the life of william carey-第38章
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enty come； and the simple confessions of their sinful state； the unvarnished declaration of their former ignorance； the expressions of trust in Christ and gratitude to him； with the accounts of their spiritual conflicts often attended with tears which almost choke their utterance； presents a scene of which you can scarcely entertain an adequate idea。 At the same time； meetings for prayer and mutual edification are held every night in the week； and some nights； for convenience； at several places at the same time： so that the sacred leaven spreads its influence through the mass。〃
On his voyage to India Carey had deliberately contemplated the time when the Society he had founded would influence not only Asia； but Africa； and he would supply the peoples of Asia with the Scriptures in their own tongues。 The time had come by 1804 for organising the onward movement； and he thus describes it to Ryland：
〃14th December 1803。Another plan has lately occupied our attention。 It appears that our business is to provide materials for spreading the Gospel； and to apply those materials。 Translations； pamphlets； etc。； are the materials。 To apply them we have thought of setting up a number of subordinate stations； in each of which a brother shall be fixed。 It will be necessary and useful to carry on some worldly business。 Let him be furnished from us with a sum of money to begin and purchase cloth or whatever other article the part produces in greatest perfection： the whole to belong to the mission； and no part even to be private trade or private property。 The gains may probably support the station。 Every brother in such a station to have one or two native brethren with him； and to do all he can to preach； and spread Bibles； pamphlets； etc。； and to set up and encourage schools where the reading of the Scriptures shall be introduced。 At least four brethren shall always reside at Serampore； which must be like the heart while the other stations are the members。 Each one must constantly send a monthly account of both spirituals and temporals to Serampore； and the brethren at Serampore （who must have a power of control over the stations） must send a monthly account likewise to each station； with advice； etc。； as shall be necessary。 A plan of this sort appears to be more formidable than it is in reality。 To find proper persons will be the greatest difficulty； but as it will prevent much of that abrasion which may arise from a great number of persons living in one house； so it will give several brethren an opportunity of being useful； whose temper may not be formed to live in a common family； and at the same time connect them as much to the body as if they all lived together。 We have judged that about 2000 rupees will do to begin at each place； and it is probable that God will enable us to find money （especially if assisted in the translations and printing by our brethren in England） as fast as you will be able to find men。
〃This plan may be extended through a circular surface of a thousand miles' radius； and a constant communication kept up between the whole； and in some particular cases it may extend ever farther。 We are also to hope that God may raise up some missionaries in this country who may be more fitted for the work than any from England can be。 At present we have not concluded on anything； but when Brother Ward comes down we hope to do so； and I think one station may be fixed on immediately which Brother Chamberlain may occupy。 A late favourable providence will； I hope； enable us to begin； viz。； the College have subscribed for 100 copies of my Sanskrit Grammar； which will be 6400 rupees or 800 pounds sterling。 The motion was very generously made by H。 Colebrooke； Esq。； who is engaged in a similar work； and seconded by Messrs。 Brown and Buchanan； indeed it met with no opposition。 It will scarcely be printed off under twelve months more； but it is probable that the greatest part of the money will he advanced。 The Maratha war and the subjugation of the country of Cuttak to the English may be esteemed a favourable event for the spreading of the Gospel； and will certainly contribute much to the comfort of the inhabitants。〃
Two years later he thus anticipates the consent of the local Government； in spite of the Company's determined hostility in England； but the Vellore mutiny panic led to further delay：
〃25th December 1805。It has long been a favourite object with me to fix European brethren in different parts of the country at about two hundred miles apart； so that each shall be able to visit a circle of a hundred miles' radius； and within each of the circuits to place native brethren at proper distances； who will； till they are more established； be under the superintendence of the European brethren situated in the centre。 Our brethren concur with me in this plan。 In consequence of this； I thought it would be desirable to have leave of Government for them to settle； and preach； without control； in any part of the country。 The Government look on us with a favourable eye； and owing to Sir G。 Barlow； the Governor…General； being up the country； Mr。 Udny is Vice…President and Deputy…Governor。 I therefore went one morning； took a breakfast with him； and told him what we were doing and what we wished to do。 He； in a very friendly manner； desired me to state to him in a private letter all that we wished； and offered to communicate privately with Sir G。 Barlow upon the subject； and inform me of the result。 I called on him again last week； when he informed me that he had written upon the subject and was promised a speedy reply。 God grant that it may be favourable。 I know that Government will allow it if their powers are large enough。〃
Not till 1810 could Carey report that 〃permission was obtained of Government for the forming of a new station at Agra； a large city in upper Hindostan； not far from Delhi and the country of the Sikhs；〃 to which Chamberlain and an assistant were sent。 From that year the Bengal became only the first of 〃The United Missions in India。〃 These were five in number； each under its own separate brotherhood； on the same principles of self…denial as the original； each a Lindisfarne sprung from the parent Iona。 These five were the Bengal； the Burman； the Orissa； the Bhootan； and the Hindostan Missions。 The Bengal mission was fourfoldSerampore and Calcutta reckoned as one station； the old Dinapoor and Sadamahal which had taken the place of Mudnabati； Goamalty； near Malda； Cutwa； an old town on the upper waters of the Hoogli； Jessor； the agricultural capital of its lower delta； and afterwards Monghyr； Berhampore； Moorshedabad； Dacca； Chittagong； and Assam。 The Bhootan missionaries were plundered and driven out。 The Hindostan mission soon included Gaya； Patna； Deegah； Ghazeepore； Benares； Allahabad； Cawnpore； Ajmer； and Delhi itself。 From Nagpoor； in the very centre of India； and Surat to the north of Bombay； Carey sought to bring Marathas and Goojaratees under the yoke of Christ。 China； where the East India Company was still master； was cared for by the press； as we shall see。 Not content with the continent of Asia； Carey's mission； at once forced by the intolerance which refused to allow new missionaries to land in India proper； and led by the invitations of Sir Stamford Raffles； extended to Java and Amboyna； Penang； Ceylon； and even Mauritius。 The elaborate review of their position； signed by the three faithful men of Serampore； at the close of 1817； amazes the reader at once by the magnitude and variety of the operations； the childlike modesty of the record； and the heroism of the toil which supplied the means。
At the time of the organisation into the Five United Missions the staff of workers had grown to be thirty strong。 From England there were nine surviving：Carey； Marshman； Ward； Chamberlain； Mardon； Moore； Chater； Rowe； and Robinson。 Raised up in India itself there were seventhe two sons of Carey； Felix and William； Fernandez； his first convert at Dinapoor； Peacock and Cornish； and two Armenians； Aratoon and Peters； two were on probation for the ministry； Leonard and Forder。 Besides seven Hindoo evangelists also on probation； there were five survivors of the band of converts called from
