The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-05-12 00:00:00

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIVIT.

The annual sermons on behalf of this venerable
miasionary society were preached in three of the Dor-
chester churches last Sunday, by the Rev. J. Bilderbeck,
late missionary in Ceylon, the Rev. C. W. Bingham, of
Bingham. Melcointe, the association secretary, and the
local clergy. At All Saints the collections amounted to
Oa 2.st. at Fontiniton St. Cle.oica's to 1:5
and at Christ church, West Fordington, £.l Ws. 11.
The afternoon insulting was held ilk the Guildhall, Mr.
Robert Williams. of Bridehead, presiding. There were
on the platform The Rev. C. W. Bingham, the Rev. If.
Motile, the Itcv. E. Ludlow, Rev. .1. Bilderbeck (depute.
Ron), Rev. 11. Heiken, Rev. K. F. Evans, "Rev.
Reginald Smith, Rev. W. Osborn, Rev. M. F. Green,
Rev. W. Nantes, Rev. H. F. Jonea, and Mr. B. Shepherd.
There were also present—Mrs. Reginald Smith, Lady
Emily Williams, Mrs. Ludlow, Miss C. Yeatman, Mrs.
Ratites, Miss Harvey and party Mr. K Pearce, Mrs.
Pearce, Miss Campbell, Mr.. kallandine, the Nliacs
Tabor and party, the Misses Miller, )Lra Case, Mr. Steele,
11414 Symonds, ie. .

The meeting was opened with prayer by the Vicar of
Fonlington
The SICCRITART (the Rev. M. F. Evans) read the report,
which stated the sum remitted to the parent society
amounted to £26i 13s. Id., against AWY Pia. 2d., the
difference having arisen from the committee having noth-
ing to enter under the head of " bazaar." Attention was
called to the necessity of increased exertion in Western
Africa, and to following in the footsteps of Livingstone.
A marked feature in the past year was the progress made
In the organisation of native churcher.
The Rev. C. Si'. Btxellisil remarked that the income of
the past year reached over 4,161,01 M, which was XPU,OOO
higher than the highest aspirations of any of the officers,
and very much in excess of any preceding year. With this
great isexession of wealth there was danger lest they should
not be able to find men to fill new openings in the
missionary heist; and danger also lest they should now be
led to relax their efforts on behalf of the society. He also
thought there was danger from the notion held by some
that the Church of England is "pant praying for," and
therefore beyond help; but he urged that they should
rather be the more earnest while tb church was in her
present position. Another danger he thought was rune].
tpunation with other societies. People wanted them to
support " missions," rather than the Church Missionary
Society but lie thought none could work heartily for an
abstraction ; and he strongly objected to this society being
mixed up with- others of different principles. It warn
emphatically a Scriptural,. Protestant, and Evangelical
society, and was very careful to secure missionaries who
were decidedly kvangelical in their opinions. In
Madagascar the London Missionary Society had been
greatly blessed, and some wanted to establish a Bishopric
there, but the Church Mi.sionary Society was averse from
It, and they liad .leterminol to withdraw from the island.
In Western Africa they would co-operate with other
societies, but they greatly objected to amalgamation. In
conclusion he .poke of the need of more candidates for
missionary labour, and mid the society was oiling
undertake the whole education of suitable young men.
The Rev. J. BILDERISICK, !nun Ceylon. then .iddressed
the meeting, and urged that tile results were more than
commensurate with the efforts put forth. People asked
what have you to show for all this ottlay I 4 llt why, the
dog tax last year realised .Z-244,e01); and lately three
hones sold for .er,ollo. So let them not say all when
speaking of k 291,1100 devoted to the salvation f souls In
evidence of the success obtained he referred to Southern
India. In Tinnivelly there were It missionary districts,
and in Travancore 11. The converts in Southern India
werelio,ooo.ingUUtownsand villages ' they had *Well urches
and chapels, 12,000 communicants, and 17.10.1 children in
schools. The missionaries employed were all natives
with the exception of three. People sail—" Ah hut
they are not good Christians" He retorted by saving arc 1
they all good Christians that belong to the churches in
this country I and said if the testa applied in India were
used here their churches would "Thin away like rat's
tails." He lore emphatic testimony to this being- a noble
society and thoroughly Protestant to the backbone—no
compromising with the old gentleman on the Seven Hills,
who if he wanted to shake hauds with thou must climb
up on all fours (as he bail done that morning when
taken to see some ancient earth works) to the
high position held by this society. Ile commended the
society to their dyliipathyt prayers, &nil support The
native preachers were strikingly able ministers of the
New Testauient, commending themselves to every MAWS
conscience.

The Rov. S. Home: of West Compton,e
read xtracts
from journals of catec,hists in Ceylum with which mission
he was formerly associated, showing the character of
their daily work, and the kind of men they are.
The Hee. H. Mouth', Vicar of Forilingtom followed,
and read extracts from letters reechnl front his sons in
China. First. relative to the Hangchow fund for provid-
ing a Bible-woman and caterhista by the Rev. George
Houle. It described a missionary tour, as well as the
ordinary work of the station. Ten years a,u a foreigner
would not hate been allowed to reside in Hang chow at
all. Its alai gave extracts from a letter 1 the Rey.
Arthur Houle, at Sinai*, dated February 19th,
ins conversions, a emitto outlaying stations, and other
matters incidental to the missionary work. The rev.
gentleman went on to show that the Hangchow mission
hail led to &general opening of China to Christian !Marione.
Similar openings were appearing in all parts of the world,
and helookml in the confidence of prayer to an Memos of
missiimariea He spoke till the gaol that had resulted
from a Prayer Union funned at Cambridge University,
and in conclusion urged ad to daily self.denial in the
work oft'hrist
After singing the doxology the Vicar of Furdingtou pro-
nounced the benediction, and the waiting ended.

DoRCHESTER VOCAL ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of menders at the close of the
fourth season was held at Holy Trinity school-rouni, on
Monday evening, the Mayor (Mr. (i. J. G. Gregory) pre.
sidhig, and there ea. a goodly attendance, chiefly of lad
The MAYON, in opening ow proceedings, regretted the
ignence of the Prvsident (Mr. H. B. Miahtle
ton, alio went
on to congratulate the maulers on the 6UCC.1.1, of the
association, and on the public appreciation of the concerts
they had etvet. He trusted prosperity would still attend
them, and that each succeeding
in year the society would be
ore Sourishing than Mitiaat.
The Hon. Secretary Ulz. H. W. HoDucild read the
minutes of the last annual meeting, which We cwarnand.