It is perhaps not generally known, that there are in the Eastern islands, thousands of converts who formerly embraced Christianity during the dominion, and by the exertions, of the old Dutch East India Company. Having been for a number of years deprived of teachers and of every kind of religious instruction, they had relapsed into a state bordering on heathenism. These wandering sheep Joseph Kam first sought out, and for that purpose visited all the islands where any of them resided, renewed their acquaintance with the Gospel by public discourses and private instruction, re-organized them into regular societies, appointed native teachers from Amboyna over them, furnished the latter with sermons composed and written by himself, and which they were to read to the people during his absence, took measures to have the young properly educated; in short, he placed things on as favorable a footing as times and circumstances would permit. Nor did he neglect the heathen, but labored most actively among them, and he had the happiness to be instrumental in the conversion of numbers of idolators, some of whom were chiefs of high rank. In 1819, the Netherlands Missionary Society sent out five labourers to join Kam. This reinforcement was to him exceedingly welcome, whilst his knowledge of the country and experience, proved highly valuable to these brethren, chiefly in assisting them to select for their permanent residence such of the islands as afforded the greatest prospect of usefulness. Mr. Kam's pecuniary circumstances having for some time rendered him independent, his connexion with the Netherlands Missionary Society, as far as regarded support, was dissolved. The Society, however, which placed the highest confidence in him, elected him one of its directors. He felt very sensible for the honor conferred upon him, but never used it for the purpose of lording it over his brethren; on the contrary he considered it as imposing on him, to a higher degree than before, the duty of being of service to them and promoting their usefulness. Indeed all the Missionaries, who were successively sent from Holland to that part of the world, found in him a true friend, a father, who on their arrival in that heathen land, cordially received them under his hospitable roof, assisting them with his counsels as well as in the acquirement of the language, and on all occasions ready to promote their welfare, and to encourage and comfort them under their trials. Long will the remembrance of his affectionate and truly paternal solicitude be cherished and prized by them! Mr. Kam at Amboyna entered a second time into the marriage state with a Miss Timmermans, a lady highly qualified for the important relation of a Missionary's wife, and who proved a true help-meet to him in his laborious career. Her thorough knowledge of the high Malay enabled her to be eminently useful in the female department of the Mission. She also kindly undertook to teach that language to all the Missionaries who arrived at Amboyna, as long as they resided at the Mission house. From this marriage a son was born, who was lately sent for education to Holland, and is now at the Moravian Institution of Zeist, promising, as far as appearances go, to tread in his father's steps. Mr. Kam neglected no available opportunity to increase the prosperity of the Mission with which he was connected. He established a press at Amboyna, and undertook himself the task of teaching some young Malays the art of printing. Numbers of valuable tracts of his composition have issued from this press, and their influence in spreading the knowledge of the Saviour has been considerable in all the islands where they have found their way. He was a zealous agent of the Bible Society, whose views he powerfully promoted by the distribution of the word of life wherever an opportunity offered. He built, chiefly at his own expense, a handsome church for his native congregation. He erected schools wherever it was found practicable, and founded a seminary of a higher order for the forming of native teachers and catechists; in this institution he took a peculiar interest, and devoted much of his time to it. He also established Auxiliary Bible and Missionary Societies, whose efforts have been thankfully acknowledged by the respective Parent Societies at home, and which contributed much to create a philanthropic spirit in the European inhabitants of the Eastern Archipelago, and to stir them up to take an interest in the spiritual and eternal welfare of their ignorant and perishing fellow-creatures. Joseph Kam was not a man of brilliant talents; but he possessed those more substantial qualifications which are indispensable in a Missionary-a sound judgment, a thorough acquaintance with the Scriptures, and an easy and lucid way of bringing divine truth home to the hearers, a burning zeal for the glory of God, and compassion for the souls of men, together with an immoveable faith on the divine promises, which enabled him cheerfully to bear the numerous trials to which he was exposed, and courageously to meet the frequent obstacles which came in his way. To these, he added a consistent walk. He was very frugal and simple in his manner of living, which he had regulated, as he thought a tropical climate required; and though often present at sumptuous entertainments at the houses of the servants of Government and wealthy merchants, could never be prevailed upon to alter in the least the method he had adopted. At the same time it may be said, that on such occasions, he did not set up himself as a judge, and condemner of those who acted differently, provided they did not transgress the rules of moderation. Kam possessed the advantage of a vigorous and hardy constitution, and generally enjoyed excellent health. Without these, he would have found it impossible to endure all the fatigues and privations caused by the long and repeated Missionary journeys he undertook. Twice or thrice in the year, in a small brig of his own, which he managed himself with the assistance of a few native lascars, he travelled in that burning climate for several months together, from island to island, exposed to storms and dangers of various kinds. On such occasions, he added to his duties of a preacher of the Gospel, those of a peace-maker among the native tribes, and was the means of preventing much bloodshed. As Schwartz had been on the continent of India by the British Government, so was he frequently employed by the Netherlands Government in allaying disturbances and quelling rising rebellions among their Malay subjects, in which endeavours he seldom failed. His judicious views, good temper, integrity, and the holiness of his life, rendered him greatly respected even by the heathen chiefs of the Moluccas, and made the humble Missionary a far more successful instrument in maintaining peace among them, than large bodies of troops could ever have been. In March, 1833, Kam left Amboyna on a Missionary tour for some months; but it proved his last! On the 14th July he arrived at Banda exceedingly ill, and, after three days of suffering, died in peace in the arms of his young friend and successor Gericke, at the age of sixty-three years and ten months, deeply regretted by his family and friends, and by the societies with which he was connected. His body was followed to the grave by all the civil and military authorities, and by crowds of natives, both Christian and heathen, who were anxious to testify by this last mark of respect the high esteem they entertained for his character. The Batavian Government also did not fail in their official gazette to record in very honorable terms the valuable services, and the virtues of the departed Missionary; but what is better than all, he has, no doubt, been approved by the great Lord whom he loved and served. He has heard from his blessed lips the "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." He rests from his labours, and his works follow him! II.-Reminiscences of Home. CHAPTER II. The shock which the feelings receive on the discovery of a deep loss, especially of a parent or child, is so intense that it usually produces a cessation of sensibility amounting almost to stoicism. When however the dream of sorrow has passed, sensation returns, and we find ourselves really bereft of our beloved associate, like the lion deprived of its young-a storm of passion succeeds the calm. Such an arrangement is wise; for as the violence of the hurricane clears and purifies the atmosphere, so does this turbulent effort of the passions leave the mind more clear, and better adapted to look with calmness on the scene of distress, and decide with judgment on the steps which altered circumstances may induce. Such were the successive operations of the mind of the afflicted Marie on that to her momentous night. When she recovered from the swoon in which she had been borne from the room of death, a hurried tide of recollections rushed upon her mind. She gazed around with an air of wildness, as if in search of her beloved parent. She struggled to return to the room in which her remains lay. She uttered at intervals alternately incoherent inquiries, exclamations and prayers-" My mother, my mother! Where shall I go! O God; guide the orphan. Yes, yes," she said, in a tone of more than usual wildness, " I am now an orphan. O what a friend have I lost,-but I was unworthy of so good a parent. I have despised her instructions, her prayers; she can now pray no longer for her poor thoughtless Marie." Then, as if a fresh train of thought had suggested itself of a more rousing character, she said in a tone which thrilled all present--" I dread, I dread my future connections--such gaiety, no religion. Oh I have despised religion, perhaps now God will despise me." Such were some of the expressions of the afflicted girl. Though incoherent, they displayed the genuine operations of her mind, which was evidently dwelling on the neglected privileges of the past, and the trials which awaited her in future life, without those aids which true religion can supply. When these feelings had in some measure subsided, Pastor attempted to introduce the subject of deepest import, true religion, and its beneficial influence under circumstances of especial trial. "Be calm," he said; “ it would be improper to wish your parent's return to this sinful world: she has passed from a state of suffering to one of glorified rest. It is sinful to repine at the blessed arrangements of Jehovah, or to distrust his ability to guide and sustain in every trial. Your principles are now put to the test; you have professed to be a Christian in prosperity, act the Christian in adversity, be strong in the Lord, &c." "I do not wish," she replied in a subdued tone, "her return-she is happy; but I fear I shall never see or meet her in heaven. I have professed to be a Christian, but I have been playing the hypocrite-while I professed to love Christ, I loved the world. It was to please my mother, not God. Oh I have been a wretch indeed-there can be no mercy or pardon for me-like Cain I shall be a mark for the arrows of the Almighty.' I thought," she continued, after a pause, "I once thought I was a Christian; but you broke the charm, you described a Christian, and it unchristianized me. I strove to appear cheerful in your presence afterwards, but in vain. I thought the secret of my hypocrisy was known to you." His reply was, "Happy will it be for you, if this trial should be the means of inducing you to think prayerfully on the all-important subject of salvation; then your loss will be great gain! The convictions which now so deeply affect you are the best evidences of your awakened condition-they are proofs that God is striving with you in mercy-your duty is plain-you must pray the hand that wounds, to heal." He was about to proceed, but she interrupted him by saying, "I cannot, dare not pray; will you pray for me?" "I will readily," he rejoined, "attempt to teach the trembling spirit how to approach the mercy seat of the Most High, if the divine teacher will but deign to render the effort successful-shall we pray now?" he inquired. "Yes, now," was the reply. He beckoned the servant to bring the holy volume, and assemble the attendants. The faithful household, full of sorrow, soon assembled in that apartment in which their dear mistress had often pleaded for them with the Father of mercies. The recollection excited in each breast the tenderest emotions; a searching silence prevailed, which was broken by the faltering voice of the minister, who, deeply affected by the surrounding distress, could not restrain the tear of sorrow, while he felt it his duty to repress its exhibition in others. He selected for their mutual edification that sweet portion of divine truth, the 17th of John's Gospel, in which the Saviour so pathetically prays for his afflicted followers to the end of the world. They then attempted to sing, "Peace, 'tis the Lord Jehovah's hand, That blasts our hopes in death;" after which, they knelt at the altar of mercy, while Pastor prayed for the sanctification of this event to all, but more especially to the bereft child. When they arose, though tears bedewed every cheek, there was that calm serenity stamped upon the countenance of each, which is the result of communion with God, and which nothing but prayer could achieve under such circumstances of trial. Even the countenance of Marie was lit up with a gleam of tranquil hope; while she thanked Pastor, and added, "I trust there is yet hope," though she added with trembling anxiety, "have you read the history of lately published?" (a fearful instance of religious dalliance, terminating in an awful death.) "Yes," he replied, "it is awakening, but there is yet hope; you live, she is dead." "But," she said in an hurried tone, "she had a pious parent, and despised her instructions-she had a faithful ministry, but did not attend to its warnings-she resolved to be religious, but yielded to the pleasures of the world. She is, almost beyond doubt, where hope can never come or mercy dawn. In all the former instances I too faithfully resemble her, I fear I may in the latter; yet I hope in His mercy whose merey is infinite and unchangeable." Still," he replied, "look stedfastly on the cross of Jesus-these are but the suggestions of the evil one. Remember he is but a creature, and is limited in his powers he cannot touch without the permission of that Being, "Who guides a sparrow and directs a world." "All will yet be well," he added, as he left the apartment, saying to each as he passed the assembled household, "What is your life? it is even a vapour which appeareth, and then vanisheth away.' In a few days, the remains of Mrs. were conveyed "to that bourne whence no traveller returns." There is in a British funeral, even of the poorest, a decency, a solemnity which can only be associated with religion and civilization. The funeral of that class to which our friend was attached is however generally marked by respect and solemnity which the poor cannot command, or the higher orders but seldom know. On the evening of that mournful day, numbers of the rustic inhabitants had assembled. In their healthful countenances might be traced a feeling of real sorrow for the loss of one that had ever while living ministered to their comforts. The shades of evening well accorded with the sombre train of funeral |