Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-28

the other Amy. The people, deprived of,
all authentic intelligence OF what is taking
place inthecountry, are harrassed and "a
larmed by constant reports Of the most
contradictory nature. 'Tradeis at a stand, |
and fears are entertained, that agriculture
will be abandoned, unless matters be speed
lily settled" A graphic description off
what is inseparable from war in any form. !
The first accounts stated, that Surrawa
had got possession not only Of Rangoon,
bat Of the whole course OF the 1rawaddy |
between Rangoon and the capital. Ali in- |
stercourse- between the two places, and
consequently with the missionaries at A
va, was cut off. Their condition, too,
was likely to become periIous such a
state of things, if continued, must have
been very unfavorable to the labors of the |
missionaries generally; and the war, had
it pervaded as it still may, the whole coun-
try for any considerable length of time,
would have suspended, if it had not entire
Fly broken up, all the missions there.
Most readers will recall the persecu
|tions which many years ago befel the de-
what drew upon them the wrath of Bur-
nah? Not the gospel truth; not the char
acter or crimes ofthe missionaries; moth
ing which they had done or proposed to
do; but merely their supposed connection
with the English whose armies were car
rving fire and sword into the heart Of Bur-
NAH. 1t was the war-system of Christen-
dom, the dread and hatred of baptized
warriors, that provoked Burman rulers
to threaten vengeance upon peaceful mis-
sionaries whose religion had been so
grossly belied by those misnamed follow
us OF the Prince of Peace.
The world is full of facts on this point.
A missionary in the South Sea Islands tes
titled that war and rum-they generally
go together-had in one case which fell
under his own observation, destroyed in a
single fortnight nearly all that the heralds
of the cross had accomplished in twenty
wears! How came the devoted Lyman &
Munson to fall such untime v victims 10
the knife of cannibaIs? The war-policy of
Christendom, Iverily believe, occasloned
it. Not far from the spot where they were
murdered whole village had been not
long before laid in ashes by gang of our
own countrymen sent thither by our gov
eminent expressly 10: the purpose. That
fact must have been known as we'll as the
general policy and character OF Christian
oations and on seeing the missionaries IN
Ia Christian garb, those savages would
naturally suspect them of bloody designs,
; and pant to take revenge.
Here is matter for serious reflection
t and will not the friends of God lay it tc
heart, and inquire how far the war-sys
tenn, still tolerated by Christians them,
selves, interferes with the grea: work Of
converting the nations to christianity 3
Have they nothing to do III removing this
obstacle to the worlds conversion? Can
the world be christianized before its re-
moval ? If not, must not the cause Of peace
be incorporated into the system of instru
mentalities requisite for the worlds entire
and thorough conversion to God? And il
this must be done sooner or later, how
much longer shall it be delayed? Isl: no
high time for Christians OF everynam t
l take hold of this subject in earnest vii
not churches, and ministers, and the con
ductors of benevolent enterprises, turr
their attention to it without delay2
, S1RIs.