Mr. Ellis has composed four hymns, in the Owhyhean language, which are sung in the chapel. You will hardly be able to conceive the delight we had in hearing these people, for the first time, uniting to sing the praises of Jehovah in their own tongue! A scene of great nsefulness appears to be opening here. One, indeed, of greater interest and import ance, than that which is presented by the Sandwich Islands, could scarcely be found. A group of twelve or thirteen fine fertile isl. ands, in one of the most delightful climates perhaps any where to be met with, rising rapidly into consequence as places at which vessels may refresh, passing from the western Eside of the new world to the eastern parts of the old world, and as the port for repairs and refreshments to great numbers of Pacific Ocean whalers; having also a population of above 200,000 inhabitants, must have great importance as a missionary field. We made a tour round a greater part of the beautiful island, accompanied by our missionary friend, Mr. Bingham, and a messenger from the king; and were every where received with the greatest kindness, both by chiefs and people. While we deeply mourned over the deplorable state of ignorance; vice, and wretchedness, in which we found the people of all ranks, we could not but rejoice at the readiness we every where found to listen to the gospel, which was addressed to various assemblies; sometimes within a house, sometimes under a tree, or in the shade of a rock. We did not find any native who had the least no... tion who it was that made the sea, the sky, or themselves; but they all said, it was mutai (good) to learn these things, and to worship Jehovah; and that as soon as the king told them to do so, they would all come to learn. At one place (Uarua) we were kindly received and hospitably entertained by an intelligent chief, who was one of the principal priests of the abolished system. He made many inquiries about the nature of this new religion; and proposed some difficulties for solution. Among other questions, he asked whether Jehovah could understand, if they prayed to him in Owhybean, or whether they must all learn English! When he had received answers which appeared to satisfy him, he said it was maitai, (good) and he was ready to receive instruction and to worship Jehovah, as soon as Rehoreho (the king) should order it. All seems to hang on the word of the king! The government of these islands is an absolute monarchy; there is no law but the king's will. The king (Rehoreho) says to the missionaries and to us, that by-and-by re will tell his people that they must all learn the good word, and worship Jehovab; but that the missionaries must teach him first, and get well acquainted with the Owhybean language. But alas, the king is slow to learn! Nevertheless these difficulties, and all others, we trust, will be overruled, and in due time removed, the glorious gospel may have free course to promote the happiness of man, and the glory of God! Two weeks ago the names of twelve persons were given in, who appear to be sincerely attached to the word; so that ere long we hope, the administration of Christian Baptism to the natives, will commence by the missionarics. LETTER FROM THE MISSION TO THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. WE received the letter, from which the fol lowing extract is made, just in time for a place in this number. It is dated Honoruru, Jan. 11, 1823. We are happy to learn, that so great a proportion of the number to be sent to us, are destined to preach; as the field is now much more widely open for that kind of labor, than it has at any period appeared to be. The king, two days since, in a communication to the mission written by his own hand, and sent in at the public examination of the school, expressed sincerely his desire, that' all the chiefs of all these islands might listen to the words of the preachers, learn the will of Jesus Christ, and be saved by him. You will not understand this declaration of the king as a profession of cordial faith in Christ, or of love to his cause; but simply his approbation of our design to preach, and a wish that his chiefs may attend to what we may say, in or der to make the experiment whether they can obtain the benefit we propose. But even this we regard as a very desirable advance made by the king at the very time he and we are expecting soon a large reinforcement of the Brother Whitney writes, that he expects soon to have the superintendence of a school of 50 pupils at Waimea, under the particular patronage of the present superintendant of Tauwai. On the 9th inst. we had an examination of our schools at this place, which now comprise more than 200 pupils, most of whom appeared in decent order at the chapel, with a good number of spectators. Mr. Thurston conducted the examination, which was, in our view, more flattering, than any former one. Not less than 12 chief's attended. The king's brother, Kauikioule, and his sisters, Nahienaena, and Opiia, one of the wives of the late king, with her present husband, Laanui, bore an interesting part of the examination. Nor was the king's copy-book, with its fair, neat pages, and his communication before alluded to, which was read to the assembly, less interesting. The assistant teachers, five in num-' ber, appeared at the head of their respective schools, and assisted at the examination. The queen recited about half of Watts's catechism. Kahuhu read with fluency a passage from the Bible. Two others presented their first essays in composition; and Naihi handed in a declaration, written by his own hand, containing four words-"Aroka au ia Jehova." I love the Lord. Opiia exhibited fair hand writing, and so did many others. Honorii gave an address to the pupils, and Mr. Thurston closed the exercises with prayer. LETTER FROM A CLERGYMAN. WHEN I read the calls on the friends of missions, in the last Herald, I determined to ask the church and society under my care for a Contribution. It was accordingly taken up last Sabbath, and $25 were collected. This is a smaller sum than 1 could wish; but as the church paid 20, in January last, and has contributed every communion for the same object, they feel that they have done tolerably well. But I chiefly prize this collection as a proof, that this people feel the obligation of supporting your Society, and are ready to make special efforts to meet your emergen. oies. I will thank you to send me a copy of the last Annual Report of the Prudential Committee. I should be glad if you would order one to be sent to me annually, and I will pay for it, unless you think proper to send it gratis. My principal design is, to make this charch better acquainted with the extent and value of the operations of your Board, than they now are, that they may imbibe a higher regard for their operations, and a deeper interest in their success. Poetry. We understand, that a little volume, entitled "Hymns and Sacred Songs, original and selected, for the Monthly Concert and Similar Occasions," is about to be published, by the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions, in the Theological Seminary at Andover. The design is a good one, and will doubtless meet with due encouragement from the Christian public.-The following original hymns are extracted from the Selection, and were forwarded to us by the Compiler of the work. THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY. The fount is open'd, from whose streams And nought their glorious course shall check, That Mighty Angel, to whose hand And say, shall aught oppose his flight? Shall visit every human soul: Not till blest Peace shall spring to birth, THE FAREWELL. H Land where the bones of our fathers are sleeping! Land where our dear ones and fond ones are weeping! Land where the light of Jehovah is shining! We leave thee lamenting, but not with repining. Land of our Fathers! in grief we forsake thee; Land of our Friends! may Jehovah protect thee; Land of the Church! may the light shine around thee, Nor darkness, nor trouble, nor sorrow confound thee. God is thy God; thou shalt walk in His brightness! Gird thee with joy! let thy robes be of whiteness! God is thy God! let thy hills shout for gladness! But ah! we must leave thee-we leave thee in sadness., ASSISTANT IN THE BRETHREN'S CHURCH AT ST. THOMAS, WHO DIED IN THE following instructive and affecting narrative is extracted, in the third volume of the Periodical Accounts of the Brethren's missions, from the Diary kept at the settlement of New Herrnhut, in the Danish island of St. Thomas in the West Indies. THE negro brother Cornelius has not left any written account of his life, though often encouraged to do it. As he was able, he might have furnished a very interesting narrative, being one of the oldest members of this congregation, and for many years a faithful laborer among his own nation. He possessed an uncommon share of humility; and, whenever spoken to in that view, used to say, "I am not worthy that any thing should be said concerning me: I am a sinner, and the chief of sinners: in me there was and is no good; and all I have is what Christ has given me, according to His great mercy, by which He saved my soul. - alone is worth speaking of." This About fifty years ago, he was powerfully awakened by the simple testimony of the brethren's missionaries concerning the death and atonement of Jesus. He grew concerned about the salvation of his soul, and felt a great desire to attend their public ministry, and their private instruction in the Christian doctrines. It was some time, however, before he could resolve entirely to renounce the world and its heathenish ways. It happened once that he attended a merry-making of his countrymen. Even into this house of riot, the Lord, as the good Shepherd, followed his straying sheep; and so ordered it, that our late brother, Frederic Martin passed by, and, being made attentive to the uproar, looked in at the door, and immediately espied his scholar Cornelius. He beckoned to him to VOL. XIX. come out; and, in a friendly but serious address, represented to him, that it was not becoming for one who had declared that he would give his heart to our Savior, to attend such meetings as these. "Here," said brother Martin, "the Devil has his work, and you have assured me that you will not be his slave: but now I discover that your heart is still in his power; for you still love the vanities of the world, and the company of the children of disobedience, in whom he rules. It would, therefore, be better that you left off coming to our meetings and to the school." This offended him greatly; and he thought-"What is that to the white man; and what do I care for him?" However, his amusement was spoiled for that time; and he returned home much displeased, and resolved never more to visit the brethren or attend their meetings. But his heart was not at rest; and his convictions grew so strong, that he could not sleep at night: the address of the missionary sounded continually in his ears; and followed him with so strong an impression, that he altered his mind and visited him. Being received, not, as he feared, with displeasure, but with great cordiality, he was exceedingly affected; and related, with many tears, what had passed in his soul. This gave brother Martin occasion to converse freely and closely with him; and Cornelius now made a solemn promise to surrender himself entirely up unto Him who had shed his blood to redeem him. 35 June 1, 1749, he was baptized by brother John de Watteville, Bishop of the Brethren's Church, who was at that time on a visit to the mission in St. Thomas; and, on September the 27th, he was admitted to the Lord's supper. Ever since that period, he remained faithful; and made daily progress in the knowledge of himself, and of the love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He had a humbling sense of his innate depravity; but cleaved so closely to our Savior, and relied so firmly on his atonement, that all who spoke with him were encouraged and edified. He soon began to preach Jesus, as the Friend of sinners, to his countrymen. In 1754, he was appointed an Assistant; and has ever since served the Lord and the congregation, in various ways, with great zeal and faithful ness. God had blessed him with a remarkable share of good sense and many talents. He had learnt the business of a mason well: and had the appointment as a master-mason to the royal buildings; in which employ he was esteemed by all who had any thing to do with him, as a clever, upright, and disinterested man: he laid the foundationstone of each of the six chapels belonging to our missions in these islands, which are all built of stone. He was able to write and speak the Creole, Dutch, Danish, Ger- || man, and English languages; which gave him a great advantage before all the other negroes. Till 1767, he was a slave in the royal plantation, now belonging to count Schemmelman. He first purchased the freedom of his wife, and then labored hard to gain his own liberty, which at last he effected, after much entreaty and the payment of a considerable ransom. God blessed him and the work of his hands in such a manner, that he also, by degrees, purchased the emancipation of his six children. In his free state he still sought to serve the Lord, among the people of his own color; and spent whole days, and often whole nights, in visiting them in the different plantations. The gift which he possessed, distinctly and emphatically to express himself on religious subjects, was wonderful: and his discourses, both in the weekly meetings at the chapel and at funerals, were full of life and spirit; insomuch, that not only the negroes, but even many white people of all descriptions, heard him with pleasure and edification. As a proof of his gift in this way, we give the following discourse delivered by Cornelius to the Catechumens at New Herrnhut: and look at this brazen one, if they would be well: this happened long before our Lord and God appeared as man in the world; but it referred to Him, and to his bitter death on the cross. When, therefore, He was in the world, St. John pointed to Him, saying, Behold the Lamb of God, and the man of sorrows, who is to be hung upon the cross! He it is, that can heal all those that are bitten by sin, as by a poisonous serpent. Whoever looks to Him with a believing heart, is made whole. He has taken away the sin of the world, and died for us. All men may now come to Him; even the poorest, the most sinful and wretched. He receives all, even the very worst. Let no one think himself too far gone, and that he will not receive him. "My dear people-If any human creature were too bad, then, indeed, He could not receive any one of us, for we are altogether a very bad people. In the Old Testament, He commanded his prophets to say concerning us- "In that time shall the present be brought to the Lord of Hosts, of a people scattered and peeled a nation meted and trodden under foot-to the place of the name of the Lord of Hosts, the mount Zion:" and again, "The Gentiles shall come to his light, and to the brightness of his rising." He will even have negroes, and He will receive them gladly. "My dear people--Let every one of you, therefore, come just as he is. He only desires to have your hearts. I myself feel that I am very poor and needy; but, on this very prayer-day, I have experienced his grace in my heart, and felt his love to ward me. This He gives me daily to feel: and every one of you may enjoy the same favor. All depends upon this one thing, that we give ourselves wholly to our Sa vior. We cannot divide our hearts between him and the world. The only way is, to give them wholly unto him: therefore, surrender yourselves up with your whole heart. He will have mercy upen you, grant you to know his love and grace, and freely impart to you all that He has purchased for you upon the cross." We can say with truth, that he was by no means puffed up by the excellent talents which he possessed. His character was that of an humble servant of Christ, who thought too meanly of himself to treat others with contempt. To distribute unto the indigent and assist the feeble, was the delight of his heart; and every hungry, suffering, and perplexed soul found in him a generous and sympathizing friend and faithful adviser. he ardently longed to depart and be with Christ. During the last three years of his life, he was exceedingly worn down by a constant cough and pain in his side, and the time of his final release appeared to him to be put off too long. His great activity and cheerfulness of mind suffered by it, and sometimes it would seem as if his faith and courage failed. He complained now and then, with great earnestness and many tears, that he did not feel his love to the Lord Jesus so fervent as formerly; and once, as he was reading and meditating over that text of Scripture, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love, he exclaimed, "Ah! I have also left my first love," and could not immediately be comforted. Whenever any of us visited him, the conversation soon turned on spiritual subjects, and all hearts were melted. All our brethren and sisters, who often called to see him, expressed how much they were edified and blessed by their interview. November 26, 1801, word was sent to us that he was considerably weaker, and begged to see a missionary. One of us immediately went to his house. After some conversation concerning the love of our Savior, the comfort to be derived from his sufferings and death, his gracious help in the severest trials of this life and the most grievous temptations, Cornelius exclaimed, "Ah! I ought to have done more, and lov. ed and served my Savior better: but I firmly trust that He will receive me in mercy; for I come to him as a poor sinner, having nothing to plead but his grace, and the righteousness through his blood." Being assured, that, in this situation of heart, he might with full assurance and cheerfulness rest on the gracious promises of our Savior, and would obtain the end of his faith, even eternal life, he begged that his children might be called, that he might once see them all together, to take a final leave of them. This was done: and his children, with several grandchildren, assembled round the bed of their sick father. He now once more exerted all his strength, sat up in the bed, uncovered his venerable head adorned with locks as white as snow, and addressed them thus: "I rejoice exceedingly, my dearly beloved children, to see you once more together, before my departure; for I believe that my Lord and Savior will soon come and take your father home to himself. You know,dear children, what my chief concern has been respecting you, as long as I was with you -how frequently I have exhorted you with tears, not to neglect the day of grace; but to surrender yourselves with soul and body to your God and Redeemer, and to follow him faithfully! Sometimes I have dealt strictly with you, in matters which I If Here he was obliged to stop-most of the children weeping and sobbing aloud, being deeply moved by this address. At last, one of his daughters, recovering her|| self, said— "We, dear father, we alone, have cause to ask forgiveness; for we have often made your life heavy, and have been disobedient children." The rest joined in the same confession. The father then continued "Well, my dear children, if all of you have forgiven me, then attend to my last wish and dying request-Love one another! Do not suffer any quarrels and disputes to arise among you after my decease. No, my children, (raising his voice,) love one another cordially: let each strive to shew proofs of love to his brother or sister; nor suffer yourselves to be tempted by any thing to become proud, for by that you may even miss of your souls' salvation; but pray our Savior to grant you lowly minds and humble hearts. If you follow this advice of your father, my joy will be complete, when I shall once see you all again in eternal bliss, and be able to say to our Savior, 'Here, Lord, is thy poor unworthy Cornelius, and the children whom thou hast given him.' I am sure our Savior will not for sake you; but I beseech you, do not forsake him." Words cannot describe what a sense of the peace of God, and what melting of all hearts, prevailed during this most affecting scene. The missionary, having taken occasion, from the above, to address all present in an affectionate and earnest manner, sung a few verses; then, kneeling down, offered up a fervent prayer, thanking our Savior for all the proofs of mercy and faithfulness experienced by his dear patient, now ardently longing for his release, and especially that He had drawn him by cords of love unto himself, granted him to believe in Him and enjoy the merits of his sufferings and death, and preserved him in this faith to the end of his mortal life: then, with many tears, he besought the Lord to grant to this his faithful servant rich consolations: and to remove every cloud that might, in any degree, obscure the bright prospect of everlasting joy-to keep the eyes of his faith steadily fixed on that great atonement made for all sin; and, when his time was come, to take him home into his |