Moravian Mission In The W...
The Times, 1824-09-15T00:00:00

The Barbadoes Glube of the 26thi of July contains thle followving accounit of proceedings in the Houise of Assemnbly of that island, relative to asi application inade for pel-inis- sioin to allov miniiisters of this sect to become inistructors of' the Negroei in Chrlistianiity : Mr. Bascom enitercdl inito somie remarks relative to the Mora.vian Mlfissioin established in this island, and spoke in hiigh terms of eoirn. mend,stion of' the peaceable atnd correct dlemeainour of their mission. arics in imsparting religious inistruction to thie slaves. He felt grati- fied] that a second miission was about to be established in thle parish af' St. John, und(er the auspices of thtat most excellent andt religiouls character the Rev. Mlr. Berg, whio had for marnv years, wVithi credlit to himsellf andI the Society of Brethiren, filled the' situation of mission- ary in this island. Althioughl thte missionaries of that society hiadl ever beeni most fatvouirably receivedI in this island, yet the present one (thec Rev. Mlr. Ber'g). wvith that degree of prudence and caution whiceh reflected credlit on hiis undetstanding andI judgmnent, thioughit it righit, in timIles lik-e the present, to approach the hci.slative Botdies on the subiect of extendinig their establishment in this islantd, anti hie (Mr. liasCom11) hald great pleasure in Presenting on hiis behialf the petittion whIich he then hieldI in his hand, and whiichi1 he hiat no doubt wouilti receive the favourable consideration Of the House. M'tr. Bascom then dleliveredi in the pt tition, whiichi, on tiianmotion, secondled by Mlr. Havres,v'as read, and( was as lollows : " BA RIADOES. To the Hlonourable Clicesman Mooe, Speaker, andI the rest of the Blonourable anti \Vorslhipful Members of the General As- sembly atfthis Island, in Genieral Assembly assembled. Tue lhumble petition of Christian Fredlerick Berg, o1' tlte Parisht of St. T1homas and Islandl aforesaid, Missionary of the Pro'testant Chiurchi, knowtn by the naiite of "1 Uttitas FratrItin," or United Birethren, i"Showcth,-.That Edmiund( Haynes, of the parish of St. Johin, inthis islanid, Esq., some shonrt ti'me past, ivhillit he was in Eng- land, applied btoth personatlly atnd in writing to the elders atnd b)ishops of' your petitioner's cliurclit, praying the elders to furnish tim withi a missionary for *,1be purpiose of insteaicting. his anti other negroes itt the neighltouirhood of hiis estate, svhlo might, with, the Consent nl' thieir Owners or masters for the timie being, he willinig to receive religious instruction accoidinig to ttie fornsi aril usage Of the Brethren's cltitreht. 'IThat the eltilers, itt consquelcnce of sutch the reqluest of the said 1-dmund11( hlaynes, referreid to your petitioner, directing, him to ex- amine into tht, nattire of thc 'said Etmund Jlaynes's requies-t anti wishes, anti to report to the Missions' Department itow far it miighit lie practicable, Convenient, expiedient, anti recomirlendlale, to ac- ;ttde to the requost andh wishies of thec saidI Edrnittnd Haynes, in esta- d1ishing a second utiissioni in Thtrbatloes. That youir Petitioner htaving examinetd into) and dluly consitlereli bie subjiect, rmade his reptort thtereo,f, anti Of the lautlable feelings m1anifested oms tue occasion by' the said Eduntiund Haynes, atlid of cer- taiti libieral offers matte by hirn in aiti of tile exprniscs in settling and miaintaining a secondt mi ssionary establishment, as also that itt tilte .jidgment of' your petitionEr, the place Called M Aount Chattce' offeredl by the sti,l Edltuindt Hitsytis for the pttrpose, seemeti eligible Department must be preparetd to meet in addtition to thne liberal offers of the saitd Etitittinti lHaynes ; anti conclud-eti withi recoenrudn(iag his Elders to sendI out a coinpetents and experienced missionary. ILTtat it Itas been the general practice withi tite members of' your petitioner's clitstrch, wherever titey have aitte-mptetI to make a settle. toetirt in any of' Itis Britannic Malesty' possions, to approach, its hle fiTrst instalnce, the respe-tive brianches of thieS Legislasture, praying their cotteent foir so doing, and also thallt thlose riglits anti grivileges Migiti he sgecuredi to diemii which arc granited arid specified in tite act of Parliamertt of' Oreat Britain, passed intsilte 21st yecar of the reignl of George II., erititletl I Aln Act for elcoitraging thec People- knowtt I c thte namoc of I Ttuita4 rratrutm, Or Inited' Blrethren, tro settle in htis Miajesty's Colonies in Amterica.' " ha't tilitotigh tlite first .Missiottaries of tile Tiretlrcen, whlo ar. rived in this islsani in the year I 765, ti-I not t ontbl the Legislattue, of' titi islittod with thteir prasyer 'Sr Petition for Protectiott, yet yourt Ptetitioner is enabled to) te-stify (nid' whichi hc does with the most pe. cttiliar zrat i fication and wtht Itheartf'elt gratitittleI tri the ilear I,egishs. tors, .Mtagistrates, stud Others Of thle islatid,) titat ithe miission has experiencetd anti enjorced 59 Years Of ti-ninterrsupted Protectiont, fi- berty nf conscience, free exercise of its holy religion, anid encoutrage. Dmeat, in htavitng unrestricteti access to sttch slaves ais have bseen will- itug t,i he instrutcted in the Cftizitian religioti by site pretlecessoes of your Petitiotter ant i himself'. "That fromi titese consitlera' ions yottr petitioner has felt relttctant in troubitnitg y-our lion. hottse wvitit hi,; petition, lest it sitouh(i appear to thie prtiblic that yottr Petitioner htst ut wish to' obtrudle himiself ttpon the notice of' Your lItni. house withotut itnntediate tnecessity. Buit yottr Petitittter Most liuiniblv begs leav.e to say titat he: has wishi silent otzrowv vieweei tite protest critical situation ot thell WTes Indies, and that Ite has forcibly fUet and (tieply hamentetl tbe cause of thtat odlittni whlich Itas been lately Cast Upton tite tarnuc of Missionaries of other tlenominiations, who, deviating frotn the- piurity of the lpritmitive Christian churchi, hiave, instead of' being Stilt. jecct toi titose in authority over th.em, withstood tlieortlinaner of Grod, P.rd by titeir Contdutt rendleredI the vewry narne-missionary..an oh. eict ot susgpicion' at(i l tistcftst. "That the elderR of the Birethtren'-s chtttrclt, knowni by the name of, the Untity's Eldlers9 Conference, consistin~ of f'romi ten to twelve, or qnsoetimes thiirteen otenIber, Sonle of' whuom are bishops, lhave the dlirection of tite whleni Unity of the PBretltren's C3titrch. "That tuec saiul Unity's Elders C'onference are thivitdetd into foutr 'IeFrueos,clled this Cottgregation, or hlome Depairtmient, thec Ed l=tho Dpa-;rtme.nt, tite WIardien's, Department, and thie 11Mis. 'ion's Departmnent, who1 resilt in BerthielFtdorf, Saxonty, Ujpper It0satia. That by reason of thec great distance tlielter ot' the lllissiott's Dt",ipartntent restde, thecy carnnot be acqutaiinteti with all the partictular local eircutttst;tnces of every indivitlual tissmionary station, to give thecir aclvice in tiose to thetr tmissionaries bossw to act in every minute case. Blttt tltc elders of tite Brethren's (tIturcit expc of their mis- iottarirs, wherever titey are ittider God's provitdence placeti, in all things to seek to prottmite ttite welfare of thec latnd wsehereiti thiev dwell, anti howtever soixiotis tite elders4 may feel for thneir mtlsstots ar:es tot Sprca-i the goispel of rite kingdom- 'of Chisit, particstIlerly amonng tite tiegroes in the WVest Indies, least of' all wsuotdt thiey wisit thlem to untleruake Or tin anv~ thi,,g in this respect, particulia rly in erectitig new itutecionary estaWisltroents, wyiitosiut thle sanction, eZon- sent, antiapprohuation ofthe lieg~islative Atithorities of tlte place. ,4Thttt unther these circumistlttoces youir petitioner fcels tleeply con. vinet, hatitisnecessary anti expedieilt he sbtsuldi approach youtr hontotrablse linoste and in doing so takes leavne with all due hutmility to annex to thitl Iiunible petition, ftsr itue informatoisof yoxur lo. notisable htause, the Opinion anti sentiment, of tite Ise Dr. Johto 1',tter, Arclhbishtop of Cantserbsiry, concerrning thec doctrities miain. tainetd by the brethbren of the Morrasian Chutrch. "Titat if' ft should appear to yoir litonourablc htotte by a refocr. ence to thec stinexeti d,tcitttutnts, 'andf to thle condu.ict Of flle mis.stan. -trieo,of the Arethirer's Chtutrchi in this islantd, sinice one thiousand seven hutndrcti anti sixtY.five-in Antigtta sinic onie thottasn(i sevNC lustntiretl anti fiftyt six-andi in the Dattsht 'si'est Indi.a islandsq since one thottsandi seven lustinireti and titirty-two), that the? lisisionaries of the Brethrenl's Clhttrch are worthyv of further etscastragem-ent, " Yor p,etitisner most humybly prays titat yotir Honourabie i'lostsc wvil ibe Pleasedi to grant leave. sanction, and apprAve of a zse. conti mtissironary settlentent ofthte UTniteti Bretitren beitug estabitlih. cii i a the cParish of 6aint Johtn itt tlius islatnd, on t ite Prperitety of' Sd"il'rih hlaYnes, Eta1., Called IMotntot Chancec.' Arid( youtr peti. li inter htunibi enitresits. wi tli thite mst Sincere sonl Chlristiant cots. cern, the dlear legisla tors atnt msagistrates, yea, ati)( nil fellow Chris. uliats, for tite Lortd's Sake, ro contfinue titeir kin(I patrronage to the nmittistry of the Gospel arnritg the negines, anti to s'isl it sCCeSs attd hiessintg itt this imuptrt ant work, atid to extenti anti continue t heir- kitid prouectiloi i toi m1 nissionaries said mrisslarinary establistmernts in thiis island, Of the Uniiteti Brethirent's Ch urch. Anti yvcur peti- tioner, ais in tiutty botirdc, will ever pray, &c."1 Tfiec C'oitntittee of ithe A sqoetatelt of the late IDOCtOT Bray for pro. pagating Chtristiarnity among ithe negroes, deliveredA the f'ollowing re- port, :it a meeting hteld on tile 2it oIF March, 1736i. Reatd,-A report i'rons thle C01nsutittee appointeti to ws%it uipon hisq Grace the Archbisitiop of CanteibusY, tlitn elect, to desire htis Grtce's opinion concernitug the Chiurch of the Mhoravian 'Brethtren, till itiow at Hcmliittih, to know whethier aniy titing iss titeir tioctrinte, was so Far reptugnant to thlose Of the Chitrels of England, as to miake it improper, for to emnploy some of' the Brethren in instructitig thle ne- groesi in Christianity, wlticht opiniotl was.- " 'I'lliat he had loing been, acqutaintc&h y hocks wvithi the Alloravian .Brethren .anti that they were apostolical andi episcopal, not sustain-. intIsny ( octrines reptignant to the thirty-nine articles of the Churchh En~tglanti; and that lie was cotiifrmeid in thecse sentimentsof thlem by thie conferences, lie bad latelylhasi withi the Coun~t Zinzentlorf, one of thecir brethiren, and dlirector of the churches of the Mloravians."1 8Subseqluent to this, whien Counit Zinzcntlorf was Consecratetd a BishiSmp, hits (,rach tite Arclibishiop tittidresset ilbln ti congratulatory letter onl the occasion in thestewsortis - John, bsy Dlivine Providence, Archtbisliop of Canterbury, to tile Right Revecteod Couiit Nichiolats [,Cwis5 Bishiop of tilt Moravian Church, senileh gieceiliug." Alhost sincerely and cortditilv I conigratulate you upon your laving beeni latelv rtisfidint the sa'creti and justly celebratet BI isco. pal Chair of' tlic Muoraviatn Church (by wliatevcr-clouds Iet may be now obecured) by the grace of Dlvin. Providence, with the applause of the heavenly host; for the, opittioi we have conceived of you doe3 not suffer us to doubt it. It is the siubject of my ardent prsayer, that this honour,so cenferred,and which your mrcit so justly entitcs you to, may prove no less beneficial to the church, than at all times acceptable to yourself and yours. For insufficient as I am, I should be entirely unworthy.of that high station in which Divine Provi- dence has placed me, were I not to show myself ever ready to use every exertion in my power fbr the assistance of the universal church of God; but to love and embrace even preterably to others your church, united with us il the closest bond of' love; having hi- therto, as we have been infbrmed, invariably mnaintained both the pure and primitive faith, and the discipline of the first churcih, be- mng neither intimidated by dangers, nor seduced by the manifold temptations of Satan. I request in return the support of your pray- ers, and that youl will salute in my name your brother bishops, as *vell as the whole C:hristian flock,over which God has made you an overseer-Farewell. lGiven at Westminster, the l0th day of July, 1737." dir. Speaker then rose and spoke as follows:-" It will ever af- ford me great pleasure to express from thi-s chair feelings of appro- bation, when I feel they are called forth by that intlividual merit wlhicI leads to favourable impressions of the general character of' the country. I thierefore cannot suffer-to pass uninoticedi that part of' the petition which has been just read to the hiouse, which records the liberal and muniicent conduct of Air. Edmundl Haynes. The proposals of that gentlemiian to the Society of United Brethren do cre(it to his understanding, and reflect the highiest honoiir upon his humanity, and uponi his teeiings as a Christian; and will, I hope, make so grateful an impression upon the minds of his countrymen, that tilXe may never efface it." dilr. Pile made a few remarks on the misch,evous conduct of late of some of the Alissionaries hi the West Indies ; from whiich he was against granting protection to any description of missionaries; ar.d he moved that the petition do lie over. He dlid not, however, intend to cast any suspicion on the character of the Rev. dl r. Berg. of whom he had a very high dpinfon; but as it was not possible always to en- sure missionaries of such principles as those of the Rev. M)r. Berg, lie should oppose the prayer of the petition. AMr. Speaker, in reply to Mr. Pile, spoke as follows :-" I enter most fully into time apprehensions of my honourable friend, but must, however disagreeable to me, be forced to difler with him on a sttbject of' suchi high importance, and must confess I view his appre- liensions as being altogether illusive. I cannot, though, but enter- tails a strong, and I will say very pleasing conviction, that after the statement which I will make to the house, that my honourable triend wili gratify me by not suffibring it to appear on the minutes that there was a single dissentient ons a subject so closely connected with the maoral improvement of the slaves. The Society that by that petition ptrays for the legislative protection isi influenced by far iother feelings, views, and tenets, than are those who have come under the crimination of my honourable friend. The United Brethren a;ie an episcopal esta- blislmcnt1 drawn together by a sacred bond, perseveritig in the work of their Divine Master with unaffected pietv; firm, but unassuming constant, but unaffected; charitable, breathing love and goodwill to all their Christian brethren; encountering toil, and facing peril to conivert the Heathcni, and to save his soul. Sorcy persecuted, they sought refuge, and found it under Nicholas Lewis, Count of Zin- zend orf, whose large estates in Upper Lusatia affbrded them a rest- ing place for their wearied fect. So correct was their conduct, so fascinating their tenets, that their protector became their convert, and was ultimately clected their 13ishop. From that period they be- gan to flourish, and, unfettered by detestable persecutions, sent forth establishments to various parts of' the world. They have an esta- bli-siment at Fairfield,. near Manchiester, where their-mniable con- dluct has gained them respect and attention; they have another at Fulnech, near Leeds, wlhere tthey Inve a schiool, whichi has pro- ducetl men of learning, piety, aid taste ; amongst the num- ber, that exquisite port, James Montgomery; they have also many others in (Grecnland, tbe Cape of (Good Hope, North and Soutfi America: but what is morc immediately to mv pur- pose, anti vwill, I hope, remove at oncc the apprehensions of iny hto- nourable friend, is, that they have two settlements in Jamaica, esta- blished since 17a4 ; thrce in Antiguia, since 17,6 ; one at St. Kitt's. since 1775; one in Tobago, since 1789- and vafious settlements in almost ali the Danishi West India idlands, since 1732; and one was male in Barbladoes in 17i65, 59i yCers ago,; luring wiich time the voice of complaint has never been raised against tlleim-tlic breath of suspicion has never passed over anv part of their conduct, so as to create the most trifling alarrn to a niind of the most captious or cau- tious texture. It is, then, fairly to be presumed, influenced by the same principles, guided by the same tenets, anti with the melancholy exaniples Produceti by the mischievous and infamous attempts of some of the WVcslcyani Missionaries before their eyes, that thev will tread with more firm and confident step than ever in that roadi over whlichi they have travelled with such security for so long a term of years; and thlat they will continue steadily to pursue that line of cx- eomplary conduct which has raised them in the estimation of all classes of society wherever they have been engaged in their holy la- bours. ! take my seat under the full hope that my honcurable friend will not press ktis motion." AIr. Bascom movet, seconded by dlr. Haynes, a:td had leave granted him, to introduce a bill to carry the object of' ti:e Rev. Mr. Berg's petition into effect. INORA VIAA M'ISSIOAr lArN THE JVEST INDIES.