The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-05-27 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

On Tuesday, the adjourned meeting of this excellent
society was held at the Amphitheatre, every part of the
capacious building being crowded.
. .

The Rev Dr. TATTERSHALL was called to the chair,
and in the course of some excellent remarks reminded
the meeting that the society had for its object the pro-
moting of the truths of their holy religion, and that in
connexion with the Established Church. Were they not,

as churchmen, pledged to the propagation of religion
among the heathen? lie thought they clearly were.
The missionary spirit pervaded all their services. In
proof of which be referred to the Lord's Prayer and the
67th Psalm, which they were constantly in the habit of
using. After reading the latter, he concluded by express-
ing a hope that they might imbibe more of its spirit, and
exemplify it more fully in their practice.
The Rev. J. C. MILLER, of Chelsea, moved the first
resolution. He was most delighted to see the interest
manifested in the cause in Liverpool. It had been said

that a missionary society was not a bad thermometer of
the spiritual state of the people ; and he was glad to see
the thermometer in such order. The communicants in
connexion with their mission amounted to 10,000, and
the nature of the increase was of the most satisfactory
d'iscription, with respect to the soundness of the princi-
ples of the converts. In New Zealand the effects of the
operations of the society had been most striking. A re-
markable instance of the influence of the principles of the
Gospel on one of the chiefs was cited in proof of this. In
Western Africa, the most interesting scene of the socie-
,ty's labours, a like success had been realised. And it was
gratifying to know that the health of the mission was now
unprecedented. That mission had sent its first branch to
Abyacoota, about ninety miles in the interior from
I3adagry. If was a large and populous city, and the ut-
most anxiety had been expressed by the people to receive
the Gospel. There was one feature connected with the
schools at Sierra Leone of a very interesting kind. In-
stead of seeing the adult teacher with a class of little
children, they would find the children surrounded by
adults, sometimes a child of six years old sitting on its
parent's knee, and endeavouring, with its youthful lips,
to communicate the delightful lessons it had itself learned.
He would now direct them to another important sphere
of their exertions—the Chinese empire. He lamented to
say, that in the treaty concluded with that country there
was no stipulation in favour of the English missionaries,
or even of the English Church, the French had put us
to shame in this respect. They would be astonished

when he told them that the total number of Protestant

missionaries in China was thirty-one, both for England
and America. Of these only three belonged to the Eng-
lish church, and of those only two were in connexion
with that society. But what bed Rome done? Rome
had got seven Popish missionaries in Hong-Kong. At
Macao, six went out with the French ambassador. In
the central and south-western provinces there were ten
Romish bishops, four assistants, and 144 priests. Was
not this a sufficient stimulus to them to put forth all their
exertions? Surely it was; and he could assure them
that the accounts from China were of a kind to afford
them the most encouraging hopes of an abundant reward.

The Rev. FREDERICK MosoD, Pastor of the Re-
formed Church at Paris, seconded the resolution. The
association in this country had taken for the sphere of
their labours South Africa ; and they now counted nine
missionary stations, with sixteen missionaries. They had
fifteen persons in the missionary institution at Paris ; and
their income for the past year was X 4,000. They had
1,800 souls—formerly Pagan souls—in connexion with
them, with the prospect of many more. They would not
consider these results despicable, when they remembered
that in France there were not more than a million and a
half of nominal Protestants, and that of these very few
possessed in any great portion the goods of this world.
He was happy to say, that during the last year 190,000
copies of the Bible had been diffused through France, and
during the last twenty years not less than 3,000,000 copies.
And this had been done mainly through the instrument-
ality of that great and blessed society, the British and
Foreign Bible Society. This was a real cause for rejoic-
ing. The diffusing of the Bible was the life and root of
all their Christian enterprise. In France the Roman Ca-
tholic population was turning from Rome, and turning to
the Bible, and that not by one, or two, or three, or a
hundred in a year, but by villages, by populations, by
thousands, in the north, south, east, west, and centre of
the country. The speaker then entered into some details
to illustrate the character of Popery in France, by show-
ing the desperate expedients resorted to by the priests to
make proselytes, and the pretended miracles and relics
employed to delude and impose upon the ignorant people.
He then referred to the resurrection of the Jesuits as a
proof of the progress of the Gospel in France ; but in
proportion to the opposition they had to encounter
should be the zeal and liberality of their friends. The
Romish Propaganda had spent during the last year, in
the propagation of their principles, no less a sum than
£142,500 sterling. Had those whom he addressed less
zeal for the truth, than the Romanists had for their lying
superstition.

The Rev. FRANCIS CLOSE expressed his gratification at
the prosperous state of this society. There are at pre-
sent seven or eight vessels sailing between Sierra Leone
and the bite of Benin, carrying into the very heart of
Africa civilization and the true spirit of Christianity. A
pentecostal time was commenced in Africa, and men
were hearing in about 40 different tongues, the wonderful
works of God. It was becoming the land of civilization.
He then alluded to the extraordinary results produced
by the mission on the Banks of the Hudson and in New
Zealand. He regretted that the peaceable condition of
the latter country was being jeopardised by the New Zea-
land Company, whose object was that of pounds, shil-
lings, and pence, and he called upon the meeting to pray
for the continued prosperity of the people of that country.
He denounced the government system of education in
India as a godless system, and contended that education
without religion was a curse and not a blessing. The
most effective opponents of the truth of God in India are
the pupils connected with the government schools; and
a greater fallacy never existed tha❑ that of supposing that
the idolatry of India or of Rome was to be upturned by
secular education. To show the identicality of the fea-
tures of Popery and Paganism, he referred at some
length to China, asserting that the highest state of ment.il
culture and civilization is compatible with the retention
of idolatry. He next referred to North West America,
for proof that the active emissaries of Home were the
opponents of the Church of England.
The Rev. HUGH M'NEILE rose amidst loud applause ;
and asked whether they had ever fairly considered why
the difficulty of finding missionaries still continued. He
was sometimes afraid that the missionary enterprise was
undertaken without feeling that it was the only way by
which salvation could be carried to perishing millions.
Did the meeting believe the fact, that among the tens of
millions of the heathen population, there was not and
could not be one holy man? and if not a holy man, then
not a happy man ? They were all aware that holiness was
necessary to salvation, and that pardon and the know-
ledge of pardon were means to an end—holiness. There-
fore, if the heathen were ignorant of the charac-
ter of God, and had no commuion with him, how could
they be saved ? He would not say that this truth was
doubted or denied, but he believed it was not realized, or
the regret of the resolution would not have to be so per-
petually repeated. The fact seemed at first sight uncha-
ritable, but it was nevertheless a truth. It was sometimes
asked, why should the millions of the heathen be lost for
not believing what they never heard. This, however, was
not the question ; for they all had a standard, and how-
ever low that standard was, their practice was lower still.
Again, it was asked, did not our Lord say there was a
difference between the servant who knew his master's will
and did it not, and the servant who knew it not. Yes,
truly, He did say so ; but it was to be recollected that
both were to be beaten with stripes. The only difference
was, that while unholiness would be ruin to all, it would
be more tolerable for some than it would be for others.
The only way of escape for all was through Jesus Christ.
We had the Gospel, and the heathen had it not. Angels
wers not employed to preach it, but living men. It was
on this ground that the society addressed schools, mothers,
and sisters. The missionary society spoke to us in our
domestic circle. Do we believe what we profess ? Was
the cause for which Christ died the greatest of causes ? If
it was, why not rear up our sons for the missionary en-
terprise ? If we were willing that our children should enter
the army rather than the church, did we really believe
what we professed ? If mothers and sisters looked on the
missionary occupation as angels did, it would be consi.
dered a blessing to be engaged in such a cause. Ile pic-
tured to himself a heathen family, degraded below the
beasts, without instinct, " working uncleanness with gree-
diness." He pictured to himself the mother of that fa-
mily, whose husband was the husband of many wives. It
was a hideous picture. He turned from it to a Christian
family at home, with a beloved son in the family, who felt
a desire to be a missionary to inhospitable climes. He
sails, reaches his destination, lie addresses the natives,
God blesses his work, his heart rejoices, one native lad
&votes himself to the work; the missionary may see the
result, or he may be called to a brighter sphere to look
down upon it from above. Compare that jewel of ever-
lasting brilliancy with all the achievements of statesmen
and warriors ; and who would not send a son to be a mis-
sionary. He (Mr. M'Neile) had had a servant who felt
a desire for the salvation of souls. lie offered himself to
the Church Missionary Society, and went to Sierra Leone,
and was put in charge of a school. There, until lately,
he has been labouring, and when he came home to recruit
his health, he called-on him and gave him a written ac-
count of what was going forward at Sierra Leone. The

cv. gentleman here read the account, which was simple
and interesting. This same young man brought home the
ur:i!:ig of one of the black children in the school, which
contai,ed a prayer that •‘ he might not fall away." He
also Li•ought home a letter from a young African named
Nicol, which proved the affection of the children for their
teachers. Mr. M'Neile went on to express his thanks to
the rev. gentleman from France, who had spoken in the
earlier part of the evening, and who spoke like a man who
felt what he said. He had spoken of Popery as a man who
had been within its grasp. He had not spoken of the doc-
trines, because he imagined that the Liverpool people
knew something of what Popery was ; and so the people of
Liverpool did. The Roman Catholics now denied but did
not disprove, it being much easier to deny than to disprove.
Semper eadem was the motto of Popery, or, as an Irish-
man translated it,- worser and worsen. What did the
meeting think of England coming forward in this nine-
teenth century to teach Popery ? The people of England,
however, were to be distinguished from the rulers of Eng-
land. But the present rulers would not always remain in
the Houseof Commons,and for the sake of missions, and an
open circulated Bible, and Protestant blessings, he hoped
that at the next election there would be a change. All
the statutes which guarded Protestantism were being fast
repealed ; and the Host might be carried through the
streets. If the people could gradually yield the principles
and afterwards become habituated to all the parapherna-
lia, what would become of the cause of missions? He
was rejoiced to say, with regard to Trinity College, that
he received a letter to-day from that college stating that a
Church Missionary Society had been formed there. lie

concluded by calling on all present to be Protestant mis-
sionaries at heart, and to preach Christ, and not the
church of Christ, to the peot,'... at home and abroad.

A-donation of .4:20 Nvs handed the Chairman at the
close of the proceedings.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION AT THE
BOTANIC GARDEN.

On Thursday, the first meeting of the season for the
show of plants, flowers, &c., took place at the gardens,
and considering the rather unpropitious state of the
weather—it being cloudy, somewhat cold, and occasion-
ally threatening rain—the company in attendance was
more numerous than was expected, including much of
the beauty and fashion of the town. The public, too, gene-
rally attended numerously in the evening—thus affording
a gratifying proof of the growing favour with which these
exhibitions continue to be regarded by all classes. The
show on the whole, was not so extensive as that of last
May, which is chiefly to be accounted for by the back-
wardness of the season ; but the specimens brought up
were many of them superior, of their respective kinds,
and not a few of them presented features of novelty,
evincing at once skill, perseverance, and high improve-
ment in floriculture. Amongst those we may particu-
larly notice the Azalias, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, Garden
Roses, Calceolarias, and several beautiful and curious
stove and exotic Orchidaceous plants. An Azalia Rosea
full of bloom, and rising 13 or 14 feet in height, which
was sent by Mrs. Ashton, of Woolton-hall, excited much
attention. A set of entirely new roses, consisting of
Hybrid, of France and China, Provence, Perpetuals,
Bourbons, &c., including La Reine, the Souvenir Mal-
maison, Mrs. Rosanquet, and others of a superb des-

cription, and nearly all sweet scented, were sent by
Messrs. Whalley, and formed a principal attraction. Next
to these stood a collecting calceolarias, nearly all seedlings,
from Messrs. Davies's nursery, of all hues, colours, and
spots, and so fully grown upon comparatively small
plants, as to form a striking contrast in advancement to
others near them of the culture of the olden times.
There were many well-grown specimens of Fuchsias,
especially amongst those sent by R. W. Preston, Esq.,
amongst which were the VenusVictrix,with a purple corolla
relieving the flower, the Vesta, and a dwarf Jessimina
flora, and Boma Intermedia. Amongst those sent by
T. S. Gladstone, Esc., were also several fine plants.
There were two stands of 6 stove plants each (distinct
kinds); one stand sent by Mrs. Forster, including a fine
Tripwolum Tricolorum (on a circle of wire-work) ; and
another by Messrs. Cunningham, including a fine speci-
men of the Lachenaultia Biloba, a heath-looking plant
with a small bright blue flower, both of which collections
were mere most creditable to the growers. A still finer
specimen was shown by Messrs. Davies. The baskets of
miscellaneous plants were rich in specimens, and well
broken. That sent by W. Blain, Esq., was superb, and
included a beautiful Rosa Devoniensis. Mrs. Ashton,
Mr. Gladstone, and others were also successful in this
department. Mrs. Joseph Ashton sent a basket of vege-
tables (the only one we saw) containing (for the season)
well-grown sea-cale, potatoes, cauliflowers, asparagus,
French beans, mushrooms, turnips, &c. Mr. Skirving
contributed, but not for competition, some fine ericas,
cactuses, fuchsias, &c., also a basket of plants. All these
and many fine plants fro ,n Mr. Shand and others, which
we have not room to recapitulate, were in the tents.
In the Greenhouse, which of itself forms a show, there
was a fine but not large collection of exotic Orchidacew.
Three fine specimens of the Cattleya Mossem, produced
by John Moss, Esq., formed a great attraction. One of
these insect-flowered parasites presented slender stems
about or over two yards in length. He obtained two
prizes for this variety, and one for another. Owing, we
presume, to the coldness of the season, no fruit was
brought forward, if we except a fine bunch of the Musa
Sapientum, or fig banana, which were produced in the
hot-house of the gardens. This defalcation makes us
almost tremble for the ensuing crops of strawberries,
gooseberries, and currants, which the cold winds have
probably injured, or much retarded.
In addition to the prizes assigned to nine classes (de-
signated alphabetically in the scheme), prizes of 10s. and
ss. were agreed to be awarded to the collection in those
classes which should be best named by the exhibitor,—to
be awarded by the office's of the Botanic Garden, (not
by the usual judges,) and who should be guided in their
judgment by the consideration not only of the correctness
of the names, but of the accuracy of the spelling, and the
neatness of the writing.
Mr. Parker's Royal Cheltenham Band was in attend-
ance during the day, and scarcely ever ceased playing
choice and popular airs. On this occasion the whole had
brass instruments alone, the first time they had appeared
with them in public ; and the novelty was hailed with a
degree of approbation which indicated that the change
was as highly acceptable as it is suitable for the open
sylvan space around. The gardens, which annually con-
tinue to improve in shade and shelter, afforded in their
terrace and winding walks, and verdant lawns, delightful
promenades for the company, who lingered on the ground
until a comparatively late hour, although some slight rain
had previously fallen.
The following is a

LIST OF THE PRIZES

AzALlAs.—Mrs. Ashton, Wootton Hall; John !Estop, gar-

Fucusias.—lst. R. W. Preston, Esq., Beech Hill ; John
Morris, gardener. 2nd. T. S. Gladstone, Esq., Olive Mount;
Wm. Brown, gardener.
CAPE HEATHS.—Messrs. Davies & Co., Nursery, Wavertree.
CAPJ: HEATHS on EPACRIS.-ISt. Wm. Shand. Esq., Spring-
wood, Allertou ; John Mitchell, gardener. 2ud. Messrs. Davies
and Co.

CALCEOLARIAS.—:St. Messrs. Davies & CO. 2nd. Mrs. Ash-
ton.

PELARGONIUMS.—AII new, Messrs. Davis and Co. Distinct
varieties—lst. W. Shand, Esq.; 2nd. T. S. Gladstone, Esq.;
3rd. Wm. Blain, Esq.. Beech Hill; 11. Hughes, gardener.
FORCED GARDEN RosES.—Messrs. Whalley, Nursery, Fair-
field ; John Smith, gardener.
CHINESE HYBRID Rosiis.—Messrs. Whalley.

MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS.-ISt. Wm. Blain, Esq. ; 2nd. Mrs.
Ashton ; 3rd. T. S. Gladstone, Esq. Extra—lst. Mrs.T. Foster,
Woo'ton Hill, (John Reid, gardener) ; 2nd. Arthur Steains, Esq.,
Kensington, (John Winter, gardener.)
STOVE OR GREENHOUSE PLANTS.—Six plants—lst. Mrs. T.
Foster; 2nd. G. Cunningham, Esq , Oak Va'e, (Thomas Smith,
gardener.) Four plants-Ist. Messrs. Davies and Co.; 2nd.
%V. Shand, Esq. Single specimen—lst. Mrs. Ashton ; 2nd. G.
Cunningham, Esq.
EXOTIC ORCHIDACE.N.—Six plants-Ist. Wm. Blain, Esq.;
2nd. Isaac Hadwen, Esq., Edge-lane, (John Armstrong, gar-
dener.) Four plants—M. Thomas Johnson, Esq , Runcorn. (S.
Hughes, gardener.) Single specimen—lst. John Moss, Esq.,
Otterspool, (Noah James, gardener); 2nd. Ditto; 3rd. Thomas
Johnson, Esq.
VEGETABLES.—Mrs. Ashton, Woolton.

GARDENERS' PRIZE, for the best-named plants (as alluded to
above).-Ist. John Armstrong, gardener to J. Hadvven, Esq.;
2nd. Messrs. Davies and Co.