Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Donations in aid of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca.
William Dennis, Esq. Penzance Cornwall, per Rev. John Foxell.

For the Education of Native Females in India.

Miss Mary James, Cardiff, (South Wales list)..
A Friend to the Cause, Carmarthen, (ditto)

A few Friends at Appledore, Devon, per Mrs. Gribble............................

The Thanks of the Directors are presented to the following; viz.

25 0 0

10 0 0

1 0 0

1 0 0 3 10 0

To W. J. for a Lady's Scarf, left at the Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, at the Bible Meeting 1821.-Rev. Mr. Pinchback and Friends, a Hamper of Books.-Mr. J. Blake, for 50 yards of printed Cotton, 10 Cloth Petisses and Great Coats, and 18 pairs of Gloves.-Mr. French, for a Communion Service.-Mr. John Holland, for 4 parcels containing sundry pieces and remnants of Bombazins for the South Sea islands.-A sincere Friend, for sundry Beads, Trinkets, &c. for Africa.- Mrs. W. Bowden, for sundry scarce Missionary Sermons.-Miss Thompson, 1 vol. Milner's Sermons.--Mr. and Miss Walker, for a Bale of Books and Linen Drapery Goods.Mr. Thomas Newcomb, for Flavel's Works, 1 vol. and Barker's Bible.-Anonymous, for sundry Sermons, Reports, &c.-Mr. E. Carter, for a few Old Books.-R. and M. A. for 24 Nos. Cottage Mag.-Mrs. White for 57 Nos. ditto.-Mr. Jos. Parry, per Rev. T. Weaver; Rev. Mr. Knight, Mrs. Wells, Brasscie, and Burkett, Miss Thompson, the Committee of Silver Street Chapel Juvenile Society, Whitby; Rev. Mr. Mather; Messrs. Hancock, Burnard, and Deakin; Mrs. White and Burgess; a Friend'; Anonymous, and M. C. for 58 Vols. and 1000 Nos. Evangelical Magazine.

POETRY.

On the Death of the Rev. S. GREATHEED, F.S.A. of Bishop's Hull,
near Taunton.

GREATHEED, my early friend- but he is gone!
And recollection silent views the past,
Time's rueful changes, ever rolling on,
What he has been, and what he is at last.
The pow'r of Truth to form the soul anew
And give to native talent noblest aim,
He felt and meekness into courage grew,
And humble hope shone forth an ardent
flame.

Allied with men who, pitying dying men,

Would snatch the heathen from Satanic sway, He strove with feeble voice, but mighty pen, To urge the cause and smooth the rugged way.

His languid frame forbade the loud address,
His modest habits shunn'd the public glare;
Yet thousands heard him from the teaching
press,
[there.

And when he preach'd, the word of God was
The good man's study is no idle place;

There he converses with the holy dead, There views his heav'nly Father's smiling face, And gathers fruit with which the world is fed. The friend of Cowper bore no common mind;

The friend of Missions seeks no scanty gain; The generous Christian holds no purse confin'd;

The faithful preacher cannot live in vain.

His useful days thus pass'd, he meekly said,
"I would not spend another Sabbath here;"
'Twas giv'n ;-his weary flesh to rest is laid,

His spirit shares the bless'd Sabbatic year.

ALIQUIS.

[graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed]

THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE

AND

MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

MAY 1823.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM MILNE, D.D. MISSIONARY TO THE CHINESE, &c. (Concluded from p. 139.)

IN our last Number, we left Mr. Milne among his friends at Canton; but the extreme jealousy of the Chinese government rendering it imprudent for him to remain with Mr. Morrison throughout the year, after much consideration it was agreed, that Malacca was, in many respects,the preferable centre of the Ultra-Ganges Mission; and preparations were made for Mr. Milne's removal thither with his family. Chinese books, printing-paper, and materials, a teacher of the language, and proper workmen were procured, and after a most painful farewell to their friends at Canton, they embarked April 17, 1815. Unhappily, when they had not been more than five days on board, Mrs. M. was taken in labour, and delivered of twin boys under very trying circumstances; but by the kindness of Providence they all safely arrived at Malacca, after a passage of 35 days, and were very kindly received by the Resident, Major Farquhar.

.

The Dutch Protestants being at this time without a pastor, Mr. Milne was invited to accept the office; being determined, however, not to relinquish his missionary work, he declined the offer; but agreed to preach to them once a week: for this service he received a compen

VOL. I.

sation that enabled him, for two years, to relieve the Missionary Society from expense on his account. Afterwards, however, personal indisposition and an increasing family obliged him to recur to them again for his support. His labours among the Dutch, though in the English language, were not altogether in vain; much success, however, could not be expected, considering their imperfect knowledge of the English language, in whicha only he could preach.

His heart was, as we have seen, intent upon his missionary work; and as a first effort he determined on the formation of a school for the instruction of the children of the poor. A place that had been occupied as a stable, was at a small expense fitted up as a school-room; and papers being posted up in dif ferent parts of the town to give notice of it, they excited considerable attention; the Chinese never having heard of a free school before. Some difficulties however arose from their native superstitions. The Chinese master could only begin upon a lucky day, and each of the children must have what they called "a heart-opening cake," to prepare him for instruction. These things, in the first instance, it was found

S

necessary to comply with, or the school could not have been commenced.

But this was not all. It is customary also for the Chinese, in all their schools, to set up the images of Confucius and of Wan-chang (the god of letters); to which the children used to bow and to burn incense-matches every morning, before they began to learn their lessons. This, however, was positively refused; and the objection was at length surmounted, by stating that the school did not stand upon ground of a Chinese.

the

At length the school was opened on the 5th of August, with five scholars; but they soon increased to fourteen, who were instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic; the whole in their native tongue. Still the grand difficulty was to introduce Christian books, and the knowledge of that religion which was necessary to connect the school with the office of a Missionary. The first object of the master was, of course, to instruct them in the elements of their native language, and to enable them to read. He was then persuaded to teach them (with consent of their parents) Dr. Morrison's Catechism; from which they learned from six to ten questions in a week. Mr. Milne afterwards expounded this, dwelling on such words as God, creation, soul, death, &c. which, by degrees, formed a catechetical exercise for the Sunday afternoon. The masters were also gradually induced to attend on the public worship with their children.

Mr. Milne had now, for two years, a great weight of engagements on his hands. Every morning his Chinese domestics met for Christian worship, in that language. A portion of the New Testament was read, with short remarks, and followed by prayer.

He had then a part of the Old Testament in hand to translate, the school to superintend, and his own studies in the language, of which his knowledge was as yet very imperfect, to pursue. Every Sabbath Day he had to preach in the Dutch Church in the morning; his usual morning exercise was therefore deferred till the middle of the day. At one o'clock the Scriptures were read, followed by an exhortation somewhat more at length than on other days. In the afternoon, the scholars were catechised, as above stated. Mr. M. then visited the town, distributing tracts and conversing with the natives. In the evening, at eight o'clock, the Scriptures were read and expounded, and the day closed with prayer. From three to eight adults usually attended, and there have been as many as twenty; but great difficulty was found in collecting any number of silent and attentive hearers. Copies of the Scriptures and Chinese Tracts were distributed, by various mediums, throughout the Archipelago; and Mr. M. usually visited the different ships that arrived from China.

In the close of this year was commenced the Ultra-Ganges Library, with a very small number of books, European and Chinese. On a memorial to the Governor in Council at Penang, a grant was made of ground for the erection of Missionary buildings, subject to the future approbation of the Dutch Government. A free press was also allowed at Malacca; and a free passage for members of the UltraGanges Mission to any parts of the Archipelago where cruisers should be visiting.

In 1816, the Chinese scholars had increased to nearly sixty; and Mr. Milne composed for them the Youth's Catechism, and printed two new tracts, "The Strait Gate,

« PreviousContinue »