too, as well as in my own country: but the Lord still delivered me from my enemies: I thank his kindness to me. Dear Sir, if I could not read the Irish and speak it, I could not travel among the Catholics by any means. I have spent four weeks in the mountains of Donegal ; fifteen individuals abandoned their priest here, by hearing the word of God read in the Irish language. When the priest was informed of this change, he cursed any person that would hear me or speak to me the following Sabbath: but after all his exertions, they proved ineffectual, for the people still came to hear me. One evening, as I departed from a Catholic house, where there assembled above forty Roman Catholics, I was way-layed by two persons, who would have destroyed my life, only a gentleman providentially happened to be riding by.

Anniversary of the Irish Society. THE late period at which the Anniversary has taken place, prevents our giving even a sketch of the appropriate speeches that were delivered. It is sufficient to say, that the following ministers and others were engaged.-The Rev. Messrs. Middleditch, Edwards, Hawkins, Cramp, Groser, Kinghorn, Dr. Steadman, Fisher, Finch, Evanson, Shenston, and J. Parnell, Esq. The speech of the Rev. Josiah Wilson, of Boyle, one of the Society's Itinerants, "was very encouraging, as it proved the good effects of the Society's operations in Ireland. The Rev. Mr. M'Farlane began in prayer.

The Report was full of interesting facts: the following is an extract.

"In one instance, a school, in the South of Ireland, which consisted of one hundred and forty boys, and ninety-six girls, was violently scattered in April last by two Roman Catholic priests. They accomplished this by entering the school, and commanding the children to leave it, and by calling on their parents, and threatening them with public excommunication from the altar on the next Lord's day, unless their children were taken away from the school: the success of this measure of intimidation was so great, that five children only continued out of more than one hundred and fifty. It is added, that many of the poor children wept much when the priests drove them from the school, and during the next month, many of them returned to it notwithstanding this opposition. But the priests renewed the attack, by ill-treating the parents. When some of these poor people ventured to reply, by saying, 'It is surely bet ter for them to be at that school than to

be at none, and going to ruin in the streets; the priests positively denied it, and said, 'It is not better.' Mr. Thomas, of Limerick, the superintendent of the schools in the counties of Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, says, Nothing can equal the desire of the people to have their children educated, were it not for the dread they have of the priests' spiritual authority, and of being deprived of their labour, through their influence over the minds of their employers. I can say,' adds Mr. Thomas, with perfect truth, that there never was such a spirit of religious inquiry, never such a desire among the children for education, never such anxious applications for copies of the scriptures, and never such a desire to hear the gospel preached. You must send us a large supply of Bibles and Testaments, as very many can now read, who never could have been able but from their having attended our schools.'

"That a great difference of opinion and feeling, in regard to the Society's schools, exists among the Roman Catholic priests, the following extract will prove :

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"I have been credibly informed,' says the writer, that a priest in my district, from the altar, conferred many encomiums on' the Baptist Society, by saying, that it was worthy of approbation and support, and that it was the greatest blessing to the poor. He exhorted his people not to be lulled, or turned out of their course, by foolish babbling, and thus to lose the opportunity offered for the education of their children.' He said,

that he had examined the books which were used in the schools, that had been condemned by some of his brethren, and had found them to be free from error;' and added, if other priests took the same views of the Society that he did, they would plead the cause of the institution, pray for all with whom it originated and was supported, and would unite with it in circulating the scriptures, the knowledge of which makes men of every denomination good members of society, and makes them to feel themselves to be amenable to the salutary laws of their country.'

"One of the Irish Readers thus writes: -The following account has been communicated to me by a person that was present at the time that the transaction took place. A priest went into one of our schools, and asked the children how far they were advanced as to the committing of the scriptures to memory; the poor children thought they would be rewarded by the priest for being so forward in a knowledge of the book of God, consequently they stood up manfully, and be

and to the loss which the Society had sustained by the recent decease of some of its earliest and most zealous friends.

Prayer was offered at the commencement of the service by the Rev. Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, and at the close by the Rev. Joseph Ivimey. The scriptures were read by the Rev. James Payne, of Ipswich, and the hymns given out by the Rev. Moses Fisher, late of Liverpool.

In the evening, the second sermon was delivered, (after prayer by the Rev. Moses Fisher) by the Rev. Thomas Griffin; who selected for the basis of this discourse, the words of David to the princes of Israel, as recorded in 1 Chron. xxii. 19. Arise, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God. After some general remarks on the veracity of the divine promises, and the obligation of the divine commands, with a contrast between the material fabric to which David referred, and the spiritual temple now to be erected; Mr. G. proceeded to speak, 1. Of the grounds on which such an exhortation rested, and 2. The reasons why it should be regarded. Under the former head he remarked, that -God is righteous, and expects a suitable return for the gifts he has bestowed on man-all men have neglected these claims, especially the heathen-means perfectly efficient are prepared, and committed to us-we have considerable power over these means, and should employ it in the service of God. The reasons that might be urged to enforce the exhortation, were taken from a consideration of the misery of the heathen without the gospel, and the lamentations they might employthe fact that the divine power was equal to the salvation of the pagan world-that in this life only can the attempt be madethat awful punishment awaits all who neglect it-that nothing more effectually promotes the spiritual interests of Christians themselves, than engagements on behalf of others-closing with a reference to the love of Christ for us. The hymns were given out by the Rev. Josiah Wilkinson, of Saffron Walden; and the Rev. W. Copley, of Watford, closed in prayer. At the prayer-meeting at Eagle-street, on Thursday-morning, the address was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Middleditch, of Biggleswade, from Luke xv. 10. Likewise; I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. The Rev. Messrs. Bain, of Potter-street; King, of Halstead; and Slatterie, of Chatham; led the devotions of the assembly.

At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the Annual Meeting for transacting the business of the Society, was held at the Chapel in Great Queen-street; when

the attendance was as numerous and respectable as in any former year. The Meeting was opened by a hymn of praise, after which prayer for the divine blessing was offered by the Rev. E. Steane of Camberwell. The Treasurer of the Society, Benjamin Shaw, Esq., then took the chair, and proceeded to the business of the day.

"It is highly gratifying," said Mr. Shaw, "to every Christian mind, to observe the prosperous circumstances of the various societies that have recently held their public meetings; to witness the continuance and enlargement of their resources, and the considerable additions that have been made to their annual income but it is still more gratifying to hear of the religious success that has attended their efforts, and the great good that has been effected by their means. But though last, yet with us not the least in estimation or importance, is the Anniversary of the Baptist Missionary Society, which we are this day assembled to celebrate. Our means are not equal to theirs. They have many talents, and if we have but one, for that, and for that only, are we responsible: be it our care rightly to occupy that which we have, and then who shall presume to say what, with the blessing of God, may be our ultimate success? Let no one imagine that contributions to Missions abroad, will diminish exertions at home; zeal for Foreign Missions will always be accompanied by correspondent zeal for Home Service. Our sun shines upon us with no diminished ray, because it shines also upon Eastern countries: the waters of the Atlantic are not less beneficial to us, because they wash also the shores of the Western world. Let us not forget the injunction of our ascending Saviour; 'Go ye, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;' and then we may depend on his faithfulness to his promise, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.' I cannot forbear remarking the vast chasm which has lately been made among the active agents of our Society. Not only have we lost the aged, who might be expected soon to terminate their career of service; but we have suddenly been bereaved of some who were in the midst of their days, and from whom we hoped for much future usefulness. Besides the names mentioned in the Report, we mourn the loss of one, whose zeal in the cause, combined with activity of character, extensive legal knowledge, and considerable general talents, rendered his exertions for the Society at all times peculiarly valuable. Let us hope and pray, that others may be raised up to supply their

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places. May the descending mantle of our departed brethren and fathers, rest upon their successors." The Chairman concluded, by calling on the Secretary to read the Report.

After the Report had been read, the Chairman, as Treasurer, read a statement of the Receipts and Disbursements for the past year. The receipts, including several considerable legacies, were £15,684; being an advance of nearly four thousand pounds on the year preceding. This the Treasurer considered as an indication of the growing prosperity of the country, and of a growing interest in Missions; and as affording the friends of the Society abundant cause for gratitude. They might well adopt the thankful and admiring language of David on surveying the contributions towards the building of the temple: "Who am I, O Lord, our God, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee."

The various resolutions, which will be given in our next number, were then moved and seconded, and carried unanimously; and many interesting addresses were delivered, to the great satisfaction of the meeting.

The Rev. John Birt felt great pleasure in moving the adoption of the Report, and especially of such a Report. "I might safely," said he, "read the resolution, and leave it without adding a word to recommend it, as ample reasons for its adoption are already before you. This, however, would not be respectful to the Meeting, but I shall confine myself to a few of its leading features. The present Report is substantially the same as former ones. Whatever changes have occurred, every Report has been predominantly pleasing; we have always had more cause for joy than for sorrow. All the Reports have been very satisfactory, but this is pre-eminently so. It is highly gratifying to observe the attention that has been paid by those who have drawn it up, to the grand end of all Missionary labours. The first questions that a Christian would ask, are-Have sinners been converted? Have transgressors been turned from the error of their ways? Have any of the heathen been brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus? These questions are answered in the Report before us. Many have relinquished the worship of dumb idols, for the service of the living and true God; and have exchanged the abominations and impurities of paganism, for the purity and holiness of the religion of Christ. Every instance

of conversion from the heathen world, is peculiarly important. The value of a soul in England is the same as in India; but the conversion of a heathen possesses far more relative importance than the conversion of an individual among us who had before been only a nominal Christian. Consider the previous circumstances in which every heathen had been placed, the mighty barriers that opposed any departure from the superstitions of his fathers, the total want of every thing like congeniality of feeling with the professors of Christianity, the immense sacrifices he must incur by renouncing idolatry, and then contemplate the splendid triumph achieved by the gospel in the conversion of every Hindoo. Some scriptures, it must be acknowledged, seem to have lost much of their original force, when connected with instances of conversion in this country; but things are very different in India. Our Lord directs," If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me;" and describes his followers as "leaving houses, and bre thren, and sisters, and father, and mother, and wife, and children, for his name's sake." These passages, and such as these, which require considerable explanation to make them applicable in most cases here, are perfectly intelligible and applicable there. Every single Bramin that embraces Christianity, sacrifices more than any of us, perhaps more than all who are now assembled put together. He renounces all his emoluments and honours, and rank in society, and literally becomes an outcast. He can enter, by experience, into the full meaning of the apostle, who described himself and his brethren as accounted "the offscouring of all things." No wonder that, on a view of these difficulties, ungodly men say, You cannot convert a Hindoo. But what is impossible with men, is possible with God; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. The beneficial effects of the conversion of one heathen are not easily to be estimated. The contrast between his former and his present state is most decided and apparent; it is a deduction from the ranks of idolatry, and an addition to the cause of Christ; it is an enemy become a friend. Nor must we consider ourselves as come to the end of our prospects. As God said to Abraham, "I will bless thee, and make thee a blessing," so we have reason to expect he will act towards those who are made partakers of his faith, that every converted pagan will be made a blessing to those around him. This is more especially applicable to the native