The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-13 00:00:00

CLERKENIVELL CHURCH MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

Yesterday evening the Committee And friends of the above ex-
cellent Institution held their tenth annirmary, In the Committee.
room of St. James's workhouse, the rev. :111'. SEEPEARD, A.M.
in the Chair.

A great number of clergymen and gentlemen were present, hut
the treater portion of the assembly consisted of respectable female!.
The Rev. Cflatttstait commenced the business of the evening by'
observing, that the Initithtion they had met to further had encoun.
tered opposition in some countries, owing to political cenvulaione,
but notwithstanding this discouraging circumstence, upon the whole
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Indies and South Africa. the region to which the Church Min.
sionery Society principally dirtaed their labours. There were
many instances where those who worshipped idols had been con-
vetted to the faith of Christianity, and become promulgators of
that faith to their fella w-creatures. These instances of success should
not, however, cause us to relax in our exertions, for" the harvest
was truly great, but the labourers were few." Numbers of minion.
aries were still wanting, and it was for Mash benevolence to send
them forth to those regions, the inhabitants of which " sat in dark.
ness and in the shadow of death." The Rev. Gentleman concluded
an able address by invoking the Divine blessing on the parent SD.
defy, of which this was one of many auxiliaries.
The Rev. Mr. SMART, the Secretary, read the Report, by *Melt
it appeared 'bat the sum of Y. 1.71. 2.a. 21/41. had been contributed this
year, 1171. of which Were contributed by the Ladies' Committee
( Applause), making a general increase this year of 851. Os. Od.
arid since the formation of the fiiociety, the funds of the parent In-
stitution had received from this branch the sum of 1,6621. 2s. 2d.
(Apilsuse.)
Rev. R. filiswt, the Curate of the parish of Clerkenwell, rose
to propose the that resolution. He congratulated the Committee
on the numerous and respectable friends who had assembled on
the present occasion. After making some observations on the for-
mation of a similar Society at Louth (the scene of his former
labours) and the success which attended it, the Reverend
Speaker Inneneed that in this populous parish there was not
a rocm sufficiently capaious, either for purposesrike theprennt.
or even for the education of the children of the 0T ; he hoped.
however, that the day was not far distant, when a proper building
would be erected for both purposes, so that every benevoleet friend
to missions and to education might find an easy admission. The
Rev. Gentleman then took a view of the importance of missionary
exertions, and observed that if we wanted to consume a building
by fire, we should apply the devouring element at every angle. So
then, should Christians act—they should go about with a torch is
their hands—the torch of Christen lore—and endeavour to annibi.
late the temples of ignorance and superstition. It was the dying
command of the'Saviour of Mankind, " Go forth into all the world,-
and preach the Gospel to every creature." This command was
given near two thousand years ago, and yet two thin)* or.tnc
habitants of the earth had never heard the sound of his name.
This consideration ought to have its influence on the mind of every
Christian. The speaker, in conclusion, rationed the youth that
were present to reflect on the honour of going forth es missionaries,
and implored them to say, " here I en, send me." They might
ablr, why do you not go yourself? His reply was, he had offered
himself, and was now willing to go bud proclaim to the heathen,
" Behold the Lamb of God, which hiked) away the sins of the
world." (Applause.) He then proposed that ' the Report be
received and printed urdet the direction of tbe,Committee."
The Rev. EDWARD BICKERSTATIN Secretary to the Parent
Society, seconded the motion, and was glad to see that the room
was too small for the company. This populous parish contained
near 50.080; yet, crowded as the room wan, how small a portion
was present ? He then stated that the Church slissionery Socipty
was in a flourishing condition, the funds having tectired an in.
crease of 60001. during the last year ( Applause), and a gentleman
who lives in Wales had recently contributed 5004 to the Society's
fund, ; and a lady in the North of England hid made, first her
501. donation, 5001. and at 'env)) 10001. (Loud applause.) It was
not the rich only to whom much was given, but the humble poor
contributed of their little, which united together made no incon-
siderable accession to their funds. (Applause.) When the So.
ciety was forme), several years elapsed before they could procure
any English Missionaries, Germans only being engaged in the
work, but recently upwards of sixty had offered themselves. (Ap.
plane.) He congratulated the Meeting that another Bishop
(Salisbury) had joined their Society, which made the number six,
and the Bishop of London rendered great assistance in furthering
the objects of the Society. This was the 25th year of the Society,
in the 13th of which they had only two preachers, and not a single
convert, hut at present the former had increased a hundred fold,
and the fatter had become thousands who had embraced Christi-
anity. In reference to the state of the Society in India the Rev.
Secretary stated that the venerable Bishop of Calcutta had
preached to those converted to Christianity, and confirmed them
accordingly to the ritual of the Church of England. (Applause.)
In conclusion the Rev. Speaker observed that many persons con-
sidered that the pursuits the Society had in view were poor and
mean. He (Mr. B.) would say, mean's the man who thinks it
mean. (Ilear, hear.)
Professor Lenart, of Cambridge, moved the next resolution, and
observed upon what had fallen relative to persons who offered them-
selves as missionaries. These who go to teach others should ha
men of confirmed habits, of Irreproachable chgracter, and acute
knowledge ; the latter requisite he considered as essential as the
former, for he would have to combat with sophisticated " wise
men of the East." After adverting to the favourable impression thrice Mr. Martyn had snide in Persia, and taken a glance at the
difficulty of learning the dialects in oriental countries, he conclude.:
by exhorting the assembly to continue stedfast and immovable in
the work in which they were engaged. The Rev. Professor sat
down amid loud plaudits.
SAMUEL Bit-aenstraw, Eget. addressed the Meeting in an el t.
Tient and energetic speech, which was loudly applauded.
The Rev. J. LATHAM (a Missionary about to go to India), the
Rev. Mr. Evarrsoie, and several other gentlemen, addressed the
Meeting, at the breaking up of which a liberal collection was
made in behalf of the funds of the Society.
Sexelittles Or NATURAL. HiSTORT.—it is perhaps
not so generally known as the interests of science demand.
that " specimens illustrative of natural history" are, by a
late Act of Parliament, admitted to entry &rig free. Thus,
insects, shells, corals, stuffed birds, &c. whether importei
.for sale or as presents, are no longer chargeable with any
duty.
Natortaa.Ltrx or Tatars --There are various opinions
r speeding the full age or natural life of trees. The few
following instances will show the length of time whiclt
trees have been known to exist :—Mr. Galyne and others
imagine that from 300 to 400 years form the natural life of
the oak tree. An oak was felled in April, 1791, in the park
of Sir John Rushout, Bart. at Northwick, near Blackly, its
IVorcestershire' judged to be about 300 years old. It was
perfectly sound, contained 634 cubical feet of timber in the
trunk, and the arms were estimated at 290 feet more. In
Mr. Gilpin's work on forest scenery there is an account of
oak trees in the new forest, which had marks of existence
before the time of the conquest. The tree in the same forest
against which the arrow of Sir IV alter 'fyrrel glanced, and
killed King William Rufus, remains still a tree, though:
much mutilated. In Mr. Robert Low's View of the Agri-
culture of Nottinghamshire several trees are said to have
been lately felled in Sherwood Forest, which were burl
to have cut in them I. R. or In. R. (Rex.) and some had a
crown over the letters. Mr. M'll'illiarn, in his Essay on
the Dryrot, goes still farther; he says, that many tree,
might be mentioned, in this and other countries, which
bear sufficient testimony of their being far above 1000 years
old ; and he gives reasons for believing, that several•trees
now exist above 3000 years old I