CONGREGATIONAL TOWN MISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 3800, 29 April 1875, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL TOWN MISSION.

About a hundred persons attended the tenth annual meeting of the above, held in the Congregational Church, Moray place, last night. After tea, in the lower hall, the chair was taken by the Rev. Dr Roseby, The report, which was read by Mr Thomson, stated that every year the mission has been in existence has afforded additional evidence of its useful* ness.” From the monthly reports Mr Macfie has supplied to the Committee, as well as from their own knowledge, they can testify to the faithful manner in which his duties as Town Missionary have been fulfilled. Brought into contact as he is with all classes of society, and almost every grade of character, it is gratifying to the .Committee, and, ought to be a matter of deep thankfulness to the subscribers, that they have such an agent to carry the message of redeeming love to many who, but for such means would scarcely hear it. Mr M'Fie himself says“ During the past year I have paid not less than 2,500 visits. The time spent in these visits is necessarily very varied; very short in some cases and more prolonged in 1 others, according to circumstances. In thus visiting, I have during the past year been brought into contact with more than 200 persons for the first time; in many of these cases I have never met them but once. Jn all those visits I make it my chief object to urge on those visited the importance of the things that belong to their peace ? and to point them to Jesus as the only and all-sufficient Saviour: that through faith in Him alone can pardon and peace be obtained, and that, of this faith a holy 1 life is the result. Where I find any who do not attend any place of worship, I urge on them.the duty of goin? to some place where they may hear the Word of God preached. Where there are children in the family I recommend the babbath School to them, and urge the parents to see that the young attend some such school. As a_ rule, I spend about three hours in the Hospital every Friday afternoon. There are always some there whom I have met outside, and in whom I feel interested. In visiting these I am often led to speak to others around them, and thus I continually enlarge the circlfe of my acquaintance." ' In all cases !am received and listened to respectfully; in many cases the interest in what I say, shown by those whom I visit, leads me to believe that my labor is not all in vain. During the year I have visited more or less frequently more than forty cases that have ended in death. Some of these cases I have visited many-times, others only a few times, and in one or two cases only once.” During the year Mr M'Fie conducted 120 meetings; and the average attendance at the Sabbath School . conducted in the Mission House, about 140 children. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been L 192, and a small balance in hand. Addresses were delivered by Dr Roseby, Mr Bathgate, R.M., and Mr Strode, and others.