polite part of the native population. They seem scarcely ever to have taken much notice of these poor inland barbarians. There they were, living in rocks and caves, in a state of utter destitution of everything which marks civilization, ignorant of everything, not even given up to the common idolatry of the country. Why, Sir, it seems as if Providence had, in a most marked and extraordinary manner, committed them to our care. We should always begin on John Wesley's rule, or rather on St. Paul's rule, "All shall know thee, from the least to the greatest;" not from the greatest to the least. That is not the order of Methodism. Do not go and throw your light upon the top of the mountains, to the exclusion of the valleys; rather go into the valleys, illuminate the dark, dismal, low, miserable places; raise, and elevate, and convert the poorest. I know not whether our friends thought much about these poor outcasts. It seems, however, little has been done for them until very lately. God has now, apparently, given them into our hands. Will you care for them, or will you not? If you intend to take them up, to intercst yourselves for their conversion, there must be no diminution of zeal, there can be no reduction of expenditure. Sir, I might easily remark on similar cases, as Ashánti, Badagry, the Feejee Islands, and other places. My own impression and faith lead me to the conclusion, that God is a living God; that he rules; that he is everywhere; that there is an operative intelligence and wisdom; that there is an almighty power, equity, love, goodness, constantly pervading everything, all space, and especially superintending and directing the affairs of Christianity. But you have no right to expect the concurrent operation of the providence and government of God with you, unless you, on your part, take up those principles which are propounded in his holy word, and diligently act upon them. I would venture upon everything, in concurrence with the appointed order of God. That is the question with me. I am not appalled by difficulties, if I am sure I am right,-right in my principle, right in my motive, right in my object, right in what I am doing; and if there is one proposition more apparent to an intelligent Christian than another, it is, that in preaching the everlasting Gospel wherever we can find access, we are doing a thing which is unquestionably right. Let us go on, then. Allow me, in conclusion, to say, that we owe something to our principles, and we owe something to

validity of my position, that the Gospel is to be preached, it must be preached; and if we are a true church, we must do our part towards it. Then we will leave the question as to finance with the consciences of our people, and let them fail to support us, if they dare. I think our friends at the Mission-house have done exactly right in advancing somewhat before us by reinforcing the Mis sions in India, the West Indies, and elsewhere, and commencing the Mission in Ashanti. They ought to be before us; and they may depend upon this, that unless they go before the people, the people will not support them. They have a right to expect you (addressing the Secretaries) to be in advance. You are devoted to a great work, of which we are only the auxiliaries, and if you wish to have our countenance, and our speeches, and our contributions in the country, let me tell you, that you must present yourselves before us, just when you have paid off one debt, by contracting another, if the exigencies of the Missions require it. The work we have to do is of transcendently greater importance than any little embarrassment or difficulties you may have to meet with; and if you intend to remain quiescent till you can perform the work of the world's conversion amidst perfect peace and sunny days, you will remain quiescent long enough. It is in the midst of toil, perplexity, difficulty, opposition, embarrassment, and everything which presses upon the human mind, that it is rendered strong and vigorous. No man was ever very great who was not tried; no wisdom ever ascended very high, which had not ascended in the midst of dark difficulties to its elevation; no faith was ever very exalted, which had not struggled against antagonist evils; and I may say here that this Missionary Society will come out of its present trial a much greater and better Society than ever it was before. Sir, I think, in considering our position as a Society, we ought not to, and cannot, lay aside a reflection to the aspects of the divine government. Now, in order to put this point as practically as I can before the attention of the people, I will just advert to those Veddahs in the island of Ceylon, of whom we have lately heard such good tidings. When our Missionaries first went to that interesting island, they skirted the coast, built chapels in the towns, and erected schools there. They moved among the civilians and the military of the country. They sought the conversion of the more educated and

the example of our Founder and our predecessors. Our theology is constructed on a noble catholic principle; if you please, upon an aggressive or progressive principle. John Wesley never thought of a stationary state of Methodism; and nothing ever alarmed me so much, since I have had the honour of being a Wesleyan Minister, as the note I heard sounding so dolefully, almost like that whistle in connexion with the railroad trains; and a most shocking sound it is, -melancholy, sorrowful, oppressive: I mean, the Resolution of your Committee.

DR. BUNTING-What Resolution? The REV. J. DIXON-Why, your Resolution not to send out any more Missionaries; ("No, no ;" and dissent from Dr. Bunting;) really, if I understand it right, to the effect that you could send out no more Missionaries, and intended to diminish them by letting (as a Christian body) some of them die off, and not to supply even the places of the dead. Is not that true? ("No, no.") I believe, in the main I am right. I may not be technically right; the Resolution may not be exactly as I represent it; but that seemed to me to be the spirit of it. It communicated to me one of the most painful impressions I ever received. We ought not to act upon that principle. It is not Wesleyanism. Sir, we must proceed, till the end proposed by our existence be accomplished, and the world is saved. And I trust and hope we shall gird up ourselves today to a noble support of this noblest cause in the world. There is nothing equal to it; nothing approaching it in sublimity, dignity, and value. O! let us all resolutely determine, then, to do everything we possibly can to promote the interests of our holy religion, and the salvation of all mankind. pray earnestly, that God's greatest blessing may rest upon this God's greatest cause. (The Rev. President resumed his seat, amidst loud and long-continued cheering, after seconding the Resolution.)

The REV. THOMAS WAUGH said, that on former occasions his anxiety as to himself in a great degree prevented his enjoying the proceedings till his own ordeal had passed; but to-day he had lost sight of all such considerations in the delight with which he had listened to the sentiments so tellingly delivered; those, especially, on the point of Christian union, had reached his heart, and he trusted should never be forgotten by him. Irishmen had credit given them for taking every proper opportunity of speaking well of themselves; and in the present

:

instance he felt disposed to claim his privilege, and boast, not only of having given an Irishman to the chair, but such an one as he knew Colonel Conolly to be. Nor had his gratification been lessened by beholding the promising branch of a noble Irish family, of which he had the honour to know something, moving the first Resolution at this Meeting. He had been highly delighted to hear the sentiments delivered by that young and respectable Nobleman, Lord Bernard, and he hoped the Almighty would bless him, and raise up others, influenced by his example, to advocate the Missionary cause. Another thing that had given him great gratification was, the testimony borne by the Noble Lord, as well as their Honourable Chairman, to the successful labours of Methodism in Ireland. He knew there were who looked suspiciously at everything connected with that country; but still there was much in it deserving the countenance, the sympathy, and the support of this Society and if there was a place on earth in which Protestantism, on the broad ground, lay under obligations to Wesleyanism, Ireland was that country. For one hundred years past the Gospel leaven, through the agency of this Society, had diffused itself throughout that land; and who could tell not only the good it had effected, but the multiplied evils it had prevented? It was his conviction, that had not God directed the labours of Wesleyan Ministers to the southern parts of that kingdom, there would not have been found, years and years ago, a spark of Gospel light there; and if there was a resuscitation-if there was a rising from the dead, as he thanked God there was, among various denominations, it had undoubtedly in a great degree been owing to the spirit of Wesleyan operations in Ireland. He had often lamented the decline of that spirit of union which pervaded the Christian churches there a few years ago. He believed an enemy had done this. He had no doubt it was effected by the managers and movers of the Papal apostasy. They trembled at United Protestantism, and had recourse to their ancient principle, "Divide and destroy." He trusted, however, that the spirit and sentiments of this day would make themselves widely felt, and strike at the root of those unhallowed jealousies that so mischievously check the triumphs of the Cross. Another thing which had given him much satisfaction was, the opinion and advice of our respected President as to our proper work and calling at this particular crisis. Never was there a devotee of

apostolic succession inclined to bow to Papal mandate more implicitly than was he to the Primate of Methodism on that subject. Convinced that the true way to meet all attempts at mischief was, for every Methodist to be at his own proper work, labouring for the conversion of souls to God, if he possessed any influ ence in his own country, he should endeavour to use it in enforcing what had fallen from the President to-day. Again, his attention had been directed to the involved circumstances of the Society. He did not like getting into debt; but, once entangled, the very best thing was to get out of it as quickly as possible; and, if all interested were inclined to do their duty, he would venture to say, that not only would the present incubus be removed, but the necessity for new involvement be prevented. Only let the wealthy be liberal according to their ability, as are the poor, and the officers of this Society will be able to meet every call, and send the Gospel-angel with outspread pinions to convey his message of mercy to the extremities of our world. It was not many years since their Chairman congratulated the Society on finding it £10,000 in debt. The Honourable Gentleman might now treble his congratulations; and yet he must say, that some of his Rev. friends around him seemed to look so much more calmly at the prospects of bankruptcy than he could do, that he was induced to think they must see some way of getting out of the difficulty. Called on as he had been to support a Resolution stating the importance of getting rid of debt, he felt at liberty to observe on that subject. There were, deeply interested in the prosperity of this Society, those to whom God had given abundance, and the instances of princely liberality on their part were numerous; but it must be by widely-spread and increased contributions, according to their respective means, among the masses, that the work could be sustained and extended. Ireland lay under great obligation to the Society. Her schools were of vast importance; and were there five hundred instead of fifty, they could have them filled with children ready to receive, without question, evangelical education. Still there are many counties in which there is no Wesleyan school. In the mean time he might be permitted to say that, according to her ability, Ireland had contributed to this great cause, having, within the two last years, thrown out of her penury £10,000 into the Missionary treasury; and he could boldly assert that the spirit of deep interest on behalf of

The

His

the Society was spreading there. Deputation from England had just finished its labours; and throughout the country there was increase everywhere. own Circuit (Dublin) had already paid in for the year £600, and he doubted not would be in advance of the last year by a sum of £100. There was a general movement, too, towards liquidating the debt. In one instance a few friends, unasked, sent forward their offering. On behalf of some excellent ladies, as the fruit of their recent industry and exertion, he was enabled to present towards it a sum of £200. The dying also had it on their hearts. There had just been paid in £100, the bequest of a lady, who, though not of our society, valued our cause; and another instance, to him most touching, he would relate. A dear friend of his had been called to watch over the last illness of a lovely boy, seven years of age. His illness was very rapid, and very severe. The poor little fellow had had the advantage of religious instruction. His mother, sitting beside him one day, asked if he was afraid to die. "O yes, mother," said he: "I wish I had died when I was a little child, and all then would have been well with me; but now I am a sinner, and afraid to die." She directed his mind to the Cross, and he was brought to religious convictions; and, in a very short time afterwards, he said, "I have prayed to Jesus, he has taken away my guilt,-I do not now fear to die, because believe I shall go to heaven;" and then, looking at the perishing state of men, he said, "Mamma, you know I have 12s. 6d., give that to the Missions ;" and in that way, just before he departed this life, with his latest breath he devoted his little all to the funds of this Society. With such a spirit abroad as this, was it likely that Christian efforts should flag, or that the Ministers or members of this great machine should become paralyzed ? He could not bring himself to believe so: he was quite sure that those who had done well heretofore would do better; and that others, especially he could speak of those of his own country, would be found to be anxious to tread in their steps. He trusted that, in this way, not only would they very soon get out of debt, but that they would be enabled to keep out of it.

The Resolution was then put by the Chairman, and carried unanimously.

The usual Collection was then made. PETER ROTHWELL, ESQ., of Bolton, moved the Fourth Resolution, which

was

"That this Meeting, while dwelling with satisfaction on the improving state of the Funds of the Society, at the same time solemnly recognises the obligation which rests upon its Members to make increased exertions, not merely for the liquidation of the existing Debt, but also for the purpose of raising its regular and annual Income to such an amount as will enable the Committee to meet the imperative claims of India; to fill up such vacancies in other Missions as cannot be neglected without serious detriment to the work; and to meet that spirit of inquiry which has been excited among many Heathen Tribes and Nations by the Society's successful operations."

JOHN ROBINSON KAYE, ESQ., of Bury, seconded the Resolution with sincere pleasure. It had been a matter to him of the deepest regret, to find the Society so much involved in debt; and, as far as his influence could extend, he should do all in his power towards the speedy removal of such an incubus, so that the Society might once more go on as it had heretofore done.

The REV. DR. BUNTING said,I must now trespass on the Meeting for a very few minutes. The importance of the subject obliges me to do so, for the purpose of furnishing the Meeting with a few facts. It has already been stated that, on the 31st of December, 1840, the accumulated Deficiencies of 1838, 1839, and 1840, after deducting certain Advances and Balances, due to the Society, in course of re-payment, amounted to £30,616. 12s. 9d. This out-standing debt was not rashly or carelessly incurred. It was the sure, foreseen, and inevitable result of that large extension of the Society's Missions among the perishing Heathen, in former years, which signal openings of divine Providence, and loud calls of Christian duty and compassion, had rendered imperative, and which Almighty God has vouchsafed to bless, and thereby to sanction. The very success of our earlier undertakings necessarily entailed, for a while, an increase of pecuniary liabilities, and demanded a corresponding increase of annual contributions. Of this, the Committee, in each of the years just mentioned, gave full and faithful warning. Yet they were continually stimulated and urged onwards, not merely by the pleadings of numerous foreign applicants for spiritual help, but by the zealous and consentaneous exhortations and acclamations which met them at home in every direction, and from every quarter. It is, therefore, in

every sense, the debt of the Society at large; and we are bound to discharge it, as soon as may be found practicable, by every feeling of honour and of justice,by every consideration of benevolence towards man, and of piety towards our God and Saviour. This obligation was officially and solemnly recognised by the Annual Meeting of the Society in 1841, and by the subsequent Conference; and the Committee were instructed to deliberate carefully on the best time and plan for making a general, vigorous, and systematic effort to deliver the Society from an encumbrance so distressing, so restrictive of our future usefulness, and entailing, while it is suffered to continue, in the way of heavy annual interest on the moneys borrowed, a large additional and unproductive expenditure. It was once hoped, that the fit season for this intended public, simultaneous, and general application to our friends, at home and abroad, might have been found in the spring of the present year. But, after much consideration and consultation, the Committee have brought themselves to the conclusion, that the best time for such an application, to the Connexion at large, has not yet arrived. They have been chiefly influenced in this decision, by a regard to the yet existing difficulties of our country, especially in the manufacturing districts, on whose eventual assistance so much of our final and complete success must depend. But there are many persons, in some parts of the country, who do possess the means of affording, to a cause so sacred, immediate and important aid, and who have repeatedly intimated, in the kindest terms, that they. wait only for an official signal from the Committee, in order to put forth their individual efforts, and their Christian influence on their respective localities, for the special purpose of extinguishing the standing debt, without diminishing their regular and stated contributions for the current year. Some of these, nobly and piously impatient of delay, and pondering the uncertainty of human life and opportunity, have spontaneously, and without any direct stimulus or general concert, already forwarded, or announced their intention very soon to forward, various sums, amounting in the aggregate to £5,102. 11s. ld. This amount includes, together with many noble donations at home, the first-fruits and earnest of what may be hereafter expected,—a sum of £280. 17s. 11d., and a further sum of £70, which the Committee have had the high gratification of receiving, unasked, as donations from our own South