BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY-1843.

LAST year being the Jubilee of this valuable Institution, we felt it our duty to bring before the attention of our readers, from time to time, various interesting facts connected with its origin, progress, and success. It is now some time since we referred, at any length, to its proceedings. We presume our friends are not weary of hearing of the doings of the "Baptist Mission." So long as its managers continue to conduct its affairs with the zeal, and prudence, and consistency which have hitherto marked its course, we may venture to predict, that the Baptist Missionary Society will be held in high estimation; and that its funds will be sustained, not only by the denomination which it represents, but by all who long for the widest diffusion of the gospel of Christ.

The Annual Report of the Institution, for 1843, has appeared. As this is not seen by a great proportion of our readers, we have selected the following extracts, as furnishing gratifying proof that it is still pursuing its honourable and very useful

career:

The opening paragraph of the Report is cheering:

"In closing the duties of the fiftieth year of the Baptist Missionary Society, by rendering a faithful but brief account of their proceedings, the Committee are gratified in being able to state that its progress has been uninterrupted, and that its position and prospects were never more calculated to encourage and stimulate the exertions of its friends. Both at home and abroad, it has received many proofs of the continued favour of God, and of the increasing support of the Christian church."

Reference is then made to the Missionaries of the Society. The deaths of Mr. Gibson, of the Circular Road chapel, Calcutta, and of W. T. Beeby, Esq., of Calcutta, are noticed with expressions of respect and affection. Mr. Phillippo, of Spanish Town (after twenty years' honoured service,) Mr. Bontems, of Nassau, and Mr. Williams, of Jamaica, have retired from labour through ill health. Mrs. John Parsons has been removed by death; and three others, Mrs. G. Parsons, Mrs. Dallewell, and Mrs. Harris, by illness or imperative causes. Mr. Harris was expected. He has since arrived.

"But while the Committee have to deplore the weakening of the mission band by the return or death of ten agents (including five missionaries,) they are thankful to be able to report, that during the year sixteen (including eight missionaries) have gone forth to this glorious work ;-Rev. A. and Mrs. Leslie, to India; Rev. Owen J. and Mrs. Birt, to Ceylon; Rev. W. K. JULY, 1843.

and Mrs. Roycroft, to the Bahamas; Rev. Joshua and Mrs. Tinson, Rev. W. and Mrs. Nash, Rev. F. and Mrs. Hands, Mr. and Mrs. Gay, and Mr. and Mrs. Gould, to Jamaica.

"The total number of missionaries who have thus been sent out by the Society, or have been in connexion with it, amounts to one hundred and sixty-nine; of whom sixty-two have been sent out within the last ten years.

"INDIA is the oldest field of the Society's labours; and though in some respects not the most encouraging, it is really one of the most important. The field is barren and thorny. It demands, therefore, much toil, calls for steady faith, but will be sure to yield a glorious, though it be a distant harvest. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall DOUBTLESS Come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.'

"In the great work of BIBLICAL TRANSLATION, the labours of our brethren have been even more abundant than in former years. During the last eighteen months, 90,000 volumes of the scriptures have been printed, including a complete edition of the New Testament in Bengali, and another in Persian. Of this number, 55,000 volumes are in Bengali, 3,000 in Hindustani, 21,500 in Hindui, and 4,500 in Sanskrit. Adding these 90,000 to the volumes previously announced, the total number is 289,445, printed principally during the last six years; or, since 1801,-529,510. The entire number of volumes circulated during the eighteen months is 65,346, which number, added to previous distributions, gives an aggregate of circulation, principally during the last six years, of 183,590. This number,' say our brethren, may appear large, and demands that the most grateful acknowledgments should be presented to the Great Author of the Bible; but when it is compared with the almost countless multitudes who are sitting in the region and shadow of death, and need the Bible to enlighten them, the mind becomes oppressed with the sad conviction, that the provision hitherto made bears no adequate proportion to the multitudes who are perishing for want of the bread of life.'

'Were all the scriptures which have been scattered through the country since Dr. Carey sent forth his first translation still in existence, and each book had a distinct owner, a mere fraction of the entire mass would be found supplied with the scriptures. A commencement, and a commencement only, has as yet been made to supply the people of these lands with the word of God.'* "Besides the foregoing, other translations and reprints are in progress, to the extent of 99,000 volumes, including the New

*Third Report of operations in translating, printing, and circulating the sacred scriptures, by the Calcutta Baptist Missionaries, Calcutta, 1843.

Testament, with marginal references, in Armenian; the whole Bible, in Bengali; the New Testament, in Hindui; and the New Testament in Hindustani, with marginal references. These, it is hoped, will be completed during the coming year.

"One important work, which the brethren at Calcutta are desirous of issuing with the least possible delay, is the Old Testament in Sanskrit. This, it is well known, is the sacred classic language of India, and the parent of most of the languages and dialects spoken in that continent. No translation exists at present. Dr. Yates is acknowledged to be most competent to make it. He has already completed Genesis and

Exodus, and also the book of Proverbs. This latter has been adopted by the Calcutta School-Book Society, and has already excited among the learned in India great attention to the scriptures generally. While he is amongst us,' it is most desirable that this work should be completed; the only question, therefore, is whence are we to derive funds for this purpose? The regular receipts for translations must not be diminished. With such loud calls for copies of the scriptures, it would be a serious evil if less were done: and yet this must not remain undone. Fifteen hundred pounds will be sufficient for this work, and the committee trust that from some quarter or other that amount may be supplied.

"There are two circumstances mentioned in the Report of Translations, which deserve special notice. The one is, the delightful fact that though the operations engaged in have been extensive, and entered upon and often prosecuted with trembling, they have never been interrupted from the want of pecuniary means to meet the cost of execution. It is true, that in carrying on these operations the brethren bave always been considerably in advance of the funds actually in their possession, but their confidence that the requisite means would be furnished has thus far been more than justified. Friends to the glorious cause of biblical translation have presented themselves both in this country and in America and England, and generously afforded the requisite pecuniary assistance, sustained, it is confidently believed, by earnest prayer that the blessing of God may abundantly rest on these labours.'* The other circumstance is, that Missionaries belonging to other sections of the Christian church, use these versions of the sacred scriptures.' 'It has been to us delightful,' say our brethren, to aid Missionaries in their efforts to promote the spiritual improvement of the people of their charge by furnishing them with the word of truth.' In these feelings, it need hardly be added, the

*Third Report, &c., p. 14.