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WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Bath, observes,-"Not the least interesting object there, was the far-famed Somnath gates, which have been erected at one end of the great hall, under a canopy of red cloth, ornamented with gold trimmings and tassels. You will scarcely be astonished to hear, that these gates have become an object of worship now among the Hindus, who have been seen by many here, engaged in acts of adoration before them, and presenting offerings. Yesterday, or the day before, the sum of 3,600 rupees, (£360.,) were sent into the treasury, which was stated to be the amount of offerings made to the gates and collected by the escort, during the procession to Agra!!"

If this statement be correct, we have surely come now to a climax! Our Governor General, a Metropolitan of all India, thinks the Hindus have not gods enough, or, at least not of the right sort, and therefore very mercifully provides them one of sandal wood, and covers it with a canopy of red cloth, ornamented with gold trimmings and tassels; and a military escort has turned collectors of wood-offerings and may, perhaps, next be appointed by the noble sandal-wood-god-provider, to the exalted and most sacred office of Pundas, or Pilgrim hunters!!-Was ever abomination like this? I. STUBBINS.

P. S. All Letters, &c. should be directed to me at Ibstock, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

MISSIONARY TEA MEETING AT WIMESWOLD. On Monday evening, December 4, 1843, a public Tea Meeting, was held in the Infant School room, Wimeswoid, kindly lent for the occasion, by the Vicar of the parish. Owing to her Majesty the Queen passing through Nottingham on that day, and the numbers that attended from Wimeswold, and the adjacent villages, to catch a glimpse we were very apprehensive that

of Royalty,

our meeting would prove a failure, but as the time of the meeting approached our fears began to be dissipated, the neighbour. hood of the school room became exceedingly thronged, and by five o'clock, every place was occupied, and the room was soon crowded almost to suffocation. Tea being

over,

was found necessary to adjourn to the chapel which was well filled. Mr. Bott presided, who opened the meeting by a short address, and was followed by the Revds. Messrs. Stevenson, Buckley and Stubbins. We were exceedingly delighted to find our dear brother Stubbins enjoying such an improving state of health, and apparently in such excellent spirits. His affecting statements were listened to with great interest, and his eloquent appeals found their way to many a heart. Mr. Buckley, though an entire stranger to the congregation at Wimeswold, succeeded by his most affectionate and

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energetic address, in enlisting the sym. pathies of the crowded audience. Wherever he goes, he will be followed by the prayers of many who were then present. During the meeting, a vote of thanks was passed to the Rev. H. Halford, Vicar of Wimeswold, for his kindness in granting the use of the room. A vote of thanks was likewise passed to the ladies, for their christian liberality in gratuitously providing for the occasion. The proceeds of the tea, were upwards of £10, which will be devoted to the Missionary cause. As an effort is about to be made in the Connexion, to raise a special fund for the sending out of five additional Missionaries, would it not be well to adopt meetings like the above, in most of our Churches, and to appropriate their proceeds, together with the free will offerings that might be presented, to this particular object? And afterwards for the benefit of the Mission, to hold these meetings annually. The trouble and ex

pense attending them would scarcely be felt, while the results to the Mission would be most advantageous.

FLEET COLLECTIONS.

B.

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WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

NEW ZEALAND. Description of a Station. Mr. Turton, of Beecham Dale, Aotea, thus describes his station:-" This, I think, is one of the quietest and most compact Stations in the whole Mission. We are not troubled with the intrusions of dissolute and disorderly Europeans, except as they pass through on their way to Auckland. It comprises eleven different-sized vilages or hamlets, or perhaps more properly, clusters of huts, and sheds, and houses, and which are situated on both sides of the Bay, at convenient distances from each other, and from the Station. The circular part of the Bay is four miles across; but from the heads to the furthest extremity it is about eight or nine miles. Like every other Bay on this coast, it abounds in sand-banks, which are entirely bare at low water. Its sides are skirted with romantically-rising hills of forest-land, except on the side towards Woody-head, which is a large piece of undulating flat, covered with fern, and where most of the natives reside. At the Pa, one hundred yards from the Mission-house, about one hundred and fifty natives reside; so that with the people from the nearest vilages and out-sections, generally have upwards of three hundred at our Sabbath services. My plans, however, are so arranged, that I cannot be at home an entire Sunday more than once in three weeks; for the circuit comprises nearly nine hundred souls, men, women, and children. The native Christians have given me almost unqualified satisfaction, as regards their outward behaviour, during the past

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year, by their praiseworthy obedience, and diligent application to their work.

Toils of a Missionary in New Zealand.The European "carries himself," (and enough, too, in the bush,) and the natives carry his baggage, one man for his bedding, another for his clothing, a third for his tent, and a fourth for his food. Nor are we "gentlemen," for all that, as some may suppose, unless it be genteel to wade through the rivers, or sink into a bog up to the loins, and then travel twenty or thirty miles further in the bush, with dirty, wet clothes on until you come to a village. "And what then?" Why, then your natives sleep, and forget their toils; bnt as for the Missionary, it is only then that his work begins; and there he is singing, and praying, and preaching, and talking at midnight, when he ought to be in bed; so that, after traveling all day, he has to work all night; and that, too, with a poor frail body made of common flesh and blood. How can we possibly do this, without being emaciated and worn down? And if we leave it undone, then, whilst we are sleeping, the souls of the people are starving and "perishing for lack of knowledge." As for the dangers of traveling by land and water, they must be personally experienced before they can be duly appreciated. What would be noted down as a "hair-breadth escape' English journal, would hardly find a place in the journal of a Missionary.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

IMPERFECTIONS OF NATIVE CHRISTIANS. -Mr. Wenger, of Calcutta, writes,-" No portion of scripture can give you a better insight into the character, the frailties, and difficulties of our native Churches, than the epistles to the Corinthians. I verily believe it is next to impossible to understand these epistles fully any where else than in the missionary field. Only there it is possible to see how such inconsistent people could, after all, be considered as true believers, and fit (though imperfect) members of a Church of God. My attention has lately been called to this subject by the circum. stance that I have begun to expound these epistles in a familiar way, at our Wednesday evening prayer-meeting at Colingah.

FERNANDO Po.-Mr. Sturgeon, of the African Mission, writes,-I recommenced my labours early in June, and from that time I have, by divine assistance, been permitted to

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prosecute my work without the least interruption from ill state of health. In consequence of an increased desire to hear the word, and to walk in the ways of God, my engagements have been multiplied; but "the Lord of hosts is with us." On the 9th ult., I baptized five persons, and as one of them is the schoolmaster, and another a female who had acquired a greater notriety as a tatler and a busy-body than for consistency, an unusual excitement prevailed in the town. A large number of young persons being present on the occasion, I made an especial appeal to that interesting portion of my hearers; and for the first time, many were seen to weep whilst hearing of the "great salvation" Nor could their parents stifle the penitent sigh, or stop the falling tear. To see both the parent and the child powerfully impressed with divine truth and divine love, surely was a scene upon which angels must have gazed with ineffable delight.

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CLONMEL.

THE chapel and premises in this town having become considerably out of repair, it became necessary to direct immediate attention to their renovation. In the prospect of these repairs it was also deemed highly desirable to remove a blank wall, which almost entirely hid the place of worship from public view. This has been done at an exceedingly moderate expense, and the present neat and handsome exterior presented, as in the annexed engraving. All the brethren of the Irish Southern Baptist Association united in the recommendation of such a measure, and in aiding to defray the cost. They also resolved to hold their next Association meeting at Clonmel on the completion of the work, which took place on the 17th of October, and two following days, when very interesting and well-attended services were conducted.

Will the readers of the Chronicle unite with their brethren labouring in the south of Ireland in fervent supplication that God may at length accompany the efforts made in this interesting and busy town, to diffuse the blessings of salvation, with manifest indications of his approval and benediction-thus will the heart of our brother Sharman be encouraged and comforted, and his recent assiduous exertions to put the place of worship in a more prominent and suitable condition, be most amply rewarded.

GOOD WISHES.

When your eye, gentle reader, turns towards this page, the season of universal festivity and congratulation, in this country, will have come. It is a pleasant time. What a vast amount of good feeling is brought into play. What multitudes of faces beam with joy. How many hearts leap with delight. Friends, who have not seen each other for a long time, meet again. On every hand we hear the warmest expressions of good will; and the most ardent wishes for future comfort and success, are breathed from every lip.

Deeply sympathizing with this almost universal joy, though its brightness may be clouded with recollections of sorrows and bereavements, we are anxious to divert a portion of these generous feelings into a channel which has long been open, but which, sometimes, has been nearly dry. We once more put in a plea for Ireland. You wish well to the benighted African and Hindoo-to the savage and the slave. Your hearts have yearned over them. Your wishes have been free-you have been free too, of your efforts and your liberality. There is not less reason why you should feel and act in a similar way towards this unhappy land. An intelligent, generous, brave, and much injured people, are fettered and bound in the chains of a dark and cruel corruption of Christianity. Taught to rely on ceremonies dispensed by priestly hands, from whence they derive their efficacy, many of which are both unmeaning and absurd, their confidence is placed on shadowy forms of truth, instead of on "the Rock of ages." Going through observances, and submitting to penances, which have no authority in scripture, they are trusting for salvation in human devices, instead of the all-sufficient atonement. The cross is held up to the eye, but the endless

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mummeries of the papal system hide it from the mind. millions of your fellow-creatures thus bound and led captive. Remember they are not so far from you, that you cannot help them. No long and perilous voyage must be made to reach them. No pestilential climate threatens you with death, if you approach their shores. They are British subjects; and twentyfour hours travelling will set you down in their midst !

You will tell us," Well, we have wished well to Ireland." We believe you fully. But how easy to be very free with good wishes. Think us not unreasonable, when we tell you we want something more. Good wishes will

not feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or give life to the dying! These good wishes must take some form, and put forth activity, to be of much avail. During the past year something has been done to awaken greater sympathy and interest for Ireland. We have been sowing the seed. We have waited with anxiety and hope for the time to reap.

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The passing away of one great period of our existence, and the coming of another, is generally a season of solemn reflection, close self-examination, and deep resolve for the future. These eventful times in our short fleeting life, may subserve a grand end. It would be hardly possible for a devout mind to follow out the trains of thought suggested by these times, without some such acknowledgments as these. Another year is gone, and how little have I done. How slow my progress in the divine life; and how languid my efforts to extend the kingdom of my Lord and Saviour. While I have been basking in the sun-light of gospel privileges, and taking my fill of the streams of life and joy, myriads of my fellow-immortals have perished, and myriads more are perishing, for the want of what I so richly possess. How little have I thought of them, or prayed for those who have carried to them the glad tidings of salvation, or supported those Christian institutions formed for the purpose of evangelizing the world. Alas! I have too often coldly listened to their appeals, when they should have thrilled through me. I will do so no more. This selfish spirit shall die. My privileges were not given to me for my benefit alone. They are a solemn trust. I shall soon be called to an account for it. If that were to take place now, it would be rendered up, not with joy, but with grief. I am spared to see another year. It may be my last. I will therefore redeem the time; for the days are few and evil."

Dear reader, have you thus felt and said? Has another year, rich with divine goodness and blessing, awakened these penitential and grateful feelings and resolves? If so, suffer us to ask for a share of this new-born spirit of prayer, liberality, and effort, in behalf of poor Ireland. Do not say we are to urgent. Reject not our petition because we have presented it again and again. Many souls have been saved by your missionaries. The little churches under their care are verdant spots in a wide desert. They are centres of light amidst the surrounding gloom. Do not suffer them to expire. There are openings in the vast system of superstition which overshadows the land. We want to enter them and carry the light of heaven, to show the benighted souls within," the way, the truth, and the life." Unless you help us, we cannot do it. Schools languish, for we cannot support them. More are demanded, and we are obliged to say, Nay. Agents are wanted, but we cannot employ them. Missionaries are needed, but we cannot say to the rising ministry, many of whom burn with the right spirit, take the field with us; for we have not the means of supporting

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