Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-21

/ ~" oud give tuein q SHUT duuFeSS, a0Q
then TO follow US; with which request be
readily complied.
! We arrived at Anunda Bas about IL
O'Clock. Arrangements for service were
made; and the inquirers assembled in a
small compound before a native hut be-
longing to one of the Christians A kind
OF screen from the heat was made by cloths
being thrown over pofes. There was
large number present. The candidates
for baptism were placed in The front, in
rows. We commenced by singing a
hTmn then addressed them; Khrisna
Mohana Banerjea interpreting for me.
told them that the Bishop, with other
Christians in Calcutta, had heard that
God had put 1t into their hearts 10 abandon
their idols, and 10 embrace Christianity :;
that we earnestly hoped that it was the
work OF God upon their hearts-that no
temporal motives had induced them 10 so
serious and important step-thal they
had well weighed and fully understood
the duties and obligations Of the Christian
religlon-and that it was with the convic-
ton OF their sinful state. of the salvation
OF the gospel, and of the difficulties which
they would have TO undergo, that they
had resolved to become the followers of
Christ; that then, and then alone. could
hey expect 1t TO become a blessing to
them, and we should be able to, rejoice in
their conversion. | expressed 10 them
how thankful felt that theirs was the
first village which we had visited that |
hoped Its name was a token for good and
that if they became sincere Christians,
real believers in Jesus Christ, it would
truly be Anunda Bas,' that is, the Vii
lage of Joy,' for Christianity was the re-
llgion OF happiness and JOY. But as no
good could be expected without the divine
blessing, before proceeding further, re.
qnested them to join in earnest PRAYER for
that blessing, and that they ght have
the Spirit of God to teach them. MIR.
Sandys then offered up the sacrifice of
prayer and thanksgiving; and never did
L see a greater apparent seriousness. The
poor people, plostrate on their faces, made
their responses in the most solemn and
audible manner. Mr.. DEER next gave
them an affectionate and earnest address
upon the necessity of feeling their state
as sinners, of believing in Christ, of re-
nouncing their old habits, and of obedi-
ence TO the Son of God. His subject
was, As mGny Of goa as acre baptized
anto Christ, hGre put on Christ We
then proceeded to the most important part,
the examination of the candidates for bap-
tsm. They were questioned as to their
knowledge of their own state and condi-
|tlon-of their responsibility to God-of
the character of God-of Jesus Christ
OF the way of salvation-of the obligation
into which they We're about to enter, and
especially in reference to their motives,
their expectations, and their future habits.
On these and other topics they gave as
satisfactory answers as could have been
expected: it rather exceeded, than came
short of what we had looked for. Two
were found deficient. One, an old man
Of 6ne open countenance, could not re-
peat the Fourth Commandment. He said
he had it in his heart; but being an old
man, he could not learn so rapidly as
younger men could. We spoke to him
with Affections; but thought it better to
adhere to the principle which we had
laid down, viz: that the catechumen should
be able to repeat the Lords Prayer, the
Greed, and the Ten Commandments.
then asked the missionary brethren if
they thought "that any could forbid wat
er that these persons should not be bap-
tized2" 1t was the unanimous opinion
that they ought to be received into the
/ fold of Christ The solemn ordinance
was then administered by The brethren
present. About $50 persons think, were
then baptized: of this shall know, from
the catechist, Paul.
! Krishna Mohana Baneriea, at my re-
quest, then addressed the newly baptized
on the solemn engagements into which
they had entered; pointing out TO them,
l.. What they had been: 2. What they
now were: 3. What their conduct In
future ought TO be. Mr.. DEER then adj
dressed the heather; and the blessing
having been pronounced. the congregation
was dismissed.
At three more villages, viz Bana
Bund, Bha Parparah, and Sholah, We
went through similar services; examin-
ing and admitting candidates, exhorting
them to steadfas,ness. &c. Altogether,
there were, in the three days, about $50
admitted to baptism. There may be ma
ny among the inquirers who have been
influenced by wrong motlves-many who
do not fully understand what they are do
ing-many who have Joined because their
families did SOL understand that. in
some of the. more distant villages, the
missionaries found much ignorance and
secularity prevailing, more than at the
! nearer and larger villages; but with the
greater number, firmly believe there is
/ q dociro To nh,nin col ratinn f.,ll,r ncrron