The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-04-13 00:00:00

WESLEYAN -MISSIONS.

• ,
On Tuesday evening -the twenty-flrs'i annual meeting of the
Wesleyan Methodist Auxiliary Missionary Society for the Li-
verpool district, was held in- Brunswick Chapel, Moss-street.
James Heald, Esq., of Parr's-wood, near Stockport, having
been called to the chair, the proceeding was opened with sing-
ing and prayer; after which the Rev. Wm. Hart, one of the
secretaries, read the report. • There had been a slight falling off
in the amount of receipts, but not more than was accountable
for by the operation of temporary causes.
The CHAIRMAN, in an animated and effective speech, dwel;
ling particularly upon the increased energy •which had been
put forth of late by the Christian church, and. was producing
its effects upon the world, pressed upon the meeting the neces-
sity for continued exertions in the missionary cause.
The Rev. PETER DUNCA N, of -Halifax; in Moiling the adop-
tion of the report, spoke of the progress of religion in Jamaica,
where he had been between eleven and twelve years a mission-
ary. .111 no Dart of the missionary field had greater success
crowned the lab Ours of God's servants. (Hear.) ..In .1828, ten
ministers, of various denominations, sat at the district table;
before he left he had the satisfaction of seeing from twenty', to
thirty sent out by their society alone. (Hear.) ,In 1789 the
number of persons in connexion with the missionary establisltt
ment was eight; at the present time it was 1300. (Hear and
cheers.) Formerly the slaves were not able to visit a place of
worship more than once in five or six weeks; now the Christian
Sabbath was a Sabbath to them ; and the report demonstrated,
that those opportunities had not gone unimproved.
The Rev. Roob:ET ALDER, one of the general secretaries;
seconded the motion. The question had been agitated, at one
of the meetings of the secietaries, which were held periodically
in London, whether a plan could not be devised for avoiding
the collision of agents abroad. He did not despair of seeing
such a plan hi ought into operation. As an illustration of the
circumstances to which it would apply he would mention, that.
a mission having been sent to the Navigators' Islands, it was
found that the London Missionary Society had been there be-
fore them. The Navigators' islands were consequently given
up, and it was agreed that their society should have the Feejee
islands. A similar arrangement had been made with the
Church Missionary Society, with respect to two districts on the
coast of New Zealand. In a short time a plan for this purpose
would be prepared. Another subject of uneasiness had been,
the proposal of certain parties to colonise New Zealand. The
object appeared plausible: it. wa?,intelded to banish worthless
t qe-
plan appeared piaustble. in order to success, it was said, t l
co-operation of the Christian missionaries must be obtained.
But, however plausible the object, the system was founded on
that principle ot colonisation which we had carried into so
many different parts of the world, and which had been produc-
tive of so many evils to the aboriginal inhabitants. The colony
was to support itself, by the profits arising from the sale of
lands. But how were such ample profits to be realised? By
taking advantage of the ignorance ot the natives. He trusted
this project would not be carried into effect : and as it must first
be sanctioned by the imperial parliament, he thought, with due
efforts on the part of Christian philanthropists in this country,
there was no danger that it would ever be tried. With. refer-
ence to the encouragement given on the part of Englishmen to
the worship of idols in India, a memorial had been addressed to
Sir Frederick Adam. at Madras, signed by the teachers of re-
ligion, including a clergyman of the Established Church. The
answer was an insult to Christianity, not only in India but in.
England. It stated that the memorial had been forwarded to
the supreme governor, whose sentiments were not in favournf
its prayer; and the excellent bishop of the diocese, Dr. Wilson,
was reprimanded for having made himielf the channel for a
communication fraught with danger to the peace of the coun-
try. (Hear, hear.) Much anxiety had been felt about the
converts in Canada; but he was happy to say they bad sustain-
ed no injury in their religious-experience from the movements
which had lately taken place in that colony. Steps were likely
to be taken by the British Colonial-oflice, to prevent the
American Indians being forcibly dispossessed of their land
after they had brought it under cultivation. Mr. Alder then
noticed the French missions. There were, it was believed, at
least two-hundred pious persons connected with various congre-
gations in Paris, who had received their first religious im-
pressions from the missionaries of that Society. In Southern
Africa, at Graham's Town, at least 400 persons had been
added to the fold of Christ. Translations had been made of
the Scriptures and other books, and an old chapel there had
been taken as ant-loot-house, in which were comprised Caffres,
Feeanies, Hottentots, Fingies, Mozambiques, Malays, and
Mantatees; so that in this scholastic establishment were spring-
ing up a number of distinct agencies, which would be brought
to bear with most important effect upon the religious and moral.
state of Southern Africa.—( Hear, hear.) The society had 575
salaried agents under its direction and, looking at the results,
nal,
or pecuniary, they had
whether civilising, literary, sp
reason to say, the Lord had done great by, as well as for
them, whereof they were glad. 'Their efforts however, must be
r-vortioned to the magnitude of the case.- The, expenditure
had exc.waa,l their income by about £9,000; but en-. could
wonder at this, auo nnsider, not only the number of their bid_
lions, but also how greatly they had extended their work? Tbey
had sent out (counting, as the Moravians did, the female por-•
tion) between 40 and 50 missionaries, at an expense of £5,633
for outfit and passage alone. The Foreign Auxiliary Societies
had raised £8.230 10s. 6d. in addition to £18,455 7s. 9d. for the
support of missionaries labouring amongst them. They were
therefore, helping a people who were disposed to help them-
selves.—(Hear.) In the year 1828 the society had connected
with it 133 stations. 191 missionaries, and 36,000 members, with.
an income (4150,000. At the end of 1837 it could boast of 203
stations, 366 missionaries, exclusive of catechists and school'
masters, and 50.000 members of society, with an income of from
£70,000 to £Bo,ooo.—(Cheers.)
. Dr. Woon, of Manchester, supported the resolution, which
was then put froni the chair and passed.
The Rev. Dr. BENNETT, of Dublin, in a speech of much do,
quence and feeling, moved the next resolution, expressive of
the deep sense entertained by the meeting of the urgent neces-
sity for more extended and energetic exertions for the heathen
world. The reverend gentleman strongly urged the importance
of teaching the Irish through the medium of their owntongue. ,
The Rev. Dr., STEWART, of the Scotch secession chapel,
briefly seconded the motion.
The Rev. ROBERT NEWTON alluded with much. felicity to the
circumstance of that being the twenty-first anniversary of the
society, when it had consequently reached its majority. After
touching upon the speeches of some of the gentlemen' who had
preceded him, he said, with the chair Man's permiesion, he
would relate an anecdote, which he had had from the Rev. Mr.
Fordred, and, for the accuracy of which he could therefore
vouch. A poor, but truly pious widow, placed in charge Of
,a
lighthouse on the southern coast, had resolved to, devote the re-
ceipts of one day in the year, during the visiting season, to the
missionary cause. On one of these days a lady in widow's
weeds, and a little girl in deep mourning, came to see the light-
house. Sympathy in misfortune, he supposgd; led to conversa-
tion, and before the unknown visitor took her departure, they,
had most probably mingled their tears together. The lady left.
behind her a sovereign. The unusually large gratuity igimedi-.
ately caused a conflict in the breast d the poor woman, -as to
whethershe was absolutely bound to appropriate the whole to
the missionary box or not. At length she compromised by
putting-in halt-a-crown. But conscience would riot let her rest.
She went to bed, but could not sleep. She ruse, took back-the
half-crowo, put in the sovereign, returned to 'bed, and slept
comfortably. A few days afterwards, to her great surprise, she
received a double letter, (ranked; and on opening it, she was
not more astonished than delighted to find f.:%..).froni the widow.
lady and £5 from the little girl in deep mourning. And who
were that- lady and that .little girl? No other-thatt berßova4
Highness the Duchess of Kent, and our present rightful and '
youthful Sovereign, Queen Victoria.—(RapturouS and prolong-
ed applause.) •
The collectione.amoonted, on- Sunday, to £5B 17s.- sd. ; on
Monday, to £25 19s. 4d.; and on Tuesday evening, including,
the contents of the missionary-boxes, to £l7l Ils. 3d.; total,
£256 as. . •

. • .
The Lord Bishop of Chester intends holding his triennial
visitation throughout this diocese in the course of the ensuing
sutonter., 2_ • . !, • •
DINNER TO SIR F. BURDETT...4f will be•Seell by the nd.,
vertisement that the tickets for the dinner,. which is to take.
place on Monday, the 23d instant, ate, now; to be bail at the,
()Mee,. churctoane.._ EarlyotpplicatioNovill,be,necessaotr
insure attendance; as the number of ticl,'Ati is 'lir te4,
:

POOR-LAW SONNETS.

(From Blackwood's Magazine for April. )
THE WIFE'S REMONSTRANCE.
Good Master Parson Justice : man and wife
Were I and Simon, by your honour join'd
Some thirty years ago. Mo mortal coiu'd
The curse: 'twas taken from the Book of Life,
On those should part us. Methinks Satan's knife
Alone can cut that knot. Hath he purloin'd
The page, and you consent ? Or is't enjoin'd
That ye oe ministers of love or strife ?

0, Simon, let us lie down in one grave !
We ask for bread; they offer worse than stones.
We'll take with us the blessing that God gave—
Hard law, with little care about our bones—
And not e'en death shall part us ; for we trust
To rise again together from one dust.

THE RUINED MOTHER.
0 curse,' is the law that lends its aid
To full-blown villany to crush the weak !
Poor Simon's (laughter Jane, a flow'ret meek,
Alas ! no wife, a wretched mother made :
Scone(' in her poverty and shame, dismay'd,
Slewn both herself and babe. Young Farmer Sleek
Pass'd by while in the cold trench were laid !
"It broke his heart ?" "He had no heart to break."

" Nor would maintan his own ?" "It is the law

Young Farmer Sleek approved it, and could quote ;
Nor Parson Conscience there could find a flaw.

He aw'd the Vestries; gave a liberal vote;
Brawl'd for Iteforms"—" There ends the tale." Yet more—
Young Fanner Sleek is Guardian of the Poor,

PARISH SICK AND PARISH DOCTOR.
" Poor Simon's sick." " Then for the Doctor send."
" The Union Doctor ? He lives far away—
Seven miles, and has seven parishes, they say,
And his own private practice to attend.
Besides, Sick Simon has no idle friend,
Where all must work ; nor has he pence to pay ;
Nor comes the Doctor without order penn'd
By the Overseer—and this is market-day.

" Then there's for med'cine fourteen miles to go,
As if the Poor had lacqueys everywhere
And the Relieving-officer will know
When Simon's dead. He should have better fare.
And Simon dreams they're apt to cut the thread,
Who farm the Parish sick three farthings by the head."

TilE UNION wORKIIOuSE.
Nature was strong, and Simon did not die;
He had no Union Doctor; but the Poor,
When he was up, and sunn'd him at his door,
Or came to chat, or chatted passing by.
And sometimes brighter beamed the old man's eye,
When the good Parson kindly cross'd his floor.
Thus life with neighbourhood and kindness wore.
A stalling look—and cheered him on to die.

Then come the Union Law. Draw❑ in a cart

To a far distant Workhouse—there confined;
No neighbour to drop in and cheer his heart ;
No village sunshine on his face—he pined—
Without a crime condeinn'd—imprisoted—died—
And thus th' unconscious Law one charity supplied.

THE POOR MAN'S BURIAL.
•
}l.Ol. contract coffins for the Parish Poor,
Eight shillings each, complete with shroud and nails !
" An please sour Honour, stop within the rails,
Poor Simon's scarce will reach the big church door."
" Not take him into Choral !" "It will not held,
Thu' we have patched it up;' " I hear no hell."
" Your Honour, the New Laws won't have it toll'd."
" What! stent a Poor Man's soul a parting knell ?"
" Go, tell his Lordship that old Simon's dead,
And now they bury him, whose honest hands
Plough'd, sow'd, and reap'd—his Lordship ate the bread ;
Bid him repeal harsh laws, that Heaven his lands
slay bless—Gull's poor not unregarded sleep ;
Tell hiui new hands may sow, and God given aught to reap."