RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. As our limits will not allow us to give at full length all the interesting religious intelligence, which is detailed in foreign Magazines, we shall endeavor to fur nish our readers with the most valuable accounts of this kind, in a regular ab stract. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which has been in operation more than a century, published the report for 1809, at the commencement of the present year. The num ber of subscribing members to this institution was 3,560 in January last; of whom 475 had been added in the two preceding years The number of schools under the direction of the Society is 116, containing about 5,000 children. The number of Bibies sent to the subscribers. during the year 1809, is 8,760 New Testaments and Psalters 12,40 Common Prayers Other bound books Tracts 1 ·,060 1,440 120,236 Besides these, the Society distri buted in various other channels, Bibles 773 New Testaments and Psalters 2,629 Common Pravers Other bound books Tracts 76 424 6,114 The Society have published an edition of 20,000 copies of the Welsh Scriptures, with the Common Prayers and Singing Psalms. These they distribute in calf binding, at less than half price, to any of the inhabitants of Wales. They have also printed, and distributed in the Isle of Man, 5,000 copies of the Common Prayer in the Manks language. The expenditure of the Society during eleven months and a half before March 29, 1810, was about 71,000 dollars. The correspondence received from the Society's missions in India is encouraging. There were, according to the last accounts, about 200 communicants at Pullicat, 100 at Cuddalore, 250 at Tanjore, and 1,950 at Tranquebar. How many there were at the other missionary stations, does not appear. Sattianaden, the native preacher, was grown aged and infirm, so that the missionaries thought ED. PAN. of ordaining two or three of the fittest catechists to administer to the southern congregations. The Rev. Messrs. Kolhoff and Horst, the missionaries at Tanjore, speak of a Brahmin, of whose conver sion to Christianity they had good hopes. The congregation at Tranquebar had been increased by 64 children born of Christian parents, and 14 adults who had quitted heathenism, and ac cepted the saving Gospel of Christ; among these was a Mahrattian Brahmin, who spoke the Telinga language, and who had become, not only a the oretical, but a real and practical Christian. The poor native Christians at St. Thomas's Mount have a small weekly collection for their poorer brethren at Pullicat. Several members of the congrega. tion at Buddaloor are zealous to act according to their Christian engage ments. Here Mr. Swartz was once robbed. There was not a single Christian then, at this place; now there are a great number. The Bristol Auxiliary Bible Society, held its first amiversary on the 7th of Feb. last. The report of the Com mittee evinced the high degree of zeal and activity which they and the officers of the Society had employed in conducting its affairs, as well as the great liberality of the inhabitants of Bristol and the vicinity, in the sup port they have given to it. The Edinburgh Bible Society have re mitted 444 dollars to the Evangelical Society at Stockholm, to be employed in diffusing the sacred Scriptures a mong the poor of Sweden The latter Society have printed 11,000 copies of the New Testament, all which and many thousand more, are engaged for immediate distribution. } THE following statement is respectfully submitted by the subscriber; who would also observe, that he, in company with Mr LAWSON, from England, (who is a proficient in the beautiful and important art of engraving on wood,) is now in this country, waiting for conveyance, to join the Missionaries in India; and should any contributions be made in aid of the translations, by individuals, Societies, United or Congregations in the States, such contributions may be forwarded to ROBERT RALSTON, Esq of Philadelphia; or to any of the gentlemen, whose names are subjoined, which will be carefully transmitted by them, through the Missionaries, when an opportunity offers to sail for that country. WILLIAM JOHNS, Surgeon to the Baptist Mission in India, and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. It is presumed that the American People are partially acquainted with the number of languages, into which the Missionaries at Serampore, in Bengal, (under the superintendance of the Baptist Society in England,) are translating the Holy Scriptures; but for the sake of those who may not be informed, and to bring again the subject into the view of those who have before liberally aided the design, the following compendium is laid before them. The translations have been making into Twelve Languages, viz. 1. The Bengalee. 2. The Orissa. 3. The Telinga. 4. The Guzerattee. 5. The Kurnata. 6. The Mahratta. 7. The Hisdoosthanee. 8. The Seek. 9. The Sungskrit. 10. The Burman. 11. The 2. Bengalee, 3. Orissa, 4 Hindoosthanee, 5. Guzerattee, 6. Chinese, 7 Telinga, 8. Kurnata, 9. Seek, (or Sikh) 10. Thibet, 1 Mahratta, 12. Burman, Read over all India. Spoken by a population equal to that of the US Amer. Ireland. France & Italy, Over all China, 300 mills! England. The same. Great Britain. -Burmah, 17 mills. All of whom are idolaters! and though more or less civilized, the greater part are the subjects of the most cruel superstitions. To mens tion one instance only :-" Thirty thousand widows (according to some accounts) are immolated annually on the funeral piles, with the bodies of their deceased husbands." The present state of the Translations is highly encouraging, and marks the zeal and perseverance of the persons engaged in the work. The Bengalee Bible, in 5 vols. 8vo. has been completed for some time, and has reached even to a third edition. This work was the result of "sixteen years labor" The New Testament and Pentateuch are printed in Sungskrit, the New Testament, and the Old Testament, from Job to Malachi Orissa. in the The New Testament in the Mahratta and in the Hindoosthanee, is printed. Ir the Chinese, the Gospels by Matthew and Mark, are printed off, and the New Testament will shortly be published:-In 809 the translation had proceeded to the end of Ephesians. The printing in the Burman and also in the Seek, is begun. The Telinga and Kurnata, may be commenced this present year, (1811); the Kurnata and Guzerattee have been hitherto delayed by circumstances, chiefly of a pecuniary nature.-The translations of all are much further advanced than the printing; and the Missionaries express a hope, that ere long, "All the nations of the East will hear in their own tongues the wonderful works of God." Besides the above, the Serampore Missionaries are printing the Malayala, translated from the celebrated Syriac version, under the direction of Mar Di onysius, bishop of the Syrian Christians; and also the Tamul, translated by a valua le deceased Missionary from the London Society. It would b no easy task to fix any precise period for the completion of this great work; but from an estimate made in 1809, by Doctor Carey, some conjecture may be formed. Four years had been assigned by him, in 1807, for the translation of the New Testament, into ten languages; but the labour and expense attending the Chinese (not included in the number) seem to protract that expectation. He adds: "In two years, three of the ten versions have been so completely revised as to be actually printed off, and five more of them were at that time brought to the press." The character of these men may be best read in their works. It may however be proper to say, they who know them well, believe them to be translators of ability and fidelity. The testimony of Dr. Buchanan does honour to them and himself:-" Dr. William Carey and Mr. (now Dr.) Joshua Marshman, are men whose names will probably go down to the latest posterity in India, as faithful translators of the Holy Scriptures." The proficiency of the young men engaged with Dr. Marshman, in the Chinese, two of whom are his sons, one in the 17th, the other in the 16th year, and the third, the youngest son of Dr. Carey, in his 10th year, has attracted the attention of the Right Honorable the Governor General of India, Lord Minto, an extract of whose speech to the College of Fort William is here given:-" Three young men, I may say boys, have not only acquired a ready use of the Chi I nese language, for the purpose of oral communication, but they have achieved, in a degree worthy of admiration, that which has been deemed scarcely within the reach of European faculties and address-I mean, a very extensive and correct acquaintance with the written language of China. have read the account of the examination in Chinese, which took place at Serampore, with great interest; and recommend it to the liberal notice of those whom I have the honour to address. I must not omit to recommend the zealous and persevering labors of Mr. Lassar, and of those learned and pious persons associated with him, who have accomplished, for the future benefit of that immense and populous region, Chinese versions, in the Chinese character, of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, throwing open that precious mine, with all its religious and moral treastion in the world." ure, to the largest associated popula An additional testimony may be mentioned: The Asiatic Society and the College of Fort William, united to grant to the Missionaries at Serampore, an annual stipend of £450 sterling, to defray the expense of printing the Sacred Vedas with a translation. Dr. Carey is the author of Sungskrit, Bengalee, and Mahratta Grammars, and is preparing a Dictionary of the Sungskrit, Bengalee, and Eng lish Languages, and proposes to publish a collation of Sungskrit and Hebrew roots. The excellent Mr. Ward is the author of a work entitled "Account of Manners, Customs, &c. of the Hindoos," with numerous engravings of the Indian costume, a second edition of which is publishing in England. This work is comprised in 4 vols. 4to. As it respects the advantages which the Baptist Missionaries possess for the important work of publishing the Scriptures in the Eastern languages, we need only mention their local situation, (within 15 miles of Calcutta)— their long residence in India ;-their valuable library of critical authors on * Christian Researches, printed by Armstreng, Boston, p. 249. †Coll. Report. Scripture; a foundery for types of the numerous Eastern characters; ingenious natives under their direction, to cut the blocks for printing the Chinese version learned natives retamed by them to assist in the different translations ;-printing presses, with every convenience for printing ;and one of their number, (Mr. Ward, formerly a printer in England,) to superintend the setting up of the types, &c. These advantages stamp an importance on this establishment which can scarcely be surpassed. The patronage which these Translators have received, is calculated to confirm the public esteem. 1. Many wealthy and philanthrophic individuals resident in India, among whom w..s the late Mr. Grant, who a few months previous to his decease, bequeathed to them 5000 dollars for the translations. 2. The friends of the Holy Scriptures in Scotland, of all denominations, have repeatedly and liberally contributed to this object. 3. The British and foreign Bible Society, that grand and peculiar institution of modern times, has voted annually for 3 years nearly 5000 dols. The New York Bible Society have also aided the design. 4. The American people generally, who, almost unsolicited, furnished about 6000 dols. in the years 1806 & 7; a supply mentioned by the Missionaries "with peculiar gratitude." In taking a view of the expenses already incurred, the mind is affected with a pleasing astonishment at the efforts which have supported the work undertaken by a Society whose funds, at its commencement in 1792, were only £13, 2, 6 sterling, less than sixty dollars! From 1801 to 1809, the money received from various sources, for the translations expressly, amounted to the sum of 39, 584 dolls. 17 cents.There was expended within the same time 36,443 dollars 72 cents, leaving a balance of rather more than 3000 dollars, which was even at the time, more than absorbed, by the versions in the press, exclusive of types, &c. &c Previous to 1809, the Missionaries had not made many drafts on the Society in England, but since that pe riod they have drawn considerably, amounting to 21,333 dolls. in the last year, as stated in a letter just received by Missionaries now in this country, from the Rev. Dr. Fuller, the venerable Secretary of the Society, who adds, Notwithstanding collectosin lately made in Scotland, amounting to 5777 dolls. we are not able at present to meet our demands, and it may be a year ere we shall be, for our funds are considerably more than exhausted." The manner in which the Scriptures have been received by the na tives, will afford satisfaction to the contributors, as it has served to encourage the hearts of the unwearied labourers. So early as 1803, the New Testament, the first volume of the Old, the Psalms, and a part of Isaiah, were finished in Bengalee, and "began to be a good deal read by the Natives." Some came to Serampore from a great distance to inquire about 'the new Shaster. One was heard to say, "This Shaster will be received by all India, and the Hindoos will become One Cast." Another, had carried about with him a Copy of the New Testament, which was nearly worn out by reading Besides giving away copies to those who apply for them, at the Missionary Settlement, the Missionaries, Native and European, carry them in their tours through the country, and in most places, find the people eager to receive them. Often is the poor Hindoo seated under the shade of the trees, reading · this wonderful Book.' A native of talents has been for some time stationed in Orissa, near the famed Temple of Juggernaut, the Moloch of Hindoostan; the road to which for fifty miles, is strewed with the human bones of self-murdered votaries : here this messenger of peace is frequently seen accosting his idolatrous countrymen, amid the scattered remains of their brethren, and fathers; presenting them with the word of life, in the very language of Jug. gernaut." 66 A circumstance highly important to the Eastern world, is a step lately taken by the corresponding committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, of which Messrs. Carey, Ward, and Marshman, are members. OTHECA BIBLICA in Calcutta ; From the extensive intercourse which subsists between India and Christian nations; from the protection afforded to the Missionaries by the English Government of Bengal; from the success which has attended them; from the high estimation in which they are held by the Christian world; and above all from the importance of the cause itself; may we not anticipate the continued and increasing patronage of the American public. Can we doubt that the friends of the Bible in this Western world will cheerfully come forward a second time to aid in giving back the lamp of life,' to 4 hundred millions, inhabit. ing the East, whence we have derived our light, life, and hope of immortality. The following Ministers whose names are subjoined, fully concur in recommending the above object to the attention and exertions of the Christian public. Contributions raised for this purpose will be committed to their care, and by them will be transmitted according to the design. A vote was unanimously passed, recommending it to the members of their Body to make known to their respective congregations, in whatever mode they should think proper, the subject of the EasTERN TRANSLATIONS, and to express their readiness to receive and transmit, to the authorized persons, whatever contributions any of their people should be disposed to make. At a late and numerously attended meeting of the BOSTON FEMALE SO CIETY, organized in 1800, with a view to the support of Missionary undertakings; it was Resolved, unanimously: "That the whole subscriptions of the present year be appropriated to the Translations of the Scriptures, carrying on so extensively and successfully by the mis sionaries at Serampore, in Bengal." We would recommend the laudable example of these united Christians, (for the society consists of various denominations,) to others, that according to the ability which God giv eth, all might come forward and as sist in giving the Holy Scriptures to four hundred millions of idolaters! ORDINATIONS. ORDAINED to the work of the Gospel ministry, in Warren, (N Y.) on the 26th of Sept. last, the Rev. JOHN BART LETT Sermon by the Rev. Shubael Bartlett of East Windsor, (Con) At Litchfield, (NY) on the 2d ult the Rev. SAMUEL T MILLS Sermon by the Rev. Samuel Mills of Saybrook, (Con.) At Salisbury, (Vt.) on the 15th ult, the Rev RUFUS POMEROY over the Con gregational church and society in that place. Sermon by the Rev. Thomas A. Merrill At Brandon, (Vt.) on the 9th ult the Rev. JONAHAN D. WINCHESTER, to the work of the Gospel ministry, by a committee of the Rutland Association. Sermon and Charge by the Rev. LEX. UEL HAYNES of Rutland. |