The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-05-25 00:00:00

tion as to refer to ow., important subject respecting India
Was that assembly aware that there was scarcely a devotee who
did i.ot go annually to eight or ten places of worship, (and they
went up to the nu ,oberof one million of degraded and miserable
worshippers,) (tout whoM Great Britain, through the means of
the East India Company, did not receive half-a-crown ? When
these ceremonies were coming on, scouts of the company went
out on the high-roads (which had been fur the occasion put in
proper order) proclaiming to the pilgrims that they would find
good roads and should have safe protection their journey
to the temple of the heathen gods. - And who was it that de-
corated the car of Juggernaut? Why,- it was.. the people of
Liverpool. They furnished the cloth—it was obtained by our
government froM them. (Shame, shame.) And further—but
he was afraid TO touch on the subject;. there were degradectand
impure rites cdnnected with the worship ugg .rtlailt which were
untit to be narrated; he must throw a veil over them. But if they
should ask who it was that educated the persons who were the chief
actors in those abominations—who provided and educated the
priestesses for that hnholy temple, his reply must he it was our
government. Here was work for Mr. M'Neile: be loved a good
tough job; and there was a rock for him, like another Hanni-
hal, to cut through; and he hyped that he (Mr. M'Neile) would
operate upon it, though not with vinegar, until he broke it in
pieces and scattered it in the ocean. It was much to the honour
of Lord Glenelg, that, when at the head of the Board of Con-
trol, he sent out to India a most powerful appeal against the
pilgrim•tax. What was the consequence? They hesitated,
shuffled, -and sent out to make inquiry about that of which there
was no doubt. If a man meant to get rid of you, and dared nut
say so, what he said was this, ";let us inquire;" and when they
had had an inquiry, and a committee had been formed, they
tenni] that they got darker and darker every day, and at last
there was nothing done. There was a despatch as plain as
light, commanding th.m' to pin an end to the tax ; but, instead
of doing so, they pretended to Make investigations into what was
'as clear and well known to them as anything could be. They
were, it. was true, pledged not to interfere with the worship of
the natives of India; but they were not pledged to keep it up
through their own exertions, awl for their own benefit. Ile
'might have a disrelish to beholding an individual going to a
certain meeting-house; but there was a greatdifference between
his meeting that man and knocking hint down, and lending him
his carriage to go there with pleasure and facility. He had
from the report that this auxiliary branch of the society, did not
produce quite the same amount—about £B9 less, than it did the
year before. He had no doubt, that the apology, of the Rev.
Secretary was an amplenne; but, would they allow him to say
that he thought there was no moment so dangerous to any in-
stitution as just the turning point—just when it began to turn
and go downwards; and he wanted to caution the society to
contemplate that fact, that they might take their resolution that
night to redouble their exertions to double the funds for next
year. Ile remembered reading a story of a foreign city being
conquered, and the gallant captors making the ladies an offer
of their liberty, and that they should each bring out of the city
what they valued the Most, and very properly—they did what
English women, tinder the same circumstances, would do—they
every one brought out their husband. (Laughter.) What he
wanted was, that at the next meeting, the ladies should bring
their husbands, and the husbands present, their wives, and that
each man would remember the influence which God bas given
him on every other man, and that he would employ that power
and influence to embark him in the missionary cause. A gen-
tleman was telling him,. that came from India the other day,
he had seen a considerable army crossing a field, and one of
the heavy artillery got into a rut, and the poor weak natives,
who are very docile, immediately ran to lift it out; but their
feeble attempts :did not move it, when a great old elephant, with
remarkable sagacity, swept theM away with his trunk, and put.;
Ling his trunk into the wheel, he fairly lifted it out again. He
wanted them to piit out not their trunks, and sweep away all
weak impediments, and lift out this artillery of the goipel, and
win fresh triumphs for their Redeemer. (Hear.) He begged
to second the resolution. (Loud applause.)
The resolution was put and carrried.
The Rev. Mr. Qatit,EriEn, minister of St. Michael's, then
moved the next resolution t

"That viewing the circumstances of New Zealand, where,
notwithstanding many peculiar difficulties, the missionary la-
bourers have, by the singular blessing of God, succeeded in
rearing an infant church of Christ in the midst of the wild and
fierce inhabitants of that island, the meeting anticipate, from
the visit of the Lord Bishop of Australia, the extension and the
consolidation of the mission; and record their earnest prayer,
that whatever measures may be in contemplation for that
country, they may be directed to the promotion of. its best civil
a
and religious interest, as an independent; free, nil Christian
nation."

They had been told that they as ministers of the established
church, had nothing to do with the heathen. He had heard
this objection repeated only a few days ago; and it brought to
his recollection what he had heard of a British admiral who had
moored his ship somewhat too close to a Spanisli battery, and
created jealousy and alarm in the mind of the Spanish Governor,
who sent a message to the Admiral, that he had no right to moth.
his ship where he did, "tell him," said the Admiral in reply,
"that wherever his Majesty's ship can float, there I don't ex-
ceed the bounds of my commission," and wherever a church of
God is found, she does not exceed her commission when she has
received a commission "go and preach the gospel to every
creature." (Applause.) After alluding to the prosperous state
of the society both at home and abroad, from which it was evi-
dent that God blessed its exertions, the reverend gentlemen ad-
verted to the gratifying progress of Christianity in New Zealand,
and urged the missionary society to increased exertions, lest
Popery should establish a footing there. He would not say that
Popery could kill the infant church there ; Popery could never
establish a footing till vital Christianity began to decay. Place
Heathenism and Christianity in juxta-position, and Heathen-
ism would appear vile to a heathen mind, and an abomination;
but when Popery came to solicit the affections of the heathen,
then a new adversary would be raised up against the Christian
ministry; because Popery, with its gorgeous trappings, would
have attractions for the heathen, and might win them with its
external splendour and meretricious ornaments. If, therefore,
they did not go forward to the help of that infant church and
use all their energies to substantiate it, they might have to re-
gret their apathy when it was too late. Every one might do
something, every one had some little influence in his own circle
to benefit this society, and if every one would exert himself in
its behalf, a great and abundant blessing would be the conse-
quence. He concluded with moving the resolution.
The Rev. WIN DH A M MADDEN rose to second the resolution.
He quite concurred in the sentiments of the preceding speaker.
He should not make a long speech to them. The face of nature
presented on one side human nature degraded to the lowest
depths of misery, and on the other, that human nature raised
out of that misery by the gospel of Christ. He allued to the
state of the barbarians in New Zealand, and to the already vi-
sible effects of Christianity upon a part of them in restraining
their fierce dispositions from the horrible attrocities practised
by those on whom the genial influence of the gospel had not
been cast, and called upon the meeting to aid in the holy cause
of extending that gospel among them. Ile concluded with
seconding the resolution, which was unanimously carried :
The Rev. JOHN WHITE, of Oswestry, moved the next reso-
lution, which was as follows
That this meeting, thankfully rejoicing in the promising
commencement of the mission in South-eastern Africa; and
that la:viewing the whole extent of the society's operations, they
would commend the great cause in which it is engaged to the
sympathy, prayers, and persevering exertions of the members at
large."
He said—before I say a single word to the resolution which has
been pot into my hand, I would beg leave to move another reso-
lution, and that is, that if the proposal that was made by the
valued and respected vicar of Harrow, Mr. Cunningham, be
acceded to. that every wife should bring her husband, and every
husband his wife and children, that there be a new room, and a
larger one for the next year. But as a stranger, I must beg
leave to congratulate you on the powerful meeting we have as-
sembled here to night. It is delightful to find so many coining
forward to promote this great, and this holy object of sending the
light of the gospel to the poor perishing heathen. I confess, sir,
that it is not only a holy work, but that it is a delightful work to
the Christian philanthropist to be sending the gospel to the hea-
then. But if it be a delightful work tinder any circumstances, it
is more delightful fur us to be banded together as churchmen,
not only. to send the gospel of Christ indeed, but also to send
the formularies of our church to the heathen converted to God,
that they might font a part of that community which is built ou
the foundation of the Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone. It has often occurred to me that the diffe-
rent Christian societies throughout the world are like well-regu-
lated flowers in a garden; and we may go smelling them all,
but at last we must confess none so sweet as the rose. So in
missionary societies; none so sweet as the Church of England
Missionary Society. (Hear.) May God bless them; may God
prosper them. But we can turn from all with pleasure to that
which belongs to our church. The articles of our church sent
out to heathen lands present the sweetest savour to our Lord
and Master Jesus Christ. Many objections indeed there have
been urged against missionary societies, and against our Church
Missionary Society, but surely, sir, when the great broad fact
is stated that the heathen are perishing for lack of knowledge,
and when our God has given the command, "to go into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature," will any argu-
ment have any effect when placed in the balance against these ?
It has been argued that the heathen are very well if we let them
alone; but only just consider their state? We found them in
Southern Africa adoring Colonia above the Eternal Son of God,
in New Zealand worshipping the lizard as their god, in Hin-
dostan bowing before Uish, before Brahma, and before 330 toil-
lions of other Gods,; and not only the idolatry was to be lamented
but the sad effects of it. Not only the burning of widows, but
also the horrid system of human sacrifices that they offer to their
god Calibo. And I would just mention two facts. One relates
to the Rajah of Burden, who has been in the habit of offering
sacrifices for his family; and this great Rajah is not content
with any sacrifice but that of elder sons. And I lately heard of
a prior woman who missed her elder son, and came to inquire
about him, and found that he had been offered in sacrifice by the
Rajah. (Expressions of horror.) I will mention another fact,
of a party of soldiers lately going out in India, who found a little
girl tied to a stake. She was tied to be a victim to Calibo, and
the way the sacrifice was offered is almost too horrid to relate.
A portion of flesh was cut off the living child, and the blood
sprinkled about. On going further on they found, confined in
something worse than an English pigstye, tnreechildrenßuftai mttaeti-
ing up, to be offered un to the same god. (Hear.)
placedhapp) to on sayar
Mrs.
ei
Wilson'sfolir children
school.
lti
s_
ourarin(ddapwaereriavecri
o.leuoglwdel
moregose i
than I
'never forth
sknow e well as
isas a° favourite our dutyit e ipor sendncip e them
that t civilizationhelight
hoe doesfy.t he
Christianization, but if we were to
wouldnots aywtihshattoansytaotef taheesreitiwcoipuiled,
,b,etcho.acuiti:nialiCt.zaherreitswtiialni
d by ehal mers.--
in quest of Christianity, but Ct
hahsritsiteleanni:vyritstheonulodn
tghbi,4fgosurtbhjeient
q('lrosntdofapopaltaturese.7)
AT.hpiasmwpaisdenoU:ly.i.ittere Dr.
against missionary efforts; and it has been charged against this
society, that it the most popular society in Erigland, from the
Laud's-end to John O'Groat's house. I need not answer this
argument, except to pray, that long may it enjoy its popularity.
And what think you of the increase of 1:11,700 in the fonds of
the last, year ? It shows that its popularity is not exhausted, and
for my own part, I See lid, reason to fear why other less popular
Missionary Societies should not advance with equal success;
and I think it vet y much reminds me of my countryman who
ran all the way froth Dublin to Nice after the
mail:coath, to see
if the big wheel would C atch the little wheel, (laughter,).
and
kept crying out, " Braid, iny little fellow; he keeps bI •
, h" We don't want to catch
the
sg
littlend
well. (Roars of laughter.)
society. We merely say tat the Church of England describes
a larger circle than the little wheel. (Applause.) The Church
of England Society knows no ,limits or boundaries, but the
very end of the earth itself, (Continued applause.) I mould a little into the detail. Our tnissionnries are 500, our mis-
sion'sll in number; and God bless them in every quarter of
the globe! I would merely mention, in South Africa we have
established a very prospering mission.' We have a very ext rs
dinars, charalter to deal with in Ditigarp.,sking 'fotilon mind
lam *happy to say, that Dingarn has .iven a very good recep&
lion to the missionary sept out, and h; sass; " I give the tnisl
siimary full credit for being an Englishman', and being fond of
' toast' beef,'" (laughter,) for he tends him at ow azday for his
table. In otir Mediterranean thitsion in the island ot Malta,
where We have to dedl,not onlY With the Creek church in its
idolatory„ but with the Itomish Church in all its abomination,
I ails happy to say the mission has prospered, and we have the
gospel preached there. in the island of Malta a carbonari went
to Our missionary, and asked for some Bibles of Mr. Slencb,
AAVitig. " Give its all." " What can you want with so many
Bibles?" cried ihe missionary. " Wh)," said the carbonari,