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gaged; and that there is ample encouragement. The Rev. Mr. Carlile (Dublin) concluded with prayer.

chief; and observed that if any appeal should be shortly made to the legislature on that subject, he hoped it would have the vigorous support of all classes of religious people.The Rev. Richard Watson (Wesleyan connexion), in the course of his address, noticed the objection of novelty. In answer to which he observed, that although there may be some novelty in the mode of our proceedings, yet that the very same prin

But

ertions in our day operated in the
minds of our predecessors; but they
had other employments-they were
called to settle the churches, and to
establish them in the faith.
who that reads the spirit of the fa-
thers of the Christian Church does
not see that that same spirit would
have carried them as wide and as
far as the various institutions among
us. I remember Baxter says that
he should not have regretted that so
many godly ministers had been turn-
ed out of their churches, if they
could have found access to the hea

III. Queen-street Chapel. Morning. 26th. General Meeting. Wm. Alers Hankey, Esq. in the Chair. The Rev. Mr. Brooksbank gave out a hymn. The Rev. Dr. Small (Stirling) prayed. The Report was read by the Rev. Geo. Burder, and the accounts were presented by Mr. Hankey (Treasurer). Income 25,409l. 16s. 4d. ex-ciple which has produced these exceeding the preceding year about 2000l. The increase chiefly proceeds from the augmented contributions of the Auxiliary Societies in various countries. Dr. Bogue stated the miserable condition of the heathen; the blessedness of salvation by Christ; the great number, and the great success, of Missionary Societies; the translation of the Holy Scriptures by the Baptist, and by other Missionary Societies; the obligations we are under to the Bible Society. "Long may that noble Society live; for what a blank would the loss of it make in the religious world!" the glorious appearances in the South Sea Islands; and the necessity of praying for a more abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit. After some excellent speeches of the Rev. J. Leifchild, James Hayward, and Smith (Rotherham), Joseph Butterworth, Esq. took occasion to reprobate the publication of Sunday Newspapers,* commending the efforts now making by some serious people to put a stop to that mis

* Of the papers at present published in London on the Sunday, there are circulated, on the lowest estimate, 45,000. On the most moderate computation, there are, in the metropolis only, between 2 and 300,000 readers of them. To this add the great number of Pressmen, Distributors, Master-venders, Hawkers, and subordinate agents of both sexes, and of all ages. Besides the violation of the Sabbath, does not the perusal of these papers on that sacred day foment an irreligious and secular spirit? Do they not induce people to resort to publichouses on the Sabbath? Are not passengers invited by the blowing of horns, and by flagitious bills, to purchase them? Are not irreligion and disloyalty allied?

Do not many of them promulgate such doctrines as are inimical to the existence of all lawful authority, and tend to excite resistance to such authority in every shape? Do they not propagate without reserve the doctrines of infidelity and insubordination? With respect to the 27,000l. which they add to the yearly

revenue, does this make amends for the inculcate; and would not the abolition of impiety and insubordination which they them produce a very great national sav ing from the diminution in the number of criminal prosecutions, and from the reduction in the expense of trying, transporting, and imprisoning malefactors? Does the liberty of the press, or the freedom of opinion, require that persons should be permitted to violate the Sabbath with impunity? Mr. LAMBTON, in the House of Commons, on the 26th of May, called the Petition presented to that Honourable House against this irreligious, disgraceful, and mischievous practice, by the name of hypocritical cant. We should not have wondered at hearing such language from the lips of a Paine, or a Carlisle ; but could we have expected it from a Member of a British House of Commons? We hope that our Legislature will not any longer tolerate this national disgrace.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

then world; and with respect to the sweet singer of our modern Israel, Dr. Watts, I will appeal to you who THE twenty-first Anniversary was are best acquainted with him, wheheld May 11, at the City of Lonther he ever strikes his lyre with so don Tavern. After breakfast Jovigorous a hand as when he pours out, in the full tide of his verse, the seph Reyner, Esq. the Treasurer, sublimity of his hopes on this sub- took the Chair, and the Rev. Mr. ject. Poets were once called pro-Hunt of Chichester opened the meetphets; and there are two lines of ing with prayer. Watts which occur to my mind that seem to be almost prophetic

"The islands of the southern sea
Shall stretch their grateful hands to thee."

The Rev. Dr. Collyer answered various objections.-The Rev. Mr. Knill (from India) gave some very interesting accounts. The other speakers were the Rev. Messrs. Collison, Berry, James, Fletcher (Blackburn), Arundel (appointed Home Secretary), Geo. Burder, Henry (Leith), Cope (Launceston), Morley (Wesleyan minister), Rowland Hill, and Dr. Waugh; and Divie Bethune (New York), and W. A. Hankey, Esqrs.

The Rev. Dr. J. P. Smith moved the adoption of the Report. He lamented that there should be any individuals so lost to virtue, and so sunk in depravity, as to render necessary that species of operation detailed in the Report, the Tracts He also laagainst Infidelity. mented the decrease in the subscriptions; he reminded them of the trifling sum with which much good may be done;-and said that a guinea would thus expended travel through an immense extent of land, and might, under the divine blessing, make thousands holy and happy.

The Rev. Mr. Treschau seconded the motion. This gentleman sucIV. Tottenham-court Chapel. The ceeds Dr. Steinkopff as foreign Sesame evening the Rev. Mr. Gold-cretary, whose avocations in anoing (near Taunton) prayed. The ther sphere have rendered him unHe considered Rev. Mr. Elliott (Devizes) preach- able to continue. ed from 2 Cor. iv. 18. He show- this Society as a most useful ased that it was under the impres- sistant to the Bible Society, religious sion of eternal realities that we Tracts bringing home the truths of should estimate the importance of the Bible to the circumstances of our object; contemplate the means individuals, directing to the signs of of its attainment; measure our exer- the times, arousing the careless and tions and sacrifices; calculate the hardened, strengthening the weak, value of our success; and look for and comforting the distressed, our final reward. The Rev. Mr. M'Lean (late of Kendal) concluded with prayer.

V. St. Clement's Church, Strand. May 12. Morning. Prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Gurney, the Rector. The Rev. Wm. Borrows, A. M. of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford; Minister of St. Paul's Chapel, Clapham; and Lecturer of St. Luke's Church, London, preached. See our last Number, page 239.

The Rev. P. Roe moved thanks to the Committee.

The Rev. Jabez Bunting secondHe concluded an ed this motion. animated speech by reading a letter from T. Hilton, Esq.

The Rev. Legh Richmond and the Rev. G. Clayton jun. related two interesting anecdotes.

The Rev. J. Carlile urged the necessity of circulating tracts in India and Ireland.

VI. The same evening, Mission- W. Wilberforce, Esq. ably secondary Communion at Sion, Orange-ed a motion of the Rev. Legh Richstreet, and Silver-street Chapels, at mond for forming a Ladies' Auxiliary which the Rev. Drs. Bogue and Society to assist the Parent InstituWinter, and Mr. Roby, presided.

tion.

Amongst the speakers were J. Pritt, Jos. Rayner, and D. Bethune

Esqrs.; Mr. Knill, Missionary from

Travancore; and the Rev. J. Upton, PORT OF LONDON SOCIETY.

W. H. Black, Jos. Hughes, J. Bull,
Marks, Smith, and Dr. Steinkopff

The Ladies' Auxiliary Society being organized, the meeting very properly closed with a liberal subscription; and in the evening, the Rev. J. A. James preached an excellent sermon for the Parent Institution at Great Queen-street Chapel.

RELIGIOUS TRACT

AND

BOOK SOCIETY
FOR IRELAND.

THE Meeting was held May 13, at Freemasons' Tavern, the Earl of Gosford in the Chair.

THE Second Anniversary of this Institution was held May 15, at the City of London Tavern, the Right Honourable Lord Gambier in the Chair. Ladies occupied the front seats; gentlemen, the sides. At the lower end were cleanly-dressed seamen; and the lower standing circle consisted of naval officers.

After the Report had been read by W. Cooke, Esq. and excellent speeches had been made by Admiral Spranger, Admiral Sir G. Martin, and Captain Sir G. Mouatt Keith, Bart. Prince LEOPOLD having intimated to the Chairman that an engagement which would require his attention would not permit his longer stay, the Noble Admiral informed the Meeting, and concluded an address which was warm with gratitude for the honour conferred, by moving, unfeigned gratitude, and offers its "That this Meeting receives with Royal Highness Prince Leopold of sincerest acknowledgment to his

The speakers were the Rev. P. Roe, J. Carlile, and G. T. Noel; and Lord Viscount Jocelyn, W. Wilberforce, and J. Poynder, Esqrs. Many other noblemen and gentle-Saxe Coburg, for the distinguished men were present.

mands our

66

The topics were, the many indications of improvement now discernible in Ireland; the strong desires of the people after knowledge; that in a short period not less than 200,000 children have been brought under instruction; that there is n extensive circulation of pernicious publications; the importance of establishing circulating libraries for the use of the poor; that Ireland pleads with us, as a needy child with its parent; that good policy decompliance, Ireland being in time of war the vulnerable heel of the British Achilles;" that the wealth of Ireland is spent by absentees in England; that the zealous support of this Society will be only a payment in part of a debt which has been too long withheld; and that the character of the Irish is generous and noble, but that we have kept our neighbour, as we would a madman, in the dark, and have bound him lest he should injure us, instead of conciliating his affections and enlightening his mind,

honour conferred upon the Port of London Society by his presence this day, and that he be respectfully assured that his countenance cannot fail to be of the highest imritable institutions of the country." portance to the religious and cha

This was received, and carried by His Royal joyful acclamation. Highness then, in the most engaging manner, apologized for his being late, owing to the thronged state of the streets by carriages; and for his early departure, by stating, that he had to proceed to the country on some indispensable business. He expressed his good wishes for the success of the Society, and presented twenty guineas in support of its funds. His Royal Highness withdrew, amidst loud expressions of affection, and was attended to his carriage by the Treasurer, Secretaries, and the Committee.

Captain Fabian, Anthony Brown, Esq, and the Rev. Messrs. Brown, Taylor, G. Mardle, C. Hyatt, W. Williams, Rowland Hill, and G. Evans, were among the speakers.

CONTINENTAL SOCIETY.

SECOND Annual Meeting, Freemasons’ Tavern, May 16, Sir Thom

R. H. Marten, Esq. Treasurer to the Society, read a letter from Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M. P. with a donation of ten guineas, and parts of several private letters from seamen to their friends. The Meetingmas Baring, Bart. in the Chair. was greatly impressed with the noble conduct of a British crew at Memel, who, after prayer to God, went out three times in a fearful tempest, and brought to land in a life-boat, to the astonishment of the Prussians, the whole crews, except one person, of two Prussian and one English ship, who were clinging to the wrecks, whilst the tempest was raging with unabated fury.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

FIRST Annual Meeting, City of London Tavern, May 15, Sir Thomas Bell in the Chair. Receipts above 700l. Six Missionaries have been admitted, for whom fields of labour are either occupied or designed, in Wilts (bordering on Berks), Sussex, Oxfordshire, Devou, and Cornwall.

LONDON WELSH AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE Annual Meeting of the above Society, was held on Tuesday, May 16, at the Paul's Head, Cateaton Street: Sir Wat. Wm. Wynn, Bart. M.P. the President, in the Chair, supported by several eminent clergymen. The Report of the last year was read by the Secretary, by which it appears, that a considerable number of Bibles and Testaments have been distributed among the poor in Wales, and that further pecuniary aid was only wanting to further the greater circulation of the Scriptures in that part of the kingdom. At the conclusion of the reading of the Report, the Chairman and other gentlemen expatiated at considerable length, and with much ability, on the utility of supporting the Society, after which the meeting adjourned.

"The plan of proceeding laid down by the Committee, furnishes the friends of the cause with prospects of future success. The constitution of this Society is formed on the most liberal principles, embracing the co-operation of Christians of all denominations, and the labours of native evangelical ministers of every communion. An Auxiliary Society has been lately formed at Frankfort, and another at Berne. It has now connection with Russia, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Spain. In those several countries your Committee are aiming to plant the standard of the cross. Where Christ was once named, but is now forgotten; where fields once cultivated, now lie fallow; there are your missionary la bourers striving to recover the people to the faith once delivered to the saints-to remove the shadow, that they may restore the substance, and to strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, that in the end their works may be found perfect before God."

AFRICAN INSTITUTION.

FREEMASONS' Tavern, May 17, Fourteenth Anniversary, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester in the Chair. Speakers, Lord Calthorpe, Earl Compton, Wm. Wilberforce, Wm. Evans, Babington, T. Harrison, Esq. &c. The Report was afflicting. The most vigorous exertions are now making by wicked men to defeat the benevolent designs of the Society, and to perpetuate the Slave Trade. The support, therefore, of this Institution is the duty of every friend of mankind. The names of Admiral Sir George Collier, and of Governor Mac Carthy, deserve to be recorded, as doing all in their power to put a stop to this infamous Trade.

"In looking over the list of names subscribed at that time, we per

THE Anniversary of the London and others, who have again visited Female Penitentiary Society was held the metropolis, on their being perMay 8, at Freemasons' Hall, Wm.mitted to hold together the Seventh Wilberforce, Esq. in the Chair (se- Anniversary of the General Union veral pleasing letters and accounts formed in this place in 1812. were read);-of the Merchant Seaman's Bible Society, May 21, the Right Hon. Admiral Viscount Ex-ceive traces of the ravages which mouth in the Chair (The East India Company has given 2007.);-and of the Prayer-book and Homily Society, May 4, at the Crown and Anchor, the Right Honourable Lord Gambier in the Chair.

ANNUAL MEETINGS

OF THE

BAPTIST DENOMINATION
IN LONDON, 1820.

THE twenty-eighth Anniversary of the Baptist Missionary Society, and the Annual Meetings of several other Institutions belonging to the Denomination, have been held in London during the Midsummer week. These meetings were numerously attended, and a spirit of pleasure, of zeal, and of harmony, was abundantly expressed by the ministers and members of our churches both in town and country; and we have no doubt but this spirit will be widely diffused in their different connections, and that thus missionary ardour and Christian affections will be strengthened and extended in the denomination. We proceed to give as good an account of these Meetings as the shortness of the time, and the limits of our work, will admit.

death is constantly making among the ministers of the churches. Some excellent men, and eminently faith, ful servants of Christ, who were then present, have since finished their course, and finished it with joy: the respect which has been shown to their memories by the congregations over which they presided, and by the christian world so far as they were known, (and some of them were known as far as the christian world has been extended,) prove that they had been faithful servants of Christ. The bare mention of their names will prove the correctness of this remark, viz. John Evans, late of Abingdon; John Sutcliff of Olney; John Knott of Chatham; Abraham Austin of London; Thomas Silvester of Stains; Mark Wilks of Norwich; and Andrew Fuller of Kettering. 'The fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?' They have entered into rest; they have ceased from their labours; and their works do follow them.-Let us hear the exhortations which their active labours, and their happy and honourable deaths, address to us;

Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' Consider the end of our conversation; and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Since this Society was first formed, several events have taken place in reference to the Denomination which seemed to render necessary a revision of the rules adopted in 1813. The removal of the seat of the Baptist Mission from Northamptonshire to London, is one of those circumstances to which several of the first resolutions had a

The first of them was the Meeting of the "GENERAL UNION OF MINISTERS AND MESSENGERS," which was held on Tuesday Evening, June 20, at the Meeting-house in Carter-lane. The Rev. Dr. Rippon took the Chair; and, after singing and prayer by the Rev. Dr. Steadman of Bradford, the Secretary read the following short statement in relation to the churches in Lon-reference. As that Society is now don.

"The associated Baptist Ministers in London and its vicinity, congratulate their brethren, the ministers,

conducted by a central committee in London, the appointment of ministers for preaching the annual Sermons, the procuring of the use

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