THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 4, Issue 169, 23 October 1880, Page 2

THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Tim orimml meeting (if this society, held i* London in May bust, was presided over liy Mr. John Kemu Welsh, J.l'. The ball whs crowd-d. Tlie chairman stated that in common with other societies they had nearly manured to pay their way for the pass y«ar, and hu hop-.-d that better times were at hand. Mr. "Whiti.'houso read an abstract*, of t! o repot t. They began the year witn diUieu'.ties, Complicated and painful questions hud arisen in connection with the mission to Central Afrit- , one after another of the brethren seia having succumbed to the climate, their gieute.it hm being the d.;ath of their Foreign Secretary, Dr. Mullens, who had gone out with a view to establish the mission on Lake Tanganyika. At, Ujiji, however ,tho mission hidbaen st length established, and at the date.of tha last accounts was in a hopeful state. Tilt* missions in other parts of Africa mid in the South Soas- Were reported n« in a \ery prosperous state, with tho exception of those which had been affected by the late war in Africa. The report also referred to successful missionary work in other parts of the globe. Tho Rev. Dr. 'Alion moved the adoption of the report, nml adduced many statistics to show that the missionary enterprise lml been fur more sii'ccus-l'iil than many of its best friends could have anticipated. Tliu motion was seconded by tho Kov. .(. llaefarlane, from New Guinea, in a long and utile speech, in which he not only gave an ueeouut of the rise and pryjres) of the missions, but of tho island itself and its resources. It was, he sni-J, tho largest island in the world, being us long as from London to Constantinople and 000 mill's broad. The natives were savages and cannibals, but in his dealings with them he had always succeeded in getting a hold of their eoufidoneo, alj though at times not without peril. The future of the island would in all probability be a great one. Its natural advantages were something wonderful. The scenery in some parts was grand and magnificent, and tropical products were everywhere abundant. There were minerals of the richest description, and a climate which, with the proper culture ■ f the soil and the drainage of the swamps, would be found to be healthy. Ho hailed the advent of honest traders. There they might make their ;")0, and their 100, and their 200 per cent., but adventurers weie to be deplored, and after all it was to the triumphs of tho Go-,pol to which they were to look as tho best pioneers of all true civilisation. Tho resolution was cordially passed. The Rev. I l ', Trestrail, secretary of the liaptist Missionary Society, moved tho second resolution which was seconded by tho Rev. J amp* Richardson, from Madagascar. He spoke from seven yet. a experience of Christian work in that inland, and pave full details of the missions from their commencement, now many ago, by tho London Missionary Society, to the present day. The people to a great extent had been Christiunised. From the Queen on tho throne down to tho poorest subject, Christianity hail come to bo tho rule. Even where its vital forces as an experimental religionhad; not been experienced, its moral itiflueuco had been greatly improved. The hatanoo. sheet showed that tho receipts fox the year for general purposes had amounted to £03,333 lis. -Id., and for special purposes to £8,820 . r is., making a total of £102,162 Ida. 4d, The wle of prepwfcy at Jlauhey, South Africa. Lad i-oalLe'.i, £1,700, Tho expenditure for the- vear was £100,17-1 Is. 1.1., and tho balance against tho society for last year t'ft/JM lis. kl., showing a total expenditure of £105,409 12s nnd 10d., or a balance, ng'iinst tin si-i l ; ii,' £1.313 lijj