Letter from Reb. A. Miller to the Secretary. Cuttack, July 7th, 1877. Baptism of a Brahmin.-You will, I am sure, be glad to hear that we had a baptism last Sunday morning in the Mission chapel, and that one of the four baptized was Babu Kusna Ruth, the other disciple of the Alekh Swami, gooroo at Pooree, and fellow disciple of Bancha Nedhee. He was so closely watched that neither the preachers nor I could get an interview with him when we were at Pooree. Shortly after our return, he, to our surprise and pleasure, joined Bancha in Cuttack. His case came before the last church meeting, when he was most heartily and unanimously received for baptism. All who had conversed with him expressed their astonishment on hearing his experience and Scripture knowledge. He is familiar with many parts of the Old Testament as well as New, and is both ready and apt in quoting from both. In quoting, if fast, he will help you out. Brother Buckley in his presence repeated part of "Look unto me and be ye saved," etc. He immediately gave the rest of the passage. We all like him very much, and believe him to be a thoroughly sincere and earnest disciple of the Saviour. Considering the circumstances in which he was placed, and the little or no help he has had from man, and the comparatively short time he has had access to Divine truth, he does indeed appear to be a miracle of grace. His history, which is a very interesting one, I must give you some other time, unless it be in the meantime furnished by another pen. His age is twenty-three; birth-place, Ram Chundra Sasun, near Pooree; caste, brahmin. His father died when he was a child. He was made over to two uncles, with the father's share of the ancestral land and some thirty bigahs, which he presented to the uncles when he decided to become a disciple of the gooroo. I must try if I cannot send you a likeness of him in the strange dress he wore as a disciple of the gooroo, with topee, five bags, staff and flag, etc.; and his present dress as a disciple of the Lord Jesus. We had our Bi-Monthly Temperance Meeting last evening in the College: Bala and two more took the pledge. We had some forty Europeans and Eurasians present, with natives, though not so many of the latter as was expected. I enclose you a poetical piece composed for the meeting, and sung, accompanied by the harmonium. Mr. Hebberlet, of the Khoordah Revenue Survey, a young European, who was baptized during the year, is the author. He was a devout and conscientious Papist. He is now, I trust, a true and earnest Christian, and active in every good work. His heart is set on Mission work, should the way be opened. He is respected by all who know him. He spoke at the meeting. With practice, I doubt not he may become an effective speaker. His age is twenty-two. I have just finished the arrangements for the Car Festivals. One party, with brother Buckley, goes to Pooree; another, of which Tama is one, to the Dekhanal Gurda; another to Khandarapara, in the Herald; another to JagaporeThe two last mentioned will (D.v.) remain a month at the above places. Dearness of Rice.-The rains have now really set in. The rivers last week rose very suddenly to a great height, but have again gone down. The prices of rice, etc., have gone up very much. The coarsest rice fourteen seers, and paddy thirty-four seers, per rupee. This presses heavily on the poor, who do not fail to bless the merchants who are exporting so largely to Madras and other places. We who have schools also feel the pressure. I fear there is no hope of change for the better before the next harvest is realised. Heathen Persecutors.-A few days ago I received a letter from Thoma, the Choga preacher, stating that a man from a neighbouring village had come to the Mount with the intention of embracing Christianity. He was shortly after followed by his friends and neighbours, who were allowed to do their utmost to persuade him to return; but in vain. Soon after they left, the rajah's jemadar, with thirty men, came at night and forcibly carried the man off, in spite of the remonstrance of our people. A few days after the rajah sent for and insisted on three of our people leaving their homes and work, to answer before him to a charge laid by the man's brother against them and their neighbours, of having seized the man in question, torn off his mala or beads, taken away OUR NEW CHAPEL AT ROME. 365 his caste, and by force made him a Christian! Thoma accompanied his friends, and I have just learnt that seven more have since been taken off by the rajah's people to the Gurda, which is some ten miles from Choga. We are anxiously awaiting intelligence from Thoma, in order to bring the case to the notice of the Commissioner. If this kind of thing is to be tolerated by the Government, the sooner our people remove from the Atgarda district the better. Last year about this time our people were subjected to great loss and annoyance by this same rajah. It is near posting time, so I must conclude. Our New Chapel at Rome. MY DEAR MR. HILL,-Whilst on a tour through Scandinavia, my mind has been frequently much occupied about the work of our Rome Mission, and more especially about the new chapel; and about a week since I wrote, from Stockholm, two distinct letters to the Baptist and the Freeman, urging our claims upon the consideration and aid of the Baptist denomination generally. I could not, in those two letters, forbear to put in a personal as well as a general plea, reminding our brethren how the weak assisted the strong, in compliance with my appeals for £200 to assist in the erection of the Havelock Chapel at Agra, and the chapel built for Mr. Wall's Mission in Rome. I told the Baptists of our failure to get anything worth notice from two insertions of long advertisements in each of the two denominational newspapers, only £2 1s. being the result of those advertisements. I pleaded earnestly for at least £100 to be sent before I start for Rome on the 20th of September. I urged the fact that all our Roman evangelistic operations have been in perfect harmony with the work of Mr. Wall; that the Rome Mission supported by the G. B.'s has been, and is still desired to be, one and indivisible with the operations of the Baptist Missionary Society; and that the twenty-seven members gathered by Signor Grassi, on the Monti, are all baptized into the fellowship of the church in the Piazza Lucina. Whether or not these and other considerations urged will be heavy enough to penetrate the pockets of Baptist friends generally, I cannot tell; but certain I am that General Baptists will feel their obligation to see that the work commenced under their auspices is satisfactorily completed. If the circular issued under the authority of the Association meets with a hearty and general response, we have nothing to fear. I am a little afraid that the time specified for making collections may be too limited, at a season when so many are away from their places in the churches. I think the time might be extended from the 15th of September to the end of October. I believe it is your design, Mr. Secretary, to convene a meeting of Committee early in September, and in anticipation of that may I presume to offer a few suggestions ? I. That all subscriptions promised and monies collected be sent in immediately, as another considerable amount will be required in Rome to complete the contract by the end of October. It would also be interesting to hear from churches contemplating action as to when and what they propose to do; and if there be any who can or will do nothing, that they will kindly and candidly state "the reason why" they decline to co-operate. II. The Committee will do well to appoint a delegation to accompany me to Rome, leaving with my party on the 20th of September, to determine as to interior fittings and furnishings, and, if possible, to decide as to the best time for the formal opening of the chapel. III.—It will be necessary to arrange for the occupation of the premises, on such terms as to preclude the possibility of trouble, should it be found desirable at any time to make a transfer of the tenancy. Without any disparagement of our present evangelist, it is necessary to provide for any contingency that might affect the occupation of the premises, and such provision must be made in conformity with the law and custom of the city. IV. The working arrangements of the institution, both as to teaching and preaching, the order of services, and the management of the contemplated book store for the sale of Scriptures, etc., will have to be carefully considered by Mr. Wall and the representatives of our Committee. It will be a relief to Mr. Wall to be freed from the personal responsibility of making these arrangements. V.-The financial matters affecting the purchase of the freehold and the payment of contractors and agents should be well understood by the delegation, to be reported to the Committee and to all concerned. Here, brother Hill, is our agenda for the meeting you propose to convene, and it may be well for you to announce in the Magazine the time and place of meeting, so that the churches may know what is doing whilst they are being called upon to raise funds for this great object. And a great object it really is for the General Baptists of England to hold a FREEHOLD IN ROME, to erect a HOUSE OF PRAYER on a site of such intense interest as that on which the Palace of Pudens, the friend and host of Paul, once stood, and where it is believed the apostle visited; to have a building with a substantial Roman façade, with minister's residence, book depôt, and school accommodation, all our own, out of debt, and occupied by one who administered Popish sacraments in the great basilica hard by, but who has made a good confession of faith in Christ, and now fervently and successfully preaches the faith that he once in ignorance opposed. Our brother Grassi has been denounced by the Pope, has been cited to appear before the Inquisition, has been watched and waylaid by Jesuits, has been slighted by jealous Protestants because he has opposed the fundamental error of baby baptism, to which so many unfortunately adhere, to the weakening of their power in the contest against Popery. Baptists may be a great power in Italy if they will. All around the truth is making conquests, and the waters are moved not only in Rome, but also at Naples, at Leghorn, at Spezzia, at Genoa, at Pistoja, at Turin, and in other cities. Prayer, and faith, and labour, and £5,000 a year, would give error a mighty shaking in Italy. May every General Baptist feel that it is a honour to give something and do something for this great cause! THOMAS COOK. Hamburg, August 19th, 1877. Foreign Letters Received. CUTTACK-W. Miller, July 7, 14. PIPLEE-T. Bailey, July 5, 19. Contributions Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from July 16th to August 16th, 1877. 6 3 6 FOR ROME CHAPEL. Mrs. Wale, Keyworth Leicester Association Sacramental Leicester, Archdeacon Lane, Sacra- Castle Donington, collection Halifax-subscriptions & collections Northallerton-coll. Nottingham, Mansfield Road Stoney Street 0 10 0 683 37 0 0 1 1 3 24 9 0 5 0.0 100 026 In August Observer, for T. Owen, Esq., read F. Ewen, Esq.; and for Mr. Councillor Milton, read Mitton. Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Esq., Ripley, Derby, Treasurer; and by the Rev. W. HILL, Secretary, Crompton Street, Derby, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards may be obtained. BEFORE Christ chose the twelve apostles He spent the whole night in prayer to God. It was a crisis in His work as the Founder of the kingdom of heaven; momentous issues for time and eternity rested upon His election, and He qualified Himself for the difficult and perilous task by isolated, undisturbed, and intense communion with His Father. He "shut the door" for awhile on the world, so that He might come back to the world its almighty and victorious Redeemer. Christ's best disciples are like Him. They prepare for public work by quiet soul-talk with God, and by the consecration of the inward life, secure that divine anointing for service which is the prophecy of success and the pledge of victory. They hear and obey their Leader, who says, "Shut thy door." Exclude the "world." Get away from men and from work to God. Be alone with the Source of all purity and power. The "shut door" is the symbol of the useful life. Each plant has its own root, and absorbs for itself the food within its reach. Life tends to individualism as it tends to perfection. It is multitudinous in the polype, but single, isolated, and self-centred in man. The faith that saves is always a personal faith. The life of God in the soul, for each one of us, has its own root. We are units before God and with God, and stand in our pure and stark individualism before His infinitely searching gaze. Every one of us must bear his own burden. We cannot shirk it if we would: it is inseparable from our vitality and movement. Every man has a door to shut; a door at which the eager on-pressing "world" is always knocking, and through which he passes to business, to pleasure, to service, and on the inward side of which is God, and the fullest, perfectest, life of His Spirit. Fearful is the risk to him who never shuts that door! Never were Christian men and women in such imminent danger of forgetting this as now. We live in the street, and do all our work on the pavement. We are in public from morning till night, and scarcely, if ever, get the door fairly closed on the pushing, clamorous "church and world." The need for beneficence is urgent; the cry for workers fierce and loud, the facilities for activity manifold, and the spirit of work is exultantly abroad. We get no rest. Do what we will, we cannot get it; and so "The heart has no leisure for feeling, Everybody is expected to work, and to work at high pressure; and not many of us can develop courage enough to work quietly and noiselessly. We give; we must give; and we gazette our gifts, and the left hand is as wise as the right, not without some subtle danger to the sensitive heart. Not that we deplore this pushing, eager, impetuous, and incessant activity! Not for a moment; the spirit of work is the spirit of Christ, and is one of the manifold witnesses to His power and grace in our GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE, OCTOBER, 1877.-VOL. LXXIX.-N. S. No. 94 days: but the spirit for work requires more attention as the demand is more and more constant. Individual culture of piety is a supreme duty. As the spiritual life is personal and single, so must be its nourishing. Each one for himself must eat the Bread of Life; eat daily and regularly; and so grow up into the strength and purity and grace of a health-filled and perfect man in Christ Jesus, and thereby be ready to do a man's work with a man's full power. If the aster planted in a garden of roses is neglected, no special rose-culture in that same garden will make the aster a thing of autumnal beauty. Each separate spiritual life must be fed and nourished by private and inward communion with God. He For even Christian men cannot give out what is not in them. It is impossible for us to surpass in deed what we are in real character. True, we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves. Our sufficiency is of God. But even this divine sufficiency is restricted by human" worldliness" and self-seeking, vulgar pride and unbelief, foolish unrest and false ambitions. Strong as Christ was, and willing as He was, even He found an insurmountable obstacle in the unbelief of men. could not do many mighty works where that foe faced Him. Alexander could not have conquered the world with an army of cripples. Paginini's marvellous skill would have failed to educe rapture from a broken fiddle. Sick men do occasionally wriggle through a good deal of work; but health is the foundation of efficiency and success. Neglecting personal growth, inward consecration and communion, we enfeeble the church, paralyze the ministry of the word, and hinder Christ Himself! "Shut thy door" is, then, our word, as we contemplate another winter's work for Christ and men. Isolation for communion with God is one prime condition of faithful and efficient spiritual service. No doubt the Everlasting Worker will graciously meet us in the paths of Christian labour and fill us with good; no doubt He will abundantly refresh us as we have fellowship with one another in worship and work; but His best, most purifying, and quickening words will be uttered in our hearing when we are alone with Him in earnest and believing and loving communion. But the door must not be kept shut. We must come forth from our fellowship, bringing the radiance and repose of that inward fellowship with us. The door is shut that the soul may be filled with power, and then may open its treasures for the enriching of the world. As the face of Moses shone with an unearthly brightness when he came from the sight of God's countenance, so our lives will be transfigured with the beauty and grace of the indwelling Redeemer by wrapt, steadfast, and real communion with the Lord of our life. Very truly and suggestively says Martineau, "There it is-in such patient silence, that we accumulate the inward power which we distribute and spend in action; that the soul acquires a greater and more vigorous being, and gathers up its collective sources to bear down upon the piecemeal difficulties of life and scatter them to dust; there alone can we enter into that spirit of self-abandonment, by which we take the cross of duty, however heavy, with feet however worn and bleeding." Nor should we be so likely to surrender ourselves to false aims and |