WESLEYAN FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 26 November 1867, Page 4

WESLEYAN FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The usual annual sermons on behalf of the above mission were preached in the Wesleyan School room (which is being temporarily 'used as a chapel), Manners street, on Sunday ; and v public meeting for fche same object was held there last- night. The meeting was opened with singing awd prayer, and the Rev Mr Kirk having, in the absence of Mr Woodward, taken fche chair, called upon the Rev J. Hull to read the report, which runs as follows : — mission report. In presenting the annual report of tbe Foreign Missions ofthe Wesleyan Church tho Committee wish, on the one hand, to avoid needless prolixity; und, on the other, they are anxious not to omit anything that would bo of interest to the subscribers and the public generally. Referring, therefore, to the published report of tho Austra lasian Wesleyan Missionary .--ooiety for details, they report, generally as follows : — The receipts of the parent society in Englund, as presented afc the annual meeting in May la-t, shoved its total income to hnvo been £148,M0 14s 9d. Thiß sum, however, included several extraordinary supplies, and ifc was stafced in tho meeting that in order to fully meet tho expenditure incurred fche income will need fco be raised fcj afc least £150,000. Tho missions under fcho control of fche English society are those in China, India, Ceylon, Southern and Western Africa, the YVesfc Indies, and tho Roman Catholic countries of Europe ; in all, or nearly all, of which there aro satisfactory tokens of progress. The missions under the immediate direction of the Australasian Conference aro thoso carried on in Fiji, the Friendly Islands, Samoa, Now Zealand, and to the Chinese residents in Victoria. The expenditure on account of these missions for tho past year amounted to £15 27W 5s 3d. Towards this amount there was contributed in tbe colonies of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and tho mission districts themselves, the sum of £11,212 3s 6d ; the balanco of £4026 17s 8d being granted by the parent society in London. Towards the amount spoken of as being raised in the southern hemisphere, the colony of New Zealand contributed £606 12s 7d, viz : — From the Northern District, £402 lis, and from the Southern, £204 is 7d. Of this fche Wellington Circuit raised £104 4s 2d. The progress of the work of God in tbe various fields of labor is, upon fcho whole, satisfactory. , To the Friendly Islands District the past year has been one of trial and affliction, from the fact that three of the senior missionaries have been obliged fco return to tho colonies. The actual laborers, therefore, havo been but few, bufc they . assure us that in tbe holy lives and peaceful deuths of many of their members, fchey havo had fcho most blessed assurance thafc the Gospel has been received by them nofc in word only but aho in power and in tho Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. As a pleasing evidenco of this ifc may

be stated that during fche year 1866 they contributed £2000 worth of cocoa-nut oil and £500 in cash for the support of tho missions. I In the Fijian group thero are under fche care of | the missionaries 18,000 church members and 90,000 attendants on public worship. The [ brethren laboring there say thut fcheir success is fcheir difficulty, as they aro totally unable fco supply the numerous places that open to them. Since tho publication of the genernl report information has reached us of the murder of one of fche missionaries, who, wifch six native teachers, fell victims to the fury of the heathen for whose benefit they were laboring. Tho missionaries there have frequently been in danger, but MiBaker and his companions are the first who have been put to death. We deplore their loss, but trust, "their blood" will prove fcho seed of tbe church, and that in years to come new triumphs of the Gospel will be recorded, and the cannibal Fijians become the servants of Jesus. In Samoa, political and tribal quarrels have retarded mission work, and the spiritual state of the members is low and unsatisfactory. Tho laborers there see, however, indications of improvement, and look for " times of refreshing from the presence of tho Lord." On the Island of Rofcumtih, 400 miles from European companionship, fche missionary labors with untiring diligence, and is blessed with afuir measure of success. Further, to promote the work of God in these islands a new mission ship, the John Wesley, has, during the year been fitted out, and is now at Sydney ; nnd a schooner, the Jubilee, obtained by the contributions of the Sabbath school children, has also been senfc down. The missions fo the Maoris in New Zealand wear, ut present, a somewhut gloomy aspect. Four English and four nativo missionaries arc engaged regularly in preaching to them, bufc fchey have to lament the prevalence of intemperance, and, in some cases, a return to the practices of heathenism. They are, however, determined to labor on in faith, and commit their "judgment to the Lord" and leave "their work with their God." The mission to the thinere in Victoria is still conducted wifch efficiency and success. 'J he following is a general summary of the work under the direction of fche Australasian Conference: — Number of chapels ... ... ... 751 Number of other preaching places 413 Missionaries a^d assistant do ... 104 Catecbists 612 Day school teachers ... ... 1,481 Sabbath school teachers ... ... 2,788 Local preachers ... ... ... 1,489 Class leaders 2,968 Full and accredited Church members 28,795 On trial for membership 5,491 Sabbafch schools 1,006 Sabbath scholars 40,816 Day schools 1,752 Day scholars 42,561 Attendants on public worship ... 113,003 Printing establishments 2 The above statistics show an increase for the year of 770 members, which, while ifc affords no room for boasting, causes us to " thank God" for fche past, and " take courage" for tho future. Every year the agency for good is increasing, and fche field for operation is extending. The Committee ask you still to aid in this good work by your sympathy, your prayers, and contributions, that so tho agents may bo sustained, and fche time hastened, when " tho abundance of tho seas shall be converted to God." After a hymn had been sung, tho Rev J. Hall moved the following resolution : — Thafc the report now read be adoptod, and thafc thia meeting, devoutly grateful for the evidenco it furnishes that the blessing of Almighty God still rests upon this Society, in view of the increasing fields opened to our labors, pledges itself fco continued and untiring efforts for the extension of fcho kingdom of Christ. In doing so, he mado a few remarks in reference fco fcho manifold blessings that had rested upon the Society's agents, wifch many of whom, ho said, he bad met, and had seen in fcheir persons and stations the care of God j had watched their work, and fully believed they were men of God, and that by means of their missionary labors mankind would be gradually led to recognise their brotherhood. The Rev. J. Allswortb, in seconding the resolution, spoke of tho impression that had been made upon his mind by tho dying words of Mr Waterhouse, by whom ho was led to dedicate himself to God ; the debt of gratitude wo owed fco God for the work that had been accomplished ; the vast amount of work that; yet remained to bo done ; and urged upon his hearers fcho necessity of dependence upon the Spirit. The resolution was carried nem. con. Tho Rev. C. Waters moved the second resolution : — That this meeting, whilo ifc acknowledges our entire dependence upon the Divine blessing for the success of missionary operations, would also recognise the fact thafc God works by human instrumentality, and nrjres the necessity of earnest prayer and enlarged liberality. In a somewhat humorous speech he referred to the different classes of givers, and urged thoso present to dedicate themselves to the Lord's service, and then put forth all their powers to advance his cause. A verse ofthe 217 th hymn was then eiing, after which tho Rev. W. Morley was called upon to second tho resolution. Uo referred to the connexion between prayer and labor, which the resoufion embodied ■ dwelt upon fche obligation to missionary operations arising from the commands ->f God's word and tbo indications of Providence ; and pointingout the success thufc had attended past efforts, urged moro earnest; labor and -. larger givings. This resolution was also carried new. con. A collection waa then made, amounting to £'5 lis 6d, which, added fco £10 3s collected at. fcho Sunday service, made the total amount raised in aid ef the Mission Fund, £15 14s 6d. The doxology was then sung, and fcho meeting dispersed with tho benediction.