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WISCONSIN.

Beloit, Cong. ch.

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Cincinnati, 1st ortho. cong. ch. m. c. 23,08, 2d pres ch. m. c. 16,85; a friend, 50; a bal. 4,67;

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College Hill, Fein. coll. m. c.

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Sparta, W. T. A. 4; Waupon, Rev. S. H. A. 1;

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IOWA.

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Brecksville, 8,59; Rev. C. B. S. 5; Castalia,

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KENTUCKY.

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By Rev. I. M. Weed. Belvidere, Pres. ch. wh. and prev. dona. cons. JOEL WALKER an H. M. Lacon, WILLIAM FENN, wh. and prev. dona cons. him an H. M. Brighton, L. P. Stratton, fam. off'g, 15; Dover, cong. ch. m. c. 25; Jacksonville, cong. ch. s. s. miss. asso. 21,10; Jerseyville, 15; New Providence, pres. ch. m. c. 5; Ottawa, 1st cong. ch. and so. 78,15; S. 9. 20;

179 25

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$341 12

DONATIONS IN CLOTHING, &c.

New London. Ct. A box, fr. A. S. Jeffrey,
for Mr. Coan, Sandw. Islands.
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sch at Smyrna.

Southwold, C. W. Mrs. E. D. Johnston,
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ROBERT ROBINSON an H. M.

25 00

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7 52

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53 00-145 85 Legacies,

Donations received in April,

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Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions:

Dear Brethren,-We are in the midst of our meeting with the brethren of the Madura mission. It might seem quite uncalled for, if I should pronounce them and their wives a noble band of Christian laborers; but it is not out of place for me to say that the providence and Spirit of God seem to be still manifestly guiding us, and prospering us in the work for which we were sent.

Yesterday, like many other Sabbaths since we came to India, was a delightful break in the course of our arduous duties. We attended worship at the Madura East station, where is a highly respectable church edifice, seventy-one feet by forty, with a tower, of good proportions, and substantially constructed. The building was well filled, there being about five hundred natives present, all of whom were seated on the floor. Including the missionaries there were two hundred and fifty communicants. The reason of so many being here at this time is, that the greater part of the catechists, and other Christian helpers in the employ of the mission, have come to Madura for the purpose of their semi-annual examination. Of these there are one hundred and twenty on the ground; and a most interesting spectacle it is to look upon such a corps of men, notwithstanding their imperfections, raised up here for the work of teaching, and preaching to this heathen people. It is now twenty years since operations commenced in the Madura collectorate; and the present visible fruits are five thousand nominal Christians, five hundred church members, with such a body of native helpers as I have referred to, and others in preparation to bear a part in the good work of making known the only Savior. The presence of so many commissioned and non-commissioned officers was an exponent of the whole force in the field, and gave a visibility to the operations here, which nothing else could have done, short of assembling all the village congregations in one place.

At the opening of the service two infant children were presented for baptism; one the son of Rev. Mr. Herrick, our missionary at Tirumungalum, and the other a

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daughter of one of the native teachers in the seminary at Pasumalie. He is usually called Colton, but his Tamil name is Nullatamby, which signifies, My Good Younger Brother; and I am sure that Dr. Anderson, who administered the ordinance, and all of us, regarded him according to the significance of his name. It was a touching and beautiful sight to see the two infants presented simultaneously, and side by side, for the same ordinance; one fair, and the other dark-skinned; one the child of parents born on the Green Mountains, and who have come hither in the dew of their youth as servants of Christ, the other a child of parents reclaimed from heathenism by our missionaries here on the sultry plains of Southern India; and the two receiving the seal of the covenant at the same time from the hands of the senior Secretary of the American Board. There was an illustration, a practical emblem, of the unity in Christ's church, "where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all." Of these two staves the one shall be called Beauty and the other Bands; and many thoughts did that scene suggest to us relative to the final ingathering, when secretaries, pastors, missionaries and converts-the sower, and the reaper-those who now go forth bearing precious seed, and the same returning and bringing their sheaves with them, shall rejoice forever in the harvest home.

The sacrament of the supper was truly a eucharist-a season of solemn, joyful thanksgiving. It would be difficult indeed under such circumstances, to repress the overflow of gratitude to Him who gave himself a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Praying that his special presence may ever be enjoyed by you, I remain your affectionate brother, A. C. THOMPSON.

LETTER FROM MR. THOMPSON.-No. 4.

MADURA, MARCH 21, 1855.

Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions:

Dear Brethren:-Yesterday was a day of peculiar interest to us. The happy issue of our meeting with the Madura mission, of the same length as the general meeting at Ahmednuggur, you will learn through Dr. Anderson. It closed on Saturday last; and on Monday evening, after having enjoyed a season of intimate sacramental fellowship with our brethren and sisters the previous afternoon, we started for Mallangkineru, distant twenty-six miles. We stopped for a part of the night at Rev. Mr. Herrick's, Tirumungalum; but by three o'clock yesterday morning we were in our palankeens, and on our way to the village just named. There is no public road leading directly to it, and our course for the latter part of the distance was literally "across the lots," that is, through rice fields and fields of "dry cultivation," so called, and along the embankments of extensive tanks which are almost numberless in Southern India.

Mallangkineru is neither a metropolis nor a shire town; nor is there any thing in its locality, architecture, history, or productions, to attract a stranger. We were drawn there by a different class of allurements. It was to attend the formation of a church of Christ, and to assist in the ordination of the first native pastor within the limits of our Tamil missions.

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four feet by fourteen. The floor, or rather the ground, was partly covered with mats, and a temporary roof had also been constructed of matting; while under this had been made, for the occasion, a lining of cotton cloths or shawls worn by native women, one of which constitutes the entire dress. It could hardly have been better done by American ladies; certainly not with corresponding materials.

Messrs. Tracy, Herrick and Taylor, who had been appointed a committee for the occasion, were obliged, as well as ourselves, to convert the unfinished meetinghouse into a bed-room and breakfast-room; for there is not a house in the village which would be suitable for such purposes, though vacated by its human inhabitants. Domestic architecture, in the rural portions of this country, and the habits of living, are but little in advance of the more cultivated tribes of North American Indians.

By half past nine o'clock, every thing had been put in order; and the first signal was given for the people to assemble. The congregation have no bell; but at a cost of twelve dollars they have supplied themselves with a large kettle drum, which can be heard several miles off. In a few minutes the house was filled, and the congregation entered in a body, chanting a native tune. The Christians of Mallangkinern presented themselves first, with garlands of sweet-scented flowers and an offering of fruits for the Deputation and the missionaries. Next a small company of Christians from a neighboring part of Tinnevelly came forward in the same manner; and then a representation of the Madura Evangelical Society. The garlands, according to custom, were placed round our necks by the leaders of these several companies, which were addressed in turn by each of the Deputation.

Ten o'clock had now come, when the second signal was given, and the congregation, to the number of one hundred and twenty or more, seated themselves in an orderly manner on the ground, save that here and there a child walked about, with no more covering than it had when it first came into the world. The doors and windows were thronged by heathen people from the village.

After introductory devotional exercises, and the reading of the Scriptures, the committee of the mission proceeded to organize a church. Eighteen individuals, twelve males and six females, stood up, and gave their assent to Articles of Faith and a Covenant. There were among them those of three generations-Winfred, who was to be ordained, with a daughter, and also his father and mother. The office of deacons being evidently of New Testament authority, the brethren of the newly formed church elected two of their number-Yananmuthu, a man of influence and tried Christian character, and Santanum, who also is "grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre." Dr. Anderson, whose remarks were interpreted by Mr. Tracy, expressed the fellowship of the churches in India and the United States, closing with the appropriate exhortation, "Fear not, little flock."

The business next in order for the church was to elect a pastor and extend a call to him. Winfred who has labored among them with acceptance for more than a year, was unanimously chosen; and deacon Yananmuthu read the following communication, which had been signed by the male members: "We, the undersigned, Christians of Mallangkineru, District of Madura, choose hereby and invite you, Mr. Winfred, the preacher, to be our pastor for instructing us in the principles of the Christian religion, and to be our spiritual leader. We also do hereby certify that we will not only be obedient to you, but also give you bodily food according to our ability, in recompense for your administration of the spiritual food."

Winfred replied in writing as follows:-" You, the Christian congregation at Mallangkineru, District of Madura, invite me to be your pastor, in order to instruct

you in the principles of the Christian religion. Although I feel myself unworthy to discharge the important duties of that office, yet with a hope that Christ, the Head of the church, and the Chief Shepherd, will afford me the necessary grace, I am willing to live and labor among you in compliance with your invitation."

The congregation having sung a Tamil hymn with much spirit, Mr. Tracy preached a sermon from Ephesians iv. 11-13, on the character, theme and reward of the true minister of Christ. It was in order to a more equal distribution of time, that the discourse occurred when it did, the whole service being regarded as one, though a short recess now took place.

When the audience reassembled, Winfred was examined with reference to his Christian experience and doctrinal knowledge. It appears that his father was converted through the instrumentality of a catechist sent to Tinnevelly by Schwartz, and that he himself was greatly indebted to the faithful labors of the excellent Rhenius at Palamcottah, and to the Senior brethen at Jaffna, among whom he mentioned Mr. Poor particularly. The narrative, as interpreted privately, was full and satisfactory; and in view of his work as a minister of Christ he expressed great delight. His examination on Christian doctrines was also well sustained; indeed, I have attended the ordination of more than one young man at home who did not appear to be so well fitted for the office, spiritually or otherwise, as this humble Shanar. He speaks and writes the English language with correctness; he is well versed in the Holy Scriptures, having some acquaintance with the Greek, and more with the Hebrew ; he is meek and fervent, judicious and industrious; and possesses the entire confidence of the community at Mallangkineru, where he is well known, and where his relatives reside.

Rev. Mr. Taylor offered the ordaining prayer, and never were the hands of the presbytery laid upon the head of any one, solemnly setting him apart to the full privileges and responsibilities of an ambassador of Christ, with more pleasure than ours were laid upon this Tamulian brother. There was no faltering in Dr. Anderson's voice when, in giving the charge, he addressed him as "brother"; nor did I ever feel disposed in a right hand of fellowship, to give a firmer grasp than in this

instance.

Rev. Mr. Herrick addressed the church as follows: "Dear brethren and sisters. This is a day of peculiar importance. Five or six years ago there were no Christians here. All worshiped dumb idols; none believed in Jesus Christ. By the special favor of God, the gospel was sent here. At first one only believed and was baptized; afterwards others; and your number has since continued to grow." This brother's appropriate exhortations to them to love, honor, and pray for their pastor, I need not detail.

The last hymn was read by Winfred, who also pronounced the benediction. But although the afternoon was now considerably advanced, and the people were dismissed, they manifested no disposition to retire. They were told that the service was through; but not a soul moved toward the door. Finally deacon Yananmuthu broke out, "To God, who has granted us so many mercies, and has caused his light to shine into the midst of our darkness, be glory forever!" Dr. Anderson addressed a few valedictory words to them, when the good deacon broke forth once more, "We will pray for you; we do pray for all the churches in America. Give our salutations to those Christian friends."

In closing the right hand of fellowship, I stated to the pastor and his people that, as a permanent expression of fellowship on the part of one church, and, indeed, of many churches in the United States, I presented to them a communion service, the gift of a widow lady in my congregation, who had placed money in my hands for

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