BEHARI LAL SING.

Western Star, Issue 52, 7 November 1874, Page 3

BEHARI LAL SING.

Along with an- elder brother Behari was sent to the school founded by Dr. Duff in Calcutta, to obtain a thorough English education. Their teacher naturally read with them the ■ Bible, and this brought them to thQ belief of the

Divine origin of Christianity. Not long 1 after his leaving school, tms conviction was so strong in the elder brother, now holding a Government appointment, that he got himself baptised. Meanwhile B.ehari pushed on his studies with uncommon success.. In 1839, as the best scholar of the highest class, he carried off the gold prize medal, and was in 1840, by the influence of Governor M‘Leod, appointed head master of a Government school in Central Asia. Dor three years he was brought into almost daily contact with Mr M‘Leod; and it was mainly the Christian life and work of this eminent official which left on him so deep an impression that he was ultimately constrained to determine, not only to become a Christian, but also to give himself up unreservedly to the evangelization of India. On the 13th August, 1843, he was baptised in Calcutta, and had the further joy of seeing his father embrace the Gospel, and depart from this world, in, the peace of Christ. - i =: From 1844 till 1859 he served theScotch Free Church as evangelist and rector of a small seminary—at the same time not only carrying forward his formerstudies, but beginning Greek and Latin., Having had, during fifteen years of work, much confirming experience of the power- of' the Gospel which he preached, he was brought by a sickness in 18511 into- a condition of forced repose. The physician having recommended a long/ sea voyage, and at the same time General M‘Kenzie —-whp. with, his wife for many years had served not only the- British Government, but also, above all, the Kingdom of God, in India —having offered to pay- his. passage to England, he went for two years to Europe, studied theology in London, and Glasgow;, and was ordained in Edinburgh. [Returning to India in 1862-, he-com-menced a mission in Eajshai in connection with the English. Presbyterian. Synod, established several schools; and promoted especially female education in. that secluded corner of Bengal. Sincethen there has sprung up in that locality an orphan-house, a small congregation; and church. All who have visited and become acquainted with the station of the native missionary testify that a Euro.-, pean could not improve upon it. No small share of its success is doubtless due to Behari’s excellent wife, the history of whose deliverance from death and after-life belong to the wonders of God, which Psalm 107th calls on us to observe;

In the year 1829; in North India, a brahman family set out on a pilgrimage to the Temple of Juggernaut, Never' had the message from the Prince of' Peace reached their ears. To obtain expiation of their sins, they made a pilgrimage to an idol shrine. While they were still many days’ journey from their destination,, they were overtaken by cholera, The wife was seized with the dreadful' disease.. Her husband made off. With the utmost effort the unfortunate woman, with her sucking child, managed to crawl to the* door of. a, house, where she. hoped' to get help; but nobody troubled themselves about her. At length, a, missionary. Hr Sutton, who, just then was on a preaching tour, saw her lying in the way, and attended to. her. He gave her medicine, and travelled himself a journey of several miles to procure her some milk. Neverafter could he forget the terrible scene. Over him the heavens were black withclouds, which gathered themselves toge-, ther for a dreadful storm, and at his feet lay the dying woman with her helpless child. After three days, the motherdied, and for the child —a little girl—the-. heathen physician had no other prescription than the mournful, “ Let her die.” , But that must not be. While thenative doctor was appropriating to himself the ornaments, and other valuables of the dying woman, the Christian Missionary took the haff' starved little creature to himself,, and brought it Home to his wife who had no family;. They adopted the* girl, at a later period, took; her with them to America,., gave her good education, and had at length the- joy- of seeing heremployed as teacher in the Mission School of their- station.. There Behari Lai had made- her acquaintance while : travelling-over the country, obtained her hand, and he ha# now been several years married to her?. She now lives and labors with her husband' to the honor of God "almost on the very spot where she once ion a pilgrimage to an idol, narrowly \ escaped' becoming a victim to heathen jheartlessness, if that kind Samaritan had inot found and saved her.

s - Behari'himself related this history in •an address which ho lately made in Lon- • don for the benefit of a Union for female : education. -And concluded by requesting i his hearers to pray for his wife that she might be a burning and shining fight to. her sisters still sitting in darkness, and might receive grace and , wisdom from above, to bring up her children in the .nurture and admonition of the fjord.—* Oalver Mission Sheet.