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changed into real Christians; not merely with a reference to the final salvation of such persons themselves, but to the furtherance of the cause among the heathen.

On this subject the Abbé thus writes:-" I will refrain from entering into details on the low state of Christianity among the Europeans living in this country, as this part of the subject is your province rather than mine. I will content myself with saying, that if their public and national virtues are a subject of praise and admiration to all the castes of Hindoos, the barefaced immorality, the bad examples and disregard of every sense of religion exhibited by a great many amongst them, are not the least among the many obstacles which oppose the progress of their religion in this country, by increasing the prejudices of the natives against it, and rendering it particularly odious to them, when they see it so ill observed by those who were educated in her bosom, and who come from countries where this religion alone is publicly professed. They think that there can be no advantage in embracing a religion which seems to have so little influence on the conduct of those who profess it; nay, a great many among them, judging from outward appearances, question whether the Europeans living among them have them have any religion whatever. I have been many times challenged to bear testimony

on this fact, and very seriously asked by them, whether the Frangy (Europeans) acknowledged and worshipped a god." (pp. 83, 84.)

The conversion of unholy professors of the truth, to a holy and consistent life, is obviously the removal of a great stumbling-block out of the way of the heathen, and a preliminary step to their conversion, harmonizing with the divine purposes and operations. In the prophecies of Ezekiel are these remarkable words, expressive of the sentiment in question: "But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they Therefore say thus unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went; and I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." (Chap. xxxvi. 21-23.)

went.

In stating what the different societies have accomplished, I shall deem it proper, in harmony with the above remarks, to allude to their efforts, as well among the Europeans resident in

India, as among the original inhabitants of the country.

It may be proper to state here, as closely connected with the subject, that the Episcopal Church of the United Kingdom has of late years greatly and very advantageously increased its attention to this important body. The multiplication of chaplains the growth of piety and zeal among them -the exertions of the Christian Knowledge Society, in behalf of the Europeans and others— and the manifest good effects which have followed these exertions-all these things are to be noticed with gratitude, as indicating a state of manifest improvement in India.

I would also add, that another venerable society in the Church of England, though it has but lately entered into the field, and has not yet commenced active operations, has been the means of procuring the stamp of royal, and even national sanction, to the duty and practicability of communicating the blessings of Christianity to our Indian empire: for which sincere Christians of all denominations will be truly grateful, while they see so many ready to seize on the statements of our aged missionary as an excuse or pretext for dropping the work in despair. The King's letter in behalf of the society in reference to its intended exertions in India; the noble sub

scription of forty-five thousand pounds, collected in the various parishes of the United Empire in consequence of that letter; the establishment of the Bishop's College, and its avowed missionary character, these things tend loudly to proclaim a national conviction and feeling of the obligation to attempt the conversion of the Hindoos to Christianity. They also tend greatly to prove the solidity and convincing nature* of that great mass of evidence, to which a reference was made a few pages back, and to put at rest the question agitated, but without cause, by the Abbé Dubois.

I now proceed to offer a statement of the efforts made by missionaries of the Protestant persuasion, and of the success by which those efforts have been followed.

In the province of Bengal, missionaries connected with different Protestant societies, have

* There is a small volume, entitled "Propaganda," the second edition of which was published in 1820. It is an "Abstract of the Designs and Proceedings of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, with Extracts from the Annual Sermons." This volume contains not only particulars relative to the Society's operations, but a weight of episcopal testimony in behalf of India missions, eloquently and ably urged, which must convince all who are disposed to defer to ecclesiastical authority, especially when supported, as it is here, by sound

reason.

embarked in the missionary cause. I will commence with those of the Baptist denomination, as having taken the lead; and, as proposed, first notice their labours referring more immediately to Europeans.

In Calcutta, the Baptist missionaries have erected two substantial chapels for the accommodation of the British residents. The worship of God is regularly conducted in English at these chapels on the Sabbath days, and at other convenient seasons in the week, and they have been of use in opening the eyes of many nominal European Christians to the impropriety of calling Christ, Lord! without doing the things which he has commanded.

At Howrah, (on the side of the river opposite to Calcutta) the Baptist missionaries conduct European worship in a chapel which they have been the means of building.

At Serampore, the missionaries conduct the worship of Europeans in the church belonging to the colony, under the sanction of His Excellency the Danish Governor, and also in a large schoolroom connected with the mission establishment. They have also been successful preachers to the military at Fort William, Dumdum, Barrackpore, Berhampore, and other places. Many of this class have been reclaimed from vicious habits, and enabled, through their labours, to adorn their

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