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ever they might gain, should be devoted to the funds of the Mission. He concluded by saying, that if only a few of the poor heathen should be led to JESUS CHRIST, in consequence of the united exertions of this day, and of the prayers and supplications that were now offered up at home, he should bless the hour that he had been permitted to spend with this Society.

The REV. THEOPHILUS BLUMHARDT, Inspector of the Missionary Institution at Basle, seconded the Motion in the following terms:-"It is truly gratifying to me, Sir, to see such a day, and to be in such an assembly. To a foreigner, who is come from Switzerland, but a few days since, to your blessed shores, you will give kind allowance, if he feels himself unable to express to you in proper terms the feelings of his heart. Were it my business, Sir, to plead a cause which is doubtful in its origin, and only supported by arguments of human wisdom, I would be the first to confess to you publicly that such a matter would have found in me a nost unable supporter. But such a Motion as this, on such a day as this, and in such an assembly as this, needs no arguments. It needs only the feelings of a sincere heart, much interested in your glorious cause. I did not come to your blessed shores, Sir, to speak in your midst, but to hear, to see, to learn, and to rejoice with you, and with the thousands of the people of GOD. Since about twenty years, I was a constant reader of your Missionary Publications; and, I may say, a sincere friend of your Missionary work. I am really astonished to hear the great and marvellous deeds of the LORD, which your Report has detailed before us; but I am much more delighted to see the harmony of this assembly, and to feel the christian sympathy that pervades all these minds. Do we want more or stronger argument, to prove the value of the HOLY SPIRIT'S influence, than to hear such a Report, and see such an assembly? Truly, I may say, I am in the situation of the Queen of Arabia, who came to hear the wisdom of SOLOMON, and to witness his glory; and I feel constrained to use her words. I came to your blessed shores with great expectations, from what I have heard of you in your publications; but it was not the half which was told me.' Blessed be GOD, the Father of Mercy! I would consider the different Missionary Societies as branches proceeding from the tree of life; and every one of these branches of the tree of life has its own clusters, its own fruits, its own glory. But let us never forget, that we all are in CHRIST, the same trunk, and borne by the same root; and the root of the Missionary Tree is the spirit of prayer, the SPIRIT of GOD, who dwells in the minds of all believers.—I am much delighted to hear, that tens of thousands of our British friends pray for us on the Continent; and I am more delighted to say, that hundreds of thousands of my countrymen pray for you. May the LORD bless the work of your hands! May it blossom like the rose in the desert! I humbly trust that the day, the great day, is approaching, when there will be but one Missionary Society in the world, and when every being will be a member of it, full of love and holy sympathy. May the day be approaching in a short time!"

The Fifth Resolution was as follows:-" That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the AUXILIARY and BRANCH SOCIETIES throughout the kingdom; to the Auxiliary Societies which have been recently established on several FOREIGN STATIONS; to those LADIES, who in different places have employed their zeal and influence to increase the Funds of the Institution; to the JUVENILE SOCIETIES, in which the feeling and energy of our youth are consecrated to this sacred service; and to the SUBSCRIBERS, and other Friends to the Wesleyan Missionary Fund, both at home and abroad, by whose liberality the means of supplying the moral wants of our fellow-men have been greatly increased.”—It was proposed by the REV. SAMUEL LOWELL, of Bristol; who said, that though he was unexpectedly called to speak on this occasion, and was aware how ill it would become him to come before the assembly in the character of an egotist, he was heartily glad that such an opportunity was afforded him of expressing his unabated and unabating esteem for the Methodist Society, and his love to the all-important cause of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. Indeed, did he not feel his obligation to the Methodist Society, in the earlier part of his life, he would be unworthy of the name of man, more unworthy of the name of Christian, and most of all unworthy of the name of a Christian Minister. The Founder of the Methodist Society paid him a condescending attention, when he was a mere stripling, and suffered him to rank, young as he then was, among the number of his correspondents, forty-three or forty-five years ago. There was scarcely a Travelling Preacher in the Connexion with whom he was not at that time on terms of intimacy. And though now nearly forty years have elapsed since Providence led him to other connexious, his heart was not cooled; he still loved our people, and he loved them in all the proportion in which he thought he saw in them the image of Him who was meek and lowly in heart. He hoped to be forgiven, if he said, that though he had lived to see many of his old friends successively numbered with the dead, and his faith had followed their

spirits as they ascended on high, yet he felt what he should never be able to express, when he was informed of the removal of the last of those old friends, whose name, he was sure, could not be heard in that place without emotion. For considerably more than forty years he was in the habits of endearing friendship with the learned, the holy, the apostolic JOSEPH BENSON; and he could not help saying, he felt a sort of personal obligation by the publication of the Tribute to his Memory delivered in this place on the occasion of his death. Strangers would say, that that Character of him was composed under the influence of partial friendship; but his testimony was, and he well knew what he said, and whereof he affirmed, that "the half was not told." He deemed it one of the happiest events of his life, that Divine Providence permitted him to take an active part in the formation of the London Missionary Society; and he hoped that He who had pity upon him, and had put him among his children, had given him a spirit that induced him to say with all his powers, "Grace be with all them that love our LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity." He hailed all those Institutions, which have in view the diffusion of christian light and knowledge, "and yours, Sir," said MR. L., "has a high claim to this noble title. I therefore rejoice greatly in what I have this day seen and heard. The cause in which we are severally engaged, is a cause that is beloved in Heaven itself. It is peculiarly dear to Him, whose we are, and whom we serve. It has upon it the stamp of Heaven; it is dyed in the blood of the Cross; and the virtues of the Cross will ensure its success. Benevolent exertions, which have their origin in mere human opinions, are often transient and unavailing: but those which originate with Him who sees the end from the beginning, and are stimulated by the influences of his HOLY SPIRIT, must be permanent and efficient. They will be efficient beyond all we can ask or think. Such is the confidence we feel respecting our Missionary efforts. They have for their authority the commands of Him whom we call our MASTER and LORD; they are astonishingly protected by Divine Providence; and they shall proceed, till all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

LIEUT. GORDON, R. N., seconded this Resolution. He hoped to have been allowed to escape from taking so public a part in behalf of a cause which, like the Ark, he felt almost afraid to touch; but, being thus called forward, he prayed that the same SPIRIT, who put a word into the mouth of wayward BALAAM, would put a word into his mouth. With respect to the Auxiliary and Branch Societies, mentioned in the Resolution, their own conduct had given the best illustration of their activity, and the Report that day read to the Society was a better certificate of their claims to its gratitude, than it would be in his power, or even in that of the most eloquent person who had addressed that meeting, to pronounce. They desired not, however, that commendation, which yet it was our duty not to withhold; for their exertions had emanated from christian principles; and if they had discovered their good works, it was only that their Father in heaven might be glorified. The Chairman had opened the meeting by referring to the ascendant influence of Great Britain in the scale of nations. Her commerce now opens channels of religious communication with every colony and her Islands, Towns, and Cities, form so many depositories, from which the sacred influence of the Gospel may be conveyed, as from the heart of the system, to the nations now sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. The Wesleyan Missionary Society, in common with other similar Institutions, had discovered to Great Britain, and to the world, what the divine intention was respecting the ascendency which Britain thus providentially possesses. It was pouring the water of life into many long-neglected spots, which had never before been exhilarated by one drop of that water. He congratulated it on being engaged in the only work upon which angelic intelligences, upon which the spirits of just men made perfect, and the Son of GOD himself, look with complacency. It is the only work which prevents the flames of judgment from destroying the world; and in the national agitations now existing in certain parts of the world, we recognized the earthquake and the fire which precede the still small voice that is to tell the nations, now lying in their blood, to arise and live. He would say to that Society, and to all engaged in the glorious cause, "Go on; slacken not your hand; but press forward, in dependance on HIM who has said that his word shall not return to him void, but shall accomplish the thing for which he sends it. Hold not back your hand, till all the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our GOD and his CHRIST." He had felt himself much cheered by the Resolution which preceded the one he seconded. In that explicit acknowledgement of the necessity of the divine influence, the Society had gone wisely to work; for it thereby recognized what is the only source of human success, and what every one who knows any thing of himself, and of the means by which GOD carries on his cause in the world, will' cordially

join in praying for. The more we live in dependance on that influence from on high, the more we shall succeed. He too rejoiced to look around him, and to see present on that day many individuals of different communions. He himself belonged to another communion; but he felt, as a Christian, particular delight in finding himself surrounded by those engaged in the same cause far more efficiently than himself. He had often been struck with a comparison in the Scriptures, which says that, the Church of CHRIST is "terrible as an army with banners.” In an army were found many banners; but in every army, whether the English or any other, some one prevails: in the English army the Union Flag waves over all. He hoped the day was approaching when the churches would merge in millennial union, and when the knowledge of the LORD should cover the earth. He most heartily seconded the Motion.

The REV. GEORGE MARSDEN, President of the Conference for the present year, moved the Sixth Resolution, which was, "That the thanks of this Meeting be given to JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, Esq., M. P., and the REV. GEORGE MORLEY, the General Treasurers, for their diligent attention to the duties of their office during the past year; and that the Society very cordially requests a continuance of their services."-He observed that a peculiar solemnity, and yet a solemnity of a pleasing kind, had appeared to him to characterize this Meeting, during the speeches of those who preceded him. Indeed, he was happy to find that of late a very blessed and religious influence had rested on most of the Missionary Meetings which he had attended; and he had remarked that where that was the case, these meetings were, even in a pecuniary view, the most productive. From the statement just read, it appeared that the Treasurers were in advance; but that should not occasion any discouraging fears. The recent Collections in Yorkshire and Lancashire, at almost every meeting, had exceeded those of former years; several of them by at least one third. He had no doubt that the arrears would be discharged; and that we should have money in hand. Yet he recollected, that DR. CLARKE had said, in his Sermon on Friday, that we ought not to have a Fund, while we had forty men of GOD ready and anxious to engage in the Missionary field. He was sure it would not be the wish of our Treasurers uselessly to hoard up money, while the perishing heathen are crying out for aid, and holy men are offering their services. Freely they receive, and as freely they will distribute. There had appeared to him to be a remarkable Providence in finding for our Missionary work, both at home and abroad, suitable agents and instruments. Here the Speaker enumerated several of the Society's Missionaries, whom he considered to be remarkably adapted to the Stations in which they severally labour, and to whom, he said, though averse from idle compliment, he could not but pay the tribute of his respect. He also expressed his concurrence in the very just testimonies paid that day to other Societies. He rejoiced that GOD had put high honour upon the Church Missionary Society, the Baptist Missionary Society, the London Missionary Society, the Moravian Missionary Society, and the Scottish Missionary Society. And he was very glad to find that some members of another class of Christians, the Friends or Quakers, have of late indirectly embarked in this blessed cause. Thus all the religious bodies in our land, who acknowledge CHRIST as the "head," are entering into this work. By these various efforts, many of those situations, which a person, who should sit down to examine a map of the world, would at first sight select as the most promising stations for Missionaries, were in fact, under the guidance of Divine Providence, already occupied. He was particularly happy that there was a probability of openings for the Gospel in South America. As to Africa, he prayed that the Missionaries who have begun in the South might work their way towards the North, and that those now in the West might march Eastward, till, by and by, they should all meet in the centre.-He mentioned that a British Soldier, a member of our Society, was called with his regiment to Malta. He had there lent to a youth, who observed him reading the New Testament, the copy he was perusing. The youth was astonished by what he learned in the book of GOD. The truth was divinely applied to his heart; he became a real Christian, and, in process of time, a preacher of the Gospel; and there are now two congregations in Malta, to which the Gospel is regularly preached by him and others.-While, in some parts of Asia, the Missionaries of the older Societies were making progress as messengers of mercy, and thus promoting the best interests of their fellow creatures, he was glad that GOD had in his Providence directed the Scottish Missionary Society to send their la bourers to the Northern part of that continent; and he hoped that the time was drawing near, when every part of the globe shall be visited by Christian Missionaries, and the standard of the cross be erected in every place. Some of his happiest moments had been those which he had formerly spent with the Committee of this

Society, in devising and executing plans for carrying into effect its beneficent objects. Never should he forget some of those delightful engagements. But he had witnessed painful scenes also; when the most pressing applications for more Missionaries had been received, and the Secretaries had anxiously turned to the Treasurers, and had asked "What is the state of our fund? Can we send them?” On some of these occasions, the Treasurers knew not what to say they were involved in debt: that debt was accumulating more and more: but yet it was hard for them to oppose themselves to such projects, and say, "No! you have already gone too far," and thus to stop the progress of the gospel-chariot, for want of money. They had therefore borrowed, and borrowed again and again, unwilling to refuse any call of GOD. He trusted that the Treasurers of this Society will never be compelled, by any want of public support, to alter the conduct they had hitherto pursued; but that they would go forward, with their funds replenished, in the work of GOD, till it shall encircle the whole globe.

The REV. HENRY MOORE followed the President. He said that while the blessings and glories of evangelical truth had been passing before his eyes, during the addresses delivered by preceding Speakers, he had really felt, with great force, that "it was good to be there." He had usually been afraid of Public Meetings, except those to which he was called for the purpose of preaching the Word of God; but he recollected what happened to MR. BRAINERD, a name that could never be mentioned without honour. In the wilds of America, he once met with a savage, so called, who at first terrified him, but afterwards gave him great comfort. This was the only savage, as well as he recollected, who ever frightened BRAINERD; yet so it was; the Missionary was for once afraid, when the man first came forward; but on entering into conversation with him, he was astonished and delighted to find that this was a man who had been speaking to his own people about God, the Great SPIRIT, and striving to persuade them to forsake their sins, and who, when he could not do that, had run into the woods to weep on account of the vices and obstinacy of his countrymen. He (MR. M.) confessed that, like BRAINERD, he was formerly afraid of these Public Meetings; but upon being here to-day, he was of the same mind to which BRAINERD was brought in the sequel, namely, that "GOD was in this place, and I knew it not." An excellent man, whom we all respected, (the predecessor of the Chairman in the Treasurership of this Institution,) when once asked why he presented himself at a certain means of grace, the introduction of which among us, in that particular form, he had before thought it right to oppose, made an admirable reply to the person who thus questioned him. "What," said he, “do you think that you shall ever have a blessing among you, that I shall not have a share of?"—" So, Sir,” said Mn. MOORE, "I thank GOD, that I have had my share to-day, and on some former days, of the blessedness of these Missionary Meetings." MR. MOORE then called the attention of the Society to the case of the Jews, GoD's ancient people, who ought, he showed, to have a place in our sympathies, our prayers, and our exertions, as well as Gentile sinners, on such occasions as the present. He showed that the Conversion of Jews, however difficult, ought not to be regarded as hopeless; mentioned some instances which he had personally known of real success among that people; and reminded the Meeting that the Pentecostal Church, the model and exemplar, in fact, of what all succeeding churches ought to be, in doctrine and spirit, was the Church at Jerusalem, a Church of converted Jews;-a Church, the glory and purity of which, we are warranted from the account given of it in the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles to say, have never yet been equalled, but after which we all ought to copy. After ably pressing this subject, MR. MOORE concluded, by seconding the motion of Thanks to the Treasurers; which was then put by the President, and, like all the other Resolutions, unanimously carried.

The CHAIRMAN, as one of the General Treasurers, in acknowledging the last vote, observed, that it was proper that the Meeting should know, that the most laborious duties of the Treasurership were, in fact, discharged by his esteemed colleague, MR. MORLEY; and that therefore their thanks just voted, he (the Chairman) must transfer to MR. MORLEY, who, during the last year, had so well and faithfully attended to the Society's business in that department. He begged further to remark, on this occasion, that it was twenty-five years, that month, since his excellent friend and brother, DR. CLARKE, gave him a Note of Admission into the Methodist Society. He had never repented entering that Society; and he knew that he never should. He had received so many blessings from GoD, during that period, a quarter of a century,-that he thought it right to make this public acknowledgment to the great Author of his being, the Father of all mercies. The last time he stood in that meeting, some proposals were made, by various indi

viduals, to devote a certain portion of the profits of their respective engagements in business, to the carrying on of this great work of GOD. He, among others, had then taken the hint; and, though not about to enter into any details, nor with any view of foolish ostentation, which his heart abhorred, he felt it right to state, that he should, as an expression of his unfeigned thankfulness to the Giver of ali his mercies, during the period to which he had referred, beg leave now to redeem the pledge he had given, by making an addition to his regular contributions in aid of the funds of the Society. [He then presented a Donation of One Hundred Guineas.] He returned his thanks for the kind manner in which the Society had expressed their approbation of his feeble services; and he trusted that they would all devote themselves afresh, as he desired to do, on this occasion, to the GoD who has created us, and to the SAVIOUR who has redeemed us by his most precious blood.

The REV. JOHN JAMES, of Halifax, proposed the Seventh Resolution,-viz.: "That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Members of the COMMITTEE, før their attention to the affairs of the Society during the past year; to the REV. JABEZ BUNTING, the REV. JOSEPH TAYLOR, and the REV. RICHARD WATSON, the General Secretaries, for their services during the year; and to the Ministers, who, in their several circuits and elsewhere, have zealously advocated and promoted the plans of the Society." He said, that, at this late period of the Meeting, he would willingly, after having read the Resolution committed to him, return immediately to his seat; but he felt that he really ought, in gratitude to his friends, just to say, that this had been one of the happiest days of his life. He had seen many of the children of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, but he had never seen the Parent before. He must declare that she was worthy of her children, many of whom he had lately visited, in different parts of the country; and of them also he would testify that they are no disgrace to the Parent. There are many of them in Yorkshire, from whence he came, and other parts of the North, and they all look well. Some person had said to him, " You will not find the London Meetings equal to those in Yorkshire;" but he was glad to find that this representation had been founded in mistake. There had been a holy influence resting on that Meeting of the Society, which was assuredly a token for good. He could bear testimony, that the Missionary spirit is increasing in the country; and the character of this and other Meetings, lately held, is one of the pledges that this cause will and must succeed. He trusted that the next year would be more pros

perous than any former one. FRANCIS MARRIS, ESQ., one of the Treasurers of the Manchester District Auxiliary Society, briefly seconded MR. JAMES'S Motion.

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It was then moved by JAMES WOOD, ESQ., of Manchester, and seconded by RICHARD SMITH, JUN., ESQ., of London, That the thanks of the Meeting are particularly due to Joseph BUTTERWORTH, ESQ., M. P., for his attention to the business of the day." This was passed with indications of the greatest satisfaction; and, after prayer by the REV. WALTER GRIFFITH, the Meeting was dissolved. May the fruit of it be found after many days!

MEETINGS OF AUXILIARY AND BRANCH SOCIETIES.

Tag Meeting of the Auxiliary Society for the LONDON DISTRICTS was held on Wednesday Evening, April 24, in Great-Queen-Street Chapel, LANCELOT HASLOPE, Esq., was in the Chair: MR. BULMER, the respected Treasurer, being prevented by severe illness from undertaking that office. The attendance was crowded; and the Meeting was addressed by the CHAIRMAN, by the REV. MESSES. GRIFFITH, GAULTER, REYNOLDS, WARRENER, (Manchester,) BUNTING, JOSEPH TAYLOR, LEAR, (Reading,) HARVARD, (Colchester,) GREEVES. (Cambridge) JAMES, (Halifax,) WALKER, (Kettering.) LORD, (Brighton,) WHITWORTH, (Margate,) and LIEUT. JACOB, from India. The regular Income of this Auxiliary has very greatly increased; the Collection made on the occasion was most liberal; and the Meeting afforded a bappy earnest of the pleasure and edification experienced in the Services of the General Anniversary which immediately followed.

Our brief Notices of various Meetings lately held in the Country, which had been prepared for this Number, we are obliged to postpone till July.

The Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, since the account published last month, amount to 32051. 58. 3d.: among which we find the following: Lord Gambier, 5l.: two Proprietors of Estates in the West Indies, who e negroes are instructed by our Missionaries, 1502.: Joseph Butterworth, Esq., M.P. 1052.: Japhet, by W. A. Hankey, Esq., 501.: a Friend by the Rev. G. Collison, 17. 108. a Friend by Dr. A. Clarke, 502.: J. M. Marris, Esq., Manchester, 201.: John Wilks, Esq., second Dona tion, 10. 108. T. F. Rance, Esq., 104. 108.: W. Dixon, Esq., Blackheath, sixth Donation, 104. 10s. Rev. D. Lloyd, Herefordshire, 101: Joseph Cooper, Esq., Highbury, 101: Frome Baptist Missionary Society, 72. 10.: Wm. Comer, Esq., Liverpool, 201.; and J. Warner, Esq., Tottenham, 201.

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