vested in Trustees in the name and on behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society, stating the following particulars, viz.: 1. The nature of such property, whether chapel, school, mission-house, or otherwise. 2. The place in which such property is situated. 3. The tenure by which such property is held, whether freehold, leasehold, copyhold, or as the case may be. 4. The names of the Trustees in whom such property is vested. 5. The original cost, and as nearly as can be ascertained the subsequent outlay on such property, its encumbrances, if any, and its present estimated value. And that the said Committee present, at the next General Meeting, their report on the above mentioned points, together with any other particulars connected with the property, and the influence which it exerts on the welfare of the Society. Resolved, also, That the following be the members of the Sub-committee :-Messrs. PEWTRESS, UNDERHILL, RUSSELL, BOWSER, STEVENSON, and ROBINSON. Rev. J. P. MURSELL gave notice that, at the next Annual Members' meeting, he should move the adoption of the following resolutions : That inasmuch as the Baptist Missionary Society has purely religious objects in view, it is the opinion of this Meeting that its constitution should be purely of a religious character, and therefore it is proposed that henceforward its affairs be conducted by a Committee chosen by representatives of the churches connected therewith. That in accordance with the foregoing principle, the following amendments be made in the plan and regulations of this Society, to take effect at the Meeting 1850. Instead of the present reading, the rule respecting "members" to stand thus: That this Society shall consist of the officers and members of those churches who make an annual contribution towards its funds. That in the rule respecting "General Meeting of Members," for the words "General Meeting of Members," there be substituted the words "General Meeting of Representatives of the Churches," both in the title and body of the law; and after the word "transacted," that there be inserted the following paragraph This meeting shall consist of representatives of all churches which shall have made a contribution towards the funds of the Society during the past year. Not more than the pastor and two other representatives to be allowed to each church. Rev. J. VENIMORE gave notice that, at the next Annual Members' meeting, he should move the adoption of the following resolution : That no proposal to alter the constitution of the Society shall be submitted to any General Meeting for decision until (six months) after notice of such proposal shall have been conspicuously inserted in the Missionary Herald, and that further notice of such proposal shall be given, with every official notification of the meeting at which it is to be decided; or otherwise, shall be sent, with a notice of the meeting, in a circular to every member of the Society. Resolved, on the motion of Rev. S. G. GREEN, B.A., seconded by Rev. Dr. Cox, That the foregoing notices be published in the Minutes of this meeting. The Meeting then proceeded to the nomination of the Committee, and the ballot being taken, scrutineers were appointed to examine the papers, and the following names were afterwards brought up as the Committee for the ensuing On the motion of Rev. S. GREEN, seconded by Rev. J. P. MUrsell. be Resolved unanimously,-That W. B. GURNEY, Esq., and S. M. PETO, Esq., M.P., respectfully requested to continue their services as Treasurers for the ensuing year, and that the thanks of the Meeting be presented to them for their past services. On the motion of the Rev. Dr. MURCH, seconded by Rev. C. M. BIRrell, Resolved unanimously,-That the Rev. JOSEPH ANGUS, M.A., be respectfully requested to continue his services as Secretary. On the motion of Rev. JOSEPH Angus, M.A., seconded by Rev. D. J. EAST. Resolved, That GEORGE GOULD, Esq., CHARLES JONES, Esq., and THOMAS HAWKINS, Esq., be auditors for the year ensuing. On Wednesday Mr. WINSLOW, of Leamington, preached at Bloomsbury Chapel from Solomon's Song vi. 10, taking occasion to treat of the church as justified, sanctified, and missionary. The service was commenced by Mr. BIRRELL, of Liverpool. PUBLIC ANNUAL MEETING. This Meeting was held in Exeter Hall on Thursday the 26th. The Chair was filled by SAMUEL MORTON PETO, Esq., M.P. and Treasurer. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 575th hymn, after which the Divine blessing was implored by the Rev. Dr. Cox. The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting as follows: Dear Christian friends, on the last occasion on which we assembled together in this Hall, on the last anniversary of our Society, a report was presented to you, which was not at the time read in all its length, but which, I trust, you now all possess, and which I regard as a most valuable compendium, or short history of the Society, which you will do well to preserve and hand down to your children's children. There are times when it is particularly desirable and necessary that we should have especial regard to first principles-when we should look narrowly into the springs of our action, in order to ascertain how far they are in harmony with the motives by which those actions should be guided; and I deem this occasion to be one in an especial degree. In the first place, it is necessary that our churches should form their conduct in missionary exertion on the model of Christ, and in entire accordance with His commands. We should emulate the conduct of those devoted men, who must be regarded as the fathers of our mission, in so far as they followed Christ, and left us an example to follow in their steps. Let us, dear friends, for a few moments, see how far we are actuated by the same principle and the same motives. Those fathers of missionary labour of whom I speak, had but one great object in view-to spread the gospel of Christ among the heathen nations. They were animated by untiring zeal, by a righteous and hearty consecration of their whole spirit and energies to their work, and they were supported by the strong and undying faith they had in the glorious promises of their God. Let us look back to the example of Carey himself, when, in 1792, he was called from the humblest of occupations-called by the Spirit of God itself to originate his noble enterprise-we may regard him as the unquestionable father of the numerous Christian missions of this country. 3 D 2 When so called to his great work by God's Spirit, he said, "If it should please God to give me but twenty years more on earth, I trust I shall be enabled to give the blessed word of life to a million of heathens;" and when we regard the fact, that he was maintained for a space of not less than forty-two years in that field of godly labour, which he had, under God's blessing, opened for himself, and that before he died he had the satis faction of seeing, and of himself originating and carrying out, the translation of God's word to millions of the people of the East, I think we cannot but look upon this mission as the work of the Lord. And when we remember, that for many years the government systematically prohibited the preaching of the word to the nations of India; that, until the year 1807, the distribution of the scriptures, or of religious tracts, was prevented by law, and the preaching of the word restricted, except by their own ordained preachers,-and that, by an ordinance of the government, Carey was actually forbidden to set his foot on Indian ground-when we remember these things, and consider what, in spite of all this opposition, was done, who can fail to perceive the finger of God? Where was Carey all this time? All those present who are acquainted with the history of this mission, will, no doubt, find a ready answer to this question; but to those who are not, it may not be superfluous that I should state, that fourteen miles from Calcutta was a small settlement belonging to the Danish government, which has since been purchased for a trifling sum by this country, and that, in this little country, Carey found refuge and safety; and, though the demand was made, to their honour be it said, that the Danish government refused to give him up; their reply was, "He is a Danish subject while on Danish ground, and entitled to all the rights and immunities of Danish laws." And while we honour the spirit that promoted this decision, I ask, can we fail to trace the finger of God, which gave to the authorities in that settlement the courage to return such an answer, and thus to form, as it were, another land of Goshen, in the midst of that Egypt, for the father of our mission? And do allow me to say further, that these are essential reasons why we should now have recourse to first principles and the motives of our actions. I inust now refer, for a moment, to a subject I would rather not allude to, but which, not being mentioned in the Report of the Committee, I feel I ought, as one of your treasurers, to make some mention of, as many who are present will, I have no doubt, expect some information in reference to it. You are aware, my dear friends, that during the past year a discussion of somewhat a public character has been carried on in regard to some parts of the machinery of this Society; and, in speaking to this point, I must be allowed to make one remark, that is, when we are sometimes engaged in the discussion of matters of the machinery merely, let us not forget the principles of the Society, nor the overwhelmingly important objects it has in view. I for one would never desire to prevent the fullest and freest discussion on all subjects. It is necessary to the existence of our missions that we should stand well with our churches; and, unless we have their cooperation throughout the length and breadth of the land, which, after the blessing of God on our labours, is most essential, we cannot expect to prosper. If we are not animated by their prayers, supported by their exertions, and receiving their advice, what can we expect? Let it be understood, once for all, that your Committee are simply the representatives of your churches; and, unless they feel themselves to be such, and act in a corresponding spirit, they are not worthy of their position. I will now refer, for a moment, to the subject to which I have alluded, in order that it may not be referred to again. It did occur to the minds of some old and dear friends on the Committee, that, seeing the position in which the Society was placed in regard to holding its property in foreign lands, and in regard to the great expense which was occasioned by every change of trustees, a plan might be adopted, under which the Committee (who are annually elected) might be made the perpetual trustees of the Society. The question was brought under discussion, and was considered by the Committee; it was, however, never put by the chairman for the adoption or rejection of the Committee; but most of our brethren felt that, before deciding, they would desire to have the opinion of other friends of the denomination, and they found that many of the old friends of the Society considered such a plan undesirable. The Committee felt, therefore, that they had no other course to adopt than, rather than divide the Society, themselves put an end to the subject; and a resolution was unanimously passed, that it be not further entertained. At our meeting on Tuesday last, the subject was again considered; and I feel it my duty to convey to you the impression on my mind, that the way in which the subject was considered, was highly honourable to the Christian feeling of those who differed from each other, all of whom left the meeting bound and knit up together in feelings of Christian charity, brotherhood, and love. Now let me refer for a moment to another subject, which, since I have been connected with the Society, has pressed much on my attention. I feel that, somehow or other, we have not that amount of support from, and identification with, the different churches throughout the length and breadth of the land, which we ought to have. I believe that to be the fault, in a great mea sure, of the churches themselves. I think it might be entirely obviated by every Christian church determining that it would, under all circumstances, communicate, at least once in every two months, with some one missionary. That there should be an understanding—a routine laid down, as to the mode in which such communications should be kept up. That the church should communicate, in a letter of fraternal love, with the missionaries, assuring them of their fraternal love-of their sympathy, and their prayers. I am sure that our missionary labourers would receive such communications with heartfelt satisfaction, and that they would tend to elevate their spirits, keep alive their zeal, and make the churches themselves feel more identified with the missionary work; and what I feel to be of still greater value, it would support the sinking spirits of our friends abroad. I have conferred with many of our missionaries, and they have often told me that the greatest affliction they feel in their absence from their native land, is the want of such communications, and such assurances of sympathy and support, on the part of their Christian brethren at home. Let me refer to the letter of a dear friend of mine, connected not with us, but with the established church. Some friends at home had sent him four numbers of a religious periodical, and this act called forth the follow. ing letter from the absent missionary, dated September, 1848. "My dear Sir,-Pray tell me if you are the same anonymous benefactor who had time to think of and gladden me with the first four numbers. What a treat for a transport! Whosoever the unknown hand which posted that periodical for me in secret, the Lord will reward him openly; for truly he has refreshed my soul in the Lord. That publication has worked on my broken mind like a healing well on invalids. They go for a season to a cure place, to gather strength for the winter; my spirits, in perusing those pamphlets, got quite sprightly enough to stand the dreariness of years of banishment." I believe, also, dear friends, that a most valuable result would be obtained in the reflex influence such communications would have on the churches themselves. I believe that our funds would feel the benefit, and, for my part, I always feel that funds produced by free and spontaneous goodwill, are far more valuable than such as are obtained by appeals on the ground of our distressed position. If we had the sympathy, the hearty support and love, and the true Christian feeling of the various churches of the country with us, we should never want for funds. Let me refer to a letter from Carey himself to Dr. Ryland, as showing that the same feeling actuated him. Many persons were then urging that some of the missionary stations should be abandoned in consequence of the insufficiency of funds; and, in answer to a communication on this subject, Carey then writes, "Dear brother Ryland,-I entreat, I implore you not to think of the petty shopkeeping plan of lessening the number of the stations, so as to bring them within the bounds of your present income, the pressing demands that Providence is putting on but bend all your exertion and attention to meet us.-W. CAREY." "Don't fear the money," said Pearce to Carey, “God is for us, and the silver and the gold are his, and so are the hearts of all that have it. I will see the churches from Land's End to Orkney, and we shall get money enough." Now, let us strive to emulate the spirit of these the first founders of our mission. Let us be actuated by the same entire zeal, the same identification with the cause, the same hearty desire for the salvation of the heathen, and with the same strong feeling of the inestimable value of their immortal souls, and we shall have no occasion to say any thing to you as to the condition of our funds, nor will you have cause to regret the position of our Society. Before I sit down, I will refer, for a few moments, to the subject of Jamaica. I have felt, as I am sure you must all do, an intense interest in the position of the suffering church of that suffering country. You know all the circumstances that led us to feel that we were not justified in accepting the proposition which was made to us,-you know well, that, by diverting the funds to other purposes than those to which they were pledged, we should be inflicting a great injury on, and endanger the prosperity of, the Society. But it is the duty of the church, in connexion with the mission, without infringing on the general funds, to aid, in every possible way, their suffering brethren in Christ abroad. There is a most valuable institution in that island (Jamaica), whose object is to train up young men, and qualify them for the ministry; and last night only I received a letter from Joshua Tinson, dated Rio Bueno, Jamaica. He says: "The students are well, and, if I mistake not, progressing in piety, while they continue cheerfully and successfully to pursue their studies. That we can find young black and coloured men in our their studying for the ministry, is no longer a matter churches, of sufficient capacity and religion to justify for inquiry. The question now is-Shall such enjoy, by the continuance of this Institution, those adgent and respectable teachers of their fellow-men; or shall this work cease, for the want of two or three hundred a-year? I am quite aware that it may be said, perhaps many say, The Institution churches in Jamaica; England has enough to do, should be sustained, but it ought to be done by the claims are coming from all quarters. India, Africa, China, France, Canada, and elsewhere, besides the and increasing societies, political, civil, and relicontinual demands for carrying on the increased gious, in the parent land. All this I fully admit, but the admission effects nothing-our churches cannot do what they did formerly. The people have not only many new demands for their money, but it is indeed little they get. The pay for ablebodied men varies from 18. 3d. to 9d. a-day, in some places only 6d.; and for that they have often to wait for weeks, then get paid in dribblets, and, not unfrequently, are never paid; and if we get no help out of Jamaica, we must give up, even with our vantages that shall enable them to become intelli had a horror of it, and now I fear it more than ever, as I see its crushing, withering influence on some of my brethren. Myself, I ask nothing; I want nothing; I have bread enough, and sometimes a mouthful to spare for the poor and destitute around me. And though, by the time I have met the necessary expenses of this establishment (expenses much larger than I should ever dream of incurring, were it not for the position I am in), paid its taxes out of my own salary, with occasional doctor's bills,-I find a cause for gratitude in my wife's economy, that makes my homie happy, and keeps me out of debt. It is true that my death would leave her and my child utterly destitute; but we can leave the future in the hand of God. We have no concern about riches, seeing that God does not give us power to get wealth. For the Institution I do feel intensely, it has my unceasing solicitude and labour; and, though I know not what sort of a beggar I should make for myself, for the College I can do and beg. "Your obliged and grateful friend in the gospel of Christ, "S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P." "JOSHUA TINSON. I am sure you will say with me, that this must not be allowed to continue. Through our instrumentality, and under God's blessing, the church has been established in Jamaica, and, as will be seen by the Report, in the state of prosperity in which it now is. What I ask of you is, to bear in mind, as far as you can, and as far as you have the opportunity, to minister to their necessities, and aid their schools, and especially aid this valuable Institution in sending among them intelligent and able ministers of their own country. I feel that I have detained you too long, but I trust you will allow the importance of the subject to be my apology. That So present limited number of students. As I have tal; but this could not be the case with this said before, into debt I cannot go. I have always Society. The cause of Christianity was unchanging and undying. It had remained the same amid revolutions of literature, of science, of arts, and amid the destruction of the strongest governments of the most powerful nations of the world: he could not, therefore, for a moment conceive but that this Society, based as it was on Christian principle, must go on to the end conquering and to conquer. Christianity might not be in course of advancement for a time; but if so, it would be like the mighty flood, which, though impeded for a brief space, would ere long force down all barriers, and spread forth with force irresistible, in spite of all impediments. He believed that although a dark cloud might rest upon their Society, yet the obstacles with which they were met would only be transient and temporary, they would soon be dissipated -the cloud would disperse, and the Society would prosper, so that they would have two missionaries where they had now only one, who would go among the people preaching the unsearchable love of Christ. ciety, originated by their now sainted fathers and friends, whose memory was ever fragrant, and who were now looking down from heaven, watching the manner in which they were promoting its object-that Society must never be permitted to stop in its onward progress. Many of the best and choicest spirits in their church had gone to a labour of love among the heathen. Many of them had only gone out to find a speedy grave. Many had gone to spend the future of their life in His cause, and had been called upon to leave their bones in the soil. Many had spent their early youth, and the strength of their manhood, in a far country, and had been permitted to return to their native home with shattered health. Yates slept beneath the deep, and Knibb was lamented by ten thousand of the Africans in the West Indies. There was not a mission where some of their fathers or their brothers had not been interred, around whose tombs thousands would gather to bless their memories, and pray for the love of the God of the missionary. Women-kind and gentle women, too, had gone forth with their husbands to minister in heathen places. Many of them had expected to find a home, where they and their husbands had only found a grave. Others had been permitted to return to their native land, but it was only as widows, with fatherless children claiming and obtaining the sympathies of all Christians. Were those holy men, and those kind and gentle women, to be withdrawn from their labours in God's holy cause? No. If their Society were to fail, it never could be in London, whose merchants were as princes in the earth. It could not be that their Society had failed to interest the public mind from their want of success. Hitherto every report had been a triumph. The seed had been The Report, a copy of which appeared in our last, was then read by the Rev. J. ANGUS. The Rev. NATHANIEL HAYCROFT, M.A., of Bristol, moved the first resolution, to the following effect: That this meeting fully recognizes the duty and privilege of Christians to employ all scriptural means for the diffusion of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world; and hails, with thankfulness to the God of all grace, the labours and success of the Baptist Missionary Society and of kindred insti tutions. It seemed that, during the past year, the expenditure of the Society had exceeded by £3800 its income, and that there was a previous debt, still unpaid, of about £1100, leaving a balance of £4900. This was a painful circumstance in the Society's history, and one that demanded a careful and attentive regard, as to the causes which they might conceive had contributed to so painful and lamentable a result. It could not be that there was any thing in their objects or operations which indicated approaching feebleness or old age, or that such a work was likely ever to die. He had heard it said by physicians, that when a man had continued in robust health until he arrived at fifty or sixty years of age, about that period he might expect a rap-a memento that he was mor |