The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-05-14 00:00:00

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Theannual meeting of the Liverpool and West Lancashire
branch of the Church Missionary Society took place yester-
day morning in the theatre of the Collegiate Institution.
The number present was not so great as on former occa-
sions, and the majority were ladies. The chair was occupied
by the Rev. Chancellor Raikes ; and the Hon. and Rev.
Lord Wriothesley Russell, Rev. C. Hodgson and Rev. F.
Close attended as a deputation from the parent society.
On the platform were Alderman Horsfall, C. Inman,
Esq., Alderman Molyneux, and W, Maples, Esq., as
well as the following clergymen :—Revs. W. W. Ewbank,
W. Rawson, R. Davies, F. Barker, F. Parry, H. Car-
penter, S. Minton. H. Marlen, H. Hampton, W. Fal-
loon, W. Wright, D. James, W. Purdon, A. F. Power,
G. Dover, J. Hassell, J. Stewart, West Derby, Wm.
Hughes, R. Owen, M'Naught, J. C. Cowan, J.
Butler, R. V. Ryan, Humphries, Fawden, H. Mosse,
W. Brewster, T. Robinson, D. Barry, J. Lowe, R. W.
Wolseley, and C. A. Graham.
The Rev. Chancellor RAIKES, after taking the chair,
addressed the meeting :—He had no intention of tres-
passing for any length of time on the attention of his
christian friends, but he must be permitted to say that he
hoped and trusted that they would not take the apparent
number at the meeting as any symptom of falling off in
the interest taken in the association : he hoped and trusted
he need not be disheartened just at the time when God
seemed to be opening out a track through the whole earth
for our missionaries •, it was hardly necessary for him to
say that every succeeding year opened new spheres for
the labours of missionaries. (Hear, hear.) It was to he
expected that anxiety would be felt on the part of the
association if anything like distrust were evinced just at
the moment when God appeared to bless their efforts.
But he tru-ted that there was no such feeling, and that
the details that were about to be given to them by the
secretary, would have the effect of dispelling any momen-
tary coldness. In allusion to a subject that at present dis-
tracts the Church, the rev. speaker observed that it was
delightful to sec them turn from baptismal regeneration
to the more important object of extending christian bap-
tism ; turning from that question which only tended to
create strife to the nobler one of bringing about the teach-
ing of Cie "simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus," which,
after all, should be the end and object of all their pro-
ceedings on earth. The individuals who were moving in
that strife, were not those whom they were accus-
tomed to meet on such occasions as the present. The
rev. gentleman proceeded with much force to show that
the sticklers for spiritual power in the Church were not
following out the ends of their mission so effectually as
those who humbly and with all earnestness endeavoured
to diffuse and teach the gospel in quarters where its
sounds were heretofore unheard : though he was not un-
mindful of the duty they owed to God lo stand up for
the faith " once delivered to the saints," nor did he
doubt that the church ministers would shrink from that
duty, if ever their religion were threatened. The rev.
gentleman resumed his seat, after which
The Rev. SECRETARY offered up a prayer, and at its
conclusion. read the report :
The report, after expressing gratitude to God for the abun-
dant blessing granted to the society, stated that 5554 heathens
had been admitted during the past year by baptism into our
churcu, in the several missionary stations of this society. The
number of communicants too has been increased by 543: No
fewer than 40,000 children are receiving Christian education
in the schools of the society, and the stated hearers of the gos-
pel in the society's missions amount to 107,000. The society
has now in its service 1400 lay preachers (almost all converted
heathens), 147 ordained c ergymen, 13 of whom are natives of
the countries in which they latiour. Notwithstanding the
fears felt by many, the income of the society is greater than
that of last year by £3OOO, and amounts to £104,273. New
openings of a most promising character are daily presented,
Most touching appeals from Africa. Syria, Punjaub, and from
Scinde have recently been received, and my must be rejected
un'ess more strenuous efforts are made. The report concluded
with a warm and eloquent tribute to the memory of the late
Rev. E. Bickersteth, `who, though dead yet speaks, inviting
us by his blessed example to more simplicity of purpose, more
fervent zeal, more Christian devotedness. and more holy love
in this and every other work of Cod.'
The treasurer's account showed that the receipts of the
Liverpool Association, during the past year, amounted to
2342 18s. 4d., whilst 'hose of the previous year were £2413;
and that the sum of 42360 had been remitted to the parent
Institution. The report contained an earnest appeal to the
churchmen of Liverpool for increased contributions, for there
never was a time when the society needed more the zeal and
energies of its single-minded friends.
The Rev. THOMAS ROBINSON, incumbent of St. Bar-
tholomew's, proposed the first resolution, which was the
adoption of the report and the appointment of the officers
for the year ensuing. He said ae should sincerely regret
his position as a junior clergyman if he were not identi-
fied with this great missionary society. (Hear.) It was
one of the most marvellous instrumentalities of the age
for evangelizing the world, and he could hardly regard it
as a human institution, for not only did he recognize
the finger of -God in the blessed reformation, hut "equally
in the birth and growth of the Church Missionary So-
ciety, The spirit of missions which burned in the hearts
of those men who established the Missionary Society was
not of human origin—it was the doing of Almighty God.
He took a live coal from off the altar of heaven and
placed it upon the altar of their hearts. They thought
about the world lying in the arms of the wicked one—
they thought about the glorious truth, " Jesus Christ,
by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,"—they
thought ahout the culpable negligence of the Church in
regard to the conversion of the world ; they thought
about' that prophetical day in whose unclouded light
no man should say to his brother, " Know the Lord,
for all shall know him from the least even unto ,the
greatest ;" and thinking about these great and striking
subjects, they met together to take counsel one with
another—to mingle thir tears and their prayers before
the throne of grace. Those prayers were heard—those
prayers were answered, and answered far beyond their
most sanguine expectations. The effect had been placed
before tnem that morning, in the report which had been
read. It was replete with information—it told its own
tale, and carried conviction along with it, which showed
what a great and glorious work was being carried on
through the instrumentality of the society in foreign lands.
To his mind that success was to be attributed, under
Gbd's blessing, to the Scriptural views held by • its con-
ductors on two points, namely, man's ruin by sin, and
his restoration through Jesus Christ, without meddling
with those refined questions which now agitate the
Church. (Hear, hear.) The reverend gentleman then
continued in eloquent strains to urge the claims of the
society on the attention and support of his hearers ; but
more especially to an interest in their prayers, for no
prayer was lost. If offered riahtly, and in a good spirit,
they were indented around the throne of God, and pro-
! duced their effect when looked on by the Eternal, sanc-
tified as they were by the incense of our Saviour's right-
eousness. (Loud cheers.)
_ The Rev. C.Honosorr, one of the deputation seconded

the motion. He congratulated them on the manifest
growth of their association since last he had the privilege
of corning amongst them fourteen years ago. During that
period they had indeed witnessed the growth not merely
of missionary interest and zeal but also of christian prin-
ciples in that place, which was well calculated to call forth
expressions of thankfulness and hearty congratulations to
themselves. Fourteen or fifteen years ago such a meeting
as that could not be gathered together even at night, and
the treasurer's account presented a very different aspect to
what it did then, although things were not yet all that
could be wished; yet they thanked God and took courage.
The speaker then proceeded to notice the progress which
missions had made. There were now thirty-seven socie-
ties, employing five thousand missionaries, and during the
last half century above half a million converts had been
baptized into the Church of Christ. (Hear, hear.) Pro-
fessor Hoffman had stated in the preface to his volume of
sermons on missions, that during the last half century the
number of those converted by means of missions was
equal to the whole of those received into the Church dur-
ing the whole of the first century of the christian era.
(Hear, hear.) Such had been the effect of the blessings
of God on their puny efforts, for they were but puny after
all. He was sure all present would rejoice in the truly
Catholic spirit which had always actuated the
society, as was manifested on that truly Catholic
rule adopted on its first formation—" that they
should maintain a friendly intercourse with all
other Christian Missionary Societies." During the
past year some additions had been made to their missions,
which now included New Zealand ; they had 150 mission-
aries, within two, in holy orders,—a larger number than
at any former period. Many of the appointments too had
been exceedingly good—he alluded to the Bishops of Vic-
toria, of Prince Rupert's Island, of Calcutta, and of a
young man of great talent, a Fellow of Oxford, as Mis-
sionary to Agra, upon the Punjaub. These facts cheered
the hearts of their friends. It was marvellous too what
had been wrought in New Zealand. Twenty years ago
there were only twenty-nine converts, now there were
about. 5,000 communicants, and he dared hardly name the
number of attendants on Christian worship, but he be-
lieved it was somewhere about 40,000, or one half the
people of the Island thus praying to Almighty God. In
Africa there were five missions, and the prospect of evan-
gelizing that country became every year brighter and bet-
ter. In the north and the south, in the east and the west,
very important measures had been adopted for introduc-
ing the Gospel ; and even the natives themselves ware
anxious that white men would come and reside amongst
them. Such in fact was the earnestness in the matter,
that the King of Abyssinia had written for a missionary.
The Society had now 120 African teachers—men of God,
although only four were yet in Holy Orders. The rev.
gentleman then alluded to the ordination of a young
African, named Miholls, who wrote a paper on the evi-
dences of Christianity, written previous to his ordination,
had been spoken of by the Bishop of London, in these
terms—that he had hardly met with one so satis-
factory. (Hear, hear, and applause.) After referring to
a number of facts relative to the spread of the gopsel in
various parts of Africa, facts highly important and
interesting, he proceeded to observe that the particular
feature of the missionary cause, after all, which it be-
hoved them to place prominently before a public meet-
ing was the manifold openings which God was making for
an extension of their work. In China, in Africa, in India.
in the isles of the sea, in every direction, a wonder-work-
ing Providence was beckoning them forward. Who was
to do this ? They must rely upon old friends. Those
who now became members of the society were allowing
their attention to be diverted, and were not, he was
afraid, so hearty in their attachment to its principles.
He therefore appealed to those present for their strenu-
ous assistance. The pecuniary affairs of the Society were
in a very unsatisfactory state. There had been no in-
crease in its funds during the last ten years, particularly
from the local Associations. In four dioceses there had
been a decrease in five years of £7,44o—this year it was
between £1,600 and £1,700. making a total decrease of
tluise Associations of £9,000. In Oxford the decrease
had been £l,OOO ;in Exeter it was £2,519. (Hear.)
Thus whilst the Society was doing its work satisfactorily,
whilst it was wending its way in a manner which showed
that the blessing of God rested upon it, there was a de-
crease of pecuniary assistance. (Hear.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
A collection amounting to £26 was then made, during
which the audience sang, "All bail the power of Jesu's
same."

The Rev. F. CLOSE moved the next resolution, to the
effect that the increase and magnitude of the work of
God, within the influence of the Church Missionary
Society was such that it ought to invite the Christian at
home to an enlargement of their prayers, their efforts,
and their alms. The rev. gentleman commenced by ob-
serving, that the object of the resolution might, in one
sense, said to be over. The collection had been made,
and anything he could say would not add another sixpence
to it ; but inasmuch as there were to be some other meet-
ings, if his arguments should convince any one that they
ought to have put eighteen pence on the plate instead of
one shilling, he hoped they would not fail to give the
balance the next evening. (Cheers and laughter.) The
society was now in a very extraordinary position. Formerly
the facts brought before missionary meetings consisted
almost exclusively of horrid tales of heathen cruelty—
formerly the missionary hardly knew where to place his
foot—now, when there were extraordinary openings, when
the whole world was before them—was that a time when
their friends at home should withhold their hands. The
success which had hitherto attended the society, was
after all in a great measure owing to the exertions of a
few warm friends of the cause, deeply convinced of its
truth ; it was in the deep waters of pure Protestant truth
and Christian feeling, that our missionary ship must go
on prosperously. (Hear, hear.) But blessed be God
the cause did not alone depend on human aid, and though
they might humble man by taking the work out of his
hands, yet it would prosper. Whatever they were doing
at home, God's work was prospering abroad. The rev.
gentleman then referred to the operations of the society
in foreign lands. And first he would take them to Jerusa-
lem. They would probably say that was a Jew's question ;
but it was now becoming a Church Missionary question.
There was now a Christian bishop there and he was one
of the most devoted and best friends of the society, as his
labours in Abysinnia and Egypt testified. He was about
forming a Missionary Society to. Syria and the dark re-
gions beyond, but his efforts were fettered by the conduct
of those at home. As an instance of the success of the
Scriptures alone, be mentioned that some time ago a
number of members of the Greek Church applied to the
bishop to be permitted to join the Protestant Church.
He was obliged to refuse them ; they begged from him
some copies of the Bible, wishing him to appoint some
one to assist them to understand it. He did so, and
same time after a priest of their t-hurcli complained that
they made light of fasting, refused auricalar confession,
praying to the Virgin Mary, and denyitig the truth
of transubstantiation. What a mischievous Book the
Bible must be ? The priest was advised to turn the
refractory members out of his Chnrch ; but he replied
that if he turned one out, all the rest would follow. Soon
after a number of them applied to the bishop for admis-
sion into the Protestant Church, observing that they
would no longer continue members of a Church which
they knew to be idolatrous. The bishop would not re-
ceive them, and he exclaimed " What am I to do ?"
The reason was—when the Anglican Bishoprick at Jeru-
salem was first formed, therewere into oduced clauses in the
bill prohibiting the bishop from making or receiving con-
verts from the Greek or Roman Churches at Jerusalem.
Thus, whilst the bishop had solemnly pledged himself to-
promulgate the truth and cast down the battlements of
error, he was bound hand and foot by Act of Parliament
not to do so. (Hear.) And although there was a firman
from the Grand Turk in his favour, which permitted Jews,
Armenians, Europeans, Greeks, and Romans, to change
their religion, yet some Popish Turk at home prohibited
their'being received into the Protestant church. " West
am Ito do" ? exclaims the bishop. Why let Protestant
England speak -out—let her determine that the fetters
shall be taken off. (Cheers.) It must be done ! (Re-
newed cheers.) The King of Prussia was completely out-
witted in the matter, and he had complained of it. (Hear,
hear.) The rev. gentleman then proceeded to notice the
operation of the society in India, and completely refuted
the observation which had been made that nothing had
been done, and in conclusion begged the meeting to
reflect whether it was right, and whether they could ex-
pect the blessing of God on their own pastors, upon their
own children and families, when they knew for a truth
that the heathens were thirsting for knowledge, and the •
society was willing to give it, but could not do so, because
people would not afford them something from their lux-
uries, in order to enable them to do it. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Lord WRIoTIIESLEY RUSSELL had great
pleasure in rising to second the resolution, especially as
the preceding speakers had relieved him from the respon-
sibility which would otherwise have fallen heavily upon
him, by the ample details with which they had favoured
the meeting. He had gladly accepted the invitation to
come amongst them as an advocate of the society ; but
he did not expect to see himself announced as one of the
deputation, nor could he understand why it was so. except
it arose from the fact of his being a warm and attached
friend of the Missionary Society, and a deep conviction
of the great blessings it had conferred, not only upon the
heathen abroad, but upon our own land. (Cheers.) He
trusted, then, the few simple. remarks which would flow
from a full heart would tend to deepen those truths they
had already heard, and induce them truly, in the language
of the resolution, to "an enlargement of their prayers,
their efforts, and their alms." They had had already set
before them the wonderful openings which God, in His
great mercy, had favoured the society with. They had
calls from all the different parts of the globe asking for
aid. They had heard what had been effected among the
Africans in Sierra Leone—of the spiritual communionists
of the Christian schools. Then, again, they had heard of
the operations of the society in India, in Tinnivelley, that
the conduct of the villagers even surpassed that of our
own cottagers at home. They also heard of the effect of
the Gospel amongst the savages of New Zealand, and of
the opening which was pres nted in China. When they
talked of increasing their efforts, they would do well to
look •back and enquire how it was that these effects had
been produced ? It reminded him of the cripple in the
Gospel. He enquired by what name or by what power
ye have done this? When they talked of conversions to
God—of evangelizing the world, the question recurred—
by what name or by what power will ye do this ? It was
not effected by sending out men to teach civilization.
That would not have done the work—it never had ; for
civilization followed Christianity. It was utterly vain to
send out men to teach civilization first. The corruption
of human nature required something more powerful.
What had mere civilization done? Look at the nations
of antiquity—at Rome, at Athens—what had it done
there? Look at the civilization of China, at India, and what
had it done for them ? How little had it accomplished in
putting down the pollutees vile practich which there ex-
isted What, had education done without the Bible, sepa-
pated from the Bible? Civilization followed in the wake of
the Bible; but in different parts of the Continent education
had been going on without it, and what did it for them ?
If they looked there and saw its effects, they would pray
from their hearts that it might never be tried in England.
(Loud cheers.) Again .there had been attempted an
adulterated, debased form of Christianity, by which some
had endeavoured to propitiate the heathen, to remove
their scruples, and make what they called Christianity as
like the idolatry of the heathen as they could.. It was
this which had rendered all the efforts and labours of the
Jesuits worse than useless. Well might they exclaim,
" Jesus 1 know, and Paul I know, but who are ye ?"
(Applause.) If all this had failed, then what had accom-
plished the mighty change ? It was not the cold, life-
less form of Christianity, which retained the name with-
out the spirit, but the Christianity which the Church
Missionary Society had always promulgated—the same
power by which the Apostle healed the cripple—it was by
faith in His name that the great cure was wrought; and
by the promulgation of that great and important
truth—" neither is there salvation in any other for there
is no other name given under heaven, among men, by
which we can be saved." (Hear, hear.) That was the
Christianity which had produced such glorious effects.
which lied been so happily expressed by one "as what
Christ suffered for us in the flesh, and what he does for
us now by his spirit." These were the great truths
which
.had done so much, and these we were called upon
to spread by increased prayers, by increased efforts, and
by increased alms. (Applause.) They had heard of the
opportunity, and, " as we have opportunity let us do good
unto all." Much remained to be done. (Hear, hear.)
The noble and rev. speaker then referred to an interesting
meeting, which he was privileged to attend, in London,
when the Bishop of Jerusalem was about to proceed to
his charge, and two young Africans were present, who
had been ordained. He also referred to the converted
Chinese Chum, who, under Bishop Smith's staff, was
about to light the candle of truth on the confines of
China. They had heard a good deal of contributions
falling off ; but an observation which fell from a poor man
in his own village'svas worth their attention. He and his
wife were on their way home from a Missionary Meeting,
.whenhis wife observed, " I think all we have heard
tonight ought to make us ashamed of ourselves for not
doing more than we do." The man replied "He should
like to do more, but times were bad, and he thought they
gave what they could spare." The wife replied that it
was time for them to give what they could not spare.
This was accompanied by contributing what had before
been spent in beer and tobacco ; and although the sum
was small, he bad very great pleasure in remitting it to
the parent society. (Hear, hear.) The noble and rev.
speaker then related an interesting anecdote respecting
an interview between one of the young African clergymen
and a poor man. The latter, after hearing the former
was a Christian, said, " Why, you are one of those whom
I have been paying. for and praying for these twenty
ift.ercluineolwCt,hlsi
erins
language,toiar
awn hdbe
etn.haelbi ual
say,
thebe a
Here
ear permitted
nedrethes
some
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sett a.
Ik take
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es
years."
Christian,
might not be able to say that, but every
south,elable
sto h should
place at the right hand of God, would see converted souls
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and, in that poor
been paying for and praying for; some brought to glory
by my prayers, and some by God's blessing on my poor
unworthy alms, and by his instrumentality permitted to
join me in singing, Blessing, and honour, and dominion,
and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb for ever and ever.' " The noble and rev.
lord resumed his seat amid loud cheers. _

Tho resolution was th en passed unanimously, and the
doxology having been sung, the Rev. CHANCELLOR pro•
nounced the apostolic benediction, and the meeting
separated.