India, of July, ult., we are presented with a striking analysis, drawn from authentic data, of Missionary statistics, which, independently of the interesting details it comprises, exhibits the gratifying result, that, while the Romish propaganda realizes an annual income of less than £140,000, the aggregate contributions of the various Protestant Missionary Societies of Europe and America amount to nearly £700,000, or five times the amount of the former. "DE PROPAGANDA FIDE.-The Bengal Catholic Herald of the 12th instant, contains a tabulated statement of the resources and expenditure of the ' Association for the Propagation of the Faith' throughout the world. We give this document a prominent place in our columns, the more readily because we know that a large proportion of our readers are deeply interested in the progress or retrogression of the Roman Catholic faith, on which this table affords a few valuable hints. The accounts in the original are in francs, but we have turned them into pounds sterling, taking twenty-five francs for the sovereign. We may observe, that the statement is a fair example of the perfect organization of Romanism, as almost every country on the globe sends her quota to swell the list of receipts. The Roman Catholics of Great Britain, from the antiquity and large territorial possessions of their leading families, possess greater wealth than any other of the smaller religious denominations, yet they subscribe only £5062, which is certainly no great evidence of a propagandist fervour. France, said to be the most irreligious country in Europe, contributes £76,316, while the States of the Church content themselves with £1695. The Sardinian States, which are in general poor, and have just emancipated themselves from ultramontane thraldom, contribute no less than £10,298; while Spain, a rich country, the Government of which has just accepted the most iniquitous and infamous concordat ever signed by any potentate, sends only £335. The Scandinavian kingdoms have too much of the spirit of Saxon freedom to bend the neck to Rome, and the contributions from 'different countries in the North of Europe' amount only to fifty-five pounds. The most extraordinary item of receipts is, however, from North America, the whole of which, including of course Lower Canada, contributes only £2776, while the Propagandist Society spends in the same territory no less than £31,079. We say the same territory, because we believe the Missions in South America are almost, if not entirely, self-supporting. This fact strongly corroborates the statement given by Mr. Mackay, in his 'Western World,' that Rome is making an extraordinary effort to obtain for herself the entire and absolute control of the valley of the Mississippi. It has, however, been alleged on the other hand, that the increase of her numbers in North America is chiefly owing to the influx of Irish emigrants, whose poverty may account in part for the niggardliness of their contribution. The following is the table:Abstract of the Receipts for the year 1850. France Germany North America Levant £76,316 1,675 2,776 535 6,610 5,062 212 ciation for the Propagation of the Faith.' The relative proportion between the Church of England and the Dissenters, has not, we think, remained quite the same, as the former body has within the last four years made immense efforts to draw out the resources she possesses, and the total amount of Protestant contributions has very greatly increased. We noticed also a few days since, in the Bombay Telegraph and Courier, a report of a speech made by an eminent divine at Boston, in which he asserted, that the United States expended 740,000 dollars-£148,000 a year on foreign Missions, and, we believe, the statement is very near the truth. This would bring the total amount up to £696,955, all expended in imparting the truths of Christianity to the heathen. "It would thus appear that, while the con. tributions to the Missions of the Established Church of England amount to about £190,000, those which are raised for the evangelization of the heathen, by Protestant communities unconnected with her, do not fall short of £500,000." NEW YEAR'S SACRAMENTAL OFFERING TO THE NECESSITOUS WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF DECEASED MISSIONARIES. TWELVE months since, the Directors of the London Missionary Society were induced to submit the claims of the necessitous Widows and Orphans of their deceased Missionaries to the serious and kind consideration of the Pastors and Churches connected with the Institution, and to solicit, on behalf of these beloved sufferers, a free-will offering at the Lord's Table on the first Sabbath in the year. But, in making this appeal, the Directors were careful to avoid any interference with the Christian duty of the churches to their dependent members, or in the slightest degree to interfere with their interests. They therefore stated that they "would not in any instance press their application to the injury of the poor members of churches, who have the first claim on the sympathy of their brethren; in such cases they simply ask, that those Christian communicants who are willing may have the opportunity of making some addition to their usual contributions at the Lord's Table; and that the amount thus given, over and above the ordinary sacramental collection, may be appropriated to this special object." The liberality of several Churches, however, greatly exceeded the limits. of this application, as they felt it to be consistent with other claims to contribute a moiety, and in some instances the entire collection, made on the occasion. The aggregate of the Offerings thus made amounted to £1547 17s. 9d., a sum sufficient to alleviate the anxieties of our Widows, and to provide in some degree for the wants and education of their fatherless Children. The very kind manner in which the former application of the Directors was received was most gratifying, and they are encouraged to renew the request at the opening of the New Year, from numerous communications from the Pastors and Officers of several of the contributing Churches, from which the following are selections: "I sincerely rejoice that so simple and easy a plan has been thought of to meet this most important object, and earnestly hope that the response will be so prompt and abundant, as to meet the necessities of the case without again burdening the ordinary funds of the Society. "It affords me great pleasure that the claims of the Widows and Orphans have been at length acknowledged by our church. And though this is, I believe, the first contribution we have made to this interesting object, I trust it will not be the last. "One of our valued deacons, who has sent the enclosed order, says, 'Do tell Dr. T. to keep this annual collection for the Widows of our dear Missionaries before the churches, and let us hear something about it at our Annual Meeting. The pastor adds, I hope the churches generally have collected for this most affecting object; I believe it has done and will do my people spiritual good. Their hearts have been enlarged by it.'" "I have the gratification to inform you that it is the intention of the church to devote the first sacramental collection in each year to this sacred object." "Annexed I have the pleasure to hand you the enclosed post-office order, being the amount of ordinance collection on the first Sabbath in February. And in future, either the January or February collection will be devoted to the same object." "Your appeal on behalf of the Widows and Orphans of our Missionaries was laid before the church here on the evening of Thursday last, and was most cordially heard. It gives me great pleasure to be enabled to send you a post-office order for the above most benevolent object. We are glad that you made the appeal; for in such ways we are taught our duty to the widow and the fatherless, and have an opportunity to pray for them; I trust your appeal will be universally attended to, and that on the first Sabbath of future years, when the church of Christ meet to remember a Saviour's love, and to show brotherly kindness, so long as Missionaries' Widows and Children need support, a similar course to the one adopted this year will be followed." "I expressed a hope at our preceding church meeting, that all would double their usual offering, but I am happy to say, the amount was threefold the average, plainly showing that the response was cordial." "The appeal of the Directors of the London Missionary Society forwarded to my friend and pastor, was read to the church on Thursday evening last, and the substance of it again at the Lord's table yesterday. And on the collection being made, we found a balance of £5, after deducting the usual amount for the poor of our own church. I have, therefore, herewith enclosed post-office order for that amount, hoping that the churches generally may respond to the call, and that you may be spared to remind us of it another year." The Directors very urgently request the kind co-operation of Christian Pastors in this expression of sympathy and love to the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction, by presenting this renewed appeal to the Officers and Members of their Churches, and entreating their kind compliance with the application. Signed on behalf of the Directors, ARTHUR TIDMAN, EBENEZER PROUT, Secretaries. P.S.-It is hoped, that should it be found impracticable that the Sacramental Offerings now solicited be made on the first Sabbath of the current month, as was the case with several Churches in January of last year, they will kindly embrace the first Sabbath in February for the occasion. It is respectfully requested that the amount specially contributed on the occasion, in reply to this appeal, be transmitted FORTHWITH to the Rev. Ebenezer Prout. SPECIAL SERVICE ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. DR. PHILIP. ON Thursday evening, November 27, the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw delivered an impressive sermon before the Directors and friends of the Society, at the Poultry Chapel, on occasion of the decease of that eminent servant of God, and faithful friend of the aboriginal races of Southern Africa, the Rev. Dr. Philip. The service having been commenced by the Rev. Dr. Tidman, with reading the Scriptures and prayer, Dr. Wardlaw took for his text Gen. v., the last clause of verse 27, "And he died." From these few and emphatic words, recording the departure from earth of the oldest of the patriarchs, the venerable preacher took occasion to regard DEATH under varied aspects-as the dissolution of an intimate connexion-the exécution of a sentence an end-a beginning the seed-time of eternity. These several topics having been explained and illustrated, were applied with more especial reference to the character, life, and labours of the distinguished man to whose memory the preacher and his auditory had met to do honour. The spacious chapel was crowded by a most respectable congregation, who listened to the solemn and momentous truths brought under review, with deep attention and interest. The Rev. Dr. Morison concluded the service with prayer. ARRIVAL. THE Rev. Thomas Gilfillan arrived in London, Nov. 11th, per Hindoo, from China. APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE SUFFERERS BY THE KAFFIR WAR. THE Directors make their best acknowledgments to the friends who have hitherto so kindly and liberally responded to their appeal; but the case continues to be one of extreme urgency, and demands augmented efforts on behalf of the sufferers, as will be seen from the following Extract of a Letter just received from the Rev. William Thompson, the Society's Agent at Cape Town. Under date 5th November, ult., Mr. Thompson writes: "I have a letter from our aged Brother Read of a very discouraging character. The distress among the people at Eiland's Post, whither they have been removed by General Somerset, is very great. My son writes,' says our venerable brother, that four old and infirm men had died of sheer hunger, and more were expected to die. Mortality,' continues Mr. Read, has been very great here (Alice); nearly two hundred have died-many old people, but more children; some from want of food or common comforts.' SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SUFFERERS BY THE |