The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-23 00:00:00

REPORT;

Your Committee, in meeting their friends and consti-
tuents at the close of another year, find much to encourage,
chequered, however, with something to sadden and so-
lemnize their minds in presenting their Annual Report.
Thy have to lament the sad and sudden removal from
the midst of them, of a long tride and honoured friend,
one of the Vice-Presidents of your Auxiliary. the late
lamented Thomas Tattershall, D.D., Incumbent of St.
Augtistines. He was one of the earliest secretaries of
your Auxiliary, in which, as in every other, capacity most
zealously and acceptably did he discharge the duties de-
volving upon him. He was present at our last annual
meeting ; but very soon after, in the midst of his arduous
labors, and with the prospect, humanly speaking, of
lengthhned days and usefulness still before him, to the
regret and dismay of a circle of friends, only limited by
the range of a widely extended acquaintance, he was sum-
moned to his rest and to his rewards Your Committee
could not withhold this humble tribute of affectionate
respect to the memory of departed worth :—" Blessed are
the deadwhich die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for
they rest from their labours, and their works do follow
them."

Nothing to demand an especial notice has occurred
within the operations of your auxiliary, during the past
year. The cordial friendship of the clergy-is undiminished,
and the amounts from congregational collections, con-
sidering the unparalleled and paralysing depression that
has prevailed in the commercial world for the last few
months, are quite as much, nay, even beyond what might
reasonably,have been anticipated. For all this we desire
humbly to give glory to God. We thank,God, and take
courage. -

It is, however, to the report and proceedings of the
parent society that the friends of Israel must be referred
for the details of missionary enterprize, including the
amount of difficulty that has been encountered, and the
measure of success graciously vouchsafed.
It is to the Monthly Jewish Intelligence, and to the
annual report, we are indebted for the chief part of our
information as to the work of the Lord carried on amongst
his ancient people. In this view of the subject, then, it
is gratifying to your committee to be able to state that
the last annual meeting in London was inferior to none of
its predecessors, either in the number and apparent cordi-
ality of those who attended it, in the interesting details
that were brought forward, or in the general spirit that
seemed to, pervade the entire. A successful anniversary
in the metropolis is even of more consequence than is
usually supposed; it betokens a healthy state at head
quarters, from which remote auxiliaries not unfre-
quently take tone and courage.
The acccunts of the parent society show, an apparent
increase in the funds, beyond the amount of last year, of
£3264 9s. IW. ; but this, it must be observed, occurs al-
most entirely under the head of legacies, while the amount
received from the auxiliaries, the most important item,
that at all events which most concerns us, we regret to
add, is less than it has been formerly.
There are thirty-four stations reported of the society's
operations, whereof four are at home, and the remainder
throughout the continent of Europe, Jerusalem and the
adjacent region of Syria, in Persia, Egypt, .3t.c. These
stations are occupied by ordained lergymen, supported
by medical officers, schoolmasters, and tract distributors,
many of whom, Jews themselves, are now rejoicing in the
faith to which they were once opposed.
Accounts are furnished in detail of the proceedings at
each station, under its separate head, and in convenient
order, so that your committee feels only called upon to
mention one or two of the particulars connected with the
mission at Jerusalem, in which all Christians must needs
be deeply interested.
In our lastreport we were happy to announce the con-
secration of the Right Rev. Dr. Gobat, as• Bishop of Je-
rusalem, and his departure for the important sphere of his
appointed labours. It is with pleasure we are now enabled
to report his safe arrival, and auspicious reception : and
to add further, that the work of the Lord appears to pros-
per in his hands.
The new Protestant church on Mount Zion, notwith-
standing much opposition, still continues to advance
steadily towards completion, and at the time of the publi-
cation of the parent society's report, they were able to
add (p. 35) the walls of the sacred edifice have now
reached their full height, and are now ready for the roof
and ceiling."
Your committee also direct attention to an encouraging
circumstance related ( p. 36) of the conversion of a Jew-
ish youth,—an Austrian subject. A principle was involved
and affirmed in it of the utmost importance, as deciding
the cases of all the native Jews who henceforth may be
converted.

The success of the Hospital at Jerusalem, under the
skilful and judicious management of Dr. Macgowan, has
more than justified the wisdom of establishing it. One
is reminded of the testimony of Pliny the younger to the
effect upon the surrounding Pagans, of the first hospitals
erected by Christians for the common benefit of all with-
out distinction, when we read the account given by Dr.
Macgowan, in the " Intelligence " for September,
of the gratitude of an influential Rabbi from Safet,
for the kind and, under God, successful treatment of his
wife in our Hospital at Jerusalem, whither he had
brought her for medical aid. She was a month under
treatment, and at her departure expressed much grati-
tude for the kindness and attention she had received, as
did likewise her husband a strong desire to be cordial
and friendly with our missionaries at Safet.
These are amongst the encouraging details that go to
prove that our " labor is not in vain in the Lord." But
in conclusion, your Committee would desire to remind.
themselves and their friends, that their duties and obli-
gations are in no wise to be measured by the amount of
success vouchsafed to their efforts. The command,
" Preach the Gospel, beginning at Jerusalem," is clogged
by no conditions expressed or implied of contingent suc-
cess, and, moreover, it is upon the simple evidence of faith,
the promised blessing is entailed. In this spirit thenlet us
encourage one another, to persevere and to pro ceed, not
suspending our best efforts, inasmuch as God hath, com-
manded them, and looking for an abundant blessing,
because God hath promised it. Above all, " continuing-
instant in prayer," for the peace of Jerusalem,, that God
would hasten the time of pouring upon the Houie of
David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace
and supplication : looking unto Jesus, " the Lord our
Righteousness," theirs and ours, in whose days Judah
shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safety.' Oh that
the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion ! 'When
God bringeth back the captivity of his people,. Jacob shall
rejoice and Israel shall be glad.',

The treasurer, Mr. WEBsTEa, then read the statemen t
of accounts.

The receipts'were for the year in Liverpool £4Bl Bs. lid.
and 284 3s. Bd. from the branches. The receipts for
the Bishopric Fund were £63 10s. 6d. ; and for divers
purposes connected with the objects of the society
£164 18s. 10id. ; making a total of £994 ls. 2d. In
this amount is included the munificent donation of £5O
from R. A. M`Fie, Esq. The above account shews a de-
crease last year, without the Bishopric Fund of £8 3s. 21d. •,
and in the whole receipts without the Bishopric Fund of
£147 Bs. 9id.
The Rev. DAVID STEWART moved the adoption of the
report and the committee and officers for the ensuing
year, concluding with a brief but very eloquent appeal to
the meeting in behalf of the object for which they were
assembled.

The Rev. A. H. STOGDON, from the parent society,
next addressed the meeting, and commenced by remark-
ing upon the changed opinions and treatment of the
Christian world in favour of the Jews. Aa countries,
even Rome itself, were granting increased privileges to
them, which, however, it was to be feared might be car-
ried too far. There was a change also amongst the Jews
themselves, a portion of whom were repudiating the
traditions of men, and resting solely upon Moses and the
prophets. The society's missionaries found them also,

.Tir~:~r

instead of declining to receive instruction at their hands,
and turning away whenever the name of Jesus was
mentioned, anxious to discuss the points at issue oetween
Judaism and Christianity ; and as a proof of this, the rev.
gentleman referred to an assembly of learned Jews, as-
sembled at present in Berlin, to consider the subject with
each other, and gave a list of the points proposed for their
consideration. This fact proved at least the existence
of a movement amongst the Jewish nation, which might
be availed of for good purposes, or which, if left alone,
might probably end in establishing among them a system
of liberalism or infidelity, instead of that true Christi-
anity which it was the object of the Society to infuse
amongst them. They had engaged in the work from 70
to SO missionaries, in various stations, 40 to 50 of whom
were converted Jews. This was consolatory when it was
known that at the commencement of the present century,
there was but one converted Jew preaching the gospel.
Dissenting Christians were similarly engaged also, aided
by converted Jews ; and numbers were also engaged as
teachers of Schools both for their own people and for
Gentiles. The Society had in its schools upwards of
700 Jewish children being educated in the doctrines of
Christianity.. In the schools in London there were above 100
and in this country 500 have already been fully educated,
and 400 were in course of education. The difficulties ex-
perienced by the society in these efforts were very great,
arid the persecutions suffered by those willing to examine
into the truth almost-unbearable. The reverend gentleman
gave a brief account of the financial affairs of the society,
the funds of which were less within the last two years
than previously, owing to the falling off of legacies. This
had compelled them to curtail both the number of their
missionaries and the number of their schools, although
they were entreated from various quarters to increase
them. The society had two great wants at the present
time. A greater outpouring of the spirit upon all con-
nected with them was one, and the second was an increase
of the means.

The CHAIRMAN put the resolution, and it was carried
unanimously.
Mr. CONOR in stating the amount of donations made
at the several churches, said that the sermon at St.
Michael's Church, would be preached by the Rev. W.
Birks, on Wednesday evening, and, as a large place of
worship had been selected, he hoped all present would
attend. After a few remarks, a hymn was sung, during
which the collection went on.

The Rev. Mr. PARRY proposed a resolution to the ef-
fect, that great results would arise from prayer for the
object in view. He alluded to the object of the building
in which they were assembled, erected by men to promul-
gate the principles of that unhappy man, Robert Owen—
principles of infidelity ; and now they had met within the
same walls for a very different purpose. With regard
to the national restoration of the Jews, the society
had. nothing to do ; their objects addressed themselves to
the Jews individually. The Scriptures' told them to
preach the Word of God to all men, and the Jews were
included. We should do wrong to exclude them. It
was said that the Jews were obdurate in their opinions,
but this was no reason to despair of their conversion.
The Rev T. R. BIRKS moved, in a povrerful address,
a resolution to the effect, that the meeting.rejoiced in the
extension- of the Society's labours, which was seconded
by the Rev. T. NOLAN, in a brief but effective speech.
The meeting soon after separated.