RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

We learn that the Rev. Herbert Mends, of Plymouth; Rev. William Roby, of Manchester; and the Rev. William Tyler, Rector of Braytoft, Lincolnshire; are engaged to preach at the Annual Meeting on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of May. Other particulars relative to the Meeting we hope to lay before the Society in our next.

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COLLECTIONS, DONATIONS, &c. FOR MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

From March 25, 1800, to March 25, 1891.
Glasgow Miffionary Society, per Rev. J. Lockhart, Secretary

HONOURED Sir,

AFRICA.

£.200

Wagemakers Valley, Cape of Good Hope,
November 3, 1800.

HAVE enclosed two letters from a beloved brother and fervant of the Lord Jefus of this place, of the name of Van Suik, to two daughters in Holland, and which you will have the goodnefs to forward the first opportunity, as it is an account of the death of his wife; and fhould they, dear Sir, write in return, directed to you, be fo kind as to forward their letter to this place. Dear brother Van Sulk was called under the Rev. Mr. Van Leer, late preacher at the Cape, who, under God, was an inftrument of bringing many fouls to the Lord Jefus; but his work was cut short in righteoufnefs. You may have heard of him, as he was well-known to Mr. Newton.

Brother Van Sulk was removed from the Cape to this place about four years ago by fickness. The Doctor fuppofing the land air would be of great benefit to him, which at firft it was, but finding his diforder terminating in a decline, he had little hopes of recovery; he therefore commenced school for maintenance, which he kept up till ftrength failed him, and the Lord was pleafed to give him feveral of the children as feals of his labours amongst them; but this is not all. On his first arrival at this place he had a fight fimilar to that of Ezekiel, the valley full of dry bones--both black and white, Chriftians and heathens, living without God and hope in the world. Being a man full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith he went to work immediately, and the Lord worked with him, and he foon found it neceffary to build a place for the heathen, their number encreating so fast, and many of them crying out for mercy, &c.

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But for the last year he has been exceeding weak, and could but now and then speak to the people; he therefore, with them, entreated the Society at the Cape to fend one of the firft Miffionaries that might come from Europe. The poor heathens, with tears running down their faces, would furround our brother when he was weak; and they could fcarce expect to fee him again. They would cry," Will you leave us! wil you leave us! ignorant and blind, and we shall have no one to teach us the way to Heaven, &c. The Lord has fpared him hitherto, but I expect he has nearly finished his courfe. A few nights ago he was talking beyond his ftrength, and he at once began to fpit blood. He opened the Bible in Rev. and put it into my hand, pointing his finger to the two last verses of chap. vii. faying, "I have done nothing, I have nothing, my hope is alone in the blood and righteoulVOL. IX.

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nefs of the Lord Jefus." After he was in bed he said, "I had now rather depart and be with Chrift, but his time is the beft, &c." I expect when we go brother Trump will come here till more brethren come from Europe. But refpecting ourselves we left Cape Town to come to this place on Thursday, the 10th of October, and arrived here on Friday at noon, accompanied by two of the Directors of the South African Society, brothers Shonk and Berling, who continued with us four days.

There are here about 300 heathen, chiefly Hottentots and flaves; many of both are not only called, but well established in the faith of Chrift; and others are now under ftrong convictions. We meet them on Lord's Days at one o'clock, and on Tuesdays and sometimes on Fridays, as opportu nities offer; and the Chriftians we meet on Wednesdays. There are more of the former than of the latter; but among the latter there are many young people, among whom, may the Lord work a great work! Many of the older people have been brought to the Lord Jefus, under the preaching of brother Van Sulk, and fome of them by hearing him fpeak to the heathen. There is a great thirst for the word; but few faithful labourers, Mr. Vos, of Roodefand, is the only one in the Church, but the others preach the truth.

We were on Lord's Day week at a Church at the Pearl, a place about wine miles from where we are. The people are, at prefent, deftitute of a Minifter; their Minifter being lately dead, and they get fupplies as they can, fometimes once a month, and fometimes once a fortnight; but the number of people being fo great they were obliged to begin to build ą larger Church. There were few short of an hundred waggons when we were there, fome of which have to come a great way. Brother Anderson is yet at the Cape, waiting an opportunity of getting to Bofchman's Land. He preaches in English in the Dutch Meeting-houfe on Friday nights. Yesterday we faw a man from the Snow Mountains, who told us he heard two months ago that Dr. Vanderkemp was dwelling at the fame place. The Lord open our way to him.

I am, dear Sir, with great respect,
Your humble fervant in Chrift,

CHINA,

J. READ.

[The following article has appeared in fome of the public prints, on the. authority of which we infert it, without being able to vouch for its authenticity. If true, it may lead to more important events, and be one of the means employed by Providence to prepare the way of our Redeemer's kingdom.]

BY way of Madras we have received letters from Canton, which state that a fchifmatic, named Quai Teing, had broached a doctrine tending to fubvert the ancient custom of polygamy in the northern diftricts. The novelty, and poffibly the reafon, of the tenet, made many profelytes; the women were unanimous and decided in his fupport. The project was, however, encountered by powerful oppofition; ferious disturbances enfued, and at length it became neceffary to march an army of 3000 men against the innovators, who, in the iflue, were difperfed, and Quai Teing, with fome of his difciples, was compelled to fly into Weltern Tartary for fafety.

The new herefy, however, had acquired fuch root, that the influence of the Mandarins was ineffectually exerted to retard its progreis; and, at the date of the ialt accounts, it had diffused itfelt through a great part of the Empire. The oppofite parties maintain their refpective opinions with the

utmost

utmoft inveteracy. The Schifmatics had, in many instances, burnt the Gods of their anceflors, put from them all their wives but one, and refused to pay the public revenues.

FRENCH PRISONERS.

[As the Miffionary and Religious Tract Societies have not been unmindful of the fouls of the French and other prifoners of war in this country, the following letters will fhew they have already received a little fruit of their benevolent attention to those unhappy strangers.]

DEAR SIR,

THR

Liverpool, Feb. 27, 1801. HROUGH the kindness of Providence I arrived fafe at this place Saturday evening laft about feven o'clock; the first night it fnowed and blew very hard, which confiderably encreafed my cold; but it is now much better. On Monday I did not go to the French prifon, as I took a medicine, but fent to have my return mentioned to the prifoners, and to appoint a meeting on Tuesday morning, at which time I went, and was much pleased, at my entrance into the prifon, to find feveral waiting in the yard to welcome me. I went to the former place of meeting, the officers' room, when it appeared we were within nine or ten of the ufual number of ftated hearers; this was to me very encouraging; their attention to the little I had to fay was alfo pleafing. It appears that feveral (not all) of them preferve the tracts I gave them, and they told me they should take them home to their families. I happened to go into the apartment of one whom I found reading one of the volumes of Saurin's Sermons, which I had given him. He faid it was made very good to him indeed; fhewed me alfo the Teftament, &c. and faid they altogether made a good library. This is one I formerly thought ferious, and am now more confirmed in that opinion. May this be the cafe refpecting many others, is my earnest defire and prayer to the Father of mercies.

The number of my hearers has very much increafed fince the first day; for the last two days this has proved a great inconvenience, as many evidently came to laugh and make a difturbance; however I was not prevented from going through the fervice (being helped of God). This day there were about 200 crouding about me in a dark paffage, where I lost my guide, and it was with great difficulty I could ufe my hands to diftribute the Tracts. I thought it a token of the divine favour that I was divested of all fear. I found it impoffible to addrefs them in a regular way.

My attention was now turned to the Proteftants. I found they were unwilling to fay any thing to me before the Catholics. Providentially a room is offered me for the purpose of having feparate meetings, which I now propofe holding three days in a week, in order to converfe with them. Bleffed be God, I feel much encouragement, and have great hope that this good work will not be in vain in the Lord, but I am greatly exercifed at times.

There is more fever in the hospital than when I was here laft, the numbers that die are much the fame, about nine or ten a week. I am lorry to find Voltaire's works are among them. A Tract against deifm, upon the evidences of Chriftianity, would be (in my humble opinion) very fuitable to distribute among them. Indeed, I may fay, in every fenfe, thefe are pitiable obje &s, and call for the greateft fympathy and attention. May God blefs the prefent means, and may his prefence and bluffing for ever attend you and yours, is the prayer of,

J. Reyner, Efq.

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Dear Sir,

P. S. I went this morning into a room of French officers in the prifon, and after a little friendly conversation, got upon the subject of religion. I felt a little aukward, being one against feven; but they were very polite, though we were very wide in our fentiments; they were Catholics and Deifts, who are deeply rooted in their principles and glory in them.—They fay of me, I am a good natured man, and they don't doubt mean well; but I am a miftaken man. I gave them a Tract, and they read it; fome faid the doctrine is good, but we must have Peter for the rock, &c.

[From a Dutch Officer now in his Majesty's service.]

DEAR SIR,

Ambufcade, near Sheerness, Feb. 21, 1801.

I am very forry that from the hurry of bufinefs I have been prevented fending fooner to you. The Dutch tranflation of the Tract, No. 14, I hope will be good enough, as well as thofe which you must have already received, to answer the ufe which you might wish to make of them. I fhall be glad to continue in my endeavours to forward your pious defigns, in this or any other way which you might think proper to the utmost of my power.

I have the fatisfaction to tell you, that one of the little Tracts in French, entitled. Confidérations Sérieufes, had a blessed effect on the heart of a young officer, into whofe hands I had an opportunity to put it. May the Lord give us to hear of, or to be witnefs of, more examples of this kind. Glory be to thee, O God! for this inftance.

Will you be fo kind as to remember me to Mr. Morris.

I have the honour to be, dear Sir, truly yours,

ORDINATION.

C. A. MACKAY.

ON Thursday 26th February, at the Rev. W. Bull's Meeting-House, Newport-Pagnel, the Rev. Rutton Morris, late a ftudent in the academy at that place, was folemnly fet apart for the Ministry of the Gospel at St. John's, in Newfoundland. He is defignated to fucceed to the charge of the late Rev. John Jones, of whofe life an account was given in our Magazine for laft November. At the clofe of that biography it was mentioned, that the church at St. John's had earnestly applied to the Directors of the Miffionary Society, to recommend to them a fuitable Paftor. A hope alfo was then intimated, that the Lord would direct to fome young Minister, like-minded to his predeceffor, whose zeal might be excited to endure hardfhips in fo important a fituation. Various remarkable circumftances of the providence of God have concurred to afford an early accomplishment of this hope in the prefent inftance.

The Rev. T. P. Bull began the folemnities with prayer. The Rev. S. Greatheed offered introductory remarks on the neceffity of imparting the religious privileges we enjoy, to our fellow fubjects in diftant colonies; where they are expofed to peculiar fnares, and commonly infected with infidelity. Two perfons belonging to the congregation at St. John's being prefent, one of them gave a brief account of the meafures which had been taken by the church to obtain a Minifter. Their call having been ratified, and being accepted by Mr. Morris, he defcribed in a very fatisfactory manner his experience in religion, his doctrinal views, his motives for entering upon the Miniftry of the Gofpel, and his reafons for devoting his labours to the caufe of Chrift at St. John's. The Rev. T. Hillyard, of Olney, then committed the Minister, and his diftant charge, to the bleffing

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of God by fervent prayer: and the Rev. W. Bull addreffed to his pupil a folemn and affectionate exhortation, grounded upon Jeremiah i, 7, and concluded with prayer. Mr. James Raban, a fellow student of Mr. Morris's, gave out appropriate hymns.

An engagement fomewhat fimilar, which was folemnized in the fame place, 8th April 1799, is recorded in our Magazine for May, that year. Mr. John Hillyard, who was then fet apart for the fervice of Christ at Twillingate, (an ifland upon the coast of Newfoundland, more than 200 miles north weft of St. John's) has fince been favoured with great usefulnefs in his miffion; as reprefented in our Magazines for January and September, last year. We have fince had the pleasure to learn, that he has gained a very favourable access to a larger ifland, called Fogo, about 30 miles from Twillingate. It is to be regretted that the wifh of the Directors of the Miffionary Society, (under whofe aufpices Mr. Hillyard labours) to fend, according to his requett, another Miffionary to fome parts of the coaft between Twillingate and St. John's, has yet been fruitless, no perfon having offered to engage in this fervice, although Mr. J. Hillyard had generously offered, in cafe it appeared neceffary, to relinquish the fupport afforded him by the Society, in favour of the Minister who should be thus employed.

We hope that the examples of two young fervants in Chrift, from the Academy at Newport Pagnel, and of one (Mr. Mitchell, now in Canada) from that at Hoxton, will not be difregarded by numerous perfons who are training up for the Ministry of the Gofpel. It feems most reasonable to look to them, who as yet are free from indiffoluble connections at home, for the fupply of religious advantages that are fo greatly needed in diftant Countries.

CHAPEL OPENED.

TUESDAY, Feb. z, a place of worship was opened on the Calvinistic Independent plan, at Charlton, near Milborn-port, Somerfet; the Rev. Mr. Dixon, of Milborn-port, was made the honoured inftrument, in the Lord's hand, of introducing the Gofpel into this village, where grofs darkness was covering the people. Hearers attended beyond the most fanguine expectation, and needing a convenient place to meet in, Mr. Williams, of Radipole, near Weymouth, generously gave them a fuitable building, which has, with a very little expence, been converted into a neat little Chapel. The fervices of the day were conducted as follow:-Mr. Paull, of Castle Carey, began with prayer and fuitable portions of Scripture; Mr. Price, of Yeovil, prayed; Mr. Wefton, of Sherborne, preached from Heb. ii. 2. 3. when Mr. Vickery, of Compton, clofed the morning with prayer. In the afternoon, Mr. Cox, of Herfington, prayed; Mr. Price preached from Acts, 17, 6; and Mr. Lewis, of Wincanton, concluded. In the evening, Mr. Wefton prayed; Mr. Vickery preached from If. iii. 3, 10, 11; and Mr. Dixon closed the day with prayer.

The day was particularly refreshing to God's people, and the fervices of it will, it is trufted, prove as " bread cast upon the waters." May the Lord fend profperity!

ROTHERHAM ACADEMY.

IN confequence of a letter contained in a preceding number of the Evangelical Magazine, a friend who ftiles himfelf A Believer in Jefus," has

enclofed