NEYOOR MISSION.-EBENEZER CHAPEL. THE humble sanctuary that bears the name of Ebenezer Chapel, an engraving of which appears in our present number, (p. 153), was erected, under direction of the Rev. John Abbs, through means of a special contribution from friends at Southport, Lancashire. The locality in which it stands is Autoor, an outpost connected with the Western Division of the Neyoor Mission. In this interesting spot, God has greatly blessed the labours of our brethren and their native coadjutors, and they have derived no little advantage in carrying on their work from the use of a suitable building for holding divine worship. Additional information respecting the Chapel and the progress of the Gospel among the inhabitants of Autoor will be found in the succeeding statement from Mr. Abbs :: "This place of worship stands near a road, which is much frequented on account of its being the direct way to a famous temple. The vicinity is inhabited chiefly by heathens, and has been in times past the theatre of great opposition to the Gospel. When Christianity was introduced into the village, the Soodras around united to prevent its entrance; afflicted those who embraced it; and at length destroyed, by fire, a small place which had been temporarily set apart for the service of God. "When these outrages were suppressed, the present building was erected-much to the comfort of the persecuted disciples. It is a house dedicated to Jehovah, standing in the midst of a number of temples consecrated to the honour of Satan. In an adjoining field to the north-west is to be seen one of these abominations; another, of larger dimensions, meets the eye a few paces from the gate of our compound; and at the distance of a mile is a still more ancient and extensive place of Demon-worship. The standard of the Cross being thus fixed in the camp of its enemies, we naturally looked for obstacles; but the triumphs of grace in this sphere of labour have been sufficient to encourage the hope of final victory. "The Chapel is comparatively large, with comfortable verandahs; but it is not so well filled as we desire, owing to the efforts which are still made in this part of the district to deter the lower classes from attending a Christian Sanctuary. Yet, for more than seven years, have persons been found in this and neighbouring villages willing to brave the malice of their opposers, in order to listen to the words of life. "There are other buildings on the premises, occupied by a family, the members of which, at various times, have been subjected to great temporal loss on account of their connexion with our cause. The head of this family died about four years since, in the peace and hope of the Gospel. When I first knew him, he was a quiet, inoffensive man, but very worldly in his habits and motives. He was fond of referring to what he had endured for the sake of Christianity, yet was evidently so ignorant of its spiritual nature, as to make me fear it would be found, at last, that he had "suffered many things in vain." A seasonable reproof led him to abandon a sin to which he had been addicted, and to pay fervent attention to the word and worship of God. His subsequent conduct and expression of hope in the Redeemer induce me to believe that, for some time previous to his death, he had become renewed in spirit, as well as reformed in external character. In answering inquiries as to his preparation for eternity, he would generally make some remark which convinced me that he was trusting in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation; so that when the tidings of his death reached me, I felt satisfaction in the remembrance of our intercourse, and have a confident persuasion that he has been removed to a more pure and perfect state of existence." ***IT should have been mentioned in our last number, in the account of UNION CHAPEL, Hong-Kong, that the plans of the building were gratuitously furnished and its erection superintended by an esteemed Wesleyan friend, Mr. ROWLAND REES, now of Dover. Anniversary Services in May. THE Directors are gratified in announcing to the Friends and Members of the Society, that they have made the following arrangements : MONDAY, MAY 8. EVENING.-SERMON by Rev. JOHN JORDAN, B. A., Vicar of Enston, Oxfordshire. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, MORNING-SURREY CHAPEL, Rev. ROBERT CANDLISH, D. D., of Edinburgh. EVENING. TABERNACLE, Rev. WILLIAM BROCK, of Norwich. THURSDAY, MAY 11. MORNING. ANNUAL MEETING, EXETER HALL. The Chair to be taken by JAMES KERSHAW, Esq., M.P. EVENING.-ADJOURNED MEETING to be held at FINSBURY CHAPEL. FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 12. The Rev. T. RAFFLES, D.D., LL.D., of Liverpool, SERMON TO THE YOUNG, at POULTRY CHAPEL. LORD'S DAY, MAY 14. SERMONS will be preached, and COLLECTIONS made, at various Places of Worship, in London and its vicinity. MONDAY, MAY 15. EVENING.-The SACRAMENT of the Lord's Supper will be administered at various Places of Worship. *** Further particulars in a future number. TO THE AUXILIARY SOCIETIES IN LONDON. The Ladies who have usually been invited to attend a Meeting at the Mission- House in the month of March, for the payment of Contributions from Female Auxiliaries in and about London, are respectfully informed that such Meeting will not be held this year. The Directors of the Society fear that attendance on a fixed day and hour for the above purpose has been attended with much inconvenience to their friends; and they now request that the Contributions may be paid in, at any such periods as may be most convenient to the parties, on or before the 28th of March. The Directors continue deeply sensible of the value of the services of their Christian Friends, and earnestly trust that they will endeavour to render their Auxiliaries and Associations as effective as possible. The Officers and Committees of the other Auxiliary Missionary Societies in London and its vicinity are respectfully requested to pay in their amounts at the Mission-House, on or before Friday, the 31st instant, the day appointed for closing the accounts. The lists of Contributions should be forwarded to the Mission-House, on or before that day, in order that they may be inserted in the Society's Annual Report for 1848. TO AUXILIARY SOCIETIES IN THE COUNTRY. The Officers of the Auxiliary Societies throughout the country are respectfully requested to transmit their Contributions so as to be received at the Mission-House on or before Friday, the 31st instant; together with correct Lists of Subscribers of Ten Shillings and upwards, alphabetically arranged, for insertion in the Annual Report; also distinct statements of the sums collected from Congregations, from Branch Associations, and by Deputations CHINA. REINFORCEMENT OF THE MISSIONS. THE Public Service, held at Craven Chapel on Tuesday evening, February 8th, to take leave of a large party of Missionary Brethren and Friends-SIXTEEN IN NUMBER-proceeding to various stations in China, was deeply interesting, and the attendance overflowing. A larger assemblage of the friends and supporters of the Society never congregated within the walls of this spacious place of worship. Not only was every seat occupied, but the aisles were crowded; and the most intense interest was manifested in all the proceedings of the evening. The occasion was no less novel in the history of Missions, than it was solemn and delightful in the reflections which it could not fail to awaken; and the impressions produced in favour of the Chinese Mission will, we are assured, be equally powerful and permanent. The Missionary Friends who bade farewell to the Christian Public, previous to their embarkation for China, were the Rev. Dr. Legge and Mrs. Legge, Rev. W. Young and Mrs. Young, Rev. B. Kay and Mrs. Kay, Revs. T. Gilfillan and J. Edkins; Mr. Hyslop, Medical Missionary, and Mrs. Hyslop; three Chinese Converts; with Misses Hanson, Evans, and James. The Missionaries, and those accompanying them, having taken their seats near the centre of the chapel, the Service was commenced by singing. The Rev. Dr. MORISON having read the 10th chapter of Matthew, and offered prayer, The Rev. ARTHUR TIDMAN, Foreign Secretary of the Society, ascended the pulpit and spoke as follows:-It has often been our privilege to assemble in the sanctuary of God to unite our prayers and humble efforts for the extension of his Gospel among the heathen; and it is not the first time we have met together to offer our valedictory prayers for, and express our affectionate sympathy to, beloved brethren going far hence to the Gentiles. We are assembled on such a solemn and delightful occasion to-night; but this meeting has a striking feature of novelty, -of novelty not only in our own history, but in the history of the Protestant Missions of Britain, nay, of the whole Protestant world. At no period before-and we speak it with exultation, yet with deep sorrowwere there in the history of the Protestant Evangelical Church of Europe, sixteen Christian men and women met together, about to depart with the Gospel of Christ to the shores of China. If, ten years ago, we had spoken of China in a meeting like the present, it would have been the burden of our prayers, but scarcely would it have been in the anticipations of faith. We were then accustomed to pray that China might be opened, but still, to our apprehension, China was as likely to be shut for another century as it had been for centuries past. But now, thanks be to God, China is open, and we have brethren before us who have already stood upon her shores, and proclaimed the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, -brethren who are now about to return, accompanied by others who long to share in these honourable labours, and there to live and to die for the salvation of perishing myriads. Our brethren and sisters, then, who are going forth, are partly veterans and partly new recruits anxious to be engaged in the work. Our beloved friend, Dr. Legge, was forced for awhile to return, through the failure of health, but God has overruled that 'painful dispensation for great good; and, while we have to sympathize with our afflicted brethren, and to mourn that they are compelled so often to revisit our shores, yet in this, as in every other case, we have found that God overrules such dispensations for the diffusion, not only of Missionary intelligence, but of true Missionary principles. Let no man suppose, that our Missionaries, exhausted as they may be from disease and toil, when they return home, come here to eat the bread of idleness, or to seek mere relaxation and self-indulgence, and, therefore, that they are to be regarded as a burden to the Churches hard to be borne. They are men who bring with them that information which they have gathered from things they have seen, and felt, and done, and who breathe a spirit which, being diffused among the Churches at home, tends to strengthen our faith, and make us ashamed of our vain professions of self-denial and liberality. Brethren, when I see men like Dr. Legge, whom it is my happiness to know well, and to love him as intimately as I know him, giving themselves to this cause, oh! if there were men amongst us that contributed of their abundance-their hundreds, and even their thousands-it would be a poor offering compared with such a life! Another old soldier in the cause of the Chinese Mission is also present, and about to return, our brother, Mr. Young; accompanied by his excellent, industrious, and useful Missionary wife-a Christian woman who has made very vigorous and very successful attempts to instruct Chinese females in the great truths of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. These esteemed brethren and their excellent wives, go with the entire confidence, respect, and love of the Directors, and all the Missionary brethren to whom they are known. With these brethren, there are about to depart other Christian friends who are just entering upon the field,- Mr. and Mrs. Kay, Mr. and Mrs. Hyslop, Mr. Edkins, and Mr. Gilfillan, with three female labourers in the Missionary cause. These thirteen individuals are all going forth to different departments of Missionary work in connexion with our several Chinese Stations. They are accompanied by three Christian Youths, the first-fruits to Christ of the Chinese Mission in modern times-three young men to whom our brother, Dr. Legge, has been a friend and a father-who have had the advantages of his kind instruction, of his excellent and judicious guidance, and, above all, of his Christian example. Since they have been in this country, where they have enjoyed a course of useful education, both Literary and Christian, we have reason to believe that their hearts have been savingly brought under the power of the Gospel; and they, having made, as most of you are aware, a public profession of their faith in Christ, have been received into the Christian Church. These young men go forth with the design of receiving a suitable course of preparatory theological instruction for the Christian Ministry, in order that they may be employed hereafter as God shall give them ability and opportunity, as the teachers of the Gospel to their countrymen. You all probably know that European Missionaries may labour in five cities that are open to British Commerce; but that, with respect to the interior, natives only of China would be allowed to go through the length and breadth of the land, preaching Christ and redemption by his blood. We hope, therefore, that these youths, in connexion with others, who may hereafter be raised up for that purpose, will be found amongst those who shall penetrate the recesses of that country, and preach the Gospel where Christ has not yet been named. These brethren and sisters, amounting altogether to sixteen in number, are about to sail in one vessel-a little sanctuary--where they will form a Church upon the mighty waters-all borne on by the same motive of love to Christ and love to man. And when they arrive at their destination, which, we trust, through the good providence of God, they will about the close of June next, then we shall have, in connexion with our Chinese Mission, eighteen male European labourers, besides thirteen females, equally necessary and useful in their respective departments; and six native evangelists and teachers already in the service. You have thus the facts of the case before you, and I am sure that you will feel a deep interest in these devoted labourers; not only for the passing hour, but, when you hear of their names and labours on future occasions, it will tend to quicken your prayers and to heighten your joys, that you were permitted to meet on this occasion to commit them to God and the Word of his grace in solemn and united supplications. These brethren are going to four different stations-one, with two of our female friends, is proceeding to Shanghae, the most Northerly Port open to British Commerce; four of our friends will be located at Amoy, one of the Southern Ports; three or four, we expect, will ultimately settle at Hong-Kong; and the rest, with those now in China, will take their station at Canton. While the Directors of the London Missionary Society are thus sending out our brethren in augmented numbers, they are acting in the spirit of simple trust in the Churches of God, or rather in God himself. They have, at the present moment, no small share of difficulty to sustain the labourers already in the field; but they believe that the loud calls of Providence, so plain and so impressive, cannot be disregarded without great criminality. Our brethren, therefore, commit themselves to this great enterprise, and we doubt not that the Churches of Christ will sustain them, not only by their supplications, but by their generous and adequate support. The Rev. JAMES SHERMAN next addressed the Missionaries and Friends departing for China: Dear brethren and sisters in Christ, -dear to our hearts by a thousand ties, but dearer than all for that love to Christ and love to souls which takes you far hence among the heathen, and makes you willing to sacrifice English comforts, health, and even life, if it be the will of God, to save them from destruction-this great assembly are not idle and uninterested spectators of your departure. They behold you as a part of the great army of the Captain of Salvation going to fight bloodless battles, and achieve victories over ignorance and vice,-to emancipate captives from the tyranny of the Prince of Darkness, and to scatter love, peace, salvation, friendship, and joy, wherever you are located, among the millions of China. Oh, think you, can we be uninterested spectators of such a group? In better meaning we apply the words which fell from the Psalmist's lips with reference to the hosts of Israel," Egypt was glad at their departure." We are glad at your departure; the whole Church of Jesus Christ in heaven and on earth is glad at your departure; angels are glad at your departure; the Son of God himself, your Redeemer, is glad at your departure. Beloved brethren and sisters, there is joy in heaven and on earth to-night about your departure. Oh, did my eyes ever expect to see this day! Ten years ago we dreamed not that China would be accessible to Christian effort; but now its gates are thrown open. This, I confess, is such a day, that my faith, however large it might have been about China, never expected to see on earth. Some of you have been in the field already, and worn your armour well; others are girding it on,-veterans and recruits. You, my dear brother Legge, brought three native youths to this land, who, at that time, knew but little of Christ and of the way of salvation; but, in this country, their hearts have been regenerated by the Spirit of God, and they are now going forth to proclaim the salvation of the Lord Christ. How rich a reward for your care and instruction! We gladly unite with you to-night, and say, What shall we render, on your behalf, to the Lord for all his mercies? We will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. It has been the hard lot of some of your dear brethren who have come from the same field of labour, to be obliged, from ill health, to abstain from prosecuting their enterprise. They cannot return again; but we rejoice to see our brother from Amoy and his wife, with renewed health, rejoining the Mission, and we bless God on their behalf. Amidst hopes and fears, many of you (eleven, I believe), are putting on the armour for the first time,-leaving your native shore and friends, and going to untried scenes and labours. Well, you go not on a warfare at your own charges. Jesus Christ has grace enough for you all-peculiar grace, just the graces which you need. He never deserted a soul that aimed to serve him, and he knows how to sustain spirits that are ready to devote themselves to him, however weak and incompetent they may be. You may trust him with all your heart to carry on your cause, and to assist you in the enterprise which you now undertake. If I might specially single you out, my dear young friend Gilfillan, who has been my peculiar charge, I would remind you that you have had many spiritual privileges. Providence remarkably directed your steps in leading you to Surrey Chapel. Your education has been prosecuted with great care, and the Church has high expectations of your future labours, while it takes a peculiar interest in your present welfare. Follow the footsteps of Morrison and Milne, and let us have glad tidings of your faith and labour for Christ your King. When you are far from us, let us have this testimony, that you desire to please God. I had the pleasure of knowing the father of a fellow-labourer who accompanies you,-Mr. Edkins ; and I think, if that spirit takes an interest in what is passing tonight, as doubtless it does, it is with no small joy that he sees his son ready to go forth to the heathen to testify the Gospel which he had long preached. Ye dear youths of China, with what interest do we all look upon you; what an infinite mercy to you, that, by the providence of God, you should be placed under the special care of such a tutor and such a friend as you have in Dr. Legge! I rejoice that you are sufficiently acquainted with the English language to understand me. Yours will be a mission unrestricted by any peculiar limits. All China is open to your devoted zeal to testify the Gospel of the grace of God to your heathen countrymen. Pray much for the power of the Spirit of God to come down upon you to qualify you for the task, and to give you Divine success in any work you undertake. Be very humble and tractable, and desire to be useful and happy servants of Christ. In conclusion, let me offer a few remarks to you collectively. We and you have but one desire that you may be personally holy, and successful in all your labours to engage multitudes of souls to become the willing servants of your Divine Master. Would you do this-then love the Lord Jesus. Whom should you love but him? He united himself to your nature. He loved you, and gave himself for you; he wrought out your redemption; he has clothed you with the robes of his righteousness and the garments of salvation; he is sanctifying your spirits; he has called you out of the world, and now out of his Church, specially for this service. He designs to give you a palm, white robes, and everlasting rest with himself; and need I ask you tonight to love him? Can you do anything else? If the love of Christ burns with a pure flame in your hearts, it will be one of the best incentives to labour, and make it both sweet and effectual, though it cost you much personal suffering. In a little while the Master is coming to put a crown on your brow, and to call you to his everlasting kingdom. If your toil in the field of labour be short, if you have but a brief time to work for him on earth, it will only be a nearer way to the glory which is to be revealed, and to that sinless service to which you aspire. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." The Rev. Dr. LEIFCHILD addressed the congregation to the following effect :-It must be gratifying to the friends of Missions to see so large an assemblage on the present occasion, and we feel this place honoured by hav |