FOR JANUARY, 1816. Ir is highly gratifying to be able to commence the Missionary Chronicle for the New Year with the following Intelligence, which is of the most pleasing and interesting nature. The reader will not regret the length of Mr. Read's letter, which confirms, in the most satisfactory manner, the information already communicated, and gives us many new particulars, all concurring to shew that the Lord is carrying on among the poor despised Hottentots, and other African tribes, a most astonishing and glorious work of grace. Ethiopia now stretches forth her hands in ardent prayers to God; the children of Ham are recovering from the curse, and inherit the blessings of Abraham; and the wide wilderness of South Africa begins to blossom as the rose. Enconraged by these events, the Directors are now preparing to send forth more labourers into this extensive and promising harvest. Bethelsdorp, Aug, 24, 1815. Honoured and dear Brethren, LATE events in Africa have been Both grievous and glorious. The Lord has graciously succeeded the labours of the Missionary Society, by their Missionaries, in a signal manner. New trophies have been given to Emmanuel, which will be treasured up in Heaven to be to him an everlasting name. Death, as if envious at the progress of the Missionaries, is cutting off our dear brethren, one after another. O that the Lord would sheath the sword, and spare the residue! Before this arrives, the lamented death of our dear brother Albrecht, of Pella, in Namaqua Land, will have come to your knowledge. His loss is great indeed, for I scarcely knew his equal: his chief excellencies were, a Burning zeal for the conversion of the Heathen, ardent love to their persons, for their souls' sake; and self-denial to a high degree. These are the chief qualifications required for Missi naries in Africa. Wonderful, that he must come so far from the interior, that his remains might lie by those of my dearest brother Vanderkemp. I Feally think that Mr. Albrecht's character came nearer to his than any who survives. May the spirit of this Elijah rest upon some of us who are left be hind! It is a very interesting affair that peace has been made with Africaner; and brother Ebner is actually gone to reside with him and his people. It is nevertheless painful to reflect, that XXIV. Pella is now without a Missionary. Brother Albrecht was very anxious to have brother Wimmer there. Indeed, I know not one like-minded, who will naturally care for the poor Namaquas, and be willing to sacrifice every thing for their welfare. Only I fear, that his bodily strength will not long bear the fatigues and heat of Namaqua Laud. Brother Bartlett is another Missionary in many respects qualified for that sta tion; or brother Kramer might be employed there. I have taken the liberty of writing to each of these Missionaries, to propose the business; and should they all be willing to go, there is abund ance of work for them. I hope the situation of Africa will rouse our British youth to come to the battle of the Lord against the mighty, The fields are indeed ripe for harvest, and the old Missionaries are falling, being worn out by the burden and heat of the day. We therefore want young la bourers to fall into the ranks. Mr. Hooper, who has proposed himself to you as a Missionary, is most anxious to be employed, and willing to go any where; but if left to his choice, he would prefer to be a while at Bethelsdorp, especially till he has your decision. The circumstances of brother Schmelen are very encouraging. He has penetrated far into Namaqua Land, is very successful, and has already baptized 14 adults. He is at present gone to the sea-shore, where he has heard there are two Europeaus residing, and where ships (probably whalers) are of ten touching. At least six Missionaries are required for that part of Africa, and for whom our departed brother pleaded in bis very last letter. F You will have heard that brother Helm has joined brother Anderson at Gricqua Town. His health began to decay fast, and he could not endure the heat of the Orange River; and brother Sass being ready to sacrifice every comfort, yea, his valuable colleague, and remain alone with the Corannas, I could but approve of the above step. If his health be restored, I think he may be of importance at Gricqna Town. Gricqua Town, I think, must, for the present, be the centre of Missions beyond the Orange River. Brother Sass being nearer to Gricqua Town than to Pella, considers himself no more as belonging to the Namaqua Mission, but rather to the Gricqua, till a possibility should appear of forming the Corannas into a separate station. Brother Helin being at Gricqua Town, and brother Sass not at such a distance from it, I think it of the greatest importance that they should have the printing - press, which is still at Cape Town, there; and I have already written to Mr. Hammes to send it here with the first ship. If we get the press at Gricqua Town, any progress made by the brethren in the Bootsovana language, may be sent thither, and printed immediately. Our dear brethren from England are already at George, or Hooge Kraal; and I (or rather our people) have forwarded 50 oxen and a waggon for their assistance; and in about 12 days I expect them here; where it seems they will have to remain some time on account of the circumstances of sister Bar. ker, and which makes them very anxious to be here. We will employ them as well as we can while they are here. I have just been on a short Missionary excursion for ten days to the Gamtoos on Kobeljous River, which we formerly visited and mentioned in the Transactions, especially on account of the converted Mozambique slave Susiru, mentioned also in a letter by Mr. Campbell. `I had received one message after another; but it appeared that my journey was rather to see what God had done, than to do much myself. I left Bethelsdorp in the evening, and next day arrived at Strand Fountain; where I found four of our baptized friends, who held meeting mornings and even ings, and scarcely one of the other Hottentots who did not appear seeking Christ; but the farmer, and especially the mistress, thought the Hottentots prayed and sung too much. I told her I feared there would be more notice taken at the day of judgment of those that had prayed too little, than of them who had prayed too much; that we ought to blame the innocent less for praying, singing, &c. and ourselver more that we are so backward. The The second day I was at our young friend's T. F. a farmer: he was long a Nicodemus; but now he breaks through every opposition, and exhorts his people every evening; but alas! he had no Bible, and I was obliged to give him mine. He had said to his wife the day before, 'We must take up our cross to follow Christ, or it will not do. I rode to Mrs. Kemp's, Gamtuos River, was kindly received by a boor and his wife, both pious people, who gave me their house for preaching. The people were all full of joy. I began to examine the slaves, and Hottentots; but could not find one adult person who was not able to give a reason of the hope in him. Sisira is a most experimental man, of incomparable behaviour: he has been in the habit of exhorting morning and evening, for 8 years; about ten of his spiritual children have lately been baptized. next day,being Lord's Day, we preached three times: I morning and evening; and brother Samson, one of our elders, in the afternoon. The next day, very early, we met again, and rode to Kobeljous River, where I got several families of boors, with a number of Heathen, together; the last were melted under the word, but the former seemed as hard as a stone. Here also a meeting is held by the Hottentots and slaves, morning and evening, and they are not disturbed; all spoke of a lively faith in Christ Jesus. Here I heard that S. T. in the Longe Kloop, had exchanged his slave-woman Clarenda (mentioned in a former communication) for two oxen and a small barrel of wine, on account of her praying, exhorting, &c. When about to leave, she said to her master, "You have now sold my body, but not my soul; that belongs to me, or rather to Jesus, my Saviour: before this, he sold a slave for the same reason, who has perfect liberty to exhort at his present master's, and has been the mean of bringing several persons to Christ. To the mortification of this poor boor, two other of his slaves are converted; whom I intend to baptize the first opportunity. Another farmer went, one evening, to forbid his people to pray. One of his slaves said, Master, my body is yours, not my soul; you provide for body, you cannot for my soul: I shall answer for my sins, not you. Master has Bible, and knows many things; me know nothing but to pray to Christ, and believe in him.' The boor went back, and has never, attempted to hinder them since. On my return to Gamtoosk, I found the two farmers wives much affected-re- mit adultery, &c, and shall I be ashamed solved to follow Christ through evil and to speak of Christ? I told them all, good report. I perceived a farmer's the other day, that they would be lost little girl of five years old, constantly for ever if they did not renounce Magoing, as secretly as she could, behind homet, and believe in Christ. a bush. Coming to my waggon, I said, What do you do so often behind the bush?" I go to pray, Sir.' "To whom do you pray?" To Christ.' "What do you ask from Christ?" 'I ask for grace. To another child of her age, "I hear you often pray; what do you pray for I say, Lord Jesus, here lies a poor sinful child at thy feet; Lord be gracious to me, and give me grace, and thy Holy Spirit; forgive me all my sins, &c. 6 We have a wonderful and striking instance of converting grace in a Mahometan slave. His wife was formerly a gervant of Col. Cuyler, where she was powerfully brought to a knowledge of Christ, was baptized, and received a member of Bethelsdorp. She found great difficulty in remaining the wife of a Mahometan, but we admonished her with Paul's injunctions, 'What knowest thou, O wife,' &c. His enmity at times was very great, and she was in danger of her life. The last time I was at Graham's Town, I spoke to htm, and it had the effect of bringing him under the means now and then, but he says he felt nothing; but now, he says, he feels so much, that if Christ did not support him, he should sink. The direct means of his conversion he says he cannot recollect: he had hard strugglings before he opened his heart to any one. These are some of his expressions:-I come to you to know what is the matter with me; perhaps it is not the work of God. I was a Mahometan. I worshipped I knew not what. I lived in stealing, adultery, gambling, swearing, &c; in these sins I cannot live any longer: I hate them: I hated Christ; but now I love him, and long to be with him. I hated his people, but now I love them, and cannot bear any other people; and now, no other people can bear me; neither can I bear to hear God's people converse of any thing else than of Christ. I can now sit from morning to the evening to hear of him, and can scarcely sleep in the night. I never could understand God's word; but now it seems plain, and all for me," &c. I asked him of his former religion; he said that with him and others, it chiefly consisted in bringing presents to the priests, for which we expected happiness, although we were generally obliged to steal. I asked if he should be ashamed to speak of Christ to other Mahometans. He answered, I never was ashamed to steal, com We continued to preach at Fort Frederick, but see very little fruit; the officers and men, however, feel their obligations, and offered to commence a subscription to reward me. I refused to receive any thing for myself, but told them I would gladly receive any contribution for the fund of the Missionary Society, and remit it to the Treasurer, with a list of their names. I hope we shall get two or three hundred dollars. Brother Corner arrived here yesterday, and gives the most pleasing account of the Bushymen; and to day arrived Jau Goeejman. One woman is believed to be converted, aud several of them are observed to pray. J. READ. PEACE WITH AFRICANER. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Ebner, at You will rejoice with me when you hear of the conversion of so many sianers, who fly in great numbers to our beloved Jesus, like doves to their windows and birds. to their nests-when you hear of so many new brethren and sisters, who adore the same Lord, and pray to the same Saviour, who shed his precious blood for vile and guilty sinners, and now say to the brethren of the British Jerusalem, that their liberal contributions, their holy zeal, their fervent prayers, and their laborious exertions, have not been in vain in the Lord. They will not repent of what they have done hitherto, could you witness the earnest desires of these poor people to be saved by Christ, and how they long to be de livered from their sins-could all the Christians of England see and hear our disciples, old and young people, and children, how earnestly they pray behind the bushes, surrounding our place as a wall of fire, your hearts would not only rejoice, but you would be ready to put your hand in your pockets, and take out all your banknotes, uncounted, and give them to the Missionary Society, for extending the kingdom of Christ. One evening I went with our brother Majerman into the field, and he told me that in the morning of that day, he went out as usual to pray*, but *Isaac went out into the fields to meditate (or pray). See Gen. xxiv. 63. being rather late, he could find no vacant place to pray in, so many children were already engaged in that exercise; he was, therefore, obliged to return home. I must say, it is a most remarkable season in which we live. The Lord has done great things, is doing great things, and I would adopt our Saviour's words and say, You shall see still greater things than these.' O that the Lord may also bless his word where I am going; for, in a short time, I intend to go beyond the Great River, to the kraal of Africaner, who was once our bitter enemy and persecutor; but has now promised to be at peace with nз. May the Lord change his heart, as once he did that of Saul! Mr. Albrecht has been there, and made peace with him. The people rejoiced greatly when they saw Mr. Albrecht come. He was among them four days, preaching the word of God; and they entreated him to send a Missionary as soon as possible to reside among them. Mr. Albrecht promised that I should come and instruct them, if I felt inclined so to do. We afterwards consulted together, and I consented to go, and that for two reasons; first, Because it would be the most effectual means of maintaining peace with Africauer, and throughout Namaqua Land; and, secondly, Because I hoped that, by preaching the gospel there, many poor sinuers might be turned to the Lord, and become happy to all eternity; and though I had' built a house last year at Pella, had got my garden into good order, with much expence and labour, and was at case with regard to all my worldly concerns, yet I had determined shortly to remove, that I may preach among them the precious gospel. O brethren! pray for me; that these enemies may become our friends, yea, our brethren and sisters in Jesus. Let ns unite our fervent petitions, that showers of blessings, as in the apos tolic times, may come down from Hea. ven; and that many, with a broken heart, may soon cry, Men and bre thren, what shall we do to be saved?› ‹ E. EBNER. Extract of another Letter, or Report, dated May 29, 1815, signed by the late (and much lamented) Mr.C. Albrecht, and Mr. Ebner. PRAISED be the Lord our God, the God of peace and of all comfort! We have the pleasure to inform you, that we hope and trust a lasting peace has been made with Africaner, to whom Mr. Campbell wrote a letter when here in Africa, in which he promised that, if he would agree to be at peace, he would send a Missionary to his place. It has accordingly been agreed that brother Ebner should leave Pella, and go to reside near Africaner, who appeared desirons of it, and appealed to Mr. Campbell's promise in his letter. This resolution was submitted to our congregation at Pella, who readily acquiesced in the measure, saying, that it was the best, and indeed the only method of procuring rest and quiet for the country, and of preventing that dişorder and confusion which had so long prevailed. This will also set us at liberty to send brother Majerman to the Warm Bath, to preach to the Great Namaqua nation, until a Missionary from Europe shall arrive. We indulge a hope that the Lord will bless the labours of brother Ebner among Africaner's people, as there is a general hunger and thirst after the bread and water of life. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Barker, one of the Missionaries on his way fron the Cape to Luttukoo, dated, Hooge Kraal, August 14, 1815. Honoured Father, WE received much kindness from many friends at Cape Town, and our God has not forsaken us in the wil derness, but has provided friends here, so that we have not lacked any good Roos, one with Mr. Vos, one with Mr. thing. We spent one night with Mr. Koster at Zwellendam, one at brother Seidenfaden's, and a Sabbath at the house of a preaching farmer (a little to Brak River); and I never spent a the left immediately after we crossed more comfortable day in my life. It was astonishing to see so many people but more surprising to think where come together on Saturday evening, they came from; some in waggons, back. I suppose there were 60 white whole families, and some People; but what added lustre to the and slaves, joined them in the worship sight was, about 70 blacks, Hottentots of God. This is, in part at least, the fruit of brother P.'s labours among the farmers, which, blessed be. God, appear not to have been in vaip. Hooge Kraal, things wear a pleasing aspect, and I hope and believe great good is doing. The Spirit of the Lord seems to be poured out upon them. on horse În For a long time no person could be found who would venture to take the letter, all being afraid of being mur dered. At length Mr. Albrecht himself went, and succeeded. You, my venerable fathers in England, sometimes speak of the effects of the gospel among the Heathen, but you should come here and see it. Our Lord says, The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence,' but where is this seen? Blush, O heavens! that so little of it is known in Europe; but, thanks be to God, here it is seen. I think the Hottentots may be said to Strive to enter in at the strait gate.' Their concern for their souls does not leave them when they leave the house of God. Some are to be found in bushes, some flat on the ground, and others collected together in their huts praying. Their prayers in public are very simple and very fervent. It would set your soul on fire, as it does mine, to hear them thank God for bringing his word over the great waters, and pray for the good friends in the far land. One who prayed in the school this morning, prayed that God would think upon the great and good friends in the far land who thought on them, and sent them a teacher; and who think it not enough to send teachers so far, but are now sending some a great way further to their brethren. The people are not mere enthusiasts in religion, but for Hottentots, are very industrious also; and brother P. sets them an example in industry. He has built a very neat chapel; but for himself, he has only a very small hut. Brother W. has made him a table for the chapel, and brother H. painted the doors and window shutters. As he has no glass windows, permit me to beg for him some glass to make windows, and a bell to call the people together; which is now done by sounding a cow's born. My dear father, pardon me for troubling you with so much, to you, perhaps, uninteresting matter. After I began, my heart grew warm, and I could not restrain my pen. Be so kind as to write to me, I can say I do not want to come home; nevertheless, it would be very acceptable to hear from home, Intreat all to pray for me, and believe me to remain your unworthy servant, INDIA. G. BARKER. Extract of a Letter from Rev. Mr. 'I AM going on much as usual, and though I have many trials, yet upon the whole, I have abundant cause for thankfulness. I have 75 boys in "The Missionary Free School," which was opened last March; and we have in prospect the commencement of a Female School on the same plan.' SOUTH SEAS. MR. Crook, who has resided for some years in New South Wales, is about to join the Missionary brethren in Otaheite. He has been for some time past applying to medicine, under the direction of a medical officer at Sydney; and has also learnt the art of printing. It is hoped that he will prove a valuable acquisition to the Mission. He expresses an earnest desire for a printing press. This has been provided, and sent out by Messrs. Threlkeld and Ellis. June 30, 1815. Mr. Shelly, formerly one of the Missionaries in Otaheite, has for some years past been engaged in trading among the islands of the South Sea. In a letter lately received, he speaks very favourably of the disposition of the natives of the Friendly Isles to receive instruction. He says, "I am confident I speak within bounds, when I assert, that there are upwards of 100,000 inhabitants in the three groupes-the Navigators, the Friendly Islands, and the Fegees. The fertility of the island of Tonga equals that of any in the world. On all ny visits to these islands, I have had the most pressing invitation to reside among them, particularly in my last voyage, when I lay off the island (Tonga) several days, and had our old friend Hatta on board all the time. He used every argument to induce me to fetch my friends, and come and live with him. He offered me the choice of any island. When I took my leave he wept bitterly. Are not these repeated calls in Providence worthy of your attention? For my part I am fully persuaded, that a permanent settlement might be formed among them to their entire satisfaction. The friends in New South Wales had not heard from the Missionary brethren in Eimeo for some months; but understood that the vessel they were building was nearly finished, and expected at Sydney about the month of December. GERMANY. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Steinkopff to the Editor. Augspurg, Nov. 6, 1815. Sir, In my last letter from Stuttgard, I made a general observation that I perceived an increase of the Missionary spirit in various parts of Germany and Switzerland. The Missionary accounts, communicated to the Christian Public in various Periodical Publications, more especially in the monthly papers of the Basle Society, are read with great eagerness and attention. In many places I found Missionary Prayer-Meetings on |