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Tous les autres exemplaires orlginaux sont filmis en commenipant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles sulvants apparaTtra sur la dsmidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »• signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le ncmbre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 32X 3^7 Si''. ..» T ^i-^ I ^ P f*^.' ./' / THE %r ' SWI8S MISSIONS or «]&iiSia>iB iii3(&sf]a3 TREIB I V (Drigin, i^iBtorg, w^ tpresent 0tate. In the year 1834 the B>ev. H. Olivier, pastor of a Chris- tian church at Lausanne, Switzerland, left hi" native country for Canada, intending to preach the gospei jonong the Roman Catholics. He settled at Montreal, and com- menced his labours with promising indications of success. Three persons were converted, and many received the knowledge of the truth by means of conversation^ preach- ing, and the perusal of llie Scriptures and religious tracts. It pleased 0od, however, to prevent Mr. Olivier from reatizing his wishes ; the climate proved uncongenial with Ins constitution, and he was compelled to leave Canada in the spring of 1836. Bdbre his departure, two otiier labourers had entered into the field. Madame Feller, a member of the ohiiroh over which Mr. Olivier presided, having lost her husband and her only child, had resolved to devote herself to thi^ service of the Lord. After due consideratiQn, and earnest pngfir £or guidance, she determined to follow her pastor to Canada. She was accompanied by tiie Rev. Mr.. Boonyr & Christian minister, who had been also led to ^booi^ Ctttada ai his sphere of Jabour. Th^ sailed iiMlm "Asm^ Septaaber 20, 18M^ Inded at New York on the fj'tl' ■.f.V 23rd of the following month, and on the 31st reached Montreal. Ten days after, Mr. Roussy proceeded to Grande Ligne, in the district of L'Acadie, to take charge of a school. Madame Feller spent the winter at Montreal. In conjunction with Madame Olivier, she opened a school for the instruction of French Canadian children : much of her time was also spent in visiting the Roman Catholics in their houses, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures, and conversing with them on the truths of the gospel. By these means she obtained an accurate knowledge of the Canadian character, and was prepared for subsequent efforts. In the latter end of May, 1836, Mr. Olivier left Canada. Madame Feller went to St. Johns, hoping to find an oppor- tunity for usefulness there ; but her endeavours failed of success through the opposition of the priest, and her at- tention was ultimately directed to Grande Ligne. Mr. Roussy, it has been already stated, had undertaken the charge of a school in that district. His instructions were not confined to the communication of general know- ledge, but embraced in addition the truths and duties of religion, and his spare time was employed in visiting the people, and making known to them, in a familiar manner, the way of salvation. So much attention was excited, that he was requested to preaeh, with which request he complied. The priest, under whose direction the school was placed, having dis- miaaed him from his office at the end of two monUis^ in * consequence of his evangelical zeal, he was fully at libai^y to give himself to the propagation of the gospel. After preaching some time at St. J'<•>' I »--$i'ii*» <».'vl, ^a t^R The garret was impropriated to her aceommodation. In that reom^ twenty-four feet long by ten broad, and only six feet^igh, divided into two apartments, in one of which she lived and lodged^ and in.the other received her pupils, Madame Feller spent the winter. It was a season of ar- duous, yet delightful effort. At nine in the morning the V- 3 children assembled for instruction, which was continued till noon, resumed at two, P. M., and closed at five. An evening school commenced at six, which was chiefly attended by adults, with whom extended conversations were held, and whose numerous enquiries about religion often caused the meetings to be prolonged till midnight. On Lord's days the school was opened in the morning, and public worship was celebrated at noon and in the evening, when Mr. Roussy preached. The intervals were fully occupied in conferences with inquirers. These engagements, together with visits to those in the neighbourhood who were willing to listen to the Gospel, and kind attention to the sick, severely tasked the energies of the missionaries during the winter. In the following June, the heat being insupportable in the garret, the exer- cises were conducted in a barn. About that time the Rev. J. Gilmour, then Pastor of the Baptist Church at Mont- real, visited the Station, and being deeply affected by the inconveniences and privations endured by Madame Feller, undertook to provide some suitable accommodations. As a temporary measure a small house was erected, chiefly by means of contributions from Christian friends at Montreal, Champlain, and Plattsburgh, which was ready for occupa- tion in the month of October. That building served for a dwelling, a school-house, and a place of worship, till the mission house was commenced in the Fall of 1838. The money required for the erection was liberally supplied by Chrbtian friends of various denominations, especially in the United States. It was set apart to the cause of God, August 9, 1840, when the Rev. E. Kirk, of Boston, the late Rev. Caleb Strong, of Montreal, and other ministers, conducted worship, both in French and English. During this period Mr. Roussy's labours had been ex- tended to Champlain, Plattsburg, Henryville, and several other places. : r •' r .;, t* In the accession of the Rev. L. Normandeau to the Mission in the autumn of 1840, the good Providence of God was strikingly manifested. Mr. Normandeau was a Priest of the Roman Catholic Church, and had been en- gaged as Professor in the Seminary at Quebec for five years. After a long season of doubt and anxiety on the iiubject of religion, being then in the neighbourhood of Grande Ligne, he sought the aid of the Missionaries, and b^ their instrumentality wj^s led to receive the truth a3 it is in Jesus. He engaged immediately in the good work, and was received as a fellow labourer with much joy and gratitude. Referring to this event Madame Feller observed, in a letter to a friend at New York : — " Our oldest pupils had reached a point beyond which they could proceed no further ; more advanced instruction had become necessary, and it gave me pain to see the impossibility of attending myself to their lessons, with the multitude of other duties to fill up my days. I was often obliged either to break off from a recitation already begun, or to keep persons waiting who had come from several leagues distant ; and this conflict was of every day's occurrence. Mr. Koussy, less occupied with details, could more easily appropriate a few hours to the scholars, but absence from home, journeys and preaching, made it impossible to observe regularity, and the prospect before us presented only confusion and disorder, while we never felt so much the need of system and order in our school. Often we spread before the Lord our solicitude, entreating him to send prompt relief, and in our little faith we thought He could only answer us by sending out some one firom Switzerland : and behold our God, so full of goodness, in order to encourage our faith, has given us what we dared not even ask for, a priest, converted under our own roof, as a brother, friend, and fellow labourer." The Gospel was introduced to St. Pie in the Spring of 1841. The gift of a New Testament to an inhabitant of that place who was on a visit to Grande Ligne, produced, by the blessing of God, most encouraging and remarkable results. During the summer of the above mentioned year a school was opened at St. Pie ; another was established in tbe year following at Ber^. Meanwhile, these new Stations were visited as often as possible, numerous copies of the Scriptures were distributed; and the Gospel was preached to large and attentive Congregations. A Mission House was erected in 1842, which was devoted to the Service of God by appropriate exercises on Christmas Day of that year. It became evident that St. Pie would become an import- ant Station, and it was extremely desirable that it should be occupied by a suitable Agent ; here again the providence and grace of God were remarkably displayed. Dr. Cote, a gentleman of the medical profession, a native of Canada, and held in high esteem among his countrymen, having . been driven by Popery into Deism, had been convinced of the truth of Christianity *n the year 1841, and led to yield himself in the cause of Christ. A residence of two years at Chazy had prepared him for more extensive engage- ments. He removed to St. Pie in October, 1843, and en- tered on a course of diligent and disinterested labour, which has been abundantly blessed. On the 30th August, 1844, he was ordained Pastor of the Church. The Rev. Dr. Baird, of New York, the Rev. Messrs. Wilkes and Tanner, of Montreal, and other ministers, engaged in the exercises of the day. Salem, in the district of St. Pie, and Sherrington, in the Grande Ligne district, were added to the list of Stations in the year 1844. It was not to be expected that efforts of this kind would be employed without exciting opposition. From the very first the endeavours of the missionaries were resisted, and fierce persecutions awaited those who received and obeyed the truth. They were seriously maltreated, in person ard in property, held up to public scorn, and threatened with the loss of all things. On one occasion, during the insur- rection of 1837, the missionaries at Grande Ligne, with the converts and their families, were compelled to leave their homes and rethre for a time to the United States. At a later period, in the autumn of 1843, serious riots oc- curred at St. Pie. Infuriated mobs were gathered and provoked to deeds of violence and blood, by persons whose education and sta^^'lmg in society ought to have induced a different Une of cc iduct. The house of one of the con- verts was burnt to the ground, and other outrages com- mitted, the suppression of which was at length procured by an appeal to the protection of the law. Other measures have been adopted, such as the circulation of foul calumnies, threats of divine judgments, the burning of bibles, &c. &c. Nevertheless, amidst aU, the grace of God has sustained his servants, and his cause has gloriously triumphed. The policy of the missionaries has been exclusively evangelical ; — ^they have aimed to do good from the begin- ning till now, (and they see no reason to change their conrs^) not by provoking controversy or emjdoying nieans adapted to irritate or annoy, but by freely and affection- ately proclaiming the love of God in Christ, and exhorting men to read and examine for themselves that blessed volume which contains the news of salvation. Extensive • ^wfc.-affcja i\ ■\ the Elementary Day School at Grando Lignc containa thirty children, whose parents reside in the immediate neighbourhood. They are instructed at present by Jacob Dalp^, a young man who has been several years under the care of the Missionaries and conducts the School to their satisfaction. In addition to Biblical Researches and Theological In- struction, the pupils resident in the house are engaged in the study of Latin, Greek, History, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Physiology, according to their respective abilities, under the care of the Rev. L. Normandcau. The Elementary branches are taught by Toussaint Riendeau. A Public Examination, held in May last, afforded gratify- ing proof of their proficiency in the various branches of knowledge in which they had been trained, encouraging the belief that the pains and expense bestowed on them will be amply rewarded. Several persons have lately abandoned Romanism and joined the church at Grande Ligne, and an interesting state of inquiry prevails in many parts of the district. Many refuse to submit to the tyranny and exactions of the priests ; the visits of the missionaries are received with gratitude ; and the word of God is eagerly read. Theodore Lafleur, a young man who had been a student at Grande Ligne upwards of two years, and who appears to possess promising talents for the Christian Ministry, has proceeded to Geneva, at the expense of the Canada Baptist Missionary Society, to study Theology in the Institution over which the celebrated Dr. Merle D'Aubign6 so ably presides. He has been very kindly received, and has commenced his studies with good prospects of a favourable issue. At Sherrington, Mademoisselle Perusset perseveres in her exertions, in the spirit of true devotedness. Upwards of thirty children, most of whom belong to Roman Catholic families, attend her school, and evince warm attachment to their teacher. Mademoiselle Perusset embraces other op- portunities of doing good, by visiting the neighbouring houses, and reading the Scriptures to their inmates. Her efforts are not unattended with personal danger ; never- theless, she continues to labour, and reaps as well as sows. The brethren who reside at Sherrington have been re- cently encouraged by evidences of blessing : their meetings \ 8 arc well attended, and they enjoy in an eminent degree the fellowship of saints. Eloi Roi traverses a large district around HenryvilU^ and performs the work of a Colporteur with indefatigable diligence. Some of the fruits of his labours are already found in the Church at Grande Ligne. New openings for usefulness are frequently presented. Miss Newton has been stationed at Ilenryville, as a teacher ; in the school under her superintendence thirty-five children are receiving instruction. Occasional visits are still paid to Chagy, as opportunity permits. The District of St. Pie is as interesting as ever. Re- cent intelligence furnishes striking evidence that the Lord graciously blesses his word. During the year 1846 the Church at St. Pie was encouraged by the addition of thirteen members, all of whom, with one exception, were brought out of the errors and superstitions of Romanism. A protracted meeting, held in the fall of the year, appears to have been blessed to the members of the Church, as well as to others who met with them, awakening penitence, humbling the souls of men before God, and producing fruits of righteousness to his glory. Dr. Cote writes that several persons are in a hopeful state, whose conversion, there is reason to expect, will be ere long reported. These successes have excited the rage of the enemies of the truth. The Jesuits, fearing the results of the spread of the gospel, held continuous meetings at St. Hyacinthe in the fall of last year, with a view to revive the zeal of the Romanists, and check, if possible, the advance of evan- gelical principles. They chanted masses — ^preached against Protestantism — and burned Bibles — ^but all in vaiti. In- stead of accomplishing their purpose, they had the mortifi- cation to learn that some who had hitherto been steadfast in Romanism, had been led by these proceedings to inquire after truth, and ultimately to embrace it. Persecution was then resorted to, and not without effect. The lives of two persons were in danger, and they were compelled to leaive St. Hyacinthe and take refuge in another place. This, too, it is not to be doubted, will be overruled for good: the Lord will " cause the wrath of man to praise him." '^"*^ ' 'The Colporteurs in the District of St. Pie discharge their duties t^ith fidelity and zeal. Francois L'Amoureuz, Fran^oiis Maurisette, Eusebe Menard, and Romuald Des- ♦ mmmm 9 roches, arc constantly employed in the good work. They are favoured with ready access to the houses of the French Canadians, and quietly diiluso the truths of the ^{ospel among a largo population. The schoob at St. Pie and Ber^e are going on favour- ably. One of the schools near St. Pie was discontinued some time ago, but has been replaced by another under the care of Baptisto Auger, a member of the Church of St. Pie, who has been engaged for several montlis, in the Grande Ligne District, as a Colporteur. These Schools contain one hundred and thirty-two cliildren. There are two new Stations, one at Canaan, and the other at Thessalonica, which, if they can Ix) efficiently occupied, promise a rich harvest, by the Divine blessing, on the means employed. The number of labourers now employed a'l Missionaries, Colporteurs, or School Teachers, (not including their wives, unless they are actually engaged in the work) is twenty ; the number of Stations and sub-stations, eleven. Upwards of 200 children are under instruction. Madame Feller and Mr. Koussy came to Canada under the patronage of a Missionary Society in Switzerland, from which Society they continued to receive occasional aid. During the years 1837 and 1838 their operations were carried on under the auspices of the Canada Baptist Mis- sionary Society ; some assistance was also received from the United States and from Scotland. In the autumn of the last mentioned year their connexion with the Canada Baptist Missionary Society was dissolved, the Missionaries being then of opinion that they could labour more effi- ciently if they were independent of all religious parties. They continued to do so for nearly seven years, during which time they received numerous and valuable tokens of Christian regard from all denominations. The fostering care of the Foreign Evangelical Society rendered essential service to the cause. Pecuniary grants, varying from 550 to 1200 dollars, were received annually from that Society. Besides this, the patronage of the Society stimulated the zeal of Christians, and encouraged the formation of nume- rous Ladies' Associations, which raised considerable sums of money, and otherwise assisted the mission. Aid was also received from Switzerland, England, and Canada. The funds annually realized from all these sources gradu- 10 ally increased from 1,800 to 5,000 dollars, more than three-fourths of which were furnished by friends in the United States. In the autumn of 1845, proposals were made to enter into a more definite and permanent arrangement with the Foreign Evangelical Society. That arrangement, however, was not found practicable. After much deliberation and prayer, the Missionaries came to the conclusion that their operations could no longer be conducted on the plan which had been pursued for several years past, and that a re-union with the English Baptists was desirable. A deputation from the Committee of the Canada Baptist Missionary Society visited Grande Ligne, in order to hold a confer- ence with Madame Feller and the Missionaries. The blessing of the Lord evidently rested on that meeting, encouraging all present to believe that prayer was answered. Difficulties were removied ; objections vanished away ; and a plan of union and co-operation was formed. The Swiss Missions of Grande Ligne are now re-united to the Canada Baptist Missionary Society, and placed under its superintendence. The management of their affairs is entrusted to a Committee, consisting of four members of the Committee of the Society, and four members of the missionary body connected with Grande Ligne. It is designated " The Swiss Mission Committee." A separate account is kept of the receipts and expenditure for this object, under the designation of " The Swiss Mission Fund." - . < ^ " '■ '-■ ^ The " Swiss' Mission Committee" for 1847, is thus con- stituted:--^ .. - Grande Ligne. Madame Feller, Kev. L. Roussy, Rev. L. Normandeau, Rev. Dr. Cote. Montreal. Rev. J. M. Cramp, A. M. I John Dunn, Esq. Rev. J. Gird wood, | Joseph Wenham, Esq. Such is the Swiss Mission enterprise. It is arduous and honourable ; involving solemn responsibilities ; requir- ing great faith ; often calling into exercise qualities seem- ingly incompatible — simplicity and prudence — affection and firmness — calm consideration and ardent zeal ; and' withal, so conducted and controlled, in the wisdom of God, as that, while extraordiiiary success has accompanied the (T- d ler is of he is ite his Lon 3n- lOUS [uir- jem- ;tion ancl 3}od, I the 11 endeavours of his servants, for which they cannot be suffi- ciently grateful, they have been continually reminded of their absolute dependence on his providence and grace, and taught, not without painful experience, that it is God who " worketh all in all." Employment in such an under- taking is a high distinction, of which the best men might be lawfully ambitious. ' The Canada Baptist Missionary Society engaged in this effort in full confidence that an undertaking so truly Chris- tian and Protestant would continue to enjoy general sup- port. Very liberal contributions have been received. Nevertheless, the excess of expenditure over receipts, for the year ending December 31st, last, amounted to £448 16s. 8d. ; — the receipts having been £1323 6s., and the expenditure £1772 2s. 8d. In addition to this, the " Swiss Mission Fund" was indebted to the Society, for the preceding year, to a considerable amount. The debt is now about seven hundred ))Otinds, and is still increasing. A very considerable sum wiU be required to sustain the Missions, according to the present scale of operations, to the end of the year. It is therefore of the highest im- portance to secure the engagement of a larger number of Christians in different parts of the world, and of all evangelical denominations, in this truly noble enter- prise. The Rev. George Silver, of Beamsville, Canada West, has undertaken an agency on behalf of the Mission, for a limited time, and is now engaged in the prosecution of that agency in the State of New York. Christian friends in that district, it is confidently hoped, will render gene- rous assistance. During the month of June last, the Rev. J. M. Cramp visited sundry places in Canada West, and presented the claims of the Mission to brethren of various denominations, with encouraging success. At London, at Hamilton, and at Toronto, public meetings were held, which were nume- rously attended, and excited considerable interest. It was manifest, throughout the whole journey, that the Swiss Missions of Grande Ligne are regarded by Christians of all denominations, with cordial affection, and that the undertaking, from its peculiarly Protestant character, is viewed as deserving the patronage of every one who de- sires the downfall of antichristian error, superstition, and imposture. Montreal, September , 1847. * 12 *^* Contributions will be thankfully received by the Members of the Swiss Mission Committee. Also by Mr. James Hearle, Treasurer of the Canada Baptist Missionary Sodety, Montreal : by S. R. Kelly, Esq., 91, Wall Street, ■^ and T.S.Doremus,Esq.,WarronStreet,New York; Joseph 4 Howes, Esq., Montpellier, Vermont; N. S. Demill, Esq., St. John, and Rev. S. Spurden, Fredericton, New Bruns- ^ wiek ; J. W. Nutting, Esq., and Mr. S. Selden, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Rev. S. J. Rand, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In Great Britain, by Rev. Joseph ^ Angus, A. M., Baptist Mission House, Moorgate Street, London; Rev. Christopher Anderson, Edinburgh; and. ^i .|lev. James Paterson, Glasgow. Ci. ■■'HtiiiT^ . t %. ' :jr .-. 'i.x r :. .vt''_^ m I* 'If .#• I '■"'■: UOWrUMAt, : BOLXX) CAHPBBLIi, PMVTSB. >' 'l.^'< '« 4