MISSION SERVICES. 475 August 15th, sermons in aid of the Mission were preached at Hinckley, and in the afternoon an address was delivered to the Sabbath scholars. It was not found convenient to have a missionary meeting. Collections, etc., £7 6s. 5d. Shall I describe a missionary meeting, on the 26th of August, in the Independent Chapel at Matlock Bank? I was staying at this place with Mrs. Buckley, and saw a printed notice of the meeting; and as I thought it likely that it might be the only missionary meeting I should attend without taking any part, and hoped that I might learn a little, I resolved to go; but my hopes of being a hearer only were soon rudely dispelled, for the presiding minister, in his opening address, observed that he had reason to believe that there was a missionary from India present who had been engaged in the work for more than thirty years, and if he was correct in his supposition, he hoped that the said missionary would come on the platform and address the meeting. As there was no help for it I gave them a little information about Orissa, and the missionary from the South Seas furnished some very interesting details relating to the work of God there. Particulars of other services in future papers. J. BUCKLEY. Services on behalf of the Foreign Mission have been held as follows: DATE. Sept. 12, 16 19, 21 26, 29 Oct. 6 10, 12 17, 20 24, 28. PLACES. Bradford, Denholme, Allerton, and Clayton Todmorden, Shore, Vale, and Lydgate Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 2.. Wirksworth, Shottle, and Bonsall.. Nov. 7, 8, 9 Macclesfield The above services have been interesting, and well attended. Valuable assistance has been rendered, not only by our own ministers, but by ministers of other denominations. In many places there appears to be quite a revived interest in our foreign missionary work. The following communications from friends on the spot will sustain the truth of this remark :— Leeds, North STREET.—Mr. Hill has just left us. I write to say how much all our people, and especially the young folks, have been gratified by his visit. All the services have been large, and profitable, and interesting. Love to our Mission has revived and increased. He has proved an admirable deputation. The pecuniary results will, I have no doubt, prove satisfactory We shall have, I trust, larger contributions, and more subscribers. Altogether I am inclined to think that our auxiliary is in a good healthy condition. RICHARD HORSFIELD. MACCLESFIELD.-Our annual missionary services were held in Macclesfield on Sunday, Nov. 14, and on the following night. The expositions and sermons of the Rev. W. Hill will long be remembered with profound interest. At the Monday night meeting the pastor occupied the chair, and a large congregation listened with evident satisfaction to Mr. T. Hallam's report of juvenile efforts, and also to the earnest and inspiriting addresses of the deputation and other ministers. It is very gratifying to report progress, and to find that the sum raised this year is in advance of last year's JAMES MADEN. income. SHEFFIELD. In reference to the visit of brethren Buckley and H. Wilkinson, Mr. John F. Hiller writes:-"We had glorious services on Sunday, Nov. 14, and the missionary meeting the next night was the best we have ever had." The friends are trying to get their list of subscriptions up to three figures for the year. WIRKSWORTH.-On Sunday, Oct. 31, and following day, interesting missionary services were held at Wirksworth. Rev. W. Hill attended as deputation; and in the course of an excellent address alluded to the circumstance of his decision having been made in that chapel, twenty-one years ago, to devote himself to the work in Orissa. Contributions and collections amounted to £19 1s. 10дd. J. C. FORTH. BY THE REV. W. HILL. No. XXII. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it." -Rev. ii. 17. "THE hidden manna" is supposed to be in contrast with "the things sacrificed to idols." With regard, however, to the meaning of the "white stone" there has been great diversity of opinion. Some suppose that allusion is made to the stones in the breast-plate of the Jewish high-priest, or to stones of friendship or approval. Others regard the stone as the symbol of good fortune or prosperity. If, however, the "hidden manna" is in contrast with the " things sacrificed to idols," may not the "white stone" be in contrast with the idol itself? What that idol was, it may be impossible to decide; but throughout the whole of India there is an image worshipped -the Lingam-which is said to correspond with the Baal Peor of Assyria, the Osiris of Egypt, the Pallas of the Greeks, the Priapus of the Romans, and to correspond with that worshipped by the Jews, to which allusion is made in Deut. iv. 16, Ezekiel xvi. 15, etc., and Rev. ii. 14. And though the image is sometimes made of clay, wood, and other materials, yet the best kind are those made of black stone. Moreover, not only are these images set up and worshipped in temples, but they are often carried in silver shrines suspended from the neck. Erun, the first convert baptized in connection with the Orissa Mission, wore one up to his baptism, at which time he broke the image, and presented the silver shrine to Bampton, by whom he was baptized. With regard to the "new name written," there have been different opinions as to its meaning. On the black stone image worshipped by the Hindoos, there is said to be the sign of the sacred monosyllable OM, a sign known only to the brahmins, and from which the vedas proceed, and Brahma and Vishnoo became enlightened. In the light, then, of the customs of the Hindoos, how striking and beautiful the promise of Jesus-"To him that overcometh will I give to eat (instead of the food offered to idols) of the hidden manna, and will give him (not a black stone, like the obscene image) a white stone, and in the stone a new name written (not a mystic sign), which no man (not even the priests) knoweth save he that receiveth it." To my mind, it appears not at all improbable that the doctrines of Balaam and of the Nicolaitanes were similar to those of Seva. To those who understand what the latter are, it will not be surprising that Jesus should say of the doctrines of the Nicolaitanes, "which things I hate." Like our first convert, may myriads soon renounce the impure, the obscene, and the debasing doctrines of Sevaism, and receive in their stead the holy, enlightening, and elevating doctrines of Jesus, of which the "white stone" is the symbol. FOREIGN LETTERS RECEIVED. BERHAMPORE-J. H. Smith, Sept. 15. J CUTTACK-W. Brooks, Sept. 25. CONTRIBUTIONS Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by T. HILL, Esq., Baker Street, Nottingham, Treasurer; and by the Rev. J. C. PIKE, Secretary, Leicester; from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards may be obtained. It will oblige if Post Office Orders for the Secretary be made payable at the "KING RICHARD'S ROAD" Office, Leicester. |