按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of you； in the spirit of meekness and conciliation； the points which now divide us； convinced that； if a reunion of our Churches could be effected； the harvest of the heathen would ere long be reaped； and the work of the Lord would advance among them with a celerity of which we have now no experience。
〃I trust； at all events； you will take this hasty note as it is intended； and believe me； with much sincerity； your friend and servant in Christ； REGINALD CALCUTTA。
〃3rd June 1824。〃
This is how Carey reciprocated these sentiments； when writing to Dr。 Ryland：
〃SERAMPORE； 6th July 1824。
〃I rejoice to say that there is the utmost harmony between all the ministers of all denominations。 Bishop Heber is a man of liberal principles and catholic spirit。 Soon after his arrival in the country he wrote me a very friendly letter； expressing his wish to maintain all the friendship with us which our respective circumstances would allow。 I was then confined； but Brother Marshman called on him。 As soon as I could walk without crutches I did the same； and had much free conversation with him。 Some time after this he wrote us a very friendly letter； saying that it would highly gratify him to meet Brother Marshman and myself； and discuss in a friendly manner all the points of difference between himself and us； adding that there was every reason to expect much good from a calm and temperate discussion of these things； and that； if we could at any rate come so near to each other as to act together； he thought it would have a greater effect upon the spread of the gospel among the heathen than we could calculate upon。 He was then just setting out on a visitation which will in all probability take a year。 We； however； wrote him a reply accepting his proposal； and Brother Marshman expressed a wish that the discussion might be carried on by letter； to which in his reply he partly consented。 I have such a disinclination to writing； and so little leisure for it； that I wished the discussion to be viva voce； it will； however； make little difference； and all I should have to say would be introduced into the letter。〃
On the death of Mr。 Ward and departure of Dr。 Marshman for Great Britain on furlough； after twenty…six years' active labours； his son； Mr。 John Marshman； was formally taken into the Brotherhood。 He united with Dr。 Carey in writing to the Committee two letters； dated 21st January 1826 and 15th November 1827； which show the progress of the college and the mission from the first as one independent agency； and closed with Carey's appeal to the judgment of posterity。
〃About seven years ago we felt convinced of the necessity of erecting a College for native Christian youth； in order to consolidate our plans for the spread of gospel truth in India； and； as we despaired of being able to raise from public subscriptions a sum equal to the expense of the buildings； we determined to erect them from our own private funds。 Up to the present date they have cost us nearly ？4；000； and the completion of them will require a further sum of about ？000； which； if we are not enabled to advance from our own purse； the undertaking must remain incomplete。 With this burden upon our private funds we find it impossible any longer to meet； to the same extent as formerly； the demands of our out…stations。 The time is now arrived when they must cease to be wholly dependent on the private donations of three individuals； and must be placed on the strength of public contributions。 As two out of three of the members of our body are now beyond the age of fifty…seven； it becomes our duty to place them on a more permanent footing； as it regards their management； their support； and their increase。 We have therefore associated with ourselves； in the superintendence of them； the Rev。 Messrs。 Mack and Swan； the two present professors of the college； with the view of eventually leaving them entirely in the hands of the body of professors； of whom the constitution of the college provides that there shall be an unbroken succession。
〃To secure an increase of missionaries in European habits we have formed a class of theological students in the college； under the Divinity Professor。 It contains at present six promising youths； of whose piety we have in some cases undoubted evidence； in others considerable ground for hope。 The class will shortly be increased to twelve； but none will be continued in it who do not manifest undeniable piety and devotedness to the cause of missions。 As we propose to allow each student to remain on an average four years； we may calculate upon the acquisition of two； and perhaps three； additional labourers annually； who will be eminently fitted for active service in the cause of missions by their natural familiarity with the language and their acquisitions at college。 This arrangement will； we trust； secure the speedy accomplishment of the plan we have long cherished； that of placing one missionary in each province in Bengal； and eventually； if means be afforded； in Hindostan。
〃As the completion of the buildings requires no public contribution； the sole expense left on the generosity of its friends is that of its existing establishment。 Our subscriptions in India； with what we receive as the interest of money raised in Britain and America； average ？000 annually； about ？00 more from England would cover every charge； and secure the efficiency of the institution。 Nor shall we require this aid beyond a limited period。
〃Of the three objects connected with the College； the education of non…resident heathen students； the education of resident Christian students； and the preparation of missionaries from those born in the country； the first is not strictly a missionary object； the two latter are intimately connected with the progress of the good cause。 The preparation of missionaries in the country was not so much recommended as enforced by the great expense which attends the despatch of missionaries from Europe。 That the number of labourers in this country must be greatly augmented； before the work of evangelising the heathen can be said to have effectively commenced； can admit of no doubt。
〃The education of the increasing body of Native Christians likewise； necessarily became a matter of anxiety。 Nothing could be more distressing than the prospect of their being more backward in mental pursuits than their heathen neighbours。 The planting of the gospel in India is not likely to be accomplished by the exertions of a few missionaries in solitary and barren spots in the country； without the aid of some well…digested plan which may consolidate the missionary enterprise； and provide for the mental and religious cultivation of the converts。 If the body of native Christians required an educational system； native ministers； who must gradually take the spiritual conduct of that body； demanded pre…eminent attention。 They require a knowledge of the ingenious system they will have to combat； of the scheme of Christian theology they are to teach； and a familiarity with the lights of modern science。 We cannot discharge the duty we owe as Christians to India； without some plan for combining in the converts of the new religion； and more es