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Jesus Christ. These, to the number of 5,1 have encouraged to come to me, for hall tin hour cvory Saturday evening, to talk about their sonls. Whether any of them will in time give evidence of piety, must be answered hereafter.Bible Clast.The Bible class is composed of persons who have recently joined the church, and others who arc disposed to be serious.— The average number is from 8 to 10.— such an exercise was much needed. Some who attend scarcely, ever looked into the Bible before their conversion, and some have only just learned to read it.Tracts.The former method of giving away tracts promiscuously, was given up, after a few month’s triul. Though some were read and did good, yet there is renson to believe that many were not valued but torn up as waste paper. Now as as the supply is short, none arc given hut to those who ask for them, and are likely to read them when given. Many of the members have them arranged according to the subjects, and sticlied together and in this form lend them lo inquirers. In this way they,notcmly find them convenient to hand to the neighbors,but make use ofthem themselves. With some they make up w ith the Bible their only stock of religious books, and 1 can ussure you they are highly valued. I have al-readv mentioned the plan of giving a tract monthly, to each child in the Sunday School. These Imvc been always selected to benefit the parents us well as the chil drrn. They have also supplied the deficiency of suitable reward books, much to the satisfaction of the children. This has been seen in their smiling countenances, w hen having a tract to take homo, with pretty picture on it.In the recent instances ol_ conversion tracts have been useful,' Ahuirt 8 have dated their first serious nnpression^from reading, and I n ai ring .lead such tractiias the following. “The sinucr*Mirented to the Saviour,” with the .“SpKlfpu n oftrWeich Preaching” by t.'hrirtnilis Evans, ?‘On the. the depravity oi'rrpfejjby sin, and his rectov cry hv the death oYChrist.’’—lloaven lost” —“Unscriptural Jlprjdttge.”Bibles.- Jjcfore the English Bihles arrived from the American liiblc Socjcty, persons had often asked me iflt could tell.tbKn whore they could get a Bible, and it grieved me to reply that 4 knew not where one could be purchased. Since they, arrived, their wunts huvc been suppliqofe-I have sold 7 and given 6 away—18 have been sent to Tuvoy, und koine have been given nvvny at the mission press. ^ Iiat it might be generally know n where Widest could bo had, I liuve had a notice at my'i'ate-wny for some months, viz. “ English Bibles sold here, at 3 rupees, and under.” “Tracts from the London and American Societies to be had here, gratis.” I Ii3ve also onfWn Burman which begins thus— “„The Lord Jesus Christ's books;” then follows a listof the finds printed, and 1111 invitation to passers by, to call in and ask, and they shall receive. These have stop-j»ed many to read, and have brought me in u few customers. When any of the Bur-mnn or Tailings call, niy teacher who isu Christian gives them instruction. Several have called and disputed with him, but have shown very little desire to inquire afierthe truth.Yours in the Gospel.THOMAS SIMONS.To Rev. Du. Boh.es.testimony on the conscience of an individual is soon drowned by the overwhelming voice of priests and neighbors. Even a hint that the white foreigners are devising some mischief is generally sufficient. But let the priest exclaim, that the book is “derogatory to Lord Gaudama,” and the people look upon it as a book of blasphemy. A preacher can meet their objections and arguments, and, by refuting the falsehoods, that are circulating, can gam the confidence of the people. We are evidently in great need of missionaries, to go in where the tracts have prepnped the way, and to follow them np with faithful constant preaching.Pray for us all, that while we are shut out from the safeguards and Christian influence of our native land, we may be kept from falling into error.Yours affectionate! v,Nathan brown.LETTER FROM MRS. SIMONS.We have been favored with the following letter for publication. It gives a vivid picture of the tacumling power ot Iilolatry.Maul.mkin, Oct. 10, 1833.My dear Brother,—It is with pleasure that I communicate to you, from this land of durkness,; shall bd happy, if I muy give you any important information respecting the heathen, and the prospect of doing good among them.The great obstacle which prevents the rapid spread of the gospel in those places where it is taught, seems to me to be their perverse and uncotiquoruble lmbits of idolatry. Paganism seems to lmve wound a spell about them, which it is exceedingly difficult to break. It would seem to us, that it might be very-easy to persuade them to break off serv ing a senseless block. But,and1ans'havwisltovTthatcinptiankjkine inform you, that the images of the iraguns arc the most dignified object;MR. BROWN TO DR. BOLLES.Mal’lmkin, Nov. 21, 1833.Rev. and dear .Sir,—In my last.lcttei to you, dated Oct. 25, I informed you of my expectation of going to Rangoon, to supply the place of bro. Rennet. I have since received a line from him, stating that he has not concluded to go to Tavoy. Of course, we shall remain here, for the present, where we have every advantage for acquiring the language.1 have been out twoor three times recently, with bro. Simons and Hancock, to distribute tracts in several villages, 11 little up the river. The people are mostly Taliugs, (pronounced with the accent on the last syllable, ami the i long) which is an unfavorable circumstance, we having only one Taling tract. We have found the men in these villages divided into throe nearly equal portions; one portion that will take tracts, another that do not want them, and a third who cannot read. In such slavish subjection are they to their petty chiefs, tlmt many ofthemdarenot receive a tract till they have ascertained w bother the head man oftiie village has taken. But what is not a little singular, those who do take, as soon as they have rend a little, will pronounce those very tracts which denounce at the cutset, all their old system of religion, “good, very good,” when, at the some time there is no reason to think they are any the less firmly attached to their systems of idolatry, than they were before. I suppose this apparent assent to the doctrines contained in the tracts, arises from the universal habit of deception and flattery with which they arthose w hom they regard as their superiors.Going out thus unable to converse much w ith the people, or explain to them our object, I have become convinced of the necessity that those who distribute tracts should be able alsoto preach and converse. Trncts will do much to prepare the people for preaching, and, in many instances, (especially in Burmnh Proper,) we have reason to believe they have been instrumental of conversion, but they cannot be expected to accomplish the work of evang'dlz’ng the heathen alone. A lew tracts scattered here and there, will awaken attention; but then-art they* have among them. Om m .nth, nil classes of Bormans in Maulmein, leave their low miserable.huts, und go to worship at the great pagoda. This is decorated to their tastes magnificently, Besides their first grent 'illustrious image of Goudamn, which is' thirty or forty 'feet in •length, they have aroundhim forfcy'or fitly more, some ten, some twenty feet high.— These images have to the eye of a sprtt-tutor a most imposing appearance. The first time I saw them, a strange kind of (fctling came upon me, as of a trance; and for some minutes, I could scarcely re-cognize my identity. 1 believe it to be so in a manner with them ; for, as soon as they come within the pale of the temple they seem to be iu a kind of dreaming ec-stncy, especially if the priest is present; then they fall down on their knees in the profouiidcstsatlf-iHMK rption, and thus remain for some minutes. 1 could hut imagine, that some evil geniu| wus in their midst, casting around thorn the spell of insanity, so different they seemed to he from persons in their sober senses; and, espe cinlly, when we take into consideration the fact tlmt their hopes of annihilation, which they deem the greatest possible good, de-depend on their devotions to the worship ofGaudama. We may suppose that when this fatal enchantment shall come into disrepute, that the gospel w ill soon spread every part of this land. But, we huvc still to lament that though the harvest is plent 011s, yet the laborers are few. O my brother, do you ever hesitate concerning your duty to the heathen ? I think, had you seen wlmt 1 have, you would not allow an; thing, but absolute want ol'a due prepare tion, to detain you a moment from the field. When we look upon our beloved homes, and all that binds us to them, our associate whose kindred spirits, and affectionate kindnesses, have made them, to us, perhaps, more dear than lathers or mothers, we sigh and weep nt the thought of parting. But, when we arrive at our station in a heathen country, although, when we think of home, williull its endearing associations, it may still melt the soul for a moment; yet there are considerations nt hand, that w ill cv operate efficiently lo subdue, or rather to absorb the rising emotion, and make us fool ihut we would rather be here, than elsewhere, even though all our path should be strewed with thorns.C. J. SIMONS.Liberality to the Burmnn Mission.LETTER FROM ME. NKSBXT TO MR. JVDSON.Darw.mi, (India,) Oct 21, 1833.My dear Mr. Judson,—I was much disappointed to find your last address contained no letter, nor late report of your proceedings. I have read the “Cry from Burmali,” and do myself the pleasure to answer it, by an order for one thousand Madras rupees, which, may it please God to accompany with his blesssing.Yours affectionately.J. NESBIT.JI hrlyefullpies1 bofern an iyoufolkthepretoflllist s thai of s Rif ing gu mul He den•Jstill toll Bn[ by 1of! theCO|lbeefl'cappLIndian Stations.VALLEY TOW NS.LETTER FROM REV. E. JONES.Valley Towns, July 29, 1831. My dear and honored brother,—A fewdays ago, 1 returned from a visit to bro.Bushy bond’s vicini'y, in the District of stomed to sjieak to j Amonec. I preached there several times, and visited a number of the brethren, nt t heir houses. I was gratified to find among them a teachable spirit, and much attention to the word of truth. I trust the Lord will make them an abundant blc.sing to their benighted neighbors.Bro. II. returned with me to the mountains, with a view to visit our principal preaching places ; but he was take n sick, which in somedergee frustrated ourdcsign. We had me. tings nt Go'aneeve on Saturday an 1 Sunday last. A large congrega-ion of Indians attended. Many could not get into the house, but listened outside.—
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Penfield Christian Index
Penfield, Georgia, US
Tue, Oct 21, 1834
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