Tweet

Dari Sejarah Alkitab Indonesia

LAPORAN KETIGA CALCUTTA AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY

Komite Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society, didirikan di pemerintahan negara ini pada Februari 1811. Komite melakukan sebuah bagian yang menyenangkan dari tugas mereka untuk melaporkan pada Perhimpunan itu, laporan mereka selama setahun terakhir; dengan sebuah perhitungan pemasukan dan pengeluaran, memperhatikan jumlah dan kontribusi untuk amal Lembaga ini; sebuah tujuan kedermawanan yang murni, kewajiban untuk mempromosikan yang sekarang hampir secara universal diakui di seluruh dunia Kristen; dan contoh sederhana untuk mencapainya, yang dibatasi oleh rancangan khusus oleh Perhimpunan untuk memenuhi permintaan terkini akan kitab suci, diantara mereka yang baru saja menganut Kekristenan, harus secara efektis menjaga hal itu dari setiap keberatan yang wajar.

Sebuah edisi Kitab Suci dalam Bahasa Melayu, yang pertama diusulkan kepada komite, melalui sepucuk surat dari Mr. George Livett, penduduk Ambon, yang dialamatkan pada salah satu anggota komite, (Mr. Egerton) dan disampaikan kemudian. Dalam surat ini, setelah menyebutkan kejutan menyenangkan ketika menemukan "agama Kristen telah berdiri dan tersebar di antara penduduk asli;" keberadaan sebuah gereja; dan "di setiap desa, seorang kepala sekolah, gembala, dan rumah-rumah pertemuan;" tambah Mr. Livett, orang-orang "sangat menginginkan Alkitab, namun tak bisa mendapatkannya: alkitab yang mereka miliki, dicetak di Batavia, dalam Bahasa Melayu, dan huruf latin, dan orang-orang berusaha mempelajarinya. Terdapat sejumlah orang Kristen di setiap pulau; dan kekristenan adalah agama tetap di Maluku." Komite, menerima informasi ini, (pada Juni 1813) menjadi sadar sepenuhnya akan pentingnya menyuplai orang-orang Kristen di Ambon dan pulau-pulau sekitarnya, dengan Kitab Suci berbahasa Melayu, hal itu segera menjadi sebuah usaha untuk menetapkan sebuah pencetakan suatu edisi dalam bahasa tersebut; namun kemudian ditangguhkan untuk mengambil langkah-langkah berikutnya, sampai mereka dapat menentukan dari versi apa edisi tersebut harus dicetak.

Sebuah salinan dari Alkitab Melayu, yang dicetak di Amsterdam, dibawah perlindungan Dutch East-India Company, pada tahun 1731 dan 1733, (yaitu Perjanjian Baru di awal dan Perjanjian Lama kemudian,) segera setelah diterima dari Mr. Livett, dengan sepucuk surat darinya kepada Panitera, yang terbaca, "Di setiap pulau terdapat sedikit perbedaan antara bahasa yang digunakan oleh penduduk asli, sebagai bahasa yang kasar, dan Melayu murni yang asli; namun perbedaan tersebut tidak terlalu dianggap, dan mudah diatasi, terutama oleh kaum muda, dengan bantuan para kepala sekolah, seperti yang telah disebutkan sebelumnya. Saya menganggap edisi yang sekarang sebagai edisi yang memenuhi kaidah bahasa, yang tidak boleh diubah, dan dapat menjadi sarana untuk mengembalikan kemurniannya, yang, di beberapa tempat, edisi itu, dalam beberapa hal, ada yang hilang." Komite senang menerima suatu jenis Alkitab Melayu yang diusulkan untuk dicetak ulang ini, dari seorang pria yang berasal dari tempat dimana edisi itu dipakai. Namun mengingat bahwa versi yang paling akuratlah yang harus dipakai, salah satu anggota komite (Mr. Forbes) meminta seorang pria Belanda, di Chinsurah, (Mr. Greg. Herklots) untuk membuat sebuah penyelidikan penuh atas hal ini; hasilnya kemudian disampaikan dalam sebuah surat dari Mr. Herklots kepada Mr. Forbes, yang disertai dengan sebuah sejarah singkat tentang versi terjemahan Alkitab Bahasa Melayu, yang dicetak di Amsterdam, pada tahun 1731 dan 1733, dari dimulainya sampai selesainya. Narasi ini, diterjemahkan oleh Mr. Herklots, dari "sebuah cerita akan terjemahan, revisi, dan publikasi terbaru dari Alkitab Bahasa Melayu," yang digabungkan dengan tata bahasa Melayu dan Bahasa Belanda, oleh Mr. George Hendrick Werndly, yang merupakan salah satu penerjemah Alkitab, harus menunggu cukup lama untuk diperkenalkan di tempat ini; namun sebuah abstrak disertakan juga, dengan surat Mr. Herklots, dalam lampiran. Komite merasa bahwa mereka sendiri sangat berhutang kepada pria ini untuk sebuah dokumen yang bagi mereka sangat penting, seperti ketika keunggulan karya digambarkan di dalamnya; penghormatan untuk orang yang terlibat dalam pekerjaan itu, juga untuk pemerintah yang melindunginya, dan mendapatkan animo semua orang yang dapat menghargai sekelompok orang yang memiliki bakat, semangat, dan kesabaran, yang dilaksanakan dalam fungsi yang sakral untuk melakukan penerjemahan yang setia pada Kitab Suci.

Pada saat yang bersamaan, di hadapan Komite terdapat sebuah dokumen yang merujuk bahwa sudah tidak ada keraguan lagi untuk mengadaptasi edisi Amsterdam, untuk menghasilkan berbagai salinan Alkitab Bahasa Melayu dinilai tepat untuk mencetak ulangnya dalam huruf latin, sebuah surat yang diterima oleh Panitera dari Mr. W. B. Martyn, penduduk Ambon, yang bertanggal 23 Februari, 1813, yang mana Komite menganggapnya perlu untuk memperhatikannya, sebagai informasi untuk Perhimpunan, dalam istilah berikut ini: "Setelah lama berkeinginan menarik perhatian Saudara-saudara sebangsa saya di India, demi pengembangan kerohanian dan moral penduduk asli pula, saya disarankan untuk, dengan mengatasnamakan saya sendiri pada Auxiliary Society di India untuk memperkenalkan penyebaran Kita Suci, saya tidak hanya harus mencari metode yang sesuai dengan tujuan saya, namun saya juga harus berkontribusi pada tujuan amal yang dilembagakan oleh Perhimpunan. Untuk memungkinkan Anda untuk membentuk penilaian yang benar akan keuntungan yang mungkin diperoleh dari penduduk asli Ambon, dari perluasan hal ini akan berarti pada meningkatnya pengajaran dan penambahan jumlah Alkitab, yang diperintahkan oleh Perhimpunan, perlu juga untuk memberithau Anda, bahwa sekumpulan besar mayoritas penduduk asli Ambon, serta pulau-pulau yang bergantung kepadanya, yang terputus dari akses akan pengajaran yang memadai, dalam berbagai kewajiban agama yang mereka anut; namun siapa yang akan merasakan pertumbuhan karakter kekristenan mereka, merangkul mereka yang terbuang, dengan kerinduan dan penerimaan penuh kasih, dan dengan sebuah perasaan adil dan bersyukur yang dianugrahkan kepada mereka, berbagai kesempatan dan meningkatnya semangat dan kebajikan pada tuan mereka yang tercerahkan mungkin meminta mereka untuk membayarnya. Keadaan dan kondisi setempat, dan semangat serta kecenderungan lembaga-lembaga setempat, secara khusus menguntungkan untuk konfirmasi dan penyebaran prinsip-prinsip dan kebiasaan-kebiasaan keagamaan di kalangan penduduk asli pulau-pulau tersebut. Sekolah-sekolah untuk pendidikan anak-anak telah lama didirikan di bawah perlindungan pemerintah di setiap kabupaten. Sekolah-sekolah ini diawasi oleh orang-orang yang ditunjuk dan secara teratur digaji oleh Pemerintah, demi melaksanakan kewajiban ini. Kepala sekolah juga menjabat sebagai pendeta; dan terdapat sebuah gereja di setiap desa. Adalah kewajiban Bupati setiap wilayah untuk meminta penduduk di bawah kekuasaan untuk menyuruh anak-anak mereka pergi ke sekolah setiap hari, dan untuk menegakkan ketepatan waktu dalam kehadiran mereka pada peribadatan, di bawah bayangan kerugian, terus menerus secara rutin dan baik terus dilakukan di banyak gereja. Selain keinginan yang besar akan Alkitab berbahasa Melayu, dimana hanya sedikit saja salinan yang dimiliki oleh penduduk asli, kurang memadainya kemampuan para kepala sekolah, dan kemustahilan untuk mengadakan banyak hal yang lain di Ambon, merupakan masalah-masalah yang menjadi pemikiran mereka yang dengan tulus tertarik pada kesejahteraan, dan mengkhawatirkan pertumbuhan para penduduk asli; dan saya diyakinkan, bahwa tidaklah perlu bagi saya untuk menyarankan Anda, orang yang sangat diperhatikan oleh Perhimpunan, keuntungan yang akan dihasilkan dari pelayanan dua-tiga orang mampu yang saleh dan terhormat, yang mungkin dipekerjakan dibawah pengawasan dan saknsi dari pemerintah setempat, dalam mengawasi dan memimpin pendidikan para penduduk setempat di sekolah-sekolah, yang telah didirikan untuk tujuan tersebut. Mengenai keakuratan terjemahan Alkitab Bahasa Melayu, yang sekarang berada di tangan mereka, dan yang dilaksanakan di bawah perlindungan pemerintah Belanda, saya tidak memiliki hak untuk mengemukakan pendapat; namun saya diberitahu oleh mereka yang mampu menghargai ciri khas edisi itu, bahwa edisi itu ditulis dengan kemurnian dan keluwesan, meski menggunakan gaya bahasa yang tinggi daripada yang sesuai dengan kemampuan para penduduk asli. Alkitab tersebut dicetak dalam huruf latin; dan saya akan sungguh-sungguh merekomendasikan sebanyak mungkin salinan Alkitab tersebut dalam huruf jenis ini, karena biayanya telah disediakan agar tujuannya terpenuhi, dan saya tidak ragu tentang hal itu bahwa hal ini akan semakin meningkat dengan diberikannya kebebasan oleh Pemerintah, untuk dicetak dan disebarkan ke Ambon, dengan sedikit penundaan yang mungkin terjadi. Alasan saya untuk merekomendasikannya adalah, jumlah salinan tambahan yang diperlukan haruslah dicetak dalam huruf latin adalah karena, penggunaan huruf Melayu, terutama di kalangan sebagian orang Kristen dalam masyarakat, telah seluruhnya digantikan oleh huruf latin, yang hanya diajarkan di sekolah, yang secara umum diajukan sebagai komunikasi tertulis di sekolah. Hal ini hanyalah usaha saya untuk meyakinkan Anda, bahwa setiap sentimen akan kewajiban pribadi dan kewajiban publik akan melibatkan persetujuan saya yang tulus dan penuh semangat dalam hal-hal tersebut, yang mungkin diadaptasi untuk mempromosikan peningkatan moral, kemampuan baca-tulis, dan kerohanian para penduduk asli pulau-pulau tersebut: dan sebagai proses pelaksanaan peningkatan tersebut tidak akan berpengaruh pada kepribadian mereka, dan kondusif juga untuk mendukung kepentingan pemerintah Inggris, dan yang lebih esensial, pada industri, kemakmuran, dan kebahagiaan para penduduk asli, saya puas, bahwa dengan menerjemahkan pengaruh kekuasaan saya untuk memenuhi pemenuhan tujuan yang manusiawi dan bermanfaat tersebut, saya harus memenuhi salah satu tugas yang paling sakral dari posisi saya dalam masyarakat, dan bertindak dalam ketaatan yang ketat pada pandangan- pandangan dan harapan-harapan pemerintah yang agung.

Sebagai pertimbangan untuk surat di atas, dengan sebuah pertimbangan lain dari pria yang sama, disertai dengan sebuah ketetapan yang bebas dari dirinya sendiri dan sesamanya," untuk memperkenalkan penyebaran Kitab Suci di antara orang-orang Kristen di Ambon dan pulau-pulau sekitarnya," dan sebuah perkiraan dari pengawas pers dari Serampone, (Mr. W. Ward) pada biaya yang dihabiskan untuk mencetak Alkitab Bahasa Melayu dan Perjanjian (Baru-Penerj) secara berturut-turut, ungkap Komite, (2 Agustus 1813)" bahwa 3000 salinan Alkitab dicetak, dalam ukuran kuarto, menurut contoh yang diterima dari Ambon, dan bahwa 3000 salinan Perjanjian Baru telah dicetak dalam ukuran "ocatvo," untuk digunakan di sekolah-sekolah.

Biaya yang dikalkulasikan untuk edisi tersebut sekitar 32.000 Rupee, dan biaya ini akan sangat menekan keuangan Perhimpunan, disamping berbagai keterlibatan mereka yang lain, yang pada saat yang bersamaan harus ditangani, bahwa salinan surat Mr. Martin, dan mengenai informasi yang diperoleh mengenai Alkitab Bahasa Melayu yang dicetak di Amsterdam, harus dikumpulkan, dengan sebuah permohonan akan bantuan keuangan, pada Yang Terhormat Gubernur Jendral di Dewan; ketertarikan akan hal ini baru saja terwujud oleh mereka yang berkecimpung dalam pendidikan di Ambon, dengan didirikannya sekolah-sekolah dan didukung dengan perlindungan pemerintah, mendorong harapan, bahwa beberapa pendampingan akan segera diperoleh untuk memenuhi tujuan yang diusulkan oleh Perhimpunan ini, untuk memperkenalkan peningkatan moral dan kebahagiaan orang Kristen di Ambon karenanya, dan pulau-pulau sekitarnya yang tunduk pada kekuasaan Inggris.

Sebagai jawaban untuk usulan ini, Komite telah diberitahu oleh Menteri Urusan Kolonial kepada pemerintah, posisinya dalam Dewan, "menimbang bahwa tujuan yang ada sangatlah terpuji dan penting, dan Pemerintah berkeinginan untuk mempromosikan keberhasilannya sejauh diijinkan oleh kondisi dan situasi, telah ditentukan oleh posisinya ia harus menyumbang sejumlah 10000 Sicca Rupee, sebagai perusahaan yang terhormat, dalam rangka membiayai biaya penerbitan sebuah versi Kitab Suci dalam bahasa Melayu." Sangatlah dimengerti bahwa sebuah Perhimpunan pria-pria terhormat di Batavia telah terlibat dalam usaha yang sama, dan sebagai tujuan besar dari dua Perhimpunan mereka mungkin akan dipromosikan berdasarkan ringkasan mereka dalam konser, yang pada saat yang bersamaan direkomendasikan, bahwa mereka seharusnya terus berhubungan dengan hal ini; dan Panitera menyimpulkan bahwa dengan memperkenalkan Komite, kemudian hasilnya "akan dilaporkan kepada Gubernur Jendral di Dewan, kekuasaannya akan menentukan contoh yang paling disarankan dari jumlah yang akan diberikan oleh pemerintah untuk mencapai tujuan yang menguntungkan ini."

Sepucuk surat (bertanggal 18 September 1813, dan disertakan dalam lampiran)yang ditulis untuk Presiden Perhimpunan Seni dan Ilmu Pengetahuan di Batavia, menginformasikan seluruh hal-hal yang disebutkan di atas, dan meminta informasi mengenai tujuan-tujuan Perhimpunan tersebut, dengan perhatian kepada sebuah Kitab Suci dalam Bahasa Melayu; terutama apakah Kitab Suci itu dimaksudkan untuk berjenis Arab, dan jika demikian, dan apakah permintaan akan sebuah edisi dalam jenis latin akan terbatas untuk Ambon dan darah- daerah sekitarnya. Sementara itu Komite menangguhkannya.

Dalam sebuah makalah yang ditulis oleh Dr. J. Leyden kemudian, pada bahasa dan literatur bangsa-bangsa Indochina, dan diterbitkan dalam terbitan ke-10 Transaction of the Asiatic Society, dia mencatat "versi lengkap Alkitab, yang diterbitkan di Amsterdam pada 1733;" dan menambahkan, "versi ini sekali lagi diterbitkan dengan gaya Arab, dengan tambahan dari surat-surat aneh yang berbahasa Melayu, di Batavia, dalam lima terbitan, octavo, 1758, di bawah pengarahan Jacob Mossel, Gubernur Jendral daerah-daerah penguasaan Belanda di India Timur."

Mencetak edisi yang diinginkan dari 3000 Alkitab Bahasa Melayu, sampai informasi ini diterima; namun dibhas juga "bahwa pencetakan Alkitab Bahasa Melayu, demi kebaikan sekolah-sekolah di Ambon, harus diteruskan;" dan walaupun pelaksanaan pekerjaan ini sulit, dari jumlah surat-surat yang beraksen kedaerahan, tidak diragukan lagi bahwa setiap halangan akan diatasi dan edisi ini akan selesai sebelum akhir tahun ini.

Laporan kerja Komite ini, sejak Pertemuan Tahunan yang terkahir, akan, mereka percaya, memuaskan para dermawan, yang telah bermurah hati mendorong tujuan Lembaga ini, bahwa di bawah berkat Tuhan yang Maha Melihat dan Maha Kuasa, sumbangan mereka tidak akan sia-sia. Komite telah mengakui dua kontribusi tahun yang lalu; satu dari Kitab Suci edisi Bahasa Armenia dan yang lain dari edisi Bahasa Melayu. Mereka sangat senang untuk memperkenalkan Perhimpunan, yang walaupun lingkungan sekitar belum mengakui pendirian Auxiliary Society di Madras, (pada masa pemerintahan ini, Bombay dan Colombo,) sebuah pengumpulan dana yang hampir berjumlah 7000 Rupee telah diterima dari beberapa orang pada pembukaan cabang di Madras, atau orang-orang yang tinggal di daerah yang berada di bawah kekuasaan pemerintah Fort St. George. Sejumlah 1000 dollar juga telah diberikan untuk pembelian dan penyaluran Kitab Suci dalam bahasa- bahasa daerah di Asia, oleh asosiasi orang saleh dan baik hati di Amerika, yang didirikan di bawah Dewan Komisaris Amerika untuk Misi Luar Negeri. Jumlah di atas telah dikirim oleh Bendahara Dewan kepada sebuah Komite orang-orang terhormat pada pemerintahan saat ini, yang, menimbang tujuan yang telah ditetapkan, walaupun sangatlah tepat untuk membagikannya kepada sekelompok misionaris di Serampore; karena merekalah banyak edisi Kitab Suci telah diterjemahkan, dicetak, dan diterbitkan; dan untuk menyajikan penggunaan lain uang yang disumbangkan oleh Perhimpunan ini. Sumbangan telah dibuat menjadi tindakan nyata lembaga ini, penyaluran Kitab Suci, pada mereka yang memerlukannya, Komite, atas nama Perhimpunan, telah dengan penuh rasa syukur menerimanya. Mereka memandang tidak perlu untuk menyebutkan dengan terang-terangan setiap dermawan tahun lalu. Seluruhnya akan muncul dalam daftar yang terlampir; dan mereka dengan tulus memberi ucapan selamat kepada perhimpunan untuk pencapaian besar sejumlah 40.000 Sicca Rupee, (eksklusif dari 10000 Rupee diharapkan dari Prekumpulan yang Terhormat demi Kitab Suci Bahasa Melayu,) harus disesuaikan untuk tujuan amal untuk kebutuhan saudara-saudara Kristen akan pengajaran agama dan moral, dan untuk mendapatkan, melalui anugrah Ilahi, sebuah pengetahuan yang disingkapkan dari Firman Tuhan. Jumlah yang ditentukan, sebesar itu, dengan jumlah sumbangan sebelumnya yang belum ditambahkan, tidak lebih dari cukup untuk melakukan apa yang telah dijanjikan atau diusulkan: dan dalam bidang yang luas yang dianut oleh berbagai pandangan kedermawanan Perhimpunan ini, banyak panggilan baru tidak diragukan lagi menekan atasnya demi sebuah sumbangan amal, untuk melampaui batas yang diperhitungkan pada saat ini. Komite, kemudian, dengan yakin meminta keberlanjutan sumbangan yang telah begitu nyata dari para dermawan asing terhadap Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society; dan akan menyimpulkan Laporan ini, dengan kutipan-kutipan selanjutnya dari sebuah surat yang ditulis dengan atas nama British and Foreign Bible Society, oleh sekretaris mereka Pdt. Mr. Owen, yang telah diterima selama setahun terakhir: "Kami merasakan diri kami terbeban dengan sebuah tanggung jawab berat karena perjanjian yang telah kami buat di hadapan Tuhan dan dunia, untuk mempromosikan dengan sekuat tenaga kita firmanNya yang kudus. Bantu kami dengan kemampuan Anda, dalam melaksanakan kewajiban- kewajiban yang memiliki upah yang luar biasa dimana kita berkomitmen di dalamnya, dan bersandar pada keyakinan kita akan kerjasama kita yang aktif, bebas, dan tidak mengenal lelah."

---

Extract from the Appendix: AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATEST TRANSLATION, REVISION, AND PRINTING OF THE MALAY BIBLE.

THIRD REPORT OF THE CALCUTTA AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

The Committee of the Auxiliary Bibie Society, established at this Presidency in February 1811, perform a pleasing part of their duty iu laying before the Society a Report of their Proceedings during the past year; with an account of receipts and disbursements, shewing the appropriation of the amount, contributed for the charitable and pious object of this Institution; an object of genuine philanthropy, the obligations to promote which are now almost universally acknowledged throughout the Christian world; and the simple mode of attaining which, restricted as it is by the special design of this Society to supply the actual demand for the Scriptures, amongst those who already profess Christianity, must effectually guard it against every reasonable objection.

<CUT>

<PG=351>

An edition of the Scriptures in the Malay language, was first suggested to the Committee, by a letter from Mr. George Livett, resident at Amboyna, addressed to one of their members, (Mr. Egerton,) and communicated by the latter. In this address, after mentioning his agreeable surprize at finding " the Christian religion established and flourishing among the natives;" the existence of a church; and "at every village of any consideration a school-master, or pastor, and meeting-houses;" Mr. Livett remarks, that the people "are much in want of Bibles, not one being procurable: what they have, were printed at Batavia, in the Malay language, and Roman character, which the people learn to understand. There are numbers of Christians in every island; and it is the established religion of the Maluccas." The Committee, on receipt of this information, (in June 1813,) being fully sensible of the importance of supplying the Christians in Amboyna and the adjacent Islands, with the Malay Scriptures, came to an immediate determination of printing an edition in that language; but suspended taking measures for the purpose, till they could ascertain from what version the edition should be printed.

A copy of the Malay Bible, printed at Amsterdam, under the patronage of the Dutch East-India Company, in the years 1731 and 1733, (viz. the New Testament in the former, and the Old Testament in the latter year,) was soon afterwards received from Mr. Livett, with a letter from him to the Secretary, in which it was observed, " In every Island some small degree of difference exists between the language used by the natives, as a vulgar tongue, and the genuine pure Malay; but the difference is by no means considerable, and easily conquered, especially by the younger part, by the assistance of school-masters, as before mentioned. I consider the present edition as a standard of the language, which should by no means be altered, and may be the means of restoring it to that purity, which, in some places, it is, in some measure, losing." The Committee were happy in receiving this character of the Malay Bible proposed to be reprinted, from a gentleman residing on the spot where it had been used. But considering it to be of the greatest consequence that the most accurate version should be adopted, one of their members (Mr. Forbes) requested a Dutch gentleman, at Chinsurah, (Mr. Greg. Herklots) to make a full inquiry on the subject; the result of which was communicated in a letter from Mr. Herklots to Mr. Forbes, accompanied by a minute history of the Malay version of the Scriptures, printed at Amsterdam, in the years 1731 and 1733, from its commencement till its completion. This narrative, translated by Mr. Herklots, from " an account of the latest translation, revision, and publication of the Malay Bible," annexed to a Malay and Dutch Grammar, by Mr. George Hendrick Werndly, himself one of the translators of the Scriptures, is too long to be introduced in this place; but an abstract is inserted, with the letter of Mr. Herklots, in the Appendix. The Committee felt themselves highly indebted to this gentleman for a document which appeared to <PG=352> them decisive, as to the excellence of the work described in it; honourable to the persons engaged in that work, as well as to the Government who patronized it, and interesting to all who can appreciate a rare union of talents, zeal, and patience, exercised in the sacred function of exhibiting a faithful Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

At the same time that the Committee had before them the important document above referred to, which left no room for hesitation in adopting the Amsterdam edition, for whatever copies of the Malay Bible it might be judged proper to re-print in the Roman character, a letter was received by the Secretary from Mr. W. B. Martyn, the resident at Amboyna, dated 23d February, 1813, which the Committee think it proper to recite at length, for the information of the Society, in the following terms: "Having been long desirous of attracting the attention of my countrymen in India, to the religious and moral improvement of the natives of these islands, it has been suggested to me, that by addressing myself to the Auxiliary Society established in India for promoting the circulation of the Scriptures, I should not only be pursuing the most likely method of securing the attainment of my object, but that I should also be contributing to the accomplishment of the beneficent purposes for which that Society was instituted. To enable you to form a correct judgment of the probable advantages that would be derived to the natives of Amboyna, from the extension to this island of those means of Biblical instruction and improvement, to which the views of the Society are directed, it may be necessary to inform you, that a large majority of the inhabitants of Amboyna, and of the islands which are immediately dependant on it, is composed of Christians, who are cut off from every source of adequate instruction, in the duties of the religion which they profess; but who feel the elevation of their Christian character, and who are disposed to embrace, with eager and affectionate acknowledgment, and with a just and grateful sense of the value of the benefit conferred on them, such opportunities and means of improvement as the zeal and benevolence of their enlightened superiors may prompt them to afford. The state of local circumstances, and the spirit and tendency of local institutions, are peculiarly favourable to the confirmation and diffusion of religious principles and habits among the natives of these islands. Schools for the education of children have been long established under the patronage of Government in every district. These schools are superintended by persons who are specifically appointed and regularly paid by Government, for the performance of this duty. The school-masters likewise officiate as chaplains; and there is a church in every village. It is the duty of the Regent of the district to require the inhabitants placed under his authority to send their children daily to the schools, and to enforce punctuality in their attendance on Divine worship, which, under every disadvantage, continues to be regularly and decently performed in the several churches. In <PG=353> addition to the great want of Bibles in the Malay language, of which a few copies only still remain in the possession of the natives, the deficiency of qualified school-masters, and the impossibility of procuring others at Amboyna, are subjects of just concern to those who are sincerely interested in the welfare, and anxious for the improvement of the natives; and I am persuaded, that it is unnecessary for me to suggest to you, as an object highly deserving the attention of the Society, the advantage that would result from the services of two or three able, respectable, and pious individuals, who might be employed under the countenance and sanction of the local government, in superintending and directing the education of the natives in the schools, which have already been established for that purpose. Of the accuracy of the Malay translation of the Bible, which is now in their possession, and which was executed under the patronage of the Dutch government, I am not competent to deliver an opinion; but I am informed by those who are capable of appreciating it's merits, that it is written with purity and elegance, though in a style of greater elevation, than is generally suitable to the capacity of the natives. The Bible is printed in the Roman character; and I would earnestly recommend, that as many copies of it in that character, as the funds which have been provided for that purpose will admit, and which I have no doubt will be increased by the liberal contribution of the Supreme Government, may be printed and transmitted to Amboyna, with as little delay as may be practicable. My reason for recommending, that the additional copies required should be printed in the Roman character, is, that the use of the Malay character, especially among the Christian part of the community, has been entirely superseded by that of the Roman alphabet, which has alone been taught in the schools, and in which accordingly the generality of their written communications is indited. It only remains for me to assure you, that every sentiment of private obligation and of public duty will engage my cordial and zealous concurrence in such measures, as may be adopted for promoting the moral, literary, and religious improvement of the natives of these islands : and as the progress of that improvement will be no less honourable to the character, and conducive to the interests of the British Government, than essential, to the industry, prosperity, and happiness of the natives, I am satisfied, that by rendering the influence of my authority subservient to the accomplishment of that humane and salutary object, I shall be fulfilling one of the most sacred duties of my public station, and acting in strict conformity to the views and expectations of the Supreme Government."

On consideration of the above letter, with another from the same gentleman, accompanying a very liberal subscription from himself and others, " for promoting the circulation of the Scriptures among the Christian inhabitants of Amboyna and it's dependencies," and an estimate from the superintendent of the Serampore press, (Mr. W. Ward,) of the expense of printing the Malay <PG=354> Bible and Testament respectively, the Committee resolved, (August 2,1813,) " that 3000 copies of the Bible be printed, in quarto, according to the pattern received from Amboyna, and that 3000 copies of the New Testament be printed in an octavo size, for the use of the schools.

The expense of these editions being calculated at about 32,000 rupees, and as this charge would press heavily on the funds of the Society, in addition to their other engagements, it was at the same time resolved, that copies of Mr. Martin's letters, and of the information obtained respecting the Malay Bible, printed at Amsterdam, should be submitted, with an application for pecuniary aid, to the Right Honourable the Governor General in Council; the interest already manifested by whom in the instruction of the Amboynese, by the schools established and supported under the patronage of Government, encouraged the hope, that some assistance would be readily afforded towards the accomplishment of the object proposed by this Society, for promoting the moral improvement and consequent happiness of the Christian inhabitants of Amboyna, and other islands subject to the British dominion.

In answer to this application, the Committee were informed by the Colonial Secretary to the Government, that his Lordship in Council, "considering the object in view to be extremely laudable and important, and Government being desirous of promoting it's success as far as circumstances permit, it has been determined by his Lordship to contribute the sum of 10,000 sicca rupees, on the part of the Honourable Company, in aid of the fund established to defray the expense of publishing a version of the Holy Scriptures in the Malay language." It being understood, that a Society of gentlemen at Batavia had engaged in a similar undertaking, and as the great object of the two Societies would probably be promoted by their proceeding in concert, it was at the same time recommended, that they should correspond on the subject; and the Secretary concluded with acquainting the Committee, that when the result " shall be reported to the Governor General in Council, his Lordship will decide on the most adviseable mode of applying the sum to be contributed by Government for the attainment of this interesting object."

A letter (dated 18th September, 1813, and inserted in the Appendix) has been accordingly written to the President of the Society of Arts and Sciences at Batavia, communicating the whole of the particulars above mentioned, and requesting information of the intentions of that Society, with respect to an edition of the Malay Scriptures; especially whether it be intended to use the Arabic type, and if so, whether the demand for an edition in the Roman type would be limited to Amboyna and the islands in it's vicinity.{**} In the mean time the Committee have suspended

{{**} In a paper written by the late Dr. J. Leyden, On the Languages and Literature of the Indo Chinese Nations, and published in the 10th volume of the Transactions of the Asiatic Society, he notices the " Complete version of the Bible, published at Amsterdam in 1733;" and adds, "this version was again published in the Arabic character, with the addition of the Malay peculiar letters, at Batavia, in five volumes, octavo, 1758, under the direction of Jacob Mossel, Governor-General of the Dutch possessions in the East-Indies."}

<PG=355> printing the intended edition of 3000 Malay Bibles, till this information be received; but have resolved "that the printing of the Malay Testaments, for the benefit of the Schools in Amboyna, shall proceed;" and although the execution of this work is difficult, from the number of accented letters, they have no doubt that every impediment will be surmounted, and the edition finished in the course of the present year.

This Report of the Committee's proceedings since the last Anniversary Meeting, will, they trust, satisfy every benefactor, who has charitably encouraged the purpose of this Institution, that under the blessing of an all-seeing and over-ruling Providence, his donation has not been bestowed in vain. The Committee have already acknowledged two particular contributions in the past year; one for the Armenian, the other for the Malay Scriptures. They have further great pleasure in acquainting the Society, that although circumstances have not yet admitted of the foundation of an Auxiliary Society at Madras, (as at this Presidency, Bombay, and Colombo,) a subscription of nearly 7000 rupees has been received from several individuals on the Madras Establishment, or residing within the territory subject to the Government of Fort St. George. The sum of 1000 dollars has also been contributed for the purchase and distribution of the Scriptures in the vernacular languages of Asia, by an association of pious and benevolent persons in America, incorporated under the denomination of The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The above sum was remitted by the Treasurer of the Board, to a Committee of gentlemen at this Presidency, who, considering the purpose for which it was designed, thought it proper to allot a moiety to the Missionaries at Serampore; by whom several editions of the Scriptures have been translated, printed, and published; and to present the other moiety in aid of the funds of this Society. The donation being made for the express object of this Institution, the distribution of the Scriptures, to those who require them, the Committee, in behalf of the Society, have thankfully accepted it. They do not consider it necessary to specify any other particular benefactions of the past year. The whole will appear in the annexed list; and they sincerely congratulate the Society on the accession of so large a sum as 40,000 sicca rupees, (exclusive of the 10,000 rupees to be expected from the Honourable Company for the Malay Scriptures,) to be appropriated for the beneficent purpose of extending to their needy Christian brethren the means of religious and moral instruction, and of obtaining, through Divine grace, a knowledge of the revealed Word of God. The sum specified, large as it is, with the amount of former contributions yet unapplied, is not more than <PG=356> adequate to the performance of the engagements already contracted, or proposed: and in so wide a field as that embraced by the benevolent views of this Society, many new calls will undoubtedly press upon it for a participation of it's bounty, to an extent beyond all present means of calculation. The Committee, therefore, confidently solicit a continuance of that liberality which has so eminently distinguished the benefactors to the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society; and will conclude this Report, with the following quotation from a letter, written in behalf of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, by their Secretary the Rev. Mr. Owen, which has been received during the past year: "We feel ourselves charged with a weighty responsibility by the covenant which we have made in the face of God and the world, to promote to the utmost of our power the circulation of his most Holy Word. Aid us by your exertions, in performing the duties of that high dispensation which is committed to us, and rely with confidence on our active, liberal, and unwearied co-operation."

Extract from the Appendix to the above Report.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATEST TRANSLATION, REVISION, AND PRINTING OF THE MALAY BIBLE.

Extracted from an Appendix to a Malay Grammar, by G. H. Werndly, relative to the Translation of the Bible into the Malay Language. Translated from the Dutch.

§ 1. The proper Translators of the Bible into the Malay Language, were Melchior Leidekker and Petrus Van der Vorm.

Dr. Leidekker arrived in India in the year 1675, and was appointed to the ministry of the Dutch churches at Batavia in 1678. In the interval he made a trip to Java, and obtained several Malay books, copied by himself in the Malay character, which enabled him to perfect himself in that language. While he studied in what manner this language could be spelt in Roman letters, he concluded that no other words than those actually used by the Malays, and bearing the same signification which they attach to them, ought to be adopted. For which purpose he saw the necessity of a Grammar; and judged it advisable to compose one from the Malay authors. Having thus made considerable progress in the knowledge of the Malay language, he made an experiment to translate the Bible in that language; of which mention is made in a letter from the Honorable the Court of Directors, to the Government of Batavia, under date 8th October, 1685, an extract of which is recorded in the proceedings of the Consistory of Batavia, under date the 1st of June, 1686. After having commenced this work, he again desisted till the year 1691, when he was requested by the Consistory to proceed as he had commenced. Having consented thereto, the Government of Batavia was informed, in the end of 1692, that the Rev. Mr. Leidekker was again labouring on this important duty.

The capacity which this reverend Gentleman possessed, appears by his Malay and Dutch Dictionaries, and by his Notes upon the Hebrew and Latin Dictionaries of Johannes Cocceius, which he had interwoven with blank leaves, and made into three volumes. In these, amongst other things, he inserted many remarks on the Hebrew and other eastern languages, in Latin and Malay, with his own hands; which work is preserved in the church treasury at Batavia.

With the Translation itself he made slow progress, for he would not put down any thing without the closest examination. However, he translated <PG=357> the Books of Moses, the two Books of Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, and the Psalms, thrice, and the other Books of the Old Testament twice, except the Book of Ruth, of which only one Translation is found. In the New Testament, he translated the four Evangelists only once; but the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of Paul to the Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians, twice; and, while prosecuting this work as far as the 6th verse of the 6th chapter to the Ephesians, he was called by the Lord of life and death, from this important work, to enjoy the reward of a faithful servant, on the 16th of March, 1701.

After the demise of this diligent Translator, all the papers relating to the Translation of the Bible were locked up in a particular chest in the Vestryroom at Batavia, the key of which was kept by the oldest clergyman; after whose death it fell into the hands of the Secretary to the Government, without any of the clergy having access to these writings, and consequently they remained useless till the year 1718, when this key was delivered by the Government to the charge of the Malay Clergyman.

The second Translator was Petrus Van der Vorm, who, as the principal linguist among the Malay brethren, in May 1701, was requested by the Consistory to undertake the completion of the important work of the Translation, which was left by Dr. Leidekker, at Ephesians, 6th chapter; which he, with the consent of the Government, gladly accepted and completed; and in October, in the same year, delivered it to the Consistory, which received it thankfully, and promised to report it to the Government.

§ 2. It was considered adviseable, that such an highly important work as the Translation of the Bible, should not be left to the trust of one man, and that it should, previously to publication, be most carefully revised.—For this purpose, the revision of the Bible was proposed by the Consistory so early as the year 1698, to Dr. Petrus Van der Vorm and Factor Cornelius Mutter; a measure which, by the departure of the latter for Europe, was postponed.

In the year 1702, at a time when several brethren, who understood the Malay language, were present at Batavia, it was suggested in the Consistory, that it would be proper to propose to the Government to begin the revision of the Bible, already translated in the Malay language. The result of this motion I find not recorded, and the work remained dormant until the year 1718.

In that year, some questions respecting the Malay Bible were received by the Consistory at Batavia from the Honorable Court of Directors, composed by the divines of Amsterdam, to all of which a full reply was made, which produced the desired effect, both on the divines of Amsterdaam and the Court of Directors.

The Government of India, in the year 1722, was therefore directed, in terms of high commendation, to have the work prepared for the press. This order being received by the local Government of Batavia, and communicated to the Consistory, the Government, upon the proposal of the latter, appointed for Revisors of the Malay Bible, the two Batavian clergymen, Petrus Van der Vorm and Arnaldus Brants; calling in also the aid of Red Engelberties Cornelius Ninaber, from Amboyna, and George Heudrick Werndly, from Maccassar; concerning these four ministers, I shall state some remarks, before I give an account of their proceedings.

The first, Petrus Van der Vorm, arrived in India in 1688, and proceeded to Amboyna the following year, where he learned the Malay language, and preached in it in May 1690, whence he was removed to Batavia in 1698. In 1701, the venerable Consistory of Batavia gave him this testimony, that they were convinced of his ability and proficiency in the Malay language; of which he gave full proof in composing a Malay Grammar, translating Outrein's First Rudiments, and bringing to perfection the Dutch and Malay Dictionaries, by Hearnius and Guinier, and principally by his Translation of the whole New Testament, and part of the Old, from the Arabic into Malay, not to speak of other services rendered by him, in which his abilities were conspicuous.

The second, Arnaldus Brants, arrived in India in 1700, and proceeded the following year to Ternate, where he studied the Malay language, performing <PG=358> Divine service in it, from the year 1704, until his departure from Amboyna in 1709, where he continued faithful in the work of the ministry, till 1718, when returning to Batavia, he was at first appointed to the Dutch congregations ; but soon after removed to the Malay church.

The third, Engelbertus Cornelius Ninaber, arrived in India, and at Amboyna in the year 1715, where he studied the Malay language, and preached in it in 1718.

The fourth is the author of this work, George Hendrick Werndly, who is obliged to speak now of himself, because the subject requires it. I arrived in India in 1718, and visited the same year the West Coast of Sumatra, at Padang. I was appointed for Maccassar; but the ship having sailed, I staid a year longer. This interval I applied, exclusive of other service, to the learning of the Malay language; so that, previous to my departure for Maccassar, I preached at Batavia; a practice which I continued at Maccassar every Sabbath-day afternoon, (the forenoon I preached in the Dutch language,) exclusive of other services which I had to perform in that language. I constantly studied how to conciliate the natives, in order to acquire the more easily a knowledge of their language, and to question them about what I read in their books.

In June, 1723, the four persons abovementioned, with great encouragement and zeal, for the first time met in order to begin the revision of the Malay Bible, translated by Dr. Leidekker and Dr. Van der Vorm ; but in the end of that year, in consequence of the increasing weakness of Dr. Van der Vorm, the heaviest part of the work devolved upon me. I was assisted with all possible energy by the other brethren: we assembled three or four days in each week, from eight to eleven o'clock, at the vestry-room, for the purpose of examining the drafts made by us; and as it was necessary for one of us to make a transcript, resulting from a comparison of what we had written, this was performed by Dr. Van der Vorm, to the end of the Book of Numbers, and, as stated before, finished by me.

For the drafts so made by Dr. Van der Vorm and myself, we adopted the following mode: First, we read the original text in the Hebrew and Greek, with the Latin Translations of Arias Montanus and others; then the Dutch, and after that the Malay Translation, and when no difficulty arose we entered it in our draft. But if the least difficulty occurred, we consulted the Chaldee, Syriac, and particularly the Arabic translation; the Translation of the Septuagint and the Persian were of some service to us; after that, the German, by Lutherus and Piscator, the French, the English, and sometimes the Spanish, together with our old Dutch Translation. We further read what had been written on those subjects in the Biblia Critica, and the Synopsis Criticorum, by Polus; to which we added several ancient and modern authors, to ascertain the true meaning of the words; and then we considered the Malay Translation, together with the other written or printed Translations in Malay, that were in our possession. We would have availed ourselves also of that of Dr. Valantyn, (although much cannot be said in its favour,) had it been in our possession.

I always made memorandums in my Concordance (by Trommius) how we translated a word, that in future, if possible, for an original word, we might be able to use a Malay word. Thus I made my drafts, and carried them to our Meetings.

Our Meetings commenced always with prayers for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit to a right understanding of the Word of God, and concluded with thanksgivings.

Dr. Van der Vorm always attended when in good health; and, when unable to attend from indisposition, he examined the draft at his own house, and noted down his remarks.

' The Meetings were almost always complete, and were sometimes attended by other brethren, who lent us their aid. In these Meetings, one always read the original text and the Dutch Translation; after that the Translation of Dr. Leidekker and Dr. Van der Vorm, or the draft made from it, and then we resolved unanimously how the Translation should stand, which was immediately noted down in the draft.

Concerning difficult texts and words, we had always at hand the Synopsis <PG=359> Criticorum, by Polus, from which we read the opinion of those divines, and then reasoned with one another concerning them. Whenever we did not immediately agree, we postponed our decision until we had first individually considered the subject in our private studies; so that we never decided hastily, but always after long deliberation; sometimes several months elapsed before we gave our final decision; in which interval we consulted other brethren on the subject.

The language in which the Translation is made is the common Malay language, such as is used for the Malay books; consulting, for that purpose, various manuscripts. We were often obliged to have recourse to the living voice of the Malays, whom we visited, or to whom we submitted our questions, and who sometimes attended to give us counsel in their language; but we never depended upon their assertion without ground, but demanded from them convincing proof, that we might advance safely, as well with respect to the idiom, as to the investigation of the meaning of the Word of God.

This work was composed in European letters by Dr. Van der Vorm and myself, in conformity with the Malay letters, of which an account is given in this Grammar, page 17 to 23. Two copies were prepared, one for the Compositor, and the other to be carefully preserved, which was performed by several native masters; the same is, beside this, once copied in the Malay letters by Dr. Brants, while Dr. Hardholt, myself, and sometimes a native master, assisted, in order to complete the work in due time.

On the 2nd of October, 1725, when half of the work was finished, our diligent and zealous brother, Engelbertus Cornelius Ninaber, departed this life; and Dr. Johannes Hardholt, who arrived at Batavia in the year 1722, and was from that time appointed to study the Malay language, succeeded Mr. Ninaber. He was a man of very good expectation; but was not allowed to see the end of this work, having died in the year 1728, previous to the completion of this revision.

Nevertheless, in the month of October, 1728, through the Lord's goodness, we finished the Translation or Revision of the Bible, and were further employed in comparing the copies, as well those written with Malay, as with European letters, for which purpose we made use of the Heidelberg Catechism, the Dutch Confession of Faith, the Compendium of the Christian Religion, and the forms used by the reformed churches in the Netherlands, as far as those had been translated in the Malay language, adding to it such as was wanting, and were assisted by Dr. Carolus Georgius Serruns, all of which was brought to a close in the end of September 1729.

§ 3. But in order that this work, which cost the Translators and the Revisors so much trouble and labor, should be of general use, it was necessary that it should pass through the press. The Honorable Court of Directors therefore, on a proposal by the Honorable divines of Amsterdam, consented to its publication, and resolved that it should be printed in Holland, and that two ministers versed in the Malay language, together with two Malay masters, should come over from India to Holland to superintend the work. The Honorable Court were pleased to nominate Engelbertus Cornelius Ninaber and myself, (Rev. G. H. Werndly.) On the receipt of these orders in India, Dr. Ninaber being no more, and the aforesaid Dr. Hardholt having succeeded him, the venerable Consistory of Batavia had requested the Government to propose him to the Court of Directors, in the room of Dr. Ninaber; but before their answer on the subject arrived, Dr. Hardholt, as already mentioned, instead of returning to his native country on earth, was removed to a better country in heaven. In the mean time, Dr. Carolus Georgius Serruns, who arrived in India in the year 1711, proceeded the next year to Banda, and arrived in the year 1715 at Amboyna, where he performed Divine Service in the Malay language, having requested to return home, the Honorable the Court of Directors, on this occasion, united him with me, to superintend the printing of the Malay Bible in Europe, together with the two Malay chaplains, named Johannes Hekhol and Paulus Anthonisz de Monte.

The transcript of the Bible, for the use of the compositor, was given in charge to Dr. Serruns; while I carried the joint drafts of Dr. Van der Vorm and myself, with the alterations therein made, and also the copy written with Malay letters, for the purpose, if possible, to have that also printed.

<PG=360> Thus we embarked for Europe, on board two separate ships; and, by the Lord's blessing and protection, we arrived there in safety in 1730. We immediately made preparations for the work, engraving punches to cast an entire new type for the purpose. As soon as some of them were ready, we began to print the Catechism; with which, and with the casting of the types, that year passed away. The next year we began and finished the New Testament ;—after that we took in hand the Old Testament, and finished it before the end of the year 1733. Thus was the whole Bible completed, in large quarto, in two columns, with a beautiful title page. The title of the New Testament, separately, is thus: "Elkhawlu 'Ldjadid, 'ija 'itu, Segala surat Perdjandje an Baharuw. Atas titah segala Tuwan Pemarentah Kompanija tersalin kapada bahasa Malajuw. Dibendar 'Amisterdam, tertara, awleh R. dan Dj. Wet'istejn, penara p kompanija, MDCCXXXI;" which signifies: The New Testament, i. e. all the Books of the New Covenant, by the orders of the Lords the Directors of the Honorable the East India Company, translated into the Malay language, and printed in the city of Amsterdam, by R. and G. Westein, printers to the Honorable Company, 1731.

The title of the whole Bible is thus: "Elkitab, 'ija, 'itu segala surat Perdjandjian lama dan baharuw. 'Atas titah segala Tuwan Pemarentah kompanijaa tersalin kapada bahasa Malajuw. Dibendar 'Amisterdam, tertara awleh R. dan Dj. Wetistein, penara p kompanija, MDCCXXXIII;" signifying: Biblia, i. e. all the Books of the Old and New Testament, by order of the Lords the Directors of the Honorable the East India Company, translated into the Malay language, and printed in the city of Amsterdam, by R. and G. Westein, printers to the Honorable Company, 1733.

See also: http://books.google.co.id/books?id=0-e3o96sVbQC&pg=PA345&lpg=PA345