which gave a condensed view of the operations of the Society, in various parts of Ireland, and rendered gratitude to Almighty God for the unprecedented success which had attended its labours, in placing in the hands of a large number of the people the sacred Scriptures, in their own language. Lord Galloway moved the adoption of the Report, which was seconded by the Bishop of Cashel, who stated that 270 children of converted Roman Catholic parents had come to the Protestant Church, for instruction, during the year. Viscount Barnard moved the next resolution, in an able speech, which was well seconded by the Earl of Roden, who related many circumstances which had come under his own observation, showing the efficiency and value of the Society. Several other gentlemen addressed the meeting, nominating the committee and officers for the ensuing year. A liberal collection was then made, and the assembly broke up about four o'clock.

RAGGED SCHOOL UNION.

THE Eighth Anniversary of this very useful Institution took place in Exeter Hall, on Monday evening, May 10th. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided; thus manifesting his continued interest in a cause, to the success of which he has so largely contributed, and with which his name will always be identified. The proceedings having been opened by prayer, the Secretary read a long and extremely gratifying Report, detailing the progress of the Union during the past year, and recording a number of very striking particulars. From that document, it appeared that the Education movement, over which the Union watched, had made rapid advances in prosperity and usefulness. The emigration fund had amounted to £621; and the general fund to £3,510. 14 new schools had been opened, making the total number of those now included in the Union 110. There were 1600 voluntary, and 200 paid teachers. The number of pupils under instruction was 13,000.

A magazine had been established, for the use of the children, and had already reached a circulation of 7000. 8000 Bibles had been purchased at sixpence each. A long list of towns was enumerated, to which the benefits of the Ragged School system had been extended.

The Earl of Harrowby, Alfred Rooker, Esq., Dr. Beaumont, J. Payne, Esq., and other speakers addressed the Meeting, in favour of a series of resolutions; all of which were unanimously adopted. The proceedings terminated with a well-merited vote of thanks to the excellent Chairman, for kindly presiding on that occasion, and for his unabated interest in the various operations of the Union.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

THE Forty-ninth Annual Examination, and Public Meeting of the above Society, took place on Monday, May 10th, at the Institution, in the Borough Road. The Examination commenced at ten o'clock, and gave great satisfaction to a crowded assembly. At the close, Lord John Russell, who presided, called upon Mr. Henry Dunn, the Secretary, to read the Report of the Committee, which stated that the Society had fully maintained its position, while its prospects were still brightening. Details were given of the operations of the Society, in various parts of the Kingdom, showing the great success with which they had been crowned. During the year, 119 public meetings had been held, at which the principles of the Institution had been explained and enforced. 45 new schools had been opened. Grants of school materials had been made to almost every part of the world. In the West Indies great good had been done among the Negro population. The state of the finances had much improved, and there had been a considerable increase of annual subscriptions.

The receipts for the year amounted to £13,966 13s., and the payments to £13,012 10s. 7d.; leaving a balance of £954 28. 5d. in the Treasurer's hands.

The Rev. H. Hughes, Rev. L. Wiseman, Rev. Samuel Martin, Sir J. Boileau, Rev. Joshua Russel, and Sir W. Stirling, addressed the Meeting most powerfully.

Thanks were voted to the noble Chairman, which he duly acknowledged, and concluded the proceedings with an animated appeal for enlarged contributions.

IRISH CHURCH MISSIONS.

On Friday, April 30th, the Society for Promoting Missions to the Romanists of Ireland, through the Established Church in that country, held its Anniversary in Exeter Hall. The Duke of Manchester took the chair, at twelve o'clock, surrounded by a large number of the chief friends and supporters of this flourishing Institution. The Report stated that the Society had 11 Missions, with 48 Stations, and Schools attended by 3,500 children. At present there were employed 24 Home Missionary Clergymen, 13 Lay Agents, 118 Scripture Readers, besides 39 Schoolmasters, and 32 Schoolmistresses making, in all, 226 paid agents: in addition to which, there were some hundreds of gratuitous teachers. The balance in hand, at the last Annual Meeting, and the contributions received for the year, amounted to £13,899 12s. 2d., and the disbursements to £11,769 6s. 3d., leaving £2130 5s. 11d., with which to commence the operations of another year. The meeting was well attended, and efficiently addressed, by various

gentlemen, who urged upon the assembly the great importance to be attached to the Irish Church Missions.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY.

THIS very useful Society held its Anniversary on Tuesday, May 4th, in the Hall of Commerce, Tureadneedle Street, when the chair was taken by T. Hankey, Esq., the newly-appointed Treasurer, in the unavoidable absence of the President, Earl Ducie. The meeting having been opened by prayer, the Chairman made a few introductory remarks, on his presiding, for the first time, at the Annual Meeting of the Society, and expressed his readiness to do all in his power to advance its interests. The Secretary was then called upon to read the Report, which gave a highly satisfactory detail of the Society's operations, in various sea-ports in England, by means of Missionaries, the distribution of tracts, Bethel services, &c.

The Rev. Mr. Hollis moved the adoption of the Report, and dwelt upon the necessity of Christians uniting with one heart, in the spread of the Gospel among their fellowcreatures; not overlooking the Seamen of the country, who had peculiar claims to their attention. The Rev. W. Blood, one of the survivers from the wreck of the "Amazon," seconded the motion, and gave an account of the sufferings he underwent, and the scenes through which he passed, on the night of the wreck of that ill-fated vessel. The meeting was also addressed by the Rev. W. Harbutt, Rev. J. Clarke, W. Janson, Esq., John Rogers, Esq. Captain Cooke, R.N., Rev. J. T. Duffield, Rev. W. Legge, and Rev. J. Burnet. A liberal collection was made, and several donations announced.

NEW ASYLUM FOR FATHERLESS CHILDREN.

THE Eighth Anniversary of this Institution was celebrated at the London Tavern, on Tuesday, May 11th, by a Festival, at which S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., presided. A large number of the friends and supporters of the Institution were present on the occasion. After dinner, the Chairman stated that it was in contemplation to erect a new building, more commensurate with the claims of the Charity, and that there was in hand the sum of £2400 towards this desirable object. The children belonging to the Asylum, who presented a very healthy and prepossessing appearance, walked in procession round the room, and, after singing a hymn, retired. Mr. Alderman Wire made a very appropriate speech, in the course of which he referred to the liberality which had characterized the Chairman, both as a public man, and in private life. A list of Subscriptions was read by the Honorary Secretary, the Rev. T. Aveling, amounting to £962, including a

donation of 250 guineas from Mr. Peto, and one of 100 guineas from the Treasurer, Baron Lionel Rothschild. Several gentlemen advocated the cause of this excellent Institution, which we were pleased to find, from all that transpired, may be considered in a very satisfactory and promising condition.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

THE Annual Breakfast of the Young Men's Christian Association took place in Freemasons' Hall, on Tuesday morning, May 11th, at six o'clock, when above 300 of the members and friends of the Association sat down to an excellent repast; the Earl of Harrowby presiding on the occasion. The cloth having been removed, the hymn, "All hail the power of Jesus' name was sung, and prayer offered by the Rev. T. Nolan. The Chairman, on rising to open the business of the morning, expressed the gratification he felt at being in the midst of such a meeting, and very strikingly contrasted the difference in the circumstances of the early Chistians, who used to meet at break of day, in order to escape the notice of their persecutors, in deserts and obscure corners of the earth; whereas they had met, by public announcement, in the most celebrated hall of the most ancient city of the world; and were enabled, without fear and apprehension, to raise their thoughts to the Giver of all good. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. W. W. Robinson, J. C. Harrison, R. Young, and T. Nolan, as well as by His Excellency the American Minister, who, in an admirable speech, stated the pleasure the Committee had afforded him, in allowing him to be present that morning; and thanked them in the name of the young men of the United States, who had embarked in a similar object, and had formed a similar institution. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Doxology was sung, and the company separated.

PEACE SOCIETY.

THE Thirty-sixth Annual Meeting of the above Society was held in Finsbury Chapel, on Tuesday, May 18th. The chair was occupied by C. Hindley, Esq. M.P., who opened the proceedings of the evening with expressing his firm conviction of the sinfulness of war, and the importance of maintaining peace. The Rev. H. Richard, the able Secretary, stated that the Report had been presented to a meeting of the members and subscribers, held in the morning, and therefore he had been requested to give, orally, a brief abstract of its contents, interspersed with such occasional remarks as might serve to relieve the tedium supposed to attach to a Report, whether read or spoken.

The Committee had availed themselves of the opportunity afforded for the diffusion of

fications. Now a man, like yourself, who has seen and conversed with Missionaries of both classes, in different parts of the world, and know well enough the Jewish character to form a correct judgment on this subject, will at once conclude with me, specially after considering the above remarks, that not one Gentile Missionary in a hundred combines in himself all those qualifications. He may possess all the qualifications generally necessary in a Missionary, but will come far short of the peculiar ones necessary to one labouring amongst the Jews. The converted Jew, on the other hand, generally possesses all these peculiar qualifications; and may, after a few (say three, if he be an intelligent individual) years of collegiate training acquire most of the rest.

"Let us now consider them as in the field of labour and see how they succeed. The former, the Gentile, generally commands greater reverence, and will be listened to with respectful attention; but no sooner does he quit the place, than his words, be they as striking as they may, are forgotten; the Jew does not think of them afterwards; he considers it natural enough for a Gentile Christian to speak in that strain. He is not the man likely to excite much inquiry, however energetic he may be; and will find it difficult to get hearers, though, as I remarked, if he once gets them, he will be patiently heard, out of respect, rather than curiosity or excited inquiry. The Rabbis may not dare to anathematize him, his books, or his hearers, for they think they have little to fear. With the latter, however, it is all the reverse. Wherever he goes he excites inquiry, specially if he be a native of the place or its neighbourhood. The words that may fall from his lips in the ears of his unconverted brethren are not only thought of, but reported abroad among the rest. It is true, he will meet with greater opposition, and, it may be, bitter persecution; he may be anathematized, as well as his books, and all who should read them, or converse with him. But this is the very thing calculated, so far as my experience goes, to excite in most places greater inquiry, and, in consequence, his books will generally be the more sought for, and perused with greater eagerness.

"From the above brief observations you will, perhaps, come to the conclusion I have long ago adopted, that the best policy is to send both, a Gentile and a converted Jew, to labour together in the same field. The pre

sence of the former will mitigate bitterness, persecution, and opposition, whilst the latter will possess those qualifications above his Gentile fellow-labourer, which his Jewish descent and early education give him, and which are so indispensably necessary for the proper promotion and carrying on of God's work among his ancient people. Thus you perceive that I hold a middle course as the best.

"The Missionary among the Jews in Africa or Asia, will invariably meet with opposition and persecution; and it may generally be taken as a sign that he is lenient in proclaiming the truth as it is in Jesus, if neither be excited by his labours. The gospel is still what it was in apostolic days, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence' to the Jew. The Rabbis, as well as Satan, will not allow the blind and deluded followers of error and superstition to be emancipated, without offering all possible opposition, and by all means endeavouring to impede the success, or retard the progress, of God's eternal truth. The Missionary, therefore, should be prepared for this. He should be a hard labouring man; strong in bodily constitution; capable of enduring exposure to the elements; of a quick and penetrating mind; hopeful and lively in his disposition; prayerful and exercising strong faith in God's promises to all His faithful servants for support, protection, and final success. He must be firm in purpose, bold, yet affectionate and sympathetic. A man whom persecution cannot depress, paralyze, or cast down; and whom opposition should only stimulate and stir up all his energies in the good work. And, above all, he must make up his mind to become a wanderer, giving up all attachment to dear home, or a settled life; the world must be his parish, and heaven his home; the Master his pattern, and the Word his guide. Nor should he overlook the Gentiles around him; he must show the Jew that what he offers him is what every one needs, and is above all conception adapted to all men, of whatever nation, country, or clime.

"I could desire, if time permitted, to say more on this interesting subject, particularly as I learn that the attention of the friends of Israel in Scotland has been lately attracted to it, and that it is under their consideration at the present time. Should the above short remarks find their way to the public press, I hope they may come within their notice, and not in vain."