The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.

The Morning Meeting, held yesterday, will be found

reported in our sixth page.
THE EVENING MEETING,
held at the Collegiate Institution last night, was presided
over by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the diocese.
It was most numerously and respectably attended, every
corner of the theatre being crowded.

Amongst the gentlemen present, besides those noticed
at the morning meetings, we observed :—the Revs. A.
Knox, C. J. Hamilton, Blakeney, of Birkenhead, H.

P. Blakeney, Claughton, W. M. Falloon, Wm. Hall, Esq.,
Adam Hodgson, Esq., P. F. Currie, Esq., &c., &e.
His Lordship, on taking the chair, called upon the Rev.
H. Carpenter to offer up prayer.
The BISHOP, in opening the proceedings, before calling
upon the secretary to invite the various gentlemen on the
platform to commence their addresses, wished to testify
his interest in the objects of the society, by expressing
the heartfelt pleasure he experienced in meeting them all
once again in support of the Church Missionary Society,
and in seeing so large and influential an assemblage. Since
they had the pleasure of meeting at the last anniversary,
there had been some very praiseworthy proceedings in
Liverpool, for the purpose of promoting christian know-
ledge at home, among the poor of Liverpool itself.
(Hear, hear.) For instance, there had been a plan formed
to provide a larger number of scripture readers to carry
religious instruction to those who had not yet,
in some cases it might be, the inclination, and in
others, probably, who had not the opportunity of seek-
ing it for themselves within the walls of the church
(Hear, hear.) Again, there had been a new Effort made
hero to produce a larger amount of subscriptions for the
employment of additional curates in the populous districts
in the town, and to affo;d a more effeetive pastoral super-
' intendence to the inhabitants within those districts.
(Hear.) Having briefly referred in prop" of the Home
Mission, which is being carried on here ; to the recent
laying of the foundation stone of a new church at Everton ;
' and to the proposed erection of schools in connection with
St. Augustine's Church, the first stone of which he as-
sists in laying to-day (Tuesday), his Lordship said he
rejoiced in these operations, and he rejoiced also to see
that they did not. interfere with their zeal and exertions in
the cause of foreign missions. This was—just what it
should be—the true index of a real Christian charity and
love ; for it was the nature of Christian love to be expan-
sive, and to gather strength as it expanded : it was
like a goodly tree, planted by the water-side, that strikes
its roots deeper and more firmly into its native soil, at
the same time that it noints its branches higher and
higher, bearing richer, fairer, and more abundant fruits.
(Applause.) On this occasion, the object of which always
secured at Liverpool both a large audience and eloquent
advocates, they had the honour of receiving this evening
a deputation from the Parent Society in London: they
were favoured with the presence of one gentleman, the
Rev. Daniel 'Wilson, vicar of Islington, and the res-
pected son of a respected and revered father—the
Venerable Bishop of Calcutta whose name would
ever be eminent in the history of the Church; and
whose memory ought ever to be dear to England and
India. (Cheers.) The venerable bishop bad been per-
mitted, by the gracious providence of God, to reach
en age which few Englishmen going from this coun-
try to the burning clime of India attain ; and had,
in his advanced age, to teach the Word of God in
the simplicity of Christian truth, and with the zeal
of evangelical piety. Might God grant that his course of
usefulness might be long prolonged, and that he might
continua shining brighter and brighter unto perfect day.
His son was imitating his example in all things, and
treading in his steps, raising his voice in sur,port of that
cause of missionary exertion which was always dear to
his father.' (Loud cheers.) They were favoured also,
with him, with the presence of the Rev. Mr. Marsden,
of Birmingham, a gentleman probably well known
by name, both as a faithful minister of the Church of
England, and as a well-wisher of this society, and also as
an author, having lately made a very valuable addition to
the histotical literature of our Church. (Cheers.) He saw
also around him other gentlemen. He saw from the
neighbouring diocese the Rev. Hugh Stowell, (applause,
which was several times renewed,) and he saw on his
left hand, their own revered friend. Dr. M`Neile,
(vehement cheering,) of whom it would be impertinent
to say anything, further than that lie had great pleasure
to see him on the platform. (Renewed cheering.) lie
had also the pleasure of seeing the Chancellor of the
Diocese, who had grown grey in the service of his Master
in this and in every good work—who had been for years a
benefactor to this society; and by his piety, his example,
his talent, and his purse, given it all the aid in his power.
Having referred to time falling off in the amount subscribed
to the society's funds by Liverpool, and attributed it to
other objects of christian charity and benevolent objects
of a local nature pressing upon them, and not to any dimi-
nution in their desire to promote the objects of the society,
his lordship concluded by stating that Mr. Governor
Gregory, of Bahama, had just arrived in Liverpool, but
his interest in the missionary cause had induced him to
forego the necessary rest which he required after his
voyage, in order to be present at the meeting, for the
purpose of hearing the statements which would be brought
before it. (Applause.)
The Rev. 11. R AIKES, Chancellor of the Diocese, pro.
posed the first resolution, and, after a few prefatory
remarks, proceeded to set forth with much ability the
difficulty attending missionary labour, as contrasted with
the efforts of Christian ministers at home. He then
noticed the state of India, and the superstitions of that
country. It was fearful to think what Biroodism was.
Just, after Pythagoras had finished the circulation
of his system in the cities of the Grecian
republics, there sprung up in India and China,
Bhooda and Confuscius, who spread abroad in
India and China their gross systems of morals, systems
which rendered the implantation of the Gospel still more
difficult. In Bhoodism there was something mild and
attractive, but still it taught man to regard himself as a
being without a soul, and then left him without the
means by which a better light would enlighten his con-
science. Nothing less than the power of God
would overcome the difficulties of converting such a
people. Did they look for miracles in those days, surely
no greater miracle need be locked for than the conversion
of such people, yet such miracles they heard of almost
daily. Such, however, was the difficulty attending Mis-
sionary labour, that if, in answer to the prayers of the
friends of the society', it was not for the help of the
Spirit of God, vain would be all our efforts. (Loud
cheers.)
The Rev. D. WILSON, on rising to second the motion,
was received with loud cheers. The friends of the Church
Missionary Society had two objects in view, one to exhort
one another to love and good works, and the other was to
afford encouragement by a statement of what the society
had done. The rev. gentleman then proceeded to notice
the operations of the society in India, and illustrated this
part of his speechwith most interesting extracts of letters be
had received from his venerable father, the Bishop of
Calcutta. When Dr. Buchanan came over from India, in
1799, to London, he met a few clergymen in an upper
room, and there laid open his plans for the evangelisation
of India. The good old Simeon was present, and with
that quaintness for which he was distinguished said,—
" What shall we do ? 'When shall we do it ? How
shall we do it ? (Loud cheers.) What shall we do ?
Raise funds to support missionaries. 'When shall
we do it ? Now. How shall we do it ? By send-
ing catechists to India." The reverend gentleman
then proceeded to show how, by means of Wilberforce,
Gambier, and others, the restrictions contained in the
charter of the East India Company to restrict the preach-
ing of the Gospel haul been removed in the year 1813,
and how missionary efforts prospered since that period.
He then described the horrible system of Thuggism,
the degrading mode of sacrificing children as offerings by
the priests, to render the land fruitful by sprinkling their
blood over it, and the horrible nature of the worship of
Juggernaut. To the latter about 150,000 pilgrimages
were made every year, of whom about 50,000 perished by
hunger or sickness. It was, however, a gratifying fact that
now the British government had disconnected itself from
that system. There had not been less than 100,000
people in India alone reclaimed from heathenism by
means of the society, and was that a time for Liverpool
to relax' in its efforts ? They brought before them
600,000,000 of people ignorant of God, and for every six
square miles of earth, one was under the sway of Eng-
land, and ought they not to increase their efforts. All
this had been accomplished by means of the Bible,
for it was since the reformation that it had been ob-
tained. Popish England had not one colony. Every
one of her 62 colonies had been obtained since she
threw off the shackles of Popery. (Applause.) God had
entrusted to England the highest empire the world ever
saw, and why should not England rise to the sublimest of
her privileges in promoting the spread of the Gospel
throughout the whole surface of the globe. (Loud cheers.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously,
after which a collection was made, and a hymn was sung.
The Rev. Canon HUGH STOWELL, in moving the
resolution calling for renewed exertions in the cause of
the society, said the greatest testimony was borne by
their enemies to the usefulness and efficiency of the
Church Missionary Society, in the fact, that at a recent
meeting of Brahmins in Calcutta, the question was dis-
cussed as to what were the best means of stopping
the flood of Christian principles which was threat-
ening to overrun India. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) This
was an evidence of the truthfulness and perseverance
with which the doctrines of the Church of England were
extended to foreign lands. Still they could not but tremble
at the position which England occupied. This little rock,
so small, that many no larger were not mentioned on the
maps, ruled one-sixth of the space, and one-seventh
of the population of the globe; and, what was
far nobler, it was at this moment the great citadel
of civil and religious freedom, and the defender of
the word of God in its integrity ; and it was on this
account that Rome was spending all her efforts in en.
deavouring to break up that which she could not break
down. (Applause.) If a quantity of gunpowder
were placed round a rock, and it were then set on fire, it
would not have effect upon it to its destruction ; but if a
hole were bored and powder placed in it, and if
it were fired, it would split the rock to atoms;
(hear, hear,) and that was the reason a hole had
been made in their Protestant fold, and a quantity of
jesuitical powder of tractarian priestcraft put into it.
(Vehement and long continued applause.) Because Rome
found that she must decide in order to conquer, she was
endeavouring to break up the mass of rock which she
could never hope to overcome from without. (Applause.)
But the friends of the Missionary Society would always
present a firm front in opposition to these endeavours.
Having shown:that the Church• Missionary Society was a
true exponent of the principles of the Church of England,
and she had done much to extend its influence in foreign
lands, instancing the bishopric about to be founded at
Sierra Leone, and the bishopric of New Zealand, and
referred to the melancholy fate of Captain Gardiner, as
setting forth the necessity of forethought and judgment
being combined with missionary zeal, and the im-
portance of the united efforts of the society, he concluded
by exhorting the merchants of Liverpool to a inure
extended support of the funds of the society.
The Rev. J. B. MARSDEN seconded the motion, and
in doing so said he stood between two fires as it were—
one they had just heard, and, if he was not mistaken,