ANNIVERSARY OF THE AUXILIARY SOCIETY FOR THE LONDON DISTRICT. THIS important Auxiliary held its Annual Meeting in Great Queenstreet chapel, on Wednesday, May 18th,-Thomas Farmer, Esq., in the chair. The speakers were, the Rev. W. L. Thornton, the Rev. P. Lorimer, the Rev. W. Barton, the Rev. John Crofts, the Rev. F. J. Jobson, the Rev. Thomas Martin, the Rev. P. C. Turner, the Rev. W. M. Bunting, the Rev. John Beecham, and the Rev. Dr. Alder. The annual congregational sermons had been preached, in various London chapels, on the preceding Sunday. From among the various excellent and animating addresses delivered at this Meeting, our limits permit us to select only that of the Rev. Peter Lorimer, from which the following extracts are given : THE REV. PETER LORIMER, Minister of the Scottish Church, Islington, said, He was induced to attend this Meeting from a motive of gratitude to the Wesleyan body, and from a desire to cultivate a more close and friendly fellowship with them. He would not now speak of his personal obligations to distinguished members of the Wesleyan society; but, as an humble Minister of the Church of Scotland, he could not but feel deeply and fervently grateful to that society, for the kind and affectionate sympathy and interest they had hitherto manifested in the peculiar trials and difficulties of the Church with which he was connected. It was a token of sympathy not to be mistaken, that, during the last two years, the Wesleyan body had invited to take a prominent part in the services of their Missionary Anniversaries, some of the most distinguished, zealous, and devoted champions of the Church of Scotland. He begged to assure the Meeting, not only for himself, but on behalf of all his brethren in the Presbytery of London, that but one feeling prevailed among them with regard to the Wesleyan society,—a feeling of warm and affectionate attachment, and that they were animated by a sincere desire to cultivate closer bonds of amity and brotherhood than had heretofore united them. But he must now address himself more immediately to the object for which they were here assembled. He might be permitted to congratulate the Meeting on the satisfactory and gratify ing statements contained in the Report; and he could not but express his astonishment that, though the past year had been one of great commercial embarrassment throughout the country, so large an addition had been made to the income of the Society. He must also congratulate the Meeting on the large increase of income realized in the various Circuits of the London District. The manifestations of the favour and blessing of God which had been vouchsafed to them ought to operate as a motive for increased diligence, increased hopefulness, and increased confidence in the success of the work in which they were engaged. How high, how mighty, how sublime was the object contemplated by Missionary exertion ! It was an object in which the multitude of the heavenly host took (if he might so speak) an enthusiastic inter est. It was an object in which all the Persons of the glorious Godhead were interested: it concerned the glory of Almighty God; it concerned the honour of the divine and blessed Redeemer; it concerned the eternal life, and the best temporal welfare and prosperity, of millions of their fellow-men. He called upon them to consider how magnificent was the apparatus which God had honoured them to set in motion, and which was in vigorous and effective exercise in all quarters of the world. He found, from the Report, that the total number of the principal stations occupied by the Society was 261; the number of Missionaries, exclusive of Catechists, was 368; the number of accredited members, exclusive of Ireland, was 87,258; and the number of scholars in the schools was nearly 60,000. What a magnificent Missionary apparatus was this! What a splendid organization, extending far and wide throughout the universe! He called upon them to consider how high honour had thus been put upon them by the great Head of the church; and reminded them that it was their duty to seek to render themselves in some measure worthy of this honour, by their increased activity, diligence, prayerfulness, and liberality. It was impossible to listen to the Report without being struck with the almost uninterrupted success with which Almighty God had I crowned their labours during the year. The success which had attended the operations of this Society had not been confined to any one particular quarter, but had extended throughout every scene of its labours. If it had pleased the Lord to withhold from them every token of success during the past year, they would have had no reason for complaint; but if, under such circumstances, they would have been bound to proceed in their work, how much more incumbent on them was it to go forward, when from every point of the compass they received abundant evidence of success! He might refer to one topic, to which eloquent allusion had been made in the Report; namely, that great success, while it ought to minister encouragement, involved serious and solemn responsibility. They had been instrumental, under God, in exciting a demand for Christian knowledge and instruction in the hearts of hundreds, not to say thousands, of their fellow-creatures; and they were bound, by the obligations of justice, charity, and generosity, to supply this demand. Permit me now, said the Rev. gentleman, to express, for myself, and on behalf of all the faithful Ministers of the Church of Scotland, our obligation to you. may, perhaps, be permitted to remind you, that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is about to hold its Annual Meeting. On Thursday next that venerable Assembly meets once more; but we cannot tell whether it may not be the will of God that it shall not again be convened. At any rate, we know not whether that General Assembly will ever again represent the united Church of Scotland, the evangelical, the Missionary Church of Scotland. It is appropriate to the present Meeting to say, that, though a late beginner, that Church is now a Missionary Church; and if she cannot yet tell of the multitude of her labourers, she can speak of the multitude of the objects of her benevolence. She not only sends forth Missionaries to the Gentiles in India, but of late she has felt her heart softened towards the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and she has sent forth holy and zealous men, in the hope that, by their instrumentality, those wandering sheep may be brought into the fold of Christ. She sends forth Missionary Ministers to her own children who have gone far from her borders, to the east and to the west, to the wilds of Canada, and to the distant fields of Australia. She has her plans for extending church-accommodation at home, and she has her means of promoting scriptural education among the people. What I wish to ask of you is, that, at the Meeting of the Assembly of our Church, on an occasion so critical, so perilous, so threatening, you will pour forth your united and fervent prayers, that the Spirit of God, the Spirit of wisdom, of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord, may abide upon that Assembly; that they may be influenced by the fear of God, not by the fear of man; that their hearts may be animated by the love of Christ and the things of Christ, not swayed by love of the world, or the temporalities of the world. It were a noble sight, indeed, could we see an united phalanx of hundreds of Ministers willing, yea, joyful, for Christ's sake and the Gospel's, for the honour of the Redeemer's crown, and in defence of the spiritual liberties of those whom Christ has made free,-it were a noble sight to see such a band of men willing to forsake all of earthly good, to leave all the comforts of their homes, to cast themselves upon the providence of God, and upon the charities of his people, rather than make shipwreck of a good conscience. May God grant that, if it be necessary this year or the next that such sacrifices should be made, there may be found many within the borders of Scotland willing and ready to make them! I know your attachment to the principle of an Establishment; I know your love for the theory of that principle. I share with you in that attachment. were a noble sight to see a Christian state and a Christian church so united together, as that there should be no compromise of principle on the one hand, no surrender of the prerogatives of Christ, or of his people; while, on the other hand, there should be no niggardliness in extending that help, and affording those means of support, which might be rendered necessary for the diffusion of Christian truth. But, while I know your attachment to the principle of an Establishment, I think I know you sufficiently well to be assured of this, that you would not maintain your attachment to the principle, if you saw it demonstrated, by such a case as this in Scotland which is now bringing the question to an issue, that it was impossible to reconcile it with the honour of the divine Redeemer, and with the liberties of a Christian church. The more you love the principle, the more should you love the Church of Scotland, which is contending for its purity. The more you love the principle, the more cordially should you wish that Church God-speed in its efforts to vindicate the principle in its truth and in It its purity against all corruption, and to make it manifest, by God's blessing, how Kings may be nursing-fathers, and how Queens may be and ought to benursing-mothers, to the Church, while still that Church maintains her purity uncorrupt, and shines forth before the Christian world, "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, RECEIVED IN CONNEXION WITH THE LATE ANNIVERSARY. Collections after the four annual sermons on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of April Collections on Sunday, May 1st, and on Sunday, May 15th Collection at Great-Queen-street Meeting, May 18th.... For the particulars of these donations, &c., we refer to the statement of moneys recently received. DEATH OF MRS. BROOKES. WE are grieved to report the decease of the excellent wife of the Rev. W. A. Brookes, one of our Missionaries, lately stationed in the Friendly Islands. This event took place in Van-Diemen's Land,—a removal to which colony had been rendered necessary by her declining health. It is thus mentioned in a letter from Mrs. N. Turner, dated August 20th, 1841: "The excellent wife of our dear fellow-Minister, Mr. Brookes, died a few days ago. Her expiring words were, DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES. INDIA.-On Thursday, the 24th of March, the Rev. Messrs. E. J. Hardey and Daniel Sanderson, embarked at Portsmouth by the "Anna Robertson," for Madras. These excellent brethren are sent as a partial supply for the vacancies which have recently been occasioned in the Mission on Continental India. It is earnestly hoped that means will be provided to enable the Committee to keep up the number of Missionaries in that important and extensive field of labour. Intelligence has been received that, on the 22d of April, Messrs. Hardey and Sanderson were in good health, and had reached to 4 degrees north of the Line. We trust that the remainder of their voyage will be accomplished with equal comfort and safety. The Rev. David Cargill, M. A., with Mrs. Cargill and family, embarked by the "Haidee," Captain Marshall, for Hobart-Town, on his return to the Polynesian Islands, on Saturday, the 30th of April. NEWFOUNDLAND.-On Wednesday, the 6th of April, the Rev. John Pickavant and his family embarked at Liverpool for Newfoundland. The owners of the vessel, Messrs. Jones of Liverpool, have liberally declined any remuneration for their passage; an example which if followed by other Christian merchants and ship-owners, would be felt most beneficially by the Society, and would command ultimately a valuable remuneration to the interests of trade and commerce. Mr. Pickavant had been under the necessity of returning to England more than twelve months ago to recruit his health, after more than twenty years' labour in the severe climate of Newfoundland. His friends had feared that it would be necessary for him finally to retire from active service, and to act only as a Supernumerary; but his love for the churches over whom he has watched for so many years, has determined him to return to the scene of his former labours, and to devote himself to their interests and welfare for the remainder of his life. He throws himself on the providence of God for the continuance of his health; and we are persuaded, that, under these peculiar circumstances, he will have the affectionate and earnest prayers of the churches in his behalf. We commend the above-mentioned brethren, and all who, in the cause of Christ, may be now exposed to perils in travelling by land or by water, to the devout and continued supplications of the friends of Missions. Intelligence has been received of the arrival of Mr. Symonds at the Gambia; and of Messrs. Annear and Raston, with the native Teacher, Joseph May, at Sierra-Leone. The Missionaries are reported as in the enjoyment of their usual good health, and work as in great prosperity. ADDITION TO THE JUVENILE CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS. SINCE our last report of this noble contribution was made up, a further amount of £170. 13s. has been received from various Circuits; making, with the sum of £4,721. 7s. 4d. already announced, an aggregate of £4,892. 08. 4d. Contributions to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, received by the General Treasurers, since our last announcement, up to the 18th of May, 1842. Moneys received in connexion with the Anniversary. Legacy of Charles Chester, Esq., Stafford, Messrs. J. and C. B. L. Ward, Esq., Standground; one Sovereign for each addi- 30 Ꮳ William Betts, Esq., Leicester. Legacy of Mr. James Rickards, Saltash; Thomas Tasker, Thanksgiving of a Friend; by the Rev. Elijah Hoole 25 0 10 10 0 32 10 0 0000 Robert Middleton, Esq., Cheltenham, on Annuity A Friend's Thank-Offering to God, for a providential deliver- Collected by Mr. Peter Bays, Cambridge, for Turtle-Island First Quarter's Collection at Harrow-on-the-Hill from the Towards the Extinction of the Old Debt. The First-fruits of a Ladies' Missionary Basket at Preston; by the Rev. W. B. Stephenson A Friend at Northwich A Friend, Chelmsford.... A Friend, Wellingborough; by the Rev. J. S. Dredge. N. B. The foregoing Donations towards the Debt were received before the 14th of April; and were set up in type for the last page of our April Number, but ultimately omitted from want of room. The numerous and liberal Donations for the same object, which have been received since that date, and by which, with aid from other resources, a sum has now been_provided sufficient to extinguish more than ONE HALF of the Original Debt, (see page 527 of this Number,) will be published together, in one complete List, in a very short time. Special Contributions for the Mission to Ashantee, and the Extension of the Gold-Coast Mission, including Badagry. LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE. |