The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-19 00:00:00

MALTA PROTESTANT COLLEGE.

-0—
A Public meeting of the friends of this institu-
tion, the object of which was the free education of natives
of the Turkish Empire and the countries contiguous to
10,0001.
the
for
theC°llegei:Oß,D MAwasTohß,eld YelthePreaideterdagntafteof rntheowhattaty
the Mediterranean, °Queened in aid of a special fund of
tee
twoxtisconau, ALARtima.house. The chair woe taken at
Of London Auxiliary, and among those present were the
Fed of Shaftesbury, Lord Stratford de Radcliffe Sir John
fewriance, Mr. Kinnainl, M.Y.„ Mr. R. C. L Bevan, Mr.
Sheffield Netve, the Dean of B:ipon, Mr. J. S. Reynold.,
Dr. Crawford, the Rev. Mr. Thomas, Colonel Walker, he.
Litwin of apoirge, for absence were iiesived from the
Bishop of Ripon, Mfr. R. Hanbury, M.P., Mr. S. Gurney
M.P., Mr. J. Labouchere, Mr. J. O. Hoare, and Me Hub-
bard. The last-named gentleman mat • cheque for 1001.
From • brief report which was read at the conunenee-
smut of the proceedings, it appears that since the opening
at the institution, the number of free and mew pupils se&
milted was 215, and that the Mather at Peewit on the roll is
54, among whom are pupils frunialeven different mikes,
speaking or understanding fourteen language*. The number
of free students is iet persist only 'seventeen, while, ace
omding to the original plea of the committee, it ought to
be at heat 100, is order to meet the demand for teachers
for 100,000,000 people. The principal objects of the
fund are the liquidation of • debt of 2,8801., and are.
largement of the building for the adnihaion of an blamed
;'umber of free oriental missionary students.
The LORD MAYOR in opening the promedialla said the
Aneetant CollziMalta was a meat experiment, but in
=Volt term noe noon that ne ame=isitl
ticaL in the midst of a, mit
*Melina" they had theueeleirs p 05144210168 ehibb:weri'er
the greatest value to the Britah empire, and they ems un-
doubtedly bond to furnish to every member of that
the Rower of at imatinvenimiting the truth of their'
religion. It niightle raid, why lgotesiabliek such an ..
tios in England, where it might bathe °Wend medal csreand
watchfulnem I They required native teachers, and it would
be unfair and very expensive to bring here those who ware •
best qualified for such an office. No European could be so
well acquainted with the Eastern and literature
as the natives themselves who were
spoken sad that literaturestudielT neither • '
foreigner °Main the same access to the hearts
and minds of the natives as these who were
born on the same sod and brought up in the
awe prejudices. Both in situation and in climate Maths
ems y adapted to be the site of such an institution,
and he looked to the college as a means of preparing the
sons of Africa and of the East to be the pioneers of truth
in their own lands. It had been well said that • black
bishop would be the triumph of tropical Christianity. A
Protestant College at Malta was • step in the right direc-
tionaud he was sure the result of that dos 'e explanation
would not disappoint the friends of truth. Cheers.)
Lord STRATFORD DE MEDCLITYT moved t e first resolu-
tion, That 'the principles of religions liberty em-
bodied in the batti hwnayoun, obtained from the Sultan at
the close of the Crimean war, encourage the hope that the
interest" of civilisation, in the spirit of Christianity, may
be largely advanced in the Turkish empire and its dere-
deacite ; that the existing openings for the diffusion of
knowledge among the populations of Turkey and other
countries around the Mediterranean, constitute an urgent
call for vigorous and energetic action in aid of their religious
and social improvement—a call already obeyed by other
European natioas • and that the Malta Protestant College is
admirably adaped for the accomplishment of these desir-
able ends." he noble lord, after expressing his cordial
concurrence in the object of the meeting—au object, he re-
marked, which, if fully carried out, would do honour to
this country and be of immense advantap to eastern
nations--primeeded to say that it was impossible not to per-
ceive the connexion between the interest, of this great
csontry, with its great and noble pursuits, and the interests
of that part of the world for whose benefit the institution
was more particularly designed. The Turkish empire, after
having filled the world with the glory of its arms and the
fear of its further extension, so as to spread • very
inferior civilisation over the western and northern countries
of Europe, to the great disadvantage, and perhaps even the
destruction, of their religion, had, in consequence of its
vicious administration and its false system of religion,
fallen into a state of weeklies and decay which demanded
their sympathy, sod as far snit amid be rendered required
their assistance. There was a wish for amendment on the
pert both ot the goverment and of the people ; there was
a hungering and a thirsting ou the part of many for a
brighter and purer form of religion • even the Turk himself.
witli all his fanaticism and all hh: religious bigotry, had
to open his eyes to the superiority of Christianity;
and by applying their efforts to the affording him the means
of satisfying his wishes and supplying his wants. they might
obtain the great satisfaction of Laving contributed to the
accomplishment of the highest and noblest objects of
humanity. (Cheers.) Malta, where the college whose
claims he was advocating was established, not only
possessed the advantage of position in relation to
surrounding countries, but was also on the highway to
India, that country with which they had so many ties of
interest, to which all their dearest and warmest sympathies
had lately been directed, and he would add, where the
glory of having rescued their countrymen from the peril to
which they were all exposed was largely shared by one
whom they had the plasm's, of seeing among them on that
occerion. (Cheers.) The institution had had great diffi-
culties to contend with, but, notwithstanding these, it had
manifested • power and produced an effect which more
than justified the hopes of those who took part in its forma-
tion. They were nut without competitors in the Turkish
field. Other countries had, perhaps, shown • deeper
sense than they had done of the importance
of the interests which were at stake in the
East. Russia had, as they all knew, long exerted herself
there for the purpose of establishing churches and schools,
and spreading the knowledge soil practice of her imperfect
form of Christianity. Among those who formed part of
the original peewee* of the country, the Armenian catho-
lic*, assisted by one of the most powerful nations of Eu-
rope, had exhibited equal activity iu spreading institutions
useful according to their print of view,. and not without
utilityin a general point of view, in venous parts of the
Turkish empire. They had honoured themeelyee by the
exertions which they had made according to their own
views, and had produced a very considerable effect. But
we aught perhaps be allowed to look • little at the motives
which in part stimulated their efforts. We should
not expose ourselves to say special blame if, looking
back at the history and the circumstances of later periods,
we said that policy entered largely into the object of their
exertions ; that they probably fewest, a time when the
weakness of the Turkish empire would have reached such
• point that they might increase their power andeetaud their
dominions at the expense of that decaying- empire ; and it
was not uncharitable to 'yippave that their statesmen were
not blind to the effect which their exertions, bearing ex-
ternally ,the most philanthropic aspect, were cal-
culated to produce in favour of the interests
which they represented in future tines. But this
country, he believed, looked for nothing of that kind. It
looked forward to no conquests but those of humanity—
(cheers)—its only object, so far as he knew anything about
the matter, was to improve the administration of Turkey
for the benefit of those, whether Christians or Mahomadans„
who were under the Turkish sceptre, end to extend that
superior civilisation which prevailed in this part of the
world. (Cheers.) If we had any interest of our own, it,
was simply the legitimate interest of commerce, which, in
promoting the prosperity ef each individual nation,
=rowed the property of all iu • link of common depen-
dence. (Cheers.)
The resolution was seconded by the Dean of RIPON, and
adopted.
On the motion of Mr. R. C. L. BEVAN, seconded by Sir
JOON LAWRENCE, the following resolution was ala, passed :
—" That this meeting recognises the responsibility devolv-
ing on the City of London, as the great centre of commercial
intercourse with the whole wield, to become also the
pioneer of Christian civilisation. That convinced of the im-
I Portenee of placing the Malta Protestant Coll on •
broader foundation, enabling it more efficiently and worthily
' to represent in the eyes of the Asiatic and African nations
the religion, the learning, and the wealth of the British
empire, this meeting modally approves of the proposal
to raise a special filed of 10,0001., in order to increase the
number of free Oriental students."

Oa the on of the Earl of SHAPTIIMIORT, seconded by
Colossal vrALKEK, thanks were voted to the Lord Mayor,
and the meeting then separated.
Among the donations announced were the following
Mr. It. C. L. Bevan, 11/01. ; Mr. It. N. Fowler, 501. ; the
Earl of Hurrowby, 251. ; Mr. J. Laboochere, 25/. ; Mr. S.
Hanson, 201. ; Mr. W. N. Aleock and Mrs. Alcuek, 201.

Tim BALLOT BomwTT.—Tlie usual weekly meet-
ing of the executive committee was held on Tuesday, at
the offices, 5, Guildhall-chambers, KC., Mr. M. E. Marsden
in the chair; Mr. Nodes, Mr. B. Harrison, Mr. Brown
(Farleigh), Mr. Whitelmrst, Mr. Bontems, Mr. Le Maitre,
Mr. Fa, and Mr. Clowee, were present. Mr. Sims, the
financial secretary for Lancashire and Yorkshire, having re-
ceived another appointment, Mr. H. King, of 12, Market-
street, Manchester, is appointed in Mr. Sims's room. Mr.
Aims is appointed financial secretary fur the western counties;
Mr. S. J. Shrubb, of Birmii:gbam, is appointed financial
secretary for the midland counties. Mr. Samuel Cook, of
D•idley the Rev. Janice Richards, of Stourbridge, and Mr.
Edward Kyilueraly, Brixton, seem elected members of the
council. Proceedings were directed to be taken in re-
ference to the election for Berkshire, and the nature of
the parliamentary action to be taLon by the society during
the remainder of the session was cnnsidered. The greater
part of the sitting was devoted to the amusements for the
conference of miniiters of religion which is fixed to take
place at Whittington Club, Arundel-street, Strand, on
Monday next, Zird inst., at 3 p.m. Lord Teynhain, the
Rev. W. Griffith, Derby ; the Rev. dames Webb, lye.
wich ; the Rev. Marl: Wilke, Ric.ingstoke ; the Rev. F. E.
Stallybrass, and other ministers and gentlemen, have aigni-
fied their intention of being present