the general progress of religion among the Negroes in that Colony. In the close, a vote of thanks to the Rev. Edward Burn was unanimously carried on the suggestion of the Noble Chairman, who spoke strongly and feelingly of the benefits rendered by Mr. Burn to the Society. The Receipts of the year had been 5831. Os. 2d. Upward of 1601. was collected. Fifth Anniversary of the Tamworth Association. Sermons were preached on-Sunday, the 18th of August, by the Hon. and Rev. Littleton Powys, at Atherstone in the morning, at Lea Marston in the afternoon, and at Wilnecote in the evening-by the Assistant Secretary, at Rosliston on Friday Evening, the 23d; and on Sunday the 25th; at Tamworth, Grendon, and Measham-and, on the same day, at Clifton and at Fazeley, by the Rev. William Spooner. A Meeting of the Collectors and Weekly Contributors was held on Saturday Evening, the 24th; and was addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Bickersteth, Spooner, and Düring. The Annual Meeting of the Association took place in the Chancel, on Monday the 26th; the Rev. Francis Blick, Rector of Walton-onTrent and Minister of Tamworth, in the Chair. Movers and Seconders. Hon. James Hewitt, and the Assistant Secretary-Rev. James Gisborne, and Rev. Cyprian Thompson-Rev. H. During, and Major Nathaniel OliverRev. Edward Blick, and Rev. W. Spooner-and Lieut.-Col. Edward W. Dickenson, and Rev. T. Oliver. The Collections were about 120/. Fifth Anniversary of the Guernsey Association. The Rev. Daniel Wilson and the Rev. Henry Tacy having embarked at Weymouth, as stated in our last, on Wednesday the 14th of August, Sept. 1822. and landed at Guernsey on Thursday Afternoon. Sermons were preached-by Mr. Wilson, on Friday Evening; and on Sunday Morning, at St. James's; and on Sunday Evening (in French) at St. Peter du Bois-and by Mr. Tacy, at the Parish Church on Sunday Morning, and at St. James's in the evening. Collections were made at St. James's, after the Sermons on Sunday. The Annual Meeting was held on Monday the 19th, in the Assembly Room; Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. G.C.B., President of the Association, in the Chair. Movers and Seconders. Rev. Richard Potenger, and Rev. H. Tacy Rev. T. Brock, and Frederick Price, Esq. Rev. C. D. Isdell, and Rev. Daniel Wilson-Rev. Sandford Bourne, and Edward Selwyn, Esq.— and Rev. W. Chepmell, and Rev. D. Wilson. We quote, with pleasure, the principal Resolutions: That this Meeting, in adopting the Report and directing it to be printed, contemplates, with deep thankfulness, the success which has attended the exertions of the Church Missionary Society in Africa and other parts of the fresh and powerful call from God upon world; and regards that success as a Christians of every denomination to re double their zeal and activity in the cause of Christian Missions, persuaded that He, who has began a good work among the Heathen, will, in conformity to his own gracious promises, effectually perform it, until all the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. -That this Meeting, bearing in mind the spirit and language of the Articles and Prayers of the United Church, which breathe a tender regard to the state of the perishing Heathen, solemnly recognises the duty, more particularly imposed upon all its members, on a principle of religious consistency and of respect for its formularies, to promote, by every tion of the world. means in their power, the evangeliza -That this Meeting, contemplating, with grief and anxiety, the spirit of In 3 A subordination, Infidelity, and Atheism which exists in the world, and which threatens with destruction the best and dearest interests of Society; and sensible that the inconsistent lives of professing Christians is one cause, among others, alleged by the enemies of Social Order for their enmity to the Truth; and conscious that the same cause operates as a mighty obstacle to the reception of the Gospel among the Heathen-earnestly prays that the friends of Religion, both at home and abroad, may so adorn their profession, that the mouths of gainsayers may be stopped, and the Gospel have free course and be glorified. Fifteen Clergymen were present at the Meeting. The Report stated the income of the year at 6551. 19s. Od. The Collection after the Meeting amounted to 271. 83. 4d. and those at St. James's to 771. 3s. 2d.; making together 104. 11s. 6d. This was a very considerable increase, both in the income of the year and the contributions at the Anniversary. Second Anniversary of the Jersey The Rev. T. Brock, who accompanied Mr. Tacy and Mr. Wilson from Guernsey, preached(in French) at St. Peter's, on Friday Evening, the 23d of August: on Sunday the 25th, Mr. Wilson preached at St. Paul's and St. Saviour's, Mr. Brock at St. Martin's, and Mr. Tacy morning and evening at St. Aubin's Chapel. Collections were not made at St. Paul's nor at St. Aubin's in the evening. The Second Annual Meeting was held in the Large Room at Beale's Hotel, on Monday, the 26th; the Rev. W. C. Gallichan in the Chair. From the Report it appears that 1301. had been raised during the year. Movers and Seconders. Philip Marett, Esq. jun., and Rev. T. Brock Rev. Philip Filleul, and Rev. H. Tacy- and Francis Bertram, Esq. and Rev. Daniel Wilson. Mr. Wilson preached, the same evening (in French), at St. Aubin's Chapel. Collections, 321. 9s. 2d. SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ANNUAL REPORT. General State of the Society. THE Committee have to report an extension of the operations of the Society, during the past year, in Russian Tartary; the prospect of the speedy es tablishment of a Mission in India, under very auspicious appearances; and an enlargement of that support which they have hitherto so liberally experienced from the friends of the Society in this country. Foreign Operations. In reference to these, it is stated— have engaged the labours of the MisThe Foreign Operations of this Society sionaries at Five different Stations. Though nothing of a peculiarly-striking nature has occurred at any of the Missionary Stations during the past year, there has been, it is hoped, a steady progress in the work for which they were originally formed, and a large extension of the sphere within which the exertions of the Society were previously confined. In circumstances such as these, the duty and privilege of the Committee, and the Society at large, are apparent to be active and unwearied in their exertions, to maintain and increase the efficiency of the Society in mit not their efforts for the accomplishall its branches; and while they rement of this end, to be continually committing the cause into the hands of God, in the exercise of a steady faith in the promises of Scripture, and of earnest supplication for the fulfilment of them. In a subsequent part of the present Number, under the head of the Caspian and Black Seas," will be found a Report, by Drs. Paterson and Henderson, of their visit to four out of five of the above mentioned Stations. The rest of the intelligence given in the Report respecting these Stations will appear, either in the remaining Numbers of the present year, or in their proper places in the next Survey. We shall here, however, quote the Grounds on which a Mission to Bombay has been determined on. Encouraged by the increased support > which the Scottish Missionary Society is beginning to receive from the country at large, and persuaded that the time is fast approaching, when the Pres byterian Churches of Scotland will unite and consolidate their strength for the furtherance of the great cause of Missions, after the example exhibited to them by every other body of Christians in the island, your Committee have, for some time past, had it in view to attempt an enlargement of the operations of the Society; and have made it a subject of frequent and serious deliberation, what quarter of the globe presented the most promising field for this extension of their efforts. The Natives of India, as being subjects of Great Britain, manifestly possess a peculiar claim to the good offices of this country; and that political union which even the Men of the World regard as a special ground for the interchange of mutual acts of kindness and support, will be recognised, in the generous estimate of the Christian, as demanding for India the communication of those blessings, of which none but Christians know the value. If only the PRESENT life is taken into view, what boon, comparable in value to a knowledge of Christanity, can be imparted by one nation to another? If a FUTURE state be admitted into the estimate, what boon is so imperiously called for by the necessities of India-so indispensably necessary for the well being of her inhabitants? Your Committee need hardly observe, that, notwithstanding the contrary opinion of a few superficial observers, it is now fixed on evidence, irresistible to every one who will give it his candid and serious attention, that the Hindoos are sunk miserably low in the scale of moral beings-that impurity and cruelty are the characteristics of their superstition-and that they stand as much in need of the purifying and enlightening influences of Christanity, as any nation on the face of the earth. The Presidency of Bombay, which, from recent annexations, now includes a very extensive and populous territory, possesses at present only Six Christian Missionaries; while, in the Bengal and Madras Presidencies, there are upwards of eighty. The circumstances of the ground being here less occupied, of the contiguity of this division of India to Persia where Missionaries of the Society may ere long be fixed, together with other favourable appearances of less moment, have weighed with the Committee, in forming the resolution to send to this Presidency the first Missio naries of the Society destined for India. They expect to be able to form an efficient Corresponding Committee at the seat of the Government in Bombay. Experience has proved, that the formation of a body of this kind, in which the Society at home reposes confidence, is highly conducive to the successful management of Missionary Operations, in a country so distant as India. Four Missionaries are to be sent to Bombay, one of whom has resided for several years in India, and is familar with the habits of the Natives. Missionary Seminary and Students. The Missionary Seminary continues to answer the important end for which it was established; and the Committee are persuaded that, through the blessing of God, it will be greatly instrumental in promoting the best interests of the Society. The Rev. Dr. Brown remains in the situation of Superintendant; and in the performance of the whole of the duties which are devolved upon him, affords much satisfaction to the Committee. vice from Five Missionary Students have During the past year, proffers of serthe importance of receiving into the been accepted. Deeply impressed with service of the Society, only such Young Men as are richly imbued with the Spirit of the Heavenly Master to whose service they are to be devoted, the Committee have imposed some additional much as may be, the principles and motests, in order to discover previously, as tives which animate the different candidates. They do not wish, however, to restrain, but, on the contrary, are earnestly solicitous to cherish and aniin those who are of an humble mind. mate the Missionary Spirit, especially different parts of the country, to act They beg the friends of the Society, in upon the same principles; and they God may shew His favour to the Sohope, that, during the ensuing year, ciety, by raising up individuals who shall be found eminently qualified for the honourable office to which they aspire. Augmentation of the Funds. The funds of the Society have continued to increase. They have been up selves are edified and refreshed, and the spirit of prayer is quickened within them. The Committee, therefore, invite all the Members of the Society to continue held, by the contributions of Societies established for general purposes-by the formation and subscriptions of Auxiliaries, formed directly in aid of the Society-by the exertions of an increasing body of Collectors-by the liberal Colin prayer to God in its behalf—that He lections made in the Congregations of the United Associate Synod, and of other Dissenting Bodies, when visited by a Deputation appointed for that purpose by Collections made by Ministers of different denominations in their own Congregations—and by Legacies, Donations, and Annual Subscriptions. Increase and Importance of Collectors. The number of COLLECTORS for the Society has greatly increased; and the Committee cannot but be very solicitous that it should be still much enlarged: for, not only do their services materially augment the funds of the Society, but the Committee are persuaded, that the kind and Christian intercourse which in innumerable cases arises between the Collectors and the Subscribers, the frequent blending and sympathy which in consequence takes place between the dif ferent orders of the community, and the increase of knowledge and of interest in the cause of Missions which spreads through the great mass of the population from an extensive circulation of the Mis sionary Register and Quarterly Papers of the Society-ail combine in shedding upon the population at large benefits both of a temporal and spiritual kind. the value of which it is hardly possible to estimate too highly. Importance of United and Persevering Prayer. The Committee apprehend that the number of Meetings for Prayer, in connexion with the Scottish Missionary So ciety, is very limited; and they beg leave earnestly to urge on the friends of the Society, the great importance of the establishment of such Associations. The prayer offered up in secret they know to be unspeakably valuable: but surely it is a reasonable expectation, and conformabie to the experience of the Church in every age, that, when the spirit of prayer strongly dwells in individuals it will lead them to join together with their brethren, in offering up their united addresses to Heaven: in which union God has declared in His Word that He listens with peculiar stidietën to the suppücation of His -While they then would prepare and incline faithful men to offer themselves as Missionaries to the Society; that He would pour on the Committee a larger measure of the spirit of prayer, of Christian wisdom and Scriptural zeal, that they may order aright all its important and increasing concerns; and that He would uphold, strengthen, and establish the Missionaries already engaged in the work, and, endowing them richly with the spirit of their Master, would give them their reward in the salvation of many souls. Conclusion. We extract some of the concluding remarks of the Committee. The reference to the Church Missionary Society and other Institutions, is in the true spirit of Christian Charity. themselves, and on the Members of the In conclusion, the Committee call upon Society at large, to gird up the loins of their minds for the persevering and more active discharge of the duties connected with the advancement of this deeply interesting cause. This Society has hitherto made comparatively little progress; and it cannot be denied, that other Institutions of a similar kind have greatly cutstripped it in the heavenly race. This consideration, however, instead of creating despondency, ought only to stimulate to more strenuous exertion. The day is Nor, as yet, far spent-it is but the merning of the spiritual regeneration of mankind: and, by reductied exertions, it may, long before the shadows of evesing approach, gain ground on its compe titors, and reach the goal at last, rich as they in the immortal trophies wind it has wen. The Church of England Masssionary Society exhibits to it a bright example of what zeal and sctivity may efect in a very short course of time. "It was in stituted in the year 11 For the first thirteen years of its existence, its average income did not exceed 900000; 2nd, 20 late as 116, the appearances of success, Not organand and scutusted flowing from the labours of the Society, were very faint. Its income now amounts to 32,000 Its labourers are 200. Its success is spoken of through all the Churches. We look with admiration on its rapid and bright career. We hail We with delight its splendid success. rejoice in the equal prosperity of other kindred Societies, who, proceeding with a more regular pace, have made equal, although not such dazzling advances. We look to them with all joy and thankfulness, and would follow the direction of the Apostle to consider them, that they may provoke us to love and to good works. Is it not reasonable to suppose, that if Scottish Presbyterians were to employ similar activity and zeal, they might, in a very short time, produce similar results?-different, indeed, in respect of magnitude; but, even in this respect, the Committee are persuaded they would be less dissimilar than is generally imagined. The reserved and cautious character of the Scottish Nation would ap pear to have affected even their Missionary Exertions: but HERE, surely, if anywhere, is a cause to which the coolest understanding would dictate the most devoted and unreserved attachment: and if the energies of this Christian People were once fully roused and united in its prosecution, something less unworthy of the cause would speedily appear, to testify our NATIONAL gratitude, and to animate us to still more strenu ous exertions, in conveying to others the blessings which have so long enriched our native land. Continent. BASLE. EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Missionary Seminary, instituted in Bâsle in the year 1815 for the preparation of Missionaries for the service of different Societies, has given birth, as our Readers have been before informed, to the German, or, as it is now called, Evangelical Missionary Society. The establishment of this Society, in January of last year, has been followed by a great accession of contributions from Germany, Switzerland, and France. The Society has been encouraged thereby to send forth Missionaries, destined to several quarters of Continental Asia. These, and other Missions which it may establish, will be supplied with Labourers from the Seminary; which will, moreover, continue to furnish Missionaries to such other Societies, as may with advantage employ its Students in their respective Missions. Course of Study pursued in the Seminary. The Course of Study was at first fixed for three years, at the end of which a new set of Students were admitted: this plan was found productive of a double inconvenience; as, during that period, neither could any Student be admitted nor any Missionary sent forth, however pressing might be the reasons for such a measure. The Seminary has, therefore, been put on a footing, which will obviate this inconveni ence. The course now continues for four years: but it is so arranged, after the manner of the courses at Universities, that twelve or fifteen Students may be annually admitted to enter upon it; while an equal number, having gone through the course, may be sent forth into the Missionary Field. In case of peculiar necessity in any Mission, or of forwardness in preparation in any Student, the finishing of the course may be dispensed with. The following view of the course of study and of the present state of the Seminary is given in a recent Report: The first year is especially devoted, in connexion with Religious and Grammatical Instruction, to a careful investigation of the intellectual and moral cha racter of the Students. In the three remaining years, the Students prosecute a complete and systematic course of Theology; partly in the Seminary itself, and partly in the University of Bâsle. To this course is united Philology; comprehending the Latin, Greek, Hebrew, English, and Arabic Languages. |