ANNIVERSARIES OF MISSIONARY AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. other gentlemen, who urged the claims of the Society as counteracting the infidel and licentious press of this country. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY held its sixty-first annual meeting, at Exeter Hall, THE BIBLE TRANSLATION SOCIETY held | M. M'cLead, Dr. Duff, S. Garrod, and its 13th annual meeting on Thursday, April 28th, at Bloomsbury chapel. Mr. Wheatley presided. The attendance was numerous. Rev. Dr. Steane read the report, from which it appeared that large editions of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, separately, were printed in Bengali, in 1852. John has recently been commenced. The revision of the New Testament, as far as the end of the first Epistle of Peter, has been carried on, and printed in a pocket form to the fifth of Romans. The Bengali Bible was the only one in circulation in that language. In Sanscrit the 2nd vol. of the Old Testament was finished in December last. A reprint of Genesis, with twenty chapters of Exodus, had been published. Mr. Wenger was engaged on the book of Job. The distributions during the year amounted to 34,056 copies, and the printing to 30,000. There is an increasing taste for reading among the masses. There are thirty native presses in Calcutta alone. How important then the circulation of the Holy Scriptures; The receipts of the year were £1,452 Os. 4d. The Revds. Mr. Brock, Robinson of Cambridge, S. Manning, and Lewis, delivered addresses. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-The annual meeting of this Society was held on Friday evening, May 6th, in Exeter Hall, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., in the chair. He stated that one of the main features of the association was that of taking advantage of past public events, and turning them to a religious account. Among the tracts distributed during the past year were one on the case of the Madiai, of which 160,000 copies had been circulated; and one on the Duke of Wellington, which had a circulation of 350,000-140,000 having been given away on the day of the funeral; 68,000 tracts had also been given away to emigrants. The annual Report, which was read by the Secretary, stated that grants of books and tracts had been made by the society for distribution in foreign lands, including 133,314 to India, and 52,000 to Africa. The issues of the Society's tracts and publications during the year, amounted to 25,850,851, being an increase on the previous year of 3,305,104, and making a total issue since the formation of the Society, of 602,000,000, in 112 languages and dialects. The income of the Society, from sales, donations, and subscriptions, was £77,600 11s. 2d., being an increase over the previous year of £9,503 1s. 3d. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Revds. J. Hussey, In the Bahamas, the pestilence had removed a hundred persons from the church below; but their places had been filled by baptism. In regard to India it. was pleasing to announce that the native mission had been revived with much promise at Agra, by Rev. J. Makepeace; Chitoura is still a centre of civilization; and at Muttra Mr. Phillips labours zealously. At Benares, a college lately occupied by the government has become the property of the society. 34,000 copies of various parts of the Scripture, or entire volumes, have been issued from the Depository, while 39,000 in Bengali or Sanscrit have just been printed. In last year's report the Committee stated that a balance was due to the Treasurers of £4,723 5s. 8d. The receipts for the year for general purposes amount to £15,114 3s. 9d. On £600 of this sum, there is a small charge of £15 per annum for the life of a very aged friend. The amount received for general purposes is, therefore, £395 5s. 11d. in advance of the previous year. The expenditure has been £500 less than the income, by which amount the debt has been still further reduced. The actual debt now due to the treasurers is £1,813 Os. 5d. The attendance at the annual meeting was large; and addresses were delivered by Revds. G. Pearce (one of the returned missionaries) Dr. Duff, Dr. Beaumont, E. Hill, H. S. Brown, of Liverpool, and Mr. Alderman Wire and E. Underhill, Esq. THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY held its annual meeting on Thursday morning, May 12th, at Exeter Hall; the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor presided. There was a large attendance. The report, read by Dr. Tidman, gave encouraging details of the operations of the Society in Polynesia, | in Parliament, in the country, and in the Africa, the West Indies, China, and India, The deaths of six missionaries were recorded; among them was Rev. James Reed, fiftysix years a missionary in South Africa. Six missionaries had been sent out during the year, making the total supported by the Society 170. There are in Polynesia, 32; in South Africa, 40; in the West Indies, 21; in China 17; and in India, 60. The Society employs about 700 native agents. The work of translation and printing is going on well in China, &c. In Tahiti the French have interrupted and crippled the labours of the missionaries by their legislation, &c. The total income for the past year was £71,820, and the expenditure £65,992. THE BRITISH MISSIONS' SOCIETIES had their annual meeting at Finsbury Chapel, on Tuesday, May 10. These Societies are the Home Mission, Irish, and Colonial Missions, belonging to the Independents. T. Barnes, Esq., M.P,, occupied the chair. The Report stated that the Home Mission had 122 stations, and an income of £5,667. 18s. 2d. The Irish Evangelical Society had realized £2,450, and the Colonial Mission £5,143. The union of these Societies in one meeting gave a corresponding diversity to the resolutions and addresses. It is remarkable, too, that the Colonial Missionary Society had a separate meeting the previous evening at the Poultry Chapel. We do not profess to understand the reason of this arrangement. --- WEEKLY TRACT SOCIETY. The fifth Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Thursday evening, April 14th, at Freemason's Tavern, presided over by J. Cheetham, Esq., M. P. The Report shewed that the operations of the Society had more than doubled during the year just closed, and Resolutions, its funds largely increased. expressive of warm sympathy with the ob jects of the Society, and pledging hearty co-operation in endeavouring to extend its usefulness, were spoken to by the Revds. W. Batchelor, W. Roberts, T. J. Horton, Jos. Payne, Esq., and Rowland Elliott, Esq. The room was densely crowded. THE ANTI-STATE-CHURCH ASSOCIATION. -The annual public meeting of this body was held on Wednesday, May 4, at Finsbury chapel, which was crowded on the occasion, there being a numerous body of members of Parliament, ministers, and country friends of the society on the platform. Letters were read from several absent gentlemen, and among them Mr. Bright, M.P., and Mr Hadfield, M.P. The former stated that there were many symptons apparently indicating a weakening of the Establishment principle, and that it was distinctly observable Establishment itself. Mr. Hadfield, in his This Miscellaneous Estimates and Church Rates were also adverted to. The circulation of the "Library for the Times," issued by the association, was reported to be steadily increasing. In conclusion, the friends of the association were urged to put forth special efforts to insure a numerous and influential conference in the autumn. The statements of the report were loudly cheered. The Rev. J. Burnet moved a resolution, declaring that the Legislature outstepped its province in meddling with religion, supporting it with characteristic humour. J. P. Murrough, Esq., M.P. for Bridport, seconded it, declaring himself to be a Churchman who did not want State support. Rev. J. J. Brown, of Reading, moved a resolution, recognizing the importance of the movement as carried on by the association, and spoke with great point and force, and amidst much applause. He was followed by Apsley Pellatt, Esq., M.P. for Southwark, who described the vexations to which he had been subjected in the ecclesiastical courts. Edward Miall, Esq., M.P,, also spoke at great length, describing what separation of Church and State meant, how it was to be effected, and the great encouragements which were now held out for continuing the agitation with a hope of success. Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., M.P., Rev. E. Pryce, of Gravesend, Charles Jones, Esq., and Rev. W. Griffiths, also spoke, the meeting, which was a very effective one, being closed at about ten o'clock. MISSIONARY ANNIVERSARTES. CONINGSBY.-On Lord's-day, April 10th, and Monday 11th, we held our Missionary Anniversary here. Brother W. Jarrom preached two evangelical and useful ser mons on the Sunday, to good congregations, which told well on the people, and gave a character to the future services. On Monday afternoon, brother J. B. Pike preached an excellent sermon on "the common salvation," to a good congregation. After a cheerful Tea Meeting in the school-room, the chapel was well filled, and the congregation listened with great interest to short addresses from friends of other denominations; and afterwards to lengthened and highly interesting details respecting China, from brother Jarrom, and on the state and prospects of our Orissa Mission from brother Pike. This was considered the most interesting anniversary we have had for these last three years. Collections, &c., more than £17. G. J. C. ASTERBY AND DONINGTON, near Louth.— Two sermons were preached in these villages on Lord's-day, April 24th, 1853, on behalf of the G. B. Missionary Society, by the Rev. R. Ingham of Louth. The congregations were good; the collections and subscriptions were better than last year, amounting together to £2 16s. T. B. WISBECH.-On Sunday, April 17, our late pastor, the Rev. J. C. Pike of Leicester, preached two excellent sermons on behalf of the G. B. Foreign Missionary Society. On the following evening a public tea was held in the school-room, when a large num ber of friends sat down, including the deputation; after which a public meeting was held in the chapel; and in consequence of the unavoidable absence of the chairman, (Mr. R. Wherry) the Rev. T. Haycroft, B.A., presided, when interesting addresses were delivered by the Revds. J. C. Pike, and J. Lewitt of Coventry, the deputation from the parent society; and the Revds. Jones of March, Trigg, (Indep.) and Webster. On Friday evening, April 22, a public meeting was held at our branch chapel, Walton; Mr. R. Clarke in the chair; when the Revds. J. C. Pike, J. Lewitt, J. Wherry of Barney, and J. Haycroft, addressed the meeting. We are happy to report that the meetings were well attended, and the collections rather better than last year. Y. FORD.-On Wednesday, May 11, the an nual Missionary services were held at Ford. An excellent sermon was preached in the afternoon by the Rev. J. B. Pike, and in the evening a Missionary Meeting was held. Prayer was offered by the Rev. E. Bedding, (P.B.) the report given by Rev. W. Hood, (minister of the place) and addresses delivered by the Revds. P. Tyler, (P.B.) S. Ayrton, W. Payne, (P.B.) and J. B. Pike. Collections and subscriptions, £14 14s. 6d. W. H. AMERICA. MISSIONS TO THE EAST. The Rev. Messrs. Moses H. Bixby, Daniel Whittaker, and A. Taylor Rose, their wives, and Mrs. S. K. Bennett of the Tavoy mission, sailed from Boston on the 17th of January, for Burmah. The designation and farewell services, held on the preceding evening, in the Rowe Street church, says the Macedonian, drew together a crowded and deeply interested assembly. In the group, to whom Dr. Stow addressed words of sympathy and congratulation on that occasion, was a Karen assistant, through whom an affecting message was sent to two missionaries, well known to the Karen, who had received baptism at the hands of the speaker: and a mother, returning to her mission with a daughter born in Burmah, now the wife of one of the missionaries,-the first instance of the kind in our missionary history; and an only daughter, given to the great work by a mother who but lately received the sad tidings of the death of an only son previously given to the same service; and a pastor, who had severed the cords which bound him to a devoted church in a Christian land that he might preach Christ to the heathen. These were incidents that gave special interest both to the designation services in the church, and to the less formal farewell scenes at the time of embarkation. It will be long before the friends who thronged the cabin of the Springbok, on the morning of her sailing, will forget the parting hymn then sung, or the fervent prayer then offered. Every heart must have felt the power of both. This is the third reinforcement given to the missions of Asia and Africa the current year; and, including four individuals who have returned to their fields, and one female assistant in the Shawanee mission, the whole number sent forth to the mission since the last annual meeting is twenty-two. THE REV. W. CAREY, of Cutwa, died after a painful illness of twenty days. He had witnessed the progress of Missions in Bengal since his father's arrival in 1793, and had himself laboured for upwards of forty years. He died in the peace and hope of the gospel, on the 3rd of February. Missionary Herald. SOCIAL CHANGES AMONG THE HINDOOS. In Bombay there is a flourishing society having for one of its rules to dine with all castes at the same table, thus aiming a deadly blow at the institution of caste, the greatest obstacle to the gospel. III. Consider the blessings you may secure by embracing early religion, or the evils you must incur by neglecting that good part. Here are most weighty reasons for yielding your youth to God, for the certain consequences of yielding or refusing will be joyous or dreadful, beyond all that human tongues can utter, or human minds conceive. If you yield yourself to the Lord Jesus your early piety will gladden the hearts of your affectionate parents. Thus their most fervent desires will be realized, and their most earnest prayers be answered. They will rejoice to see you safely lodged under the great Shepherd's care. Whatever be your lot for time, the persuasion that you are safe for eter nity will cheer their souls. Your filial affection and christian deportment will promote their temporal comfort, and should you survive them they will die with the hope of soon meeting you again in heaven. To yourself early religion would prove a still greater blessing; your life may be useful and honourable; you might be among the firmest supporters of the Saviour's dear and sacred cause; might be a pillar in his church below, when others that are such now shall be removed to his church above. Thus would you be a blessing in your day and generation, and be blessed. Should you become a parent, you may train up another race to walk in God's good way. The influence of your piety might flow on through future years and even distant ages. An able American writer states that a large portion of all the piety in that country had been derived from the pilgrim fathers, and that God had blessed their descendants in New England and elsewhere with numerous revivals of religion. He says that he was acquainted with the descendants of John Rogers, the English Martyr, of the tenth and eleventh generation, and that with a single exception the eldest son in each generation had been a minister, some of them distinguished for piety and usefulness. He further mentions an investigation into the state of 260 professedly pious families. In these families were 1290 children above fifteen years old. Of these 884 were hopefully pious; 794 were church members; 61 were ministers; only 17 were dissipated, and only half of those became so under the parental roof. In 11 of the above families were 123 children, all but seven pious. In 56 of them, 249 above 15, | home. A short course of faith and and all pious. When such in many instances are the fruits of parental instruction, how desirable is it that you may exemplify its power. How great is the honour and happiness of being instrumental in continuing the knowledge of God and the reign of true piety in many hearts from age to age. How sad to be the wretched rebel, that, like a broken link, shall dissever such a chain; or worse than that, to be the miserable sinner that by leaving the service of God, shall be the first in a series of generations devoted to sin and travelling to misery. But you may die young, as many die. If you should, how great a blessing will it be to your parents and yourself that you have been brought to Jesus. How precious to your parents, when they follow you to the grave, will be a peaceful testimony left behind, that you die in Christ, and that all is well. They see you sinking, and drawing near to death, but full of holy hope. They perhaps hear you saying, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.' "My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever." "To me to live is Christ and to die is gain." When they stand by your grave, or see your vacant place in the family circle, what solace will the sweet persuasion inspire, that absent from the body you are present with the Lord. What pleasure will it yield them, amidst their tears of sorrow, to reflect that from their family an addition has been made to the family of heaven; that they have a child in the skies whom they hope to meet again glorified and happy in their Father's house. Should you die young, to yourself how blessed will be early religion. Early death will be early glory. Soon will you rest in your heavenly hope and love, and devotedness to Jesus, will have brought you safely to eternal life; the riches of the whole world would not then be sufficient to bribe you back to spend a longer life below. On a young woman's gravestone the writer has seen, "Say not her sun went down at noon,; Early she died, but not too soon; Not till her heart by grace was chang'd, And from the world and sin estrang'd; Not till the Lord, whose love she knew, Taught her to smile with death in view." Truly is it said, A Now take an opposite view. Think of the ills you must unavoidably incur if you refuse to yield your heart to God. How mournful will be the consequences of such a refusal. refusal in words is not what is meant; perhaps few thus refuse; but actions speak louder than words, and not to yield yourself to Christ is to refuse to be his disciple. In this case you will have no good. Those who love you, will mourn over you, and you will have to mourn for ever, beyond the grave. To see you in the ways of death will be to your parents a source of deep distress, while they know that if you die you are lost for ever. They love you and wish you to enjoy the greatest good, but see you destitute of all spiritual blessings, and exposed to the most fearful ills. Some foolishly fond parents may think favourably of the state of unconverted children, but no intelligent christian parent will suppose that relationship to himself can save an ungodly child. He knows, and mourns to know, that that child, how dear soever to him, is dead in sin, is an enemy to God, and dying such must perish for ever. By irreligion you would disappoint all the kindest efforts of your parents for your happiness. They have prayed for you, have led you to the house |