gracious Spirit, but is still operating upon the minds and hearts of these interesting youth. Three of the pupils have, it is believed, been hopefully converted to God the present season. One of them is a very promising young man from a heathen village and a heathen family.

of scholars, travelling expenses, &c., for five months, was 948 rupees, 1 anna; average number of boarders per month, 101 rupees; average expense of each scholar per month, 1 rupee, 14 annas.

Karen Normal School.

The Karen Normal School which the Society has kindly aided the present year, has been in operation only about eighteen months. As this school has never been brought particularly to the notice of the Society, it may be proper to state somewhat fully its design, character and prospects.

The prime design of the school has been to form a nursery from which individuals of promise, and who have a desire to become preachers of the gospel, may be selected for the theological school, and to educate suitable teachers for village schools, while at least a few, it is hoped, may be qualified at some future day to give a literature to their nation. Should individuals, however, express a preference for other pursuits, it is hoped the education received in this school will the better prepare them to be useful to their countrymen.

Sgau Karen boarding school. This school, under the care of Rev. Mr. Vinton, commenced its operations the present year about the first of May and continued five mouths. The average number of scholars per month has been 101; of this number Mr. Vin- As it is impossible to elevate any ton has had a class of twelve, who people while the females are ignorant went through the arithmetic prepared and degraded, it has been deemed neby himself, and have given consider-cessary to make corresponding provisable attention to surveying. Another ion for their improvement. About one class commenced the study of survey-third of the school, therefore, is coming, under the instruction of a native

teacher.

Rev. Messrs. Beecher and Harris have each taught a class in reading and arithmetic. One class in arithmetic went through the four fundamental rules and most of vulgar fractions. Mrs. Beecher has had a class in reading, arithmetic and the elements of natural philosophy. Mrs. Harris has also had a class in reading and arithmetic, and with few exceptions all the scholars of the school have given more or less attention to these two studies.

While the several teachers have had cause for rejoicing in seeing the mental improvement of their pupils, they have had still greater joy in the hopeful conversion of some of them to Christ. Of the number which belonged to the school, there were twenty-eight who, after being carefully examined in regard to their religious experience, were baptized on the 15th of August.

The sum expended in connection with the school, including the wages of the native teachers and cooks, board

posed of girls. The English language is made the medium of instruction, in order that the English literature may be thrown open to the pupils. It is designed, however, to make them well acquainted with the grammatical construction of their own language. The course will be thorough in all those branches necessary to qualify them for usefulness in any position in which they may be placed by the providence of God,-a thorough religious education always taking precedence of every thing else. Great results could not, of course, have been anticipated in the brief period of one year and a half. Enough, however, has been accomplished to meet our most sanguine expectations. The first class, consisting of three boys and one girl of about the ages of twelve and thirteen years, have read, besides several elementary school books, most of the gospels and the book of Genesis. The latter they have reviewed, and they are able to answer very readily any questions which may be put them concerning this to them new, and most interesting history.

For report of Karen Theological Seminary, see pp. 105-6 in Magazine for April.

Journal of Mr. Haswell.

They have also committed to memory | tent which might be deemed desirable, a set of scripture cards, embracing a | and which funds would permit. connected history of the most prominent events recorded in the Old Testament and the history of our Savior's life and sufferings. They have committed to memory an elementary school geography, at the same time making free use of maps and globes; and the boys have mastered the four fundamental rules of arithmetic, both simple and compound, and have made some progress in fractions and reduction of currencies. Another class of about the same age are but little behind them, pursuing the same course of study, and the others at various stages of advancement, according to their ages and the times of their having entered the school,

The boys when out of school are employed at work, either on the compound or otherwise, as much of the time as it is thought best to confine so small lads; most of them being under eight, and all under fourteen or fifteen years of age. One of the eldest boys has during the rains been employed mornings and evenings with very good success, in learning the use of tools, by making boxes, plain tables, &c. The girls are taught to cut and sew for the school, and though none are over twelve or thirteen, and most of them under eight years of age, they have done, with a very little supervision, all the work necessary in this department. They are also alternately taught to be useful in various kinds of domestic employment and plain sewing, so far as they may have leisure from school. The school work is wholly done by the pupils at present, cooking, washing and sewing included. This has enabled the school thus far to be conducted most economically, the entire expenses of the school, including rent for school and boarding houses, being a trifle less than two rupees per month for each pupil.

The present number of pupils is limited to thirty, and has been during the past year complete. A small number was thought best to comport with the design of the school. None but the most promising are admitted. Constant applications are made by parents for their children to be received into the school, although by so doing they fully understand that they relinquish all farther control of their children; and so popular has this school become already among the Karens, that it might at once be enlarged to any ex

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Mr. Haswell, in company with Mr. Harris In the months of February and March and a few native assistants, visited several villages lying a short distance from the seaboard south from Amherst; of which some account is given in the following extracts from his journal. They left Amherst by boat for Lameing Feb. 15.

Bahfeing-Cawdote-Karen villages.

Feb. 15. A pleasant sail of five hours brought us to the mouth of Bahfeing creek, where, the tide being exhausted, we put in, had our table spread upon the beach, and partook of our repast. When the tide had risen sufficiently, we proceeded up the creek to the village, not expecting, on account of the lateness of the hour, any opportunity for preaching that night; but as we landed near a kyoung, the noviciates seeing a well manned boat arrive were frightened, supposing, perhaps, we were robbers from Martaban, and ran off and gave an alarm that brought all the men of the village to see who we were. Upon seeing me their fears were dispelled, and I had an excellent opportunity for preaching, to which nearly all listened attentively for two hours, occasionally asking questions. One man said, "We know there must be a God who created all things, but who is He? where is He? how can we please Him?" None disputed; and had I not very often been deceived by appearances, I should expect that these people would soon embrace Christianity. Though not elated, I am encouraged to preach and pray, hoping in due time to reap.

16. Spent the forenoon at Bahfeing, preaching as opportunity offered. About noon put out to sea. Five hours' sail brought us to the mouth of Lameing creek, where we dined and enjoyed a fine walk upon the beach. At the turn of the tide went up to the village of Cawdote. Seeing a large boat from Tavoy, went on board and preached an hour to the boatmen.

Ko A, hearing of our arrival, came and invited us to his house. His fam

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