At the next anniversary of the missionary society at Epworth, Butterwick, and Crowle, I hope to hear of some guinea and half-guinea subscribers: there is suffi cient property to expect this. May the thought of the millions perishing for lack of knowledge; may the love of Jesus to a fallen world; may a sense of gratitude to the mercy of God, move our friends to the discharge of their duty: and I trust that the various collectors which we got to commence in this holy cause, will then have been found to have done their part. H. HUNTER ENON CHAPEL, NEW CHURCH STREET, ST. MARY-LE-BONE. Missionary Services. -On Lord's-day morning, April 25th, the Anniversary Sermon, on behalf of the General Baptist Mission in Orissa, was delivered by the Rev. J. Burns, from Ezekiel, xxi. 27, and on the following evening, the annual meeting was held, when J. S. Buckingham, Esq., presided on the interesting occasion. The meeting commenced by singing an ap. propriate hymn. The Rev. J. G. Pike, of Derby, implored the blessing of Almighty God. The Chairman opened the proceedings by an affecting description of the state of India; and a forcible appeal on the importance of education, and missionary efforts. He also dwelt largely on the necessity of females exerting their influence in promoting the interests of this great cause. The Rev. J. G. Pike, gave several affecting and truly interesting accounts of the conversion of the poor benighted heathen. The ministers present, were the Rev. J. Stevenson, A. M.; J. Wallis; T. Yates; J. Preston; and W. R. Baker. The Meeting was well attended, and the friends greatly encouraged by the account given of the increased success attending the labours of the children of Ænon Chapel Sabbath-school, who had collected for the mission, during the past year, £12. 6s. Od., although only 150 children in number! The chairman in the closing address expressed himself delighted with the success of the labours of our missionary brethren, and most earnestly entreated the congrega. tion and children, steadfastly to continue and increase in this great and good work. The friends in separating, agreed that it had been by far the best missionary meeting they had ever attended in the chapel; and we trust that their prayer was, "Oh! may the Lord of harvest, And soon may every nation -- J. G. WEST RETford. -A very interesting missionary meeting was held in the General Baptist chapel, West Retford, on Monday evening, April 26th, 1841. The chapel was densely crowded. Thomas Bigsby, Esq. presided. The meeting was affectively addressed by Messrs. Fogg, Johnson, (Independent) Stocks, Smithson, (Methodist) Ferneyough, and Grant, (missionary student.) The addresses were listened to with deep and animated attention. Mr. Stocks delivered one introductory discourse at Gamston, and two at Retford, on the preceding day. MR. LACEY'S JOURNAL OF MISSIONARY LABOUR TO THE EASTWARD OF CUTTACK. December 17th, 1840.-After a few days rest from our southern journey, to-day 1 commenced a tour towards the coast. I arrived at this place (Págá hath) early in the forenoon; and before I could take breakfast, I was surrounded by the market people, it being market day here. While I am making this entry, the people at my tent. door are making various observations on what they see. One inan says, "From these books knowledge will dawn on the world." "Then," says another "ask him for one." A third replies, "He wont give them for asking for, but will distribute them at his own pleasure." One says, "What! do you like to seek bones?" "Yes," says another, "he is thinking about bolting into the Bhe. ringee's house." This place is nine miles from Cuttack. I have with me Rama, Doitaree, and Somnath: the latter is a hopeful young man, a late convert, and he is anxious to become a preacher of the Gospel to his countrymen. He was a brahmin, and of respectable standing in society. After an hour's rest, and some breakfast, we commenced our labours. I retired to the shade of a mangoe tree, and was immediately surrounded by a crowd of people. The syren doctrine, that God fills all things, and is all things, was soon stated in defence of idolatry, and a long argument ensued. It is often very difficult to refute this doctrine so as not to infringe on the divine omnipresence; to-day I adopted the following method: After the brahmin had stated that God filled all things as the principle of life, I asked whether he existed in a dead body. The man hesitated for some time, and then said "No." This involved him in perplexity; and I took advantage of the occasion to state some things useful as to the divine nature, exhorting the people no longer to think of God as a man, a cow, a dog, or a tree. The brahmin walked away unobserved. The next serious inquiry was, as to whether or not sin was removable by an atonement as prescribed by the Hindoo priests. The people universally answered "Yes." I en. deavoured to show them that they were mistaken; that the passages they quoted had been inserted by their priests; that their philosophy held out no hope of removing sin by atonements; and that the most their shastras could be considered as promising, was deferring the punishment due to sin, till the pleasure due to holiness had been enjoyed. I instanced several persons, eminent for truth and holiness, who nevertheless had suffered the demerit of their sins. I also read over before them the following piece from the Bhagbot, in a clear and deliberate manner. "Shouldst thou say that atonements destroy sin, thou greatly errest: atonements cannot destroy sin; the most that an atonement can do, is to defer the punishment of sin. It is said, indeed, that the name of Sree Krishnoo destroys a mountain of sins, as a spark of fire destroys a mountain of cotton. But how does fire destroy cotton? It reduces it to ashes. But what fire will you bring to burn up the ashes? So is sin indestructible, except by the suffering of its penalty; otherwise, it will fall into the ocean of your merit, it will form a mud there from which every evil and delusive thing will spring, in the progress of your future destiny. Sin is not destroyed by atonements." These observations prepared my audience to feel the awful state they were in-covered with sin, and without hope of escaping its punishment, as well as to consider the vicarious sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. I closed by delaring and explaining the atonement of the Gospel; and exhorted the people to put their trust in Christ as the only Saviour. I have been the more particular in stating the substance of what I said to-day, as it forms the subject of my daily communications with the people. Rama followed me; and when he had concluded we gave away about sixty tracts, all accompanied with a word or two in explanation of them. In the afternoon we attended a cloth market, but could do little good among the people; we therefore set out for a village at a small distance, named Lockhee narayau poor, where we proceeded to the office of the zemindar, and attempted to interest the minds of a number of people in a religious conversation; they however refused to hear what we had to say, and employed themselves in ridiculing the christian natives, and in uttering predictions of the fall of European power. 18th. I moved from Págá háth early in the morning, and after a two hours ride ar rived at Sálpoor. Here I pitched my tent close to a small temple of Párbottee; and taking my native helpers, started on foot to Bhodamundee market, no great distance from Salpoor. We found a large concourse of people, and were presently surrounded by a large congregation of Hindoos and Mussulmans. After some altercation with a speculative and contentious usurer, we commenced preaching, and continued by turns to address the people for three hours. Much information was disseminated, and many objections overturned. Our young friend Somnath made his first essay here, and spoke with some effect. His manner is pleasing though not popular, and his statements clear and simple: at present, his information is limited. We had not many books with us at the time, but disposed of all we had; and as we returned, met others, which were dispatched by a native preacher for distribution. After I gained my tent, till ten o'clock at night, the people came around me, and we were engaged in constant disputation. (To be continued.) ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. A very numerous meeting of the sub. scribers and friends to this Society, assembled at Exeter Hall, on Thursday, April 29th, to celebrate its 49th anniversary. W. B. Gurney, Esq., presided. The Rev. J. Dyer, read the report, which stated, that on the continent of India the Society had been exercised with a succession of bereavements and afflictions such as had never before been experienced in a single year. Some of the missionaries had died, and others had been obliged to return home to recruit their health. Editions of the Scriptures, however, in whole or in part, had been translated, and the issues from the depository during eight months had been 28,777. Several members had been added to various churches. The mission in Ceylon was very prosperous. With reference to the West Indies it stated, that from the re turns handed in to the Association held at Falmouth, in February last, it appeared that the number of members in full communion was now 27,706-nearly 3000 more than last year; of inquirers, the number was stated to be 18,984; marriages celebrated, 1256. It then detailed the progress made at the various stations; and after referring to the formation of a mission to Western Africa, concluded by adverting to the home proceedings. During the past year 17 missionaries had been sent out. The total receipts of the year amounted to £26,656 17s. 24., being an excess of £7332. 5s. 4d. above the income of the preceding. The expenses had increased in an equal proportion, and the balance now due to the treasurer was £1958. 13s. 4d. The following were the speakers at this meeting: The Rev. T. S. Crisp, of Bristol; Rev. William Lewis, of Chatham; Rev. Dr. Vaughan; Rev. W. Brock; Rev. J. G. Pike, of Derby; Rev. T. Archer; Rev. Mortlock Daniel; Rev. George Pearce, (a missionary returning to India); John Shoard, Esq., of Bristol; and T. Aked, Esq. The chief resolutions were,-"That this meeting heartily rejoices in the commence. ment of a mission to Western Africa, and in the zealous dispositions shown to aid it by the Churches in Jamaica, all which they hope may be regarded as the earnest of the dawning of that day in which 'Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God.'" "That the success of the appeal for strengthening and extending the mission in various quarters for relieving the Society from the debt of last year, together with the steady increase of the ordinary receipts, and the aid afforded by the Bible Translation Society, towards the printing of the Holy Scriptures in the languages of the East, call for devout thankfulness, while the correspondent success of the mission, and the in. crease of its expenditure call for still more vigorous exertion. That this meeting, therefore, would affectionately urge on every Church, and the friends of the mission, to make systematic and strenuous efforts on its behalf." WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall on Monday, May, 3rd. The weather was very unfavourable, the rain had been falling for hours, but every part of the large room was crowded. The chair was taken by J. E. Tennant Esq, M. P. The Rev. Dr. Bunting presented the financial report which stated that from the want of funds, the society had been almost prevented from occupying new spheres of labour, although there were claims for sixty missionaries, and a larger number of promising candidates than had ever presented, themselves before. The only exceptions had been a deeply interesting mission to the Gold coasts, and one to the Ashantees, for which a special fund had been raised. The total receipts for the year 1840, including the Ashantee mission, were £90,182. 8s. 8d.; whereas the expenditure had amounted to £109,226. 15s. 10d., being an excess of £5,209. 9s. 9d. over the preceding year. The actual deficiencies of the society, up to the 31st. December, 1810, were £39,916. 6s. 11d., against which there was due to it £12, 322. 19s. 2d. which had been advanced as temporary loans for the erection of chapels at foreign stations, &c, The Rev. J. Beecham then read an abstract of the general report which referred to the society's missions, and on the whole represented them as in a very prosperous state. Intelligence had been received of the death of nine missionaries; nineteen, including seven returning to their spheres of labour, had been sent out since the last anniversary. The central associations occupied by the society, were 280; the num. ber of missionaries, 380, besides catechists, local assistants, school teachers, and other agents. The communicants at the various stations, were upwards of 80,000. The speakers were, the Rev. Dr. Mahel lar, Moderator of the church of Scotland; Sir. G. Murray; J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M. P.; Edward Lytton, Esq., M. P.; Sir Robert Bateson, M. P. for Londonderry; Rev. B. Shaw, from Africa; Colonel Conelly, M. P.; Mr. Sergeant Jackson, M. P.; Rev. D. Cargill, missionary from Feegee; Rev. S. Candish, of Edinburgh; C. Hindley, Esq.; Rev. J. B. Gillmau, from Ireland; Mr. J. Westhead, of Manchester; Rev. J. Dixon, of Sheffield; J. Musgrave, Esq., of Leeds. Resolutions."That while lamenting the interruption which the missionaries have again experienced in Tonga, from the violence of heathen persecution, this meeting rejoices at the prosperous state at the missions in the other islands of the friendly group, and in New Zealand, and is especially encouraged by the opening prospects of the society in the populous islands of Feegee." "That the success which has attended the efforts of the society in behalf of the aboriginal population of British North America, and the black and coloured population of the West Indies, calls for special acknowledgment; and that this meeting, recognizing the necessity of continued exer tions in the cause of negro education and conversion, rejoices that the oldest missions of the society in the West Indies are now making praiseworthy exertions to provide by local contributions for their own pecuniary support; but that, at the same time, it cannot but solemnly recognize the claims of British India on this, and other missionary societies, as entitling it to increasing attention and effort, from its vast population, its providential connexion with us as a nation, and the awfully degraded condition of the millions of its idolatrous inhabitants." "That, while rejoicing in the successful foreign exertions of the society, this meeting regrets to learn that the income of this institution has for several preceding years been materially insufficient to meet the regularly increased demands, which have been enevitably created even by that very success itself, which has called forth from year to year its grateful acknowledgments; and earnestly recommends to the committee the arrangement and adoption of prompt and effectual measures for raising the regular annual income of the society, to an amount, equal at least to the maintenance of its existing missions in a state of complete efficiency, as well as for the eventual extinction of the heavy debt, occasioned by the inadequate income of the three last years." The anniversary of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall, on Thursday, May 13th. Lord Morpeth in the chair. The report was read by the Secretaries, the Revds. J. Freeman, and A. Tidman, which stated, that during the past year, seven champions of the cross, in the vigour of manhood, and four faithful women, had entered into rest. Thirteen others, six males and seven females, had been constrained by the sorrows of bereavement, or exhausted strength, to return to their native land. The directors had sent out thirty-six devoted friends, either to supply the places of the fallen, or to enter upon new scenes of holy conflict. Their distribution had been as follows:-six to Polynesia, eight to Africa, eight to the East Indies, and fourteen to the West Indies. The total receipts during the past year, were £80,100; the outlay, £92.734. The sum of £2500, especially contributed on behalf of the widow and family of the martyred Williams, was included in the above debtor and creditor amounts. The speakers were, the Rev. J. Ely, of Leeds; Rev. W. Carter; Rev. Dr. Leifchild; Rev. Dr. Alder; Rev. T. Archer; Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel; T. Thompson, Esq.; Dr. Morison; Rev. W. Morton, from India; Rev. Dr. Halley; Rev. F. Monod, from Paris; and Dr. Parker, American missionary, from China. Resolution.-"That this meeting regards with grateful pleasure the kindness and liberality with which the appeal recently made by the Directors in aid of its funds was received. It most sincerely entreats the friends of the Society throughout the empire, by a liberal advance in the amount of annual subscriptions on the part of the affluent, by encouraging and directing the missionary ardour of the young, especially in Sabbath and other schools, and by multiplying well organized and systematic efforts to meet the circumstances and sustain the zeal of all, to prevent in future the necessity of special efforts,' and to enable the Directors not only to preserve undiminished the present number of the Society's devoted agents, but adopt others whom God has raised up in answer to our prayers, and to enter on some of the fields which he is opening as the result of our exertions, and where the multiudes that have long sat silently in darkness, now awakened to a sense of their misery, earnestly implore the light of life." BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. The anniversary was held at Exeter Hall, on Wednesday, May 5. On the platform were the Bishops of Chester, Winchester, and Litchfield; the Earl of Chichester, Lord Teignmouth, Lord Mountsandford, the Dean of Salisbury, J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M. P., General Mackenzie, Colonel Phipps, &c. The chair was taken by Lord Bexley. The Rev. A. Brandram read the report, which detailed at great length the foreign operations of the Society, from which it appeared that its labours had been very successful, particularly in France. The total receipts of the Society during the past year had been £101,322 9s. 2d., being £10, 127, 3s. 11d. less than last year; but that was accounted for by the fact, that last year legacies had been received amounting to £13,000. The amount received for sales, included in the above sum, £57,585 17s.8d., leaving for general purposes £42,742 12s. 5d. The total expenditure amounted to £132, 9341 8s. 9d. being larger by £10,000 than on any former year. There had been issued during the past year 900,912 copies of the sacred Scriptures, making a total, since the establishment of the Society, of more than 13,000,000, which, added to the issues on the continent of Europe, and in America, made a grand total of more than 22,000,000. Resolutions were advocated by the Bishop of Winchester; John Plumtre, Esq., M. P.; the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry; the Rev. T. Smith, of Sheffield; the Rev. F. Monod, Deputy from the Paris Bible Society; the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel; the Rev. J. Aldis; Dr. Parker, an American physician, lately residing at Canton; the Rev. D. Cargill, missionary from Fegee; the Rev. Robert Daly, Vicar of Powerscourt, Ireland; the Rev. Mr. Brown; the Dean of Salisbury; and the Earl of Roden. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. The forty-second anniversary of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall, on Friday, May 7th, J. Labouchere, Esq., in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. Jones) read the report, which gave a cheering account of the operations of the Society both at home and abroad. The number of tracts and other publications issued from the depository during the year, amounted to 17,799,562, making a total, since the institution of the Society, of 337,000,000. The contributions received from the Auxiliaries were £2114 14s., being a decrease of £308 10s. 3d. The donations and life subscriptions amounted to £1006 10s. 5d. The annual subscriptions were £2123 8s. 9d., being an increase of £21 5s. 3d. The Christmas collecting cards had produced £217 19s. 6d. The Congregational collections had realized £84 6s. 3d. The total benevolent income for the year, including £66, the collection at the last anniversary, and £49 16s. 3d. Pentonville ground-rents, amounted to £5662 15s. 2d.; being a decrease of £451 10s. 10d. The gratuitous issues for the year, includ. ing money grants to foreign societies, paper, and publications, together with the grants for libraries, amounted to £7817 11s. 10d., being £2154 16s. 8d. beyond the total amount of the funds placed at the Society's disposal. The legacies received amounted to £689 14s. The Society's total receipts amounted to £58,966 12s. 6d., being a decrease on the Tuesday evening, May 4th. The Hon. W. Cowper, M. P., in the chair. The Rev. J. Blackburn read the report, which presented a grand total of 103 associations, with 151 prayer-meetings, 14 stipendiary agents, and 2,268 visitors, who called twice a month upon 59,549 families, which probably included 298,000 individuals. The gratuitous agents principally en. gaged in the loan of tracts to the families they visited; 59549 families had been so visited, on an average, it was presumed, of 20 times each during the past year, so that about 1,200, 000 visits had been paid, at each of which, a tract-book, usually containing two tracts, had been lent; thus 2,360,000 religious tracts had been circulated amongst the poor during the past twelve months. During the same period 1,286 copies of the Holy Scriptures had been issued. The visitors had succeeded, since the last report, in gathering day schools of the respective neighbour3,667 children into the infant, Sunday, or hoods. The 151 stations for prayer-meetings, and the exposition of the scriptures, ought not to be overlooked, as there were held at each, on an average, more than two services a week, making a yearly aggregate varied from half a score to 200 persons, of at least 16,000 services. The attendance 6000 who united in these humble services. giving the gratifying weekly average of Several gratifying instances of success in the several departments of the society's labours were marked. From the treasurer's accounts, it appeared that there was a balance against the society of £270, 4s. 10d. M. P., Rev. G. Clayton, Rev. J. Young, Sir C. E. Smith, Rev. J. Aldis, William Tooke, Esq., David Wire, Esq., Rev. J. Jenkyn, and the Rev. J. Blackburn. The speakers were the Hon. W. Cowper, BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The annual meeting was held at Exeter J. Aked, Esq., in the chair. past year of £2151 4s. 2d., arising partly from Hall, on Monday evening, 26th, of April. the reduction made in the prices of many of the Society's works. The speakers were the Rev. E. Bickersteth; Rev. Dr. Bart, of Wurtemberg; Rev. J. Young, of Albion Chapel; Rev. J. Hill, formerly of Calcutta; Rev. T. Archer; Rev. Carr Glynn; Rev. J. Hazlegrave, of Islington; Rev. S. J. Davis, of Salter's Hall; Dr. Steinkopff; and Gurney Hoare, Esq. CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY. The fifteenth Annual Meeting of this Society was held at Finsbury Chapel on The Rev. S. J. Davies read an abstract of the report, and the Rev. C. H. Roe read the Treasurer's accounts :-Total receipts during the past year, £4172 17s. 2d.; total Treasurer's hands, £42 11s. 5d.; the Society, expenditure, £4129 5s. 9d.; balance in however, being under engagements to the extent of £500. The speakers were, the Rev. T. S. Crisp, of Bristol; Rev. J. H. Hinton; Rev. T. Morgan, of Birmingham; Rev. J. Sprigg, of Ipswich; Rev. C. Stovel; Rev. J. Burton, of Amersham; Rev. W. Brock, of Norwich. |