WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIEY. [From the Nelson Examiner, September 18.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 778, 2 October 1852, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIEY. [From the Nelson Examiner, September 18.]

The third Anniversary of the Nelson Branch Wesleyan Missionary Society, was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Bridge Street, on Sunday and Monday, the 12th and 13th inst. On Sunday, the Rev. S. Ironside preached in the morning, and the Rev. T: D. Nicholson in the evening. After the Tea Meeting on Monday, a Public Meeting was held, the chair being taken by D. Sclanders, Esq. In the body jof the Chapel we noticed his Excellency Sir George Grey, his Honour the Superintendent, and several other gentlemen. After prayer, offered by the Rev. T. D. Nicholson, the Chairman called on the Rev. S. Ironside to read the Report. We can only find space for the portion referring to New Zealand, which stated that the Natives generally speaking were well acquainted with Scripture truth ; but it was lamented that there was no evidence to shew the existence of that deep piety to correspond with their knowledge of divine things. The reverend gentleman alluded to a visit made by himself, about eighteen months since, to the Native Institution, at Three Kings, near Auckland, and to the gratification he experienced at witnessing the progress of the scholars in the EnglUh language, in geography, history, music, agriculture, and other useful arts and sciences. The Secretary, Mr. Burn, then read the financial Report, from which it appeared that the sura of £39 12s. had been received during the past year, being £6 in advance of last year's receipts. A gentleman during the Meeting offered £5, if four others would contribute the like amount, and we understood that two other donations of the same amount were promised before the Meeting closed. The Rev. D. Dolamore remarked, that the possession of good of any kind and to any amount was ever accompanied by obligation ; and that with regard to him from whom that good proceeded, and to those of our fellow men destitute of the good we possess. That the possession of blessings should lead to gratitude to the " father of mercies." and should cause us, " whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, to do all to the glory of God ;" and thot no state of heart was more desirable or more delightful than a grateful one. That with gratitude commensurate to our blessings, we should be among the most happy of mortals. He observed, that in relation to the destitute among our fellow men, the possession of good involved the obligation to communicate that ♦good, whether that good belonging to this world, or to a spiritual and eternal world. He referred to the early messengers of the gospel, as men who consciously possessed that which was to them of inestimable value, but of which the •world at large was destitute ; and remarked, that it was not merely the command of the author of the gospel which led them to preach it to every creature, but their gratitude to him, and tlieir conviction of its worth. And that , this gratitude to the author of the gospel, and this desire to communicate it, constituted " the missionary spirit." That this spirit in its manifestations was not confined to organised Missionary operations, but entered into every path of Christion usefulness. He concluded by urging on all Christians present the importance of seeking, cultivating, and manifesting " the Missionary spirit." Mr. Gardner addressed the meeting at considerable length, and stated forcibly the importance of Missionary labours. The Missionary field however, was not, he said, confined to the heathen alone, nor were those who were generally styled Missionaries the only persons who were entitled to that name. Every Minister of Christ was a Missionary, though his labours were confined to the teaching of his own countrymen ; and every professing Christian was or onght to be a Missionary, for in his own family, among his own friends and neighbours, every one might find a field for useful exertion. Respecting the hindrances which retard the work of the Protestant Missionary among the heathen in this hemisphere, Mr. Gardner adverted to the efforts which had been made by the Church of Rome within the last few years, Wherever the Piotestant commenced the work of Christianizing, the Papist followed, and sowed tares among the corn. This had been done in Australia, in Tahiti, in New Zealand, and in the other numerous islands of the Pacific. In Tahiti, there was every reason to believe that it was at the instigation of the Romish priests,

who were jealous of the pure Protestant spirit of the natives of that island, that France, in the most unprovoked manner, invaded and subjugated the island. But notwithstanding the bribes and intimidation which have been used, the native chiefs of Tahiti have scood fast by their bibles aud their creed, and not a single convert to Popery has beeii tnade from amongst them. But to come nearer home, he would cite the case of this settlement, where, for some years after its formation, we had only Protestant Ministers and Protestant schools, while now we have a Romish mission amongst us, with a school attached to it, to which Protestant parents are invited to send their children. It was said the priest who taught at this school was a peaceable man — it might be so, and he (Mr. G.) knew nothing to the contrary; but there was a circumstance stated at the last Wesleyan Missionary Meeting which had never been contradicted, and which he thought should make Protestant parents pause before they place their children under influences which are so much calculated to operate upon youthful minds. A Protestant parent who wished his son to be well acquainted with hJ3 bible, which is the foundation of his faith, gave his child a copy of the English version of that book to take with him to the school of the Catholic Mission, which professes to teach no sectarian doctrines. The priest who acts as teacher looked at this book, and knowing well that it was the book which had effected such extraordinary changes in the world, he gave it to the boy to take home, and desired him not to bring it to school again. Protestant parents should not look on with indifference, and, Gallio-like, care for none of these things, but should use their utmost efforts to have their children well instructed in gospel truths, so that they may for ever remain proof against the arts of Romanism, in* whatever form they may present themselves. Mr. Daniell said, that having been requested by Mr. Ironside to speak on the present occasion, it was his wish to advocate the claims of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. In the Scriptures of truth the followers of Christ were spoken of as being fellow- workers with God. Now what was that work in which Christians were thus called to engage ? Most certainly it was not God's work of creation, nor his work of governing the world in which we dwell ; but it was to spread abroad that knowledge of God and his salvation through Jesus Christ, which, by dispelliug the darkness and breaking the bonds of error and superstition in which so large a number of the human race were found, would fit them to enjoy, not only the truest happiness here on earth, but hereafter to enjoy the highest and most glorious happiness to which intelligent creatures could attain. The work of evangelising the world was a great and mighty one, and we seemed but to have entered upon the beginning, when we remembered the vast number of immortal souls utterly destitute of the knowledge of truth, and remembered also the length of time that had elapsed since its first commencement by the Apostles. But it was the work of Him who could and would bring down every lofty mountain, elevate all vallies, and make everything plain, so that all flesh should see the salvation of God. Mr. D. here enumerated the different Societies which are engaged in the Missionary work, and showed how large the field was which required their labour; he then state J, that in reference to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, he considered that body had two kinds of claim upon the support of the friends present. First, its missionaries had been actively engaged in various parts of the world in spreading that" knowledge which had made many wise unto salvation, and therefore all who felt the worth of souls and the importance of the work of saving men from sin and darkness, ought to be willing to aid and encourage a Society engaged in such a work. And, in the second place, he considered that the Wes-leyan Missionary Society had more l special claims upon them, not only for the reason that had been alluded to in the report, viz., that the Nonconformists of Nelson had for many years after the formation of the settlement been indebted to its missionaries for the ordinary means of grace to which in England they had been accustomed ; but, he considered also, that had it not been for the successful labours of Missionaries of the Church and Wesleyan Missionary Societies, they would not have been colonists of New Zealand at that present time. The Rev. S. Ironside here stated that Sir G. Grey, although not feeling equal to the task of addressing the meeting that evening, permitted him to say, that his Excellency could bear testimony to the benefits conferred upon these islands by the Wesleyan Missionary Society. The Rev. T. D. Nicholson considered it a privilege at all times to address Christian people, especially respecting Christian missionaries ; they were on .common or neutral ground, and they could rejoice at the success of any portion of the church of Christ in this great cause. They were met together to congratulate the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and to give practical proof of their sympathy with the objects its agents so earnestly sought to carry out. He had called the Missionary cause a great cause, and was it not so ? Was it not the cause of God and truth, the cause of righteousness and charity, the cause of civilization and of liberty, had it not then special claims on their liberality ? The Scriptures told him that when the world's Evangelist was about to return to his Father's kingdom, he formally transferred to his disciples the functions he had exercised | amongst them, saying :—": — " Go ye therefore and ■ teach-all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;" and added the consolatory , promise, • l Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." This was the grand charter upon which the visible Church was at first constituted, it was the foundation stone upon which the superstructure wa3 to be built, and therefore the chief end of all churches acknowledging Christ as their heaJ, should be the evangelization of the world. Here the collection was made, the amount of which is included in the above-mentioned sum. After a brief address from Mr. Wrag-g, the Rev. S. Ironside pronounced the benediction, and the meeting closed. Interesting meetings have also been held in three of the country villages, and we are glad to learn that the total receipts of the Nelson Branch are upwards of £52.