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the life of william carey-第51章

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t may the demands for missionaries are pressing to a degree seldom realised。  England has done much; but not the hundredth part of what she is bound to do。  In so great a want of ministers ought not every church to turn its attention chiefly to the raising up and maturing of spiritual gifts with the express design of sending them abroad? Should not this be a specific matter of prayer; and is there not reason to labour hard to infuse this spirit into the churches?

〃A mission into Siam would be comparatively easy of introduction and support on account of its vicinity to Prince of Wales Island; from which vessels can often go in a few hours。  A mission to Pegu and another to Arakan would not be difficult of introduction; they being both within the Burman dominions; Missions to Assam and Nepal should be speedily tried。  Brother Robinson is going to Bhootan。  I do not know anything about the facility with which missions could be introduced into Cochin China; Cambodia; and Laos; but were the trial made I believe difficulties would remove。  It is also very desirable that the Burman mission should be strengthened。  There is no full liberty of conscience; and several stations might be occupied; even the borders of China might be visited from that country if an easier entrance into the heart of the country could not be found。  I have not mentioned Sumatra; Java; the Moluccas; the Philippines; or Japan; but all these countries must be supplied with missionaries。 This is a very imperfect sketch of the wants of Asia only; without including the Mahometan countries; but Africa and South America call as loudly for help; and the greatest part of Europe must also be holpen by the Protestant churches; being nearly as destitute of real godliness as any heathen country on the earth。  What a pressing call; then; is here for labourers in the spiritual harvest; and what need that the attention of all the churches in England and America should be drawn to this very object!〃

Two years after the establishment of the mission at Serampore; David Brown; the senior chaplain and provost of Fort William College; took possession of Aldeen House; which he occupied till the year of his death in 1812。  The house is the first in the settlement reached by boat from Calcutta。  Aldeen is five minutes' walk south of the Serampore Mission House; and a century ago there was only a park between them。  The garden slopes down to the noble river; and commands the beautiful country seat of Barrackpore; which Lord Wellesley had just built。  The house itself is embosomed in trees; the mango; the teak; and the graceful bamboo。  Just below it; but outside of Serampore; are the deserted temple of Bullubpoor and the Ghat of the same name; a fine flight of steps up which thousands of pilgrims flock every June to the adjoining shrine and monstrous car of Jagganath。  David Brown had not been long in Aldeen when he secured the deserted temple and converted it into a Christian oratory; ever since known as Henry Martyn's Pagoda。  For ten years Aldeen and the pagoda became the meeting…place of Carey and his Nonconformist friends; with Claudius Buchanan; Martyn; Bishop Corrie; Thomason; and the little band of evangelical Anglicans who; under the protection of Lords Wellesley and Hastings; sweetened Anglo…Indian society; and made the names of 〃missionary〃 and of 〃chaplain〃 synonymous。  Here too there gathered; as also to the Mission House higher up; many a civilian and officer who sought the charms of that Christian family life which they had left behind。  A young lieutenant commemorated these years when Brown was removed; in a pleasing elegy; which Charles Simeon published in the Memorials of his friend。  Many a traveller from the far West still visits the spot; and recalls the memories of William Carey and Henry Martyn; of Marshman and Buchanan; of Ward and Corrie; which linger around the fair scene。  When first we saw it the now mutilated ruin was perfect; and under the wide…spreading banian tree behind a Brahman was reciting; for a day and a night; the verses of the Mahabharata epic to thousands of listening Hindoos。

〃Long; Hoogli; has thy sullen stream    Been doomed the cheerless shores to lave;  Long has the Suttee's baneful gleam    Pale glimmered o'er thy midnight wave。

〃Yet gladdened seemed to flow thy tide    Where opens on the viewAldeen;  For there to grace thy palmy side    Loved England's purest joys were seen。

〃Yon dome; 'neath which in former days    Grim idols marked the pagan shrine;  Has swelled the notes of pious praise;    Attuned to themes of love divine。〃

We find this allusion to the place in Carey's correspondence with Dr。 Ryland:〃20th January 1807。It would have done your heart good to have joined us at our meetings at the pagoda。  From that place we have successively recommended Dr。 Taylor to the work of the Lord at Bombay; Mr。 Martyn to his at Dinapoor; Mr。 Corrie to his at Chunar; Mr。 Parsons to his at Burhampore; Mr。 Des Granges to his at Vizagapatam; and our two brethren to theirs at Rangoon; and from thence we soon expect to commend Mr。 Thomason to his at Madras。  In these meetings the utmost harmony prevails and a union of hearts unknown between persons of different denominations in England。〃  Dr。 Taylor and Mr。 Des Granges were early missionaries of the London Society; the Rangoon brethren were Baptists; the others were Church of England chaplains。  Sacramentarianism and sacerdotalism had not then begun to afflict the Church of India。  There were giants in those days; in Bengal; worthy of Carey and of the one work in which all were the servants of one Master。

Let us look a little more closely at Henry Martyn's Pagoda。  It is now a picturesque ruin; which the peepul tree that is entwined among its fine brick masonry; and the crumbling river…bank; may soon cause to disappear for ever。  The exquisite tracery of the moulded bricks may be seen; but not the few figures that are left of the popular Hindoo idols just where the two still perfect arches begin to spring。  The side to the river has already fallen down; and with it the open platform overhanging the bank on which the missionary sat in the cool of the morning and evening; and where he knelt to pray for the people。  We have accompanied many a visitor there; from Dr。 Duff to Bishop Cotton; and John Lawrence; and have rarely seen one unmoved。  This pagoda had been abandoned long before by the priests of Radhabullub; because the river had encroached to a point within 300 feet of it; the limit within which no Brahman is allowed to receive a gift or take his food。  The little black doll of an idol; which is famous among Hindoos alike for its sanctity and as a work of artfor had it not been miraculously wafted to this spot like the Santa Casa to Loretto?was removed with great pomp to a new temple after it had paid a visit to Clive's moonshi; the wealthy Raja Nobokissen in Calcutta; who sought to purchase it outright。

In this cool old pagoda Henry Martyn; on one of his earliest visits to Aldeen after his arrival as a chaplain in 1806; found an appropriate residence。  Under the vaulted roof of the shrine a place of prayer and praise was fitted up with an organ; so that; as he wrote; 〃the place 
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