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to the District Committee, that the younger part of the slave population present the best and most promising objects of instruction. The District Committee are assured that for this purpose, every possible facility will be afforded to the attendance of Catechists or other proper persons, under the inspection of the Clergy, and under the controul of the Bishop. They would also suggest, that from such estates as are conveniently contiguous, the children of the slaves might be sent, and the slaves in general encouraged to go, to the different places of divine Worship, for the regular inspection of the minister on every sabbath.

Considering themselves as yet in their infancy, having been first formed on the 17th of June last, the District Committee look forward with confidence under divine protection, that another year will mature their experience and advance their object. They will endeavour to keep in view, with a zeal which they trust will ever be tempered by judgment and discretion, the important design of this Societythe promotion of Christian knowledge

that true and lasting knowledge which begins in this world, but will continue in the next, and be completed and perfected under the Author of all truth and wisdom.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.

EXTRACT FROM ADDRESS.

INDIA.

In this part of the globe, far removed from the scene of its original labours, the Society has been occupied with no less diligence in diffusing Christian knowledge. In the diocese of Calcutta a vast field has been opened to its exertions. A population of eighty millions is here subject to the British crown. Little or no provision had been made for the conversion of this immense multitude, till it was resolved by his Majesty's Government, in the year 1814, to place a Bishop of the Church of England in the capital of Hindostan. This auspicious event has changed the whole aspect of religious affairs in the eastern peninsula. A pure and integral branch of the protestant church is there established. The Clergy in that country are now no longer engaged in a vague and desultory warfare, but are members of a compacted body, subject to legitimate control, and united under that form of discipline which prevailed in the earliest and best ages of the gospel. The happy effects of this change are already visible, and consequences of much greater importance to the Christian cause at no distant time may be fairly anticipated. Much, indeed, is to be ascribed, under the blessing of Divine Providence, to the brilliant talents, the unwearied zeal, and the

rare discretion of that lamented prelate, to whom the government of the Indian Church was first committed. "His name will be handed down in inseparable connexion with the rise of our Ecclesiastical Establishment in India, and be pronounced with reverence by multitudes in after times, when that which was but now a small seed, and is still a tender plant, shall have become a mighty tree, and all the inhabitants of our eastern empire shall rejoice beneath its shade."

Your Committee now advert, with peculiar pleasure, to that part of Bishop Middleton's labours with which this Society is more especially connected-the establishment of Bishop's College at Calcutta.

This institution is a noble monument of the piety and wisdom in which it originated. It is designed to afford a sound and liberal education to native or European youths who may be desirous of devoting themselves to the Christian ministry, and thus to supply a constant succession of missionaries, thoroughly instructed in theology, and duly prepared by academical discipline to "do the work of Evangelists." The property of the College is vested in the Society; and, under its sanction, a code of statutes has been framed for the regulation of the whole establishment, subject to

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such alterations as may hereafter be deemed expedient. The Bishop of Calcutta, for the time being, is the Visitor. The ordinary business of the College is conducted by a Principal and two Professors, appointed and maintained by the Society. The Principal, Mr. Mill, arrived in India before the death of Bishop Middleton, whose esteem and confidence he possessed in the highest degree. commenced the work of education as soon as the building was in a fit state to receive students, and has persevered in his arduous labour, with very little assistance, till the present time. The Society considers itself most happy in having consigned the government of its infant establishment to such judicious hands. Mr. Mill was originally a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a very high reputation. Since his arrival in India, every expectation which was formed of his character has been amply realized. He has cultivated the Eastern languages with great success, and has discharged every duty of his station with admirable zeal and judgment. A much larger share of labour has hitherto devolved upon the Principal than properly attaches to his office; but still the public service has not suffered. Two other Professors, Mr. Craven and Mr. Holmes, both of St. John's College, Cambridge, sailed for Calcutta in July last. There is, therefore, every reason to believe that the College is now in a full state of activity.

This foundation may be regarded, without presumption, as an event in the annals of Christianity, the importance of which it is impossible to calculate. The Society is most anxious that this subject should be viewed in a proper light by every friend of religion. To those who are but little acquainted with the history of the primitive Church, other methods of propagating the Gospel may perhaps appear more promising. It may be supposed that a missionary requires no other qualifications than piety and zeal, and that the work of conversion will be better promoted by a multitude of preachers, acting without concert, subject to very little restraint, and even differing in essential points

of doctrine, than by a ministry re gularly educated, and placed under episcopal controul. The plan, however, which your Society has adopted, if it be less splendid and popular, is, we are persuaded, far more likely to prove effectual. It is more consistent with the example of primitive antiquity, with the principles and praetice of the Church of England, and with the constitution of the Society itself. The language of Bishop Middleton on this point deserves to be remembered. "The progress of the Gospel in India is opposed by discipline and system; and by discipline and system alone can it, by the divine blessing, ever make its way."

But the exertions of the Society in India are not confined to the maintenance of Bishop's College. It has recently undertaken the charge of several important missions in the southern part of the Peninsula. These missions were originally established by Christian the Fourth, King of Denmark, in the beginning of the last century. For many years they continued under the care of the Danish government, but were at length consigned to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. By the judicious efforts of that Society, the faith of Christ has been much extended in those regions, and among its missionaries have been, men who would have done honour to the purest ages of the Church. Considering, however, that the work of propagating the Gospel in foreign parts is the legitimate province of the Incorporated Society, while its own labours at home are becoming more arduous and extensive from day to day, it has determined, after mature deliberation, to give up the care of its missions in Southern India. This charge has been cheerfully accepted, and measures are now in progress to increase the number of missionaries, and to carry on the work of conversion on a larger scale.

The efforts of the Society in that quarter have received a powerful impulse from the cordial co-operation of that eminently pious and learned Prelate, who now presides over the Church of India. His vigorous and active mind is anxiously directed to the general advancement of religion in his

diocese, but in the concerns of this Society he has at all times evinced a peculiar interest and zeal. He has established a District Committee at Bombay with the full concurrence of the members of the Civil Government, and with a degree of success, which (to use his own words) "may be ascribed, under the divine blessing, to the admirable manner in which the public mind had been previously prepared to receive the measure, by the public exhortations, and the private and personal influence of Archdeacon Barnes."

The most gratifying accounts have been received of the estimation in which the Society's missionary at Bhagelpoor, is held, and of the encouraging prospects which already cheer his mission. "Bhagelpoor," says the Bishop, "and the neighbouring mountains, I cannot but regard as the nucleus of future possible good, on a more extended scale than any other district in India. I am thankful to God, that it has been first occupied by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, instead of some one of the many sects whose doctrines are so assiduously offered to the people of this country: and I am thankful that I have been enabled to place a young man in that situation, who conciliates esteem wherever he goes; and who in zeal, patience, temper, orthodoxy, and discretion, no less than in unaffected piety, is so admirably adapted for the service to which he has devoted himself. Mr. Christian is engaged in the arduous task of reducing the language of these natives to a written character, as at present they are entirely destitute of that essential aid to education. They are distinguished from the Hindoos by custom, religion, manners, and features, and also by a readiness to listen to those who evince an anxiety for their welfare."

On another subject of great interest the Bishop writes thus:

"The translation of the Old Testament into Persian, by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, Chaplain at Poonah, is in progress. A specimen of the work, the History of Joseph, has been printed at the College Press; and the first Persian scholars in that part of India

VOL. VIII. NO. VIII.

speak in the highest terms of the ability, clearness, and classical propriety of style, by which it is distinguished. The printing also is such as to do credit to our infant institution."

Mr. Morton, another of the Society's Missionaries, in addition to the superintendence of a circle of native schools, has been engaged in preparing a Bengalee dictionary, a fourth part of which had been printed at the date of his last letter. At the instance of the Bishop, he had also commenced the translation of the Liturgy into the same language, as his Lordship was anxious to introduce as soon as possible the service in the native tongue into the College Chapel.

Upon the whole, when your Committée reflect on the principal topics which have been submitted to your attention on the character, the history, and the actual services of this great Society-they feel justified in expressing their fervent gratitude to the Giver of all good, and in anticipating more abundant proofs of his divine favour. They know full well that the "kingdom of God cometh not with observation." No sudden and astonishing success is now to be expected. Miracles and inspiration having ceased, the gospel must now be propagated, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, by patient and laborious efforts, by zeal tempered with discretion, and by reference to the example of inspired preachers, so far as it can be fairly applied to present times: Acting on these principles, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has been enabled to confer substantial benefits on the world. It has propagated the Gospel in all its integrity. It boasts not, indeed, like the Jesuit Missionaries of a former age, a vast number of merely nominal converts, but it can point to large communities, nurtured by its care in the pure doctrines of Christianity, and evincing by their practice the sincerity of their profession. For more than an hundred and twenty years this Society has been the sole instrument of preserving the doctrine, rites, and ordinances of the Church of England in our North American colonies. It has mainly contributed to the establishment of Episcopacy in our own provinces, and to its

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introduction into the United States; and it is now engaged in diffusing the light of the gospel through the vast regions of the East. With confidence then does it appeal to the good sense and liberality of the British nation. It is occupied in a work of prodigious extent, and of incalculable importance, to which its own resources are utterly inadequate. No sincere Christian, who is truly anxious to disseminate the blessings of religion, can be indifferent to this Society's success; but upon every member of the Church of

England, it has surely a peculiar claim, Those who have been themselves bred up in the bosom of our Church, can best appreciate the value of the blessing they will confer, by communicating to others her "form of sound words," and her scriptural purity of doctrine.

A Diocesan Committee has been formed at Peterborough, and a subscription opened in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS SOCIETY.

THE Anniversary meeting of this Society was held in Baldwin's Gardens, on Thursday, the 1st of June. It is much to be regretted that it was so thinly attended, there not being 70 We cannot indeed persons present.

attribute this to any want of interest on the part of the public, who will, we are persuaded, always encourage every institution so highly deserving of their support, if they are only made acquainted with its usefulness, and invited to co-operate. In this instance, not the public, but the subscribers only were requested to attend; the persons who least needed an invitation. Surely in the prosecution of such an object there is no mystery, and there should be no exclusion. All should be not only invited, but by proper accommodation being afforded, encouraged to attend. Who is there who might not have been instructed by the information afforded, and stimulated by the past success to join in the same labour of love?

There were present, among others, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Calthorpe, the Bishops of London, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, the Dean of Peterborough, &c. Shortly after 12 o'clock the chair was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The report of the Committee was then read by the Secretary, Dr. Walmsley, from which it appeared, that in the course of the last year there had been added to the previously existing

schools of the society 114 new ones, in which 15,000 children were educated; making, in the whole number of schools established on Dr. Bell's plan, 2200, in which there were now educating 330,000. The funds of the Society were in the most flourishing condition, there being, besides the sum necessary to carry on the Central School, a clear disposable fund of 10,0001.

The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his satisfaction at the prosperous condition and progress of the Society, which had been disclosed in the Report which had been read. The only drawback appeared to him to be, that there had been in some of the schools a falling off of energy, and a relaxation in the principles of the original system of Dr. Bell. The essence of this system was simplicity, and if any thing was added to it, or taken away from it, the good effects of it would be proportionably diminished. Its object was popular education, and refinement did not belong to such a purpose. The funds of the Society were in a good state, and would enable it to proceed on its present scale for at least two years; and, in the mean time, he hoped that other subscriptions would come in. He should, therefore, move that the Report be adopted and printed.

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After a few remarks from General Thornton, in which he contended that the benefit of these schools would be

extended by incorporating with the course of their instruction works of industry, drawing, &c., this motion was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. Justice Park next moved the thanks of the Meeting to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, for his zealous and valuable co-operation in advancing the objects of this charity. This was a task which he had had the honour to perform a few days ago; of which he might say decies repetita placebit, and which would be pleasing to him if repeated hundreds of times.

This motion was seconded by Sir James Langham, and unanimously carried.

Dr. Monk, Dean of Peterborough, in moving the thanks of the Meeting to the General Committee, observed on the advantages of establishing Sunday Schools in connexion with the schools of this Society, in order that the instruction obtained at the latter might be preserved, after the children left them, by means of the former.

Dr. Hook seconded the motion,which was agreed to unanimously.

The Bishop of Exeter moved the thanks of the Meeting to the Ladies' Committee, which was seconded by Mr. Justice Park, and agreed to unanimously.

The Bishop of Gloucester moved the thanks of the meeting to Dr. Bell, which motion was seconded by Mr. Archdeacon Barnes, who has recently returned from India, and who bore his testimony to the great respect in which Dr. Bell's name was remembered in that part of our empire, and the good effects which his system had already produced there. The motion was agreed to with a warm expression of satisfaction.

Dr. Bell returned thanks, and took this opportunity for reading a written statement of considerable length, detailing his original discovery of this system when he was at Madras about the year 1786, and its subsequent progress.

On the suggestion of Sir James Langham, and with the concurrence of the Rev. Dr. Bell, it was agreed that the statement to the Meeting, by that Rev. gentleman, should be printed.

The Bishop of Durham said, that

in proposing a vote of thanks to their excellent Treasurer, he anticipated the most cordial concurrence on the part of the Meeting. It was quite unnecessary to go into any detail of the obligations which this Society owed to him. He had devoted his time and talents to the furtherance of the very important objects of the Institution, and it was only one of the many public institutions which profited by his exertions.

The motion, having been seconded, was unanimously agreed to.

The Treasurer, in returning thanks, said, it was impossible for him to do justice to his feelings upon the present occasion. Such a Society as this had claims upon the support of every person who valued the happiness of his fellow-creatures; and he felt that he had done nothing more than his duty in promoting the objects of it by every exertion in his power.

The Rev. Mr. Beresford proposed a vote of thanks to the Secretary, which was seconded by Mr. Davis, and carried unanimously.

The Secretary returned thanks.

The Bishop of London rose to propose the thanks of the Meeting to the Secretaries of the District Societies, and of the Diocesan Schools, in union with the National Society. After the very satisfactory statement contained in the Report, relative to the progress of the Institution, they should be wanting in the discharge of a public duty, were they not to offer their tribute of respect to those, through whose assistance it was that they were enabled to carry the objects of the Society into effect in the remote parts of the country. The Diocesan Schools in union with the present Institution were the hands through which alone the work could have been so effectually done. It was important to have central points of recurrence for advice and instruction; and persons at all such points, who might be capable of giving directions as to the management of the schools. He could not help recommending to the Secretaries, to whom they were so much indebted, the utmost attention to the suggestion thrown out by the chair, as to the advantage of Sunday Schools. There was ano

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