WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 226, 29 July 1848, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING

On Monday evening l.ut the Yearly Meeting of the New Zealand Biaiich of the We^lfyao Missionary Society wai held in the Auckland Chupel. The Rev. James Bu'ler, of Kitpara, opened the proceedings by giving out the Hymn " Salvation, O the joyful sound," &c. which was sung by the congregation . He then engaged in prayer. / On the motion of the Rev. Walteh Lawry, Gena* ral Superintendant of the Missions in these Seas, Matthew Whytlaw, Esq., was called to the chair. The Pev. W. La-wry arose, after the Chairman had taken his seat, and said that he wished to offer a few preliminary remarks, before the speakers were called to address the assembly. He would first observe, that although it had been deemed advisable to hold their meeting at this time, their regular Missionary year had not expired, and as the p-oper time had not arrived for collect.ng the annual subscription! towards the Missionary fund, the Secretary had no Financial Report to j bring before the meeting. It was only decided, within thelastday or two that a public meeting should beheld at this time : he had hoped that the new Chapel would j have been ready to open while his brethren were assem- J bled at their district meeting, and theiefore it was ! thought better to dispense with the public Missionary meeting this year, so th-»t two great occasions should not have occurred together — that two great impulses hhould not be creval with each other— but, finding it impracticable to have the Chapel so far completed hi to admit of its being occupied immediately, it was de. termined to announce this meeting, that the brethren should not deptrt without bating an opportunity of telling their Auckland friends of all that had pasted under their observation, at their several itations, since the time of their last visit. He believed that the work in which they were engaged was going on cheerfully, for which they had great cause for thankfulness to God, nnd great encouragement to go on vigorously. Although ibere was no teport to bring before them, nor, he believed, any resolutions, yet there was, what could not be said of all such meetings, a large and goodly audience, and an abundance of speakers present to address that audience. And these speakers could uot use the apology that they were " unaccmtomed to sprak." They were well used to speaking, and he believed they had all something to say. There were great advantages poist ssed by this meeting— but the greatest of all would be, the piesence of the Lord amongst them, which alone could render their meeting profitable and good. The men who were about to address them had thought much upon the subject of saving sinners — bo much, that they had sworn unto God that they would devote their lives, to the best of their ability, to the important work of preaching the j Gocpel of Salvation to mankind. They had gone forth to sow the good seed of the word of life — some one way, and some another — and they were now here to report what they hid seen, and what had struck them during their labours — thnt we, in hearing- of their success, may participate in their joy. The Chairman tote and said, that as a professing Christian he felt greatly honoured in filling the important poit which he occupied, and expressed his thanks to the meeting for placing him in that honourable position. It was but a short time before the hour of meeting that he was requested to fill that place, and felt unprepared to offer any observations upon the great business which they were culled together to forward. He felt indebted to his reverend friend, Mr. Lawty, for introducing the purport of tho meeting, and other preliminary details, to their notice, and thus rendering the duties of the chair light, and easily sustained. He might mention, however, one or two thoughts that had stuck him us bearing upon the objects of the preoent meeting. The first was— the wonderful combination that existed between human Instrumentality and the Divine power in the propagation of the Gospel. He knew of no better illustration of this than the Scripture account of our Redeemer raising; Lizarus from the oe id. We theVe »cc the dead body brought buck to lite by the Divine command. But anything connected with that miracle which human means could accomplish, was left lo be performed by such means. The stone wai to be rolled away, and our Lord desired those that accompanied him to do that duty; but it required the Almighty power to call him forth. No sooner was he raised than human aid was again called in, and the command was given, " Loose him, and let him go." We see forcibly from this example that the Divine order is, lhat we should be fellow woikers wah God. Another thought that strongly impressed his mind, was the apparent extreme inadequacy of the means to the end of human evangelization. When we look abroad ia the world, and see so many lying in the daikness and shadow of death, and at the fame time contemplate the smallness of the means employed to bring them to life, we might be ready to sink down in despair, were we not to remember, in reference to the accomplishment of this work, that " it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the living God." But he believed that God had designed to take the world by surprise— and in these latter days to pour out hi* spirit »s a flood — gelling to himself the honour, lest thtt we should glory in an arm of flesh. God had made himself known to the world under three manifestations: the manifestation 0/ the Father, in the creation; of the Son, in redeeming; and, in these latter days, in the glorious manifestation of the Holy Spirit. All commentator-, be believed, agreed ,that many c f the prophecies respecting the pouring out of the Spirit, would be fulfilled in the present ege. jAnd in the late great events — which might be the beginning of the end— we may distinctly hear the noise of his chariot wheels. He, the chairman, would conclude by sayiniy, " Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching." The R«v. John Hobbs, of Hokianga, was called upon and said — that in engaging in the mission work his bretlu en had a glorious examplar to follow— the Lord Jesus, the first great missionary of his own Gospel ; and this consideration ma-le them very courageous in going amongst barbarous men, for they know that all kingdoms of the world were to be made subject to their master and lhat all nations would be put under his feet. As their worthy chairman had said, this was to be accomplished partly by human means , and as God had designed it so to be, his brethren, in full confidence of their heavenly Father's blessing on their work, went forth rejoicing, and with gladness of heart, to cast abroad the good seed of the word of life amongst their fellow men. And, if, while labouring in the field, they had much to endure, still, while thinking of the willingmess of their Lord and Master, to lay down his life for the sins of the world, they knew it was their business to suffer all, yea, even loss of life itself, that the world might hear the glad bound of the Gospel. The llev. Gentleman gave some interesting details of his long experience amongst the natives in the Hokianga distiict; aud, although he deplored the darkness and superstition which still reigns amongst the New Zcalaiu'ers, ho felt bound to thank God lor the success that had attended missionary exertions in this country.

Tho Rev John Warren, of llokisng'i, then lose nnd naid—The cause which h.is brought u> together is, I think, the mo3t important which can come beneath the consideration ef man, Mid will, I am snrc, lequire but few words from me to recommend it to your and what we have to cay, is said with a view to obtaining your assistance. We live, Sir, in a glorious age of the church 5 our lot has been cast In a pariod when great designs are entertained, and plans formed for the conversion of the world ; and such it the ipirit of Christian enterprise, that no undertaking appears too arduous, which hai for its object the extension of the Saviour's kingdom among men. In thi< every pious heart must and will rejoice- Hut. Sir, I me"! not tell this assembly, that notwithstanding what has been accomplished by the various missionary s cieties, millions of immortal men are. still living in the da'kneis of heathenism, who never heaid the sound of the Saviour's nnnie. They are wandering like sheep Upon the mountains, exposed to the mali c of him who goeth nbout like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. If the Scriptures arts the truth of God, there ore pa.gan n't ons under the curse, and exposed to the lighteoug indignation of Jehovah, the *urn of whose sentence is, that he will pour out hi* fury upon the heathen who have not known him, and upon the families tint call not on his name. I think, Sir, I am entitled to presume that this assembly ask* the question, "What can be done to rescue them from danger so immineit and dreadful, nnd by what means can they be m-ou^h' to be fellow citizens of the saints, and heirs of the covenant of promise V Well, Sir, if the heathen are saved at all, it must be by grace tlnough faith, and that not of themselves, but it is the gift of God. But how can they believe in him of whom they have not heaid ? and how can they hear without a preacher 1 and how can they preach except they be sent ? A contemplation of the state of the heathen would be a melancholy reflection indeed to the Christian, did he not know that there was an antidote prepared in the Gospel of the grace of God, in which the deepest and most pressing wants of the whole human family aie fully met. The Gospel of Christ, Sir, the Gospel of our salvation, can heal all their diseases, cleanse away all their pollutions sanctify their nature, and make them meet for a felicity boundloss as their capacity, and durable as their existence; and there are millions too, men moulded by the hand of God, who arc waiting the too tardy movements of the church to be sent to gather in these outcasts to the fold of Christ. I apprehend, Sir, that we are. pledged by our profession of Christianity, to extend by eveiy possible means the Saviom's kingdom, and bring others to the enjoyment of the same privileges with which we have ourselves been blessed. For "if any man hath this world's goods and seeth his brother hath need, and shut f eth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwell eth the love of God in him ?" Christianity is an aggressive system, which is to carry the war into the very camp of the enemy, and by the instrumentality of its adherents to become untvers.il. Christian principle is a principle of euergv and action, and we are called to be co workers with God, and to let our light shine before men. Sir, on this subject we ought to be all energy and activity, fire and zeal. A man who has Christian love in his heart must be active for God ; the accomplishment of one work of Christian love will be with him but the prelude to the commencement of another, and he will find his greatest happiness in stiivingto spiead the glory of the Saviour's name. The love of Christ constrains him to sing •' O that the world might taste and see the riches ol his grace." Let us then as Christians, consecrate ourselves afresh to this gloiious woik. Let us gird up the loins of our mind to the vigorous discharge of our appointed duty, and strive to kiiidle the hallowed fire in other hearts. There are some who constantly pray " Thy kingdom come;" but who, if invited to active exertions or pecu ninry sacrifice, like the priest and the Levite, pass by on the other side, and leave the heathen to perish in thrir sins. Ido not, Sir, for a moment suppose that this remark is applicable to any in the present assembly. I trust we have net so learned Christ, but having ourselves tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious, are anxious to spread the savor of his name. The Gospel is the appointed remedy for the daikness and sins of heathen nations, and the Christian ministry the appoin'ed means for this purpose To missionaries! then, we direct your attention, and it remains with you to send them. They must go out from the church of Christ. They must be sent forth by the prayeis and liberality of Christians. Deep and pressing as are the wants of the world, the supply is with you. You have the Scriptures and the ministers of God, and we entreat you to consecrate a reasonable portion of your substance in sending them to the regions beyond you. Our duty, Pir, is plain, and our encouragements are great. The mission field already appears like a field which the Lord hath blessed. Through the instrumentality of Christian missionaries many a moral wilderness has been cultivated, and many a spiritual desert has bloilomcd like the Garden of the Lord ; and the cause will continue to progiess until Christ shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Until the gods which have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Will you then grow lukewarm in this glorious work? It cannot be. It would be monstrous to think of it You will continue to recruit our exhausted funds by your liberality, and «trengthen our hands by your prayers. Until, through the instrumentality of a preached Gospel, sin shall hide its baneful head in a corner, and the purposes of Jehovah's love be fully accomplished in the salvation of the world. When I remember, Sir, the number and the eloquence of the speakers which are to follow mo, I think I should justly be considered a very grave offender against propriety, were I to occupy the time and patience of the meeting any longer, and therefore beg leave to sit down. The Rev. James Walms, of Wnngaron, said— lt affords me pleasure to meet you here on this occasion. While sitting on this platform I have been thinking of the import of an enquiry that was long sinoe made by one of the hading men of an interesting people, namely — "Is the Lord among us or not ?" — The propriety of such an enquiry wll be readily acknowledged by all present, in reference to the mighty work in which we are engaged. From my own observation of the r ff ct of Missionary operations in this land, I have no hesitancy in affirming that the Lord is indeed among us— I look at the reformation of manner! that has taken place among them fora confirmation of thi* truth. We have heard this evening that io former days they were not only degraded savages, but also disgusting cannibals — but su' h conduct is not adopted now, nor do we fear it. It often fall* to my lot to sleep among th*m, but I never dream of being devoured by them befoit the morning. The revolting propensity of caunihal'sm for which they were once bo remarkable, has yielded to the benign and gracious influence of the Gospel of Christ. That the Lord is among us is also manifest from the spiritual conversions that take place. It is true that we have t> lament the dead foriuulity of many, still, however, we have those among us whose mint's are deeply impressed with a sense of the evil and danger of sin — they are repentant sinners before God, and in many respects, bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Sometimes when I lay in my tent, when most have retiied to rest, I have heard the sighing of the I contrite heart, and the expressions of penitence as

they hnvc broken in upon tlie silent midnight hour : — and not only so. but a u o songs of praise from tha hearts and tips of those who have so received the atonement a* to rejoic- in the salvation of God. That the Lord in nmotie: m is «l«o pmved by the happy dent' ■> which have takrn place. Many are, doubtless, now without fa-ilt brfore the throne who once resided in New Z-aland huts : many I have known whom I have accompanied to the. bovvers oF Death's dark rale, but they hive entered withou* fffir, and hwe marched to th° ia the triumph of faith. It would ill become me to occupy much of ynuv time in rolntmg nil tliat f have witnessed of this pleasing nature— suffice it therefore to add, th.it while many are our discouragements nnd doubts and ftais, om kb'>r 1m not l.een in vain in the Lord, nor shall it he while the Di'-ine promise remains — that Christ .'hall hnve the heathen for hw inheritance and the u tenuobt parts of the earth for His possession. The Rev. James TJuller ofKaiparasaidlfecl grca 1 pleasure in being present atanotlier Missionary Meeting* i at Auckland. It has long, Sir, been a deep solemn conviction on my mind tint the Gospel atone truely ennobles man, and I fuel it to he the greatest honour that can be bes f owed upon nit to be called to preach this Gospel, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Mr. Hobbs has spoken of snperstition of heathen darkness. The Gospel, Sir, will dispel that daikness. It is a moral lever; fiom''the horrible pit" it hath rescued minj a New Zenhnder, hath placed his foot on the rock of ages, and i c is now travelling to #ion. lam happy Sir, to be able to state that I have great encouragement in my own local s,.liere of libnur. It has been my honoui. too, to pieside, at a Missionary Meeting since I was last in Auckland. Th.it meeting differed f om the present, imsnuch as it was held at a native settlement and the whole audience was of natives, excep'ing myself, (<ind I believe I am partly a native now,) and it was in a native chapel, but a beautiful chapel worthy of a comparison with this. 1 was much gratified at that meeting, I was gratified with the decent and respectable appearance of the people. Nearly two hundred were present hut only three individuals wore a blanket. I greatly dislike the appearance of a blanket as an article of cloibing and have laboured (to persuade my people to abandon the use of it, and am thankful that in that settlement I have to some extent succeeded I was gratified with the simple speeches that were delive*ed, and the spiiit which prevailed on the occasion. Nor was I less gratified with the collection; it was not very great, but li'c the widows mite it was all they had, it amounted to about £6— not qu-te up to the former yeir for the plain leas n, tha r they had no more. I may, however, say that they did on the previous year pique themselves not a littlo from the circumstance that they exceeded th* Auckland, collection. Now I believe. Sir, their- is a spirit of emulation which we may lawfully promote. The Apostle Ins told us "pi ovoke unto love and good woiks." I would therefore fm'n provoke my AucKhnd friends to exceed them, and when I retuui'to Kaipara, depend upon it, I will provoke them to exceed -my Auckland friends. They have a very limited rmrket for their produce at home and therefore some of them have come to Auckland with their pigs that they may sell them for money and some portion of this they will hold sacred for the next Missionary Meeting, This, Sir, is the Gospel selfpropogitive in its nahire. Let the principle lay hold on the "heart of men, let the heathen be brought under its saving power, and they in their turn will desire the extension of the Redeemers Kingdom in the earth, and by their prayer, and by their pecuniary contributions too, they will endeavour to send the Gespcl to the region beyond. Hut, as lam le«s a stranger here than many of my brethren, I feel that it ill becomes me, longer to occupy the time of the meeting, and tint others may have an opportunity of being heard, 1 beg to resume my seat. The Rev. John Wuitei,ey, of Kawhia, next ad. dres^'d the meeting, and said that he came to the meeting; with the pre-tentim°<nt that they should have a eoort Missionary meeting, and for himiclf he might say that he had not been disappointed. Not that he came expecting to he.tr long speeches, or eloquent addresses. for he believed the brethren were pretty generally agreed to be very short and very plain, and very much at home. But ho cam? believing that all were of one heart and one mmd — that they enme to take their annual stand on that platform in the Lord's House, an! before the Lord's people — again to avow themselves an "ambassadors of Christ, and your servants for Jesus' lake," and again to renew their covenant with their Divine master, with the Church of God, and with the Wes'cyan Mis-iona y Society. Some of his brethren, as brother Hobbs. for initaucp, had been engaged in the vioik for many ye^rs, but thoy w-re not tired yet, and here, at their annual appearance before that mscting, they were pr.-paied to avo\r their readings Mill to labour on at God's command, and offer all their works to Him. He had been reminded while sitting there, he had receivdd a premonition, before leaving hoitie to come to tlvs city, that iiis speech on that occasion must be a veiy short one. In the 2nd Chipler of the Acts of the Apostles, we read that when the fir^r Christian Missionariei went forth in obedience to (he Divine command — " Go ye into all the world, and prea< h the Gospel to every creature ;" and prepared by the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost for their greit undertaking, we read that the Aposilo Peter, in explanation of the wonders wlvch took pace on the day of Pentecoit, reminded the people of the prophecy of theProphf t Jorl, — "And it shall come to pass, in the l»«t dajs, saith Gjd, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, your 80H3 and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men »hall .see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams !" And, Sir, said the speaker, I have dreamed a druam, and that dream referre d to this meeting (laughter) . A few hourd before I left Kawhia to come to Auckland, I dreamed, and bihold I was at this meeting, and I thought the Chairman called upon one of my brethren to address the audience, and he laid upon bin this injunction — "Let your speech be short, brother, you must nny all you have to say in. two words. !" Now, Sir, I thought in my dream — how happy I should be if the Chairman should be so considerate of my inability to address my owa countrymen in their own t.in<ue, ns to lay the same injunction upon ma ! And I thought in my dream, that my two vmrdssh'/uld be — ' GiatiHuielo God!" and, Sir, now that I am here in reality, I may say that there aie no two words so much in accordance with .he feelings of my heart as these—" Grairfudt to God!" Many considtr.itions present themselves to the mind, calculated to excite this feeling. It is master of gratitude to God, th>it we have anything to hold a Missionary meeting abmt ! We have hemd ot man's fall— of mnu's ruin, we have seen something of man's wr'tchedn |.—we look through the nvdtum of revel -fron, and hrholii an eternity of woe awaits him in the world to come ! And oh, if God had not devised a remedy, we should have had no Mission meetings— no Saviour— no h pe. But, blessed be God, and fie recollection should ♦•xci c gratitude in our souls, 11 remedy was found— a Saviour was provided —and '• God so loved the woild thut He gave His owly begotten Son, that whosoever bcluTeth in Him bhov\ld nut peris'i, but have everl. ••ti'ig 1 fe ' And, Sir, it is matter of grati'ude, that tins Saviour warmest and most tiffectionate sympathies We bava met for the purpose of doing what we c H o promctts the interest of the Saviour's kingdom in th; wund,

lias been made known unto us— that in our fathei-bmd wp have heard the G"spel <>• salvation — that that Oapel has been sent info tin's rnwntiy, nnd that you, Sir, and our other fellow colonists are now rra] using the b cssfd eff-cts thereof. The Gospel has preceded you and piepaied the way for you, and now, through its influence upon the Native mind, you can meet together in the house of God, and worship ll im— "undct your own vine and fi.;trcc," none presuming " to make you afraid " But for Missionary influence you would have had no places of woi'bliip like this. rlhrr Ihr Speaker went on to say that it was cnu«e of gratitude to God, that the. Mission continued to be favoured with success. In the circuit from whence I came, there has been added to the Church of Cluist, during the pa»t year, upwaids of a hundred, l>y the snrred rite of baptism, two or three of whom were very influential and important Chiefs. In reference to one of these 1 may state a few interesting particulars. A long time ago he wag taken dangerously ill; I wpnttoseehim for the purpose of ottering a little medical assistance, for, as our good brother Hohbs has given you to understand, we have to be Doctors in New Zealand, ns well as almost everything else. On anivingal his village, I found that he had been taken away to a go d distance up the lulls. I proposed to go to him but the people Faid— "No, the Piiest is thpie" — (the Native Tohunga). " And what is he doing?" "He is piaying over him, to make him well." " But cannot Igo also?" " No, the land all around ii tapu'd." I saw it was useless to strive apinst their *uper6tition, nnd I returned home giievcd and disappointed. A few da\s after I received a mes<u«e from him requesting my attendance} I visited him daily, and by the blessing of God he was restored. During his illness one of bib distant friends sent to him t<» lay that should he recover his health he must become a Christian. He made fair promisee, but. filas I like too many others, he biokr- hi3 vows, foigetting that it is bf tter " not to vow at all, than, after having voned, not to pay out vows '' lie had continued many years varii'dling and " hilling between two opinions." A few months atjo we hud. a very huge assembly — a sort of Missionary meeting — and though we could not boast ut sncli a collection as brother Duller had mentioned— yet we bad a collection— -onr money, there, chiefly consists of potatoes and pumpkins, and the pioduce of the soil — each child would biing a pumpkin, each adult a basket of potatoes or a bunch of corn — and if we only had a market such as you have at Aur klaod, the result would have been something considerable. Well, this Chief was there, and he made a public announcement of his determination to become a Cluistiau, nnd to cunfonu to the requirements of Ghiistianiiy. But he must first go and fulfil a previous engagement, to attend a Native feast far away in the interior. My arguments against it weie unavailing— he went, and I feared he w.mld again for»et his pious resolutions : but Providence met him— the hand of God arrested him— he Ava* seized with dangerous illness, and the repoit reached us that ho was dead. He was, however, carried by the Natives from the inteiior to the Mission statim— again he received our attention and nursing, and by the blessing of God upon the means employed, ho was again restored — his affliction was sanctified, he came forward with a number of his people to unite themselves to the Lord, and a few weeks ago they were by baptism admitted into the Church of Chiist. These <ronside rations excite gratitude in our heart", and en courage us to go forward in the name of the Loxl. The Rev. G. Buttle, of Waipa, next rose, and observed that it was not his intention to detain the meeting long with what be had to say. What his brethren who had preceded him had said he could only say. At his station, as well as at Auckland and other places, sin was at woik, but he thanked God that there also forgiveness of sin was to be obtained. Duiing the last year he was delighted to know that the presence of God was manifested amongst the people, and that many Of their heaits ovci flowed with joy in the Holy Ghost. Their congregations weie good, and the simplicity and earnestness of the woiehippeis, had been acknowledged by God. Still there were many profesed Christians amongst them who were not Christians. A native one evening went out and shot another man. lie came aftei wauls and asked him (Mr. B.) should he leave off worshipping in consequence of his deed. Mr. B. said " No, but you must leave ofT killing men." The old habits and inbred desires of the natives, break foith occasionally. But they were endeavouring to leach them bettei manners. He urged upon the assembly the necessity of the impoitant paiticular of the duty which it was their business to perfoim— he alluded to prayer—and he would say to that assembly, brethren, pray for us. The speaker concluded by alluding to the absence of resolutions, foi his own pait, he would rather not be tied to [speak to a resolution, for when people got a xesolution put into their hands, they sometimes found that they could not make any speech at all. The Rev. Gentleman gave an instance of such a case, which he related most humourously, amidst great laughter and applause. Tho Rev. Gideon Smalhs, of Aotea, after some humourous remarks with reference to the greater liheity with which he would be able to adchess an aboriginal congiegation than that of so great a number of ministers, and so respectable an assembly as the meeting was composed of, observed :— On an occasion like the present the mind naturally reverts to the subject of New Zealand as it was, and it as rcadiiy endeavours to draw the comparison between that and the present time. We look back : — There was a mental daikness, so thick and pal. pabla that it might be ftlt ; the god of this woild had blinded the eyes of the understanding of the people, and'they had become tho consummate dupes of the Tohungas, and were ready to give anything or everything to appease their cruel Atuas. There were obscenities the most indecent and abominable. Many of the ornaments and carvings that are to be found amongst their pas and sacred places are sufficient proofs that Purity (if she ever visited it) had taken her flight from the land. There were the most cruel barbarities, murder, and cannibalism. Infanticide was common ; wars and cold-blooded murders were fre quent. New Zealand cannibalism, you know, was a proverb. "They were hateful, and hating one another." Indeed, of such every day occurrence, and so familiar were these things in these habitations of cruelty, that man used the skull of his fellowman as an ordinary drinking vessel ; hence the word papapa. in the Ngapuhi dialect, means either a mnn's skull or a calabash or drinking vessel. And you are aware human bones were used for fuli-hooks and similar purposes. •• Destruction and misery were in their tvays, and the way of peace they did not know." And there were there superstitions which had become bo bound up v.ith thi'ir lutuic— connected as they were with r-pine and murder— that a native foimcrlj could scaucly be induced to be alone in the dark foi fcai The rustling of leaves, the shriek oi a bird, 01 the leap ol a fishj were pignifieunt i f somn Oread omem ; nay, in almost ewrythuijj 'bat ttaiUed their attention they behold some evil spirit — bonic drrad Atua. Rimturas, Tinirac, and the Me, wuh tbeir hideous representations, whatever may Ime been il.elr iealitics in the animal kingdom, were rcl'uMig less than tombola for the prince of dorknesi, of mlioui tiiey wuein eon. stant tcuw. A.id »vc uuvi> renyin to Ixhc c, f o>n Liv statement o! Un, r-a.ii'o3 th^rnsdve?, that they we t; 11. mtimnt" tnd con-ir. union wi'h t':»c powero ol d,r<Dcs;. \Vc could direct > our attcmioa i<? owaes.

voaaaaanaßHMMaaaMiaßnMßßßßMKifauMii'diiiiiiiiaiivi «i iKK^nij'iu./*^ that have transpired in some <>f the lonely t^lcns and oaves of tlip forest, connected with their orgies, incantnt ions, witolipra f t, and tapu, that would make your hones to shake, and the hair of your head to stand ereof, with horror. O, yes! here, in those days of darkness and death, the prince of the power of the air held his undiluted sway — here the people appeared to be given over to a reprobate mind, and were a law onto themselves ; nay, even here, the law written on their hearts by the finger of Gad had bpcome well nia;h erased, and they had become a law unto Satiin, who wai fast bin lying them off the stage of life — who was rapidiy hastening the consummation of Ihi3 diamo of "the reign of terroi"on earth, that he might sport with their misery and wretchedness in the caverns of the abyss. Now luok at the change. Somewhat less than forty years ago the standard of the Cross was erected in the northern part of this island. A handful of men commenced the cultivation of this ban on wa«te. They, by the Spiiit, infused the little leaven which is leavening the whole mags. They laboured, and we have entered into their labours — Honour rest on their devoted sonM If is only, however, within the last »en years that Christiani y lias made such marked progress. Here, blessed be God, it is unnecessary to enkige; the results are apparent to every one. The native tapns and superstitions are fading away : there exists in most a dislike and a fear to refer to these things even in conversation. Peace prevails throughout these islands. The Sabbath ib everywhere remembered, and reverenced to the Lord. I am not aware that there is a village, or a cluster of huts, without its house of prayer. The Scriptures are diligently read, and the natives are to some extent endeavouring to shape their lives by its blessed rule, which is as a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path. Civilizuion, too, is progressing. " Warriors now fling their arms a«ide, O'er bloodless fields the plough to guide." But above all, a goodly number have received the Gospel, not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance. Whilst we nvike the=e remarks, don't let it be understood that the work is finished. ono ! A great d' al remains to be effected. Here is ample material on which to labour ; and if we are faithful we may calculate on an abundant harvest. And rather than the New Zealander being a disadvantage to the British interests, we conceive that they may be of the utmost benefit, But they will require care and management. Both tJCt and talent may find abundant employment. It is true little has been done as yet by the British Government towards their civilization ; what has betn done, with few exceptions, has been done by the missionary societies. It has hitherto been too deeply involved in war ; but now that peace again prevails, and that confidence is being reatored, it is surely time to work. We rejoice in the advances lately made for education ; but what are these for so many ? Very mu h less than the five barley loaves and the two small fishes that were of old found for five thousand. And if no more he done, nothing less than a miraculous power will save these poor souls amongst whom we live fiom absolute starvation. And observe, the phrenzy of hunger slain souls is as much more terrific than that of starved bodies, as the interests which are involved. Without education, government must fail. We cannot rule by physicol force— it must be by moral suasion. What is "more ungovernable than an uneducated populace ? What is more unruly, when once excited, than an ignorant crowd? And how much more powerfully do these maximi apply to New Zealand. The good order prevailing in the country at the present, to a great extent iray be attributed to the ii fluence of many of the older chiefs, who have embraced Christianity, and who have seen and become tned of the e*ils of disorder and war. But here is another generation springing up who will have different views and feelings. And, if not properly trained, we may anticipate from their connection with our towns and what is superficial, and iv tuo many oases radically bad in our habits and manners, will rise up as cur deadly foes. The missionaries like John the Baptist, have prepared the way of the Lord. They have declared with sincerity, yes, and with success, " Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." They have broken up the fallow ground. And the Bible Society lms stepped forward and presented us with the bread of life— the word of salvation : here we have Christ speaking to us by his own word. And now we trust we see education following in the train. And highly honoured will be the British Government it' it is permitted to take this part in the moral and spiritual renovation of these ulands. Education we must have. Here is our power. We may endeavour to bind the strong man with withs and cords, but arouie him, and he will snap them in sunder as a thread of flux when it touoheth the fire. Educate him— give him a sound, rational, intelligent, scriptural training, and you have the secret of his strength. We trust this subject will continue to have the attention of our rulers, whilst we ourselves don't forget the proverb so very applicable to both—" For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof *. but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged." And now, my fellow Christians, let us remember that no man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself. Our influence in this land is great, either for good or for evil. Let no man in the selfishness of his heart and the perverseness of his natuie hay— "Am I my brother's keeper?" Rather let us remember, that as Christ so loved us, so ought we to love one another. But more especially let us firt embrace the Gospel in its spiritual and life-giving influences, if we have not yet done so, and we shall then look on the world with a ne.w mind, with a new heart, and with a new conscience ; and we shall then, with all true disciples ot our Lord, see that the valley of vision ii full— very full of dry bones— dried, and bleached, and mouldering by the lapie of yean, and we shall linceiely and earnestly pray— •' Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these Blain, that they may live 1" The Rev. W. Kirk, being called on, came forward, and briefly addressed the meeting. He said, that having only had nine months' expeiience among the Natives he had but little to say that would interest the meeting. He had observed a little of the Native character, but that little was sufficient to convince him that there was yet much been for Missionary exertion and prayer to God to enlighten their dark minds. He had just returned from a station at Hokianga, where he had been for the last nine months, and where he had observed some little of the Native disposition. Covetousneis was a strongly-marked feature in their cha* racter— an instance of which he gave. lie was now about to be removed to another locality — a station where there had not been a Missionary before— he hoped that God would make him useful in his new sphere of action, «nd he begged an interest in (he oiayersof his brethren and of his Auckland friends, with whom, v.hile he was stationed here, he had spent icaLV luippy seasons. ihe meeting was again addressed by the Rev. Jlc;sis. Lawry and Hobbs, and by the Chairman ; uitei which a collection was made in aid of the mission !undOn the motion of the Rev. Thomas Buddie, a unaMntouii vote of thanks to the Chairman was cariied And after a hymn was sung, and prayer offered up, Jhs DH'sUr.j separated.