CHAVAGACHERRY.-John Scudder, M. D., Missionary, and wife. Charles A. Goodrich, Native Preacher; T. W. Coe, W. Morrison, J. Cheesman, Joseph, John, J. P. Brittain, and Livingston, Native Helpers. Navetchooly, Cutchay, and Eluthumuttuval, (out-stations.) VARANY.-George H. Apthorp, Missionary, and wife. John M. S. Perry, Missionary, and wife, and Mrs. Woodward; stations not reported. Miron Winslow and Robert O. Dwight, Missionaries, and their wives; on their way to Ceylon. Intelligence has been received of their arrival at Madras on the 21st of March. (7 stations, 10 out-stations, 10 missionaries, 1 physician, 1 printer, 12 female assistant missionaries, 2 licensed native preachers, and 51 native helpers.) EDUCATION.-The following table is compiled from a statistical report of the mission forwarded at the close of the year 1835. The infant school at Batticotta, established by Mrs. Eckard, and now under the superintendence of Mrs. Ward, aided by two seminarists, contained 120 boys at the date of the latest general letter. The out-station at Valverty had five schools and 380 scholars; the one at Moolai, six schools and 255 scholars; that on the island of Caradive, seven schools and 275 scholars; etc. etc. There are several preparatory schools, from which pupils are received into the seminary, at Batticotta, Oodooville, Manepy, Chavagacherry. of the lads in the school at Batticotta are boarding scholars. At three other preparatory schools the children reside with their parents. Ten Nine out-stations are reported. By these is meant posts that are occupied by native helpers at some distance from the stations where the missionaries reside. The following is an estimate, made by the mission, of the expense attending the formation of a native station in the first instance, and of what is requisite for its annual support: Expenses at the Outset. A dwelling-house for a catechist, including out-buildings, etc. Annual Expenses. Amount of salary for two catechists, at a monthly allowance of $5 each, $35 95 120 10 Rent of land, repairs of buildings, and other incidental expenses, Annual Expenses for Schools. To the wages of six schoolmasters for a year, teaching on an average thirty-five children each, Incidentals, 144 6 "An important part of the duties of a catechist," say the missionaries, "is to visit from house to house; but such is the state of society here, that it is not proper for one man to perform this service alone. This is an additional reason for our appointing two catechists at a station. These are not generally of the same standing, either in regard to qualification or compensation. The average stipend is the sum above mentioned. We think it necessary that at least one of the catechists at a station be a married man, and have a christian wife. From this estimate it will appear that two catechists may be employed for the sum of one hundred and thirty dollars annually, and that six village free schools, the average number that will ordinarily be connected with a native station, may be supported for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, after the requisite buildings are finished. If books, premiums, etc., be included, three hundred dollars will be sufficient. When we visit our native stations, we are deeply impressed with the importance of these establishments. We witness pleasing evidences of an advance in missionary labors. We see what can be done by our native converts, when brought in close contact with their own countrymen. Here mind meets mind on common ground, without being over-awed on either side by the presence of a missionary. We commend these infant establishments to the special prayers of all interested in the prosperity of our mission." The seminary is now completely organized, with directors, constitution, and bye-laws. At the close of the year 1835, the instructors were as follows: Rev. Daniel Poor, Principal and Instructor in Astronomy and some of the higher branches of Mathematics. Rev. Henry R. Hoisington, Instructor in the English language. Nathan Ward, M. D., Instructor in Natural Philosophy and Medicine. P. Nicholas, H. Martyn, E. Warren, J. P. Hassleton, and W. Volk, Superintendents and Teachers of Classes in the Seminary. G. Dashiell, Teacher of Sanscrit, native Arithmetic, and Astronomy. Sanmookam and Ascervathum, Teachers in Tamul. S. J. Ropes, Medical Assistant. H. K. White, Teacher of Preparatory School. The seminary then contained 148 members, not including the 37 scholars in the preparatory school. There are five classes. The fifth class of 40 pupils was received in October. It is the design of the mission to have six classes, making the collegiate term six years. The prospects of the institution were never more encouraging, nor were there ever more cheering indications of divine favor, than there are at present. For an intelligent statement of the reasons for making the English language a study in the seminary and schools, and also for some excellent thoughts on the importance of school education in christianizing the heathen, the Board is referred to a letter from the instructors of the seminary in the Missionary Herald for June, pp. 211-214. The female central boarding-school at Oodooville prospers as beretofore. Mr. Hutchings removed his family to that station, that Mrs. H. might take charge of this school. THE PRESS. The printing establishment is now furnished with three presses, and with a complete bindery and tools for wood engraving. It is in contemplation to provide a type foundery for the Tamul language. The printing in Tamul from March 1, 1834, to the end of the year 1835, was as follows: The printing during the year 1835, was 3,383,500 pages. The whole amount from the beginning was 5,837,600 pages. The demand for school books is very urgent. The mission design to commence immediately the printing of portions of the Holy Scriptures. About thirty of the tracts in the Tamul language have the sanction of the American Tract Society, and are printed at the expense of that institution. Twenty native laborers are employed in the printing establishment, about half of whom are members of the church. A native workman does about half as much work in a day as is customary for men in printing-offices in this country. STATE OF RELIGION.-During the year 1835, seventy-seven natives and a daughter of Mr. Meigs were received into the several mission churches, chiefly as the result of the gracious visitation from on high described in the last Report. In March forty-eight were re ceived at one time. This interesting scene was at Batticotta. The excommunications from the churches during the year were seven, and four were suspended from communion. The whole number of native members is 261. Protracted meetings were held at all the stations successively in the early part of the year, and with cheering evidence of the divine presence. The gracious work was confined chiefly to the rising generation. Several hundred of the children in the native free schools were so far under the impression of divine truth, as to be constrained to call upon God, in the name of the only deliverer from the wrath to come. Speaking of the effects of the revival, the missionaries remark in one of their general letters, that among them are "a great increase of christian influence in the seminary, a deep conviction of the truth of Christianity in the minds of the unconverted, and of the reality and importance of vital religion; more definite views on the part of native church members with regard to what they should aim at, when exhorted to shine as lights in the world; and greater faith in those who are called more particularly to labor in word and doctrine, that special exertions in preaching the gospel, when accompanied with united and persevering prayer, will ever be followed with a special blessing." There are fifteen places for stated preaching in the mission. The native evangelical society supports three catechists, viz. Francis Ashbury, at Madura, Jordan Lodge, at Valverty, and Alexander Lovell, at Caradive. The affairs of this society have been managed in part hitherto by members of the mission; but now they are given over into the hands of the native christians, except that one of the missionaries acts as treasurer. EASTERN ASIA. MISSION TO SIAM. BANKOK.-Charles Robinson and Stephen Johnson, Missionaries; Dan P. Bradley, M. D., Physician; and their wives. (1 station, 2 missionaries, 1 physician, and 3 female assistant missionaries.) The city of Bankok is supposed to contain half a million of inhabitants, of whom about 400,000 are Chinese. Messrs. Gutzlaff and Tomlin were the first to commence christian efforts in Siam, which they did in August, 1828. Messrs. Abeel and Tomlin spent some time at Bankok in 1831, and again Mr. Abeel in 1832. Messrs. Robinson and Johnson, with their wives, arrived July 23, 1834, and Doct. and Mrs. Bradley on the 18th of July, 1835. Doct. B. carried a press and Siamese type from Singapore. Another press and whatever else is necessary to complete an establishment for printing on a moderate scale, has since been forwarded from the United States. The Committee are looking for a printer. Tracts are sought with great eagerness, but experience has shown the inexpediency of promiscuous distribution. Many persons seek the tracts merely for the paper. Yet there is great encouragement to give them to such as can read and promise to peruse them. It would seem that an unusual proportion of the Chinese in Siam are unable to read. Little difficulty is found in gathering schools among the Chinese, and Mr. Johnson had one under his care. Among the Siamese this is not so easy, as the boys are usually sent to the wats, or temples, for education, and the girls are not thought to need education. The multitudes daily resorting to Doct. Bradley for medical treatment awakened the jealousy of inferior officers of government, and occasioned an order for the removal of our brethren from the Chinese quarter. The common people, upon whom a very favorable impression had been made, evidently regretted this, and subsequent events showed that it was not to be attributed to unfriendliness in the higher powers. In October, the eldest son of the Prah Klang, or prime minister for foreign affairs, (the same young man who is favorably noticed in the last Report,) sought Doct. Bradley's acquaintance. Luang Nai Sit, which is the name of the prince, could speak the English language a little, and write it with freedom. He had. recently introduced the European manner of ship-building, and built and furnished him a house in the European style. His acquaintance became familiar and interesting. In November, the prince invited Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to accompany him to Chantaboon, a place about 160 miles down the coast, near the frontier of Cambodia. His object was to have them reside in his family, and teach himself and wife and children the English language, while at the same time they were to have liberty to distribute tracts among the Chinese, constituting almost the entire population in that quarter, whom Luang Nai Sit characterized as "having no God, no religion, and greatly needing the labors of missionaries among them." Doct. Bradley being ill, was also offered a free passage by the generous nobleman. Chantaboon presented a surprising change to them in the face of the country, being mountainous, rugged, and apparently favorable to health. There are some tens of thousands of inhabitants. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson remained at this place at the latest dates. Doct. Bradley returned to Bankok on the 21st of December, after an absence of about six weeks, with health much improved. The providential developements occasioned by this visit to Chantaboon are in no ordinary degree encouraging, and have greatly strengthened the desire of the Committee to send more missionaries into that field. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been afflicted in the death of a beloved daughter. |