W^'^ 7 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) 1.0 110 lii IM 2.2 I.I 11-25 ■ 1.4 1.6 Hiotographic Sdences Corporation ^/ -/t^^ ^ ^c^^ \ V » <^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 r o CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques '■■--- ' ■ ' ■ ■ — Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The( to th The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Los details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. The poss of th filmi / Coloured covers/ Couverture de coulaur Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Origi begii Covers damaged/ 1 1 Couverture endommagde Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes the 1 sion, othe Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes first sion, or ill Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque x/ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d^colordes, tachetdes ou piqudes Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en couleur */ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes The shall TINL Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 1 — 1 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) ^ Showthrough/ Transparence whic Map Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale de I'impression diffe entir begii Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du matdriel suppl^mentaire right requ mett 1 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 1 — 1 along interior margin/ Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible D n Lareliure serine peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires: D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 filmdes d nouveau de faqon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous 10X 14X 18X ZZX 26X SOX J 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X aire details ues du t modifier ger une I filmage The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: IVIills Memorial Library McMaster Univariity The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original c: py and in keeping with the filming contrac* ipecifications. L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grflce d la g6n6rosit6 de: Mills Memorial Library MdVlaster University Les images suivantes ont dtd reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. jdes Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont filmds en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commen9ant 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 suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". ire Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. >y errata ed to mt me pelure, agon d 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 32X -• — - -ir, fiXWRHtet :,-.^v ^...^■ i'B.\ THE ,#*« SK,„ MODERN MISSIONS, BY Rev, W, J. STEWART; Sec. Baptist Foreign mission Hoard. SAINT JOHN, N. R J. & A. McMillan, 98 Prince William Strp:et. 1890. fW^ "v-"' v-rn' ji"mrjwf'-.Y **«?^iU* :*f^T'?: ly *• ^'f^-tf-T-**- -.-;y . 'w,*^ .;i'*^«ii:.,4*;- .|i^k ."■,■■• "•"71 -TT- ■77rr l/-' ^ i THE •^ \^^ ^^^^.R SEC/?^;., OK / some previous ciualification which I did n(jt possess. In March, 1770. I witnessed the baptizing of two younu: persons, having never seen the ordinance performed before, and was con- siderably affected by what I saw and heard. I was fully persuaded that this was the primitive way of baptizing, and that every Christian was bound to attend to this institution of our blessed Lord. About a month after this I was baptized and joined the Church at Soham, being then turned of sixteen years of age." Rev. Mr. Eve was the pastor of the Baptist Church and Kev. Mr. Adam was pastor of the Con- gregational Church of Soham at the time of Mr. Fuller's conversion, and as he attended both churches more or less, before giving his heart to the Saviour, it might therefore be said that Adam and Rve were his parent., natural and spiritual. Soon after this time the pastor of the Baptist Church was obliged to leave Soham, and for some- time the little flock were without a pastor. Deacon Joseph Driver expounded the scriptures and con- ducted the services. It soon became evident to all in the church that Mr. Fuller was in possession of extraordinary gifts and a deej) consecration of \ 8 heart. Deacon Driver being ill on a certain^ccas- sion, sent for young brother P'uller to conduct the service. He spoke from the words in Psalm xxx., 5, and in speaking of this important event in his life he says : " I spoke with freedom for a half-hour. 1 was soon called upon to speak again, which I did from the words 'The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.' On this occassion I not only felt greater freedom than I ever had found before, but the attention of the people was fixed, and several young people in the congregation were impressed and afterwards joined the church." From this time the brethren seemed to enter- tain the idea of my entering the ministry, nor was I without serious thoughts of it myself The next three years of Mr. Fuller's life went on about in this way, preaching at intervals, and labouring with his hands for a livelihood, but finally in 1774, at the age of twenty, he fully decided for the Ministry. He at once began studying the word of God, and systems of theology then being taught by the pastors of the churches. A record of all that Mr. Fuller passed through during this period would be too lengthy for this paper, but it is sufficient to say that he emerged from the fog banks of higher Calvinism himself, and succeeded in leading the sacramental hosts of God's elect 9 with liim. Since his day the Calvinistic preacher has no trouble in presenting God's sovereignity and man's accountabiHty. In the Spring of 1775 Mr. Fuller accepted the charge of the Church at Sohani at a salary of ;/^2i per annum, and was ordained their pastor Here he remained for seven years, faithfully dispensing the Word of Life. In the year 1782 he removed to Kittering. having accepted the pastorate of the church in that place. Here he remained until the close of his life ; and it was here that he displayed that diversity of gifts and that intensity of zeal by which he accom- plished so much, and attended to so many different departments of Christian service at the same dme. He was pastor, evangelist, theologian, and last but not least, Secretary to the Baptist Mission Society all at the same time. It is to deal with Mr. Fuller's connection with the above mentioned society that we have prepared this paper more especiall}-. And what we may say in this connection is not to dimi- nish in the slightest degree the luster that has fallen upon the brow ui' Mr. Carey, but to bring into clearer light the brilliancy of Mr. Fuller's character. Our vision has been so intensely fixed upon the foreign field, and we have stood in such constant admiration (jf the heroic characters who have gone hither, that we have failed to appreciate the silent 10 devotion, the holy consecration, the untiring zeal of such men as Fuller, Baynes, Murdoch, McLauren, and others who have served with undiminished energy in the Secretarial offices of Foreign Mis- sion Boards. Some people think that Mission Boards are but transmitting agencies, and all that they are for is to receive the contributions of the denomi- nation, take out what they need for home expenses, and transmit the rest to the foreign field to be used by the Missionaries as they deem best. The best cure for this disease would be a term of service on a Board. Of all the men who serve on a Mission Board none feel the responsibility or carry the burdens as do the Secretary. He is in constant communion with the laborers on the field. He hears their cry for more helpers. He hears their complaints that the home field cares but little for the heathen, and so he constantly must sympathize most deeply with the work and workers in the foreign department. At home he is in con- tact with the churcjies and institutions of learning. To the one he must look for means; to the other, for men. Here again are responsibilities great and grave: The churches, many of them, are in- different. These he must arouse. Laborers are needed, and yet he is often in doubt about recom- M 11 mending all who apply. And so the responsibility increases until he is lead to cry out, who is suffi- cient for these things. Mr. Fuller was the pioneer bearer of these burdens. His large and sympa- thetic heart, combined witli his intelligent views of scripture, very soon after entering the ministry, awakened within him a desire for the salvation of the heathen, which grew and strengthened until it became the fixed and firm habit of his life. But few men in his day, either in the ministry or out, were looking toward or labouring for a world-wide' evangelization. However, Mr. Fuller's zeal was kindled at the altar of God, and was not to be dampened by the apathy around him. Soon after removing to Kittering he succeeded in gathering around him a few congenial spirits, and a small prayer meeting was organized for the pur- pose of pleading with God in behalf of the heathen. This little society contained the germs of the Baptist Missionary Society, which was organized a ihw years later. In the year 1784, on the 2nd of June, Mr. Fuller preached before the Northamptonshire Association from the words in 2 Cor. 5, 7, " We walk by faith, not by sight." In that eloquent sermon we find the following passage : " If we compare the present state of things or even the past with the glorious 1^ 12 prophecies of the Word of God, we cannot think surely that all is yet accomplished. By the prophe- cies the christian church is taught to look for a time when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea ; when the king- doms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. But surely for the present, although great things have been done, yet noth- ing like this has ever come to pass. Heathen- ism, Mohamedism, Popery, Infidelity, how exten- sive still their influence. What then, shall we despair? God forbid. The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie ; though it tarry wait for it, because it will surely come, and meanwhile the just shall live by faith." That sermon was ahead of the times. The people were not accustomed to hear such preaching, but it was scriptural and tender and carried con- viction to the hearers. It helped Mr. Carey in the preparation of his immortal sermon, preached six years later at Nottingham, from the words in Isaiah liv., 2-3, and upon which he based his two famous divisions. Expect great things from God, Attempt great things for God. This sermon gave definite shape to the o-rowing conviction that something T i i 's ^;z^ ■4- ought to be attempted for the salvation of the heathen. And so, on October 2nd, 1792, in Kitter- ing, The Baptist Mission *^r.ciety was formed, with Rev. Andrew F'uller as Secretary. A collection was taken up before the first meeting closed, amounting to ^13 2S, for Foreign Missions. Mr. Fuller remained the secretary of this society and guiding spirit of its operations until the day of his death. In writing to a friend not long after the formation of this society, Mr. Fuller says : " You see things of great consequence are in train. I am much concerned with the weight that lies upon us ; it is a great undertaking yet surely it is right. We have all felt much in prayer." Thus you see from the first Mr. Fuller was under the burdens of this great work, and faithfully did he bear them until called to higher service. The wisdom of organizing this Missionary Society for the purpose of carrying on the Lord's work has been fully vindicated after a century of experience. During this period many other missionary methods have been suggested. Some have gone to foreign parts independent of home societies, and have argued that we should take neither scrip nor shoes, but depend wholly upon the Lord for support. This is the display of a very devoted spirit, and, no doubt, is well intended; but the facts have not •,(••' Stfe 14 gone to prove that this method is either superior or equal to the systematic effort of the Church of Christ as put into effect by an organized home Society, with a staff of missionaries on the field relieved from all responsibility of a temporal char- acter, and left free to prosecute the Lord's work. Another class of devotees tell us that we should have a Home Society to raise money for the mis- sionary, but this society should have nothing to say as to missionary movements. This seems rather more than the most sanguine should ex- pect. The time has gone by for taxation without representation. Between this Scylla and Chary- bdis this pioneer missionary ship was safely guided by the skilful hand of Fuller and his col- leagues. It is true that some little friction was created at times between the home society and the missionaries, but then as now, more of it was due to the interference of outside parties than through the society and the missionaries. There is nothing perfect on earth. But it seems to us that the ideal method of missionary work is for the Church to hold the ropes and the missionary to go down and explore. This was the principal which lay at the bottom of this pioneer work, and it has succeeded. Soon after the organization of this society Dr. t» h I ,..^r p^^^m^MMM^^^^^^^ 'iMi^' -^- :»< 15 Thomas, of London, who had been a |)hysician in India, returned home and was looking for aid in men and money to undertake the work of the Lord in India. He was invited to meet this young- society. Although funds were scarce, and very little interest in the work among the churches, the society decided to assist Dr. Thomas in his work. On the loth of January, 1783, Mr. Carey was in- vited to meet Dr. Thomas and the committee of the society in Mr. Fuller's study. Mr. Carey came, and when he entered the room Dr. Thomas arose and th(^y embraced each other and wept. Mr. Carey was asked to accompany Dr. Thomas to India, which he at once accepted, and the wisdom of the choice of the pioneer missionaries has never been questioned. Before these two servants of Christ started upon their journey for India Mr. Fuller called the society together and said to them : " Brethren, we must have one solemn day of fasting and prayer on parting with our Paul and Barnabas. The farewell meeting was held at Leicester, and was truly affecting. Mr. Fuller thus addressed them : " Go then, my dear brethren, stimulated by these prospects. We shall meet again. Crowns of glory await you, and us. Each, I trust, will be addressed on the last day. ' Come ye blessed of my father, enter ye into the joy of your Lord.'" .•!S4WBi»^«M6iM,>i^?i^i«*-*?»^''*''>!4^^ t^^-'P 16 Immediately after the departure of the Mission- aries, Mr. Fuller addressed himself with redoubled ardour to the home interests of the mission. Be- tween the general indifference of Christians and the attacks of leading clergymen made against the young enterprise, it was with the greatest difficulty that Mr. Fuller was enabled to secure the funds needful for the work. In his over anxiety and con- stant 'vork he brought on an attack of paralysis which was very alarming to his friends. A passage from his diary of July i8th, 1794, shows the state of his mind at this time, " Within the last year or two we have formed a missionary society and have been enabled to send out two of our brethren to the East Indies. My heart has been greatly interested in this work ; surely I never felt more genuine love to God and to his cause in my life. I bless God that this work has been a means of reviving my soul ; if nothing else comes of it, I and many more have obtained a spiritual advantage. My labors however in this harvest, I have reason to think, brought on a paralytic stroke, by which in January, 1793, for a week or two, I lost the use of one side of my face. That was recovered in a little time, but it left behind it a headache which I have reason to think will never fully leave me, I have since been incapable of reading or writing, with intense appli- .-•< 3 \* I itoa^ ^i^ii^: ^ • 1 17 cation ; upon the whole, liowever, I feel satisfied it was the service of Ciod. If a. man lose his limbs or his health by intemperance it is to his dishonor ; but not so if he lose thcni servinq; his country. Paul was desirous of dying to the Lord, so let me." Such noble sentiments and such holy con- secration should serve as a stimulus to the faith and service of every true child of God. The writer himself can testify that to engage in the humblest service in the interests of Christ's kingdom among the perishing heathen, serves as a tonic to the spirit and quickens all the spiritual graces of the soul. Oh that the entire people of God would awaken to a sense of their privilege to-day. God has set before us an open door at the entrance of every kingdom on earth ; men are entering for political and commercial purposes. Shall the child- ren of this world be wiser than the children of light. Thirty-three thousand pounds were readily sub- scribed to fit Mr. Stanley out for the relief of one man in the heart of Africa. The success of the perilous undertaking has immortalized the man. But where is the money and the men to rescue the perishing millions of the swarthy browed sons of Africa who are to-day in utter ignorance of Jesus and the Resurrection? Come, my brethren, do *l^'; 18 we want to lay up treasures in heaven ? Let us throw more zeal, intelligence, prayer and purse into the glorious work of the church of Christ in her efforts to rescue the perishing. Andrew Cj. Fuller, the son of our subject, in writing of the labours of his father in connection with the mission says : " Without any disparage- ment of the labors of his coadjutors in the mission, it may with truth be affirmed that the increasing weight of the society's concerns mainly devolved on Mr. Fuller, whose gratuitous services on its behalf engrossed the greater part of his time for about twenty years. Much of this was spent in journeys to Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and various parts of England, where he used, as he says, to 'tell the mission tale,' and leave the results. Those, in most cases, far exceeded his anticipations, which, though never sanguine, were equally removed from despondency. Only let us have faith, said he, and we shall not want money. If I only wished for your money I might say. Give, whatever be your motive ! No, I am not so concerned for the salva- tion of the heathen as to be regardless of that of my own countrymen. I ask not a penny from such a motive; and moreover, I solemnly warn you that if you give all your substance in this way it will avail you nothing. On a certain occasion n 10 Mr. Fuller called on a pious and henevolent noble- man, who, thouL,di a ciiurchman, was friendly to Dissenters, and was generous in his charital)le contributions. Having- laid before him the opera- tions of the mission, his lordship handed him a guinea. Mr. Fuller, observing that it was given with an air of indifference, asked: My lord, does this come from your heart ? What matter is that suppose it does not come from the heart; it may an.swer your purpose as well. If you get the money why should you care? Take it back, said the man of God, I cannot take it. My Lord and Master requires the heart. Well, give it back, said the man, it did not come from the heart. He took the guinea back and stepping to his counter drew a check for ^20, and handing it to Mr. Fuller said, here, take this, it comes from the heart. He was not always however successful, and some of the less frequented streets of the metropolis afforded him a temporary asylum in which his tears bore witness to the lamentable coldness of religious professors. There was at this time little or no pre- cedent for the management of the affairs of such institutions, and Mr. Fuller was often at his wit's end to know which would be the best coifrse to pursue. But he always made everything a matter V 20 of prayer and his tlucisious generally proved to be wisely made. In addition to the numerous colleetiotis made in different parts of the empire and the m;nia^ement of the aecounts, the eorrespondence of the soeiety increased raj)idly in his hands. To him was chiefly conunilted the drawing up of ofhcial letters to the missionaries, all of whom received additional tokens of his affection in private communications. The interest of the society demanded a still more exten- sive correspondence at home ; its cause re(iuired A frequent advocacy with cabinet ministers, members of parliament and East India directors, not for the purpose of procuring exclusive privileges, but for securing a legal passage for the missionaries, and tlie protection justly due to every peaceable sub- ject of the colonial governments. Nor were there wanting bitter and subtle enemies both at home and abroad, who left no means untried to accomplish the ruin of the mission, and whose machinations were successfully exposed and defeated by the un- wearied pen of the secretary. One has but to call to mind that during the very time that Mr. F^uller was performing this herculean task in the interests of the mission, he was frequently appealed to by the churcHtes of (ireat Britain to give decision in cases of church difficulties, and also repeatedly attacked i ^. mmm^m r^;..-«^^V.tA^k4». 21 by theologians for his virws of Christian doctritu', which ht.' as olten defended, and at the same time pastor of a cliurch. To form an iilea of tlie versa- tiHty of talent and capacity for work possessd by this prince in Israel, Mr. l''uller a^ain writes, My labors will increaS4* without any ronsent on my part. I sit down in despair and say, That which is crooked cannot be made straight .ind that which is lacking cannot be numbered. My wife looks at me with a tear ready to drop, and says, My dear, you have hardly time to speak to me; my friends at home are kind but they also say you have no time to see or know us and you will soon be worn out. Amidst all this there i:; come again ! Come to Portsmouth ! Come t^o Plymouth ! Come to Bris- tol ! My heart is willing to do everything you require but my hands fail me. As early as 1798, the college at Princeton, New- Jersey, had conferred on him the honorary degree of D. D. the use of which he, however, declined, alleging his deficiency in those literary cjualifica- tions which would justify the assumption of aca- demic honors, as well as his conscientious disap- probation of such distinctions in connection with religion. In May, 1805, he received similar testimony from Vale College, which he as politely declined. 22 It is a very common thing in sending out mis- sionaries for the secretary of the society under which they go to give a letter of instruction to them, and a few farewell words. The departure of some missionaries and their wives early in 1806, gave occasion to a valuable communication from Mr. Fuller, of which the following is an extract : " My very dear Brethren and Sisters : There is the greatest necessity for us all to live near to God, and to feel that we are in that path of which he approves. That will sustain in times of trouble. The want of this cannot be supplied by anything else. Beware of those things which draw^ a veil between him and you, or that render a throne of grace unwelcome. If God be with you, you shall do well. Be very conversant with your Bibles. Next to communion with your God and Saviour, cherish love to one another. The Apostolic pre- cept which is so oft-repeated, ' Little children love one another,' includes more than an abstinence from disc jrd or the routine of civility. You must know one another and love each other in the Lord. To do this you must often think of the dying love of Christ toward you. My dear brethren, know noth- ing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. Be this the summit of your ambition. For you to live must be Christ. You may never be of that literary jS^^lSfe' £U' ^ ^ ?? T 28 consequence whicli some are, but if you possess a savour of Christ you will be a blessin*;- in your generation, and when you die your names will be precious not only in India and Britain, but in the sight of the Lord. The (jod of all grace be with you." The noble sentiments so tenderly expressed in this farewell advice would, if carried into practice, be a blessing to the mission and missionaries. The missionary undertaking had to encounter hostility more than once in its early days. A remarkable example of this occurred in 1807. Certain indivi- duals circulated at home pami)hlets of an alarming character. Mr. Fuller replied to these, and their attempts were triumphantly defeated. This old spirit of hostility to the missionary enterprise is not dead yet. Although it assumes a different form late years, still it is the same spirit. In the early days of missions the spirit of ridicule was promi- nent. Men pointed the fmger of scorn and called the advocates of missions blind enthusiasts. To- day it is no use to mock at missions, for the (iod of missions has put down the foot of his power and given success to the effort. Now the criticism is on methods of work, salaries of missionaries, poli- cies of boards, etc. But in every case, ancient and modern, victory has been with the advocates of \ ! I I ( ; ! t i i ^4 missions. Missionary boards and missionaries have little to fear from a thorough investigation of all their operations. No more consecrated men and women are to be found than those who conduct the missionary enterprises of the church, both on the home and foreign field. Toward the close of 1808 Mr. F'uller made a tour of the churches in Scotland, and collected ^2,ckdo for missions in six weeks, God be praised, he says, for all His goodness to me, and for the abundant kindness shewn to the mission. It is evident from this generous response that the mission tide is rising, especially in Scotland, which, thank God, to this day has never subsided. On the nth of March, 1812, the Missionary Print- ing House at Serampore was destroyed by fire. This was a sad blow to the mission. About 2,000 reams of paper, fonts of type, in thirteen languages, and manuscripts in seven languages fed the flames. The loss was estimated at /^i2,ooo. But there was parts of the loss that could not be remedied by money. Among these were Dr. Carey's manu- script Dictionary of Sanskrit, the work of many years, and nearly ready for the press ; also, a large cjuantity of materials for an universal dictionary of the Oriental languages, derived from the Sanskrit. The painful news of this catastrophe no sooner J- 4 / ! ,.*.VS*X*Vv ";w*fi"?yf-i 4 -I 25 reached Eni^land than P\illt>r hciran to appeal to his brethren for aid. The response was immecHate, and of overflowing HberaUty. Fifty days after- wards Fuller went into the room of the committee, and, with joy and gratitude flashing in his eyes, exclaimed : Well, brethren, the loss by the Seram- pore fire is all repaired. The money is all raised, and so constantly are the contributions pouring in from all parts, that I think we must in honesty publish an intimation that the whole deficiency is removed. They are of so ready a mind that we must stop the contributions. In 1813, Mr. Fuller visited London, with a view to obtain the insertion of a clause granting a pas- sage to the missionaries in British ships, instead of compelling them to make a circuitous voyage to America. Petitions were forwarded to parliament by the various religious bodies as all felt the right- eousness of the plea, and the result proved most successful. Soon after this Mr. P'uller received a letter from William Wilberforce, the distinguished philantrophist, in which he says that his heart is full of joy at the latest tidings from Mr. Carey ; five natives of high caste have become Christians, keeping the Lord's day, and meeting for religious edification, without having even seen the mission- aries, simply from reading the Scriptures, tracts, \. \ "-•W»-...-4#.' M-',i**:}l , Krwd"?"*''. r' 26 etc., beside the hundred hopefuls. You arc on the rij^lit path, [)ress on my brother. Yours, etc., W. Wilberlbrce. In 1814, Mr. Fuller receives warning of his own dissolution in the death of his valued friend and councillor, Mr. Sutcliff. Early in 18 15, he was under the necessity of placing himself under medical direction. On the 29th of March, he addressed his hearers from John ii, S. On retir- ing from the pulpit he said in reply to the encjuiries of his friends, " I am a dying man ; all is over, my work is nearly finished." The following Sabbath, April 2nd, he delivered his last sermon, from Isaiah Ixvi., 1-2, " Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool." April nth he said, " Into Thy hands I commit my spirit, my family and my charge; not my will but thine be done." On Lord's day, May 7th, 1815, about one hour before his departure, he said to his daughter as he heard the music from the house of God near by, "1 wish I had strength enough to worship," In a little from this he was worshipping with the church triumphant. Thus passed from earth in the sixty -second year of his age, one who though dead yet he speaketh. His influence is sensibly felt to-day both in the teach- I -■ •-**-vv.A.%ff,' <**•*; :ArB4's«*ii'o,--.;'.i!'5-ai>tal»!.dS'^%.iif 27 ings of the church at home, and in her mission- ary operations abroad. A tomb was erected over the remains of Mr. Fuller, in the burial ground adjoining his place of worship, and a tablet to his memory is placed be- side the pulpit with this inscription : " In memory of their revered and beloved pastor the Reverend Andrew Fuller. The church and contrreoation have erected this tablet. His ardent piety, the strength and soundness of his judgment, his inti- mate knowledge of the human heart, and his pro- found acquaintance with the Scriptures, eminently qualified him for the ministerial office which he sustained among them thirty-two years. The force and originality of his genius, aided by undaunted firmness, raised him from obscurity to high dis- tincdon in the religious world. By the wisdom of his plans, and by his unwearied diligence in execut- ing them, he rendered the most important service to the Baptist Missionary Society, of which he was the Secretary from its commencement, and to the prosperity of which he devoted his life. In ad- dition to his other labors, his writings are numerous and celebrated. He died May 7th, 1S15, aged 61." Here we must pause, trusting that this hasty and imperfect review of this illustrious man, in its perusal may prove as interesting to the reader i=-f 28 as its preparation has been to the writer. I may add in conckision that I am indebted for nearly all that I have written to the works of Mr. Fuller's son, Andrew G. Fuller, and the Story of Baptist Missions by Hervey. Yours sincerely, » W. J. Stewart. -..^. kVilf-l'V*^