Monmouthshire Merlin

SOCIETIES FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. AND THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. The annual meeting of the Monmouthshire District Committees of these Societies was held at the National Sohoolroom, Newport, on Thursday, morning prayers being previously read in the Church of St. Paul by the Rev. J. Wadsworth, curate. The weather was exceed- ingly inauspicious, and the attendance consequently limited. Moreover, mid-day is a very inconvenient hour at which to convene a gathering of this kind, and if the gentlemen of the committees would adopt the more ge- neral practice of holding evening meetings, there can be no question the result, both financially and as to the numbers present, would be much more satisfactory. Sir Thomas Phillips, Q.C., presided, in the unavoidable ab- sence of the Ven, Archdeacon Crawley, of Monmouth, who had been announced to take the chair, and in open- ing the proceedings, The Chairman expressed the gratification he expe- sriencedjat the distinction which had been conferred upon him in his being called upon to take the ohair; thougli he.deeply regretted the circumstances which had rendered that necessary—those circumstances being the absence of the Bishop from the country, the absence of the Dean through ill health, and the absenoe of the Archdeacon of Monmouth by reason of an untoward accident, he hoped not serious, but one which disabled him from attending He proceeded to say that he desired they should ail somewhat consider the mode in which they had indivi. duallydischarged their duty in respect to the Church Sc- cieties whose interests they had met to advance, remem- bering that these were among the oldest societies which were specially connected with the Church, and one of them representing the home, and the other the foreign, missionary agencies of the Church-tbat the Christian Knowledge Society supplied a large amount of Christian instruction to our people at home, and performed very largely in our own land the work of evangelising which was thrown upon our National Church, and that the So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel had before it a field of action so extensive and in every way so import- | ant, thnt a feeling of depression was almost produced by the contemplation of the magnitude of the work, and the insufficiency of the means, humanly speaking, for its performance. As to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, its funds had increased, and its work had also being very largely augmented. On a comparison of the agencies and the income of the Society in 1839 and those of 1864, it appeared that the income then was L16,557, and now f-91,703 the number of parishes 80ntribuling in 1839, was 290 in 1864, 7270; the number of missionaries had increased from 180 to 493 in 1839, the incorporated members were 344; in 1864, they were 1,477 and in the same period the colonial episcopate had increased from eight dioceses to 47. Now it behoved them to think what proportion of this work they themselves had discharged? He found their contribution to the Parent Society was somewhat larger in 1863 than in any preceding year, yet he re gretted to observe that there was a falling off in the subscriptions, both of clergy and laity. The parochial collections, however, had increased, and the deficiency in the subscriptions had been thereby supplied; but al though some part of the money formerly contributed as lubscriptions had doubtless been absorbed in the paro- chial collections, be did not think that altogether ac. counted for the diminution in the subscriptions to which he had referred. Many of the frieuds had during the course of the last fifteen years been taken from among them, and he did not think it appeared that the number of members who had been since enlisted equalled those who had been removed, and this eircum3,ance should probably be taken into consideration in noticing the falling off. Sir Thomas Phillips then directed attention to a passage in the late report of the Parent Society, which, he said, appeared to him pregnant with matter for serious contemplation—viz., that the Queen had more Mahometan subjects than the Ottoman Sultan, and more heathen subjacts than any foreign potentate except the Emperor of China." He begged them to consider whut that meant. It was not that there were heathen and Moslems in olber portions of the world but it was that within even the possessions of the British Crown there was a vast population of Mahometans and heathens. England had assumed the government, either by con- quest or otherwise, of that vast people and ina much os at all periods of our history we had regarded the Christianity of our people as the basis of a 1 safe rule, the duty seemed to devolve upon the Church of extend- ing her own agencies so as to be in some measure ade- quate to the requiremants of the people under the tem- poral government of the realm. In other words, the Church of the nation ought to expand with the growth of the State; and wherever the nation exercised domi nion the Church should erect her standard, and by the employment of those agencies received from her Lord and Master, and in the exercise of the powers en- trusted to her by Him, should seek to render her spiri- tual kingdom co-extensive with the boundaries of the temporal authorities. (Loud cheers.) -The Rev. W. J. C. Lindsa) read the report of the Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Xnowledge, as follows:- The object of district committees is to promote the interests and usefulness of the Parent Society, by spread- ing information respecting its aims and wants by assist- ing its funds; by encouraging the sale and circulation of its publications, and otherwise enlarging the sphere of its operations. "Thelie words are the introduction to the rules passed by the Society on the 3rd of this month for the P-uidance-of district oommittees. The rules which were in foroe prior to this were made rather with a view to the benefit of those districts in which committees are established, than to the increase of the societies' means but it has been found that there have not been such systematic efforts made by district committees in general-as might have been expeoted-to promote the welfare of the Parent Society; that while all were ready to receive benefits, there was not a hearty reciprocation on the part of many district committees in fact, that not a faw of them were rather hindrances than helps to the usefulness of the Parent Society. We may congratulate ourselves that our conscience is clear in this matter for it has always been our endeavour, while thankfully accepting the advantages offered by the Society, at the same time by every means in our power, to promote its interests and usefulness. We have done this- Firstly- By spreading information respecting its aims and wants Secondly—By assisting its funds and Thirdly-By encouraging the sale and circulation of its publications, and otherwise enlarging the sphere of its operations. If we can show you that we so act you will be satis fied that your committee have been and are fulfilling their trust in the very way in which the Society points out Firstly. How do we spread information respecting its aims and wants? We do to by holding annual meetings in was of the principal county towns, varying the locality each year in order that information may be the more widely spread at which meetings a cursory sketch is given of the aims, wants, and operations of the Parent Society, and the speakers endeavour to put its claims before the public. Of course such a sketch must necessarily be very cursory, or it would only weary the meeting, and so perhaps do more harm than good. It is enough to say that the Society grants books to churches, schools, and lending libraries throughout Great Britain and the Colonies, wherever such grants are needed, that it con- tributes of its funds towards the translating the Bible and Prayer Book, and religious and useful bQoks, into different languages in order that Christian Knowledge may be diffused. It assists in building churches and schools in our colonies, and is not unmindful of the spiritual wants of our soldiers, sailors, and emigrants in abort there seems to be no means by which Christian knowledge can be promoted, to which it does not lend its aid. The Bibles, New Testaments, and Prayer Books dis- tributed for example, this year number 844,458, and although this seems a very large number, still it is less by 5.841 than that put in circulation by the Society last Tear this is accounted for by the fact that the excep- tionally large demand which existed during the previous year for the newly-published Prayer Book and New Testameut at 2d., and the Bible at 6d had considerably abated, and this abatement in the demand was no doubt owing, in a great measure, to the statement made by the Society that these cheap editions had caused it very con- aiderable pecuniary loss, amounting to no less a sum than 92,500 for the half-year ending September 30th, 1863. It appears in the accounts of the Society for the past year, however, that the actual loss, occasioned by the allowance to members on the Bibles and Prayer books of all sorts, which are sold to them at a discount of 25 per cent. off the cost of printing, paper, and binding, and frim allowances made in other ways, amounts to L5,789 148. 4d. What has been said on this head is enough to show you what are the aims, and to a certain extent the operations of the Society. But, secondly. We are bound as a district committee to assist the funds of the Society. "This we do by contributing as large a sum of money as we can afford to the Society after having paid our own expenses, and made our local grants. As you were in- formed lest year we have latterly been steadily increasing oar donation from year to year. In the year 1861 we sent up £ 20; in 1862, L30 ia 1863, £ 40; and last year we contributed C50. The trea- surer will presently tell us what we can afford to send up this year. We had not contributed so large a sum as £51) since the year 1849 until last year. The third aim of district committees is to encourage the sale and circulation of the societies' publications, and otherwise to enlarge the sphere of its operations. This we do principally by means of our depots, and the business done by these depots daring the past year seems to be very much the same, on the whole, as the year before, when there was a very decided improvement manifest, owing to the better footing on which the pay- ment of the managers of these depots had been placed, namely, a per centage on the sales, instead of a fixed salary irrespective of the work done and the change of managers, where it seemed desirable, has proved satis- factory. I The treasurer will give you a detailel antl accurate account of the business transacted. But I may just re- mark that the call for Bibles. Prayer books, and New Testaments this last year has been considerably less than in the previous year, owing no doubt to the s ime cause' by which the Parent Society accounts for a like diminu- tion, namely, the abatement of the exceptionally large demand which existed during the previous year foi the 6d. Bible, and 2d. Prayer book and New Testament. With regard to the amount granted to schools and others since the beginning of our financial year, it is about the same as usual, namely, 225 5s. No appeal for help has been refused. Our subscribers remain aboat the same as last year. And now in conclusion, it will be well to say one word with regard to the way in which our system of country town depots (which plan is recommen,led in rule 9) encourages the scile and circulation of the societies' publications- •' It is often remarked that our depots are very unsatis- factory, that there is no choice of books, and so on. Now what we have got to do, according to rule 9, is to make provision for the sale of the societies' publications to the general public as well as to subscribers, and unless there are depots in our country towns for the sale of the soci,-ties' publications it is not easy to see how the general public would be likely to obtain these books conveniently, to any great extent. General booksellers would hardly find it worth their while, without some inducement being offered to them, to sell these books, for of course if thsy looked for their usual profit, the books would be nearly as expensive as those offered by ordinary publishers, and so the advantage to the purchaser would he dimi- nished there is no doubt any one can send to the central depositories for the books, but this is a trouble which practically the general public in the country would not take, while the fact of such country depots existing, and their existence being evident to the passers by, must of necessity increase the demand for the societies' publica- tions. And with respect to the convenience of subscri- bers, although they cannot expect a very great extent or variety of stock at a country depot (because, as you must be aware, there is nothing which deteriorates in value more than unsaleable stock, and therefore we avoid hav- ing more at a time than there seems to be a fair prospect of disposing of,)—yet they can always get any book down in the next quarterlv package, or any number of books published by the Society, to the value of 10s. and up- wards, can be had at once through the manager of their country town depot, and by doing this instead of writing direct to the central depositories they will probably save in carriage, and will a'm be conferring a benefit upon the keeper of the depot by increasing the sum of the per centage on his lIales and besides, if members residing in the neighbourhood of a depot woul,1 habitually obtain their books for prizes and distribution through the depot they would cause a great improvement to take place in the extent and varie-ty of the stock for, of course, if a manager of a depot can show the committee th it there is a sure prospect of a demand for the mere attractive sort of publications, they do not hesitate to pass his order. While at the same time the committee must be very cautious not to allow the ordering of any stock which may bang on hand. and 30 cause loss to their funds. The best way to improve the country depots is by increasing your patronage of them. And even, as it is, there is no reason to doubt that if members of the Society, living for example in the neighbourhood of Newport, would visit the depot they would find much that they could satisfactorily spend their money upon, and the habitual use of the depot, as has been said, would soon lead to a great improvement in the stock. By this means the members of the Society, without inconve- nience to themselves, would be the means of securing to the general public a very much better assortment of books than a neglected depot could possibly offer them They would thus be assisting the work which the Society proposes to itself, namely, the Promoting of Christian Knowledge and in so doing they would be doiug a good work, and one which, like- mercy, blesseth him that gives and him that takes.' The Rev. Canon Price, in the absence of the Rev Canon Williams, read the report of the Committee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, a sopy of whioh we subjoin "e The proceedings of the Monmouthshire Distrist Com- mittee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts are generally of so uniform a character that it seems seldom necessary to say much of its operations in the country in the report which it is customary to make io the annual meeting. The objects and aims of the society also must now be so well known 'o its friends and supporters, that to allude at any length thereto would be trespassing on the time of those who are in the habit of attending our anniversaries. But as six years have elapsed since the annual meeting was last held at Newport, and some per- sons may be present here to-day who are not acquainted with the matter, it may not perhaps be out of place to mention an important change which has been made in the organization of the district committee. Till within the last few years there was but one secretary for the whole county but it was thought that it would tend to the ad- vantage of the society to appoint in addition, an organizing secretary, the duties of whose office should be to go into the different parts of the county, and by means of ser- mons, meetings, and lectures, make the cause more generally known, and point out the obligations which rest on the members of the Church of England to assist in pro- moting its objects. The Rev. H. B. Bevan, of Llandaff, kindly accepted the office, and greatly furthered the in- terests of the society by giving information of its nature and designs, which were by many very imperfectly under- stood. Mr. Bevan's other engagements rendered his con tinuing to hold the office incompatible, and on his reaigna" tion nine decanal secretaries were appointed, in order by sermons, leotures, and meetings in their several districts, to promote the cause of the society. These means, under God's blessing, have been eminently successful. As a proof, it may be stated that the receipts of the district committee the year before last were much above those of any previous year. Last year they did not reach the same amount. With respect to the present year no definite statement can yet be given, as the remittances from some parishes are not made to the treasurer till the close of the year, and in some instances, not till the first part of January. I _.1- It is a subject tor congratulation to tne irienas or tue society that its income, from collections, &c., for the general fund was, E5,616 14s. lOd. more last year than that of the year before. This, the report says, may be ascribed partly to the increased prosperity of the country, but chiefly to the cordial reception given in many quarters to the appeal of the four archbishops. As there is so little which it seems necessary to say with respect to the proceedings of the district committee, it may perhaps be permitted to refer to the statement given in the last annual report of the great advance which the society has made in the public estimation of churchmen, shown by the large in. crease of support given to it during the last quarter of a century. In 1839 the income from all voluntary sources (excluding dividends, interest, &c ) was 216,557, and in 1864 it was £ 91,703- The number of parishes contribut- ing in 1839 was 290, and in the last year 7,270. The number of missionaries then was 180, and last year 493, now 501. The incorporated members have increased from 344 to 1,477. The special funds showing sympathy with particular dioceses, or individual missionary efforts were then 7, but now amount to 174. But perhaps the most remarkable progress is in the colonial episcopate, the number of dioceses having increased from 8 to 47, the in- crease being, within one, equal to the total number of the bishops of Great Britain and Ireland together. And Monmouthsire has borne not a disproportionate part in this increase; for from an old report of the society of the date of 1826, it appears that the remittance made from, as it was then called, the Usk Committee, was only £ 21, whereas for the year 1864 the remittance from this county, including the sum ot f,3 2s. ôd. sent up too late to be entered in the cash account of the society for that year was 1277 7s. 2d. Cheering, however,asthese statements are, inasmuch as they show the great advance which the society has made in the public estimation, and the consequent increased means supplied to it for promoting its glorious object, of propagating the Gospel in our foreign dependencies, both among the subjects of our Queen, who, although pro. fessedly Christians, have been led to fix their abode in parts almost entirely destitute of the ministrations of religion, and also among the neighbouring heathens, who had never been visited with the light of the Gospel, but were sitting in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death, still it must be borne in mind, that together with its in. creased means, the sphere of its operations has been more than proportionately enlarged, and that there are pressing applications continually made for missionaries, which, for want of means and men, cannot be responded to. It is a solemn consideration, that the dominions of our Sovereign are so vast in extent as scarcely ever to have been equalled by the dominions of any one Sovereign in the history of the world it is said the sun never seta upon them. The Queen of Great Britain is stated in the society's last an- nual report, to have more Mahometan subjects than the Ottoman Sultan, and more heathen subjects than any foreign potentate, except the emperor of China; and when, moreover, a large emiration of our own poor is continu- ally going on, who," to use the words of the appeal made by the four archbishops, "unless we plant among them the Church of God, must lapse into heathenism; (the obliga- tions which we contract to the heathen poople among whom our emigrants settle, and to whom they inevitably carry the contagion of our diseases and our sins) these things force upon us the inevitable alternative of either neglecting daily the plainest obliga- tions, or of doing heartily the work of evangelizing the world." Our missionary societies are ready instruments to enable us to discharge these obligations, and to promote this glorious work. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel affords indeed a direct channel through which the contributions of British Churchmen may flow for supply- ing our colonies with the waters of life for its designs are according to the terms of the charter b which it was in- corporated in A.D. 1701, to receive, manage, and dispose of funds contributed for the religious instruction of the Queen's subjects beyond the seas to maintain clergymen in the plantations, colonies, and factories of Great Britain, and to propagate the Gospel in those parts. In following this course the society seems to be acting according to our blessed Lord's command on the day he rose from the dead, when he appeared to the eleven apostles and them that were with them gathered together at Jerusalem, 'That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, o. To speak in the briefest manner of the success which God has been graciously pleased to grant to the mission- aries, and other agents of the society, in different parts of the world, would be an unreasonable occupying of the time of this meeting. Those who wish for information on this point must be referred to the last annual report of the society, one of the most interesting yet published. There will be found, amidst some discouraging accounts, very gratifying statements of the real progress made in further- ing the great object of the society. Even in India, where the very ancient system of Hindooiim, and the strong iu. fluence of caste are such formidable obstacles to the recep- tion of the religion of Christ, many instances are con- tinually taking place of the conversion of the heathens and Mahometans, and in some cases the sincerity of such con- version is proved by the steadfast adherence of the con- verts to their new profession, notwithstanding the bitter persecutions of relations and former friends to which they have been subjected. The greater attention now paid to schools for the instruction of the young in the principles of the Christian re!igion, and to institutions for preparing natives for the work of the ministry, is already producing much good, and affording strong grounds of hope that the beneficial effects will appear in a greatly increased degree in succeeding years, when many well-instructed native3 will be preaching the Gospel among their countrymen, especially qualified as they will be for this work by their acquaintance with native thought and feeling. The work among the spiritually-destitute European people is now a prominent feature in the society's operations in India, and this seems to strengthen its claims on Britain for support. The observations of Sir Bartle Frere, the governor of Bombay, in a letter to the Rev. C. D. Duport, are so ex- cellent, and evince such Christian anxiety for the spiritual welfare of his countrymen, that an extraot from his letter will not, it is hoped, be an unacceptable conclusion of the present report. His Excdlency says, I am glad of the opportunityof publicly acknowledging our obligations to the society, for the ready and effective response it has sent to our request for aid, in ministering to the wants of our countrymen, who are now scattered about the country in such large and rapidly increasing numbers, and so few of them are within the reach of any existing pastoral oharge. I feel sure that what you have described to me as already undertaken, or proposed, will be productive of mush good, not only by its direct effects, but by the hope it will hold out of some pastoral supervision being here- after extended to quarters which are of necessity not in- cluded in the first operations of the society. For I trust I the society will not rest till it has provided the means of regular public worship, and some system of regular periodical pastoral visiting, and of instruction for children, a well as for adults, who wish to be instructed, at every station where our countrymen are permanently stationed, and where there is as yet no regular provision for public worship, or Christian schools. Including, as such a scheme must, all the stations on our railways, at which Europeans are habitually resident, and many large quarters of our towns and cantonments, where pensioners and others reside beyond the chaplain's reach, this will require a great extension of the society's operations. But less than this will, I am sure, not meet the necessities of too case, whether as regards the wants- of our own fellow- countrymen, or the removal of the great reproach and obstacle to missionary success among: the natives, which is- raised by our present grievous neglect of our follow- ChrisiiarBs. Captain Tyler presented an abstract of the treasurer's statement of the account of the first-named Committee, from which it appeared that the subscriptions had amounted to £ 86; the grants to schools amounted to £ 27 6s. 5;1.; the contribution to the Parent Sooiety, £.50, and the balance in hand was X141 8s. Th Chairman, as treasurer of the Committee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,, explained that the accounts were made up at the end of the year, and therefore he could only give an estimate of the re- sults of the year. So far as he could judge, he thought they would not be more, and be hoped they would not be less, than usuil. The Chairman then called upon The Rev. J. T. Wrenford, who moved the first resolu- tion That in proportion as we oumelves value the blessings of Christianity it should be our endeavour by every means in our power to promote Christian knowledge- And it is the opinion of this meeting that CDe important means to- wards the attainment of this end ia-the assisting in every way the great Society established for that purpoce-to disseisinate*the great principles of Christianity as embo- died in the doctrine and discipline of the United Church of England and Ireland." — Mr. Wrenford, after remarking that he had not ex- pected to have the bonoor and privilege of taking part in the proceedings, observed that he was sure they would all admit the truth of the proposition in the first part otthe resolution-that as they themselves valued the blessings of Christianity, it should be their endeavour by every means in their power to promote Christian knewledge; and if they would permit him to make a remark on that, it would be that all Church-people and all Christians, not merely clergymen and ministers of religion, should, in proportion ai they valued the blessings of Christianity,, promote Christian knowledge. The duty set forth was acknowledged by Dissenting communities and even by the Church of Rome. All members of the Church of Rome regarded themselves as under the obligation of promoting,, as far as they possibly could, the doctrines of the Romish Church acd he believed all the members of the DIssenting Churches regarded it as their duty to ad- nnce the in terest of their respective communities. And he was glad to find that the Ohuroh-people were stirring themselves up to a recognition of their duty in that respect, and not leaving it entirely to the olergy to strive after a further diffusion of the blessings they enjoyed. He trusted this awakening of the laity would extend and continue and that every member of the Church would be industrious in the promotion of the Gospel. Referring to the second part of the resolution, Mr. Wrenford said be believed, so far as he was acquainted with it, the Society took as its standard the doctrines and principles of the Church of England: and sought to propagate tb,em. The Secretary of this branch of the Christian Knowledge Society had made a remark as to tne tracts of the Christian Knowledge Society, which he was surprised to hear. He (Mr. Wreaford) should like, after the meeting was over1- to ask the Secretary his objections to tracts; because he (Mr. Wrenford) had been pleased with a large number he had received from the Society a short time ego, and he had thought they were a great improvement upon the old style of tract, and were of a superior character. They were in large print, illustrated with wood cuts, and written in an at- tractive style. He was surprised at the remark made by Mr. Lindsay, who perhaps had met with some of a less entertaining character, but for himself he must say be was under a debt of gratitude to the Society. He hoped the Society would go on and prosper. During the last few years the Christian Knowledge Society had obtained a large number of adherents from the ranks of those who had formerly stood aloof from it, and he thought the more they encouraged a spirit of conciliation the better would it be not only for this Society but for others. His motto was-let them not try how far they could differ but how far, as Church people, they could act in unison. (Cheers.) He felt very sure that during the last few years the Committee in London had had that principle in view, and had endeavoured to meet the prejudices, if they chose to call them so, or the pecu- liarities, of certain parties in the Church who had hi. therto withheld their sympathies and their help. But in the wide world there was ample room for the opera- tions of every society whose object was to make known the Gospel of Curist among the people and all such so- cieties they should support, and wish them God speed in the name of the Lord. (Cheers.) The Rev. E. Turberville Williams (Caldioot) se- conded the resolution. In the course of his remarks, he said he thought he might well re-echo an inquiry which a previous speaker had made, viz., what were they individually doing? Those who had been in the habit of attending the meetings of the society 20 years ago must observe a great contrast between the meetings then and now. Why was this contrast? It might be said we had not then in this part of the country those facilities of locomotien which we now enjoyed-we had no railways, and were, as it might be said, hidden in a corner. Then the anniversary meeting was a great ga- thering, and afforded the clergy and laity an opportunity of seeing and hearing their Diocesan, who only resided in the neighbourhood three or four months a year. That might, perhaps, in some measure account for the better attendance in former days. But it behoved them all to ask, not simply collectively, "What are we doing?" but individually-" What am I doing r' How am I instrumentally building up the Church and extending the kingdom of Christ? The resolution referred to the dissemination of the great principles of Christianity, as embodied in the doctrine and practice of the United Chureh of England and Ireland. Now, he thought they would all agree in one fact-either the Church was the truth or it was a falsehood. He was not in the least afraid of the expression—either the Church was a great reality or a great sham. If the Cuurch was the truth and there was no Christian who did not believe the Church was the Church of Christ crucified; that the Church was not merely a moral body of men collected together, but the actual succession of the Church from the time of the Apostles-then he maintained if they did not do all they could to uphold their Church they were traitors to the Church of Christ. (Cheers.) If the Church was a sham they might put it off as a man did his Sunday clothes, but if it was the truth, it should be the first principle of their existence to make the honour and glory of the Church in every possible way the motive of their every action in daily life-that should be made the centre point of their life, and if it were, their life would come oat all the more brilliantly. Now it was a difficult thing to throw themselves into sympathy with the feelings of those among whom they wanted to spread Christian knowledge. It was all very well for Christian parsons to sit down and write letters, or deliver lectures in their parish school- rooms, or preach sermons on Sundays from their pulpits, but these did not act on the people they wanted to reach. Clergymen might understand the feelings of the classes with whom they more immediately associated, but if they went among people occupying, so to speak, a lower social status, they would find a wonderful amount of sentiment and feeling they had not supposed to exist. He believed neither Bishops not clergy, as a body, had any idea of the feeling of the great population of the kingdom in re- gard to the Church. There might be some parishes where the clergy were so at one with the people, that they understood the feelings of the people, and the people understood theirs, but he did not believe that was the rule. As illustrating the ignorance and superstition which prevailed among certain orders of the people, the rev. speaker detailed instances which had come to his knowledge of professed miraole-working by Mormon loaders, and the eredeaw which had been accorded them by their deluded followers. He also referred to an ia- stance exemplifying an utter absence of all regard even to decenoy, which occurred at Cardiff, and where in a small room, in which was the corpse of a person who had died under a virulent attack of small-pox, a number of debauched people were engaged in a drunken carousal in the presence of the dead. If, then, these things pre- vailed, he maintained that their Christianity,—if indeed it could any longer be called Christianity—was sunk to a debased state indeed. These were matters which should be brought before the public, not merely once a year, or at committee meetings, but they should each go home and ask themselves—What am I doing to produce a higher standard of Christianity among us ? The rev. gentleman prooeeded earnestly to contend for the em- ployment of lay agencies in co-operation with the labours of the clergy and in further remarks he touched upon the Christian Knowledge Society's distribution of tracts. Some people fancied when they spent a lot of .money in sowing broadcast these tracts, they had done enough. But that was an old and dry notion, which he believed was dying out. What they wanted was living souls to work out the truths of Christianity, and when they had got these living souls introduced to the knowledge and practice of Christianity, they must build them up in the Word of God. Depositaries and tracts were useless unless they had energised souls to go among the people, or gather them together in Bible classes, under the superintendence, it might be, of the clergy, and explain to them the truths which would make them wise unto salvation. (Applause*) Mr. H, Milman (Monmouth), in an admirable speech, in the course of which he alluded to the revival of the Monmouth Branch of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and passed a high eulogy on the efforts of Sir John and Lady Harding, moved the next resolution That the rapid growth of our colonies and depen- dencies, the large emigration from the home country to distant lands, the existence of a vast empire of Mussnlmen and Pagans in our Indian possessions, and the claims of heathen nations on a Christian people, demand a large exteDeion of the missionary agencies of our Church." The Rev. H. P. Edwards seeonded the resolution, which, he said, alluded to our colonies and dependencies. At the time of the Reformation we bad no colonies, the first established being that of Virginia, in 15S4, by Sir Walter Raleigh, half a sentury after we had the blessing of a Reformed Church* Sir Walter Raleigh gave jfflOO towards the furtherance of the Gospel among the Indians, showing the interest he felt in that work. Previously we had a small fishing community on the coast of New foundland; but Virginia was our first colonial posses- sion, which was followed by a great tide of emigration to America. Little, however, was done for many years to give to America the blessings of the pure Gospel-there were only certain clergy here and there, and the whole territory of America was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. But tha, Rev. Thomas Barry, his lordship's commissary, went to America to give assis- tance, and so impressed was he with the state of things, that he did all he could to establish a society and in 1701 the charter was obtained for the incorporation of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the following year two clergymen set sail for America. It was not long before the neoessity for Episcopal superin- tendence was felt, and it seemed strange that America was kept so long without it. We (said the speaker) be- lieve our Bishops have the privilege of direct succession from the Apostles themselves. This (he continued) they should bear in mind. It was not because a Bishop was usually a-tnan of large temper, and heart, and means, that they honoured him j- they would love him none the less if he were expelled his see like the nonj uring bishops, and laboured among them in poverty and contempt. They should still consider him as empowered to ordain ministers,-and rule over the clergy and this being their view of the Episcopal power, it did seem remarkable that for many years the petitions from America had beea disregarded. The result was, in 1784-, the people of America abrogated the rule of the King, and achieved their independence. The first thing they did was to prosecute the petitions ao often urged, not only to the English Government, but to the English Church. They sent one of the clergy of Connecticut to England, to obtain Episcopal ordination; but at that time the Church was- peculiarly situated, and neither the Arch- bishop of Canterbury nor the Bishop of London could do it. England not being in a position to grant it, America had to go to the Churoh of Scotland, and that humble Church had the honour of being the parent of Epis- copal succession in America.. A see waa established; the English Church subsequently went over; and Ame- rica enjoyed oummunion both with the Scotch and Eng- lish Churches. And well had the American Church used the gift of God. They had established an organization to spread, as-a Church, the Gospel to other lands. That was what should be done in England-America had set u. the pattern; But the next thing to such an organisa- tion we now enjoyed. Tbe Society for the Propagation of the Gospel had not been formed by the heads of the Church but it had been adopted by the heads of the Church of England, and had proved itself a faithful off- spring. It had been under the Presidency of the Arch- bishops of Canterbury, with whom had been the Bishops of London and all the- Bishops had been vice-presi- dents. Oae of the Bishops certainly had stood aloof under the impression that its doctrines were peculiar- that it represented a party rather than the whole Church. But no sooner was he appointed to office,, than he re- ceived a communication from the secretary, which called his attention to the society, and he had studied it for himself, and then stood before the public and said he must acknowledge his. ignoranoe with respect to the principles of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel-it was, in faot, a fit representative of the Church of England and from that day to the present he had been a thorough supporter. (Cheers.) But we had no such organization as there had been formed in America. And what had been the result of that organisation? In 1835 the Bishops of America had numbered 18 now they were 41, including three missionary Bishops; and the cleigy of the re-United States of America amounted to 2,250; and he believed half that number had been won over from other com munions; having been led to inquire into the teaohing of the Episcopal Churoh, they had left Presbyterian communions, and received ordiaation in the Cnuroh of Christ in America, where they were now ministering the Word of salvation to their countrymen. But though we had not the organization to which he had now alluded, we had formed institutions for the education of ministers to make known the Gospel to other nations. The Church Missionary Society was a worthy sister and follower of the Propagation Sooiety. A oollege had been established at Islington in 1825, and 270 clergy- men, who had been there educated, had gone to other lan ls. St. Augustine's College had been eetablisbed in 1848, and in the few years that had elapsed from that time, a hundred clergymen had been educated and sent forth. So that we had two missionary institutions in England to prepare men for the great work which, as Englishmen, we are bound more especially to undertake. As illustrating our obligations to support missionary operations, the speaker gave some statistics in reference to the immense emigration from the home country. God had given to England not, only ona colony, but a population perfectly appalling. The population acknow- ledging our rule at the present time amounted to one- fifth of the whole human family, and the territorial pos- sessions of Great Biitain to one-aixth of the whole globe. Such being the case it devolved upon us to provide for the children whom God had given us. It was not for our own temporal aggrandisement that God bal given us colonial possessions it was assuredly t iat we might give to them the blessing of true Christianity we had inherited from our toretathers. But little were we doing in England when wo considered the popula- tion of that vast empire over which God, after chasten- ing us, bad mercifu Iy rtstoed our rule. The East India Company was estaulisl;el in 1600; they had neglected their opportuniiies of spreading the Gospel; and now God had taken away the trust from them and given it to the Empire of Great B, itain. Let us not follow their s'eps; but take the gospel boldly and give it to them they would take it God's blessing would go with it He would fulfil his promise—" I am with you always, to the end of the world"even as hitherto they had found wherever they bad exerted themselves for the spread of Christianity,they had enjoyed God's blessing. What had been done in India? In 1848 Bishop Middleton went to India. But how did he go ? Why, surreptitiously, so to speak. There was no public recognition of him any more than if he had been a cadet and therefore the Indians could not suppose England possessed the pure religion when its ambassador was unhonoured. Since then we had but three bishops in the whole extent of territory in India and the English Government did little or nothing for the support of Christianity in that land. But we had cause to be thankful. The present Governor, Sir John Lawrence (cheers) would do what any man could for the furtherance of the great work among the people com- mitted to his charge. (Applause.) Only look at the wealth of England. Remember that besides those colonies God had given to us also boundless wealth. They might form an idea of the wealth of England from the fact that a penny income tax in England and Wales gave one million of money per annum. And what was the amount contributed to the whole of our societies ? It came very far short of a million per annum. Again, we had been giving for several years five millions per annum for the support of our home poor but while we were supporting our poor, let us not forget the support of the cause of Him who came among us as a Poor Man to bring to us the richest of treasures. Remember, the blessed Saviour joined the two duties of loving God and loving our neighbour and unless we bad the love of God pervading our hearts the love of our neighbour could never be the fruitful thing we could desire. It was his impression if they did more for the spread of the Gospel, they would be none the less able to give to the support of their own poor. At the same time it was a well known fact that many persons obtained relief from the poor rate who would be better employed in supporting tbemieliee. Why was that the ose? They had not the love of God in their hearts. How should we give them that love ? If we did our duty to our Colonial possessions, the re- sult would be an awakening to a sense of duty at home, and the fulfilment of our obligations would conduce mutually to the benefit of ourselves and the bentfk of the Colonies. But let them look to Newport. At the present time there was a promise of increase of commerce. The wealth of Newport was relJt at the present time that increase would make it more. Let them remember what our Lord put to them as to the man whose fields brought forth abundantly, and who self-complacently said to his soul-" Take thine ease; eat, drink, and be merry Had not that been the case with Newport ? As their wealth increased, so did their opportunities in- crease; and yet for the most part they had been neglect- ful of the duties imposed upon them. Take the Newport Union for instance. The property assessed in that Union was X226,000 per annum; and that was merely the rental of houses and land. The wealth possessed by merchants and others who had not their possessions in property, was probably twice as much as what he bad stated. They gave £22,000 a year for the support of the poor in the Union. But what did they give to this society ?-be- cause they should look to that particularly. It was ail well to talk of the duty of governors and rulers in Church and State. But they must not forget their own duty because it was by the disoharge of individual. duty that the community gained most benefit. He feared, however, they did not give the poor an opportunity to contribute to these good works. They were too fond of looking at the large contributions, and neglecting the mites of the poor. Let them remember their Saviour rboeived the poor widow's mite, with greater favour than the wealthy con- tributions of the rich. IfJ" then should they approach the poor ? When by an accident at the works a man became incapacitated from supporting himself or his fa- mily, his comrades gladly put their money together and supported him. This he bad often been otruck with and it was his firm conviction that, were the op- portunity offered them, the poor would, in like manner, contribute to these societies. He had been struck with the money given in his own church at Cterleon-wilh the large proportion of pence given, coming, for the most pirt, from those, unable to give more. What, then,, could Shey do ? The btst course they aould adopt would be to give rioh and poor the opportunity every Sunday to contribute of what God had blessed them with, to such works as this. There was something mean in a clergyman being compelled to depart from his usual course of teaching to preach a, charity ser- mon, as though it were necessarv to' stir up the minds of the people on such occasions to special libera- lity. The pattern of %int Paul was a very different one; he commended the congregations wnom be addressed to lay by each one in store as God had blessed him, weekly. and thus to contributed the money God had given him on tbe Lord's day. So let them pour their offerings into the treasury of the Church, that out of the moneys contributed by God's people, there might be a supply for any special charity for which help might be iequired. Let them hope thnt lhtJ prejudice existing among them of late, in regard to weekly collections, might be done away with. It was for the sake of the poor that he plajed-that they might in this matter have an opportunity of contributing -he desired that laity and clergy might have the op- portunity of joining in restoring what he considered the most important practice of a weekly offertory he desired that rioh and poor might unite in throwing into the treasury of the Lord, and do all they could to aid in the conversion of the vast population of Mussuhnen and the innumerable host of heathen under o-ir Queen's rule, that so they might hope not only for the spread of the Gospel through our cdanial empire, bat for the speedy approach of the time when the kingdoms of this world should become the king- doms of our Lord and of his Christ." (Loud applause.) The Rev. Canon Hawkins (St. Woolos) briefly sup- ported the resolution, an expression of pleasure from the rev. speaker that he was glad to be again enabled to take part in such a meeting, eliciting a bur=t of ap- plause, which amply testified to the large amount of sympathy which the Rev. Canon Hawkins' continued illness had evoked. The Rev. Canon Price, in a-few well-timed observa- tions, moved, and Mr. S. Vernon seconded, the next resolution That in gratefully acknowledging the efficiency with which the Rev. Canon Williams has, for a period of 38 years, discharged the duties of Secrstary of the District Committees of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, this meeting would earnestly entreat their re- spected friend to defer the resignation he has intended to make of the office of secretary." Expression was given to the very large debt of obliga- tion under which the society was plaoed to the Rev. Canon Williams. and Mr. Milman explainad that it was desirable Canon Williams should defer his resignation, inasmuch as there might be a difficulty to determine upon a successor to tiu 01B" the dieokctrgo .f, cha d..ti, of wrkioW .-OMired in its possessor a combination of many estimable qualities,, and for that raason time was required for con- sideration. The Chairman then announced that the next meeting would be held at Chepabow and The proceedings terminated with the cordial adoption of a resolution moved by the Rev. Canon Hawkins, expressing the thanks of the meeting, to Sir Thomas Phillips for presiding. A collection was made at the doors.