MISSIONS. In this article we propose to give a general view of the attempts made by the Protestant churches for the propagation of Christianity among heathen nations : Of the principal missions established by the Church of Rome, some account may be found in our history of those countries which were the scene of them. See ABYSSINIA, ANGOLA, CALIFORNIA, CANADA, CHINA, JAPAN, &C.
In 1559, the celebrated Gustavus Vasa, king of Sw e den, sent a missionary of the name of Michael into Lap land, with a view of extending Christianity in that country ; for though it had been introduced some ages before the reformation, yet most of the inhabitants were still little better than Pagans. But though it is now nearly three centuries since the Swedes began to extend the gospel in Lapland, it has hitherto made small pro gress. The inhabitants, indeed, are professed Christians; but the Christianity of most of them is merely nominal, and among some or them the form of it may be sought in vain.
In 1716, Frederick IV. king of Denmark, sent two missionaries into Norwegian Lapland ; and, according to the accounts which are given of that part of the coun try, the inhabitants are better provided with the means of Christian instruction than those of Swedish Lapland ; but we suspect religion has made no great progress among them.
In 1802, the Edinburgh Nlissionary Soeiety* sent the Rev. Henry Brunton and Alexander Paterson on an exploratory mission to the countries lying between the Black and the Caspian Seas. The Russian government favoured the undertaking, and afforded them every assist ance and encouragement. This mission now consists of three branches, Karass, Astrachan, and Orenburg ; and it is in contemplation to establish a fourth in the Crimea. Besides writing a number of small works in the Tartar language, Mr. Brunton translated into it the New Testa ment ; and a version of the Old Testament is now carry ing on by the other missionaries. Of these, large edi tions were printed, and extensively circulated through the regions of Tartary. Several of the natives have embraced Christianity ; and, among others, one of the sultans of the country, a young man of highly respectable talents, and who is connected with some of the principal families in the East.
In 1705, Frederick IV. king of Denmark, sent Bar tholomew Ziegenbalg and Henry Plutscho to Tranque har, with the view of converting the Hindoos to the "Christian faith. Though the undertaking met with much opposition and obloquy, particularly from the Europeans and Roman Catholics in India, yet it was fostered with parental care by his majesty, and finally triumphed over every obstacle. This mission now consists of four
branches, Tranquebar, Vepery near Madras, Tritchina poly, and Tanjore. Since its commencement, about 54,000 of the natives, as nearly as we can estimate them, have been baptised or received by the missionaries. It is a common idea that the converts consist almost en tirely of the race of Pariars ; but though this was the case in the first years of the mission, the state of things is now materially altered. At Tranquebar, Vepery, and Tanjore, more than two-thirds of them are of the higher casts ; and even those of the lower order are so much improved, that were a stranger to visit their places of worship on the Sabbath, he would be surprised at the cleanliness of their appearance, and might even mistake them for the higher class of Hindoos. It has often been alleged, that any attempt to convert the inhabitants of Hindostan to Christianity would alarm their prejudices, and even endanger our dominion in the East ; but the missionaries on the Coast of Coromandel have pursued their peaceful labours for upwards of a century, without ever exciting the slightest commotion among the Hin doos or Mahomedans, and have even acquired, in a re markable degree, their respect, and confidence, and love. On the monument erected by the East India Com pany to the memory of Mr. Swartz, who died about twenty years ago, it is stated that the late Hyder Ally, in the midst of a bloody and vindictive war with the Carnatic, sent orders to his officers " to permit the vene rable Father Swartz to pass unmolested, and shew him respect and kindness, for he is a holy man, and means no harm to my government." Such, indeed, was the high estimation in which he was held by all classes of the natives, that Colonel Fullarton assures us, that " the knowledge and integrity of this irreproachable mission ary had retrieved the character of Europeans from the imputation of general depravity." (Fullarton's View of .English Interests in India, p. 183.) Besides compiling various of a philological and religious nature, the missionaries translated the whole Bible into the Tamul and Telinga languages ; the Old Testament into that dialect of Portuguese which is spoken in India ; and the New Testament, together with some parts of the Old, into Hindostanee.