FOREIGN. AMERICA. Interesting Letter from the Rev. Mr. Maclean, of New York, to the Rev. Geo. Burder. 66 MY DEAR SIR, "Last week, this fine city exhibited no small resemblance to your great metropolis. On Wednesday evening, the 7th of May, was held at the City Hotel, the Annual Meeting of the United Foreign Missionary Society. The Report was interesting; the prospects are encouraging. Many found the meeting in a high degree delightful. On Thursday morning, the 8th of May, the managers of that noble Institution, the American Bible Society, met the delegates from the Auxiliary Societies in their splendid Committee Room, in the Bible Society's House recently erected in Nassau-street. From hence they walked in procession to the City Hotel, where the exercises of the day were commenced by reading a chapter in Isaiah. General Clarkson, one of the Vice-Presidents, took the chair; the venerable President, the Honourable John Jay, being unable, through the infirmities of age, to attend. An address from him, however, was read to the Society. The audience was very numerous and respectable. Dr. Woodhull, the Home Secretary, read an able, luminous, and highly interesting Report. From this it appeared, that fifty-four thousand eight hundred and five Bibles and Testaments were issued from the depositary last year, of which 7,000 were Spanish ; making a total of 323,777 since the formation of the Society. A stereotype edition, to a large amount, of the Spanish Bible, is preparing, and facilities for introducing it into South America are daily opening. A gentleman, a native of PERU, electrified the Meeting, by a speech in broken English, displaying eminent talents, ardent patriotism, and personal piety. Through the whole course of the day, the feast of reason and the flow of soul' were enjoyed in a high degree. It was stated, that fifty-nine Auxiliary Societies had been added in the course of the last year, making the total number 360; and that the income had exceeded that of any preceding year. On Friday evening, May 9, the Domestic Missionary Society held its Annual Meeting at the City Hotel. Report interesting-prospects cheering. The whole resembled London in miniature, at the same season of the year. Permit me to add, that, on Monday the 12th of May, was laid, in Broome-street, west of Broad-way, the first stone of a new Church, 60 feet by 80, for the use of the congregation, collected by my own ministry since I' landed in this city." Some additional Particulars of the Bible Society Meeting, from the New York Evening Post of May 9. "On no similar occasion have we experienced such unmingled gratification as at the present. Although the day was rainy and uncomfortable, the large room in which the Society met was filled with company, a large proportion of which was composed of females. Among the persons convened, the Society had the satisfaction of seeing the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State, a large numle of clergymen of different denominations, and other gentlemen of distinction from different parts of the Union.Although the exercises lasted for nearly five hours, and many persons were unable to obtain seats, no symptoms of fatigue or uneasiness were manifested; but the audience exhibited a closeness of attention, and a degree of delight at the different addresses, which must have been peculiarly gratifying to the gentlemen by whom they were delivered. As the addresses were highly respectable, and not unfrequently eloquent, we shall however be pardoned for saying, that the Meeting listened to the address of the aged Dr. John Woodhull with mingled emotions of delight and surprise. This venerable minister of the gospel has reached within a few months of his 80th year. He assisted in forming the Society; he has witnessed its progress and prosperity with fervent thankfulness; and now, at his advanced age, appears to pronounce upon it his parting benediction. Possessed of most singular strength and energy of body and mind, in the full enaffecting to hear him say, joyment of his faculties, it was truly "He who now addresses you, will probably address you no more. His head is whitened by 80 winters; he has laboured fifty-five years in his Master's vineyard; it may truly be said, his course is finished." REVIVALS IN BOSTON. THE editor of "The Boston Recorder," "As several acin a late Number, says, counts of the state of religion in Boston have appeared in other papers, it may seem singular that we have not been more explicit on the subject. But as we hope the good work has but begun, and the time has not arrived which will authorize us to give a particular statement of facts, we can only say, to encourage the prayers of our friends at a distance, that the prospect is now more than ever encouraging, that the Lord designs to bless all classes in society, and all denominations in his church, with the special influences of his Spirit. At the last Inquiry Meeting in Park-street[Society, upwards of 250 persons were present; and in the Old South Society upwards of 100 attended similar meetings. Brethren, pray for us, that a divine blessing may descend on all the churches plauted by our fathers in this populous city, and their ancient faith and purity be restored to them." AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE JEWS. FOR several months past the Rev. Mr. Frey has been employed as an agent for this Society, and has visited a number of places in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, city of Washington, &c. and has met with much success. Besides increasing the funds of the Society by collections, where he has preached, he has assisted in the formation of a number of Auxiliary Societies.} ·Earthquakes in Syria. THE following are extracts of letters received from John Barker, Esq. British Consul, dated Aleppo, April 12, 1823 :"I am happy to say, that for twenty days past the earthquakes have been so slight that not one person in ten has felt them; but still, few venture to sleep under roofs supported by stone walls. "The principal difficulty I shall have to encounter is, to make an equal distribution of the charity, when so many persons of various sects and nations prefer claims, which can be rejected only on the ground of the insufficiency of the funds to relieve the distresses of all. "The admission of the claims of our fellow-sufferers of the Mahommedan religion will very much increase the difficulties of the undertaking; but I shall gladly encounter them, because that now the philanthropic principle which animated the benevolence of the contributors will not be violated, and their wishes be carried into full effect by the charity being equally distributed to Christians of every sect;-to Turks, to Jews, and to Idolators. "I need not say that this splendid and unprecedented act of European generosity and sympathy towards the natives of this country will produce the most beneficial consequences, for it cannot fail to prove to the most ignorant and most fanatic classes of this population, that we look upon all God's creatures as our brethren, and regard every human being in distress as an object worthy of our compassion. ، Consul - General Cartwright has placed at my disposal the 40,000 piastres remitted to him on account of the subscription. "My first care has been to point out to the Consul-General the most eligible mode for conveying the funds of the charity to my hands; and, in the interim, I am preparing for the execution of the difficult, but most pleasing and honourable task of distributing the bounty so as best to give, in due time, every reasonable security to the public, that the whole amount of their contributions has been faithfully and properly administered. "With this view I have required from each head of all the different religious establishments in this country a detailed list of the necessitous widows, orphans, the maimed, the blind, and otherwise unfortunate persons, directly or indirectly victims of the earthquakes; and, at my solicitation, Mons. Mathieu Lesseps, French Consul-General, and Mr. John Van Masseyk, Dutch Consul, have obligingly condescended to favour me with their advice and assistance, and to grant me the sanction of their names, by co-operating with me in the delicate duty I have to perform. The charity has been publicly talked of here, and some applications have been made in cases of peculiar interest among the Turks. Claims with the details of particular cases, are fast coming in, and then a general and more accurate view of the melancholy picture may be taken." FOR JULY 1823. THE TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL MEETING OF USUALLY CALLED The London Missionary Society. Held on the 14th, 15th, and 16th Days of May, 1823. (Concluded from page 263 in the Missionary Chronicle for June.) The Rev. Thomas Smith, A.M. of Rotherham, moved the IId Resolution,* and spoke to the following effect: I consider, Mr. Chairman, that the Missionary cause is under the protec tion of a special providence. Had the Scriptures not told us so, we might have reasonably inferred this. For it is not likely that God, who takes a peculiar concern in whatever regards the happiness of man-who watches over the interests of the church-who made the grand expedient of divine mercy. the subject of his counsels in eternity, and of preparation for many ages of the world, until the coming of Christ: whose providence is extended to the mighty and the mean, to the insect as well as to the hero, would leave that cause for which his Son bled and died, without the special care of his special providence. Neither is it likely that He whose heart was pierced for sinners, will now, when he is swaying the sceptre of the universe with the energies of a divine nature, and all the interests of his mediatorial glory in view, be sparing in his attention to that cause for which he bled and died. But, Sir, the exist ence of this Society is itself a token of the special care of a special providence. There were no Missionary Societies in the first ages of Christianity, and there was no necessity for any, for each of the churches, separately, was itself a Missionary Society; and all the churches of Christ, collectively, were one great Missionary Association, though without any peculiar arrangements differing from those of the churches themselves. In those days, when one went forth in the name of Jesus Christ, all who loved and venerated their Saviour, received him "after a godly sort;" helped him on his way; their joy, that of being * See Missionary Chronicle for June, page 263. VOL L glad with the company of the churches, and their hope, that of the gospel being preached in the regions beyond them. But other days followed, when it would have availed nothing to have come with the countenance of Paul, or even with the countenance of Jesus Christ, unless he could say sibboleth or shibboleth, framing his mouth to pronounce it rightly. What was more likely to meet this peculiar exigency than some such arrangement as that of Missionary Societies, composed of men who, though of different sentiments, and having, in some respects, different aims, yet, in this way, unite together in promoting the dissemination of the gospel. Not that we consider this as any improvement on the original plan, or that it is the best arrangement for the conversion of the world; no, but that it is the most likely method of promoting this object, until the better days of the Millennium shall dawn, and the spirit of life and fervour and union be poured out in a more eminent degree upon the church. When those days shall arrive, and the glories of the primitive church shall again burst forth upon our view, then, perhaps, it will, in its turn, give way to another and a better arrangement. Mr. Smith then alluded to the prepa ration of the world for the coming of Christ, and the state of it when he actually did come, as pointed out by writers on the Evidences of Christianity, and observed, that he saw something analogous to this in the time and circumstances under which Missionary Societies arose. Suppose, said Mr. S., they had risen in a land of slavery and oppression; where they might have been crushed by the hand of tyranny, or choked by the embrace of worldly anthority, and with the coming of Jesus Christ might have come the world also; but when this cause rose in a land of freedom, though it might be put on its 2 E defence, still it would get fair play; and, through the eloquence and learning of its friends and their Christian demeanour, it would be certain, like the cause of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, to make an impression more deep, and a progress more permanent, for the fiery trial under which it had previously passed. These Societies, might have risen too, at a time when there was little intelligence and little mutual intercourse among men; but in a time when British navigation embraces the world, and the quick transmission of intelligence may be compared to the rapid communication of influence from a galvanic battery, I consider that these and other advantages give this country, and especially its metropolis, a peculiar fitness for being the birth-place and cradle of missionary exertions. The light of the gospel shone first from Salem's towers, and enlightened all lands. Paul was carried to Rome; a Christian church was planted there; and from thence went forth Roman missionaries, who carried the gospel to the ends of the earth. And so from London, missionaries go forth; and also travellers; multitudes of persons in a military and naval capacity, and others, who contribute, each according to his measure, to spread knowledge and disseminate the gospel of Christ to the remotest parts of the world. Mr. S. then pointed out the high encouragements to missionary labours derivable from the fact, that the Son of God, when he had ascended to heaven, leading captivity captive, received gifts to - bestow upon men. I speak not (said Mr. S.) of the gigantic strength of a demi-god, nor of the blazing intellect of a Newton. True He gives these; but the gifts which he received were for a special purpose to qualify apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, &c. for the edification of the church and the conversion of mankind. It is plain to me, said Mr. S., that when the Son of God intended to bless the whole world, he gave us men of elevated views, men of large discourse, whose catholic minds grasped the universe, and who, disdaining party or local views, re garded the interests of all. Here he alluded to the valuable men who have already been employed by the Head of the Church, both in conducting the affairs of Missionary Societies at home, and labouring in the dissemination of Christianity abroad; and, after expressing his joy that a considerable number of thein had been spared to Jabour for many years, lamented that others (and especially several belonging to the Society, during the past year) had been taken away at an early period of their labours, and particularly alluded to the late Dr. Milne, of Malacca. Mr. Smith then proceeded to remark on the wisdom and goodness displayed by Divine Providence, in fixing men of peculiar character and qualifications in those particular stations of missionary labour, where their talents and exertions were likely to be most useful and effective; and also in ordaining that the several Societies should possess each a distinctive character, so that, while aiming at a common object, they should respectively have been led to prosecute it with an interesting and useful diversity of operation. He considered the great line of Missionary Stations with which the whole world was begirt, to a species of electric conductor, or a train laid, which, when the sacred fire of divine influence should descend from heaven, would spring the mine, and destroy the throne and kingdom of darkness. He paid a deserved and appropriate tribute of commendation to the Moravians, to the Wesleyan,Church, and other Missionary Societies, and in reference to the Baptist Society, noticed the highly valuable services rendered to the cause of missions by the number of their translations of the sacred Scriptures; but while alluding to these, he would not omit to notice, with due commendation, the labours, in this line, of Drs. Morrison and Milne, and other missionaries, of our own Society. He here deprecated any feeling of jealousy, and in reference to the several Societies, and their missionaries, said, "Peace be with all thine helpers; the Lord bless them all a thousand fold." Mr. S. then observed, that no good effort in the cause of Christ would prove utterly abortive; but that, generally speaking, it would be blessed with visible and great success. [Here he alluded to the prosperous results which have attended the labours of other Societies, and then proceeded;-] But, as an inhabitant of the town of Sheffield, and in reference to my townsman and countryman Mr. Bennet and Tyerman, I cannot but particularly allude to the favour of God to the islands of the South Seas, and what has lately taken place in the Sandwich Islands. With regard to the latter, Mr. S. then alluded to a species of preparation indicated on the part of the natives, one of whom said, that the things of Christianity "seemed to break on his mind, like the light of the morning;" and by another, a governor of one of the islands, who exclaimed, 4that he desired to learn, and that great was his desire;" and then said, Sir, I should be blind did I not see the finger of God in these things, and especially when, in the South Sea Islands, I see that the people who formerly lived as beasts and savages, 66 now marry and are given in marriage;" appear in the church of God "clothed and in their right mind;" live in the fear of God, and keep the Sabbath with an observ ance that might put London and Britain, and even Scotland to the blush-and here I must be allowed to repeat a few of the lines addressed to Mr. Bennet on his departure by Montgomery, our Sheffield bard; "Leave our Jerusalem, Jehovah's temple and his rest; Go, where no Sabbath brake on them, Mr. Smith concluded with dropping the tear of sympathy and sorrow over the missionaries of the Society who have been removed by death during the past year, and by declaring his firm persuasion of the spirit of Christian benevolence and liberality which pervades it, in reference to the widows and orphans of those who fall in its service. Rev. Henry Townley, from Bengal, seconded the IId Resolution, and spoke to the following effect. My respected and beloved friends :It is eight years since I was called upon to stand before this Society at its Anniversary. You had then been pleased to accept my offer of service, as a Missionary to the East, and it has pleased God to grant me this unexpected felicity of again meeting you on earth. And, if you now inquire of me, "Do you repent having been sent out?" I reply "No." Did you ever repent of it?" I an swer, "No." "Did you ever waver for one moment?" I answer, "No." "Are you willing to go out a second time in the cause of God and souls?" I answer, "Yes." The resolution which I am called to second, touches upon a mournful topic, and is calculated to re-open those wounds which we felt in India; yet is the sensation of pain, arising from the death of those who were labouring in this blessed cause, mitigated by a variety of considerations. Your mis sionaries in India feel, indeed, most acutely the loss of those with whom they were closely connected; they cannot but do so; yet permit me to say, their tears are very much dried up by the recollection, that there is a road from Bengal to heaven, as well as from England to heaven "I heard a voice, saying, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." It tends to mitigate our feelings to know, that the value of a man's life is not to be estimated so much by the number of years he has lived, as by the multitude of the works he has done; and here I would appeal to that Exemplar of Lives, the life of our Divine Master; how short was his time, and yet how fraught with blessings. When I was about to leave England, some of my friends said, "Go not to India, you will die there, perhaps soon." I granted the truth of the supposition; I did not expect to see England again, and only presumed that my life might last for five years; but I was persuaded that if it lasted for five years in India, it would be worth fifty years in England. I have now made the experiment. I have been in India, where there are 100 millions of immortal souls, and I have always imagined, that one year there was equal to ten here, and though this thought brings to my recollection the death of some, who have laboured in that country, in the prime of life; yet if you allow ten years for every year of labour, and this, in my opinion, is a low estimate, they must be considered as having lived long lives. When contemplating the thinning of our ranks by death, I have often been relieved and encouraged by the thought, that the work does not hinge upon numbers, and that the blessing of God was never so near as when he reduced the army of Gideon, from 32,000 to 10,000, and from 10,000 to 300! I consider, that God may do greater works by those missionaries who survive than by the whole former number. Again, Jonathan and his armour-bearer went down to the camp of the Philistines alone, and yet those two smote the whole army, which went on beating down one another. So -you may send out a couple of missionaries, and if they convert twenty, the rest may, peradventure, be convinced, and do the work among themselves; and let me add, that if Jonathan and his armour-bearer had lost their lives in the enterprise, it would have been a small circumstance compared with the result. It is proper on this occasion, that I should allude to Hindoostan, as I can speak as your witness; and, though many of the facts to which I shall refer may A |