Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-25
MISSIONARY.


FEon ths bap. missionary magazine, Jan. 1881
Drput.aIon 60 Eastern BGis.ions-
JOURNAL OF Mr.. MALcoM-coNTINuE
Description of Matah.
Two days journey from Tavoy. con-
siderable number Of Karens have been
formed into Christian village; the heads
Of every family being members of the
church. These Christians now amount
10 about two hundred, and conduct them
selves with exemplary rectitude. BY the
aid Of the missionaries. they have obtained
goats, bullocks. oil-mills, seeds, &C.; and
with these, and still more by the increas-
ed industry they have been taught to prac-
tiSe. they have been enabled TO cease their
wanderings, and acquire very many COM
forts to which their conntTymen are stran.
gers. Cleanliness, in which Karens are
universally very deficient, has been attain
ed in no small degree The men have
been exhorted to raise plenty Of cotton,
and the women induced SO 10 apply them
selves TO spinning and weaving, as 10
furnish every one Of their families with
a change Of 1raiment. They now wash
their garruenis often, which before they
scarcely ever did. Their ground, under
their houses, which always used to be re-
ceptaclesN for fifth, and veimin, are all
swept out clean every Saturday afternoon,
and the rubbish burnt. On Sunday they
come to public worship perfectly clean.
aud. as their costume covers the person
entirely, the sight would please the most
laStiIous American eye.
D.. :. :. 49,, .n;ritual ehanna vISIhla at
Mnah,' which is most delightful. In this
respect they present most attractive spec
tacle.> Punctual in all public services.
they fill large zayat on the Sabbath. and
manifest decorum and devotion far su-
perior to any thing ordinarily seen in
America Being musical people, and
having book of over hundred hymns,
composed by Mr.. Mason, they almost
without exception unite in tingiug. and to
my ear their psa!mody was correct aud
sweet. After q prayer or benedlcton'
hey all uttered an audible Amen" re-
mined silent on their knees, for the space
Of half minute. and retired in perfect ST.
leuce. Mrs Wade has been in the habit
of holding daily a prayer meeting with
them, al sunrise. Almost every morning,
bsfore daylight. many have gathered at
the zlyat, and commenced singing hymns
As soon as Mrs. Wade is seen issuing
from her door, they strike the gong. and
PRESENTLY the multitude come together.-
Il is remarkable, that not one man or
woman refuses 10 pray when called upon.
On Sunday, Sunday school is held IN
the morning. at which all the children OF
proper age attend those that are not pro-
fsssors being formed into one company,
and the others into another superintcnded
By the missionary and his wife alternately Y.
Tublic worship and preaching are held
morning and evening The uferRoon is
oEen employed in baptizinQ, or admmis-
tering the communion, and when this is
not The case. prayer-meetings are held al
tho houses Of the sick, Some Fifty or
more members Of the church live at differ
ent distances in the country, as far as five
or SIX miles. These attend punctuaIIy
generally, walking in on Saturday af,
ternoon. that they may lose no part OF the
blessed day.
II will Of course be supposed that this
people, 50 lately wild and wandering
without books, without even the forms ol
religion, and furnished as yet with nc
Par Of the word Of God in their own
tongue, but a single manuscript copy oil
che Gospel Of Matthew, would be exceed
ipgly ignorant of,he claims of Christian.
~. They are indeed co. But il ID mos
exhilarnting to see the readiness and cor
diality with which they enter into thu
performance of every duty, as soon as i
is made known,to them. Time woulC
tiifto describe al the instances which il
lustrats this remark but one or two ma,
be named. Mrs. w. had on one occasion
rad 10 them that chapter in Matthew
which. describing the judgment speaks o
visiting Christ (as represented in his dis
ciple,) when sick or in prison. &C. The,
at once saw how regardless they hat
been Of persons under sickness and sor
row; and the very next day began :
perform services 10 the sick, such as the
bad never thought OF doing befhre. "A
poor widow. who had leprous sort
disease. and q child about two years Ole
similarly affected, were visited by man
Of them the very next day. They per
formed any rr6uIsive Offices for her an
herchFdren. brought water, cleaned th
r. The name sven ,heir village, impsr,ip