Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

whelmed with gratitude to see her beloved husband better, "My dear Mary! I have suffered greatly; and. I know you have felt for me, and prayed for me. This is a trial to us both; but it is needful, and I trust will be for our benefit. Our happiness hitherto has been uninterrupted-we have enjoyed many mercies. That gracious promise-My God shall supply all your need out of his riches in glory by Christ Jesus-has been powerfully impressed on my mind, from the first. My need is that of patience; and it shall be supplied to me."

On the Rev. Mr. Johnson's coming from Regent's Town to sit up with him, he inquired, with great affection, after all the Missionaries; and, with great earnestness, prayed, "May God bless them!" Finding himself continue very ill, he said to Mr. Johnson, “I should like to have more medical advice. I think it right to use all proper means, and then shall leave the event with my Heavenly Father, to whom I have long since committed myself and my all." More medical assistance was immediately called in; but still no serious danger was apprehended. His sufferings were at times great; but calmness and resignation. pervaded his soul. When in pain and much weakness, he would cry out, as he frequently did, "I need patience:" he would always add, with firm confidence, "It shall be given me! It is a part of that need which shall be supplied."

The nature of his illness was such as to produce almost constant delirium; but, in his intervals of reason, his mind was firmly stayed on the Divine Promises; and those truths, which he had so faithfully and earnestly preached to others, were now is support and consolation.

Mr. Cates kindly succeeded Mr. Johnson in his attendance upon him; and, from that time, remained with him, night and day, as long as he continued in the body. Mr. Cates addressed to the Secretaries of the Society a mournful account of the trials of this season, in which various particulars are related of Mr. Garnon's illness and death, for which the reader may turn to the Missionary Register for 1818, pp. 481-484.

On the morning of the day of his death, he was considered better; but

[ocr errors]

an evident and distressing change suddenly taking place about four o'clock in the afternoon, those hopes, which his afflicted and anxious friends had so willingly cherished, were at once blasted. The Missionaries had all assembled at his house, for the purpose of paying the last tribute of respect to the memory of the late Mrs.Collier:-and now they united in earnest prayer, if so be that God would, in mercy, spare His young servant, and restore him to his family and the Church; or, if He had appointed otherwise, that He would afford sustaining grace in this trying hour. It was a season, the solemnity of which, under such peculiar circumstances, may be better conceived than described.

But the appointed time was come; and, early on the morning of the 29th of July 1818, his happy spirit was released from the body, and entered into rest,

At the early age of twenty-seven was this devoted Servant of God thus cut off, in the midst of increasing exertions and usefulness! What a dream is life! All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field. Many and chequered were the scenes through which he passed in his short pilgrimage-exposed to innumerable dangers. When surrounded by the rude instruments of death on the field of battle, not one was suffered to pierce him. He was spared to labour and to fall in a nobler service-a Martyr in his Saviour's Cause!

In the exercise of his Ministry, it may truly be said of him, that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. His mind was so deeply impressed with a sense, both of the value and of the imminent danger of the souls committed to his charge, and of his own consequent responsibility, that he earnestly and boldly enforced on all, Repentance toward God, and faith to- : ward our Lord Jesus Christ. The prevailing feature in his character and in his Ministry, was an affectionate simplicity, animated by fervent zeal. There was no aim at the display of himself, but a plain statement and a faithful application of Divine Truth.

The situation which he held as Colonial Chaplain subjected him to some difficulties; which did not, however, check his ardour, but led him still more

earnestly to contend for the faith, and were the means of establishing him with greater firmness in his Christian course, by shewing him more clearly where his strength lay. This growth of his own mind in grace was manifest in his temper and life; but more especially in his public ministrations, which became peculiarly solemn and impressive. He was ever anxious to maintain the true dignity of his office; and, with holy courage, testified his disapprobation of what he deemed likely to have an immoral tendency.

In thus labouring for the spiritual welfare of the Church, Mr. Garnon was ever attentive to her external discipline, knowing its conduciveness and even necessity to permanent edification. He strove that all things should be done decently and in order, and that the worship of God should be conducted with seriousness and devotion. Every one who attended his Ministry there can testify, that, with all earnestness, he reproved, exhorted, yea, intreated them by the mercies and judgments of the Lord, to turn unto Him. May his solemn and faithful admonitions, and his earnest entreaties, now that his voice no longer proclaims among them Salvation by the Cross of Christ, sink deeply into every heart! lest, at the Great Day, he should stand up as a witness against them.

In the care of the youthful part of his Charge, Mr.Garnon felt a peculiar degree of concern. The Colonial Schools, established in Free Town for the children of the Maroon and NovaScotia Settlers, were more immediately under his own eye. They had been formed on the British System; but, as the Church Missionary Society was about to take the whole charge of these and of all the Country Schools on itself, and had introduced the National System into the Schools already under its care, it became requisite that a uniform system should prevail throughout the whole establishment. Mr. and Mrs. Garnon had made themselves well acquainted with the National System, by a diligent attendance at the Central School in Baldwin's Gardens; and were thereby prepared to co-operate with the Society in its design of bringing all the Schools of the Colony into the practice of that System. Some difficulties, however, naturally arose in accomplishing this July, 1819.

plan; and time and opportunities were to be waited for: but these and all other obstacles Mr. Garnon cheerfully bore up against, and watched every occasion of acting toward the young with the greatest advantage.

Beside his attention to the Colonial Schools, he procured a Schoolmaster to teach, on Sundays, a considerable number of Liberated Boys, who were. training up in Free Town for Mechanics, and had them taken to Church. On the week nights, he instructed them himself, after they had finished their day's work. They used to form an interesting groupe at his Family Worship, which always concluded their instruction.

He visited the Military Hospital once a week; and oftener, when necessary: taking care to have the Wards supplied with the Scriptures, and distributing such Tracts as he deemed applicable to the character and situation of the patients.

The improvement of the Colony in which he occupied so important a station lay thus, in every way, near his heart. This led him to promote, so far as he could, every useful Institution; whether it related to the welfare of a few individuals, or to the general good: and, in thus acting, he had but to follow the distinguished example of the Governor. He took an active part in the Poor Society, supported chiefly by Europeans; for the relief of those Settlers, who, from age or infirmity, became incapable of procuring a comfortable maintenance for themselves. In his visits to this class and his attention to their wants, he evinced his earnest desire to minister to their temporal and eternal happiness. In respect of these works' of Charity, he laboured to impress on the minds of his hearers, the neces-, sity of a right motive and end. A Sermon preached by him, for the benefit of this Society, from the Apostles' words-For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be richwas especially directed to this end.

Mr. Garnon was naturally of a generous and amiable disposition; and, under the influence of Christian Principle, his heart was always open to the sufferings and distresses of others. With cheerfulness he often personally 2Q

1

[ocr errors]

ministered to the sick and afflicted. That spirit of Christian Charity glowed in him, which taught him to weep with them that wept, and rejoice with them

that rejoiced. In the spirit of gratitude to his Heavenly Father for the many mercies freely conferred on him, he liberally contributed to the necessitous and destitute; and no calls of this nature were made to him in vain.

In the discharge of the relative duties of domestic life, he was most exemplary. It was AT HOME, as well as abroad, that he set a bright and lovely example of the power of Religion, to heighten every social comfort, and to sanctify every human enjoyment. As a Husband, she who can best testify

to his character declares him to have been uniformly tender and affectionate: his sympathising heart soothed every feeling of anxiety and pain, while his cheerful piety animated and enlivened his whole conduct in this endearing relation. As a Master, he earnestly sought and prayed for the present and eternal happiness of those who served under him; and his deportment toward his native domestics did not fail to awaken their esteem and confidence.

The diffusion of the light of the Gospel, both in and around the Colony, was the prevailing desire of his mind. In a Letter addressed to the Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, a few months before his death, he writes

I mentioned to you, in my last, a wish that I had of seeing you on the shores of Africa: but, if that be impracticable, I would hope that some judicious friend will

visit us; not for six weeks, as Mr. Bickersteth visited Africa, but for six months, during the Dry Season. He would then be able to arrange many things, as to the Settlement of all the Brethren in the Colony, and to join with us in proposing plans for the extension of Christ's Kingdom beyond the Colony. We should not only have a sufficient number of Christian Teachers for the different Towns in the Colony, but two or three extra hands, in case of any being sick or dying; and to enable, in the Dry Season, one and another, by turns, to push forth among the Natives, and preach the Gospel to them. I should be very glad to enrol myself in the number, and take my turn; and, if it had not been for my engagements in the Colony, I should, as I had purposed, have

[blocks in formation]

I often think of you, in my different engagements; and anxiously wish you were near me, to advise in many important circumstances which occur. But as this cannot be effected when we wish it, there is great comfort in knowing that we have an Almighty Friend, who can direct us in the greatest difficulties. You sought His presence and aid, in all your undertakings, when in Africa; and surely He blessed you! I shall not repeat to you our trou bles. They are noticed in my Letter to Mr. Pratt, and will, no doubt, awaken your sympathy: but they teach us, my Dear Friend, the very great necessity for a close examination into the motives and

dispositions of all those who come out to labour among the Heathen.

On the same subject he thus writes to the Secretary, shortly after

I have been led, by painful experience, to perceive the necessity of a strict and serious examination into the motives and views of all those who may offer themselves as Missionary Labourers. The consideration of local circumstances is not sufficiently attended to, by those who are about to engage themselves in a foreign land. The thought of going abroad, of seeing new countries, black faces, huge snakes, and wild beasts, captivates us for a time, and fills us with strange notions, as improper as they are absurd. Whereas, did such a man endeavour to lay these things aside, and inquire if he could give himself up to the same service as that in which he is about to engage, with regularity and constancy, in his own native land, he would then perhaps find himself better prepared to meet the real difficulties of his station: if he could not so give himself up, how would he be able to do it in Africa, among discouragements and temptations?

These sentiments, from such a man in such circumstances, demand the serious consideration of all who offer themselves to the work of Christ among the Heathen.

But his own career of labour was drawing to a close. And yet the nearness of that close was but little anticipated. He was, indeed, alive and awake to the especial duty of.

redeeming the time in such a field of labour as Africa; but both he and Mrs. Garnon had been favoured with an unusual measure of health. After a residence of nearly a year and a half in the Colony, including the Rainy Season of 1817, he wrote thus, at the beginning of May 1818

I am happy to record again the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father toward us. We are still in the enjoyment of good health and spirits, which are a great treasure in Africa. I do not know that either of us has had a head-ache, more than what we might have expected in our

native land. I pray that we may ever feel truly grateful to God for such signal mercies, My wife is always very busy; whether in Free Town, or at Leicester Mountain. While there, she gained considerable strength, and was enabled to exert herself very much among the Children. A mutual and her little Charge; and they expressed

attachment was soon formed between her

much concern when "Mammy" left them. She has had the Colonial Girls' School for some time under her charge: this, and her own engagements, fully occupy her hands. We find it needful to regard the divine admonition-Work while it is day. The uncertainty of life in Africa calls upon us to do, with all our might, whatsoever our hand findeth to do.

And when his Lord came, He found His servant thus labouring. In less than three months after writing this, he was called, at an early hour of his day of toil, to enter into the joy of his Lord.

And he maintained the same spirit to the last. A very few weeks before his death he wrote to the Secretary—

The Bishop of London has honoured me with a very excellent and judicious Letter. We are, I trust, doing some good; but our situation, in Free Town, is peculiar. Pray for us, that we may be

filled with all wisdom.

But his work was done! He is now weakness. No imperfection now no longer the subject of pain and mingles with his services-no temptations assail him-no shades of sorrow tinge his highest enjoyments. The

Sun shall no more smite him by day, nor the Moon by night. He shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: for the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed him, and lead him to living fountains of waters. Blessed are the

dead which die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

Reports of Societies.

NINTH REPORT OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.

delivered, at NEW HAVEN (CONNECTICUT), Sept. 10, 1818.
(Treasurer-Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. Boston, New England.)

"In what is now to be submitted," it is stated, "in the way of Annual Report, your Committee will observe the method which they have heretofore adopted: passing in review, first our Establishments Abroad, in their order; and then, our Operations and Objects of attention at Home."

BOMBAY.

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Arrival of Messrs. Nicholls and Graves.

The Rev. John Nicholls and the Rev. Allen Graves, mentioned in the last Report (see our Volume for 1818, p. 90), as destined for India, embarked, with their wives, at their wives, at -Charlestown, on board the " Saco," on the 5th of October, 1817, for Bombay. A free passage, with

provisions, was granted them by the owner, the Hon. W. Gray; and benevolent individuals, in Charlestown and Boston, supplied them with many comforts. They were accompanied by a Lady who was under engagement to be married to the Rev. Samuel Newell, at Bombay. At that place they arrived on the 23d of February 1818.

Mr. Graves stationed at Mahim, and
Mr. Nicholls at Tanna.

Mr. Graves was fixed at Mahim, on the northern part of the island of Bombay; and Mr. Nicholls at Tanna, on the island of Salsette.

Of Mahim Mr. Graves writes, under date of March 27, 1818

The Brethren had already two Schools at Mahim, and two or three in its vicinity; so distant that it was tedious to superintend them; and they judged it as easy for me to attain the language here as in Bombay, hav ing intercourse only with Natives. Accord ingly, myself and wife removed to this place on the 7th inst. We are about six miles from the Brethren, and seven or eight from the Fort of Bombay; and, owing to the difficulty and expense of any mode of conveyance, and the danger of walking so far in this climate, neither of us can fre quently meet with the Brethren in their religious exercises; so that we spend most of our Sabbaths with ourselves alone, attending religious exercises at the usual time. We are, truly happy in our condition. The place contains nineteen thousand souls: the immediate vicinity is also populous; and it is but about half a mile across to a thick population on Salsette. Mrs. Graves is attempting to instruct, in English, a number of Portuguese and Hindoo Boys, in our verandah.

Of Tanna, it is stated

The island of Salsette, formerly separated from the northern part of the island of Bombay by a narrow strait, but now connected with it by a causeway, contains a population of about sixty thousand Hindoos, Parsees, Jews, and Portuguese, but chiefly Hindoos-in a deplorably abject and wretched condition. Tanna is the chief town; is distant from the Mission House at Bombay about twenty-five miles; and commands the passage (about a furlong broad) from the island to the neighbouring continent, where the principal language both of Bombay and Salsette is common to a population of about nine millions.

The Missionaries remark respecting these two Stations

The occupying of these two Stations we consider a great and promising advance

ment of our Mission. It will give a much wider range to our operations, and enable us, almost immediately, to carry our schooling system to a much greater extent, productions of our press; and, in a little

and also the dissemination of the various

time, with a Divine blessing, it will extend the preaching of the Gospel to a great population, who are almost beyond the reach of the establishment at Bombay.

General State of the Mission,

On the 26th of March, the marriage of Mr. Newell to Miss Thurston was solemnized; and of the accessions to the Mis sion the Brethren speak in terms of high and grateful satisfaction. " Sixteen months ago," they say, "the Mission consisted of but two persons. Now there are twelve, including two infant children. Surely God has greatly enlarged us; and we would bless his holy name for ever."

In the course of the last autumn, Mr. and Mrs. Bardwell were visited with heavy affliction: first in the death of their infant son; and then, about two months afterward, in the severe and very danger. ous sickness of Mr. Bardwell himself. But the Lord was gracious; and the life of his servant was precious in his sight.

Beside these painful domestic visitations, from the 20th of May, 1817, the latest date reported at our last Anniversary, to the 6th of April of the present year, the latest date to be reported at this time, the Mission sustained no special adversity; but was constantly advancing in its operations, with encouraging prosperity. Of the system of its operations, the principal parts are Preaching, Print. ing and dispersing portions of the Scrip. tures and other Books and Tracts, and the instruction of children in Schools.

[blocks in formation]
« ÎnapoiContinuă »