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 w ~•• a slight examination in order to be refuted.
It had said by some, when asked to subscribe to the
funds of e 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 and schools, and by
sending scripture readers amongst the people, endeavour
to enlighten them. Such objections, therefore, must fall
to the ground. But 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 well 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 Obeyed it,
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 had also 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 a great deal for the society to have
achieved. Witness, again, in North-Western America,
where a young man was now preaching the gospel amongst
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 hishouse. The
letter was dated Abbeokuta, March 17,1&53. 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 him to pay us a visit here about 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's 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 a bishop, in Sierra Leone will
exercise salutary influence over the young and rising
generation, 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.
lam 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 been 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.. Ton will be glad to hear that our
missionary operation does not end in 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: Ire 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-
clude with the recommendation of Solomon, who found
vanity in everything bat God's service : " Im themorning
sow thy seed, and in the evening withholdnot 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
E2,922!185. 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 £123,000 ; 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 s3f the society was small, and the
number of labourers in the cause were 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 be was happy to see,
from the report which had been read, that much
had been done for the society 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 forward 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
hand of God had largely blessed their human instru-
mentality, and that large prospects and openings were
now unfolding themselves before the Christian's view.
sennai uar
ytr egre e t i
d cause
uponn g
the operations of the
Great progress had been made within the last few years,
and at present there was a vastly-increasing demand from
iPnart New Zealand. rs
o He
(f the abroad for missionary labourers. The speaker, in con-
tinuation,
pro-
gress
nhn ae
n society in India, and cited several extracts to show that
the military and civil authorities in different parts of
tsipooefa,ktgaehre; e
nextsomenils o i
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 tho British arms
had been victorious in the Punjaub, 6 missionary station
had been established there ; and it was gratifying
to state that a waive officer in the Funianb had