1853.] WANTS OF THE MISSIONARY UNION, &C. 21 ant portions of the Old are already published, and very rapidly are they finding their way among the over-crowded population of that singularly interesting people. Before the year on whose threshold you are entering shall close, we hope to have one or more men employed in distributing these Chinese Scriptures among the scores of thousands of that people, who have already found their way to our Pacific coast. While they come to us for the gold that perisheth, we may thus give to them the unfailing riches. In the mean time, our missionaries, churches, and native assistants in the Celestial Empire, will claim the largest share of our regard, and must, very soon, be reached quite extensively and thoroughly with better instructions than the writings of Confucius, even with the inspired records of Eternal Life. What a field is thus spread out for your contemplation, friendly reader of this Paper! And while God has given you the means to aid in the blessed work of giving to all these millions his own saving Word, can you hesitate whether to give your generous aid? Will you not also remember that what we do, must be done quickly? Hundreds of those to whom our last annual appeal was addressed, have finished their course. Does one of that number now regret the amount of benefactions to this cause? We, too, are rapidly passing away. Many who peruse these lines, will soon be summoned to give an account of their stewardship. What thou doest, DO QUICKLY. WANTS OF THE MISSIONARY UNION. The Home Secretary, bro. Bright, writes us under date of November 3rd, that the following demands have already been ascertained for the year ending with March, 1853, viz: Revising and printing Karen Bible, Translating, printing, and distributing Chinese Scriptures, Translating, printing, and distributing Assamese Scriptures, For other Missions, He adds that the reports to be received from the missionaries in January will probably make large demands, or otherwise render some modifications desirable. Immediately on the receipt of the above estimate, 2.000 dollars were at once granted. This has exhausted our treasury, and to meet the remainder of this requisition, we shall need the steady and increased contributions of the churches, for the remaining months of the financial year. * This sum does not include the special effort to put a complete Burman Bible into each town and village accessible, according to Dr. Judson's plan, for which not less than 3,000 dollars would be requisite. HOW 10,000 DOLLARS MAY BE OBTAINED FOR THE BIBLE CAUSE. While revolving the wants of the year, as indicated in our Annual Appeal above given, a letter came to hand from the pastor of a small Baptist church, far away among the hills of New England, containing 30 dollars, to make one of their number a Life Member of the Am. and For. B. Society. This has been their accustomed annual donation for years past. The thought was at once suggested, how easy for 3 or 4 hundred such churches to do like this. Will they not try the experiment? We know that some will; and why may we not reasonably hope that, on an average, one each week-day through the whole year, will send such a memorial of their love for the Bible Cause? In that easy, noiseless, efficient way, nearly 10,000 dollars a year would find the way to our treasury, without one cent of expense for collecting agency. Would these 313 churches-not half of a tithe of the whole number connected with us-find themselves at all the poorer for this offering? No: those who have tried the experiment will all testify that they are amply recompensed. In watering others their own souls have been watered. Will you not try it also? The resolute purpose, on the part of the Pastor, or of a few working brethren or sisters in each of these churches would soon bring about the desired result. How many such will promptly make the effort, secure and forward their offering to us, and receive the blessing of those ready to perish. An editorial of the Ohio Journal and Messenger last month, gives the following notice of our Society: "The American and Foreign Bible Society, coadjutor and faithful ally of the Missionary Union, as confidently and as rightfully looks to all portions of the field of the Union among the Baptist family, for pecuniary help as well as for the prayers of God's people, that it may be enabled to furnish the unenlightened and the benighted nations of the human family with that one golden lamp,' 'suspended from heaven,' so touchingly plead for and graphically alluded to in the letter of Dr. Judson, as inserted in our last issue. Reader, refer to it, read it, pray over it. The Missionary Union annually is dependent on appropriations for this specific purpose, from the American and Foreign Bible Society. It likewise is looking to Ohio and Indiana at this time, for funds. IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLYING BIBLES TO SEAMEN. The following letter from the Rev. I. R. Steward, Pastor of the Baptist Seaman's Bethel, N. Y., will be interesting to the reader: "In the year 1849, a sailor was invited to the Baptist Mariner's Church. where he heard the Gospel, aud received a Bible from this Society. After attending church a few weeks, he called on the Pastor, who wrote his will, and gave him some religious instruction, at the same time urging him to read and study his Bible with prayerful attention, Bidding the minister farewell, he left the city to seek his fortune in the land of gold. Nothing more was heard of this friendless orphan sailor until March, 1852, when the Pastor received a letter from him, written in California, stating that when he left the city, his mind was deeply affected with the truth he had received, and was exercised for a considerable time; but after awhile these feelings subsided, and he became quite careless: but he was not suffered to remain in this condition. A circumstance occurred which led him back to his Bible, which he read and studied with prayerful attention, and he was soon made a possessor of that wealth, which the 'world can neither give or take away.' "A few weeks afterwards the sailor suddenly returned to New-York, and fully related to the Pastor what the Lord had done for him, spiritually and temporally. He was finally baptized by the Rev. S. Remington, Pastor of the 3d Baptist Church, Philadelphia, and like the Eunuch of old, went on his way rejoicing."-Report of City Bible Society. 1853.] IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE SOCIETIES. REPORT ON THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. 23 The following report on the A. & F. Bible Society is from Cleveland Association, Ohio. in June last:-This Society has now been in successful operation for a period of 15 years, during which time it has expended in the circulation of God's word at home and abroad, nearly half a million of dollars. The past year has been marked as one of embarrassment, and at the same time success. The receipts are larger than in any previous year, with one exception, (and that was 1851.) The Board were enabled to meet all the demands for the foreign work, expending some $22,000. The Home supply has received more attention than in former years, and a large number of copies of the English Bible have been donated to the destitute. More has also been done to supply the Foreign population, who are pressing in among us from every quarter of the world. An increase of means for this special work, and to supply New Mexico, and the Chinese now in California, will be required. In view of the past year, your committee cannot but congratulate the friends of this society on its steady improvement. The great Baptist family are still its firm friends and supporters. It may be affirmed otherwise, but by their fruits they are to be known. Over $300 have been contributed by the churches in the Association during the past year. Your committee would conclude, by earnestly recommending to all the churches, increased efforts during the present year. The Society is worthy of all confidence and is doing no uncertain work, but one known and tried-the fruits of which are perceptible and make for peace. Having been driven from its rooms, an effort will doubtless be made to provide permanent ones for its occupancy, placed beyond the reach of sectional feelings and local influence. IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE SOCIETIES AS TO PRICES OF BOOKS, &c. The time has been when the Word of God was the most expensive book in the world. Madox, in his History of the Exchequer, says "that in 1240 the building of two arches of London Bridge cost eight pounds less than the estimated value of a single Bible which a certain abbot bequeathed to the abbey of Croxton." In 1272, it is said that a laboring man was obliged to lay aside the wages of fourteen years in order to be able to procure a Bible. In 1299, the Bishop of Winchester borrowed a Bible from a convent in that city, and was obliged to give his bond, drawn up in the most formal and solemn manner, for its return at a certain specified time. At the time when this Society was formed, the very cheapest Bibles that were published could not be procured for less than one dollar and one dollar and a half a copy; while the larger and better prepared editions were proportionally more expensive. In the early history of the Bible effort in this country, large districts were supplied with the Scriptures at the prices just named, and as a consequence, the friends of the cause labored under very great disadvantages. A good plain quarto Bible, with Family Register, is now sold for $2; an octavo for 87 cents; a minion at 37; and a nonpareil for 25 cents; while the New Testament is furnished for 64 cents. The book of Revelation, infinitely the best of all books, has become also, for its size, the lowest of all in price. It should be remembered too, that when Bibles are circulated, like other books, through private dealers, they go mostly to those who have the means and the disposition to purchase; but the distributions through Bible societies reach first those who are without the Bible, poor, and often with little desire to seek the treasure which is brought to their door by the hand of benevolence. Bible societies thus begin distributions where the bookmerchant leaves off. This accounts for the great fact that for the three last centuries since the Reformation, not five millions of Bibles were published, while in the first half of this century nearly forty millions have been put in circulation by Bible societies alone.-Bible So. Manual. Letter of Rev. Mr. Goddard-Missionary and Translator-China. TO REV. R. BABCOCK D.D., Sec. Am. & For. B. Soc. NINGPO, July 3d, 1852. MY DEAR BROTHER:-Your favor of Jan. 7th reached me only a week ago. Please accept many thanks. I hope the correspondence thus re-opened may long be a source of satisfaction and profit. I sent you two months since a copy of Matthew, and now send one of Mark, just from the printer. You see they each form a beautiful tract for general distribution. I think it better at present, to distribute the Scriptures in small portions, giving whole copies only to the more intelligent, and those who have become interested, or to persons from a distance. One Gospel gives a fair account of the life and instructions of the Saviour, from beginning to end, and whoever feels sufficient interest to read it through carefully, will be almost sure to come for another, and thus his interest will be supplied as it increases. A copy of Matthew costs a little less than two cents; Mark, a little more than one cent. We have printed 3000 of Matthew, more than 1000 of which are already distributed; but as the plates are on hand, we can at any time print off as many more as we wish. On a recent visit to Pootoo, a small island outside Chusan, inhabited almost exclusively by Budhist Priests, having some sixty temples, I distributed a large number of the Gospel by Matt., and left it to be a witness for God in that land wholly given to idolatry. On visiting temples a second time, I often found that some of the priests had read and understood portions of the Gospel. I sometimes found the books which I had given them, carefully laid up with their own sacred books. In one instance, I found written on the book, "A Memento of a benevolent man." It is certainly a great consolation after conversing freely with a company of people to be able to leave with them a portion of the word of God, to be a witness for him in the absence of the living ambassador. While at that Island we met persons who had come from different parts to worship-who also took to their homes, portions of the word of God. The same is true at our chapels here at Ningpo. Every day, probably there are more or less who come from a distance; they listen to the word spoken, and then take a portion home with them. The word of God is thus made its own witness; but the fruit cannot be fully known, until the day when all things shall be revealed. We only know the word of God shall not return void, but shall accomplish that whereunto it is sent. I am now and then encouraged in the work of translation, by learning that persons capable of judging, consider my translations faithful, and adapted to be useful. A private letter from Rev. S. Johnson of the A. B. C. Mission, at Fuh Chau, acknowledging the reception of a copy of Matthew, adds: "So far as I have been able to examine it, I am much pleased. I like your faithfulness to the original. Your Map of Palestine is a valuable addition. In your phraseology, describing the conception of Mary, by the Holy Spirit, you have adopted the precise form of expression which eemed to me most appropriate. I never felt satisfied with the form of expression used in most ormer versions." Rev. L. B. Peet, of the same Mission, says: "I am pleased with the execution of the work, so far as I have had time to look at it; and I have heard several of the brethren here, make the same remark. I am happy to be able to make the same observation about your Genesis. Some of the brethren are now reading it in their families, and are pleased with it." You speak of wishing full information relative to my principles of translation. I believe they are essentially those recognized by your society, viz :-to translate the original as completely, faithfully, idiomatically and plainly as possible. I have translated the gospels mostly in harmony, thus having before my mind, all the corresponding passages at the same time. This has often been of great use, the varieties of expression in the different gospels, suggesting corresponding varieties in the translation. I have constantly by me, two good teachers; one of whom has been a disciple for six or seven years. With them I prepare the translation from the original, with the help of former translations, after which, I go over the whole by myself, very carefully, comparing with the original, and with previous versions, and mark various changes which thus occur to me. I then go over the whole again carefully with the teachers, after which, I send a copy of the manuscript to Dr. Dean, for criticisms and suggestions. Having received these, I again go over it carefully with the teachers, and fix upon the final rendering, which seems to me on the whole most faithful to the original, and most conformable to Chinese idiom. After this, the work is ready for the printer. I did not commence printing, until the five Historical books were completed. I now propose to take the Epistles of Paul, for the next portion, and go over the whole before printing any part. I make use of all the helps in my reach, (which are not few,) in ascertaining both the true original text, and the interpretation of it. I incline to the "Textus Receptus" for the sake of uniformity, but where later criticism has thrown important light on the text, I do not feel at liberty to shut my eyes upon it." You see the work is not an easy one, or to be finished in haste, and I trust the friends of the cause will exercise due patience, and continue unwearied in the good work. With kind regards, I am Dear Brother, Yours truly, J. GODDARD. Extracts from a deferred letter of Mr. Bennett-Missionary and Printer for the Karens. To the Secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society. TAVOY, MARCH 6th, 1852. DEAR BROTHER:-An edition of Matthew in Pgho, with Mr. Mason's preface, has been issued, and a copy will be forwarded you the first safe opportunity. The Pwo New Testament is large 12mo., and the Sgau Bible on a form of very large 8vo. The first is estimated to make, when completed, about 500 pages, and the Bible about 1000 pages. Both are on type of the size called English, which is the smallest sized type we as yet have: but it is very desirable that we have a type on pica body, and I hope the day will come when we shall see it accomplished. I cannot fancy there would now be one half that opposition to a font on pica body, there was made a few years since to a reduction from Great Primer to English. One great difficulty in oriental printing, or objection rather, is the largeness of the type used-and every year witnesses some improvements, as well as reduction in the size of type. The present Scriptures in Bengali and Hindustani, are on type not half as large as they have been printed formerly. Oriental type, however, cannot be reduced so low as the Roman character in English has been. Probably another century will pass before a Bible is printed in Burman or Karen on type smaller than Long Primer. Improvements are much more tardy in the East, than in the West. It may be a pleasure to know the fact, that there has been an increase in the circulation of the Burmese Scriptures in Tavoy, and we are endeavoring to furnish every family or person, with a copy of the New Testament, or some portion of the Bible, who will receive and read it. But as yet, "gross darkness" broods over this people. The Burmese are a proud race of idolaters; this may be em phatically said of the Tavoyers. March 13th. The mail closes this afternoon, and I am happy to say, we have the 30th Chapter of Deuteronomy in type, and if we are prospered the Pentateuch will be in the hands of the people before the month closes. The 12th chapter goes to press to-day. With kind regards to all of your associates in the good work of Bible distribution, Extracts of the letter of Rev. J. G. Pike, Senior Secretary of the English General Baptist Mission. DERBY, October 26, 1852. MY DEAR BROTHER:-I have enclosed in a parcel to Mr. Hallock, the Tract Society House, a parcel containing twenty copies of our last Report, for the use of your Committee. As you so liberally help the work of God in Orissa, and as our estimable brother Sutton acts as your agent, it seems but right to give you what information we can of the progress of the Mission. It is a pity that the Baptists injure themselves by their proneness to run into extremes. I think this is the case with those of your friends that have left you, because you would not circulate a new English version. For my part I think the old is better-doubtless some small alterations might be made that would be an improvement-but taken as a whole, I have never seen any attempted new version that would vie with the old one. Its simplicity, its general faithfulness, its venerable air, its good old Saxon style, are, in my view, unequalled by any modern version of which those are, I apprehend, the best that differ least from the authorized translation. We want to send more helpers to our brethren in India, as soon as we are furnished by the Lord with suitable men. We pray that such may be raised up and sent forth, and so do our Missionaries --but as yet their prayers are not answered. Yours in Jesus, P. G. PIKE. |