The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-05-27 00:00:00

Xocal an !istrict -gays.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On Tuesday evening a meeting was held in
the Corn Exchange, under the auspices of the
Stourbridge Association, in connection with the
Church Missionary Society. Among those pre-
sent were the Revs. T. Williams, H. Sherrard,
W. J. J. Welch, J. S. floldero, T. 'r. Smith j
Thruxton, Hereford), who attended as a depu-
t.)tion from the Parent Society, Mr. W. Roberts,
Mr. A. Freer, &e.,
Mr. Roberts was called to the chair, and said
:hey were there under the auspices of the
Lurch Missionary Society for mutual enaour-
',gement, and to aid in the spread of the scrip-
tures amongst the heathen. They would also
hear a very instructive ii port of the progress of
the work during the past 12 months. They
would know what had been done in other fields
of labour for the spread of the gospel. The
progress made during the past year was very
encouraging, not only through the efforts of
friends connected with the Stotirbridge Mission-
ary Association, and the help that had been ren-
dered by the young people who had spent their
time in collecting sums of money to aid in
, spreading the gospel. It was said that in France
they had not forgotten their arts and sciences,
but he thought more interest ought to be taken
,in religion than in arts and sciences. It was a
j very important work, which ought to engage the
jattention of all present._
.He then called on

The Rev. W.reJ. J. Welch to read the report
for the past year, which stated that during the
past 12 months the sum sent to the parent se- :
eiety was £2 less than the previous year. In
1M59 it was £ll2 10s 10d, and in 1870 1110 3s
7d. He said there was a vast amount of work !
to be done, and thousands had been turned by
means of the Church Missionary Society from
darkness, superstition, and idolatry to the know-
ledge of Christ.
Ihe Rev. T. Williams next addressed the
meeting, and said it was 20 years since he first
appeared in that room to address a full assembly.
He did not see many present who were there
then. Some had departed and gone to another
world, and others had removed to distant parts.
'Die objects of the Church Missionary Society
were well worthy of their support. Its promo-
ters were most earnest and conscientious men,
who were exceedingly anxious to send the gos-
pel to the heathen. They knew that the sins-
sionaries abroad had Many hardships, privations,
and persecutions to endure, but they still persist
in their work, feeling assured they were work-
ing in their Great Master's cause, for which
there would be a glorious victory. They were
exposed to a great many personal dangers, and
also to mental depressions from the discouraging
aspect of the work in which they were engaged
amongst the heathen, such as 110 one could
scarcely form an opinion of if they had not
been abroird, The missionaries were often
puzzled as to how they were to preach the gos-
pel to the many thousands and millions which
were in many instances around them. ibis was
especially the case in China and India. In both
these countries there Was still a great amount of
work to be done. Many had been the disoour-
agements which the missionaries had met with,
especially in India. They had exercised great
self-denial in their work. In Sierra Leone the
work had been going on for a long time, in fact
for more than 50 years, and it was now progres-
-ing very much. Indeed the native Christians
were raising funds to send the gospel to other
parts of their country. There were in that
place 12,000 native Christians, and between
5,000 and 6,000 communicants. They supported
a bishop entirely by funds raised amongst them-
elves besides a large number of native pastors.
There were at the present time 184 native pas-
tors in connection with the Church Missonary
Society, most of whom were formerly idolaters,
and Who are now not only Christians, but min-
isters of Christ's Church. In Asia the work was
going on very satisfactorily, especially in India,
where there were a large number of native pas-
tors engaged in teaching their fellow-creatures
the knowledge of Christ. Where a church Lad
been organised and well-established by Euro-
peans, a native pastor Was appointed and left in
their care, whilst the Europeans sought to ex-
tend the gospel amongst those who had never
heard of it. He consided the native pastors far
more capable of doing the work amongst native
Christians than Europeon missionaries. In
South India there were 55,000 native Christians
professing the knowledge of Christ. 40,000 had
been baptised and admitted into the church, and
0,500 of them were communicants. This large
number of Christians were all within the diocese
of one bishop. But it was a very small number
as compared with the population surrounding
them. He thought such a state of things was
very satisfactory, as many clergymen in their
own country nould rejoice to have one-fourth
part of their congregation as communicants. In
Bengal there were a large Lumber of native
Christians, being nearly one-fourth of them
communicants. It was surprising to find when
the natives embraced Christianity how they rose
is the social standard of their fellow Christians.
After a few snore remarks, the rev, gentleman
resumed his seat.

The Rev. T. T. Smith, of Thruxton, Here-
ford, the deputation front the parent society,
next addressed the meeting. lie related several
incidents which had come within his own obser-
vation whilst a missionary in Hupert's Land,
North America. Sonic of which referred to the
utanuer the natives received the missionaries,
and the difficulties attending the taaelfing of
the liuspel

After a few appropriate remarks from the Rtv.
H. Sherrard, the meeting terminated.

CHESS MAICH.

A return match was played at Stourbridge, on
Saturday, betwaeu the Stourbridge Church of
cMgiand Association and the Kidderreinster
....hurch of England Mutual Improvement bo
ciety, when victory was won by the latter.
The following is the score :
Stourbridge.—Rev. D. Robertson, 1; Rev. L.
York, 1 ;A. Freer, 2; S. Moore, 3; R. Padden,
; J. Thebridge, 1; W. Nettleship, 0; W. Gatch-
held, 1; 11. Payne. 1; G. Holloway, 0; total 10.
liiiiiierminster.—Rev. A. Seymour,l ; F. Green,
2; Evans, i 2 drawn) ; Rev. Fortescue, 0; A.
Penney, 3; Mountford, 2; Hardimau, 3;
J. Howard, 2; J. Green, 2; J. Silk, 3; total
18.

THE NEW BANK ACT.—It Will be seen On re•
ferring to our advertising columns that the new
Murk act just passed, has created four new holi-
days, viz., Easter Monday, Whit-Monday, the
first week day in August, and the 26th of De-
cember. The first holiday will be on Monday
next.
REMOVING NIGHT SolL.—Joseph Whitmore
was summoned by Inspector Dorricutt, under ti e
11th Eye Law of the titoUrbridge Improvement
Act, for removing night soil on the 22rd just,
‘fter the hour of 8 o'clock. Mr. King, the clerk,
said no person could remove night-soil before
the hour of 10 at night or after 11 in the morn-
ing. Defendant pleaded ignorance of the law,
,tud as the case was not pressed, he was ordere.l
to pay 12s 6d costs.

31ACHINERY ACCIDENT.—On Thursday after-
noon, about half-past four, a man named Thomas
Rowley, an iron founder, was engaged with a
youth at Mr. Henry Robinson's iron works, put-
ting a leather band upon a driving wheel, which
was worked by a shaft connected with a conden-
sing engine. As soon as he had placed the band
over the wheel it began to work—the steam be-
ing slightly on—and by some means at present
unknown the arm of the wheel caught in his
,uouth. The youth at once made an alarm, and
a number of men went to his assistance and res.
cued him. A surgeon was cent for, and on his
arrival he bandaged the wounds, and the unfor-
tunate rudn was removed to the Queen's Hospi-
tal, where it was found that his right jaw had
nearly been pulled off, his tongue tron out, and
his tnroat and right Fide of his head frightfully
lacerated. He now lies in a precarious condi-
tion.

PATENT. --Mr. fletlry If. Cochrane, of The
linthge, has patented an improvement in appa-
ratus for working switches and signals on rail-
ways.

itartwax Excuusiorm.—lt will be seen in our
advertising columns that excursions will run to
Worcester, Maleern, Chester, Birkenhead, and
Liverpool; and most of the attractive places
through North Wales. There will also be an
excursion to Birmingham Fair, on Thursday
next.

VAT: XHALL. —Those grounds, which have been
re-laid, are now very attractive A choice selec-
tion of statuary is erected round the green, and