stowed by the Society of Friends, and yet many more, especially in India, by contributions on the spot. It is one of the striking features of the missionary enterprise, that it calls into active exercise the sympathies and aid of all in every place who confess allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and provides for itself in the very scenes of its labours and triumphs, the means of growth and perpetuation.

In reviewing the course of the year, there is one reflection the Committee would urge upon the members of the Society. God has continued to bless his servants, so that there has been no diminution, but an increase, in the spiritual results of missionary toil. For if some portions of the vineyard are not so productive as might be wished, the fruit in others has been sufficiently abundant to remove discouragement or fear. Yet the strength of the Mission has been declining. In no case are the labourers equal to the toil demanded of them. Western Africa has lost one after another of its most energetic evangelists. They are reduced to the lowest possible number to hold the ground that had been occupied. In Ceylon, where three missionaries were not enough for the service of thirty-five stations and the oversight of four hundred and fifty members of churches, one only is left-and must we not say, to sink under the accumulated responsibility and toil? In India, with one or two exceptions, every station needs additional aid; some places have already been abandoned for want of it. Large tracts of country are unoccupied, where it would appear the fields are white unto the harvest. Many of our brethren are aged. Should they be taken to their rest, as in the course of nature they must speedily be, the Committee are unable to supply their place. And others are overwhelmed with care and anxiety, induced by the scarcity of help. Brethren, we are straitened in ourselves. It is here, in our own hearts, in the churches of Christ in this land, we may find the remedy. A more generous and self-denying spirit must actuate the disciples of Christ, and your Committee will not then have the deep sorrow and pain to turn a deaf ear to the loud cry ever reaching them from heathen lands, and from the weary and worn brethren who labour in them, "Come over and help us." HOME PROCEEDINGS.

The year which has now closed has witnessed some important changes in the home agency of the Society. In the month of June last, the Rev. Joseph Angus, then Secretary, felt it his duty to relinguish a post which he had occupied during a course of nine years, at first conjointly with the late lamented Rev. J. Dyer, and subsequently alone, with much honour to himself and great advantage to the Society. As the Committee did not part with him in his official capacity without the most unfeigned affection and regret, so they took the earliest opportunity afforded them of placing his name on the list of the Committee.

The official vacancy created by Mr. Angus's resignation was promptly filled up

by the election of two esteemed brethren, the Rev. Frederick Trestrail and Mr. Edward B. Underhill, to be joint Secretaries; this arrangement being connected with another, which had in view a reduction in the amount of travelling agency which had been previously employed. In consequence of it the engagement of the Rev. Philip Saffery has not been renewed; while our long-loved brother, the Rev. Eustace Carey, has it in contemplation to accept a call to regular pastoral labour.

The Committee now advert, and with some feelings of gratification, to the state of the Society's funds.

The Committee commenced the financial year with a debt of £4,946. 17s. 10d., not including in that sum the balance of £1,554. 14s. 1d., owing on the special grant to Jamaica. They are happy to state that this debt has not been increased. The income has exceeded the expenditure by £144. 2s. 10d.; a result which is owing to a liberal donation of £200 by the senior Treasurer, just previous to the closing of the accounts, given in the hope that the funds of the Society may, in the coming year, be able to meet more adequately the claims of the heathen world.

But in order to keep the expenditure within the income, large reductions have been made. In India alone, the expenditure has been reduced by £2,625; in Ceylon by nearly £200; in Africa by nearly £1000; in incidental and casual expenses about £150. In other respects the expenditure has been about the same as last year.

With regard to the receipts, the fund for general purposes has improved by £860; arising partly from enlarged contributions by the Auxiliaries, and partly from the amount of legacies received. There has also been an increase of nearly £100 for translations. On the other hand, the receipts for the sale of the various publications issued by the Society have fallen off more than £150. Unless some increased efforts for their wider circulation are made by the constituency at large, this deficiency will become greater. If so, it will be a question how far the present style of these publications is to be kept up, and whether some extensive changes must not be made in this department. The total receipts for all purposes, including £359. 2s. 6d. towards the debt have been £19,776. 13s. 1d.

It is therefore evident, after all the reductions that have been made, that nothing short of an income of £20,000 will suffice to maintain the Society in its present position. This even makes no provision for the support of the widows and orphans of those who have fallen in the field, and will scarcely meet the contingencies arising out of sickness, and the necessity of a return to England, when the broken health of missionaries absolutely requires such a change. Still less does it provide for the expense of sending out new missionaries to supply vacancies, or to help those who are oppressed beyond measure with their labours. If the income falls below this amount, there will

be either an increase of debt, or a further reduction in the number of your missionaries, both European and native, or the entire abandonment of one or more departments of the Mission. Your Committee are determined, as far as they can avoid it, that the debt shall not be increased; but to diminish the number of missionaries by recalling Europeans, would be no saving for one year at least, while it would cripple, if not destroy, the Mission where they laboured; and to abandon any field, the Committee are reluctant. But one or the other of these alternatives must be adopted, unless the churches are prepared for more Your enlarged and systematic efforts. Committee will wait for a decision with no small anxiety, and if they are compelled to give up stations where God has blessed the Mission, they cannot be blamed.

The effect which the resolutions of the Committée, in regard to reduction of expenditure, has had on the minds of missionaries, has been seen in their communications

published in the Herald. These communications are distressing. Very many of the churches have sympathised deeply with their brethren who are toiling in the field. Most urgent have been the requests from various quarters, not to proceed any farther, and some have proved the reality of their sympathy by sending up increased contributions. India, Africa, Hayti, Trinidad, and the Bahamas, the East and the West, all loudly call for additional aid-a call rendered the more painfully interesting by the brightening prospects of the Mission in those fields; and shall it be in vain ?

What, then, remains to the friends of the Society? A more just appreciation of the claims which the love of Christ and the souls of men have upon them,-a holy and fervent zeal in the cause of God,-and everywhere throughout the whole denomination, increased and systematic organization for the gathering into the treasury of the Lord the gifts of his people. Let our associations when they meet, consider the Mission as one part of their business. Let churches in various districts agree to unite in their anniversaries at the same time, so as to save expense in deputations. In many districts, deputations may occasionally be wholly spared, if the brethren residing in them would but take the matter into their own hands. While we hope there is a growing interest in the cause, a spirit of prayer springing up all around, there must yet be a more combined effort, more unity of action, more individual effort, more local zeal, less dependence on the executive, and more of a consciousness in pastors, deacons, and members of our churches, that the work is their own, and that each and all should engage in it; and above all, a simple but earnest reliance on God, who in his divine promises invites us to place entire trust in him, and who will, if we seek it in earnest prayer, pour out the spirit of wisdom and liberality on the churches at home, refresh and gladden the hearts of missionaries abroad, and abundantly bless their efforts in turning the

perishing multitudes of the heathen from darkness to light.

THE MAY MEETINGS.

These interesting annual assemblies have been held this year in London as usual. We regret that our space does not permit us to enter into detail on each of them. The report of the Baptist Missionary Society will be found at length on another page. At the Business Meeting of the Society, Mr. Pryce's and Mr. Mursell's resolution proposing an alteration in the constitution, was, after some discussion, referred for consideration to the General Committee. The Public Meeting was largely attended, the speakers being Messrs. Walters of Preston, Farebrother from China, J. J. Brown of Reading, J. F. Newman of Shortwood, J. L. Phillips of Melksham, and B. W. Noel. The meetings of the Triennial Conference of the Anti-State-Church Association, as well as the Public Meetings held in connexion with it, were unusually large and interesting. The number of delegates appointed to the Conference was about 550; and the striking unanimity and earnestness which characterised the entire proceedings, could not fail to be a sufficient reply to those who have recently attempted to put a stop to the Society's operations. The reception given to Dr. Price and Mr. Miall, who have particularly been attacked by the individuals referred to, was very gratifying. When they entered the room almost the whole assembly rose to receive them; and when, soon after, a resolution of confidence in and gratitude to Dr. Price, who is retiring from official connexion with the Association on account of his health, was put to the vote, the entire assembly again rose, and carried it with the most enthusiastic acclamations. The Conference continued three days, and two Public Meetings were held on successive evenings, both of which were crowded. The meetings of the Baptist Union, the Baptist Home Missionary Society, the Baptist Irish Society, the Bible Translation Society, and the Hanserd Knollys Society, were all deeply interesting.

WEEKLY TRACT SOCIETY.

The second annual meeting of this society was held on Thursday evening, 25th April, at Calthorpe-Street school-room, Gray'sInn-Road (Rev. B. W. Noel's). J. R. Taylor, Esq. presided. Prayer having been offered by Rev. E. Whimper, the chairman delivered an appropriate address. The Rev. W. H. Elliott, secretary, read the report, which shewed an increase in the funds during the past year, as well as an extension of the society's operations. It also detailed pleasing instances of the usefulness of the Society's weekly publications, and earnestly called upon the christian public to aid the society in carrying out its benevolent efforts. The Revs. C. A. M. Shepherd, J. Branch, Mr. Hatch, J. Robertson, M.A., and Joseph Payne, and M. Murphy, Esq. spoke to the several resolutions.

SWEDEN.

To the Editors of "The Church."

Dear Brethren,

The following petition has been adopted by a public meeting in London, in consequence of a request from Mr. Nilsson, pastor of the Baptist church recently formed in Sweden, that we would interest ourselves on behalf of our brethren there. Will you invite brethren to obtain the concurrence of their churches in this or a similar petition, as they may prefer? If they concur in this, the name of pastor and church will be attached to it, on receipt of authority to do

so.

Yours in Christ,

WM. NORTON.

Egham, Surrey, May 3, 1850.

(Copy.)

To His Most Gracious Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway.

May it please your Majesty,

Having learned that our brethren, the Baptists of Sweden, are suffering persecution on account of their religion, and that they are liable even to be banished from their country, and sent forth destitute and without means of support for themselves and families, we humbly and fervently entreat your Majesty to exercise your royal power to secure to them, in common with all your subjects, full religious liberty,-a blessing which we rejoice to know exists already in Norway.

That it may please the Most High God to incline your Majesty to listen to cur entreaty, that he may prosper your reign, and grant your Majesty, through faith in Christ, a crown unfading when this life shall end, is your petitioners' most earnest prayer.

NAUNTON, NEAR STOW-ON-THE-WOLD,

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

On Tuesday, March 19th, the foundation stone of a new Baptist chapel was laid in the above village. The ceremony was performed at 3 o'clock p.m. by Mrs. Collett, of Candicote, in the midst of a large assembly of spectators and friends. The 67th Psalm was read, and prayer offered, by the Rev. J. Teall, the pastor of the church and congregation for whose accommodation the building is being erected; an address was delivered by the Rev. E. Hull, of Blockley; and the Rev. J. Statham, of Bourton-onthe-Water, implored the Divine blessing to rest upon the undertaking. At 4 o'clock, about 150 friends sat down to tea; and a public meeting was held in the evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. Comely, of Notgrove; and addresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs. Teall, Statham, Dunn, Ricketts, and Messrs. Fuller and Goffe. The chapel, when finished, will be 45 by 27 feet inside the walls, will have an end gallery and vestibule, with spacious vestries and lecture-room attached, and so arranged as to afford accommodation for hearing, when necessary. The estimated cost is £400, and it is hoped such pecuniary assis

tance will be rendered by the denomination generally, as to realize the wishes of the friends, in closing the doors, on the day of opening, free of debt. It is fully expected that the building will be ready for public worship about the third week in July.

LOCKWOOD.

The friends at this place, having enjoyed the benefits of the gospel for fifty-eight years through the benevolence of the late Benj. Ingham, Esq., who built the Baptist chapel there at his own expense, and gave it in trust to that denomination, resolved some time since to rebuild it, in order to make it more commodious and inviting. On Monday, April 22nd, they met in order to lay the foundation-stone of the new erection. Many assembled with them. The Rev. John Barker gave out the 102nd Psalm, engaged in prayer, and delivered an address. Mr. Godfrey Berry proceeded to lay the stone, having placed beneath it a plate bearing a suitable inscription; and Mr. G. Berry, the Rev. T. Thomas, and Mr. Thos. Beaumont, delivered appropriate addresses. The erection is expected to cost about £1200, of which £1000 is already subscribed.

BILSTON, STAFFORDSHIRE.

Interesting services have been held by the Baptist church, Bilston, Staffordshire, to commemorate the jubilee of their existence in the town. On Lord's-day, March 10th, the Rev. B. Evans. of Scarborough, preached to large and attentive congregations, after which collections were made in aid of a fund being raised for the purpose of erecting a house for the resident minister for the time being. On Tuesday evening, March 12th, a public tea meeting was held, when upwards of 600 sat down to tea, nearly all the tables having been furnished gratuitously by the ladies of the congregation. Mr. T. Skemp, minister of the place, presided,-Mr. W. Baylis, gave a short sketch of the history of the cause,and suitable addresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs. D. Wright of Darkhouse, J. Williams of Walsall, J. Voller of Princes-end, B. Evans of Scarborough, and J. Blakeman of Hook-Norton, the two last-named having been at one time members of the church. The total amount realized by donations and collections towards the jubilee fund was nearly £70.

HASLINGDEN, LANCASHIRE.

The Rev. James Bury resigned his pastoral charge at Colne, Lancashire, on the 7th April, and has accepted a unanimous invitation from the Baptist church meeting in Bury-Road, Haslingden, in the same counHe entered upon his labours on the third Sabbath of May.

ty.

ISLINGTON-GREEN, LONDON. The Rev. George B. Thomas, of Fishponds, near Bristol, has accepted the call to the pastoral office sent him, by the church in Islington-Green chapel, Islington, and entered upon the discharge of his duties the first Sunday in May.