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the past year; and the Committee earnestly prayed for public support, that they might both be enabled to liquidate a debt of 250l. under which they laboured, and be capacitated for greater exertions in the cause.

A liberal collection was received.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Anniversary of this Society, commenced as usual at Surrey Chapel, on Wednesday morning, May 13, when an excellent and appropriate Sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Wardlaw, of Glasgow, from Acts, xvii. 16. In the evening, the Rev. W. Cooper, of Dublin, preached at the Tabernacle, Finsbury, from Isaiah, lxii. 6, 7; and on account of the numbers who could not gain admittance, the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, of Hull, preached at Albion Chapel, Moorfields. Several other Ministers assisted in the devotional services at both places.

On Thursday morning, this Society met for business at Spafields Chapel, when the meeting was opened by singing and prayer: the report, (in an abridged form,) was read by the Rev. G. Burder, the Secretary, assisted by his son, the Rev. H. F. Burder, of Hackney. The various motions were moved and seconded by the Rev. Dr. Bogue, Rev. Mr. Wardlaw, Rev. Dr. Henderson, Rev. Messrs. Bunting, Eccles, Berry, Philip; and J. Wilks, and R. H. Marten, Esqrs.

Friday morning, another sermon was preached for the Society, by the Rev. Dr. Holloway, at St. Bride's Church; and in the evening, the Lord's Supper was administered to the friends of the Society, (being members of churches,) at Sion, Silver-street, and Orange-street chapels.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

ON Thursday, the 14th of May, was held, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, the Nineteenth Anniversary of the above Institution; and such is the deep interest which continues to be taken in the proceedings of this Society, that, although it was held at the early hour of six in the morning, to avoid interfering with the Missionary Meetings, upwards of a thousand persons, of various denominations, were present.

It appeared from the Report, that during the past year the Committee have augmented the list of the Society's publications, in various forms, by the addi

tion of sixteen Tracts; one of which, "Reflections on the Death of the late much lamented Princess Charlotte," has met with such an extraordinary sale, that in the short period of four months, nearly forty thousand copies have been disposed of. The total number of Tracts issued since the institution of this Society, including the last year, exceeds three millions and a half. By reducing the price of which to hawkers, who vend them throughout the country, and by gratuitous votes of Tracts for special purposes, the Society has expended nearly seven hundred pounds.

In addition to various grants of religious Tracts, for distribution in foreign countries, extending even to India and New South Wales, the Committee have afforded pecuniary aid to a considerable amount, to encourage the formation, and to aid the progress of Religious Tract Societies upon the continent, which has enabled them to print and circulate a very considerable number of Tracts in various languages; and the Committee have had the happiness to learn, that very beneficial results have, through the blessing of God, been thereby produced, in exciting among the readers an increased attention to their most important interests, and several instances are already known, wherein satisfactory evidence has been given of real conversion.

Among the foreign societies, aided by the funds of this Institution, that, recently established for Finland, at the city of Abo, is not the least interesting. It has been formed under the immediate patronage of the Archbishop, and has a very extensive field for its operations among a people, who are anxious to procure such books as may improve the mind. Another striking feature in the Report, is, the facilities afforded through the medium of this Society, for bringing the important truths of Christianity under the consideration of the Chinese. It appears, that previous to the death of the late Rev. J. C. Supper, of Batavia, he had established among the Chinese colonists in that city, a reading society, consisting of sixty per sons, who were supplied monthly with sixty religious Tracts in their own language, which had been printed at Malacça, with the aid of the Religious Tract Society, by the Rev. W. Milne. These Tracts, when read, were circulated among their respective friends; and, from the continued intercourse be. tween the Chinese colonists and their native country, and the opportunities embraced by the Missionaries of dis tributing the Tracts on board Chinese

trading vessels, there is no doubt, that many of them would reach the inhabitants of that empire, whose barriers exclude the personal intercourse of Europeans.

In this vast field of the Society's operations, they have been much restricted by the limited extent of its funds, notwithstanding which, much good has been effected; and, we trust, that the religious public will, with their accustomed liberality, enable the Committee to prosecute their object with greater vigour, in order to excite throughout the earth, a desire to attain to scriptural knowledge, whereby alone its inhabi- | tants can be made wise unto salvation. Several motions, expressive of the satisfaction felt by the Society, and of its gratitude to God, for its increasing and beneficial operations, were made and seconded by clergymen and gentlemen of the Established Church, and of other denominations of Christians; and the Meeting appeared to be highly gratified in passing a resolution, recommending to the Committee, to endeavour to procure the formation of Auxiliary Societies in the principal towns throughout the kingdom.

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

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On Friday morning, May 15, the Annual Meeting of this Society, was held in the City of London Tavern. Samuel Mills, Esq. Treasurer, in the chair. The Report was read, by which it peared, that, notwithstanding the deficiency in the Society's funds, there had been an increase in the schools under their care, of 45, and of scholars 4,740, since the last year, making the whole, at the present time, 592 schools, and 32,516 scholars.

Subscriptions and Donations for the above Institution, are received by the following Bankers: In Dublin, 'The Hon. David La Touche and Co.; Messrs. Robert Shaw and Co.; and James Ferrier, Esq.-In Belfast, by Messrs. Gordon, Batt, and Co.-By the Agent of the So. ciety, Mr. Albert Blest, Sligo.-In London, by Messrs. Hankey and Co. Fenchurch-street; and by the Treasurer, Samuel Mills, Esq. Finsbury-place.

PROTESTANT SOCIETY, For the Protection of Britisk Liberty.

RECOLLECTIONS of the interesting - proceedings at the former Annual Meet

ings of this Society, induced a very numerous and respectable assembly to throng, on this Anniversary, to the capacious room of the Albion Tavern, on Sa turday, May 16, 1818, at an early hour. The assembly included persons of considerable influence, from Ireland and Scotland, as well as from England and Wales; and more than one hundred ministers, of different denominations, concurred to evince their common interest in the maintenance of the rights of conscience, which that Institution was established to protect. The promised attendance of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, increased also, to an uncommon degree, the usual solicitude to be present on that occasion.

The Treasurer consented to preside until the Royal Chairman should arrive. Thomas Pellet, Esq. one of the Secretaries, gratified the Meeting by the pe rusal of the Minutes of the Committee during the last year, and thereby apprized the Meeting of the numerous and recent objects to which their attention had been required.

His Royal Highness then appeared, and was received with those spontaneous and cordial acclamations which rank alone could not extort, but which were given as proofs of sincere gratitude, and of unfeigned approbation, for the liberality which his attendance displayed.

After the Report was read by Mr. John Wilks, the following Resolutions were then successively proposed, and unanimously adopted:

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1. That this Meeting, including members of the Established Church, Dissenters, and Methodists, mindful of the past and valuable labours of this Society, cannot but regret that in this country, and at this period, during the last year, so many circumstances, and especially the continued violations of the rights of Dissenters, as to the burial of the dead, as to their exemption from tolls-as to the freedom of their meeting-houses, when unproductive of profit from rates for the poor-as to the registration of their places of religious worship—and as to their meetings for such worship unmolested by disturbances and outragehave so repeatedly demonstrated its utility by demanding its interposition.

2. That the attention of the Society to legislative proceedings in Parliament,appears to this Meeting peculiarly important, and that they rejoice that by their interference a provision has been inserted in the new "Act for the amendment of the Laws for the relief of the Poor," that the children of the poor, who are compelled to solicit parochial assistance,

are "to be at liberty, without impedi- | ment, to attend divine worship, on Sundays with their parents or relations," and shall not therefore be made unwil ling proselytes to the Established Church. And they especially rejoice, at such interference, as they learn that, by the prohibition of the attendance of Dissenters and Methodists, when compelled by unmerited misfortune to inhabit workhouses, at those places of worship which they prefer, even parochial relief has been perverted to an instrument of persecution.

3. That the regard manifested by the Society to the interest of a Dissenting academy, in Yorkshire, receives from this Meeting a cordial approval, and that they invite their Committee not to relax their exertions, to procure for those useful institutions relief from all avoidable taxation.

4. That the liberality of this Society, in conferring its assistance on persons of every denomination, and even on those resident in Scotland, enhances its excellence in the estimation of this Meeting, and entitles it to proportionate and universal support.

5. That such support this Meeting would additionally recommend and intreat, as without affecting to entertain needless alarms, or excite among their friends unusual apprehension; they conceive that the appearance of affairs, and various measures recently adopted, require that all the real friends to religious freedom should be vigilant and firm, and should concentrate their ener-gies in an institution which may give to those energies importance and effect.

6. That this Meeting learn, with satisfaction, that some County Associations have publicly expressed their attachment to this Society, and would anxiously exhort every County Association, of all denominations, to urge their members to remit an annual contribution, and to preserve among their people an attachment to those right principles, as to religions freedom, by which real piety will be prompted, and the final and beneficent triumph of such principles will be ensured. 7. That notwithstanding the regret of this Meeting at the inadequate funds of this Society, and that the annual receipts yet remain unequal to the expense, they decidedly and confidently rely upon their congregations for extended aid, and concur with the request made to the Committee by the gentlemen who originated, in London, the Tricentennial Commemoration of the glorious Reformation, that this Society should extend its protection to ALL Protestants suffering for

conscience' sake, by affording to them all the benefits which British correspondence, advice, co-operation, and assistance can supply.

8. That, whilst this Meeting congratu lates with pleasure the congregations in the rural parishes of Pailton, in Warwickshire, Tisbury, in the county of Wilts, and in the town of Devizes, on the success which has hitherto attended the efforts of the Society, on their behalf, to protect them from poor-rates, riots, and tolls, they must also acknowledge, with satisfaction, the intelligence, the zeal, the liberality, and the perseverance, worthy of men succeeding to the ancient Puritans, with which those congregations have afforded to the Committee their co-operation and assistance.

9. That this Meeting cordially present their thanks to the Committee, for the past year, for the prudence, but firmness, for the activity, but caution, with which they have most beneficially conducted their affairs, and that the Committee, for the ensuing year, consist, with the Treasurer and Secretaries, of the following ministers and laymen in equal proportion: Rev. J. Brooksbank, D. Allan, Dr. Collyer, G. Collison, F. A. Cox, T. Cloutt, R. Fletcher, R. Hill, T. Jackson, Dr. Newman, W. F. Platt, Dr. Tracey, J. Townsend Mat. Wilks, Mark Wilks,

W. Bateman,
J. B. Brown,
Jas. Emerson,
Jas. Esdaile,
Col. Handfield,
T. Hayter,
J. McKenzie,
J. O. Oldham,
Jas. Pritt,
W. Townsend,
T. Wontner,
T. Walker,
Jas. Young, Esqs.

10. That with equal satisfaction they renew their thanks to Robert Steven, Esq. their Treasurer, for his continued attention to the welfare of this Society, as well as for his endeavours to diminish the abuses in the Charter Schools in Ireland, and to promote, in that country, the diffusion of knowledge and the ultimate triumph of liberty and truth.

11. That to Thomas Pellatt, Esq. and John Wilks, Esq. their Secretaries, they also again offer those sincere acknowledgments, which their persevering, gratuitous, indefatigable, and useful exertions, abundantly deserve, and accompany their thanks, with their solicitations for their continued assistance, in the situa tions they so honourably occupy.

12. But that this Meeting cannot adequately express their gratitude and es teem, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, for presiding upon this occasion, where no political interest could induce such kindness, nor any general popula

rity reward such condescension; but that this Meeting derive peculiar pleasure from the demonstration which he has thereby additionally afforded, that the attachment of Protestant Dissenters to his illustrious house has not been forgotten, and that the sacred principles of religious liberty are dear to his heart.

BAPTIST CASE SOCIETY.

Ir was the commission of our Lord to his apostles, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature;" and to this was added the gracious promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world!" In obedience to this command, and depending on this promise, many of our brethren have gone into the villages and hamlets of our country, to make known the glad tidings of salvation. It is gratifying to find, that by these means, numbers have been brought from the ways of sin and folly, to serve the living and true God. In most of these instances, they have been the poor of this world, who have received the words of eternal life, and are unable, of themselves, to erect houses for the worship of God, in which his word and ordinances may be statedly administered.

In the year 1784, a Society was formed in London, to afford pecuniary aid in such cases, designated "The Society for assisting poor Baptist Churches in the Country, in building and repairing Meeting-houses." And, in proportion, as the Gospel has been extended, the applica. tions to this Society have increased.At the last general Meeting of the Society, it was resolved, that a Committee be appointed, to consider whether any plan can be adopted for the regulation of Country Cases, so as to do away the evil arising from their being collected upon, without previous examination. Their report will be laid before a general Meeting, on Friday evening, June 5, at the Committee Rooms, 22, Paternoster-row, at 6 o'clock precisely, when the attendance of the ministers, and all persons disposed to promote this object, is earnestly requested.

Seeking mutually to benefit those who give, by regulating and securing the application of their benevolence, and the churches which collect, by introducing their cases, properly recommended to the religious public; their only aim being the welfare of the interest at large, they confidently anticipate more general cooperation, as the necessity and nature of the Society are more publicly known.

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HANTS AND WILTS.

On March 25, the Hants and Wilts Association, in aid of the Baptist Mission, held their first meeting, for the year, at Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Mr. Bulgin preached in the morning, on Peace, from Gal. v. 22. The afternoon was occupied in business. Two sermons were preached in the evening, one by Mr. Millard, from 1 John, ii. 1, and the other by Mr. Saffery, from Matt. xiii. 36-43. Mr. Hawkins preached on the preceding evening, from Heb. xiii. 8.The devotional parts of the services were conducted by the brethren, Bruce, Millard, Dore, Read, Hawkins, Saffery, Potts, and Tyreman.

The next Association will be at Lymington, July 22. Mr. Owers is appointed to preach in the morning on Longsuffering as a Fruit of the Spirit; and Mr. Hawkins in the evening. Mr. Miall is expected to preach on the previous evening.

-SHROPSHIRE.

The quarterly meeting of the ministers of the Shropshire Association was held at

Whitchurch, December 24 and 25, 1817. |
On Wednesday evening, Mr. Palmer
preached from Matthew, xvii. 27; and
on Thursday morning, from John, xvii. 4.
In the afternoon, Mr. Phillips preached,
from 1 John, i. 3; and in the evening,
Mr. Davies preached, from Psalm iv. 6,
and Mr. Cooke from 1 Tim. i. 11. A
collection was made for the Itinerant
Fund, which has improved lately. It
appears also, from accounts given at this
meeting, that twenty-one persons, for-
merly members of the church at Shrews-
bury, under the care of Mr. Palmer,
have lately received their dismission, to
form a church at Ministerly, and have
called Mr. Mayberry, the Itinerant, to
be their pastor. There is also the pros-
pect of a small church being formed at
the Rolla, where Mr. Thomas regularly
preaches. At Drayton, where, on the
22d, two deacons, were ordained by
prayer offered by Mr. Hinmers, with
imposition of hands; Mr. Palmer having
delivered suitable addresses to the bre-
thren, the deacons and congregation,
from 1 Cor. xiv. 40, and xvi. 14. There
being twenty-seven persons members of
the church at Whitchurch, it is expected
a church will soon be formed.

ducted by Messrs. Manning, of Spald. wick; Ragsdell, of Thrapston; Simmons, of Olney; Brown, of Keysoe; Anthony, of Bedford; and Whittenbury, of Daventry.

OSWESTRY.

ON Thursday, Nov. 27, 1817, Mr. Thomas Cooke was ordained pastor of the Baptist church, Oswestry, Shrop shire. Mr. Jones, of Newtown, began the services by reading suitable portions of scripture and prayer. Mr. Palmer delivered an introductory discourse on the nature of a Christian church, asked the questions relative to the present settlement, and received, from Mr. Cooke, a full and satisfactory account of his experience, his motives in devoting himself to the work of God, and the doctrines which were to be the subject of his ministry. He, and two deacons, were then solemnly ordained by prayer, offered by Mr. Palmer, with imposition of hands. Mr. Birt, of Birmingham, formerly Mr. Cooke's pastor, delivered the charge, from 2 Tim. ii. 7. Mr. Hinmers addressed the church, from 1 Cor. xvi. 10. In the evening, Mr. Palmer preached from Rom. xii. 1, and Mr. Jones from 1 Cor. i. 21. On the preceding evening, Mr. Birt preached from 1 Pet. i. 19.

WILTS AND SOMERSET. THE twenty-fourth meeting of the There has been a considerable revival Wilts and Somerset Association, for the in the church and congregation, since encouragement and support of Village Mr. Cooke came amongst them. A SunPreaching, was holden at Calne, March 25, 1818, when Mr. Porter, of Bath, day school has been established, which is in a prosperous state. A penny.apreached in the morning; Mr. James, of week society, in aid of the Baptist MisDevizes, in the afternoon; and Mr.sion, has been formed, and preaching in Edminson, of Bratton, in the evening. The next meeting will be at Melksham, on the second Tuesday in October; Mr. Saunders, of Frome, to preach.

ORDINATIONS.

KIMBOLTON.

ON Wednesday, March 25, the Rev. . J. Hemming, A. M. was publicly recognized as pastor of the church at Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire. Mr. Hall, of Kettering, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions; Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Waters, of Pershore, delivered the charge to the pastor; and Mr. Moule, of St. Neot's, addressed the church and congregation. Mr. Hillyard preached in the evening. The devotional parts of the services were con

the villages is well attended, so that the pleasing. May, what the Lord hath re prospects of usefulness, at present, are cently done for this people, be a pledge of greater good, that they may continue abundantly to enjoy and hold forth to all around, the word of eternal life.

MILE TOWN.

Mr. William Mills, late member of the Baptist Church, at Woolwich, under the pastoral care of Mr. Adam Freeman, and formerly pastor of the church at Smarden, was ordained over the particular Baptist church, Mile Town, Sheerness, on Wednesday, September 24. Mr. Newman, of Feversham, preached from Psalm, lxxiv. 22, In the evening, at 6 o'clock, Mr. Tirrey, of Queenborough, began by reading and prayer,; Rogers, of Eynsford, asked the usual questions; Mr. Newman prayed. Mr.

Mr.

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