At Madras.

Jan. 1, 1819.-Another visit from the Jain Headman at Rarandei. (Aug. 19 & Dec. 30, 1818.) He requests the establishment of Five Schools; one in his Village, and four in the neighbouring Jain Villages. He is one of the most learned men among the Jainas, and offers to superintend the Schools himself. He gives also hopes, that, in time, the inhabitants themselves will aid in the support of the Schools.

Jan. 24.-Received a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Harper, at Chittoor, requesting me to come to Chittoor, in order to assist at the solemnity of laying the foundation-stone of a Native Christian Church there.

Jan. 30.-The Schoolmasters met to-day. All our Catechists and Schoolmasters, except one, assembled. After conversation on the best mode of conducting the Schools, they were examined in respect of the knowledge which they had attained of St. Matthew's Gospel, as settled at the last meeting. It was satisfactory to us to find them all pretty well acquainted with its general contents. One of them began to relate even the particulars of each chapter. It was proposed to them, either to learn now the particulars of St. Matthew, or to go through the Gospel of St. Luke. They chose the former; and will therefore relate, at the next meeting, the particulars of the first Nine Chapters of St. Matthew. Feb. 1.-Made ready for our Journey. Br. Bernhard Schmid accompanies me. We despatched the Tanjore Rayappen to Chingleput, to inquire there into the matter of the School, to converse with the Natives about the Kingdom of God, and to wait there until our arrival. Sandappen is going along with us. Visit to the Schools, to the West and

South of Madrus.

[On this journey, the Missionaries

left Madras on the 2d of February, and returned on the 27th. Arriving at Chittoor, they visited, from thence, Palmaneira and Ponganoore: at Ponganoore, the Rajah received them courteously. Returning to Chittoor, they assisted in laying the foundationstone of the new Church; and left the Congregation (consisting of fifty-four persons, Natives and Country-born, Adults and Children) in charge of the Catechist Nalappen, and the Assistant Catechist John. Proceeding to Vellore, they spent some days profitably with the Chaplain, Mr. Jackson, and instructed the Native Christians. Having examined the state of the Schools at Conjeveram, and visited some of the Jainas in the vicinity, they proceeded to Chingleput, where they took mea, sures for re-establishing the Schools which had been neglected; and returned by Tirookatshoore and Vengadamangalum, to Madras.

Copies of the New Testament and a number of Tracts were given away in the course of this Journey, conversations held everywhere with the Natives, and the Schools visited wherever they were established. A few passages of the Journal are here extracted.]

Feb. 10.-Arrived, at day-break, at Ponganoore. The Rajah had been informed by Mr. Harper of our visit, It was still dark when we came near the place, and we were still sleeping; when, to our surprise, we were waked by a band of Native Musicians, whom the Rajah had sent to meet us. They led us to his palace, where his eldest Son met and welcomed us. The Rajah has been in the habit of hospitably entertaining Europeans. He to be a great friend of European Customs.

seems

We were visited by Mr. Vander Ward, a Dutch Gentleman, in the service of the Rajah as instructor of his

children. We had a profitable conversation together; and were, afterward, joined by the Rajah's eldest son, a promising young man.

The Rajah received us in a very friendly manner. All being seated, and his attendants around us, we commenced a conversation, in which I introduced to him the Teloogoo Scriptures and Catechism. We conversed together chiefly in that language where I could not get on well, his eldest son, who knew English tolerably well, interpreted. The Rajah maintained, that what the smaller Catechism contained (a part of which we had read together) quite corresponded with his own Shasters-that he and his caste differed from the common Hindoos, in not being such gross idolaters-that their images were but signs—and that, after all, they were obliged strictly to attend to what their Spiritual Teachers say. He agreed, however, that God's commands were of more weight than those of their Spiritual Teachers; and as for their idols being but signs, he acknowledged that they were inadequate to this purpose, and that God might be justly angry on account of the use of them.

Having requested him to consider these matters, so important to his soul and the souls of others, and to obey the truth, we presented him with a Testament and a Tract, which he accepted.

After this, the Rajah introduced to us a number of Brahmins and Soodras, his civil officers. We all sat down, and the Rajah very cheerfully permitted us to have a conversation with them, in which we found them open to the truth. I recommended them to read the Testament and the Catechism, and to introduce them also into their Schools; to which the Rajah consented. He expressed also his pleasure at the proposal of establishing a School at Ponganoore. The Roman Catholics there had, this morning, requested for He will give a house for it. We urged it on the Rajah, to me

one.

liorate the condition of his people, by Schools, and by encouraging industry; remarking to him the oppressed and abject state in which the lower classes of the people are frequently held by those who are set over them. He promised to do so; and seemed much pleased with the observations made to him on this subject. We also offered our services to him for the improvement of his sons in useful knowledge.

After Family Worship, in the evening, we took leave of them all, grateful for the many attentions which they had shewn us; and left Ponganoore an hour before midnight, contemplating on all that we had seen and heard in this place.

Feb. 20, 1819.-Came to Conjeveram. We visited the great Temple of Siva, where I again reminded the Brains and others assembling round us, of the Eternal Life which is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Most of the Brahmins shewed great indifference

looking for the maintenance of their body only; while they admitted that their present belief and worship were vain, yet suitable to the present time. "It is the Cali Yug," said they, [the Iron, or Wicked Age]; " what can we do?"

Feb. 22.-Set out early for Rarandei, the Jain Village, from whence the Headman Ayanayanar visited me at Christmas. At our arrival, a number of Jainas assembled under the grove where we stayed. The Headman, Ayanayanar, was not present; but came soon after: with him and other Jainas, we had this day several conversations. Ayanayanar is a learned man among them, and supplied us with a variety of information from their Shaster concerning the Jain Religion, which partly confirms the opinion which I formed of it last year (see Aug. 15, 1818). He is much persuaded of the truth of Christianity; and he repeatedly asserted that the Christian Reli gion differs but little from theirs.

Concerning the Schools which Ay

anayanar begged me to establish here, hinderances have been thrown in the way by the discord between him and the other Headman. Ayanayanar, however, seems determined to establish one in his part of the village.

At Madras

March 4.-In the Third School, I was surrounded by the Elder Boys, one of who asked, whether "God" and "Lord" mean the same, or different persons. On being told that they meant the same, he opened the Testament, and shewing me 1 Cor. vi. 14. he replied," But here it is said, that God raised up the Lord: how can that be?" I resolved the difficulty, by referring him to the divine and human nature of the Lord Jesus, which satisfied him. They then pointed out to me Matt. xiii. 33. and asked what the "leaven " meant? They then shewed me Matt. xiv. 17. and inquired, whether the Lord could be hungry? These points were also satisfactorily explained to them. Their sparkling eyes intimated their earnest desire to understand the Scriptures. Other Natives were present, who heard, on this occasion, much of the nature of the Gospel. These Boys, it must be remembered, are children of eleven or twelve years of age. We have reason to be thankful for the remarkable change for the better, which has taken place in this School: it is a reward of perseverance in the time of trouble and opposition. The number of children likewise increases.

March 9.-We paid our respects to his Lordship the Bishop of Calcutta. He received us very kindly.

In the evening we were visited by Mr. Carapeit Aratoon, a Baptist Missionary, from among the Armenians. He related to us his Missionary journey from Agra to Bombay, by land; which was highly interesting, and made us a happy evening.

March 12.-We began to remove to

the New Mission House. A petition was sent to us, signed by fifty Countryborn, both single persons and heads of families, requesting the establishment of a Friday Evening Lecture, according to the form of the English Church.

March 15.-We left our old house, and took possession of the New Mission House, praying that the Lord's blessing may ever attend us here.

March 19.-Catechization in the Third School. The desire after knowing the Scriptures remarkably increases among the Children, so that I must appoint two days in the week for cate chizing them. The Boys literally® pressed me so to do. They have learned by heart, already, as far as the Fourteenth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel; but with the explanation, I have advanced only to the Eighth Chapter. "Now," said one of the Boys, 66 we have already learned so far; but, with the explanations, we are much behind. You have not been here many times"-referring to my Journey. I said, "Well, my children, I shall, if possible, come another day to you, besides Friday."-" When will you come ?" asked they. I was obliged to promise them, either next Monday or Tuesday.

March 21. Sunday. In the forenoon, I preached in our New House; and, in the afternoon, at Koorookapetty, where the number of hearers was encouraging. The Children recited thirty-one Questions of the Scripture. History Catechism, with such distinctness and readiness, as to please me exceedingly, and engage the attention of those present. They thereby praise their Schoolmaster.

April 8. After consideration, Thursday Evening has been fixed for Divine Service in English. This Evening we had the first Service. I preached on John viii. 31 & 32, as an introduction to the Lectures, to be delivered on these evenings, on different parts of

Scripture. The Meeting was pretty large, consisting of about sixty persons. May the blessing of the Lord rest on these Lectures! The Country-born, who have interested themselves in this Weekly Service, began some weeks ago a subscription for the monthly

expenses.

May 1, 1819.-This afternoon another Schoolmasters' assembly. After the usual conversations on the state of their Schools and people, we proceeded to the Scriptural examination. It was very pleasing indeed, to hear nearly all the Schoolmasters relate, from memory, the principal contents of the first Nine Chapters of St. Matthew, with much distinctness. They had, in fact, studied them, and entered very well into the sense of the figurative parts.

May 3.-A very serious conversation with Tiroovengada Asarier. He confessed the truth of accusations brought against him; and avowed his resolution to reform his life. Considering that these men, the Brahmins, pretend to be the arbiters of the faith of the whole nation, and yet commit themselves in secret all kinds of wickedness even to excess, playing hypocrisy in an incredible degree, I expressed to him the great disgust which I felt at the horrible system of Brahminism, and affectionately besought him now to open his eyes, and to receive the Gospel in truth, since it had long ago discovered to him the true state of his mind. He promised amendment. Until such amendment appears, his salary is to be withheld; to which he also submitted. I have hopes that such discoveries will work, together with other means, to the overthrow of Satan's kingdom in India. How useful would this well-informed man be, if he were a real Christian!

May 7. Yesterday and to-day, Catechizations in the Second and Third Schools, where all the elder Boys know by heart, and tolerably well un

derstand, the Short Catechism: they are also forward in learning portions of Scripture.

In the Third School, the Boys con. tinue to inquire into the sense of what they are learning or reading. They have generally some passage or other, whenever I come, either in the Gospels or the Epistles, of which they wish to have an explanation. These Boys, as the Schoolmaster relates to me, after the Evening Lessons, when they were reading the Testament for themselves, will call in the passengers who happen to stand still and look at them—" Come in, and read this book. There is no harm in it. You see we read it freely, and all is well.”

Visit to the Schools, to the Northward of Madras.

[On the 21st of May, Mr. Rhenius left Madras, on this visit; and having slept, on the 21st, at Ponneri, he reached Kannipootoore on the 22d. The Schoolmaster here having been on ill terms with several of the inhabitants, the School had suffered; nor had he profited by the admonitions of Sandappen, though his former diligence and his progress in learning large portions of the Testament had given better hopes of him. Reaching Panabakum, the same evening, he staid there till the 24th, and had much satisfaction in the School. Arriving at Vadadelli on the 24th, he visited Tratshi, where the School, formerly established, had been given up through the opposition of a few Natives. On the 25th he reached Trivaloore, and was much pleased with the School. On the 27th he returned to Madras.

The usual course was pursued on this journey, of distributing Books and hold. ing conversations with the Natives. A few passages from the Journals indicative of the views of the Natives, here follow.]

May 21 at Ponneri. Toward the evening came to Ponneri, a large