be repents of his devotedness to the cause of piety and truth-that, if his days could be recalled, he would be less active, less zealous, less persevering? Does he wish that he had listened more to the voice of man, and less to that of conscience?—that, instead of consecrating his talents to the highest purposes, he had employed them to secure worldly distinctions and worldly emoluments? Did he, while yet struggling with the evils of mortality, record, in the very midst of his trials, how sweet it was to have toiled in this work? And does he repent of his exertions and his sacrifices, now that he rests from his labours, and his works do follow him? If it were no subject of regret to him in THIS world, is it such in the world to which he is gone? Oh, if we could at present perceive, as we shall know hereafter, the vanity and emptiness of all earthly things, when contrasted with those which are spiritual and eternal; how earnestly should we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness! and how trifling would all other objects appear, when compared with that great object of promoting the glory of God! To him, whom we now bear in our affectionate recollection, we are well persuaded that to die was gain. Our's is the loss and how deeply it is felt, this present assembly can witness. But shall we mourn then for the great cause to which his labours were devoted-and especially for that Iustitution, which is now deprived of his services? Did the success of it depend upon human talent or human energy, the loss might indeed be irreparable; but whatever becomes of the agents of the Society, if it have the sanction of God it cannot fail to prosper. Whatever be the fate of the Society itself, the work which it has so successfully laboured to promote will eventually triumph. The ways of God will, ere long, be known throughout the earth, his saving health among all nations. For, from the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and, in every place, incense shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure offering; for my Name shall be great among the Heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts. Already, as we may venture to hope, has an impulse been given, which shall not be destroyed till it has reached the farthest nations of the globe. Amidst all the conflicts and disappointments of the world, Divine Providence is still steadily accom plishing its plans of mercy and benevolence; and, in due season, they shall all be fulfilled. In expressing our gratitude for having been permitted to see the progressive advancement of the kingdom of Christ in our own days, and to share in the privilege of making known more extensively the glad tidings of Salvation, let us recognise our duty and zealously discharge it. Let the death of those that have toiled in the service, stimulate the industry of them that survive: let every event of this kind be felt as a call to increased energy and activity in all good works; that when this world of strife and perturbations shall close upon us, we too may die in the Lord: and, finally, with all His faithful people, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in his eternal and everlasting glory. Proceedings and Entelligence. United Kingdom. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. EIGHTEENTH REPORT. THE statements of the Report relative to the Funds and the Issues of the Year were given at pp. 198 and 199. We shall now extract the principal notices of the other parts of the Domestic Proceedings. Increasing Prosperity of the Society. Your Committee cannot regard the increasing prosperity of your Institution, in almost all parts of the kingdom, with. out expressing their fervent gratitude to Him, who has blessed the united efforts of yourselves and your fellow-labourers with success; and acknowledging that cordial co-operation and that increasing support, with which your 'Auxi liaries have promoted the cause in their respective districts, as well as, through your instrumentality, in all quarters of the globe. They advert, with peculiar satisfaction, to the extended demand for the Scriptures, produced by the exertions of your Auxiliaries, and especially by the Ladies' Associations: and, with feelings of the most encouraging nature, observe, that the discovery or creation of local wants, although demanding enlarged supplies, has tended decidedly to stimu late rather than impair an interest in the general object of your Institution; 'that the remittances from your Auxiliaries have been considerably augmented, notwithstanding the increase of local claims; and that the prosperity of your Domestic, has maintained a due correspondence with that which has attended your Foreign, Transactions. Your Committee attribute the growing interest in the general object of your Society manifested by your Auxiliaries, in part to the more constant attention which has been shewn to the wishes which they have expressed for the attendance of Representatives from the Parent Society at their Anniversaries. Compliance in every case of application has not been found practicable; and your Committee must acknowledge, with gratitude, the assistance which they have received, in this important branch of service, from many excellent and respectable individuals, both among the Clergy and Laity. Your Committee hope that a continued pursuit of this plan, will tend to increase the number of your Auxiliaries and the amount of your funds. New Societies during the Year. In the Colonies, an Auxiliary has been formed at the Red River Settlement, Hudson's Bay; and Ladies' Societies, at Miramichi in New Brunswick, and at Cape Town. At home, there have been formed, 8 Auxiliaries, 10 Branch Societies, and 3 Ladies' Branch Societies. Grants of the Scriptures. The Committee have, as in former years, granted considerable supplies of Bibles and Testaments to different So-cieties and Individuals in Foreign Countries, as well as in the British Settlements and at home. Some of the most considerable of these are, Grants of German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish Scriptures, to Gibraltar, and vaNov. 1892. rious parts of the Continent of Europe- Works completed during the Year. Copies, 5000 15000 5000 5000 New Testament 20000 Bible, Martin's version. 4000 Ostervald's version 2500 Portuguese Bible, Pereira's version 5000 5000 5000 2000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 10000 2000 Besides various Editions in the English language. Foreign Proceedings. In reviewing these Proceedings, the Report follows the usual course, from the Continent of Europe, through Asia and its Islands, to Africa and America. Copious extracts are given in the Appendix from the communications of the Rev. Drs. Paterson, Henderson, and Pinkerton, and the Rev. Henry Leeves. Such principal parts of this information as have not been anticipated in our pages, from the Monthly Extracts of the Society and other sources, will appear in the present Number, or in their respective places in the Survey with which the next Volume will begin. Conclusion. We extract some passages from the concluding paragraphs of the Report: The munificent support which the Society has received in this country, the ardour with which its object has been prosecuted abroad, and the result of these combined efforts of zeal and benevolence, in the extensive circulation of the Holy Scriptures and in the increased number of Bible Societies, mark the Year which is elapsed, as one of the most prosperous which has occurred since its institution; and demand the renewed expression of our gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving, for the Divine Favour which has attended our proceedings. At a period when doctrines the most destructive are industriously propagated; when the disciples of Infidelity, Impiety, and Atheism are exerting their malignant efforts to discredit the Scriptures; the Members of this Institution may in dulge the gratifying assurance, that it has operated most opportunely and beneficially in repelling these aggressions on human happiness. It has opposed to them the united testimony of a host of witnesses, proclaiming their belief in the divine authority and inspiration of the Holy Scriptures: while, by the co-operation of numerous Auxiliaries, the Bible is introduced into the habitations of the lowest orders of Society; and the benevolence which bestows it, is, at the same time, a persuasive recommendation to the perusal of it. In other parts of the world, the same charity has happily produced similar effects; and the contagion of Infidelity abroad has been checked by the sanative influence of the Word of God, which is now honoured and respected by many who had been taught to despise and neglect it. If the temporal necessities and sufferings of mankind excite compassion; if the sight of human misery can extort, even from irreligious hearts, the sigh of sympathy, and awaken in them the disposition to relieve and assist-never will those, who profess their belief in a Saviour, who endured mortifications, injuries, miseries, and even death, for their sakes, see with unconcern, millions of their fellow-creatures passing from time to eternity, in ignorance of that Holy Book which contains the record of His great salvation. COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIETY. A Compendium, or Brief Abstract of the Society's Proceedings, is issued annually. At p. 305 of our last Volume, a comparison was given of the Compendium of 1820 with that of 1821. We shall now state the chief points of difference between the Compendiums of 1821 and 1822. Number of Societies. From 270 Auxiliaries and 412 Branches making a total of 682, the number is now increased to 291 Auxiliaries (including 13 which contribute only a portion of their funds to the Society) and 438 Branches, forming a total of 729. The Continental European Societies are 56, with a great number of Auxiliaries and Branches: of these, the Hanover Society has 23, the Prussian 38, the Würtemberg 44, the Paris and the Netherlands each upward of 50, the Sleswig Holstein 118, and the Russian 196. Issues of the Scriptures. The Foreign Societies, aided by the British and Foreign Bible Society, have increased their issues, from 739,045 Bibles to 880,955, and from 721,376 Testaments to 861,377: these make a total of 1,742,332; and shew an increase, in the course of the year, of 141,910 Bibles, and 140,001 Testaments. An addition of more than 20,000 copies of the German New Testament has been made to the 480,000 copies before issued by two RomanCatholic Clergymen on the Con tinent. The total number issued on account of the Society, at home and abroad, has increased from 1,307,044 Bibles to 1,433,823; and from 1,963,118 Testaments to2,130,151– making an increase during the year of 126,779 Bibles and 167,033 Testaments, and a total of 3,563,974 copies. In addition to the foregoing, the Society has granted about 38,000l. for distributing by Societies and confidential Agents, in various parts of the Continent, Bibles and Testaments in French, German, Swedish, and Danish, the number of which cannot be ascertained exactly, but may be fairly estimated at upward of 250,000 Bibles and Testaments. From these data, it will be found that the issues of the year, at home and abroad, in connection with the Society, have amounted to 610,723 copies; being 268,689 Bibles, and 342,034 Testaments: and that the total issue from the beginning have been no less than SIX MILLION, FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND, THREE HUN DRED AND SIX COPIES. Total Expenditure. The Expenditure of the Eightteenth Year having been 90,4451. 6s. 4d., and that of the preceding years 908,248ł. 10s. 6d. ; the total up to the end of the Eighteenth has been 998,6931. 16s. 10d. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TWENTY-SECOND REPORT. Income and Expenditure. ON this subject, the Committee state Severely as the pressure of the times has been felt throughout the year, it will gratify the Members to learn that the Society's Income has continued to ad vance. An increase of 20007. carries the receipts of the Twenty-Second Year up to nearly 33,0001. The principal items which form these sums, were stated at pp. 184 and 185 of our Number for May. The Report adds In accomplishing the various objects in which the Society is engaged, the sum expended has about equalled the Income. In this Expenditure, however, are included the sum of 10001. vested in Government Securities, to meet a Vote of the Committee, for the year 1822, to the Bishop's College at Calcutta; and another sum of 1000l. remitted in Dollars to Madras, on account of the expenditure of the current year. Recommendation of Sheet Reports for In reference to the Expenditure, we extract a passage which we recommend to the attention of all the Society's friends: On the subject of the Society's Expenditure, the Committee wish to remark, that they are fully aware, that the portion of it which is incurred by the diffusion of information through the press, is not only, by the blessing of God, producing most beneficial effects on the minds of the Members, but is indispen sable to the maintenance and extension of a due interest in the Society's concerns: they are nevertheless anxious, that every part of this expenditure, throughout the extensive ramifications of the Society, should be made really efficient; and, in this view, they beg to suggest to such Associations as may not have adopted the plan of Sheet Reports, that various Associations have effected a considerable saving of expense by the substitution of Sheet Reports in the place of those in a Pamphlet form; and by giving a brief summary of the Proceedings of the Society for the year, accompanied by a few appropriate extracts and remarks, instead of re-printing the details. While, however, the Committee recommend the adoption of this plan in all practicable cases, in order to the augmentation of the funds applicable to objects directly Missionary, they would leave it to the various Associations to act as may be best adapted to local cir cumstances. Associations. Lists of Contributions, both by Associations and Individuals, are now given in each Report; both of the amounts respectively paid within the year, and of the totals contributed from the commencement of such contributions. Eighteen Associations have been formed within the year; of which four are Branches, and three are Ladies' Associations, formed in aid of Associations previously established. The Contributions to the Society and the formation of the New Associations, with many other particulars of the Report, have already been noticed in our pages. We shall extract a passage relative to a Ladies' Association for the Supply of Clothing to African Women and Girls. The Committee think this a proper place to notice the formation of a Ladies' Society, for the especial purpose of supplying suitable articles of clothing to the Female Negroes in the West-Africa and West-Indies Missions of the Society. To the benevolence of Mrs. William Williams, of Portland Place, the Society is indebted for this seasonable aid to its objects. Many Ladies have enrolled themselves among the Members; and the Committee have particular pleasure in remarking, that Mrs. Fry and other Ladies have contributed parcels of clothing for the benefit of Negroes, made by the Female Convicts in Newgate. There is something in a Charity of this nature "twice blessed” indeed; and benevolent Ladies may feel singular gratification, in employing their annual contribution to set reformed Female Convicts of their own country to work, for the benefit of Negro Girls and Women, rescued from vice and oppression, and brought under Christian Instruction. Beneficial Effects of Associations. Various testimonies to the bene'ficial influence of Associations, both on parishes and on individuals, are adduced in the Report; chiefly in some very impressive extracts from the Reports of the different Associations. Extracts are given by the Com mittee from the Memoir of the late Rev. W. Richardson, of York, in attestation of the benefits, both personal and ministerial, which that venerable man acknowledged that he derived from becoming cordially interested in the cause of Missions. It is said, in reference to another friend of the Society The mention of Mr. Richardson reminds the Committee of the public loss sustained, in the same quarter of the kingdom, by the decease, about two years before, of the late William Hey, Esq. of Leeds. The Life of this distinguished man, which has lately attracted and amply repaid the public attention, presents his support of the Society in a light which may serve as an example to others : "Mr. Hey was an early and zealous supporter of the Church Missionary Society: bis earnest desire of the salvation of his fel low-creatures excited him to co-operate with various Societies, which had for their object the civilizing and evangelizing of the Heathen, by a more wide diffusion of the Gospel. . . . But, as a Member of the Church of England, Mr. Hey regarded it as his more immediate duty to assist and cherish the Church Missionary Association in Leeds. . . . The Committee were accustomed to meet on the business of the Association in Mr. Hey's study, where he was conscientiously punctual in his attendance; and when those Clergymen who travel in aid of Bible and Church Missionary Societies visited Leeds, he generally accompanied them to the surrounding villages which had Churches, in which they were invited or permitted to preach. He was vigilantin availing himself of every opportunity that occurred of advancing the interests of those Societies; and took great pains to excite a similar zeal and interest in others, by making their proceedings the frequent subjects of conversation in company, and by circulating their publications.' Exertions of the Society's Friends. The Committee gratefully acknowledge the kindness of those friends, who have rendered assistance in the visits paid to the various Associations-both those who are resident in and near the places visited; and those who travelled, some of them very distant Journeys, in Life of William Hey, Esq. F.R S., by John Pearson, Esq. F.R.S. 8vo. London, 1822 pp. 193 -195. |