AUCKLAND WESLEYAN MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 609, 14 February 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND WESLEYAN MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARY.

The Annual Meeting of the Auxiliary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society for the New Zealand District, was held on Monday evening last in the Auckland Wesleyan Chapel, which was crowded on the occasion. After devotional exercises His Worship the Mayor was called to the Chair. The Chairman said — Little more than n week lias elapsed since I had the honor and pleasure of presiding at a lurge meeting in the adjoining school-room, held for the purpose of advancing the cause of religious education among the young in this community. '1 he. immediate objects of this meeting are similar in kind. Ihe field oi operation i^. no doubt more extensive, the agents more numeious, and the machinery more complex; but the grand moving power, and the ultimate object are the same in both — that Power is Love, and that object, the salvation of man. Allusion was made upon that occa»ion to the great piogressmade by the ancients in physical and, intellectual cultuie, while they weie really ignorant of man's I'equnementsas a moial and spiritual being. 1 allude again to that condition iot the purpose of shewing that in other times, and under a better system, principles hnve been evolved and acted upon more in harmony with and suitable to man's whole nature, and with beneficial lesults which no human arithmetic may sura up. — Does any one ask where this sy3tem is to be found ? I answer— in the Bible. Not that the Bible teaches directly how to obtain eminence in the arts and sciences — ite teach ings concern man more immediately as a fa] lon yet recoverable being, but at the same time its whole tenor being to elevate, to guide, and to sustain. It has a powerful indirect effect upon the cultivation of whatever is useful to man, even in this world. Does he ask where its effects are to be witnessed? Let him look into the History of the Church upon earth, and there he may trace its workings. Wherever it has gone forth iv its power; wherever it has been received in the love of it, order and peace, and purity, have been its necessary accompaniments. But in answering this question I would point at once to England and America, to the Bible and Missionary and kindred societies there, with their numberless branches in all parts of the world; to societies, which in their constitution have no embodiments of selfishness, and say — there is the fruit of a system based on sound moral and religious principles ; there is the fruit of that hove. which emanating from God in Christ expands in the bosom of the believer, is bounded by no geographical limits, knows nor clime, nor language, nor colour, but embraces within its enlarging folds men of every kindred and tongue and people and notion. Compared with such monuments what are all the Sphynxes and Pyramids, the temples and other remains of ancient grandeur ? Thae have all tl waxed old as doth a garment," they shall pass away as the " baseless fabric of a vKion" — they shall perish — but tbe recoids of these shall remain unclosed through Eternity, and thousands of the Redeemed shall acknowledge them as the means by which they were brought to the knowledge of the truth. Moreover the benefits flowing from these and kindred Institutions, are not confined to ther direct objects; they have a reflex power, imparting their blessings to the dispensers as well as to the recipient?, moulding and invigorating all who corr.e within their influences. We are more especially met to-night to give countenance and encouragement to those who are engaged or about to be engaged in the work of Christianizing the natives of these and neighbouring islands. They are entitled to all the encouragement and suppoit we can give them, for, in addition to substantial aid, as iron sharpeneth iron so doth the countenance of a man his friend. We have all henrd at home of the gieat things done by tbe instrumentality of the missionary s in various parts of tbe world. Here vie see them.x In New Zealand we are witnesses to tbe power of tbe gospel over a people- who even in our day were characterised as the most cruel and ferocious of all tbe savage tribes inhabiting the islands of th° Great Pacific. What is done liere may be done elsewkere and is doing. May the Lord prosper his own work. May he rise in power and plead bis own cause, and though we can scarcely expect, we still may be allowed to indulge the hope that we will yet see them joining with us in the farther, extension of the Redeemer's Kingdom. The Rev. Thomas Buddle read the following extracts from the Report of the Parent Society for the year ending April 1851. — The first exhibits the Financial affairs of the Society at that date : — The Committee have the satisfaction to announce to the Subscribers and Friends of tbe Wesleyan Missionary Society, that the Receipts of the Society for the year ending December 31,1850, amount to £104,661 14s. 4d. The following are the particulars :— The Total Ordinary Receipts at the Mission-House, and from the

The Expenditure of tlie year amounts to £113,767 3s. 3d. showing a deficiency of Income, when compared with the expenditure, to the amount of £9,105 6s. lid. Th's deficiency the Committee have resolved to meet by the sale of a portion of the amount of donations on annuity which hare been funded from time to time for the security of the annuitants. By this arrangement the funded property will be considerably reduced, but there will still remain in the Funds an amount equal to the Donations of living Donors, thus affording to the annuitants a reasonable and sufficient security for the payment of their annuities. The advantage the Society gains by this anangementis, that the Expenditure of the year is fully met without any addition to the Society's debt, which remains aa last year.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF ALL THE WEfLEVAM MISSIONS. Central or Principal Station, called Circuits, occupied by the Society in various parts of the world 322 Chapels and other Preaching Places, in connexion with the above-mentioned Central or Principal Stations, as fur as ascertained. . 3106 Missionaries, and Assistant-Missionaries, including Fourteen Supernumeries. . ; 432 Other Paid Agents, as Catechists, Interpreters, Day-School Teachers, &c. . 864 Unpaid Agents, as Sabbath-School Teachers, &c 80M Full and accredited Church Members (including Ireland) 101,235 >On trial for Church-Membership, as far an , ascertained 7846 Scholars, deducting for those who attend both the Day and S.ibbatli-Schoola . . . 80,070 Printing Establishments .... 8 A tabular view of the Wesleyan Mission in the New Zealand district, contained in the Report, gires particulars of the seveial stuaions, of which the following are the general results.

New Zealand District. Central or principal Stations or Circuits » 16 Number of Chapels . .... 109 Number of. other Preaching Places . . 157 Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries . 26 Number of subordinate paid agents (via. Catecbiats 3, Day-school Teachers 12) . 15 Number of unpaid Agents (viz. Sabbath-school Teachers 484, Locil Preachers 354) . 738 Number 1 of full and accredited Church Members . 4422 On Trial for Membership «... 392 Number of Subbath Schools . , . ?07

Number of Sabbath Scholars' of both sexes . ?24t> Number of Day Schools . . . . 110 Number of Day Scholars of both sexes , . 3649 Total number of Scholars, deducting for those who attend both Sabbath aud Week -day School." 7271 Number of attendants on Public Warship . 11,577 Mr. Buddle theq read the statement of contributions to the Society in this district, the totals of which were as follows : — Auckland, £104 3a 4d (this, included £4 contributed by the children of the Sabbath Sdhool) ; Mnu«unga, £6 15s ; Waima, £6 5s ("of which k'l 8s was from Native contributors) ; Kaipara, /" 18, of which 13/. was the proceeds o^ a native collection ; Ibumatao, £6 7a 6d ; Waingaroa, £7 17 (this included £3 10s from satires) ; Waipa, £10 16s 6d ; Kawhia (including native contributions), £«i\ 8s i-jd ; Aotea, Europeans and Nativeß, £W ; Waimate, £?j; Wellington, i^O is. Returns had not been received from other places in. the district. The Rev. John Whjteiky, of Kawhia, rose to move the first resolution. He said lie was particularly wishful that the present meeting should be a good meeting— that we should have good speeehpsand good influence, and a good collection; because he considered tbat this meeting belonged to the year which is past — lor though it was now February, 1852, yet it ought to have been held in November, 1851; and when he considered the wondious achievements which had been accomplished during the past year — the first year of the second half of the present century— and when he consideied the astonishing events which bad transpiied during the first half of the present century, be thought they ought to congratulate themselves on the fact that they were holding a Missionary Meeting, connected with the never-to-be-forgotten year 1851. ]>t this erent, though last, not be the least. It was in the year '51 that our native country was invaded by thousands from foreign lands — not armed with ttie weapons of war, but bringing with them the emblems of peace and brother* hood, the products of p^uce *nd industry. And, indeed, in that year many events transpired, the ultimate results of which will surpass the utmost stretch of human calculation. The speaker then said there were two considerations with winch his mind was especially occupied on the present occasion. The first wus th.it the Churches of Christ in our father land, and, indeed, throughout Christendom, had an immense, an overwhelming amount of work which* demanded all their energies; and the second was, that we, occupying ground which bad been recently reclaimed from, heathenism by the labours and sacrifices of those very Churches, were now bound by the solemn obligation to exert ourselves, to help ourselves, and by our own combined efforts to maintain our own ground, to defend our own post, to cultivate our own field, without being any longer burdensome to the Churches at home. The first proposition would not be denied. The celebrated Dr. Duff, from India, in speaking (at the, late anniversary of our Society at Exeter Hali) of the country from whence he had lately come, said there were" heathen temples there of the most astonishing size. " Talk of your Crystal Palace," aaid he, " why, 1 you might put it inside one of those temples as a man would put a penny info his waistcoat pocket." He said ihat,j" Looking foe a misMonary there was like looking- for a needle in a haystack, and that there were thousands upon thousands of immortal souls perishing for lack of knowledge. And then if we look at our own country, alas ! what an amount of work remains to be done ! He had lately been reading some of the reports of the City Mission, and, oh, what a scene ot sin and depravity and wretchedness was unveiled ! And that, too, in highly favoured, highly exalted, highly enlightened England ! Oh, surely our mother country has enough on her hands without being burdened by us, and it u> now time that we began, in good earnest, to help ourselves ; and the noble subscriptions which have been announced by the report this evening shew that we can help ourselves. And, if our minds were truly aroused to the importance of the work, and our 'energies truly awatcened, he thought we might do wonders. Reference had been made, in the report, to Native subscriptions. At Kaipara, for instanoe, £13 had been collected, and Brother Buller would, by and by, tell us all about it ; and it now devolved upon him to state what had been done in Kawhia, the locality in which he had the honour to labour. Pie had always considered it his duty to urge upon the natives the duty of doing something for that gospel which bad done so much lor them, and this year he had tried to explain' to them, as well as he could, what others had done. He had shown them the Annual Reports, — a large pile of them— and he had endeavoured to make them understand that these long column* ofnam«s»nd pounds were the yearly contribution*, year after year, of their' friends in England, for the spread of that gospel by which they had been so much benefitted— and then bn showed them what bad been given from year to year in their own country — how that, on one occasion the Native sawyers had contributed £24 12s. 3d.; and the native chief Elijah had given £"25; and then he said, as ''seeing's believing," he would- let them see on th«t occasion how* much he and others were going to give to the good cause, not by way of boasting, but by way of example to them, for we are to let our light shine, before men that they may see our good works. The speaker then, handing out the collection which had been realized on that occasion, explained to the congregation horr he had managed the matter. Speaking in the Native language, he announced his own offering, and laid the money on the plate : — No Te Waitere, kotabi pauna kotahi hereni ; No Mata Waitere, ditto ; No Mibi Waiter*, ditto ; No Hera Waitere, ditto ; No Mcvi Pereha Waitere, ditto ; No Heni Buraby Waitere, ditto ; No Hana Waitere, ditto; No Kapene Kmgi, ditto; No Te Warena, ditto j No Wnerau Hoeta, ditto; No Hone, Tq One, ditto. The speaker then said; "he thought the next name must be given in English, and he was sure every heart would respond to the prayer tbat the blessing of Heaven might long continue to rest upon him to whom the name originally belongs— Robert Newton,. One Pound One Shilling ; and thus onward until the sum of twenty guineas, eight shillihgs.yand three half* pence was realized, as stated in the report, and there was the money. The speaker then said he bad oni» more word. He bad a solitary sorereign ia his pocket, and he was very wishful to make a very good, a very holy use of it : not that he was a man of property, for he often had to say to the natives, as .Peter said to the cripple, at the gate of the temple, *' Silver and- gold ■ have I none," but such as I haw, and such as I can afford, lam wishful to devote to the cause of God. He proposed tbat this meeting should raise the collection on the present occasion to twenty, pounds, and then his sovereign should make it twenty < gbinens like the Kawhia offering. Mr. Whiteley cqpcluded by moving That the Report be received, and that this Meeting offers id grateful acknowledgment! 'to tbe Great Head of the Church for the success that has been granted to the labours of this Society, in common with other similar Protestant and Evangelical Institutions, in their attempts to spread the blessing* of Christianity aud^ Civilization among -heathen tribes. The Rev. John Ing lib, (Presbyterian) seconded the resolution— This, he said, was a golden age, gold regions were on both sides of them ; they had beta treated to ft golden speech by Mr. Whiteley; be was sorry thatyhe was not a Cbrysostom — a golden-mouthed speaker— and so could not follow with a golden oration. It was the fate of the golden age to be followed by a silver age, a brazen age, an iron age, and, something worse j' but be that it may r be bad much pleasure in seconding tbe resolution. He had felt somewhat disappointed tbat the Secretary, in drawing up. tbe report, had not entered mere into detail respecting the operations of tbe society; in different parts of the world ; but so far as the report went, it was highly satisfactory. He seconded the resolution cheerfully, because it embodied a sound and valuable principle. The society were setting their Master fully before them, following where he led, aud recognising bis band. One of the most distinguished warriors o( antiquity, in acknowledging bis obligations to his friends, expressedjhimself uniformly in such words as the following, '< Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, and blessed be thou." He reoognized God always first. Christian Churches, and Societies can never go 'wrong if they set the Lord always before them, and keep as closely as possible in his footsteps. The danger is that they attempt either to go before their Master, or suffer themselves to lag unduly behind. They are often in danger of looking upon the work which God has effected through their instrumentality, as being theirs, and giving utterance to a sentiment akin to that of the prosperous king when bis heart was lifted up, and be said " 1$ not this great Babylon tbat I have built 1" He cheerfully advocated the claims of this society because they went forth every wbei'o Vitb tb» Biple in their hands ; they bad unsealed the fountain of living waters, they had unlocked tbe treasures of divine truth, to some of the most barbarous races on ebe ' face of the earth. And on the freely circulated and diligently studied Bible they earnestly sought the teaching* and blessing of the Holy Spirit. . Now, surely, every society tbat places its disciples under the unrestricted and earnestly pressed teaching of the Word and Spirit of God is worthy to be bidden " God speed." A great work is yet before ths Church of Christ. ' The commission of our Saviour is world wide. Tbe'gospel of salvation is to be proclaimed to all mankind, because

all stand in need of salvation. The gospel is adapted to the condition of all. It is sufficient for the salvation of all. and it is free to the acceptance of all. If it is not proclaimed to all, who are to be blamed 1 Who are the conservators of these blessings? At whose hands will the souls of countless myriads be required ? Is the Church alive to her responsibilities? Is it safe for Christians to sit still and enjoy their own good things— their own spiritual privileges— and so many perishing for lack of knowledge? Every Evangelical Church mast be evangelistic or missionary. Dr. Duff, whose name has already been referred to; bas^fliven great prominence to this idea. The Church is a Hying body and wherever there is life there is either growth or activity, or both. It is the very genius of the gospel to expand. It is an aggressive system. It aims at nothing less than the complete overthrow of Satan's kingdom. There is a spirit of activity in every Christian community, which if not fully and judiciously directed in aggressive movements against Satan's kingdom, will produce strife and contention at home. But the more energetic the aggression is upon Satan's kingdom without, the more peace and prosperity will the Church enjoy within. The more earnestly that prayers and supplications rise up into the enrs of the Lord of !>a >- baoth for the conversion of the world, the more copiously will the Spirit descend upon the Church herself. Jhe more freely that the gold and silver are poured into tbe treasury of the Lord, the more will His blessing rest upon their basket and their store ; and lbe more of her sons and daughters that are consecrated to the service of the Lord in extending the boundaries of the Church, the more will He raise up to defend and to carry on Ills work, where it is already established : for there is that scatteretb and yet increaseth, and these is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The Reverend James Buller of Kaipara, supported the first resolution and said — There are not a few who yet enquire " what good iiaye Christian Missions done?" In answering this question the difficulty is not to adduce proofs of the bene6cial effects of missionary labours, but in making a selection from those proofs. I feel that I ought to night to occupy only a. few minutes, but 1 may be allowed to refer to two pr three facts which have occurred under my own observation and within my own sphere of operation. The melancholy circumstance of the wreck of the French corvette, the Alcmtne, some distance to the north of Kaipara.ii still fresh in the recollection of nearly all preaem. I was extremely sorry that, on account of the distance of my,rei»idence from the scene of the disaster, I was uninformed of, the misfortune until after it tt«s too lite for me to repair thither in order to tender to the unfortunate such services aa I migbt have been able to render. I was however gratified to find that my people, at the settlement of Okaro, had behaved in so hospitable, humane, and Christian manner. After the ship bad struck and the survivors bad reached the shore, scarcely knowing in what part of New Zealand they were or what migbt befall them, a party of them «et off in quest of help. After two days wearisome •walk over the beach they came in sight of the native settlement. On seeing some of the natives their first iraptlse was to run away. The recollection of the sad fate of some of their companions who had been killed nnd eaten at New Caledonia increased their trepidation. Friendly tokens were, however, conveyed to them and they were induced to commit themselves to the hospitality of the natives, who, on learning their condition, took immediate steps for the supply of their wants by killing their pigs and scraping their potatoes ; and sent off a messenger to tbe bulk of the party on the coast to inform them of the success of their friends. The following day was tbe Sabbath, and that same day it i 9 well known is very generally observed with scrupulous regard by our Christian natives, and therefore no active Bteps were taken ; but on the Monday most of the people ■went off to escort tbe unfortunate shipwrecked Freehmen to their settlement, nnd as that large body of men came over the hills and saw the village with the British flag floating and the ovens smoking, they testified their feelings by those frantic demonstiations of joy so peculiar to their national character. The bouse 3 of the people were placed at their service, their blankets were handed to them, and their supplies of food were cheerfully placed before them : and although, to the honour of tbfi local go? erhment, they were amply remunerated for their kindness, yet they assured me that they had no expectation of compensation when they received the -strangers, but that they did so because the Bible bad ttaught them that such was their duty. Now I ask •would such have been the case about thirty years ago? Rather, as one of the French officers of the party afterawards remaked to me, they would, in all probability, ■have fallen victims to, savage ferocity. Another interesting proof^of the advancement of civilization is that of tEeir improved habits of dress. A dirty blanket-clad congregation bas always been associated in my mind iwitb a hospital of the diseased ratherthan a.company of cbriptian worshippers : and I have now the pleasure i from Sabbath to Sabbath,, of addressing • notTery large hut generally very clean and very well clad congrega- • tiohs of natives. Out native annual missionary meeting ■was held in April la»t — there were about 350 present — and we bad, not only a pretty good collection as bas been, announced this evening, and tolerably good -speeches • considering who were* the speakers, but all tbe people were so remarkably well dressed that one might well have been excused had he at a short distance mistaken them for a congregation of well dressed Europeans.! But pleasing as it is to witness such tokens of their improving civilization, still this is far below the great object of our mission. We are bound to look upon man' as an immortal and accountable 'being, and the great object we seek is to bring the natires to the knowledge of divine and, saving truth. We see nominal Christianity very generally prevailing, and though not in so many instances as we could wish, we have here and there an encouraging case of sound conversion to God. [Here the speaker referred to several individuals of deeply-tried piety among the people of his own charge]. I say not these things in the spirit of boasting. God, 'forbid.. But, that according to the language very properly expressed in the resolution, we may offer grateful acknowledgments to tbe great head of the Church for tbe, success which has attended the efforts of this society. With these views and feelings I do most cordially-cup-port tbe resolution. , The resolution was put to' tbe meeting and carried unanimously. The Rev. James Wallis, of -Wangaroa, in moving the second resolution said, the resolution that has been committed to my care, is, I think, one of the most important that could be submitted to the consideration of an assembly like the present. In order that you, Sir, and this meeting may judge of its merits, I will take tbe ' liberty of reading its contents. That the facti, that a very large portion of tbe world still re.najns in heathen darkness, that very many place* are prepared of God to receive hit messengers, and that so much effort is put forth to spread the most soill destroying errors, furnish powerful motives to increased extrtion in this cause of (truth aud benevolence. It will be observed Mr. Chairman, that this resolution refers to facts, facts of a painful tnd depressing nature, and facts also of a pleasing and elevating kind. ! It is not a subject of mere theory, that a very large, portion of tbe world still remains enveloped in heathen darkness, it is one of which we hare the fullest and most uncontradir.tory evidence look whichever way we may. We might refer to tbe darkness that prevails <in Eastern world, and to other distant part*, of tfhe globe, but we need not do this in support of this sentiment of the resolution, seeing that many of the islands contiguous to this, are in circumstances of the deepest degradation and vice. It would not be difficult to occupy much of your time in illustrating this saddening truth with respect to tbe islands to which I have adverted, or even with reference to the country in which we live: for you will observe that while the success which has attended the labours of thiß society in New Zealand »re encouraging, moral darkness still prevails to a great .extent. I have sometimes thought that erroneous views are taken by the friends of Missions with regard to the state of our work in this country, and that it is generally supposed that tbe profession of Christianity is invariably attended with the renunciation of all that belongs to heathenish darkness. It is, however, cheering to turn to another of the sentiments of the resolution, namely, that many places are prepared of God to receive His messengers ; never was there a louder call for the exercise of missionary spirit and enterprise than exists at the present moment. The nations are standing with outstretched arms to receive all tbe messengers of peace and love, who may feel it in their hearts to carry to them the gospel of salvation. In one view of the subject tins state of things is marvellous in our eyes, but the resolution reminds us 1 that the preparation has b»en made by God. Whatever other means may have contributed to bring about this atate of things we should never lose sight of the great truth that it is invariably through divine influence upon their hearts that men led on to desire and seek the blessings of grace and salvation. This fact is apowerful argument in favour of God's gracious purposes respecting the whole heathen world. We are indeed sometimes told that "it would be much better to leave" them to the uncovenantfd mercies of God," whatever they •re, for I am sure I dont know, and we also sometimes bear it said that desirable as it is to extend the cause »f evangelical truth throughout the world. There ap-

peai s to be but little room to entertain the hope that such an event shall ever take place. There are men who can much more readily believe thatheatben nation^ shall disappear from tbe earth than that they shall be evangelized and saved. Indeed, this sentiment has, of late, been expressed in the most public manner with respect to whole races at present inhabiting many of the Polynesian Islands. But, Sir, we have nothing to fear since divine influence is exerting its power upon the minds of the henthen. We may talk of difficulties and discouragements. We may be enveloped in a cloud of darkness, but what of that ! I believe, Sir, i am one of the most melancholy beings in our mission, but I am not afraid either to walk in tbe dark, or to work in tbp dark. I know it will not always be dark ; the morning is already spread on the mountains, and the broad face of a universal go«pel day of glorious brightness, is at no great distance from our world. The Rev. Walter Lawry seconded the resolution in an animated address, of which we regret we are unable to give more than a mere outline. In illustration of the influence of the Gospel upon the Feejeean Islanders, he related an interesting narrative of the effects produced by Mr. Williams's instrumentality in averting what threatened to be a sanguinary collision between hostile bodies of Natives at Bau ; — the warriors who had a little before been thirsting for blood, were induced to ! lay down their arms aDd engnge in prayer on the field of battle. In urging to increased liberality in contributing for the support of the Missionary cause, he related one or two striking anecdotes, and concluded by expressing his confidence that, notwithstanding all that was said about bad times and scarcity of money, there would be no falling off in the efforts of the people in this Distiict for the maintenance ol tbe work in which the Society was engaged. Mr. Binnfr (Mission Schoolmaster for Feejee) supported the resolution. The resolution was then put and carried. The Rev. J. Polglase (Missionary to Fejee),rose t° move the [third resolution and said— The preceding resolutions have led us to review the past, and to contemplate the present state of the heathen world. A great deal has been said which is cheering and winch bas a tendency to stir up our hearts to action. The great power by which tbe missionary enterprise is moved, bas been recognised, and the subject whose benefit is contemplated has been considered, but somoi tbing more appears to be necessary to bring us, as a meeting, into immediate contact with tbe enterprise itself. We may be all one oo the subjects which have been considered. These are, however, only to be regarded as preliminary Bteps — some of tbe component parts of which the completed missionary character is composed. There must be an inward principle of life and action, as well as an organized frame. When the valley of dry bones was outspread before the view of the prophet Ezekiel, and when, upon his prophesying, organization had taken place, vilification did not immediately follow. He found that something more was to be done—he had to call upon tbe Breath of the Lord that it might come and accomplish what mere organization was incapable of doing. Now, in the missionary movement, there is a spirit as well as an organized body— an inward principle of life which is a great and important feature of Us aggressive chaiacter. We think, therefore, that the adoption of the resolution which lam called to move— the object of which is to bring us into immediate contact with the enterprize by prompting us to u«e the means necessary to be used to help it forward— is necessary to render our missionary character complete. The resolution contemplates leading us to sympathize with the great work which we are this evening contemplating. We shall have an idea of the spirit breathed in this great movement if we consider the character of its operations. What is the state of the being for whose benefit it concentrates its energies? The true answer to this will show that deep commiseration for our fellow-men, is its distinguishing feature. We then, by connecting ourselves with this enterprise, in the manner which tbe resolution appears to recommend, shall be in reality compassionating and striving to bless the human race. 1 like to consider this subject in the light of an enterprize. It gives an idea of something noble, heavenly, Godlike! If we look this movement in the face, we shall observe stereotyped on its brow fiom the records of the Eternal One, • God has made of one blood all the nations of the earth,' ' God is loving to every man.' If we ask what these things are designed to teach us, we have only to gaze at it as it passes before our view, and we shall find that it teaches us to regard all mankind as brothers, and to act Wards them in our relationship, on no other principles than those on which God acts in his, and thus to fulfil the scriptural injunction, 'be imitators of God.' Suffering and misery appear to constitute the very element in which commisserution lives. Scenes of this nature excite the compassionate within us; and instead of being extinguished by the extreme of 'misery which may present itself, the more strong does the principle become and the wider is its influence out-gpreacl. Such scenes answer an end similar to that which a combustible does to a kindled fire, making it to assume a greater body and strength, and rendering it capable of 'causing its effects, to he more sensibly felt by all within tbe circle of its influence. History inform us of persons whose souls have been all compassion— whose meat and drink was to relieve the distressed, to comfort the sorrowing, and to 'uphold the sinking — tbe flow of whose benevolence received a fresh impulse by every new. form of suffering with which it came in con'act Howard was one of this class. Need we refer to these distinguished pbilanthopists, such as Clarkson, Wilberforce, Pitt, Fox, and others, who, with united energy, ' stood up, discountenanced, and strove to suppress the inhuman traffic of dealing in human flesh ? Their being •resisted did not cause the flow of compassion to cease. As faras overt effects were concerned, its progress might have been impeded for a time ; but it was only that it might bur&t forth more powerfully and produce greater effect hereafter. Like a river stopped in its progress, it became charged with greater strength — continuing to bubble up from the fountain of tbe soul, it acquired a force to which it was previously a stranger ; its forward rush was, by that means, more strong ; the momentum which u gained enabled it to grapple with the opposing power more effectually — and, after it had been encreasing for nineteen years, it gained the object of its solicitude, and the inhuman traffic was pronounced illegal. The Gospel views man in another ! light — as in the mouth of the great lion of hell, whose jaws are about to close upon him and crush for ever the helpless victim ; and it contemplates breaking the teeth of this monster of evil and cruelty, and delivering tbe prey from the nvghty. Is man in this condition less entitled to our sympathy than in any other ? We think not. The importance of carrying out this resolution muit be evident to all ; and there is encouragement to do so from tbe fact that the gospel is adapted to men in all climes and under ail circumstances. This feature of it (and it is its glory) is not circumscribed by tbe limits of one island or one continent. The strpng head -current in the straits does not render them impoesible to be crossed bythe waters of life— the expanse of oce q does not prove an impassable barrier to prevent it from exercising its salutary effects upon those on the opposite shore. The vertical rays of a tropical sun cannot cause the glow of compassion for which "the -gospel i*' famed, to pass away in thin air— the icebergs of the frigid zone cannot render it ineffectual — tbe mean of your own climate cannot modify if. Wherever found it is the same ; it pants to bless man'kind — whether treasured up in the lowest order of mind or whether it pervades the most gigantic, it extends its arms to the entire race. The great and good of every age have been its strenuons supporters and promoters. By uniting our energies with theirs, we shall be forming a link in, and assisting to perpetuate the. great chain of God's gracious dealings with man. The feelings which actuated these distinguished individuals — many of whose names are immortalised — were unconquerable. The apathy, and, in many instances, the determined opposition of those towards whom their|yearnings flowed, could not freeze up the pure stream which emanated from their benevolent hearts. The reason is, their own hearts were not the original sources of what they possessed. The more they were opposed the more they recognised and acted on the principles embodied in the resolution. By this means they drew more largely from the fountain-head — the channel of communication between them and God, was widened — their compassion for their fellow-creatures increased ; and the more abundantly did the stream of benevolence flow forth: now we are to be followers of them. There are beings of a higher order who sympathise with this movement : angels desire to look into (it, not merely with the view of becoming acquainted with jts construction, and its adaptation to accomplish its contemplated end, but they regard with deep intereat its actual success. God is its great author; His spirit is breathed into it, and His sympathy it always has. In this respect His Son, by whom the plan was carried out, is one with the Father. It is His meat and drink to do the Divine will. Let us then become workers together with God and unite our energies to help forward this mighty and glorious work. The gospel is capable of raising man ; it is committed to us : means are to be used for its diffusion, and prayer is one of the moit powerful which we have ot command ; it brings us into contact with the great

power which supports the whole, and if u9ed^consistently, will prevail and answer the end for which it is here recommended.— Having made these few remarks, I beg most cordially to move the resolution :—: — Thai this Meeting devoutly rrcognizes Hit importance of increased supplication ;it the tlnoiie ot God for the providentwJ removal ot those obstacles that obstruct the pi ogress of the Gospel, for the pieseivation and support of all Chnstimi Musionaries in their nidnous Jabonrs, and for a copious oulliouung ol the Holy Spirit on the Chinch aud world .it Uige. The Rev. T. Hamfk (Independent) seconded the resolution and said — Mr. Chairman, Christian Friends, I am rather at a loss to get" at the idea the framer of this resolution had, from the expressidn, " the obstacles that lie in the way of the spread of the Gospel !" I suppose I am at liberty to suppose a number of things, but that the chief of these will be Popery. The resolution then calls upon us for supplication to God for the prpvi- ! dentinl removal of such hindrances to the spread of the ' Gospel. It perhaps may be admitted that of all the obstacles at present in the way of the rapid spread of the Gospel, some of which are Paganism, Mohamednnism, not excepting some obstructions which are in the Christnin Church itsplf, that none of them nppear of such magnitude as Popery, from its tendency to lppress thought and enquiry— to prejudice men's minds aaainst Bible truth and to paialyse the conscience. Now the removal of this hindrance is not from the want of well directed effort on the part of the Christian Church — there is intense activity of mind in this direction. Theie is a great deal of work done. But it is just human work; it is what a man under the partial influence of the Gospel may do, and it is to be feaied that the Christian Church is trusting too much to it to the exclusion of faith and prajer. On this account God, I believe, will allow those obstacles to remain where they are for some time to come ; will just allow us to spend our human strength upon them till we become exhausted, and fall into utter despair of removing of them ourselves, and come to find out that we are working without Him, and that all our work without His accompanying aid is in vain. What at present is wantnd is, human effort for the world's salvation, lendered efficacious by Divine power— and that power must be brought to bear upon our effort by faith and prayer.— Now I am strongly impressed, from the want of general and earnest prayer by the churches, that God would render the means used for the woi Id's salvation speedily successful, that God is "not just yet about to remove those hindrances that he in the way to this end. God is looking on, and allowing us to put forth all our strength for this, object, and which it is to be much feared is exerted in a self-vighteous spirit ; or at least that there is far from that proportion of faith and prayer which the character and magnitude of the work to be done'warrants. God is'traihing His people to a deeper recognition of this truth— that it is not by human, power or might alone, but by His Spirit, that the world is to be brought into subjection to Christ, When we become deeply convinced of this, we shall pray as well as work ; we shall see that labour in this department without believing prayer, Is in vain. Let, then, the churches of Christ but feel this in all its foree — let congregations large as this evening* meetfor the special purpose of supplicating that God would make bare His arm and pour out His Spirjt.upon the bearers of the Gosppl, and those very hiudiances that block up the way to the world's saltation- will be removed: Popery itself will be shattered and disappear ; men will be free because God bids them. What we want, then, is the carrying out of the spirit of the resolution, which U have great pleasure in seconding. The Rev. J. 11. Fletcher supported tbo resolution, and said— l must acknowledge to have been lelieved this evening from one mistake in refeience to the Natives of this country. 1 had always believed them to be adepts at getting, but feared that, whether through some inaptitude of their intellects, or some untractableness of their language, it was hardly possible to instruct them in English ideas of giving. But the facts laid before us this evening have evinced that these ideas have been conveyed through their language, and with such accuracy as to draw an effectual answer fiom their minds and hearts. These native benefactions may justly provoke our emulation. They suggest to us that men learning to pray also learn to give. The Missionaries have imported among the aborigines a new luxury, by teaching them to give, for sacred uses — a luxury with which they can hardly regale themselves too often, and which brings no enfeeblement as the penalty of indulgence. But this resolution recognises the Missionary enterprise to be raorf* than a question of ' giving, or of money. It is observable how all schemes, whatever their character, liavp a tendency to be talked of and dealt with mainly as affiirs of finance. But the enterprise before us is not suph as/a committee of merchants might be expected, to originate. While conferring innumerable obligations upon Commerce, it is infinitely more than a mercantile adventure, and it were a sin of the most destructive 'consequence if we did not acknowledge our absolute dependence upon the gifts and influence of' the Holy Spirit. It is important that our rejoicing over each other's gifts be not in any way aa elation dishonourable to Him. The obstacles of which the resolution makes record are reasons 'demanding our fervent prayers for the co-operation of His Alraightiness. The success of the Society during the year has not been in proportion to 'its .greatness, and we fairly conclude that the obstructions which could stay its powerful machinery must be themselves of formidable strength. The Society has perhaps needed the admonition that " the excellency of the power is of God and not of us." They are obstructions, nevertheless, which will melt away before the breath of prayer. We need then, this evening, a collection not only liberal'but religious. It must represent the rel\gious conviction and purpose of this assembly— it must be one expression of a principle which pauses awhile to give, then travels on to labour and to pi ay. Those who contribute to this great cause under the impulses of mere sentiment have no firmer attachment to it than that which holds the leaves upon the tree in autumn, — it is the liberality of Christian principle alone which is tenacious, like the brandies, which are not to be detached by the first chill and blast of winter, but which cleave to the parent stem when many autumns and many winters have passed away. The third resolution was then carried by the meeting. A collection in aid of the Funds was then made. The Rev. Alexander M'Donald (Independent) in a few observations moved the fourth resolution as follows : — That the thanks of this Meeting is due to the Collectors for their valuable aid, and that they be requested to contiuue their seivicut, and 'that the following nentlemen be the Ofliceisdiid Committee for the Auckland Branch forthe ensuing year : Treasurer — Mr. J. Williamson. Seeretariei— Rev. T. Buddie ShdMr. T. Russell. Committee— The Ministers of the Auckland Circuit, .. , With Messrs. Gardiner, Hughes, Stone, Graham, Elliott, ■ and , , H. Ellis. The Rev. R. Ward (Primitive Methodist) briefly seconded the resolution, which, as well those that preceded, was carried unanimously. The Doxology was then sung, and the Meeting sepafated.

Contributions of foreign A Societies . Colonial Grants . Legacies . . ♦ Donations on Annuity . Lapsed Annuities . . Dividends, Interests, &c. fluxil ■ liary 15.420 8 4,930 1 i 4,380 13 H 130 0 ( 2.909 1 X 1,673 3 ' £104,661 14

Districts in England, bcotland, and Wales, have been . . The Hibernian Missionary Society The Juvenile Christmas Ofteiings £ b. 68,922 7 4,295 9 5,000 9 d: 5 6 3 Total Ordinary Home Income .£78,218 6 2