new places to our Misionary plans; and the effect produced by the delightfuj services, held on these occasions, has been a hearty regret that this work of Love was not sooner engaged in. Now that the great majority of the churches of CHRIST have declared themselves eminently and zealously" on the LORD's side," in this great day of mighty operation, we trust, that an impression is daily deepening in the minds of those Members of our Societies and Congregations, which have not yet taken a part so large and direct as others in the Missionary cause, that the call of the LORD is to them as well as to others. For what is the duty of one Christian, in reference to the universal establishment of the kingdom of CHRIST, is, most certainly, the duty of all; and what is obligatory on the whole christian church, is binding upon all the parts of which it is composed. If no evangelists had been raised up to enlarge the work of CHRIST in the heathen world; had no opportunities of access to those who "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” been afforded to their labours; or had no successes attended such enterprises ;— some doubt as to our duty might probably have been excusable: But when, by wondrous arrangements of Providence in the government of nations, "the world is all before us," and when, wherever Missions have of late years been planted by pious zeal, they have fixed their roots, and now appear in goodly luxuriance, putting forth blossoms, or bearing abundance of fruit,-doubt as to duty has no palliation; and should the principle of our obligation to promote the extension of the benefits of our religion throughout the world be admitted, is there no danger in living, as individuals or as religious societies, in the habitual violation of a known and a recognized duty? If he, who "knows the works" of his churches, fails not to honour with expressions of approval those who "labour without fainting," for his “name's sake;" does he not visit by some marks of his displeasure the dilatory and the negligent? Can our own privileges yield us so rich a share of saving influence, if we are callous to the destitution of others? Will our spiritual bread be as sweet to our taste, and as nutritious to our souls, as if we "dealt a share of it to the hungry?" Is it nothing to those who have influence in religious societies, and might lead them to such exertions in this great cause as they are able to make, that by their own indifference they suffer so many prayers of the pious, so much liberality and help to men perishing for lack of knowledge, to lie dormant, because the cause is not locally espoused with ardour, information is withheld by not being pressed upon the attention, and the obligation to aid in the work is not openly asserted? These are considerations which we humbly suggest, but to us they appear to be worthy of deep reflection. Should any places in the Connexion have delayed the formation of Societies, because they have not been able to make such arrangements as were thought necessary, the General Secretaries will be happy to co-operate with their Superintendant Preachers, in obtaining for them the help of some of those kind and able Ministers, in different parts of the kingdom, who have been ready on all occasions to forward the plans of Missionary Societies, and to connect such places, if timely information be sent to the Mission-House, with those plans of visitation in the ensuing months of Spring, which must be soon arranged. It is thus that they will catch the high and holy spirit which is now animating the true Church of CHRIST throughout all its branches, and rank among the willing people of CHRIST" in the day of his power;" and with them, as every where else, it will be proved, that without injury to their own local interests, by laying the case of the heathen before the religious public resident in their neighbourhood, unlooked for supplies will be obtained for others, and the blessedness of these great charities will rest upon themselves. To those persons who have steadily forwarded the zeal and liberality of the Societies which have now for several years afforded large supplies to our funds, the best thanks of the Committee are due; and we would remind them, that those successes in the conversion of men and the enlargement of the kingdom of our LORD, which they are called, at every succeeding Anniversary of their respective Societies, to rejoice over, are the fruits of their past labours, the best rewards which their efforts and liberalities could receive, and the strongest incitements to perseverance. Perhaps there are few Missionary Societies which might not be made yearly more productive, however liberal their proceeds may now be, by a greater attention to rule, by an affectionate oversight of the Collectors, and by increasing their number. The same LORD who is succeeding the labours of Missionaries, is equally at work in the hearts of his people at home, who are enabled by his Providence to serve his designs by an appropriatlon of part of their worldly substance to the support and propagation of the Gospel. Let those, then, who, as Collectors, solicit others to contribute, go forth in his name, in the spirit of prayer for success, and they shall come again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves or their gleanings with them. It is in this way that the LORD evidently designs his work to be carried on in the present day; and he who has marked out the means he approves, will not fail to grant his blessing to their diligent and faithful use. Regular supplies of our Missionary Publications, for the use of those who wish to circulate information respecting the extent, and present state and prospects, of the Wesleyan Missions, in order to prepare the way for making application to the friends of religion for subscriptions towards their support, may be had from the Mission-House in the mode mentioned in the Advertisements on the Cover of the Magazine. They are, The General Report,The General View of the Wesleyan Mission Stations throughout the World,the Monthly Missionary Notices, and the Quarterly Papers. Wesleyan Mission-House, 77, Hatton Garden, London, POSTSCRIPT. Just as this sheet was going to press, we have received the very painful in telligence of the death of two excellent Missionaries in Jamaica. The REV. JAMES UNDERHILL died on the 24th of September; and the REV. GEORGE JOHNSTONE (an old and invaluable labourer in that field, was called home on the 5th of October.-Particulars will be given in our next Number. 2 Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers since the Account published last Month. Monies received at the Mission House. From Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. (Subscription) From Mr. L. (Douation) £.. d. £. §. d. 10 10 0 From Mrs. Carver, Bedale, Yorkshire, (Donation) Sundry Small Sums Sundry Trinkets sold £. 3. t. £. s. d. 0 9 6 From Joseph Bulmer, Esq. Treasurer of the Auxithe liary Society for London District-- Chelsea Branch Society 15 From Henry Holland and Sleaford Circuit- 145 18 6 £. s. d. £. s.d. 100 0 0 - 10 From Christopher Wawn, Esq. Treasurer of the Newcastle Circuit Gateshead ditto The Female Associa- From Thos. Husband, Esq. Liskeard Circuit 41 10 0 From Henry Noyes, Esq. Isle of Wight ditto 97 10 S -52 10 0 20 0 0 · 20 From Mr. Joseph Davy, Taunton Circuit 59 7 0 895 The Committee present their thanks for the following acceptable Presents to the Society :To Mr. T. Houlton and Mr. T. E. Bower, Killingholme, for sundries; Mr. W. Fulford, East Hatton, for two vols. of the Methodist Magazine, Rev. J. Hutton, Barton, Mr. Young, Mr. John Young, Mr. Joseph Young, Mr. Edward Young, and Mr. J. Hunter, Barrow, for six yards of print, a travelling-case of razors, handkerchiefs, &c. school bymns and reward books, &c. for Mr. Barnabas Shaw, South Africa ;---to several ladies in Liskeard, for a parcel of presents for schools in Ceylon; to C. W. for 17 vols. of Evangelical Magazine, bound, for Van Dieman's Land Mission; to Miss Martha Rowe, for two vols. of Methodist Magazine; to Mrs. Terry, for two vols. of Methodist Magazine, for South-Sea Missions; to a female servant, for six hoes; to Anna, for a free-will offering to the cause of God, who has placed her in a land of Gospel light, viz. a sovereign, a silver box, seal, key, knife, and several gold trinkets, &c. by the Rev. Frederick Calder, Canterbury: to Miss Wells, for sundry presents to children of Mission schools; to friends in the Sleaford Circuit, for gold trinkets, &c; to Mr. Chaundey, Greenwich, for two vols. of Evangelical Magazine, bound; to Mr. Smyth, Woolwich, for tracts; to friends at Aberdeen, for sundry Methodist Magazines; to sundry friends in the Holt Circuit, for various presents for the Mehodist Missions, by the Rev. Robert Day; to a Gentleman at Liverpool, for six dozen of hoes and six dozen of bills, for the Gambia Mission; to Mrs. Maculloch, Guernsey, for a parcel of presents to Mission schools; aud to Mr. H. Pitts, for books. |