The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1867. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 295, 13 December 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1867. WESLEY AN MISSIONARY MEETING.

The annual Wesieyaa Missionary meeting was held on Wednesday evening, in the Wesleyan Church, Hardy- street, tlie ltev. J. Crump in the chair. The report of the Australasian Wesleyan Slethodist Missionary Society lor the year ending -April, 1867, was read by- the Uev. l«. 1.. Vickeis, from which we make the lollowing extracts: — The total expenditure of the year has heen £15,-279 5s 3d., and the receipts, lrom all sources £\ 1, "2 12 3s 6d., leaving a balance of £4024 i7s Bd, . tv be granted by the Parent ijocitty in London. Through the unfailing Jiberaiity of the Biitish ami Foreign iiible Society, the Friendly Islands and Fiji Missions continue to receive supplies of the Word of God; and it is noted xr'v.h pleasure that we have now for remittance to the treasurers of -this uoble sotiety the sum of £225 17s 3d. being the amount received for cop es of the sacrtd book cold on mission-stations; an evidence ihat our native Christians have been taught to love the Book of God. We now pass to a brief notice of the Society's missions. Of the Chinese mission in Victoria the chairman of the Castlemaine and Sandhurst district reports that dv. ing the past ytar Liong-i>n-Tong has betn very sissMuous in his labors among his countryman. He lms regularly conducted divine worship on the tiabi aih day in the Mission Chapel in Castlemaiue. ah<i during tue week has visited the various Chinese encampments 'o impart instruction in the principles of Christianity. Vi-its have also been made to Daylesford and Ballaraat iur the purpose of holding religious service. We rejuice to state that this mission is still fruitful in results. Six converts from heathenism have been baptised into thu true faith by the Key. K. King. In the Sandhurst District, James Ah Ling has labored amongst the Chinese with great a< iceptance and some success. One convert has heen baptised during the year, and another now seeks admission into the Church. The result of another year's txperience has been, more than tver to confirm our faith in the value and importance of evangelistic efforts among the Chinese residents of Victoria. In view of the growing importance of this mission the grant for the current year is . £200. , The Maori work in the Northern Island of New , Zealand is no longer the sole or principal work .. claiming the attention and efforts of your missionaries. In several of the circuits no Maoris •till reside; while in others the work is more English than Maori. Kaeh succeeding year ruports a decrease in the number of Maori church ' members; and also of those who attend religious ' services. The general complaint of your mission- ' ' ariesisthat where the Maoris have not been killed ' or scattered by the late wars they have become fearfully disorganized and demoralized, and all but- hopelessly fallen into the ruinous habit of intemperance ; ' superstition and drunkeness,' as one writes, ' being the forms of evil with which *we have now especially to do battle.' And yet w cannot think, as some have said, that our ' Mission to the Maoris of New Zealand has been ■: -* a failure; many of them -during the past forty - years, 1 lived and died in the faiih of Christ; and - are with the redeemed from every land, before thethrone of God and the Lamb, and among the 471 church members now returned, there are a v goodly number who 'have not defiled iheir garijnienis.*, Your committee hope that ere long, ../these days of rebuke and blasphemy will have passed~awfty, and a brighter era have begun. Of oner thing They; are assured, that if the impending -Uruin is to! be averted, aud the remnant of Maoris i .Bayed, it can only : be by,; that 'Gospel of Christ, which is the power of God, to salvation. Xhe past year has been one' of trial tcfthe - 3?riraoUv lalwdi JJiidja* Tbt thsm senior nut*'

sionaries, Messrs Davis, Whewell, and Bilker, had all to leave during the year, on account of ddmestic affliction, and so leaving the district grejUly ■weakened. The last Conference appointed other three to this mission, and it is hoped that Mr Baker will he in circumstances to justify his return in thecourse of a few months. Notwithstanding the fewness of the laborers it is matter tor gratitude that the work of God continues in a good j state. We are still assured by those on the spot, eye and ear witnesses of what they state, that in the holy liws and peaceful deaths of many the I most blessed evidence is given that the Gospel they have received is of God, and that it came to them 'not in word only, but also in power, and in the -Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.' A recent letter from a missionary in Vavuu contains the following:— 'Our chief judge, Osainsi Tonga, is dead; he was of high rank, a friend of missionaries from the beginning, remarkable for his upright chnra' ter as a judge, as also for Ilia diligence in the duties of his office as a leader atid trustee. I was with him in his final hour, and was jrreatly pleased with his dying testimony, and^ . the confident ho j:e lie had of a bet ter resurrection.' Of this, people >t is just to say that they love, not in word 7 only but in deed and in truth; for in addition to upwards of £2000 worth of cocoa-nut oil, they sent in* cash subscriptions for 1866 upwards of £500. From the reports of yons missionaries laboring in the Samoa District, we gather that the spiritual worlt of God is in a low and unsatisfactory state. Many who name the name ut' Christ, are resting in the form of godliness without its power., In a few places there are indications of improvement, and the laborers are not left* without tokens of the Master's presence and favor. Conversions have taken place during the year, and some have passed through death triumphant home. In the Fiji group of islands there are about 18,000 church members and 90.000 attendants. This number, it ia said, approaches to one-half of the entire population. Here your missionaries are 'in labors more abundant.' The great success given occasioning the great diffieul;y felt. In one circuit; there are under »he charge of two missionaries 4260 church members, and about 9000 hearer?: these arc scattered over several widelydivided islands. Each circuit in this group is divided into sections, and each section given in charge to a native or assistant missionary ; of this clnss of valuable laborers we have about 40 in Fiii so employed, and they are mjst devoted and useful men. The following is a General Summary of the Stations occupied by this Society: —Chapels 751, other preaching places 413. mis ionarios and assistants 104, catechists GI2, day school teachers 14S1. sabbath school teachers 27«8, local preachers 1489, class leaders"29l>B; full and accredited church members 28,795, on trial for membership 5491, sabbath schools 1008, sabbath scholars 4u,816. day" scrools 1752, day scholars 42,5(>1, attendants on public worship 113,003. There are two printing establishments. Jn closing the report for another year, your committee would devoutedly 'thank God' for the past, and 'takicourage' for" the futare. The prospects of our mission vcork on the whole, are encouraging. Every year the agency ior good is increasing, and the field for its operation ever extending. Your committee again earnestly commend this society to the sympathy, the prayers, and the liberality of God's people, and all friends of Christian missions. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the l?evs. G- Thomas, P. Cahter, J. Crump, J. Davis, and J. Lee, from Blenheim. Sermons had been preached on the previous Sunday, by the TCev. J. ('rump, at which collections amounting to £9 15s. 7d. were made, and a further sum of £l lUs. was collected after the public meeting.