Total.... Conclusion. 253 17 6 £5197 16 11 The establishment of Central National Schools in many of the principal towns, for the instruction of all classes of the inhabitants, may be considered as the first step toward the universal diffusion of Christianity. When similar institutions shall be found in every Colony, the Gospel will have attained a firm footing in the West Indies, and the most encouraging expectations may be entertained respecting its speedy triumph. The Instruction of Slaves on Plantations constitutes the other great branch of the Society's operations; and it is cramped, at present, by the very inadequate number of Catechists and Schoolmasters which the Society is able to maintain, and by the difficulties too often experienced in obtaining admission upon the Estates. A more extensive co-operation, on the part of the West-Indian Proprietors, would provide the best and speediest remedy for both these evils: and the encouragement which the Institution continues to receive, from a very enlightened and respectable portion of the Colonial body, authorises a hope that so excellent an example may find abundant imitators. Even at the present rate of income and expenditure, a considerable portion of the great West-Indian Field is brought, by degrees, under cultivation, and prepared for the reception of the good seed. The assistance afforded to the Bishops and Clergy is most thankfully acknowledged and accepted; and the Society has the happiness of hearing, that its labours are cordially approved, and most judiciously superintended, by Prelates, deeply interested in their suc Serampore. Ceylon Sumatra Java Jamaica Honduras (two years) Students and Books.. Widows and Orphans Returned Missionaries Printing and Stationery. Interest of Money 700086 3525 18 0 484 16 1 258 4 5 304 11 10 187 10 0 413 8 10 165 0 3 Rent, Taxes, Salaries, Carriage, The Appeal for Enlarged Funds. The Funds of the Society have sustained a considerable diminution, as compared with the preceding year. greater part of the deficiency is, indeed, to be accounted for under the head of Legacies; a source of revenue which can never be the subject of calculation, and from which the Society has realized nearly 9001. less than in the year 1828. In addition to this, there has been a decline in the receipts for general purposes of about 5001; and, as the expenses of the Society, in its various departments, have been unavoidably on the same scale as before, the result is, that, besides other engagements to a very considerable amount which must shortly be met, the Balance against the Society, on its general account of disbursements actually made, has advanced to upward of 18007. -an increase which bears nearly an exact proportion to the deficiency in the annual income. Under these circumstances, the Committee feel it imperative upon them to direct the immediate and earnest attention of their friends at large to the pecu. niary situation of the Society. It is evident that we are brought to a crisis, at which some decisive measures must be adopted. While complaints have been uttered, both at home and abroad, because additional Stations were not occupied and additional Labourers sent forth, it will be seen that the most unre. mitting and painful exertions have been required, in order to keep up the previously-existing scale of operations. Either means must be found to augment the funds of the Society, or those operations must immediately be contracted. And can we, with an approving conscience, and as in the sight of God, resolve on the latter alternative? Must we consider the sum of nine or ten thousand pounds, not a fourth part of what is contributed to several of the Kindred Institutions of our native land, the highest point to which our annual resources can extend? While we are surrounded with so much that is encouraging on every side, and our fellow-Christians are addressing themselves with redoubled energy to the Work of the Lord, shall we alone grow weary of the toil, and retire ingloriously from the field? Encouragements for persevering Labour. Assuredly, no reasons for despondency can be found in either of those extensive scenes of labour in which our Missionary Brethren are engaged. In the East, you have a body of tried and faithful men, none of whom receive more than is barely sufficient for the wants of themselves and their families; while others, in addition to their gratuitous efforts in diffusing the knowledge of Christ among the Heathen, contribute to the common cause, on a scale, which, if it were generally imitated at home, would effectually relieve the Society from all its embarrassments. These Brethren assure us that they feel nothing so disheartening as the want of more Labourers: they say We are full of hope: we see the work going on: we are confident of success, if men of ardent piety, and active zeal, and melting love to souls, were but here to carry on the labours now commenced and in progress. We need help in every department, but espeeially in the preaching of the Gospel. We have, I suppose, a million within a circuit of four miles: we can procure congregations at all hours of the day; and if we had more Preachers to declare with patience, perseverance, and affection, the truth as it is in Jesus, we feel assured of success. Turn to the West, Brethren; and resist, if you can, the powerful appeals for persevering exertions and increased aid, which are presented from that quarter. Reflect on the present condition of the Negro Population-on the prospects opening upon them from the increase of knowledge and a gradual improvement of their civil condition-on the eagerness with which they flock to hear the Gospel-on the readiness which they shew to promote the cause of religion to the utmost of their power-and on the astonishing success with which it has pleased God to crown, from year to year, the labours of your Missionaries-and then calmly ask yourselves the question, Whether these servants of Christ are to sink one after another into an untimely grave, martyrs to their own exertions? Whether the water of life is to be dashed from the parched lips of thousands eager to drink it, for no other reason than that we hesitate to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure their supply? Our Readers have been apprised (see p. 286) that a Special Subscription in aid of the Funds was opened on this occasion: that Subscription has now reached the sum of 48001. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THIRTY-FIFTH REPORT. Perseverance under Trials. GLADLY would the Directors report, that the copious influences of the Divine Spirit had descended on all the labours in which the Society is engaged, both at home and abroad-that the zeal and liberality of its friends were outrunning the demands necessarily made upon them —that the multitude of able and experienced Labourers was greater than the opportunities of employing them—and that the fields, which have been long preparing, were not only becoming white unto harvest, but actually presenting an abundant crop. But should this not be their privilege on the present occasion; should they have to report various ocspirits, and called for patience and resigcurrences, which have depressed their nation to the will of God; they will not, on that account, hang down their heads, or express themselves in the language of despondency. No! they will still encourage themselves and their brethren to go on with increasing faith and energy, in the work in which they are engaged: they will rejoice, if need be, even in tribulation, so that the power of Christ may continue on them. State of the Funds. Receipts of the Year: Contributions 36,606 12 2 For Education of Native Females in India.... For Native Schools For Anglo-Chinese College.. Legacies 230 9 10 551 10 5 82 8 9 3177 18 9 906 10 0 rate Missions belonging to the Society, and in the extended opportunities of usefulness which many of its Stations present. Occupying, as it does, important and widely-diversified fields of operation in the Four Quarters of the World, among savage and civilized nations in the East and the West, the North and the South, each requiring a diversified mode of moral culture, and subjecting the Society to vast expense both of men and means, to enable it to do any thing effectual, or to maintain the ground which it has already gained-its Directors can now easily account for the difficulties which have occurred, but which nothing but 754 19 3 experience could have enabled them fully to understand. 247 13 0 41,803 2 11 200 0 7400 8 3 Dividends.... For Widows' and Orphans' Fund Total 1681 0 3 296 0 1 3255 4 5 800 1 8 1050 16 2 842 9 7 6680 13 3 .11,638 15 10 Salaries, Poundage, Rent, Taxes, Travelling Expenses, Stationery, Postage, Carriage, and Incidentals. 711 13 0 1145 12 2 2143 7 1 811 13 2 1673 2 9 34 0 0 2470 16 7 1223 18 6 2460 13 7 Total.... 47,275 5 7 A balance of 13821. 11s. 4d. from the preceding year makes the excess in Payments 68547, 14s. The Directors would have been highly gratified to present a statement, not of deficiency, but of excess. Of the liberal manner in which they have been supported, they will continue to speak in the warmest terms of commendation; although the progress of usefulness, they will say, rather than expenditure, has been still greater than the funds which they have been able to command. The liberality of many has been fully equal to their power; and, beyond their power, not a few have been ready of themselves, praying us, with much entreaty, to receive the gift, and to take upon us the ministration of their bounty. Though the Directors are aware that they possess the confidence, and may depend on the support of their constituents, yet they are desirous of laying before them an explanation of the Causes of the Inoreased Expenditure of The Missions established in uncivilized countries, such as the South-Sea Islands, Africa, and Madagascar, are necessarily expensive from the first; but, when they begin to produce their effects, they must either be more powerfully aided than before, or the ultimate issue will be disappointment, if not entire failure. The process of civilization must either be aided and carried forward, until the people be rendered independent of foreign assistance; or a return to their former state may be expected to take place, after some glimmerings of social happiness have been obtained, thereby rendering their lives more wretched than before. To accomplish all the benevolent objects of their undertaking in such regions, after the success with which God has blessed the Society's labours, much more, instead of much less, would require to be expended. The Stations, again, which the Society occupies among civilized people, such as those which compose the population of the Ultra-Ganges' Countries and Northern and Southern India, are necessarily exceedingly expensive, for different reasons. Their distance from this country is great; and voyages to and from them are attended with very heavy expense: the countries in which they are situated are most expensive places of residence to Europeans: they are all more or less unhealthy; consequently the waste of human life is very great, and the means necessary to repair that waste create constant and vast expense. In these countries, too, it is not by PREACHING only, but by various other means, that the Missionaries have been operating upon their inhabitants by the establishment of Schools-by the institution of Semina 1829.] UNITED KINGDOM. ries for the instruction of Natives to be Schoolmasters or Teachers of Religionby the Translation of the Scriptures into the vernacular languages-by the trans lation and distribution of Tracts and Books and by the compilation of Dietionaries, Grammars, and other Elementary Works, to facilitate the acquisition of their languages to us or promote their knowledge of ours. It is chiefly from the prosecution of these objects, all most important and useful in themselves and most intimately connected with direct Missionary Labour, that the Funds of the Society have become inadequate to its great and multifarious engagements. It ought not to be overlooked, that the Missionary Society has been for many years, necessarily and almost unavoida bly, a Bible Society, a Tract and Book Society, a School Society, and a Civiliza tion Society, as well as a Society for Preaching the Gospel. If, doing the work of all these Societies as well as its own, which it has done most efficiently, has occasioned some embarrassment to the Society, it has also constituted its honour, and the Directors doubt not will ensure its reward. Appeal for Enlarged Funds. Such are some of the causes, from which the large and growing expenditure of the Society has arisen. Much of that expenditure could not have been anticipated, without an experience which it was impossible that the Society could possess at the commencement of its undertaking; while there are large expenses continually occurring, which it is equally impossible to foresee and to controul: as bounds, however, are set to all human efforts, the Directors are convinced of the necessity of keeping the expenditure of the Society within its income. The subject has engaged much of their attention during the past year; and, should there not be such an increase of funds, as to warrant their persevering on the scale of operation which has hitherto been pursued, they will be under the necessity, however painful to them selves, of imposing restrictions and limitations on some of their operations, which they would, most gladly, rather enlarge. But they trust that this may not be necessary, as they are assured every Member of the Society will deem it most undesirable. There are still resources untouched in the wealth of the opulent, in the energy of the middling class, and in the self-denial of all, which the DirecOct. 1829. tors trust will be put in requisition, and cheerfully brought forward, rather than that the Cause of God should sustain any injury. Changes among the Society's Missionaries. The Directors have the painful duty to report the death of the Rev. David Collie, at Malacca; who, in the most faithful, laborious, and efficient manner had devoted himself to the Cause of the Gospel in the Ultra-Ganges' Mission for a space of nearly six years. The state of health of several of the Missionaries has rendered their temporary return to this country indispensably necessary. Mr. William Fyvie, who has laboured thirteen years at Surat; Mr. John Hands, who has resided nearly twenty years at Bellary; and Mr. George Mundy, who has been only eight years at Chinsurah, but whose constitu tion has been still more deeply affected than those of the former; are all, with their families, now at home, in conse quence of the injurious effects of an Indian Climate. The two latter Brethren, Messrs. Hands and Mundy, are now The Directors, well present with us. knowing the devotedness of these Brethren, and being satisfied of the unavoidable necessity of the measure, have united in sanctioning it, though thus a very heavy expenditure is necessarily incurred. Dr. The Directors have sent out, during the past year, Mr. Joseph Ketley, to Demerara, where the prospect of success is very encouraging. Mr. Ellis is still detained in this country by the illness of his family, but has been actively and usefully engaged for the Society. Philip, having now accomplished the object of his visit, is about to return to Cape Town, to take charge of the Missions in South Africa: he will take out with him two new Missionaries, Mr. Theophilus Atkinson and Mr. John Baillie, who have finished their course at the Mission College, to be employed at such of the Stations, as to Dr. Philip, when he returns, shall seem most to require reinforcement. Mission College. The Committee appointed to examine the Students in the College, who are at present only eleven in number, have given the following Report to the Directors, which, they have no doubt, will gratify the members and friends of the Society About five hours were employed in the 3 L important business of the day; during which, the Young Men were examined in the various branches of education to which their attention has been called; and your Committee are happy to report the great pleasure which they felt in the whole of the proceeding. The attainments of the Students in Theology, and in the Classical and Oriental Languages, are such as reflect much honour on their highly respectable Tutors, and on their own diligent application. Every thing which came within the observation of the Committee inspired them with the pleasing hope, that the Young Men now in the College will, through the Divine Blessing, be highly useful in respect to the great objects to which they are professedly devoted. Necessity of fervent and enlarged Prayer. The work to which we have set our hands is vast and difficult; and, to mère human effort, impracticable. The grand obstacles in the way of our success are such, as no measures, however wisely formed, can obviate; and no labours, however resolutely prosecuted, can subdue. These obstacles are to be found, not so much in the political circumstances of Heathen Countries, or in the diversified forms of Idolatry, though in themselves powerful obstructions, as in the inveterate depravity of the human heart, and the power of the God of this World over that depravity. These, nothing can subdue, but the force of Divine Truth, and the omnipotent influence of the Holy Spirit. This combined operation, we know, both from Scripture and experience, nothing can effectually resist. It is our province, to send forth the Messengers of the Cross: it is their duty, to exhibit its doctrines with simplicity, energy, and fidelity: it is the prerogative of God to bless; and that blessing He has engaged to bestow, in answer to the prayers of His Church. We are deeply convinced, that not the most splendid and powerful apparatus of human construction-not the eloquence and energy of the most devoted men-not the command of all the patronage or wealth of the world-without the blessing of the Most High, are sufficient to accomplish the object at which we aim: on the other hand, with that blessing, even the most limited resources, the feeblest human agency, and the most apparently inadequate means, will produce results, in importance, extent, and durability, the most beneficent and glorious. Every arrangement of the spiritual kingdom of Messiah is calculated to stain the pride of human glory, and to secure the undivided honour of its establishment to God alone. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence. To Him, then, let us give the glory of all past success: on Him, let us depend for all present direction and aid; and His gracious blessing, let us implore, on all our future plans and exertions. South Africa. HEMEL EN AARDE. UNITED BRETHREN. FROM the Journal for the year 1828, kept at this Station, where Br. Leitner and his Wife have charge of many afflicted Lepers, we extract an Account of the Death of Four Natives. › On the 18th of January, departed this life, the Hottentot Woman Matilda. She belonged originally to Gnadenthal, where she was baptized in the year 1820; and whence she removed to the Hospital in September 1826, suffering severely from the Lazarus sickness. For some time after her arrival, we observed with sorrow, that she manifested great unconcern about her soul's salvation: she loved the world, and wished for life that she might enjoy its pleasures. Even during the last stage of her disorder, she was long unwilling to hear of death. Not many days before her end, she was, however, brought to reflect upon her lost condition: she listened to the warning voice of the Spirit of God, confessed and bewailed her sins, and cried for mercy. We directed her to Jesus, the Friend of Sinners; and though she was latterly reduced to such a state of weakness, that she could not express herself intelligibly, we had reason to hope that the Lord had mercy upon her, and plucked her as a brand from the burning. On the 9th of March, the Hottentot Girl Justina departed this life, aged 17 years. She was baptized in September 1827; and her conduct during the remainder of her short pilgrimage afforded satisfactory evidence that she had obtained mercy, and that it was her earnest desire to walk worthy of the grace which she had received. On her sick bed, she frequently expressed to those |