special fund, forwarded an Iron Chapel to the Island of UPÔLu, in the SOUTH SEAS, for the benefit of British sailors resorting to the harbour of APIA: that fund is, however, still incomplete, and we have again to beg those who wish well to the sailor, to assist in making it up. We have also had evidence at home that the Lord has blessed our labour to the salvation of souls. Many a poor sailor has been rescued from the dominion of darkness, and from immorality, physically and morally injurious to his welfare, and now seeks to walk as a consistent believer in the Gospel of Christ. It will interest our readers to be informed that the Captain of a vessel, who was converted through attending the Bethel meetings in the Thames, has lately been at Malta, and having made known this Society's operations, he has induced others to hold meetings of a similar character there, for the benefit of British sailors. Surely the kingdom of GOD may still be likened to a grain of mustard seed, small when it is sown, but which "groweth up and shooteth out great branches." We earnestly pray that the Lord may touch the hearts of Christians with compassion for the spiritual wants of that great, but neglected body, the BRITISH SEAMEN. We need hardly say how glad we shall at all times be to receive any information bearing on their spiritual interests, or the smallest contributions towards the sacred object of providing for them adequate means of grace at our own ports and on Foreign stations. The Great Britain.. The New Life Boat. The New Lighthouse on Trevose Head, &c. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Proposed Sailors' Home, &c., at Newcastle Auxiliary, Sea Coast Mission. 284 Young, Vice Admiral. 227 On Tuesday evening, Nov. 24th, an interesting service was held at the Sailors' Church, Wellclose-square, for the purpose of recognising the appointment of the Rev. Carl Von Bülow as missionary to foreign seamen visiting the port of London; the Rev. Dr. Cappell of the German Church, the Rev. Carlson, Chaplain to the Swedish Embassy, the Rev. T. Timpson, and other gentlemen, took part in the engagements of the evening. Our missionary enters upon his work under auspicious circumstances, and we indulge the hope that his labours will be attended by important and beneficial results. There can be little doubt but that the number of foreign seamen arriving in London will considerably increase, and without giving an opinion respecting the influence which this increase will have upon the interests of British shipping, it will certainly furnish a wider scope for the operations of our missionary, and will supply a still stronger reason for his appointment to the work. In our last number, we made some brief allusion to the previous history of our friend, but the subjoined document read by him at his recognition ́ service, contains so interesting an account of his earlier days, and so satisfactory a statement of his doctrinal sentiments, that we have determined to lay it before our readers. Being a foreigner and a stranger amongst us, it is the more desirable that the fullest information should be possessed respecting him, and we are happy to assure our friends, that the testimonials received in his favour have been in the highest degree satisfactory : I am of a German family, but was born in Denmark, from whence I was however removed, when very young, and have since lived in different countries, but mostly in Germany and Britain. I was brought up in the worst period of Rationalism, when on the B Continent it was generally taught at the universities, from the pulpits, and in the schools. I entered the military service when yet very young, and took part in the different wars which raged on the Continent from 1807 to 1815. Thousands fell on my right, and tens of thousands on my left; but the merciful God spared me, who was without knowledge or understanding of the things which belonged to our eternal peace. When twenty-six years old, a true follower of the Lord, by the name of Count Von Seckendorff, gave me a Bible, with many kind exhortations; until then I had never read a chapter of the Sacred Volume. Out of regard for him, I read it diligently, and thus I became in some measure acquainted with its contents, but without understanding it. In 1818 I took leave of absence, and travelled round about on the Continent, and late in the season I came to Edinburgh. It had always been my custom to seek to the ministers in the towns and villages when I had opportunity; they generally praised me as a great philosopher. Edinburgh I was introduced to the late Dr. Andrew Thompson, and it was in conversation with him that I came to understand and believe that the Scripture was the inspired word of God; I then also saw myself as a great sinner, and believed in Jesus as the Saviour, and that I hence, as a disciple of his, could not live in sin; but the Lord has much to do with us before the eyes of our understanding are enlightened, and we are enabled rightly to discern and are made willing to yield to him and deny ourselves. In In the year following I had it much impressed on my mind that I could not serve two masters; I therefore gave up my commission. Having myself seen the light, I also perceived that darkness covered the minds of most of those among whom I had sojourned. My communications to friends and relatives were of little avail; they at once pronounced me mad. I hoped that I might find out some way of exciting an interest for the benighted state of the Continent. I came to London in 1824, and I soon became acquainted and joined with such as were endeavouring to spread light in the dark parts of this metropolis. I volunteered to the Port of London Society to visit the foreign vessels. At this period I got acquainted with the then Continental Society, and proposed a plan of operation to them-viz. that they should get a small vessel and load it with Scriptures and tracts in all European languages, and send forth some faithful men to visit all the ports of the north of Europe. The committee entered at once into this plan, but knew of no person to undertake it. They therefore proposed that I should make an attempt myself, to which I acceded. After having travelled through great part of England and Scotland to raise funds, I embarked for Norway. I got a small vessel, and thus went about, visiting harbours and islands on the coasts of Norway and Sweden; also crossing the mountains and visiting the interior parts, distributing Bibles and tracts to the inhabitants and to the vessels of the different nations in the ports; hoisting the Bethel flag where it was admitted, and preaching on the sea-shore, in the houses, barns, and fields to the people. In 1827 I came again |