The CHAIRMAN then rose, and, addressing Mr. Medhurst, said-On behalf of myself, on behalf of this meeting, and on behalf of Missionary friends in England, I beg leave to return my reverend friend my best thanks for the book he has given to me and to the world; and in doing that, I beg to present to him my very best congratulations.

WM. ALERS HANKEY, Esq., in supporting the resolution, spoke nearly as follows:-I beg to assure you, that my addressing you on the present occasion formed no part whatever of the original intention of the day, or its arrangements. I am invited to support the motion that has now been made and seconded, but the support of it is entirely unnecessary. I am sure that I can add nothing whatever to the cogent arguments and comprehensive appeals to your judgment and feelings as Christians, with which the motion has been introduced. I can only add my contribution, as it were, to the service of the cause, and thereby express my willingness and happiness at all times to labour for this Society in any way whatever, in which my labours can be beneficial to it, or acceptable to you. This, I may say, has been my leading principle and feeling for many years past, and I trust it will continue to be so, as long as Divine Providence shall allow me health and strength to promote its interests. I have to add, that this day I have received a new bond of attachment to this Society. You have laid me under the strongest obligations of gratitude-a feeling, I trust, that is amongst the most powerful in my heart. You have expressed afresh your confidence in my character at least, your confidence in my endeavours to render my actions consistent with my professions. I know well, and it has been a trial to me of a very severe kind, that I have been prevented by providential circumstances from acting to the full extent of those principles which I have uniformly avowed. Now, I am happy that God has thus afforded me an opportunity of avowing my principles, and, as I humbly hope, of proving that I was faithful in the professions which I made. I do rejoice that, at all events, I have had an opportunity of somewhat shortening, with regard to those whom Providence has placed in my care, that period of servitude which, I can tell you, I did endeavour to make as light to them as it was possible for it to be made. I hope that the claims of Christianity have, in some humble degree, been acknowledged by the act of shortening the period of servitude. I shall rejoice if it be shortened universally. I hope that this will be the

case.

I had expressed my feelings on the question to her Majesty's Government, because there was a period when individuals,

placed as I was, were invited to give their sentiments. I did then express my earnest desire to see the whole system abolished at the end of July next, before I took the decisive step of separating myself from the course I saw they were resolved to adopt. I feel that I am intruding improperly on your attention, for I have taken up public time in reference to private circumstances; but there is some value to be set on public character. An individual who does not possess the confidence of his friends is humbled indeed. I infer, from your expressions of feeling this day, that I am not in this painful situation. My friends, I thank you; I retire from before you with feelings of gratitude and of continued devotedness to this Society, and to its cause. The resolution was then put and agreed

to.

Rev. THOMAS HAYNES, of Bristol, rose to move,

"That while this meeting fully participates in the Christian sympathy so extensively cherished towards the persecuted native converts in Madagascar, and would earnestly implore that continued prayer may be offered up for those who are still exposed to imprisonment, slavery, and death, it would indulge the earnest hope that the gracious presence and power of Christ, so exemplified in the death of the first Christian martyr, will, under the fiery trial through which the infant church in Madagascar has been called to pass, be subservient to its own stability, purity, and ultimate extension, so that the things which have there happened will turn out to the furtherance of the Gospel.'

After alluding to the circumstances which had occasioned the departure of the Missionaries from Madagascar, Mr. Haynes continued-Nor can I think of the last act which they performed in that island, if it were the last, without the deepest emotions -the holy Scriptures, and the books they had translated, were collected together-and what was done with them? They were sealed down safely, in cases adapted to preserve the precious deposit, and they were laid in the soil, there to await the return of the Missionaries-there to be called again to give their open, undoubted testimony to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. This was, indeed, a triumph of faith, a deposit made in hope, that, as the incorruptible seed of the word, it should rise and bring forth fruit to the glory of our Saviour's name. I am full, then, of hope with regard to Madagascar; nor does the character of the semi-barbarous Queen do away with the hope I cherish with regard to that island. What is she? She is but a human being; her influence is but permitted. may one day be brought to the foot of the Cross, and if she should come there, we shall see delightful expressions of Christian triumph, and her tears of penitence will be a fresh shower of promise to that island. But I have little hope as it regards her. Looking at the case in the light of history

She

and human nature, I do not remember any instance in which a crowned head or imperial mind, who has indulged the spirit of persecution, was brought under the influence of truth. I am not aware of any instance in which persecution, expressed and exhibited as it has been in her case, in which the individual in that situation has been brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. Will you permit me to turn from Madagascar to one other topic which has been suggested to my mind while sitting here? I allude to the state of our funds, to the pecuniary efforts which are indispensably necessary to meet the growing claims of this Society, and to meet the craving demands of the present state of the world. I was humbled, indeed, yesterday when I listened to that delightful heart-stirring sermon which our respected brother delivered. Oh, where is the minister of Christ who did not feel that he had literally done as nothing in the cause of Christ compared with what ought to have been effected. The genius of that sermon was excelled by its piety. It is the spirit of its piety I would love to catch. What are we doing for the cause of Christ? In a few years the fiftieth anniversary of this Society-its jubilee year-will come. We may anticipate, on that occasion, a glorious augmentation of its funds. Ought we not to raise the funds to double the present amount, by its jubilee day? I am prepared to submit to you a simple statement, which will plainly show that it is perfectly practicable to my brethren in the ministry. If you will listen to the following short statement, you will find how it may be done. If a thousand individuals could be discovered in our large denomination who would subscribe 501. a year-if 2,000 individuals would subscribe 207.-if 3,000 would subscribe 107.-and 4,000 subscribe 57. a year, you would, from that simple process alone, have 140,0007. brought into the treasury of your Society; and I may confidently and ardently ask, young and perhaps uninfluential as I am, whether it is not time that the guinea system should come to an end. Where is the man who has laid a fraction on the altar, compared with our brethren who have gone forth to the Missionary field? Where is the minister at home who has done one day's work compared with what they have done who, having crossed oceans in the service, have laid their strength and energy at the feet of the Missionary cause? I do think that this calculation may be carried into effect. I think we have untaxed treasures upon which we may break in. I think we ought to hear the voice, "Loose them and let them go." I knew an individual who, in the spirit of godly enterprise, determined, when he entered into

a new business, that he would consecrate a certain portion of the profits to the cause of God, and at the last Bristol meeting that individual sent us 57. as a portion of his profits derived from that little enterprise. He was not one of our body, but a Wesleyan. Is not this a hint worthy of being taken? If our friends would consecrate their profits from time to time, we should have an immense augmentation of our funds. Never let us forget that the consecration of time, talent, and property in this service will be no source of regret when we come to die, but only a ground of thankfulness to Him who has given us the power.

The Rev. GEORGE GOGERLY, in seconding the resolution, said that nineteen years ago he left England for India. On his return two years since, he was introduced to the public meeting of the friends of the Society, and now, following the example of his fathers and brothers in the ministry, he once more appeared before them to bid them farewell. When he first went out he was in the buoyancy of youth, and might be supposed to be influenced by the novelties of that time of life. That, however, had now passed away, but yet, in matured age, and knowing the difficulties that would surround him, he again turned his face to the East, with the determination that, by the help of God, he would consecrate the rest of his days to this noble work. When he first arrived in India, every thing was dark and gloomy, but now they saw superstition giving way, and native prejudice yielding before the word of God. Brahminical influence was rapidly decreasing, of which he would give an illustration. He remembered perfectly well when he first arrived in India, being in an assembly of from two to three hundred persons; the Missionary was preaching, but was interrupted by a Brahmin entering the meeting. In his own peculiar way he inquired what they were doing, and no one present dared to reply. After a time, however, the Missionary said that they were hearing the word of God, to which the Brahmin replied, "The word of God! Do you hear me? As you dread a Brahmin's curse leave the place." stantly every man retired, and the Missionary was left alone. In contrast with that, he would state a case that occurred shortly before he left. A Brahmin entered the place where they were worshipping, and put a similar inquiry. One man present, without rising, simply called out, Jackass, what are you talking about?" The Brahmin was confounded, and instantly went away. The Hindus were now able to think, and did think for themselves. It had been objected that no Brahmins had united themselves to the Missionaries; but the state

66

In

ment was not correct. Some of the highest rank had been baptised. One Brahmin, who had become an assistant to him, had sacrificed in one day 20,000l. sterling. He gave up his caste, although he was revered by the Soodras, and came down to the same level with them. He had laboured in connexion with this cause for many years for the sum of 127. per annum, which had subsequently been increased to 247. The Missionaries had now an opportunity of preaching the Gospel in every part of India -India, which was as much closed twenty years ago as China was at the present time. The British Government, when he first went out, were opposed to Missionary enterprise; but that prohibition had since been removed, and a wide and effectual door had been opened. Missionaries could now stand even in the verandahs of the temples, and declare the heathen gods to be vanity. When he first went out they could scarcely get an individual to receive a tract, but now they could not supply them to the extent of the demand. That was the case, not in one part, but all over India. The Missionaries, after one of their tours to distribute tracts, were told, on their return to Calcutta, that they had been engaged in a useless labour. Some short time afterwards, however, a Missionary was passing through a jungle in Midnapore, where he saw a man engaged in meditation. approached him, and asked what he was doing. The man replied, "I am praying

He

O Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me!'-what else shall I say?" The Missionary was astonished, and could not conceive where the man had gained a knowledge of the name of Christ. He inquired whether he had been visited by a Missionary? To which he replied, that he had never seen one. He then asked if he had seen the native brethren? He answered, that he had never met one, but pulled out a tract, and said that two gentlemen had given it to his brother, who was unable to read, and his brother gave it to him-and there it was that he had learnt the name of Christ. He was persecuted at home, and daily came there to pray to the Lord Jesus to have mercy on him. The whole moral appearance was changed in India. The Brahmins were desirous of books from our Missionaries, in which to instruct the children in their own schools. Formerly there was no Bible Society in India; but now, if they had them, they could distribute millions of copies. Mr. Gogerly concluded by expressing his gratitude for the kindness which he had experienced during his residence in his native country.

YAGOUBE ASAAD EL KEHAYA, at the request of some gentlemen on the platform,

The Rev. J. ARUNDEL announced, that agreeably to the arrangements of the day the collection would then be made.

The Rev. JAMES HILL, of Oxford, formerly Missionary to Calcutta, proposed the next resolution,

"That the Directors who are eligible be re-appointed; that the following gentlemen (as per list read) be chosen to fill up the places of those who retire; and that Thomas Wilson, Esq., the treasurer, and the Rev. William Ellis, and the Rev. John Arundel, the secretaries, be requested to continue in their respective offices during the ensuing year.'

Mr. Hill then observed-I feel assured that the Christian public of England has not awakened to a proper sense of the obligations which devolve upon it respecting India. The country is open before usthere is no obstacle in our way-there has been a great preparation going on for years; there is a mighty movement now in the public mind in India, and it depends much upon the energies of the Christian public in this country whether out of that movement there shall arise as from the sea when it was agitated by the winds of heaven, as we read in the book of Daniel, beasts of prey or beasts of plunder; or whether like the pool of Bethesda, moved by the angel's descent, there shall rise up health and purity, soundness and joy. Such a state of things has been brought about, not by the energies of one particular society-not by any particular operations of this man or that man-but by co-operation, co-working; and, if I might be allowed the allusion, it has been in India something like that Thracian game of which you have read, when the parties contended which should carry forth the lighted torch to the goal; one has taken forth a torch, and run till he was breathless, another and another followed in quick succession; but the light is now flashing around, and it will soon diffuse itself through the whole land; the dark cloud that hung over the country is now brightening, and like the cloud charged with electric fluid, the bright flash comes to the surface, and ever and anon it fills the circle around it, and we see the dawn of a brighter and a nobler day. But I dare not enter into the subject; it would require that I should enter into statements to make good my ground; I will only state one point, and with that I shall conclude. Mark the geographical position of that country; mark its position in

relation to other countries, and you will see how important it is that a movement, and a mighty movement, should be made on India. We heard yesterday of a proper movement being made on the age in which we live.

I want a similar movement to be made on that country, contiguous as it is to surrounding nations, and populous in itself. Move the waters there, and it will not be the movement of a little inland lake, the waves of which sleep on the shore, but it will be the long swell, the mighty wave of the eastern ocean, and continents and nations will feel the throbbing of the pulse that will beat in her mighty tides.

The Rev. JOHN ELY, of Leeds, in seconding the resolution, said, on what part of the world could they fix their attention in which there was not all but transcendent interest? They looked to the West; 800,000 negroes complained that the broken fragments of the chain galled and lacerated their flesh, but the loud voice of public opinion had been uplifted that they should be free. But there was a more debasing slavery of which they had been and were the subjects; and there was a nobler freedom which they needed. There had been a ransom price paid down for that freedom, not twenty millions of money, or a thousand millions of gold, but the precious blood that flowed from the victim of Calvary. They had gone to the negroes' father-land. They had contemplated the land of Stoffles and Tzatzoe, and familiarised themselves with the state of misery, and of oppression, and of wrong, to which the Aborigines had been subjected, and Africa itself, pure and free, and contented, would be worthy of all their efforts. But when they turned to the South Sea Islands, then came fresh upon them a thousand recollections. What must be the throbbings of the heart of him who went forth in the Duff, and who had lived to report the conversion of 100,000 islanders, and to witness a second expedition worthy to be celebrated by the muse of history and of poetry. The prayers of a million British Christians swelled the sails of the Camden; a thousand isles were waiting to receive the law at the mouth of Williams and his coadjutors; and the great Pacific was preparing to lift up the voice of her many waters, and, at the antipodes, to swell the praises of God and of the Lamb. Should he turn to India? He was glad that that morning the patronage of idolatry in India, by the British Government, had again been strongly presented before the public. Who repaired the temples of that idolatry? Who adorned the cars of that idolatry? Who marshalled the processions of that idolatry? Who tithed the worshippers of that idolatry? The British churches had slept on that question. An appeal was made two years ago in that

hall, and reiterated again on the past year. This Society, it was true, as a Society, had memorialised the Government, and, perhaps, the Hon. Company in Leadenhall-street; but what else had been done? While 120,000,000 of men were bowed down under an abominable system of idolatry, and the British Government patronised it, where was the delegation-where the public meetings-where the thunders to proclaim that Britain should no longer sanction idolatry by the influence of its Government? They must convene again, they must uplift their voice again. That voice must penetrate all the avenues and secret chambers of Leadenhall-street; it must go to the Houses of Parliament; it must travel over the mighty ocean around the Cape of Storms, and must be heard in Calcutta and Madras, declaring that Britain would no longer patronise the idolatry of the East. Another point touched upon in the sermon of yesterday, must be brought more prominently forward. In that sermon attention had been turned to the more respectable classes. Was not the Missionary field the noblest that could employ the human mind? How was it, then, that the more influential and exalted families did not aim to train up their sons for Missionary work, not irrespective, however, of personal piety? Though it was costly to their funds to support those Missions, yet agents were still more needed. They required agents of a peculiar character-men possessed of a spirit of piety and of superior intellect. On looking back to the history of that Society, he saw nothing more interesting than that God had been pleased to raise up such men, and mould them for, and direct them to, that service. Let Christians contemplate afresh their obligations. They had not received the cup of salvation that they might sit at ease and drink it, but that they might become the instrument of imparting it to others. Let, then, the churches of that great metropolis unite with all the churches of the provinces, and let them lift up a voice that should sound as a herald-cry in every remote place of the earth and ocean; and then should the world yield her increase, and be consecrated to God.

The resolution was then put and agreed to. The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said the proceedings of the day were finished. He hoped its influence would be spread over the provinces, and would be felt to the utmost ends of the earth.

WM. ALERS HANKEY, Esq., proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his kindness in presiding over the meeting; which was carried by acclamation.

A hymn was then sung, and the benediction having been pronounced, the meeting separated.

ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL.

The Prayers were read by the Rev. S. GARRARD, A.M., Assistant Minister of the

Chapel; after which the Rev. WM. FORD VANCE, A.M., preached from Ephesians

vi. 24.

SION CHAPEL.

Rev. GEO. COLLISON presided. Prayers and addresses by the Revs. S. Mummery, M. Castleden, J. Morland, W. H. Medhurst, J. Watson, and the President.

SILVER-STREET CHAPEL. Rev. JOHN ELY, of Leeds, presided. Prayers and addresses by Revs. F. Perrot, E. Jinkings, E. Mannering, Professor Kidd, J. A. James, T. James, and the President.

CLAREMONT CHAPEL.

Rev. J. J. FREEMAN presided. Prayers and addresses by Revs. W. Ellis, O. T. Dobbin, T. Stratten of Hull, T. Adkins, H. Calderwood, Missionary to South Africa; and the President. HACKNEY, ST. THOMAS'S SQUARE.

Rev. J. H. EVANS presided. Prayers and addresses by Revs. Dr. Smith, Geo. Gogerly, J. Christie, W. Wild, W. M. Bunting, Dr. Burder, and the President.

YORK-STREET, WALWORTH. Rev. Jos. SORTAIN, A.B., presided. Prayers and addresses by Rev. J. M. Soule, J. Edwards, R. Fletcher, J. Burnet, T. Binney, J. Sherman, and the President.

STOCKWELL CHAPEL.

Rev. JOHN ARUNDEL presided. Prayers and addresses by Revs. G. Browne, S. A. Dubourg, J. Hunt, R. T. Hunt, T. Jackson, J. E. Richards, Dr. Shoveller, and the President.

ORANGE-STREET CHAPEL. Rev. Dr. FLETCHER presided. Prayers and addresses by Revs. G. Smith, R. Redpath, N. M. Harry, H. B. Jeula, H. I. Bevis, and the President.

KINGSLAND CHAPEL.

Rev. T. SMITH, A.M., presided. Addresses and prayers by Revs. J. Campbell, Mr. Scott, Mr. Aveling, John Jefferson, and the President.

TOTTENHAM COURT CHAPEL.
Rev. Dr. MORISON presided.

Prayers and addresses by Revs. Ingram Cobbin, J. Woodwark, James Scott, Missionary, John Watson, Musselburgh, Robt. Ferguson, and the President.

WILLIAM ELLIS JOHN ARUNDELS

Secs.

T. Wilson, Esq.

0

0 Messrs. W. Hunter and

T. Walker, Esq. .........

50 0

0

0 Son

£10 10 0

T. Challis, Esq.............

0 G. B. Hart, Esq.

50

R. Charles, Esq.

50

T. M. Coombs, Esq.......

0 R. Bousfield, Esq...

10 10 0

0 D. Allan, Esq.

10 10 0

50

0 0 T. Piper, Esq.

50 0

20 0

0 Rev. J. P. Smith, D.D.

10

0 0

50

0

50 0

50 0 0