ROSSFIELD STATION, BERBICE. ENCOURAGED by the numerous and decisive proofs of the divine blessing, in connexion with its earlier efforts for the religious instruction of the negroes in British Guiana, the Society sent out the Rev. John Ross in 1834, to organize a station in this locality. The commencement of the undertaking was auspicious and promising. By the liberal friendship of the Proprietor of the estate, a large house was conveyed to the Society, and was fitted up as a chapel. The first service in this place of worship was held in June, 1834, on which occasion the late Rev. John Wray preached to a large and attentive congregation. A most gratifying change was soon apparent in the habits and manners of the people, and the work continued steadily to advance until June, 1836, when the Rev. James Mirams, who succeeded Mr. Ross, had the happiness to form a church of ten members. Towards the close of that year, Mr. Mirams returned to England, and the work of the station was conducted, for some time, with augmenting encouragement, under the general superintendence of the Rev. Giles Forward, resident Missionary at Lonsdale. By successive additions to the church, the number united in christian fellowship increased in three years to nearly 200, and the congregation to more than 700. In December, 1839, the Rev. Joseph Waddington arrived in the Colony, and, early in the following year, assumed charge of the station. God has greatly blessed his labours: since the commencement of his ministry among them the church has increased to 400 members, Last year, the Rev. J. J. Freeman, as the Deputation of the Society, visited the station, and has borne decided testimony to the happy changes resulting from the influence of the Gospel on the minds of the people. The church-members evince fervent gratitude for their religious privileges, while rejoicing under the advantages of that personal freedom which Christianity bestowed, and prepared them rightly to estimate and improve. Many of the more aged members are persons who, in early childhood, were torn away from Africa-the land of their fathers to waste the prime of life under the blighting influence of slavery. Truly may it be said, in relation to these new-born freemen, that their last days are their best. The long night of oppression and sorrow has past away, and their hearts are now gladdened by the enjoyment of civil liberty and the well-founded hope of immortal life and blessedness. In consequence of the progressive enlargement of the congregation, a new place of worship has been erected within a recent period on ground purchased by the Society-it is a plain and substantial building, and capable of accommodating 800 persons. (Page 465.) The expense was partly defrayed by the people, who contributed over 5007. to the object; and their habitual liberality, in aiding the maintenance and extension of the Gospel, has been highly honourable and exemplary. It is deemed not improbable that the resources of the station will, ere long, be adequate to its own support. The work of christian education among the young has always formed an important and interesting feature of this Mission. The principal day-school, which was opened in July, 1834, with 80 children, has increased to 195 various other schools have been successfully attempted; and, from their united effects, the most animating assurances of present and future advantage may be indulged. Connected with Fearn, there is a valuable and prosperous out-station, which has a congregation of 200 persons, with all the appendages of a Mission-station, except a resident European Missionary. TAHITI. THE Directors rejoice in being able to present the following series of resolutions, received under date, Boston, June 1, from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, expressive of the views and sentiments held by that important body, and its numerous constituents, in reference to the lawless proceedings of the French at Tahiti, and other islands of the Pacific; and of their cordial christian sympathy in the deep sufferings of the Society, since intelligence was first received of these nefarious encroachments upon the earliest and most endeared field of its evangelical labours. I. "Resolved, That the Prudential Committee view, with pain and solicitude, the efforts put forth by Papists, in all parts of the evangelized world, to counteract Protestant Missions, and to substitute the errors and superstitions of Popery for the doctrines and precepts of the New Testament; which, by the divine blessing on the labours of Missionaries, and the free circulation of the word of God, were beginning to take effect on the minds of the heathen: and this Committee are especially pained that the enlightened and powerful Government of the French Nation should so far become the agent of the Romish Hierarchy, as to permit its naval force to be employed as an instrument in compelling the small and defenceless communities of the Pacific Islands, contrary to their own wishes and laws and the great principles which are recognised as regulating the intercourse between Independent States, to receive instruction from popish priests; and in interfering, by compulsory commercial regulations and other measures, to the prejudice of the moral and social welfare of those islands. II. "Resolved, That this Committee have noticed with joy the progress and triumph, through the instrumentality of the London Missionary Society, of Christianity in the Island of Tahiti; and, while with thankfulness to God they revert to past success, they feel the deepest sorrow in view of the trial and conflict with papal heresy and delusion, supported by the French power, to which the Society and its Missionaries in that Island have been recently called: and this Committee pray, that the Society and its Missionaries may be divinely guided to the adoption of such measures as may be best adapted to arrest the disastrous consequences which threaten the Mission, and the Tahitian community. III. "Resolved, That, in consideration of the obstacles thus interposed to the progress of civil and religious liberty, of knowledge, Christianity, and civilisation, the Governments friendly to these interests are called upon solemnly to protest against this invasion of the rights of conscience, and of self-government, and to adopt such peaceful measures as they may judge best, to prevent similar outrages being perpetrated in future by the more powerful on the weaker political communities. IV. "Resolved, That this Committee cordially join with the Directors of the London Missionary Society, and the Geneva Evangelical Society, in recommending to the friends of Protestant Missions throughout the world, to offer special prayer to God, that the progress of the Gospel may not be hindered by the efforts of the papacy; but that He will cause all events, even those which seem most adverse, to combine to hasten its advancement; and that he will inspire his people, and especially Missionaries, with increased faith, hope, and zeal, to labour for its speedy and final triumph over all the earth." IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FROM TAHITI. THE following communication, from two Missionary brethren who visited TAHITI in February last, supplies decisive evidence of the ardent and steady attachment of the people to British connexion, and the growing aversion with which they regard the persons and the authority of their present self-constituted rulers; while it inspires a strong hope that these foreign oppressors will feel at length compelled to abandon a possession which, without any compensatory advantage, they can only retain by continually adding to the shame and dishonour with which it was acquired. We deem it of the utmost importance to take the earliest opportunity of acquainting the Directors of the political state of things in these islands; and also of the part which we have taken in them. On the 15th of January, we met, by the special request of the Queen, to baptize her youngest child. On the same day she received a message from Sir Thomas Thompson, Captain of H. B. M. frigate, the Talbot, requesting her to go over to Tahiti, as speedily as possible, to hold a conference with him on the changes which have taken place in her dominions. She had not been at Tahiti, since the union of the French flag with her own; but, on the receipt of Sir Thomas's notice, she resolved to go, and requested us to accompany her. We felt the difficulty in which such a step would involve us, from the extreme jealousy which the French feel of the residence of Missionaries in the islands, and, much more so, of any act that can be construed into an interference in political matters. When, however, we considered the circumstances of the Queen, the fickleness of her Tahitian friends, and the fact, that there is not one foreigner, unconnected with the Mission, in whom she can repose the smallest confidence, we resolved to comply with her request, and leave the consequences with Him who judges righteously." Christianity, nay, our humanity, forbad us to withdraw from her at such a time. Our Tuesday the 17th was appointed for the conference at Papeete. Mr. H. therefore left on Monday morning, and went over to Papeete. The weather was so adverse on Tuesday and Wednesday, that the Queen and her party could not get over; but on Thursday morning they arrived. On entering the harbour with her own flag flying, (never having used the new one herself,) she received from Sir Thomas a royal salute. About 10 A.M., she went on board the Talbot, when Sir T. hoisted the old Tahitian flag, and gave her Majesty another royal salute, with the yards manned. The weather continued so bad, that Mr. Simpson could not get over in time for the meeting, and consequently Mr. H. was alone. There were present, Sir Thomas Thompson; the Purser; and Mr. C. Wilson, the acting consul in the absence of Mr. Prit chard; the Queen, her husband, father, or foster-parent, her secretary, and two other members of her family. The conference lasted about seven hours; and the substance of the Queen's answers to Sir T.'s inquiries was as follows:-That she knew nothing of the former application made by the chiefs to France, until the document had been sent away-that she herself signed the latter document presented to her by Du Petit Thouars, from the fear, that had she not done so, and hostilities had been commenced, in all probability a large propor tion of her subjects would have fallen upon the white population of all countries, and have plundered and murdered them; and had such a calamity taken place, she feared that the Governments of the murdered parties would seek redress at her hand;-she therefore signed, in the hope, that when a British ship-of-war arrived, she would be relieved from her difficulties, as she believed that the cord, by which her government and that of Great Britain had for so long a time been bound together, was not yet broken." It will not be necessary to say more on those two days' proceedings, than that, as her Majesty left the ship, Sir T. again saluted her. On Friday morning, Mr. S. arrived, and had an interview with Sir Thomas, to con. firm a statement made by the Queen, namely, "that she had sent as her ambas sadors, Mr. S. and a native Chief, to attend the meeting appointed to be held by Du Petit Thouars; but that he had rejected the former, because he was an Englishman and a Missionary." Nothing of importance transpired from that day to the 26th, besides translating and signing the documents. We then returned to our stations. On the 2nd of February, the Queen sent messengers all round Tahiti and Moorea, requesting all the people to attend a meeting to be held at Papeete. On the 6th, the Queen sent two special messengers, requesting us to attend the meeting. We could not do otherwise than comply, and therefore, casting ourselves again on Him who careth for us, left our homes, and arrived at Papeete in safety. Feb. 8.-The people have come in today from all the districts in a most peaceful and orderly manner: they manifest the liveliest interest in the affairs of the Queen, her government, and laws, and express the deepest concern that they may continue to enjoy the Gospel. The meeting is to be held to-morrow: its object is announced to be, to ascertain the views of all the Chiefs in reference to the changes which have taken place, to interrogate the four Chiefs who signed the former document, on their reasons for doing so, and to elicit from them an expression of their present opinions. Much depends upon to-morrow. Father of mercies, remember thine own cause! February 9.-About nine o'clock, the Queen, with her husband and immediate friends, went to her large house in Paré, (the name of that portion of the bay where the house stands,) and took her seat upon the verandah. Besides several of her Chiefs, there were present Sir Thomas; the purser; British, American, and French consuls; with most of the foreign residents. The people assembled, in a very orderly manner in several divisions, in the large court-yard fronting the house. The day was pleasantly cool. Each division, as it entered the court, marched to the front of the house, and the leader of the party ordered the men to take off their hats-this being done, he called out," Pomare, our Queen, ia ora na oe, mayst thou be saved!" to which all the people responded, "Amen!" the speaker then added, " both now and evermore ;" to which they again responded, "Amen." The respective divisions, having performed this ceremony in the most orderly way that can be imagined, arranged themselves round the yard to the number of about 5,000. The appearance of the men was very neat and clean-some were dressed in military uniform-others in white jackets and trousers -but the greater part were clad in a white shirt, and printed round-about. The females were dressed in white and various coloured prints, which gave to the whole a very imposing appearance. Many expressions of approbation were elicited from the foreigners, both as to their appearance and their conduct. When the people were all settled in their places, the Queen's speaker came forward and said, "It is the Queen's wish that the proceedings of this day be begun with prayer." We replied, "To that we give our hearty consent, and will ask Mr. D., as the senior missionary, to pray." Prayer being concluded, the speaker introduced the business of the meeting by a short address, in which he urged upon all to listen attentively and patiently to every speaker; and said, "Should any hard words be spoken through the day, pray to God, that as they enter your hearts they may become soft, that they may not produce anger." The speaker then read the Queen's speech, in which she commenced by describing her feelings on the present state of things, and said, that she considered herself as banished from her kingdom. A letter was next read from the British Admiral, expressing the sympathies of the Queen of England towards Queen Pomare. The speaker then proposed the question to the principal Chief of each district, "What is your desire, in reference to the new state of things?" and each replied, in the most unqualified terms, that Queen Pomare was their only Sovereign-that they desired to retain the flag given to them by Great Britainthat they had their own laws and teachersand (with an emphasis not soon to be forgotten by those who heard the declaration) they added, "and the Bible has been sent to us from Great Britain, and we need no more, and wish for no more." The four Chiefs, who signed the first document, which was sent to France, inviting the aid of that nation in the government of Tahiti, were then asked separately, Why they had sought the aid of France without the knowledge of the Queen? to which her regent, Paraita, replied, "That so many difficult cases had occurred, and the Missionaries not interfering to instruct him what he should do, he signed the document which had been previously prepared by the French consul." Paiti, another who signed it, brought the same charge against the Missionaries. Tati and Itoti said they signed it, "because they saw the names of the two former chiefs attached to it." They were again asked, "Do you wish the aid of France?" to which all replied, that they had no such wish, and only signed the request, because they were teased to do so. The Queen's speaker then stated, that it was her wish to be on friendly terms with all foreign nations; but, should she require the aid of any nation, it was her intention to seek it from Great Britain; and when she died, that aid should be sought from the same source for her heir, and for his heirs after him to the latest generation. Her great ally was Britain; from thence she had her teachers, her civilization, laws, and religion, and she was resolved to have no others. All the Chiefs responded to these statements in a most animated manner; and then the whole body of the people expressed their cordial assent by a show of hands, many putting up both hands. Mr. S. concluded the proceedings with prayer, and the meeting was dismissed in the most orderly manner. All the foreigners, with whom we conversed, expressed their surprise and joy at the very excellent way in which it was conducted. [At a subsequent period, when H. M. S. Vindictive arrived, a second meeting was held, the particulars of which have not yet reached us.] |