Your Committee have been very solicitous, to avail themselves of the information which they have received respecting the great want of schools in the island of Ceylon, and of the circumstance which seems to favour their establish ment. Sir ALEXANDER JOHNSTONE, to whom they are principally indebted for directing their views to that island, has most kindly and humanely entered into their feelings, and aided them with his advice. Their attention has naturally been turned to the important advantages which might result from sending out a suitable person to establish schools in this popu lous island; but even if the means which your Committee could command had been sufficient for that purpose, the sphere of usefulness of such an individual must have been much less extensive than that of a Cingalese, who, being sent to this country to study our plan, should carry back to his native shores a perfect knowledge of the British system of education. The execution of this design has not yet been within the power of the Committee; but they anxiously look forward to it, and, in the mean time, have gladly opened the Central School to two missionaries, who under the auspices of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, are now on their way for Ceylon, and another for Bombay, there to join their fellow-labourers of the same Society, who have already, with eminent success, spread knowledge and improvement among the inhabitants. FORMATION OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES. To our Foreign Missionary Societies, we have the pleasure to add, the recen formation of one at Gibraltar, and another at Madras. Mr. REES states, that no fewer than seventy collectors had offered themselves, to apply for subscriptions to carry on the work of God in heathen lands, and that they had entered with great spirit into their work. Mr PINE, and Capt. TRIPP, were appointed Treasurers. Mr. LYNCH proposed an association for this purpose at Madras, and subscriptions to the amount of between eight and nine pounds per month had been immediately obtained, notwithstanding the infant state of the cause there, with the prospect of increase. A Missionary Society has also been formed in July last at Lancaster, through the activity of Mr. DIXON. Twenty collectors, and 200 subscribers, have been obtained. Contributions to the Missionary Fund, received by the General Treasurers since the account published last month. £ s. d. Rotherhithe Branch Society at the School Room of S. Jennings, Esq. by J. Bulmer, Esq. From Spilsby Circuit, by H. Holland, Esq. Treasurer of the Lincoln District For Louth circuit, by Ditto Llanelly Circuit, by William Morgan, Esq. Treasurer of the First Welsh District Auxiliary Society Swansea Circuit, by Ditto Haverford West Circuit, by Ditto Carmarthen Circuit, by Ditto 10 12 6 Legacy received from Mrs. Brackenbury, Executrix to the late R. C. Brackenbury, Esq. Raithby Hall, Lincolnshire Deduct Legacy Duty £1000 0 0 100 0 0 900 0 0 The Committee express their grateful thanks to an unknown friend, at or near Leeds, in Yorkshire, for the generous and seasonable donation of a piece of superfine black cloth, presented to the Society.-Articles of a similar kind will be most gratefully received, as whatever assists in the outfit of Missionaries, is a direct contribution to the Funds of the Society. POETRY. Occasioned by reading the Memoir of the Rev. HENRY MARTYN, B D. late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to the Hon. East India Company. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them, Rev. xiv. 13. So, bending o'er his dying bed, And watch'd his last expiring sigh: By cruel Tartars urged no more; The vital spin's balmy breath; The Christian minister disdains: There no unhallow'd tongues blaspheme That Name above all names ador'd; The song of heaven, the angel's theme, Is Christ, his Saviour and his Lord. That Name how dear! let Albion's coast, By whitening cliffs encompass'd round, Of wisdom, truth, and peace the boast, With science, love, and friendship crown'd: That coast, with all its prospects fair, Forsaken for a land unknown; Let that attest no name was dear, No cause, but that of Christ alone. Yet not the Stoic coldly breaks The bonds he never knew to prize; No! but the Christian nobly makes His bleeding heart the sacrifice. For one high aim, one work sublime, He counted life and all things loss; His friends were those in every clime Who bow'd to Jesus and his cross. For this across the stormy deep, Through Indian wilds, o'er Persian plains; By barren rocks, and mountains steep, Where nature throu'd in terror reigns: He urg'd his long and lonely way, The dearest joys of life forsook; And there Jehovah was his stay, His counsellor the Sacred Book. Inspir'd with apostolic zeal, He laboured for his Master's sake; Combin'd his steadfast faith to shake; For this alone he sought to live. For this he preach'd, and wept, and pray'd, Expos'd to grief, reproach, and shame, He way'd the banner of the cross: The atheist's or the pagan's sneer; The champion of the Crucified, He lov'd the sacred badge to wear. By wisdom taught, and sway'd by love, Whose message to the world he brought. His work is done! the Master found The five-fold talent well improv'd; No earthly cares his spirit bound, His heart was in the heaven he lov'd. In grief his comforter and guide, Brother in Christ! thy flight we view, Our all in Jesu's cause to spend. Short has thy earthly journey been, Too tender for a world of woe. A. B. * Mr. Martyn translated the New Testament into the Hindoostanee and Persian languages. Printed by T. CORDEUX, 14, City-Road, London. METHODIST THE MAGAZINE, FOR DECEMBER, 1819. BIOGRAPHY. SOME ACCOUNT OF MR. JOSEPH WEBB, Who was a worthy member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society more than THREESCORE YEARS; and whose valuable labours as a Local Preacher, Class-Leader, Steward, and Trustee, are earnestly recommended to the notice of those Methodists, of the rising generation, who may be called to fill these important offices. By JONATHAN EDMONDSON. THE sacred Scriptures have furnished us with many valuable accounts of holy and useful men, which we should read with deep attention and earnest prayer, that we may imbibe their spirit, and follow their example. Those accounts were not published as eulogies on the dead, but, as instructions and encouragements for the living. The pious dead are removed from this world of sin and sorrow, to a world of purity and joy, where human praise is neither known nor desired; but the gracious dealings of God with them, and their exemplary conduct, while passing through this vale of tears, may be made a peculiar blessing to true believers from generation to generation. In imitation of the inspired writers, the Christian church has from time to time carefully written, and published, memoirs of good men; who in different ages and nations had adorned the doctrines of God their Saviour; and these have been made a blessing to thousands, and tens of thousands, on their way to a better country. Indeed, it is generally acknowledged, that pious biography is better calculated, than any other kind of reading, to instruct and edify the church of God; especially those articles which are written with faithfulness, perspicuity, and brevity. The author of the following account has endeavoured to follow this plan, and humbly hopes that this memoir, of one of the best of men, will be read with pleasure and profit, by the pious of every denomination. VOL. XLII. DECEMBER, 1819. |