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MISSIONS
363
MISSIONS
does not aim so much to baptize and found churches as to preach the Gospel and circuhite the Scriptures and relig- ious tracts amopg the seed of Abraham in various coun- tries. Its lirst sphere of operations was among the Jews in the cities and seaport towns of Great Britain. It after- wards extended its labors to the Continent, and opened stations at Frankfort, Paris, Lyons, Wiirtemberg, and Breslau, and also at Gibraltar and Tunis, the place last named having been found an excellent centre from which to work in Northern Africa, as well as a position of great influence from its being in the direct highway to the Holy Land. This society has also its mission college for ihe Jews, in wliich it trains many of its own agents. The twenty-four missionaries employed by this institution are all converted Jews, with the exception of two or three, more than one half of whom were trained at the mission college. Nor are the religious interests of the rising gen- eration neglected. From the beginning atteutiou has been paid to Sabbath and week-day schools for Jewish children ; and a few years ago an orphan asylum was es- tablished, in which a considerable number of destitute Hebrew boys and girls are fed, clothed, and instructed; and when they grow up they are put to useful tiades and occupations, that they may earn their own livelihood.
" Coiigrciiatioual Unmc Missions. — The reiiort iiresented to the last' auniveisary of this associaticm stated that the society consists ufU^'huiiic mission jjastors, who occupy central positions coinpnsiil of four, live, or six vilhiges, where, with the help of '^:jT voluntary lay preachers, the Gospel is preached in 545 mission chapels and rooms, the attendance in which had exceeded 50,0U0 persons. There is in connection with this organization a department of lay and colportor evangelists, 100 of whom are now at work, who had visited 80,000 families during the year, dis- tributed '250,(1(10 tracts, sold 3000 copies of the Bible, and 120,000 periodicals. One thousand members had been added to the churches by means of this agency during the year.
" Ilaj^tist JFis^tionctri/ Societij. — Like most other great and good things, the Baptist Missionary Society had a small and humble beginning. Its early iiistoiy is inseparably connected with that of William Carey, who may be fairly regarded as its father and A)uuder, as well as its tirst mis- sionary to the heathen world. Although of humble par- entage" and low condition in life, Mr. Carey was a man of great mental eneruty and unwearied perseverance. While plying his lowly avocations, liist as a shoemaker and aft- erwards as a humble pastor and village schoolmaster, he conceived the grand idea of attempting to projjagate the Gospel among heathen nations ; and, to make himself better acquainted with the wants of the world, and to prepare himself for future action, he constructed maps of various countries, read nuuieious books, and stiulied two or three dift'ercnt lauguaues. At length, in lTs4, the Not- tingham Baptist Association, to whicli he belongel, re- solved upon holding monthly ronrcits f ;r prayer. Xn: Ca- rey's one topic at these niei'iiiiL's was the ileizi-adeii state of heathen lands; but few entiicly symi.atiilzed with him in his views. Seven years later, w hen he had removed to Leicester, he introduced his favorite theme, and pressed it upon the attention of his ministoiial brethren when as- sembled together. He respectfully siilmiitted for their consideration, 'Whether it was not practicable, and their bouiuleu duly, lo attempt somewhat towards spreading the Gospel in the lieathen world.' At the next meeting of the association, in the month of May, 1792, Mr. Carey preached his ever-memoralile sermon from Isa. liv, 2, 8, and dwelt with great powct' on his two le.nliiii: divisions — 'Expect great thieus Imm (iod. ami ai;eai]jt great things for God.' The impression prodneed l.y this dis- course was so deep and general that the association re- solved upon instituting a mission to the heathen at their next meeting in autumn. On Oct. 2 the society was formed, and although the collection on the occasion only amounted to £\3 2.s. Of/., ample funds speedily flowed in from various quarters.
'•After the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, the next great question was in reference to the specitic tield in which operations should commence. Mr. Carev had thought long and anxiously about the South Sea Isl- ands, and held himself in readiness to proceed thither if he could be promised support even for one year. Just at that time he met with a Mr. Thomas, from India, who was busily engaged in collecting funds for the establishment of a Christian mission in Bengal. In consequence of the representations made by this well-meaning but somewhat eccentric stranger, it was arranged that Mr. Carey should accompany him to the East, and that they should unite their efforts to establish a Baptist mission among the Hindus. After encountering numerous and complicated difficulties, financial, domestic, and political, they at length embarked for India in the Primess Maria, a Danish East Indiaraau, on June 13, 1793. They landed in safety at Balasore on Nov. 10 ; but finding the way closed by the restrictions of the East India Company against their openly pursuing their sacred vocation as Christian mis- siouaries, and being uncertain as to what amount of sup- port, if any, they would receive for themselves and their lamUies from England, they went up the country, and took situations which were offered to them in connection