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The New Zealand Evangelist

London Missionary Society

London Missionary Society

The anniverary meeting of this society took place on Thursday, at Exeter Hall, which was crowded in every part. His Grace the Duke of Argyll occupied the chair, and the platform was crowded by a large assemblage of Christian ministers and influential laymen. After the usual preliminaries of singing and prayer, the chairman addressed the meeting, to the effect that the obligations of England were great to extend the blessings of Christianity over the face of the earth; but that he page 208 had become acquainted with a circumstance that he felt it to be his duty to mention, and he would do this without asperity. Hitherto it had been the habit every year to have a sermon preached in support of this Missionary institution in one of the Churches belonging to the Establishment; for fifty-four years it had been in the habit fieely to give the services of the Church of England for the support of this institution; but this year, for the first time, a prohibition had been issued by the Bishop of London against this support to this charity. Now we are bound to conclude that the Bishop of London has, in this movement, proceeded from conscientious motives, and that some new light has struck his mind; but it is my deep conviction that the interest of the Church of England will be better served when all its members prove that that tney do not place Episcopacy in the front of Christianity. After alluding to the labours of the Society in various quarters of the globe, the noble chairman resumed his seat; when the Secretary read the report, from which the following facts were elicited—In Polynesia, during the past two years, three native evangelists had fallen victims to the violence of the people. The christians of Tahiti remain insensible to the attractions of Popery. In South Africa, the Missionary settlements at the Cape are enjoying peace. In the West Indies, the missions have pecuniarily suffered, but spiritually the directors speak in terms more cheering.

In China, the success has exceeded the most sanguine expectations; whilst in India the Society's schools number 337, and its scholars exceed 12,500. The Christian Churches under the pastoral care of its missionaries are 25, and include upwards of 1000 members. The amount of income for the year ending March 31, 1849, was £64,508, and the expenditure £67,238, which gives an excess of £2730. The Rev. James Hill, of Clapham, in an eloquent speech, moved the adoption of the report; and was succeeded by Dr. Cumming, the Rev. T. R. Brooke, and page 209 Dr. Robson of Glasgow. A native chief of Rarotonga then addressed the meeting in his own language, which was interpreted by the Rev. Mr. Burncot, and seemed to give great interest to the assembly. Addresses were delivered by several other revgentlemen, when the meeting adjourned, and was again held in the evening at Finsbury Chapel—Mr. Baines, of Leeds, in the chair. There the proceedings were also of a very interesting character.