ANNIVERSARY SERVICES.

The Annual Meetings of the Society commenced, not as in the two preceding years, in unfavourable weather, for it was fine, and consequently the attendance was better, and the number of visitors from the country unusually large. The spirit which pervaded them was solemn and devout, and we have reason to know was gratifying to all our friends.

The series of meetings began with a Prayer Meeting on Thursday morning, April 18th. It was conducted by Mr. Bowes of Blandford Street, London, and all the missionary societies connected with the denomination were commended to the Divine blessing by the brethren EUSTACE CAREY, STEWART of Hull, SUTTON of Orissa, and J. ASHER, a coloured brother from Philadelphia, who engaged in prayer.

In the evening, after prayer by Rev. C. E. BIRT, M.A., of Wantage, the Rev. F. TUCKER, B.A., of Manchester, preached from the following passage of the first chapter of Deuteronomy, "Behold the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee, go up and possess it," from which the preacher took occasion to illustrate the field, the work, and the call to do it.

On Lord's day the 21st, Sermons were preached in behalf of the Mission in most of the Baptist chapels in and about London; and in several places special services were held for the young, at which there was a numerous attendance.

On Tuesday the Annual Meeting of the Members of the Society was held in the library of the Mission House. J. L. PHILLIPS, Esq., was called to preside. The Rev. FRED. TRESTRAIL gave out a hymn, and the Rev. C. J. MIDDLEDITCH of Frome engaged in prayer.

The minutes of the last General Meeting were then read and confirmed.

The Secretaries laid upon the table the Reports of the Committee and of the Treasurers for the year.

On the motion of Rev. Dr. Cox, seconded by Rev. SAMUEL BRAWN, resolved unanimously,-

That W. B. GURNEY, Esq., and S. M. PETO, Esq., M.P., be 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 Rev. R. RoFF, seconded by Rev. I. M. SOULE, resolved unanimously,

That the Rev. FREDERICK TRESTRAIL and E. B. UNDERHILL, Esq., be respectfully requested to continue their services as Secretaries.

On the motion of Rev. F. TRESTRAIL, seconded by Rev. S. GREEN, resolved,— That WILLIAM Bowser, Esq., CHARLES BURLS, Esq., and CHARLES JONES, Esq., be Auditors for the year ensuing.

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 year.

The Rev. W. ROBINSON laid upon the table the schedule and report of the Committee appointed to investigate the property of the Society, which being read, on the motion of T. BIGNOLD, Esq., seconded by the Rev. Dr. HOBY, it was unanimously resolved,—

That the Report and Schedule be received, and inscribed on the Minutes of this Meeting. On the motion of the Rev. J. H. HINTON, M.A., seconded by the Rev. JOSHUA RUSSELL, it was resolved,

That the Report be referred to the Committee of the Society, with a view to the adoption of its suggestions, so far as they may deem them practicable and expedient.

The Rev. J. P. MURSELL, on being called upon by the Chairman, moved the following resolution, which was seconded by the Rev. T. F. NEWMAN,—

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. On the motion of THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., seconded by THOMAS BIGNOLD, Esq., the previous question was put and carried.

The notice of motion given by the Rev. E. S. PRYCE being called for by the Chairman, it was moved by the Rev. G. H. DAVIS, and seconded by the Rev. Dr. Cox, and carried unanimously,

That the resolution, of which notice has been given by the Rev. E. S. PRYCE, be referred to the Committee of the Society, who shall report thereon at the next General Meeting.

The notice of motion given by the Rev. J. VENIMORE being called for by the Chairman, it was moved by the Rev. J. VENIMORE, and seconded by the Rev. T. A. WHEELER, and resolved unanimously,—

That it be referred to the Committee of the Society, to report thereon at the next General Meeting.

The Minutes of the Committee on the subject of a deputation to India having been read, with the resolution passed at the Quarterly Meeting of the Committee held April 17, 1850, it was moved by the Rev. J. ANGUS, and seconded by the Rev. J. D. EAST,

That this Meeting, having heard the resolutions of the Committee, to the effect that it is not only highly important, but indispensable to the welfare of the operations of the Society in the East, that a deputation of two friends should be sent from this country to visit the brethren at the various stations there, hereby expresses its concurrence in those resolutions, and its hope that the brethren named therein,--the Rev. J. H. HINTON, and EDWARD Bean UNDERHILL, Esq., may be able to accept this responsible and important service, assuring them in the event of their seeing it to be their duty to accept it, of its hearty sympathy and prayers.

The Rev. W. ROBINSON gave notice, that at the next General Meeting he should move the adoption of the following resolution :

That in the Rule for the choice of the Committee, all the words after the word "Ballot," be omitted, with the view to the adoption of a double ballot.

On Wednesday morning, in Bloomsbury Chapel, a very large congregation assembled. After reading the scriptures and prayer by the Rev. George Gould, of Norwich, the annual morning Sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST W. NOEL, A.M., founded on these words: "Them that honour me I will honour." Addressing his hearers as the disciples of Christ and officers of the various churches with which they were connected, he showed they might honour the triune God by giving to each of the Divine Persons the glory due to each for the work he performs for us-by giving glory to his word-by maintaining the discipline of his churches, and observing the ordinances as he has appointed them -by obedience in all things to his will-by being united and affectionate to each other, and brotherly towards Christians of other denominations-by promoting his cause, and labouring to convert sinners around us--by sending out the ablest men to the work of the ministry at home and abroad, and maintaining them in their work-and by abounding in prayer and praise. By thus honouring God, he will honour us by large answers to prayer-by the progress of our opinions in which we interpret his word more correctly than others-and by making use of us. The discourse was felt by all to be most appropriate both to the occasion and the preacher, and he has been respectfully requested to publish it, which he at once kindly consented to do. The proceedings at the Public Meeting at Exeter Hall have been already published in the Herald for May. The collections were better than for some years preceding, and we have reason to know the services throughout were animated, profitable, and encouraging.

REPORT.

In accordance with the annual custom of the Baptist Missionary Society, the Committee proceed to lay before the subscribers their report for the past year.

THE FIELD OF LABOUR.

The missionaries sustained by the Society labour in Asia, on the western coast of Africa, in France, and in the islands of the Western Sea. In Asia they encounter three great forms of religious error, the most powerful and extensive of all systems of religion-Brahminism and Mohammedanism in India-Buddhism in Ceylon. In degraded and enslaved Africa, Fetishism, with its charms, closes the heart against the truth of God among the native tribes, the Isubus, Duallas, and Fernandians. In Haiti, Trinidad, and Brittany, the perverted Christianity of the church of Rome is the prevailing belief of the people, mingled in the two first with the superstitions and fearfully licentious rites of African Obeahism and serpent worship-while in India, the practices of Rome are, to some extent, conformed to many of the usages of the heathen. In Ceylon, part of India, and the Bahamas, an additional hindrance to the progress of the gospel is found in the presence and active exertions of some of the clergy of the church of England, whose exclusive claims of apostolicity and assertion of the efficacy of the sacraments for salvation, carry the strifes and sectarianism of our native land to regions but at the best imperfectly imbued with Christian truth. At about one hundred and ninety-four stations and sub-stations, the gospel of Christ Jesus is regularly preached to many

thousands by the missionary brethren from week to week, while their itinerant labours extend to many hundreds of villages and towns, and the message of God is daily proclaimed to thousands more at fairs and at markets, by the road-side and at the nightly resting places.

THE LABOURERS.

The service of Christ is carried on in this extensive field by fiftythree brethren, with their wives, and nine females engaged in the special department of education. It has been, however, one of the blessed results of their toil, that from the midst of the converts there have been raised up by the grace of God, not less than 119 natives of the different lands where the gospel has been proclaimed by our brethren, to aid them in the further extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. And this is not the whole of the means that have been brought into operation; about 200 other Christian brethren gratuitously devote more or less of their time in making known the unsearchable riches of Christ. To these must be added thirty or more schoolmasters, in order to embrace in a brief view the whole of the Christian agency employed or set in motion by the Society.

The past year has witnessed several important changes in this department. Two highly valued brethren rest from their labours, having fallen asleep in Jesus. Mr. DAVIES of Ceylon, after five years only of successful toil, and Mr. MERRICK of Western Africa, after nine years of devoted service, are no more to be numbered among the missionary band. Sickness has borne heavily on the energies of others, and driven them to fairer climes. Captain and Mrs. MILBOURNE have returned to Jamaica, and Mr. and Mrs. YARNOLD have relinquished the work in Africa. And while we write two other highly esteemed and useful missionaries-the brethren MAKEPEACE of Saugor and DAWSON of Ceylon, overpowered by disease, are on their passage home. Mr. PHILLIPS of Muttra has for the present year undertaken to supply the station at Saugor; while the vacancies occasioned by the decease and return of the rest have not been filled up. The financial difficulties through which the Society has passed, have altogether forbidden not merely any extension of the field of labour, but even any attempt to repair the breaches which death and disease have made. One station, that of Patna, has been relinquished chiefly from the same cause, since on the cessation of Mr. BEDDY's connexion with the Society, it was found impracticable to maintain it. The station is not, however, without the services of a faithful minister of Christ of our denomination. It is supplied by a Christian brother supported by the Rev. William Start. From the same cause the missionaries have been compelled to withhold support from about twenty of their native helpers; so far weakening the mission in that most efficient and valuable branch.

Motives of economy, combined with the reduction in the number of the brethren labouring in Africa, and the increasing means of communication between the various parts of the coast, have led to the recall of the missionary ship Dove. The thanks of the Committee are justly due to the young friends who have so liberally and so long kept her afloat, and they are sure that although this object of their benevolent exertions is about to be removed, their interest in the work of missions will not diminish. Other channels of equal or greater importance, as for instance, the maintenance of