that a gentleman moving in the sphere of their respected chairman should have given his attention to the proceedings of a Missionary Society, as it was evident he had done both at home and abroad. He had been reminded that they were in debt. He remembered the spirit that had been en kindled when Mr. Knibb was in England some two or three years ago. Why should not a similar spirit be excited now? Let each one resolve for himself, that by the hand of God upon him the burden should not continue. W. B. GURNEY, Esq., the treasurer, said that an appeal had been made which he had no doubt would be responded to. Donations had been received from many friends, both present and absent. He would appeal to those friends before him whether they had ever been the worse for any effort they had made to promote this cause? Had their families ever been impoverished by it? He entreated them to take care of the work of God, assured that God would take care of them. He should have been happy to have presented an anonymous donation, but, as treasurer of the society, it was perhaps necessary that he should state that he felt peculiar pleasure in contributing 250l. towards the extinction of the debt. Several other donations were then announced, and the resolution was put and carried; after which the collection was made. Rev. Dr. HOBY, while the collection was being made, begged permission to read a few extracts from a document placed in his hands by the Rev. W. H. Pearce, whose ill state of health rendered it inexpedient that he should attend the public meeting. It contained a cogent appeal on behalf of the missions in India, and urged upon ministers the duty of devoting themselves to foreign labour. Mr. Pearce stated that, when paying his last visit before leaving Calcutta, at one of the boarding-schools, he told a group of interesting youths that he was going to England, and asked what they wished him to obtain from thence? They replied, evidently with one consent, and almost with one voice, "Oh, sir, give us more missionaries to teach us and our countrymen." It then pointed to the destitute moral condition of many parts of India, and gave an appalling representation of the miseries in cident to idolatry. In conclusion, it appealed for more strenuous exertions in supporting the missionary cause than had been hitherto put forth by the friends of the Redeemer. Rev. JOHN LEECHMAN, missionary from Serampore, said that the motion which he rose to move had reference to the abominations of the East It might be expected that he should give the meeting some idea of the heathen, and of the efforts made to disseminate among them the doctrine of Christ. There were in India upwards of ninety millions of British subjects, besides about fifty millions connected, in some way or other, with England. The word "million" was apt to glide over the ear without making a due impression on the mind. He had been among these millions, and had witnesed their degradation and misery. He had seen a Hindoo worshipping a Brahmin— a creature like himself; he had seen them worshipping the stream, and taking the mud upon its banks, forming it into idols, and then worshipping that which their own hands had made. He then adverted to the immense multitude assembled at the festivals of the various idols. The opportunity was always embraced by the missionaries of preaching to them the gospel of Christ. Only a short time prior to his leaving India, he had attended the festival held at the junction of the Ganges with the sea. It was computed by a government officer, that not less than 300,000 natives were present. He was the only European there; but, with the assistance of two native brethren, he engaged in the distribution of religious tracts, and portions of the word of God. It was impossible to convey an accurate idea of the avidity with which they were received. The pressure to obtain them was frequently so great, that he was obliged to retire; and when about to leave them, men and women followed his boat into the water, in order that they might obtain copies. He trusted it would soon be found that all their labours in that distant country had been attended with the most happy results. He concluded by moving That this meeting observes with deep regret, that solve the apparent connexion between the British no effectual measures have yet been taken to disgovernment in the East, and the various abominations of heathen idolatry; and it devoutly implores the blessing of Heaven to prosper all legitimate efforts to remove this and every other obstacle which impedes the progress of the gospel of peace, and holiness, and love. The CHAIRMAN here rose, and said, that duties at the House of Commons required that he should retire. He could not, however, do so, without stating the gratification he felt at having presided that day. He begged to express his best wishes for the prosperity of the Society, and his fervent hopes that the union of Christians of all denominations might be greatly accelerated and solidly matured. W. B. GURNEY, Esq., treasurer, then took the chair. Rev. JOSEPH BURTON, missionary from Nassau, in the Bahamas, in seconding the resolution, said it was eleven years since he had left England for the West Indies. He had laboured in various stations there, but lately in the Bahamas. On his arrival there he found many persons scattered through the colony, who called themselves Baptists, but who were in a state of great ignorance, and some of them living in gross sin. They appeared to place their dependence for salvation on baptism, on prayer, or on the forsaking of some known sin, rather than on Christ. They knew, in fact, only the baptism of John, and very little even of that. Teachers and those who were taught were much in the same condition. Many of the teachers could not read the Bible, and several of them could not read a letter. The Wesleyans occupied five or six of the beautiful islands with which that portion of the world was studded the rest were totally neglected. While, however, the people were not grounded in religion, they were not indifferent to it. The missionaries labouring in the Bahamas had discovered the spiritual wants of St. Vincent, Cuba, and St. Domingo. In St. Vincent there were 500 Baptists, who for the last four or five years had given up the administration of baptism because they knew not who were to be baptised. The most delightful results had arisen from the labours of the missionaries, and many of the natives had, since their conversion, been as successful preachers of the gospel as the missionaries themselves. The salvation of the young had been made a subject of special prayer. His mind had been deeply impressed with the importance of raising up native preachers. He thought it as much their duty to call forth that agency where churches were established, as to form churches where there were noue. Each religious denomination had its appropriate work to do. God was eminently blessing the Wesleyans among the higher classes of society, and appeared to be blessing the Baptists among the poor. There were per sons in the Bahamas who had imbibed such strong prejudices in favour of the Baptists, that they would hear no other ministers. He had endeavoured, but, he was sorry to say, in vain, to remove their prejudices; they were as inaccessible to all other denominations as the Chinese were to Christianity. He mentioned that circumstance to show the importance of this Society devoting greater attention to these islands. While, however, they increased their contributions, he trusted that they would increase in their prayers to the throne of grace for a blessing to rest upon their missionaries' labours. The resolution was then put and carried. Rev. EUSTACE CAREY briefly moved-That the Treasurer and Secretary be requested to continue their services to the society; that Messrs. Jones, be auditors; that the fifth rule of the "Plan George Deane, Charles Spurden, and Charles of the Society" be altered, by substituting, instead of the words "eighty members," the words "not more than one hundred members ;" and that the following be the committee for the year ensuing, with power to fill up vacancies. (Names read.) REV. Mr. HARRIS, a missionary about to depart to Ceylon, seconded the motion, which was then put and agreed to. The CHAIRMAN briefly exhorted the meeting to cultivate a spirit of prayer in regard to missions. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" was then sung, and the meeting separated. The collection amounted to £155 18s. 8d. P. S. Fen Court, 24th May. The length to which the preceding account has extended, and the late period at which the proof has reached us, renders it impossible to include the list of contributions, acknowledgments to correspondents, &c., which will, we trust, all be duly inserted in our next number. One point, however, must not be omitted. It will have been noticed that the Society's year closed with a balance against it of £3993, 16s. 2d., and that certain friends, who have often previously thrown munificent donations into the treasury of the Lord, nobly came forward to set an example towards its discharge. Surely our friends generally, who possess the means, will rejoice to follow this example; and they will permit us to add, that what is done, should be done promptly. SUMS ALREADY RECEIVED. In addition to the above, three of our churches, by whom liberal collections had been made on the preceding Sabbath, most kindly volunteered another on the Lord's Day after the meeting, viz. IRISH CHRONICLE. JUNE, 1838. Subscriptions and Donations received by the Secretary, Rev. S. GREEN, Walworth; by the Rev. J. DYER, at the Baptist Mission Rooms, 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street; and the Rev. STEPHEN DAVIS, 92, St. John Street Road, Islington; the Messrs. MILLARD, Bishopsgate Street; SANDERS, 104, Great Russel Street, Bloomsbury; LADBROKE & Co., Bankers, Bank Buildings; by the Rev. C. ANDERSON, Edinburgh; the Rev. Mr. INNES, Frederick Street, Edinburgh; the Rev. J. FORD, 1, Rathmines-road, Dublin; by Mr. J. HOPKINS, Bull Street, Birmingham; by Mr. J. H. ÁLLEN, Norwich; and by any Baptist Minister, in any of our principal towns. According to the notice in the last number of our Chronicle, the Public Meeting of this Society was held at Finsbury Chapel, on Tuesday the 1st ult. EBENEZER FOSTER, ESQ., of Cambridge, kindly presided. The attendance was thinner than usual, owing, perhaps, chiefly to the unfavourable state of the weather-perhaps, however, in part, to the wide circulation of a list of meetings for the month, in which two other meetings were assigned to this Society, one at the City of London Tavern, on Wednesday morning, May 2, the other at the same place, on the Friday following. This list was printed without communicating with the Secretary-so far as we were concerned it was an unauthorized advertisement; still, it would not now be adverted to, except to exonerate the Committee from all share in its errors, and to express the hope that gentlemen advertising in future will be more careful. The publisher corrected his error in a new list, after the mischief had been done. In other respects, the meeting was as interesting and important as those of former years. The speeches and resolutions, having been reported in the Patriot of Thursday, May 3, it is needless to repeat them. It was gratifying to have to state that the receipts of the Society for the year ending April 20th, 1838, had been fully equal to those of any preceding year, one only of extra pecuniary effort excepted. We should be glad to be the medium of employing a much larger sum upon the moral and spiritual welfare of Ireland; still we are not insensible of the honour of being intrusted with near £3,000 for such a purpose, and are most solicitous that this sum with every augmentation it shall receive, may be honestly and efficiently employed in multiplying the means of evangelical instruction in that country. And now, perhaps, more than at ány former time does it behove us to increase our exertions. The Irish in many directions manifest an increasing desire to hear the word of eternal life, and certain dignitaries of a certain church, not the Roman Catholic which is every where described as interested in keeping the people in ignorance, have said that the labours of men, who of late have faithfully endeavoured to instruct the people in the way of salvation, shall cease for want of conformity to canonical law. We refer to a recent decision in Ireland against the Church Home Missionary Society and its preachers. We will not in this place denounce, as it deserves, any law, be it canonical or civil-statute law, or law ecclesiastical-which hinders ministers from acting upon the high and sacred commission of the Redeemer, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature ;" but we will thank God that we are not shackled by such a law, and it behoves us to use our freedom well, going forth to preach, the more diligently because others cannot, the "unsearchable riches of Christ." This, as our readers will at once admit, is the only means to effectually overturn the power of the man of sin, to open the prison doors, and to bring out the darkened and enslaved captive to light and liberty and life. It is the means of God's own appointment, blessing which secures honour to himself, and encircles the brow of the Redeemer with the crown which of right is his. We may civilize, we may instruct, we may restrain by authority, and conciliate by benevolence, but if we would be the instruments of converting men, we must preach to them affectionately, continuously, faithfully, the gospel of salvation. With these views the Committee have been anxious to increase this part of the Society's labours. Since the Annual Meeting they have engaged a promising young man of undoubted piety, and considerable information, educated for the ministry among the Presbyterians, who has recently become a Baptist; he will for the present be stationed at Belfast, partly that he may continue his studies in connexion with missionary work in that large and flourishing town; and they are desircus of meeting with other men whose hearts God as touched with pity for Ireland. Their station at Clonmell will be vacant from the first of June, in consequence of the removal of Mr. Smith to this country. The health of Mrs. Smith rendered their removal expedient, and we anticipate that on the return of our brethren Hinton and Stovel from their missionary tour in Ireland, the cry to send more labourers there will become more loud and urgent than ever. Christian friends, suffer not the cry to be heard in vain! We wish only to add on the subject of funds, that it must not he supposed, because our report was encouraging, therefore we shall do well enough without much effort. When the demands for the current quarter are met it is exceedingly probable that notwithstanding that encouraging report, the Treasurer will be near £200 in advance. In fact, the encouragement is only comparative. Last year at this time we had an anticipated debt of £500 or more, now it is about £200. If we venture much further into debt some prudent friends perhaps may censure, though some zealous disciples of him who became poor for us may commend. To the prudent and the zealous we make the same request. Do all you can, all that the condition of Ireland, other claims being borne in mind, calls for; thus will you be blessed yourselves, and made blessings to others. One or two extracts from recent letters only shall be given. The first from a letter from brother BATES to the Secretary conveying intelligence of the death of the Society's reader, Cavanagh, under date April 20th. Wm. Cavanagh's death has been somewhat sudden. In my last I stated that he was unwell, he had caught a fever in his unremitting attention to a beloved daughter who lay for some time in a precarious state. She has recovered, but the father is taken. He was not willing during his illness that I should visit him; so concerned was he lest I should be exposed to danger: I therefore wrote to him a letter of encouragement, reminding him of the fulness and all-sufficiency of the salvation he had endeavoured to make known to others. On Thursday, April 5, he was exceedingly unwell, deprived of the power of speaking, but intimating in such manner as he could that all was tranquillity and joy in his soul. On Lord's day the 8th, he was removed from this vale of sorrow and imperfection. He had served the Society nearly 16 years, during which time he conducted himself with prudence and affection in his family, with honesty and uprightness in his dealings with men around him, and with Christian fidelity as a member of the church and an agent of the Society. Many events have occurred to put his principles and character to the test; but so far as I know, he has always acted so as to leave no blemish upon his reputation. He was no hireling. Constrained to prosecute his work by the love of Christ, its duties were delightful, its trials could not intimidate or dishearten him. During the last severe winter he exposed himself very much to the severity of the weather in his unwearied efforts to do good, and especially in a journey a short time before his death round in the Laggin. But he is gone," Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours and their works do follow them.' Mr. SHARMAN, Coolaney, May 3, writes to the Secretary: Since I returned from the Queen's County I have had 15 opportunities of preaching the gospel to my fellow-sinners. The congregations increase in number, though the present is a very busy season. On Lord's day, April 29, I had the pleasure of baptizing and adding to the small church under my care, Mr. McE., a man who understands, and so far as I can judge, has felt the power of the gospel on his heart. We sang on the occasion a hymn on Baptism, from the Baptist Magazine for March, and the ordinance was administered in the small river that runs through my own garden. Thus the Lord is mercifully bringing in one and another; as great a cause for thankfulness, perhaps, considering the circumstances of this country, as was the baptism of the first Hindoos by our missionaries at Serampore. May he hasten the happy time when all shall know him from the least to the greatest! R. BEATY, March 1st, writes: I have several times visited an old man named Carty, he is about seventy years of age, and has been under affliction these three months past. He is a Roman catholic, and never learned to read; yet he has acquired a knowledge of the depravity of human nature, and of the plague of his own heart, and says that we can have no hope of salvation but alone through the merits of the Saviour; that he came down from heaven, and suffered for sin, but was himself without sin; that our best works have the nature of sin in them, and cannot please God. He talked a good deal of the vanity of all things here below. I read for him the 1st chapter of Peter, showing that the apostle said "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass," telling him that we ought to have our affections placed on things above, not on things on the earth. I also read for him, in Luke xvi., the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Whilst I read for him he heard with remarkable attention. This poor man's grandchildren attend the Templehouse School, and by this means the Word of truth has been brought to his cabin, and hearing the children read and commit to memory portions of Scripture from time to time, seems to have been very profitable to him. JOHN MONAGHAN, March 1st, writes:You will, by looking over my journal, perceive that I have visited fifty-five families once or twice each, during this month, exclusive of those mentioned on the outside page. You will also perceive, that my labours are not merely confined to the neighbourhood where I live, but are regularly extended through different parts of the baronies of Liney, Corrin, and Coolavin; and I am happy to say, that in many places where I call in this benighted district, I am received with a degree of cheerfulness which far surpasses my expectations. On the 3rd of February, I entered the house of James D., and proceeded to read several portions of the Irish Testament to nine individuals, all Roman Catholics; was asked several questions by one of the hearers, to which I trust I was enabled to reply according to the Scriptures. I endeavoured to point out, from several portions of the Word, the nothingness of our supposed good deeds, and the all-sufficiency of Christ as the end of all righteousness to all believers. During this time I was attentively heard, and at my departing, all expressed their satisfaction at what they heard. On the 5th, read the 3rd of Colossians in the house of R. T. Green, of Boyle, who seems to be much improved by the reading of the Scriptures. This man is a priest's brother, and has lately become a convert from Popery. I exhorted him, from this instructive chapter, to show to all whose eyes had been now fixed upon him, that this interesting change had been deeply effected in his mind, as well as in his walk in life and conversation. During this time all present seemed deeply interested. February 14th. Had this day an interesting interview with Priest D., of R. We conversed freely upon several religious topics for about two hours. During this time nothing harsh or unfriendly transpired. At my parting, he requested that his sincere thanks would be presented to the Society for an Irish Bible a kind friend had enabled me to bestow upon him. RICHARD MOORE, date March 1, writes: I am glad that I am enabled to go from house to house, reading and explaining the Word of God to my poor perishing countrymen, whom the Lord has inclined to hear the Word of his grace, the most of whom are anxiously endeavouring to obtain spiritual knowledge, and such knowledge as the world can neither give nor take away. Popery has lost its influence in a great measure; they are not so anxious to attend mass, confession, and the rosary, which is a great manifestation of its declining power. They are getting very friendly, the spirit of hostility is gone; they receive me into their cottages with the greatest affection, many reproving me for not attending more frequent. Thus, having a free access, I trust in a short time the Lord will accomplish and perform a great work among them. The schools in my district are well attended this month. With much difficulty the masters fill the arduous task devolving upon them. I have felt much delight in visiting them so oft, seeing so many adults attending, it being the slack season of the year, and their attention being roused to hear the Word of His grace, which will cultivate good morals in those who obey. The day I got the tracts, I distributed twenty-two of them before I got home, chiefly among Catholics; I had not more than half a supply. |