Bazaar Sketches. BY THE REV. T. F. MULHOLLAND. No. I.-BALA BAZAAR. MONDAY, Aug. 27.-This evening I find myself planned* for the above bazaar. Proceeding thither I am reminded by all my senses that I am now in the "land of darkness." The eye, as yet unaccustomed to the strange and sometimes hideous sights, is continually struck by objects new if not interesting. The ear has its tympanum disturbed by sounds wafted on the still air which our friends here regard as musical (?). The nose-well, as one passes through the crowded part of the bazaar, the great desire is to hold the olfactory nerve in suspension, for the odours thereof come not from Arabia nor Ceylon's isle. Again, Scripture illustrations have now a new meaning. Here to the left we have two women grinding at the mill in the identical way it was done in Jerusalem 1800 years ago. To the right we have Ezekiel's "potter turning at the wheel"-with many "marred " vessels lying all around him. All the achievements of science he sets at nought. He works as his forefathers workedunhurt by Western innovations. But now my friends are in view, and their hymn of praise is heard above the din of buying and selling. To The preaching station at Bala bazaar is one of the best in the town. A large banyan tree stretches its wide arms over the road, giving at once a vantage ground to the preacher and a pleasing and refreshing shade to the weary traveller. At all hours of the day the preacher has here a congregation prepared to his hand. This evening the clouds threatened rain, and hence an unusually large congregation is seeking shelter from the coming shower. To them our first speaker (a young student) is doing his best to bring home the truth. While he speaks let us look round the congregation. In some respects it differs little from similar gatherings in the fatherland. Some are there from curiosity, wanting to hear about the "new religion." Then you have the smile of contempt on the face of some of the cutcherry young men, with "the little learning. each other they whisper the old Athenian saying, "What will this babbler say?" There are also the irrepressible boys-always playful-a universal outcome of young humanity. But again we are not without the argumentative element; every statement of our young preacher is called in question by some one wishing to argue the point." Then, in not a few cases, I am persuaded that many before me are feeling after God," desiring something better than their present unsatisfying system. God grant that into the hearts of all such the living seed of the kingdom may fall and ultimately spring up, bearing the peaceable fruits of righteousness. That the Hindoo is a religious animal we have the fullest proof before us to-night. Painted faces are visible at every point in the crowd, while on the outskirts we have two devout fakirs covered from head to foot with dirty ashes. With them, unlike the Persians, cleanliness is neither part of nor next to godliness. The Orissa fakir, like poor little David Copperfield, the first thing "wants washing." 66 At last in the babel of voices the preacher has to be asked to give way to a hymn, the singing of which calms the troubled waters. Our second speaker begins his address, but he is hardly under weigh before the spirit of opposition is once more abroad. Some few, longing, perhaps, to know the truth, assent to the statements with a huge shake of the head to one side, uttering aloud the affirmative ha, ha, (yes, yes), but the champions of Juggernath buckle on their harness and do battle for the Lord of the earth. Speaker No. 2 has also to be requested to give way while we again "soothe the savage breast" with a song of praise. By a new arrangement a plan of the bazaar preaching is issued every month. All the Mission workers-missionaries, native preachers, Sabbath school teachers, etc.-are thus systematically engaged at least three nights in the week preaching the gospel to the heathen. Ten stations in and around Cuttack are occupied night after night. In this way more than a hundred meetings will be held this month, scattering the seed of the kingdom in faith that a rich harvest will be gathered into the garner of our blessed Lord. The extent of the interruptions is sometimes very great, and consequently annoying. How the preachers at home, whose weak nerves cannot bear the prattle of a baby, could face an angry crowd of Hindoos is a problem which I cannot solve. Such men do not possess the stuff of which missionaries are made. They do well to remain at home. Speaker No. 3 is, however, "a man of mark," and we reserve him for the last shot. Sada Sebo, baptized at Berhampore by brother Hill, some eight years ago, was the first Pooree brahmin convert-a pharisee of the pharisees. He can, I understand, speak fluently in five Indian languages. Of all the native preachers on our staff he has, I think, the greatest power in “holding an open-air congregation. His thorough knowledge of every possible argument in the Hindoo armoury renders him a formidable opponent to the whole system of Hindooism. I have often been much amused with his treatment of the arguments put forward by his heathen auditors. He patiently listens while they state their objections to Christianity, or rather give their reasons for not forsaking the religion of their fathers. Then in one or two terse incisive sentences, perhaps in the shape of questions, he so thoroughly "lets them down" that they either beat a hasty retreat or "ask no more questions." If Stephen's thorough knowledge of biblical history gave him a long and patient hearing from his murderers; if Paul's extensive rabbinical and classical knowledge gave him the power of stilling a turbulent mob in Jerusalem or preaching to the philosophic Athenians-quoting their own Aratus in support of his argument-so our brother's brahminical lore, if rightly used, will be in his hands a vast power in the proclamation of the gospel in Orissa. To-night, he is at his best, his arguments falling on the people thick and fast. All seemed to thoroughly understand his doctrine. It was gratifying to see this man, once the hope of Pooree brahmins so showing the hollowness of idol worship, and finally quoting the powerful words of the Psalmist:-"Eyes have they but they see not, ears have they but they hear not, noses have they but they smell not." His preaching is constructive as well as destructive-in glowing language, mixed a little with the sacred Sanscrit, he told them of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, urging them as only an Indian can, to receive Jesus into their hearts, and then they would have rest to their weary spirits. By this time a large and attentive crowd were pressing us at every point evidently anxious to know more of these things. It is, however, wise to stop at the point when you have declared the truth faithfully and have the united assent of the people, because the next remark may give rise to feelings that may erase all the impressions for good that have been made. Hence our brother closed his remarks rather abruptly, and we sang a closing hymn, a literal translation of which I give below. THE MARKET OF TRUTH.* 1. O come, brother, come, to the market of truth; Jesus is there, and the desires of thy heart will be filled. 2. Forsake all the ways of sin and darkness, Then thou shalt find the way to the market of truth. 3. Delay not, for darkness is surrounding, And time is passing away. 4. Sold there is the jewel of salvation, 5. The loving Jesus, out of His love, 6. For thy sorrows He will give thee happiness, 7. And all thy pains will fly away, brother, When you see the face of Christ. 8. The river of grace always flows, and nectar is therein; For the translation of the above I am indebted to an esteemed native preacher-Bahu Shem Sahu. Extracts from Letters. THE REV. W. MILLER, of Cuttack, writes :- I was at Choga last Lord's-day. The carpenter I mentioned as having been carried off by the rajah's people was liberated. He is now at work in the village. It has to be seen how he will turn out. The people were all well. I was pleased with the Sunday-schools, and the readiness with which both girls and boys answered the various questions proposed. The former, however, beat the boys in Scripture knowledge. The examination of the day schools occupied some hours of Monday morning. The result was, on the whole, satisfactory. The demand for labour in the rice fields just now interferes with the attendance at the boys' school. The schoolmaster is devoted to his work, and, with other young men, spends most of his leisure in going about among the heathen villages to speak to the people and sell tracts, &c. The crops look promising. Though I had bearers it took me four hours to reach Choga; two hours were spent in crossing the river. You may have heard that, through the kindness of Dr. Stewart, we have secured a site for a new village at Tulsepore-the compound of the old telegraph office. I am just having a new title-deed prepared. We have applications for land to build on; indeed no other land is available for our people. The village is to be called Stewart Patna. The ladies have established a Dorcas Society, that meets every other Saturday in the new school-rooms. They have had two meetings; there were seventeen present at the last. Mrs. Major Miller, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Ager, Mrs. MacMillan, Mrs. Beck, and Miss Wright are among those who attend. Miss Barrass is Secretary. Some three sewing machines are used, and a great deal of work is got through. The clothing of the European and Eurasian orphans is the primary though not exclusive object. The Rev. T. BAILEY, of Berhampore, writes: Juggernath Aya, the young man from Pondicherry to whom reference was made in my last, was baptized by Makunda Sahu on Sunday, Aug. 19th. The occasion was one of special interest, and there was a considerable gathering, both of Christians and Hindoos, to witness the ceremony. According to our usual custom a hymn was sung, and an address by the writer was then given, after which the convert gave up his poita, or sacred thread, the last badge of Hindooism he retained, and quietly entered the water. A few appropriate words were then addressed to him by Makunda, whose own experience richly qualified him to utter them, and amid a silence that could be felt the simple formula was pronounced and the ordinance administered, and the joy depicted on his countenance as he came up "out of the water" will ever remain a pleasant picture for memory to cherish. The question had already arisen as to the advisability of his remaining with us, and he was encouraged to do so, at any rate for a time--the native Christians voluntarily contributing what was necessary for his support-and if suitable employment could have been obtained his wish was to remain with us permanently; but he was entirely ignorant of the Oriya language and only imperfectly acquainted with Telugu, and so, though the cross may be harder to bear than if he continued among strangers, he decided to return to his own country and people. On Monday evening, Sept. 3rd, at our monthly missionary prayer-meeting, he gave a farewell address, which was translated into Oriya by Daniel Babu. The knowledge of Scripture it revealed was remarkable, and the part in which he gave an account of his own history and experience was listened to with the greatest interest. On the following morning gave him, at his own request, a certificate of his baptism, and in the afternoon he left us. The separation cost him some tears, for our Christian people had dealt generously and honorably with him; but all felt that the step was a right one, and he is followed by our earnest prayers and warmest sympathies. The Lord deal kindly with him and make him very happy and useful among his own people. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE will be held on Tuesday, February 26th, in Sacheveral Street School-room, Derby, at twelve o'clock. Pastors of subscribing churches are eligible to attend. MR. AND MRS. PIKE and family arrived in London on the 31st of December. We are thankful to state that they have had a pleasant passage and are in improved health. Mr. Pike's address is Loughborough. DEATH OF KESHUB CHUNDER SEN.-The death is announced of babu Keshub Chunder Sen, the Hindu reformer. Years ago the hope was entertained that ultimately he would become, and avow himself, a Christian; but latterly he has appeared to wander farther from the truths of the Bible, and to indulge in foolish fancies. Whether the Brahmo Samaj movement is likely to have any permanency, or whether its tendency is to aid or retard the progress of Christianity, are points upon which different opinions will be entertained. MISSION SERVICES have been conducted by the Secretary at Ilkeston (South Street), Willington, Wirksworth, and Shottle. The meeting at Wirksworth was addressed by the Rev. T. R. Stevenson. Both on the Sabbath and on Monday evening the collections were in advance of former years. WE have received a few cheery lines from Miss Leigh, dated S. S. Navarino (not Dacca), Suez, Dec. 14th, which speaks of safe passage thus far, though much rough weather had been encountered in the Mediterranean Sea. She desires us to acknowledge with many thanks Mrs. Cayforth's kind contribution of printed circulars, containing list of articles suitable and useful for sale at Cuttack, Orissa. Any ladies conducting sewing meetings for the purpose of sending boxes of work towards the support of our schools and zenanas, may be supplied with these lists on application to Mrs. Hill. Contributions Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Esq., Ripley, Derby, Treasurer; and by the Rev. W. HILL, Secretary, Mission House, 60, Wilson Street, Derby, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards, may be obtained. |