Missionary Association was formed in aid of the Society. Of the state of the people Mr. Beckley thus speaks at Christmas God has been pleased to carry on His work of mercy, notwithstanding the wickedness of some of the inhabitants is great. The Church has been attended during the last Quarter, at both Morning and Evening Daily Prayer, with a zeal which has never before manifested itself among the people of Kent. Our Saturday-Evening Meeting also has been attended by the Commmunicants regularly, unless prevented by sickness, when much Christian Edification is exporienced among us. We mourn that we are not permitted to enjoy those means, which are to the strengthening and refreshing of the Church of God below the commemoration of the Lord's Supper; but we pray that God would raise up Labourers, and send them forth, to feed His sheep and His lambs, among the much-injured tribes of Ham. The Communicants were 17; but, on the ist of June, Mr. Beckauer administered the Sacrament to 24, including some Young Women from Regent. Here, also, are witnessed those genuine influences of Divine Grace, which deeply humble the heart before God. At one of the Evening Meetings, a Communicant, who had been very sick, thus expressed his feelings Blessed be God for His mercies toward me! I have been sick very much; and I see, the more I try to do good, the more bad I do. That time I sick, I pray to God to have mercy upon me. I beg God to shew me, suppose I die, I was going to hell or to heaven. I say, If I go to hell, it is no more than I deserve. If I go to heaven, I thank God through Jesus Christ. Sometimes I was not able to bow my knee. I feel trouble. I want to get up, but I no able. I say, "Lord have mercy upon me!" Then I felt glad. One Sunday, when I hear people sing in Church, I try to get up. I think myself strong to go to Church, but no able: I was very sorry, and much troubled. Me hear all the same as one man calling me: he say, "No fear, I can deliver thee." I have been believe once; but I get careless: but I thank God that He has made me sick; yes, because He bring me back. May He keep me, and make me thankful, as I cannot keep myself. On another occasion, a Communicant expressed, in other words, the Apostle's meaning when he said, What I hate, that do I-the evil which I would not, that I do. I feel so much my wicked heart, that thing I no want to do live in my heart all day; and that thing I no want to see, I carry all the day: and I do not know what to do. Bananas. Of these Islands, which lie off the coast a short distance from Kent, Mr. Beckley writes at Mi chaelmas It has pleased God to open a new sphere of usefulness on the Bananas. The Superintendant, Mr. F. Campbell, having erected a house for holding Divine Worship, entreated me, on behalf of the people, to visit the Bananas for the purpose of exhorting them, once or twice a week; and I feel thankful to God, that He has enabled me to hold Divine Service once a week, during this month and part of last. At Christmas he adds Our new field at the Bananas appears with prospects the most encouraging. I have been enabled to keep Service, with few exceptions, once a-week during the past Quarter; when between 60 and 70 assembled, who, from outward appearance, seem desirous of obtaining inward and spiritual grace. York. The late Rev. C. W. Beckauer first preached here on Whitsunday, and was heard with great and even eager attention. A few weeks afterward, and but four or five days before he died, he reported I believe that the work of the Lord is begun in some of the Disbanded Soldiers; but, being ignorant of the will of God, they do, sometimes, things which are not at all becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. This experience I have already acquired-that much prayer, patience, and perseverance are required. Morning Prayer is held here very early, viz. half-past-five, or a-quarter-before-six; and Evening Prayer at seven. In the Day School are 14 children, mostly boys; and in the Evening School, 16 boys. Since my arrival I have married four couples, and baptized four children. May the Lord bless every attempt to spread the knowledge of His Salvation among the people at York; and may He pour down His Holy Spirit, and give them the light of the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ! This was written on the 24th of June. On the 29th of that month Mr. Beckley gives the following account of the early end of Mr. Beckauer's labours : Having received a note last night, that the Rev. Mr. Beckauer was very ill, I went, notwithstanding the rain, accompanied by Mrs. Beckley. When we arrived at York, we found Mr. Beckauer had been insensible, and in a dying state, since twelve o'clock. I spoke several times to him, but he was too far gone. I then prayed. His sufferings were great, until aquarter-past-eleven o'clock, when he departed this life. With respect to his immortal soul, I had no doubt but that he left this for a better world; for a more conscientious Christian I have seldom met with: he was like a child, fearful of taking a step, lest he should fall. The Scripture was the daily rule of his life. I never heard him enter into argument: he always considered it best to leave the Word of God as it was. He has left upon the minds of the people of York, the character of a Christian indeed. Charlotte. The foundation-stone of a Church, dedicated to St. John, was laid on the 6th of January last, by Mr. Reffell, in the absence of the Governor *. Mr. Taylor sees a manifest improvement in the people; though, with a few exceptions, they occasion him much trouble and anxiety. This has been particularly seen in the Adult Evening School. The Return of the Schools, at Lady Day of last year, was, Boys 54, Girls 61, Adults 136-total 251: at Midsummer, it was, Boys 64, Girls 58, Adults 136-total 258. Of these last, the following read the Scriptures ---Boys 27, Girls 40, and Adults 39; making a total of 106 out of 258. At Michaelmas the Boys' and Girls' Schools continued much the same; but, of the Evening School, Mr. Taylor reports I have now but few Adults attending Evening School, sometimes none, and never more than five: they have agreed together to absent themselves, without assigning any cause whatever, and seem determined not to be taught. * An interesting account of the proceedings on this occasion has appeared, since the Anniversary, in the Missionary Register for July, pp. 309, 310. At Christmas, the Boys were 40, and the Girls 36; and the Evening School was attended by 45 Youths and 6 Men-making a total of 127. The diminution in the number of the Girls arose from many of the elder among them having married. The amount received from Government for Cassada and Cocoa, in three of the Quarters of the year, was 3071. 10s. 1d. Much more might have been sold, if a market could have been found. Mr. Taylor gives the following view of the Settlement, in the beginning of the present year: The difference in the appearance of the place, in a temporal view, is indeed great. It may well be said, the wilderdess blossoms as the rose. Instead of a huge forest, are now to be seen a large town of about 250 houses, with schoolhouses for both sexes, a large tract of land under cultivation, and every convenience of civilized life; and now, to crown the whole, a Church is begun to be erected for the worship of God. Oh, that I could say the moral aspect was as pleasing to the view of the Christian! Alas! but few yet know that Saviour, whom to know is life eternal.* Leopold. Mr. Davey makes the following Returns of the Schools: Of the reductions in the Adult School, Mr. Davey says They have been occasioned by a part of the Adults who attended being struck off rations, and by others considering themselves too old to learn. At Christmas, he thus speaks of the Children's Schools: I am happy to say, that, out of 103 children, 64 can now read the Scriptures. The Girls have made great progress in reading, writing, and marking. * Extracts from Mr. Taylor's communications on the State of the Settlement, with the Sentiments of the Native Converts, have been printed, since the Anniversary, at pp. 341-343 of the Number for August. I cannot say that any decided marks of a spiritual change are visible in any of them; though there are some, of whom we can say that they are almost Christians. The place appointed for Public Worship having become incapable of accommodating the people, it was under enlargement, so as to receive upward of 1000 persons; and would be finished, it was expected, in March. Mr. Davey reports, at Christmas Morning and Evening Prayers, with the Services on Sundays, have been regularly kept up and well attended. The number of Communicants is seven, and there are two Candidates. One has been suspended for irregular conduct. The right use which some of the people make of the Scriptures will be seen in the following extract: One of the Communicants said, " Massa, my heart so wicked, sometime my heart so hard, I cannot pray. Last week, when my heart stand this fashion, I read in the Gospel of St. John this word - I will pray the Father for you: this make my heart glad very much. Afterward, I read againThe Father himself loveth you." I asked him whether he thought God loved him for any thing in himself. He answered, "No, Massa, not for any thing in me, but for sake of Jesus Christ." Another said, "This week I been read in the Seventh Chapter of Matthew this word-Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, &c. I feel these words very much, and think that's so I stand-I think no more I just say Lord, Lord; and this gives me trouble: but, last night, you read this same Chapter in Church, and talk about it, then I begin to get comfort." The Contributions of the year to the Society have been already stated as 171. 12s. 6d. sale of produce Mr. Davey says The people of this Settlement have sold to Government during the past year 6112 Bushels of Cocoa and Cassada, for which they have received 2961. 18s. 7d. Bathurst. The Rev. John Gerber and Mrs. Gerber entered on this Station on the 26th of March. The following Return of the Schools has been made for the re maining Quarters of the year : Boys' Day School Midsummer. Michaelmas. Christmas. 30 Girls' Day School Adults' Evening School |