THE

WESLEYAN JUVENILE OFFERING.

JANUARY, 1857.

CONSTANTINE, GRENADA.

GRENADA is a beautiful island in the West Indies, about thirty miles long and fifteen broad. The scenery is generally bold and romantic; the mountains are everywhere covered with trees of the richest foliage, and the fertile valleys are productive sugar-cane, as well as provisions and fruit of various kinds.

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This lovely island was discovered by Columbus, during his third voyage. It was at that time inhabited by a warlike tribe of Carib Indians, who have since entirely wasted away, and been succeeded by Negroes, brought from Africa. In 1783, Grenada was ceded to the British, having previously belonged to the French.

In 1788, the Wesleyan Missionaries commenced their labours, under circumstances peculiarly discouraging. The people were deeply degraded, and almost entirely ignorant of the English language, having been so long accustomed to the barbarous Creole French. At length the Lord blessed the word preached on the various estates, as well as in town, and many of the poor Negroes were brought to a saving knowledge of the truth.

When it was determined that the poor slaves should be made free, several schools were established with a view to prepare them for their new position. One of these was erected at Constantine, a beautiful and romantic spot, about three miles from St. George's, the capital of the island; a view of which is given in the picture. The principal building in the centre is the schoolhouse, where Divine service is held on the Sabbath, and the little children are taught during the week. The Teacher lives in the little house behind the school, which is partly hidden by the trees. Some of the Preachers who supply this place on the Sabbath are natives of the island,-themselves the fruit of Missionary labour,-and the children, who are here taught to read

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MISSIONARY MEETING AT TELEVA, FEEJEE.

the Bible and to sing the praises of God, come from the surrounding estates. Often has the heart of the writer of these lines rejoiced on examining them, to find that they had made such pleasing progress in their knowledge of Divine things, as well as in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and other branches of useful learning. Could the juvenile friends of Missions in England pay a visit to the Constantine school in the island of Grenada, they would not only admire the beauty of the scenery, but they would be stirred up to greater zeal in the cause of the Gospel, on beholding for themselves the blessed results of religious instruction.

M.

MISSIONARY MEETING AT TELEVA, FEEJEE.

MR. MALVERN has just written about a Missionary Meeting that was held at Televa, where he is living. I am sure we are very much obliged to him for writing such a nice account, and telling us how they manage their Missionary Meetings at Televa; it is not exactly as we do in this country, as you will see. The speaking part was done in the morning, and it took all the after-noon to make the collection; but you shall hear what he says himself.

We held our Missionary Meeting on Wednesday last. The speaking part was performed in the forenoon, when the Chief, Hezikiah, (one of our best Native Preachers,) three of the Teachers, and Jethro, (a Manilla man, and old Local Preacher and convert from Popery,) delivered some very effective speeches. In the afternoon we made the collection. About one thousand Christians were present. They were highly pleased, and very cheerfully contributed as they could to the cause of God. The collecting plate was an area of the Mission-yard. Each town,

arrayed in their best, marched slowly and stately towards it, chanting a psalm, or rather portion of God's word, or a hymn of their Teacher's composing, bearing along in their hands, or upon their shoulders, their intended offering. The two Bua Chiefs were both present, and by their own example taught their people to sacrifice to Jehovah, and not to Baal. The scene was imposing and affecting, and highly gratifying to all. We have no doubt that it will prove a means of good to these people. Thirty

MISSIONARY MEETING AT TELEVA, FEEJEE.

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persons have since embraced Christianity; and it is supposed they have done so through the influence of the Missionary Meeting. The collection from the natives contained three hundred and thirty-two mats, four hundred and seventy large yams, seventy-three gallons of cocoa-nut oil, three pounds of tortoiseshell, three small rolls of sinnet, ten pieces of sandal-wood, and some clubs and spears; its smallest value, £12. 5s., being £3 or £4 above the amount of last year. In addition to this collection, the quarterly contributions of the members and others have nearly equalled the quarterly payments of the Teachers.

This is a very pleasant account, and shows that a great deal of good has been done; but Feejeean cruelties have not yet ceased. The Feejeeans are not all Christians, the greater part of the population are still Heathen.

Two or three months ago, (says Mr. Malvern) a case of strangling took place near to a town where I had but a few days before sent a Teacher. The Teacher hastened thither to save the woman; but when he arrived, he found her strangled, and wrapt up in a mat ready for burial. He sat a while and conversed with those who were in the house where she was laid. After a short time he heard a breathing from the mat in which the strangled woman was wrapped. He exclaimed, Na nonai thegu! an sa rogoca! ("Her breathing! I hear it!") the widow was trying all she could to suppress her breathing, that the Teacher might not hear her and prevent her dying. He at once presented a whale's tooth, and saved her. The woman is still living; and who can tell but that she, who was within a hair's breadth of hell, may yet obtain an entrance into heaven?

Even while they were holding the Missionary Meeting, Mr. Malvern's pity and indignation were moved. He saw in the meeting a young girl, the daughter of a great Chief; she had escaped from her father, because he had declared he would kill and eat her. He made a present of her to his friends first, to kill and eat, but they refused. Then said the monster, If you won't, I will." When the daughter was spoken to on the subject, she said, "I fear the tevoro (the devil) a little; but I am very much afraid of my father." Since then, Mr. Malvern has heard that this savage father says he will be a Christian; so that will prevent him devouring his own child.

THE TWO FUNERALS.

THE FIRST.

It was the 6th of April, 1842, when a large funeral procession entered the Centenary Chapel in a distant British colony. Following the corpse as chief mourners, were six sons of the deceased, the Rev. John Waterhouse, the seventh was absent. Then came the other relatives, followed by Ministers of all the Protestant churches, members of the Legislative Assembly, members of the Government, merchants, Captains, lawyers, gentlemen, tradesmen, mechanics. All classes were represented. It was one of the largest funerals that Hobart-Town had witnessed.

As the procession marched, some by estanders remarked the boyishness of the two youngest sons, Joseph and Samuel. "Poor boys," said they, "they do not yet know their loss!"

But those boys realized in their own minds the irreparable loss they had sustained. And they knew that their departed parent had died in the Missionary cause.

As a legacy, their father had bequeathed to them the cause of Christian Missions to the Heathen. His last words were, "Missionaries! Missionaries! Missionaries!"

THE SECOND.

It is the 18th of April, 1856, fourteen years afterwards. At one of the most enchanting spots in Feejee, the Mission-Station of Nandy, another mournful procession may be seen, wending its way up the ascending hill. In the absence of an undertaker, a rough coffin has been prepared, covered with blue calico, and a plate of tin, with the inscription, "E. D. Waterhouse, died 17th April, 1856." It is carried by the Local Preach