The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-13 00:00:00

instant :

. .
" The Lord Bishop of PETERBOROUGH having
transmitted to his Clergy the King's Letter,
whereby authority is given-to make collections in
aid of the venerable Society fur Propagating
the Gospel in Foreign Parts,' your readers may
be gratified with some explanation of the import-
ance of the charitable works in which the Society
is engaged which
.may excite the piously dis-
posed to a liberal contribution.
'' The Society's address on this occasion will
make known its general designs, its present ob-
jects, and its present wants..
" This. Society was incorporated in the year
1701, and established as well for the purpose of
converting and instructing the Heathen, as foF the
maintenance and advancement of pure Cbistianity'.
among our own people settled abroad.' The'.
views of the Society, in the prosecution of these.,
I.tudable designs, have been hitherto principally
directed ro the Continent and !viands of North
Auttlica. At the time of it original institution,
and long afterwards, our territories in that coun-
try were far the most considerable in extent and
importance among the foreign possessions of the •
Crown. They contained a large population of
unenlightened savages, as well as growing com-
munities of settlers, who, without the means of
religions instruction and worship, were in danger
of sinking into the vices and ignorance of
Heathenism. To the successful exertions of the
S.wiety, the conversion of the Indian tribes wlijch
profess Christianity, and the moodier of Episco-
pal Churches in dr.! United States, must in a great
• measure he attributed. At the present tnoment,
the evenues of the Sltciety are almost wholly ex-
pended in contributing to the erection of churches
and schools, and providing-a regular supply of
minist;irs, catechists, and chf)olll.laSterSl Wi! h
competent stipends, who are subjected to the con-
Ironl and authot ity of their respective bishops.
Nor is •it too much to assert; that without such
assistance from the Society, many large and po-
pulous disrricts, of those extensive countries would
he altogether dzprived of the light of religion, or
at least of the benefits of a ministry, the admini.-
, stration of Cite sacraments, and regular public
•N ors hi p.
" The extension of nor dominions in the Est
has since opened. to Chri,tian zeal a new scene
at exertion, to which the attention of the coun-
try Ito; for some time ben -anxioustly turned. A
variety of circumstances, however, combined to
-,oggest to t ht Society't he necessity of caution, and
the ex'pedieney of 'waiting for some favourable
,onjecture, which might t nable them to concert
their rnettArtes wiih effect, and begin their ope-

" It 'is only necessary to add, that the expences
having frequently exceeded the income, the So-
ciety has been favoured with the royal permission,
in the years 1711, 1714, 1718, 1741, 1751, 1779,
to make public collections in aid of .its good de-
signs. During the forty years which have elapsed
since- the last appeal, the funds of the Society
have been faithtully expended ; and by means or
its Missionaries many thousand Indians . and Ne-
groes have, been instructed and baptized. in the
true faith of Christ. !'he SoLiety has' upwards
of one hundred Missionaries on. i s list ; and has
in contemplation are establishment, of a Mission
College, in the vicinity of. Calcutta; under the
auspices of thqßishop, for the instruction of its
MisSionaries sent out to India. To the furtherance
of these undertakings the charitable aid of the
county is solicited, which, it is 'trusted, will be
cheerfully and.liberally bestowed. C. P."