Morning Star

Foreign Mission.
Journal of Brother Batcheler.
For the Morning Star.
Huldapoder, Dec. 1, 1842. Came out to
this place last evening, accompanied by Sebo,
the native preacher, and Mrs. Bacheler and
child, with the design of visiting the country
north of Balasore. It being late when we arrived, we did not pitch our tent, but put up
in a native house. Preached to about 20 persons
collected in the village this morning.—
They paid respectful attention, although an
officious brahmin attempted to divert them.
P. M. Gumpoder Market. Rode 5 miles
over stubble fields and through the jungle to
attend this market. Our facilities for getting
about are so poor, that a visit to a market at
this distance, occupies most of the day. The
paths at best are poor, and then they are so
intricate that a guide is almost always necessary, so that if we travel 5 miles per hour we
do well. Found about 500 people assembled
at the market, to whom Sebo and myself
preached successively for about an hour and
a half. For some time, no objections were
raised, all heard in silence. At length, an old
man said, "We make to ourselves idols which
we can see, these we worship; but how can
we worship your God, whom we cannot see?"
I replied by a parable, which our native
preachers sometimes use with considerable
effect. "A certain child was born after the
departure of his father to a foreign country.
As he grew up, he said that a father whom he
could not see was no father. So he fashioned
a block of wood into a certain shape, set it
in his house, and called this his father, and
rendered to it the honors due to his father.—
After a time, the real father sent letters of
kindness to his son; but he cast them away
with indifference, saying that he could not appreciate a father whom he could not see."
Was the real father any less the father,
simply because the son had never seen him? Or
was the block of wood any more his father.
simply because he could see it? Thus you
have renounced the true God, that great and
good Being, who is the author of your existence, and who has preserved you in the enjoyment of so many blessings to the present
time, simply because you cannot see him; and
now that He sends you messages of mercy,
you cast them away in disdain, and trample
them beneath your feet. But you have formed
images of mud, wood, and stone, which
you can see, and to them you render the honors due to the Great Eternal. But remember that the God whom you have forsaken, is
nevertheless God, and He will soon appear
in judgment, to reward the virtuous, but to
destroy the wicked with a fearful destruction."
We hope that a little good was done.
Gave
a few books and returned to our house.
2. Left for Busta. On our way, stopped
for an hour at Berhumpoor. Sebo addressed
about 30 people on the sacrifice of Christ for
the sins of the world. A wealthy land-holder
contended that Christ could not be God, because he was insulted, beaten, and crucified
by men.
I replied, "Your shasters represent your
gods as powerful. They exerted their power
in the destruction of many people. But
they performed no deeds of mercy, no works
of benevolence—them you respect because
they were powerful; but the great God who
created you, and gave himself a sacrifice for
your sins—Him you will not respect, because
He did not exert his power in the destruction
of his enemies." This is perfectly in consonance with the Hindoo character—they respect power, and nothing else. Gave a few
books and went on our way.
3. Busta Market. Found about 600 people. Although this place has been visited
frequently, and many books have been distributed here, yet we found no encouragement. The people evinced no desire to hear
us, or receive our books We preached for
some time to a heedless, scoffing company,
and gave a few books, several of which were
returned to us. The people appear afraid of
us. They cannot understand why we go about preaching and distributing books at so
great an expense. I fear that our motives are
sadly misunderstood. Deeds of benevolence
lie in the very antipodes of a Hindoo's comprehension. Talk of rupees, and he can understand you. Speak of his crops, his fields,
his temporal concerns, and he will hear you
out and out, and enter into the spirit of all
you have to say. But introduce the subject
of religion, and it is quite another thing.—
Speak of the joys of heaven, the pains of hell.
the necessity of preparing for the one, and
shunning the other, and it is all an idle tale.
Talk of the blessed Savior—his interesting
mission to a lost & ruined world, his sufferings,
sorrows and death, and he is indeed "a root
out of dry ground," he has no form or comeliness.
4. Charrigar Market. Rama, from Jellasore, joined us here. We seated ourselves in
the veranda of a temple, and entered into
the following conversation. What temple is
this? "Mahadabe's." What is Mahadabe?
"An idol, what else." Is it wood, or stone,
or mud, or what? "It is stone." Is it any
thing else? has it any power, or can it do any
thing? "No." Then why do you worship it?
"Because we cannot worship what we cannot see—therefore, we make idols and worship them." So then you deny your Creator,
the only true God, simply because you cannot
see him; but you can worship stone, which,
according to your own confession, has no
power whatever, because you can see it.—
Our conversation was prolonged for about 2
hours, after which we gave a few books and
went on to Jellasore.
6. Sagara Market. Found about 1500 people. Bro. Phillips and Sebo took a stand on
one side of the market, and Rama and myself
on another. Thus we gained two congregations at the same time. Rama spoke for some
time in a feeling and interesting manner. An
interesting conversation ensued on the true
object of religious worship, which was prolonged till nearly night; after which we rode
4 miles over the fields to Dantoon, to which
place we had sent our tent.
7. Tukinagara Market. This was a small
market about 2 miles from our tent. Had a
long conversation with a number of well-disposed persons. They heard with attention,
and I hope, profit.
9. Dantoon Market. About 1000 people.
A good congregation heard attentively, and
received books gladly, We have lately observed an unwillingness to receive books in
these parts, especially in the villages. The
reason we cannot divine. Perhaps the Brahmins, finding their craft in danger, have dis-
suaded the people. At any rate there is n
change. Formerly we were overrun with applicants, now we can distribute but a few.
11. Manapoor Market. About 400 people. This is one of the largest markets we
have ever attended. The people heard with
very good attention and gladly received all
the books we had brought, about 500, tracts
and gospels. We formed two parties, and
thus gained two congregations at the same
time, in different parts of the market, whom
we kept engaged in religious conversation
and discussion for about two hours. From
the good attention with which the people listen to our message, we hope that some little good was done.
O. R. BACHELER.