CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. A CONSIDERABLE number of Missionaries and others being about to proceed to various Stations, a Special General Meeting of the Society was called on the occasion, on Friday, the 19th of November. Preparatory to the Meeting, a Sermon was preached before the Society, at St. Bride's Church, by the Rev. William Marsh, M. A. Vicar of St. Peter's, Colchester, from the words of St. Paul to Timothy, (2 Tim. i.7.) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The Preacher enlarged, in a manner likely, with the blessing of God, to be of lasting benefit to the Society's Labourers, on the HOLY COURage, AFFECTIONATE SPIRIT, and SOUND MIND, which should mark the Christian Missionary; and which are GRACIOUS QUALIFICATIONS, IMPARTED FROM GOD HIMSELF, and to be exercised in a CONSTANT DEPENDENCE on Him. Soon after Two o'clock, the Chair was taken by the Right Honourable the President, at Freemasons' Hall. The Instructions of the Committee were addressed to the Missionaries by the Secretary, in the order of the following List; when Messrs. La Roche, Kenney, Browning, Cowell, and Johnson, severally re plied, as the respective parts of the Instructions were concluded. Calcutta and North-India Mission: Rev. Benedict La Roche, Mr. Thomas Brown. Rev. James Ridsdale. Ceylon Mission: Mayree (New Zealander). West-Africa Mission: The Secretary apprised the Members before Mr. Johnson entered on the concluding Reply to the Instructions, that, as Mr. Johnson would have no other opportunity of meeting so large a body of those resident in the Metropolis as on the present solemn occasion, he had been requested to enter into a detail of that remarkable work of mercy and grace at Regent's Town, of which he had been the instrument. Mr. Johnson did this with his accustomed simplicity: and his narrative made a deep impression on the minds of all present. The Rev. Thomas T. Biddulph, Minister of St. James's Church, Bristol, then delivered an Address to the Missionaries, on those various blessings which it was the desire of his heart that they might receive. On these he enlarged in the following order-personal safety-clear discoveries of the Gospel-the clothing of Humility-a rich in-dwelling of the Word of Christ-the spirit of prayer-invincible constancy-the possession of their souls in patience -the meekness and gentleness of Christ-the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace-deliverance from the fear of death, and from all inordinate love of life. These topics were frequently illustrated by apposite quotations from the Life of the late Mr. Martyn, and were all enforced in a manner the most affectionate and impressive. The Hon. and Rev. Gerard T. Noel followed Mr. Biddulph, in a short but very feeling Address of encouragement and exhortation to the Missionaries and to the Meeting; when, after a few words from the Noble Chairman expressive of the fulness of his heart on this solemn occasion, the whole was concluded by singing the cxviith Psalm. The Hall was entirely filled; and the Members who attended had the high gratification of this Meeting, without the inconvenience which has latterly been occa Nov. 1819. sioned at the Anniversaries by the pressure for admission of many more Members than the Hall will accommodate. No Collection was made at the Church; but the sum of 991.11s. 8d. was contributed after the Meeting. SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORFOLK AND NORWICH ASSOCIATION. Sermons were preached, on occasion of this Anniversary, as follows:-on Sunday Morning, at St. Laurence's, by the Rev. Henry Davies, from Bombay; in the Afternoon, at St. Gregory's, by the Rev. Robert Hankinson, and at Wymondham, by the Rev. H. Davies; and in the Evening, at St. George's Colegate, by Mr. Davies, and at St. Edmund's, by the Rev. Francis Cunningham. On Tuesday Evening, the Rev. Daniel Wilson preached at St. Gregory's; on Wednesday Evening, the Rev.II. Davies, at St. George's Colegate; and, on Thursday Evening, the Rev. D. Wilson, at St. Laurence's. On Thursday, Oct. 28th, the Annual Meeting was held in St. Andrew's Hall; G. S. Kett, Esq. one of the Vice-Presidents of the Association, in the Chair. The Rev. Henry Davies detailed many particulars respecting India; and the Rev. W. B. Johnson others, respecting Western Africa. The Rev. H. J. Hare, the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff, the Rev. Edward Edwards, the Rev. C. D. Brereton, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq. M.P. one of the Vice-Presidents of the Parent Society, and the Rev. Daniel, Wilson, addressed the Meeting. The Facts communicated by Mr. Davies and Mr. Johnson made a strong impression on the assembly. Mr. Buxton made a forcible appeal on the ground of these facts; and was followed, with his accustomed vigour, by Mr. Wilson. The sum of 671. Os. 7d. was collected after the Meeting; and the total amount of the Col3 Q lections was nearly 1801. During its last year, the Association raised upward of 10001. SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CARLISLE ASSOCIATION. The Annual Meeting, on this occasion, was held at the Assembly Room, on the Evening of the 5th of November; the Rev. Fergus Graham in the Chair. The Rev. Legh Richmond addressed the Meeting, as the Representative of the Parent Society; and gave a comprehensive view of its operations. The Rev. James Traill, lately returned from India, communicated, much at large and with great effect on the Meeting, the leading features of the Hindoo Character the proceedings of the Society in India-the actual success and enlarging prospects in the East-the benefits to be expected from the Mission College at Calcutta-and the patience and faith requisite under the slow progress toward entire success. As the testimony of an Eye-Witness bears with authority on the mind, we shall extract a few passages from Mr. Traill's Address. Of the Hindoo Character he draws a frightful picture; which is, however, fully confirmed by the testimony of other intelligent and competent witnesses. The Hindoo Character presents many anomalies, and is made up of qualities so contradictory and incongruous, that nothing but experience would lead one to give credit to a faithful description of it. In this country, we used formerly to hear much of the mild and innocent Hindoo, and a kind of interesting charm was thrown about the character of the Natives of the East; but, in India, I can assure you, we know of no such character as the Innocent Hindoo. He exists only in the visions of the poet, or the dreams of the theorist. We find there a mass of intellect-prostrate, debased, and enslaved, by the whimsical fooleries and the polluting mysteries of a horrid system of idolatry-a system which has been well and aptly charac terized, as a compound of sensuality and blood. It is not necessary for me to enter into particulars, respecting the many unmeaning and ridiculous, and often impure rites, improperly named 'religious,' in India. I need not tell you, that the pagodas are dens of filth-that the idols which they worship are the most absurd and shapeless blocks imaginable-that their images are such, that it is difficult to understand how the idea of figures so absurd could find admittance into the :: mind of man. It is hardly necessary to add, that the processions are devoid of every thing even showy, solemn, or pleas ing the whole resembles a drunken revel; and the yell that accompanies them, seems to procced from the mouths requisite to enumerate the vices that debase the character of its inhabitants. I might tell you of their sensuality, of their dishonesty, and of their deceitfulness. I might, indeed, run through all the black catalogue of moral delinquency; and I might add, that all these are blended in the character of the Natives of India. of demons, and not of men. Nor is it It may be said, that we need not travel so far as India, to find specimens of all that is vicious and immoral; and that, in Christian Lands, there are multitudes who are earthly, sensual, and devilish. True! but, in India, we have none to redeem the general cha racter-no salt to save the mass from universal corruption. Indeed, such is that a Hindoo feels no shame at his turthe total depravation of the moral sense, pitude: if he is convicted of a crime, he may feel regret and vexation at being detected; but he is a stranger to remorse, or a salutary sense of shame, for the crime itself. Whatever crimes a Hindoo may be guilty of, he can find a parallel and an excuse, in the lives of the Being, whom he worships; and it is a common practice with them, to rid themselves of all present remorse and future responsibility, by directly referring their profligate practices to the suggestion of the Deity himself. Repeatedly have I observed the operation of their deadly principles. "What could I do ?— How. could I help it ?—God put it into my mind"-I have, again and again, heard urged by these benighted people, as an excuse for their delinquencies. I would only add to this account, a single remark on the state of the Females in India. It is impossible for you, Sir, or for this assembly, habituated as you 1819.] CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. are to behold Females in the possession of all that estimation and respect and tenderness which characterize a Christian Country, to conceive the state of degradation and contempt in which they are held in India. Some idea may be formed of it from this single fact, that the only Females there who receive even the common elements of instruction, are those profligate creatures whom a licentious superstition attaches to the retinue of some particular pagoda. In short, Sir, you have only to suppose the natural corrupt propensities of the human heart acted upon by a system of superstition, licentious and bloodya superstition wrought, as it were, into the very hearts of its votaries—and you have a picture of the moral state of the That is, ininhabitants of Hindostan. deed, the region of the shadow of death; a land of death-a death of intellect-a death of moral feeling. In urging the Meeting to exertion in behalf of these our miserable fellow-subjects, Mr. Traill bore a strong testimony to the manner in which the Society's affairs are conducted in India. I have been in the habit (he said) of confidential communication with those Gentlemen who superintend the Society's concerns in India; and the impression on my mind decidedly is, that the Society's proceedings are distinguished by a union of zeal, judgment, and discretion, which eventually promises the happiest results in the great work in which they are engaged. After an expression of cordial After an expression of cordial regard to the Christian Labours of other Societies, Mr. Traill mentions, with high respect, the names of some of the leading friends of the Society, in Bengal and at Madras; and adds With such men at the head of our Society's affairs, and that too in the very heart of Satan's Empire, and on the very spot where the attack is made on his kingdom, we have the best guarantee that the proceedings of the Society will continue to be conducted in the spirit of that Gospel which we long to promulgate. Of the encouragements arising from the increasing influence of Christian Knowledge, Mr. Traill says Without wandering into the region of conjecture, we can trace, in the impulse confessedly given to public opinion among the more intelligent classes of the Natives of India, the dawning of a brighter day in that benighted land. Formerly they would not hear you speak on the subject of Christianity-now, they are ready to listen, and to reply. The subject has fairly arrested their attention. The influence too of the Brahmins is on the decline: political causes have contributed to abridge their wealth; and, with that, a large portion of their authority has vanished; and nothing pleases the Natives better than to hear the arguments of the Brahmins confuted by the Christian Missionary. The increase of religion among our Countrymen in India, the more public and consistent profession of Christianity, and the proposed establishment of the Mission College at Calcutta, are also mentioned by Mr. Traill as favourable On the adindications for India. vantages of this College he enters at large; and observes, respecting it-"A plan of this nature has long been the subject of the ardent wishes and prayers of the friends of religion in India." SERMONS AND MEETING AT CHICHESTER. The Rev. Henry Davies preached for the Society, twice, in St. John's Chapel, at Chichester, on Sunday, Collections amounted to above 411. the 14th of November, when the A Meeting was held, the next day, Council Chamber of the City. by permission of the Mayor, in the The room was crowded to excess; and many were obliged to return, not being able to obtain admittance. The Rev. Stephen Barbut opened the business of the Meeting: when Mr. Davies detailed the object, principles, and proceedings of the Society; and was followed by other Gentlemen. After the Meeting, many persons, in addition to those who already contribute in that city and neighbourhood, became Subscribers. There seemed, indeed, to be but one common feelingthat of a determination to promote, to the utmost of their power, the success of this Cause; and it was resolved, that an Association for Chichester and the County of Sussex should be formed in the Spring or Summer of the ensuing year. FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE TOWN, COUNTY, AND UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. The Annual Sermons, at Trinity Church, having been preached, on Sunday, the 14th of November, by the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Thomas Noel, M.A., the Public Meeting took place on Wednesday, the 17th; the Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Patron of the Association, in the Chair. From the Report, read by the Rev. James Scholefield, one of the Secretaries, it appeared that the sum of 6311. 3s. 4d. had been received during the year. The Secretary of the Parent Society entered into its principles, the necessities of the Heathen World, the openings of Providence, the welcome given to its labours in every quarter, and its encouraging success. Many facts were adduced by the Assistant Secretary, and by the Rev. W. B. Johnson, in illustration of these views. The Meeting was addressed also by the Rev. William Pym, Francis Pym, Esq., George Milner, Esq., the Hon. and Rev. G. T. Noel, the Rev. Professor Farish, the Rev. Professor Lee, the Rev. Charles Simeon, and other Gentlemen. Professor Farish moved a Resolution expressive of the gratification of the Meeting at the proposed establishment of a Mission College at Calcutta, by the Lord Bishop of that Diocese, a Member of the University; and to which the Three Societies in the Church engaged in Missions to the Heathen had contributed the sum of 15,000l. The Professor took a comprehensive view of the great advantages likely to result, under the blessing of God, from the establishment of the College; and was followed, on the same subject, with the authority which would naturally attach to his sentiments on such a topic, by Professor Lee. The simple but impressive narrative of Mr. Johnson had a forcible, and, we trust, a most salutary effect on the Meeting. The first openings and rapid progress, under many trials of faith, in the education and religious instruction of his Liberated Negroes at Regent's Town, might well serve as both a direction and an encouragement in dealing with men, to his numerous hearers, either engaged, or preparing to engage, in the Sacred Work of the Ministry; while the natural descriptions given by his religious Negroes, of the state of their feelings, threw light on those parts of Scripture which describe the conflicts of the awakened heart. The Collections after the Sermons amounted to 80l. 1s. 3d.; and that at the Meeting to 261. 2s. 7d. |