WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1741, 12 November 1862, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY MEETING.

The Annual Missionary Meeting of the W""’ Society, Auckland District, was held at cu * rrent evening, the 10th instant, in the High»sq Agent, Queenover 300 persons were present. The proc ° commenced at half past six o’clock t hymn “Before Jehovah’s awful throne s fro t the Rev. J. Warren read the 19th Ps n J™ “ WillujS Rev. J- Long engaged in prayer. J Dr. Bennett then took the chair, and address the meeting nearly as follows Again, ladies and gentlemen, by tt' upon us for good, we arc permitted tfLISHMENT, for the celebration of this AnniversajELi,. which, although of comparatively mod. „ Pamilier now comes round with so much reguh its place almost amongst those festivals , * morative occasions which the Church ha antiquity observed. It seems to me aim JQ since I last stood upon this platform and ;^ V 1 e on this great question; yet within that p"> c of the swiftly fleeting years of our short > x T passed away. Surely it has been a year ice have hud much to thank God for; much tc -t f for in person, in family, in connection with t ti>or one and in connection with the Missionary trom We have received many mercies, and to an Cis paper, faith some of these mercies would not less sure r.o have been mercies because they were in _ and to the eye of sense may have worn the ar e brated of trials I look With pleasure on “ Agent.

form this evening, and while I recognize some new laces which wo are thankful to see with us here, I recognize also some of the old familiar faces; and yet there is one thought which lias been especially present in my own mind since I came here—an individual absence this evening of one of our oldest and most esteemed missionaries, one whom we have seen here and heard hero from year to year for a long period past—one whose heart we may be sure is with us in the services of this evening, although by aflhcting dispensations of God’s Providence, by bereavements and trials which it does require faith to believe shall be made to work together lor his good, ho has been himself bowed down and stricken, and withheld from taking the placebo would have delighted to have taken on this occasion. I have no doubt all our heai ts will go up in prayer lor our brother, our father VV aids especially, this evening, that God may sustain him and bring him through his trials to sing a new song of thanksgiving to Him; that ho may be able to tell great things of God’s dealings with his own soul and through him with the people of his charge. But, my friends, however one and another may bo absent, however one and another may pass away, and, perhaps, in this fleeting and transitory world we can scarcely expect to see any Anniversary without presenting some new vacancy, vacancies not to be filled up in time, yet oven “on this the steadfast soul relics Father thy mercy never dies.” “ Though the grass may wither and the flower may fade, yet the word ot our God will abide for ev.r;” and that is the word for the propagation of which, through missionary effort, we are met together this evening. Whatever else may be changed, the great principles of the missionary undertaking remain unchanged from year to year. The duty remains the samc„.and the encouragement remains the same, and there is still the same necessity to scud God’s light and truth to a perishing world as ever there was. Even yet with all the voyages of scientific discovery and commercial enterprise which have been made, no man has succeeded in finding any of those happy lands which Utopian philosophers have dreamed of, where all was happiness and peace, and where no evidence existed of the inherent taint in man’s fallen nature. No, every new evidence corroborates the fact that “the whole world lieth in the wicked one,” that “ all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;” and the more need, therefore, there is for us to do our utmost in the missionary work; and the more need for such power as only can come down from heaven, to breathe upou the souls that they may live; and if the necessity remains the same the remedy remains the same Blessed bo God, we have still the Gospel, that “ glad tidings ot great joy to all people,” and we have still the great charter of our Missionary Societies remaining, immutable in its command and in its encouragement—“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” and the promise —“ Lo, I am with you here, even to the end ot the world,” together with the declaration, “ I am the same, to-day, every day, and lor ever.” Christ does not say, I am with you to the end of your life, or lam with you to all eternity; that might seem as if the promise were made only to the individuals whom he was then personally addressing; but he says “to the end of the world,’’ thus connecting the promise and the commission he had before given them with the whole world, and giving that promise to encourage all true successors of the Apostles in the preaching of the gospel, whenever and wherever they may live, in every land and every generation, till the end of the world, when the whole of it shall have become the kingdom of God and his Christ. It is certainly not my intention, however, to • trespass ou your time at any length this evening. You will have the local and general reports of the Society’s proceedings presented to you, and in the programme for the evening I perceive there is much before you. It is a rich programme in resolutions, rich in matter, rich in men; and it would certainly not become me to occupy the time which there arc so many to lay claim to. I shall only express one idea which has passed through my mind several times this day in connection with the public celebration which we have today been engaged in. We have most of us more or less openly and earnestly this day assisted in commemmorating a great fact in the history of our empire—the coming of age of the Drince of Wales —the attainment of his legal majority by him who one day in the course of nature may be expected to rule over the greatest empire of our world—an empire on which the sun never sets. Now, Christian men are loyal men; they leant not only to fear God but to honour the king, and if I may be permitted to refer to the past history of the body principally connected with this anniversary, I may say that the Wesleyans will have grievously degenerated from the principles and spirit of the parents and founders if they (which I do not anticipate they will) cease to be loyal subjects of the British sovereign, and loyal adherents to the principles of truth and liberty which had placed this family on the throne. But what, it may be said, has this to do with the missionary meeting? I think much. If we desire the throne of Britain to be high and lifted up, in its own way above all others, and desire our national honor and greatness to be maintained and perpetuated, in no way can that object be more securely attained than by laboring with increased effort to send forth that light and truth the possession and maintenance (though in so imperfect a manner) of which has, we believe, been the glory and safeguard of England. We could not desire more for the Prince than that he should in his own heart consider aud act according to that saying, “ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? even by taking heed thereto, according to thy word;” and no greater glory could wo desire for the reign of the monarch ot our nation than that in his day there should be an unprecedented outpouring of the Spirit, of God through revivals at home, and increased and more successful missionary exertion abroad. The prince will be exposed to many temptations; pray God to shield him from them. He will be exposed to many trials, and perhaps one of the greatest has come upon him already, in the removal of that wise, sagacious and excellent father who might have been under God, the guardian of his youth, who would have taught him, and we believe has already taught him to respect Christianity and Christian Missions. Only a few days ago as I was looking over a little publication entitled “ Prince Albert’s Golden Precepts,” 1 saw some extracts of a speech delivered by him in 1851 at the Jubilee meeting of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in loreign parts, and I was struck by such remarks as these “Christianity is the foundation of our community and our State;” and referring to the Great Exhibition then in all its glory, and in bringing about which he took such a prominent part, he said these memorable words: “ This civilization is based upon Christianity, this civilization could not have been raised without Christianity, and this civilization cannot be maintained except by Christianity” (applause). These were words of weight, and can we desire better for our young prince and the nation to whom he is so dear than that they may sink deeply into ins heart? And then he lias a mother of whom we have read lately that she finds her consolation under the heart rending atliiction she has suffered, in the Word of God. We have read how a minister entering a lowly cottage and finding, a lady in black reading to a sick person the Word of God, waited till she was gone, and inquired who it was, when lie was told it was Queen Victoria (applause). There is no lack of heartiness in our good wishes to the Prince, from our wishing that if it so please God, it may be many years before he comes to that throne, which he can only ascend when God shall please to take away his mother and the mother of Ids people. la no way can we prove our loyalty to our earthly king more thoroughly than by endeavouring to extend to whomever the British name is knownj the peaceful sceptre of another king, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. All earthly kingdoms must be subordinated in lovalty to him, and all may consphe together to the production of the same great end: “ Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men.” For our own nation, that state of which it may bo said, “ Happy is the people who are in such a case” — may it ever continue to labour in the cause of the •ospel “till a knowledge of the glory of God shall - the earth as the waters cover the sea and * gdoms of this world are become the kingdom of f ' A a nd his Christ, who shall reign for over and . bVuic* j -of Kings and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah, > Rescript Omnipotent reigneth, and let all the / ftl most reasoDL f&UfroL. .CE: A\ cllesley-b\; \v'aLkkn having read the list of local

_ rte Pddi.e read the following report and lAofcuimts:— T. E. 11AWS0 1 * VV oanu the work among the native tribes 11 rur a - x Koom-cts that arc discouraging. At the Ifirst CxOlll Met is close \ natives are generally loyal—preOf King’s C(t is surf to'" tish rule, and to become the allies late SDUOKON ovcmclltS ' ,C ,. in ™ emcrgcncy-yet there have adisputed boundaries having led to itnavc resulted in bloodshed. It is NEAR THE WL . isputes which have been left to the — —~ m ■ Governor, will soon bo disposed of, ■£ lv restored between the contending T „ TJ . DV . >' ■ Ujle the elFect on ihc religious and liErfliy a ]j concerned is bad. MANCII ES T' j■' intemperance at the North is nlstf . V against native progress. The tribes Vac |jay 0 f Islands arc becoming much For the purchase oi vice. And the evil is spreading in the shire, and Scot, v'mnga. In some villages, men, women, •re contracting a love for the use ol 1 ' nks, and several native vendors are to ■ - bnv ardent spirits wholesale, and sell ' ■ considerable profit by the trallie. ( » J yf Providence, too, has visited wit. a C ' T‘jver some of the Northern districts, and V have been more than decimated. " :i:

In Waikato native politics have greatly interfered with missionary labour and the success of the Gospel. The supporters of the Maoil King have been led to look on the Missionaries as allies of the Government they wish to reject, and have to a very considerable extent withdrawn their confidence from their former pastors. Not that we have to report any declension among them as regards the outward forms of Christianity. The Sabbath is still strictly observed, and penalties arc inflicted on those who work or travel on the Lord’s day. Divine worship is attended as formerly; but Maori Runangas and political excitement arc destructive of everything like spiritual religion. I he work of education is also interrupted; schools are supplied with pupils with much greater difficulty than formerly, and young men arc drawn away from the means of intellectual improvement. The determination of those tribes to support the Maori King is as strong as over; and while this continues we cannot look for any favourable change in their religions condition.

Efforts have been made by the Bricsts of the Church of Rome to gain a footing in Waikato, ami a Bastoral has been addressed to the Maori King, asserting the supremacy and infallibility of that Church; representing the Holy Bible as but a paper Bible, full only of black lines—resembling a lamp with oil arid wick, but without flame —a deaf and dumb Bible—and insisting that the Rasters of that Church are the living Bible, with whom alone is the Holy Spirit, the flame to light the lamp;—and a Driest has been sent to reside at the Maori capital, but so far as wo are informed, no encouragement has been given by the natives; Runangas have decided that no Driest shall reside there, and no perverts have as yet been made. The Maori King and his friends repudiate the whole movement. At Taranaki tiie aspect of allairs show no improvement; the slate of the natives is such as to cause the deepest concern for their spiritual and eternal interests. D“".th, too, has been at work. John Eggleston, cur excellent native assistant, of Mokau, has been taken away, leaving the people of that locality “ as sheep without a shepherd.” We have also to regret that no young men are arising to fill the places of these excellent and nsclnl assistants; nor can we expect them while the present political excitement continues. These are some of the discouragements your Missionaries have to meet: and they say to you, “Brethren, pray for us.” They are “ cast down, but not destroyed;” the present aspect of affairs is gloomy, but they believe that it shall come to pass that at eventide it shall be light. They do not see in the present trials anything unprecedented; they remember that God has permitted his Church to be tried in all ages of the world: that the Apostolic Churches wore tried—that all the early Churches passed through the severest ordeal —and that Divine Drovidenec trains and disciplines the Church by trial for extended usefulness, and that when tried by fire it has emerged from the flame, purer, brighter, and better lilted to fulfil ils glorious destinies. They do not therefore despair, hut hope yet to see the native Churches in New Zealand arise and shine, their light having come, and the glory of God having risen upon them.

In die Friendly Islands the Missionnrics have their difficulties. The General Report says:— “ One great curse to the people, and hindrance to the work, is the extensive traffic in ardent spirits carried on by some of the traders, and supplied by vessels from these Colonics. Many arc falling a sacrifice to intemperance. The late heir-apparent to the throne, the only remaining son of the present Queen Charlotte, has recently died, and it is believed that he fell a victim to this deadly traffic. It is stated that the foundation of the disease, which so speedily carried him off, was laid by drinking excessively of ardent spirits on board a trading vessel. 11 is sudden removal has cast a deep gloom over the people, and it is to be hoped that his premature death wdl serve to guard others against yielding to the severe temptation to indulgence which a lust for gain induces others to throw in their way. Some hopes arc entertained that the young Prince found mercy during his illness. He seriously warned others to avoid the snare that had proved so injurious to himself. “ A Native Annual Parliament has been established by the king, to which he invites all the leading chiefs from the various groups of islands, that they may afford to him their views on various subjects connected with the government of their lands. Hitherto these large gatherings have been very expensive to his people, and have been a means of much spiritual dissipation and loss. They will doubtless, however, be an ulimatc benefit. When the excitement has passed away, and they arc relieved of much of the unnecessary outlay, the Government of the land may gradually become less arbitrary in its character, and a regular Parliament may be established, having authority to give laws to the land, and this will greatly tend to prevent confusion and strife, when in the order of Divine Providence their present wise and powerful sovereign shall be removed to his eternal reward. Hitherto many evils have attended these large assemblies of the people, and there has been much waste and extravagance. At the last held at Vavau, 8U,700 yams, 2,543 pigs, 130 turtles, and other things, were provided for the occasion. “It is si pleasing fact, however, that, in the midst of circumstances of a sifting and testing character, there are decided tokens of progress. There is an increase in nearly all the departments of the work. The contrast between the. Friendly Islands thirty years ago, as seen by some of our aged veterans, and their present state, is marked, and furnishes triumphant proof of the elevating power of Christian truth. Then they were a race of savages waging war with each other; now they are at peace, cultivating the arts of civilised life. Then they were gross idolaters, having lords many, and gods many ; now the idols are utterly abolished, with their sanguinary rites, and they are ‘ sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in their right mind.’ Then their minds were untutored and uncultivated : now they have an increasing literature, and the education of their youth is attended to as strictly as in these Colonies.” The Fiji Islands Mission has suffered much by the loss of labourers; live Missionaries and one Schoolmaster have had to return in consequence either of personal or domestic afiliction. The Missionaries are training Native Agents; eight were recommended last year for the native ministry, having had a previous training at the Native Instltu. tion, which is under the care of the Rev. W, Fletcher, 15. A., laic of this place, and one of your own messengers to the heathen of Fiji. There is an English printer tit work, and “ printing and binding operations have been satisfactorily eontinned during the past year.” Two schooners arc employed in conveying the Missionaries from i-land to island. One circuit, Lakcmba, embraces 2d islands within a circuit of 300 miles. Another gulf has 100 miles of coasting, witli a population of 4,000 souls. The Missionaries have often to be from home for weeks together, and encounter many hardships and brave many dangers to visit their docks. Many native agents are employed as catechists and teachers, and receive support from local contilbntions. They arc sustained by the monthly and quarterly contributions of the people in tiie towns in which they are engaged. In addition to the above Missions, we have an agent employed among the Cuinesk in Victoria. Leung A. Toe has icturned from China, where he had been labouring under the direction of our Missionary, the Rev. George Picrcy, who speaks well o( his labours in that country. He is now usefully employed among his countrymen who arc gold digging ami trading in Victoria, and application has been made to the parent Society in London for an European Minister speaking the Chinese language, to superintend that Mission and prepare agents for the Chinese work. A grant has also been made to the Moravian Mission engaged among the aborigines in Victoria. The entire cost of sustaining these Missions during the past year, including expenses of the Mission Brig, “ John Wesley,” amounted to £16,890 2s. Bd. The total amount of contributions received from the Colonics and the Mission Stations was £9,960 Is. 9d , leaving a balance to ho paid by the Missionary Committee in London of £0,930 Os. I Id. The following is a general summary of the Stations occupied by this Society in New Zealand, and the Friendly, Figi, and Navigators’ Islands: — Number of Chapels ... 572 Ditto of other preaching places 311 Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries, (including supernumeraries) 78 Catechists 249 Day School teachers 1544 Sabbath School teachers (no return from Fiji) 101 f* Local Preachers 1377 Class Leaders (no return from Fiji) 1118 Full and accredited Church members ... 22,043 On trial for membership ... 5455 Sabbath Schools (no return from Fiji) .. 215 Sabbath Scholars (no return from Fiji) ... 11,031 Day Schools ... ... ••• ••• ••• Day Scholars ... ... ••• ••• ••• 40,009 Total number of Scholars under instruction 44,162 Attendants on public worship ... ... 100,027 There arc two Printing establishments. “How beautiful upon the Mountains” was then sung by the choir. Mr. Wdim.i.EY, of Taranaki, having been called upon to move the first resolution read i: as follows: •‘That the report now read be received, and that this meeting views with gratitude to Go 1 the support given ro Christian Missions, by the Aust alian Colonies, and the unceasing contributions in ki d of the Mission Churches in the South Seas; mul takes encouragement

for the future in the success that has already attended the missionary labours.” He thought the resolution had been most appropriately moved by the beautiful anthem to which they had been listening, and thought that after hearing the report that had just been read they did well to sing hallelujah and praises to God, for to him the praise of all the good that is done upon the earth is rightly due. If it were not lor two facts he should feel himself very uncomfortably situated in being called upon to move the first resolution. The one was that they had been favored with so suitable a comment on the report which had been read, by their friends the singers, and the other fact was that he was to bo followed by a host of orators and torrents of eloquence which it would he out of order for him to withhold from them many minutes. It was proper however that, having been announced ns coining from Taranaki, and it having been stated in the report that there had been no improvement at New Dlymouth during the last twelve months, he should say that that expression would bear a little explanation or alteration. He thought there had been a little improvement. He was sure their Christian friends inAuckland had sympathised with them, during their dark days of trial; had prayed for them and continue to do so, and will continue to pray for them till the dark days had utterly passed away and given place to brighter#ones. It was his pleasing duty on returning from Auckland last year to attend the anniversary of their sabbath school at Taranaki; and he mentioned this in connection with the resolution because there was a close relation between the mission work and the rising generation. The promises of the gospel were to their children, and lie hoped they would fill their places better than they themselves hud done. It was his pleasing duty to attend the anniversary of the Sabbath school, and the inhabitants of New Dlymouth having been pent up in town (or two years were glad ot an opportunity of getting into the field and enjoying the festival on that occasion. Such was the success and such the enthusiasm manifested that £2!) was realized, which sum was soon doubled by the school trustees, and subscription entered into for the erecting a new school building. A new school building under martial law, and while in the midst of doubt and tear on the question of war or peace! The collectors went forth and their appeals were liberally and honorably met and the work completed, and the last duty lie had to attend to before leaving for Auckland was the festivity in connection with the opening of that place. One of his first pleasures in coining to Auckland was to meet with a person he had every reason to believe would prove a very useful teacher for the school. He thought this was one item he might notice in counterbalance of the statement that there had been no improvement. Another circumstance he would mention was this; the people of New Dlymouth had been giving proof of their anxiety for more accommodation in the way of public worship; they have had to increase the accommodation of their chapel, by enlargement, and have not only been enabled lo do so, but to pay off a goodly portion of the debt which had been long a burden upon it. His brethren might laugh at him when he spoke of burden, but be said ten pence debt on a chapel was a burden to the honest mind of the Christian minister. He congratulated them that the debt on the Auckland chapel had been lessened. Let it all be cleared off without delay. There should not bo such a thing as a place of worship in debt. No place should be dedicated to God till it had been paid for. The first service in a chapel should be a prayer meeting for the success of Christian missions, the first sermons preached in such a place should be missionary sermons, and the first collections missionary collections. But let God’s house in the first place be paid for, and if we honor God in this way he will honor us. Another circumstance he would mention as a set ofl’to the statement he had referred to was that the Church of England had to be enlarged, and his friend Mr. Govctt has had actually to borrow forms to accommodate his hearers. The Rev J. Long could tell them u similar tale in addition to this. The Drimitive Methodists have a new chapel in Taranaki, and he believed a goodly portion of the debt had been defrayed, and every sitting in this chapel bad also been let. These were indications of improvement. But this was all about the pakcha. He wished he could say as much about the poor Maori. He thought the Maoris had been injured by the pakcha; they would have been better to-day if the pakchas had never gone amongst them. it would have been well (or themselves that day if the pakcha had left ; their sins, their sabbath-breaking their public | houses —behind them. Oh ! it this had been a Chris- . tiau colony in the full meaning ot the word—if Christians converted to God had brought their religious practises, customs, and influences to bear on the Maoris they would indeed have been benefitted. What lie wished to impress on them was this, that when they honor God —and this his people at New Dlymouth were trying to do—God would honor them. When they i humbled themselves before God and sought to promote the interest of his kingdom God would fulfil Ids promise in their behalf, and honor them with prosperity and peace. It was a pleasing consideration that during the year that has passed away there had been no fighting, no renewal of hostilities ; for this he thought they had cause for thankfulness. There was much to discourage and excite forebodings, but he always liked to look at the bright side of the question, and would now conclude bv moving the resolution.

Mr. i’. 11. Coknfoud, in seconding the resolution, suid it is indisputable that the mission work has a common interest for every Christian, that the mission work, whatever the denomination to which we arc attached, is our work; that the Christian Church beheld in its length and breadth, is our Church; that we have a common interest in its welfare, a common joy in its success, and a common sympathy in its distresses. However diverse may he the names we bear, and however peculiar to some eyes may he the names of some upon this platform this evening, we are all in our proper places. (Applause). We arc here because we have our personal spiritual interests in the extension of the cause of Christ, because wc have a personal interest in the conversion of every soul, and a personal interest in the welfare and prosperity of every Christian Church. Not one of us, it' the Spirit of God lie in us, can with indifferent heart lisien to such a report as that which it has been oar privilege this evening to hear; and if we could only catch the spirit, which we shall before long when wc have gone up into the rest prepared lor the people that love God, till full must bo our joy and all fired our sympathy, as wc have tidings coming to us that the Gospel o( Christ is upon earth succeeding. The powers arrayed against it arc being one by one overwhelmed; and the day is fast speeding on *■ when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.” We have therefore to hear in mind that under every circumstance, the overthrow of sin and the success of the Gospel, is the interest of us all; it is our common cause, which wc dare not stand aloof from. 1 rejoice therefore in being permitted to appear again upon a missionary platform. It was when hut a little child that the thought of missionary work first flashed before my mind and fired my heart, and 1 had the idea that to live and die in such a work was the greatest glory to which a man could attain; and from my own humble experience I would say to every young man, il you would realize for yourself the fulness of the Divine promise which says, “ There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or lather, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake or the Gospel’s but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, and in the world to come everlasting life,” take as the object of your affectionate pursuit, in whatever way God may open it to you, the missionary enterprise; and 1 do not believe there is a missionary, who has ever taken a prominent position in the field, that would not say the same thing. 1 never yet heard of a missionary who had been long in the work that regretted it; nlid whilst wc hear again and again from year to year laments that young men come not forward as of yore, surely it belongs to ns to say something to young men to entreat them to give body and soul and life to that great work for which it is well worthy of them to live and die. Hut when the commission was given, “ Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” it is evident the Saviour implied that there is not a creature on earth, whatever his position, that docs not need that Gospel. There exists not on earth the man who does not want the blessing which the Gospel brings, that peace of God which passeth all understanding, and that joy in the Holy Ghost which is full of glory. No man has yet found within himself in this world even the substitute few blessings such as this. Let us only realize for ouiselves how great is the blessing which the Gospel communicates, and none ol us can ho faint-hearted and indifferent in communicating that Gospel to others. And just look for a moment on the other side of the case; how irreparable is the injury which man sulfeis under sin; how paltry appear all the efforts that have yet been made on the side of the Gospel, when wc consider the vast injuries which sin works in the human heart, and when we look upon every man as a lost man for time and eternity;—when wclookat the millions that arc perishing for the lack ot the Gospel. It is true something has been done; hut count back toi 1800 years; look on the longlincof ages that have passed away, and so little been done. There is much to cause our lamentation and cries of sell debasement, when wo think of the little that has been done and think ol what is needed —when we think that hitherto the vast proportion of the human race has not accepted the Gospel; that the great multitudes of mankind bow not to tlio Saviour’s sway; that wc stand hero now with conipaiativcly all the world crying lor help while wc do so little; wc (eel as il sh one must suffuse our faces, and theie was something guilty in the fact that wc fc> 1 the claims or the world so little as wc do fee! them. How little has tlio most zealous of us dono to save (ho world. Haw?

we given?—how little have we given! Have we laboured? —how little have we laboured. Have we prayed?— in comparison with the work before us and the commission we have received, how little have wc wrestled in prayer. The whole world, we are reminded, lieth in the wicked one, and wo stand, knowing that wo have the light to give them, —the healing balm for their souls ; and knowing that nothing else but the tidings of the Gospel which we have to preach,—that “faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,” can meet the case; as we stand here we cannot help saying, how little have wc done and how much more, if God spares us lor another year, arc we bound to do. We have received a report; wc arc glad to receive reports. Men look with interest lor the reports which come to them year by year of the progress of arts, and successes of science, the advancement of commerce, and the progress of a nation: but all the reports of the world combined never can bring together to human view such Hooding glory as that which conies to us in missionary reports, in the tidings of the progress of the power of holiness; and it seems to us strange that so little progress is made when we consider how much good even temporarily the gospel works, how certain it is to advance human welfare in its lower aspect, ministering to health, peace of mind, harmony, social happiness and virtue. This and this alone is the influence which ministers good to (ho world; and surely if peace ol mind conduces to health of body, and, 1 was going to sav, to expressiveness and beauty of countenance, surely there is something worthy of man’s regard in the power which Christianity exerts on humanity, in the blessing which it brings to the body as well as to the soul. It comes to man with a blessing only, a blessing which can banish all his woe. But 1 thought, sir, from that report, that you meant me to make a teetotal speech, and advocate a Maine law in the South Sea Islands, and it is hard, indeed, to keep from speaking out when we see that everywhere the common outcry points to tlie mightiest evil as that which comes from intoxicating drinks. But you will say this is out of place here, and perhaps it is; so 1 will say no more than this. Listen to your own report, and see il you can do nothing to stay that desolation which burns into the Church of Coil, and blasts and blackens as it goes. Wc arc, I observe, to view with gratitude to God the support which is given to the missionary cause, to look at what the grace of God works in inducing others to give. Surely, then, while we thank God that others give, cherish gratitude to him that their hearts are touched for the purpose of advancing the success of the gospel, and contiibuting to its support; dark and guilty will 'be our inconsistency if it do not come into our hearts ourselves to give according to the means we personally possess, for the advancement of this great cause. When I heard about contributions in kind, quantities of potatoes, oil, &c , I looked back on the time I spent in Jamaica, when the Sabbath-schoolchildren used to beg of their fathers a piece of ground in which they would cultivate plantains to give to the missionary cause, or a fowl, the produce of which would all be devoted in this way. Eeverytlung they could gather together they would bring; and sometimes when they hud nothing to give they would come with a hoc on their shoulders, asking to be allowed to work out their subscriptions. Contributions in kind are as good as contributions in money, and seem to me to have a more beautiful stamp upon them than money contributions, for they show more clearly that the heart of the giver is earnest in its desire for the welfare of the cause. Let us bless God that there arc those who by some means or other will find ways to contribute to the gospel. In the Island of Jamaica, during the time 1 was there, two denominations alone, Wcsleyans and llaptists, comprised onc-scvcnth of the entire population, i.e. their members lived in Christian fellowship; and there were other denominations in great numbers, and the land so suffused with gospel truth was really a strange contrast with what England was when I was there. I remember hearing a medical man complain that going to a village on Sunday morning to attend to a sick person, lie found no one to hold his horse; all the inhabitants were engaged in public worship. Six hundred persons used to come to attend a Sunday morning prayer meeting, and 1 have seen the Chapel full inside and out,” Sunday after Sunday, three thousand persons coining regularly to hear the word of God, filling the building so full that the aisles could not he distinguished, and every one as still and silent as ever a European congregation was. And I have known them to meet together week after week at five o’clock in the morning un week days in their class houses to supplicate God for an outpouring of his Spirit upon their work, and again in the evening after the work was over. Some will say perhaps that this was only superstitious formality without the reality of religion. There might 1 grant he much of mingled ignorance and many remnants of superstition and forms of defect such as are not found in European congregations, but as to their true heartedness, their willingness to labour for Christ, I have no doubt. Every Sunday when 1 preached, I stood over the bones of a man who had laid down his life for the sake of Christ, who hearing that the Missionaries were charged with being implicated in the rebellion said boldly, “ The Missionaries never did it, hut I did it.” lie had been organizing secret societies and when their plans were thwarted and when the rebellion broke out he gathered together sonic 500, resolved not to fight unless assailed, and every morning and evening he gathered them for prayer, hut when he heard that the Missionaries were accused he gave himself up and said “ it was my doing.” They took him and hanged him and buried him by the sea shore. Twelve years afterwards his friends gathered up the bones of Sam Sharp and deposited them in their chapel beneath the pulpit, and every day 1 preached it was over Ids grave, and they seemed to speak to me, —to warn me to he as ready to die as himself. I might mention numbers of other instances of devotion to the cause of Christ, hut it is needless. The triumphs already accomplished show us that triumphs shall still he accomplished, and wc known that the day will come when the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the water covers the sea, and we would not that that day should ever come and leave ns to stand amidst it and say, “ wc had nothing to do with it ” God grant that we may have all to do with it that wc have the power to do, and may He accept of the work which, in gratitude to Him that died, we are ready to devote to His praise. The Kev. Wm. Gittos, from Kaipara, was called upon to speak. He said he would support the resolution for various reasons. They were all prepared to sympathize with their brethren labouring in the islands of the sea in their difficulties and trials, which were very many. If they looked on the past, it was a chequered scene. He had often been accused of looking at the dark side of the question. He would endeavour to give them the bright side for the future. They had heard that evening of donations in oil, potatoes, and kumcrus, lor the support of the mission. Their Catholic friends had been telling the natives that the Protestant missionary goes forth with the Bible in his hand, but asks payment for it. They cared but little for what may be said of them; wc do not feel afraid; we look higher, and shall carry on the glorious work of conversion. Some of the natives in the Kaipara circuit had lor years past, from the time when Mr. Bullcr was there, contributed liberally, and not merely for their own minister, but for the missionary work generally; and often made enquiry as to how the great work was progressing in the various parts of the world. It was often said that the Kaipara natives were a bad set of men; and yet these were the men who were always asking about the mission work, and desiring white people to come amongst them. One old chief, the other day, wished him to write to the Governor to get out Christian people to come to Kaipara : that they must all he Christians, and then they should bo happy. He was thankful to say they had realized this to a very considerable extent; they had Christian people amongst them now in that district, and rejoiced in the fact. Brother Edgar was icady to assist him, and he had the heart of a missionary in him. Mr. Edgar was willing to assist him to his utmost, and told him that he supposed that ho shou’d understand the Maori language soon; hut il he could do nothing else, could pray,—God would hear prayer. He had met a great number of Christian men amongst the new settlers already; and whom, ho had every reason to believe, were anxious to serve God and do good. The first Sabbath the settlers spent there was a very unpleasant day. He had just returned from one of his tours, and hearing that one of the boats hud arrived, went and met them. They worshipped together. There was a hallowing influence resting upon them all—Maori and European. The natives said, “ They had never seen anything like it : that while you were speaking to the pakehas not one of them could keep from crying, the minister too. Low was that? They must all love God ; and, then, Low anxious they were to pray and sing. We hope those who are coming will he like these, then we shall be happy for the future.” The natives were looked upon as very covetous, knowing how to take care of themselves, &e. He did not believe it; they were not worse than some of their European friends. With reference, however, to their Nonconformist friends, they had a good deal of trouble, which they little expected. They had been told by some kind friends in Auckland that when they got to Kaipara the natives would “ pitch into” them, and take everything they could get from them ; that they would do well, therefore, never to employ the natives. The new settlers had discovered that the pakehas have charged a great deal more than the natives for the work done, and they now sec that the natives were willing to assist them in every possible way. They could make the natives good or bad. lie was sorry to have to say that as they come into collision with Europeans they never get’ better. As they go buck from Auckland; the young rpen do not

return any the better for what they have seen a licard. He was prepared to sign ten thousand pledges could he thereby prevent spirituous liquors being introduced into Kaipara. Reference had been made to the llokianga natives being loyal. He believed the natives in his district also were loyal, and approved ot British laws. They did not exactly like some of them, but highly approved on the whole, and were prepared to support them. He was sorry to hear that the natives in the North had given themselves so much to diunkcnness. The natives shrink from their missionary, hide themselves, run away, ashamed; and would rather sec anybody than their missionary when under the influence of this vice. He was thankful they had but little of this evil in Kaipara. He was continually on the look-out, watching that no drink got amongst his natives. When the natives go to town, some kind friend would supply them with a keg of brandy, or rum, or something of the kind. They returned with it. Ho endeavoured to be on the look-out on such occasions; and if he could cornc upon them when drinking, they would at once either run away vyith it, or run away themselves, and leave the keg behind them, when, u course, he took possession. They sometimes say, “ Won’t a glass satisfy you, or will you have it m a pannikin? How much will you have?’ His reply would be. “All or none.” “ Well, we are very angry with you, but suppose you must have it. 'iherc, take it. ’ He immediately turned the drink into the tide, and intended always to do so. If his European friends would only allow him to act in the same way wan them, thev would have very little trouble with intemperance. 'When some of the new settlers at first arrived, they met a party ot natives dragging their boat overland; they had been supplied with drink, and every now and then took a little to “ cheer them up. In the evening there was considerable excitement among them in consequence of their having indulged too freely, and their new friends listened to their noises and shouting with great astonishment. Some of the natives would not lake drink, but opened their Bibles, read a chapter, and prayed. It is a dreadful thing for the natives to give themselves up to intemperance, but he was glad to be informed that there was a great number of teetotallers among the new settlers. Ibe natives who bad been* drinking afterwards confessed they had done wrong, and were much ashamed of their conduct. They would not attend the Sabbath services, they said on account of their bad behaviour, and did not know what to do. They said to him, “ This is about the time you make your collection We have spent a good deal of our money in spirituous liquors, hut you can have the rest of it.” He told them he would not take it: he preferred having nothing to do with them in that shape. “Are you then going to give us up, and let us perish in our sins?” This he promised he would never do, but labor among them as long as he could. The natives called their teacher, and” told him “ to take their money for the mission; that their missionary was offended with them; for the future they would do better, and give three times as much next" time. They were ashamed of their conduct; their bad conduct would spread over New Zealand.’’ There was one thing he had nearly forgotten to mention. He had been told that they had been killing each other at Kaipara. This disturbance was about an old land dispute, and took place SO miles from his station. A great deal had been made of this in the papers, more than was warranted; but the newspapers were always ready to make the most of everything. He went over to the camp with his assistant, and remained there several days. The natives told him that as soon as he went away he would hear the guns, but while he was there they could not fight. He said, “Ifit is not wrong to fight, why do you not fight now ? ” They replied, “"We are afraid of the word of God.” They tremble and shrink from the word of God. We desire to make known this word, and ask your prayers and assistance in the work At the present time the natives were quiet, waiting for the Governor to visit them. The old chief is ill, and should he not recover, the dispute will then be handed over to a younger man, and may then be serious; but there was not the slightest danger to the Europeans, it was altogether confined to the two tribes. The papers made more about it than need have been, but there were many people who were ever ready to make a great deal out of nothing. For the future they expected brighter days, and expected to have finally the victory over the enemy. Nothing could give them comfort or lasting pleasure but the salvation of souls: fur that they laboured, and for that were prepared to sacrifice life or anything else. They had no trials or troubles to speak of. Men would undergo any privations for gold or silver, labor night and day for the purpose of gathering gold ; and if they could not endure hardship for the sake of precious souls, they were not fit for the glorious mission work in New Zealand. There was a great deal to be done; they asked help, and asked the young men to prepare themselves to do their part. He said the future was bright, but they wanted the help and payers of their friends; and if they secure an outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the coming year, they would have a better report at the next missionary meeting. The Kcv, 1). Bruce, in moving, “That this mcct-

mg considering the present scute of the native churches in this country, as affording another illustration of the manner in which Divine Providence permits Christian churches to he tried, and by which they are purified and educated for their high and glorious destiny, recommends that earnest and persevering prayer he made to Almighty God that he would be pleased to bring those churches safely through the hour of trial, and establish them in the faith of Christ,” said this was a very sensible resolution, and he thought it called upon the churches more immediately affected by the peculiar circumstances affecting the Native race in these islands, to take the true view of their position. He could well understand what the feelings of those who had been so long employed in missionary work might be, when they saw, so to speak, the labour of past years crumbling to pieces around them. He had not been engaged in that work, but he knew what it was to have one’s plans fail; he knew what it was when they were Just looking to reap the harvest of past labors, to have it snatched away from their hands, and themselves left alone to be mocked by the wreck and failure of their endeavours, and that he supposed was something like the feeling which would reign in some measure in the bosoms ot those who had been long engaged in missionary work in this country, but they would have this comfort left, in the loneliness that stole over them under such circumstances, that they were not alone, but the Father was with them. Nothing had happened to them but what had happened to the church in all ages, nothing that had not been happening all along to every man and the different communities that make up the Christian churches of this world. It was well therefore to look to God and mark in that which had passed, another illustration of the manner in which Divine Providence worked t > accomplish its great cuds. It would not do when circumstances like these overtook them to give way to an unreasonable grief, nor would it do to suppose that their work was lost and that no fruit hud resulted from the past. Perhaps it was Just then that they saw the fruit most truly, for if they had nothing but the bright side of things presented to their view they would have a false view of life, and not a true idea of the reward and result of their labours; but they saw it in its truest character when, amidst failures and troubles, they were called upon to look to God, knowing that he would cause his eternal word to bring forth the fruit for which it was designed. They were in this position at present They were experiencing just a part of God’s method of educating the church, and the manner of His educating men was very much the same. The education of the world had been lately put before the world, in an idea very attractive, and mixed up with much error. He held that idea to ba a glorious truth. God; designs that his work should go forth by degrees, and only by understanding this could they comprehend the circumstances in which God had seen it meet to leave the largest portion of the world to this day, and he (Mr. 13.) saw a wise and blessed reason in God’s postponing to the largest part of the world a knowledge of the truth which is in Jesus, and bringing nations up through their material life, for that was the only life which the Gentile world had yet known, and from that to know what the spiritual life was that is to be had through Christianity and Christ; and that was the work which He had pointed out for the Christian churches of this day. They might bo taunted with the uselessness of sending the gospel to these heathen men, but they took their stand on God's predetermined process of educating the world, men, and churches. They knew this was God’s way of bringingnaiions to a knowledge of Christ and they held it to be the Church’s duty to persevere till the last in seeking to make the natives rise to the life which was in Christ and become partakers in the peace of God which passeth all understanding. A hen he looked upon these disasters therefore, as merely a passage in the education of the native race; he believed much good would come out of it and that they would find the fruits of the labours spent upon the Natives more clearly still, in after days when the present troubles should have (Kissed away, atul when looking less at forms we should sec in them more of the Christian spirit and Christian life. If that view were correct it was not the spirit of despair that should reign over thj churches now, hut they should gather up the remnants of strength left them.' If there were alternate periods of darkness and light, the light would he purer and truer than before, after each successive period ot darkness. The work which God had given was the most honorable and the most useful in which man could he engaged, provided lie entered into it hi the true spirit of Christ. Ho would say, therefore, he not disheartened. The word of the living God will live for ever, the seed of truth will never he eradicated jvtiefp pnee sqwp, nmj its jxnycf >vi’j peyef

expirc. Upon this ground therefore I say ... resolution calls upon us with justice and truth* exercise a faith in the resurrection of that life wh seems to have waned in a large degree in the M • character. If that light is there and the Word of &*} has not been learned entirely in vain, then I savrih Spirit of God will yet in the words of the chaim breathe afresh upon them, make that Word of power over them, and after these troubles have pasaM 1 away and that life has been cleared of ail the injt) ' ■ ties and dross that may have been gathered rouudir' these troubles, the Maori character will g 0 torth m brighter and purer character than the most glcnon* philanthropist has ever yet painted it to the worU (Applause.) a The Rev. George Stannaud, of llokianga condcd the resolution. He said that the resolution hall been so eloquently advocated, and with such propriety and force, that little remained to be said in its suppon The resolution referred to the present state of the native churches —a condition calling for anxiety and sorrow. And yet when they looked upon them now in their declining stale, they were glad also to look back and remember their inlancy. So God, when he expostulated with his ancient church which had become vain, said, “I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” He thought they were called on in this hour to look back upon the native church and remember the brightness of its infancy—the readiness with which the natives received the word of God—the obedience which they rendered it—the blessing it bestowed upo n them. How had it found them ? without God in the world, and it gave them the knowledge of the true and Jiving God. It found them without law—lawless- it gave them the law of holiest morality and highest purity. It found them without any future—circumscribed by the present—dark as midnight—it opened before them a blessed future, set their feet upon a new path —a path of improvement—mentally, socially, spiritually. It opened before them what they never had, a prospect of eternity. Bat though the good seed was sown and sprung up, tares hud sprung up with it. Could they be surprised at that? Was there not that in the human heart that should prepare them to expect opposition to the parity and restraint of the gospel ? Ought they not to expect it in the inadequate agency the church was enabled to bring to bear on their condition ? A nation to receive Christianity and two or three deputed to teach it! The native youth were about; their youth were untaught, and there was no agency adequate io the duty of teaching them. That was one evil A generation had grown up that did not know the evils their fathers had been afflicted with: that did not feel their obligations to Christianity. But the old people felt it; and if their hearts were not right with God, still had the consciousness they owed so much to it as at least to respect its forms; they knew what it had saved them from, and were compelled to admit its claims upon them. Those who have grown up never knew the evils their fathers had been saved from, and their ignorance of their indebtedness to the Bible is one evil in the present condition of their native churches. He would not enlarge on colonization—it had brought to them, no doubt, many benefits and blessings; and fully did he agree with the sentiments of the mover of the resolution, that through colonization, and all the temptations and trials incident to it. they were to be educated and led on to a higher state. He did not desire their Christianity to be the sickly thing that had been exhibited in South America, which when it came into contact with the evils of civilized life melted away like the snow. They wanted a Christianity that could face vices, dangers, and every condition. They had much cause for anxiety, for - grief, but they had no cause for despair. They had sufficient to show that if much had perished, hopes been blasted, still they had not been utterly disappointed. There remained a residue unspeakably precious of seed which had in it vitality, and should strise its roots in the earth and bring forth fruit to God’s glory. Then as respects the anxieties of Christian churches. This is no new thing in Christianity. As they already well knew an individual was to be made by trial and temptations. Would Abraham ever have been the father of the faithful, the friend of God, if he had not been called from his country and family, and to the sacrifice of his son ? It was because he was tried, and sustained the trial, that he attained the eminence he held in the church of God. Chi'stianity had been cradled in storms and trials; from its infancy it had been called upon to meet them. Look at the apostolic and Asiatic churches. The love of the Ephesian church became cold; good things described as often “ ready to die”; Laodicca became lukewarm. Look how it sunk deeper aud till it became almost completely buriedj. But God did not leave it so; the Rcformatio»3raie. Even that blessed influence did not last. Ev„?SgiL’a made their appearance, and Christianity became almost unknown even in favored England. But thank God they now saw the church once more, in a measure, in a healthy state in their parent land. He said, then, that the present condition of their native churches, while it should humble them before God, should not cause them to despair. The resolution he was seconding spoke of prayer. This was 'heir blessed refuge under all circumstances of trial and sorrow, and it had been the refuge of the church in all ages. They remembered the affecting words of Joel, “ Let the priests aud ministers ot the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach,” and it was promised .hat God would be gracious to his heritage, and would bless his people. They milled on themselves to renew their pledges that they would make it a matter of prayer. God forbid that they should sin against him by ceasing to pray for those who were the objects of their special charge. Let them not give their assent to the resolution if they did not at the same time undertake the duty of making the cause of Christ —the salvation of the native race, and their fellow countryman —a matter of prayer in the sight of God. Was there not a need? Look at the work to be done, and look at the agency to do it. They looked at the primitive church, and saw twelve poor men sent to convert the world, and they knew that without God’s assistance vain was their mission. They were as helpless and in as much need of divine help. They had gained nothing in the advance of civilization, the progress of science, and the advancement of all that constitutes the material advancement of the world—they bad gained nothing in the way of saving souls, it must be by prayer. Let them, then, pledge themselves, and redeem their pledges. They were to pass the resolution in God’s name, and I#r God’s glory. The remedy referred to was a tried remedy, no new thing; they could have no doubt or hesitancy about it —they saw what it had already effected. Brother Bruce had spoken of eighteen hundred years, but that was a trifle in the histo’./ of die world; a glorious future rises before it, and the church is destined to revolutionize the world to enlighten a dark world, to purify a sinful world, to make happy a wretched world, aud till with purity f *d joy the hearts of their sinful fel'ow creatures. Mr. Hudson, from Mahurangi, was called upon to support the resolution. He said the resolution called upon the churches in this critical juncture in the bistory of the native chuiches for increased earnestness and persevering prayer. When he remarked how ably and earnestly that resolution had been moved, and how eloquently it had been seconded, he could not see, neither, he thought, could they, that it needed any support. However, he felt pleasure in saying that he cordially agreed with the purport of the resolution, and trusted they would all persevere in the line of conduct it advises at this time. Prayer was the grand refuge which the church had always relied on in seasons ot danger aud distress. When David was in trouble he said, “ I gave myself unto prayer.’’ However dark the day may be; and however pernicious and destructive the evils which seem to be gathering together to uproot the gracious work begun among the native race, they saw in tire means recommended a way in which tne gates of hell should be frustrated in its attempts f o up - root and destroy the work of God. Prayer —what ha it already accomplished ? But he must not enter or. this subject, lie was reminded that the time fO r making speeches had passed, and could thereiore only express, with the greatest heartiness and cordiality, his concurrence in the resolulion. , The collection was then made and realize £ls 7s. (id., after which, a hymn having been sung. The Rev. W. Kirk moved the following resolution, —“ That the following gentlemen be the officers an committing of the Auckland Auxiliary Missionary Society for the ensuing year:—Treasurer, J. M imam son, Esq.; Secretary, Mr. J. Heron; Committee, Messrs. 11. White, A. Somerville, F. ,L. Prime, • Fletcher, C. A. Harris, J. French, Dr. Bennett, and Mr. Edson.” Seconded by Mr. Jenkins au carried unanimously. . ... The Rev. T. Huddle then announced that the Mis sionary Tea Meeting would be held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening at six o’clock, when in 6? would have the opportunity of hearing those gentlemen who had not been able to address them to-nig 1 as it was not wished to make a late meeting of it. Be had now to move a vote of thanks to their excellen Chairman (applause) who had always been ready help them in this good cause and who always so a y presided over meetings of this kind. The Kcv. J. Warren most cordially seconded the resolution;

And the thanks of the meeting having been P sented to the Chairman, the Doxology was sung, ft which the llev. T. Hameu pronounced the an l ,] the meeting separated.