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Record of Christian Missions.

ANXIOUS to give to this part of our journal as eclectic a character as possible, and knowing that neither our readers nor He in whom they believe are careful in Christian Missions concerning anything but the success of the gospel in whatever form, so long as it is a pure gospel, we transfer to our pages, this month, the following abbreviated history of a Church Mission at Chota Nagpur, on the southwestern frontier of Bengal. The history will prove to be especially interesting, as covering the results of the mutiny on a native Christian settlement, coming immediately within its influence. Last month we gave a leading paper on the history of Christian work amongst the cannibals of Fiji. We are persuaded that this will be found scarcely less deserving of perusal as a narrative of hardships and difficulties amongst the heathen of India:

'The Mission among these people was established in November, 1845, by the Rev. E. Schatz and three other brethren, sent out by the venerable Pastor Gossner, of Berlin. The head-quarters were at Ranchi, in Chota Nagpur, Other brethren followed; so that, in all, nineteen men and eight women have been engaged in the work. Several died early. Difficulties also arose from the varieties of dialects, and from the apparent dulness and insensibility of the people. "Years passed away,” wrote Mr. H. Batsch, in January, 1857, “before we could cherish any hope of success among them. The good seed seemed to fall upon an entirely unprepared, unfruitful soil, and we were almost in despair, seeing them all going on in their dancing, drinking, playing, and quite indifferent to the word of Christ preached to them. But after four years of apparently unsuccessful labour, at last the time of the visitation of the Lord came. Several Mundas and Urans came to visit the brethren at Ranchi, attended their Sunday and week. day services, and began to ask about the new way; but they came and went again. At last, four Urans took courage to confess their faith in Christ Jesus, and broke their caste. They were all proprietors of land: two of them were possessors of half villages; the other two had lost their possessions by the trick of a zemindar. They received baptism on Trinity Sunday, in the year 1850; but no sooner had they embraced Christianity, than the cross of Christ was laid upon them, and they were put to the trial of their profession. One remained unmoved, and has done so to the present time, standing as a pillar in the congregation. His name is Nouman. The others wavered and bowed under the stroke, and have never since regained their former strength, though still confessing their faith in Christ. The embankment, however, was broken, and the flood took its way, widening from year to year, notwithstanding the wrath and opposition set against it; so that we are now unable to state the exact number of those who have joined since, as they increase from day to day, and every Sunday's service is attended by those who, in the foregoing week, have resolved to join the flock of Christ; certainly they number far above one thousand. None are baptized till after they have undergone the trial of the reality of their profession, and after having received closer instruction. Of such, including children, there are about four hundred.

'Mr. H. Batsch proceeds with a detailed description of the mission at the time of his writing.

"Ranchi was first taken up, and is considered the parent station. Here the conversion of the Kols began. Six brethren and two sisters are employed in ministering to the congregation, or teaching in the schools, or preaching to the heathen. They have a boarding-school for boys and girls, whose parents are Christians, besides some orphans. There may be at present sixty boys and thirty girls residing in the institution. They receive an elementary and practical education, and return after two or three years to their homes and labour. Boys more promising are retained longer, and form a higher class, from which we hope, by the grace of God, to take in future our teachers and catechists. Besides this school, there is a vernacular school, in the bazaar in the city, for heathen boys under a native teacher.

“Pithuria is an out-station belonging to Ravehi, and those Christians who live in that direction attend divine service there. One married missionary lives among them.

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'Hazaribagh was taken up as a branch station of our mission in 1853, and at present two married brethren are employed there. There are only a few UranKol villages in the district, but in a distance of about ten miles commence those jungles which are inhabited by Santhals, amongst whom, on our discovering them, we began our labour in the cold season of 1855; and I hear from the brother who labours with me, that he has been among them, and that they have had great joy in seeing him, and were attentive and interested in hearing of the way of salvation. For three years we kept up two vernacular schools for boys, but, from want of means to carry them on, we were obliged to discontinue them. A short time ago Mrs. Batsch commenced a girls' school, and, after a month of patiencetrying endeavours, she had daily seven girls around her, and has hope that the number will increase.

"I cannot conclude without mentioning that man of God, whose prayers and devotedness to the work of Christ have done more for bringing in the Kols than we with all our labours: I mean our dear father Gossner, who, though already in his eighty-fourth year, and, since May last (1856), lame on one side, in consequence of a paralytic seizure, still wrestles day and night for the conversion of the heathen, and the outpouring of the Spirit upon the gathered flock, and upon us labouring in this promising field."

Mr. Batsch wrote these notes when in Calcutta, and soon after returned to his work in Hazaribagh, full of hope and faith. Mr. Schatz at the same time attended the Benares missionary conference, when many for the first time heard of the silent blessing his mission had enjoyed. A desire was expressed that some account of it should be made public; but when Mr. Schatz was subsequently requested to consent, he said, "I confess I feel rather timorous about it, and I entertain some doubts whether it would be judicious and justifiable. We, indeed, must praise the Lord for what he has done here: it is beyond what we ever hoped to see; yet it is only the beginning of a work, and the fields being only now covered with verdure. Delightful and promising as it is to look at—and though I extol God's mercy, who has done thus much-yet I stand on the border with a heart too anxious to speak much about it, although I would call on every one who hears to pray, that as God has made his blessed work to bud, it may also bring forth the perfect seed, and that these hills may break forth into singing, like the singing in the time of harvest, and unite in one loud melodious strain of praise of the

love of God in Christ Jesus. You do pray so I am sure; but pray also, I entreat you, for us, that we may be what we ought to be, the servants of God, and that we may do the work entrusted to us, not sluggishly, nor in our own strength, but in that power which he himself supplies."

'Subsequent events-events of a most striking and remarkable character-have forced into view the mission thus touchingly cherished and concealed. Mr. Schatz and Mr. Batsch were both back at their posts of duty, and profound did the general public tranquillity then appear, so that even an angelic observer might perhaps have said that all the earth sitteth still and is at rest. But there was at that time a secret hidden movement in the dark recesses of many heathen minds, that foreboded a speedy and terrible convulsion. In May the mutiny of the Bengal army broke forth, with desperation and murder at Mirut, and, ere long the stream of disaffection spread to the stations where this misson was carrying to benighted thousands the soul-elevating message of the gospel. There were soon signs abundant that the troops and the neighbouring zemindars only bided their time, and that an eruption of violence, perhaps destruction of the whole mission, was at hand. At length, at the end of July, it came. The missionaries had remained among their flocks, warned repeatedly that mutiny was certain, yet resolved to remain while a single officer of Government remained faithful to his service to an earthly master. The troops stationed at Hazaribagh and Ranchi were the Ramghur battalion, consisting partly of infantry and partly of cavalry. 'The mutiny first broke out at Hazaribagh, on news reaching that the troops at Dinapur had mutinied. The men at Ranchi at first appeared to be firm, and some of the cavalry undertook to proceed to Hazaribagh at once to quell the disorder, but on the road they fraternized with the mutineers, When this intelligence reached Ranchi, at night, on the 31st of July, all the Europeans saw that the moment for the explosion was at hand, and it was resolved to fly at once in the early morning. Some of the ladies had been sent away already, but the officers, with some others, and the missionary party, were still a numerous body, and it was impossible suddenly, and in the existing state of feeling, to procure carriage. The flight, therefore, was full of trial and danger. In the heat, over swollen streams, without an opportunity to save even the most valued papers, the whole party was compelled to hasten off, and, through the protecting care of God, they reached in safety the railway station, where tickets to Calcutta were procured through the kindness of a friendly stranger. But they arrived without a single article of clothing besides those they wore, and long ere they had arrived in town their houses at their stations were in flames, their houses and church had been plundered, their faithful converts seized, or driven into the jungles, and the Sepoys, after seizing the treasure, had left the whole country to be ravaged by the treasonable zemindars and the numerous prisoners whom they had liberated from the jails. Of these there were fully 1000 at Hazaribagh. It is needless to say that the missionaries were received by their friends in Calcutta with sympathy and affection, and found that, in the depth of their distress, the Lord whom they had trusted designed still to provide for their necessities. Writing at an early period, Mr. Schatz had said, "Our friend is very kind in taking, not only so much general interest in the mission, but also in sharing our anxiety for its future prosperity. However, I say anxiety, only because I have no other English word, for it might as well be non-anxiety. We pray that the Lord will not forsake us, and we believe

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that he, whose bounty and mercy have brought us thus far-and you can testify how bountifully the Lord has dealt with us―will provide also in and for the future, and open a path to us when the hour comes, though we know not when it will be. As to pecuniary difficulties, we have been in them now and then, and more or less; yet they have been but a small part of our trials, and we have always been brought out of them: and were I asked whether we ever lacked anything, I could say, No, never. The Lord has given us, at all times, all things, not sparingly, but richly to enjoy, as far as we ourselves were concerned; and when we wanted the silver and the gold beyond that, they also have come forth, and have been put into our hands." This was indeed the experience of this Mission. Pastor Gossner sent forth the missionaries to Chota Nagpur, as to Behar and elsewhere, in faith, without any certainty of having always a full measure of supplies for them, but believing that help would never be withheld while there was patient, faithful, humble labour in the Lord's service. And the brethren shared this confidence, and found that God could and would provide. They were often reduced very low, but then the hearts of one and another, here and there, were opened, and aid was sent spontaneously, very often at very remarkable junctures, and in such a way as to mark the watchful care of the great Head of the Mission. If ever men could 'assuredly gather" (Acts xvi. 11) that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel in a certain place, these brethren might draw a cheering inference, for in many seasons of difficulty he manifested his tenderness, and said, "Fear not." It was known that they were not publishing any statements of their labours, and were making their regrets known only to the Lord; and his people found their hearts often led to consider their necessities; and so, very often, "while yet speaking," they were heard, in supplies reaching them from unknown or unexpected quarters. But at this time there was a special and extraordinary emergency, and after so much toil and so many prayers, all seemed wrecked in a moment. Ibi omnis effusus labor. They were themselves bereft of everything; some of them in sickness, and clouds and darkness resting heavily on the scene of their hopes and blessings. They heard from home of the growing infirmities of their venerable and beloved friend, and knew not if he were taken, whether the missions he had established would be carried on by others, or into whose management they might fall. It was a time of special trial in many ways, and those who witnessed it will long remember the affecting experience of the memorable months that followed. It was strange to see the humility, contentment, and cheerfulness, with which many perplexities were met, and to watch the lively gratitude to all who had the opportunity of manifesting sympathy; the simple faith which still trusted in the Lord who had chastened them; and the tender affection to the poor converts, which every fresh recollection of their sufferings excited. From time to time there were hopes of a speedy return, but the Government determined that no attempt could be made to re-occupy the territory till some European troops could be spared; and the demand for all the European troops was urgent for the force that was destined to relieve Lucknow. It was only because the occupation by the rebels of the western district threatened the line of communication with Benares and Allahabad, that, after a time, an exhibition was arranged; and even then great delay was occasioned by various causes. As soon as possible, two of the brethren, Messrs. Brandt and Mr. Bohn, followed the troops. They went by way of Hazaribagh, and at length reached Ranchi on the 4th of October.

"They write-"What a heart-rending scene was before us! The whole Mission station strewed over with torn books; only a few (Cruden's Concordance and a few more) were found entire. All the bungalows stand, but the doors and windows broken, torn out, and the iron wrenched off and taken away. Out of the bungalows everything has been taken. The church has suffered least, though the glass of all the windows has been broken, the organ broken, the chancel emptied, and the bells have been taken from the tower. But, above all, we have to lament over the hardships which have befallen our people: they have been more than we feared. They all, like ourselves, had to fly for their lives, and had to hide themselves for six weeks in the jungles and hills, till Captain Davis arrived, when they got confidence, and returned to their villages. They have lost as much as we: nothing remained in their cottages. All of them look miserable and starved some have died in the jungles, many are sick, some have not yet returned, and the brethren know not if they still live. The Christian village Prabhusharan has been levelled with the ground. With Narain, the church elder of Kota, and his party, there were more than one hundred children for six weeks in the jungles, and this in the midst of the rainy season. The lives of the church elders were especially sought for, and upon the head of one a price was set, in a proclamation of a zemindar, a munsiff, or native judge, of Government, but he was hid for a month by the widow of another zemindar in her own house, and escaped. The same zemindar and munsiff bound and imprisoned the Christians of another village, to extort money from them, and got it. It appears that in every place the Christians had in like manner to suffer; but none denied Christ. All suffered manfully. This is our greatest comfort, and we praise the Lord for it with our whole heart."

'At this time Mr. Schatz had gone to Europe on the urgent solicitation of Pastor Gossner, to endeavour to make some arrangement for the future support of the Mission, and such of the missionaries as required a change of climate also left India for a season. The wife of one of them died on the voyage. The remainder of the party remained in Calcutta, with the families of those who had gone to Ranchi, and were engaged in sending up needful stores and supplies to restore their dwellings. But early in the present year, 1858, the way was made plain for their return also, and now Ranchi is re-occupied with vigour, though with diminished numbers, and the congregation is re-gathered, the houses and church partially repaired, and again there is the prospect of peace and security. 'When the whole of the remaining missionary party was assembled at Ranchi, further details were received of the past sad days of trial and persecution. Mr. F. Batsch wrote—“ We stand just as at the beginning thirteen years ago. The whole station is a picture of desolation. But to look upon our sore-tried people is yet more distressing. They have lost more than we, as they are robbed of everything- -are without clothes and without provisions. Some dare not yet return to their villages, though we have martial law; and those who have come back stand in fear day and night. Their hill-rice was ripening when they had to flee, and then it was cut down and taken by the zemindars: the rice of the low fields could not be attended to, and it has perished; so that they are without provisions for this year. Their extreme misery we saw yesterday, especially at our church service."'