The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

THE PROPAG ATOM OF THE GOSPEL IN
FOREIGN PARTS.

The annual meetings on behalf of this venerable
society took place at the Townle•II on Wednesday. the
29th ult. At the afternoon meeting. whieh was under
tee presidency of the Yen. Archdeacon Sanctuary, the
atteridonoe was meagre, doubtless owing, in some
measure, to its being unperfectly adver lied. On the
htform, in addition to the ebeirmsin, were the
Bishops of Ontario and Brisbane, Canon (heaves, and
the Rev. B. L Watson (Hon. Secreary of the L)arches,
ter Aesociation), and the general Audience incluued : C.
Skinner, Esq., and Mrs. Skinner, Colonel Andrews,
Major Heathcote Smith sod Mrs. Smith, the Rev.
Prebendary Hooke, the Rev. H. B. Williams, the Rev.
M. J. Green and Mrs. Gram, the Rev. R. Pinckney and
Mrs. Pinckney, the Rev. W. Barnes, the Rev. W.
Barnes, juar., the Rev. H. C. Huitahle, the Rey. C.
T. Procter, the Rev. W. H. Gortoe, the Sae. F. A.
Baker, the Rev. T. R. Masks* and Miss Maskew, the
Rev. R. 0. Watson and Mrs. Watson, the Rev. F.
Fisher. the Rev. V. D. Vyvvan, II es Arles, Mies
Coombe, Miss Stone, the Rev. .1. Thompson, Mrs. and
Him &news, H. Lock, Esq., Ice
Prayers were read by the Rey. B. L Watson.
The Citateute said that in addrewing the small
number aseweibled, and those either clergyint n or
persons otherwise closely connected with the work of
the ehuri hi it was quite unnecesaary to spetk concern-
ing the leading principle which had been the means of
gathering them together, vie, love to God for Isis great
mercy to them, in sending His Son Into the world for
their redemption and seleation, and gratitude to Him
which coo 'helped them to devote themselves to His
work in the world. But he thought it would be weU
for then on that maadon, when osinsidering the vo-
tress of that work which the Son of God, oe returning
to Heaven, had given His Church on earth to do till His
second coming, to examine whether God by the signs of
His providence nod the npportunities He bad given
them as Englishmen and members of the Church of
England did not make special claims upon them to
carry on His work. First : People were continually
going forth from this country into all the world in coo-
nection with comments, the army, or navy, or as
settler,, and surely God bad • purpmes in thus enabling
or compelling Great Britain to rend forth her sone and
daughter. into other land., and he believed it to be •
, clear indication that He intended this to be • great
I ini-sionary people—that not only should they wad
forth ordained clergy and bishops, and money to PT-
gate the gospel, but that those who go from our fami ies
should, in distant lands, in their own proper places,
IWar witness Mort they some from • Christian country,
and one bleased by God with all the highest privileges
,of His Chnrch. Secondly : it has pleased God to give to
this little diked a vast number of dependencies,
vie. colonies in North America. South Afride, Anstaalls,
India, /Lc., and the gift of dominion was bestowed
for • purpose which was revealed. —" That the kingdom
may he preached for a witness to all nations be! ore I
now.." The Bishop of North Caiolina had recently
told them that if this country had done her dal to
Ainetica when It was • British colony, there would base
been a much better feeling existing between the two
countries than there is now. Lot them then see to it
that they so acted towards their prestot ooloales, that
when some of them came to separate from England ri
kindly regard would remain. Thirdly: Why should I
God bestow upon them such a living, pure, apostolic
branch of his church? why blessed them with haring
the Gospel preached in its parity? why given to them
an unquestionably apostolic order? why permitted them
to have planted in this land • Church, which we,
peawfully and ordeily doing its work? why had they
opportunities of Chulal in education ? wby was the
Church very strongly seated in the hearts of the people of
tliiscoontry All these great gifts were clearly manifesta-
tions that God called on there to take an important and
active pert in the work Christ had left them to do in
te firing eritnees of His [tome to all nations. Lastly:
With regard to th e agency they.. • Ch n rch should employ.
Ito that occasion they were wsembled, concerning one
apeciel institution which Churchmen at home had the
opportunity and privilege of employing individually, so
that they might do their share in the work required of
them—the Society for the Propagation of the gospel in
foreign parts. ane. he had no hesitation in saying ti at
lie felt satisfied for many reasons it was the very best
inetrument the Clair. h and they as its members could
wake use of for the exercise at those opportunities and
powers which God gave them, sod for the distribution
of their alms. He enlarged upon the constitution and
polity of the society, and concluded by referring to the
po.itioo of rolonial cburchet. If they believed Our
Lord's promise that be would be with him Church to the
~nd of the world, they need not fear for the future of
churches in other lands that had lost what was eappmed
to be their only support. He believed it was absolutely
necewary for the life of the Church throughout the
world thet they should all realise what their standing-
ground was—what it was they had to fight for—and
what it was that should really unite them to other
churches.

The Rev. B. L Wertoli presented the annual state-
ment conovning the Association. During the p.si year
the contributions from the town of Derebester
amounted to £92 13.. Ild, made up as follow.: All
Sainte' parish, £4B 13.. 44. (en increaae ovei the pre.
vines y.ar of £l6 14e. Id.), whieh included £lO 7s. 6.1.
realised by ths sale of needlework done by ladies and at
o Bade claw.; St Peters', £l5 7s. 44.—an increase of
rt 15e. 44.; Holy Trinity, £lO IL—dveresse, £2 os. 1.1.,
but steps had been recently Ultra in this perish which
it was expected would result in a better report next
year. Of the neighbouring parishes, Bradford Peverell
contributed £l5 Came £2 17s. 2.1., Frampton
1:9 0.. 21., Protoe Tauctherth Cl 7.. 64., Oadmenitone
eh 145., Maiden Newton £5 19s. 10.1. llonkton
e 3 le 81. Piddlebinton 14.. Ild., Piddletrenthide
1-2 Yortishem El 165., Puddletown CIO, Stonsford
£4. Tolpudlle £9 12s. 7d., Wititerborne and Steepleton
£lO IN., West Stafford £3 4a.; making a grand total of
ClBl Bs. 64. _

Canon Gauen, from the diocese of Newcastle,
I u.tralia, then addrened the meeting. The missionary
work might be divided Into two great branches—work
amongst the heathen, and wort In Mt own ealohies.
Nearly two-thirds of the population of the world were
1.011 heathen, and they could not be fsithful servants of
I Christ if they did not endeavour to bring them to •
knowledge of the gospel ; bat, as the last nine years of
hie life were spent sea missionary in Australia, it would
he better for him to dwell oe that department of
Christian work. Every year large numbers of emigrants
left our shores for Au•tialia, and it must be a matter of
=morn to no that there siould be furnished for them
religious privileges similar to those they enjoyed in
England. But the great body of the adonis= were soar
men, who for years had an mseh u they maid do to
maintain themaelves and their children. Meanwhile,
what was to beoome of their souls! There were churches
.od schools to be built, and clergy to be provided, but
there were no state endowments, the people mast do all
thmn.elves, and they deserved the warmest sympathy
of their mother country. When he went to Australia
in 1857, his parish consisted of 120 square miles. He
described the manner in which he endeavoured to keep
alive in the hearts of the people • knowledge of God's
truth. On Sundays he held a geniee at the church
near his house In the morning; in the afternoon he
rode 13 miles to hold a second service, and in the even-
ing returned to conduct a third service. Every fourth
week be watt a preaching tour, but at some places he was
only able to bold a service ones in two months, and
then it was on a week•day. In that great 'country there
were settlers who unless followed would become heathen,
and their children ware in a manner so even now, for
chose living In secluded spots would run away and bide
themselves at the right of estranger. It devolved upon
the Church to see that this great work was performed.
In the diocese where he laboured a ehureb society was
formed in 1852 with an income of £5OO. It went on
increasing for fourteen years, until now it had •
of £1000; and is the course of a few years, if God
should spare the life of their energetic Bishop. who hid
resided 19 yea= among them, the diocese would be self.
supporting. He entreated them not to forget their
fellow e mot. prier, who went to make their homes in
foreign lands. The Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel was a honoured agency of the work of
Chnstioin missions, it was the oldest sneiety for
set .ding the gospel to the heathen and to our own
countrymen in the colonies by one hundred yeers, for it
was established in 1701, it was founded on the broad
Maio of the Church of Eng'anel, and embraced the whole
body of bishops as its administrators, and therefore it
ought to merit the support of every churchmen.
The Bishop of oneAktO said he went out as • mho
"i°n•-"Y I/ Years ego, and during that time he had meet
but three months in England. He was first a travelling
missionary; sieereidly, the rector of an important town
parish; and thirdly, elected bishop of the diocese; and,
from his experience, be felt that Is ought to be to some
extent an authority concerning golonial missions. He
could not help thinking some prejudices existed against
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, or there
would have been a larger me, ling. He reminded them
that it la the only agency in existent= that sends the
doctrines of the Church of England to our fellow country •
men abroad. It was the fir= institution to remove ono
of the greatest stigmas that ever rested on the Church
of England, via., that it was not a miatiooary church,
for Christian and missionary were convertible terms.
Where was the onoe great African church, the seven
churches of Asia. the choreht g of Tertulliao and Cyprlan!
God had removed them from their high place. bemuse
they had failed to reproduce themgelves in other
couetries. The Church of England of the last century
nearly chteerved the sad sarcasm of Lord Maeauley, that
she was as load an institution as the Court of Common
Plea.; hut this society removed the stigma, and owing
to marmot good man • =legionary revival took plat= eod
whereas at the close of the tut century there
was but one colonial diocese, now the British epigoopste
girded the earth, the sun never set upon the missionary
labours of their churches, and from the rising of the
grin to the going down of the seen, God's name was mag-
niled In the Liturgy of the Church of England. Alain,
this satiety was the only messy that bad proved it to
be • Catholic and Apostolic Church abroad. It had
proved the Church could Sourish in every climate,
under every fens of govorsonst, and •••17 aosaeivible