The New York herald., 1850-10-29

Meeting for the Relief Or the Madeira ExiIos.
meeting under the care of the American and
Foreign Christian Union was held last Sabbath
evening, in the Rev. Doctor Hutton's Church, on
washington square. The object of the meeting,
independent OF religious services, was to collect
iahd 10 defray the expenses of the exies on
tfsir journey to the West, where they are to be
located. There was very full attendance of Ia
dies and gentiemeA, all Of whom seemed 10 take n
deep interest in the past sulerings and future well
fare offhose poor people, and we understand the
collection was liberal, amounting to about s3OO.
There were some fifteen twenty of those persons
present-all intelligent, respectable looking men.
The service was began by voluntary on the
organ, AFTER which the Rev. Mr. Norton
delivered very impressive prayer A hymn
was then sung by the choir, at the con-
clusion Of which the Portuguese sang hymn
in their native language. Mr.. Norton then in a
very pathetic strain described the suherings and
prosecutions of the exiles from the time of their
conversion to their final escape this country. AZ
ter some preliminary observations, he said -
My brethren and fellow Christians We all
here assembled must naturally inquire who are
those strangers that are here amongst this
ing aud have sung III an unknown language, from
whence came they and why are they here and
whether those whom you see here tonight have not
been IN bonds and whether they have not been
banshed from their country, and deprived of their
possessions and all this because they have ad-
hered with constancy TO the Word of God.
i now come, my friends, TO speak of things that
have occurred IN the island of Madeira. Some
few years ago, Doctor Kelly, an English missionary,
left England with his wife and family for the Chi
nese mission; but his wife being taken sick on the
voyage, he was Unexpectedly obliged to put into
Madeira. Shortly after they landed, it was dis
covered that she could not proceed on the voyage,
and her husband determined TO remain and OBJ
tain residence on the island, which he did, and
under God he was the first man 10 circulate the
scriptures amongst the benightcd people of that
country. After having procured a residence, his
hrst step was TO learn the Portuguese language.
After he had mastered the language, he made HIM
self familiar with the people-he mixed with them,
conversed with them, and by degrees obtained
their confidence. He then established schools,
and employed teachers, and, in very short time
from his humble beginning, his success was with
out a parallel Ia modern times. Books aud sta
tionery and all other things necessary for the pur-
pose of his mission were found by him, and in adj
dition 10 the schools, he erected large and com
modious building ss a hospital for the of the
sick. From the Gesiiiuuon that so generally pre-
walls in the island, the hospital was soon filled, and
he suppied them TO the extent OF his means with
food aud medic,ne well as attended TO their spr
iiual wants. IL was in this establishment that he
hTst introduced the Bible to those people, and the
method be took was to assemble them every day
al a certdu hour, and read 10 them a chapter in
the Bible, and IN thls way he commenced from
small beginnings until he gathered round him
large cOUgrs gauon. AT leng IN IL came 10 the ears
that he circulating the Bib'e in the Portuguese
language, when an order was promulgated by the
government st the instance of the Romish clergy,
to suppress The schools, and punish both the
teachers and congregation. The teachers were
accordingly summoned before the Portuguese au-
thoJries, together with several of the ation
which was the first intimation they had OF their
being guilty Of any breach of tn laws; aud what
think you was their transgresslonl Why, only
reading the word Of God | should have stated
before 10 you, SAID the r,vrrened genemin that
in 1913 there was Intsrstahding between the
governments of Great i.ntain aud Portugal, that
The subjects of the iofnsr residing on the Island
of MADEIRA should he sliOsed the tree exercise of
their religion, nnd that they might, whether Ep's-
copasns or disscniers, celebrate divine worship
according to their respective forms, and upon this
understanding Doctor Kelly had proceeded; but
when IT came 10 the ears of the priesthood,
that he was circulating The Bible IN the Portuguese
language, they took The alarm. and appealed 10
old law, enacted IN 1902. which was supposed TO
be dead letter, and under this law British Subjects
and all others, were prohibited from cells brating
lgous services according to their own forms But
rot satisfied with that act of oppres sson, they sup
pressed Doctor kelly's schools and hospitals, and
seized on his library, which was valued At $40 900,
aed committed II Ia the y imes Fifteen of his flock
were then arrested and committed 10 prison, on
charge of herrsy, under their old law subsequently
others were arr s'sd and kept in close confinement
several months. During tneir confinement, they
were daily brought before the tribun lis,
interrogaed, and asked to Tecant sud 90 10 mass,
hut they sterny refused TO return TO the rrrors of
prison, and AZ the end of sonie months throlgh the
interference of the British END American ai'hon-
ties, the survivors were released. Others of them
wfo ESCAPED arrest, were deprived OF their pro-
neTiy, and after being Obliged To wander through
the country for months, sometimes for days With
out food, and being obliged q sleep ont at night,
they at length iound n ship, which brought them
10 the United STATES The reverend gentemin
drew very affecting picture Ct an unfortunate
man. who, with HE wife, had been imprisoned,
and who had been three times scourgei la her
pres nee because be would not relapse again Into
the Romish rtlgioR-the last ii ne death put an
end TO his suiieriugs. This, said Mr.. Morton, WIS
The spirit in which those poor people were treated.
They Were tortured pat o death. and their posses
siuns conhscaied Shortly after the death of this
man, another of Doctor kslly's congregation vas
arrested and brought before Que of the Portuguese
nihunas, and was inteTrogated 10y the Judge as to-
his reading the Bible. He confessed ii--tol1 the
iudge that the Rom ~ Catholic Bible WAS not the
Word Of God, and rid.uled, IN bis presence, the
doctrine Of the real presence. The Judge sdmonsh-
ed hun and called upon bm 10 recaut his error, bat
he steadily refused He was then sent ck prison,
end was, after nine months close cOniiue Enent.
leased, through the interposon OF American citi-
zebs tsidng on the islind. and made his wav To
this country. Mr. Norton detailed several other
acts of tyranny end cppres essinn 10 which the exes
were bjected by their own government, AMI con-
| cludedby calling on his hearers 70 suhscrbs lib"-
! rally 70 enable those men 60 70 20 the STATE of
Illinois. where their brethren have been lJc ,ed.
! After Mr.. Norton concluded, the Rev Dc Adams
addressed the congregation on the same subject,
and the proceedings terminated