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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSION TO JAMAICA.

Recommended by R. C. Dallas, Esq. in the Second Volume of his
History of the Maroons of Jamaica.

Mr. Editor,

THE joy that was felt on the Abolition of the Slave Trade is, unhap pily, not so universal in our colonies as in the mother country, if we may Judge from the Petition and Remonstrance of the House of Assembly in Jamaica, and the Act lately passed in Kingston, to prevent the attendance of the Negroes on the preaching of the Missionaries, Meinodists, &c. These are additional arguments, if more were required, after volumes of proof, of the necessity of the Abolition. It is devoutly to be hoped, that an act to legalize persecution will not be suffered by the King in Council to be passed into a law a hope we trust his Majesty will realize, after so many proofs of his tolerant principles and conduct. Have Avarice and Interest so iafatuated our colonists, as to urge them to enter the lists with Heaven,-forbidding the preaching of the word to the poor Heathen, and thus filling up the measure of their iniquity, that wrath may come upon them to the ultermost?" In perusing the History of the Maroons of Jamaica, by R. C. Dallas, Esq. I was extremely pleased with his sentiments on the subject of Religion, which I have copied for your insertion, as peculiarly seasonable at the present crisis. He appears to be a man of considerable inteligence and humanity; and as he resided many years in Jamaica, and was connected with some of the most respectable persons in power in the island, his opinion is entitled to greater weight. That amiable prelate, the Bishop of London, has just published a Letter to the West India Planters, on behalf of the Negroes, with the liberal offer of £500 towards the establishment of schools for their instruction. While it is sincerely to be hoped that something may be done for the rising generation, the souls of the present race (for negroes have souls as well as planters) are too precious to be suffered to perish, by depriving them of the means of their salvation.

Yours,

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A FRIEND TO SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS Among the Negroes. 'We are now to consider the neglect of religion: a subject than which There cannot be one more important to the mind of man. The world has long had in its view the extraordinary sight of a Christian Community in Jamaica, supporting, in the bosom of the country, a population of Heathens nearly ten times more numerous than themselves, without any pains being taken to lead them to a sense of the state of man, his fall and redemption. That so many hundreds of thousands of men in the West Indies, should be suffered to remain in such ignorance and irreligion, is a scandal that could not escape the just, tho' severe, animadversions of the advocates of Africa. The justness of the censure was felt; and we find a clause in the consolidated law, enacting, That all masters and owners, or, in their absence, the overseers of the slaves, shall, as much as in them`lics, endeavour to have them instructed in the principles of the Christian religion; and it was made a part of the duty of the clergy to attend at their churches, for the purpose of instructing negroes who will come to them. By these ordinances, be they ever so much neglected, the Legislature has done its duty; for what coercive measure can be adopted to enforce an injunct-on, the observance of which, in the state of religion in every part of the British empire, is left to the consciences of men ? The rest must be the result of principles and manners. The truth, and for speaking the truth, I know I shail be forgiven by those who are not touched by it, is that religion is shamefully neglected by those who profess themselves Chris

tians. Religion is scarcely known to be attended to, except on some properties belonging to Moravians, and a few other Dissenters, who deserve great credit for their perseverance. Zeal is the great spring of success ia religious conversions; and it is an undeniable truth, that exalted as our clergy are by learning, talents, or virtue, in zeal they are generally defective. I write with reverence; nor do I, in this observation, mean to cast the slightest disrespect on a body whose functions are, in my mind, most sublime. What is necessary in the character of a Missionary, is not so in that of a Protestant Clergyman, fixed in a parish where, if he is ever seen in the coltages of the peasants, it is bestowing aims, or conversing on the sins of man and the grace of Christ, on repentance and remission. How little adapted is he to the task of converting Heathens in foreign countries?

It is a melancholy truth, that the negroes in our colonies have been left to a savage Heathenism, while those in Catholic countries have been instructed. It ought to be known that, when the Revolution of France drove the priests to perish in exile, or exist ou the bounty of strangers, the black Christians of Martinique sent them occasional succours to a considerable amount. Having heard this circumstance from the Bishop of Troyes, while he resided in England, I wrote to him after he became Bishop of Meaux, for some information on the subject; and at the same time I requested his opinion on the causes of the superior success of the Catholic Missionaries. In his answer he says, "The esprit de corps that animated our missionaries, especially the Jesuits, gave great energy to their endeavours. Their characters and talents were studied by an able superior, who selected those he thought best fitted for a mission. Christian obedience, pushed to the highest degree of perfection and mystic enthusiasm, was the soul of these institutions. To this, add the advantage which celibacy gives to our missionaries, by keeping them free from family cares, conjugal solicitude, and anxiety to provide for children, so that the mind is wholly devoted to the object. I think too, that those of our clergy who are truly religious, are more zealous for the salvation of souls than those of your church, though equally religious. Notwithstanding what is said of the superfluity of our ceremonies, I have sometimes thought that your clergymen confine themselves more than ours to the externals of the church service, and to eloquent sermons on stated days. We attend more to individuals in sickness, and to the instruction of their children. Our bishops labour more to form men for the priesthood; and, when ordained, more closely overlook their conduct. Your clergy, I fear, rather consider their bishops as collators to benefices, than look up to them as spiritual fathers, beloved and revered. This was the case with some of ours, but less generally, if I may depend upon my observations.”

Let us pursue the theme which was broken off by the Bishop's letter. The want of zeal and the want of example are causes of the little progress of religion among the negroes. Let preaching be accompanied with Christian charity and example; for negroes, like other men, will judge of the sincerity of faith by actions more than by professions. The following dialogue actually passed between a master and his slave, who had taken a new wife: : -- “You must take your own wife, Melia, back again.” Me no forsake Melia, Massa.' "What! have you not forsaken Sue, Jupiter's wife ?" Jupiter part wi' her, Massa; so me take her.' "What! have you two wives! for shame!" Massa, what make you come upon poor negro bone so ? you no hab two wife youself!'

To aid the propagation of the gospel, the colonists must conform to the regulations of Christianity. Hoping for this, let us enquire into the practicability of some plan for producing those benefits. I will venture to

say, that little or no succcess is to be hoped for from the legislative injunction to masters or to the clergy to wait at their churches. Estimating the number of clergy in Jamaica by the parishes, there is not above 1 to 1,500 whites, uor above 1 to 15,000 blacks. Parishes form large divisions, and might rather be called Couutics, as may be judged by recollecting that

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSION TO JAMAICA.

Recommended by R. C. Dallas, Esq. in the Second Volume of
History of the Maroons of Jamaica.

Mr. Editor,

Tuz joy that was felt on the Abolition of the Slave Trade pily, not so universal in our colonies as in the mother country. judge from the Petition and Remonstrance of the House of Jamaica, and the Act lately passed in Kingston, to prevent th of the Negroes on the preaching of the Missionaries, Monodis are additional arguments, if more were required, after volume the necessity of the Abolition. It is devoutly to be hoped, legalize persecution will not be suffered by the King in Cou into a law-a hope we trust his Majesty will realize, after of his tolerant principles and conduct. Have Avarice and tuated our colonists, as to urge them to enter the lists wit bidding the preaching of the word to the poor Heathen, the measure of their iniquity, that wrath may come up termost? In perusing the History of the Maroons of Dallas, Esq. I was extremely pleased with his sentimer Religion, which I have copied for your insertion, as | at the present crisis. He appears to be a man of co and humanity; and as he resided many years in Ja nected with some of the most respectable persons his opinion is entitled to greater weight. That am of London, has just published a Letter to the We half of the Negroes, with the liberal offer of £5 ment of schools for their instruction. While i that something may be done for the rising gener sent race (for negroes have souls as well as plan suffered to perish, by depriving them of the me Yours.

A FRIEND TO SCHOOLS AND MIS

'We are now to consider the neglect of There cannot be one more important to the long had in its view the extraordinary in Jamaica, supporting, in the bosom Heathens nearly ten times more numer pains being taken to lead them to a se and redemption. That so many hun West Indies, should be suffered to rem is a scandal that could not escape the the advocates of Africa. The justne a clause in the consolidated law, ena in their absence, the overseers of t endeavour to have them instructe gion; and it was made a part of churches, for the purpose of ins By these ordinances, be they e done its duty; for what coerci injunct-on, the observance of of the British empire, is left to the result of Mri truth, 1

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it is a melanconY .. left to a savage Heathe structed. It ought to drove the priests to p black Christians of in able amount. Has while he resided in t Meaux, for some an requested his opinion Missionaries. In bism our missionaries, e deavours. Their chara who selected those hed ence, pushed to the was the soul of the eelibacy gives to our conjugal soheilulle, and is wholly devoted to final are truly religious, are m of your church, though of the superfly d clergymen confite theme church service, and to do to individuals in dimes, a bishops labour muret for more closely overlook the their bishops as culation fathers, beloved and reven less generally, if I may dey Let as pursue the The wart of meal and the of religion among the Christian charity and the sincerity of faith dialogue actually p new wife:-Y no forsake Mela wife 3" - Jupi you two wie Begro bones

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pplied with fuel from Finland.

HE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. sement of the next General Annual eeting:

, Surry Chapel, the Rev. JAMES PEDDIE,

acle, the Rev. J. CLAYTON, jun. will preach. ev. Mr. Wall's Meeting-House, Pavement, Society will meet to elect Officers and Di-to hear the Report of the Directors, and of the Institution.

aham Court Chapel, the Rev. Jostan R. preach.

e's Church, Fleet Street, the Rev. JOHN KING e of Pertenhall, near Kimbolton, will preach. our o'clock, the Members of the Society will chool-Room of Sion Chapel.

hapel, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will Members and Friends of the Society who are o others can be admitted.-Tickets for Admission pective Ministers.

s to begin at Half past Ten, and the Evening at llection will be made at each of the Places.

ay, That the front seats of the galleries being reserved respectfully requested, that other gentlemen will not ce

ting of the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY will London Tavern, Cheapside, on Wednesday, the 3d of ven o'clock. -The President will take the Chair pre

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deeting of the RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY will be held on , at Seven in the Morning, at the City of London Tavern, 1, opposite Threadneedle Street, - the Room at the New been found too small.

Meeting of Subscribers and Friends to the F
Fusion of Religious Knowledge in Ireland,

:

there are only 20 in the whole island: a number which we find nearly equalled in the limits of some small country towns; 'tor instance, Colchester, where, I believe, there are 15. The absurdity of a clergyman waiting for the arrival of 15,000 Catechumens, some of whom, with the utmost expedition, could not perform in three days the journey they would have to take, is too glaring to need being pointed out. Why do not our colonists take the example of the Catholics? for instance, the Spaniards in South America. Every district of Indians has a protector and clergy to instruct them. The blacks should have Missionaries; and the proprietors of contiguous estates might be bound to provide a good house, and some acres of land for the Missionary's use, and a decent maintenance made by them, or by Government. The expence could not be great; and should not be named, when the benefits are considered. The duties of a Missionary, I presume not to state; but certainly the nearer he approached the eharacter of his Divine Master, the more hope there would be of success. Bis being a married man, so far from being an objection, would be a recommendation. Celibacy clothed with parity, is too sublime to be otherwise than rare. I am too well acquainted with the West Indies to think, that a bachelor would be a better Missionary than a married man. Besides, an example of marriage is an important object. Placed in the centre of a district, to which he could extend his care with ease, what effect might not he hoped from a good man, sincere and zealous! Besides disseminating the principles of our blessed religion, he might be a check on the conduct of those who disregard the regulations in favour of negroes: to him the council of protection might look as a spring of energy; and he might enable them to give efficiency to the law. The great, perhaps only obstacle to this plan, is the jealousy of the planters. It should be well understood in the outset, and confirmed by the conduct of the Missionary, that no part of his duty will lead him to any temporal interference in the plantations; and that the very reverse of idleness and discontent is to be the result of his mission. When men, thus employed to propagate our holy faith, shall feel the apostolic glow for the salvation of souls, then may we hope to see societies of Christian Negroes impressed with a just sense, and living in the practice of the duties they owe to God, to their masters, to their fellowlabourers, and to themselves. Doubt, expence, distaste for innovation, and lukewarmness on sacred subjects, not to say irreligion, will cause such a scheme to be long postponed, and perhaps uitimately rejected; yet the inhabitants of Jamaica cannot contemplate the struggle in St. Domingo but with anxiety.

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land;
some with three or four,
others with six, seven, eight, or
more children, without their having
been able to bring with them sub-
sistence for a single day, or the least
change of clothes; but, God be
praised, the generosity of the good
people of this city has placed me in
a situation, now and then, to furnish
the most hungry with bread. The
joy I have felt in doing this, cannot
be expressed by words; and you
may suppose how glad I am that a
channel has been opened in London,
for the more effectual relief of the
miserable.

Dear Brother, do not slacken
your endeavours.
I am sure, you
cannot plead the cause of humanity
in vain, before a uation so generous

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