The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-05-13 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLX SOCIRTY.—Tbe
annual meeting of this society was held • few days since
In Exeter-hall, the Rail of Shaftesbury in the chair.
The report stated that the receipts for t:.e past year had
exceeded those of any preceding year, excluding the
special funds. The amount applicable to the general
purposes of the society was £90,923, being an increase
of £6,668 over the preceding year; while the amount
received for Bibles and Testaments ass £76,760, or
£6,148 less than in the preceding year. The tetel
receipts from the ordinary sottrces of income were
£l67,6B4„exclusive of £1631 for the Chinese /tew Teets-
sent Fund, and £l2B for the special fuad for India.
The issues had been—from the depat at home, 999,957
copies; from del Ots abroad, 595,291, being • total of
1,595,248 copies. The total issues from the commence-
ment of the society amounted to 40,910.474 copies.
The total expenditure amounted to £144,751, being
£20,711 less than the ',receding year. The society was
under engagements to the extent of k 56,931. The
chaiiman briefly expressed his continued interest in the
operations of the society, and announced a donation to
the funds of £5O from Lord Palinereton, who, he stated,
had expressed himself as " moat happy to do any-
thing he could for so admirable an institution." The
announcement was received with greet applause. The
report was unanimously adopted, together with several
resolutions which were submitted to the meeting, ex-
pressive of the urgency of the cause to which the
society is deroted,
CHURCH hinseltoNear Somwrr. —On Tuesday morn-
ing the annual meeting of this eocriety was held in
Exeter Hall, the Earl of Chichester presiding. The
large hall was crowded, tied on the platform were the
Bishops of London, Ripon, Nora Se..etitt, and Sierra
Leone, Lords Middleton and Calthorpe, and many
metropolitan and provincial clergymen. The Rev,
John Venn read the report, which congratulated the
society upon its improved financial condition. Last
year clmed with a deficit of £6,000. To make up the
deficiency the committee set about reducing their
erpenditure where possible, and making a special
appeal for increased aidi This appeal has been well
responded to, and the HICOTtIe for the past year has
amounted to £136,898; if the special fund contributions
are added to this, the amount would be £1,400,000 ; and
if again, the amount expended directly at missions be
added, the total amount received during the year
would be about £160,000. The committee were heppy
to say that, after doducting the expenditure, there was
a balance remaining on the year of £5,000. Of the
above aniount of £,136,898, considerably more than
£lOO,OOO had been collected at the various churches
and auxiliaries Lancashire, notwithstanding the
present distress, having contributed its full quota.
The nu.nber of missionaries sent out during the past
year has been less than usual, and death had been busy
amongst those emplayed. Arrangements, however,
were in progress by the committee to meet the
deficiency. The report then went at great length into
the present state of the African, Indian and colonial
missions, which on the whole were stated to be in •
satisfactory position. In many of the African states
the missions were now self-supporting, and native
ministers and missionaries were actively at wc rk in the
cause of the society. In India, the disastrous effects
of the late mutiny were aubsiding, and the missionary
work was again going on with satisfactory results. In
New Zeeland the renewal of the policy of the late
Government had had • good effect upon the natives,
and faciliated the efforts of the missionaries. In China
the work of the missionaries had been much interrupted
by the proceedings of the Taepingites. Looking at the
entire operations of the peat year, the cominittee felt
that there was especial cadse for congratulation, and
giving an incentive to still further exertion
on the part of the friends of the society.—On the
motion of the Bishop of Ripon, seconded by Canon
Miller, the report was adopted.
THE PROTEST ANT REFORMATION SOCIRTY. —The
thirty-fifth anniversary meeting in connection with this
society WAS held on Monday, at the Queen's Concert'
rooms. Hanover-square. Lord Calthorpe presided.
The Rev. Mr. Cleineny, the secretary, read the annual
report, which stated that there was more need than
ever for strenuous efforts in defence of the faith, as the
Church of Rome was labouring noiselessly, but ener-
getically, for the extension of her views ; and as show-
ing the progress she was making in that respect, it was
stated that while in the year 1829 there were only 449
chapels in Britain, and 447 priests, there were now
1,019 chapels, and 1,388 prieste ; and that, while in
1829 there were no colleges, no convents, and no
monasteries, there were now 12 colleges, 50 monasteries,
and 162 convents. The total income for the year bad
been £4,386 ss. ld. ; and the expenditnre £4,088 7s. 3d. ;
leaving • balance in hand of £297 17s. 103. On the
motion of the Rev. Mr. Winton, seconded by Mr. '
George Finch, the report was unanimously adopted.
The Bishop of Ripon then moved a resolution, appeal-
ing for the co-operation of the Protestant community
in stemming the progress of Romanism, and stating, as
• proof of the advance of that church, that last year she
had been increased in Britain by 26 chapels, 46 priests,
7 nunneries, and 3 monasteries. The resolution was
seconded by Dr. Coghlan, and the proceedings
shortly afterwards terminated.
WESLEYAN MISSIONARY BOCIETT.—The annual
meeting of this society was held on Monday morning,
in Exeter Hall. Dr. Smith was called to the chair, end
in opening the proceedings said that the more he looked
at the society, both at home and abroad, lie felt they
had to the full the Divine blessing. After some earnest
remarks, he urged that every exertion should be made
to increase their resources, and he SSW no reason why
they should not mine during the preterit year £150,000.
Dr. Floole read the financial statement and general
summary, from which it appeared that the contribu-
tions to the society for the year ending 31st December,
1861, amonnted to £137,280 Os. 7d. The home receipts
were £35,666 19m. 10d., and the foreign receipts £35,666
191. 10.1., being an advance on the receipts of the
previons year. New donations or annuities, amounting
to 0,125, have also been received, but not reported as
income until the 7.. become available. The payments
add general upeMitstre, Winding the coat of the China

Mission for the year, £137,067 16s. 4<l. ; special contri-
butions for the extension of the mission in China,
£2,500; the Mance of 1860, £243 75., made together
£138,811 40. Id., leaving a balance of £1,531 3s. 68.
due to the general tiessurer. Amongst the legacies
were the late T. Farmer, Esq., £l,OOO, free of the legacy
duty; G. B. Chappell, of Manchester, £900; James
Lee, of Mirfield, Yorkshire, £900; and numerous other
lee/idea, varying trout £5OO to £5O. There had been
among the donations one from a Wesleyan lady of
; John Rubinson Kay, Esq., £1,000; Thomas
Farmer. a 700; in memory of the late Richard Ripley,
Esq.' £500; by Mrs. Ripley, for the same purpose, of
4105; anonymous, 1:500, tut The legacies amounted
to £5,720 12s. 101. Time Rev. Mr. James read the
report, detailing the progress Of the various missions
throughout the world. The ieport wu adopted, and
several resolutions, expressing the importance of the
society's operations, were then carried.