Mr. Smith, of Manchester, prayed before the sermon; and Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, after it. The hymns were given out by Messrs. Dobson, Atkinson, and Start. On Thursday morning the Society held their General Meeting for the Aunual Business at Haberdashers' Hall. Mr. J. A. Knight began with prayer. The Minutes of last Annual Meeting were read, together with the original Plan of the Institution. The Report of the Directors, containing an account of their proceedings during the last year, and the present state of the several missions undertaken by the Society, was read; and, we believe, afforded much satisfaction to the Members, of whom there was a more numerous attendance than on any former occasion. The Thanks of the Society were voted to the Treasurer, Secretary, and Directors for their services. The names of the Ministers and Gentlemen who, by rotation, retire from office, were read, viz. The Rev. Messrs. Collyer, Nicol, Platt, Steinkopfft; C. Crawford, Esq. T. Hodson, Esq. W. Sims, Esq. and Mess. Medley, T. PelJat, Tarn, and Whitaker. Mr. J. Be'lin removed to Chigwell; Mr. Covell, to Margate. The Committee of Nomination having withdrawn for the purpose, presented the following Names for the New Direction, which were unanimously chosen: - The Rev. Messrs. Buck, Greig, R. Hill, Winter, Waugh, Wilks; W. Alers, Esq. J. Reyner, Esq. A. Maitland, Esq. G. Meyer, Esq. and Mess. Hawkes, Kincaid, Emerson, Butcher, and Jack, The Names of the Gentlemen nominated for the Country, shall be given in a future Number, when it is ascertained that they have accepted the office. The Rev. Mr. Hall of Edinburgh, delivered an animated and impressive Address to the Society, exhorting them to perseverance in the good work, and suggesting many encouraging considerations to strengthen their hearts and hands. Mr. Taylor, of Colchester, concluded the service with prayer. This Meeting was highly interesting, and perfectly harmonious. On Thursday evening, Tottenham Court Chapel being filled long before the time appointed for the service. the prayers were begun to be read soon after five o'clock. Mr. Adams, of Winchester, prayed in the pulpit. Mr. Bogue preached on the appointed subject, from Rom. x. 1," Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Mr. Bogue considered the state of the Jews in three periods, viz. of past excellence, present degradation, and future glory; — the obligations under which we are laid to seek the conversion of the Jews, arising from the claims of gratitude, compassion, equity, justice, and benevolence; - the means to be adopted, in order to effect this ob ject;- and some encouraging considerations by which the duty may be urged. Mr. Frey, one of the house of Israel, concluded the service by prayer. The hymns were given out by Messrs. Edwards, Bowden, jun. and Parkin. On Friday morning, a large congregation assembled at St. Lawrence's Church, near Guildhall. Mr. Goode, Rector of Blackfriars' Church, read prayers. Mr. Whittingham, of Everton (the successor of the memorable Mr. Berridge) delivered a discourse from Isaiah xi. 10, "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious." Mr. Whitting ham considerel the prophetical declaration concerning the Messiah, which the text contains, the glorious effects arising from the full accomplishment of this prophecy; and he improved the subject by applying it to the design of the Missionary Society. The pleasing solemnities of this Anniversary were concluded as usual, by a Sacramental Communion; to which the friends of the Society were admitted by tickets, previously distributed by the Ministers among the Stated Communicants, of various denominations of Christians: so anxious were many persons for accommodation, that they were seated in Sion Chapel nearly three hours before the time fixed for beginning. Much care was taken ky dividing the whole area of this vast place into distinct compartments, marked with large figures, to facilitate the distribution of the elements by the ininisters to the great assembly, and to avoid confusion as much as possible. At this solemnity, Mr. Kingsbury, of Southampton, was President. Mr. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. Moody, of Warwick, delivered an introductory exhortation; Mr. Mantell, of Swindon, prayed. The President set apart the elements by solemn prayer and thanksgiving. The bread was distributed by the following ministers : Messrs. Barker, Buck, Collison, Gore, Hamilton, Hawkins, Hopkins, Humphrys, Jackson, Jones, J. Knight, Platt, Roby, Sedcole, Slatterie, Sloper, Williams, and Wood. During the distribution, an exhortation was given by Mr. Bennett, of Birmingham. The wine was carried to the communicants by Messrs. Bickerdike, Ball, Brooksbank, Davis, Davison, Dunn, Fowler, Greig, Hyatt, Hunt, Kent, Lewis, Nicholson, Paul, Scamp, Smith, J. Townsend, G. Townsend, Thomas, and Tracey. An exhortation was given by Mr. -; Mr. Wilks addressed the communicants and spectators; and Mr. Hill concluded the service by prayer. Suitable hymns, at proper intervals, were given out by Messrs. Castledine, Collyer, Redford, and Roby. The whole area of this vast chapel being devoted to communicants, a far greater number than on any former occasion united in commemorating the 281 dying love of that adorable Saviour, whose kingdom among men, it is the object of the Society to extend. The liberality of the religious public has had another opportunity to manisest itself. It was supposed, last year, that the novelty of the measure of making collections, might occasion a larger sum than could afterwards be expected; but experience has now evinced that it was genuine philanthropy that opened the hearts and hands of our fellow - Christians, so that\ about one-third more was produced by the collections of the present year than of the past. The Directors of the Society derive no small encouragement from this circumstance; as it affords additional reason to hope that, however widely the operations of the Society may be extended, and consequently the expenditure increased, the liberality of the church of Christ will proportionally be enlarged. This circumstance, coupled with the great increase of Missionaries, who have consecrated their services to this object during the year past, enlivens every heart with the most cheerful hope, that the work of God among the Heathen will prosper yet more and more! MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS. Aberdeen Society, in addition to 251. received in November J. Weston and Friends, Sherborne R. Stevenson and Congregation, Castle-Hedingham Legacy by the late J. Whittenbury, Esq. Manchester M. P, an annual subscription Rev. Mr. Denham and Friends, Towcester Morgan Jones, Cymmer Llantrissaint, Glamorganshire J. Harris and Congregation, Fordham, Essex Dundee Missionary Society, by Mr. Colquhoun 36 0 Rev. Mr. Kingsbury and Congregation, Southampton 70 Messrs. Sloper and Elliott and their Congregation, Devizes 16 8 10 5 Mr. Shepherd and Congregation, Wrentham, Suffolk 6 6 Mr. Weaver and Friends, Shrewsbury Mr. Cracknell and Friends, Weymouth A Friend to the Missionaries 26th chapter of Deuteronomy, 1-11 verses Neglecter Rev. Mr. Richards and Congregation, Stourbridge 55 7 7 6 6 20 50 I 7 0 Rev. Mr. Roby and Congregation, Canon Street Chapel, Manchester A Society of Poor Persons belonging to Cannon Street Chapel, Rev. Mr. Freer and Congregation, Uxbridge Mr. Dobson and Congregation, Chisshill Rev. J. Surman and Congregation, Chesham Rev. Griffith Williams and Congregation, Gate Street Collected at the following Places of Worship in London, May 14, 15, and 16. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY." MAY 15, This Society held their Seventh Annual Meeting at St. Paul's Coffee House, London, which was more numerously attended than any former one, and proved a Meeting of peculiar interest, from the extended exertions and growing usefulness of that Institution. The zeal for the diffusion of Divine Truth, which induced the formation of this Society, appears to increase in proportion as new objects present themselves, and as the means of attending to them are afforded to the Committee, from whose report it appears, that in the course of the last year, seven new Tracts, of the first series, have been published. Five have been translated and published by the Society in the Welsh language, one in the Gaelic, one in the Spanish, one in the Italian, and two in the German languages. That since the last report, about 6co,cco of the first series have been issued from the Depository; and that the whole number issued since the commencement of the Institution, in 1799, exceeds 2,700,000. That the Committee have gratuitously distributed among the army and navy, to foreign prisoners of war, among the Roman Catholics in Ireland, and to other places where the necessity was urgent, uo,co Tracts. That the Committee had commenced the important attempt, which was sanetioned by the last Annual Meeting, of subverting the Pernicious Tracts, so extensively circulated by hawkers throughout the kingdom, by the publication of a new series of Tracts, peculiarly adapt ed for sale by such persons; designed to be both entertaining and instructive, having cuts, and being printed in the sane form as those usually sold by the hawkers: three of which have been translated and published in the Welch Janguage; and, as an inducement to such persons to engage in the sale of 171 13 2 123 8 8 them, the Committee have fixed the price so low as to yield to the venders and hawkers a profit superior to that on any other Tracts hitherto published. A very extensive correspondence has been opened for the furtherance of this concern, and about 250,000 of the new series of Tracts have been already issued; but as returns have not yet been received from many of the Society's agents, the exact number sold cannot be ascertained. The Committee strongly recommend to their Christ an Brethren to consider the vast importance of subverting the vicious Tracts, and profane ballads, which supply temptation and corruption to the rising generation; and they earnestly entreat every friend to religion and virtue to look around on the shops near his residence which are the depositories of such vehicles of vice, and to exert his influence to introduce in their place the Tracts published by this Society; and it is especially desireable that wholesale venders, who at present supply the small shops and the hawkers, should be made fully ac quainted with the circumstance of the increased profit of two pence in the shilling to be obtained by the sale of them. As it must rejoice the heart of every Christian to be able, in any degree, to eject the poison, or to counteract its deadly influence, let every reader use immediate exertion for that important purpose. In order to promote the circulation of tracts as reward books in Charity and Sunday Schools, the Committee have engaged with their present Depositary, Mr. Burditt, No. 60, Paternoster Row, London, to supply such Schools on the same terms as Subscribers. The Committee have recently published a uniform edition of the first series of Tracts in two handsome vơlunes, the price of which is fixed ex RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. tremely low; but as it has necessarily occasioned a heavy expence to the Society, they earnestly entreat every friend to promote the sale of them, for the purpose of replenishing the funds, and promoting the interest of the Institution. Several very encouraging accounts were related, by members present, of the conversion of sinners to God by the reading of Tracts published by this Society; some of which, we hope, will be made public, as an encouragement to perseverance in the distribution; and as a persuasive to those who have not yet begun this work, to delay it no longer, and to reflect how many opportunities they have lost of putting Tracts into the hands of others, which might have been instrumental in saving souls from eternal punishment, and leading them to joys which will never cease. ON Wednesday the 7th ult. the British and Foreign Bible Society held their Second Annual Meeting; which was very numerously and respectably attended. The Right Honourable the President read a very interesting and satisfactory report; and some valuable extracts of correspondence were read by one of the secretaries. It appears that the exertions of the Committee to carry into effect the designs of the Society, have, during the last year, been attended with signal and extensive success. Among other facts too numerous to detail, the Committee report, that they have granted to the Nurenberg Bible Society a further donation of 200l., in order to enable them to print by stereo-type the whole Bible; that they have succeeded in establishing a Bible Society at Berlin, for the Prussian dominions, which is honoured with the patronage of his Prussian majesty; and that they are in treaty for a similar establishment in Esthonia, a province of the Russian empire; they also report that the Roman Catholics of Ratisbon, stimulated by the example of Nunenberg, bave instituted a Bible Society for the Poor in Germany of their persuasion; and there is reason to believe that the New Testament adopted for their impression, is purged from all radical errors. At home the Committee de'ail many mportant proceedings; they have supplied the French and Spanish prisoners with portions of the Scripture in their respective languages, and sent over many copies of the stereo-typed New Testament for circulating in Ireland. They are now printing the Welch Bi 283 ble (the New Testament of which is completed) a Spanish Testament, a Gaelic Bible, &c. The friends and resources of the Society have considerably encreased. They have received large contributions from the Synods of Glasgow and Air, the Presbyters of Edinburgh, the united denominations of Christians in Birmingham, besides lesser offerings from an assosiation in London for contributing to their funds, and other congregations and individuals. The Report at large, with copious extracts of correspondence, &c. is now printed, and may be had by subscribers (gratis) by application to Mr. Smith, the Society's Depositary and Collector, at No. 19, Little Moor Fields. Extract of a Letter from Karass, in the Russian Territory, Aug. 1, 1805. ABDY, the Mohammedan priest, whom we have so often mentioned, has given up his charge among his countrymen, and has engaged to teach our children to read and write the country languages. The people around us are greatly offended at his coming to us; and some of them have talked of killing him. But though they do this, scarcely any of them have the courage to reprove him They all seem to stand in awe of him; for although they do not account him one of their most learned Moulies, or priests, yet they all allow him to possess a superior degree of eloquence and good sense. It is but justice to him to mention, that since he came to us he has taught the children with the greatest diligence; and though he has not yet professed his belief of Christianity, he makes no scruple of teaching them the catechismns which Mr. Brunton has composed for them; and several of the children appear to make considerable improvement under him. He has written a letter to you, which he has requested us to forward. Letter from Abdy, the Priest of Karass, to the Secretary of the Edinburgh Missionary Society. [Translated from the Arabic.] May there be abundance of peace, and of every blessing, to you! Are you well and healthy ? May the glorious and true God always preserve you in safety! If you enquire a little concerning our circumstances, I thank God you can know that we are well and in peace. What I have to say is this: Last year you sent me a letter, with A which I was highly pleased. Your true friendship has been evident, to my advantage; wherefore, I write also to you as a friend. With regard to religion too, you have forcible words, which remain firm in your own mind; and if I cannot take hold of them as you do, you will perhaps be surprized. But one day I was in a similar condition. Before I saw your friends, I had not the least doubt with regard to our religion; but ever since I saw them, I have been unable to come to any conclusion with regard to it. A true way there is, I believe; for all the world search after it; and, according to my opinion, all the world would not search for what is unnecessary, and not to be found. prince who seeks for power, aided by cunning persons around him, might pervert the judgment of a nation by vioJence aud deceit, for their own advantage; but no set of persons are able to pervert the judgment of the whole world. If the whole world agree to search for one thing, that thing must exist. The necessity of religion every man knows; yet every necessary thing is not always found. Some even die for want of food, while others are satisfied. God has given us judgment to search for what we need, yet he does not always bring what is necessary in our way. Were it not for this, I should have a clear knowledge of the way to Heaven. I know of nothing that is more precious than religion; and surely the religion of God is to be found. Concerning this I have reasoned much ; every day I search for what is precious, yet I have never found one jewel; I have not so much as found the riches of the world. But I will not decline to search for the true way, which may the gracious God hiarself shew me! I have both hope and fear. I have, for fifteen years, been both priest and magistrate among the people about Karass, where my authority has been undisputed. Your friends say, however, that the Christian Religion is preferable; but, if it do not agree with my own judgment, their approbation of it will be of no advantage to me. The Moslems too commend their religion; but this will not purify my conscience. I have agreed to teach the children of your friends for a sum, which, I am afraid, will be too small for my necessities; but I have a few cattle, and if what your friends give me be not sufficient for my wants, I shall not die for want of food. I thank God that, to this day, I have had to eat and drink. In this respect I have been comfortable; and, could I find a way that would be of advantage to me at the last day, I would not be afraid of the riches of this world. ABDY MO." THE Secretary of the Edinburgh Missionary Society has received by the Bristol post, an anonymous letter, inclosing a bill for fifty pounds, to assist that Society in their endeavours to spread the Gospel among the Tartars. The benevolent Donor is requested to accept of their grateful acknowledgements for this instance of pious liberality. HOME INTELLIGENCE. IRELAND. there is not a Bible or Testament in one To the Friends of Religion in Great Popish family in a thousand; and not a Dear Friends, Britain. IRELAND calls to you again out of the midst of her spiritual darkness and ignorance, to assist her in sending the word of life: did you known the gross idolatry (I may say blasphemy) to be found in the books of devotion among the poor papists; the only books they have, you would find that the heathen do not call more loudly for your assistance and efforts than Ireland does: it has been lately ascertained, that in the south of Ireland, where the Papists are to the Protestants twenty-five to one, Bible or Testament in one poor Protestant family in seven. A door has now openedfor the distribution of Testaments, the poor Papists are taking them anxiously for school-books for their children; and the demand for them is very great.-As they must principally be given as donations to schools and to the poor, it is earnestly requested that every person who reads this, will send, at least, one Testament, old or new, to one of the places formerly mentioned, or to any ministers whose names appear on the Cover of this Magazine, p. 2. Dear friends, pay attention to this; it is impériously demauded of you by every |