It proposes that " an inquiry should be made into (a) the numbers, at the passing of this Act, and from time to time since the beginning of the present century, and the respective situations and character, of monastic and conventual institutions in Great Britain, whether having, wholly or in part, educational objects or not; (b) the property or income held by or for such institutions, and the conditions on which the same is held, and whether the mode of acquisition and the holding thereof, or the purposes for which the same is held, are in contravention of the principle of the law relating to charities; (c) what regulations are needed with respect to convents; (d) under what circumstances and securities it may be desirable to promote the emigration of women." The usual annual meetings of the religious societies have been held. In reference to them the Rock makes two important suggestions, first, that a shorter abstract from their annual reports should be read; and, secondly, that the chairman should be provided with a hand-bell, which he might sound so soon as a speaker has occupied the attention of the audience for a reasonable time, to be agreed upon previously to the meeting. It would be well if these suggestions could be carried out, for sometimes the meetings and the reading of the reports are prolonged to a most unreasonable length; one meeting this year was continued uninterruptedly for five hours, and the reading of the report at a meeting last year occupied nearly an hour. The account which the societies give of their labours and condition is on the whole most satisfactory and encouraging. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in presiding at the annual meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, mentioned that it has been calculated that a sum of £797,256 is collected annually throughout the United Kingdom for missionary purposes. To this sum the Church of England societies contribute £327,695; Nonconformist societies, £259,951; and the rest is contributed by societies jointly carried on by members of the Church of England and by Nonconformists. The Church Missionary Society has to regret a falling off in its funds, the income for the past year being £7,455 less than the expenditure. The Bishop of Rupert's Land gave an interesting account of missionary efforts in his diocese. He stated that "fifty years ago the natives of Rupert's Land lived under British rule without anybody caring for their souls. The first baptized Christian is now a native minister with 800 Christians under him." At Yaroba, Lagos, two new churches have been built, the members consisting mainly of native Christians, 2,000 had been confirmed during the year, and four native teachers had been raised to deacon's order. There were nine African clergymen administering in the African mission. At Abbeokuta the church had increased to 1,300, and there were 600 registered communicants. They had five stations at the Niger. The church at Nazareth was opened last October by the Bishop of Jerusalem, two Arabs had been admitted to deacon's orders, and the bishop had under him 1,000 native Protestants in Palestine. At Tavancore there were 14,500 native Christians, being an increase of 1,500 during the year. In China and Japan the work was progressing; also in New Zealand and North-west America. Altogether the statistics showed that the society had, in 1872, no less than 158 stations, 197 European clergymen, 131 native clergymen, 16 European laymen, 10 European female teachers (exclusive of missionaries' wives) and 1,298 native and country-born catechists and teachers. The Wesleyan Missionary Society reports that the total number of the members in society in the foreign missions under the care of the British Conference was 72,129, being an increase of 1,661. The number of members under the care of the affiliated Conferences was 96,475, exclusive of the societies in the home work of the Canadian Conference. The ordinary receipts in 1871 were £148,585; the expenditure, £147,891, leaving a balance of £694 towards the payment of the debt. It was hoped that the society would soon be relieved from debt. The London Missionary Society states that its general income during the past year was £97,773; special funds, £13,744; total, £111,517; expenditure, £114,306, leaving an adverse balance. In reference to the society's work the details respecting Madagascar were prominent. It is evident (the report said) that the great wave of spiritual life which broke upon the central provinces of the island two years ago continues in full force, though it manifests itself chiefly by the steadiness with which it calmly draws new souls within its influence. During last year 63,000 persons joined the Christian Community, including 18,000 members. In three years the total addition has been about 258,000 converts, including 32,000 members. It is frankly allowed that the example of the Queen and the nobles in the capital, the burning of the idols, and the public profession made by multitudes of their fellow-countrymen, have furnished many with a reason for their change of faith. They are extremely ignorant; they have not cast off their heathen vices; and their Christianity is of a very poor type. Nevertheless, the Spirit of God is working powerfully among them. The British and Foreign Bible Society reports that the issues of Bibles, Testaments, and portions by the society for the year were as follows:From the depôt at home, 1,384,850; from depôts abroad, 1,199,507. The total issues of the society now amount to 65,884,095 copies. The Earl of Shaftesbury, presiding at the annual meeting, called attention to the fact that, in spite of hindrances put in the way of the progress of the Word of God, the Bible was increasing in its circulation. Mons. Renan's infamous work, The Life of Jesus, had excited curiosity, and the Gospel had been purchased to test the account, even by the Jews, who, reading, had ceased to scoff, and had given themselves up to prayer. Wherever he went, he found people ready to listen to the Word of God, and this readiness would become greater as people received the benefits of education. He applauded the efforts of the society in Rome, and contended that, as education advanced in Italy, so would the influence of the Gospel. The Religious Tract Society published during the year 110 different tracts, besides continuing its serial works, and adding thereto other publications amounting in the whole to 320. The circulation of the year amounted to about 50,000,000 or 580,000,000 of pages. In Italy 20,000 copies of various works had been printed for the society. The total funds of the society during the year had amounted to £121,943, and the total expenditure to £120,004, leaving a balance in hand of £1,938. The Church Pastoral Aid Society made grants to the number of 713, being somewhat less than the preceding year. These were made to 582 incumbents, whose average population was 7,500 souls, and the average income £280 per annum: 194 were without parsonage houses. To sustain those grants an income of £58,508 was required. Besides the above, the society provided 714 additional public services on the Lord's-day, 505 on the weekday, 787 schoolroom and cottage lectures, and 835 Bibleclasses. Its grants had led to the erection, opening, or keeping open of 302 churches or chapels, and in districts at present receiving aid, 282 rooms are licensed for the celebration of Divine Service. Additional and more systematic pastoral visitation is also provided for a population amounting to upwards of four millions. There were several urgent cases on the list waiting for aid. The report touched on several points of interest, and closed with a strong appeal for help. The Irish Church Mission reports a slight falling off in its income, the donations and subscriptions being £735 less than the previous year. It now maintains 47 Sunday-schools, attended by 2,372 children and adults, and 74 week-day schools, with an attendance of 3,114 scholars. The missionary agency numbers 405, which comprises 30 ordained clergymen, 218 trained agents-Scripture-readers, schoolmasters and mistressesand 157 agents employed in Irish teaching, and teaching texts of Scrip ture. The London City Mission employs 408 Missionaries. For their support, the society's receipts had been £40,598 11s. 11d., being an increase on the income of last year of nearly £4,000. Nevertheless, in consequence of the increase in the number of missionaries, the above sum must be further exceeded in the present year by £2,500, if the income is to equal the expenditure. Two gentlemen had during the year given a gratuity of £1 for every child of a missionary under sixteen years of age, which act of generosity had cost them over £800. The Colonial and Continental Church Society is carrying on a varied and most important work. Testimonies of a very decided kind have been given of the value of its operations in the colonies and on the continent. An interesting incident occurred at the meeting: it being known that the society's income had fallen short of the expenditure by £1,100, Mr. Wright, of Osmeston Manor, an old and valued friend of the society, promised £500 towards this deficiency, and another gentleman promised £250 on the condition that before the meeting closed the subscriptions, including Mr. Wright's £500, amounted to £1,000. £200 were still required, and the meeting was about to close without this sum being raised, when it was announced, amid much cheering, that Mr. Wright would increase his contribution from £500 to £700, which called forth a response from others present of £120 more. At the meeting of the Naval and Military Bible Society the Marquis of Cholmondeley remarked that it was a blessed thing to be able to state that for nearly a hundred years the society had been labouring to supply the service with Bibles. Years ago he heard of an incident which had occurred during the Peninsula war, when the officer of a regiment desiring to have a Sunday service, not a Bible was to be found in it, and only after much searching could one be obtained elsewhere; now, thanks be to God, every soldier's kit contained a copy of the Holy Scriptures. He found that during the year 4,000 Bibles had been sold to the soldiers and 3,000 to the sailors. Some fearful events have occurred abroad. The city of Antioch has been almost destroyed by an earthquake; 1,800 persons, it is said, perished in the ruins. A terrible cyclone occurred at Madras, and a hurricane at Zanzibar. By the latter, one hundred and fifty sail of all kinds are reported to be sunk or stranded, and a large portion of the town was destroyed. The estimated damage is said to be about £2,000,000. Mount Vesuvius has broken out again, and occasioned a considerable loss of life and property. The total damage caused by it is estimated at £100,000 sterling, and between 70 and 80 lives were lost. A correspondent states that the heat of the lava was so great as actually to boil the sap in the trees, and to cause them to emit noises of the strangest description, amounting almost to a cry. A moment later and the trees were destroyed. The following interesting letter was received from Canon Tristram, relative to his explorations in Moab:-"We are now on the eve of our return, and intend (D.V.) to cross the Jordan in four or five days. I must, therefore, take the earliest opportunity of reporting progress to you, who have taken so kindly an interest in our work. I am happy to say that, since I wrote to you last, our progress has been most satisfactory, and I trust that the results will not disappoint those who took so active a part in promoting the exploration. It is true we have found no inscriptions of importance, but our topographical work has well repaid us. After crossing the Arnon, under the guidance of the Sheikh of the Beni Sakk Arabs, we struck eastwards, and then zig-zagged through the whole of the highland plateau of Moab, two days' journey east of Dibon, across the Hadj road, leading to Mecca. We have found many ruined cities, most of them unvisited by any Europeans, and some quite unknown by name. Of all that are named, the positions on the maps are most inaccurately laid down. They generally contain ruins of great temples, and also of Christian churches. We have mapped this part of the country afresh, most carefully, with prismatic compass and sextant. Then we struck down the Zekka Main, or Callirrhoe, which we examined to its mouth. It is a stupendous gorge, and the physical interest, both geologically and botanically, of this district is very great. Thence reascending to the highlands, we examined the watershed and ridge of Moab from Shihan, south of the Arnon to Heshbon, most carefully, noting especially Attarus, the ancient Macharus, now M'Kaur, never before visited, and Nebo and its neighbourhood. To the latter district we have paid minute attention. Finally, descending into the plains of Moab by the Dead Sea, we are carefully examining this terra incognita, and find a great deal of rich fertile land, and springs, hot and cold, in a belt of low land almost uninterrupted on the eastern shore, and no distant march north of the Lisan. We have got about 180 successful photographs, and a very fine botanical collection, in which branch Mr. Hayne has been unremittingly laborious. Our materials for laying down the topography of the country north of the Arnon are also, we hope, complete.' An interesting discussion has taken place at the Stoke-on-Trent School Board, respecting the Roman Catholic Schools in that town. The question was, whether such schools, being private ones, were what could be considered public elementary schools within the meaning of the Act; and, more important still, whether the education given at such schools was efficient or inefficient. The subject gave rise to a warm discussion, the Romish Priest protesting against any inquiry being made into the matter, remarking, "We wish to be left alone." He said the schools had been visited and reported efficient by the inspector, but it was decided to write to London and obtain the required information. GOD overreaches the devil, and makes him instrumental for good, when he designs hurt and mischief. THE GOSPEL MAGAZINE. "COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD." "ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OP PEACE "WHOM TO KNOW IS LIFE ETERNAL "JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER." No. 79, NEW SERIES.} JULY 1, 1872. The Family Portion; OR, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL CAUTION, COUNSEL, AND COMFORT. {No. 1,279, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."-2 Cor. i. 4. HEART-CRIES UNDER HEART-CARES. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"-Acts ix. 6, We often admire the simplicity, as well as the earnestness and fervour, of Bible-prayers. They are no mere form-not simply a string of words, powerless and pointless-but they came hot from the heart, in humility, with sincerity and holy ardour and importunity. And why? Because such prayers are indited by the Holy Ghost, and come bubbling up from the very depths of a felt necessity-a creature powerlessness-and a consciousness of utter unworthiness. These Bible-prayers are no mere Pharisaism; they embrace naught of the set or systematic; no fine points nor rounded periods; but, as we have said, they come from the very depths of trouble, perplexity, anguish, and distress. Multitudes regularly, as in childhood, "say their prayers." Few of us (if we know our own hearts, in their deceitfulness and treachery) would like to venture afresh into the world, any day, without commencing that day on our knees. Upon the same principle of creaturedistrust, and a felt need of our absolute dependence upon Divine guardianship and care, should we think of retiring to our beds at night, without committing the care of our poor bodies and the protection of our never-dying souls into His blessed hands who neither slumbers nor sleeps. We repeat that few of us, if we know anything of ourselves and some little of the Lord, would venture to neglect this. It is habitual; and, as the formal and abiding acknowledgment of a thorough conviction of our ceaseless and never-varying need of momentary Divine leading and keeping, it is indispensable. But, with the admission of this never-neglected course of duty (so called), depend upon it, dear reader, we seldom really pray. We believe it may be rarely said of us as was said of the divinelyarrested and sovereignly-quickened Saul of Tarsus, "Behold, he prayeth;" and why did he pray? Because the Holy Ghost had са |