Our friends will remember the death of the devoted agent of the Society, Thomas Thompson. The church of which he was a member sometime ago resolved to erect a stone to his memory, and it was forwarded in January last by the "Robert Heddle." The following is the inscription, to which we are requested to give insertion : En Memory of A LABORIOUS AND FAITHFUL AGENT OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. AFTER A SHORT AND PROMISING CAREER, AT BASSIPU, FERNANDO PO, MARCH 13, 1846, AGED 27 YEARS, DEEPLY LAMENTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM. THIS STONE WAS ERECTED BY THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF WHICH HE WAS A MEMBER, AT NEWCASTLE ON TYNE, ENGLAND. HOME PROCEEDINGS. APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARIES. We have the pleasure of announcing that the Rev. FREDERICK TRESTRAIL and EDWARD BEAN UNDERHILL, Esq., who were selected to fill the office of Secretaries, have acceded to the request of the Committee. Mr. TRESTRAIL will enter upon the duties of the office on the 1st of September, and Mr. UNDERHILL on the 1st of October. It cannot be necessary to recommend these brethren in their new and important engagements to the prayerful remembrance of our friends. It is expected that when the arrangements contemplated by the Committee are completed, the appointment of two Secretaries will not increase the expenditure incurred for Home Agency. MISSIONARY MUSEUM. All persons who have taken any considerable interest in the juvenile department of our Mission must have felt the want of a Museum from which they could obtain objects of curiosity to illustrate their addresses, and this is now greatly felt by our young men who are trying to deepen and perpetuate the interest of Sunday school children and others in the missionary work. It is with pleasure we are able to state that the Committee of the "Young Men's Missionary Association" have commenced a Museum, and that a room has been set apart in the Mission House for the reception of donations, all of which will become the property of the Baptist Missionary Society; and we earnestly appeal to our friends throughout the country who may have rejected idols, and objects of curiosity, kindly to send them to the Mission House, as they will prove essentially useful in interesting our young friends at their juvenile meetings. All such donations, addressed to the Mission House, Moorgate Street, for the Museum, will be duly acknowledged in the Missionary Herald. We have been requested to announce, that the "Young Men's Association" have applied to each missionary to furnish them, through the Secretaries, with an account of the schools under his superintendence, its description and character, the average number under instruction, the expense attending it, and the degree of support which can be obtained on the spot. Communications, in reference to the "Young Men's Association," to be addressed to the Secretary of the Association, Mr. J. E. Tresidder, 33, Moorgate Street. We hope that these efforts will have the effect of increasing the general funds of the Society, as well as of aiding any specific departments of labour in which our young friends take peculiar interest. It is respectfully requested that where it is practicable the friends in the country ordering Missionary Cards, &c., will at the same time kindly mention the name of a country bookseller, and his London agent, through whom the parcels may be sent, or such other mode of transmission as may most economise the funds of the Society. ............... Newbegin, W....May 9. .April 5, May 4, 14 & 25. Vitou, M.......... April 5. .Smylie, H.........May 21. ........BROWN's Town.... MOUNT HERMON .........Hume, J. .........June 19. .Day, D........... June 20. STURGE TOWN........ ....Hodges, S.........June 29. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The thanks of the Committee are presented to the following— Friends at Hanley, for a box of clothing and useful articles, for Rev. J. Merrick, Bimbia; Mr. F. Nicholson, for a parcel of the "Patriot;" Ladies at Camberwell, by Mrs. Harwood, for a case of clothing and useful articles, for Rev. Dr. Davies, Montreal; British and Foreign School Society, for a case of school materials, for Rev. J. Hume, Jamaica; Mrs. Meacher, Hackney, for four volumes of the "Baptist Magazine," for Rev. J. Merrick, Bimbia; Mr. Monk, Finsbury, for a parcel of the "Missionary Herald," for Rev. W. K. Rycroft, Grand Cay. As our friend, Mr. Neal of Liverpool, has for the present left that town, parcels for Africa must no longer be sent to his address there. Mr. C. Bezer, Long Room, Customs, Liverpool, has kindly engaged to take charge of letters; but parcels must. be sent to the Mission House, London. CONTRIBUTIONS, Received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, during the month Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by William Brodie Gurney, Esq., and Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., M.P., Treasurers, or the Rev. Frederick Trestrail and Edward Bean Underhill, Esq., Secretaries, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street, LONDON: in EDINBURGH, by the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Jonathan Watson, and John Macandrew, Esq.; in GLASGOw, by Robert Kettle, Esq.; in DUBLIN, by John Purser, Esq., Rathmines Castle; in CALCUTTA, by the Rev. James Thomas, Baptist Mission Press; and at NEW YORK, United States, by W. Colgate, Esq. Contributions can also be paid in at the Bank of England to the account of " W. B. Gurney and others." THE WORST IS OVER. AN old proverb says, "It is a long lane which has no turning." Ireland's wants and woes, indeed her whole condition, social, political, and religious, seemed stretched out interminably, without hope of change. It was a dark and dreary path, stretching out as far as the eye could reach, without relief; and movement along with it seemed a perpetual progress downward, into yet lower depths of misery and woe! And there was evidence enough to show that for many years the Irish, of all classes, had been sinking. The case seemed almost hopeless. Despair sat brooding on the people; and those who felt it to be a duty to lend a helping hand, were smitten by the same spirit. Even Christian persons, full of the missionary spirit, strong in their reliance on the Divine promise, and earnest in their belief of the ultimate triumph of the gospel, sometimes looked on Ireland as an exception to the general law. Under these circumstances it was scarcely to be expected that the churches would support the mission with great liberality or zeal. Hence its recent history has been full of difficulty, pecuniary embarrassment, and inadequate means and effort. Even prayer was but feebly and scantily poured forth! It was hoping against hope. The success which attended the agency employed was so comparatively small, as scarcely to throw a gleam of light across the dark and dismal scene. Such was the general aspect of things till within a recent period. Then the Almighty appeared. His dispensations, at first, were overwhelming. Nothing but ruin seemed nigh. It was feared too, that even this country would be dragged down into the same gulph. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation." The famine swept down tens of thousands, and many more fled in terror to distant shores. The hearts of the British people were touched with deep compassion, and they displayed it nobly, and the Irish were amazed at their liberality. Then came evidence of a change in the feelings and habits of the people. Missionaries were not slow to perceive it, and redoubled their exertions. The legislature set about their work in earnestness. Events compelled them, at last, to do something right. The spring opened with promise, and as the season advanced hope once more sprung up. The Queen determined to visit her Irish subjects. Every where she was received with an enthusiasm stronger and more intense than the most sanguine ventured to hope for. Both the people and their sovereign fairly captivated each other. And when on leaving the Irish capital, the monarch standing on the paddle-box of her yatch, threw aside, for a few moments, in sympathy with the people whose loyalty and affection broke over all bounds, the rigid etiquette of royalty, and waved her handkerchief to the shouting multitude, it was plain that the union would henceforth be not a mere name, but a fact. Confidence will now take the place of distrust. Enterprise will begin. Capital will flow in, and mines, factories, and rails, will soon spring up. Agriculturists, competent to manage farms will find their way into the heart of the country. Her bogs will be reclaimed, and their hidden treasures brought to light. Cultivation will creep up the mountain side. Employment will become plentiful, and industry mark the people. We have got to the turning of the long dark lane. Hand in hand with these will march the truth, which has hitherto but pioneered the way; and popery, gradually losing its hold, will no longer cover the land with ignorance, indolence, and vice. A people who read their bibles, do not leave their lands a waste. Let us then be up and doing. Let our friends afresh give themselves to action and prayer. If they regard events in their proper light, they will find a new stimulus in the thought, that the worst is over. |