{"id":2793,"date":"2022-01-17T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missiology.org.uk\/blog\/?p=2793"},"modified":"2021-10-29T19:01:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T19:01:27","slug":"martyr-church-of-madagascar-by-william-ellis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/missiology.org.uk\/blog\/martyr-church-of-madagascar-by-william-ellis\/","title":{"rendered":"Martyr Church of Madagascar by William Ellis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"William<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Today’s free book is an account of the spread of Christianity on the island of Madagascar in East Africa. This public domain title was digitised from a copy held in Spurgeon’s College<\/a> library. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Ellis [1794-1872], The Martyr Church: A Narrative of the Introduction, Progress, and Triumph of Christianity in Madagascar<\/em>. London: John Snow and Co., 1870. Hbk. pp.404. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  • Preface<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    1. Brief notice of the country and people\u2014Radama and his army at Tamatave\u2014Abolition of the slave trade\u2014Destructive character of Radama’s wars\u2014Incipient civilization among the Hovas\u2014Resources of the country\u2014General condition of the people\u2014Disastrous effects of slavery on bond and free\u2014Sanguinary character of the Malagasy laws\u2014Administration of justice\u2014the tangena or poison ordeal\u2014Mental faculties of the people\u2014Defective morals of the community\u2014Malagasy tombs\u2014Robbery of the dead\u2014Licentiousness of the people\u2014Idolatries of Madagascar\u2014Worship and sacrifices\u2014The god of the tangena or poiso\u2014Its mercenary character<\/li>
    2. Arrival of the first missionaries on the coast of Madagascar\u2014Fearful ravages of illness and death\u2014Renewal of the mission at the capital under the auspices of Radama\u2014The English language taught in the first schools\u2014Radama’s letter to the Missionary Society\u2014Alarm of parents respecting their children\u2014The native langl\\age reduced to writing\u2014Arrival of missionary artisans\u2014The native language taught in the schools\u2014Commencement of public Christian worship on the Lord’s day\u2014Wide extension of education-Increasing attendance at the Sunday services\u2014Singing introduced into Christian worship\u2014Arrival of tha first printing press\u2014Review of the first ten years of the mission\u2014Death of Radama\u2014Assassination of his successor and friends\u2014Ranavalona placed on the throne\u2014The character and reign of Radama<\/li>
    3. Destruction of Radama’s family\u2014Drafting of scholars into the army \u2014Appeal of the queen to the idols at her coronation\u2014The New Testament and other books printed\u2014Attention of the people to religious teaching\u2014Baptism and partaking of the Lord’s Supper by the first converts\u2014Disapproval of Christian fellowship by the government\u2014Formation of the first churches of Madagascar\u2014Officers, soldiers, and scholars in the government schools, forbidden to receive baptism or unite with the church\u2014Christian officer accused of witchcraft, and subjected to drink the ordeal of poison\u2014Masters forbidden to allow their slaves to read\u2014Conversion and death of a young slave\u2014Refusal of Christian soldiers to acknowledge the idols\u201430,000 readers, the result of ten years’ educational labour-Idols rejected\u2014Description of a Malagasy idol\u2014Evidences of the power of the gospel among the people\u2014Efficiency of native agency\u2014Disastrous end of a teacher of a new religion<\/li>
    4. Christian refusal to offer heathen sacrifice\u2014False accusation of preaching sedition\u2014A national assembly summoned\u2014Christian worship declared unlawful\u2014Missionaries forbidden to teach Christianity\u2014Christians required to accuse themselves\u2014Books to be given up\u2014Stedfastness of the Christians\u2014Their noble confession before the judges\u2014Midnight meetings for prayer\u2014Translation of the Scriptures\u2014Compilation of dictionaries\u2014Translation of “Pilgrim’s Progress”\u2014Last missionaries leave the country-Aocusation against Rafaravavy and her companions<\/li>
    5. Arrest of Rafaravavy\u2014Confession of Paul before the judges\u2014A Christian’s feelings on the way to execution\u2014Fearful conflagration in the city\u2014Postponement of Rafaravavy’s execution\u2014Arrest, examination, and execution of the second martyr\u2014Torture of his wife\u2014Flight of Rafaravavy and her companions\u2014Perils and suffering\u2014Honesty of Christian slaves\u2014Flight of the Christians to Tamalave\u2014Safe embarkation\u2014Their song of praise to God\u2014Welcomes in London and among the churches in England\u2014Their return to Mauritius\u2014Capture, torture, and execution of the praying people in the capital\u2014Friendship among the Christians\u2014Condition of the fugitives in Madagascar<\/li>
    6. Attempt of the Christians to reach the coast\u2014Their capture on the road\u2014Remarkable escape of two prisoners\u2014Execution of the rest\u2014Influence of public executions on the people\u2014Extreme affection of the Christian captives, and cheerful death of Christians at Vonizongo\u2014Savage execution of Raharo and his friends\u2014Death of Rev. David Johns\u2014The Prince Royal’s friendship to the Christians\u2014His efforts in their favour\u2014Kindness of Prince Ramonja\u2014Severe persecution in 1849\u2014Noble confession of the Christians\u2014The faithful Ranivo\u2014The burning of the nobles\u2014The hurling over the precipice of the Christians\u2014Vast number punished<\/li>
    7. Severity of Prince Ramonja’s punishment\u2014Convict labour of Christian officers\u2014Kindness of the princes to the Christians\u2014Numbers of the Christians\u2014Voyage of Messrs. Cameron and Ellis to Madagascar\u2014Opening the ports to foreign commerce\u2014Second visit to Madagascar\u2014Protracted intercourse with Christians from the capital\u2014Visit to Mahavelona\u2014Correspondence with Christians at the capital\u2014Andriambelo\u2014Midnight meetings with the Christians\u2014Want of the Scriptures\u2014Third visit to Madagascar\u2014Arrival at the capital\u2014Reception by the government\u2014Statement of the object of visit\u2014Interviews with the prince and Ramonja<\/li>
    8. Favourable effect of message of friendship from England\u2014Visits to remarkable places\u2014Interview with the commander-in-chief\u2014The queen’s hospitality\u2014Deeply affecting recitals of sufferings of the Christians\u2014Hopes inspired by the results of persecution in other countries\u2014Conferences and prayer with the leaders of the Christians\u2014Social life among the disciples\u2014The prevalence of prayer\u2014Times and places of united worship\u2014Christians from Vonizongo\u2014Conversation with the young-Visit of Mr. Lambert to the capital, and his statemeuts to the Christians\u2014Places where the martyrs suffered\u2014Farewell visit from the prince and princess\u2014Last night with the Christians\u2014Departure from Madagascar and return to England\u2014Review of the progress and state of Christianity in the country\u2014Return of Mr. Lambert to the capital\u2014The last persecution-Numbers implicated\u2014Barbarity of the executions\u2014Illness and death of the queen\u2014Notice of her character and reign<\/li>
    9. The end of the persecutions-Radama II. proclaimed king\u2014Proclamation of religious liberty\u2014The exiles and Christians in fetters recalled\u2014The claims of the idols disregarded\u2014The use of the tangena and sorcery abolished\u2014The king’s orders for the administration of justice\u2014His treatment of the conquered races\u2014His want of better counsellors\u2014Increase of intemperance in the country\u2014Return of French traders and priests\u2014Voyage to Mauritius\u2014First movement towards the erection of memorial churches\u2014Letter to the king on the subject\u2014Arrival in Madagascar\u2014Journey to the capital\u2014Interview with the king and queen\u2014Visits from the widows and children of the martyrs\u2014Prince Ramonja and the Prime Minister-Visit to Amhohipotsy and Ampamarinana\u2014First Sunday in the capital-Deliveranoe from dread of slavery<\/li>
    10. Teaching English\u2014The king not a Christian\u2014Early commencement of abbath services\u2014Conversations with the Christians\u2014Influences favouring the reception of the gospel\u2014Family religion\u2014Parental attention to the young\u2014The mother’s good influence\u2014Statistics of the progressive increase of the Christians during the successive persecutions\u2014Astonishing results\u2014Influence of character\u2014Arrival of foreign embassies\u2014Visits to the places where the martyrs suffered\u2014Present to the English embassy\u2014Notice of a converted warrior priest\u2014Introduction of the gospel to Betsileo-Description of the idols\u2014Satisfactory conversation with the Bishop of Mauritius respecting Church of England missionaries\u2014Views of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel respecting Madagascar\u2014Principles on which Scriptures were distributed among the people<\/li>
    11. Welcome of the missionaries from England-United communion\u2014Liberality of the English embassy\u2014The sacred city of Ambohimanga\u2014Sabbath services in the city-Death of Malagasy chieftains\u2014Organization of native churches\u2014Titles given for sites of memorial churches\u2014First church at Ankadibevava\u2014Uneasiness in the capital\u2014Pretended supernatural messages to the king\u2014The dancing sickness\u2014Warnings of danger-Remonstrance of the nobles\u2014Revolution\u2014Death of the king-Reflections on his character\u2014Accession of Rasoherina\u2014Germs of constitutional government\u2014Religious liberty continued\u2014The first missionary prayer meeting\u2014Visits of Christians from the north-Extensive and beneficial influence of the medical department of the mission<\/li>
    12. Coronation of Rasoherina\u2014Rumours respecting Radama\u2014First public recognition of the Christians\u2014Religious services at Ambohimanga during the queen’s visit-Christian procession to the palace on Christmas day\u2014Review of the events of the year\u2014Opening of the central school\u2014Visit to Vonizongo\u2014Employment of native preachers\u2014The Christians at Betsileo\u2014Instance of the power of the gospel\u2014Chapel at Ambohitantely\u2014Historical statistics of Ilafy\u2014Visit to the Martyrs’ Home\u2014Chapels opened in the capital\u2014Return of a captured slave to her home\u2014Christians at Imerinamandrosa\u2014Scene of the martyrs’ suffering<\/li>
    13. Bereavements of the Mission\u2014New churches and increased attendance\u2014Introduction of public Christian marriage\u2014 Visit to Lazaina\u2014Notice of Ranivo’s family-Treaty with England-Queen Victoria’s message and Queen Rasoherina’s reply\u2014Journey to the west\u2014Reinforcement of the mission\u2014Departure of Mr. Ellis \u2014Prosperous close of the year\u2014Opening of the first memorial church\u2014Its influence on the people\u2014Welcome arrival of missionariea from the Friends\u2014The queen’s visit to the coast\u2014Zealous efforts of the Christians among the heathen\u2014Return of the queen to the capital\u2014Results of the prei.ching of the gospel\u2014Remarkable increase of the Christians at the close of the year<\/li>
    14. Illness of the queen\u2014Failure of the conspiracy to change the dynasty\u2014Death of the queen\u2014Proclamation of her successor\u2014Trial and punishment of the conspirators\u2014Ranavalona’s refusal to acknowledge the priests, idoh, and diviners\u2014Edicts respecting the Sabbath\u2014Christian worship within the precincts of the palace\u2014General religions awakening among the people\u2014Missionary visit to Fianarantsoa\u2014Buildings of stone and bricks authorized in the capital\u2014Multitudes assembled at the coronation\u2014The crown and the Bible\u2014Speech of the queen\u2014Declaration of religious liberty\u2014Influence of the coronation\u2014Opening of the second memorial church\u2014Presence of the queen and court\u2014Review of the year\u2014Baptism of the queen and prime minister\u2014Religious services within the palace\u2014The queen and prime minister partake of the Lord’s Snpper\u2014Training of a native ministry\u2014Mr. Sewell’s testimony\u2014Spread of the gospel in Betsileo\u2014Foundation-stone of the Chapel Royal\u2014Fifty years of missionary labour in Madagascar\u2014Their glorious resulte-Madagascar in 1869-Inadequacy of present missionary agencies\u2014Appeal for help<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n