Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15

/ ges this duty, in connection with his en-
gagements at the Office.
Though there is not the slightest re-
straint upon idolatry in these provinces,
the people are certainly less devoted to
their superstition than before the war. 1t
is certainly possible to discover, from the
appearance Of the streets, when the wor-
ship days occur; and the number of
priests is much less than it would be
among an equal population in Burmah
Proper. The people are evidently ripen-
ing for some change. There is therefore
eminent necessity for following up, with
the utmost vigor, the means for extend
ing Christianity. The morals of the
people would greatly suffer by the loss of
their religious system, if no other were
to be substituted Such crisis is not
altogether improbable, and the people Of
God are most efficient Y called. upon, by
the state of the case, to send out more
teachers forthwith.
Still, Boodhism is as yet by no means
a neglected system. New pagodas are
making their appearance in different parts
of the city. There are twenty-nine
kyoungs, containing somewhat more than
five hundred priests, including novciates,
who are pIentiiulIy supported In the
city and suburbs are 7s pagodas, only
one Of which is Of much size. In the
image houses, &c. round this latter are
$50 idols; all large, and most of them
on bo
ed with the first settlement of the town in
1927, by the Rev. Mr.. Boardman. Mr..
Judson'car2e also in a few months, and
Mr.. Boardman commenced the station at
Tavoy. 1t is now the principal point in
our mission, having the printing office,
tive houses for missionaries, an English
chapel, large teak wood zavat, and
smaller zayats in different parts of the
town. Belonging to the station are Mr..
; Judson, Mr.. Hancock, Mr.. Osgood, and
| Bennett. The latter is wholly engaged
> in teaching an English high school for
native children, and is nearly supported
by the salary allowed by the Company
. The printing -ot1ice is of brick, two sto-
} ries high, 1856 feet long by Sc wide 1t
? contains four hand presses, and power
. press, equal to two more; twelve small
' tounts OF English type, one of Burman
/ one of Karen, and one of falling, Fo1
these last, there are punches and matrices
: complete, so that they may be cast anew a
: any time. The ex pense has of course
S been enormous; there being about forty
# matrices, forthe Burman fount alone
. A new set of punches and matrices ha.
: Just been ordered for the Burman charac
, ter, on size reduced one third. The up
4 per rooms Of the office are devoted to 6
. bndery, storage, &c. The capa biIity o.
T. the bindery is rully equal to the work O.
S the printing -office. Every part of the la.
n Dor, in printing and binding, is performed
by natives of whom on an avarage 2;
; are constantly employed.
Mr.. Benefits school is large anc
) tiourishing: He possesses a happy taen
in lmparting instruction, and the stated
: examinations abundantly attest his dill
gence. The English language is the
). principal object, and many of the pupils
I, have made surprising proficiency.
The native church under Mr.. Judson'<
>, y care has more than hundred members
9 Some sixteen or eighteen are valuable as.
: s1stants' OF whom a part are generally
employed in other stations Such as are
q employed here, meet Mr.. Judson every
\ morning at sunrise, and give an account
= of their labors during the previous day
y often rehearsing the very conversations
Il An excellent opportunity is thus obtained
- for charging and rectifying their views
p and giving them helpful ideas in particu.
. lar cases. On Sunday the congregation
consists Of but few besides the church
; members. If any attend three or four
% Sundays, they are pronounced disciples
- by their friends, and indeed generally be-
;, come so.
j Scarcely more direct missionary Iabo1
n is expended on this city, than on Tavoy-
|, Mr.. Hancock is not yet sufficiently mas
d ter ofthe language, to be- able to preach
and Mr.. Osgood has of course made still
r less advance. Nor do the printing -office
h labors ofthese brethren, allow them tc
7, devote much time to study. Mr. Judson
:, has been so much engrossed with revising
5, the translation Of the whole Old Tesla
n ment, and proof reading. for several years
5, as to be wholly prevented from laboring
publicly either in the zayat, or from house
to house. Mr.. Bennett is confined to the
i school, the labors of which are truly ar
duous. Thus this great city, with nom
> inal!v four missionaries, has no evangelical
> labor done for it, except by the native as
=. sistants. MIR. Judson, however, will b.
v comp aratively at liberty after the New
e Testament which is nearly out of print
n shall have beeu reprinted.