310 GmMfm&mt. MISSIONARY LETTEETO HARRISBURG PRESBYTERY. The following letter was written by Rev. "W. Tracy in Madura, India, to his co-presbyters in this country. It bears date March 28th, 1864. After touching upon a number of personal matters, including the recent sad death in this country of his oldest son, “ a fine lad and full of promise," in his 17th year Mr. Tracy says .- Our two remaining sons we have just sent away from us to America. The elder is 15, the younger nearly 14 years of ago. I cannot bring myself to, speak of the sad trial of parting with our loved ones, probably to see them no more in this world, but it is the great trial of our missionary life. It is two months since the bitter hour of parting, and we miss them everywhere and at all times. But their good required that they should be in America, and the Lord's service required that we should be here. We committed them to the hands of our Heavenly leather, and we know that He is a covenant-keeping and faithful God. If He will bless them with His saving grace, we will patiently, nay rather, joyfully labor on in this weary land. Will you not remember these dear boys in your prayers ? Our one desire is that they may become the children of God, and spend their lives in His service. Our mission work goes on much as when I wrote to yJur eo-presbyter, the Rev. O. P. Wing. Since then, however, our working strength has been consider ably reduced. The death, hy drowning, of our missionary brother, the Rev. I). O. Scudder, was a very great loss to the mission. Ho was a young man of the highest promise, his acquisitions in preparation for the work to which he had devoted his life having been such as to excite.the admiration of missiona ries who have been long in the field. Kind and genial in his manners, he was loved': byl his brethren in the mission, and-not less, perhaps, by the native Christians, over whom he soon gained great influence. When I add, that his' spirituality of mind was as manifest as his intellectual fitness for His work, yon will not be surprised that we were greatly afflicted by his death. May the Lord send forth many more such laborers into His harvest field. At the close of last year, the Rev. J. Herrick left the mission on a much needed visit to America. Since then the Rev. E. Webb has also left us with out any prospect of returning, and at the close of the present year, the Rev. H. S. Taylor will also leave on a visit to his native land. In the meantime the Rev. H. L. Lord, M. L., formerly of the Jaffna Mission, has been transferred to Madura as a mission physician, and the Rev. J. E. Chandler is now on his return to us after a visit to America on acoount of his health. Our numbers are thus diminished while our work, in creases, and we. see no prospect of any speedy reinforcement of our enfeebled mission. After years of labor in the district, some parts of our field have’ rarely if ever boen visited, only because we have not had men enough to reach them without neglecting equally impor tant work nearer at hand. To meet this evil, as far as possible,*our mission has applied to the Prudential Committee for two or three suitable men to labor constantly as itinerants in these ne glected portions of our field. The com mittee will send the men as soon as they can procure those of the right stamp, but we hear of none such to be had. In the meantime the brethren here are doing what they can. During theseason suitable for lowing, they go, two at a time, intd the most neglected districts, and pitching their tents in a central spot for five or six days, visit every village and'-hamlot within reach, and then removing to another centre, continue their labors as before, each party accompanied by native helpers, remaining out in tents about three weeks at a time. In this way each party will visit from fifty to one hundred or more villages in the course of a fortrifrght. The - people, almost without exeejftion, listen gladly to the message of divine truth, and we cannot doubt that the seed sown will sooner or later spring’up and bear fruit to tide's glory of God. The missionary work is still one of faith, but thanks be to God, the promise is sure, and there is no room for such a word as “ discourage- O menb” in the missionary vocabulary. My personal work is in the Mission Seminary, which has beon under my care since its commencement in 1842, with the exception of three years spent in America. The present number of students, is, seventy, of, whom six are catechists, who are allo wed to spend a year or two in the bo mi nary to increase their qualifications : for . their work. pursumgijthe pydinary. cour.se of study, romain-abput sixuyears in the seminary, and after graduating most of them enter the service of the mission as catechists or teachers. I am assisted by four teachers, all of whom were educated in the seminary. They are young men of good minds, well disci plined, and, though not ordained, are all of them excellent preachers. Besides the seminary duties, the three elder teachers have, by translations and origi nal works, done good service for the increase of a vernacular Christian litera ture. I have been engaged for some years past, in connection with several other missionaries, in preparing a new version of the Tamil Hew Testament. The work is now going through the press, and has been adopted by the Bible Society as the only Tamil version to be published by them. I will enclose a copy of the final report of the Revision Delegates, as it will give yon a more definite idea of the work we have been engaged in. It has been a most plea sant and profitable employment for those engaged in it. GENERAL VIEW OE MISSIONS IN INDIA. Before closing my letter, I will add a few facts which may enable you to form some idea of the progress orChristianity in India during a period of ten years, extending from 1852 to 1861 inclusive. During this time several new societies have entered upon the mission work in India. _These are the American Metho dists, the United Presbyterian Church of the United States, the Reformed Dutch of the United States, the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the Moravian Mission in Tibet. Besides these new.' societies some of the older, ones have; increased their staff of la borers. Thus the , Church Missionary Society have sent out to India ninety ordained missionaries .and ten laymen, while their native ministers have in creased from fifteen to thirty. The Basle Society had in 1852 twenty seven missionaries, and in " 1862 fifty seven, of whom forty-five were ordained clergymen. On the other hand, the American Board had forty missionaries in India in 1852, and only thirty-two in 1862. The American Presbyterian (O. S.) Mission' had twenty-six missionaries in 1852 and twenty-four in 1862. The London Missionary Society also had less missionaries in India in 1862 than in 1852. The total difference in eight of the principal missions is as follows: Missionaries in 1852, 312; native do. 42; missionaries in 1862, 38.9; native do., 113; Vhich is a very considerable increase. The total loss ’of missionaries by death and'removals has amounted to 185 during the ten years under con sideration, and 230 have labored during the whole decade. The following com parative statement, including India and Ceylon, I take, as I have some of my other facts, from Dr. Mullens’ “ Ten Years’ Missionary Labor in India ■ w.1'852.': 1862. Societies, 22 31 Stations, : 313 87JL- missionaries, 395 519 Natiye missionaries, -; ■ 48 140;-.; Native catechists, ' 698 1866 .N ati v.e .churches, ; Communicants, iNative Christians, 112,491 151,816 ; [Boys in school, 64,480 7.0,709 JGirls in school, 13,298 19,997 - * From this statement it is , manifest that gratifying progress has been made; but such an . exhibition of/bare figures can give but a faint idea of the real progress which Christianity has made. The general leavening of great masses of the people with'Christiah knowledge, the loosening of the adamantine chains of caste, the vast field prepared and sown with the .seed ...of., divine .truth which shall surely spring up and bear fruit, though now to a great-.extent concealed beneath the,surface; all these, and much more, must fee taken ..into account in every , correct estimate of progress made. They are things which cannot be tabulated, and set before the eye in figures, but to the missionary who has watched the change, they fur nish the strongest ground of encourage ment. ’* The actual increase of native .Chris: tians during the ten years, is over 41,000, which is an increase of more than 33 per cent. . / CHARACTER OF THE NATIVE CHRISTIANS— TESTED IN THE MUTINY. [ln regard to the character of our native Christians, I > might'; Jay much.: Born and train ed up influences of heathenism, it would be, strange were they free from defects; >lany of them, especially those who. have most recently come out from idola try, are very ignorant; the moral ele ment in all. Hindus is weak, and we see much in our native Christian's that tries our faith and patience; but, otf- the whole, they will compare favorably with Christians who have always been planed in; more favorable circumstances. We see much in them to esteem and love, .atid some of them exhibit, in an eminent degree; rthe; image of Christ. •■••• PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 29, 1864. During the mutiny in the Horthwest some years ago, some two thousand native Christians came within the influ ence of the mutiny. Some were called to lay down their lives for Christ, many suffered the loss of all things, with cruel mockings and seourgings, while offers of reward for apostacy were freely made, and yet, strange to say, only five or six apostatized, and even of these several returned as soon as the pressure was removed. Does not this fact speak volumes in favor of our native Chris tians ? One fact more, and I will bring.my long, and, I fear, wearisome letter to a close. Our native Christians generally are from the poorer classes of and the great majority of, them are miserably poor; yet, out of their deep poverty they have contributed, not so much as we could wish, bat something toward the support of the Gospel among themselves, and for its propagation among their heathen countrymen. The average contribution of each communi cant has amounted to rupees 2.28, or $ll2. This is something, and they will do more, for they, are beginning to learn the truth of that saying of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” I have much yet which I should like to say, but I must not forgot my promise to bring my letter to an end. May the missionary work —the Lord’B work — have a large place in o,ur heart, my dear brother. Remember us often in your prayers. Give my Christian salu tations to all the members of Presbytery, and assure them of my earnest prayers that the Lord may prosper them in their work, and bless the churches over which He has placed them as overseers. I remain yours affectionately, W. Tbaoy. I believe the General Assembly, some time ago,.passed a resolution -tp- send a copy of their Annual Minutes to each 5 foreign missionary Connected with our church. Can you tell'me whether the resolution has been carried into effect ? Ho .copies have been received' in this mission, 1 believe. MRS- CAROLINE JESSUP, MISSIONARY The subject of this sketch, wife of Rev. Henry H. Jessup, of Beirut, Syria; was born in Branchport, Yates County, H. Y., July 7th, 1833. Her father is Dr. "W. Bush, long a residentrphysician ■in Yates county. Her mother was a cousin of Harlan Page, and several of the letters published in his memoir were addressed' to her, as Miss J. A.L. "Va rious specimens of the artistic skill and handiwork of Harlan Page adorned the walls of the family homestead in 8., and the children were taught, from their earliest years, to revere the virtues and -exalted piety of that sainted relative. In early childhood, her mental develop ment was remarkable. At the age of three and a half, She had read, through the Testament and Watts’ Hymns for Children. At seven she had finished Colburn’s Mental Arithmetic, and not long after was withdrawn from, school, lest her extraordinary application should ; seriously impair her health. Although consecrated: to God in infancy, and faithfully trained by believing parents, she gave no evidence of a saving change until her sixteenth year, when she be came' interested, in the Salvation of her isoulj during a revival ,of religion,,, in 1849, in the neighbprihgi tbwn of Rratts burg: In that town the Spirit of 'God was poured out in great power, and she rode twelve miles for the express pur pose'of attending the meetings. The; Reviß. C. Smith was pastor in. P., and. .through the blessing of God on his per sonal labors, she found peace in believ ing. Mr. Smith stated, at the time of hpr conversion,; that,-her views pfCherist were, unusually clear, and the change wrought in her was most decided. At first she had' no special concern for her soul, but at the close bf one of the meet ings she caught a glimpse of the Saviour which, completely overwhelmed her, and she exclaimed, “Blessed Saviour,; pre-- cious- Saviour.” From this time for ward, her Christian course was steadfast and: onward;. ~ ' She united ..with ‘th,6 PrCsbyterian. Church'in Branchport in 1849, at the same communion with her brother Elliot, who was killed at Giin town, Mississippi, when serving his country as. Captain in the" 95th Illinois R. Y., about twenty days before her death in'Egypt. Thus, the brother and sister; who became heirs of grace at the same, time,, became heirs of glory, to gether. . 331. ,119.0 18,410., 31,249 Soon after her conversion she was en gaged in teaching the district school in, B, and opened the school daily with reading the Bible and prayer. One ot the school directors, who was a violent Op poser of evangelical, religion, entered the school, an.d threatened her with ex pulsion from the school unless she de sisted from praying before the pupilS- She replied’that-she would not teach where she could not ask God’s blessing TO SYRIA. on her pupils; and her firmness silenced the rude and violent opposer. In 1851-2 she attended school at East Bloomfield, H. Y., and applied herself with great assiduity to her studies, having devoted herself to the profession of teaching, and intending to assume the education of a younger sister. While in E. 8., she wrote a series of res olutions, which, while they show her in tense thirst after knowledge, express her sense of the value of time, the reality of eternal things, and a determination to “ think often of the hour of death.” She spent the year 1852—3 as a teach er, in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and the following year as a student in Cortland Academy; Homer, H. Y., where she ranked among the’first -scholars and writers in the Institution, and- was Uni versally beloved. In 1854-5 she was engaged in teaching in Montrose, Pal In June, 1855, the following record was made in her journal: “I have been a professor of piety for six years, but this day I will devote myself anew to God. Oh thou Saviour of sinners; let it be to Thee that I come, on Thee that I lean; and in Thee that I trust.” Previous to this, she had been accepted by the American Board as an assistant mission ary to Syria, but yas prevented from taking her departure in the -fall by a severe indisposition,brought on b-y exces sive labors'in preparing for the anni versary exercises of the Institution.. In October, 1857, she was united in marri age to Rev.. Henry H. Jessup; of the Syria mission, and reached ■ Tripoli, Syria, April 26,1858, after a passage of nearly two months. She remained in Tripoli two years, [engaged chiefly in the study of the Arabic language. In March, I 860; the mission decided that Mr.: J essup should spend the ensuing summer in Abeih, on Mount Lebanon 1 , and in the early part of Stay she reached 1 that village; but instead of spending a quiet 'summer in that -invigorating mountain region, the breaking.out of/the Druze and Maronite'civil war obligedher; to deseendprecipitately to thehotplain at' Beirut; May 31st, there to:spend one of the most exciting, periods of her mis sionary life.-: That /ride from.; Abeih; to Beirut, on the 31st of May, was one, never to be forgotten. The-, civil war between the Drnzes and the Maronites was at its height. She rode down-the rugged mountain roads, borne on the shoulders of men, while; armed bodies of Druzes were rushing by, singing then war songs, the distant roar of musketry resounding through the air, and the smoke of twenty-five burning villages, on the adjoining/heights' of Lebanon, adding to the horrors of the. scene. The month that followed in Beirut .was one of the greatest excitement. TCnk of thousands of refugees from the mountains were pouring into Beirut; the Moslem.?, Druzes, and Turkish sol-, diery were roused to the highest pitch of fanaticism ; and it was hourly expect ed that' the bloody Beenes of Deir-el- Komr, Ilasbeiya, and Jezzin would be repeated in Beirut. On the 27th of June, Mrs. J. - gave birth to her firsfc- : born; 1 having.within the few days pre vious, been obliged to reihovp no than seven times, having twice taken refuge on board of ships lying in the harbor, where hundreds of the popula tion swarmed on the decks, as an attack on Beirut was hourly anticipated. ~ *ln September she established an Arabic- prayer meeting, for the refugee women of Hasbeiya and other towns,' who came to the house,to receive chari ty, and were . induced-, -to remain for prayer. The acquaintance then formed with these poor refugee'women and girls continued up to the time of her departure from Syria; and in January last she had the.pleasure of seeing two of tjiem received into the communion of the church m Beirut. • j She was deeply interested in the' wel- of the women and ; girls of Syria, apd: often labored beyond hor strength ip efforts for their-spiritual good. In the; winter of ‘ 1861-2' sho opdned a' Sabbath School in her own house, and, chiefly through her own; personal efforts secured the aid of pious native young men and, women as teachers, and a‘ large attendance of children from the eastern part of the city, where a Sabbath School had never, before existed. At abbut the same time, she organized a Benevolent Society among the girls of the day schpo.l, many of them- Greeks and Catholics, and by means of the pro ceeds of their needle-work,- augmented by small sums contributed by others, raised ffhds sufficient to publish the Children's Arabic Hymn/Book/, | The Native .Missionary Society*- also, formed in March, 1862, awakened her warmest sympathies, and she labored earnestly with her Syrian sisters to en libt their contributions and their prayers in its behalf The opening of the flour ishing Girls’ School in the eastern quar ter of the city, 4 established mainly for the Damascene girls mow settled in B'eirnt, was-owing largely: to hor un titihg zeal j-'anciup to within a’ few weeks of her death, she was accustomed every Sabbath to assemble the Damas cene girls with the women and girls of the neighborhood, to. instruct them in the Gospel. A few months before her death, she read' “ Woman and her Saviour in Per sia,” and was deeply affected by it. She was much impresed with the blessed effects of the revivals in the Nestoria 13 mission, and asked often, why may we not expect such a revival in Syria ? Always accustomed to secret prayer, she now made this the subject of espe cial and earnest wrestling with God. The “Week of Prayer,” in January, was one of_ greht spiritual enjoyment to her, And She alluded to it afterwards as one of the happiest seasons of her life. At about this time she spoke more frequently and fully than ever before, of her own views of the Saviour. One day she said, “Oh, precious Saviour, how much He has done for me! What a privilege to labor for Him! How sweet it will be to fee with Him foreverl” She said she had no desire for.her children, but that they might bo Christ’s, and she should endeavor to train them for Him. In the month of May her health became seriously impaired, and with the exception ,of a few days of apparent improvement, her strength gradually failed,until the latter part of June, when, at the recommendation of the missionary physicians, she left with her husband and two of her children for the United States. The voyage to Alexandria proved unexpectedly trying. Three thousand sheep and horses were crowd ed on the decks jof the steamer, render ing the air in the cabin, already heated by a burning sun, almost stifling. Be coming more and more exhausted, she said she was weary, and longed “ to be ;at home.” She little thought that she •would so soon reach her heavenly home. That evening, July Ist, the steamer an chored in the harbor of Alexandria, and the next day, Saturday, July 2d, at two, o’clock, P. M, she .breathed her last. She had been a great sufferer for several weeks, but her closing moments were peaceful, and she died : without a strug gle- She had spent six years in Syria; a short missionary life; but long enough to show her earnest'devotion to the cause of her Master, and her loVe for the souls of the daughters of Syria, of whom many will mourn her loss, and some will yet rise and*eall her blessed. She had esteemed it a “privilege to labor for Christ,” and, to use her own words, “ how sweet it will fee ” for her “ to be with Him forever!” RETROSPECT OF A LONG PASTORATE. Washington City, Sept. 13, 1864. Bro. Mears : The text of my twen ty-fifth Anniversary sermon was 1 Cor. xv. 10 ; and some kind friend furnished the National Republican of this city with the following: ! i “ Twenty-Five Years in the Minis try.—Rev. John C. Smith, D. D., en tered yesterday upon the twenty-sixth year of his ministry aS pastor of the Ninth street ; Fourth Presbyterian' Church. His call; was dated Sept. 10, 1839. When he came, . 337 names of communicants bad been, enrolled. Of tbpse ,42 remain until the present. During the twenty-five years 6f : his ministry ho service had ever been sus pended; . .Six communion services were held in each: year—all,of which, save one, he attended During his pastorate Dr. Smith has' attended the funerals of 126 communicants-of hia : church. He has .married 490 .couples, and baptized ,621 persons, of whom 78 were adults. .Six young men of -the congregation have been licensed to preach the gospel.; ■ There are now on the church rolls 461 communicants. The church was organized on the 21st of November, 1828, with 23 members. His predeces sors,were Rev. J. N. Danfortb, and,the Rev. Mason Noble, innning through a period Of-11 years. In these 11 years there were added 314.' During Dr.Smith’S pastorate there have been added,, 881, making the whole numcr 1,218. A farge number of those added were set off to the four new' Presbyterian Churches, viz : Th’e ; - Colored Church; Assembly’s, Sixth Street, and Western Presbyteri in Washington... , Dr. Smith has, besides performing these vast labors, been filling the posi-, tion of United States chaplain for the last three years j during which time he has corresponded with • thousands of families of volunteer soldiers.” In presenting these and this review of 25 years* I* have rendered my testimony in all this time to the divine faithfulness, and now " acknowledge with gratefal heart and-unfeigned lips;. the; high, the deep, the many obliga tions under which I this day enter upon' the 26th year'of my pastoral duties. .To-day we have made record of the past. The future is all unknown to ns. We may well confide all that to Him, who orders all things according.to the counsel of His will, for His glory and our good. I begin this 26th year, as I did the first of my pastoral life in Washington — (f a day laborer/’ under and with,And for Christ Jesus, to be employed at his pleasure, and ready for my-dikehafge whenever he shall order. He will eon. tinue me until I shall accomplish day, and then “it is enough.” U] Us let me toil on by the day, by ihe hour, and, when “the hour” comes, He will reward according to His own grace. I only wait His time to render the ae count of my stewardship. Within the past twelve months more 'than two or three things have fallen out to jnake this close of my labors easy, pleasant and desirable. Among these is this service, in which I am allowed by divine grace to make this review, and such a record, and to look upon the faces of these dear children, whom God has given me, in- this, their church home, on which there is not one dollar of debt. In this review I have designed an honest, but necessarily brief and imper feet tribute of affection to the memory of our beloved dead. Indeed, I have delivered this discourse as,if over their graves, with the renewing of those im pressions upon my heart as when in sadness I stood with you in yonder city Of the dead. The little band laid the foundation of this spiritual house in prayer, and honest purpose to glorify God Their’s was the Bpirit of enter prise, effort, aggression. Honest in their purpose, simple-hearted in all things, they prepared the way of the Lord. Pew remain who have know ledge of those early times. I have in this discourse set them forth as divinely appointed to a great work which they have performed, and one by one they have fallen asleep in Jesus. I have alsp spoken in all honesty and kindness to you and of you, the living, most of whom I have gathered into this communion. Some have been weak and sickly among you, and some sleep. These are the exceptions. With a full heart l express to you who are now the people, my thanks for the fidelity you have manifested in these relations and duties, and for that constant and cor dial Support yon have given to these interests, and to mo your pastor. The present number (461) of our communi cants with their children, proves that you have been steadfast, unmoveable and ready for every good word and work. ' Because of these things, we stand before the community to-day, without fear, without reproach, a true, faithfuland patriotic band, whose hearts God has touched. ' Por this Gburch, so marked by the divine favor, God has, I am sure, in reserve, large blessings, and the purpose to increase you more and more a thous and fold, you, and your children. An other pastor than myself will have the responsibilities, and enjoy the blessings which have so long been mine. This change must come in time. Toward it I look, and for that I am now setting my house in order, and laboring the earnestly as the day approaches. We leave all 'this to Him who has done great things for us, and in whose name and for whose sake we renew our con secration to-day,and address ourselves to the duties as they may appear, I have been pastor in Georgetown and Washington for more than thirty two years, and this is more than one half of my whole life. In both cities God has put His seal of approbation upon my ministerial labors. To Him be all the glory. In this city, He has honored mo far above many of my brethren, as set forth in this record, and we are here this morning to rehearse these acts" of our Covenant God. In 'this, the American Capital, I have spent my life. Hlere then, will I stay, while God continues me. *Time must affect my relations to the church, but cannot alienate me from you and your chil dren. In the midst of my people let me die and be buried. Here let my ashps lie, till the morning come, and pastor and people stand before; the throne. May we all be rigfet and on the right hand! TWENTY-FIVE GENTS THEN AND 'NOW.-'- * • ; A New York paper tells the follow ing. It makes a very plain csise-of the absurdity of thinking that an income on which a man could live four yqars ago, will enable him to live how. «’A poor coal-heaver fellowed a ton of anthracite tot.the dwelling, of a citizen of New York, whom- l\p had often served. After ..carrying in the coal, he named his price at five shillings. The housekeeper re monstrated, reminding him that three years ago the charge Was only twenly nve cents j the following year it raised to thirty-seven; last year fifty, and now sixty-two j he , could see no reason in such progression. The man hesitated a moment, and agreed to take the old price—in silver. The housekeeper laughingly consented, and brought out a shining quarter, one of a few he had hoarded from the old. time. The coal heaver’s need was too great for him to hoardit;and he sold it at the nearest broker’s for—five a hillings in '.paper currency! This is not a hypothetical case, but an...actual occurence, ,and it serves at once for argument and, illus tration." John C. , Smith
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