LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 986, 23 August 1877, Page 3

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A public meeting in connection with the above society was held last evening at Trinity Congregational Church; the Rev. W. J. Habens presided. There was a large attendance. The proceedings were opened with prayer, after which the Chairman congratulated the meeting on having their rev. brother among them that evening. Though he (the chairman) could not prophesy anything definite as to the coming of the millenium, or as to the future, he was nevertheless satisfied on one point, viz., that they were doing their duty as Christians in carrying out the Divine command —“ Go ye unto all nations and preach the G-ospel.” He trusted that the presence of so large a meeting, consisting, as they did, of members of various congregations, and addressed by representatives of various churches, showed an awakened zeal in the carrying out of the Divine command. He had great pleasure in recommending to them the representative of the London Missionary Society, and all the more so on account of its being a strictly unsectarian society. He woidd first ask the Rev. W. Gillies, of Timaru, to address the meeting. The Rev. Mr Gillies, in the course of his remarks, said that what colonists in particular always looked for was a good return for their money, and he could assure those present that in this missionary work there was a splendid return to the church. The expenditure in connection with missions was only about £1,000,000, whereas more than £200,000,000 were spent in drink and tobacco in Great Britain alone. The rev. speaker then diew a vivid comparison between the mission work of the present time with that of fifty years ago, at which time he stated there were only about twelve missionaries laboring. The rev. chairman in a few words introduced the Rev. J. Chalmers, who said he thought that Australia and 'Now Zealand, being wealthy colonies, should take charge of and support the missions in the South Pacific, leaving to Great Britain the work of looking after large countries such as India, China, Japan, and Africa. Mr Chalmers then gave an interesting account of his twelve years’ experience in Polynesia ; his voyage out, and introduction to the mission field in the New Hebrides ; the event of his being wrecked on Savage Island, and subsequent visit to Tahite and other islands in the Society group; and entered minutely into the description of mission work in Rarotonga, showing the good effects of the work there, and how well the natives had kept the word planted among them nine years ago. The rev. gentleman concluded an exceedingly interesting address by referring to the capabilities of New Guinea, if a excellence as a field for missionary work, and the desire of the society to raise funds for the purpose of educating natives whom he had been amongst, and who were held in common brotherhood by the natives of New Guinea, with the object of their assisting in the work of the contemplated New Guinea mission. It was intended when the preparations were complete to sail from Sydney for the new field of labor. The meeting was also addressed by the Revs. 0. Eraser and D. Bruce. The proceedings won; closed with prayer and the benediction. During the evening a very substantial collection was made in aid of the missionary fund.