THE CHRONICLE OF THE London Missionary Society. FROM A UTILITARIAN POINT OF VIEW.* O those who are honestly interested in the welfare, present and future, of this colony, but little apology need be made for expatiating on the native races of South Africa. And if the few following crude remarks are untinged with any bias of political opinions, that will not be their least favourable recommendation to many who are seldom able, from the circumstances of their position, or from long contracted habits of thought, to escape from a vein of politics when reflecting upon native affairs and all the important considerations connected with the relations of the various classes of the aborigines of this country to the colonists and to each other. That such considerations are of the highest importance none can doubt, and it is questionable whether any subject demands deeper attention or calls for higher exercises of wisdom and prudence in South Africa than the adjustment of all those complicated questions arising out of our contact and connection with so many varieties and such large numbers of native tribes, both within and without the colonial boundaries. The native races of SOUTH AFRICA, with which, at present, we find ourselves more immediately in contact, may conveniently be divided into four great classes: the Hottentots, the Kafirs, the Zulus, and the Bechuanas. Amongst the Hottentots we include for the present, Bushmen, Namaquas, Damaras, Korannas, and Griquas. By Kafirs (as distinct from Zulus), we mean such members of the great tribes speaking the wide-spread Bantu languages, as are found within the Eastern frontiers of the colony, such as the Gaikas, Fingoes, Tembookies, &c., or beyond them as far as the Umzimkulu River, the S.W. boundary of Natal, such as the Gealekas, Amaxosa, Pondomise, Pondos, Griquas, &c. Amongst Zulus we include the Amazwazi, Matebele, Makwapa, and other such tribes. Whilst, in the like generalizing manner, by Bechuanas we understand the Basutos, Barolongs, Bamangwatu, Bangwaketse, Banyai, &c. And here at once, at *From The Cipe Month'y Magazine, December, 1875. and the tooth of Buddha had been visited, and spectacles witnessed connected with cruelty to animals and the dancing of the nautch girls-low and degraded women-which was to him a shocking piece of intelligence. These perhaps admitted of palliation, but he blamed the Prince's advisers for not saving him from the dilemma of being constrained to witness such exhibitions. UNION OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN AND ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. -It is stated (Daily News) that "the steps which have been in progress for the last twenty years for the purpose of amalgamating the ministry and laity of the United Presbyterian Churches with the English Presbyterian Church have been crowned with complete success, and that in a very short time the bodies alluded to will work conjointly and have common interests. It is also stated that the two bodies have agreed to hold a series of special prayer meetings in the course of next month." We rejoice in the fact thus announced, and trust the united body may enter on a course of abounding usefulness and find that "union is strength." PRESENTATION TO THE REV. J. G. MIALL, OF BRADFORD.-On Friday even ing, January 4th, the annual tea meeting of the church and congregation worshipping at Salem Chapel, Bradford, was held in the schoolroom under the chapel. The meeting was one of more than usual interest and importance to those connected with the chapel, in consequence of the retirement of the pastor, the Rev. J. G. Miall, to which special reference was to be made. There was, consequently, a very large attendance. After tea Mr. Robert Yates presided, and among those present were the Rev. J. G. Miall, the Rev. J. Browne, Mr. T. Stephenson, Mr. A. Ward, Mr. John Hill, Mr. Robert Milligan, Mr. M. Watson and others. After the proceedings had been opened by singing and prayer, the chairman addressed the meeting, and Mr. T. Stephenson made a statement as to the state of the fund which had been raised for the retirement of Mr. Miall after a pastorate of nearly forty years. The net sum raised amounted to £3,169 Os. 3d., and this had been subscribed, with one or two exceptions, by members of the congregation at Salem and those who were formerly members. Mr. Miall made an appropriate and touching reply. We trust that in his retirement he may have many years of happiness and of usefulness, though no longer able for the regular duties of the pastoral office. News of Our Churches. MINISTERIAL CHANGES, SETTLEMENTS, &c. REV J. MENZIES, of Cheshunt College, began his ministry at Berkhampstead, on the third Sunday in December last. REV. J. G. DEAVILLE, of Rotherham College, has accepted the invitation of the church at New Road, Bury, to become their pastor. REV. C. B. SYMES, B.A., has resigned the pastorate of the Stowe Memorial Church, Adelaide, in consequence of indisposition, and is returning to England. REV. A. M. HENDERSON, pastor of Collins Street Church, Melbourne, has been ordered twelve months' rest on account of failing health; he will probably visit England. REV. D. MEADOWCROFT has resigned his charge of the church at Perth, Western Australia; there is now only one Congregational minister in that colony. REV. B. M. FERNIE, of Spring Hill College, has sailed for Adelaide, to minister in the "Northern Areas," under the direction of the South Australian Congregational Union. REV. DONALD MACDONALD has undertaken the pastoral oversight of the church at Lynton, North Devon. REV. T. E. DAVIES has resigned his pastorate at Dalton-in-Furness. REV. J. BRIERLEY has resigned the charge of Howe Church, Torrington, to undertake that of Leytonstone, Essex. Rev. F. W. AVELING, M.A., B.Sc., has become co-pastor with the Rev. E. T. Prust, of Northampton. REV. A. WARNER has accepted the pastorate of the church at Henfield, Sussex. REV. T. GREENWOOD, evangelist at Westwood, Notts, has undertaken the charge of the church at Hednesford, a branch of the church at Wednesbury Road, Walsall. REV. W. MURRAY, after fourteen years' labour, has resigned his charge at Braughing and Puckeridge, near Ware. REV. M. A. WILKINSON, late of Pickering, is now settled at Lutterworth. REV. G. S. SMITH has entered upon his pastoral duties at Harrison Road Chapel, Halifax. ORDINATIONS. REV. JENKIN JONES was ordained, January 2nd, as pastor of the church at Bagillt, Flintshire. The Revs. J. Roberts, T. Jones, E. P. Jones, R. Thomas, T. Lewis, J. Peters, R. M. Jones, D. Oliver and others took part in the service. REV. J. BECKENHAM, formerly in connection with the Bush Mission of New South Wales, having accepted the charge of the newly formed church at Nelson, New Zealand, was ordained to the pastoral office in the church at Woollahra, on November 8th. The Revs. A. Burdel, T. Johnson, J. P. Sunderland, J. G. Fraser and J. C. Kirby took part in the service. MR. HENRY WEBB, student of the Bristol Congregational Institute, was ordained, on the 10th of January, to the pastorate of the church at Street, Somersetshire. The Revs. E. J. Hartland, J. Marsden, B.A., E. S. Prout, M.A., J. Hoyle, and W. Thomas took part in the services. NEW CHAPELS, CHURCHES, &c. A NEW Independent Church was formed at Knowle, Warwickshire, on January 2nd. Mr. W. B. Row, of Birmingham, who has conducted worship at Knowle for the past fifteen months, has consented to become pastor of the church. STOCKWELL CHAPEL, Colchester, was re-opened on December 14th, after renovation and improvement. The Rev. J. Parker, D.D., preached on the occasion. THE whole of the debt on the new chapel at Wellingborough has been cleared off during the series of special services which were held after the opening. STEPNEY MEETING school-buildings, which have been supplied with classrooms and enlarged so as to provide for 1,300 children, were opened on January 12th. There was a public meeting in the new edifice, presided over by T. Scrutton, Esq. Among the speakers were the Vicar of Whitechapel, the Rector of Stepney, and the vice-chairman of the London School Board, all of whom congratulated the Rev. Dr. Kennedy and his friends on the value of the educational labours in which they are engaged. DEATHS. REV. HUGH JAMES, Llansantfraid, December 3rd, 1875, in the 66th year of his age and 33rd of his ministry. REV. DAVID DAVIES, New Inn, Monmouth, died on December 12th, 1875, in the 78th year of his age and the 53rd of his ministry. REV. D. HEWITT, for 25 years pastor of the Congregational Church at Exeter, was called to his rest on December 18th, 1875, in the 65th year of his age. REV. JOHN POOLE, late of Bishop's Hall, died at Taunton, December 23rd, 1875, aged 81. Meeting of Managers. THE half-yearly meeting of the Managers of the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE was held at the Guildhall Coffee House, Gresham Street, on Monday, January 13th, 1876. The Rev. J. Viney, the Treasurer, presided. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Raleigh, and the usual business was transacted. The Auditors' report was presented, and thanks were accorded for their services. Auditors for the year 1876 were appointed. The application papers for renewed grants were examined, and the ensuing table shows the number of each widow on the list of grantees as entered in the Treasurer's book, with her age and the sum voted : The Secretary reported the names of the widows deceased, and new cases were adopted to fill up the vacancies. Donations were voted to meet some special cases. The Treasurer reported an increase in the amount of Sacramental Collections for the year made in aid of the Widows' Fund, and the sincere hope was expressed that this source of income would still increase, so that many more cases of those whose names are still waiting on the book might be speedily adopted. I. V. M. WIDOWS' FUND.-The Managers acknowledge with thanks the following Sacramental Collections in aid of this Fund :-Westminster Chapel, by Mr. W. Collard, £20 28.; Birkenhead, Oxton Road, by Mr. J. W. Court, £5 0s. 8d.; Kentish Town, by Mr. G. Smith, £5; Oakley, by Rev. G. Green, £1; Warley, by Rev. T. James, £1; Rev. J Lockwood (Don.), £1; Melford, by Rev. T. F. Touzeau, 14s. THE CHRONICLE OF THE London Missionary Society. 1.-The South African Races. FROM A UTILITARIAN POINT OF VIEW.* 10 those who are honestly interested in the welfare, present and future, of this colony, but little apology need be made for expatiating on the native races of South Africa. And if the few following crude remarks are untinged with any bias of political opinions, that will not be their least favourable recommendation to many who are seldom able, from the circumstances of their position, or from long contracted habits of thought, to escape from a vein of politics when reflecting upon native affairs and all the important considerations connected with the relations of the various classes of the aborigines of this country to the colonists and to each other. That such considerations are of the highest importance none can doubt, and it is questionable whether any subject demands deeper attention or calls for higher exercises of wisdom and prudence in South Africa than the adjustment of all those complicated questions arising out of our contact and connection with so many varieties and such large numbers of native tribes, both within and without the colonial boundaries. The native races of SOUTH AFRICA, with which, at present, we find ourselves more immediately in contact, may conveniently be divided into four great classes: the Hottentots, the Kafirs, the Zulus, and the Bechuanas. Amongst the Hottentots we include for the present, Bushmen, Namaquas, Damaras, Korannas, and Griquas. By Kafirs (as distinct from Zulus), we mean such members of the great tribes speaking the wide-spread Bantu languages, as are found within the Eastern frontiers of the colony, such as the Gaikas, Fingoes, Tembookies, &c., or beyond them as far as the Umzimkulu River, the S.W. boundary of Natal, such as the Gealekas, Amaxosa, Pondomise, Pondos, Griquas, &c. Amongst Zulus we include the Amazwazi, Matebele, Makwapa, and other such tribes. Whilst, in the like generalizing manner, by Bechuanas we understand the Basutos, Barolongs, Bamangwatu, Bangwaketse, Banyai, &c. And here at once, at From The Cape Month'y Magazine, December, 1875. |