Missionary Observer. CONFERENCE AT CUTTACK. | Thos. Bailey, who entered the field AGAIN we have been permitted to 66 shortly after our last Conference, and who united in our deliberations for the first time. May he be eminently faithful and useful in the blessed work to which he has devoted his life. Nor can I forget that during the year another interesting addition has been made to our missionary strength by the removal of Miss Packer from Calcutta to Berhampore. The Society has never before had nine missionaries in Orissa, all of them, with one exception, married; the good service which has long been rendered to the sacred cause by sisters in the Mission is not likely to be forgotten and besides the missionaries' wives there are now two respected friends, Miss Guignard and Miss Packer diligently labouring to lead the lambs of the flock to Christ. May the Chief Shepherd abundantly succeed their labours. It is true they are the agents of the Female Education Society, but they are doing a work vitally important to the evangelization of Orissa, and the generous support of this Society (which is unostentatiously doing a great work) demands grateful acknowledgments from all our friends. The public services at this Conference were attended by considerable congregations, and were seasons of much holy enjoyment. The usual sermons were preached on Lord'sday, December 28th. Gunga Dhor was appointed to preach the first sermon in Oriya, but the state of his health for some months forbade the hope that he would be able to fulfil the appointment. His place was ably supplied by Ghunoo Shyam, who preached the morning sermon from Psalm lxxxvii. 3: "Glorious things are spoken of Thee," &c. If I had time to give a translation of this discourse all my readers would be satisfied that the preacher is a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Mr. Hill On the following evening THE NATIVE MISSIONARY MEETING WAS HELD. preached in the afternoon to one of | in the bazaar, powerful in the pulpit, the largest congregations we have and very consistent in his general ever had on such an occasion from deportment. John xvii. 15, former part: "I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world." It was on the reasons why the Lord preserves His people on earth after He has called them by His grace-an appropriate theme treated in an interesting and useful manner. Mr. Stubbins delivered an impressive discourse in English in the evening on glorying in the cross of Christ, from Galatians vi. 14, the good old theme, but always wondrous, always new." 66 THE ORDINATION OF THOMA took place on New Year's-day, and was a deeply interesting service. Mr. Bailey delivered an appropriate introductory discourse from Matthew ix. 37 in connection with 1 Chronicles xxix. 5, latter part. The usual questions were proposed by Mr. Miller, and the answers of our native brother were very satisfactory. The manner in which he expressed his determination to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified was particularly pleasing. It was difficult to say whether the excellence of the sentiment, or the elegance and beauty with which it was expressed were the more to be admired. On a future occasion I may probably translate a portion, at least, of his answers, in the hope that it may do others good to read what it did me good to hear. The ordination prayer was offered with much solemnity by Mr. Stubbins. The charge was delivered by the writer of this account from Colossians iv. 17: "Take heed unto the ministry," &c. I should add that Mr. Brooks, Mr. Taylor, and Gunga Dhor also took part in this interesting service. And who shall tell the results of this day's engagement and of the labours of our young brother thus solemnly and publicly set apart to the work of the ministry? He is one of the ablest of our young ministers, ready It was entirely a native service. In former years the senior missionary has generally presided, but on this occasion we recommended them to select a chairman from among themselves, and I am glad to say that it succeeded admirably. Babu Sudanund Jacheek presided with great propriety and ability, adding in no small degree to the interest of the meeting by the judicious and important remarks which he made. Gunga Dhor was the first speaker. He spoke on the deplorable state of the heathen, illustrating and confirming it by quoting from "prophets of their own," as well as by appealing to the Scriptures of truth. Sebo Patra followed by some remarks on the evidence that Hindooism was losing its hold on the minds of the people; and Damudar in his own persuasive, winning manner showed that the kingdom of Christ was extending in this country. The incidents mentioned by each of the brethren in illustrating these points were very encouraging. Paul then enforced the obligation resting on christians to be fellow-helpers to the truth. Prayer was offered at the commencement of this pleasing service by Babu Koilas Chundra Ghosh, and at its close by Jugoo. On the first Sabbath in the year we commemorated together the dying love of Christ, and felt it good thus to wait on the Lord. The sacred pleasures of the day were increased by the fact that five young friends, all of whom were the children of members, passed through the water to the fold." Mr. Goadby preached at the baptism, from "Blessed is that people whose God is the Lord." This was a day of much spiritual pleasure and profit. 66 Conference at Cuttack THE BUSINESS OF CONFERENCE 155 it be after many days, and after much patient toil, by witnessing great and glorious success! We have thought and talked about a Khond Mission for nearly twenty years. We are now fairly committed to it. May the churches realize their responsibilities in relation to this important step, and be stirred up to prayer, special, earnest, believing prayer. Much, very much as to success abroad depends on the right spirit being cherished at home. I wish all our churches felt it more deeply than they do, and I trust they will all feel it in relation to Khondistan. It is a time for special prayer. was, as already remarked, more than usually important. The sittings were presided over by Mr. Stubbins, and the brethren were pleased to appoint me to be the Secretary of Conference for another four years. The most weighty matter we had to consider related to stations for the missionary brethren, as the return of our beloved friends necessitated the removal of those who had been filling their places for three or four years. After much prayerful and serious deliberation, the following arrangement was thought, on the whole, the best, and was therefore sub- Our important operations in difmitted for the sanction of the Com-fusing abroad the truth by means of mittee:-Piplee, W. Miller and G. Scriptures and tracts, came, as in Taylor; Mr. Hill to return to Ber- former years, under review. The hampore; Russell Condah, J. O. completion of the Oriya New TestaGoadby and Thos. Bailey. As the ment, which I reported to you three two brethren who are now leaving months since, was mentioned, and I Cuttack have been during the was encouraged to devote attention to absence of our friends intimately the revision of the Old. The associated with me in the varied generous help of the Bible Transand important labours of this lation Society was again ackstation, I should not do justice to nowledged by the Conference, and my own feelings if I did not express we expressed our grateful appreciamy deep sense of the value of the tion of the good wishes of the services they have rendered to the American and Foreign Bible Society, good cause, and my hearty desire though the painful state of affairs and prayer for their happiness and in that land has prevented the usefulness in the spheres to which Society from sending us the help they are going. which they desire, and which they have promised to forward at the earliest practicable period. This Society has been a friend to Orissa from the time of its formation. It was also reported to the brethren that the Religious Tract Society, with its accustomed liberality, had given one hundred reams of paper this year for printing tracts, and also English tracts to the value of ten pounds. Nor has the American Tract Society, though it is "a cloudy and dark day" for all benevolent and religious societies in that land, forgotten Orissa. The grant, twenty pounds, though smaller than usual, shows its hearty and undiminished interest in our operations, and is therefore highly appreciated. The appointment of two brethren to Russell Condah is a very important event in the history of the Mission. Last year, in reporting the doings of the Orissa Conference, I expressed a hope that we should be able to send two brethren to that important station, and I greatly rejoice that this has been done. In the success of the work there, especially in its relation to the Khonds, I feel, in common with all my brethren, deeply interested; and I have full confidence in the brethren going, as I believe that they are the men whom God has given us for this great enterprize. May their lives be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may their hearts be gladdened, even though "My Pilgrim's book has travelled sea and land, Yet could I never come to understand That it was slighted, or turn'd out of door By any kingdom, were they rich or poor." But it has since then travelled to many lands of which he never knew, Orissa for example. And I promise for native christians here that they will not slight it, but value it very highly. Bunyan is a well-known and highly honoured name among our people. I have a few more things to say about the Conference which must be reserved for another paper. May the writer meet with every reader in that happy land, the hope of which cheered the pilgrim's toil! And if the token for our removal be like Christiana's-an arrow with a point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with her, that at the time appointed she must be gonemay we, like her, exhort, and comfort, and charge those around us who remain a little longer for the good of the church, and then enter the river, beckon our farewell, and say, "I come, Lord, to be with Thee and bless Thee." Amen. The printing of some of our good | Honest John, in sending forth his old tracts was ordered: the de- second part, said, sirableness of having a poetic tract on the worship of Juggernath was strongly felt, and our, native poet, Makunda Das, was recommended to devote attention to it. A Khond tract was presented by Mr. Goadby, and was received by the brethren with peculiar interest. It was a translation of an Oriya tract by Mr. Stubbins, entitled, "Come to Jesus," and it will gratify the friends of the Mission to know that the translation was by Musta, a rescued victim trained in our asylum at Berhampore. 1,500 copies are to printed. The question of attempting to sell our tracts and Scriptures among the heathen came again under consideration, and the resolution adopted was, that in the present state of things we could not as a Conference recommend this course; still, we did not wish to fetter the independent action of any brother that might think differently. This has been an open question among missionaries; but the minute adopted embodies, I believe, the opinion of the most experienced missionaries. A report was given of our Oriya Magazine, the " Dawn of Knowledge," and Mr. Miller, who had efficiently conducted it through the year, was thanked for his useful services; but as it was desirable that the Editor should reside at Cuttack, Mr. Stubbins was appointed in his place. It was further decided to have a new edition of the good old "Pilgrim," to have both parts printed, and to have the work illustrated by wood The Secretary has pleasure in pubcuts. Mr. Stubbins to be the trans-lishing the following letters from lator, and a special application for help be made to the Religious Tract Society. We have never had more than part one of this wonderful allegory in Oriya, and this being an early effort was much less accu. rate and perfect than brother Sutton's later translations; but it has done good service, and I have heard heathens speak of the man who had a heavy burden on his back and cried out bitterly under the load. January 15th, 1863. THANK OFFERINGS FROM THE COTTON DISTRICT. brethren Alcorn and Salter;-valuable, not only for the contributions that accompanied them - but as showing the truly Christian spirit in which they have been given. Burnley, March 13, 1863. MY DEAR BROTHER,-Last Sunday we had a collection in Enon chapel for the Missionary Society, and although the majority of our people have not sufficient food, and albeit to excuse myself. I should feel we cannot meet the pecuniary dishonoured if my name were not demands upon ourselves, nor even among the supporters of our raise my salary, we have obtained Foreign Mission, and my mouth for the Mission £5 5s. We put out would be dumb, or my words freeze no placards, nor went to any ex- on the subject for the next twelve pense. I simply announced on the months; and the church over which previous Sunday that I would I preside would be left blank. preach sermons on behalf of our Foreign Mission on the following Lord's-day; and just before the collection was made I requested them to give what they could as an expression of gratitude for the kindness we had received at the hands of the friends of our own Denomination. The enclosed order for £5 5s. is, therefore, a thank-offering to the Mission of a people steeped in poverty by reason of the cotton famine a thank-offering for the kindness they have received from our own churches throughout the country. In proportion to their means, it is more than double the sum they ever contributed before to the funds of the Mission. It affords me pleasure to be able to transmit such a sum from such a distressed people. Please acknowledge its receipt. J. ALCORN. Lineholme, Todmorden, MY DEAR BROTHER,-I know that I have mentioned the Mission privately, but without success. The pressing nature of home wants pushes out of sight the urgent need of the Mission; and, truly, we have more than we can manage at home, so that I cannot hope for success in any appeal to our people. I feel, too, that I owe something as a thank-offering to God, for although I have not received a farthing from my church since last September, yet, by the good provi dence of God, I have been preserved from getting behind, and believe I shall be till this trial is past, if I co-operate with the providence and spirit of God in their leadings and suggestions. Our people are all poor; about fifty-six families have had to be relieved either from the Guardians or the Relief Committee, all connected with our chapel; so that it has been as much as we could do to meet the necessary current expenses and the interest on the chapel debt. This state of things will, I hope, be soon over, yet at present things are dark and not much sign of improvement. Mr. Ingham's letter in our last Magazine sets the state of the neighbourhood in its just light. W. SALTER. NOTICE. THE Quarterly Papers are about being published in a new and improved form. It is probable that this circumstance may cause the delay of a few days in the publication of the next Paper. Foreign Letters Received. CUTTACK.-J. Buckley, Jan. 3, 17. TENT, BLACK PAGODA.-W. Miller, |