448 
HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
were desirous of giving themselves to the Lord, examining 
their views, and admonishing, directing, or encouraging 
them as might be most requisite. The meetings were 
usually attended by from 40 to 50 individuals, including 
several of rank and influence, who held high and responsible 
stations under the government. In these important duties, 
the Missionaries derived much valuable assistance from the 
iudicious efforts and exemplary conduct of several natives, 
who had already united themselves with them in Christian 
fellowship. 
The public abandonment of the superstitions of the 
country, and the adoption of the Christian faith by numbers 
of the people, together with the earnestness of the latter 
to bring others under religious instruction, exposed them, 
as might be expected, to many instances of petty annoyance 
and persecution. Contemptuous epithets were frequently 
applied by the heathens to the Christians, when the latter 
appeared in any of, the places of public resort; and, in 
some instances, the enmity of the heathen member of a 
family against those who had embraced the gospel, produced 
more serious trials; but they were borne with meekness 
and gentleness, and ultimately favoured the progress of 
the gospel among the people. The Christians, while they 
patiently endured any slight annoyances from the heathen, 
persevered in the use of every suitable means for promoting 
their own spiritual improvement, and bringing others to 
attend to those impressive facts and glorious truths, which 
now appeared to themselves of such transcendent import¬ 
ance. With this view, besides the assemblies for public 
worship at the chapel, the Christians were accustomed to 
hold meetings at their own houses, during several evenings 
of the week, for reading the Scriptures, religious conversa¬ 
tion, singing, and prayer. Sometimes the Missionaries 
