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the Catholics of Ireland evinced the progress which the Irish Baptist Society was making in that land. The Resolution, he could not doubt, would be carried unanimously, for every one present would rejoice as he did that so good a cause had been so well promoted. He moved, "6. That this Meeting expresses its thanks to those Ministers, Auxiliary Societies, and private individuals, who have contributed during the past year towards the funds, and by whose aid the Treasurer has been enabled fully to meet the expenditure of the Society."

The Rev. Mr. Evanson seconded the Resolution. The good that would arise from the circulation of the scriptures was made so evident by the mass of evidence that had been adduced, that it would be ludicrous in him to attempt any argument to convince the Meeting of the fact.

The Rev. Mr. Shenston moved the thanks of the Meeting to Joseph Butterworth, Esq. for his conduct in the chair. This motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The Chairman then briefly returned thanks, and the Meeting concluded, as usual, with a hymn of praise.

To the Rev. Mr. Wilson.

REVEREND SIR,

Collooney, April 20, 1825.

I have been exercised this month as usual, by endeavouring to impress on the minds of my fellow sinners (from the scriptures of truth) how awfully they were exposed to the dreadful curse which destroys the soul for ever; and how they should seek justification by the free grace of God, by coming before him as criminals, imploring pardon, and pleading his mer. cy and promises, in Christ Jesus. I have visited W. H.'s cabin on the side of Glan mountain, who taught a school for some time, but is now paralytic and unable to teach. I endeavoured to open the scriptures to him and his family, pointed out to him the fallacy of these practices which are calculated to deceive, intreated him to search the scriptures, which, by the influence of divine agency, would bring him to the knowledge of the Saviour, as the way, the truth, and the life. Haran said, admitting that we do believe that Christ came to save us from

our sins, and that there is salvation in none other, or no help to save in our prayers, fastings, er penance; how may we know that we are pardoned? I refered him to Hebrews xii. 14, where it is written, Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord; and that this is the sure sign of the Holy Spirit working within us, giving us new affections and inclinations, which we should demonstrate to the world, that the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath effectually taught us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. I gave the above W. Haran an Irish Testament, and desired him to attend John Gallagher's school, who would teach him to read it perfectly, which would enable him to be useful to his illiterate neighbours. Yes, said he; but I would wish you to explain these scriptures for me yourself, as I have found much comfort in what you told me concerning them; and surely, said he, we ought to pray for the good people who sent these holy scriptures among us, which were hid from us until now. In these dark villages, where I have introduced the glorious truths of the gospel, which have been received with gratitude, priest H-- has been equally active in communicating errors, and advising the people not to believe the scriptures which I read for them. He inquired of them of the doctrine I brought into their house, of which they gave so favourable an account, that he abused them with all the names that malice and ignorance could suggest. M'T--, who had been converted from papacy, continues to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and is not ashamed to confess him before those whom he left, and shews cogent reasons from the scriptures, for coming out from among them, though he is often the subject of their insults, which he suffers patiently, and endeavours to prove to them, that if they were acquainted with the religion of the Bible, they would adopt a contrary conduct.

J. O'BRIEN.

Subscriptions or Donations received by William Burls, Esq. Treasurer, 56, Lothbury; Mr. Ivimey, 20, Hurpur-street, and Mr. Pritchard, 16, Thornhaugh-street, London,

Secretaries.

Missionary Herald.

BAPTIST MISSION.

Home Proceedings.

ANNUAL MEETING.

RESOLUTIONS of the General Meeting, held on Thursday, June 23, 1825, at Great Queen street Chapel Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer to the Society, in the Chair:

On the motion of the Rev. John Birt,
of Manchester, seconded by Richard
Foster, Jun. Esq. of Cambridge,
It was resolved unanimously,

I. "That the Report now read be adopted and circulated; and that the success with which it has pleased God to follow the efforts of this and other Societies for the diffusion of divine truth, furnishes a powerful motive for devout acknowledgment and persevering exertion."

On the motion of the Rev. William Steadman, D.D. of Bradford, Yorkshire, seconded by the Rev. George Burder, Secretary to the London Missionary Society, It was resolved unanimously,

II. "That this Meeting contemplates, with deep regret, the removal by deathof the justly revered Dr. Ryland, Senior Secretary to the Society, and other active and zealous friends of the Mission: events which call for earnest prayer that God would raise up and qualify others for active service, and grant larger measures of that divine influence which is essential to the success of all Missionary labours."

It was moved by the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn, of Norwich, seconded by the Rev. Joseph Slatterie, of Chatham, and Resolved unanimously,

III. "That this Meeting has heard

with pleasure that the funds of the So-
ciety have considerably increased during
the past year; and thankfully acknow-
ledges the kindness of those Christian
friends, to whose exertions that increase
is owing-especially of those Ministers
who have travelled to collect for the So-
ciety, and of the Ladies who have inte-
rested themselves in the sacred cause."

On the motion of the Rev. Spedding
Curwen, of London, seconded by the
Rev. Thomas Finch, of Harlow,
It was resolved unanimously,

IV. "That the sincere thanks of this Meeting be presented to those Gentlemen who have conducted the affairs of the Society during the past year-that the Treasurer and Secretary be requested to continue in their offices-that Mr. John Danford, Mr. Joseph Hanson, and Mr. and that the following be the list of the William Burls, Jun. be the AuditorsCommittees for the year ensuing.

GENERAL COMMITTEE.
Rev. C. Anderson, Edinburgh.
W. H. Angas,

George Barclay, Irving.
Isaiah Birt, Birmingham.
John Birt, Manchester.
Thomas Blundell, Luton.
John Chin, Walworth.
Thomas Coles, Bourton.
F. A. Cox, Hackney.
Edmund Clarke, Truro.
T. C. Edmonds, Cambridge.
William Giles, Chatham.
William Gray, Chipping Norton.
Thomas Griffin, London.
Robert Hall, Leicester.
J. H. Hinton, Reading.
James Hoby, London.
Reynold Hogg, Kimbolton.
Richard Horsey, Wellington.
William Innes, Edinburgh.
Joseph Ivimey, London.
John Jarman, Nottingham.
Joseph Kinghorn, Norwich.
James Lister, Liverpool.
Thomas Morgan, Birmingham.

Rev. William Nichols, Collingham.
George Pritchard, London.
Henry Page, Worcester.
Thomas Roberts, Bristol.

William Steadman, D.D. Bradford.
Micah Thomas, Abergavenny.
James Upton, London.
William Winterbotham, Horsley.
Messrs. William Ashlin, London.
William Beddome, London.
Gilbert Blight, London.
Newton Bosworth, London.
William Burls, Edmonton.
John Deakin, Birmingham.
James Deakin, Glasgow.
Joseph Dent, Milton.
John Foster, Biggleswade.
Richard Foster, Jun. Cambridge.
W. B. Gurney, London.
Joseph Gutteridge, London.
Joseph Hanson, Hammersmith.
Thomas King, Birmingham.
James Lomax, Nottingham.
John Marshall, London.
J. B. Wilson, Clapham.

Central Committee.

Rev. John Chin.
F. A. Cox.
T. C. Edmonds.
William Gray.
William Giles.
Thomas Griffin.
J. H. Hinton.
Joseph Ivimey.
Joseph Kinghorn.
George Pritchard,
James Upton.

William Winterbotham,
Messrs. William Ashlin.
William Beddome.
Gilbert Blight.
N. Bosworth.
W. B. Gurney.
Joseph Gutteridge.
Joseph Hanson.
John Marshall.
J. B. Wilson.

Corresponding Committee.

Rev. J. Acworth, Leeds.
O. Clarke, Taunton.

W. Copley, Watford.

E. Daniel, Luton.

B. H. Draper, Southampton.

R. Edminson, Bratton.

C. Evans, Anglesea.

J. Geard, Hitchin.
S. Green, Bluntisham.
W. Groser, Maidstone.
C. Hardcastle, Dudley.
W. Hawkins, Weymouth.
J.Hemming, Kimbolton.
Mr. C. Hill, Scarborough.

Rev. T. Horton, Devonport.
J. Kershaw, Abingdon.
S. Kilpin, Exeter.
C. Larom, Sheffield.
J. Mack, Clipston.

T. Middleditch, Biggleswade.
C. T. Mileham, Portsea.
J. Millard, Lymington.
W. H. Murch, Frome.
J. Payne, Ipswich.
R. Pengilly, Newcastle.
R. Pryce, Coate.
H. Russell, Broughton.
P. J. Saffery, Eye.
J. Singleton, Tiverton.

Mr. T. Thompson, Newcastle under Line.
Rev. T. Thonger, Hull.

T. Tilly, Portsea.

W. Tomlin, Chesham.
T. Waters, Pershore.

J. Wilkinson, Saffron Walden."

On the motion of the Rev. J. Wilkinson, of Saffron Walden, seconded by the Rev. John Edwards, of London, It was resolved unanimously,

V. "That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Trustees of this Chapel, and to the Rev. Rowland Hill and the Trustees of Surry Chapel, for their kindness in accommodating us with their places of worship on the present occasion."

It was moved by the Rev. James Upton, of London, seconded by R. B. Sherring, Esq. of Bristol, and

Resolved unanimously,

VI."That the next Annual Meeting of the Society be held in London, on Thursday, June 22, 1826."

On the motion of the Rev. F. A. Cor, A.M. of Hackney, seconded by the Rev. John Shoveller, of Poole,

It was resolved unanimously,

VII. "That this Meeting respectfully acknowledges the kind and able services of Benjamin Shaw, Esq. Treasurer, as Chairman this day."

Foreign Intelligence.

DIGAH.

Extract of a Letter from Mrs. Rowe, dated

Digah, Oct. 1824.

THE Word of God bids us cast our bread upon the waters, and after many

days we shall receive it again. I would apply this to native female instruction for the encouragement of all, by stating that out of the nine or ten of every age collected, whom we commenced with in 1817, seven learned to sew, and have since learned to read; and five have embraced Christianity. Amongst the latter only one discovered early fruits, and she died five years ago, in the full faith of entering into the immediate presence of her Saviour Jesus Christ. The others came forth in the Christian life, like wheat in cold climates after a winter's frost upon it. One of these teaches the Female School in the Nabob's compound, to which I now attach the name of Lady Town's School, as she furnished means to erect it. The other three live at Monghir. If half of every school should thus become converts, through Christian instruction, how great would be the rewards of those who extend it to them! Although amongst the sixty girls who were taught to read in 1821, 1822, and 1823, no fruits have as yet appeared unto Christ, still, I trust, the seeds of instruction will, like the sown wheat in frigid climes, gain a state of preparation by lying concealed (under the fetters of Hindoo prejudice), to spring forth vigorously, when the Sun of Righteousness shall shine over these sown fields. There are now fifty-five native girls, Hindoo and Mussulman, under tuition in the Digah Mission Schools; five girls of whom are of the former schools. This number will probably be increased

in the cool weather. Thus one hundred and twenty native girls, and several women at their homes, have, since the commencement, been under instruction in this district. Half as many more I do not reckon, as they have acted more like spectators than scholars. The whole num ber of boys now learning is one hundred and sixty-four. I purpose having a public examination every year at least, if not every six months: the European inhabit ants else will never believe that schools exist; and it is of importance to excite their interest in favour of them. As that which took place on Saturday last was a new thing, and I had every thing to arrange, I invited only a few persons to be spectators; and those were much surprised to see such a number of native children brought under order, and having made pleasing progress. There were thirty-five in one syllable; twenty-five in two syllables; fifteen in three and four syllables, and in grammar and full reading; twenty-two in Watts's Catechism and the ten commandments; twenty in writing on paper, fifty in writing on

boards with chalk water; all the rest in the alphabet and writing on the earth with chalk, and nearly all in Hindoo arithmetic. The similar classes in each school were formed into one, and brought into the room, examined and dismissed alternately, and all done quietly. The girls presented their needle-work, and gained much praise, as well for that as their other performances, for they wrote, and read in print before the ladies and gentlemen. After the work of examination, the children were all called into the rooms, and brother Roop Das read to them a few verses from scripture, and explained them very clearly, respecting what really defiled a man, and that knowledge which was necessary to their enjoyment, both in this world and that which is to come. And having sung a native hymn, in which many joined, brother Hurree Das closed with prayer. The children were then dismissed, with the trifling reward of two pice, or a penny each, to get themselves a morsel to eat on their way home, as many had come six miles.

SUMATRA.

RECENT arrivals from this island have brought us the particulars of a journey into the interior of the Battak Country, undertaken, with the sanction of the government, by Mr. Burton and Mr. R. Ward. The official report of this expedition extends to forty-four folio pages, and comprises much information on a variety of points connected with the civil and political condition of the people. The following is extracted from Mr. Ward's account:

"We had to pass a mountainous district, about fifty miles wide, covered with wood, ere we came to the chief population. This distance must have been more than half doubled by the crookedness of the way. The road was too rugged to admit of the use of horses, and we therefore performed the journey on foot, chiefly without shoes and stockings. The fifth day after our departure, we entered the district of Silindung, whence we were obliged to return eventually without penetrating farther. During our stay here, we were daily attended from morning till night by crowds of people from every

quarter. They were universally civil, and appeared to form a high idea of our character. A disposition to avarice, however, discovered itself with much shallow cunning and artifice. They displayed great simplicity as it respects an advanced stage of society, but were extremely inquisitive. Every article we carried with us became an object of their anxious curiosity. We were asked by some, if we were not invulnerable; by others, if we should ever die, &c.

"On our first arrival we were so much pressed by the crowd, that it became necessary to take shelter in the house of the chief. We afterwards exhibited ourselves for several hours from an elevated loft at the end of the house, answering such questions as the multitude chose to put. At night the house was filled to excess, and Mr. Burton read some of his tracts, especially the ten commandments, with which they were much gratified. He then opened to them the great truths of Christianity; and when he came to speak of the resurrection, the future judgment, and a final state of immortality, no words can express the interest excited, the astonishment painted in every countenance. For a moment all was profound silence, every one looking on his neighbour, not knowing what to say or what to think. We were ourselves as much at a loss to see the unexampled effect of these wonderful truths on their first revelation. The scene at Athens, when St. Paul preached on the same subjects, occurred as precisely the same, except that certain men clave unto him and believed.' This practice of reading and conversing with the multitudes, who resorted to us in the evenings, was continued all the time we remained, and the gospel was received generally as the most interesting subject we could introduce.

"A considerable portion of the second day was consumed in a public bechara, or consultation, attended by the chiefs of the neighbouring villages, and about two thousand people. It was held in the open street, and the chief, our host, took a seat, as a kind of president, on a stone placed in the front of his own door. The multitudes seated themselves in a large semicircle around him. The conference commenced by a public declaration, that we had arrived on a friendly visit, and intended to proceed in a few days on our journey to the great Lake of Toba, the residence of the principal chief of the Bataks, whom we wished to see-that we had brought with us certain books, revealed by the only true God, a knowledge of which was of the utmost import

ance to all men-that we wished to acquaint them with the contents of these, and if they should be approved, send up supplies, free of expense, after our return to the coast-that these books would teach all men to be happy-that if any person embraced their instructions, and conformed his life to their precepts, he would lose all the dread of Bogus, and Saitans, and every evil spirit, by which they were so perpetually harassed, and be placed under the immediate protection of the one great God. In fact, that they would be made happy in this life, and happy for ever after death. Mr. Burton then stood forth, and read with a loud voice the ten commandments, commenting as he proceeded. A Batak man succeeded him, reading another tract, I think, a portion of the gospel. After this, the Bechara proceeded, with a good deal of order, each speaker standing up as he spoke. Speeches were made from various parts of the circle, affording interesting specimens of savage eloquence. Some spoke with great fluency, some with great bodily action, and some with much warmth, wit, and sarcasm, endeavouring to move the feelings of the audience. Some maintained that they ought not to allow us to pass on to the lake without first ascertaining the will of Singa Manga Raja, the great chief. One very aged man arose, and leaning on his staff, declared that he had lived a long time, and had ever found their Adat,' their laws and usages good, and that they ought not to change them ;-that if we wished to introduce any thing affecting these, they ought to reject it; but if we could teach them any thing that would make them more rich or happy, they ought to embrace it cordially. This speech excited much applause; and after assuring them that what we wished to teach, would not interfere with their laws, they expressed themselves much pleased, and showed great willingness to receive the books.

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"After this we exhibited and explained the use of a telescope, a mariner's compass, and such articles as we had with us, all of which were carried round for particular inspection, no one being suffered to leave his place. The telescope and the compass excited much wonder: with the former, one asked us to spy out his enemies, another to discover the evil thoughts of any bad person in the assembly, and so forth. It was the general opinion respecting the compass, that it enclosed a spirit, which moved the card to whatever place we wished to discover.

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