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The New Zealand Evangelist
General Religious Intelligence
General Religious Intelligence.
England—Summary.
Mr. Locke, Member for Honiton, brought a Bill into Parliament to compel every Railway Company in Britain to run a certain number of trains on Sabbath. Its first reading was carried by a majority of twenty, but the friends of the Sabbath bestirred themselves with great activity, and it was thrown out at the second reading.
The imprisonment of the Rev. Mr. Shaw by the Bishop of Exeter, for preaching as a dissenting minister after he had left the Church of England, page 206 had led to the introduction of a Bill into Parliament by Mr Bouverie, to relieve such men as Mr. Shore, and Mr. Noel, from the penalties of an old Act that had been slumbering for a century or two. Mr. Noel had written to the Bishop of London, stating that he had taken the oaths as a dissenting minister, and had preached and communicated in Mr. Binney's Church, and pointing out the defects of Mr. Bouverie's Bill, as requiring Ministers seceding from the English Church to be parties to their own deposition from the ministry. “To avail myself of this act,” says Mr. Noel, “is to purchase exemption from legal penalties, by consenting to my deposition from the ministry. It is to avow, not that I have ceased to be a minister of the Establishment, but that I have ceased to be a minister of Christ.”
The Bishop of London had greatly fallen in the estimation of liberal minded christians, by his interdicting the preaching of sermons in Mr. Mortimer's Church, for the benefit of the London Missionary, and the Wesleyan Missionary Societies; and that, after the Rev. T. Brooke was advertised to preach the one, and the Rev. J. Jordan the other, both ministers of the Church of England; and also for interdicting the use of the inquest room of St. An. drew's, Holborn, to the Plumptre-Court Ragged School, under the superintendence of the London City Mission, for holding its annual meeting,even after the Lord Mayor had consented to preside. The following extract from a London paper is a specimen of public feeling on the subject:—
“Christians have consecrated the month of May to noble enterprises and holy exertions. The Bishop of London, rolling in wealth, comes forth to cast the elements of discord amongst the followers of Christ, and to do what none but a barbarian would do, in the presence of the most enlightened nation of the whole world. The Wesleyan Missionary Society has covered the earth with its missionaries; the remains of their devoted men rest on every pestilent shore; their voices have made the wilderness glad, page 207 and the desolate places rejoice. It has carried the lamp of life to benighted millions in the regions of darkest midnight; it has taught languages, commerce, science, civilization and religion to distant climes; but the barbarian Bishop spits in its face as an unholy thing.
And then, think of the London Missionary Society! Morrison has opened the temple of inspiration to the three hundred millions of China, and bade the living oracles speak to them, in their own tongue, the mighty works of God. Williams civilised the isles of the Southern Sea. Moffat has created a semi-paradise among the burning sands of Africa; and the missionaries of the society can exclaim, wherever they have set their feet, “Behold what God has wrought!” Notwithstanding all this, the barbarian Bishop has put forth all his episcopal power to prevent any one pleading the claims of an institution so honoured and blessed!
The poor ragged children! Their very existence as such is a scandal and a burning shame to Christendom. Yet the messengers of mercy must not endeavour to reform them, lest they should impede the exertions of the parochial clergy. It is a shame to the Church that a Ragged school is needed in London, where its dignitaries meet in the ranks of lords, and mingle with the princes of the earth; and a treble shame that such institutions should be discouraged.
London Missionary Society
The anniverary meeting of this society took place on Thursday, at Exeter Hall, which was crowded in every part. His Grace the Duke of Argyll occupied the chair, and the platform was crowded by a large assemblage of Christian ministers and influential laymen. After the usual preliminaries of singing and prayer, the chairman addressed the meeting, to the effect that the obligations of England were great to extend the blessings of Christianity over the face of the earth; but that he page 208 had become acquainted with a circumstance that he felt it to be his duty to mention, and he would do this without asperity. Hitherto it had been the habit every year to have a sermon preached in support of this Missionary institution in one of the Churches belonging to the Establishment; for fifty-four years it had been in the habit fieely to give the services of the Church of England for the support of this institution; but this year, for the first time, a prohibition had been issued by the Bishop of London against this support to this charity. Now we are bound to conclude that the Bishop of London has, in this movement, proceeded from conscientious motives, and that some new light has struck his mind; but it is my deep conviction that the interest of the Church of England will be better served when all its members prove that that tney do not place Episcopacy in the front of Christianity. After alluding to the labours of the Society in various quarters of the globe, the noble chairman resumed his seat; when the Secretary read the report, from which the following facts were elicited—In Polynesia, during the past two years, three native evangelists had fallen victims to the violence of the people. The christians of Tahiti remain insensible to the attractions of Popery. In South Africa, the Missionary settlements at the Cape are enjoying peace. In the West Indies, the missions have pecuniarily suffered, but spiritually the directors speak in terms more cheering.
In China, the success has exceeded the most sanguine expectations; whilst in India the Society's schools number 337, and its scholars exceed 12,500. The Christian Churches under the pastoral care of its missionaries are 25, and include upwards of 1000 members. The amount of income for the year ending March 31, 1849, was £64,508, and the expenditure £67,238, which gives an excess of £2730. The Rev. James Hill, of Clapham, in an eloquent speech, moved the adoption of the report; and was succeeded by Dr. Cumming, the Rev. T. R. Brooke, and page 209 Dr. Robson of Glasgow. A native chief of Rarotonga then addressed the meeting in his own language, which was interpreted by the Rev. Mr. Burncot, and seemed to give great interest to the assembly. Addresses were delivered by several other revgentlemen, when the meeting adjourned, and was again held in the evening at Finsbury Chapel—Mr. Baines, of Leeds, in the chair. There the proceedings were also of a very interesting character.
Scotland.
Established Church.
The General Assembly of the Established Church was held as usual in Edinburgh, and met on May 24th. The Rev. Dr. Simpson, of Kirknewton, was elected Moderator; Lord Belhaven was the Royal Commissioner, Among other business a deputation from the Central Protestant Association of Paris was received by the Assemby. Two members of the deputation addressed the Assembly in behalf of the French Protestant Church. After which the Rev. N. M'Leod, of Dalkeith, delivered a most eloquent and effective speech on the importance of evangelizing the Continent, especially France.
Colonial Missions.—
Dr. Clark read the report on Colonial Missions. It stated that, during no year since the commencement of their labours had they been enabled to appoint so great a number of Ministers and Missionaries as during the one that had past. Since their last report the Committee had been enabled to send ont to different parts of the colonies six Ministers, two Missionaries, and two Schoolmasters. Former applications were urged with increasing anxiety, and new ones made from time to time; but the Committee could not find Ministers or Missionaries to answer them. There were vacancies to be supplied at Halifax, Newfoundland, Jamaica, British Guiana, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, and in various places in Canada, page 210 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward's Island, in many of which a competent provision was offered for the support of Ministers, and the Committee were pledged to supplement some of them for a time, But the Committee felt the want of Ministers and Missionaries to supply them, to be the greatest evil with which they have to contend. A very favourable report had been received from Queen's College, Canada. There had been a considerable increase of students during the last session; twenty-eight had matriculated, fifteen of whom, including Divinity Students, were studying for the Ministry. The number attending the preparatory School was fifty two, making in all eighty who were receiving instruction in connection with the College. From Grenada, Buenos Ayres, Vancouver's Island, Ceylon, and the Cape of Good Hope, the accounts generally were of a satisfactory character. The income of the Committee during the past year had amounted to £3,090 Os. 4d., which, as compared with the preceeding year, exhibited a diminution of £1,203 15s. 5d.; but as there were two collections for the Colonial scheme in that year, it was most proper to compare the income of last year with that of 1847, in which there was only one collection, and as compared with that year there was a decrease of only £298 8s. 5d.
Free Church of Scotland.
The General Assembly of the Free Church, met in Edinburgh on the 24th May. The Rev. Dr. Mackay of Dunoon was elected Moderator. Owing to the very depressed state of the country, the sustentation fund had slightly fallen off; it amounted only to £87,000; last year it was £89,000; but the other funds of the church seemed all to be prosperous; and encouraging reports were read of their Missions, Heathen, Colonial, and Jewish; reports were also read of the prosperity of Collegiate instruction, popular education, and other objects. The Rev. Mr. Bannerman of Ormiston was elected page 211 professor of Theology, in room of Dr. Candlish who had resigned. Mr. Bannerman is thus successor to the chair of Dr. Chalmers.
Free Church Missionary Society.—
On Monday evening last week, the annual meeting of the friends of this society was held in Exeter Hall,—the Hon. F. Maule, M.P., in the chair. The annual Report of the Committee, after adverting to the flourishing state of the home establishment of the society, its 500 schools, besides Normal schools and Colleges, proceeded to detail the operations of the missionaries in North America, New South Wales, and New Zealand. The efforts of the Society had been, during the past year, extended to many of the Mediterranean stations, and to the Continent of Europe, where it was aided by the already existing Missionary Society; and, since the last meeting, upwards of £2000 had been forwarded for the relief of the persecuted brethren in the Canton de Vaud. A report of one of their missionaries also stated, the first non-conforming church ever established in Italy, was opened in April last. France, too, was begining to occupy their attention, and a Church separate from the State already existed there. Towards the six Missionary Schemes of the Free Church there was raised during the past year the sum of £56,000, whilst the sum raised for the missions and other Christion objects connected with them, was £63,000. This Report was received and adopted, and Mr. F. Maule then left the meeting in consequence of pressing engagements, leaving the Hon. A Kinnaird to occupy the chair. Several clergymen and gentlemen then addressed the meeting in behalf of resolutions in support of the principles of the Society. The meeting, which was a numerous one, separated after thanking the chairman.
United Presbyterian Church.
The Synod of the United Presbyterian Church met in Edinburgh on the 7th of May. The Rev. Mr. Meikle of Beith was elected Moderator. Inter-page 212esting reports were given in of the Synod's missions in the West Indies, Canada, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, Old Calabar on the Western coast of Africa, and in Persia.
Among other matters a long discussion ensued on the reading of sermons in the pulpit; it appeared that this practise was creeping in among the preachers and younger ministers. It was decided by a large majority that it be interdicted in all ordinary cases; those ministers only who have accustomed themselves to the practise to be left to their own discretion. The Rev. Dr. A. Fletcher of London, who retired from the Secession Synod in 1824 was by his own request admitted again into the Synod.
Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church met in Glasgow on the 7th May. The Rev. Dr. Symington of Paisley was elected Moderator. Dr. W. Symington, of Glasgow, presented the report of the committee on Jewish Missions. It referred to the favourable state in which the missions generally were, especially on the continent of Europe. Dr. Cumingham the Synod's Missionary to the Jews in London, addressed the Synod on the state of the Jews in the Metropolis, and detailed some of his labours among them. Dr. Bates read a report of their missions in New Zealand and Canada. The Synod was addressed by the Rev. Professor La Harpe of Geneva. As it had been in Scotland their society had received most sympathy, he delivered his message, he said, with confidence. It was unanamously agreed that a collection should be made in all the congregations of the Synod to assist in diffusing the gospel on the Continent. The Rev. Mr. Sims, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland also addressed the Synod; he stated the difficulties to be encountered in maintaining the pure gospel in Ireland, and urged the duty of supporting a mission to the native Irish, which was favourably responded to.