MISSIONARY MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 10

MISSIONARY MEETING.

The meeting on Tuesday evening in the | Temperance Hall, complimentary to the Rev. | Mr and Mrs Chalmers on their departure to New Guinea, must have proved highly gratifying to the promoters. The hall was crowded to its utmost limits. After tea, -which was Berved by ladies in all parts of the hall, the platform was occupied by Judge Bathgate, who was in the chair), Revs. Jag. Chalmers, Dr Roseby, Lind?ay-Mackie, C. S. Ross, Alexander Blake, Wm. Jobnstone, J. Grow, Messrs R. Gillies, and G. Stevens. To name any of the ladies who had charge of the tables, when we could not get the names of all, might be invidious ; suffice it to say, there must have been about 30 ladies so engaged. At least GOO of the leading members of the various Churches in Duuedin and suburbs were packed into the ball, isany finding only standing room. The proceedings were commenced by prayer by Dr Roseby. Apolcgies for absence were received from Revs. Dr Stuart. Maxwell, and Ward. The choir, which renders gratuitous service at the Theatre service?, (was accommodated behind the speakers on the platform. They sang at intervals appropriate hymns, under the leadership of Mr Lowe. The distinct articulation by the singers, together with the appropriateness of the ideas to the circumstances, caused the services of the choir to be much appreciated. This was specially noticeable in that beautiful and suggestive missionary hymn, "There's a cry from Macedonia ; come and help us." The Chairman, after some preliminary remarks, said that Mr Chalmers was entitled to their respect — first, on fche simple ground of his being a missionary of the Gospel. He had severed ties of kindred, and gone out to encounter rjska and dangers ia obedience to the call, " Go and preach the Gospel to every creature." A3 an evidence of the usefulness of missionary labour, he quoted from YoL IX. of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, from an article by Coleman Philips. In contrast to the desolating effects of Spanish influence on the Island of Guam about 16S1, he mentions the effects of missionary work. Since 1797 the deaths had been on the side of the missionaries. Under their gentle influence islands sunk in barbarism had risen to enjoy the blessings cf civilisation and religion. No monument recorded their heroic deeds. But infanticide, tapu, inter necine strife, polygamy, idolatry, inter-tribal wars were all conquered. But Mr Chalmers was entitled to their respect on the further ground of his being a tried Boldier of the Cross. He has been eleven years in Raratonga. And Mis Chalmers had shared in the perils encountered by her husband. Now they were going to make their past experience the ground of future labours instead of resting with their well-won laurels. They were now going to a more dangerous field. Out of 22 Native teachers, 17 had found a grave. He wished them God -speed. If they \rere successful they would have the blessing of those who turn many to righteousness. If difficulties

were encountered, there would still be a candle lit never to be put out. The Light of the World would fan the flame into a bright effulgence. In the labours of Mr Chalmers, as of those who preceded him, there was evidence of the vital power of Christianity — a living Gospel effecting moral miracles in changing idolators and_ murderers into those who professed Christian love and peace — this wa3 evidence of a living Saviour. He encouraged all present to aid, and referred to the great gathering of Sunday School children in Knox Church on Sabbath last, when there were over 2000 present, and six in the pulpit. A boy who had been present on Sabbath came to one of the teachers on Monday, and said, holding up a penny, " I hadn't a penny yesterday, but I bring a penny to-day,— (Laughter and applause.) The choir sang "We're Marching to Canaan."

Rev. Lindsay Mackie said: We are reminded that the heroic age is not of the past alone. Representative men in the past have risen up, and for their own and their country's good, have rendered self-denying service. The true hero is the Christian who, from no motives of personal aggrandisement, hazards his life from a regard to the glory of God, and the good of his fellow-men. I believe, friends, there will be good from the meeting to-night— good to ourselves— permanent good by so getting ourselves into the heart of this movement, realising its hardships, that we shall have the missionary fire stirred within us, and each be Jed to say, I, too, must be a missionary. If we are really Christian men and women, we most live out th« Christism life. _We find the commiision of the Saviour runs in the lines of the nature He has given us. It is no hardship for flowers to bioom or birds to sing, and, if true to Christ, we shall be missionaries. It is n:> more Mr and Mrs Chalmers's work than it is yours and mine. The responsibility is ours as well as theirs. We must either do it, or see that it is done. Ido not say that we are all to be missionaries in the sense in which they are. I will explain. When Britain goes to war, all willing, men are enrolled. Is all the duty done when, with mar tial strains accompanying, the troops have reached the transports, and friend?, with loud huzzahs, h»ve bade farewell ? Nay, but their hopes, their hearts go' with them, aud when the noble army reaches the other shore, a nation tlirobs its life across the waves. If they— their soldiers— fall in ths day of battle, there is mourniDg there ; but if the Union Jack is unlurled on the ramparts of the enemy's strong--hold, there is great rejoicing, at home, bells ring, and all unite to show their joy. (Applause.) Here, to-night, we have a grand meeting of Christian m«n and women, to show sympathy with our friends who are departing to another shore. Our hearts follow them our love goes with them. They and we join hands on a living bond ef faith. We shall hold up their hands in prayer. And the conquering Saviour is yonder, who watches over them, and can ensure success. Sooner or later this island of New Guinea shall be another gem for Christ ; for the word is sure " Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of tho earth for thy possession." " Lift up thine eyes round about and see, all they gather themselves together, they come to Thee, thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side." " Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows ? Surely the isles shali wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshhh first to bring- they sons from far"— unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.— (Applause.) The Chairman then called on

The Rev. James Chalmers, the guest ' of the evening, who was received with continued applause, ife said, I do not know what to say, in acknowledgment of such a meeting, and so kind a reception. Our parents are with us on the platform. But I just wich that one person could have been here to-night to see this— a poor old woman, who went to Heaven in December last— l mean my mother The time is so short, I shall speak of New Guinea at once. lam reminded of what was said of the Arctic Expeditions. "If they do nothing else than turn out good sailors, they are worth all the expense." So I would say of missions -(hear, hear)— if they do nothing more than turn out noble men, who would grudge the trouble and expense ?-- (Applause ) Missions brought out Williams, who visited the Hervey, Tonga, Fiji, and New Hebrides groups. But for missions we might never have heard of the great and good Bishop Patteson. — (Cheers.) And there are those whose names you may never hear on earth. But when that roll is called in heaven, you will hear the names of those native Christians who have laboured nobly in the work.— (Applause.) In the future, if God spares us, we may have some claim to be ranked alongside of them. He then gave a brief history of the mission to the present time, showing how Messrs Macfarlane and Lawes, formerly missionaries at Lifu and Nine, or Savage Island, respectively, had been led to New Guinea. Though driven from Lifu, Macfarlane, with some enterprise, reached New Guinea, with the concurrence of the Home Committee, taking with him Rev. Mr Murray, another missionary of 40 years' standing. Murray, when they got ashore, knelt down then and there, and took possession of New Guinea in Christ's name. Only on one occasion had the native agents been murdered, and that was when they attacked idolatry directly instead of letting the Gospel work its way. Gill, of Raratonga, was going Home in 1872, and took native teachers to Torres Strait. Lawes and Macfarlane advocated the cause in England soon after, and it was then they obtained the funds for a steamer. Miss Baxter, of Dundee, gave L3OOO. We expect to leave Sydney in her for New Guinea. Macfarlane made Somerset his |headquarters, and Lawes went to Port Moresby on the mainland. We were tcld by Lawes not to come unless to find a grave, for he had lost his boy and was clearing out. The captain of the steamer brought word that the teachers were downhearted, anri needed direction. Dr Turner's son went. He and his wife suffered from the climate— he lost his wife, and subsequently pave a poor account of the mission. The captain, however, says thai there 13 no ground to consider it a failure. He^ found the natives thieves on his first visit, ana when he returned he could leave things in safety. He would not say they were Christians, but there was an advance. — [Applause.) We hope in a year to have a. good, healthy position under the shadow of Mount Owen Stanley. — (Applause.) We shall remember this meeting in Dunedin.— (Cheers.) You cannot understand it, surrounded here by houses ; but far away in those islands it is pleasant to look back when the spirits are downcast, and think, Ah, that meeting, and, as Mr Mackie said, friends praying for us in Dunedin. I hear my Master as He looks down on the world ask, Aro you all saved? No, we reply; but by Thy Grace we are determined they sh'-Ul be ; and New Guinea shall be a glorious stone for the Redeemer's crown, and Dunedin shall, help it.— (Loud applause.) The Chairman here stated that the promoters of the meeting intended to raise LIOO, and had obtained already L 65. A few friends had also obtained a magic lantern for Mr Chalmers to take with him, and astonish and

enlighten the natives of New Guinea.—(Applause.)

The Choir then sang, " There's a cry from Macedonia, come and help us." The Rev. C. S. Ross spoke of the progress of missions in Fiji, adducing the testimony of the late Commodore Goodenough to the zeal and intrepidity of the missionaries. He had a I leasant duty to perform. In the name of J. Mackerras, Esq., and other merchants of Dun9din, ha had to hand over Lls for the support of a Native teacher, to be continued for thiee years.— (Applause.) The Chairman having handed the sum to Mr Chalmers, he rose and said it would be applied to the support of a young man in New Guinea called Pi, from their training institution in Raratonga. He thanked them, and desired that God might bless them and make them a blessing. The Rev. C. J. Byng amused the audience by explaining that he was not a Roman Catholic prie°t. The last meeting he attended in that hallwas spiritualistic — he considered this one spiritual in the highest sense. He would speak of missionaries in particular. And again the audience was moved to laughter by the sceptical delineation given of a missionary — an attenuated specimen of humanity — with a hat en the back of his head— a long shabby black coat, a cotton umbrella in one hand, and a bundle of tracts in the other, with a white cambric pocket handkerchief to wipe his gloomy melancholy face. He also described the titular missionary, fond of his Shibboleth ; the sectarian missionary who could uphold and take an interest in simply the denomination with which he was connected; and.if he might usejthe word, the oppositionary missionary, who wsis stirred up to do something because others were at work while he was doing nothing. May none such rise up among us !—! — (Applause.) In opposition to all these he described the true missionary. You, sir (turning to Mr Chalmers) are not an attenuated specimen_ of hunranity. — (Laughter.) The true missionary was nourished by the bread and blood of Jesus, clothed with his robe of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit in his one hand, and messages and promises of peace in the other. He also had something on his head, the helmet of salvation, and he was shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. So equipped, ha went forth with no gloom, but with smiling lip and Invigorated soul.—'(Applause.) We speak not of denominations here. — (Applause.) I look on the churches of Christ as so many regiments — (applause) — nothing else. If you to yish to enlist the sympathy of the British soldier, name no regiment for the fight, but let the drum roll out to the tune of "God Save the Queen," unfurl the old victorious banner, and the army is inspired with one common interest, for uhey face a common foe.— (Applause.) He then referred to the necessities of work in Dunedin among those who were apt to be neglected, and pointedly addressed young and unmarried men as by no means free from the call to mission work.

The Choir sang " Go, Work in my Vineyard." Mr R. Gillies said : If there was occasion for the last speaker to warn you against thinking he was a Roman Catholic priest, I need to warn you against thinking me a clergyman. - (Laughter.) lam sorry to observe lam the only lay speaker on the platform. I would gladly have seen many of our merchant princes ■ here. My subject would have been "TheInfluence of Missions on Civilisation, Commerce, and Science." I shall not give my speech at this late hour. I believe I could have shown you that not in all the range of all the professions are conferred so many blessings as by that , of the missionary.— (Applause.) Young men are to remember, and I was to have addressed them specially — young men who pooh-pooh missions as "no good," should remember that they are to judge not by one time or one place, but by missions all over. In Mr Chalmers, I think we have no common man. I truct the deep interest shown, here to-night will not pass away with this meeting. — (Hear, hear.) I would not have spoken of the infidel view of the question — that is not worth a moment's notice.—(Cheers.) I would aHswer them from the book of Proverbs— "Answer not a fool accord ing to his folly." Still there are good people who cannoi see their way to support missions but I must not go into my speech. I have had occasion to look into matters in New Guinea, and I confess it is with a sad and heavy heart that I look forward to our friends going there. I regard our friend as going to the cannon* mouth. — (Cheers.) Is it to be regretted ? By no means.— (Cheers.) He is a happy man, if he does so at the call of duty. If he fall, he will hear the glad welcome from God—" Well done, good and faithful servant." — (Applause.) The Choir sang, "What shall the harvest be."

The Rev. Dr Copland then engaged in solemn and appropriate prayer for the friends who were on their way to mission work in New Guinea, and with the benediction the large meeting dispersed.

During dismissal, the Choir sang, " We shall meet by and bye."

We understand. Mr Chalmer3 leaves on Friday by the Wakatipu for Sydney, en route for New Guinea.