Missionary Herald. BAPTIST MISSION. Home Proceedings. ANNUAL MEETING. the work, both at home and abroad. Dr. Steadman concluded this serious and energetic sermon, by warning the audience against being satisfied with diffusing the light of science, or com municating temporal comfort, or imparting any benefit short of the gospel; -insisting on the necessity of acting a consistent part at home;-urging the union of all hearts and hands in THE public services of this Anniver- encouraging missionary undertakings; sary of the Baptist Missionary So--and pressing upon each individual ciety were preceded, as last year, by the necessity of his seeking salvation an open Meeting of the Committee, for himself. held at the Missionary Rooms, in FenCourt, Fenchurch-street. About sixty friends, chiefly ministers from the country, assembled on Tuesday morning, June 17, at eleven; when information was given respecting the affairs of the Society, and much friendly and beneficial conversation followed. On Wednesday morning, at eleven, a large and highly respectable congregation assembled at Great Queenstreet Chapel. The first hymn and a portion of scripture were read by the Rev. Mr. Chin; prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Rippon; the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Steadman; and the Rev. Mr. Gaulter, one of the ministers connected with the chapel, concluded in prayer. The text was Isaiah lii. 10. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The preacher noticedthe ultimate object aimed at-and the means by which it is to be accomplished. Under the first head he explained the terms in which it is here described, and expatiated with much animation on the glory of the prospect. Under the second, he shewed the power of God to be necessary to remove numerous and mighty obstacles,-persecuting laws, corrupt systems of religion,-deep-rooted prejudices;-and also to provide suitable ministers for VOL. XV. At six in the evening, a numerous and respectable congregation assembled at Surry Chapel. The Rev. Joseph Kinghorn of Norwich commenced in prayer, and the Rev. J. H. Hinton of Reading concluded. A very excellent and instructive discourse was delivered by the Rev. George Barclay of Irvine, who has long been numbered among the most active, and zealous friends of the Society in Scotland. His text was Numbers xiv. 21. As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. From these words of Jehovah to Moses, Mr. Barclay spoke of-The GLORY mentioned in the text; the manifestation of divine beauty; the glory of the moral attributes of the Godhead, as displayed in the person and work of the Redeemer.-The PROSPECT presented to our faith; the extensive and universal diffusion of this glory throughout the world.-The ASSURANCE that this prospect shall be realized; the oath of God; a solemn asseveration but seldom employed in the scripture, in which all the attributes of Jehovah, nay, his very existence, is pledged for the fulfilment of his word. On Thursday morning, at nine, a prayer-meeting was held at Eaglestreet, for the special purpose of imploring the Divine blessing on the Society and its Missionaries. Prayers and intercessions, with thanksgivings 2 F were presented by the Rev. Messrs. | lax their exertions. Though much good has been done, much remains to be done. Commands to act are connected with promises of success. Divine power supersedes not human means. God honours men by employ Gough of Westbury, Macfarlane of Trowbridge, and Davis of Walworth, and an excellent and animated address was delivered by the Rev. J. Wilkinson of Saffron Walden. Immediately after the prayer-meet-ing them to bring about his purposes. ing, a very large and respectable assembly met at the Chapel in Great Queen-street, to hear the Report of the Committee, and to transact the usual annual business of the Society. Two stanzas of the hymn "Salvation! Oh the joyful sound!" were first sung; and a blessing on the proceedings of the day was implored by the Rev. James Hoby. Then Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer to the Society, was called to the Chair. Nor does the expectation of a speedy accomplishment of divine predictions supersede or diminish our duty to pray for the predicted events. It was When Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, to be nearly expired, that he set his face unto the Lord to pray the more earnestly and particularly for the restoration of Jerusalem. So the promises of the universal spread of the gospel, and any signs we perceive of their advancing fulfilment, should operate as motives to an increased fervency of prayer for that blessed consummation. The Report was then read from the pulpit by the junior Secretary. It contained an interesting account of the present state of the Missions in various parts of the Continent of India; in Ceylon, Java, and other Eastern islands; and in the West Indies; with statements of a financial nature, and domestic proceedings and rangements. Though rather long, it was not found tedious, but was heard by the Meeting with close attention and great interest. ar was a balance of £1200 in the hands of the Treasurer. well known, had been under the necessity of borrowing a considerable sum of money in order to carry on the operations. Two years ago this debt amounted to £5000; and £3000 of it remained unpaid at the last anniversary. But a plan had been since proposed of a separate subscription for discharging this debt, payable only in case enough should be subscribed to The Chairman, as Treasurer, then discharge the whole. Thus every sub- read an Account of the Receipts and scriber set down his name with the as- Disbursements; which was received surance that if his subscription should by the Meeting with evident marks of be called for, the debt would certainly high gratification. The subscriptions be annihilated. Mr. Shaw had the sa- and donations for the past year amounttisfaction of informing the presented to more than £14,400; and there meeting, that this most desirable object had been attained; and that such had been the liberality of christian friends of various denominations, that there was even a surplus beyond what was required for liquidating the debt: at the same time he could also add, that the subscriptions for general purposes had sustained no diminution, but had even increased to an amount beyond that of any preceding year. This he could not but regard as a signal answer to prayer, and a loud call for thankfulness to God. The origin of the Society had its foundation in prayer, and all its progress ever since bad been closely connected with prayer. But though the funds are now in so favourable a state, the friends of the Society ought not to re The following Resolutions were then successively moved, seconded, and carried unanimously. Kinghorn of Norwich, seconded by "That the Report now read be adopted and circulated; and that this Meeting acknowledges, with grati tude and joy, the proofs of a divine blessing attending the labours of the Society, particularly in the West Indies." II. On the motion of the Rev. George Barclay of Irvine, seconded by the Rev. John Leifchild of Ken- Messrs. G. F. Angas, Newcastle.. sington; "That this Meeting unfeignedly rejoices in the success of the plan for liquidating the debt of the Society; and presents cordial thanks to all who have contributed for that purpose; as also to those ministers and other friends, who, in various ways, have exerted themselves during the past year in support of the Society." III. On the motion of the Rev. Edward Irving, M.A. of the Caledonian Church, London, seconded by Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P.; "That the sincere thanks of this Meeting be presented to those gentlemen who have conducted the affairs of the Society during the past year;that the Treasurer and Secretaries be requested to continue in their offices; -that Mr. William Beddome, Mr. John Danford, and Mr. Joseph Hanson, be the Auditors ;--and that the following be the list of the Committees for the year ensuing. General Committee. Rev. Christopher Anderson, Edin burgh. George Atkinson, Margate. George Barclay, Irvine. Isaiah Birt, Birmingham. Thomas Blundell, Northampton. Thomas Coles, Bourton, T. S. Crisp, Bristol. T. C. Edmonds, Cambridge. Wm. Winterbotham, Horsley. Chapman Barber, London. R. Foster, Jun. Cambridge.' Central Committee. Rev. Thomas Blundell. T. C. Edmonds. George Pritchard. John Saffery. W. Winterbotham. Messrs. Chapman Barber. Corresponding Committee. Rev. J. Acworth, Leeds, E. Clarke, Truro. Owen Clarke, Taunton. B. H. Draper, Southampton. John Mack, Clipston. T. Middleditch, Biggleswade. J. Payne, Ipswich. Rev. R. Pengilly, Newcastle. Rev. T. Thonger, Hull. J. Wilkinson, Saffron Walden." IV. On the motion of Edward Phillips, Esq. late of Melksham, seconded by the Rev. John Howard Hinton of Reading; "That this Meeting has heard with regret of the death of several excellent Missionaries in connection with the Society; and respectfully invites all the friends of the Mission to join in fervent prayers that the Lord of the harvest will raise up many labourers, qualified by his grace to enter upon this great work; and grant a large measure of his Spirit to all who are engaged in missionary labours both at home and abroad." V. On the motion of John Sheppard, Esq. of Frome, seconded by the Rev. John Arundel, one of the Secretaries to the London Missionary Society; "That the best thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Trustees of this Chapel, and to the Rev. Rowland Hill and the Trustees of Surry Chapel, for their kindness in accommodating us with their places of worship on the present occasion." VI. On the motion of the Rev. S. Kilpin of Exeter, seconded by the Rev. William Giles of Chatham; "That the next Annual Meeting of the Society be held in London, on Thursday, June 24, 1824. VII. On the motion of the Rev. James Hoby, seconded by the Rev. Jabez Bunting, M.A.; "That the thanks of the Meeting be presented to Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer, for his able conduct in the chair this day." The Rev. Joseph Kinghorn began by remarking the happy difference between our situation now, and that of those who lived two centuries ago. Our predecessors in religious profession could not then have assembled as we have, at noon-day, for purposes like those for which we are met. They laboured; we have entered into their labours; nor do we think of our superior advantages as we ought. Our happy circumstances, in the enjoyment of Bibles and ministers, and christian ordinances, and the internal possession of divine grace, call upon us all to bless the Lord with all our souls. And after hearing the Report now read, ought we not to feel peculiar gratitude that any exertions made from this little island are so successful, that our prayers are so answered? If the Lord meant to destroy us, he would not have shewed us such things as these. On reviewing the progress of true religion, we find its effects much the same in all classes of men; whe ther in proud Brahmins, or ignorant Negroes. These indeed Christianity elevates. Persons in the lowest depths of human degradation, and destitute of all intellectual cultivation, when under the influence of divine grace, often rise to a degree of mental elevation which nothing but true religion can ever reach. The two principal topics of the retures-and the various stations of misport, are the translations of the scripsionaries. We know the value of Bibles a good man must have a Bible; he cannot do without it: and a bad man needs one, to make him better. How necessary then that the scriptures should be translated into the various languages of men, and what cause for satisfaction that so much has been done in this way! Suppose that only twenty-five years ago any person had ventured to express a hope, that, within a quarter of a century, the whole New Testament would be published in twenty-one of the dialects of India, and those by far the most extensive and important-should we not have regarded it as the anticipation of a sanguine mind, and have pronounced alized? But all this is now accomit too improbable to hope its being replished, and considerably more. Even the language of China, hitherto deemed inaccessible, except to a few commercial men for purposes of trade, that language of monosyllables, differing essentially from all the other dialects of men, is now enriched with a translation of the whole scriptures; a treasure infinitely more valuable than any it possessed before. What is most remarkable in this process of translation is, that a kind of new idea appears to have been struck out by the Serampore missionaries, who have con |