The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-25 00:00:00

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE anniversary meetings of the Liverpool Auxiliary of
the Church Missionary Society were held yesterday. The
meeting in the forenoon was held in the Music-hall,
Bold-street, Charles Inman, Esq., in the chair. The
deputation consisted of the Rev. J. Bateman, M.A.,
vicar of Huddersfield (formerly missionary in Calcutta);
the Rev. C. Money, M.A., association secretary, London ;
Rev. J. Bardsley, M. A., of Manchester ; and the Rev. T.
Green, M.A., of Friezland. On the platform were
several of the local clergymen. The proceedings having
been opened with prayer,
The CHAIRMAN said that, by the mercy of their
heavenly father, they were met to celebrate the 34th
anniversary of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the Church
Missionary Society. How it was that the good old town
of Liverpool did not form such an auxiliary until 20 years
after the parent society had been at work, he would not
venture to inquire, but he would hope that future in-
creased efforts would make some amends for the apparent
backwardness. The society and its objects were now so
well known in Liverpool, that he need not formally in-
troduce it to them. There were those amongst them who
would, perhaps, more appropriately dwell upon that part
of the question. He might, however, say that it had
commended itself to the judgment and support of a great
portion of the Christian Church; still there were some
objections which had been made to the society, but they
only wanted a slight examination in order to be refuted.
It had been said by some, when asked to subscribe to the
funds of the society, " Why do you make so much ado
about the heathen abroad, when we have plenty of heathens
at home ?" Now, if such objectors could show that
the friends of the missionary cause did not meddle with
the evil at home, let them do so. It was quite true,
indeed, that in many parts of our land,—yea, and of our
own town of Liverpool—darkness and gross ignorance, as
well as vice, did prevail, as in foreign lands ; but he would
say, notwithstanding, that those who supported the
Church Missionary Society, did, also, by every means in
their power, by erecting churches sad schools, and by
sending scripture readers amongst the people, endeavour
to enlighten them. Such objections, therefore, must fall
to the ground. Bat were the friends• of the spread of
Christianity to stop by diffusing the knowledge of it to
our own people ? The prevalence of heathenism in
our own land was not a good or sufficient reason
why other lands should be neglected. Others there were
who said—indeed the objection. had been urged to- himself
by a merchant of this town, "'Why you will never do
them any good, you may as welt leave them alone:" To
this he answered that their duty was plain, for they were
commanded to go into all the world, and preach the
Gospel to every creature. To man belonged that com-
mand, and: the measure of success to Him who gave that
command, and promised to be with all who obeyedit,
even to the end of the world. He had said—" Blessed are
they who sow beside all waters." But their Great Master
had not only given them this great commandment, he had-
likewise given. them encouragement. Had they done no'
good by their missionary labours ? Witness New Zealand,
a nation of cannibals converted into Christians, (hear hear,)
and of warriors turning their swords into'ploughshares,
and cultivating, in, their fine climate, the fruits of the
earth. They hadmalso a large Christian community open-
ing up in India Witness the Red River, where a
converted native Hindoo was preaching the Gospel
with great success. Was that nothing ? He.(the chair-
man) thought it was regreat deal for the society to have
achieved. Witness- again, in North-Western: America,
where a young man was now preaching the gospelamongst
his own countrymen. Well, then, let him turn to Africa.
He held in his hand a letter from a black clergyman, whom
he thought it an honour to have had in his house. The
letter was dated Abbeokuta-,March 17,1853. Hear what he
said : "The bishop, in whose cause you took so much interest
and active part, is now- in- his see ; he has an extensive
diocese; we shall expect hitnto pay us a visit here abort the
end of the year. I believe he will prove a great blessing to
this country; for, the more I:think of him, the more I value
him as a kind and evangelical overseer over the Lord's
people in this part of God!e-vineyard. I hear candidates
for holy orders are being selected among the natives in
Sierra Leone, of whom I believe there will be five or six
at first, and there is one ready waiting for him here also.
These are men who have been tried in God's work, and
proved faithful, pious, and exemplary in their character ;-
and I hope the presence of as bishop in Sierra Leone will
exercise salutary influence over the young and rising-
generadon, and the Christian community will derive
much spiritual good by his visitation. The Church of
England: have done their part nobly in providing a bishop;
it is now to be left to the Lord of the vineyard to dispose
him as it seems good to his infinite wisdom and goodness.
I am glad to say our Abbeokuta mission continues to
afford us every encouragement we would wish. All our
public places of worship continue to be very well attended.
One of the churches in which Mr. Townsend preaches has
already Leen enlarged, and yet is filled up again. Candi-
dates for baptism are being weekly added to the list, and
the conduct of our baptised Christians is exemplary
among their heathen neighbours; private and do-
mestic persecutions are borne with Christian
resignation, all' which tend, to convince us that
the people are not Christians in • words only, but in deed
and in truth. You will be glad to hear that our
missionary operation does not enthin Abbeokuta only, but
isextending to large and extensive towns beyond it,
east, north, and I hope shortly, westward also." This
was the account of a man who. was formerly himself
a black slave.. He was taken up. by one of her Majesty's
cruisers, and educated, and converted to the Christian
religion, and was now labouring and preaching the gospel
in his own country. He (the chairman) knew him per-
sonally, and therefore took a deep interest in him. After
a few further remarks, the chairman said he would not
anticipate the speakers that were-to follow, but:would con-
dude with the recommendation. of Solomon, who found
vanity in everything but God's service : " In the:morning
sow thy seed, and in. the evening,withhold not thy hand,
for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that,
or whether both shall be alike- good." (" Hear, hear !"
and applause.)
The report was then read by the Rev. H. CARPENTER,
one of the local secretaries. It expressed the satisfaction
felt by the committee in recording an increase in the
amount of the society's funds. In 1852, the total amount
of income was £2,688 15s. 10d., while in 1853 it reached
£2,922 18s. 11d. It entered into a general narrative of
the society's proceedings, a• fertile and gratifying field of
its exertions having been found in India. Of the general.
funds of the parent society it also drew a satisfactory pic—
ture, and stated that its gross-amount might be expected.
to reach the large sum of £=,ooo ; and what was more
gratifying still, there was every reason to anticipate that
the collections throughout the country would be larger
than for any previous year.
_ _ _

The Rev. C: MONEY, of London, the Association Secre-
tary, then came forward to move the first resolution, which
was to the effect that the report now read be adopted and
printed, and circulated under the superintendence of the
committee, and that the following gentlemen [names set
forth] be the committee for the ensuing year. He sup-
posed that meeting was to be regarded as the van of a
large army under a well-known leader, which they were to
meet in the evening. (Hear and cheers.) He felt that at
a meeting like the-present it was the duty of those who
represented the Church Missionary Society to report what
had been transacted in different parts of the world under
the guidance of the general committee of that society. He
looked upon missionary efforts as precious jewels. These
meetings, in some respects, were, perhaps, not of the same
exciting character which they formerly were; but the ac-
counts, which the committee had to lay before the friends
of the society; were not less important and interesting
than they used to be in former times. On the contrary,
whilst they had, in the society's progress, very many com-
mentaries on God's word, the result of much labour and
prayer, he felt that God was now with his own finger
writing, in heathen lands, his commentary on that word.
(Hear, hear.) It was, they most of them must know, at
a time when Europe was engaged in war, and when Eng-
land was struggling, as it were, for its very existence, that
the Church Missionary Society was first formed. At that
time, a few earnest, hearty men of. God met together to
see what they could, do to fulfil their Great Master's com-
mand. For many years but little success attended their
labours. The income of the society was small, and the
number of labourers in the causewere few. But at length
God blessed their efforts, and the income of the Church,
Missionary Society was now £124,000, whilst the stations
of the society had been multiplied from a single one to.
118 permanent stations in foreign countries. Referring
to local efforts, the speaker said he was happy to see,
from the report which Aad been read, that much
had been done for the socMy in Liverpool, and he hoped
that, considering the extending of missionary labours in
foreign countries, increased efforts would not be wanting.
The Bishop of Rupert's Land, in recently addressing his
clergy, said it was their duty to stamp upon the, people
the importance of a living Christianity. The word of the
living God, he said, was passing from lip to lip, and who
could stay it ? Now, what the Bishop of Rupert's Land
had said of the natives of North-western America, might
be said of many a race in heathen lands throughout the
world: The speaker dwelt upon the encouraging accounts
which were received of the society's operations in North-
western America, where the progress and advancement of
the great work was rapidly going forward. The Bishop
of Rupert's Land confidently looked fbrward to the day
soon arriving when Christian missions would be planted
throughout the whole of his extensive diocese ; and, when
that time arrived, it might truly be said that the influence
of the British church would encircle the whole earth.
But he (Mr. M.) would not claim for the Church Missionary
Society exclusive credit of furthering Christianity amongst
the heathen population of foreign lands. Amongst other
societies which had done much, he might name the British
and Foreign Bible Society. That society, and the other
societies which were carrying on the same work so suc-
cessfully, only showed that the blessing from on high was
with them. (Hear, hear.) But when they knew that the
benefits of the Church Missionary Society had so pecu-
liarly extended themselves to heathen countries long
neglected—that their labours had so rapidly progressed—
that they had advanced from land to land, and from shore
to shore, until they were now carrying forward their
labours in every quarter, they might truly say that the
and that large prospects and openings were
hand of G o had largely blessed their human instru-
mentality,
now unfolding themselves before the Christian's view;
Great progress had been made within the last few years,
and at present there was a vastly-increasing demand from
abroad for missionary. labourers. The speaker, in con-
tinuation, gave• some interesting particulars of the pro-
gress of the missionary cause in New Zealand. He
(the speaker) next enlarged upon the operations of the
society in India, and cited several extracts to show that
the military and civil authorities in different parts of
India were making great efforts in support of the cause
in that vast territory. In proof of the deep interest taken
in the operations of the society by the military, he stated
that, at a missionary meeting, recently held, in one dis-
trict, the resolutions were all moved and seconded by
native military officers. So that many of those, he ob-
served, who had drawn their swords in behalf of their
country, to extend British interests in the East, felt that
they must also do something to extend the kingdom of
the Prince of Peace. (Hear and cheers.) Having detailed
the progress of the society in different parts of India, he
said he could not conclude without making a few remarks
on what was now going on in the Punjaub. Most of them
would remember the time when the conflict was going on
between England and the Sikhs. Since the British arms i
had been victorious n the Punjaub, a missionary station
had been established there ; and It was gratifying
to state that a native efficgr 114 the PuNaub had

offered the society ten thousand rupees as soon as
they could send two clergymen amongst them.
Those two clergymen had been sent, and the success
of the mission in that country was very encouraging.
It was impossible to tell the meeting in a few words all
that had recently taken place in; that interesting coun-
try. A short time ago a meeting was held in the Punjaub
for the purpose of putting an end to the crime of infanti-
cide. As some of the meeting might be aware, the habit
of putting their children to death was very common
amongst the Hindoos, and especially so in the Punjaub.
At this meeting clergymen connected with the mis-
sionary society addressed the natives, and a resolution
was passed declaratory of putting an end to the crime
of infanticide. (Hear, hear !) The Sikhs were warmly
taking up the cause of Christianity. It had been said
of the Sikhs that they were not a half-and-half kind of
people, but that whatever they took in hand they did so
with zeal. The society had the most interesting accounts
of the impressions respecting these people which now
seemed to prevail. They had accounts which led them to
believe that these Affghans were part of the ten tribes.
Many things which were being discovered respecting them
had almost established the fact that they were undoubt-
edly part of the ten tribes. They were a very remarkable
people, and if eventually they laid hold of Christian truth,
who could tell how far they might not carry it through
that wide and almost boundless country ? The reverend
gentleman concluded by warmly commending the society
to the support of the meeting.
The Rev. J. BATEMAN, vicar of Huddersfield, and for-
merly a missionary in Calcutta, seconded the motion, and
entered into a lengthened account of the idolatrous prac-
tises of the Hindoo population during his residence in that
country. There were moral abominations connected with
the system, which it was almost impossible for the meet-
ing to conceive. It had been said that, notwithstanding
their idolatry, there was a great deal of morality amehgst
the Hindoo character. The speaker went on to show how
the " Thug" portion of the Hindoo population committed
wholesale murder to satisfy what they designated the call
of their gods and goddesses. He related an instancewhich
came under his own observation whilst in India. A num-
ber of these " Thugs" were brought into a roorain chains,
and confronted with him amongst others. He (Mr. Bate-
man') asked one of them how many persons he had mur-
dered, when he replied' that he had assisted in the murder
of about 150 ; and, upon; his asking him if he did nut look•
back upon it with horror, he replied, " No ; be was born a
Thug, and could not help it. If he had been born a shoe=
maker, he would have matle'shoes ; but, as he was a Thug,-
he mast murder at the call' of the goddess." The rev.
gentleman gave several other illustrations of the frightful
immorality arising out of the'system, and concluded by
an eloquent appeal on behalf' of the Church Missionary
Society.
The resolidion was carried unanimously, after which a
hymn was surv, and during thetitne a' collection was made.
The Rev. 17.-GatENE, M.A., of Priezland, proposed the
next resolution; to the effect that the numerous openings
for preaching the Gospel which= have lately presented
themselves in North-western America; Africa, and India,
are loud calls on' the members of the Church Missionary
Society. The rev.. gentleman, at somelength, enforced the
claims of the society on all true members of the Christian
Church. _ _

The Rev. J. BARZSLEY, of Manchester; briefly seconded
the resolution, reserving his remarks for the evening
meeting.
The resolution was carried, and the proteedings then
terminated.