WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING, ONEHUNGA.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1739, 5 November 1862, Page 4

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING, ONEHUNGA.

The Annual Missionary Tea Meeting, in connection with tho Manukau circuit, was held in the Wesley an chapel, Onehunga, on Monday evening last, when, in spite of the unfavourable state of the weather, the attendance was h'rge and respectable. After tho company had partaken of an excellent tea, which had been liberally provided and was gracefully presided over by the ladies, the chair was taken by Mr. J/m <:s Heron, of Auckland, and the proceedings were commenced with the singing of a hymn, and prayer by the Rev. It. Laishley.

The local financial report, showing tho amount of contributions to the Mission fund from various parts of the circuit during the past year, was then read by the Rev. W. Rowse; after which, tho Rev. Thomas Buddle read the following general report of the Society's operations in New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, being the Missions under the direction of the Australasian Wcsleyan Methodist Conference:—

Number of Chapels - 572 “ Other Preaching places - - 311 Missionaries ami Assistant Missionaries - 73 Catechists ------ 249 Day School Teachers - - - 1,544 Sabbath School Teachers (exclusive of Fij i) 1,015 I real Preachers ----- 1,377 Class Leaders (exclusive of Fiji) - - 1,118 Full and accredited Church Members - 22,043 On trial for Membership ... 5,455 Sabbath Schools (exclusive of Fiji) - 215 Sabbath Scholars (exclusive of Fiji) - 11,031 Day Schools - - - - - - 961 Day Scholars ----- 40,009 Total number of Scholars undcrinstruction 44,162 Attendants on public worship - - - 100,029 Printing Establishments - - - - 2 The receipts of the Society for the year 1861, amounted to £9,960 Is. 9d., and the expenditure to £16,890 fs. Bd., leaving a balance of £6,930 os. 1 Id. to be paid by the parent Society in London. It was a pleasing feature of the report, that the sum of £3,878 had been realised by the sale of the oil contributed by the Natives of the Friendly and Fiji Islands. The Missions in those districts were thus within about £3OO of being self-supporting. This was a fact which reflected great credit on a people who had been so recently rescued from savage life, as it showed the deep hold the Christian religion had upon them; and this and other favourable aspects presented in the report which had been read should encourage the Church of Christ to persevere in her efforts to extend the blessings of the common Gospel to the regions beyond, as well as to carry it on in those countries where it had been so auspiciously commenced. The Rev. John Wabben, on being called upon to address the meeting, was received with loud cheers. Ho said, as an old Missionary, he felt bound to be always ready to say or do anything in his power to promote the welfare of the great Mission cause. It was a work most glorious in its object, having in view the present and everlasting happiness of universal man; and they were all bound by the law of consanguinity to engage in it to the best of their ability. God had made of one blood all nations of men to dwe’ 1 on the face of the whole earth; and it was the duty of all to aid in the work of human enlightenment, renovation, sanctification, and salvation, from this consideration. But there was yet a stronger reason why they should assist in this work. It was a duty which they owed to the moral law—to the law of God. Under the Christian dispensation, under which they had the happiness to live, that law rested on two foundations, and was reducible to two great commands—love to God and love to man. For “ Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself: on these two commandments hung all the law and the Prophets.” And who our neighbours arc, wo are taught by the parable of the man who fell among thieves; according to our Lord’s teaching, those who most need our help arc our neighbours. And who so much need that help as the Heathen who “ never heard the Gospel sound, and who never saw the Gospel light?” We are bound to assist in the great work of their evangelisation by our prayers, by our pecuniary aid, and by our personal exertions; bound to it by our Christian profession—by the example of Christ, who came to seek and save the lost, and who has “ left us an example, that we should follow his steps.” If the heathen arc to be saved, they must be saved by faith in the world’s Redeemer, for no other means has been instituted to effect man’s salvation. “ And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how can they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?” Hence when tfie Lord appeared to the persecutor Saul, that ho might be “ a chosen vessel to bear his name to Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel,” he said, “ I send thee to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and an inheritance among all those who are sanctified, by faith that is in mo.” This commission is ours. The task before us is a great one—but it is a glorious one, and one that will assuredly bo successful. The state of the heathen world is deplorable, and would he hopeless, but for the remedy provided. The Gospel is abundantly adequate to effect its purpose. The remedy is entmsted to us who form part of the Church of Christ; and if we arc faithful we shall soon see still greater prosperity than we have already witnessed. Wo often hear croakings about “little effects” —small results attending the Gospel; but such statements aic not corroborated by facts; they are not corroborated by the report to which we have just listened (hear, hear). Ho believed the world was growing better every year (cheers); and that the kingdom of Christ was never so prosperous as in the present century (hear, hear). What do we see in the present day? The angel of a pure ministry “ flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every kindred, and nation, and people, and tongue.” Let us be alive to our duty. No doubt we shall meet with opposition. There is the Dragon of Idolatry, the Beast of the Man of Sin, and the False Frophct of Mahometanism. But what are these, when “ the Lord of Hosts is with us, and the God of Jacob is our refuge?” Ho bogged to congratulate the meeting on the report which had been rend. They had obtained their success from God. “ Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only docth wondrous things; and blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth bo filled with his glory. Amen and amen.” The Rev. gentleman sat down amid loud dicers.

The Ilev. Richard Laisiilky was next called upon by the Chairman. He said, he did not go to the meeting with tho intention of speaking—indeed it was with tiie understanding that he should not. It was with great pleasure, however, that he attended to testify his fraternal feelings, and his sympathy with the great Missionary enterprise. Ho had thought

since sitting and listening to the report and to tho remarks of the former speaker, that the duty of prayer for Missions in foreign lands was sadly neglected in their meetings for united prayer. They had their weekly union prayer meetings, and these meetings were always pervaded by the feeling of Christian brotherhood; but there had been too little prayer for the Mission cause. It was worr'iy of a larger share of our prayers (hear, hear). The Missionaries engaged in heathen lands needed them, surrounded as they frequently were by dangers, and privations, and discouragements. He would unite with the last speaker in congratulating the meeting on the prosperity of the work. He always took a cheerful view of the work of God; he believed everything to be promising. There were great difficulties in the way, but not too great to be removed. The prospects of the Church in relation to the heathen might be likened to those of Noah on his quitting the ark. What a scene must have been presented to him after the flood had been on the earth; but amid the general desolation which the eyes of the Patriarch witnessed two things cheered his heart: there was the bow, symbolical that such an event should never again take place; and there was the promise of a change being speedily effected on the face of nature by means of his industry and perseverance. We, in like manner, are surrounded by a scene of desolation; but we have the seed, and the bow of promise. There was no doubt about the success of the work in which they were engaged. He sometimes thought of future Missionary meetings; what glorious statements would be mado regarding the Gospel triumphs. He did not know who, in the great day of reward, would be deemed the most honorable the sower or the reaper—he who had gone forth sowing the seed, or he who hud returned with the sheaves; but, however that might be, the time was coming when " both he that sowcth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together." Mr. Laishley concluded by urging upon all the duty and the importance of personal effort. Mr. Jenkins, of Nelson, was next called upon, and said he always had felt interested in the great Missionary cause, and he did not recollect the time when it was not dear to his heart. It was indeed a great work, —ono in which all may, and should, take part. Were they to leave all the work to the Missionaries? No, it was theirs not only to bring forward the young men who should go out to distant lands, but also to encourage them by their prayers, and support them by their contributions. The work could not be carried on without money; so long as we are in the world we must have to do with money; it is a talent entrusted to us as the I ord's stewards; and everybody may assist in this way—even the youth may do something; it is a work open to all. And only consider the object at which we aim—the salvation of souls. And when we consider the value of souls, surely we can esteem no sacrifice too great to secure their salvation. During his labours in connection with the Mission in this country many years ago, he saw many things to encourage, though he had many obstacles to contend with; and, amid all, he was enabled to persevere, because of the great object in view—the salvation of souls. We are sometimes disposed to think that little has been done in consideration of the years of labour that have been spent, and the expense which has been incurred; but if only one soul had been saved, it were worth all the toil and personal and pecuniary sacrifices that had been made. But there are thousands of such. Multitudes now surround the throne of glory who have been saved by the instrumentality of Christian Missions. He had more than once been encouraged in his work in this country to hear Natives in the woods engaged in earnest prayer. He mentioned this to show that in New Zealand they had not laboured altogether in vain. He thought the work in this country was not so discouraging as was generally supposed. True, there were dark clouds, and great obstacles to the progress of the truth; but they must remember that the work is Christ's, and therefore it must triumph ultimately: thero can be no going back. But we must not sit still and do nothing. Let us take up the Missionary spirit. (Hear, hear.) This is the true spirit of Christianity; it is a Missionary Church; it was so at the beginning, and it ever w :, l be so till the world is converted to Christ.

The Rev. Georoe Brown, on being called upon by the Chairman, said he would not detain the meeting by any remarks, as there were others present from the Mission districts who, he folt sure, all were anxious to hear, pauicularly the Rev. Mr. Reid. lie was present merely as a listener, and to show that he sympathised with the work the interest of which they had met to promote.

The Rev. Alexa.ndeu Reid, of Waipa, on rising to address the meeting, was received with cheers. He said when authors begin their works with long prefaces and elaborate introductions, we are led to expect that the succeding contents of their works will ut least bear some comparison with the commencement. lie feared, however, that, after the expectations which they had been led to entertain by the remarks of some of the former speakers regarding what he was about to say, it would be found to be all preface. As he was the only operative Missionary present, they would naturally expect him to say much, particularly with regard to the Maoris, lint he had determined to say nothing —to be silent about Waipa. There were reasons which would lead him to prefer saying nothing on the subject of the Maoil, What he said here would be reported at Waipa, and on his retina he might be summoned to appear before the Runanga, and the king.s party have made a law that if any missionary dares oppose their movement, he shall have his tongue slit, ami his earmarked. (Laughter.") His position was, therefore, not a very encouraging' one. If he said one thing, it would be said he was a peace-nt any-price man; and if he said another thing, he would be put down as a war man; whereas he was neither. He did not wish to introduce pontics; but, in the present state of affairs, lie was sony to say they could not be avoided, if anything was to be said concerning the Natives. His statements must differ from those- of former speakers, lie could not report favourably of the progress of the Gospel among the Natives. He would not, however, attempt to expose the evils of the Maori—there were plenty others always ready to do that. He would rather endeavour to show that there was still something to encourage. Bad as they were, they were not so bad as to be beyond hope of recovery. The Maoris have not east off their allegiance to God. (Cheers). They pay great respect to His Word, and havo adopted measures to cause His law to he respected. They may be called fanatics, but they are not infidels. They also keep the Sabbath; and, indeed, in this particular, they set an example to the Pakeha, There is no drunkenness amongst them; this is strictly guarded against by their laws. He had not seen a case for a twelvemonth, until that day; and he heard of a Native being taken before the Runanga, and fined 30s , for drinking a gloss of spirits. These were encouraging features in the moral condition of the Maori, and he only mentioned them to show that it was not all gloom. As a Missionary among them, he thought it his duty to say as much in their favour as he could; so that he now appeared rather as their advocate. From these considerations it may be gathered that theirs is not a hopeless case. He had a word to say to Mr. Laishley. Ho had read a leeturo delivered by that gentleman before the Young Men's Christian Association. He (Mr. L.) had wandered through classic lands, and tropical regions, to collect illustrations of the.power of Christianity to destroy systems of error and superstition, but he had been afraid to come near New Zealand. He (Mr. 11.) was ashamed of him. (A laugh.) He had alluded to countries where infanticide had been gradually abolished in the course of ages, but made no reference to New Zealand, where it was abolished in the course of half a century. Other evils that had taken 300 years to destroy in other countries had been removed in the course of 10 or 12 years in New Zealand. There are confessedly great evils still existing among the Maories—plenty of pride and folly: but was not this the case everywhere? They heard a great deal about the Christianity of Fiji and the Friendly Islands, and Samoa; but it was not heard to be a Christian when there were no temptations; let those good Christians but be exposed to the temptations peculiar to the Maori race, and see if they would be much better. The Maori holds intercourse with selfish colonists, with whom he endeavours to compete in mercenary and commercial transactions. It is hard work then to be a Christian. What did they tell him? You, the Pakeha, learnt all the arts, and acquired all the comforts of civilised life, which you now enjoy, in the long course of time; and now you want to make us, the Maoris, swallow them all at once. They were anxious to improve themselves gradually, and he admired this disposition. In spite of all their faults, therefore, they have some principles of good. Let us treat them with Christian forbearance, regarding them as brethren redeemed by Christ. Mr. Chairman, I am of opinion that wo are getting near the Millennium. We arc trying to conquer the Maoris by kindness. There seems to bo genuine Christianity in this, whatever difference of opinion may exist with regard to the success of the scheme. There is a large amount of Christian clement in this. No such attempt was ever heard of in any other land. And, after all, what a contrast does New Zealand present to America. A short time ago we heard of glorious revivals of religion in that country, but it is now desolated by war. It is not Christianity to crush a nation by war; there is something in it entirely opposed to the genius of Christianity. When are we going to beat our swords into plough shares, and our spears into pruning-hooks? We are not to suppose that this is to be done in one day; it is to be accomplished gradually by the preaching of the Gospel. Wo will not allow our great grand children to have all this to do; we should like to do something ourselves; we should like to assist in blowing the bellows, or pushing the *words into the fovge.

And every ono who bears the Christian name may co-operate in the great and glorious work. (Loud cheers.) The Rev. Thomas Bitddle was sure there could be no disappointment felt by any present on tho present occasion. He thought the meeting had been quite equal in interest to any one that had preceded it. Mr. Buddie then briefly urged the importance of doing everything that we set our hands to under a deep sense of our obligations to do all to the glory ot God. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Doxology was sung, and the proceedings wero closed with prayer by the Rev. John Warren. On Sunday next the anniversary (sermons will be preached at Onehunga; in tho morning, at J-past 10, by the Rev. Alexander Reid, and ; n the evening, at 6, by the Rev. John Warren.