The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-22 00:00:00

BETHEkUNION.

The fifth Anniversary of this very interesting Society, was held
at she City of London Tavern last evening, and we have the
greatestsettisfaction in announcing to our readers, that it was as
ausmorously attended vs its most zealous friends could wish, the
great remit at this house being crowded, we should hare said
Lamm beyond endurance. had not the animating subject which
called the respectable assemblage together, made us forget the
HIGORIVIDIRCR we were suffering from the best and the pressure;
torathether we consider this society in a religious or political point
of view, our unfeigned thanks are due to the promoters end sup.
porters ef an institution, which alike upholds the honour of its
mutiny, and the best interests of Christianity, by teaching those
that were on all occasions ready to fight for the fowler, that Ten-
OM unsullied by bigotry and fanaticism, is the first object that
makes it womb contending for. Lord Gambier was expected to
take the chair at this meeting; but at six o'clock, the hour ap.
eoieted for the commencement of business, Captain Allen, of the
Navy. reed a letter from the gallant Admiral, expressing his regret
that illecee prevented him from presiding at the fifth anniversary.
On the Motion of Captain Allen, Alderman Key was requested
to teke the chair.
On the announcement of the worthy Alderman's name, general
teepee:wipe was expressed, and on his taking the chair a hymn
was sung, after which the Rev. G. C. Smith, of Penzance, pro-
m:awed a prayeh to the meeting.
At the cot/demo of the Prayer, the Secretary was requested to
read the Report, which was of great length, and therefore we ran
-inly give a mere outline of it. It stated that the lint public elliirt
of this names in London was made twelve year' since, when bills
were circulated then:orb the tiers of shipping on the Thames, and
a sern-un was preached to sailors at 1/r. II ippon'e chapel. The in-
vitation was prt mptly obeyed, and mithituda have since testified
to the presence of the Lord upon that occasion. About seven
?ears since a spirit of grace and supplication wee grachously prured
out upon a few seamen, who met for prayer and singing la the
Lower Prol of the Thames, under a flag of their own invention,
distinguished by the word " Bethel " At that period the most
spirits:it exertiura were made by the friends of maritime piety, to
promote religious mectines for peeyer on the Thames, and the
public preaching of the Gospel on the tiec'es of ships. This was
the gain et the Bethel Unten Society, and of every other institu-
tSon fer resebinst to sailors throughout the world. GAd bee ho-
noured this institution as the parent of every Seamen'. Friend
:Society, and given to it a distinguished priority in marine eheful-
nese, Wet no power on earth can contradict or overthrow. What
IS begun in in prayer will end in praise, and the British and Fo.
reign Seamen's Friend Society and Bethel Union have, at their
legit Anniventary to rejoice most sincerely that from their insti-
halm the word of to petithing seamen is gone forth to the ends
of the meth, The Parent Society have continued, at their Com-
castes tneetlngs, to receive the most gratifying communications,
and, while they have had many heavy trials to exercise their faith,
they have also been favoured with many special favours from the
Lard, as the token of his -love and mercy to British and foreign
:smitten. God bee blessed their agents in the Upper Pool of the
Thames with great success. Meetings have barn held, in 163
ships, among 4.617 seamen. A new seaman's chapel, in connection
with this Society, on a very extensive plan, called the New Marine
Entahlithtnere, under the direction of a Provisional Committee,
Pas been announced during the past year. The Sailor's filageziee
has always proved of the utmost importance to the institution. It
has tot only originated, but maintaion alive, a spirit of zeal and
love to the Fouls of sailors in all British sad Foreign Seamen's
Friend Societies that are daily bringing glory to God and sahisiion
to man. The Report went on to state, that the Committee had
reserved the most satisfactory assunmees of support from the follow-
ieg places and societies, as the strongest proofs of its usefulness:—
The 'North-east London Auxiliary, the Camberwell Auxiliary', the
Greer midi Auxiliary, the Woolwich Auxiliary, Portsmouth Be-
thel Union, the Plyninuth Society; Southampton, Harwich, New-
castle-upon-Tyne, Whitby, Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Clifton Het-
walla, South Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Manchester, Birmingham,
Bradford, Derby. the Naval and Military Bible Society, the MCl-
dant Seamen's Bible Society, the Port of London Society, the.
Smooths Hospital Society, the Shipwrecked Sailor's Society, the
British Navy, Chimney and Jersey, the United States, South
America, the Pacific Ocean, Nes South Wales, l'itcairn's Island,
the Chinese Seas Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, Cape of Good
Hope; the Azores, the Mediterranean, Malta, the Archipelago,
Alexandria, Messina and Leghorn, Hamburgh, Heligoland, Cron-
seek, Memel, and Antwerp.
The Treasurer was then desired to read the accounts, the result
of wbich was, that a belance of 171. 16a. was due from the Society
to him.
Rev. Wit. Gti eNE Y, Rector of it Clements Danes, moved die
hest Resolution, and observed that the present was one of these in-
terestiog serhone where a man scarcely knew where to begin, and
team, be feared, would scarcely know where to end ; but he would
he as concha as possible. Thus much, however, he mutt say, that
if era there was a cause that demanded the attention of every in-
dividual, the present was that cause, for it was designed to pro_
mete the glory of God and the good of the human race. It was the
ir.ost desirable thing on this side of eternity, after promoting the
salvation of our own fuel, to promote that of others. The Rev.
Gentleman concluded by moving,
" That the Retrospect now read be cordially approved and
extensively circulated, under die direction of the Committee, gra-
ceitotislv to subscribers, and by sale at the publishers."
The Rev. Mr. Unix, formerly an officer In the navy, but now
going out as Church Missionary to Sierra Leone, seconded this
raolutien.
The Rev. RICHARD MARKS, formerly in the navy, 'tweed the
second Resolution, in doing which he alluded to the late gales, and
stated that a shipwreck must be an awful scene to a man endued
with grace; but what must it be to a wan living without God in the
world ? He remembered two shipwrecks, and there were no
persona on board the creek who had the means of grace. He was
sure that he had none at the time, and how thankful he ought to
be that he hid now attained them. He then moved,
" That this Meeting Is fully eennible of the vast importance of
hie:eased exertions to promote the salvation of sailors; and that
this conviction is strengthened by sympathy for the numerous
seiperreelis in the late gibes, by the deplorable state of uneillight-
earl tr mess who are now periebiog its cast numbers annually,
andlii the evidence of that sleepless activity which distinguished
i
the iduct of all who live by the plunder and ruin of sailors."
Major. General OILDR, in seconding the second Resolution re-
r.areed, that lie met sorry the task had not fallen into abler halide;
but if zeal were appreciated, he felt that he could offer a heart de-
voted to the cause. None had such strong claims as those they
were called upon to assist, as none were so much exposed to the
eevica of Satan. Should this highly-favoured country be again
engaged. in a war, he hoped the dying warriors would be enabled
to my with linfeigned devotion, "Into thy hands, () Lord, I corn-
cr.sod my spiett."
The Rev. Mr. Ktaxrararcit, a Minister in the Wesleyan con-
negion, and formerly in the navy, in which service he lost a hand,
nintaxt the 3d Resolution—
" That this Meeting is inspired with the most unfeigned grati-
tude to God far the post, and firm confidence in his promise and
faithfulness for the future, relative to the salvation of seamen. The
Heade of seamen would therefore humbly thank God, take cou-
rage, and go forward, with renewed vigour, and unshaken depend-
ence upon Divine influence and aill.euifieient grace."
The Rev. Mr. RYLES, of Camberwell, seconded this repo
:ration.
The Rey. Ale. Baowx, one of the ministers of the Society,
moved the fourth resolution, and said, that no object could be of
greeter importance than the one under their consideration. Allusion
had been made to the late gales. He could state the melanclioiy
truth that 204) veseels had been wrecked on our own coasts, and
many of their cies-. hurried into eternity without having even ever
given, thought to the awful subject. Great things had been done
hr this Institution; but greater meet follow. The Rev. Gentle-
men then moyea—
•` That this Meeting is desirous of expressing its mat sinners
thanks to all the zealots and effective :Seamen's Friend Societies
tereughaut Great British:, and to all the M ininers and SI issioneries
*behave encauraged Bethel Institutious, and in particular to our
Giartstian brethren of the United States, for whose successful pro-
Fhem and extensive usefulness, this Public Ameml ly, in the me-
treeoles of Britain, weald express the deepest interest."
Captain BUCHAN, R.N. seconded the 4th Resolution.
• iIkOMAS PHI I. LI P 9, Esq. in moving die cult Resolution, ob-
served, that at Memel there had been a Bethel Union Meeting of
:?CU gasmen, and that-he had seen I oth Danes and Swedes at these
Xectinge, sensibly ethical at the devotion of British seders,
eibacenh they could not understand the language they were pray-
icg to. On one ncresme he had seen even a Jew, from Poland,
deeeily interested at a prayer meeting at Memel. lie could nut
minds relating a circumstance thus shaved the zeal of persons in the
huseay in behalf of this Society. A little girl at Reading, who
LO4 Ii1):A tither, mother, brother sister, uncle, and he believed sea
aunt, during the let year, had collected .21. 64. 2d. He then
ironed--
"That this Meeting has heard, with joy and thankfulnees, the
zeal of 31crcLante, Ship-owners, and Captains, who have hoisted
ti., Bethel flag in various parts of die world, and of the liberality
of reload Turns, which have united in contributing to this blessed
waft and labour of love to Seamen's souls. Connected with those
i=ns, the Meeting iliaires to express real gratitude to die
r Clergyman and Ministers who have preached at this An-
eutegsaryeand it is resolved, that the following arrangement be the
rinebittheel mice of the histitution for the ensuing, year."
Cseptein lin P. iii, R.N. seconded the fob Resolution.
The Rte... flecomie Sat tin, of Penzance, moved a vale of
*Leeks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Captain As.-
Lip, R.N.
the LINIAMIIIAN, in a very neat short speech, returned thanks ;
after is Oh (about ten o'clock) the Meeting broke up.

CAPITAL PII N ISM PI 11117.--TWO blind red and three intli-
viduah have been executed within the City of Lonion and
County of Middlesex, from the comrnencotnent of 1816 to
Oa ;hoe 0 the year Int