Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

hand of perpetuating and extending in Africa the saving knowledge of Christ.

This distressing intelligence soon became known to many of the Society's friends. One of them, in connection with a principal County Association, among the chief members of which Mr. Johnson was well known, expresses to the Secretary sentiments on his death, which will be felt wherever his character and labours are duly appreciated :

How deeply are we all affected at the account of Mr. Johnson's death! Such another loss could scarcely have been laid upon us. I feel for his poor children in Africa, for you, and for our common hope. Still how very much remains to comfort us! Mr. Johnson's work has evidently the stamp of God upon it. It is so firmly established, that no human opposition can overthrow it. He has been enabled to raise up many who will enter into his labours. But, above all, the spirit of prayer will be so deeply and increasingly excited, both for his Congregation and the Mission, that we cannot doubt, but that He, who has thus cast us down, will work even a greater blessing by the death of Mr. Johnson, than his life would have been to us. May we be enabled to exercise Faith in His Mercy!

In our city, where he was known, his death will be greatly deplored. We shall have, this evening, a Special Meeting, in which one object will be to seek a double blessing on the work of Missions; and I trust that we shall all feel, in consequence of this bereavement, both encouraged to come with more boldness to the Throne of Grace, and stimulated in our own exertions.

We trust that these feelings will be very widely awakened by the sad events which we have recorded.

Fuller details on this afflicting subject will be found under the head of Sierra Leone, in a subsequent part of this Number.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

J. Burtt-Rev. David Ruell, and Mr. J. AspinRev. T. Mortimer, and Rev. Solomon Pigott-Rev. T. Webster, and Mr. J. Burtt-and Mr. R. Smart, and Rev. D. Ruell.

Tenth Anniversary of the Norfolk and Norwich.

June the 29th-at St. Lawrence's, NorSermons were preached, on Sunday, Rode, in the evening, by the Rev. T.S. wich, in the morning, and at Carleton Grimshaw-and at Loddon and St. Edmund's, Norwich, by the Rev. G. Hodson.

A Meeting of the Contributors was held on Monday Evening, at Wymondham, at which Mr. Hodson attended; and another Meeting, the same evening, at Carleton Rode, at which Mr. Grimshaw attended.

Sermons were preached, on Tuesday Evening, at St. Augustine's and St. Michael's at Plea, by the Assistant SeLawrence's, on Thursday Evening, by cretary and Mr. Grimshaw; and at St.

the Rev. G. Hodson.

Andrew's Hall, on Wednesday July the The Annual Meeting was held in St. 2d; G. S. Kett, Esq., in the chair.

Movers and Seconders.

Rev. Francis Cunningham, and the Assistant Secretary-Rev. H. Girdlestone, and Rev. T. S. Grimshaw-Rev. G. Glover, and Rev. H Tacy-Rev. C. D. Brereton, and Rev. G. Hodson-and the Venerable the Archdeacon, and the Rev. Frederick Bevan.

A Meeting was held in the evening of that day, in the same place, designed chiefly for the Contributors to the Association from among the Labouring Orders, the Rev. John Cubitt in the Chair; and was addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Brereton, Bickersteth, Hodson, Cunningham, Grimshaw, and Tacy, and by John Joseph Gurney, Esq.

About 1207., including Donations, was collected.

Formation of the Lynn and West

Norfolk Branch.

On Sunday, the 29th of June, Sermons were preached, at St. Margaret's Church, and St. Nicholas' Chapel, Lynn, by the Rev. James Scholefield and the Assistant Secretary. On the following day, a Meeting was held in the Town Hall, the Rev. Robert Hankinson in the Chair. The Rev. S. Allen, the Minister Meeting; and a very delightful spirit of Lynn, attended and addressed the. prevailed among those assembled. Including Donations, about £.70 was contributed.

Movers and Seconders. Rev. E. Edwards, and the Assistant Secretary

[blocks in formation]

The Assistant Secretary, and Rev. E. Selwyn-
Rev. W. Terrot, and Rev. T. Mortimer-Rev. T.
Dale, and II. Wardell, Esq.-John Cator, Esq. and
E Suter, Esq.-and Sir John Webb, and W. Jen-
ney, Esq.

Formation of the Shoreditch Ladies'
Association.

A Meeting was held, on Friday Evening the 8th of July, in the Parochial School Room of St. Leonard's Shoreditch, for the purpose of forming a Ladies' Association in aid of the North-East London Association. The Rev. T. Mortimer, Lecturer of St. Leonard's, was in the Chair. The Meeting was addressed by the Chairman, by the Assistant Secretary of the Society, by the Rev. W. Evanson, and by John Ballance, Esq. A Committee of Twenty-three Ladies was appointed.

Treasurer, Mrs. Mortimer. Secretaries.

Miss Winkworth and Miss Gregory.

NEWFOUNDLAND EDUCATION SOCIETY.

Formation and Object of the Society. Ar a Meeting, held on the 30th of June, at the London Coffee House, John Wells, Esq. M. P. in the Chair, a Society was formed for promoting the Education and Improvement of the Poor in the Island of Newfoundland.

Movers and Seconders.
John Dent, Esq. M. P., and G. R. Robinson,
Esq.-Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M. P. and Lieut.
Vicars, R. E.-John Bacon, Esq. and W. H. Trant,
Esq.-Rev. C. Neville, and Rev. David Ruell-and
Rev. H. Budd, and Richard Eaton, Esq.
Vice-Patron,

Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool.
President,

Right Hon. Earl Bathurst.

Treasurer,

John Wells, Esq. M. P.

Secretaries,

G. R. Robinson, Esq. S. Codner, Esq. Twenty-four Noblemen and Gentlemen have been appointed Vice-Presidents.

This Society owes its formation to the unwearied exertions of Samuel Codner, Esq. of Teignmouth, who has been long connected with Newfoundland; and has, in frequent visits, witnessed, with grief, the ignorant and degraded state of the lower orders.

Necessity for this Institution.

From an Address to the Meeting by Francis Forbes, Esq. late Chief Justice of Newfoundland, we shall extract some passages which will shew the importance of establishing a Society of this nature:

He

A remarkable want of information prevailed with respect to the Aborigines of Newfoundland. Of these people, there had been only two taken alive, in the remembrance of the oldest settlers. had the good fortune to see one of these two. He was prepared, by previous accounts, to expect beings of superior savageness and ferocity: on the contrary, he found qualities in this Indian which excited the greatest surprise: there was a delicacy and propriety of deportment which could not well be exceeded; and he found a very sufficient reason, as he thought, for this phenomenon, on discovering that the Indians of the Colony had never been supplied by Europeans with spirits or gunpowder.

This Colony was the oldest possession of the British Crown; and had always been a source of wealth, and, as a nursery for hardy seamen, a main cause of the national prosperity. The population was about 70,000. For this whole population there were but 16 Schools-one School to between 4000 and 5000 inhabitants.

Having traced the causes of the distress which the Labouring Orders had frequently suffered, Mr. Forbes added

Eleemosynary grants could never be of any great advantage in supporting a whole people. It was of much more consequence to give them wholesome Moral Institutions, and especially Schools. He felt sure that the object could not fail. They were happy in

laying the foundation of this Institution. These acts were among the genuine triumphs of the nation: these were not triumphs for a day: they would outlive the lustre of even our national glory, and would cause numbers yet unborn to bless the British Name.

Continent.

FRANCE.

PARIS BIBLE SOCIETY.

State and Progress of the Society. AT the Fourth Anniversary of this Society, held on the 16th of April, the Marquis de Jaucourt, the President, gave the following view of the success and the prospects of the Society:

From every quarter, we declare it with joy, the voice of the friends of the Gospel responds to ours: the number of our Auxiliaries increases: several are already surrounded with Branches and Associations: even the less-favoured classes with regard to wealth, are eager to bring their hard-earned offerings at the end of every week. We are, indeed, still very far from being able to compare our progress to that of other Societies, which have been longer established than ours, particularly in countries where the Governments have openly declared themselves favourable to Biblical Labours: yet we have just cause for thanksgivings to the Providence of God, for hav. ing brought us to the point at which

we are now arrived.

We reckon confidently on future progress; for it is impossible that our brethren in the faith should hesitate to take their share in a work so perfectly conformable to their principles: it is impossible for friends of order and of religion to refuse it their approbation, whatever may otherwise be the dif. ferences in their opinion.

We shall still be obliged to have re- course to foreign presses, in order to procure the Holy Scriptures in that variety of languages, sizes, and types, which we find necessary for the supply of the wants of all our brethren. But we are happy in being able to announce that, in future, our supplies will chiefly ⚫ be furnished by the presses of France: already, three editions of the Bible, published at Toulouse, at Montauban,

and at Paris, two stereotype editions of the New Testament published at Paris, and another published at Montbéliard, furnish us with a considerable quantity of copies of the Holy Scriptures.

To put into the hands of all our families that Book, which commands every Christian to fear God and to honour the King, to submit himself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake-that Holy Book, I say, the basis of all order, of every virtue, of all true happiness is not this rendering to public and domestic morality, to the State, and to its families, yea, to the Church itself, a service which can neither be disputed nor misconstrued?

It appeared from the Report, that the following number of copies had been issued during the year :

Gratuitously... At reduced prices At the stated prices

.

Bibles.

Tests.

[blocks in formation]

5196

Total 4627 In reference to Auxiliaries and Associations, the Report stated

On the 31st of March, 1822, there existed 23 Auxiliaries, 21 Branch Societies, and 12 Associations: since then, 7 Auxiliaries, 4 Branches, and 37 Associations, have been added-making an increase of 48, during the past year, and the total of Bible Institutions ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR. Besides these, one Consistorial Society, six Auxiliaries, and three Branch Societies, are forming.

The Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel addressed to the Meeting, in the French Language, a Speech which powerfully impressed the whole assembly. In an Address of France, that Nobleman thus reby Count Verhuell, Vice-Admiral ferred to the sentiments which had been delivered by Mr. Noel :

The union of two nations so long separated by war, but who unite at present in furtherance of pious and benevolent institutions, exhibits to the world one of the most beautiful spectacles; and proves that it is not in the power of man to break those bonds, which render the body of Christians but one family. After a long military career, during which my duty imposed upon me frequently the necessity of

[blocks in formation]

Restrictions on the Baptism of the
Heathen.

IN a late Number of the Periodical Accounts of the Missions of the United Brethren, the following Notice appears under date of Feb. 26th

In answer to many inquiries respect ing a report lately spread by the public papers, that the Emperor Alexander had prohibited the preaching of the Gospel by the Missionaries of the Brethren's Church among the Calmucs, we are enabled to give the following explanation:

The Brethren at Sarepta had applied to the Russian Government, for permission to carry on the work of the Mission among the Heathen in the Russian Dominions, in the manner usual among the Brethren; and to instruct, baptize, and collect Congregations of those who should believe in Christ. This has been refused, on the ground of an old existing Law, that no Heathen, under Russian sway, shall be converted to Christianity and baptized, but by the Russian Greek Clergy. The Emperor himself has not the power to alter any part of the Ecclesiastical Laws; and thus, with all Brethren and good-will toward the their Missions, he cannot interfere. But particular leave has been given to preach and distribute the Holy Scriptures among the Calmucs: Prince Galitzin transmitted six Letters to the Calmuc Princes, to direct them to suf. fer it to be done without interruption. The labours of the Brethren's Missionaries, as well as of those of the Scottish Church, are now confined to these objects; but the Brethren at Sarepta are greatly perplexed to know how to care for the small congregation of Calmucs, who, with Sodnom, has taken refuge with them they are twenty-two in number, and some of them appear truly converted to God. Under these circumstances, we can do nothing but patiently wait to see, by what means the Lord will remove the difficulties which July, 1823.

now appear to obstruct the spread of His Gospel.

From some remarks on the above Notice, printed in a recent Number of the Scottish Missionary Register, it appears that the restriction in question does not, in fact, extend to the Missions of the Scottish Society. We extract these remarks:

It appears that the Brethren at Sarepta, having lately applied to the Russian Government, for privileges to carry forward with effect their Missionary Undertakings in that country, met with a refusal. This refusal, however, does not interfere with the privileges which were granted to the Scottish Missionaries at Karass, many years ago; and which are understood to be of a more full and liberal character, than those which have been bestowed on any other body of foreigners settled in the Russian Empire,

The clauses which refer to the reception of members into church fellowship, are as follows:

10. Every Cabardian, Circassian, or other Mahomedan or Heathen who is not a Slave, shall have liberty to embrace the religion of the Colony, and become a member of it with the consent of the Com

mittee.

11. Every Cabardian, Circassian, Tartar, or Heathen Slave, shall have liberty to embrace the religion of the Colony, and become a member of it, on paying to his owner the sum required, with the consent of the Committee.

Possessed of such rights, the Gommittee have only cause for regret, that it has not been in their power to exercise them more frequently. The Sultan Kategerry was baptized at Karass; and such of the ransomed Tartars, as from time to time have been thought in a state suitable for the reception of Christian Baptism, have had that ordinance administered to them at this Station: and it is devoutly to be wished, that, through the blessing of God resting on the preaching of the Gospel, multitudes may soon embrace the Christian Faith, and be admitted members of the Christian Church at Karass.

Another privilege, PECULIAR to the Society's establishment at Karass, is, the power of giving passports to its members, to settle in other parts of the Russian Empire. It is under the right which this privilege confers upon them, and with the immediate sanction of the Russian Government, that the Missionaries at the other Stations of the • Committee of Colonists. 2 Q

Society in Russia are prosecuting their labours; and, assuredly, with one exception, where the Committee had unfortunately afforded an obvious cause for, interference, the Missionaries, instead of being obstructed in their duties by the Russian Government, have hitherto enjoyed every facility for the prosecution of their labours.

At the same time, it must be acknowledged, that the circumstance of the old Law, noticed in the Periodical Accounts, having been brought into light in the present day, has not been viewed without uneasiness by the Committee: not that they are under any apprehensions that the privileges of the Society at Ka. rass will be infringed; but lest it should be made use of, at some future period, to obstruct the operations of its Missionaries at the other Stations. They are, at present, in correspondence with the Russian Government on the subject; and they shall be happy if the matter is brought to a satisfactory issue.

Western Africa.

Sierra Leone.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

WE have already stated the substance of the afflicting intelligence lately received by the Society from its Mission in Africa. We shall now enter into further particulars on this melancholy subject; and shall give a general view of the Mission, with a digest of the chief part of the information received up to the latest period, relative to the state and progress of the Settlement which has been deprived of its beloved Minister.

Number of Communicants and Scholars. An estimate may be formed of the general state-and progress of the Mission, from the number of its Native Communicants and Scholars.

The Communicants, by the last returns, including those admitted on Easter Sunday, were as follows:

Bathurst, 27-Charlotte, 8-Gloucester, 127-Kent, 17-Kissey, 25Leopold, 5-Regent, 450-Waterloo, 16-Wilberforce, 5. Total, 620.

The Scholars were as follows:

Freetown, 501- - Bathurst, 176 – Charlotte,251-Gloucester, 415-Kent, 246-Kissey, 250-Leopold, 314-Regent, 1052-Christian Institution Students, 27-Waterloo, 291. Total, 3523.

Third Anniversary of the Church Missionary Association.

A Sermon was preached, on this occasion, at St. Patrick's Church, Kissey, on the 8th of January, by the Rev. S. Flood, from Psalm lxxii. 8.

At the Annual Meeting, held immediately afterward, the Hon, Edward Fitzgerald, Chief Justice of the Colony and Vice-President of the Association, was called to the Chair.

The following List of Contributions affords a gratifying proof of the increasing interest in the objects of the Society :

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

1822.

L. s. d. 130 7 6

1 5

Charlotte

9 6 3

Freetown Schools

Gloucester

14 13 91

8 10 0

Hastings

Kent.
Kissev
Leopold
Regent
Waterloo
Wellington
Annual Meeting

500 8 2 3 10 1 6 74 14 10 3 10 0

10 3 0

5-9 10

Total. L. s. d. 923 17 IL

1 5 5 22 0 10

[ocr errors]

179 50 12 53 8 10 0 7 13 11

8 2 3 24 16 1

260 10 73

7 0 0 10 3 9

10 0 0

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Rev. John iluddlestone, and John M'Cormack,
Esq.-Rev. W. Johnson, and Mr. Philip Vaughan

-Mr. Chris. Taylor, and Mr. Robert Beckley-
Rev. G. R. Nylander, and Frederick Sawyer, Esq.
Mr. James Norman, and David Noah-Dr. Parry,
and the Hon. Joseph Reffell, Member of Council
-Captain Nosworthy, and T. Cole, Esq.-Edward
Gregory, Esq., and Stephen Gabiddon, Esq.-
Mr. T. Davey, and Mr. James Lisk-and the Hon.
T. Stuart Buckle, Member of Council, and Mr. T.
M'Foy.

Appointments of Labourers to different

Stations.

It will be seen, by a reference to the various Settlements noticed in

« AnteriorContinuar »