OCTOBER, 1827. Biography. MEMOIR AND OBITUARY OF REV. ABDOOL MESSEEH, A CONVERTED NATIVE AND CHURCH MISSIONARY, WHO DIED AT LUCKNOW, MARCH 4, 1827, AGED 55 YEAKS. THE following Memoir has appeared in the "Missionary Intelligence," published in Calcutta by the Committee of the Church Missionary Auxiliary: it is, we have no doubt, from the pen of Abdool Messeeh's true "Gooroo," or Spiritual Guide, Archdeacon Corrie; who was, throughout his Christian Course, his counsellor and friend. To the readers of the Missionary Register, the name and exemplary cha racter of this "Servant of Christ" will be familiar. An account of his conversion to Christianity appeared in that publication in 1813; and translations of the Journals of his Missionary Labours have been published, from time to time, in the same work. It will, however, be necessary to recur to a few particulars of his former history, in order better to understand the interesting account which has been communicated of the few last days of his mortal existence. In the early part of 1810, the subject of this Memoir was led, from domestic circumstances, to visit Cawnpore from Lucknow, where his family resides. At that time, the late Rev. Henry Martyn was Chaplain of the Station. He was accustomed to address some word of Christian Exhortation to the poor who assembled before his door on Sunday Afternoon to receive alms; and, after a time, many Natives, who needed not and desired not alms, were also induced to attend to listen to the Christian Preacher. Among those who were thus attracted was Abdool Messeeh: his family name was Sheikh Salih; and his connexions were among the most respectable people in the Dooab, though, from the changes in the Government of late years, they had fallen into comparative poverty: he had been instructed by his father, in both Persian and Arabic: in Arabic he was a The expression in the original is "in the former:" but the sense requires that it should have been "in the latter," that is, in the Arabic-Editors. Oct. 1827. fair scholar, and could converse in Persian fluently. With these qualifications, he for a time sought and obtained employ-. ment as a Moonshee; but, not meeting with the success which he expected in this way, and proving a happy instance of superiority over the vulgar prejudices of his countrymen, he was content to earn a subsistence by such manual employment as occurred to him. At the period under consideration, Sheikh Salih earned a more than mere livelihood, by dealing in copper, verdigris, &c. which he supplied to painters. The portion of Divine Truth which Mr. Martyn was engaged upon the first time Sheikh Salih heard him, was an exposition of the Ten Commandments; which he always explained so as to lead the attentive hearer to the Saviour, for mercy to pardon past transgressions, and grace to keep the Law in time to come. The utility of preaching the Gospel to adult Hindoos and Mahomedans has been questioned by some; and all expectation of successful conversion has been grounded on the influence of education. The right application of Missionary Exertions consists, probably, in the use of both methods; and it will be found, on inquiry, that Missionaries have generally applied themselves both to Schools and Preaching to adults, to the best of their ability and opportunity. The application of Divine Truth to the mind is the means which the Holy Spirit uses for the salvation of those who believe; and in whatever way, whether by oral instruction or by the acquiring of lessons out of books, Divine Truth, 3 M in its due proportions, find its way to the mind, the blessing of God may be expected to attend it. In the case before us, at the age of about thirty-eight years, the Law of God, as revealed in the Ten Commandments, was heard for the first time, and proved a schoolmaster to lead the sinner to Christ, for salvation: and it may be mentioned for the encouragement of those who engage in the same service, that this is the only instance known to the friends of the late Rev. Henry Martyn, in which his addresses to the Natives proved decidedly effectual to conversion. To how many the Word of God afterward reached by means of this one Convert appears from the Journals above referred to. The impression, made on the mind of the subject of this Memoir, proved deep and lasting; and he straightway sought opportunities of acquiring further information. Among other means, he took the opportunity of inquiring of some Native-Christian Youths, then under the instruction of a friend of Mr. Martyn, into the nature of their Lessons, Catechisms, &c. and such was the ingenuousness of his mind, that he was accustomed, to the end of life, to speak of one of those Youths, now filling with credit a responsible situation under Government, as his teacher. The result of his convictions was, that he embraced Christianity, and was baptized in the Old Church at Calcutta, by the late Rev. David Brown, on Whitsunday 1811, by the name of Abdool Messeeh. Some friends, with whom he had become acquainted, wished him to go forth straightway as a Missionary among his countrymen. To this Abdool Messeeh respectfully objected; saying, that as yet he was but little acquainted with the contents of the Bible as a whole, and he should perhaps in ignorance assert things not in agreement with the analogy of Faith: this most reasonable objection was, however, considered a proof of aversion to labour; and he remained in obscurity till the latter end of 1812. During that year, the friend, whose scholars Abdool Messeeh had resorted to for instruction at Cawnpore, visited Calcutta; and, being able to converse familiarly with him in Hindoostanee, could not but be delighted with the good sense and remarkable ingenuousness of the man. By this friend he was again brought into notice, and was finally engaged as a Catechist of the Church Missionary Society; and accompanied the present Archdeacon of Calcutta, then Chaplain at Agra, to that Station. With that friend he read daily some portion of the Scriptures, noting down explanations of difficult passages, answers to objections, &c. especially he wrote a Commentary on St. Matthew's Gospel, and also on the Epistle to the Romans and on the Epistle to the Hebrews; and it may here be observed, that many copies of these exercises were sought and obtained in manuscript by Native Christians, in the Upper Provinces, and especially by individuals residing in the Mahratta Country. Besides these readings, &c. in the New Testament, during the two years in which Abdool Messeeh resided near the above-named Clergyman, inuch of the Old Testament was read by them together, and commented on; and many entire Sermons and outlines of Discourses were translated for his use. By these means he attained a considerable insight into the Christian Scriptures; so that, aided by unusual soundness of understanding, and a self-possession that never forsook him, he became a workman that needed not to be ashamed; and his answers to open or disguised adversaries of the Cross of Christ appeared, at all times, to be dictated by the Wisdom which is from above. It will not surprise the reader to be told, that between the Teacher and Pupil a friendship of the most endeared kind was, during that period, cemented; and some of the last hours of Abdool Messech's life were engaged in thoughts and conversation about this his early Christian Instructor. In the latter end of 1814, the Rev. Mr. Corrie was obliged to seek recovery of health in a cooler climate; and Abdool Messeeh was left in a great measure to his own resources. For the many interesting notices of his proceedings from that time, the reader must be again referred to the Missionary Register. After having been employed about eight years as a Catechist, it became desirable that Abdool Messeeh should receive Ordination. Those, who are acquainted with the habits of thinking of the Natives of this country, will not wonder, that, after appearing as a preacher of the Gospel, officiating to Christians regularly in Public Worship, added to his gravity and habitual aptness to afford instruction, together with a truly ve nerable personal appearance, no further title to the character of Pastor should be considered necessary by them. Native Christians, therefore, residing remote from the means of grace, and converts led by his instruction to the threshhold of the Visible Church, could not understand why he should not also administer to them the Sacraments of that Church; and much embarrassment arose to him in consequence. On this account the Church Missionary Committee applied to the late Bishop Middleton to admit Abdool Messeeh a Candidate for Órders, in the Church over which he presided: the Bishop did not consider himself authorised by his Letters-Patent to ordain Ministers; and expressed his concern, that he could not on this point meet the wishes of the Committee. He was then reminded of the practice of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in the South of India; and informed of the Committee's desire, that, after that example, Abdool Messeeh should receive Lutheran Ordination, to which he made no objection. Accordingly he was set apart to the work of a Missionary, by the Lutheran Missionaries of the Society; and it seems worthy of remark, that all opposition to him personally, by his countrymen, in a great measure ceased from that time he seemed now to be considered an authenticated character; and, even at Lucknow, whence, on the first visit to his family after his conversion, he was obliged to flee in the night and in disguise, and on his second was preserved from being apprehended and punished as an apostate according to Mahomedan Law only by the sudden death of the late reigning Prince, after his Ordination he was suffered to pass publicly unmolested, and treated with attention in private by some even of the Prince's own family; and, finally, at Lucknow he died in peace, and received an honourable burial. From Calcutta, the subject of this Memoir returned again, after his Ordination, to Agra; and his history, during the whole of his residence there, may be told in a few words. He visited, from time to time, the chief cities in the Upper Provinces; and, everywhere, by the simplicity and uprightness of his conduct, and the lively and interesting manner in which he on every occasion introduced the subject of religion, excited much attention. On one occasion, being at Delhi, he was desired to be in readiness to wait upon the King; who had expressed a wish to see him, but was dissuaded by some about him from shewing the Christian Convert so much honour. At another time, at Lucknow, it was intimated to him that he should be in waiting at a certain place, as the King of Oude passed by, who bestowed upon him particular notice; and the Begum Sumroo, a professed Roman Catholic, honoured him with a seat at her own table, and received a copy of part of the Scriptures from his hands. These facts are mentioned merely to shew how much attention this interesting person excited among his own countrymen; while some of the principal British residents at Agra, in the absence of a Chaplain, attended Divine Service in Hindoostanee, and received the Lord's Supper with the Native Christians. Frequent attacks of illness prevented, however, his exerting himself, as much as he wished to do; and, latterly, an unnatural tendency to corpulency rendered long journeys irksome. He continued to reside at Agra, and to officiate regularly on the Church-Mission Premises there, till July 1825. During the previous cold season, Bishop Heber, having visited Agra, and being satisfied from what he saw and heard of Abdool Messeeh that he was a suitable subject for Episcopal Orders, and being free from the restraints under which Bishop Middleton laboured on that head, consented to admit him to the Ministry of the Established Church. He accordingly proceeded to Calcutta ; and, in company with three other Missionaries, was ordained, in the latter end of that year, in the Cathedral Church. On that occasion, the Articles of the Church of England, the Ordination Service both for Deacons and Priests, with the oaths of supremacy, abjuration, and canonical obedience, were translated, and a copy supplied to Abdool Messeeh; the Bishop also reading the parts of the Service in which he was personally interested, in Hindoostanee. The kindness of the Bishop made a deep impression on Abdool Messeeh; and the characteristic benevolence of that incomparable Prelate appeared, in not formally putting the aged disciple upon an examination, but, by asking him how he would answer to certain questions, ascertaining from his replies the correctness of his religious opinions. After this solemn Service, Abdool Messeeh returned up the country; and, in the way, visited his aged mother and family at Lucknow. The hot weather of 1826 had set in before he reached that place; and first ill health, and afterward the acceptance which he met with in his endeavours to make known the truths of Christianity, induced him to wish to settle there. With what wisdom and address he succeeded in disarming opposition, while he asserted most uncompromisingly the peculiar doctrines of Revelation, appears in the account of his conference with a Molwee, in the presence of the Minister of the King of Oude, published in the Missionary Register for August 1826. There seemed now no obstacle in the way of his residing at Lucknow, in the character of a Minister of Religion; and the Church Missionary Committee had, in compliance with the wishes of friends in that quarter, agreed to his permanent abode there. He had lately visited some English friends at Cawnpore, where his conversation with respectable Natives had, as usual, excited much attention, and it was his purpose to go over occasionally to that Station; but Divine Providence had other designs respecting this tried and faithful Servant. On his return, he had not attended Divine Service at the Residency as usual, for some Sundays; but, it being reported that he was confined with boils, no further inquiry was made: at length, the Native Assistant of Dr. Luxmore reported so unfavourably of his state, that Dr. Lux. more went to visit him; and finding him in a dying condition from mortification, arising from a carbuncle, hu. manely had him conveyed to his own house, where he was supplied with suitable medicine, nourishment, and attendance to the last. To a friend who knew his value and waited on him with Christian affection, he expressed his gratitude to Dr. Luxmore for giving him a room in his own house: for he said, that had he died at home among his own relations, they perhaps would have interred his remains according to the ceremonies of their own erroneous faith; "But now," said he, "Christian Brethren will bury me." In the latter end of February, he sent a message to the Resident, begging he would do him the favour to come and see him before his death: with this request Mr. Ricketts readily complied. After making known his wishes as to where he would be buried, and some other trifling requests, he expressed himself perfectly resigned; and said that death had no fears for him, for that our Saviour had deprived death of its sting. He thanked Mr. Ricketts for all that he had done for him; and, looking steadily at him for some time, seemed to pray internally-then saying he was easy and content (or happy), begged him to leave him. He afterward expressed to the friend who attended on him, his gratitude for this attention on the part of Mr. Ricketts, saying, "See the fruits of Christian Love!" The day before his death, Abdool requested his friend to write his Will: this was accordingly done, after an English Form. A house which the Re. sident, with his usual liberality, had enabled him to purchase, he left to his Mother; his books to the Bible Society; and his clothes to a nephew, for whom he had always shewn much love. This document he desired might be delivered into the hand of his dearChristian Friend, Mr. Ricketts. He then declared to the witnesses, before his Brother and Relatives there present, in a cheerful manner and with perfect composure of mind, putting his hand upon the seal, that the seal was his. He then said," Thanks be to God, I have done with this world! and with regard to my Mother," putting his hands in a supplicating posture, "I commend her to God:" then, laying his hand upon his Nephew, he said to his friend, "Speak to the Resident, that no one be allowed to injure him :" then desiring his friend to come near him, and putting his hands in an attitude of prayer, he said, "O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be gracious to On the 4th, after Dr. Luxmore had visited him, he was told that he was advised to eat animal food. Raising his head from the pillow, he said, " Brother! a man does not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. See for how many days I have eaten nothing, and yet am alive." He then began to inquire after a man who had been with him for some time for religious instruction; and, being told he was present, desired he might be called he questioned him on some points of religion, and explained to him the Lord's Prayer throughout: he spoke of his intention to baptize him, should he recover; and desired, that, in the event of his death, the Rev. Mr. Whiting or Mr. White might be re 66 quested to do so. In the evening, the wife of his friend called to see him; and, on her asking him how he was, he said, Very well, Sister, thanks be to God!" But this, it is observed, he must have meant of his soul: for his body was extremely ill; and hiccup, the usual precursor of death, had come on. He was told that the New Testament was at hand; and, at his desire, the Fourth Chapter of St. John was read: at the conclusion he said, "Thanks be to God!" A favourite Hymn was then sung: he had composed it but a short time before; and the following literal translation will convey some distinct idea of the source from which this Servant of Christ derived consolation in a dying hour Beloved Saviour, let not me In thy kind heart forgotten be! Of all that deck the field or bower, Thou art the sweetest, fairest flower! Youth's morn has fled, old age come on; But sin distracts my soul alone : Beloved Saviour, let not me In thy kind heart forgotten be! He joined in singing this Hymn; and desired that it might be sung a second time: but, alas! he could no longer articulate distinctly, and became insensible to every thing around him. Soon after, recovering a little, he inquired if the female friend above referred to were gone; and this was the last expression that could be understood. He lay, seemingly in perfect ease, till about half-pasteight; when he raised his head from the pillow, and with his left-hand took hold of the hand of his friend-then gently withdrew it-and breathed his last. According to his desire, his remains were interred in the compound of his own house. The Resident, with other friends, attended the funeral on the morning of the 5th, and read the Burial Service at the grave. The Resident has also ordered a Monument to be erected over the grave, and directed an Inscription to be prepared both in English and Persian. A PARAPHRASE On the words sung in Hindoostanee by the Rev. Thou art the fairest, Sharon's rose! Proceedings and Entelligence. United Kingdom. BRITISH FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. Large Supply, but remaining Want, of the Scriptures at Birmingham. AT p. 242 we stated the Formation of a Ladies' Branch Society at Birmingham: of the results of its first month's labours, Mr. Dudley thus speaks The number of Ladies engaged as Collectors and Officers exceeds FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY; and, although some of the Associations have been only partially visited, the amount collected within the month exceeds 208., while the aggregate number of Subscribers already obtained is FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN; of whom more than THREE THOUSAND are Subscribers for Bibles and Testaments. You will recollect, that, nearly twenty-two years have elapsed, since the inhabitants of Birmingham manifested an interest in the design of the Society; and will, consequently, appreciate the diligence of the Committee of the Auxiliary, in ascertaining the extent of the deficiency, and supplying the wants of the Scriptures: indeed, I know not any similar Institution which has manifested greater zeal in reference to this important object; as is demonstrated by the distribution of nearly 30,000 copies of the Scriptures since their establishment. But, even on the partial investigation now systematically instituted, nearly TWO THOUSAND FAMILIES have been found destitute of any portion of the Bible; and there cannot be a doubt that this number will be very considerably increased, when the Reports shall be presented next month from the remaining Districts. Here then we find, in one of the most highly-privileged towns |