Thurs. 1st. Even.-At Half-past Six. Annual Sermon for The WESLEYAN MISSIONARY Society,' at the City Road Chapel, by the Rev. Dr. Clarke. Fri. 2d.-Morn.-At Eleven Annual Sermon for the same Society, at Great Queenstreet Chapel, by the Rev. W. Jay. Even.-At Half-past Six. Annual Sermon for the same Society, at the Southwark Mon. 5th.-Morn.-At Eleven. Annual Meeting of 'The WESLEYAN MISSIONARY Wed. 7th.-Morn.-At Eleven. Annual Meeting of The Brit. and For. BIelf. Society,' at Freemasons' Hall, Lord Teignmouth in the Chair. Even.-At Half-past Six. Annual Sermon for The PRAYER-BOOK and HOMILY Society,' at Christ Church, Newgate-street, by the Rev. H. Budd, M.A. Thurs. 8th.-Noon-Annual Meeting of the same Society, at Stationers' Hall, Lud gate-street. Same Hour.-Annual Meeting of The Merchant Seamen's BIBLE Society,' at the City of London Tavern, Admiral Lord Exmouth, G. C. B. in the Chair. : Even.-Half-past Six. Ann. Ser. for London Soe. for promoting CHRISTIANITY among the Jews,' at St. Paul's, Cov. Gard. by Rev. W. Thistlethwaite, M.A. Fri. 9th.-Morn.-At Eleven. Annual Meeting of the same Society at Freemasons' Hall, Sir T. Baring, Bart. in the Chair. Evening-At Seven. Annual Sermon for ، The Lond. Assoc. in aid of Moravian MISSIONS,' at St. Clement's Danes, by the Rev. T. Mortimer, M.A. Sat. 10th.-Noon-Annual Meeting of The HIBERNIAN Society,' at Freemasons' Hall, H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester in the Chair. Sund. 11th.-Morn.-Ann. Sermon for 'Female PENITENTIARY,' at St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, by Hon. and Rev. E. Turnour, A.M. Mon. 12th.-Noon-Annual Meeting of The London FEMALE PENITENTIARY,' at the Crown and Anchor, Strand. W. Wilberforce, Esq. in the Chair. Same Hour.-Ann. Meet. of The Port of London Soc. for promoting RELIGION among SEAMEN,' at City of London Tavern. Ad. Lord Gambier in the Chair. Same Hour.-Annual Meeting of The Brit. and For. SCHOOL Society,' at Freemasons' Hall. H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex in the Chair. Even.At Six. Annnal Meeting of ، The London ITINERANT Society, at the City of London Tavern, S. Robinson, Esq. in the Chair. Tues. 13th.-Morn.-At Six. Annual Breakfast of The Sunday SCHOOL UNION,' at the City of London Tavern. Chair at Seven. At Eleven, and Three-Two Annual Sermons for The Port of London Society,' on board the Floating Chapel, by Rev. G. Clayton, and J. Fletcher, of Stepney. At Twelve-Annual Meeting of The Naval and Military BIBLE Society,' at the King's Concert Room, Haymarket. At Six-Annual Meeting of The Irish EVANGELICAL Society,' at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate street, T. Walker, Esq. in the Chair. At Half-past Six-Annual Sermon for 'The CONTINENTAL Society,' at St. Ann's, Blackfriars, by the Rev. Dr. Williams, of Stroud. Fri. 16th.-Morn.-At Six. Annual Breakfast of 'The Religious TRACT Society,' at the City of London Tavern, J. Reyner, Esq. in the Chair. Afternoon.At One. Annual Meeting of ، The AFRICAN Institution, at the Free masons' Hall, H. R. H. the Duke of Gloucester in the Chair. Sat. 17th.-Morn.-At Eleven. Annual Meeting of The PROTESTANT Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty,' at the City of London Tavern. Mon. 19th.-Even.-At Six. Annual Sermon for The Home MISSIONARY Society,' at Salters' Hall Chapel, by the Rev. T. Adkins. Tues. 20th.-Morn.-At Eleven. Second Annual Sermon for the same Society at Craven Chapel, near Marlborough-st. by Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. Even.-At Six. Annual Meeting of the same Society, at Spa Fields Chapel, T. Walker, Esq. in the Chair. Wed. 21st.-Noon-Annual Meeting of The CONTINENTAL Society,' at Freemasons' Hall. Sir T. Baring, Bart. M. P. in the Chair. ، Tues. 27th.-At Half-past Six-Annual Meeting of The AGED PILGRIMS' Society,' at Eagle-street Meeting, Dr. Collyer in the Chair. FOR MAY 1823. ANNIVERSARY OF The London Missionary Society. THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE SERVICES AT THE NEXT ANNIVERSARY IS AS FOLLOWS :— WEDNESDAY, MAY 14. Morning, Surrey Chapel.-The Rev. JOHN LEIFCHILD, of Kensington, to preach Evening, Tabernacle.-The Rev. WILLIAM CHAPLIN, of Bishop Stortford, to preach. THURSDAY, MAY 15. Morning.-The Members of the Society will hold their Public Meeting, when the Report of the Directors will be read, and the general Business of the Institution transacted, at the Wesleyan Chapel, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The Children's Gallery will not be opened. Evening.-Tottenham Court Road Chapel.-The Rev. JOHN M‘DONALD, of Urquhart, Scotland, to preach. FRIDAY, MAY 16. Morning-Parish Church of St. Ann, Blackfriars.—The Rev. EDWIN SIDNEY, B.A. of Lopham, Norfolk, to preach. Afternoon.—The Members of the Society will meet for Business at the Committee Room, Sion Chapel, at Four o'clock. Evening. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be administered to those Members and Friends of the Society who are stated Communicants, and who produce Tickets, which may be obtained by application to their respective Ministers, viz. to preside. SION CHAPEL, Rev. Dr. Bogue, Ditto.-Spa Fields Chapel.-Rev. JOSEPH FLETCHER, A.M. of Stepney, to preach to the Members of Juvenile Auxiliary Missionary Societies (who are not Communicants, and therefore not necessarily present at the Sacramental Services). As the Young form the future hope of the Society, the Directors have thought it proper to appoint a Service specially for their encouragement. The Morning Services to begin at Half-past Ten, and the Evening Services at Six o'clock. WELSH SERVICES, On Thursday Evening, the 8th of May, the Rev. JOHN ELIAS, of Anglesea, will preach a Sermon in the Welsh Language, on behalf of this Society, at the Rev. A. FLETCHER'S, Albion Chapel, Moorfields. And on Friday Evening, the 9th of May, the Rev. W. WILLIAMS, of Wern, will preach in the same Language, for the Society, at the Rev. JOHN CLAYTON'S Chapel, Poultry. Both services to begin at Half-past Six o'clock. A Collection of Missionary Hymns, price Sixpence, may be had of the Publisher of this Magazine, and at the Doors of the Chapels. SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. WE have much pleasuse in presenting to the Members of the Society the two following Letters, which relate the circumstances of a most unexpected and providential opening of a new and extensive field of Missionary Operations in the SANDWICH ISLANDS; where the population is perhaps five times greater than that of the Society Islands. It has seldom, if ever, been our lot to introduce to our readers information of a more interesting nature; and, we doubt not, it will infuse new animation and zeal into the Meetings of the Society at their approaching Anniversary. Honarooroo, in Woahoo, one of the Sandwich Islands, near Owhyhee, 10th August, 1822. Reverend and Dear Sir,-IT is only a short time since we wrote to you from this place (May 8th), favoured by Mr. Ritchie, one of the owners, and supercargo of the ship Lady Blackwell, of Calcutta (Captain Hall), bound for Canton, after a short trip to the N. W. Coast of America.* In that letter we gave you an account of the unexpected and remarkable circumstances which had providentially opened our way, and, we may say, constrained us to visit these islands. The pleasing and prosperous circumstances of the missions in the Society Islands, were briefly noticed, though we had sent previous letters, in which those circumstances are more dwelt upon. Pomare's death, (he died at Tahiti two or three days after our last interview with him) we trust, will not occasion any harm to the cause of missions in these islands. His Britannic Majesty's cutter the Mermaid, from New Holland, called at Huaheine, in February 1822, where we had then been six or seven weeks. The cutter was on its way to the Sandwich Islands, to convey a schooner, as a present from George IV. to the king of those islands. Captain Kent offered a free passage to us, and a missionary, and a few natives, to the Sandwich Islands and to the Marquesas, at which he said he intended to touch on his return; and said he would bring us back to Huaheine. His obliging offer induced us to consider whether we ought not to avail ourselves of so favourable an opportunity to convey the Gospel to the Marquesas. Our friends, Barff and Ellis, who are filled with charming missionary zeal, tempered with prudence, highly approved of the opportunity being seized. We found also an extraordinary solicitude among the Christians of Huaheine, kings, chiefs, and people, to send that gospel, which had made themselves so happy, to their perishing heathen brethren in the Marquesun Islands. The church unanimously selected two of their deacons, and their wives, for this arduous engagement, who all accepted joyfully * This letter has not yet come to hand. the appointment, notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers connected with it; only expressing a fear, lest they should prove unequal to so great a work, and unworthy of so high an honour. Our missionary friends agreed also between themselves, that Mr. Ellis should lead these devoted servants of the cross, and assist in establishing them in their new situation. Under these circumstances, we could not hesitate as to the path of duty. Nor did the necessity we should be under, of going first to the Sandwich Islands, pain us; but we rather rejoiced in the prospect of seeing for ourselves the condition of those islanders, and the state of the American mission, which we learned had been established there. By the will of God, we had a prosperous voyage; and, after a month's sail, we came in sight of the islands. Our reception, by our brethren and sisters, the American missionaries, (as we mentioned in the letter of the 8th May,) was most affectionate. The brethren received us on the beach, and kindly constrained us to take up our abode in their missionary house; where, with much pleasure and edification, we have been domesti cated with the four families to the present time. Mr. Bingham and Mr. Thurston are preachers, Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Loomis are not. None of them have as yet begun to preach in the native language, but only in English, which, until Mr. Ellis came, was interpreted by two Owhyecan youths, who have been educated at the mission school in America. Besides these four families, there are two other missionary families, on the neighbouring island of Atooi; but neither Mr. Whitney nor Mr. Ruggles are preachers. The way was opened, for the admission of missionaries here, in a remarkable manner: Divine Providence having induced the king Rehoreho to cause the idols and morais of these islands to be destroyed, just before our friends came, and, in fact, while they were detained at sea by contrary winds. As their entrance upon the islands was providentially facilitated, so their esta blishment here is very comfortable. They This was done in consequence of what he had been informed had taken place in Otaheité, &c. have the approbation of the king and the principal chiefs; and have been used to have one service in the convenient chapel (which stands near the mission house) on Lord's Day, and one evening service in the course of the week. An unpleasant circumstance arose, which at once cut us off from all expectation of visiting the Marquesas, and placed at an indefinite distance our possible return to Huaheine. In this trial we had the kindest sympathy of our missionary friends; who, as well as ourselves, felt a persuasion that by-and-by light would shine out of darkness, and we should all perceive that some valuable end was to be answered by the gloomy providence and this persuasion has proved pleasingly correct. From our first reaching these islands, they appeared to us to present a missionary field, of the first magnitude, and of the greatest promise; and while lying at Owhyhee, before we saw our missionary friends here, we frequently said to each other," Would God, that missionaries were here, to speak to these people, of the wonderful works and the grace of Jehovah, in their own language!" Whilst we were at Owhyee, the chief of that fine island, and many others, greatly desired that the pious natives who had come with us, and Mr. Ellis, would remain in these islands," to teach them the Good Book, and all the good things which had been learned in the Society Islands." When we reached this island, many expressed the same wishes respecting Mr. Ellis and our Tahitian friends. But though our hearts yearned with compassion for this numerous, ignorant, and vicious people, yet these repeated requests were in no degree hearkened to, until the painful providence above referred to. While we were meditating, what could be intended by our way being so hedged up, as to prevent our visiting the Marquesas, and even our getting away from these islands, Auna (which is the name of one of the excellent deacons from Huaheine) and his wife, came up to us at the mission house, from the king and queen of Atooi, (with whom Auna and his wife have lived ever since they came to this island) with an earnest request from those important and influential personages. But before we proceed, perhaps it will be well to mention the singular providence which led to Auna's residence with them. When we landed at this island, while our missionary friends were requesting us, with our Tahitian companions, to take up our residence at the mission house, a respectable looking person was desiring our companions might go and reside with him, as they were his countrymen, having come from Tahiti some years ago. This was agreed to, and the deacons and their wives went with him. He introduced them into the house of the queen of Atooi; this person being her confidential attendant. Auna's wife soon dis-> covered, that this Tahitian was her own brother! who had left Tahiti when a boy, and they had not heard of him for nearly thirty years. This was pleasing to all parties; the queen desired they would be her guests, and, ever since, Auna and his wife have been teaching the queen's household, which is large, many useful things, and also praying with them, morning and evening. We now turn to the message which they brought to Mr. Ellis, and to us, from the king and queen of Atooi and many chiefs; which was, that Auna and his wife might stay here, and teach them and the people to read and to write, &c., and to worship Jehovah. Also, that Mr. Ellis would go, and fetch his wife and children, to settle here as a missionary, to teach them all good. things. We asked Auna if he and his wife were willing to stay in this place: he said, their hearts desired it, if it was right; and if their Ora madua, (pastor) Mr. Ellis, would settle here, then they should be glad; because the Lord had brought us here, and perhaps it was his will we should remain. When we had received this interesting communication, we could not refrain from admiring the wisdom of all the divine dispensations, and remembered the exhortation : Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, He hides a smiling face. We quickly invited our American brethren to a consultation. Auna related before them what he had previously told us, and we desired their sentiments freely; which, after exchanging a few words with Mr. Ellis, they gave. Our missionary friends unanimously declared their opinion, that the thing was from God; that, at present, there appeared a decisive indication, that Mr. Ellis and the Tahitians should enter this missionary field; and that if, after due deliberation, enquiry, and prayer, it should continue to appear so, they should rejoice to receive them as brethren. They had no doubt, but Mr. Exis's expe rience in missionary labours, among a people in many respects similar, and his acquaintance with the language, would prove a great blessing to all parties. This unanimous opinion of our friends, and Mr. Ellis's willingness to remove, notwithstanding his great usefulness at Huaheine, has left no choice The path appears quite plain; and, we may add, the king of Rehoreho and his favourite queen also desire Mr. Ellis to come. Our object now is to obtain the means of bring as ing Mr. Ellis and his family hither quickly as possible; for which purpose we shall endeavour to charter a vessel from this place, or from New Holland, as we may be able. HE, however, who has hitherto enabled us to commit our ways to him; who has so remarkably appointed our path, will, we trust, graciously continue to direct our steps. It is now two months since Mr. Ellis consented to settle here, in aid of the mission at this place, though of course at the expense and under the auspices of our Society. Since this determination, a very close attention has been paid to the language of Owhyee; and he now preaches in it with ease and fluency two or three times a week, to attentive and increasing congregations. Mr. Ellis has composed four hymns, in the Owhyeean language, which are sung in the chapel. You will hardly be able to conceive the delight we had in hearing these people, for the first time, uniting to sing the praises of Jehovah in their own tongue! A scene of great usefulness appears to be opening here. One, indeed, of greater interest and importance, than that which is presented by the Sandwich Islands, could scarcely be found. A group of twelve or thirteen fine fertile islands, in one of the most delightful climates perhaps any where to be met with, rising rapidly into consequence as places at which vessels may refresh, passing from the western side of the new world to the eastern parts of the old world, and as the port for repairs and refreshments to great numbers of Pacific Ocean whalers; having also a population of above 200,000 inhabitants, must have great importance as a missionary field. We made a tour round the greater part of this beautiful island, accompanied by our missionary friend, Mr. Bingham, and a messenger from the king; and were every where received with the greatest kindness, both by chiefs and people. While we deeply mourned over the deplorable state of ignorance, vice, and wretchedness, in which we found the people of all ranks, we could not but rejoice at the readiness we every where found to listen to the gospel, which was addressed to various assemblies; sometimes within a house, sometimes under a tree, or in the shade of a rock. We did not find any native who had the least notion who it was that made the sea, the sky, or themselves; but they all said, it was maitai (good) to learn these things, and to worship Jehovah; and that as soon as the king told them to do so, they would all come to learn. At one place (Uarua) we were kindly received and hospitably entertained by an intelligent chief, who was one of the principal priests of the abolished system. He made many en quiries about the nature of this new religion; and proposed some difficulties for solution. Among other questions, he asked whether Jehovah could understand, if they prayed to him in Owhyeean, or whether they must all learn English! When he had received answers which appeared to satisfy him, he said it was maitai, (good) and he was ready to receive instruction and to worship Jehovah, as soon as Rehoreko (the king) should order it. All seems to hang on the word of the king! The government of these islands is an absolute monarchy; there is no law but the king's will. The king (Rehoreho) says to the missionaries and to us, that by-and-by he will tell his people that they must all learn the good word, and worship Jehovah; but that the missionaries must teach him first, and get well acquainted with the Owhyeean language. But alas, the king is slow to learn! Nevertheless these difficulties, and all others, we trust, will be overruled, and in due time removed, that the glorious gospel may have free course to promote the happiness of man, and the glory of God! Two weeks ago the names of twelve persons were given in, who appear to be sincerely attached to the word; so that ere long we hope, the administration of Christian Baptism to the natives, will commence by the missionaries. Dear Sir, we trust you will desire our Christian brethren and sisters, in Britain, to unite with us in thanksgiving to God, for this remarkable opening for still more extensive missionary usefulness! and in earnest prayer for the Divine blessing upon the joint efforts of the American and English missionaries in these islands, that the present most promising appearances, may be abundantly realized. But, while our dear friends are thus thankfully acknowledging the Divine goodness, which has granted the success for which they have been praying, it would perhaps be unnecessary to remind them, that fresh openings for exertion will require increased zeal in all the officers of societies at home, and also increased liberality in all the friends of the Saviour; in order to enable the Parent Society to meet the unavoidably increased demands which must, in such cases, be made upon its funds. An American vessel has recently informed us that she spoke a ship in the neighbourhood of Tahiti, which said she had packages and letters for us; so that we hope to meet with these on our return to the South Sea Islands. A day or two ago we had the gratification of seeing a letter from you, accompanied by Magazines, Regis ters, &c. and addressed to our good friend Mr. Bingham. They were presented by |