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capital of Arracan. From the high mountains which tower in the east, dividing Arracan from Burmah, to the ocean, the whole country is cut up by small rivers which run in every direction. This kind arrangement of Providence has afforded the people the best of means for transporting the produce of their farms to market. We have been passing all day through the rice-growing districts. We stopped at a village of some forty houses, and soon had the whole population around us. My little girl was one great object of attraction. I spent an hour in telling them of the glorious One who had loved them and given himself a ransom for their sius, and who now called them to repentance; and left with them the tract, to guide them, if they choose, to the Eternal God.

23. This morning found ourselves at the old city. Here for some six or eight hundred years the kings of Arracan reigned. They have passed away, and all that remains to tell of past greatness, are dilapidated walls of hewn stone, and decayed and ruined pagodas that rise from the hill and from the plain to announce that Boodhism was the religion of the people. I visited one pagoda near the bank of the stream where my boat was anchored, built partly of brick and hewn stone, erected by the kings of Arracan. It was imposing in the days of its pride, and cost thousands. It is entered by three gateways or doors. In the centre was a huge image of Gaudama seated upon a throne or altar. The courts of this temple were in ruins; time, with the assistance of the white ant, had most effectually done its work. The idol, from its sheltered position and the material from which it is made, has survived. Some zealous Boodhist had presented him some parched rice, which a little dog was eating when we entered. Some Burmans soou joined us, and we had a good subject for a sermon. They followed us to our boat, and took tracts with much interest.

Eighty thousand idols-"Cast to the moles and the bats."

Among the ruins of this ancient city one stands preeminent, the temple of 80,000 gods. Before I visited it, I questioned whether so many idols could be collected in one building. Athens in the proudest days of her idolatry boasted only half as many.

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entered the court fronting this idol house, and was soon convinced that the estimate of 80,000 idols had not been exaggerated. This court was twenty-five paces square; of hewn stone and brick. Here were idols piled on idols, row above row; but broken and scattered in every direction, though as large as life and of the hardest stone. The spoiler had been there and done his work. This court fronts the strange idol temple. Here were arched halls of hewn stone, on three sides lined with idols; but attempt a description I cannot. walked through some of these dark, desolate balls, and found that the hat had made it his home; and the noise and scent of this filthy inhabitant could but remind us of the doom of idols in the book of inspiration.

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Subjection of Arracan to Burmah-Fate of the royal family.

Sixty-three years have elapsed since the kings of Arracan ceased to reign. Divisions and rebellions, the precursor of a nation's downfall, had done their work, and the proud Burman came and gained this capital without difficulty. The last king, Them-a-da, fled, and the sceptre passed away. From that time till the Saxon entered it, Arracan bled from every pore. In a few years, what was once a kingdom, was reduced to 200,000 or 300,000 souls. The Burmans carried to Ava the celebrated Mha-moo-ne, and the surviving members of the royal family of Arracan are now detained at Ava and made the slaves of this idol. According to the sacred books of the Burmans there are one hundred and one races of men; the king of Arracan cast an equal number of idols, as representatives of them. These were embedded in masonry, and above them he placed Mha-moo-ne, a vast image of himself, signifying that he was the universal monarch. To this idol, now, the royal race are slaves; a just retribution for their pride.

25. We have preached to all who would listen, and given them แ the tract," and now turn away from these ruins of matter and mind, musing upon that inscrutable Providence that has permitted a nation to pass through such changes so many ages, with no light but nature to guide them to the true God.

Letter of Mr. Abbott. The letter from which we make the following extracts has been already perused by many of our readers, but to complete our view of the Arracan Mission we republish portions of it here. It is dated at Sandoway, Feb. 12, 1848.

Gathering at Ong-kyoung-Baptisms by native

pastors.

We have just returned from a tour of some six weeks among the Karen churches. I had previously sent a circular to the distant villages of Burmah, fixing a day when I would neet the native preachers at Ong-kyoung; but sufficient time had not elapsed to allow the most distant to reach the place in season, so that, on our arrival, but twelve of them had assembled.

When I found myself standing among that group of native preachers, and witnessed their intense joy at seeing me again, I forgot for a while the sacrifices and hazards and misgivings of the past; and we rejoiced together, and offered to the Lord a song of grateful praise.

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Both are excellent men in their way; and I have never regretted that I laid hands on them, and ordained them to the fearful responsibilities of the gospel ministry.

The thirty-six native preachers.

Of the native preachers that I left, two have died, and one has been suspended. The remaining twenty native preachers have remained steadfast and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord. All these are tried men, appointed before I left the country. They are all pastors of churches, the greater number of which are in Burmah. In many cases, their churches being unable to give them an adequate support, the preachers have suffered during my absence, as they do not feel themselves at liberty to engage in any secular employment. And I am sorry to be obliged to say, that the appropriations of the Executive Committee have not been sufficient to enable us to relieve their wants.

The sixteen others, appointed by the ordained pastors, have each the care of a church and Christian congregation, by whom they are sustained. They were appointed provisionally, to supply an immediate demand, but to wait the final decision of the missionary. They are all to leave their churches and study with us during the coming rainy season; and will, we hope, prove themselves worthy to be recognized as preachers, and be at

I was highly gratified at the indications of stability and improvement which the village gave. The pastor of the church, Tway Poh, has more than fulfilled my most sanguine expectations. He has won a fair, high character, and acquired a commanding influence, which, in meekness and love, he consecrates unreservedly to the cause of truth. During my absence he bap-tached to the mission. tized six hundred, and had baptized more than a thousand previously, making some sixteen hundred since his ordination. Over the small churches thus established, he appointed "elders;" and in no case have I seen cause to question the wisdom of his course. He is about to remove from Ongkyoung to a new village, some two days south, where he hopes to build up another large church.

Myat Kyau, the other ordained pastor, has baptized five hundred and fifty since I left, mostly in Burmah, and formed them into churches, and appointed a preacher in each. He is to succeed Tway Poh at Ong-kyoung. Myat Kyau is a different man from Tway Poh; is terribly severe in his denunciations of the wicked; of an indomitable will, he pursues his own course irrespectively of friends or foes, and is liable to make himself enemies. Tway Poh is the mild and lovely John, and has not an enemy in the world.

It will be seen that there are thirtysix native preachers (including the above sixteen), besides the ordained pastors, to be counselled and guided by the missionary; to be watched and prayed over; to awaken our anxieties and multiply our cares and labors; and to add to the expense of the mission. The thirty-six have under their charge nearly five thousand church members; -more than that number have been baptized west of Rangoon since 1837, when I first visited the young chief. The two ordained pastors and eight of the thirty-six, with about a thousand of the converts, are in the province of Arracan, west of the mountains. The other twenty-six with four thousand converts are in Burmah, between the mountains of Arracan on the west and Rangoon on the east. The churches number from twenty to two hundred and fifty members each; and in many of those in Burmah are large numbers of candidates for baptism.

The appropriations needed. Moreover, there are in Burmah, away to the north of Bassein and Pantanau, at least eight destitute districts, where twelve hundred converts are waiting for baptism. And for these eight districts, pastors are demanded immediately. We are expecting that, in the course of a year or two, the churches each having their pastor will be fortyfive, and the converts seven thousand. A large number of school teachers will be required, all of whom must be educated by the missionary, at a consider able expense; and all the pastors must, of course, study with the missionary before receiving a regular appointment. Will the churches of our native land enable the Executive Committee to make appropriations to meet the wants of these churches? is a question which we are beginning to propose to ourselves with fearful apprehensions. Pastors, school teachers, and the young men of these churches, must be educated. Shall we be sustained in this toilsome service? Many of the pastors will be located in districts where the people will not be able to sustain them, and will consequently increase the demands upon the funds of the mission.

The faithfulness and goodness of God.

My recent tour was made in company with Mr. and Mrs. Beecher. A good many were baptized, and our visit among the churches was full of interest to us all,—the details of which will be given by Mr. Beecher. We are now repairing our dilapidated buildings preparatory to the boarding school during the rainy season.

GERMANY.-Letter of Mr. Oncken. In the Annual Report, pp. 274-5 of the Magazine, we have given a summary view of the operations of the German Mission the past year. The following extracts from one of Mr. Oncken's late letters furnish some interesting particulars. Persecution at Pinneberg-Danish churchesLaborers in Hamburg church.

Our little branch churches around church at Pinneberg is now again asHamburg are all doing well. The sailed by the authorities, br. Mahr being threatened with banishment if he does not give up the religious asthis are the Lutheran ministers; one semblies. The moving cause of all of them professes to be evangelical.

Br. Köbner made several missionary tours during the year to Berlin, in company with myself to Bremen, and to Denmark. On the latter, it was his intention to visit Gothenburg, but he was compelled to land at Copenhagen, being half dead from sea-sickness. Danish authorities, he embraced the Meeting with no interruption from the golden opportunity and visited and consulted with the leading brethren in the Danish churches, when the decisions to which we had come, with those who visited us last summer, were confirmed; and we have now the pleasing prospect that, with the Lord's blessing, the cause in Denmark will be revived again. Br. Köbner visited Aalborg on this tour, to become personally acquainted with br. Föltved, one of the missionaries of the Union; and I am glad to say that the personal interview with this brother has only tended to confirm the confidence which was previously entertained. Br. Föltved is laboring with much success at Aalborg and its vicinity, and nearly thirty members were added to the church during the past year.

The great object I had proposed to myself, while in my native land, with such fearful solicitude, is accomplished. Thanks be to God. And I have but to glance over the past few years, and mark the signal divine interpositions in rescuing me from the border of the grave, and in bearing me on through Our beloved brother and fellow-ladangers and sufferings, to the present borer Schauffler has frequently had moment,―to be reminded of my obli- the whole charge of the church alone, gations to my God. Surely I have during the absence of br. Köbner and abundant reason to magnify his good-myself; but though much engaged in ness in the presence of all his people. And now I am more at ease. I have Mr. and Mrs. Beecher at my side, whose knowledge of the language will | enable them soon to prosecute their labors with facility;-good friends, desirable companions, and faithful fellow-laborers.

mercantile pursuits, he has ever discharged the solemn duties of a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ with much self-denial and faithfulness. I adore aud bless the Lord for having given me two such devoted and excellent brethren as my fellow-laborers in the church with which we are connected.

Dear br. Lange has made several

The

missionary tours into Hanover, on requested us to send them a faithful which his visits have been blessed to laborer, but, alas! we have neither the some; several persons have been bap-men nor the means to comply with this tized by him at Heidenhoff, and at one request. The station is most imporor two villages near Pyrmont. He has tant, and, if well supplied, there is continued his ordinary labors in and reason to expect the most happy renear Hamburg, till about three months sults. There have been additions to ago, when his strength failed; so that the above church, but I want positive we began to fear he would soon be information as to the number. removed to his rest; but now the Lord other churches in Pomerania,-beappears to hear the prayers of his peo- tween Stettin and Elbing, located esple on behalf of our brother, and we pecially at and near Rummelsburg, begin to cherish the hope of seeing five or six in number, with about 120 him restored. members, have also had additions, though not so numerous as the churches with which I am more intimately connected.

Conversion of Jews.

Br. Elvin, from the house of Israel, has been appointed to direct his attention to the Jews, and the effort has been most gratifying. Two dear brethren from among that stiff-necked people, have found in Jesus the promised Messiah, and are now happily united with us in the bonds of church fellowship. Our Sunday school has also shared in the Spirit's gracious influence; two of the scholars have been baptized, after satisfactory evidence of a change of heart, and others have applied for admission.

Stettin-Memel-Elbing.

The country churches, with which those brethren are connected who are supported by the Union, have all more or less been refreshed with showers of heavenly influence.

The church at Stettin, under the care of br. Hinrichs, has had an increase of between thirty and forty members. That brother labors there and in its vicinity with much acceptance, and the cause has gained additional strength by the appointment of a brother as colporteur from the American and Foreign Bible Society, who is to labor in that part.

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Hesse Cassel-Bremen-Bitterfeldt.

The brethren Sander and Steinhoff have continued their important and self-denying labors, not only in various parts of Hanover, but br. Steinhoff has been thrice on long missionary tours into Hesse Cassel. These tours have been attended with much danger to his personal safety, the authorities having given strict orders to arrest him. The Lord put the counsel of his enemies to nought, and was a wall of fire to his servant; and thus in the midst of the thickest dangers our brother has been graciously preserved. The above two brethren baptized upwards of forty converts during the past year. Most of these were added to the churches in Hesse Cassel. The persecutions in Hesse continue, or better, have been renewed with increased violence. Imprisonment, confiscation of property, and forcible sprinkling of the infants, is the order of the day. Our brethren are, however, by God's grace, inmovable, and in the Lord's good time they will surely be delivered from this spiritual tyranny.

Br. Gülzaw was ordained in the The communications from br. Dörk- spring of 1847 over the church at Bresen at Memel are most gratifying, and men, after having had the oversight of demand our grateful praises to the them for nearly two years; and as Lord. The church enjoys peace from there is a wide field for missionary exwithout, the meetings are well attend- ertions, I have added him to the list of ed, and eighteen converts have been your laborers. He baptized last year baptized during the past year. Br. ten converts; five at Bremen and five Dörksen has made several missionary at Oldenburg, along the Weser. Br. tours, and hopes soon to see a little Gülzaw labors not only at Bremen, but band of believers formed at Tilsit. makes frequent tours into Oldenburg, One of the brethren in the church at where we have members at different Memel, conversant with the Lithuanian points down the Weser. Last sumlanguage, is now laboring among that mer he extended his sphere of labor as people, and br. Dörksen entertains the far as to Emden, where he was permithope that ere long the Lord will gather ted to preach to large assemblies. a people for himself from among them. At Elbing the church has repeatedly

Br. Werner at Bitterfeldt has bad, perhaps, less success than any of our

Letter of Mr. Förster.

The church (at Copenhagen) has suffered very much from various causes, but the last attack of the en

brethren, but still enough to encourage him. Six believers have been added to the church, and at present there appears to be a powerful awakening at a village five or six miles from there, where a new church will most prob-emy was the introduction, by means of ably be formed soon.

Whole number of laborers.

two Swedes, of that mischievous doctrine of sinless perfection. This pernicious error has grievously affected and its baneful consequences are still almost all the churches in Denmark, painfully perceptible. The church here, with the exception of a few brethren, who on this and other acchurch, was entirely polluted with it. counts separated themselves from the Most of them have, however, through the interposition of br. Oncken and the church at Hamburg, been brought back again to right views. But at my arrival, there were about five brethren

Besides these brethren, engaged by the Union, I have been enabled by private contributions to support, at least for the present, four other brethren; one in Baden, one in Elsass, one in Würtemburg and one in Hanover. We have thus, with the six brethren supported by the American and Foreign Bible Society, twenty-five laborers in the field, who are spreading God's truth, and who are not only aiming at the conversion of sinners,-then leav-who still held this erroneous doctrine. ing them to shift for themselves,-but to organize them into churches after the divine model of the New Testament. The increase in all our churches in the past year, may be estimated at fully 300 members. The number of members in the church at Hamburg is at present 340.

I have had several interviews with these brethren, and after discussing with them for several hours each time, they were all, with the exception of one, by the grace of God led to see and acknowledge that they were wrong in their views, and that they had misWhen I send my journal, I shall the Romans, and other parts of the interpreted the 7th of the Epistle to give you my views of the spiritual con-word of God, which they produced in dition of Switzerland. I have, at pres- favor of their views. On the morning ent, a brother from that country at my of the Lord's day, April 9th, I preached house, who was formerly a pastor in the National Reformed Church at St. Gall; which I discussed the question at issue, a sermon from Phil. 3: 12, 14, in he will remain with us some months, and should the church think him fit This had the desired effect, and after as well as the Lord gave me ability. for missionary work, we shall, most the service they all acknowledged beprobably, send him to his native fore the whole church, to the delight and satisfaction of all, that they were Br. Förster, whom I have long wish- not perfect, neither could attain to pered to be employed as missionary infection this side the grave, as long as Denmark, is now also with me, ou his way to that country; he has been sent out by our Strict Baptist brethren in England. Br. F. will remain here some weeks longer, and I trust he will prove a real blessing to the cause in his native country.

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they carried about with them this body of sin, &c. This was a delightful season; and we were very happy in the Lord. We have now got rid of this error. May the Lord prevent us from falling into others.

But we have received farther enLord, after having hid his face for a couragement, and it seems as if the long time, again begins to smile upon his people. Some of the brethren who were separated from the church, have have been induced to attend, and others been received into fellowship; others begin to inquire. Thus we have good reason to hope.

There is one thing more, of which I also will cause you to rejoice. I bap also have to inform you, and which tized on Thursday, April 6, three persons in the open sea, and received

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