WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 254, 28 October 1869, Page 2

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETINGS.

0 The Annual Meetings of the Wesleyan Missionary Society were held at Nelson, Stoke, and Richmond, on Monday, Tuesday, aud Wednesday evenings, and were addressed by the Revs. J. Crump, J. A. Taylor, W. G. Thomas, of Motueka, Mr, J. Smith, and other friends. The following report was read by Mr. R. Lucas, the Secretary : — The Committee of the Australasian "Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, in presenting their Annual Report to their subscribers and friends, gratefully recognise the favor and blessing of God continued to the agencies of the Society during the year. Whilst we take a review of the past progress of this Society, we are led in devout acknowledgement to exclaim, "The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad." The present state of our Missions viewed as a whole, excites the most lively gratitude to the Author of all good, yet the Committee cannot hide from themselves and their friends the fact, that at the present time there are circumstances in connection with more than one of our Missions, which, if not discouraging are admonitory. The Conference of 1868, appointed the Rev. James Caldwell, a European Missionary, to take charge of the Chinese Mission in Victoria. It was deemed wise that he should spend a year or two in China, for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the language, and gaining other information which can only he obtained on the spot. Enriched with the spirit of His Master, and longing to be able to preach Christ to the Chinese; Mr. Caldwell went to Canton; where he arrived in June, and on the sth September following, he was drowned, while bathing in a river near Canton. In reference to the Mission work in Australia, the Rev. E. King says : — I baptized 4 Chinese converts ; in this place, a Joss house has been converted into a house of prayer, the keeper of that temple, Hoa Pang, is one of the converts baptized ; there are other enquirers after Truth, and in the course of a few years the Chinese Church in this conntry will number hundreds of converts. There are about 20 Church members, some of those who have been baptized have removed to other parts of the colony, whilst others have returned to China, and are spreading the Light and Truth of the Gospel in their native land. In remembrance of the large expenditure of men and means of the Maori Mission alone, we can but feel deep humiliation and sorrow. Still, mourn as we do, we are very far from yielding our Moari Mission to the enemies of the Lord, as an illustration of what they call " the failure of Christian Missions," Protestant Missisons in New Zealand have not been a failure : so far from a failure it would be easy to show that for the first 30 years of their operation these Missions were a great and signal success ; and though we cannot report of large and attentive congregations, listening to the Word of Life, of flourishing schools of adults and children, and of thousands united in Church fellowship, yet we may Dot forget that, since the commencement of the Moari Mission of this Society, large numbers have received the Truth, been made free from sin, lived holy useful lives, died peacefully, and are now before the throne of God and the Lamb, whilst a goodly number are still useful members of Society. Friendly Islands District :— The Reports from this fovored Mission for the past year are satisfactory and encouraging. In every Circuit the Missionaries have been favored with unmistakeable signs of the Divine approval of their work ;' sinners have been converted, backsliders have been restored, and believers have been built up in their most holy faith, Bible religion is taking a firmer hold of this people, and they are manifesting even more than their wonted zeal and love in their pecuniary contributions for Missions. In the three Circuits, they received at their Annual Missionary Meeting, upwards of £1,100 in cash, in addition to. their contribution in Oil of about" £1,200, making £2,300 from this district for the past year. The establishment of the District Collegiate Institution in Nukualofa, Tonga, is perhaps the

most remarkable feature in this mission. Undei? the charge of our devoted Missionary, 'the Her. J. E. Moulton, named '• Tubou College," in honor of -King George, whose royal name and title, according to Tonga custom, is "Tubou." Mr. Moulton says : — During the sittings of our Tonga Parliament, an arrangement was entered into with the Government, to admit a number of chiefs' sons to a participation in the benefits, of the College, on payment of a small annual fee. Upwards of 30 of these are now on the books. Our College Hall, which has been erected during the year, is a wooden building 80 feet by 25, and the cost of building, flooring, 'fitting up, &c. ia between £300 and £400. This, however, is no charge upon the Mission Fund, the whole amount has been raised. The King and people of the islands subscribed part, and the remainder has been collected by the Eev. S. W. Baker from friends in the Colonies. But the best of all is God is with us ; and that His name is near, His wondrous works declare. Total number of students, 80 ; 79 of whom are meeting in class. Fiji District : — This important Mission has been during the year the scene of events new and peculiar. Owing to the sudden immigration of Europeans and other foreigners, to some parts of the group, your missionaries have had to do with a state of things hitherto unknown, and requiring on the part of the Committee and missionaries, great wisdom and constant attention. Viewing the matter in the light of past events, and experience in other lands — New Zealand especially — we confess to the deepest anxiety for the future of our Missions in Fiji. From two or three extracts from the Reports, we learn the character of affairs now doing ia . Fiji. A native missionary from Bua says: — Concerning Waqa, the land which so lately lotued, when I went to the baptising, and the candidates read the word of God in my hearing, I rejoiced greatly and gave thanks to God. A very living thing is this lotu in Waqa. At Viwa, a thing of joy to the people is the lotu, nearly all can read the sacred Book ; the Lovefeast was a hot one, for all oid men, and old women, and young people wished to tell the character of God's work in their hearts.In the Kandavu Report we have the following : — "The past year has been unparelleled for disease and death. No fewer then 424 members have passed into the eternal world. Some of these were influential chiefs whose loss will be long felt. Bnt when we think what they once were, and what the gospel has done for them, how it subdued their proud spirits, softened their hard hearts ; brought them in penitence to the feet of Jesus, renewed their nature, purified their thoughts ; made them useful members of the Church of Christ ; taught them how to live a life of faith on the Son of God, and to die resting on Jesus, we magnify the grace of God in their perfect and everlasting salvation. A Catechist of Tonga has entered into rest. He was a true and faithful servant of the Lord for many years. During bis long and painful illness we always found him with a firm faith in Christ, a bright hope of Heaven, and a heart longing to talk of the love of God, He said, I cling to Jesus, and through Him I shall have eternal life ; my salvation is clear, for Christ saves me through His blood. Rotuman Circuit :— This lone Island standing about 300 miles north of Fiji, with about 3,000 inhabitants, is still occupied by our devoted Missionary. The Rotumans as found by the Gospel are ignorant and proud, ambitious and jealous, sensitive and rapacious, boastful and cowardly, pretentious and mean. The great majority of those we call our people stand well, understand the Gospel ( better, and grown in attachmeut to it, they present a very pleasing contrast to their former selves, as well as to their present popish and heathen friends. The whole of the New Testament is now translated into the Rotuman toungue, and is undergoing careful revision by Mr. Fletcher. The following is a general summary of the stations occupied by the Society: — Number of chapels ... .;. 725 Number of other preaching places ... 416 Missionaries and assistant ditto ... 123 Catechists ... ... ... 843 Day-schoolteachers ... ... 1,940 Sabbath-schoolteachers... ... 3,232 Local preachers .. ... — 1,409 Class-leaders ... ... ... 3,038 Full and accredited church members 27,207 On trial for membership... ... 6,705 SabVath- schools ... ... 1,142 Sabbath-scholars ..; ... 63,190 Day-schools ... ... ... 1,585 Day-scholers ... ... ... 59,908 Attendants j>n public worship „. 131 3 727 Printing establishments ... ... "2 The income for 1868 is— from colonial districts £5582 7s 6d, from mission districts £4121 18s 8d; making a total of £9704 5s 2d. The expenditure £13,500 2s lOd, leaving £3,795 10s 8d deficiency, to be paid by the Missionary Committee in London. In conclusion:— the Committee respectfully solicit the prayers and sympathies, as also the more systematic and liberal support of all their friends on behalf of those Missions. In order not only to sustain the present work but to extend our operations to the regions beyond. Fields are white unto harvest. On every hand are open doors ; tens of thousands sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death send forth piteous cries of help. We have what they lack, and lacking which they perish. We have " the treasure "■ of the' Gospel, and we have it in charge, and their debtors we are who cry to us for it. Are we guiltless in withholding it ? Our help is askedj our help is demanded, our help is needed. Let all help in prayer, in influence, in effort, in gifts. " Freely ye have received, freely give." •• ■ •