prey to the moral infirmities which the habits of his profession have engendered. If a Bible has been given him, and he has felt something of its sacred influence, he comes home with the Bible in his hand, which he owes to your goodness, and its presence sweetens the remainder of his life. It is a cordial to his old age, revives his spirits, and preserves him from those scenes of vice, to which his unfortunate comrades fall unhappy victims. who will violate any fence of the laws however strong, when it stands in the way of their passions and prejudices; and then it becomes the injured to appeal to the arm of the law to vindicate and enforce its own just and necessary provisions. But many of the religious world may be unacquainted with the proper legal remedy for the wrongs or insults offered to them; and others, knowing the law of the case, may not have the means to prosecute to judgment and punishment. This Society is ready with its advice for the former, and its power in support of the latter. No violence nor insult, nor wrong, offered to any congregation, and made known to them, escapes the punishment of the law, unless the timely and ample concessions (if not contrition) of the OFFENDERS intervenes to arrest its hand. But its labours do not rest here. Its powerful influence has been extended to obtain from Government, not only an enlargement of Religious Liberty, but new legal protections, to repel and crush newly devised modes of PERSECUTION. The imposing of POOR RATES upon Chapels and Meetings was of this latter kind. The active Committee of this So The Rev. DANIEL WILSON, in moving thanks to the Ministers who had made collections for the charity, and others who had given their aid to it, well observed that the labours of this and similar Societies eminently verified the Proverb which we all learn at school-" Virtue is its own reward."-These Societies had generated that spirit of mutual love which is the charm of society, and given us deliverance from that selfishness which is the bane of human happiness. He spoke, also, of the consolation which every person having relatives in the service, must feel when they know their relations have a Bible, and love the Bible. One who is dear to him was on board a vessel, which is believed to be lost. It is impossible to describe the consolation|ciety were not content with affording which all his friends derived from the circumstance that he had a knowledge of his Saviour. The Rev. Gentleman then said he was requested to state a circumstance that most eminently exemplified the Duke of WELLINGTON's humanity. At a time when he was in the face of the enemy, and hourly expected an attack, he learnt that some of his wounded in the rear were not treated with the attention he had brought into usage. He rode thirty-five miles back, in the night, saw the evil remedied, and returned to his post. The assemblage was numerous, and highly respectable, and many Naval and Military characters of rank were present. SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION advice, and giving aid in such cases, but they laid the grievance before Government, and had a communication with the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, the result of which was, that a Bill is brought into the House of Commons expressly to exempt not only all CHAPELS, MEETINGS, and other PLACES of PUBLIC WORSHIP, from the Poor Rates, but also all Places employed in the INSTRUCTION of the Poor. They have not stopped even at this important and elevated spot of their ascendancy. They have prayed Government to give instructions to their Ministers at the CONGRESS of VIENNA, to strive to gain an enlargement and security of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY on the CONTINENT; and their pious and earnest solicitations, have not been wholly in vain. Notwithstanding prejudice and old habits, something has been done towards that great object; and more is in train to be done, as circumstances will permit. OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. THE Anniversary Meeting of this Institution was held on Saturday, May 13th, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, The REPORT of the COMMITTE (from SAMUEL MILLS, Esq. in the Chair. It which the materials of the above obser had been supposed by some, that when vations are chiefly drawn) was read by a Bill calculated to abridge RELIGIOUS the Secretaries, Messrs. PELLATT and LIBERTY was thrown out of Parliament, WILKS. It enumerated a variety of inand GOVERNMENT gave active and strong stances in which the Society had interaid to measures intended to enlarge and posed its power to redress wrongs offered enforce that IMPORTANT RIGHT, there no to religious bodies or individuals. These longer existed much need for the vigilant were of various kinds, of which we will attention and exertions of this Society. notice some in general terms. The refuBut experience has proved that the sup-sal of Magistrates to administer the oaths position was formed in a too hasty view of the subject. It is true, the law raises strong bulwarks for the security and freedom of Divine worship among the Dissenters, and others not within the immediate pale of the Church. But there are men to persons who presented themselves, legally to take upon themselves the office of Ministers among the Dissenters; the dis turbance of Divine Worship in Chapels and Meetings, and violence offered both to Ministers and individuals of the con gregation; the refusal by Clergymen of the Church of England to bury children not baptized in the ceremonies of the Church; and imposition of tolls upon Dissenting Ministers proceeding to perform the duties of their office in places of worship. In all these several cases the Committee afforded their advice, or (where it was wanted) the pecuniary aid of the Society. Many instances, peculiarly interesting in their circumstances, were detailed; and the manner and degree in which the impudence and violence of the aggressors were humbled and put down, were highly gratifying, and (in some cases) not a little amusing.-We have no room to enter into a detail of these, and indeed the statement of individual cases is not important. The RESULTS are the main objects of our Reader's attention; and it is with pleasure we observed, from the tenor of the Report, that in every case of aggression against religious bodies, the law is ample for the redress of the grievance. This Society, meanwhile, finds means for those who have not the power to seek legal redress for themselves, and great and glorious has been its SUCCESS!-Although we cannot go into detail respecting the cases of persecution stated in the Report, we must not neglect to glance at one or two. At Windsor, not only were the windows of a Chapel broken, but rockets were thrown into the body of the Chapel. At another place the windows were broken, and the railings in front of the Chapel were pulled up and carried away. Riotous and prophane language was used to interrupt the worship within other Chapels, But the most aggravated violence, mentioned in the Report, was at Andover:-the Minister there, the Rev. Mr. SEATON, was insulted in his Chapel and pulpit, and afterwards put in hazard, if not (from his reliance on his great PROTECTOR) in fear of his life. Some of his congregation were pursued for three miles, and were beaten and bruised, insomuch that the lives of some were despaired of. The Committee of the Society, however, have, with the zeal and stedfastness which belongs to them, applied themselves to the punishment, by law, of those enormities. No less than thirty persons concerned in the riotous assaults at Andover have been indicted, and will be followed up to punishment. The case is removed, by certiorari, to the Upper Courts, and already has this case cost the Society more than 3001. We are reluctant to touch upon another part of this Report, and are almost persuaded to pass it by in silence. But we do not know that we should do our duty in suppressing it. In some cases, the Magistrates threw every obstacle in the way of the prosecution of the rioters. They treated the Ministers, and other applicants for justice, with a contumely that would have excited rage in them if they had not been governed by that well-regulated spirit, whose powerful influence was imparted to them by their DIVINE MASTER. Hence arose the necessity, in some cases, of removing the cause by certiorari, from the Quarter Sessions to the Superior Courts. We do not follow up this with mentioning individual cases. We trust this gross ignorance, and the stain of this denial of JUSTICE will pass away speedily from the land. We would (as far as we have any power) wish to imitate the conduct of those amiable and excellent persons who have been the objects of the persecutions. We know they would say Forbear;" and we listen to the voice which we anticipate, and can hear, as it were, in secret. 66 The Report being concluded, Mr. WILKS (one of the Secretaries) made a most able speech, in which he analysed and illustrated its principal topics. On the subject of the attempt to impose the Poor Rates on Chapels and Meetings, he gave the most ample and satisfactory information. The case of the SURREY Chapel (the Rev. RoWLAND HILL'S) had been carried to the King's Bench, where it was decided in favour of the Chapel. He observed that a few men in that neighbourhood, envying the eminent services and highly venerated character of the Rev. Gentleman, who had brought six or seven hundred pounds a year to be distributed in charities among the poor of the parish, had made the attempt to levy the Poor Rates on his Chapel for the sake of six or seven pounds. But he was not a man likely to bend. He resisted, and they failed. But it must be confessed, that the principle of the question had not been brought to issue. It was deter, mined on some points of form; therefore, it was thought proper to apply to Government to set this question at rest, and the Bill mentioned in the Report was brought into the House in consequence. It was not for him to say, what Parliament might deem it proper to do; but there was every reason to believe the Bill would be attended with success. (Loud and repeated applause.)-Of the conduct of his Majesty's Government on this, and all similar questions, Mr. WILKS now spoke in terms of the highest respect and gratitude. With the aid of the ALMIGHTY, without which no success could attend their best and most anxious endeavours, he trusted they would finally triumph over all opposition. The Speaker then observed, that the Society had received many applications in consequence of differences between Trustees of the Chapels and the Ministers of them, as to their respective rights; and also from parties (of the same congregation) dif fering on religious points. In all such cases the Committee had declined to interfere. They confined their exertions to HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. THE Anniversary Meeting of this Institution, was held on Friday, May 12th, at the London Tavern. SAMUEL MILLS, Esq. in the Chair. A Report of its proceedings during the last year was prepared by the Committee, and read to the Meeting, from which we make the following extract. "The Committee are happy to observe that the exertions of the Society are advancing both in importance and efficiency. To diffuse religious instruction in Ireland, especially in those parts where the lower orders of the people are without opportunities of having their children educated, either on account of the privation of means of instruction, or of poverty, which prevents access to existing means, is the great object to which the wishes, the intentions, and the exertions of this Institution are directed. And surely, if the education of the rising generation in Great Britain is deemed of moral and political importance, in order to sustain and improve that state of mental cultivation from which so many benefits and blessings have flowed, it well becomes every British Christian to do his utmost to place his fellow subjects in Ireland on the same high ground of moral and national advantage. "If the highly important and merciful operations of the Hibernian Society were continued only upon 8,342 children of the poor in Ireland, (the number mentioned in the last Report,) the friends and supporters of this Institution would have good reason to be satisfied, that their liberality had been applied to an object of the most landable kind, founded on the Holy Scriptures; which direct the understanding by the most perfect precepts; which interest the affections by the most engaging motives; which awe the soul by the most solemn admonitions; and which are able to make wise unto salvation.' This ought to be considered as a work of bounden duty, and of infinite importance, by every one who fears God, and who desires the present and eternal welfare of his fellow creatures." They then state that the number of children receiving instruction from the Society in Ireland was, last year 8,342; but at present they amount to nearly twelve thousand! This statement is followed up by another which is highly important. The HIBERNIAN SOCIETY is the only Institution which has printed an elementary book for the instruction of children in the Irish language. An edition of 5,5000 of these books was published in 1810. In the districts where Irish is the colloquial language, the Society's Schools have an Irish class; and both children and adults, after being taught to read in the Irish Spelling Book, have the New Testament in the same language put into their hands, and its divine truths impressed on their minds. But the Society are not content with establishing Schools, and sending masters into them ;—they provide with the utmost vigilance the means of rendering these labours effective for their benign purposes." The Committee have felt it to be their duty,” says the Report, "to aim at establishing such systematic arrangements in the Schools, as shall bring their actual state to their notice and attention every quarter of a year, in order to ascertain the punctuality with which the schoolmas ters discharge their duties, and also to provide for their being paid in a strict proportion to the number, attendance, and proficiency of their pupils. the schools are, therefore, subjected to a quarterly inspection; and the actual state in which each of them is found, is, at those periods, fully reported to the Committee; and they feel pleasure in observing, that this very important branch of the concerns of the Society is now placed on the most correct and satisfactory basis, so that there is scarcely a single School but is fully attended to, nor one in which the Society's salutary regulations are not operative.'" All A collateral, but very important branch of the Society's concerns is, the instruction which is afforded to ADULTS. The Masters of the Schools have a class of adult pupils on mornings and evenings, on Sundays and holidays; and also lend Testaments every Sunday to such as can read. After this explicit statement of the nature of the Society's schools, and other means of obtaining its most excellent purposes, the Committee proceed to state some of the general results of their worthy labours. Wherever their Schools are established, a visible impression has been made on the moral deportment of the inhabitants, not only including the children and adults who receive direct instruction, but also many of the parents of the former, and companions of the latter. The Roman Catholic children read the Scriptures to their parents, who, proud of their children's superiority over those of their neighbours, gradually come, in many cases, to love the Scriptures themselves, and are greatly benefited by this happy train of circumstances in their own lives and conduct. As might be naturally expected, much opposition was given to the establishment of the Schools by the Catholic Priests. Yet this has often been counteracted by their own congregations. Among many instances we select two only; but they are of a nature to give a well-grounded sanction to the zealous hopes of the Society.-A Catholic Priest had refused to admit to confession any of his flock who continued their children at the business of the day, were unaniD's school. As this is one of the mously passed; on which occasions seheaviest censures of the church, four-veral persons of eminent piety and teen heads of families, under the pres- talent addressed the assembly; but our sure of supposed guilt, came to D-, limits preclude us from entering into and informed him that they must with- any further detail. We take our leave draw their children from his school. On of the subject for the present, by saying hearing this, he discoursed with them on that we perceive with unfeigned pleathe divine authority, and infinite im- sure, that the HIBERNIAN SOCIETY is exportance of the Scriptures-observed tending its influence in every direction that it was the duty of all Christian Pas- over GREAT BRITAIN. tors to exhort their people to study them --and then contrasted with this evident duty the conduct of the Priests, in stamping what was true obedience to God, and of the highest importance to man, with a degree of turpitude which they attached to no other crime. And, he added, "Be ye murderers, adulter-ing, ers, thieves, or rebels, the Priest will not refuse you confession-nay, they will exhort you to it: but attention to At two o'clock the Annual Meeting God's Word, and hearing God himself was held at Freemasons' Hall, the Right speak, he brands, with deeper guilt than Hon. Lord Gambier, President, in the either of the above crimes, by refusing chair. This great room was completely you confession avowedly on that ac-filled by a most respectable assembly of count." The result was, that, of these fourteen families, the children of only two of them were withdrawn from D-'s school. The CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Fifteenth Anniversary of this Society was held on Tuesday, May 2. Reverend E. T. VAUGHAN, of Leicester, preached before the Society in the mornat St. Anne's, Blackfriars, from 1 John v. 11, 12. The collection amounted to £219. 4s. from 12 to 1400 of the members and friends of the Society. Upward of sixty Clergymen, from various parts of the kingdom, were present. It appeared from the Report that the income of the Society had advanced from £11,000, which was the produce of the fourteenth year, to £16,000; and that the exertions of the Committee were keeping due pace with the augmentation of the funds. The Committee, after stating this among other facts, say-" We will add a circumstance which has respect to a young man, who has received much good from this Institution. H- has been made a blessing to every part of his family. He was, for some time, much persecuted by a very near relation; and, agreeably to a prevalent supposition, that people may be taken away by evil spirits, and an evil spirit left in their place, this person believed that H-was not her relative, but a devil. However, a patient and persevering course of scriptural instruction has produced a most gratifying change on the mind and heart of this once ignorant and superstitious woman; and the daily worship of this family, while singing out of a Gaelic Version of the Psalms, is de-of divine charity which glowed in the scribed as being very delightful." It is worthy of remark, that (so far have the zeal and perseverance of the Society made an inroad into the dominion of prejudice in Ireland) many of the teachers of schools are Roman Catholics, and many of the schools are Catholic Chapels. It is with great satisfaction we learn, that although the expenditure of the Society has been extended, yet its funds have increased, and they continue to increase; and for not only is their object pure, but that they have begun to reap the fruit of their hallowed labours, and will continue to gather in many and abundant harvests. The Report was adopted by the Meeting with much evident gratification. Various resolutions, connected with We shall not attempt to detail the different speeches which were addressed to the Meeting, as our limits will not enable us to do them justice. We cannot, however, but remark, that the spirit which breathed throughout them all was most perfectly congenial with the grand aims of the Society. They came warm from the heart; and, without wearying the attention already exercised on the previous proceedings of the day, they diffused over the assembly those feelings breasts of the speakers. Mr. Wilberforce, in particular, carried away with him, even more than usual, the hearts of his hearers, by that full stream of christian feeling and sublime piety which flowed from the lips of this distinguished man.— Mr. Stephen followed him, on the subject of the divine retribution which appeared to be pursuing the obstinate adherents to the slave trade, in a style of grand and vehement eloquence that has made, we doubt not, an indelible impression on the minds of the Assembly. But he was carried even beyond himself, while de-. picting the base ingratitude and daring impiety of nations who, in the moment of a miraculous deliverance, could proclaim to the world their settled conviction that it was no crime to enslave their fellow men; but that they would, in the face of Heaven, persist, for a petty and paltry gain, for years to commit that Crime! Who did not see the retributive arm made bare on the instant-Europe begins to shake to its centre-and confusion and dismay to pour, like a sudden torrent, over the guilty nation! A measure of great promise was brought forward at this meeting. The magnitude of the Society's concerns in Western Africa, and the still greater efforts which it is about to make on that coast, requiring more regularity and commodiousness of intercourse than can now be obtained, a separate fund has been opened for the establishment and maintenance of such intercourse by a Missionary Ship, to be named, after the distinguished friend of Africa, the "WILLIAM WILBERFORCE." This fund was opened at Bristol, which, with its characteristic munificence, has already contributed to it nearly nine hundred pounds. The Society's objects will be attained, by the proper application of this fund, without entering into any mercantile pursuits or incurring any shipping risks; so that the friends of Africa may contribute to this fund with the fullest confidence that their charity will be applied to a great and most important missionary purpose. This fund will be kept distinct from the general funds of the Society. About £90 was collected at the door of Freemasons' Hall. The President has given £30. and various clergymen ten guineas each. All contributions thereto will be thankfully received by the Secretary, the Rev. JOSIAH PRATT, at the Church Missionary House, Salisbury-square, London. A list of all contributions to this fund will be printed, and sent round to the respective parties. On Wednesday evening, the Annual Sermon before the Members of the Associations in and near the metropolis, was preached, by the Rev. Basil Woode, M.A. at the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, Guildhall, from Luke ii. 14. The collection amounted to £35. 13s. 6d. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Twenty-first Anniversary, ON Wednesday, May 10, Sermons were preached, in the morning, by the Rev. Angus M'Intosh, M, A, Minister of the Parish of Tain, North Britain, at Surrey Chapel, from John xvii, 8; and in the evening, by the Rev. James Boden, of Sheffield, from Zech, vi. 15. The Annual Meeting was held on Thursday Morning, at the City Chapel, Grub Street; Thomas Wilson, Esq. in the chair, The Report having been read, many Gentlemen addressed the Meeting with much effect. The Rev. John Hyatt, of London, preached in the Evening, at Tottenham Court Chapel, from Isaiah ly. 10, 11, On Friday Morning, at St. Luke's Church, Old Street, the last Sermon was preached by the Rev. Martin Richard Whish, M. A. of Bristol, from Matt. xxviii. 19. In the Afternoon, the Society met for business, at the Committee Room of Sion Chapel; and in the evening, the Lord's Supper was administered at Sion, Orange Street, and Silver Street Chapels. We shall, as soon as practicable, furnish our readers with a full abstract of all such parts of the Report as may be compatible with the limits of our pages. HAVING in a former number of our Journal given a view of the different stations of the Baptist Missionaries, and of the translation of the Scriptures which they are engaged in bringing forwards, or have already perfected; we now follow it up with a similar view of those belonging to the London Missionary Society.. CHINA, Mr. Morrison and Mr. Milne. -The whole of the New Testament, be sides Catechisms and Tracts, translated into the Chinese language, and widely dispersed among the natives. JAVA, Mr. Supper at Batavia, and Mr. Bruckner at Samarang,-AMBOYNA, Mr. Kam.-CEYLON, Messrs. Palm, Elhrhadt, and Read.-ISLE OF FRANCE, Mr. Le Brun. INDIA. VIZAGAPATAM, Messrs. Gordon and Pritchett.-(Mr. Dawson on his voyage to assist them.)-Part of the New Testament translated by them into the Telinga language. GANJAN, Mr. Lee.-MADRAS, Mr. Loveless.-BELLARY, Mr. Hands and Mr. Taylor.-The Gospels translated into the Canara language, printed and distributed in the surrounding country,-CHINSUBAU, Mr. May.TRAVANCORE, Mr. Ringletaube. Schools are supported by the Missiontheir Assistants.-SURAT, Messrs. Skinner and Fyvie, lately sailed with a view of commencing a mission in that great city.-MALACCA, Mr. Thompson sailed lately with a design to begin a mission at Malacca, aries and SOUTH SEAS. EIMEO, &c. Messrs. Davies, Hayward, Henry, Nott, Scott, Tessier, Wilson, and Bicknell, Part of the Scriptures translated into their language, printed in New South Wales, and dispersed on the islands. Several more Missionaries are going to the South Sea Islands, to assist the Missionaries already there. Some of the Chiefs and many of the people have embraced the Gospel. Some of the Missionaries who left Otaheite in a time of civil war, are now usefully employed in New South Wales, in teaching schools, preaching to the con |