WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 113, 23 September 1868, Page 2

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Lyttelton auxiliary to this society took placeon Monday evening last in the Wesleyan Chapel. There was* a numerous attendance. The chair was occupied by Mr J. G. Fyfe, M.P.C.; and the Revs lsuddle, A. Reid, Knowles, Aldred, and Bavin were on the platform. The chairman ] said the object for which they were brought together called for their warmest sympathy, the report for the past year contained matter for regret and satisfaction. In the North Island there had been a falling off, and he was sorry, after so many years of labour, to see such sad results. The report as to the Fijis was very encouraging, and their financial position satisfactory. The Rev A. Reid read the annual report. It staled that the cost of the missions in these seas for the year 1867 was £15,023 13s 7d ; of this sum the Home Church supplied Jt'4B3l Os 4d ; the Colonial Church, 6291 18s lld, and the • ission districts, £3851 4s 4d. The parts entrusted to the care of the Society in these seas included certain districts in New

Zealand, the whole of the Fiji and Friendly Islands, and a portion of the Samoau Group. It also employs an agent among the Chinese of Victoria, and makes an annual grant in aid of the Moravian Mission to the aborigines of Australia. In New Zealand, it employs four European missionaries, and 5 Native pastors, and reports 434 church members, and 2541 adherents. Iv the Friendly Islands, 6 European missionaries, 8 Native pastors, 7642 members and 15,478 adherents ; in Fiji and Rotuma 13 missionaries, 45 pastors, 1836 members and 109,098 adherents; in Samoa, t missionaries, one pastor, 971 members and 5006 adherent* ; total, 27 European missionaries, 59 Native pastors, 26,833 church members and 135,123 adherents. The John Wesley and the Jubilee are employed iv connection with the mission work— the former in conveying stores, &c, from Sydney, and bringing back the oil contributions of the Natives, and the latter in visiting the various stations. Great attention is being paid by the missionaries to the training of a Native pastorate. There is a Richmond Theological institution in Fiji, with 40 students ; the Friendly Islands have a Wesley college ; and day and Sunday schools are planted all over the islands where the missions are iv operation, and the children and young people have everywhere the opportunity of obtaining a knowledge of reading, writing, ciphering and Bible history. The Rev. T. Buddie moved, " That the report now read be adopted, and this meeting hereby records its devout to Almighty God for the success which has attended the Evangelistic efforts of this and other Protestant Churches iv the islands of the Pacific; it also expresses its admiration of the fidelity and zeal displayed by the missionaries in the prosecution of their arduous and self-deny-ing enterprise, its heartfelt sympathy with them in their work) alike in * their seasons of trial and days of triumph, and its unfaltering conviction, that notwithstanding all opposition, the gospel of Jesus which they preach, is proving, and will continue to prove the power of God unto the full salvation of the heathen." The Rev. F. Knowles seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Bavin moved — " Believing the evaugelization of the world to be at once a most solemn duty, and most blessed privilege, this meeting acknowledges the necessity for more frequent and thoughtful consideration of its important claims, recommends the more careful instruction of our children with respect to their responsibilities and advantages in connection with the mission work, and pledges itself to increased prayerfulness and more abounding and systematic liberality and sustenance of a cause so intimately connected with the glory of our Adorable Redeemer." The Rev A. Reid seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman. The Rev A. Reid announced that tho evening's collection amounted to £6 16s 2d, making in all the sum of £35 collected during the past year. The children belonging to the Sunday Schools sang some missionary hymns at intervals, and the pronouncing of the benediction closed the proceedings.