THE WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.-The Anniversary Meeting of this Society was held, as usual, on the first Monday in the month, at Exeter Hall. Those of our readers who were not present sustained a very small loss, for whilst we have attended the anniversary meeting several years, it was never our misfortune to be present at one possessing so few points of interest, either as regards the array of platform talent, or the amount of feeling and geniality of spirit pervading the assembly. Mr. James Heald, ex-M.P. for

The Expenditure of the year has been 110,3371. Os. 11d.,-being 4,9557. 1s. 5d. more than the Income. This excess, added to the previous deficiency, leaves a balance of 24,6911. 9s. 2d. to be provided for.

A lengthy, and, so far as it was trustworthy, interesting Report of the progress and present position of the missions at foreign stations was read by the Rev. George Osborne; but, whether from the tedious length to which the detail was carried, the monotonous and wearying style of the reader, or his general unpopular character, we know not, after repeated unmistakeable manifestations of impatience, the audience at length broke all bounds in their demonstrations, and, much chagrined, Mr. Osborne was compelled to resume his seat, with the Report still unfinished.

The Rev. Dr. Hannah, in a speech of characteristic fervour, moved the adoption of the Report, and was followed by the Rev. James Kingsmill, chaplain to the Penitentiary at Pentonville, a gentleman distinguished rather by the Christian catholicity of his spirit than by his power as a speaker. The only speech containing anything worthy of remembrance was made

by the Rev. E. J. Robinson, a missionary from North Ceylon. His address was full of facts of a highly-interesting nature, having reference to the character and progress of the work of evangelisation among the caste-proud and philosophic pagans of India. After some pleasing remarks in regard to the beneficial influence of the missionary press, the state of education, and the vast influence it enabled the missionaries to exercise, were fully described: he said,

wasted.

"In Ceylon and in India I believe that the money expended on Missionary stations, destitute of superior schools, would in a great degree be It is much more easy to occupy the youthful mind with the truth, than to displace the accumulated errors of mature age. It is less difficult to make an impression on the intellectual faculties of the young, than to rouse the drugged and drowsy faculties of the old. Those who are content only to proselytise, may avail themselves of the ignorance of a people. We. whose object is to correct and renew, must endeavour to reform. Ziegenbalg, the first Missiona y to India, at once set about translating the Holy Scriptures, and began to educate the young, and his successors have nobly followed his example. The children, who understand nothing but the Tamul language, pay attention to nothing but abridged Tamul writings, and they cannot look into such writings without becoming more and more polluted. One most useful instrument is education through the medium of the English language; and we find the people very eager that their children should gain an acquaintance with the dialect of government, justice, commerce, and learning. It is most desirable to inoculate the mind with the English language, and to deal with the heart while it is simple, and with the intellect while it is receptive. The people cannot use their own language without Paganist associations. The mastery of a new tongue gives them accuracy of apprehension and independence of thought. The English Bible becomes a comment on its Malabar translation. Ours is the true classical language of the modern Hindoo. It strengthens his intellectual powers. It furnishes him with an inexhaustible storehouse of the best materials for thought. It presents to his understanding the choicest treasures of wisdom and science. It suggests those softer feelings, which play through life's more cultured walks, and charm the way'; and it displays to them the enterprise and energy of Protestant Christendom. I think our great fault has been, that we have not given sufficient attention to those educational establishments. You are doing nothing until you educate the women of the East. We speak quite correctly when we describe them as domestic slaves. But the mother, however degraded, forms, in a great measure, the minds of her children; and the wife, however despised, still exerts a subduing influence over her lord and master. A Christian girl can easily obtain a Christian husband, and both continue Christians. But a converted man, marrying a heathen wife, is almost sure to relapse into idolatry. In some parts, where the wealth of the country is transmitted on the female side, they cannot fail, in a considerable degree, to wield the sceptre of command. Custom will not allow us to visit and instruct the women at their homes, and we can only get access to them through early edu cation. It is not always easy to gather the Hindos

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girls together in the boarding-schools. When the Missionaries went to Ceylon, there were not more than three or four purely Tamul women who knew the Tamul alphabet. Reading and writing were considered unbecoming and dangerous accomplishments in a female. It was believed they would destroy her modesty, and render her insubordinate to the other sex. Example, however, removes suspicion, and results persuade ignorance. One day, when the head-man of a district was present at the Mission-house, to see a deed executed, he expected to see a little girl affix her mark, and some one write her name opposite thereto; but, to his great surprise, the girl wrote her own name in full. Well!' exclaimed the head-man; I never saw such a thing before: this is very good I will now send my own child to read and write.' He did so, and several other persons followed his example. Well, now, what are we actually doing in the Northern Ceylon District in the way of education? We have 24 day-schools for boys, containing upwards of 1,000 scholars, and an Institution with 22 boarders. What are we doing with respect to female education? We have 6 dayschools, containing nearly 300 girls, and a boarding-school with 14 pupils. Of these 30 schools, 5 are purely English, and a few are mixed. large central school at Colombo, containing upwards of 100 pupils, has been a most effective Institution. Children have been sent to it from Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kandy, Colombo, and Negapatam. You may ask, of what race are the children in our schools? In one year (1851), out of 1,425 children, 4 were children of English parents, 104 Portuguese and Dutch descendants, 23 Malays, 37 children of Moormen, 3 Singhalese, and 1,254 Tamul children. What, professedly, is their religion? 192 of them were Protestants, 90 Roman Catholics, 60 Mohammedans, 1 a Buddhist, and 1,082 worshippers of Siva and the kindred deities. Well, then, how are we engaged in the 'foolish' but effectual practice of Gospel preaching? The Gospel is preached regularly in six wellattended chapels, but all those to whom we proclaim the Gospel are not included in those who attend the chapels and schools. We try the effect of this 'foolish' preaching in more than twenty villages. We go into bazaars and streets; we unite in conversation with all classes, and in every company set forth the glorious Gospel. There are more ways than one of perpetrating the wise 'folly of Gospel preaching. It may be said, that the numerous schools that we manage must seriously interfere with our proper work as preachers. They do not interfere with it at all. Those who devote their attention to education are none the less zealous, even in the ordinary understanding of the word, as Christian preachers. So far as I have observed, the most zealous educationists are our most laborious and successful preachers. They preach even more, I think, than the very preaching Missionaries. Religious revivals have occurred in some of our Mission circuits. The American Missions have found it necessary to build a row of twelve small rooms, in order that the girls may exercise their devotion and worship God in private. We have known many young persons rejoice, when suffering from bodily affliction, in the exercise of the religious knowledge which they have received in the Wesleyan Institution. Hundreds, when the Bible is read and expounded, and the Gospel unfolded, seemingly trust in Jesus. Their eyes are open to behold the glory of Christianity, and they become steadily attached to our soulsaving religion. You must have schools in India, or you have no need of Missions there."

The delivery of this speech was marked by an incident which, taken with the refusal on the part of the meeting to hear George Osborne finish his report, seems to indicate that an ominous accession of inde

pendence has been gained by the sometime "teachable, manageable, quiet people" whom the Rev. John Scott once described. When Mr. Robinson had nearly finished his speech, the Rev. Elijah Hoole, in the face of the whole meeting, handed him a reminder of the time, his superiors probably thinking that he had spoken long enough for so young a man. The speaker appeared surprised, and somewhat hurt, for he resumed his seat at once. The audience evidently regarded Mr. Hoole's interference as an infringement of their prerogative, and cries of "Go on!" "Go on!" were continued, until the speaker resumed and finished his address.

The Rev. Gibson M'Millan, and Mr. Napier, M.P., for the University of Dublin, followed, dwelling chiefly on the condition of Ireland. These were succeeded by the Rev. John Rattenbury, who addressed the meeting at some length. His speech was a signal example of bad taste, both in matter and manner. His vapid phrases delivered in a style so unctuous and plaintive, might possibly be affecting if they did not approach so nearly to the ridiculous as to excite contempt rather than emotion. His "bleating eloquence" may possibly find admirers amongst those who mistake it for the irrepressible utterance of an emotional nature, but cannot fail to be in the last degree offensive to all possessed of the As smallest discrimination or good taste. for his fulsome adulation of his "fathers in the ministry, to none we imagine could it be more offensive than to those gentlemen themselves. After declaring that Methodist ministers had not been equalled as preachers since the time of the apostle Paul, he continued:

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'England wants us-it wants all Christian agents-it wants Wesleyan Methodism, with its broad civil and religious liberty. I say that it includes civil and religious liberty-liberty to do good, broader, wider, than, I humbly think, any other Church on earth-and I love all that love Christ-does now present. Liberty to do evil, less, I humbly think, than any other Church on earth. Thank God for that! Let the man who complains of our want of liberty give himself to the work of saving souls-he may go as far as he likes; as wide as he likes; he may give as much as he likes. We will never complain of him. But I thank God that, if ever I am tempted by the devil to become an agitator to do mischief, I am connected with a system that could soon correct or stop me, as long as I am connected with it. Sir, I fully believe that England needs Wesleyan Methodism in its unequalled liberty to do good, and its lesser liberty to do evil. And, by the blessing of God, sir, we live-yes, we live! Not without toil and conflict, and storm and trial. You have had it, sir. honoured fathers, the beloved friends of your Committees, I see them about, with their business faces, their acute looks, their upright, pious, and devoted hearts; I see them, and love them much. They have had their trials, they have gone through an ordeal, and they have proved themselves men in the time of trial. But, sir, the winter is over and past. Yes; the winter is over and past; the

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time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.' Sir, I have a deep conviction that God is about to favour us, at home and abroad, with a degree of prosperity that we have never seen before; and, sir, there are signs. Are we not to be free at home, that we may do more abroad? We want our chapel debts paid, and all other debts paid. Well, and we are to get it done. But, besides these Foreign Missions, we have to get always honestly, of course-100,000. within the next two years; and I have no doubt that we shall have all by God's blessing; and instead of the work of God at home being enfeebled and diminished, we shall have it flourishing to a greater extent, by the blessing of God!"

Mr. Rattenbury was succeeded by the Rev. W. M. Punshon, from Leeds, who was, we believe, as regards a London audience, a débutant. We had heard great tidings of his eloquence, and of his exceeding popularity in the north: we were, however, we must confess it, sadly disappointed. Undignified in personal appearance, his voice harsh and inflexible, he at once struck us as lacking the physical qualifications for an effective orator. His style is, however, exceedingly florid and flowery, his manner rapid and earnest. His matter presented little worthy of remark, beyond the singular inaptitude of some of his illustrations; for instance, comparing the "fathers" on the platform to so many "birds of paradise, of whose beauty they could only be convinced when they caught the faint glimmering of their glory as it flashed from their parting wings." The idea of comparing men so decidedly solid and essentially mundane, in appearance at least, as Doctors Bunting, Beecham, and Hannah, to birds of paradise, certainly looks too much like burlesque. Mr. Punshon is young, however, and possesses abilities which, with careful cultivation, and the exercise of great self-denial in regard to the use of a somewhat too florid fancy, may attain him a position amongst Wesleyan preachers far beyond mediocrity.

Mr. Wade, of Selby, followed in a brief speech, in which, referring to the Reform movement as the result of Satanic agency, he expressed his conviction that it was standing piece of business in the bottomless pit to find out something to divide the United Societies." Were not the subject too grave for a jest, we should be inclined to remark that it would be a piece of supererogation of which Satan would scarcely be guilty, when Conference and its agents have been found to perform that work so well.

When the Rev. Dr. Newton rose he was received with a burst of enthusiasm which strikingly illustrated the wondrous potency of the spell which his name still exercises: the meeting rose en masse, and greeted him with repeated rounds of cheering. It was but a tribute to the orator of other days,

however. It struck us painfully to see how much the old man has failed of late. The commanding presence and full rich-toned voice which for upwards of half a century have in themselves been a charm in many a Methodist assembly, are there no more. The doctor seemed much shrunken in figure, his head bowed and sunk into the neck, his voice feeble. His remarks were addressed chiefly to the chairman, and were not audible in a great part of the hall. He had been, he remarked, fifty-four years, lacking a few weeks, a Methodist preacher, and was on what he regarded as the

bright side of seventy." According to almost immemorial custom, the doctor's address was followed by the collection.

The amount of the collection has not transpired; the chairman, in an egotistic speech, himself gave 500l. for the China missions, requesting the audience, in regard to the collection, to choose him, to the extent of their several abilities, as a model for imitation. Several resolutions were then rapidly read and carried, without comment, and the meeting terminated.

This

BAPTIST MISSIONS.-The Anniversaries of the various societies in connection with Baptist Missions were held in the last week in April. The Home Missionary Society presented a Report which spoke in cheering terms of the work it was effecting amongst the labouring classes in some of the more neglected parts of the kingdom. appears to be done in the most economical manner, the total expenditure of the year being 4,443. The Report of the Foreign Missionary Society also presented some very interesting accounts of its labours. The total receipts for the year had been 22,2417. 168. 10d. For the last ten years no missionary of the society had accepted a grant of money from Government for educational purposes.

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LONDON CITY MISSION.-The Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the London City Mission was held on the 4th ult., in Exeter Hall; Sir Edward North Buxton, Bart., presided. The Report stated there was an increase in the number of their missionaries during the past year. They are now 297, which is an increase of 27; and when the existing vacancies are filled up, the number will be 303, to the employment of which number the Society is at the present time pledged. The receipts of the year are 26,4811. 48. 10d., which is an increase on the receipts of last year of 3,2641. 73. 6d. During the year, the missionaries have paid 1,240,318 visits, which is an increase of 64,263 on the previous year, and they have

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distributed 1,766,131 religious tracts,number larger than in the previous Exhibition year. During the year, the missionaries have induced 2,317 adults regularly to attend public worship, and they have sent 6,783 children to schools. The following return will tend to show, although very imperfectly, the usefulness of the missionaries in particular cases. Number of persons admitted as communicants by their respective pastors as the fruit of missionary effort, 616, which is an increase of 65 on the previous year. Shops closed on the Lord's day, 112; fallen women admitted to asylums, 148; restored to their parents, 77; and otherwise rescued from vice, 54; making a total of 277 of the abandoned class reclaimed, or 68 more than last year. Drunkards reclaimed, 494. Couples living in an unmarried state, who have been persuaded to marry, 236; families induced to commence family prayer, 317; cases additional to these, 837; backsliders restored to church communion, 164. In some 3,000 or 4,000 other cases more or less evidence has been given of religious impressions made on the heart."

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.The Forty-ninth Annual Meeting was held on the 4th ult.; Lord Shaftesbury presided. From the Report it appeared that the receipts of the year ending March 31, 1853, exclusive of the Jubilee Fund, amounted to 109,1607. 10s. 8d., being an increase of 711l. 88. 10d. on those of last year. The receipts applicable to the general purposes of the Society had amounted to 54,587. 118. 6d., including 36,5231. 15s. 11d. free contributions from auxiliary societies -being an increase of 2,4221. 16s. 11d. on that item. The amount received for Bibles and Testaments was 55.572l. 19s. 2d., being an increase of 2.8071. 6s. 5d.

The issues of the Society for the year were as follows:

From the depôt at home...... 840,552
From depôts abroad........

328,242 1,168,794

an interesting speech by Mr. D. Pratt, on the moral and spiritual condition of the metropolis, he said:

It was estimated that there were in Lon. don about 800 edifices for public worship -heterodox, orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant, all included. In 1841, it was estimated that there was seat-accommodation in those places for 600,000, and, in 1851, that it had increased only to 700,000,-an amount not at all equal to the increase in the population. The population had been growing at the rate of 40,000 or 50,000 a year, while provision for public worship had only extended at the rate of 10,000 and this, too, with the altogether unparalleled efforts which had been made during that period in church and chapelbuilding. The consequence was, that old and acknowledged wants had been necessarily left untouched-to say nothing of the fresh necessities which had arisen. Another and a very serious point was, that not more than two-thirds of the accommodation so provided was occupied.

On the subject of Sabbath-schools, he said:

It was supposed that, in the metropolis, there were about 700, connected and unconnected, with about 13,000 teachers, and 138,000 scholars (Ragged-schools and Parochial-schools not included, but the total number of Sunday-scholars did not probably exceed 150,000). The average attendance was not more than two-thirds of this number, many of the schools being only very partially filled.

According to the "Post-office London Directory," there were in the metropolis 2,500 bakers, 990 buttermen, 1,700 butchers, 3,000 grocers and tea-dealers, 900 dairykeepers, 400 fishmongers, 1,300 greengrocers, making a total of 10,790; while there were 11,000 keepers of public-houses. In and near London there were 13 prisons for the punishment and reformation of criminals, upon which a sum of 70,000l. was annually spent; while, as had been already remarked, a large number of our juvenile population were regularly and systematically trained up in guilt.

The Rev. Dr. Kidder, of New York, editor of the Sunday-school publications in connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church, stated that in the United States there were at least 600,000 teachers, and both teachers and children had been quin tupled during the last twenty years.

The Report stated that 224 libraries had been granted during the year, making a total of 2,731. The sales during 1852 amounted to 10,745l. 08. 10d., being 6641. 138. 9d. more than in the preceding year.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. -The Report presented to the Annual Meeting on the 9th ult., over which Lord John Russell presided, stated :-The boys' model school had admitted 842 children, and the girls' school 430. 27 pupil-teachers had been apprenticed by the Committee of Council. Important alterations had been made during the year, at a cost of 1,0631. 38. 8d., towards which the Committee of Council gave 500l. 160 students had been admitted into the normal school for young men, and 143 young women into the female training establishment; 60 had been examined for certificates of merit, and 140 teachers had been appointed to schools. During the year 54 new schools had been established, affording accommodation for 7,000 children; 295 towns had been visited by agents for school inspection; 97 public meetings had been held, and 24 lectures delivered in different parts of the country; 124 grants in money or school materials had been made. The receipts during the past year (including a subscription of 1007. from her Majesty) amounted to 19.3381. 168. 10d., and the expenditure to 18,771. 118. 3d.; leaving a balance in hand of 5671. 58. 7d.

RAGGED SCHOOL UNION.- The Annual Meeting was held on the 9th ult. From the remarks of Lord Shaftesbury, who presided, it appeared that the number of 'schools in connection with the Union was 116; the children in day-schools numbered 8,000; in evening classes, 5,770; in sabbath-schools, 11,270; in industrial classes, 2,030. The number of paid teachers was 221, and of voluntary teachers 1,785. The number of boys employed in the Shoe-black Society in connection with the Union was 37; they had cleaned 182,537 pairs of boots and shoes, and earned 7601. 11s. 5d. About 17,000l. had been received during the year for the support of ragged schools.

BRITISH MISSIONS.-The Annual Meeting of the Societies for British Missions (Congregationalist)-comprising the Home Missionary Society, the Irish Evangelical Society, and the Colonial Missionary Society-was held on the 10th ult. in Finsbury Chapel. The chair was occupied by T. Barnes, Esq., M.P. The Rev. Dr. Massie read the Report. It stated that the income of the Home Missionary Society during the past year had been 5,667. 18s. 2d. The Society occupies 122 stations in 40 counties of England. The population among whom these labours are sustained has been computed at 460,000. The agents extend their

operations over 326 parishes, and occupy 405 chapels and rooms for preaching, in 389 hamlets, villages, and towns. 47 missionaries and 5 students, constantly engaged and wholly upheld by the Society, and 53 ministers of churches as grantees, aided by its funds in missionary work, serve as central powers in their several localities in the warfare against sin and ignorance. The resources realized in England and Scotland, together with the contributions at the Irish stations, for the Irish Evangelical Society, have amounted to about 2,4501. The funds received for the Colonial Missions during the year amount to 5,1437. 118. 3d., and of this the contributions to the special fund for Australia have been 1,772. 19s. 1d. Besides the money raised to be expended at the stations, the colonists have remitted 300l. for the more extended operations which recent discoveries demand, and other sums are promised for special objects.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The Annual Meeting was held on the 12th ult., in Exeter Hall, the Lord Mayor presiding. The Report stated that the total number of missionaries supported by the Society were 170, of whom 6 had been sent out during the year. Their distribution was as follows:-In Polynesia, 32; in South Africa, 40; in the West Indies, 21; in China, 17; and in India, 60. In addition to these ordained missionaries, there were above 700 native agents, evangelists, Scripture-readers, and schoolmasters employed as auxiliaries at the various stations. There was now at almost every station a Christian church, and it was anticipated that in course of time the care of a great many of the churches might be intrusted to native teachers. The total receipts for the year had been 71,8201., of which, however, only 62,3991. was for ordinary purposes. The aggregate expenditure was 65,992l. This sum included several special disbursements; the nett ordinary expenditure being 62,8131.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-The Annual Meeting of this Society was held on the 6th ult., in Exeter Hall; the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., in the chair. The Annual Report stated, that grants of books and tracts had been made by the Society, for distribution in Foreign lands, including 133,314 to India, and 52,000 to Africa. The issues of the Society's tracts and publications during the year amounted to 25,850,851, being an increase on the previous year of 3,305,104, and making a total issue, since the formation of the Society,