ASIA Su...»,->....>tart.^»....-.-=M L7: \. Lieut.-Col. Hughes . it. Rev. H. M. MacGill 80 Minute on the Means of exciting and maintaining the Mis- sionary Eeeling at Home ...... The Missionary Lectureship : Eeport : its Plan : and the Com- mittee appointed ........ 58 Address by Rev. P. Latbobe . 82 ,, Rev. J. Anderson . 83 , Rev. J. Towers . ib. , Rev. J. Fordyce . 84 , Rev. J. Mullens . . 85 , W. Leach, Esq. . 87 , Rev. W. Campbell . 88 , Lieut.-Col. Hughes . ib. , The Chairman . . . ib. , Rev. Dr. Steane . 89 Rev. R. S. Hardy . 90 , Rev. Dr. Tweedie . ib. , Rev. Dr. Somerville . 91 , Rev. G. D. CuLLEN . 92 , Rev. Dr. Baylee . ib. , Rev. J. H. TiTcoMB . 93 95 97 FIRST MISSIONARY SOIREE. Address by G. F. Barbouk, Esq., Chairman -. . . .99 ' „ Dr. LocKHART, on Medical Missions in China . 100 Second General Prater-meeting 109 CONTENTS. THIRD SESSION. Paper on Missionary Education: by the Rev. C. B. Leupolt hi Address by tlie Eev. C. T. Hceenlis . . . . .116 Paper on Missionary Education: by the Eev. T. Smith . lis „ ,, „ by the Rev. J. H. Titcomb . 123 Address by Rev. J. L. Porter. . . 140 Col. Lavie . . .142 Rev. Dr. O'Meara . . 144 Rev. T. Gardiner . . ib. J. Cunningham, Esq. . 146 Rev. J. SoGDEN . . ih. Rev. H. GnNDERT . . 148 Rev. J. FoRDYCE . . ih. Rev. T. L. Badham . 149 . 150 Address by Dr. G. H. Davis . 127 Addre ,, Rev. B. L. Singh . . 129 Rev. J. M'Kee . . . 130 ,, Rev. G. Candy . . . 131 ,, Rev. Dr. Baylee . . 132 ,, Rev. S. HiSLOP . . . 134 ,, Rev. W. Campbell 135 Rev. J. Walton . 137 „ H. C. Tucker, Esq. . 139 ,, Minute on Missionary Education FOURTH SESSION. Paper on the best Means of calling forth Home Liberality : by the Rev. James Lewis ...... Address by Capt. Layard . . .164 Rev. Can.WooDROOFFE 165 Dr. Davis .... 166 Rev. Dr. Gather . . 167 Rev. T. L. Badham . 168 Rev. Dr. Tidman . .169 Rev. Dr. Twebdie . . 170 Rev. C. Rattray . . 171 Rev. G. Scott . . .172 153 Address by Rev. J. L. Porter . . 172 Rev. J. B. Whiting . ib. Rev. H. M. MacGill . 174 Rev. P. H. CORNFORD . 175 John Cropper, Esq. . 176 Rev. J. Makepeace . ib. Rev. D. Thorburn . ib. Rev. H. M. Waddell . 177 Lieut.-Col. ED-W.A.RDES 178 Minute on the Means of securing increased Liberality to Mis- sionary Work ......... 178 CONTENTS. SECOND MISSIONARY SOIREE. Third General Prater-meeting PACE 180 Address by the Rev. B. L. Singh . ... „ on the Peshawur Mission : by Lieut.-Col. Edwakdes 185 „ on Missions in South Africa: by the Rev. W. Shaw 189 191 FIFTH SESSION. Communication from Rotterdam ..... 192 Address of the Chairman on Native Agency . . . 192 Paper on Native Agency in Foreign Missions : by the Rev. R. S. I-Iakdt Questions by Rev. J. Mullens . 199 Reply by Rev. R. S. Hardy . . 200 Address by Col. Dawes .... 201 „ Rev. I. Stubbins . . 202 „ Dr. LocKHART . . . 204 " Rev. W. Fairbrother 206 ih. ib. 208 209 210 ,, C. Swallow, Esq. ,, Major Davidson . „ Dr. Macgowan „ Rev. T. Gardiner . ,1 Rev. P. L.4.TR0BB Minute on Native Agents Address by Rev. Dr. O'Meara . . Rev. H. M. Waddell . Rev. G. R. Birch . . Rev. B. L. Singh . . Rev. F. Trestrail . . G. F. Barbour, Esq. Rev. G. Pritchard Rev. C. B. Leupolt . Rev. J. Walton . . Col. Lavie . . . . Rev. Dr. Tidman . . 194 212 213 215 216 219 220 221 222 224 225 ib. 227 SIXTH SESSION. Committee on Income of Religious Societies .... 232 Paper on Candidates for Missionary/ Work : by the Rev. T. Green . . .233 CONTENTS. ix PAGE PAGE Address by Rev. Dr. Baylee . 240 Add ress by Rev. W. Swan- . . . 252 ,, Dr. LOCKHART . . 244 Capt. Layakd . 253 „ Rev. G. D. CuLLEN zb. Rev. J. H. TiTCOMB 254 „ Rev. Dr. O'Meara 245 Rev. W. Harcus . . 255 ,, Rev. R. C. KiKG . . ib. Rev. Can.WooDROOEFE 250 ,, Rev. W. Fairbrotheb 246 Rev. H. M. Wad DELL ib. „ Rev. J. B. Whiting ib. Rev. T. Smith . . 257 ,, Rev. Dr. Somebville 247 Rev. J. SUGDEN 259 „ Rev. G. Scott . . 248 Rev. D. Thorbubn 261 ,, Rev. F. Tbestrail 250 Rev. Dr. Gather . . 262 ,, Dr. Macgowan 252 The Chairman . . . 263 Eesolution on Mr. Bickeksteth's Letter : on the Special Week of Prayer in January, 1861, and simultaneous Sermons on Missions 260 Minute on the best Means of obtaining well-qualified Mis- sionaries ....... . . 264 THIRD 3IISSI0NARY SOIREE. Address on Indian Converts in the Mutiny : by the Eev. C. B. Leupolt 266 Address on Missions in Turkey : by the Rev. J. R. Ttjckek 270 ,, on Female Education in the East: by Rev. J. Fordyce 273 „ on Medical Missions in China and Japan . by Dr. MACGO^YAN 27i Fourth General Prater-meeting 277 SEVENTH SESSION. Address of the Chairman Paper on Native Churches : by the Eev. F. Trestrail 278 279 X COKT ENTS. PAGE Address by Rev. J. Mullens . . 283 Address by Rev. C. B. Lecpolt , ReT. G. F. Fox . . . 287 ,, Rev. R. S. Hardi- . , Rev. J. Wallace . . a. ,, Rev. J. H. TiTCOMB , Rev. P. Latrobe . . 288 „ Colonel Lavie . . , Rev. W. Shaw . . . 289 „ Rev. J. Mullens . . , Dr. Davis . . . . 290 ,, Rev. J. SUGDEN . . , Rev. Dr. Tweedie . . 291 ,, D. F. MACLEOD, Esq. , Rev. T. Gardiner . ib. „ Rev. H. M. Waddell , Rev. B. L. Singh . . 292 ,, Rev. S. HisLOP , R. A. Macfie, Esq. . 29.5 Lieut. S. F. Page . , Capt. Layard . . . il. Minute on Native Churches Resolutions of Thanks Resolution on Parting . ^ . Address by the Rev. Dr. Sojieeville „ Rev. G. OsBOKN PAGE . 296 . 298 . 299 . 300 . 301 , 303 ib. 306 . ib. . 307 309 313, 314 314 315 . 317 GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. Speech of Major-General Alexandee ... 318 „ Earl of Shaptesbuet . . 320 „ Major Davidson . . 326 „ Rev. Joseph Mullens . . . 329 „ Lieut. -Colonel Sir Heebeet Edvtaedes, K.C.B. . 337 „ Rev. Canon Stovtell .... 355 „ Rev. G. D. CuLLEN 36o „ Rev. Dr. J. B. Lowe . . . 361 „ Matoe of Liverpool . . . .361 „ R. A. Macpie, Esq. •■.... 362 „ Earl of Shaftesbury .... .362 CONTENTS. APPENDIX. I. Previous Conferences on Missions : by the Eev. J. Mullens 366 II. Suggestions : by James Douglas, Esq. of Cavers . . 375 III. On the Training of Native Agents : by the Rev. B. Ltth of Fiji 377 IV. Modern Works on Christian Missions . . . .381 INDEX 391 SUBJECTS TREATED SPECIALLY. European Missionaries Abroad : Paper Missionaries and their Plans .... On the best Means of exciting and maintaining a Spirit: Paper, 58 . Medical Missions in China : Address Missionary Education: Papers, ill, 118, 123 Means of calling forth Home Liberality : Paper, l.J3 Peshawuk Mission : Address Missions in South Africa : Address Native Agency : Address, 192 ; Paper, 194 Candidates for Missionary Work : Paper Means of obtaining well-qualified Missionaries Indian Converts in the Mutiny : Address Missions in Turkey : Address Female Education in the East : Address Medical Missions in China and Japan : Address Native Churches : Paper, 279 The Mutiny in India : Address Results of Modern Missions : Addresses Conferences on Missions : Paper Training of Native Agents : Paper 17 . MINUTE 56 I Missionary . MINUTE 95 100 . MINUTE 150 MINUTE 178 185 189 . MINUTE 227 233 . MINUTE 264 266 270 273 . 275 . MINUTE 309 337 50, 53, 329 , 365 377 CONFERENCE ON MISSIONS. INTRODUCTION. The Conference on Christian Missions, the proceedings of which Origin of the . ° Conierence. are described in the following pages, originated in a desire to have brethren brought together, who had reflected on the duty and the lukewarmness of the churches in respect of Our Grand Commission ; or who could contribute actual experiences ; in order that, by their mutual consultations, all Christians of the United Kingdom Blight be stirred up to greater zeal, and to a more com- plete consecration of time, of effort, and of substance, in this work of the Lord. In God's good providence facilities were presented, and readily embraced by a number of the officers and members of Missionary Committees in London and Edinburgh : who felt that its proposed „ . . . , f . , . Objects. alter the many years oi continuous missionary labour carried on in heathen lands; after the solid advance attained in some fields, and the great experience acquired in all, it would be well for the Directors, Secretaries, and Missionaries of all Societies and Churches, to ob- tain an opportunity of meeting together and conferring together about their common work. It was felt that it must prove a lasting benefit for them to examine in detail the working of their various missionary agencies, to compare their different plans, and to throw into a common stock the results of that valuable experience which they have earned hardly upon the very fields of heathenism. It was felt, that while all must find abundant means of adding to their own knowledge, through the information given by brethren, all must be cheered by the tokens of missionary success; all must be stimulated to greater zeal in the service of Christ, the common Lord ; and all must be bound in closer and more loving sympathy with brethren toiling for the same grand end. With these views the invitations were issued, and means were Measurea adopted for securing as complete an attendance as possible B 2 CONFERENCE ON MISSIONS. of all who could contribute to the full discussion of the topics to be laid before them ; while care was taken that the numbers should not be so great as to prevent the deliberations from being free and almost conversational in their general tone. At the request of the Mission Secretaries in London, unanimously made to him at one of their united monthly meetings, Heney Cakke TncKEE, Esq., late Commissioner at Benares, undertook to conduct the general pre- paratory arrangements ; in which he received assistance from the Eev. G-. D. CuLLEN, of Edinburgh, and other friends. The Invitations, invitations met with a hearty response from leading members of almost all the Missionary Societies and Committees ; officers of twenty-five or more taking part on the occasion : the most cordial hospitality was offered by Christian friends in Liverpool ; and at the appointed time, March 19th to 23rd, a hundred and twenty- members of Conference met together to carry out the work which had been planned. Some doubts and misgivings had been felt hy a few, but they were soon dispelled by the free and brotherly tone of intercourse which prevailed, as well as by the frankness of those who shared in the discussions ; and in the end it was acknowledged, with devout thankfulness, that the Conference had surpassed the most sanguine expectations of its warmest friends. Its Plan. It ^as arranged by the promoters of the scheme, that four days should be spent in discussing the various plans of missionary labour at home and abroad ; that two sittings should be held each day, morning and afternoon, of about three hours and a half each ; that they should be preceded by a morning prayer-meeting, and followed by a missionary soiree at night : and that while the official deliberations should be confined to the members of the Con- ference, all friends should be invited to attend the devotional Success. services. The plan was carried out with great success; the general attendance at the openifig and closing services increased day by day ; a happy variety was observed in the addresses delivered, and the fields of labour described; a most delightful spirit of Christian union, devotion, and prayer prevailed; and the presence of the Lord, in whose name the work was done, was largely realised. The more general services were brought to a conclusion by a Public Meeting held in the Philharmonic Hall. It proved to be the noblest meeting ever held in Liverpool in connexion with Christian missions, and was most appropriately presided over by the distinguished Earl who stands at the head of so many ao-encies consecrated to the salvation of men, both at home and abroad. Public Meeting. INTEODtrCTION. 3 Of the valuable character of the Conference discussions a Value of the high estimate must be formed. They were eminently practical '^™™°"''- and searching ; the addresses delivered were brief and j)ointed ; and 'a large amount of earnest work was accomplished during the brief sittings. Two short-hand writers, Messrs. Lee and Nightingale, of Liverpool, were present to record these dis- cussions as carefully as possible, in order that they might obtain Report. permanent record, and secure a wide circulation among the agents of missionary institutions. From their admirable report, revised by the speakers themselves, they are now published ; with the earnest desire that many who were not present at these hallowed meetings may catch something of the spirit which prevailed, and derive benefit from the information that was offered. The Editors have endeavoured to secure for this record as much correctness as possible ; and trust that all mis- takes] and imperfections may be forgiven. They acknowledge with pleasure the assistance rendered them by the prompt revision of their addresses and papers by the various speakers, which will, they hope, render the work not merely a trustworthy, but a per- manently valuable work of reference. They would invite special attention to the various Minutes, minotes in which the conclusions arrived at by the Conference, respecting the principal plans of missionary labour and economy, are embodied; inasmuch as they express, in a few brief paragraphs, the results of that valuable experience, which it has taken years to acquire in many parts of the world. May the Spirit of God bless these efforts made to secure greater support and efficiency for our missionary operations. Would that the whole Church of Christ on earth thoroughly realised its responsibility and privilege as His appointed instru- ment for making the truth known to Jew and Gentile throughout the world; and that in obedience, faith, and love, there were con- veyed and preached, unto all nations, the message of peace and good- will, this Gospel of the kingdom. LIST OF MEMBERS. AiKMAN, Eev. J. Logan, Anderston United Presbyterian Church, Glasgow. Alexander, Major-General, Her Majesty's Indian Army; Chair- man of the Conference. Andeeson, Rev. John, formerly Missionary of the Church of Scotland in India, now Minister of the West Parish Church, Dalkeith. Anderson, T. D., Esq., Mayor of Liverpool ; Treasurer of the Liverpool and West Lancashire Church Missionary Association. Badham, Rev. T. L., London, Joint Secretary of the Moravian Missions, and formerly Missionary in the West Indies. Ballantyne, Rev. William, London ; Secretary of the Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church in England. Barbour, George F., Esq., Edinburgh ; Hon. Sec. to the Amoy Mission in China ; Mem. F. C. Colonial and Jews' Committees. Barbour, Robert, Esq., Manchester; Treasurer to the Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church in England. Baret, Rev. D. T., Southport, Association Secretary C. M. Society. Baylee, Rev. Joseph, D.D., Principal of St. Aidan's Theological College, Birkenhead. Birch, Rev. George R., Secretary Turkish Missions' Aid Society, London. BiRKs, Rev. T. R., Rector of Kelsall. BuDDEN, Rev. J. H., Belvedere, Kent, Missionary of the London Missionary Society at Almora, India. Campbell, Eev. William, Barnsbury, Islington, formerly Mis- sionary of the L. M. S. at Bangalore. Candy, Rev. George, Missionary at Bombay from C. M. Society. Carlile, Rev. Gavin, Glasgow, Editor of "News of the Churches." Caepentee, Rev. Henry, St. Michael's, Liverpool, Hon. Sec. Liverpool C. M. Association. LIST OF MEMBERS. 5 Cathee, Eev. Robert G., L.L.D.,WesleyanMinister,Londonderry; Members. Secretary of the Systematic Beneficence Society. C1.EGHOEN, Thomas, Esq., Edinburgh, Sheriff of Argyleshire ; Free Church of Scotland's Foreign Mission, Jews, and Colo- nial Committees. CoRNFORD, Rev. PhiUp H., Baptist Chapel, Luton, Bedfordshire ; formerly Baptist Missionary in Jamaica. Ceichton, Rev. Hugh, D.D., United Presb. Church, Liverpool. Cropper, John, Esq., Dingle Bank, Liverpool. CuLLEN, Rev. George D., Edinburgh, one of the Secretaries of the Conference. Cunningham, James, Esq., Queen Street, Edinburgh; Member of Free Church Foreign Mission Committee. Davidson, Major D., late Bombay Army, Woodcroft, Edinburgh; Member of Free Church Foreign Mission Committee. Davis, Dr. George Henry, Secretary of the Religious Tract Society, London. Davtes, Col. M., late Indian Army, Lay Secretary C. M. Society. Davtson, Edward, Esq., Aldcliffe Hall, Lancaster. Edwardes, Lieut. -Col. Sir Herbert, K.C.B., H.M. Lidian Army. Fairbrothee, Rev. William, London, Secretary for Funds, Lon- don Missionary Society ; formerly Missionary at Shanghai. Feaknlet, Rev. Matthew, Miss, in China from C. M. Society. Ffolliott, Rev. William ; Secretary to the Moravian Missionary Society, Liverpool. Fordtce, Rev. John, late of Calcutta, now Minister of Boston Free Church, Dunse, Berwickshire ; Member of Free Church • Foreign Mission Committee. Forfar, Rev. Patrick T., Scotch Church, Oldham St. Liverpool. Fox, Rev. G. F., Durham, Hon. Secretary of the C. M. Society. Gabb, Rev. James, Castle Howard, Yorkshire, Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of Carlisle, &c.; one of the Adjudicators of the proposed Prize Essays on Missions. Gardiner, Rev. Thomas, Missionary of the Free Church of Scot- land, Calcutta. Gee, Dr. Robert, Liverpool, Director of the Welsh Calvinistic Missionary Society. Graham, Rev. John, D.D., Reformed Presbyterian Church, Liverpool. b CONFBEEIWE. ON MISSIONS. Mambers. Gkaham, EeT. William, United Presbyterian Churclv Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. Gjieen, Eev. Thomas, Principal of tte CM. Society's Institution, Islington, London. GuNDEET, Eev. H., Ph.D., Basle Mission, Malabar Coast, India. Halket, Eev. Alexander M'Donald, Presbyterian Minister, Park- gate. HAEC0S, Eev. William, Toxteth Chapel, Liverpool ; London Mis- sionary Society Committee. Haedt, Eev. E. Spence, formerly Wesleyan Missionary in Ceylon. Hebeet, Eev. Charles, Brunswick Chapel, Portman Square, London ; Secretary of the Colonial Church and School Society. Hendeeson, John, Esq., of Park, Glasgow ; Member of Foreign Mission Committee of the U. P. Church of Scotland. HiSLOP, Eev. Stephen, Missionary of the Free Church of Scotland, Nagpore, India. Hodgson, Eev. T. E., Church of England, Liverpool. Hodgson, Adam^ Esq., Liverpool; Liverpool C. M. Association. HcEENLi, Eev. C. T.,. Missionary at Agra, from C. M. Society. Howell, James, Esq., Liverpool ; a Steward of the Conference. Hughes, Lieut. -Colonel E. Marsh, late Bombay Army, Hon. Sec. Strangers' Home for Asiatics, and Member C. M. Society. ^Kellt, Eev. John, Crescent Chapel, Liverpool. King, Eev. Eobert C, Association Secretary of Colonial Church and School Society, Everton, Liverpool. Knox, Eev. A., Incumbent of Birkenhead ; President of the C. M. Society Auxiliary. Lateobe, Eev. Peter, London, Secretary of the Moravian Missions. Lavie, Colonel Tudor, late Indian Artillery, Member C. M. Com- mittee. Lataed, Captain H. L., Secretary of the London Society for Pro- moting Christianity among the Jews. Leach, Wm., Esq., Marlborough Eoad, St. John's Wood, Trea- surer of the London Association in aid of the Moravian Mis- sionary Society. Lee, Henry, Esq., Broughton, Manchester. Leupolt, Eev. C. B., Missionary at Benares, from C. M. Society. Lewis, Eev. James, Free St. John's Church, Leith ; Mem. Com. Medical Missionary Society. tIST OF MEMBERS. 7 LoCKHART, Wm., Esq., F.R.C.S., Medical Missionary of the Members. London Missionary Society at Shanghai, China. Login, Sir John S., Kew, late H.E.I.C. Service. Lowe, Rev. J. B., D.D., St. Jude's, Liverpool. LuNDiE, Rev. R. H., English Presbyterian Church, Birkenhead. Mann, Rev. James, Congregational Chapel, Birkenhead. Macleod, Donald F., Esq., C.B., Judicial Commissioner in the Punjaub. M'Cluee, Rev. Wm., Londonderry, Secretary of the Colonial Mission of the General Assembly of the Irish Presb. Church. M'Cldee, Thomas, Esq., Belfast. Macfie, Robert A., Esq., Ashfield Hall, Neston, Cheshire ; Mem- ber of Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church in England, and one of the Stewards of Conference. MacG-ill, Rev. Hamilton M., Home Mission Sec. to the U. P. Church, Glasgow. Maogowan, Dr. D. J., of New York, Medical Missionary of the American^Baptist Union, from China and Japan. Makepeace, Rev. Jonathan, Union Chapel, Luton, Bedfordshire, and formerly Missionary of the Baptist Missionary Society at Agra. M'Kee, Rev. J., Missionary to Guzerat, from the General As- sembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church. Matheson, Thomas, Esq., Liverpool ; Hon. Sec. Liverpool Town Mission, and one of the Stewards of Conference. Milwakd, Rev. H. C, B.A., C. M. Society, Calcutta. Mullens, Rev. Joseph, Missionary of the London Missionary Society, Calcutta ; one of the Secretaries of the Conference. O'Meaea, Rev. Fred. A., LL.D., Missionary Chaplain to the Red Indians on Lake Huron, and Superintendent of Indian Missions for the Church of England there. OsBOEN, Rev. George, Secretary, Wesleyan Mission House, London. Pateeson, Rev. John C, Presbyterian Minister, Manchester. Pike, Rev. James Carey, Secretary of the General Baptist Mis- sionary Society, Quorndon, near Loughborough. PoETEE, Rev. J. Leslie, A.M., Missionary at Damascus from the Irish Presbyterian Church. Pritchaed, Rev. George, late Missionary of the L.M.S. at Tahiti. O CONFEEENCE ON JnSSIONS. Members. Potst, Eev. Edmund T., Commercial Street Chapel, Northampton. Raffles, Eev. Thos., D.D., LL.D., Liverpool. Rattray, Rev. Charles, Missionary of the L.M.S. in Demerara. EoBEETS, John, Esq., Secretary of the "Welsh Calvinistic Metho- dists' Foreign Missionary Society. Scott, Rev. George, Liverpool, formerly Wesleyan Missionary in Sweden. Shaw, Rev. WiUiam, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Missions in South-eastern Africa. Smith, Rev. Thomas, M.A., formerly Missionary in Calcutta, now Minister of the Free Church, Cowgate-head, Edinburgh; Member of Free Church Foreign Mission Committee. Smith, Rev. Thornley, Bolton, formerly Wesleyan Missionary to South Africa. Singh, Rev. Behari Lai, Licensed Preacher, Free Church of Scotland, Calcutta. Someeville, Rev. Andrew, D.D., Edinburgh; Foreign Mission Secretary of the United Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Steane, Rev. Edward, D.D., Camberwell; Hon. Sec. of the Evan- gelical AUiance, and one of the Secretaries of the Conference. Stephens, Rev. Wm. Robert, Curate of Seaforth, Liverpool. Stieling, Rev. W. H., B.A., Bristol, Secretary to the Patago- nian, or South American, Missionary Society. Stokes, Hudleston, Esq., late Madras Civil Service. Stowell, Rev. Canon, Manchester. Sttjbbins, Rev. Isaac, General Baptist Missionary from Cuttack, Orissa, India. SuGDEN, Rev. John, Lancaster, late Missionary of the London Missionary Society at Bangalore. Swan, Rev. William, Edinburgh, formerly Missionary of the London Missionary Society in Siberia. Swallow, Charles, Esq., Domestic Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Taylor, Rev. W. F., LL.D., Incumbent of St. John's Church, Liverpool ; Hon. Sec. C. M. Society. Thoebuen, Rev. David, M.A., Free South Church, Leith; Mem- ber of the Committee of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, and of F. C. Colonial and Continental Committee. LIST OF MEMBERS. 9 TiDMAN, Rev. Arthur, D.D., Foreign Secretary of the London Members. Missionary Society. TiTCOMB, Rev. J. H., Secretary of the Christian Vernacular Education Society for India. Towers, Rev. J., United Presbyterian Church, Birkenhead. Teesidder, John Edward, Esq., Member of Committee of the Young Men's Missionary Association, in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society, London. Tresteail, Rev. Frederick, Sec. of Baptist Missionary Society. Tucker, Henry Carre, Esq., C.B., Bengal Civil Service, London, one of the Secretaries of the Conference. Tucker, Rev. Joseph Kidger, Incumbent of Trinity Church, Northwich ; Clerical Secretary Turkish Missions' Aid Society. TwEEDiE, Rev. Wm. K., D.D., Edinburgh, Convener of Com- mittee of General Assembly of Free Church of Scotland on Foreign Missions. Waddell, Rev. Hope M., United Presbyterian Church Missionary from Old Calabar, Western Africa. Walker, Rev. Norman L., Free Church, Dysart, Fifeshire ; Member of Free Church Foreign Mission Committee. Wallace, Rev. James, Missionary to Guzerat from the Irish Presbyterian Church. Walton, Rev. John, Wesleyan Missionary, North Ceylon. Welsh, Rev. Joseph R., Canning Street Presbyterian Church, Liverpool. White, Rev. Verner M., LL.D., Islington Presbyterian Church, Liverpool. Whiting, Rev. J. B., Central Association . Secretary C. M. Society. Whittemoee, Rev. W. M., Rector of St. James', London, Repre- sentative of the Society for Female Education in the East. Wilkinson, Rev. Henry, Norwich, late General Baptist Mis- sionary at Berhampore, near Ganjam, India. Woodi-all, Henry, Esq., Bebington, near Liverpool ; a Steward of the Conference. WoODROOFFE, Rcv. Canon, Alton, Hants. Young, Robert, Esq., Free Church Foreign Missions Office, Edinburgh. Total Members, 126. 10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE. PRELIMINARY MEETING. Monday Evening, March 19th, 1860. Preiiminaiy The Members of the Conference met at half-past six p.m:., in the Meeting. , -i • i lower room of Hope Hall, for a devotional service, over which the Rev. Andrew Knox, Incumbent of Birkenhead, presided. The devotions of the meeting were led by the Rev. R. S. Haedt, Wesleyan missionary from Ceylon ; the Rev. Dr. Tweedie, of the Free Church of Scotland ; and the Rev. Dr. Steane. After tea, a preliminary meeting was held to arrange the business of the Conference ; when it was proposed, and carried unanimously, that John Ceoppee, Esq., be requested to take the Chair. The roU having been called, in order that the members might be introduced to each other, the Chairman desired H. Caeee Tucker, Esq. to state the proposed order of business. This having been done, — It was moved by John Henderson, Esq., of Park, seconded by E. Dawson, Esq., of Aldcliffe Hall, and carried unanimously, that Major -General Alexander be requested to preside as Chairman over the deliberations of the Conference. It was then resolved, on the proposal of the Rev. A. Knox and the Rev. Dr. Tweedie, That the following gentlemen be appointed an Executive Committee, to arrange the business of the Conference : — Cbainnaa. Executive Comraittee. Rev. George D. Cullen, Rev. Joseph Mullens, Rev. Dr. Steane, Rev. C. B. Leupolt, John Cropper, Esq. James Howell, Esq. Henry Woodfall, Esq. Robert A. Macfie, Esq., and H. Caere Tuckee, Esq. PEELIMINAEY MEETING. 11 It was moved by the Eev. P. Lateobe, seconded by Canon WooDEOOFEE, and resolved, that the Eev. G. D. CuLLEN, Eev. J. Mullens, and Secretaries Eev. Dr. Steane, H. Caeeb Tdckee, Esq. be appointed Seceetaeies to the Conference, and Editoes of the Proceedings. With a view to economise time, it was earnestly requested ^^°'^ that, in the important discussions coming on, all speeches should be brief, and to the point ; and, if possible, should not exceed ten minutes. Full authority was given to the Chairman of the Con- ference to interfere, if necessary, in this matter. After some conversation, it was agreed that the brief papers, Hints. kindly forwarded by friends at a distance, should be referred to the Secretaries, with a request that they should look over them, and bring forward such hints and suggestions as they might con- tain in reference to the topics which may come under discussion. It was also resolved. That, while no intention exists of adopt- Miuutea to ing in the Conference formal resolutions that may be supposed binding upon its various members, it is most desirable that the Secretaries should prepare, and, if possible, lay before the Con- ference, Minutes embodying the general opinion of the Conference upon the various subjects examined and discussed. After presenting their thanks to the Chairman, prayer was offered by the Eev. Dr. Someeville, and the meeting closed. FIEST GENERAL PRAYER-MEETING. Tuesday Moening, March 20th. At 9.30 A.M. the first General Prayer-Meeting was held in First Hope Hall, at which a large number of friends were present, Praye"?^ besides the members of Conference. Meeting. The Eev. G. Scott of Liverpool, formerly Wesleyan Mission- ary in Sweden, presided. The devotions were led by the Rev. C. B. Leupolt of Be- nares; the Eev. P. Lateobe, London Secretary of the Mora- vian" Missionary Society ; Dr. Maogowan, Medical Missionary at Ningpo ; and Major Davidson. 12 FIRST SESSION. First The first session of Conference took place in the Hall at 10.30 A. 31., when there was a large gathering of members. Major- G-ENEEAL Alexander in the Chair. The Chairman announced that, as an appropriate introduction to the proceedings of a Conference composed of members of a great variety of churches and denominations, there would be presented a Eesolution, expressive of the pleasure felt by all in meeting together under such circumstances, to consider the best interests of the Missionary cause ; and called upon the Eev. Dr. Tidjian, who presented the Eesolution as follows : — Eesolution of Mutual Welcome. Eesoiutiouof That the members of this Conference, in commencing their deliberations respecting the work of their common Lord in the heathen world, desire to express their great pleasure at meeting each other upon the present interesting occasion, and to offer to each other a hearty fraternal welcome. Though belonging to different sections of the Church of Christ, they rejoice in that close union to each other and that practical co-operation, which have so largely prevailed among the agents of Missionary Societies, both at home and abroad. They desire that that union should grow closer day by day, and their mutual affection in- crease and abound. "Well aware that they hold various opinions on important ecclesiastical questions, they disavow all wisli to interfere with each other's conscientious convictions ; while at the same time they cling with one heart to the truth as it is in Jesus, and desire to unite their most earnest efforts in spreading among the heathen the knowledge of that divinely revealed Gospel, which is the appointed means of their re- demption. They pray that in their present meetings the Spirit FIRST SESSION. 13 of power, of love, and of a sound mind, may rest upon tliem ; that they may all be instructed, cheered, and strengthened in their work by their mutual consultations ; that they may be led to renewed consecration to that Divine Redeemer who has con- descended to accept their imperfect service in this great cause ; and that He will so graciously bless their work in His name, as to render it more efficient than ever in the conversion of immortal souls. After apologising for speaking on this subject at very brief notice, Dr. TiDMAN continued: — Sir, I most heartily agree with the rev Dr. spirit of this resolution ; that we come together with great plea- sure ; and that that pleasure is founded on our mutual fraternal love, and still more on our deep interest in the honour and glory of christian our common Eedeemer. The resolution recognises the fact, whioli we, who look upon each other's faces, could not fail to feel, that we belong to different sections of the Christian Church ; but, Sir, we do not regret that these different sections of the redeemed Church are engaged after their own manner, and their own deep and conscientious convictions, in the advancement of the common inte- rests of his kingdom. I believe that, by this division of labour, Advantage of much strength is gained, much useful example supplied, many mi'sioua?y errors probably prevented ; and if we can but carry on our dis- '='''°™- tinct agencies in this work in the spirit of mutual goodwill and of constant prayer, then I think. Sir, this variety, like the varieties displayed in all the works of God, will contribute to strength, beauty, and efficiency. I hope that our meetings on this occasion Effect of our will greatly tend to strengthen that feeling which, I am sure, we aU honestly and earnestly wish to cherish and promote ; and especially that we shall meet on all these several occa- sions in the spirit of those prayers which our brethren have presented on our behalf this morning; with a feeling of deep humiliation that we have done so little in a cause that demands so much ; with the conviction that all that has been done is not by man's wisdom or by man's power ; and that " neither is it he that planteth anything or he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." In looking forward to those greater labours and those more extended glories which we anticipate in the future, our trust wiU still be in God, in the faithfulness of His promises, in the infinite value of the one great sacrifice offered by the Lord Jesus for the world's transgressions, and in the life-giving and trans- forming energy of his good Spirit. With these few remarks. Sir, I cordially offer the resolution to the meeting. (Applause.) 14 KEY. THOMAS GEEEN. Eev. T. Gbeen. Eeal union in this cause. Importance of tile objects before us. Desire for revival. Differences should be forgotten. The Rev. Thomas Green, Principal of the Church Missionary College, Islington, London, rose with great pleasure to second it. He felt, they were met together for a great and glorious object, and that it was the constraining love of Christ which animated every heart present. They were met as brethren. It had been justly remarked that they belonged to diiferent denominations ; but they were all fighting under one banner, the banner of the cross of Christ. They were all moved by one spirit, animated by one hope, influenced by one great and glorious object ; that object being, the Redeemer's glory in the extension of his kingdom, the gathering in of his people, and the bringing on of that glorious day when Jew and Gentile should be one fold under one Shepherd — Jesus Christ the Righteous. However important the objects which engaged the attention of other bodies; however important the ob- jects which engaged the attention of statesmen, politicians, philo- sophers, and merchants; he felt, and doubtless they would feel also, that the objects which engaged their attention at the present time infinitely transcended in importance all others. If one soul was of more value than a whole world, and that was the arithmetic which their blessed Lord and Master had taught them, then, surely, the object which they had before them was of infinite and transcendent importance. God had already greatly blessed their work, and in blessing them he had been pouring out his Spirit of light in a large measure. They had heard of those blessed outpourings in America, in Sweden, in Ireland, in Scotland, in various parts of the metro- polis, and other places ; and animated as they were by the ardent hope, nay, the assurance which God himself had given them, that this Spirit would be poured out upon them on tliis occasion, they had come together, knowing that he would bless them, and be with them from day to day ; sure that he would answer the prayers which had been offered on their behalf, and that a spirit of unity, love, forbearance, gentleness, and deep humility, would pervade their meetings. If permitted to add another remark, he would simply say : Let all differences be forgotten ; let them not remember that they were Churchmen or Dissenters, Baptists or Wesleyans, Presbyterians or Episcopalians ; let such thoughts be entirely swept away from their memory : let them only think that they were Christ's ; that Christ was all in all ; that he was verily in the midst of them ; and that now, in an especial manner, he would fulfil his own pro- mise, "Lo ! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." With very great pleasure he seconded the resolution, heartily ecu- FIRST SESSION. 15 curring in every sentiment spoken by their dear and eminent brotlier, Dr. Tidman, whom for the first time he was glad to meet, and of whose valuable labours in connexion with the missionary field he trusted they would long continue to hear. (Applause.) The Resolution was then put, and unanimously adopted. The Chairman next delivered a brief address on introducing chaikmah-. the programme of the morning's discussion. He said : This reso- lution forms a happy introduction to the proceedings of the Con- ference. I am certain that it is accepted by us all as a Christian welcome from one heart to another. (Applause.) In this unity, Spirit of then, and catching, up the words of wisdom which God the Holyin|s. Spirit has put into the mouths of those who have addressed you, let us now commence these most solemn, most sublime, most awful deliberations ; each relying upon the promises of our God and the gift of the Holy Spirit, that they will result in what will be for the glory of His most holy name, and for the good of millions around us who are lying in darkness and in the shadow of eternal death. Let us now go forward in dependence upon our God, and his Holy Spirit will undoubtedly be with us. Having welcomed each other, and given heart to heart in fellowship, let us, as Mr. Green has suggested, know no church but that one great Catholic Church, of which Christ is both the Head and the Foundation, and for the completion of which we wait when the corner-stone shall be brought forth with shoutings of " Grace, grace unto it !" May God in his infinite mercy guide us, guard us, keep us ; and so encourage and restrain us, that every word spoken may be simply and solely for the glory of His own most holy Name. The Chairman then referred to the programme which had programme been drawn up and printed, containing the subjects suggested for °^^^^^7- discussion. The programme for the morning session was as follows: — Subject : European Missionaries Abroad. A Paper, or Address, of ten minutes, by the Rev. Joseph Mullens, London Missionary Society, Calcutta. Necessity for a missionary at once mixing intimately with the natives, and obtaining a thorough mastery of their language. The use of the common Colloquial, as compared with the so-called Sacred Languages. Vernacular Preaching. Itinerancies. Visiting from house to house. 16 THE CHAIEMAN. Local Pastoral Work. Medical Missionaries. Translation of the Bible and Christian Books. Causes of Missionary Success. Causes of Failure. Should Missionary Effort be concentrated in limited loca- lities, or diffused over a large surface 2 Reflex influence of a greater degree of vital religion among our European Soldiery and Countrymen abroad. He advised all present to adhere as closely as possible to the sub- jects mentioned in the list, and particularly drew attention to the importance of the point mentioned in italics, ike cause of the failure of missions. In examining the causes which had hindered Causes of in any way the progress of Christian missions, he entreated them in missions. Carefully to consider whether, in the very systems of agency that had been adopted for the spread of the gospel, they could not detect some of the clogs to their chariot-wheels, and find out why they had hitherto driven so slowly. In mission fields they had to deal with men of different minds. Take, for instance, the subtle and intellectual Asiatic in contrast with the Esquimaux, or The tribes that in other lands had sunk to the lowest grades in the systems of scale of leasou and humanity. He would ask, whether it was a ™°^''' necessary thing that the very systems amidst which we had grown up ; systems that came out of the struggles, contentions, and con- troversies of the Reformation ; systems that had arisen in the days of Queen Elizabeth, and during the distracting times of the reigns of the Stuarts, which were manifestly imperfect in them- selves, though perhaps the best that could be adapted to the Are they states of mind and difficult circumstances, in which men were habits and ^ then placed, — whether such systems are what we should take and other °^ fi^j l^ks cast-iron matrices, in which to mould without necessary Mtions. adaptations, the varying minds and circumstances of American Indians, Africans, Asiatics, and the inhabitants of the numerous islands of the Pacific ? It was important to see whether we could not detect in these very systems causes of hindrance. From his own experience he was sure we could; and, therefore, on this subject there ought to be the freest and boldest expression of opinion, founded upon experience, and guided by the word of God. (Hear, hear.) At the invitation of the Chairman, the following paper was then read to the Conference by Mr. Mullens : — FIftST SESSION. 17 EUROPEAN MISSIONARIES ABROAD. BY THE EEV. JOSEPH MULLENS, CALCUTTA. 1. The European missionary is the most important element in importanco a system of missionary operations. He commences, maintains, and imssiouary. supervises that system. He preaches the divine message, and teaches others to proclaim it. He is the connecting link between old Churches and new ones ; between the long-settled Christian Societies of one country and the new plantations founded in lands hitherto heathen. His position is full of importance in respect to his office, in respect to the Churches who send him, and to the people whom he first instructs. As missionaries flourish, are faith- ful in character, work, and purposes, so will missions flourish : as they go wrong, are weak, worldly, secular, or selfish, so will those missions decay. The fidelity of a missionary may tell upon many generations : the fall of a missionary may be a stumbling-block to hundreds of souls. Not only, therefore, should missionaries be well chosen, but be well sustained, and should be followed by the con- fidence, the aflfections, and fervent prayers of the brethren who send them forth. 2. The position and office of a missionary are peculiar. A Peculiarity minister of Christ in any country is a Christian and something tion. more. He is a teacher, guide, and ruler in the household of faith. A missionary again occupies a post bej'ond this. He is a minister, and something more. He is that minister holding a special relation to the Saviour; a special relation to the Churches; a special re- ' lation to those whom he has come to enlighten. Missionaries are eminently representative men. They are the messengers of the Churches, examples of what those Churches are and do. They are ambassadors for Christ, holding his treasure in earthen vessels, yet counted "the Glory of Christ." To the heathen they bear a new religion ; they expound it, explain, and defend it. They en- force it in every way they can ; hj head, by heart ; by tongue, by life ; by love, by suffisring, by patience, and by toil. In these things the New Testament teachings are their best guide ; they were in many cases addressed to missionaries and mission churches by an Apostle who was himself a model missionary. 3. Apart from every peculiarity in his sphere of labour, and Hisrersmai in his plans of usefulness, the personal character of the missionary 18 ME. MULLENS'S PAPEK. should be his prime object of concern. He mitst be "blameless, as the steward of God;" "giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed ; but in all things approving himself as a minister of Christ." All secularity must be avoided. "No man that warreth entangleth himself in the affairs of this life ; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." Everything unchristian in his character and plans must be removed, for "if a man strive for masteries (even over heathenism), yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully." Opposers he will have many, still "the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be patient nnto all men;" that he may be able "by sound teaching to exhort and to convince gainsayers ;" pure, sober, hospitable, kind unto all men, he who is of the contrary part will be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of him. Thus watching like a faithful servant ; in doctrine sound, decided, and sincere ; in temper gentle, self-re- strained, and patient ; in conduct holy and approved unto God ; pressed by the Apostle's burden, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel," he wifl be earnest, in season and out of season, in preaching the divine word of grace ; making full proof of his mi- nistry; and purifying himself from all evil, will strive to become a vessel unto honour, sanctified to the Master's use, filled with the Spirit, and even upon earth made meet for heaven. Questiona 4. Securing, however, missionaries of sound religious character, his quaiitioar many questions arise respecting plans, and prominent before some minds come inquiries like these : — 1. Are piety, good religious character, and zeal, sufficient in the missionary ; or, 2. Do we require very intellectual and able men ? 3. Should all study the vernacular ; should they confine themselves to it ; or, 4. Should they study, besides, the learned languages ? 5. Should these studies be carried on to any extent in Eng- land ? 6. Should missionaries deal chiefly with the common people or with the learned ? 7. Should they fix themselves in one locality or be on the move ? A careful survey of our wide fields of labour, and of the ex- perience acquired during many years, will show that truth does not lie exclusively on the side of any single answer to these questions. Many answers are possible, each of which shall be correct in its PmST SESSION. 19 own sphere : a careful discrimination will, however, without fail, enable us to distinguish where to apply them. 5. Several of these questions will j5nd their answer in consider- His purpose. ing another: What is the purpose which the missionary has in vieiv? Leaving out of our calculations the ministers who go forth to in- struct our countrymen in the colonies, let us consider, that the missionary who goes among the heathen aims to convert souls, to found churches, to set over them native pastors, and so to build them up and bring them forward to manhood in the Gospel, that they shall both sustain it among themselves and carry forward missionary work amongst others. To accomplish all this, he has to employ one divine instrumentality, the Gospel ; and this Gospel he must convey into the minds and hearts of the people to whom he is sent. He must therefore consider his own agency, as well as the circumstances of the people. a. In regard to himself, he must study the conditions of sound His own ^ 1 • ■ 11 n health. health in the country of his sojourn, and the arrangements for his own comfort necessitated by its climate. Here he will find no rules of universal application, but should seek for the advice of experienced men who know his sphere of labour. 6. b. As to the people, he must seek also thoroughly to know Necessity of them. He must know their language, their customs, their notions, people weU. their habits, their religious ceremonies, the motives by which they are most powerfully swayed. He should understand all the accom- paniments and agencies of that training which has made them what they are. His own training, knowledge, and habits are usually so different from theirs, that, quite apart from the difficulty of getting Christian doctrine into their minds, in ordinary intercourse with them he may make such mistakes, and so offend their prejudices, as quite to set them against him and his plans. By carefulness in these things, by correct information, and by that consideration which wins confidence all the world over, he may break down the barrier which divides him from them, and secure an open door for the word which he bears to them from heaven. He ought, there- fore, to know them, that they may know him. He acts in this matter under a general law, which rules every minister of Christ in the world, that he must adapt himself to those whom he is going to instruct. He must know the current notions, customs, ceremonies, prac- He should tices, ruling motives, superstitions, hopes and fears, of the people laugiiage."' around him. He must know not merely ancient China, ancient In- dia, ancient Africa ; he must know living China, living India. And 20 ME. MULLENS S PAPER. Beginniilg at liome. Manual. The language to bt) leurued to know them intimately, he must be able to communicate with them. Hence it would seem to be a good rule, right and wise, that every missionary going to a heathen land should thoroughly master the current vernacular, and be able to address the people in their own tongue. It was partly for this great end, as well as a divine seal of their commission, that at the outset of missionary labour the gift of tongues was bestowed upon the apostles and their brethren. There may be exceptions to the rule in cases where the heathen understand the language of the missionary, as in a few great cities in India. We know many honoured and use- ful missionaries so situated ; but I do not know one missionary who does not consider that, to have learned the language when commencing missionary life, would have added greatly to his use- fulness. To be able fluently to preach in the language of a heathen people is a great talent, most powerful for their evangelisation. 7. Where should a missionary learn the language and manners of a foreign people ? He will learn the greater portion best upon the spot, among the people themselves, and from constant conver- sation with them. But the human mind moves slowly, takes ia slowly, especially the beginnings of what is new. There are cer- tain points in grammar, language and ideas, which are almost en- tirely matters of memory. Hence I draw the inference, confirmed by experience, that the beginnings of his knowledge a missionary may well secure at home. While continuing other studies, he may for twelve months give attention to his new language ; to the verbs, nouns, and common terms ; and endeavour to secure the thorough acquisition of a small vocabulary. The pronunciation he should learn under a competent teacher. With a view to secure this desirable end, might I suggest that every Missionary Society should have prepared, and be able to put into the hand of every new missionary, when his sphere of labour is fixed, a brief manual of the language, customs, notions, and ■"^igious ideas of the province or country to which he is going : including a few rules, or hints respecting climate, dress, health, food, and the like ; a statement of the labours carried on by the brethren whom he will join, and the like. Such a manual need not exceed 120 pages, and would not be expensive to prepare. This he should learn by heart, and know thoroughly by the time he reaches his station. His progress then will be rapid, and his course of usefulness sure. 8. With such an efiicient preparation, let every missionary, on atouco': his arrival at his sphere of labour, strive to enter as much FIRST SESSION. 21 possible among the people. That he may learn the language thoroughly, let him devote a considerable time each day to its acquisition. Let him walk abroad, and though he cannot speak among tiio much, let him see much, and familiarise himself with all the outer themselves. manifestations of native life. For the first year or two, his prin- cipal attention should be given to the language and to books about the natives. He need not, however, be inactive in his direct work. Where opportunity is given, to teach young people for a short time each day will both add to his knowledge and stir up his zeal. It is an excellent plan at the outset for a missionary to reside at a country station. Even with the best advantages, however, the work is hard. I never learned to speak a thing rightly, without having first said it wrong. Still, let every mis- sionary persevere ; he will learn much from his mistakes. A native preacher may speak more correctly than he, but he will speak with most authority. 9. When settled in work, vernacular preaching will generally Vernacular occupy the most conspicuous place in his plans, as the most direct Sortimpor- method of reaching the souls of the heathen. But it is not a common work. It is not anything that will do here. He needs well-prepared discourses, that clearly expound the gospel, show where it opposes idolatrous views and practices, anticipate objec- tions, fall in with native modes of thinking, and, starting from their own platform, convey knowledge which they never had before. Extensive study will be required, and great material, before any one becomes very competent and distinguished in so wide and valuable a field of labour. The time seems now to be come for employing this agency to the largest extent. Books, tracts, and portions of Scripture have long been available as its auxiliaries. Much knowledge of gos- pel truth has been spread, and efforts already made should be closely followed up. Where a large population exists, it is well to maintain settled stations, that the missionary may repeat his in- structions again and again until the gospel is thoroughly under- stood, believed, and accepted. 10. But with this settled plan, itinerancies in ill-instructed itmeranciea also. parts of a country well agree. These itinerancies should if possible be made systematic, be repeated, be limited to comparatively small districts each time, and each time be carefully carried out in detail. Vernacular preaching is a work of such great importance, and the power to carry it on is so valuable, that missionary societies 22 ME. MULLENS S PAPEE. Schools. Medical niissions. Varieties of acquire- raents. Varieties in the spheres of labour. should give it their best attention. Wherever they secure men thoroughly competent to carry it on, whether native or European, they should secure them for that work alone, and set them free from all other pressing toil. 11. Many other agencies may also be legitimately employed in carrying out the great purpose of evangelising a people. The position occupied in the system by mission-schools will be specially discussed hereafter. Sometimes a mission is not able at once to reach the heart of a people : there are barriers in the way, arising from their igno- rance, prejudices, customs, and other causes, which it is desirable to remove ; and all agencies that are efficient for this end may be legitimately employed in the cause of the gospel. Medical missions have proved especially valuable in this way. Like the miracle.s of healing in the first days of the church, they exhibit, in a most prominent manner, the humanity and benevo- lence of the gospel and its professors : and by their works of disin- terested kindness, conciliate those who would otherwise be prej udiced against missionaries as foreigners and people of a strange faith. In China and other countries, where real medical skill is unknown, they are' specially useful. India has been largely supplied with dispensaries and surgeons by the Government, and to a consider- able degree they are not so necessary. But there are many cities, towns, and retired districts, in which they might be employed with great benefit to the mission cause. 12. We advance to another question. Will piety, with ordi- nary capacity, suffice ; or do we require men of great mental ability and acquirements in the missionary work ? This question is answered by another. Abroad, as at home, all spheres of labour are not alike. There are many kinds of labour now, as in apostolic days. " When he led captivity captive, he gave gifts unto men." Look 'at the case in England. We do not ask Dean Alford to go into St. Giles's. We do not expect the Marian of St. Giles's to preach in the Britannia Theatre, or sit in the Professor's chair. 13. Apart from theory (though that is in favour of men of all grades of ability,) a due regard to the varying condition of the spheres of missionary labour will indicate the kind of men required for missionaries. Look at the difierent countries of the world: the Negro population of the West Indies and West Africa ; the Hot- tentots, Caffres, and Bechuanas of South Africa ; at pastoral work in the South Sea Islands, literary work in China, varieties of work in Burmah and in India. There is simple work among people of FIRST SESSION. 23 simple notions and habits of life; work of wisdom in guiding grow- ing communities ; careful scholarship in providing Christian and general literature ; grasp of mind in dealing with great systems, lordly, clever priesthoods, and dangerous, deep-seated errors. It is a matter of plain common sense that, according to the sphere and its demands, so should be the man who is to occupy it. Missionaries should be adapted to the places they occupy, and the labours they are to carry on. 14. Spheres, too, may change their character: the same place Tendency in does not always demand the same work. I would point out a ™sg™a to peculiar tendency now visible in all our older missions, even in ™^i.™g^' India, which has a most important beai-ing on missionary character supeiintend- and labours. When missionaries began their labours abroad, ad?isera. everything was heathen. They had to begin everything ; gram- mars, dictionaries, translations, first studies of heathen customs, ceremonies, and religions. Naturally, the missionary became the first pastor of the native church, when it was gathered. Now, in almost every land, progress has been made. And there is a strong tendency in the very circumstances of their work, to throw missionaries back into their true position, not of pastors of single churches, but superintendents of many : not teachers of one con- gregation, but advisers and helpers of the native teachers. Look at Mr. Yinion, superintendent of forty-two Karen churches; at instancea. Mr. Thomas, in Tinnevelly, at one time superintendent of 5000 Christians; and so with many others. Missionaries in the South Sea Islands have been superintendents of whole islands, and pre- jsided over theological seminaries. Who is not glad and thankful to see it so ? Here is a practical New Testament Episcopate, sprung not from theory, but from circumstances ; an episcopate forced on men of all churches, — Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independents, Wesleyans, and Lutherans : an episcopate, however, more flexible than any one of our many systems, and specially adapted to the case of young Christians, who are dependent upon the advice and experience of Christians in churches established for many years * a missionary episcopate which entirely disappears when the churches grow out of their tutelage, attain full growth, and need the foreign missionary no longer. If such be the tendency of modern missions, a tendency in- Jg^'^a^S creasing year by year, it seems to furnish an argument stronger than any other I have heard for great carefulness in the selection of missionaries. Such superintendents ought to be wise men; men of large hearts, of comprehensive views ; men not wedded to liUiguagcs. 24 BlXt. MULLENS'S PAPEK. English ecclesiastical systems, but willing to suit their measures to the circumstances of their flocks and of the idolaters around them. reaiiiigs 15. In respect to idolatry, too, a higher position has been Bohuiars. taken. We have dealt in controversy with common notions, traditions, ceremonies ; and an immense deal remains to be done. Good plain men, who can speak the language fluently, and argue with common people clearly and cogently, are still needed, and will be needed for long years to come. But we do need also the few who can study the notions and deep theories on which Hin- duism and Chinese Buddhism are based, and deal boldly and successfully with the ultimate points of controversy, on which learned scholars rest. For them we must look not to young men newly arrived, but to men of experience, who have been training themselves by long studies for such things. Thciearaod 16. The same great rule brings us forward to another point. As a missionary acquires experience, comprehends the current life around him well, and speaks the vernacular well, in a few years he will perceive that many of the notions most tenaciously held by the people are traceable to old times, and are defended by ancient authorities. Let such a one, if he possesses the faculty, study Sanskrit, learn Arabic and Persian, like Dr. Pfander ; go deep into Chinese lore ; master the controversies, and provide books not only suitable for the heathen, but for his brethren. That is one sphere of missionary labour, and all must feel that . it is but right to have it supplied. ■Wise to win 17. Be this as it may; though differing in judgment as to the details of their work ; though endowed with various gifts, and feeling predilection for peculiar spheres of labour ; though occu- pying various positions of usefulness, all bearing upon the progress of the kingdom ; let every missionary, consecrating all his powers to the Kedeemer with a single eye, daily make it his prayerful study that he be " ■wise to win souls." Rot. \t. m. The Eev. W. M. Whittemore wished to ask two questions : ti'oKB. First, did he clearly understand Mr. Mullens to say, that the Kecuiarities missionary should be altogether disconnected from secular engage- in misaons. ^^^^^^ . £^j, j|. ^^^^ ^ ^^^.^ interesting point to decide whether tlie missionary should be altogether given up to the vrork, or whether he might usefully connect with the missionary work anything like a secular occupation by which a man got his living. The second Arc Euro- point was, whether the superiority which Mr. Mullens ascribed nOTto™^*^ to tlie European preacher over the native arose, in his judgment. FIEST SESSION. 25 from the fact of his being a European, or from the superiority of Natives as his previous theological training over that of the native preacher ? i""'-'^'^'^- Mr. Mullens replied, that his own conviction was, decidedly, Ect. j. that the less a missionary has to do with secular employment the better ; it is one of the great benefits of missionary societies that they enable a man to devote himself entirely to the woi-k of God. The superiority of the European over the native arises from adswci. many considerations. It arises partly from his being a European; also from his energy of character, his superior knowledge; and especially from his being, as a missionary, the source whence knowledge of the doctrine and life of Christianity, the new reli- gion which has displaced the old, is to be first derived. The Eev. R. S. Haedt, formerly Wesleyan missionary in Eev. b. s. Ceylon, said, he must bo allowed to answer the second question, having been a missionary in Ceylon for upwards of twenty years, mau^ser- and having had very considerable intercourse with the natives. rcSen^' It was frequently his duty to catechise the children on the Mon- ^^'^'^"i- day, after he and others had been preaching to them on the Sabbath-day. He invariably found, when he asked them about the sermons preached by the European and the native, that rela- tively they could always give better answers as to the sermons of the European, than they could with respect to those of the natives. Of course, the idiom spoken by the natives was much better than what the Europeans could possibly acquire ; but with the disci- pline which European missionaries had to go through, the com- why? parative clearness of their ideas, and the readiness with which they threw them before the people, without that circumlocution which an uneducated native must almost necessarily exercise, he invariably found that they could tell much more about the sermon of the European than about that of the native ; and he accounted for it in that way. Not that the native children, as some might suppose, had much greater respect for the European than for the native minister ; but the clearness and precision of the ideas of the former had made a deeper impression, and his teaching was more easily recalled. The Eev. J. M'Kee, missionary to Guzerat, said: — With re- Eev. j. gard to the secular employment of the missionaries, we, in India, find that it is almost impossible fo? a missionary to keep himself altogether free from secular employment of a special kind, though 26 EEV. BEHARI LAL SINGH. Industrial sehoofe ■where use- ful. not needed for liis own support ; that is, he must have an indus- trial establishment of some kind, less or greater, according to circumstances. The circumstances of some missionaries are such that they cannot altogether avoid it. An inquirer comes to us — he embraces the truth — he has, probably, been driven from his home and obliged to give up everything. The missionary must, therefore, in some way or other, find employment for him. Hence we find, for example, our missionary presses and our farming esta- blishments are required. I think that if inquiry be directed to the subject, it will be found that wherever we have had industrial esta- blishments to any extent they have been perfectly successful. ECT. B. L. Singh. NatiTe agents the best trans- lators. The Eev. Behari Lal Singh, licensed preacher of the Free Church of Scotland in Calcutta, though he regarded with very great respect the remarks of those fathers and brethren who had spoken on the subject of native agency, believed they had not yet fully appreciated the value of that native agency. The history of all Christian nations, for example, proclaimed the fact, that Christians who were natives of the soil were the most successful translators of the Bible into their own language. Hitherto the plan of translating the Bible had been conducted as though foreign missionaries were the only successful or competent trans- lators. There was a considerable diiference of opinion amongst the translators themselves, and the friends of the Bible Society, as to the faithfulness, intelligibility, and acceptableness of the present versions ; and he asked, whether the present versions of the Bible in the various dialects of India would ever become the standard versions of the native church ? Though he made these remarks, he must also say that he honoured the memory of those venerable men who had expended their time, strength, talents, and accomplishments, in the work of translation. Was it not, a native then, he asked, now desirable that they should spend their time raised up. and Strength in raising an effective native agency to translate the Bible with far greater purity and precision than it had ever been done before ? So also with regard to the preaching of the gospel, and teaching in the schools and colleges, he believed that the same principles should be adopted, and that the same results would follow. The European missionaries sent to India should, of course, endeavour by all means to do all they could in the native language ; but it would be a greater thing if these mis- sionaries raised up a really superior native agency to teach and preach the gospel, and translate in the vernacular. The sub- FIRST SESSION. 27 jects for that day's discussion included all the legitimate methods employed in bringing the truths of the gospel to bear upon the native mind. They were sanctioned alike by the direction of Scripture and by the examples of the Apostles. It was quite true that the Apostles did not translate the Scriptures ; but if the Jewish Scriptures and the Septuagint had not existed and been extensively circulated, there could be no doubt that the translation of the Bible would have occupied the Apostles' atten- tion. In order to fulfil the duty and command delivered by our various Lord, we must take two things into consideration. We must con- foT^Tkin^ sider the peculiar sections of the Hindoo and Mahomedan com- ^™*- munity, and the particular qualifications and departments of the missionary work for which the missionary was qualified, by his previous training, habits, tastes, and inclinations. The mis- sionary who by his previous training was qualified for one de- partment of missionary labour, did not necessarily shine in others. The missionary who was qualified by his knowledge of the Oriental languages, literature, and philosophy, successfully to encounter the arguments of learned Hindoos and Mahomedans, would not equally shine in the work of translation and in general teaching. So, therefore, the missionary should confine his time and strength to that department of missionary labour for which Providence had qualified him. The Eev. Thomas Smith, formerly missionary of the Free Eev, t. SmiTjB[ Church at Calcutta, expressed his belief that native preaching, when it was of the right kind, would be found better than any Value of European preaching. Mr. Smith went on to say that he did not Sonsln "^ agree with Mr. Mullens as to the somewhat low place which he ^'^'^'^' had assigned to Medical Missions ; as, for instance, in India. Per- haps there it might not be so high as in China ; but from what he saw in Bengal, and in South Africa nearly twenty years ago, he was persuaded that in these countries there was a very large and important field for medical missions. Although there was some- thing like truth in what Mr. Mullens had said respecting the ^^T^at provision made by U-overnment lor supplying the medical wants has done. of the native community, it seemed to him that these were just like a drop in the bucket in comparison with what was really needed. It was quite true that there were dispensaries in the large towns ; but, as far as he had seen, they did not extend in any degree whatever into the country. He did not think the medical missions in India had had anything like fair play, or done 28 EET. DR. SOIIEEVILLB. Where to place them. Their great influence. the good which they otherwise might have done. They had generally been placed in large towns and cities, in the very places where the wants of the people in that department were supplied : whereas medical missionaries should be sent to villages or clusters of villages, and go from house to house, very much as country practitioners do at home, carrying with them their medical skill and the love of God in their hearts, resolved to do good to all as they had the opportunity. From his own observations he should say, that there were openings for such men that no other kind of missionaries whatever could obtain. They were aware that in India it was taken as a matter of course that every European was skilled in medicine : they all got the credit of being physicians, and lawyers, and everything. No doubt, many of his missionary brethren present had often been applied to, as he had been, to prescribe for cases which they knew just as little about as any man living. He had often, from this false impression in regard to his medical skill, had opportunities, on the faith of being a medical man, which he could not have had otherwise, of doing good spiri- tually to the people ; and he had no doubt that the medical men in the Bengal villages could have access to the people, both males and females, in a way which no other missionary could. Eev. Dr. SOMEllVILLE. Order of topics to be discussed. The Eev. Dk. Somerville, Secretary of the Foreign Missions of the United Presbyterian Church, had listened to Mr. MuUens's very able paper with great interest, and thought the Conference were exceedingly indebted to him for its production. If pub- lished, it would, no doubt, be found of extreme value to those who had the conduct of missionary operations. With respect to the order of discussions, the Chairman had suggested that the two central points should be " the causes of missionary success and failure." If this met the mind of the Conference he had no objec- tion, but there were other points which might also be suggested, and other topics which might be advantageously dwelt upon; such as "the object the missionary was sent to accomplish," "the best way of accomplishing the missionary work," and " the best mode of training missionary converts." Now he apprehended, that if such general topics as these were submitted, they would embody everything. chaikjiak. The Chairman reminded Dr. Somerville, that what he had suggested actually comprehended the whole programme, and that FIRST SESSION 29 it would be much better to adhere to central points during each particular discussion. The Rev. Thomas Geeen, Principal of the Church Missionary Rev, t. Institution, London, said that he had a missionary friend in North India, the Rev. Mr. Bruce, whose observations upon the subject Note from under discussion were so pertinent that, though the remarks were BEtioE.' made at a distance of some ten or fifteen thousand miles, they might possibly give a practical turn to the present conversation. Mr. Green then read these remarks, which were to the effect, that in learning the native language the first year was everything. If the missionary made the language his sole work, in six months Languagea the difficulty of acquiring it would be broken. Mr. Bruce had feamed at now given up the English Bible. " Take up," said he, " the Ian- °^'^'^- guage in a half spirit, and years will pass away ere you can speak properly in it ; or rather you never will. Give yourself wholly to it, mix but sparingly in English society, and my opinion is, that the most ordinary intellect will be sure to acquire the language after a short time. With all humility I would say to a missionary : If he cannot give himself wholly to the work in this way, he had better stay at home." Mr. Green concluded by saying that it was only fifteen months since Mr. Bruce had gone out to India, and he was now going about preaching to the people in their own tongue. (Applause.) The Rev. William Shaw, Wesleyan Missionary from South Rev. w. Africa : — I am quite aware. Sir, that J can have no claim to address an assembly of this kind, except that which arises from the mere fact of my having been a missionary, labouring in a very exten- sive region of Southern Africa, for more than thirty-three years. (Applause.) I have listened to the admirable paper read by Mr. Mullens with the deepest interest, and, I trust, with much instruc- tion ; and I entirely concur (speakinar from African experience) Similarity of , ■' \ i a 2. / missionary in the conclusions to which my esteemed friend seems to have experioaco. been brought by his Indian experience. If I failed to hear any- thing in that paper which seemed particularly new to myself, it was not the less interesting to me ; but it afforded rather a con- firmation of the feelings and interest raised in my mind by the important topics introduced, to find that men in such different spheres of action had been brought, in the prosecution of their missionai-y labours, to very much the same conclusions. (Hear, hear.) It is of the utmost importance that a missionary should 30 EEV. WILLIAM SHAW. Difficulties in learning native lan- guages; • Intercourse with the people essential Don't be afraid of mistakes. very early acquire the vernacular of the country to which he is sent. There are, however, in some instances, serious difficulties in the way. There is a class of pioneer missionaries, who have had to go into new countries, where languages have not been formed or written. Of course their difficulties are of a very peculiar character, inasmuch as they can have no previous acquaintance with the language they are required to learn ; and usually in countries of that kind, there are many extraneous diffi- culties not found in more civilized regions. But I would humbly express it as my opinion, that, even under these very unfavour- able and trying circumstances, it is the first duty of the mis- sionary to endeavour to acquire the language of the people amongst whom he is sent to labour. I shall not speak of the peculiar difficulties of attempting to reduce an unwritten lan- guage to writing, and then proceeding afterwards to the trans- lation of the Holy Scriptures ; but I conceive the missionaries, under these circumstances, are shut up to only one possible method of acquiring the language ; and if I may judge from the experience of several honoured brethren of various missionary societies, I believe intercourse with the people is the best prac- ticable way of acquiring their language. Of course I don't mean to say that there are not instances where a judicious and sensible man may avail himself of every benefit and advantage, which he can derive from the written labours of predecessors or other gentlemen, who are able to assist him in so important an inquiry as learning the language which he is to speak. But, even if all these advantages are affiDrded, he must endeavour to acquire it from actual conversation with the people ; and I would venture to express an opinion, that though grammars and dictionaries may afford help at first, they will be a very imperfect means of learn- ing a language, unless followed up by direct personal intercourse with the people. (Hear, hear.) It will require that the missionary should indulge a little feeling of self-sacrifice ; indeed, a man must be first willing to become " a fool for Christ's sake," in this respect. I have known some of the most able men spend a long time before they became perfect in the language ; and I strongly suspect that this was because they were unwilling to make blun- ders in their first attempts. (Laughter.) This is a lesson which all missionaries, and especially young ones, should bear in mind, — that it is no matter if, in the first instance, they should make a few blunders ; for there is even amongst the most barbarous tribes all the world over, and particularly those of Africa, such a natural FIRST SESSION. 3i politeness, that when they see a man really striving to convey some information, they feel that some indulgence ought to be exercised towards him in his mode of conveying the truth. (Hear, Lear.) I am not so sure that even the Apostles themselves, when they went forth with the gift of tongues, were in every instance able to speak with the correct pronunciation and exact style of the people among whom they were sent to labour. I very much doubt whether that noble protest, which St. Paul made upon Mars' Hill was Paurs at Athens, against the polytheism of that period, and in which the perfert! assertion was made of the power and goodness of the one great God — 1 very much doubt whether that protest was uttered in language exactly such as would have been used by the celebrated orators of that famous city. (Cheers.) I suspect that there would be some- thing of an uncouthness, and of a foreign accent, even in St. Paul's utterance (laughter) ; for it is in that way that I understand the remarks made by the Corinthians who were opposed to him, when they said that his " speech was contemptible." There may have been these peculiarities in his speech, and some verbal pecu- liarity, in his mode of uttering the truth ; but of this much I am quite sure, that if we go forth, beginning with the few words we have, giving a few simple lessons, and learning as we go on, even our blunders will become instructive to us, and by and by we shall preach, with fluency and freedom, the glorious gospel of the blessed God. (Applause.) I will conclude with one or two practical suggestions. The n«"' ™is- , . 4. cjo sionaries uoc Societies should endeavour to send out their men not too old. I to be too don't mean to say that God has no use for elder men, or that he has not done much by many men who are beyond the age at which it is possible to learn a language so as to speak it tluently ; but, as a rule, it is most desirable that your missionaries should, if possible, get into their work before they are twenty -five years of""''" „ age. The other suggestion I have already anticipated, that the missionary, as soon as he arrives in the country, should endeavour to learn the language by constant personal intercourse with the people. The Rev. C. B. Leupolt, of Benares, said, — Every mis- LEn'poi,^' sionary committee should make a law, as inflexible as the laws of the Medes and Persians ever were, that no missionary going to a new sphere of labour should have anything to do with English for a year and a half, even though he be appointed a teacher to one of the English colleges. He should be requested to spend his first 32 KEY. C. B. LEUPOLT. CTe^mis- 7^^^ ^"'^ ^ lialf entirely in studying the language of the new scene sjona^ of his efforts ; and if he does not acquire the language in that year thevema- and a half, he will never learn it at all. (Hear, hear.) This is siveiy. what 1 have seen during the twenty-six years i have been in India. (Hear, hear.) Clearly no missionary will be able to preach in a bazaar, or other place where he may meet with natives, who has not mixed extensively with the people. If what he knows is only the result of studying the learned books of the Hindus, the people will not know, on his addressing them, whether he speaks That is, the in Greek or any other language. He must learn the language cur- vernaoular. rent amongst the people ; he must study chiefly the dialect which they speak in their daily life ; and then he will be able to come home to the hearts and minds of the people. I would likewise recommend to the missionary committees that they request their missionaries, after they have spent six months in studying the Ian- He should guage, to commence work, if possible, under some experienced from expe- missionaries ; or, at all events, to go regularly with the elder mis- sionaries, sionaries of the city to hear them preach, and to see with their own eyes what is going on there. If they do this, I am perfectly sure that they will soon acquire the language, and prove them- selves efficient missionaries. But I will repeat again, that if a young man have not learned a good deal of the language in the first eighteen months, he never wiU be hereafter an efficient missionary. Age on Age, also, is a most important consideration. I myself was two twenty-five, years too old when I took to the acquisition of language. If I were to remain fifty years in England, I should never be able to speak clearly the idiom and style of the English language. A missionary applying himself when twenty-seven years of age may, however, still learn a language, but not so easily as he might have done at an earlier age. If practicable, a missionary should reach itinerandes his station before he is twenty-five. With regard to itinerating ; very care- in North India it can only be done during five months in the year. ^ ^' I do not think any missionary is able in the Upper Provinces to itinerate any longer ; at any rate, he should never take too large a circle during the five months, but rather go slowly over the ground, preaching for some time in each place : for if he make a long tour of some three or four hundred miles, he will be like a man who goes into the jungle, and sows here and there, and leaves the seed alone. It may spring up, or it may not. I have a theory of my own, which I should like to see adopted with regard to itinerating. I would divide certain FIRST SESSION. 33 districts into parishes, if you like to call tliem so, and place in -^ '?<'°'l """J" 1 1-1, , , 1 of preparing everj large central village a catechist and reader. Each missionary the way for might have from ten to fifteen readers, and these he should visit constantly ; praying with them, preaching, assisting, and helping them upon every hand. By these means he would always find a large congregation in these villages. I have experienced, when I have come a third time to a heathen village, that a great deal of enmity had arisen meanwhile. I have not known why, but it was so. I have been opposed, and could scarcely get a congregation Progress, together. But where Christian catechists are stationed in villages, the feeling of the people has changed within the last nine or ten years. At first when we came to the district we were hated, and could not get a bit of straw for our people to sleep upon. But now I can go from zemindar's house to zemindar's house, and get my breakfast ; and the people assemble around me, to whom I can speak fully the word of God. (Applause.) The Eev. Dr. O'Meara, of the North American Indian Mission, Rev. Dr. said, — As I am the only missionary present connected with the Red ^ '^^^^' Indians, it may not be out of place to give my experience in con- f^'^ indiau nexion with the subject of languages. The language which I have written. been enabled to acquire, and into which I have had the privilege of translating a great portion of the Scriptures, is one of those which have been mentioned as not previously written. When the application was first made to me to go amongst the Red Indians of North America, I was told that I should find no difficulty with regard to the language, and that all missionaries before me, and those then engaged in the work, had preached and were preaching through interpreters. I believe this is a practice, in a great interpreters measure, confined to North America, and that it does not exist in Africa or in Asia. I think myself, it is an unfortunate mode of objections impressing religious truth upon the mind ; and when I said that I ° ^Pii"- thought I should be able to learn the language of the people, and speak to them myself in their own tongue, a smile passed over the countenance of the missionary who was speaking to me. " No white man," he said, "could ever get his tongue round the long Difficulties Indian words which seemed to have been growing since the deluge tongues" itself, so long and so immense are they in size." I remember an- swering him, that I was quite convinced that God was the author of language, and also the author of revelation ; and that I did not believe tliat God was the author of any language into which the method of salvation was not communicable and translateable. I i> 34 EEV. DR. OMEAEA. Successful effort to learn the Mode adopted. Value of blunders. Eesult. said ; I was quite convinced that it was my duty to endeavour to acquire the language, and if I did not succeed, it would be a proof to me that my mission was not to labour amongst the Indians of North America. I went forth under this impression, and declined altogether the assistance of an interpreter during the first year of my labours. I went away sometimes forty or fifty miles front where any person could speak a word of English, and where the only white face was my own. I placed myself amongst the Indians, and listened to their language. At first it appeared a very strange language ; the words were so long ; even the sentences appeared to consist of but one long word. My first step, no unimportant one, was to ascertain where one word began and another ended; but under the blessing of God I attained that step, and then pro- ceeded by signs and otherwise to find out the nouns of the lan- guage; then the verbs; and then to put verbs and nouns in a very summary way together. I then endeavoured to form sentences. One of our brethren to-day has spoken of blunders : those " blun- ders" were my only teachers; and a smile upon the countenances of the poor Indians sulficiently indicated when I had made a "blunder.'' I always took care, however, that these blunders were in common things, and not in matters of consequence, which might leave an impression on their minds not easily removed. I rejoiced when their smiles indicated my blunders, and I rejoiced also when their looks of intelligence showed me that they understood what I said. The first year was spent in this way. I afterwards obtained the assistance of an interpreter; but his principal work was to aid me in getting a more extensive vocabulary of the language. By the blessing of God, at the end of about three years, without any assistance from teachers or books, I felt myself able to minister to the people in their own language, and I have now been more than twenty years engaged in that happy work. (Cheers.) I look upon it as of paramount importance, that every people on the face of the earth should have the gospel preached to them ; not through a language they do not understand, or through the imperfect medium of an interpreter, but in their own language, and from the mouth of the messenger of God. (Applause.) Rev, S. HiSLOP. The "Rev. S. Hislop, Free Church missionary at Nagpore, said: — Mr. Mullens had covered the exception he was about to take to the discussion ; namely, that every missionary shall be required to Iparn the language in his first year. He appealed Exceptions to the Chairman's own experience, and his knowledge of their FIRST SESSION. 35 mutual friend, John Anderson, of the Free Church in Madras, tothe mie who had laboured quite as successfully as most missionaries in vooated. India, though even at the end of his life he was not familiar with the native language. He should regret if it were to be understood as an essential qualification for every man, without exception, and whatever the circumstances in which he were placed, that he should learn the language of the natives, and could not be useful without it. The Chairman: — I think you will remember that, in the chairman. opening of his paper, Mr. Mullens brought before us very beauti- fully the entireness of the missionary field, and showed how every labourer has his particular sphere of operations. Most Spheres for assuredly there is a wide scope for our Free Church brethren ; and if John Anderson, whose memory I love, as I loved him in person, were here, he would, I believe, coincide in what Mr. Mullens has said. Mr. HiSLOP remarked, that he agreed with Mr. Mullens, ^^^^^ though he dissented from the opinions of some of the subsequent speakers on this point. The Rev. John Walton, Wesleyan missionary from Jaffna, e?''- J- in Ceylon: — With regard to interpreters, I can say of India, that there is no such practice amongst the missionaries in any of the churches with which I am acquainted. Many of the remarks made this morning have touched my early experiences. In the study of the Tamil language I lost a great deal of precioios time. I had been six months engaged in this study at the mission-house Difference if»TT 11 1 •m-i • 1 between the beiore i discovered that there are in 1 amil a written language written and and a spoken language ; and when I had made considerable pro- laugSiges'ot gress, as I thought, in the knowledge of the written language, I ° ^■ found myself incapable of holding a common conversation with the people in whose midst I lived. I found that, in attend- ing the ministrations of some of our European missionaries, I could understand them much better than I could the natives; and that when I began to preach, the natives could not under- stand me. There was some point of communication between myself and my European brethren, not arising merely from the fact of their being Europeans, but from another cause : they had devoted themselves chiefly to the study of the written language of the people. Now, it seems to me, one of the best tests of a man's 36 EEV. J. WALTON. man's taiow- P'-'°o''6Ss in Tamil or any other Indian language, is his ability \^°fe^° to hold a discussion with a Hindoo of ordinary intelligence. I shall never forget such a discussion which I myself held, after I had been in the country about eighteen months. A native member of the congregation objected to something I had said, and challenged me to discussion. I shall never forget my feel- ings when, warmed with discussion, that native began to talk ; for I have met nowhere with eloquence like Indian eloquence. When the man answered my questions, and addressed himself in reply to me, I did not know what he said, and I felt myself Beaclii's confounded in his presence. (Laughter.) The learned Beschi, in his Grammar, tells an anecdote of this kind: — A missionary had been preaching in Tamil (as he thought) to a large audience. I strongly suspect Beschi meant a Protestant missionary. After speaking to them for about half an hour with great earnestness, an old woman in the congregation rose and begged that he would tell them in their language what he had been so eloquently de- scribing in his own. Beschi adds : " The man was ashamed, for he thought he had been speaking Tamil." Colonel Colonel Lavie, late in the Indian Artillery, said: — He had known very few officers who spoke the native language with iffliiifimEte in fluency, who had not b'een able to pick it up during the first two yeara. or th'ree years of their residence in the country. If they did not attend to this on first arriving in India, they seldom proved good linguists. If we were to have itinerating missionaries and evan- gelists, one of their first considerations should be, to learn the language as speedily as possible. The next question was. How was this to be done ? Whether was it best for missionaries to acquire the language in the Presidency towns, and among Eu- ropean societies, or to go into the country districts to acquire it by intercourse with the natives ? His opinion was, from long experience in the Presidency of Madras, that those who remained for any lengthened period at Madras itself had not picked up the language as rapidly as others who had gone into the Best learned interior ; and, in fact, that until they had gone into the interior tarior. they possessed a comparatively imperfect knowledge of the lan- guage, and were not able to communicate freely with the multi- tude. He repeated, therefore, his firm belief, that if they wanted evangelists or itinerating missionaries, the more closely they were kept during their first twelve months in India to the study of the language, the better. riRST SESSION. 37 The Eev. William Swan, formerly missionary of the London Re^. w. . Swan Missionary Society in Siberia, concurred, to a great degree, with what had been said regarding the initiatory processes of mission- ary work, and the necessity of moving about among the people, in order to acquire, as early as possible, the native language. Language The first thing should be to acquire the language. Another point, work. however, should be borne in mind. They had been contemplating the missionary very much as an isolated individual, labouring in a field by himself. This must necessarily bs the idea of the minds of some who themselves have been solitary in the field ; but they must bear in mind, that if missions were to be conducted wisely, and with a view to great success, every mission should Eachmifsion 1 pii^/>.. . 11 11 in should h.ave nave a lull stall or missionaries, and these men would graaually several men. find out the department of work for which each was best fitted. The man who had the greatest fluency in the use of the language would be the best suited for the itinerating work ; and he of great research, study, and learning, would be the most fitted for translating and other literary duties. In the course of years there would, in every mission thus organised, be found a sufficient number of men to engage in the various departments, and each variety of would find his proper place and work. As to the importance of themaii."'^ itinerating, and whether large or small districts should be occu- pied by those who went out, such questions would very much depend upon the varieties of place and district ; and no general rule could be laid down applicable to all cases. The Rev. P. La Trobe, Secretary of the Moravian Mis- Eev. p. sionary Society, said: — My colleague and myself being the only representatives of the Arctic missions, I beg to observe that the experience of our missionaries in Greenland and Labrador fully Experieme bears out the truth of the remarks made by the majority of the Jani'^'^^"" brethren here, upon the importance of missionaries going early to their work, and of giving all possible pains to acquire the language ; mixing with the people, and getting acquainted with their modes of expression, so as to learn the best mode of reaching their hearts. Many of our missionaries in Labrador and Green- GoodUn- land have manifested very extraordinary talent in acquiring lan- guages. Some of them have really done wondars in the transla- tion of Scripture ; but these are not always the most successful spiritual labourers. (Hear, hear.) That is a very important dis- tinction to draw. 38 EET. T. GARDINER. clmmEE. '^^^ ^^^- Thomas Gardiner, Free Church Missionary in Calcutta, said: — I entirely agree with Mr. Leupolt, that in the Itinerancies work of itinerating it is desirable that missionaries should confine Hmited, and thcmselves to districts of limited extent. This plan would not, erepeate . pg^jjg^pg^ ](jg fQU(i(j ^he most pleasant for missionaries themselves. A missionary goes to a village for the first time, and gathers the whole people around him without difficulty ; they listen ; he is a stranger, or a European, and they manifest the utmost interest. Novelty. « rpj^g people were very attentive," may form an entry in his journal : he sends it home, and it will probably be quoted as an illustration of success in the simple preaching of the gospel. But let that missionary go a tenth time, or a twelfth time, and I will venture to say that his visit will have lost its interest — the novelty will be worn off; and instead of their coming in crowds to him, he has to go to seek them. This is, no doubt, very trying : it is very much more pleasant to gather a crowd in a village than to go into a verandah, or into a shop, to speak to single persons. needed. But Still, in order to speak successfully to people living in a world of thought, and feeling, and sympathy, different from ours, and going there to tell them a strange story, requiring the importing of new terms, paraphrases, and words to be coined for the occasion, to get them to understand our message, it is perfectly clear that we must go to them again and again ; nor must we be discouraged, though the interest they have at first, through politeness or from a sense of novelty, shown, have given way ; and to carry on the work will require the true evangelizing spirit of which we speak. Therefore, I agree that if a missionary wishes to evangelize thoroughly a district by itinerating alone, he must confine himself to one of limited extent, returning thither from time to time ; and go forward in the strength and grace of God, believing that he is doing God's work, and preaching his free Gospel. Leaning not upon any human instrumentality, but sim- ply on the might of God's Spirit, I believe he will do the work of itinerating most efficiently, and, by God's blessing, with great success. Dr. Look- Dr. LoOKHART, Medical Missionary of the L.M.S., at Shang- hai, observed that he had seen a great deal of the itinerating work in China. With regard to the question of language, he believed that no missionary would be worth retaining in China who did not Every China thoroughly leam the language. Although there might be excep- FIRST SESSION. 39 tional cases, he thought that the rule ought to be strictly laid missionary down by all Societies, that the acquisition of the language was chduese!'^'" essential ; for if a missionary learned not the language, the sooner he returned home the better. With regard to itinerating, it was one of those plans which itincraodea had been most blest of God in China, and had been productive of successful, greatest success. In the station where he was employed they had carried out a succession of itinerancies, which had been com- menced in the first instance by Dr. Medhurst and himself in 1843, and had been continued to the present time. They had Value of T principal adopted the plan spoken of by Mr. Leupolt, in having one large stations, station where there were several missionaries ; and he pressed upon the secretaries and officers of Missionary Societies the great advantage of having large and efficient establishments in certain localities, with a sufficient force of itinerants to go into the sur- rounding districts. It was essential to observe, in regard to itinerancies itinerating, that single visits were almost useless. It was by repeated. keeping up a steady succession of efforts through a district of country that the real good was done. At Shanghai they had repeated instances of the good effects which followed these itine- rating labours. The missionary remained a week in one place ; then went to another and another, and returned to Shanghai in the course of a few weeks ; from whence he began the same circuit again. The impression was thus kept up, and at all the mis- Good result. sionary stations of the London Missionary Society near Shanghai little churches were springing up. He had been informed by recent letters from his colleagues, that many little places and villages, with which he was well acquainted, were being brought to a knowledge of the truth ; and that within a circuit of fifty to eighty miles round Shanghai little churches had been formed, •which had been in the first instance gathered together by this practice of itinerating, and which were now under the care of the various native agencies. In conclusion. Dr. Lockhart observed, that at a subsequent period of their deliberations he should like to make some remarks upon the work of the medical missionary, being a medical missionary himself. The Eev. Hope M. Waddell, Missionary of the United Rev. hop£i Presbyterian Church from Calabar, West Africa, said : — The cir- cumstances of different countries and of their inhabitants are so various, that I apprehend no general rule, either as to itinerating or language, will apply to all. (Hear, hear.) With regard to 40 EET. H. M. WADDELL. Valne of central atationa. Visits to be repeated. Interpreters sometimes useful: English also. itinerating, my own experience of twenty-nine years in tlie West Indies and in Western Africa warrants me to say, that the best plan I have found is to have a fixed centre, and make that the principal scene of labour, radiating thence in itinerancies, but con- solidating our labours there. As far as we can, the visits should be regularly repeated ; for with a people very low and degraded, it is quite obvious that a single visit must be all but lost. They scarcely know the sound of your voice and the meaning of your words ; and " line upon line, and precept upon precept," are neces- sary for them to know what you are about. True, they may at first appear interested, from the novelty of the circumstances, or out of the respect due to a stranger ; and it may be from the hope of benefiting in some way, though perhaps not in the way you anti- cipate. But if you establish a central point, bring all your labours to bear upon that point, and make frequent visits to surrounding places, the work will be best accomplished. Certainly it is of the first importance that a missionai'y should acquire the native lan- guage as soon as possible. There are circumstances, however, in which he cannot give himself entirely to this work, and in which he may find it of great importance for a time to use an interpreter. I have been in such circumstances, where God has blest the labours of preaching even through an interpreter. Again, tlie missionary may be in circumstances where he cannot give up his own language ; where, for instance, the people wish to learn his language, and open their towns to him, and go to his school on this condition. In these cases, we go to them on certain terms, and promise to teach them English if they will leavn other and better things ; and in teaching them our language and our Bible, we open to them the treasures of all languages, and give them access to the literature of the world. (Applause.) EOT. w. H. Stirling. Abstract rules not admissible ; force of cir- cumstances. The Eev. W. H. Stirling, Secretary of the Patagonian or South American Mission, remarked, that what they had to consider was, not the best means in the abstract of making known the Gospel of Christ, but the best means under the circumstances. These circumstances were of a most varied character ; and, therefore, although they might agree that the acquisition of a language was of primary importance, and that mingling with the natives was a work of scarcely secondary importance to the acquisition of lan- guage — and, indeed, a most essential means of acquiring the lan- guage — yet the modes of approaching the people, and communi- cating to them the Gospel, were subjects for very fair discussion, FIRST SESSION. 41 and involved wide differences of opinion. He was connected with a Society, the aim of which was to introduce Christianity to the aboriginal races of Soutli America generally, but some of whose immediate objects of attention were usually considered amongst crharacter the most degraded of the human race. Their missionaries were the PaSgo- brought into contact not only with Indians dwelling in the forest, ^o"'^. ^' or the plain, but with tribes who lived almost entirely in their canoes, and upon fish. Their subsistence was of the most pre- carious kind, and they were destitute of all the resources of civil- ized life. Yet, under these circumstances, the missionaries had to approach them, and, as they were destitute of written forms of language, to provide them with those forms. The present was the third attempt made to approach these people; two former attempts having been unsuccessful. The circumstances, therefore, attending these labours and modes of operation, were of a remarkable kind. Their station, and basis of operations, was in the Falkland Islands, and they approached the natives by "itinerating" in a mission vessel. They went up and down amongst the channels of Tierra del Fuego, in a vessel bearing the honoured name of Allen Gar- diner. (Hear, hear.) In order that their efforts might be attended with more permanent advantages, they had succeeded, under God's providence, in bringing over to their station natives from those A fixed parts, who were submitting to instruction; and from whom they begun. had acquired, to a considerable extent, an insight into the language they used. By these means the way was being prepared for future settlements amongst these people. Therefore, if any one were to apply the principles of Indian missions to the missions in these Antarctic seas, they would come, perhaps, to unfavourable conclusions. He rose, therefore, at that moment, to prevent the conclusion being come to, that no means were to be adopted under peculiar circumstances like these, except such as were successful in India, China, or Africa. It was not that he had anything specially new or important to communicate ; he merely wished to point out the peculiar features of a special mission, lest principles not applicable to that mission should be adopted exclusively, and sanctioned by the Conference. The Rev. Charles Hebert, of the Colonial Church and School Rev. c. Society, was desirous of drawing the attention of the Conference to the immense importance of what he might call the "border-land" of missionary work, and the very great necessity which exists for remembering that every European who went to foreign countries 42 REV. K. S. HAEDT. [Misaious juecessai-y ■among Europeans alroad. was a missionary either for good or evil ; and that, therefore, those Societies which endeavoured to promote religion among the English who went abroad, required very much of the support of the Christian community at home. He had heard, and those who had been in India would say whether it was true or not, that the success of missions in India, where numerous Europeans resided, was but small; and that the success was chiefly in the country places, where the European population were found but in a small degree.* If this were a fact, it was evident, that a Society which endeavoured to promote religion among our countrymen abroad must be of the very greatest value. He was happy, however, to be able to say, that the Government of India gave a hundred rupees monthly to every person sent out by the Society with which he was connected, who could occupy the post once occupied by a chaplain in India. Rev. R. S. Hardy. TDstruction given in detail : by the missionary ; by native preachers; and by pastoral visits. The Rev. R. S. Hardy said: — I resided for a number of years at the station of Negombo, in the island of Ceylon, and the way in which the station was worked was this: — We had what we called a plan, upon which there were the names of twenty-seven different villages, to each of which villages we gave religious instruction every Sabbath. Sometimes a schoolmaster would read the ser- mon, which had been translated or written by a native assistant for that purpose ; sometimes the village was visited by a catechist ; and sometimes by what what we call a local preacher ; that is, a person, permitted to preach, but engaged in secular matters during the week, and receiving no pay from the mission. Each place was also regularly visited by a missionary, so that, though the mission- ary could not often visit these places on the Sabbath, stiU he had each place in some measure under his eye, and knew what was going forward in each. By these means, each place had every Sabbath the preaching of the gospel, and the people were ac- customed to assemble in these villages in the same way, and with the same regularity, as they do in England. Those preachers who were more particularly under the care of the missionaries assembled on Fridays, and generally told us what subject they were going to talk about on the following Sabbath, and the manner in which they were going to treat it; or if such an opportunity was not pre- sented, they told us on the Friday afterwards, so that we knew the manner in which they taught the people. Then, as to pastoral visitation, the missionary visited each village in the week-day, * Other causes, however, hesides the absence of Europeans, contribute to the greater numerical success of the country missions. riEST SESSION. 43 taking them in as great numbers as he could, and visiting from visitation house to house. There is not that objection among the Buddhists "^ '^^ °"' of Ceylon to family visitation, which there would be among the Brahmins of India and other places ; during one year I have visited no less than 1700 houses belonging to the natives, and had an op- portunity in each of saying something relative to the work of God, and in almost every house was permitted to pray with the people. In addition to this we occasionally itinerated in the manner adopted itinerancies. upon the Continent of India ; but taking tours of one to two hun- dred miles simply for the purpose of scattering tracts and copies of the Scriptures, in places where we thought they would be appre- ciated and read. In some instances there are as many perhaps attendant upon the services of that neighbourhood, in proportion to the population, as in any part of England. Again, we not only visit the people in the way we have repre- Classes. sented, but we also meet them afterwards in what are called Classes: — that is, every quarter or so, all the communicants are privately spoken to, relative to the progress of the work of God in their souls. This is the course we Wesleyans generally pursue, and we have found that it has generally been attended by the blessing of God. The Eev. P. H. Cornfoed, formerly Baptist missionary in Rev. p. h. Jamaica, observed, that Missionary [societies were generally poor, and the great question was, How should the work be done with the greatest measure of success ? If with small means they attempted the accomplishing of everything at once, it was evident they must fail to a very considerable extent. He was impressed forcibly with the idea that missions had been attended with the greatest success where the missionaries had gone to the very Missionaries poorest and lowest of the people ; made common cause with them; also among shown themselves to be their friends in every possible way ; and *^* 'o^est, thus endeavoured, as far as possible, by evangelistic labour, to spread the cause of God. The higher branches of missionary work would grow out of this. Missionaries must identify them- selves with the temporal condition of the people, and the failure of missions arose, in some instances, from the missionaries them- selves not going low enough, nor humbling themselves sufficiently. The missionaries in the West Indies, in the South Seas, and among the Karens, had enioyed the greatest measure of success, but they and help ' ./ ./ o "^ them in had addressed themselves to the poorest of the people, and made every way. common cause with them. Sometimes missionaries had been 44 EET. G. CANDT. denounced for being too political; but circumstances frequently required missionaries to talve a political interest in the people. This was not always necessary; but there might be occasions when it was desirable. The medical knowledge, also, with which every missionary should be invested, was one great aid to in- fluencing the natives. The vernacular of the heart was under- stood in all countries. Missionaries should not regard too much their own dignity, nor endeavour to fix themselves among the people as pastors, but should divest themselves of anything likely to elevate them too far above the level of the people, and by visiting them from house to house and cot to cot, they should take every means to gather the hearts of the people, and prepare them to receive the word of God. He was desirous of impressing such considerations upon the attention of every missionary meeting and missionary secretary throughout the world. Eev. G. The Rev. Georgk Candy, of the Church Missionary Society, Bombay, was afraid that the " causes of success and failure ''would not come before the Conference, unless they kept these important points more closely in view during the discussion. A residence of nearly thirty-six years in India would enable him to say some- thing upon nearly every point brought forward, but he did not know that he could throw any new light upon the valuable sug- gestions already made. Certainly the impression produced on his Fixed niles mind had confirmed the conviction, which he before held, that, if ina missi e. ^^ ^gj.g pQggJble for them to arrive at the best modes respectively of conducting the missionary work, they would be no gainers thereby. If they set themselves to make laws like those of the Medes and Persians, he was quite sure they should go contra^-y to the mind of God. The principal thing was for each labourer to live in daily and hourly communion with God, to be able to appre- hend the will of God, and to follow that will. Alluding to the lufluenoeof -pQjnt of the reflex influence of a greater degree of vital religion missions on J^ o o o Europeans among OUT European soldiers and countrymen abroad, Mr. Candy said that the consideration of this point would help them in a great measure to discover the causes of failure and success. It was thirty-nine years ago since he went out to India ; on his arrival in the country the state of religion among his own coun- trymen was exceedingly low, and the success of the few missions which were established, at the lowest point: but, no sooner did it please God to begin a good work amongst the Europeans there, than it told immediately upon the minds of the people. When the FIRST SESSION. 4o natives had an opportunity of seeing Christianity embodied in the Good effect conversation, temper, and conduct of those who called themselves piety on tha Christians, they perceived a power in Christianity which they had failed to see before. Previously they had looked upon the exhorta- tion of the missionary, merely as the setting forth of some theory or system similar in its character to their own. The views and opinions of a native did not influence his conduct : his religion con- sisted in his observances, and not in his theories ; and so our mis- sionaries failed to produce much effect upon the minds of the natives, until the latter had an opportunity of seeing Christianity as exemplified in the lives of our fellow-countrymen. When first he arrived in India he was struck with the low state of religion among the English officers and gentlemen residing there. Being himself at that time in the army, he had an opportunity of ob- serving this very closely, and of noticing the change which took place when the Gospel spread amongst his fellow-countrymen. With respect to India, he considered that the causes of failure had other cansea ^ ' ofnindraneef been very much owing to the slackness of their countrymen at home. There had not been that unremitting zeal and devotedness for the good cause which ought to have been manifested. The conduct of the British Government also had had a most important bearing upon missionary operations in that country. The Chaiuman observed, that they would all sympathise with Chacrman. and appreciate the remarks of Mr. Candy as to the conduct of pro- fessors of religion abroad being one of the causes of the failure of missions. The conduct of professing Christians had been the Confirms reproach of our religion in India. He requested that some of their views. * experienced brethren, who had been working at home in sending out missionaries and watching their progress abroad, would bring this subject before the Conference clearly and concisely. He urged also that, in considering the hindrances to the progress of missions, we should examine whether in our own ecclesiastical systems there were any impediments to prevent the free course of the gospel among peoples who had not grown up in habitual conformity to them. Lieut.-Col. Hughes, Secretary of the Asiatic Strangers' liieut.-CoL •' ° Hughes. Home, said: — It is a lamentable and yet an acknowledged fact, that the ungodly walk and conversation of professed Christians at home and abroad has been, and continues to be, one of the great hindrances to the spread of the gospel. From the experience I have 46 LIEUT. -COL. HUGHES. Neglect of nfitives of foreign lands, when aiTiYed in England. Tnsi^ance. A Sepoy in London. Anotlier example. had during the past five years amongst the natives of the East who have visited this country, I can bear my testimony to the fact that many of these natives have visited Christian England no less than on seven or eight occasions, and that during the time they vs^ere in this Christian land they never had a word regarding Christ or his gospel set before them. On one occasion I was making some visits in the East of London, and met several natives of India, one of whom told me that he had on seven different occasions within the last fifteen years been in England, and that he had never heard a word about Christ. On another occasion, when speaking to a native of India, I asked him if he had heard of the Gospel. He said, — Often. I said, — Where ? He replied, — I heard it in Cal- cutta. I put Henry Martyn's Testament into his hand and asked him if he had seen it before. He said, — Yes, I have seen it and heard it read at Calcutta ; but he told me that he never heard a word regarding Christ or the Gospel in Christian England. I was walking in the East of London on another occasion with a few friends, when a native of India passed us. We stopped him and asked him who he was. He told us that he belonged to the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, and having heard much of England, he had come over on leave of absence to see what it was like. He had heard great things of Christianity in England, and yet, though that man had been six weeks in London, he had never heard a word about Christ or his Gospel ! He said he was acquainted with several missionaries, and with the excellent Colonel Wheeler ; that he knew several chaplains and pious officers in India, who had repeatedly spoken to him of the word of God and set before him the gospel ; but that he had never heard a word on these subjects in Christian England during the six weeks he had lived there. That man was a member of the Baptist communion, and a few days afterwards returned to India. What an account must he have taken back of what he had heard and seen in England ! In this matter we have not been faitliful to our God. We have neglected these poor men and foreigners who have come to our shores ; and shame to us that we have not set before them the gospel I I will give you another instance. In the year 1854 there were twenty-eight Tahitians cast adrift on the streets of London from two American vessels. They were found sleeping under some carts in Whitechapel by a City missionary, and a few of them were taken by a friend of my own to the neighbouring workhouse, whence they y\ ere driven away by the porter with curses. And riKST SESSION. 47 wlio were these men? Why, these were the converts of the beloved and esteemed Williams. The greater portion of them had been members of a Christian church for many years. They had heard of Christian England, and had taken service in the Ameri- can vessels, knowing they were coming to Christian England, and expecting to meet with Christian liberality and Christian commu- what we . •' ought to do. nion. What a reproof is this to us ! I trust, that what I have spoken in so imperfect a way will lead to greater efforts being made to set the truth before those who come amongst us ; so that when they return to their native land they may take back with them a good report of what they hear and see in this professedly Christian country. Major Davidson, lately in the Bombay army, said: — I have B*j,°'nsoK very great pleasure, Mr. Chairni;in, in adding my testimony to that of Colonel Hughes as to the advantages which we owe to missionaries in India ; at least, those of us who are soldiers. I have great satisfaction in following Colonel Hughes, for it brings back to my recollection the circumstances of my early life, when, as a very young Ensign, I commenced my career in India ; and when, as perhaps Colonel Hughes himself may not remember, I was put under his immediate care as the adjutant of the first regiment in which I did duty. We have not met since then ; and it affords me very great pleasure that we should meet now under circumstances like these. (Cheers.) After doing duty for a short time with that regiment, the first ten years of my career were spent in places where we had no regular chaplain. At one station there was nothing to distinguish the Sabbath from the week-day, but the Good done ^ ^ . . hy luissioa- flasr flying from the citadel of the fortress. Now, considering that ariesm 11.. . , T n • , , India among the only ministerial advantages we could enjoy were those that Europeans. we received at the hands of the missionaries, I am sure it would be unbecoming in us not to testify to the great advantages which Europeans in India derive from the missionaries. (Hear, hear.) I have been at a good many stations where there have been mis- sionaries, and have observed that some missionaries felt it their duty to act differently from others with respect to labours amongst Europeans. At one station they went professedly very little amongst the Europeans, but gave themselves to the work of the mission to the heathen. At that station there was a chaplain, whose duty it was to labour amongst the Europeans. The mis- sionaries, therefore, confined themselves to having a weekly prayer-meeting for Europeans, and, iinder the circumstances in 48 MAJOR DAVIDSON. •which they were placed, I conceive they acted rightly. But it is well for Europeans in India that all missionaries do not find it necessary to confine themselves to one rule in this respect. I was at another station where there was for years only one poor feeble Example, witness for Christ. It was visited by a missionary who made it his business to go about from house to house, and to speak to every European at the station about his or her soul. He was only three days at the station ; yet the result of that visit was such, that for months afterwards there was a remarkable revival amongst the Europeans there. There were meetings at each other's houses for prayer and reading the word; grace was said at the mess-table ; and after the mess a few of the oflScers would retire to each other's houses, to unite in the reading of the word of God and in prayer. These same officers were wont to meet every morning also at eight o'clock, for the same purpose. This all resulted from the visit of a missionary which extended over only three days. He certainly had his heart in his Master's work, and he made us feel so ; for he left the most precious savour of his presence behind him. (Cheers.) Eev. J. H. TiTCOME. Importauce of training a native pastorate. The Eev. J. H. Titcomb, Secretary of the Christian Verna- cular Education Society for India, said he was perfectly satisfied that the remarks of Colonel Hughes with regard to the reflex influence of the conduct of our countrymen in India upon tihe natives, formed a painful, but most true and melancholy com- mentary upon the apparent inefficiency of our own mission work. What struck him, however, as the most important of all was, that they had not in their various Missionary Societies depended sufficiently upon native agency. The subject of vernacular preach- ing was fundamentally important ; and in connexion with it he would, therefore, beg to refer the Conference to a report of the South Indian Missionary Conference, where a paper was read by the Rev. J. Scudder of the Eeformed Protestant Dutch Church of America, who in his remarks on vernacular preaching endeavoured to show in strong terms, that one great advantage of that system of missionary labour was the indirect manner in which it tended to foster a native pastorate. It appeared to him that, if in the itinerating preaching of their missionaries they were to gather together their most useful converts, take them with them, and use them as adjuncts for their own work for the sake of preparing them for, and instructing them in, the duties of the pastorate, they ■would not only do a good work in this way by their own labour. FIKST SESSION. 49 but they would be preparing indirectly, and building up the founda- tions of a native church, which might afterwards be successfully carried on by the labours of those native pastors. By means like these, he believed that missions would be endowed with much greater success, and under God's blessing they would be enabled to leave the work to others, and plant in India, America, and Africa an indigenous church, which would be the only permanent hope of Christianity in those lands. (Applause.) The E,ev. Dr. O'Meara said : — I rise to mention a circum- Eev. Dr. stance bearing on this most important subject. We have all heard of the visit of the Ojibbeway Indians to this country, thirteen years ago. Some two years ago, in the performance of my duty as superintendent of Indian missions on Lake Huron, I visited a Effect of the very flourishing mission on the banks of the St. Clair river. Europeans The missionary there, who has been most successful and laborious, Ameriem''^ told me, that there was one Chief over whom he had no influence ^^^^ • whatever, and he said, "I think that you, from your greater acquaintance with the language, and much longer experience amongst the natives, will have some influence with him ; and I beg, therefore, that you will go and see him." I went to see him, and entered into conversation with him, talking to him about his opposition to Christianity, and asking his reason. It turned out that this was the very Chief who had been in this country at the head of the body of Indians who were brought over by a white man, an adventurer, for his own purposes, and that he might make a show of them. He said to me, " Your missionaries are always telling us that there is no way like your own way. You tell us that the when in people across the Great Salt Lake, where the sun rises, hate our "^^^ ' ways and dislike them. I went over there with my people, and we were very well received and treated ; but we never heard of those things of which the missionaries are always telling us." He said, very shrewdly, " People don't usually pay for what they dislike. You tell us that we are superstitious ; that our war and medicine- dances, and so on, are bad things ; that they are from the Evil Spirit, instead of from the Good Spirit ; but the people of Eng- land don't seem to think so, for they were very glad to see us dance our scalp and war-dances, and see us do all the things you spoke so much against. I cannot, therefore, put any confidence in what you say, having seen such a different state of things from what you describe." Thus much. Sir, for a visit to Europe on the minds of those Indians ! I will mention another fact, in 50 EET. DR. o'mEARA. and in their reference to the effect of the character of Europeans on the natives own country. ,,, ^ ti*i-*pt1 in their own country. I remember an Indian cniet on l^aKe Huron who had given special opposition to the Christian work amongst his people. I visited him, and I spoke my mind to him very freely, telling him that it was not so much a love of his own superstitions, as a love of the fire-water, that made him dislike the mission ; that he wished to have his young men join him in his drunken frolics ; and did not wish them to become Christians, for he knew that if they became Christians they would cease from such doings. I shall never forget the way in which that Indian chief drew himself up to his full height, and the look of scorn with which he regarded me when he said, " Is it you, a white man, who address me in that style ? Who brought the fire- water to us ? We knew nothing of it till you came amongst us ; we ate the flesh of the deer ; and when we had got enough of that, we went to the edge of the lakes and rivers and drank our fill, and it did us no harm : but you white men came with this fire-water in your hands. We thought it strange, bad medicine, at first; but you told us that it would do us good, make us happy and joyful, and we took it and drank it. It did make us very happy and joyful ; and since then we have liked it, and we will have it whenever we can get it. If you want us not to take the fire- water, go and tell your own people so. We cannot make the fire- water ; if they don't make it, we cannot get it ; and if they don't bring it amongst us, your work is done : but teach your own people about it first." (Applause.) There is another matter also I would wish to mention. It has often been said that commerce is the handmaid of religion ; but I am sorry to say, that amongst the North American Indians commerce has proved the enemy of Opposition religion, and the missionary has often to become the enemy of the ' trader. The trader finds, that when the Indians are Christianised they become civilised ; that their minds are improved ; that they begin to know the value of their own wares ; that he cannot carry on so profitable a trade ; and, therefore, he hates and abhors the progress of Christianity, because he cannot put so much of this world's pelf into his own pocket. The missionary, therefore, has often to stand in opposition to the trader, in the defence of those whom the trader injures in their temporal prosperity. w^Jimo' '^^^ ■^®"^- '^- ■^- Whiting, Central Association Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, remarked, that he did not quite like the word "failure" in the programme. (Hear, hear.) It had FIRST SESSION. 51 bsen his duty, as an advocate of the Church Missionary Society, Has there to plead the cause of missions in various parts of England, and he ataii? had endeavoured to acquire some information as to the amount of success with which God had blest missionary efforts. He found that the Bible had been translated during the last sixty years into upwards of 1 00 languages. There were 1 00,000 professing Christ- {fg^of c™' ians in New Zealand: 100,000 in Burmah and Pegu; 1 ] 2,000 ^^■■'s '" ^ ' modem Protestant Christians in India ; 5000 or 6000 in Mesopotamia ; missions. 250,000 in Africa; 40,000 in America ; and 250,000 in the islands of the Pacific. There were Christians in China, Madagascar, Mau- ritius, and many other parts of the world. There were 200,000 or 300,000 Negroes under the care of Christian pastors in the "West Indies. There are more than a million and a quarter of living Christians who, but for the labours of the missionaries, would all have remained idolaters. We were apt to compare the missionary successes of the present time, in disparaging terms, with the successes which attended apostolic labour. He had inquired, however, from equaUo°thlt the most competent authorities, as to how many individuals, in °y^g^ -^P"" their opinion, were gathered out of heathendom by the labours of the inspired apostles during the first sixty years of mission work, after the Ascension of the Saviour; and he had been assured that, as far as they could judge, not more than one million of living Christians were found after those first sixty years. They must remember also the hundreds of thousands who were now sleeping in their graves round the mission churches ; and how many had gone to their heavenly home from far-distant recesses of heathen- dom, who were never known to the missionaries, but who had learnt from tracts. Bibles, and other means, of the salvation which is in Christ. (Applause.) Then, again, the 1600 mission- Number of aries, who had gone forth from Europe and America, were now Agents. accompanied by more than 16,000 native ministers, religious catechists, Scripture-readers, and schoolmasters, who were evan- gelising their own fatherlands. The native ministry, moreover, had passed into the second generation ; and from our schools and orphan-asylums the native apostles would arise, whose crown of rejoicing would be multitudes of Christian converts. They ought not, therefore, to indulge in a spirit of despondency, but rather lift up their hearts in devout gratitude to Almighty God, for the great success with which he had so far blest missionary labours ; and indulge in the joyful hope of still greater blessings in days to come. (Applause.) 52 BET. DK. SOMEEVILLE. Hev. Dr. The Rev. Dk. Somerville trusted that one effect of their bOMEBVILLE. , , , proceedings would be to encourage their esteemed brethren labour- ing in the mission field ; and though they produced no other effect than this, they would have to thank God and be grateful that they had come together. It was most desirable also, that the results of their proceedings should be of a practical character, and influence the whole church. There were various reasons for missionary success as well as for failure, arising from the peculiar habits of the people amongst whom the missions were planted. To these SpS^.°^"'° he would not advert. They must all recognise, however, this most important principle, that " it was not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts," that the work was to be done. It was the province of God to make a new creation as he made the first ; and whatever causes they might assign for success, they were all secondary to the work of the divine and gracious influence. He was forcibly impressed with the thought that there was a most intimate connexion between missionary success and the state of the home church. Missionaries were messengers of the churches : they went to do the work of the home church. Now he was afraid that the home church had satisfied itself too much with the position of merely sending forth the men and giving them support. He had been looking into the Success ia Scriptures closely of late, and he was prepared to make this dependent Statement — and if his brethren should hesitate about it, he asked on deep piety them to consider the matter and examine it for themselves. The at home. , Statement was this, that there is not, in the word of God, an intimation of very rapid success in the extension of the Gospel, that is not preceded by an account of the revival of religion in the home church ; and that, on the other hand, there is not, as far as he had been able to ascertain, a statement of the revival of the Church of God, of the manifestation of his gracious presence and of the outpouring of his Spirit, that is not succeeded by an account of the rapid extension of the Gospel. Now, if this be true, how were they to get success abroad? They must becfin at home. They must get their own hearts warmed. They must plead with God with the urgency of Jacob for the conversion of the heathen. He was satisfied, that if the home churches were to realise their responsibility, were to plead with God and to give him no rest upon this point, they would hear of the most glorious results in all parts of the earth. Having alluded to the recent revivals, Dr. Somerville said he rejoiced in the move- FIRST SESSION. 53 merit which had thus spread, believing that from it would go forth Revivals at an influence ■nfhich would animate and make more productive all revival "^ other religious movements. Since this revival movement had "^ ™^'^' ^taken place, he had not had a letter from a foreign missionary in which joyful reference was not made to the fact, and in which thanks were not given that the home church was holding up the hands of the missionaries and helping them in their work ; and in which anticipations were not expressed that the blessings which God was pouring out over this country would soon reach the most distant lands. Let us impress upon the home church that the salvation of the world is within their reach. There were persons who said that the success of missions had been very limited and very small. Let those persons be told that they were themselves responsible for such comparatively small results ; that the fault was their own, and not that of the missionaries ; that the mission- aries were labouring nobly, zealously, and with great self-denial. Let the home church be told that, if they wanted to see a harvest waving with holy grain, this would only be the result of an increased spirit of prayer and vital godliness manifested by the whole church. The Eev. Dr. Tidman. — We have heard a great deal about the Rev. Dr. failure of missions, but I have yet to learn, Sir, where missions have failed. I have yet to learn, that in any region where the great Has there command of Christ to preach the Gospel has been carried out, ^"^^ "'^^ and where this has been accompanied by humble dependence and earnest prayer, there has been failure. I assent, of course, to all that our friends have said, that there are grievous impediments to success. That is one thing ; but, when we saw evil and only evil sown, no wonder that the fruit was bitter and deadly. No wonder that, when our countrymen, calling themselves Christians, went to India, and lived as heathen, they confirmed the heathens in their heathenism, and impeded the progress of better men. But never- Success o ■ 1 11 • «, among our theless, Sir, have we not proved to-day that the carrying of the own country- Gospel to India by our missionaries has done much for our own countrymen ? (Hear, hear.) Do we not know that there was a period within the lives of some present, when an eccentric, but good man, advertised for a Christian in Calcutta ; and do we not know now, have we not heard to-day, that our excellent friends, both military men and civilians in India, are some of the most valuable auxiliaries the missionaries now have ? (Cheers.) Peo- ple from India, no doubt, come to the east of London and see 54 EEV. DR. TIDMAN. Our success lias been very great. The home cliarch back- ward. Success in Polyuesia. Example. Success in India. much vice and very little good; but that is not sufficient to prove the failure in missions. Considering the amount of work we have abroad, the limited agency we have employed, and the comparatively recent period in which this great work has been accomplished, we have had a measure of success, that has far exceeded the sanguine expectations of the fathers and founders of modern Protestant missions ; and that should make all our hearts rejoice and give thanks to God. (Applause.) If we want more success, our first duty is with ourselves, for we lie under serious responsibility. I agree with Dr. Somerville, that the Church at home has not done its duty to our missionary brethren abroad ; that we have not sufficiently considered their difficulties and dis- couragements ; not sufficiently prayed for their prosperity and success ; and therefore. Sir, sin lies at our door, which no parade about our liberality and zeal will by any means counterbalance. But as regards the general view of the mission -field, let me remind you that within the last fifty years the Gospel has been carried from England and America, and from a few Protestant Churches of Europe, to almost every region of heathenism. And tell me where it has failed. Why, we heard just now from Mr. Whiting, that in the islands of Polynesia more than a quarter of a million of human beings — if they could be regarded as such before the Gospel reached them — cannibals and murderers, have been brought under its influence, and elevated not only to civilisa- tion, but in some instances to the highest forms of Christian excellence. A Christian friend once told me that, when he first went to Polynesia, a man lived near him, who in the days of his heathenism was often seen with a piece of human flesh attached to a hook, and thrown over his shoulder ; he knew not how many he had slain ; and all, or nearly all, he had destroyed, not from a spirit of revenge, but from a love of human blood. That man lived to be a teacher of the Gospel, and to exhibit it in some of its most refined amenities. (Cheers.) In all the missions of Polynesia — and you will remember, almost every missionary institution has its missionaries there — there has been a greater amount of success than has attended the labours of our brethren elsewhere. (Applause. ) When we look to India, that most difficult of all missionary fields, especially remembering what it was half a century ago, has there been failure in India ? (No, no.) I won't talk about the number of professing Christians, — from 120,000 to 130,000, — but we have had specimens of Christianity among the natives lately that may well make us ashamed. Don't we know that during the mutiny, FIRST SESSION. 55 • whilst some nominal Christians denied their faith rather than The recent submit to the fearful consequences which a confession involved, there were Christian natives, men of yesterday, mere babes in knowledge and faith, who laid down their lives gladly for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ? (Applause.) Sir, I admit, many of these heathen converts are very deficient in knowledge and defective in character ; but don't I learn from the Epistles of the New Testament that that is one of the inseparable adjuncts of a recent redemption from heathenism ? Do our missionaries find in their churches at this day any crimes and weaknesses which are not marked in those inspired letters ? But although in some respects they bring with them these early disadvantages, they bring with them also the freshness of that new nature and the vigour of that Divine life which God has imparted to them. Let us not talk about failure, when we have such instances of primitive power and Christian dignity as we have lately seen upon the plains of India. Look to Africa, and thank God the difierent parts of Africa ^?^^^ "" are dotted almost everywhere with the results of missionary efforts, and look at those churches which have been under cultivation more than twenty or thirty years. Has there been any failure there ? Is it not true that one of our honoured brethren — the friend of my early age and still my friend, now I am no longer young — Eobert Moffatt, when he plunged into the Mo^tt'a deserts of Africa, did he not find a race of the most degraded and savage creatures which could possibly be pictured to the imagin- ation ? He went amongst them as their friend ; lived with them as one of themselves ; learned their language from their own lips ; then gave it back to them in a written form ; and now he has lived to present to them the Word of God, translated, and printed, and published in South Africa, by his own immediate influence. Now, there are hundreds and thousands of those people who were at first astonished at a letter, and thought it a spirit, who can read intelligently — more so, perhaps, than many around us — the Word of God, which they love and which they honour. (Applause.) I want to know what we ought to have expected, Sir, beyond the success which we have had ? Had we done more we should have had a larger reward. If we send more men, the harvest will be greater. I thank God, too, that we have had character of such agents as He has given to us ; that we can point to men of "io^^a™^^ our own country and time with delight and thankfulness, whom laboured. God has made not only faithful, but learned, and great; and 56 MINUTE ON MISSIONARIES AND THEIR PLANS. Hard work remains. that he has given us men for every kind of work which the circumstances of the Church demand. Let us persevere in the spirit of cheerfulness, coniidence, and gratitude. .Don't let us mourn over obstacles and temporary obstructions. These are what we must expect to meet. If this world is to he evangelised, it must be by hard struggling and long-continued toil. But let us toil on, and in twenty years to come we shall find, — at least, those of my young friends who may see twenty years hence, will find — that the seed which is now sowing for the second or third time will bring forth corresponding results ; and it may be our happi- ness to look down from a brighter and better world, and find our joy even there augmented as we witness the growing splendours of the Saviour's kingdom in this lower sphere. (Loud applause.) The following Minute on this discussion was unanimously adopted : — MINUTE ON MISSIONAEIES AND THEIR PLANS. Tibe mis- sionary's chai-acter. Language, ftc. ; how learned. Adaptation oi bis plans. Aim one. Preaching. Stations. The members of this Conference consider that in all systems of missionary labour, the gravest importance should be attached to the position and the personal character of the European missionary himself. It appears to them a wise general rule, that every mis- sionary on going abroad should at once endeavour to attain a thorough knowledge of the language, manners, customs, and reli- gious views of the people to whom he Is sent ; and that he will best do so by entering into close, constant, and personal intercourse with them. They consider that he should strive to adapt all his plans to the circumstances and condition of his sphere of labour ; but that whatever forms his plans may assume, his aim should ever be, as directly as possible, to convey the Gospel of divine grace into the minds and hearts of those whom he instructs. Amongst those plans they regard the work of preaching the Gospel to the people in their own tongue as one of primarv im- portance, whether carried on by European or native agents. While recognising the necessity of maintaining fixed stations in important localities, they consider that a missionary should not tie himself down to pastoral work, except in the infancy of a mission; and that he should always aim to make his labours tell upon the FIRST SESSION. S7 heathenism of the countiy. While he preaches constantly in a itineranciea: fixed station, they think it well that at favourable seasons he should itinerate in the more retired and ill-instructed districts. Such itinerancies they reckon as of high value in spreading sound their character. scriptural knowledge, and preparing the way for a future extension of the mission by the establishment of new stations. But to be eiFec- tive, they should be systematic, limited to a comparatively small district, carefully carried out, and repeated again and again. Medical missions they consider a valuable auxiliary to the direct Medical work of the gospel, in densely peopled countries, as China and India, where deep prejudices against its teachers may be removed by their means, and where medical aid is largely needed. But every medical mission should be a Christian mission, and faithful instruction should ever accompany the humane work of the phy- sician. They learn with pleasure that, though not primarily sent to Efforts among their countrymen abroad, the occasional labours of missionaries m Englishmen. English congregations have been blessed to their spiritual good ; and have in many countries tended to diminish the hindrances to the gospel found in the lives of ungodly Europeans. In looking at the results of the Christian missions carried on Eesultsof . . modern during the last sixty years, and to the high position which they missions. have now attained, they record with adoring gratitude that, not- withstanding their own imperfections and shortcomings, the Lord has blessed them with great success. They pray that all impedi- ments existing to the progress of the gospel abroad may be entirely removed ; and that the Church at home may be largely revived ; while the glory of all that has been accomplished they humbly ascribe to the Spirit of grace, under whose ministration this work of mercy is carried on. The Conference concluded the morning session with prayer. 58 SECOND SESSION. Tuesday Apteenoon, March 20tli. After dining together at the London Hotel, the Members of Conference re-assembled at Hope Hall, at four o'clock ; Major-Genbral Alexander in the Chair. After prayer had been offered by the Rev. W. Swan, the following Programme of discussion was taken up : — Progvamme. Subject: How best to stir up, direct, and work, the Mis- sioNABT Feeling at Home. A Missionary Intelligencer. Missionary Periodicals. Correspondence of Missionaries with University Prayer- Unions, and Missionary Associations in their Native Towns. Deputations. Juvenile Associations, and Missionary Effort on the part of the Young. A Professorship of Missionary History at the Universities. At the call of the Chairman, the following paper was then read by its Author : — ON THE BEST MEANS OF EXCITING AND MAINTAINING A MISSIONARY SPIRIT. By the Rev. T. B. Whiting, C.M.S. Missionary By a missionary spirit is to be understood, not that cold defined. acknowledgment of the duty which unlocks the purse at stated intervals ; but such an interest in the cause as will ensure self- denial in its behalf; make it an object of frequent thought and SECOND SESSION. 59 deep affection, and a principal topic in prayers and thanks- givings. The question before us is : How can we most effec- tually increase the number of individuals animated by such a spirit, and the number of churches thoroughly identified with the work ? The object of our missionary enterprise is the ultimate ruin of the empire of Satan by the establishment in every heart of the throne of the Lord Jesus. The human means for accomplishing this object is the proclamation, in all its simplicity, of that gospel which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;" and which we are bound by the command of the ever- lasting God to proclaim "for a witness to His Name," and "for the its subjects. obedience of faith." It follows, that none but the subjects of divine grace can be animated by a true missionary spirit. The increase of the missionary spirit, therefore, depends upon the number of truly converted hearts. Therefore every labour for the advance- ment of true religion, and all that tends to excite and maintain a spirit of vital godliness and living faith, will tend to excite and maintain a missionary spirit; and although a revival may not be its manifest- attended by an immediate increase in the aid afforded to Christian ^*'°°^- missions, yet such revival will speedily multiply the zeal, the self- denial, the money, the men, the missionary prayers and thanks- givings, which indicate the existence of a spirit of aggressive Christianity in a church, and in individual disciples of the Eedeemer. But, like every other Christian grace, the missionary spirit To be needs to be fostered in the hearts of God's people. It is only too sadly true, that the intensity of the existing missionary spirit is utterly disproportionate to the number of true believers. Thank God, tliere are Christians fully alive to the missionary obligation ! Thank God, the number has largely increased of late years ; but where are the churches filled with burning zeal and unceasing prayers ? Some of the .following suggestions may commend themselves to the minds of one and another of those who desire to foster the missionary spirit : — 1. We must exalt the missionary spirit to its proper position, E.-iait r\\ ' • -x ' n • ■ ^ missionary on an equality with other Christian duties; as, for instance, with duty. prayer. Active hatred to the reign of sin is a part of holiness. Self-denying effort to win sinners from sin and eternal death, is an important element of charity. It is not something which we may or may not do, but which we must do. It is a means 60 MR. whiting's papek. of grace to ourselves, and essential to the fulness of spiritual life. Foster it to 2. We must fan the flame of missionary zeal in the pastor. pastors : « . Can an icicle light a fire ? If the pastor feels no warmth of mis- sionary zeal, his attempts to arouse the hearts of his people will fail. If he knows and cares little about the work, his people wiU be in like case. (May I not add, that much the same may be said regarding the influence of the pastor's family ?) " People will always give to the missionary if the parson do uphold them." It is of great importance, then, to omit no exertion to influence the minds of the students in our theological colleges, that the future pastors may have a lively interest in the cause, in laymen. 3. We should neglect no opportunity of winning the interest of influential laymen. Each Christian should strive to impress his or her own family. The best means of doing this will be, not to weary unwilling listeners with the whole of a periodical, but to read privately the Records, &c., to mark the most interesting facts, and to bring these regularly every month before the family. If this can be done on a stated evening, so much the better. Information 4. Whoever, pastor or layman, desires to excite, and espe- byau!"'^ cially to maintain, a missionary spirit in others, must strive that his own love for the cause should increase, and seek to have an intelligent knowledge of the mission-field, both as it has been and as it is, so as to be ready to impart information and meet objections. It is mournful at a missionary meeting to hear a pastor or Christian say, — " I really can give you no information. I will, therefore, make a few general remarks." Every heart animated by a thorough missionary spirit will bring especial details from the mission-field before the throne of grace. We should earnestly recommend the practice to our friends; it will deepen their love for the work, maintain their missionary zeal, and greatly tend to spread the missionary spirit. AcathoUc • ^- ^^ ™'^^'' ^^ careful lest we seem to work for a system, a spu-it. particular Society, or a party, rather than for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. We ought to have a reasonable pre- ference for the Society we support ; but notliing will more cer- tainly damp a rising feeling of missionary interest than an unkind display of feeling against, or even a forgetfulness of, every other institution except our own. While nothing elicits a more cordial response than an appeal which manifests a catholic spirit. 2 , 6. Private prayer. The Christian grace of a missionai-y spirit is eminently a work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart ; and then SECOND SESSION, 61 shall we most effectually labour to inspire missionary ardour, when we labour upon our knees in our closets, praying that our God would reveal even this unto those who do not adequately feel the obligation. 7. The pulpit affords the opportunity of making the subject in tiio familiar to the people by frequent allusions. For instance, by^"^'"'' illustrating our subject by incidents from the mission - field. Many a sermon might thus be enriched, and afford interest, and arouse the attention of fatigued listeners. These allusions should be very frequent. It is not enough to have an annual sermon to excite a transient enthusiasm. The missionary idea should be a ruling principle in the mind of a preacher. 8. The fi'iendly and social intercourse we have with our in society. neighbours affords many opportunities of introducing the subject, and supplying the lack of information which exists so widely. Missionary evening parties might be gathered, and thus throw a fresh interest into the communion of saints. 9. Newspapers afford a very powerful means of spreading Tho press widely missionary information. Incidents and facts introduced into newspapers, would catch many an eye which would never look upon a missionary periodical. 10. Missionary periodicals should be circulated in book-clubs. Missionary 1 • -11 mi Till • • periodicals. and m every possible way. iney should be written in a thoroughly interesting and clear manner, and contain not merely dissertations, but histories, memoirs, and facts. Letters from the mission-field should contain incidents and descriptions. We cannot, of course, expect that incidents of an interesting cha- racter will always be at hand ; but our dear brethren will, I trust, pardon my mentioning the matter. Tiie nature of the commu- nications required is well described in a few admirable lines in Mr. Mullens's South Indian BJissions, a book worthy of wide cir- culation. " To understand a mission thoroughly, we should know something of its locality ; the people among whom it is carried on ; their former condition and history ; their habits of life ; the history of missionary effort among them ; its discouragements and pleasing features; its present character and fruits." P. 91. 11. Heading-books, &c., used in schools of all classes, have Eeaders in been almost entirely overlooked as a means for carrying out our object, but they might become a most abundant and powerful channel of information. Introduce missionary scenes into the reading lessons j circulate quarterly tokens, instructors, and pic- ture-cards. 62 MR. WHITING S PAPER. Prints. Missionary meetings. Information to be given. Facts, facts. Dull speak- ers nut allowable. Are "great men" needed? 12. Larger coloured missionary prints might also supplant "the unseemly relics of depraved and immoral art" upon our cottage walls, and finely-drawn pictures might lie upon drawing- room tables. The pictures should always be true scenes, and not creations of the fancy. For the originals of these we must look to our friends abroad. 13. Missionary meetings were held in apostolic times, and the missionary speeches of Paul and Barnabas caused " great joy to all the brethren." Some have called missionary meetings neces- sary evils. They are evil, if badly conducted. But when a holy spirituality pervades the speeches, and when facts of an interesting character are related and recent information given, they have con- tinually proved to be blessed means of grace, and powerful agencies for exciting and maintaining a missionary spirit. This result is in accordance with the constitution of the human mind, which God has made very sensible to the sympathy of numbers, and peculiarly apt to be influenced by the living voice. Thus information is largely imparted, and burning zeal enkindled, which will after- wards seek to interest others. What is wanted on these occasions is — not orations — nor portions of sermons — but short aifectionate appeals, clear state- ments of missionary principles, and, above all, a simple answer to the question, " What are you doing ? What is going on now in the mission-field?" The living missionary can best give this answer with reference to his particular field. Those who have studied missionary records can do it in a more comprehensive manner. We have much accessible information from missionaries. If the advocates of missions would study, dig out, condense, arrange, and relate the facts and incidents within their reach in the various periodicals, missionary meetings would exercise a more pervasive influence upon society at large ; and it ought to be im- pressed upon Christian laymen, and especially upon ministers of religion, that it is a duty to spend a few hours every month in the acquisition of this information, that they may always have "some- thing to say." Let no consideration permit a defective speaker to weary an assembly; and I venture to think that we ought never to ask any one to preside, however influential in other respects, who is not himself truly a Christian. I will also add, that it appears to me that a very sad tendency exists to make the cause depend upon the presence and advocacy of great and popular men, rather than upon its own merits. There is too great an eagerness to have a " well-known SECOND SESSION. 63 man," or a person of distinction. This may create a transient excitement, but the cause of missions must depend upon its own greatness, and its own sacred and intrinsic interest. Will it not be well to introduce a larger element of prayer and praise into our meetings ? 14. The last remark is especially applicable to the quarterly, Meetingg or more frequent meetings. It might be well to bring the cause tionai. of missions monthly before a congregation : such a meeting might last an hour, or an hour and a half — a hymn, a prayer, a portion of Scripture, a short comment, an address of twenty minutes, a hymn, and a prayer embracing the topics alluded to, with a collec- tion, would form the programme of such a meeting. The address information might relate in successive months the missionary work in Benares, on syrtom! Liverpool, Sierra Leone, Madras, London, Tahiti, &c. These more frequent meetings are necessary. It is not enough to stir the flame of missionary zeal once a-year. Dissolving views of Dissoiviiig missionary scenes might be occasionally introduced. 1.5. Lecturers before literary societies have abundant oppor- tunities of alluding to the missionary work. 16. Ladies' missionary-working parties are an important means Working- of enlisting sympathy in the cause. They should always begin with prayer and a portion of Scripture, and the passages read should be well selected and interesting. 17. Juvenile Associations are especially important, not only on Juvenile account of the large sums they produce, but also because they early enlist the sympathies of the heart. 18. Every Association should be, if possible, thoroughly Organisa- organised. It should have a president, secretary, treasurer, and committee ; and the members of such committees should be regu- larly supplied with all the important recent information, even when it is not possible to obtain frequent meetings of committee. 19. Increase the number of families and parishes represented Tonths suit- in the' mission-field. A representative returning home and telling missiou- his fellow -parishioners and companions, what " Christ hath done by him, to make the gentiles obedient by word and deed," will wonderfully excite and cherish t!: e missionary spirit. The friends of missions should bear this always in mind, and keep their eye upon promising youths, aiding them by counsel and instruction to prepare to offer themselves for the work. 20. A great impediment to the diffusion of a missionary spirit christian is to be found in the irreligious conceptions which so lamentably prevail, as to the proportion of money to be devoted to the service 64 EEV. JAMES GABB. of the Lord. This is a large subject and cannot be more than touched. But we should labour to inspire the Christian Churches with the glowing ardour of devoted affection, which will impel them, "whether they eat or drink, or whatsoever they do, to do all to the glory of God." It is the duty of every pastor to give his flock frequent opportunities of contributing to the great cause, and to leave to the people the responsibility of not giving. But, after all, we return to the statement already made, — that it is to the increase of the converted people of God, and to this alone, that we must look for an enlarged missionary spirit. It is the humble believer who exclaims from his heart, — ** Jesus, T love thy charming name, 'Tis music to mine ear ; Fain would I sound it out so loud That earth and heaven might hear." May God, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, be pleased to pour out his Holy Spirit, and cause a great revival of true godli- ness throughout all Christian Churches. Amen. Eev. J. Gabb. A penny missioiiai'7 newspaper. The Eev. James Gabb, Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of Car- lisle, was desirous of bringing before the Conference two sugges- tions, and of ascertaining the general feeling with regard to them. The first he made at the request of the Rev. C. Hodgson, Rector of Barton-le- Street, who had for twenty-five years been a diligent and successful advocate of the interests of the Church Missionary Society in the north of England. He believed the period had arrived when a weekly penny missionary newspaper, containing selections from all the Protestant missionary publications of this country and America might be published with advantage and success. It would be Catholic in spirit, and greatly conduce to Christian union ; and there was sufficient room for the dissemi- nation of such a periodical, without interfering with existing denominational publications. The periodicals at present cir- culated were thought to be imperfectly read by many; perhaps because the details they contained were too diffuse, and required- a more minute acquaintance with foreign countries, their geo- graphy, politics, &c., than most readers possessed. The news- paper, however, which he proposed, would contain the cream of such publications; and if publislied at a low price, and perhaps illustrated, would be acceptable to a large body of poor people in the country and elsewhere, who did not read the publications themselves. Such people, for the most part, took in their Saturday SECOND SESSION. 65 penny newspaper, containing the news of the district in wliicli they lived, and would be glad to read an intelligible periodical giving the missionary newe from abroad. The other suggestion he had to make was, that the missionary work might be greatly advanced amongst the higher and more intelligent of the middle classes by the publication of a first-class Miesionary Quarterly Review of Missions, devoted to the discussion of all those subjects which had brought this Conference together; and in which men of ability, experience and piety, might advocate their views in regard to the home and foreign operations of Missionary Societies. Christian missions in all ages ; the condition and relations of ancient and modern churches ; missionary biographies in con- nexion with the work ; special features of particular missionary its topics. fields ; heathen systems of religion and philosophy ; books of travel, and the like, — so far as these cross the path, or affect the proceedings of the missionary — might be discussed with great advantage to the Committees of the various Societies, to mis- sionary students, and to the missionaries themselves. Such a Review would afford the means of discussing critically, com- prehensively, and philosophically, all the secondary influences which affect and determine the religious faith of men, and would be read by a numerous class of persons well disposed to the mission cause, who would be more interested in that cause, if they had its principles and proceedings brought before them in a higher form than is done in the monthly publications and occa- sional meetings of the year. The Eev. H. M. Waddell observed, that some of the Eev. h. m. missionary periodicals were very admirably conducted, while in '^™'-''''- some, perhaps, there was room for improvement. They had, in the North at least, a monthly missionary newspaper, called the JSlews of the Churches and Journal of Missions, very much like what had been suggested. A quarterly missionary review, how- a goori ever, was still very much wanted, and had been long, in his wanted.''' ■opinion, the desideratum of missions. Our literary men would not read the Missionary Monthly Intelligence ; they were ignorant of the facts contained therein, and yet they expressed low opinions of the work which influenced multitudes of minds. They them- selves required to be enlightened ; and if they could get the facts, and arguments, and philosophy of missions, set forth in a first- class literary style, in a Review which would command its position in the country, no doubt these men would read it. This was so F 66 EEV. DE. BATLEE. important a subject that he hoped a Conference like this, com- prising the representatives of all Societies, would not break up without resolving to have a first-class missionary publication for the review of all topics bearing upon missionary operations, which were now a power in the world, and should be worthily exhibited. The same. systems : shaped by controver- sies. bIyiee '^^^ ^®^- ^^- Batlee had a very strong opinion as to the want of a first-class missionary publication. He had now under his training fifteen missionary candidates, and the number was steadily increasing ; and he felt very greatly the want of some assistance, such as a first-class periodical of this kind would afford. He cordially agreed with the observations which had fallen from the Chairman as to the defects of our human systems Cm- human of theology. The attention both of Christians at home and missionaries abroad had not been sufficiently directed to this point. He deeply felt that our theological systems — and he did not except the Church of England — were the products of controversy; and had, in consequence, departed from the simplicity and fulness of the teaching of the Bible. A large proportion of the Thirty -Nine Articles were chiefly anti-Romish, and bore the impress of a controversial age. The PFesf- minster Confession of Faith and the Assembly's Catechism par- took too largely of scholastic and controversial features to be fit instruments for presenting Christianity to the heathen world. He would go farther, and venture to say of that magnificent confession of our faith, the Athanasian Creed, that even it, gloriously true as it was, wanted that scriptural simplicity in which the Apostles presented Christianity to its first converts. It was not that he doubted the truth of any of these documents ; he iwas prepared to defend every statement in the Thirty-Nine Articles and in the Athanasian Creed ; but they presented Christ- ianity from the view of its historical and controversial develop- ment; and if we were to win the world over to the faith of Christ, we must go amongst the heathen with the simplicity and fulness of the Word of God itself. All human systems of theology presented not Divine truth, but human views of Divine truth, and therefore partook of human infirmity. God would bless His own word as our simple and all-suificient standard. Another great want with regard to the missionary work, was the want of a scriptural study of human nature. We sent out men primed with texts of Scrip- ture, and well primed also with the ecclesiastical systems of the Human nature to fee studied. SECOND SESSION. 67 different schools, but knowing very little indeed of human nature as the Bible presented it to us. Having expressed the pleasure which he felt at meeting with the Rev. Mr. Hardy, whose works he had read with so much profit and satisfaction, Dr. Baylee alluded to Mr. Hardy's able work on Buddhism ; and related an anecdote of a discussion between a Buddhist priest and a Christian lustrmce. missionary, in which it was doubtful which had the best of the argument. The missionary was thrown away from his texts of scripture and his theological systems, to discuss the best condition of human nature with regard to God, to eternity, and to the subjugation of the human will. He was not prepared to meet his opponent. In conclusion, Dr. Baylee observed, that a periodical which would deal with subjects of this kind, in a large and not a textual sense, but in the true spirit of the Bible, would be of great use in preparing an elevated class of Christian missionaries. (Applause.) The Rev. J. Wallace, missionary of the Irish Presbyterian nov. j. Church in Guzerat, said ; — I think it is exceedingly important in ^^^^'^°^- directing public feeling at home upon the subject of missions, that the public should be enlightened as to the nature of the mission field. A great many people in thinking of heathenism, and, I fear. Two fields ii sometimes even the advocates of missions themselves, just think of dom'^?'™" it in the mass, without drawing a distinction between one mission field and another. Now, in foreign missions there are two great fields ; one where there are people of organised systems, based upon citiiised- pretended revelations, and the other where they are in a state of comparative barbarism, and in a great measure unsophisticated. Barbarous. It will be found, I think, that hitherto the great success has been Success amongst the comparatively barbarous people ; and, therefore, it is fhriatfe™ of great importance that the public at home should be thoroughly enlightened upon this point. Dr. Tidman has well said that India Difficulties is probably one of the most difficult mission fields in the world, former. just because there we have a regularly organised system : the people feel that they have something to defend, and that they must give up something if they accept the Gospel. We find the same in Buddhist countries. I was much struck with an observa- tion in the life of Dr. Judson, bearing upon this point. In tracing the great success of missions among the Karens, as compared with their success among the Buddhists, he said that the Karens were like men with empty vessels, that only wanted filling; while the Buddhists had vessels to empty, and they were most unwilling to do "68 REV. J. -WALLACE. SO. (Hear, hear.) It has been mentioned that a missionary in Ceylon, in disputing with a Buddhist, had really the worst of the argument. I think, therefore, that in missionary periodicals, special attention Our frienda should be drawn to the character of the subjects in the different Srttand fields, and the character of the qualifications which those who work *'^^^- in those fields should possess : and, in the same way, that the public generally should be enlightened on these points. If this were the case, we should not find parties, as I believe is sometimes the case now, speaking of the want of success in India. We should re- member that in India we had a citadel of sin, and that in the South Sea Islands there existed only some of Satan's outposts. (Hear, hear.) The Church at home should feel this, and, when they go to take the citadel, it should be with determination. They should endeavour to increase the number of agents, and, in parti- cular, should feel the necessity of special prayer in behalf of such places. When they speak of the difficulties connected with the Prayer spread of the gospel in India, in Buddhist countries, and where the foUow. Mohammedan delusion prevails, they should bring this difficulty to the throne of grace, praying for a special outpouring of the Spirit Missionaries of God. (Hear, hear.) I would also suggest that those who labour ufy them- amoug the Buddhists, or Mohammedans, or Hindoos, should feel se ves or ^^^ necessity of specially qualifying themselves for the work, by sp eres. learning the nature of the system with which they have to con- tend. We are not to suppose that the Spirit of God will supply those defects in our labours which arise from our own indolence and want of preparation for the work. I throw out these hints, rather for the guidance of other speakers ; and, in conclusion, I will observe that, in the conversion of foreigners generally, the great distinction between the mission fields themselves has ' been very much overlooked, in speaking of the success in some, and of the want of success in others. Note from The Eev. G. D. CuLLEN here read a brief paper forwarded by E3q!°Cavers. M^. Douglas of Cavers, observing that Mr. Douglas was a munifi- cent supporter of missions ; that he had published on the subject long ago ; and had furnished the article on " Missions," to the ■Encyclopcsdia Britannica. (For the paper read see Appendix.) Mr. CuLLEN. Mr. CuLLEN Said: — The hints which their esteemed friend had thrown out in his paper illustrated the advantage of a well- conducted and well-supported Quarterly Review. Objections to multiplying periodicals had often been made, and the opinion SECOND SESSION. 69 had been expressed — an opinion with which he sympathized — Existing , . Ill ,1 ...,,. puriodioals that it would be much better to get missionary mtelbgence maybe used, diffused through existing periodicals than to institute a new- one ; but the idea, which had been so well suggested, was to bring out something like the Calcutta Review, in which might be published well-prepared articles on the philosophy of missions. The Rev. Mr. Whiting, referring to Mr. Douglas' desidera- tum, said the Church Missionary Society were about to publish the contents of the works of Dr. Pfander. The Eev. Thomas Smith: — My attention has been much Eev. T. turned to the subjects introduced into this paper — namely, the pulpit, the press, and the platform. I shall confine myself now, however, to the subject of the press. I think the tone of the dis- cussion indicates that there is a felt want in regard to this matter. There are various classes of existing periodicals, general and de- Missionary nominational. I have not seen them all ; but of those I have seen, generally I should — being about to pronounce a pretty sweeping sentence ^f ™'^p'""'- condemnation — except one — the Church Missionary Intelligeiicer — which is, I think, a really good publication. Be it understood, I have not seen all ; but, with that exception, I think they will be found to fall very far short of what such publications ought to be. The information they contain may be, on the whole, correct. They give statements, but they give no idea whatever of what is going on in the mission field as a whole ; and it is sometimes impossible to make out anything intelligible by putting their statements together. You read in some of them, that at some place with an unpro- Often not nounceable name Mr. So-and-so had baptized ten converts ; and '° that, perhaps at some other place ten thousand miles off, some other person had baptized three other converts. Now, I beg to suggest that that is not missionary intelligence to any practical or useful purpose. And this is very much the character of most of the denominational periodicals of this kind. Mr. Whiting, in his paper, threw some of the blame on the missionaries for not sending more information ; but the greatest share of the blame is not due to them, but to the fault, or rather the misfortune, of the editors to whom that information is sent, and who do not know in what way to make a good use of it. (Laughter.) The result is, in point of fact, that our denominational missionary periodicals are not read to any great extent, and I believe the reason is, that they do not deserve to be read, and ought not to be read. This may 70 EEV. T. SMITH. seem strong language, but it is a subject on whieli I feel very deeply : I think it is one which lies at the root of the whole matter with respect to the future prospects of Christian missions. mov?spubUo "^^^ V^'^^s is a most powerful agency in bearing upon public Christian opinion ; and Christian opinion is public opinion ; and it is upon Christian opinion, feeling, and sentiment, that the success of mis- sions depends. (Hear, hear.) It is in direct proportion to Christian Bentiment and Christian feeling with regard to missions at home, that there will be success with regard to missions abroad. I do hope, therefore, that this subject will occupy a very full share of attention not only here, but when the members of the Conference return to their own homes, and that they will bring their influence to bear on our denominational bodies with respect to it. This kind of publication, after all, in the special circumstances of the Church, is fitted to be most effective. There is something in the denominational feeling which we may regret or approve. There are differences between us, and they do affect us so that people will, whether they wish it or not, take more interest in the mis- sions to which they themselves subscribe, and which are con- cur periodi- ducted according; to their own views, than in others. Therefore, I cals should , ? ' , . ' be improved, think the time has not yet come to give less importance to the denominational publications, or to abolish them ; and that being so, I do hope that a vigorous effort will be made by the various Churches for elevating, and for improving their various deno- minational periodicals. The only really good one I am ac- quainted with is, as I have said before, the Church 3Iissionary Intelligencer. 1 do not mean to say that it cannot be made better ; but it may be taken as a sample, and the others have a very great stride to make before they come to its level. Perhaps by that time, it will also have taken another stride in advance, and I hope it may. (Hear, hear.) When all this, however, has been done, there remains the other question of a more important kind of Fm-mer periodical, which should discuss principles, and contain articles of toarteriy. length on subjects bearing on missions. I recollect a very distin- guished man in the literature of our country, — Mr. Isaac Taylor — sent a detailed prospectus to India, about 1844 or 1845, pro- posing to establish a Missionary Quarterly, and requesting contri- butions. Not being in this country at that time, I do not know why it was not set a-going ; but I suppose there was not found sulliciciit pabulum, either in the way of contributions of literary matter, or sufficient support of a pecuniary kind. But, if this were the case then, I hope it need not be the case now, because it SECOND SESSION. 71 was stated this morning that the number of missionaries during the last fourteen years has been about doubled. I am sure the interest at home has also been doubled during that time. And the time must have come now, if not then, when a man like Mr. Isaac Taylor, or some other giant of our literature, might conse- crate his strength to the diffusion of information, and the elucida- tion of sound principles through the medium of such a publication. For practical and immediate purposes, the daily press is the most powerful engine ; next, the weekly; and then the monthly ; and I ^J,]™^ suppose it is to these we must look, at present, as a kind of smaller °'^'^ °°'^- musketry : but still we should bring the heavy cannon of the quarterly press to bear, in order to demolish the strongholds of prejudice and ignorance at home. I never thought before of the points mentioned by Mr. Waddell, in regard to the training of missionaries by the press, but it seems to be a very important question. At a meeting, in Edinburgh, some months ago, I ex- pressed a hope that one result of this Conference would be the establishment of such a periodical as that which has been now sug- gested. If such a periodical is to originate in the Conference, as I certainly hope it will, I beg to say to all our Liverpool capitalist friends, that we want no help from them. (Laughter.) If it suc- ceeds, it must succeed simply and entirely by its own merits, and not by being propped up with contributions. No publication can do good, unless it pays itself by circulation. Eecollect, we are not begging for such a publication. If it cannot help itself, let it fare as it deserves. The Rev. Dr. Someetille submitted that it was scarcely fair k^^- Dr. m iMr. omitn to condemn a class oi publications en masse, without objects to giving their names or stating how many he had read. He had censures. excepted one for commendation ; and he thought that, as Mr. Smith had stated that he had not read all, he was bound in equity to specify those which he considered unworthy of being read. He felt personally interested in this matter, being himself an editor (laughter) ; though he felt satisfied that Mr. Smith's statement could not apply to his publication, which had a cir- culation of upwards of 40,000 copies, and which he had reason to know, was generally read. If such sweeping condemnations as Mr. Smith's went abroad, they could not fail to injure the various missionary publications. The Chairman reminded Dr. Somerville that Mr. Smith had chaieman. 72 REV. DR. TID3IAN. been speaking in all the freedom and confidence which was par- ticularly desired. He had spoken, not of persons, but of things. Of course Mr. Smith had spoken generally. (Laughter.) A publication, like Dr. Somerville's, with a circulation of 40,000, was excepted. Eov. Dr. The Eev. Dr. Tidjian, — Sir, it falls to my lot to conduct one of these publications ; and my great relief is, that our good iriend, who is the censor, does not take the trouble to read what he con- demns. That goes a great way to neutralise the force of his cen- J^ai^oftte sure. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) There are more than 200,000 missionary of these monthly missionary periodicals circulated by the diiferent perio icas. gggj^^jjgg . ^^q^ jj. jg -(vorthy of grave thought whether anything should be said in this Conference tending to depreciate that means of extensive good. It may be all very true that there are many gentlemen like the speaker, who look upon these 'penny publica- tions not witla favour; but there are hundreds of thousands of our cottagers and villagers, and others, who look upon these penny publications with great interest, and whose missionary life de- pends upon their contents. Now, as we depend for our funds upon the many, and not upon the few, I submit it would be an injurious influence, which I should be sorry to see go forth from this Conference, if anything should tend to depreciate the value of that, which in its place is truly good and essentially needful. With regard to that higher class of periodicals, it is nothing new to ^'ai™''?'' many in this Conference. My friend opposite (Dr. Steane), and of the Quar- other gentlemen now present, were engaged fifteen years ago in securing the services of Mr. Isaac Taylor for this quarterly periodical ; and it was no fault, either of those who planned, or of Mr. Taylor, who was ready to undertake it, that it was not carried into effect. Much as our friend, Mr. Smith, despises • money, the fact is, that want of funds was the cause of that failure (laughter) ; and if you are to depend, at the outset, upon the merits of that kind of work, you will never secure it from one year to another. There is a great difficulty in getting these periodicals up the hiU; though, when they attain the acclivity, they may go on pretty well; still, it must tax the pockets of our Liverpool friends, and other friends, too, to raise Money the Sum of 5000Z. as a minimum to establish a quarterly publi- aiXmen. cation of this sort. And when you have got the money,^ where are the men to conduct it with efficiency ? Nothing is more difficult than to conduct our Quarterlies ; and were it not SECOXD SESSION. 73 for the great interest put forward to support them, wlio knows which would fall first ? The Rev. F. Tkestkail, Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Jf^v. f. Society, observed, that he had taken a lively interest in periodicals connected with the religious body to which he belonged. Take, for instance, the Baptist 31agazine. He invariably found amongst his brethren a class of gentlemen who were extremely literary, and loved everything that was highly intellectual, polished, and refined. This class did not like the Baptist Magazuie; they Periodicals always condemned it ; but they never read it. This was true among tiie also with periodicals, which represented their missions. Their teibutors""' friends of this class did not read them ; that was the fact. The great bulk of the support of all Societies came from the mass of the people ; the Bible Society not excepted. It was the mass of the people who read these things. Some years ago, in consequence of the great difficulty experienced in getting the publication into tlie hands of their friends, their quarterly paper was put an end to ; but a year and a half ago, they got the consent of their committee to re-establish it ; and now, through the medium of the book-post, they could send consider- able quantities for a penny. They announced through their Demand for magazine, and through their secretaries and collectors, that these publications would be given away to every subscriber of one penny a-week. During the first quarter they had only applica- tions for 3000, but now the demand had gone up to something like 12,000 or 13,000. It was increasing every quarter; and he had no doubt that in a short time it would reach 25,000. They knew that it went into the hands of the people ; for, unless they wanted it, and felt an interest in it, they would not have it. The editors were charged with not knowing how to use the J'/^i^J's^^ information communicated to them ; but they did use what they got. They did not manufacture the facts, nor trust to their ima- gination for the things recorded. They certainly exercised their discretion as to what proportions of the communications they used; and sometimes it required a glossary to unravel the difficulties and changes in the technical terms employed. To his knowledge, the spelling of the word "Koran" had altered half-a-dozen times within eighteen months, and they were obliged constantly to send out to the missionaries to request them to use those terms with which people were now familiar at home. With respect to the order in which the information was gene- 74 K. A. MACFIE, ESQ. laWy placed in the periodicals, he could state that it was placed in a definite order ; that India, Africa, and the West Indies, had their respective positions ; and that there was never a jump often thousand miles from one sentence to another. He thought that Mr. Smith's condemnation was much too sweeping. He thought tofy'miy that this great publication— the proposed Quarterly Eeview — for the few. could Only be for the few. A large number of persons could not be influenced by it. , Even if launched, and supported by all the talent that the Church could afford, it would not reach the great mass of the people, in whose hearts they wanted to keep alive the love of God and pity for dying men. The editors would be glad to receive suggestions ; and he begged to assure Mr. Smith that, if the missionary papers were not interesting, it mainly arose from the fact that their missionary brethren abroad did not take suffi- cient pains with their communications; while their friends at home were too apt to expect that their missionary intelligence was to be filled every month with something marvellous and extraordinary. It was unwarrantable, however, to suppose, that they should have to detail more marvellous results than occurred at home, unless, indeed, they wished to put their missionaries to fighting tigers and rhinoceroses. With regard to the pictorial illustrations, he believed that, for the most, they had been faithful and authentic. E. A. Mac- R. A. Macfie, Esq. said, — They had been told that missionary ' publications are not read by certain classes in society, and it was important to reach them. He did not think the want was so much in the quality of the publications as in the way in which they were made use of. He thought the primitive system, oral communication of intelligence, was the Christian system and the prudent system. The principal place which these periodicals ought to occupy, was, in his opinion, that of providing ministers with information, which they in their turn might communicate Tbs pulpit from the pulpit on the Lord's-day forenoon. The true use of ought to bo . . . T , ^ 1 ,1 ^ . . used to a missionary periodicals was to supply the means of giving to the and^on^ ™ people, in this way, information of what the missionaries were system. doing. He himself subscribed to a considerable number of peri- odicals, whose excellence he did not doubt : but he knew little or nothing of their contents, for he did not read them ; and busy people could not be got to read them, as they might not find time to look at them on week-days, and on Sundays they were occu- pied with Sabbath-schools, their families, and other duties. The SECOND SESSION. 75 only way to reach the hearts and minds of the people was by the Printed pa- minister of each church reading information to his congregation. brstatSliy^ These sentiments were not entertained by himself alone. They Sbath!'^'' hiid been brought before the Missionary Committee of the church to which he himself belonged, and they received such favourable consideration that it was proposed to ask the Synod to sanction a publication of a character somewhat different from those which no^r existed. It was suggested not to issue this periodical in any bulky form or at any regular interval, but as an " occasional periodicals paper:" if there was only little to say, to say that little, issuing S^p^poS' for instance only half a sheet, and even that, only when there was matter to communicate : this publication would be sent to the ministers of the several congregations, to be read publicly at ordi- nary diets by authority of the Synod and its Mission Committee. There could be no objection to a paper of this kind being read from the pulpit on Sunday forenoons.* The Eev. Dr. Tweedie, although belonging to the same Rev. Dr. church as Mr. Smith, differed from his brother upon the present occasion, and that very widely. He saw, moreover, one or two editors present, modest men, who were in the habit of hiding behind the majestic monosyllable we, and who might be shy of speaking for themselves. (Laughter.) He might be allowed to mention, therefore, what took place with reference to periodicals Defends the Free Cliurcli in the section of the church to which he belonged. They had a periodici-j. monthly, with a circulation ranging from 20,000 to 23,000 copies, — not a very large circulation, but still leavening a goodly number of thousands with the truths which the missionaries conveyed. They had also a quarterly publication. Mr. Smith might under- value it in a literary point of view ; but the matter which it contained was just such as that esteemed brother himself was accustomed to send home when he was a missionary far away in India. (Laughter.) Of this about 95,000 copies were circulated every quarter, and if they thus reached 95,000 persons with only one sound idea, they would do some good. (Hear, hear.) He quite agreed with Dr. Tidman with regard to the larger periodical, and Tte quar- ■, 1 -, , , ,-, ' ° . , ,. , terlyadvis- had done what he could to promote its estabhshment many years able, ifprao- ago. Could it be revived he had no doubt it would be produc- tive of great benefit to the missionary cause; and for this reason, that the ideas which came to govern the public mind were first planted in one mind, or two, or twenty, and were thence conveyed to the minds of the masses ; and could they work out strong and * Sanction has siuce been given. REV. T. GREEN. powerful tliouglits about the missionary cause through some high- class periodical, and get it to bear with all its weight in high quarters, he had no doubt that, beginning with the higher minds, they would work downwards, and so influence myriads of the minds of the country. INIr. Smith had discountenanced pecu- niary contributions for such a work, but he (Dr. Tweedie) had no doubt that contributions for it could be got up before the Con- ference closed, if it were thought desirable. He was quite sure that if such a periodical could be started, of which he was far from sanguine, it would do good in the sphere to which it would be limited, perhaps five or six hundred being, he feared, its maximum circulation. He would not, however, have it for a moment supersede the smaller and simpler class of publications. Kev. T. The Eev. Thomas Smith explained that he had distinctly Smith. ^ •' stated that the smaller periodicals must be the great means of in- fluencing the people. It was to the improvement of these pub- lications that he was directing his attention, and the establishment of the other literary undertaking he regarded as a secondary, though still a very important matter. EeT. T. The Eev. T. Green would follow up the remarks of Mr. Macfie, which he deemed exceedingly important. He believed that if they wished to influence and direct aright the public feeling with regard to the missionary work they must adopt the The pulpit suggestion which Mr. Macfie had made, particularly in the use of i.sfdmore° *^® pulpit; for it was marvellous how little the pulpit was used in largely. reference to that great object. If they, looked at the New Testa- ment, they would be surprised at the amount of missionary in- telligence which that portion of the word of God contained, when contrasted with the very slight references to missionary matters which the pulpit, in the present day, generally gave forth. He would not allude to the missionary journeys of our Lord, narrated The "Acts" ^^ *^6 four Gospels, nor to the details of missionary journeys in the of thl N.*T. Epistles ; but looking at the Acts of the Apostles, which was from the beginning to the end a missionary record, he asked if they had ever considered how large a proportion the Acts of the Apostles ' bore to the whole of the New Testament ? They would find that it was one-eighth part of the entire book which was thus taken up by a missionary record ; what proportion then did the missionary work bear in their own pulpit discourses to this New Testament proportion? Mr. Mncfle had stated that persoi.j like himself rarely perused the monthly, or even the quarterly, missionary SECOND SESSION. 77 publications, and that if they were to be made acquainted with them at all it must be from the lips of their pastors. When he His own (Mr. Green) had charge of a parish, some time ago, he was in the thls^wa^. habit of directing the thoughts of his people to missionary sub- jects on the Sabbath-day, at stated intervals, exactly in the way described : sometimes speaking of one mission and sometimes of another, and he could truly say that much more interest was excited whenever that Sabbath came round than by the ordinary ministrations of his Church: for thus a pleasing variety was im- parted to those ministrations, at the same time that he was carry- ing the introduction of the missionary element prominently into the pulpit. The effect of this and of other measures which he adopted with the same object in -view was the formation of a missionary association, and from 30Z. which they raised in the first year they went on increasing, from time to time, until in the last year Their result. that he was there (ten years altogether) they were able to send up to the funds of the Parent Society a sum of 2001. He thought that this was mainly due to the giving of information from the pulpit in the way already referred to. He should state further, that the congregation consisted almost entirely of operatives, and con- tained only some half-dozen persons of moderate or affluent means. Adverting for a moment to the subject of periodicals, he might remark that members of the Church of England had no reason to complain with respect to their treatment at the hands of Mr. Smith, for he had spoken very kindly of their Missionary Intel- ligencer: but, much as he (Mr. Green) valued that periodical, he Need ofgood „, ■■ . ■■ ,, ■ , „ , . aud cheap felt that it operated on a very small portion only oi their con- periodieais tributors, some 3000 copies being sent out every month, while many. they had 60,000 contributors, whose names ajppeared in their Annual Eeport, and probably 600,000 contributors, whose names never appeared in any Eeport, contributors of their pence, their halfpence, and their farthings, weekly, to their missionary work. (Hear.) They wanted to influence these 600,000 minds, and the only way of doing this was by giving them something in the shape of a halfpenny or a penny periodical. He knew that the little Juvenile Instructor, unpretending as it was, had been the means of sending many a missionary student to the College at Islington, where he had become fitted for the labours of the missionary field. Other missionary publications were filled almost entirely with communications from their missionaries abroad. Until he read , these publications, he (Mr. Green) had regarded them as unia- 78 EEV. C. HEBEET. teresting. (Laugliter.) He would recommPBd Mr. Smitli to read the two last Numbers of the Church Missionary Record, the numbers for February and March, and he had no doubt that he would then admit that he had had a rich spiritual treat. They con- tained a most interesting communication from the Bishop of Rupert's Land, as well as other communications of great interest, from Africa and elsewhere. hjJbekt. The Eev. C. Hebeet, in reference to the best means of stirring up the missionary feeling at home, observed that nothing- had been said about missionary prayer-meetings. (Hear, hear.) He was inclined to believe that they had come to a time in the history Prayer to be ^^ ^^ Church when prayer would exercise a greater influence than employed. Example of its results. it had yet done ; it was one of the peculiar features of the present time that people came together gladly and regularly for prayer alone. This was a most mighty engine that ought to be enlisted in the missionary cause to a much greater extent than it had been hitherto. One of our great Missionary Societies, during the past year, had determined to call special attention to this subject; and its rolls, which before, were almost destitute of candidates for the missionary work, were suddenly replenished; so that when its friends met together to consider what they should do, their minds were filled with gratitude, and the language of scrip- ture was put into their mouths : "Before they call I will answer ; and whilst they are yet speaking I will hear." (Hear.) He be- lieved that if the authority of this Conference were given to the establishment of missionary periodicals, either monthly or quar- terly, and of missionary prayer-meetings, they would gain a new fund of strength, and secure a blessing from God, which would tend more than anything else to the increase of the missionary spirit. Kev. Canoa WOOD- KOOFFB. Periodical meetiuga. The Rev. Canon Woodeoopfe, of Alton, Hants, wished to say a word by way of supplementing Mr. Green's remarks. He regarded it as one of the best means of gaining support among tlie working classes, to have periodical meetings of a devotional cha- racter, and to make those meetings the means of disseminating missionary information. It had been his practice for years to assemble his people thus once a-month, for prayer and reading the scriptures, and for communicating missionary intelligence upon scriptural principles. He had found no lack of heart or interest among his congregation with reference to the smaller missionary SECOND SESSION. 79 publications. Tlie little children came eagerly for their Juvenile Instructors, and the working men for their quarterly papers, and they might depend upon it that whenever the work was taken up in earnest in. centres of this kind, a blessing would be sure to follow. The Rev. S. Hislop advocated the formation of Missionary Kev, s. Associations, which should meet quarterly, for the reception of missionary intelligence, for the giving of contributions, and for engaging in united prayer. He had enjoyed the privilege ot forming such a Missionary Association in a locality recently blessed by a remarkable outpouring of God's Spirit ; and he had interest in •^ . . missions had the happiness of witnessing the lively and earnest interest among the with which poor iishermen, who had only recently themselves tasted of the grace of God, had entered into this grand work of diffusing that salvation, which they had thus experienced, over the whole world. He (Mr. Hislop) gathered fresh encouragement to go forward in his work, from the knowledge that these men, who knew what prayer was, were meeting together for the promotion of this great missionary work; Colonel Lavie observed, with reference to the circulation of Coi. Lavie. periodicals, that in the neighbourhood in which he himself resided, — Blackheath, Greenwich, and Deptford — there was a good work PeHodicais. going on in this respect. Last month he had been asked to preside instances. at a missionary meeting of the children composing a Sunday-school, gathered in from the Ragged Schools of the neighbourhood. The missionary boxes, with the contributions of these children for the three previous months, were opened at this meeting ; and, to his astonishment, in farthings, half-pence, and pence, the collection amounted to no less a sum than 4?. \s. \\d.; and on inquiry he found, that the interest of these children had been brought about to a very great extent through the reading amongst them of this Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor, known by them as the " good green book," and by other similar simple publications. Lieut.-Col. Hughes observed, that he had been permitted Lieut.-Coi. some six years ago, to establish a Juvenile Association in St. John's "°'"^^- Wood, which now numbered upwards of 2000 members, and which had contributed altogether during the last six years a sum of 1200/. Juvcuiio .-,. iioi 11 associations, In order to show the remarkable interest taken by ounday-school their e.^tent children, — the children of the poor, in the work of Christian ness.' "^ 80 EEV. HAMILTON MACGILL. Great value of tlie mis- sionaiy periodjcals. missions, he would mention the fact, that in no single instance, during the six years, had he received less than 40/., and, in two instances, he had received upwards of 50Z. in pence, halfpence, and farthings, from Sunday-school children. He had circulated monthly, during the six years, at the rate of never less than 500, but usually from 600 to 700 copies of the Church Missionanj Juvenile Instructor and the Gleaner. He had received on an average Zl. quarterly, or thereabouts, for these publications ; for they held their regular quarterly meetings, and this money came, not from the rich, but from the poor Sunday-school children. When he told them that 63,000 copies of the Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor were circulated monthly, chiefly among the poorer classes of society, and that contributions were received by the Church Missionary Society in small sums from the poor amounting to 20,000/. annually, he was sure they would say that a great evil would be done if the circulation of these admirable publications was in any way curtailed. Although a publication of a higher order might be required by persons in the higher ranks of society, yet it would be doing a great injury to the missionary cause if these little penny publications were to be put a stop to. (Hear, hear.) Eev. H. The Rev. Hamilton M. Mac Gill entirely agreed with those who thought that a periodical of a higher class would be of immense service : and with respect to the inferior class of publications Liberality being more widely circulated, he believed it was quite possible to m&mation show, that Contributions to missions had increased in proportion to the circulation of those periodicals ; the diffusion of missionary sentiment creating a demand for missionary publications, and the publications, in their turn, ministering to that sentiment, and leading to larger and more liberal contributions. He could name a church — the United Presbyterian Church — consisting of 157,000 communicants, in which 74,000 copies of periodicals are circulated and paid for by the readers, monthly. When the circulation of Exampis. these periodicals began, the missionary contributions of that church amounted to about 5000Z., whereas now they had reached 25,000Z. a-year. Facts like these threw some light upon the use- fulness of this minor class of publications in the advancement of the cause of missions ; for in that cause the contributions had increased pari passu with the increase in the circulation of the periodicals. There were one or two other matters bearing upon the missionary spirit in the Church at home to which it was SECOND SESSION. 81 desirable to look. He believed that in proportion as men worked out the missionary principle in their own lives, in that same pro- portion would they be able to induce others to go along with them, either in the way of personal exertions, or of contributions to the cause of Christ. He believed, however, that the work must begin with the pastors. Those most emphatic words, which Pastors formed the very jet and essence of their commission, " Go ye into missionary. all the world, and preach the Gospel unto every creature," must be better understood. The pastor must "go" himself, and work the work of a missionary, as he had opportunity; and acting thus himself, he would be led to employ his people in the same way, giving them all an inducement to work for the cause of Christ. The great missionary lesson must be learnt by personal work. " If any man will do the will of the Lord, he will know of the doctrine:" and in proportion as he carried out into his personal life and labours the true missionary spirit, in that same proportion would he be blessed, in inducing others to go along with him, and to join with him, both in prayer and in Christian contributions, for carrying on this great work. Christian contributions must be regarded as being as certainly Christian, and as certainly devo- tional, as any other act of the Christian life. And until their QWng is people thoroughly understood this, their efforts to enforce the devotion, habit, and the duty, of Christian contribution on their respective congregations, would never be attended with full or perfect success. Both in the Old and in the New Testament this duty of Christian contribution was presented as matter of worship. In the 72d Psalm, they were told, "And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised." Thus the giving of gold and prayer were spoken of in the same breath by God himself. In this matter of giving, much depended on the ' circulation of ideas, the old idea being, that a man might give a gift to the cause of Christ, provided he happened to be in particularly good circumstances. A friend of his style of had recently waited on him, and made an offer of 1000^. for Spre^ssive missionary objects upon certain conditions. A relative of this ideas"^° kind donor, shortly afterwards, waited on him, and cordially agreed with him in saying, that the very idea of giving a a thousand pounds to the missionary cause was worth ten thousand. He was persuaded that they were ruled very much by the ideas that were abroad; and it was important to re- collect that these missionary publications had, during the last G 82 EEV. H. M. MACGILL. twenty years, been circulating the thoughts which had resulted in tioM*''" ^^°^^ l^i'gs gi^'^- "^^ found, from an article in the Juncydopadia Missionary Britaimica, that the missionary contributions of all Christendom, in behalf of heathendom, amounted to about 600,000?. a-year, excluding contributions made to Bible Societies. He believed this was an under statement. But, even supposing that the real amount was 1,000,OOOZ. there were a hundred men in Christendom who ought to give every farthing of that amount, leaving the missionary contributions of all the rest of Christendom entirely out of the account. (Hear, hear.) We were now only at the The Church bcffinnins of the work. When God saw the Church to be pre- needs more & & life, the rest pared for it, he would put more substance into her hands ; and will follow. ^ ' ^ ^ ^ ^ . • , 1 when she had more life, she would obtain more means m the shape of Christian contributions for carrying on this great work. ' The great want of the Church, indeed, was more life. And when she had more life she would have more prayer and larger contributions. They had special reason to thank God for the revival with which he had visited many parts of their country. That very morning he had opened a letter in the Conference, telling him of a most striking revival of religion which, during the past week, had taken place in one of the towns of the North, and which was deeply impressing the people there. If this movement were to extend over the country ; if there were more life and Christian exertion in the Church at home; they would very soon find that God would pour a larger blessing on the heathen world ; and the type of Christianity, which existed at home, would, if they thus laboured, be reproduced abroad. (Hear, hear.) Ecv, p. La The Eev. P. La Trobe thought that all the three methods of circulating missionary information, which had been recommended, were very desirable and could not be dispensed with; yet a quar- Aii iiiiids of terly journal of a higher character would be a great addition to rS uoeded. missionary literature. . He (Mr. La Trobe) was one who assisted at the consultation with Mr. Isaac Taylor, fifteen years ago, and could confirm Dr. Tidman's statement as to the causes of its failure. He, however, quite agreed with those who thought that only a small portion of those interested in missions would be benefited by such a periodical. They could not altogether dispense with their present quarterly and monthly missionary journals, though such publications might doubtless be improved, and greater dis- crimination exercised in selecting the matter. He folt, however, SECOND SESSION. 83 especially as regarded ordinary and juvenile readers, that they would sustain a very great loss — a loss, of which they would feel the consequences — were they to put a stop to these pei'iodicals. Tlieir missionary brethren and sisters abroad, to whom these publications were fraught with instruction and interest, vi^ould bustain a serious privation, and have just ground of complaint, were they withdrawn. It was most important also, to bring missionary information more frequently forward from the pulpit, The pujpit. and that periodical meetings of Associations should be held ; Meetings. advantage being always taken, when possible, of the presence of missionaries visiting Europe, and of such as had retired from active service. They would aU agree as to the necessity of more R'ayor. fervent, united, and .continuous supplications at the throne of grace. Periodical prayer-meetings on behalf of the missionary work would do much to increase the zeal and interest of congrega- tions at home, and to edify the hearts, and support the efforts, of missionaries abroad. The Eev. J. Anderson, formerly of Calcutta, said, that since Rev. j. his return to England, he had felt very deeply how necessary it was for ministers in this country to hold up distinctly, prominently, and constantly, the idea that every member of the Christian Church, be he great or small, had a work to do with regard to the conversion of souls. First, with regard to his own household; secondly, amonffst his companions and fellow-countrymen ; arid •^-'^ s'fts •/ ' o jr J ' should coma thirdly, amongst the heathen. It was preposterous for the treasury from spiri- of the Lord to be filled with contributions for carrying the gospel to distant parts of the earth, from individuals who were not known in any way to manifest a warm love for Christ and his gospel in their hearts and lives. He wished therefore to know the mind of the Conference upon this point. If the treasury of the Lord was to be filled, in order to carry on his work, should it not be by the Lord's people offering spontaneously and entirely from their own hearts that which their love of Christ and their appreciation of the glorious gospel led them to give. The Eev. J. Towers, of Birkenhead, approved very much of j^^jj'^g^ the suggestion of a weekly newspaper or periodical, which should bring before the churches the great mission work which was going a weekly .,,,-.. T 1 T p • • 1 newspaper on in all denominations. It was hard lor a minister to make very dcsir- bricks without straw, and in giving information once a-month on. missionary subjects, he had often felt this difficulty; whereas if 84 KEY. J. FOEDYCE. ministers were supplied on Saturday morning with a missionary newspaper, giving an account of what was going on in various parts of the world, they would be able to wai-m and interest the hearts of their people in the missionary cause, and a prayerful and liberal feeling would be established. He greatly preferred this proposal to that of the magnificent quarterly. (Laughter.) Work- ing men with their wives and families would value such a news- paper, and soon consider it a necessity; while the acquaintance which it would bring about, amongst Churchmen and Dissenters, would be in itself a happy and important feature of its position. By being thus mutually informed as to what was going on in their respective churches in the department of missionary operations, much of denominational exclusiveness and ignorance would be dissipated. Eev. J. The Rev. J. Fordtce, late of Calcutta, thought it very de- sirable to have a quarterly review of missions, but did not approve of the proposal for starting a missionary newspaper. The News of the Churches and Journal of Missions, which was already estab- m^ssioMfT' Wished, and was not denominational, answered very much the information purpose which had been sugarested by Mr. Towers. It would be into existujg ^ ^ °° '' papers. better he (Mr. Fordyce) thought, though perhaps more expensive, to infuse more of a Christian spirit into the cheap newspapers already existing, than to establish a cheap missionary newspaper. They might have a quarterly for a higher style of missionary periodical. He thought it would be well also if the editors of their denominational publications could keep in view the re- marks and criticisms which had been made, as much good might be done in this direction. When he himself was in India, he had little cause to complain of with reference to his communications not being published; though he did hear those who had been longer in the country, and who were more experienced, complain of the treatment which many of their letters had received at the hands Bright para- of editors. A complaint he heard more than once, was this: — graphs in i n o i missionary That there was too much culling of the bright paragraphs from, the missionaries' letters, and too much repressing of those things which they wrote in the agony of their hearts. (Hear, hear). He wished particularly to draw attention to this, because when Trials of travelling at home in support of missions, he had found good ^"prayer.'"^ reason to believe, that those passages which indicated the trials of missionaries were just the passages to quicken the missionary spirit and to draw forth missionary prayers. With regard to SECOND SESSION. 85 deputations, though large deputations no doubt did a great deal of good, he wished to call attention to a humbler class of de- puties and localities. He had often found after his return home, that in large towns a missionary from India was a very frequent visitor; but, that in going to remote and country places, Missionariea crowds were collected by the visit of an Indian missionary, who linages as had perhaps never been seen before, and enthusiastic and successful towns. meetings were held. He believed if some of their friends from abroad or missionaries at home, who had strength for it, would go round in this way to some of those country towns, many fresh springs would be opened up, which, although not very productive in money, would be fruitful in prayerful interest, and perhaps result in more real benefit than did the great public meetings in some of our provincial towns. It was most important that the of''u''JSS? interest amongst the juvenile portion of the church should be societies. thoroughly maintained and encouraged; not only from the value of the juvenile offerings themselves, but from the fact that these children would be amongst the chief supporters of missions some ten or fifteen years hence, and that many from amongst them might yet go forth as the messengers of the churches in heathen lands. The Rev. J. Mullens, alluding to the remark made by Mr. P.^v. J. ° . •' Mullens. Whiting as to the character of the communications sent home by missionaries, said that he and his missionary brethren present would be glad to receive any hints that their experienced brethren what roiut at home might give them, as to the kind of letters they should sionary let- write and the topics which they should discuss. The fact was, upon^™" that all the details of missionary life became so familiar to them, that things which a stranger would regard as of great interest, they were apt to pass over as an ordinary matter not worth describ- ing. He had been quite astonished to find how references to Indian customs, and to the details of Indian life, which they in India passed over as ordinary, attracted considerable attention among friends at home. With regard to Deputations, he thought that it was well for missionaries, when they came home, to receive a few hints upon this subject. Many missionaries had made the Missionary mistake of confining themselves, in their sabbath services and saSuidgive even on the platform, to addresses enforcing the duty of carrying ^^°'^' on missions, and the like. These general topics the people say they can hear discussed by their own ministers at any time ; but from a missionary, whether on the sabbath or on other days, they like 86 KEV. J. MULLENS. to hear everything he can tell them of what his eyes have seen in the work of the Redeemer abroad. He thought it both right and wise for all missionaries, when going through the country as depu- tations, to keep this desire in mind. He had himself made mistakes in the matter at first, but latterly had made it a rule to bring before his audiences the facts of Indian missionary life, the history and prospects of various fields, and striking incidents that had occurred. He had found that their friends felt a deep interest, Bympatiiy not Only in the successes, but also in the discouragements, of trials! ^ missionaries. He never found that the relation of cases, where the hearts of missionaries had been grieved by the open and avowed apostasy of some of their converts, did the slightest injury to their interest in the mission cause ; for they showed to their friends the true character and diificulties of the mission work ; they showed how it was carried on now under the same conditions, as was the work of our blessed Lord himself, and of his Apostles, wh6 met with the same discouragements. Some persons have, indeed, spoken in disparaging terms about the relation of stories Stories. at missionary meetings ; but while they would all object to pander to a morbid appetite for stories about alligators, monkeys, and tigers, stories about converts were only instances of Christianity individualised. Such were the stories of Cornelius, of Lydia, and of the Gaoler. The way in which the truth worked and Christianity brought forth its fruit was illustrated by these details of iudi- diiau!™' vidual life in the New Testament ; and what could the mission- aries do better than adopt the same course ? It was the glory of Christianity, as propagated in a true Christian spirit and method, that it took hold of individuals. The whole world was to be Christianised by the Christianising of individuals ;, and the gospel went from individuals to their connexions, their families, and the nations to which they belong. The progress of the gospel among the devil-worshippers of South India was most interesting; the story of the progress of the gospel among the Karens was more interesting still; and he thought that his missionary brethren could not do better than give all the information they possess about the facts of their missionary life, and the progress of the gospel in heathen lands. Dr.o'MEARA The pey. Dr. O'Meaea thoroughly coincided with Mr. Mullens' observations, that it was by facts, and facts alone, that the individual interest in missionary work was to be kept lip. SECOND SESSION. 87 WiLLiAJi Leach, Esq, of London, referring to the proposed w. leach, aid from Juvenile Societies, expressed his regret that active effort ''*' to obtain support for missions was comparatively little used by -work for ^lay gentlemen — persons who were impressed with the importance w^'n^ of the object, but who rendered comparatively little help in the |''>t';eriDg great work. The amount of assistance which might be rendered by laymen was inconceivably great. If all did their duty in this respect, missionary operations, so far as resources were concerned, might be increased a hundred-fold or more. If gentlemen would give their energies to the subject — as Colonel Hughes, for instance, had done — there would soon be a wonderful spread of missionary supply. They all knew, who attended committees in London, how difficult it was in many Societies even to get a quorum, and how little was done out of the Committee — the work most needed. Unwilling as he was to refer to his own case, might he be permitted His own thus to encourage others to "provoke to love and to good works ?" "^'^' He was himself induced to take up a work of this kind, in connexion with a particular Society ; and he well recollected the remarks made to him by a much-respected clergyman who consigned that Society to his care : he said, " Do all you can to call forth the telp of brethren, the Lord will bless you in it, but don't expect it to be an easy work, for it will be a cross as long as you live." This was more than fifty years ago, and he (Mr. Leach) could truly say that, though these works had been acts of self-denial, the blessing of God had largely attended his. efforts, — to Him alone be the praise. — He recollected very well an observation Asking for made not long ago by Lord Shaftesbury: "I have learnt that if important we want money, we must ask for it." This, he was sure, would '^°^ be the experience of the Church, and they must not be above asking ; for it was an occupation which Apostles did not dis- dain to follow. They sought the contributions of those who were under their influence, and were not ashamed in person to convey those contributions to the relief of the poor saints at Jerusalem. He hoped that this discussion would have much effect in calling forth the missionary spirit, and a determined feeling to help forward the work of God in any way that they could. He could fully testify to the fact that, whilst engaged in very laborious occupations he could always find some time for helping such objects; and he recommended his brethren to consider engagements of this sort as primary obligations — and as work to be done for God, which must always take the precedence of all minor engagements. 88 EEV. "W. CAMPBELL. oimpSll. The Rev. W. Campbell wished to offer one or two remarks about Deputations. A very excellent man in Bristol said to him, doputauona "°* *°°S ^go, " Your deputations are the life-blood of your societies." With this sentiment he fully agreed ; but he could not, also, help mentioning as a fact, that he had heard of gentle- men preaching for Missionary Societies and not once mentioning the name or work of the Society whose cause they professed to be They should advocating. Was this pleading the missionary cause ? It was give infor- ° r o ./ ^ ^ jnation in a mistake, in his opinion, to reserve all the facts for the missionary the pulpit as . „ . . . , ii i. i well as on meetings ; tor missionary meetings, as a rule, were generally but forin!* poorly attended: people were not sufficiently interested in the subject, and would not come out to attend them. To meet this difficulty, it was necessary that deputations should fill their sermons with great facts respecting the missionary work. He fully agreed with Mr. Macfle with respect to the importance of pastors being well posted in regard to missionary information, in order that they might diffuse it among their people on the sabbath- day. Until the seed was sown among the people, they could not expect the results. Htohes"^ Lieut.-Col. Hughes observed that his experience during the last eight or ten years had convinced him that the great opposition Work for the and difficulties with which he had to contend, had arisen from the clergy. little interest taken by the clergy and ministers of the gospel in missionary efforts. Unless ministers of the gospel, to whatever denomination they belonged, took an interest in the question, and brought it fully and regularly before their congregations, it was impossible for any layman to do what Mr. Leach recommended. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN, touching the point mentioned by one of the preceding speakers, as to the spirituality of giving, said that one m 'ivta^''' of tlie first lessons which he had learned when it pleased God to draw his heart towards Himself, had reference to this subject. He thought he was doing a very meritorious thing in contributing a liberal sum for some missionary purpose. He took it to a brother officer, who knew very well what his life had been, and who, looking him earnestly in the face, said, " I don't think I ought to take this from you at all." " Why not ? it is for the missionary work." The officer questioned him closely as to his motives ; and this lesson had never been lost upon him. Remembering this incident, he felt quickened by the address of his friend on the left, Mr. Anderson ; and he urged them all to remember that it SECOND SESSION. 89 was "not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saitli the Lord." However empty the treasury might be, let them go for- ward in faith, and be sure the Lord could do his own work witli a little money, by means of his ministering servants, as well as by much. He trusted that in future they would look more to the gift being sanctified by the spirit which presented it. Adverting next to the subject of deputations, the Chairman Eloquent speakers not asked if they had never seen men who, for their intellectual powers always the - . 11, . in 1 ^6St tViciids and eloquence, were brought to meetings, such, for example, as of missions. those which would shortly take place in the metropolis, go back from those scenes, and in other parts and spheres take a more active part against the pure gospel of Christ than they had ap- peared to give assistance to it by their eloquence on the platform. These were important considerations for the Church ; and here he thought, in connexion with other inconsistencies, might be found one of the causes of that want of success in missions which, under the name of " failure,'' had been inserted in the programme. With regard to the influence of publications in exciting sympathy and gaining means of support for missions, the Chairman said that he believed it was to Scotland we were Schools sup. indebted for the first movement in a most beautiful characteristic vert™^ °°''" of missionary work — namely, Sunday-school children supporting converts in far distant lands, and thus establishing a bond of Christian love that spanned the hemispheres, and united in one spirit now those who shall hereafter be worshipping spirits around the throne of Christ in heaven. The Kev. Dr. Steane remarked that there was another aspect Re'^- Er. ■of the subject. We expected our missionary brethren to send us information : had we ever thought of what was due from us in information sending information to them of what was going on in our own sen" to " churches ? He had been the editor, for fourteen years, of a perio- ™^'°'i^"es. dical {Evangelical Christendom) which interested itself more particularly with the Continental and other Churches, the Churches "EvanKeiioa i of the Keformation and the Oriental Churches. He might men- dor™'scnt tion a fact which he felt assured would gratify the meeting, that '° ""^'" °'^' the proprietors of that journal had come to the resolution of sending it monthly, free of all cost, to every Protestant mis- sionary throughout the world. (Applause.) It had been sent already in considerable numbers to missionaries belonging to different Societies ; and the letters received from their dear brethren, especially tliose at the outside stations, and far from 90 EEV. E. S. HAEDT. tte centres of information, showed how highly they had been gratified, how their hearts had been cheered and encouraged, and how much they prized the information which such a periodical afforded them. Rev. n. S. Haedy. improved toueof the modern press. The Rev. R. S. Haedt would merely observe, as a missionary, that they would omit a great duty if they did not expre.?.s the deep gratitude which they owed to the editors of Evangelical Chrisfendom. He also wished to express his own sense of grati- tude at the change which had taken place in the principles of our chief Quarterlies, such as the Edinburgh and Quarterly Revieivs. They were not yet all that they could wisli them to be, but certainly their tone had very much changed from what it was a few years ago. With reference, also, to the daily press. The Times especially, he felt he could make the same remark : though the public newspapers were not what they should like them to be in all particulars, yet they had very much changed in their tone and tendency for the better within the last few years. As to the News of the Churches, he read it regularly, and was much interested by its varied and valuable contents. Captain Layard, Captain Layard, as the representative of the Jews' Society, begged to thank Dr. Steane and the supporters of the publication in question, for the valuable information it contained, and for the liberal manner in which it had been distributed. Eev. Dr. Steane. Quarterlies losing influence. Weeklies have raore influence. Dr. Steane, having had some practical experience of periodi- cals, would like- to add a remark in reference to the proposed Quarterly. The Quarterlies, and the larger publications of that kind, were now obtaining less and less circulation ; and it was -with extreme difficulty that some of the most intellectually valu- able ones maintained their ground. He thought if tliey could bring the sanctified intellect of the Church into a periodical such as the Saturday Review, it would obtain a far wider circulation and greater influence than any which could be hoped for from a Quarterly. Eov. Dr. TWEEDIE. Missionary professor- sliip. The Rev. Dr. Tweedie rose solely to express his regret that they could not go, even at some length, into the last subject mentioned in the Programme ; the subject of 'a Professorship of missionary history and duties at the Universities and Colleges. There was a difference of opinion as to whether it would be beUer SECOND SESSION. 91 to have a separate professor for that department, or whether more of the missionary spirit should be infused into the work of all the professors? It was an open question; but he thought it was the duty of the Conference not to omit all reference to the subject. And he was sure it must be the feeling of all who were interested in the training of the future labourers of the Churches at home or abroad, au students that as certain a sound as possible should be given with respect to ougiit'to'iS ■ the importance of thoroughly training students for the missionary S^nSsious; work. As a student of theology himself, he did not recollect having heard a single missionary lecture while attending the Hall. They had, of course, information out-of-doors, through Societies and various other agencies; but professionally they were not trained in any right views of the work : and although, of course, there was a great improvement in the course of a quarter of a century, since he studied, he did not know whether even now, in the theological institutions of any section of the Christian Church, missionary principles and missionary views received the =>? ™ cssen- prominence which they deserved, or which the New Testament tiicir studies. gave them. He thought the subject should have more attention bestowed upon it than could be given in a course of half-a-dozen lectures. He knew a devoted missionary who was oifered the opportunity of delivering six lectures in the course of the winter, to the students attending a Hall ; but he declined the offer on principle, although he could have done it easily, and would doubt- less have done it admirably ; because he would not, he said, accept a composition, when he wished for full payment, with reference to this great subject. If something of this kind were well impressed upon the minds of all, it would be of great service to our future ministers and missionaries and be blessed, he was sure, to revive and invigorate all the Churches. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. Dr. Somerville said, — He had felt this subject to Rev. Dr. be one of great importance ; and he might state, that the Church ''^'™'*'"''^'^- to which he belonged had Synodically enacted, that it was a part of theological teaching, incumbent on the theological professor, to The same, bring missionary subjects before his students ; touching on the claims of the mission-field, the qualifications necessary for the synod of the work of a missionary, and the best methods of performing that lY^,^' so "''' work. They could not look into the New Testament without "dei-ed. seeing, that the missionary enterprise was the outstanding and prominent part of theology. The commission given by our Lord immediately before his ascension was, " Go ye into all the world 92 KET. DR. SOMEKVILLE. New York Missionary Conference advised it also. Professors ought to act on this principle. and preach the Gospel unto every creature;" and no professor could teach the Bible without teaching missions. He would mention a fact, which many of them, perhaps, were aware of; that at the New York Missionary Conference, held in May 1854, the following recommendation on this very point was agreed to: — "Moreover, that, for the due preparation of candi- dates for the foreign field, it were very desirable that provision were made, in our theological seminaries generally, for bringing the entire history and obligations of the missionary enterprise before the students, in what may be briefly designated as a course of evangelistic theology." He (Dr. Somerville) was not pre- pared to say that we had reached the period when a professorship of missionary history would be an advantage ; but, certainly, every theological professor should make it a matter of duty to inculcate missionary principles, and to enforce missionary obliga- tions. Much had been said about a higher class of missionary periodicals, but he believed that if they could get missionary principles introduced into the Universities, and into the praelec- tions of the Professors, they would thus influence the educated minds of the country, and, through them, would influence the literature of the country also. Eev. G. D. CULLEN. Dr. Cold- stream's lectures on ethnology. The Rev. Mr. Cullen observed, that Dr. Coldstream, of Edinburgh, a very enlightened friend of missions, had, during the last session, delivered a course of lectures on ethnology and ethno- graphy, which had proved exceedingly useful to the missionary cause. Medical missionary students and other friends had been invited to attend these lectures, which were prepared with very great care, and contained much valuable information such as the missionary required. He (Mr. Cullen) knew of nothing more calculated to diffuse through the University, and, by means of the Universities, throughout the church at home, a love of missionary enterprises, than lectures of this kind. I!«v. Dr. Batlee. The Eev. Dr. Batlee observed, that the subject was one of the deepest importance. Some years since he had brou"-ht before the Jewish Missionary Society a plan of Christian Advocacy in Liverpool, in which he proposed that some man who had studied the subject should give four or six lectures annually in Liverpool, treating the Jewish subject in its higher and more philosophicai aspects. If all our large towns had an annual course of lectures of this SECOND SESSION. 93 kind, he believed they would be looked forward to with as much n=com- interest, as in Oxford, people looked forward to the Bampton nmmai Lectures. The subjects should be varied from year to year. He lectu™*"^ believed that the adoption of this course would be much more ad- vantageous than the institution of Professorships in the Uni- versities. The number of persons in the Universities was neces- sarily limited. He could speak with great feeling on this subject, having What it nearly sixty theological students entrusted to his care ; and if his friend Mr. Hardy, for instance, were to deliver in Liverpool a series of lectures on Buddhism, he could promise him, as often as he chose to lecture, an audience of at least fifty. Such lectures would be a most important aid to professors in his own position. A Professor of Theology had too many things to attend to to make Professors himself master of all. It was quite impossible, for instance, for eTerything. him to be a Professor of Buddhism, or a Professor of Brahminism ; although, of course, he ought to know a little of everything ; but, really, to know subjects like these, as a Professor should know them, required a man to give his whole study to them. He be- How the ^ ° •' plan maybe lieved that the adoption of some such plan as that which he had camed out. ■ventured to suggest would lead to the development of a higher class of talent among missionaries. The men who delivered these lectures should be those who had distinguished themselves in their own particular departments. The lectures themselves might be delivered in London, and repeated in the leading provincial towns : as, for instance, in Liverpool, Bristol, and Leeds ; and afterwards published. He was convinced that the lectures would be advantageous, not only to theological students, but to large numbers of intelligent persons, who would listen to them with interest and profit. The Rev. J. H. Titcomb, — I have resided for fourteen years Je^- J- H. ' •' Titcomb. in the University of Cambridge, and I may, therefore, state what is doing there in connexion with missions. There are one or two annual University sermons preached by request for the express Missionary n ./iiip 1 t .. 1 teaching in purpose 01 setting lorth before students the missionary work. Cambridge. There is an officer who holds the appointment of Christian Ad- vocate, whose duty it is to publish a work each year bearing upon the subject of Christianity in relation to various forms of idolatry The "Christ- and false philosophy throughout the world. In addition to that, cate." we have three divinity professors, one of whom, by his office, is obliged to deliver periodically a series of lectures upon pastoral 94 EET. J. n. TITC03IB. rlie stu- dents. Prayer- meetings. The prayer- imiuii. theology. The subject of missions, of course, comes within these lectures as a particular department. With regard to the students, although there is no professed or formal and stated examination in connexion with missions, there is a very large amount of exertion every term going forward among the young men on their behalf; and thus without any formal training, they are being practically trained for their future work. Year after year num- bers of young men come up from the very first term of their residence, determined to devote themselves to the missionary work. They meet with every favour that the parochial ministers can give them in order to foster and encourage these principles. Beside which, there are Terminal meetings, at which one of the Secretaries of the Church Missionary Society usually attends. In connexion with this body of young men there is also a missionary reading-room, to which the publications of all Societies are sent. In addition to these, there is a large number of young men not merely interested in reading, but who deny themselves so far as to go, through evil report and good report, collecting in their various colleges contributions for the missionary cause. Then there is the Missionary University Prayer Union. Some years ago a number of good and earnest young men in Cambridge started that union, the object being to pray for the outpouring of a greater missionary spirit in the University itself and the world at large ; and it has now extended to Oxford and Dublin, and I believe it has ramifications in the Law and other departments of the professions in London. Taking, therefore, all things into consideration, I think the missionary spirit in the University of Cambridge is by no means lacking. Perhaps a professorship of missionary history in the University is scarcely possible or desir- able ; nor do I think it at all necessary. I think the free and unreserved labour of love which I have described is amply suiS- cient to carry on that work, if it is carried on only with the same faith and earnestness. Mn-uTE. The following Minute, embodying the view of the Conference on the important subject of this discussion, was, after careful consideration, unanimously adopted :— SECOND SESSION. 95 MINUTE ON THE MEANS OF EXCITING- AND MAIN- TAINING THE MISSIONARY FEELING AT HOME. The members of this Conference consider, that a variety of Minute. agencies may with great propriety be employed to stir up the hearts of the several classes of contributors by whom Christian missions are supported. They consider, that while the work of missions should be enforced as an appointed Christian duty, no- thing will tend to increase and sustain an interest in this work so much as the widest diffusion of correct information respecting all its departments. That inforination, in their opinion, should be as luformation ^ ' ^ ' essential. full and as clear as it is possible to make it. It should embrace not only the facts of missionary life and labour, but the explana- tions needed to put them in a proper light; not only the favourable P/?*"^* elements of the picture, but the difficulties and disappointments with which missionaries meet. For the spread of such information they think that the pulpit, '^^'^ puip't- on the vSabbath-day, ought to be much more extensively employed than it has been ; and they would rejoice to see all the pastors and ministers of our churches so endeavouring, systematically, to inform and stir up the hearts of their people in the work of the '^^^ pastor. Lord. For the stated missionary prayer-meetings, so long main- tained by all branches of the Church of Christ, they express their Prayer- meetings. heartfelt gratitude ; but they desire to see them more numerously attended, sustained with deeper interest, and more completely employed both for directing to mission fields the minds of Christ's servants, and drawing down upon them the blessing of the Most High. Under the same conviction they think that in public meetings, Deputations held for missionary purposes, the diffiision of information should be kept very prominently in view ; and that Deputations, espe- cially missionaries, both in their sermons and addresses, should do their best to convey it as fully and clearly as they can. In the same cause they reckon as of high importance the The press. influence and the employment of the Press. They rejoice to find, that the cheaper periodicals of the various Missionary Societies 96 MINUTE. Missionaiy periodicals. i high-class ditto. Efforts to eulist the yoimg. iris.=iious to bo intro- duced into the theolo- gical course. have secured so large a circulation, and have proved so exten- sively useful, in increasing the knowledge and deepening the interest in missions, of the great mass of their supporters. They are thankful also that several other missionary publications, of a more general character, ably sustain the mission cause. They deeply feel, however, that it would be exceedingly desirable to secure the establishment of a periodical of a higher class, that shall treat of Christian missions at large; so that while the friends of missions naturally support the periodicals of their own Societies, they may, through such a general periodical, also secure regular and full information respecting the numerous missions of their brethren. Till its establishment, however, they suggest that attempts should be made to employ in the cause of missions the service of existing periodicals. The careful maintenance of Juvenile Associations, and other efforts to infuse a missionary spirit into the hearts of the young of all classes and ranks in the Church of Christ, they deem to be an object of immense importance, and worthy of the most able and systematic attention. They feel that all Christian children should be trained to take an interest in the mission cause ; they may then, under God's blessing, rise up in large numbers to be the future supporters of missions, and many will probably become missionaries themselves. They further consider that the subject of Christian missions, in all their bearings, their history, difficulties, successes, and obligations, should be brought systematically before theological students, as a part of their college course ; that they may thus be trained in the practical conviction that missionary work is the regular work of the Church of ChYist ; acquire information respecting its position ; and themselves go forth to share its toils. A CoMivnTTEE was appointed to consider Dr. Baylee's sugges- tion of a Missionary Lectureship; and the Conference, after singing the Doxology, adjourned. 97 MISSIONARY LECTUEESHIP. At a subsequent sitting, the following Report was brought up by the Committee, and unanimously adopted. The Committee appointed to " consider and report on the Missionary desirableness and practicability of instituting a permanent Lecture to^be'estolj^ on Christian Missions," in presenting a Report on the important ^'^^'^• subject committed to their consideration, must throw themselves on the kindness of their brethren, to make allowance for any imperfections in the form in which their conclusions are presented, attributable to the circumstance that they have had so short a period in which to prepare them. On the other hand, the subject had so long individually occupied their thoughts that, when they met together, they were greatly strengthened in their views by the unanimity of judgment which they found to obtain among them. They are induced, therefore, to present the following pro- positions to the Conference for their consideration, and, if they deem them of sufficient practical value, for their adoption : — 1. That a Lectureship be instituted, for the discussion of the its object, principles involved in those higher relations, under which the great subject of Christian Missions may present itself to those who have hitherto given little or no consideration to it ; but who, from their intellectual superiority, literary attainments, or commanding position, exert a powerful influence in forming and directing the public mind. 2. That, in order to the attainment of this object, a Fund be ^anda. immediately raised, sufficient to defray the expense of the proposed Lectureship for Five or Seven Years, at an estimated cost of 300Z. per annum. 3. That a Committee be appointed by the Conference, to committee. whom the necessary arrangements for carrying this scheme into effect shall be confided ; and that this Committee con- H 98 MISSIONAET LECTURESHIP. sist of a selection of brethren from the different bodies of Christians engaged in missionary work, as represented at this Conference, with power to add to their number. Lecturer. 4. That the Committee be instructed to appoint a Lecturek, if practicable, annually, who shall deliver his Lectures in one or more of the principal centres of population or of learning, as the Committee may direct ; and that his Lectures be afterwards published in a Volume. The Lecturer in each case should have the selection of his own subject, but the choice should be sanctioned by the Com- ' mittee. Permanency of the plan. . That in the event of this experimental measure proving, under the Divine blessing, successful, the Committee be instructed to adopt such plans as may seem to them proper for making the Lecture a permanent institution, and raising funds for that purpose. Committee appointed. 6. That the Conference will be gratified if the following brethren will act on the proposed Committee, and they are hereby, on acceding to the request, appointed: — Eev. M. Thomas. Hon. A. KiNNAIRD. H. Caere Tucker, Esq. Thomas Farmer, Esq. T. M. Coombs, Esq. Sir S. M. Peto, Baxt. W. Leach, Esq. Sir J. Campbell. James Cunningham, Esq. J. Henderson, Esq. R. A. Macfie, Esq. Secretaries, l^^^" Edward Steane, D.D. ' lEev. H. M. MacGill. Eev. H. Venn. Eev. G. OSBORN. Eev. Dr . Tidman. Eev. Dr. . Stbane. Eev. P. La Teobb. Eev. Dr. , Norman M'Leod. Eev. Dr, , Tweedie. Eev. H. MacGill. Eev. Dr, . Guthrie. Eev. Dr, . Hamilton. Eev. Dr, , Morgan. Eev. ,C. J. Goodhaet. 99 TIEST MISSIONAR Y SOIREE. Tuesday Evening. Aftee tea and social intercourse in the rooms beneath Hope soir«e. Hall, a Public Meeting was held at eight o'clock, at which a large number of ladies and gentlemen, with most of the members of Conference, were present. Geoegb F. Baebour, Esq., of Edinburgh, having taken the Chair, a hymn was sung, and the Eev. J. B. Lowe, of Liverpool, offered prayer. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings observed, that we chairman. lived in a very remarkable age ; that we were entering into a new era of the Christian Church ; and that we had reason to expect the fruit of the Divine blessing in a new impulse being given to missionary exertions, and in the opening of the hearts of the Christian people of this country in a way never previously known. Having reviewed the leading topics which had occupied the atten- tion of the Conference during the day, the Chairman touched The camrcii upon the question of contributions, and observed that the Christian gifte.^raye" Church was much to blame, not only for its small and niggardly ^^^ '"'"'■ contributions, but also for the mixed and doubtful motives which had often influenced those contributions, and which had, to a great extent, prevented a blessing upon their missionary work. Their hearts, also, should condemn them for the very little prayerful energy which they had put forth. Perhaps they had too much looked at missions in the light of a question of arith- metical calculation : Given a certain amount of labour, — so much money and machinery, — that the result would be a relative amount of blessing. But the whole history of Christian missions showed the falsity of such calculations. God, in his own sovereign grace, worked in his own blessed way; and it was our duty, whatever our engagements or fields of labour, to sow the seed in faith, working earnestly and perseveringly in the path allotted 100 ON MEDICAL MISSIONS IN CHINA. to US, and believingly looking to liim for that blessing without which oui' work would be useless. (Applause.) He rejoiced that there were present that evening two success- ful labourers in one special department of the missionary field, that of Medical Missions ; who had been invited to detail the re- sults of their experience in this difficult but most interesting sphere of mission work. ON MEDICAL MISSIONS IN CHINA. Bt De. Lockhart op Shanghai. Dr. LooK- HAHT. Tlieirobject. Their plan. Suitable in India and China, Dr. Lock- hart's per- son al laboui*a. in ChuBan: Dr. Lockhart, of Shanghai, who was received with hearty cheering, then rose and said ; — I am glad to have the opportunity of advocating the cause of Medical Missions in this, my native town, which I left more than twenty years ago, to proceed to China under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. Probably you all know the object and scope of Medical Missions. They were commenced by the various Missionary Societies in England and America, in imitation of the example of Him " who went about doing good," and "healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people." The experiment thus made was to send out surgeons to various heathen lands, to endeavour to win the affections and confidence of the people, by healing their infir- mities ; while at the same time their minds were directed to Him who is the " Great Physician," and who can cure them of the deeper malady of sin. In 1838, I was sent out by the London Missionary Society as their first medical missionary to China. The experiment has been tried in India to some extent ; and it is said, though I think erroneously, that the operation of medical missions in India is not so much required as in other lands. I believe that, if fairly tried in that country, they would be found quite as useful as in China. In China, by this means, we have met with great success. We have won the confidence and respect of the people ; and I think the same results would take place in India were the agency employed to the same extent. In 1838, I began my medical labours in China, in the city of Macao ; where I remained for some time, and until I was expelled that city with other English residents. After a short sojourn in Batavia and other places, in 1840 I went north to the island of Chusan, which had been shortly before occupied by our troops, FIRST MISSIONARY SOIREE. 101 and placed under the British Government. I was the first Pro- testant missionary who went to reside in the north of China. My work was new amongst the people, and they neither compre- hended my object nor my errand. I went alone, and began my hospital immediately on landing at Chusan. In the first place I opened my house, prepared it for the reception of patients ; and then went into tlie various towns and villages about Ting-Hai, telling the people, if they came to my house, they would be received and have their maladies attended to. During tlie first few days only some three or four came ; shortly afterwards about twenty ; and after the lapse of a weelc, some hundreds arrived, so tliat my hands were soon filled with work. After some six months' resi- dence at Chusan, when tliat island was restored to tlie Chinese, I returned to the soutli of China ; and subsequently, when the Treaty of 1842 had been made, I again went north, and settled in Shang- in shanghai. hai ; there I continued to labour until I was compelled, about two years ago, by domestic circumstances, to retire from China for a time. The nature of the work performed in the medical part of the Nature oftha mission was something of this kind. A house was taken for a ^°*" dispensary and hospital ; and the people round about were in- formed, that at that place they would receive gratuitous medical attendance. At Shanghai, Dr. Medhurst and I were alone ; Dr. Medhurst preaching to the people in their own tongue. This, in its popu- a great degree, won their confidence ; and when I opened the dis- '"''^' pensary, and the people discovered its object, they came to me in great numbers ; so that in the course of a few weeks our house was quite full, and the street was crowded every morning with patients flocking to us for aid. In China, although they have physicians, who learn the art of healing internal diseases, their uonative surgery is of the crudest and most barbarous kind. They know china'' "^ nothing of it in its scientific character ; and consequently, persons who are exposed to various external accidents, diseases of the eye, and so on, are in a hopeless condition in the hands of the native practitioners. We found large numbers, quite prostrated by these diseases ; but when they found that the foreign surgeon could relieve them from their various infirmities, they came readily, and placed themselves in his hands. This was at a time, not as now, when there are several surgeons and medical mis- sionaries at Shanghai ; but when, in that city, they had hardly seen the face of a European before. They were at first p-ears over- afraid to come near our houses ; and still more terrified, when ™™°- 102 ON MEDICAL MISSIONS IN CHINA. we approached to speak to them; but when they found them- selves reheved of their diseases, their confidence and esteem were won. They came in great numbers, day by day ; and it was pleasant to see how soon, by this work of humanity, we could find a way to their affections and their hearts. I was glad we could employ this means of commencing our European intercourse with The people the people of northern China : for, while I was engaged at the taught. hospital and dispensary in relieving their maladies. Dr. Medhurst, at that time, and afterwards other colleagues who joined the mis- sion, would preach to them of " Christ and his salvation." It was most gratifying to see how the people who had been thus relieved would dwell upon the words of the preacher. I believe the truth thus found its way to the hearts of many, who without the hos- pital would never have known the " glad tidings of the gospel." (Applause.) Many persons came from the northern and western How the provinces of the empire to the hospital at Shanghai. When, under works. treatment there, they heard the preaching of the gospel. Ee- turning to their distant homes, they took with them portions of the word of God, and various religious tracts ; and thus the mes- sage of salvation found its way into large districts of country, which, without this agency, we had no means of reaching. This is the great object of Medical Missions. We strive to win the confidence of the people ; to get them around us ; to open their hearts by kindness to receive the Divine word ; and sowing the seed at a favourable time, bring many to know Christ, whose hearts might otherwise have been prejudiced against his truth. Extent of its We repeatedly lieard of patients who, having been to the hospital and attended the preaching of the gospel, cai-ried with them por- tions of the word of God to their native villages, and induced others of their friends to come dawn, in order to participate in the same benefits. So the work went on ; and I say it with confidence. Its success. thS't Medical Missions in China have been successful in winning an entrance to the hearts and consciences of the people, Avhieh no other agency could have so well effected. (Cheers.) I believe the experiment has been carried out fully and efficiently ; and therefore I come back to tell the churches in England of my labours there with much satisfaction, confidence, and joy. Glad I am that I ever left my native town to spend my days in China ; and were I a young man, about to commence life again, I would go out more earnestly, hopefully, and trustfully, to those far-distant Cases: regions. (Renewed cheers.) Permit me now to state a few par- ticulars as to the character of the cases which came under my FIRST MISSIONAKT SOIRiB. 103 observation. And first, with, regard to the practice of vaccination, vaccioatiou- You probably know that in Eastern countries smallpox commits great ravages amongst the people ; spreading from village to vil- lage, from city to city, and devastating large populations. They have no means of effectively checking or removing it. They cer- tainly do inoculate their children in early life, and that is a little protection ; but inoculation is only a doubtful benefit. Many children take the disease in this manner to a very severe extent, and occasionally lose their lives or their sight. Inoculation of the smallpox perpetuates the disease in the country, and keeps it ever present among the people ; whereas vaccination in most cases prevents, and in all cases mitigates, the disease of smallpox, and does not tend to perpetuate that fearful malady. The Chinese in the south of the country had been made acquainted with the principle of vaccination; but in the north of China it was wholly unknown till I introduced it, shortly after my arrival. When I it becomes went to Shanghai, I was enabled, through the kindness of friends ^°^ in Calcutta and London, to procure some vaccine lymph; and I im- mediately began the practice of vaccination with a few children. The people were at first astonished and amused ; and for some time they could not be persuaded that tliis was a beneficial process, and would relieve the children from dangerous disease. When they found, however, that it was really a preventive, more children ■were submitted to the treatment ; and by and by crowds were brought everyday. Soon the ofiicers of the Government heard ino^tji^ig^^ of the foreign system, and brought their children ; and their ser- ""pectabie vants also brought their children. The colonel of the garrison at Shanghai sent all his children ; and having sent word to his relatives in Soochow, a crowd of children were brought from that place also. I was sent for by many of the respectable families in Shanghai to operate on their children: so that, by means of this process of vaccination, I obtained, together with my wife and the other ladies in the mission, more access to the families of the respectable Chinese, and especially to those of the oflScers of the Government, than by any other agency which I could have adopted. We thus saw more of domestic Chinese life than we could otherwise have done. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Then with regard to diseases of the eye. There are epidemics Opitbaimia of purulent ophthalmia in China. It is a fearful malady, which ™ particularly afiects the Chinese and other Eastern nations, and though very readily cured by our modes of treatment, is utterly incurable by theirs. When an epidemic of the kind seizes a 104 ON MEDICAL MISSIONS IN CHINA. Benefits of the Mission hospital. Surgery: after several battles. Work done by others. First efforts in Canton and Macao. village large numbers become blind. Such an epidemic once raged in Shanghai and the district round it, while I resided there. A few people came to the hospital, and after two or three days' treatment, though they were almost blind when they came, the pain was removed, the disease was checked, and they returned to their families in perfect health, with their sight restored. The news soon spread throughout the district ; and day after day I was besieged by large crowds of these people, who were suffering from pain and disease to such an extent that they were led in a helpless and miserable condition to the hospital. These in their turn, however, being relieved and restored to sight, returned home and spread further still the fame of our doings. With regard now to operative surgery. At one time the city of Shanghai was taken by a number of pirates, the members of one of the Triad Societies, called, by way of distinction, the Dagger Society, or Small-knife Society, and held by them for some time ; these were in their turn besieged by the troops of the Imperial Government. There were constant battles ; and great numbers of gunshot wounds were inflicted. The wounded were immediately brought to the hospital, which sometimes almost presented the appearance of a field of battle, the large hall being covered with blood. Hard work it was for me to attend to all the wounded ; yet such was the confidence in the relief afforded at the hospital, that in its wards were to be found at the same time the wounded pirates, the imperialists, and the poor unfortunate natives who had been wounded by both parties, all receiving equal attention, and the best aid we could aflford. (Loud cheers.) I have thus endeavoured to give a brief account of the mission in which I have spent many years of my life, and have spoken in the first place of my own work, as being that in which I could address you from personal experience ; but I think it desii-able that some account should be given of others who have been engaged in introducing the principles of medical missions, and in affording medical relief to the Chinese suffering from disease and pain. The first English surgeon who attended to the wants of the Chinese, was Mr. Alexander Pearson, one of the surgeons of the East India Company's civil service in Canton. In 1805 ho vaccinated great numbers of the Chinese, and was enabled to establish a vaccine institution in the city of Canton, where multi- tudes of the people were vaccinated: this was placed under the FIRST MISSIONARY SOIREE. 105 care of an intelligent native who was taught the art of vaccination, and this establishment is still carried on efBciently. In 1820 Mr. Livingston, another surgeon of the Company, in connexion with the Rev. Dr. Morrison, established a dispensary for the relief of sick Chinese. Subsequently in 1828, Mr. Colledge, also surgeon to the British factory, opened a dispensary in Macao for the relief of diseases of the eye, which was conducted by him with encouraging success for several years. The idea of using the practice of medicine as a means of afford- Firstmedioai ing opportunities to introduce Christianity among the Chinese, ™^°""'' was first practically adopted by the American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions ; and Dr. Peter Parker proceeded to China witli tliat view. He opened an opiithahnic hospital in Canton in 1835 ; and his labours were attended with a success that his most sanguine hopes could hardly have anticipated. His work was long continued ; and he won the confidence of the Chinese in a remarkable degree. Since that time various other medical missionaries, with myself, have occupied important spheres of labour in the country. Dr. Hobson was sent out by Dr. HobEon's the London Missionary Society in 1839, and conducted a large iftcra^ "''^'^ hospital at Hong Kong, afterwards at Canton ; where much good '"°'^''^' was done, and several of the Cliinese were brought to a know- ledge of the truth. Dr. Hobson also published an extensive series of translations into the Chinese language of English works on Medicine and Surgery. One was a treatise on Anatomy; one on general Surgery and on Diseases of the Eye ; one on Mid- wifery; one on the Practice of Medicine; and also a treatise on Natural Philosophy. These works have had a wide circulation, and have been reprinted by native gentlemen both in China and Japan. Dr. Wong-fun, a Chinese educated in Edinburgh, has had charge of the hospital at Canton belonging to the London Mission ; and Dr. Kerr, an American medical missionary, also labours at Canton. At Amoy, Dr. Cumming and Dr. Hepburn, from the American Amoy. Churches, and Dr. Hirschberg of the London Mission, have had hospitals for several years ; and Dr. Carnegie of the English Presbyterian Church Mission has an hospital there at present. At Foochow, the late Dr. Welton of the Church Missionary Foochow. Society, conducted an hospital with great efliciency for several years; till failing health compelled him to return home to England, where he died. 106 ON MEDICAL MISSIONS IN CHINA. Ningpo. Shanghai. Appeal for more men. Great ob- stacle to the frospel in China : the vices of oiir sailors. At Ningpo, Dr. Macgowan and Dr. McCartee, from the American churches, have each conducted hospitals for many years with a very large measure of success; and Dr. Macgowan edited a Chinese magazine which had a large circulation. Dr. W. Parker, from England, has also within the last few years been a medical missionary at the same place. At Shanghai the Chinese hospital, that I was enabled by the liberality of foreign merchants residing there to establish, is now intrusted to the care of Dr. Henderson, who lately went out on account of the London Missionary Society. Dr. Burton, from the American Baptist Society, has also been a medical missionary at Shanghai for some years past ; and Mr. Collins, of the Church Missionary Society, has commenced his labours there, having a dispensary attached to that mission. Such is the work in which we have been engaged. Are there any surgeons in Liverpool who will go out to carry on this under- taking ? There is a wide field of effort, not only in the stations of the London Missionary Society, but in those also of the Church and Wesleyan Missionary Societies ; and also. Sir, in the stations of your own Mission of the English Presbyterian Church ; for your missionaries have laboured long and most assiduously in the island of Amoy. I hope some will be found in this town to con- secrate themselves to this work. Though at present there are obstacles which prevent our entrance into the heart of China, the day, I believe, is not far distant when we shall have free access to the cities, towns, and villages, of that mighty empire ; and beginning the work through our medical missionaries, win- ning the esteem and confidence of the people by relieving their bodily infirmities, we may lead them to the "balm of GUead," and to Christ the Physician of their souls. (Cheers.) Before I close, I would allude for a moment to one thing, which has been found a great obstacle to the success of missions in all Eastern and heathen countries ; and, in a sea-port like this, I would speak of it with all the power and emphasis that I can employ. I refer to the debauchery, licentiousness, and wicked- ness of our sailors, who go forth and sow the seeds of wickedness and sin in all heathen lands, and in none more than in China. It makes the heart of the missionary sad indeed, to see his work day by day undone by the wickedness and debauchery of these sailors. It is the same in the ports of India, in the South Seas, in Africa, and in the West Indies. When the Chinese see, for instance, FIRST MISSIONAET SOIEiE. 107 our sailors on leave ashore on the Sabbath-day getting drunk, Howthey going into the various villages, and by their violence and wicked- rj^°'',*'"^ ness setting the minds of the people against them, they naturally say to us — "You teachers come and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ ; do you call these men Christians ? Is it to make us men like these that you preach to us the Gospel of Christ?" And what can we say in reply ? (Hear, hear.) Here are men from Christian England exhibiting not the fruits of holiness, but of wickedness and sin. I call your attention to this great obstacle to the success of missions ; because much can be done by getting the fact thoroughly known in England, that this, more than any- thing else I know of, interferes with our success. (Cheers.) Look j^ , at late events in Japan. That empire is now almost shut against us a second time, solely and absolutely from the depravity and viciousness of our fellow-countrymen. (Renewed cheers.) I hope that by your personal influence, and in various other ways, jheir worship, dead-men's bones; and their presence, an oifence to an industrious society. When they went down under the shock of the Reformation, they had long outlived both their first necessity and use. Instead of the centres of aggressive missionary work, they had become the vanguard of the Popery which had matured into a new paganism. But the earlier monasteries were a mission power, in which all the members were not clergy in the modern sense of wielding the books or the tongue as the instrument of their mission ; though all, according to the habit of the times, were ecclesiastical persons. There were in their ranks men more handicrafts expert in handling the plough, th'? spade, the saw, or the hammer, '° °™ ' m; 162 KEV, MK. LEWIS S PAPER. freat. good oue by them. Capitalists, plantei s, mechanics, should share mission- work now. They should continue laymen. than the word of doctrine or exhortation; who could do whilst others spoke; who made the desert disappear before them, and introduced amongst barbarous nations the arts and tillage which the church had preserved amidst the dissolution of the Empire. In this variety of their action lay the strength of these early mission- institutions for bearing down upon a heathenism, the combined pro- duct of superstition, ignorance, and social degradation. While teaching the doctrines of the Christian faith, they presented to the heathen the accommodations and attractions of Christianised life ; trained their new converts to the energy of self-support; enclosed them within the order; and threw around them the shield of regu-« lated society; or taught them how to constitute such a society for themselves. Do we seek to rebuild these fallen institutions of a mediiBval age ? Certainly not. But we would translate the variety of their mission action into the methods of our own times. It is not necessary, in availing ourselves of their experience, to adopt their principle of community life. In harmony with our own habits of thought, the strictly-teaching missionary might still go forth as the accredited agent of the Church or the Missionary Society, whilst the Christian capitalist, planter, or factory proprietor, left to the bent of his own mind, could choose and organise his field of operation ; yet so co-operate with the missionary teacher as that each should have the benefit of the services of the other, and the heathen the benefit of both. Why should not the arts, and agri- culture, and mechanic skill of our British Protestants, be called to pay tribute to missions through their own characteristic channels,in rearing the foreign factory, cultivating the tea, indigo, rice, sugar, and cotton ; and by prosperous industrial settlements exemplify to barbarous or half-civilised nations the arts of Christian social Ufe? If a capitalist who has ten thousand at his command, and busi- ness skill to use it to advantage in a foreign field, be desirous of dedicating his skill and his capital to the gospel, why should he be compelled to turn himself into a preacher, and his capital into a fund for the support of preachers, before he can lay himself and his gifts on the altar ? Let him go forth, and be encouraged to go forth, to the mission-work as he is ; and gathering the heathen around his African or Indian settlement, he will prove more than a pioneer of the teaching missionary's work. He will be a choice fellow- worker, embodying to the eye the results of the word spoken to the ea?, and more surely than by words training to those moral FOURTH SESSION. 163 habits, without which Christianity amongst a rude or half-civilised people can have no permanence. • To establish missions of this more comprehensive nature in y^d'omo Africa, and widen thereby the circle^ of British sympathy in the "W tales: mission enterprise, is the great work opening before our intrepid missionary traveller, Dr. Livingstone. Why should it be his alone ? Other fields are ripe for the same operations. A large class of our practical working minds are becoming wearied with the oft-repeated tale of missionary preaching tours, bazaar -con- versations, tract-distribrations, and school-examinations ; all ne- cessary and invaluable means of sowing the good seed. But why these alone or exclusively ? It is asked that other methods be incorporated With our missions, and other results presented than see the con- the reported pious lives of their eonverts. Let them be seen christian doing as we ourselves do ; living in industrial, domestic, well- ueT.'""'''" ordered communities ; their new religion subjecting them to law and order, disciplining them tO' self-support, and binding them together in the spread of their own faith, to work with their own bands to give to them that need,- and fresh strength would be brought to the mission cause,, and convictions of its great work flashed upon many still doubting minds. It is from the higher measure in which the Polynesian missions have exhibited these results, that they have always commanded the liberal support and the warm sympathy of the British Christian mind. 3d. The limitation of mission agency and its consequent limita- fug'^miSk.ns tion of action have necessitated the dependence of the modern mis- "f '^"^■ sion, its inability to rise to self-support. Dr. Livingstone has asked the question, — "Why the former mission stations, the early mis- sion monasteries, were self-supporting, rich, and flourishing, as pioneers of civilisation and agricultuTe, from which we even now reap benefits ; and modern mission stations are mere pauper esta- blishments, without that permanence or ability to be self-support- ing, which they possessed?" We need not go far t& seek an an- swer to this question. Missions, from which has been eliminated every capacity but that which could preach or teach could not possibly be self-supporting. An action more varied, an organisa- tion more complex, is demanded to reach this state. To attain it they must embrace in their conception, and ally to themselves all consecrated ability. All J.' . ,1 1 n tf • 'T^^ mcrcan- And, because wanting in the elem-ent oi self-support, or in tile commu- the organisation from which it would grow, missions have failed otauch'!'™^° to lay hold of the British Christian- mereantile mind. The 164 EEV. ME. lewis's PAPER. British thought is self-support, and help only to men to help themselves. If missions be permanently wrought in antagonism to this thought, our great mercantile community may contribute to missions, but its contribution will be as the dole that is ex- tracted from the reluctant. It will be a contribution that will leave untouched the mass and magnitude of its wealth. Con- tinued dependence is repugnant to the British mercantile mind. It suspects an enterprise that is wrought for long years in reliance on foreign aid and continual foreign drafts. It ceases to have faith in it. If we would draw from the mercantile community Why? according to the vastness of its resources, we must ask it to give in character, and work our missions in the line of its dominant idea. They must proceed on the principle that has made our nation the coloniser and merchant of the world. There must be inwrought into them the power of developing into self-support, of advancing on the strength of their organisation from enter- prise to enterprise, till, like the colonies of our empire, they engirdle the earth. In a sense more literal than has yet been conceived, the merchandise of Tyre must become holiness to the Lord ; the tea, the sugar, the indigo, the cotton, which are the materials of our traffic, must become the products of our foreign missions, the fruits of their Christian industry and their support. Summary. Practically, then, under the second division of our subject, we would suggest, — (1st.) That missions should give prominence in the advocacy • of their interests to the fuller conception of mission work, that all gifts of Providence, as well as preaching and teaching gifts, have their missionary sphere. (2d.) That they should summon by special appeal capitalists, planters, agriculturists, factory masters, to the work of missions, according as openings occur, for the beneficial employment of such agents in their respective fields of operation. (3d.) That they should have an especial eye upon the move- ments now being made in every direction for the supply of the foreign products of our trade and manufactures. There is no reason why Christian capitalists, with their busi- ness and administrative talents, should not be induced to enter into such fields as well as others. It were a great point gained were the truth established that, not preaching, but all other capa- bilities, might be consecrated to the direct service of missions. Capt. Captain Latakd observed, that the great question was ; what IjAYABC. FOUJITH SESSION. 165 was best to be done, in order to prompt their fellow-Christians to this great work of helping forward the cause of the Lord. Deputation work was one involving a great deal of expense, Deputations though they could not say it was an unnecessary work. They but™eceB- had been attacked on all sides as to these expenses ; and in reply *''^- to such attacks, he said: — "You object to the expense of Depu- tations ; it is in your own hands ; as soon as you will give the money more freely, we shall be happy to save the trouble and expense of deputations." One great want, in connexion with the support of missions, was that of pulpit ministrations. If every clergyman were to take up the question, and bring it forward on jjje clergy the strong ground of Christian duty and sympathy, depend upon ™ ay'' it much of the expense which was complained of would be saved. The laity could only go forward with weak hands, unless they had the hearty concurrence of the clergy of their parish, or the minister of their congregation. (Hear, hear.) In his view, the missionary cause should be so closely identified with the church, that relaxing in the missionary spirit should be deemed an ex- hibition of indifference to the great objects of the gospel of Salvation. The Eev. Canon Woodrooffe, of Alton, Hants, said : — I Rev canon think we have very little to do, so far as the London collectors' poundage is concerned; that is a matter to be left to the judg- ment of the London Committee of each Society. Experience enables me to say that the expenses of the Cliurch Missionary Society incurred in visiting the country Associations have been exceedingly moderate. Previous to the existence of railways I was in the habit of travelling about four thousand miles every Hospitality year; and a considerable saving in the Society's expenditure was expeuses'°^° effected by the Christian hospitality of those friends, who not only received its representative at their houses, but forwarded him on his journey from place to place. I remember on one occasion, after going from London to Derby by the mail, I travelled through the county, preaching sermops and attending meetings every day, and scarcely a shilling was expended from the Society's funds, till I paid the fare for my return. The hospitality shown by friend after friend was in fact a large contribution to the Society's funds. I may say the same of the counties of York and Lanca- shire, and many others, where scarcely anything was expended. His own except for the cost of the direct journey from London and back. We are all concerned in diminishing this charge on the funds of 166 DR. DAVIS. each vSocicty, as far as means admit ; but it must be dealt with by the London Committee as any other item of needful expenditure. But a considerable saving has been affected to the Church Mis- sionary Society, and, I doubt not, to others also, by the Christian liberality of provincial friends. Dr. Davis. Dr. Davis, — With respect to one part of the address, which refers to children, I am quite sure there can be no question upon any mind in this room, that it is most important that the children of our Christian households should be trained to understand and to sympathise with the missionary cause. But it would be necessary to look much higher for adequate contributions to the missionary cause. If children subscribed their pence, merchants must give their thousands. A friend had asked him that very Morchants day how it came to pass that the Anti-Corn-Law League could to receive, get its thousands, at any time, from the merchants of Liverpool, Manchester, or elsewhere, while you can only get your hundreds from Christian men, or your tens from Sunday-school children ? It was obvious to reply that every one of those gentlemen believed he was going to get his ten thousand pounds. They knew per- fectly well that anything they gave would be largely returned to them. Now does not God take advantage of this principle in human nature, and appeal to it in the Holy Scripture ? While salvation is of grace through faith is it not equally true that there Christians is a reward of grace? But is that great principle of Christianity reward™ * brought out in our pulpit.s as it ought to be, and made a motive as it might be, to induce those who have large possessions to give largely to the cause of God? I ask, is there not to be a return for every sacrifice that is made for the sake of Christ? It is not a return of thousands here, in the enlargement of trade, or houses or lands, but it is one that is eternal. And I ask, is it not right to say to those who are saved only by grace, that the Lord is not unfaithful, and will not forget their services and their work of love, but will recompense them out of the princely riches of his Tiie wealthy own royal heart ? If these great principles were brought more stimutated fully before our wealthy people, I ask, should we be thrown back ^^ *'• for our chief support upon our Sabbath scholars and the poor of our churches ? Would not the wealthy merchants, of whom there are so many in Liverpool, and London, and Manchester, instead of giving their annual donations of five or ten pounds, be prepared at any time to come forward, and in the name of the Lord give not to a Missionary Society, but to the Lord who gave himself for FOURTH SESSION. 167 them, their thousands and tens of thousands ? He could not help regarding it as rather disgraceful to the Cliurch than otherwise, that there is scarcely a Missionary Society that is ready to enter the doors which the Lord has thrown open. He has thrown open doors in every land; but you want men, and you want means, and why should this be where Christians are living, surrounded with every comfort which skill can devise, or art and science can secure ? Let us look to it. There is a reward of grace ; let us teach that doctrine clearly, yet consistently with the doctrines of grace, in the pulpit ; and wo may hope that thousands, which are now locked up as useless possessions, will be cast ungrudgingly into the treasury of the Lord. (Applause.) The Rev. R. G. Gather, of Londonderry, though he rejoiced to Rev. r. a. Oathpr, hear the statements made on the previous day by Dr. Tidman re- specting the success with which God had crowned the labours of the Christian Missionary Societies, had wondered, during the pro- ceedings of the Conference thus far, not to hear a single expression More humi- of complaint, of humiliation, and of ardent and agonising desire, necessary. for a great increase in the number of missionaries, and a vast en- largement of the field of labour. He believed that the object of missions was, by preaching the Gospel in obedience to Christ's command, and in dependence upon his promise, to convert the whole vforld to the Church and faith of Christ. Now while Dr. Tidman had perfectly established the success of missionary labours, so far as they had gone in the past, and though there never could be failure where believing eifort had been put forth, there had been failure, if the object of the fathers of the Church of Christ was to convert the whole world. It was a patent fact that the world was not converted to the faith of Christ ; and in Why? the view of that great fact there was abundant room for consider- ation, whether our views and the scale of our efforts were in harmony with the principles and spirit of our Divine Master. Mr. Gather then alluded to his connexion with the Systematic Beneficence Society, and observed that this formed his reason for speaking at the present point of the discussion. Missions, as he understood them, were an essential and integral claim, a part Missions and of the whole claim, of Christ upon his people. He never could o™^ ^'"'^ distinguish between the claim of missions and of home churches. He believed the words, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel," were inseparable. It was our duty, however, to provide for the heart, and then, as Dr. Chalmers had expressed it, the 168 EEV. E. G. GATHER. They act on each other. Liberality should be increased on principle. The pnlpit should do more iu exciting it. extremities would be invigorated. If our churches at home were pinched and struggling for support, if ministers were ill supported, if all the charitie? which the Church was bound to see fed, lan- guished or were with difficulty maintained, how could we expect but that missions would share in these difficulties ? There would constantly be found a reaction, and while the zeal and eloquence of deputations on behalf of Missions would stir up the hearts of the people, after a little time they would begin to say, "Ought we not to do more at home?" No doubt missionary liberality increased home liberality ; and therefore he took the ground that this Missionary Conference had a common interest with the home churches and all the agencies of Christianity, in increasing upon principle the contributions offered to the cause of Christ. The individual Christians in this country have more than enough money for home purposes. With regard to the particular object of their present consultations, how the missionary feeling at home should be stirred up. He was satisfied with Mr. Lewis and Captain Layard, that the pulpit was really the responsible power ; though he did not believe that the pulpit would ever work the Church on the principle referred to a moment ago ; that they would ever overcome the reluctance of ministers to preach about missions, while there was the feeling in their minds that they were constantly telling the people to give — give — give. He had been told by ministers more faithful than himself, that they had preached for forty years, and had never used such texts as "Honour the Lord with thy substance;" "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet and it tendeth to poverty.'' He held that these questions of Christian economics should be cheerfully and heartily entered into ; for until ministers believed that they were un- faithful expositors of the word if they did not tell the covetous world and the covetous church the things which God commanded them to tell, they should never have the riches of the Gentiles laid at the feet of Christ. Rev. T. L. Badjiam The Rev. T. L. Badham remarked, that the Church seemed to have forgotten that the work of missions was the business of the Church. It was looked at too much as a question apart, and the consequence was, that many considered themselves good Christ- ians, and would wish to be thought so by others, who, after all, took very little interest in the spread of the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Some of the new churches formed from the FOURTH SESSION. J 69 heathen would put us to shame by and bye. Tliere -was a spirit Some native of liberality in congregations of the Western hemisphere, which he example to thought, under God's blessing, would lead to very great results. onS,'^ Those congregations reasoned in this way ; they said, " Our friends across the water have been doing much for us for a length of time. We have obtained great privileges through their instru- mentality ; we are now able to help ourselves ; and it is our duty to support ourselves and help forward the Word of God in less favoured countries." That was the right principle on which the Church ought to go. The Rev. Dr. Tidman said, — Sir, I do not see that we have Rev. Dr. yet agreed on one practical conclusion (hear, hear), and our precious hours are passing away. My object is to bring the Con- ference to this point : — What is really to be done ? What are the Ministers best means of increasing the missionary feeling at home ? I think more mis- what we have to do, above all other things, is to imbue our 3Iinis- ^'"""'"y- ters with the missionary feeling. I find the young, and especially the poor, are forward to give to the missionary cause ; there is a great deficiency in the higher classes of society ; but I never found a minister who is in heart and soul a missionary man, who p^tormakes did not carry with him a missionary .church, and a missionary con- Lmie'™"'^^ gregation. (Hear, hear.) When you are told that many brethren in the ministry — and I believe it is perfectly true — do not from the beginning of January to the end of December preach a missionary sermon, you cannot wonder that the people are cold, heartless, and neglectful. (Hear, hear.) How can you blame the people if they do not systematically give, as my friend who has last spoken, would induce them to do ? I hope it will go forth as an expression of our feeling in this cause, that we earnestly entreat our brethren in the ministry to cherish the missionary cause, and to instruct the people in this matter as one of the great branches of Christ- ianity, and as one of the great means that God is now impressing on the Church with double force as its peculiar duty. I do not mean making missionary collections ; people do not like to give money just because the sermon is about giving money. I do not ^y^'™J*^° like to hear the subject of Missions merely as an occasion of beg- required gmg ; but if my brethren would take a portion of the Scriptures once a-month, and employ the Sabbath morning in the serious, deliberate, and intelligent discussion of great missionary principles, I am convinced. Sir, that we should have a missionary spirit, and should not want ample funds. I believe the less we say about case. 170 HET. DH. TWEEDIB, His own money the better. We shall get the more money the less we talk about it. (Hear, hear.) It was once my happiness to be the pastor of a small congregation not exceeding six hundred persons, and I obtained a larger amount for Christian missions, home and foreign, than I received for salary; I induced the subscriber of one pound, to give five pounds; and the man of five pounds, to give ten pounds; and it is only in this way that you can carry on this great cause with efiiciency. Now, Sir, I do hope that in the little time that remains we shall try to sum up our thoughts, and to put upon record our A good views as to how we may best promote the missionary spirit in our money. churchcs. (Hear, hear.) I again say — and 1 have some interest in the financial question — that I do not think we shall have any difficulty in .getting funds when we have a good case to present. It is a good argument to tell our friends that within the last six months we have sent out six missionaries ; if such be the case, they see that something is doing; that God has heard their prayers by raising up men, and that it is their duty to follow them with their sympathy and their support. Rev. Dr. The Eev. Dr. Tweedie said he did not rise to weaken the force of what the last speaker had said by repeating it. His experience ogiees. was not so extensive nor so deep as Dr. Tidman's, but as far as it had gone it was the re-echo of what he (Dr. Tidman) had said. He rose to try to deepen the effect of those remarks by suggesting a very practical measure. He found from the paper that their attention was to be drawn to the great expenses incurred by religious societies in gathering their funds, and to the difiiculty of Secretariat avoiding collectors' percentage. That expense, he knew, was often lectors ill the vcry heavy. Now these were two very practical points, and if unpaid."'^'' they could dispose of them in a practical way, he thought they would have arrived at something to embody in their minutes to show that this Conference had conferred a benefit on all the churches. And in the section of the Church with which he was connected he thought they had arrived at a practical solution of every one of the difficulties ; for he was not aware that in the course of a year they were at the expense of a single sovereign on these heads. They -collected about 3OO,OO0Z. a-year for all their purposes 4 their annual income was from 275,000/. to 325,000/. ; at least, for the last eighteen years, their revenue had ranged between these sums, and upon the whole amount they had no collectors' commission to pay; — not one farthing, he believed. They were charged, of course, the Queen's-head upon each letter FOURTH SESSION. 171 sent,, but they paid nothing more. The explanation was : they had from 10,000 to 12,000 sroluntary agents and collectors spread Thdr over the Church ; they had so many in each of their congrega- tions ; the elders, deacons, and collectors, in the churches went voluntarily, he believed in the great majority of cases most cor- dially, to collect the money contributed to the different objects home and foreign. They placed it in the hands of 1000 or 1200 local treasurers ; they send it up monthly to the Edinburgh trea- surer for distribution, and thus the object is gratuitously gained. Now he would like if the Conference could see their way to some practical measure of this kind-; and would submit that suggestion as his contribution. He should be glad if they were able to say, as the result of their 'deliberations. We have succeeded practically in getting entirely quit of the collectors' percentage, or even have begun a plan tending to that result. Dr. Tidman said he believed that the people were far ahead of many ministers, and he (the speaker) entirely concurred in that sentiment, for he was convinced that many in their congregations were in a riper state for yielding the harvest of the Lord than some of those who oc- cupied the pulpit. (Hear, hear.) The Eev. Charles Eattrat, missionary of the London Mis- g^^'^^^ sionary Society in Demarara, oould not forbear mentioning a most important subject in connexion with the funds required for the support of missions, viz. the practice of using intoxicating drinks, Total absti- and the amount of money expended in this way. Whether they increase would or not, this would very soon become the question of the Christian church. God would not bless their labours if they did not deny themselves in a matter of this kind. In the mission- field with which he was connected, if a new missionary were appointed who was not an abstainer he would be deemed to lack a most important qualification. They had just been hearing that half a million was expended by the whole church in the missionary cause; how much, Mr. Rattray asked, was expended by the whole church in the use of intoxicating drinks ? The Chairman stated ihat the whole expenditure in Great y^^'^ ""'^^ Britain upon intoxicating drinks was fifty millions annually ; spent in and recommended Mr. Rattray to peruse Isa. iii. 16, as it con- tained a very fuU subject for exposition with regard to self- denial. 172 EET. G. SCOTT. inissionaiy work. R«v. a. The Eev. Geo. Scott wished to throw out a single practical Scott suggestion with regard to the money part of the question. He was convinced that God never sent his Church a warfare on her own charges. If, on the one hand, God had been opening up wide Divine fields for action in foreign lands, He had on the other been pro- preparations .-.^ , ^ .. ^,.., for modem vidmg the means at home tor entering into and cultivating those fields. During the last twenty-five or thirty years many of God's children had been prospered, not for their own luxury or profit, but for the purpose of carrying on God's work more exten- sively. The question, then, was how to bring out the amount of liberality really required for the large amount of missionary work to be done. His suggestion was that some simultaneous use of the pulpit thoughout the whole country might be arranged, which would greatly help the object in view. They had lately had an invitation to prayer from a most interesting portion of the mission field; this had been responded to very generally throughout Christendom. Should they not send a practical response to their brethren labouring in these distant fields of missions, and arrange, altogether separate from any collection, to have a simultaneous presentation of the missionary subject from all the pulpits of the churches and chapels of the various Protestant communions through- out Christendom. (Plear, hear.) Simulta- neous sor- mou on missions. Rev. J. L. PORTEB. Monthly missionary pniyer- meetings. Rov. J. B. Whitino. The Rev. J. L. Porter, of Damascus, mentioned the practice followed by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of having monthly missionary meetings on a certain evening. This practice was adopted wherever, throughout the world, they had a missionary settled or a missionary station. He had been present at such meetings in Constantinople, Smyrna, Malta, Beyrout, and Damascus; and he could hardly express how much the missionaries were stirred up and encouraged by such gatherings, when they knew that at that time in every part of the world a little body of truly Christian people were assembled together with the same purpose as themselves ; to get information and ask for God's blessing upon the work of missions. Could nothing be done like this generally? The Eev. J. B. Whiting, in allusion to what had fallen from previous speakers, said: — Where are the ministers to derive the information to be given to the people? No doubt the existing periodicals were abundantly sufficient, but it is a fact that these are not regarded as a sufficiently simple means of obtaining infer- FOUKTn SESSION. 173 mation. A great impulse would be given to the cause, if short increased papers weve drawn up and circulated by the various Committees. This would be of great assistance to ministers, and would greatly enlarge the number of those who were willing to go out as depu- tations. In vindication of the editors of the Church Missionary Society's publications, he said that no documents from the mission-field were overlooked, but, as far as possible, all intelligence was given to the public. The Intelliqencer was especially designed to contain Pastors to • P ■ • rr^i ^ i,r- be supplied important communications from missionaries. The Church Mis- with it. sionary Society had published a beautiful Atlas of their missions, and there was some intention of publishing a large missionary map of the world. The friends of missions should relieve the Societies of the cost of such publications. He thought "systematic giving" was a subject of very great Systematic importance. He knew that in a parish in Suffolk the clergyman 8™'* had been enabled to induce his people to give thank-offerings for every blessing which they received. A farmer gave a thank- offering because his horse had fallen and had not broken its knees. Thank- It was not a matter to smile at, because the pastor had taught his ° '^"''^^' people a thankful spirit, and they were accustomed when they received a blessing from Almighty God, as a matter of praise and as a sacrifice of gratitude, to offer an acknowledgment. (Hear, hear.) He said they ought to impress upon tlieir people, not that they shopld give to this society or that, but that they should give to God according as He had blessed them, and at stated intervals. The weekly offerings recommended by St. Paul were of great im- Weekly portance. They wanted to teacli the people to have a charity box ; ° *'™'ss- let them have a charity ledger, and with all the accuracy of a man charicy- of business put down what they gave to God. If we could get '<=dger. people to look back and see what they had given to God they would be ashamed. A gentleman had said to him that he would be glad to get out of his charitable payments for 101. a-year ; but when he got that gentleman to enumerate what he had given it was found only to amount to 21, lis. Qd. map. Mr. Cunningham asked if the map to be published by the Missionary Church Missionary Society would contain all missionary sta- tions ? The Eev. Mr. Whiting replied that it would refer to the whole Baission-field. 174 EEV. n. MACGILL. MTcaL?'' '^^^ ^^"^^ Hamilton MacGill thought they were deeply indebted to Mr. Scott for the practical proposal he had made. M?.^Scott'3 He trusted that, throughout all their churches, that proposal would proposal. ]3g adopted, and that they would have the benefit of universal sympathy on this subject through all their congregations on one Sabbath in the year. He was persuaded that what had been said in regard to the power of the pulpit in relation to missions was of very special importance. No minister could preach th© Missions Gospel intelligently and faithfully, without frequently bringing preached their duty with regard to missions before his hearers. This ought constantly, to be done, not, by any means, in a spirit of petulance and fault- finding, but in a spirit of faithfulness and love. It was, he held, impossible to preach aright without continually expounding what was the duty of the whole Church, and of all its members, in order that the great prayer for the coming of God's Kingdom, which they were ever offering, might really be answered. He did not think they should gain their object, unless atten- Benevoience tion was secured in favour of systematic contribution. It was not assystem- required of the rich man merely that he should give of his abun- dance. He remembered the poor widow and her "two mites." He looked upon that small gift as being as important in the sight of God as thousands given by a man who was as able to spare his tliousands as the widow was to spare her mites. Christian giving and personal exertion were intended for spiritual discipline in the Church. God had given them missionaiy work tO' do, that they and frequent might be prepared to serve him in other forms on earth; and at last and for ever to serve him in heaven. Contribution, like prayer, for the extension of the Redeemer's Kingdom, ought to be frequent, as well as universal, among Christians. What would as prnycr. they think of a quarterly prayer? It was the design of Christ to teach his people, by continued habit and discipline in this mat- ter, to go not only to hia throne of grace, but to his altar with their gifts,, that with every sacred offering,, groat or small, there should be conjoined a separate exercise of Christian prin- ciple. Unless such views were carried into practice, they would would never gain the chief end for which Christian giving was intended. Systematic contribution was enjoined, not merely in order that missionary enterprises should be supported ; not merely that the gospel might be preached unto all the world ; but that the givers themselves might be made better men and better Chris- tians. Their people might thus make to themselves ''friends of the Mammoa of unrighteousness," which, on the other hand, if POTJKTH SESSION. 175 abused, might prove their foe. What was the history of some of those nations which in ancient times grew rich and powerful ? Nati,™s Their wealth, having found no benevolent outlet, corrupted them ; by'^wiaith. and he trembled more for fear of the corruption that might come from such a quarter as this into the heart of our country, than on account of any foreign foe. If all their people should give sys- tematically, on principle, and with frequency, he believed that thereby they should be offering to God what he would accept as Libemiity a species of worship, as a service acceptable and well-pleasing in to God! his sight. In the church with which he was more immediately con- nected, there was a Synodical recommendation, largely and in- creasingly acted on, that collectors should go through the families of each congregation, once a-month, to receive their missionary contributions. They had found that the disposition to. give Giving- grew by exercise. It was like all other good Christian dispo- Scrclse'y sitions ; it was strengthened by frequent repetition. He believed every Christian ought closely to connect working with giving ; and if their pulpits were faithful in this matter; if ministers impressed upon their people the necessity of not only giving to the cause of God, but of personally working in that cause, the disposition to work and the disposition to give would mightily aid Working each other ; and the result would be not only to strengthen the °' missionary spirit, but to invigorate all the great principles of the Christian life. The Eev. P. H. Cornford, — I cannot but suppose that all Kct. p. h. the artillery directed against the pulpit has been directed by those who have never had the charge of young churches ; of churches Some oppressed with debt, or in want of repair; but I am sorry to say ai^ndiV I know from experience, that there are circumstances in which "'^^^^^ it is impossible to bring the churches immediately to do all that we feel desirous they should do, on behalf of the mission- ary work. Where increasing sabbath-schools wajit increased ac- commodation ; where there is a large tract-distribution to attend to and provide for, and where there may be a large amount of interest to be raised upon a debt, you cannot, surely, lay all the blame upon a man who, perhaps, has not the heart to press his people for money for missionary purposes. I beg leave to plead not guilty to the charge. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, Mr. Cornford said, that in his opinion the remedy for this want of missionary 176 EEV. J. MAKEPEACE. Weekly offeliiigg. J. Cropper, Esq. Success of the weekly- offering. liberality was to establish the habit o? systematic benevolence: to cultivate the Christian habit of giving week by week. John Cropper, Esq., of Liverpool, said, that the practice of collection, which had prevailed in the place of worship with which he was connected, had worked wonderfully well in bringing in systematically by weekly contributions an amount quite equal to the amount ever previously raised by begging, by book or con- gregational collections, or by any other process. The plan adopted was to place a box at the entrance of the chapel, into which every one, on coming in, placed what they had laid by for the purpose during the week. The sums thus gathered have amounted to 6501. annually ; while all the trouble and pain attendant upon the begging or ordinary collecting systems were saved, and are divided amongst religious institutions each half year. Rev. J. Makepeace. The Eev. J. Makepeace, formerly of Agra, hoped that Mr. Cornford's case was an exceptional one. Great deference, Mr. Makepeace thought, should be paid to the excellent suggestion of Mr. Scott. One grand point should have the attention of the Pastoral zeal Conference fastened upon it ; namely, that the pastors of churches or misBious. g].iQyjj ]-,g more eminently imbued with the missionary spirit, and should more frequently avail themselves of the pulpit for the diffusion of missionary intelligence. As an instance of the result of pastoral zeal and earnestness in the mission work, Mr. Makepeace mentioned the case of a friend of his, a returned missionary, who undertook the pastorate of a church in England. When he settled Instance of ^'^^^ ^"^ ^^^ town, the missionary contributions of his own denomi- its influence, nation did not exceed 35Z. annually; whereas, before he left the town, after fifteen years' labour, his own church alone raised between 400Z. and 500Z. Not a sabbath passed over without his making a reference to,, or offering up his prayers for, missionary enterprises ; and this was the secret of his success. (Hear, hear.) Rev. D. TUORBURN. Extent of Christian obligation. The Eev. David Thorburn, of Leith, believed, that one great means of increasing the resources employed in propagatin ti- the gospel was the delivery of addresses from the pulpit to stir up the missionary spirit. He had not heard, however, any re- marks made, indicating the views of the members of the Confer- ence witli regard to the nature and extent of the obligation im- posed upon members of the Christian Church. So far as he had itians ought to 3 lucre. FOUKTH SESSION. 177 heard, it seemed to be understood that the obligation was one entirely of an indeterminate character : that though God had said every one should lay aside according as God has prospered him, yet the extent of the obligation was to be judged by the individual himself. Whether this were the case or not, it was not the case under the Patriarclial or Levitical dispensation. In the Patriar- patriarchal ohal age, we found tlie nature and extent of the obligation indi- yj^g'^™'^'^ cated in the "first-fruits" and "tithes;" and passing to the Levi- tical, we found the obligation somewhat more definitely specified. The presumption was, that it would be stated more clearly in the dispensation under which it was our happiness to live. Such, however, was not the general impression. But there was a time in the history of the Christian Church when another opinion extensively prevailed, that the obligation to give, to a certain amount at least, was a determinate obligation. For many centuries such was the universal opinion throughout the Church. He (Mr. Thorburn) believed that our present views with regard to the Christi: obligation were defective, if not erroneous ; and that, considering give i the vastly more important objects for which we were called upon now to give, it was surely reasonable to suppose that we should give more than was required under a former dispensation. In the New Testament, both by our Lord and his Apostles, the principles were very clearly laid down which should guide us in this matter. In the commendation given by the Saviour to the Pharisees for the scrupulousness with which they paid their tithes, he indicated that, to a certain extent, tlie duty was determinate as to the mini- mum, but indeterminate as to the maximum. Weekly gifts, also, were pointedly enforced by the Apostles. The Eev. H. M. Waddei.l : — I have observed that the words Rev. h. m. " missionary feeling " have occurred often in the course of the discussion. In my view this is not a matter of feeling, but of conscience. It is a duty ; and a sense of duty is a sui-er foun- Conscience dation than any feeling. .A man feels bound to pay his debts, his minister or his pew-rent, but he does not feel bound to give a missionary contribution. Why so ? It has been a matter optional to them ; not felt as obligatory. In looking for funds, when they fall short, whence are they to be obtained before we trench upon the necessities of individuals ? There are luxuries in the Church Luxuries to that can be kept down. There is a tendency in the Church of the present day to run into a luxurious style of living, following the example of the world. As to wine-drinking, I will endorse aU 178 MINUTE. what has been said by the friend from Demerara. I apprehend that the missionary supporters at home ought to be as self-denying as the missionaries abroad. This matter should be carefully looked into by brethren in this country, that they may not follow worldly fashions by increase of luxuries of the table and house- hold furniture, and general style of living, but cut down such expenses to enrich the treasury for the spread of the Gospel over all the world. (Applause.) Lieut.-Col. Edwardes. A sugges- tiou. Lieut-Col. Edwardes, — I merely wish to throw out one prac- tical suggestion which struck me as I was listening to Dr. Tidman. How would it answer for the various Missionary Societies to draw up once a quarter an interesting and popular account of the state of the mission-field in one separate quarter of the globe, and to issue that account to the pastor of every parish or church in con- nexion with their own Society, with an urgent request that that pastor would kindly consent either that himself, or one of his own fellow-labourers, should preach a sermon embodying that account, during the quarter ? If that were done I think you would get Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, systematically put before each congregation in a popular way, and you would diffuse and excite an interest at a yeiy easy rate. (Hear, hear.) MINUTE ON THE MEANS OF SECURING INCREASED LIBERALITY TO MISSIONARY WORK. The Conference are of opinion that love to perishing souls, for the sake of Him who died for them, as the command of Christ and the essence of the Gospel, is the rule of genuine Tlieivdeof Christian liberality; and that this liberality stops short of its highest, yet legitimate exemplification, where it leads to no self- denial. They believe that giving to the support of schemes, which are maintained for speading the Gospel among the heathen, is itself a solemn duty, a part-fulfilment of the great commission ; and that it is as much a duty to give as it is to labour or to pray. The proportion of income which should be given to this great ConsoieTice object, in their view, rests with the conscience of every individual the guide. , "^ Christian. While in the Patriarchal and Jewish dispensations a stated proportion was laid down for all classes, they consider that under the Gospel the people of God are taught, that while all FOURTH SESSION. 179 belongs to Him and must be accounted for as sucb, each of them Extent of should contribute according as God has prospered him. They ™^' consider that the exact amount such prosperity demands should be made a matter for prayerful, scriptural, and solemn delibera- How dcter- tion : and that Christian benevolence should thus be based upon principle, and be exercised on system. Systematic. As the disposition to give grows by exercise, they consider that the result of such a mode of consecrating a due share of in- Effect. come to the Saviour's cause, would be a readiness to add to regular gifts, when new supplies were bestowed ; and a hearty and prompt response to those special calls made upon the Church, when the providence of God opens, by special means, new and enlarged fields of usefulness in which the Gospel may be preached. They think that in the cultivation of this benevolence, as a Work for pastors. Vigorous principle, a great deal rests upon all pastors of churches: experience showing that, where a pastor possesses an active mis- sionary spirit, urges that spirit upon his people, strives to give them much information on mission-fields, and systematically presses their claims, his people become missionary likewise, and are pre- Result. pared to give with a large heart to all worthy objects of Christian benevolence. That such a spirit of increased consecration and of self- sacrificing liberality, may be poured out upon all the churches of Christ, is their earnest prayer ; and that Christians may be able to abstain from copying the luxurious habits of the world, in order that they may overtake more efiiciently the vast territories of heathenism yet lying unblest with divine truth. The Doxology was then sung, and the Fourth Session closed. 180 SECOND MISSIONARY SOIREE. Wednesdat Evening. A second missionary Soiree was held on Wednesday Evening, at the conclusion of the discussion above reported: — John Ceopfee, Esq., presided. ISqb.' ^' After prayer had been offered by the Eev. J. M'Kee, the Eev. Behaei Lal Singh, licensed preacher of the Free Church of Scotland in Calcutta, delivered the' following address : — ADDEESS BY THE EEV. B. L. SINGH. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the great command and The law of charter of missionary work is, "Go into all the world and preach missions. j ^ jt the Gospel to every creature; go and teach all nations." Here is the warrant, here is the encouragement, here is the time, here is the place. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." " Why was the world created ? For the manifesta- tion of Jehovah's glory, for the habitation of man. And after man's fall why was it preserved ? " Not for the gratification of man's selfishness, his pride, or for political intrigues ; but for higher purposes, even for the manifestation of Jehovah's glory, for a state of preparation for God's elect in all righteousness, the nursery for the education of the children of God till the time of the restitution of all things should come ; till all his gracious designs should be completed ; which is and has been the cherished hope of his sons. Our Lord distinctly told his disciples that "other sheep I have which are not of this fold ; them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice." To gather in these sheep is the work of missions. Free Church Leaving other fields of labour, it is expected that I should say Calcutta. a few words respecting the Lidian mission with which I have been connected for the last sixteen or seventeen years ; they shall be very brief. There is no lack of knowledge among you respecting the means that are employed in India for bringing the truths of the gospel to bear upon the Hindoos and Mahommedans, by SECOND MISSIONARY SOIREE. 181 preaching in the English and vernacular languages, and circulating Christian books. But whether it be that some go throughout the length and breadth of the land, or those who go to preach the its labours. gospel in our large public towns, the teaching of all is drawn from the Bible. Whether it be those who are engaged in the work of teaching in the schools or colleges, they make the Bible a class-book, and a book of continual reference. Let me invite your attention, then, for a few moments to the divine power of the Bible, to what the Bible, through the blessing of the Spirit, has done for my poor and perishing countrymen. Let me bring to your notice that the Bible has been welcomed, re- ceived, and read ; that the law of the Lord has been proved by the conversions that have been effected in my native land. In Success the year 1844 seven Jews and Jewesses were publicly baptised by Dr. Duff at Calcutta : the eldest was a venerable patriarch, who understood only Arabic ; the second was a rabbi, and rather well versed in the Arabic and Hebrew scriptures ; and there was a man of considerable attainments in the Hindostanee and Arabic. ■The Jews met in the house of a pious layman, and read the Bible in the Arabic and Hebrew languages, with a converted Jew who was employed as reader. They were put under my charge ; I was the medium of communication between the Jews and the European missionaries. Some years afterwards some of them died, and whilst they were lying in their last illness in the Government hospital, they were severely tried by their countrymen who endeavoured to induce them to deny Jesus ; but I, as well as many missionaries who witnessed their deaths, am glad to testify that they remained faithful unto death. A venerable father in this Conference has asked me to give a, His persoaai history. short narrative of how I became connected with the Indian mis- sion. (Hear, hear,) I do not assume, as a matter of course, that I am a converted man ; the Lord alone knows my many imperfec- tions and deficiencies. I feel rather diffident in speaking of the inward working of my heart ; but I shall let you know a few facts connected with my external history : how I have been to this land, this highly favoured land ; and how I came here privi- leged to speak a few words in such a meeting as this. I am sorry Birtii. to say I belong to the rebel race of North- West India ; still if you convert the rebels they will fight for you. (Hear, hear.) They will become your loyal subjects ; they will defend your lives. (Applause.) I need not say much on this, as my friend, Mr. Leupolt, will bring many things to your knowledge respecting it. About forty years ago my father came down to Calcutta, 182 EET. B. L. SINGH, Education. Religious knowledge. there being no missionary or school in the North- West Provinces. My father was anxious that I should get a knowledge of the English language in order that I might obtain a Government appointment. He came down with myself and my brother in the year 1830. Dr. Duff, the first missionary of the Church of Scotland, opened his chool in Calcutta, and there I and my brother went to study the English language. Some years after, having finished his education, my brotlier got a Government ap- pointment and returned to his native country ; I remained some years longer in Dr. Duff's institution. I read tlie Bible. I read the Bible just as I read any other common class-book. It was not reading the Bible in school that moved my heart ; but it was the private ministrations of that great and good man. Dr. Duif, and of his excellent colleagues. Dr. Mackay and Dr. Ewart, that moved my heart to become almost a Christian. I had bright prospects before me ; I was a favourite with a military officer, the late Major-General Macleod. I went from Dr. Duff's school to Medical College and learned the higher branches, natural phi- losophy and botany : then I passed an examination, got a Govern- ment appointment, and came in contact with a pious civil officer, who had defrayed the expense of my education in Dr. Duff's school, as well as in the Government Medical College. It was the pious example of this gentleman, his integrity, his honesty, ofciiristian his disinterestedness, his active benevolence, that made me think exjinp e. ^j^^^. Qhi-jsjianity ^^g something living ; that there was a loving power in Christ. (Hear, hear.) Here is a man in the receipt of 2000 or 3000 rupees a-month, he spends little on himself, and gives away the surplus of his money for education, the temporal and spiritual welfare of my countrymen. This was the turning- point of my religious history, and led to my conversion. About that time, my brother, who was also in the Government service, had prepared his mind to embrace Christianity ; but of his history I need not say anything, as my friend Mr. Leupolt knows him very well, and also my friend Mr. Tucker, who has been his great patron. He came to me and said, " I am ready to embrace Chris- tianity, and I want to become a teacher. I must give up all, and you must support me." My father got a copy of the Persian Bible from Dr. Mackay, and the objection my father had to em- bracing Christianity was that the morality of the Bible was too high for man to follow. (Hear, hear.) We all made up our minds to embrace Christianity, and I am glad to say we did not suffer as much persecution as many of my brethren in Hindostan have suffered. My brother fell into the company of a very good and His brotlier a Christian. SECOND MISSIONAKT SOIRiB. 183 pious missionary of the Church of England, by -whom he was baptised, and he is now labouring in connexion with the Church Missionary Society. As I had received the truths of Christianity from Dr. DuiF's instruction, I felt it my duty to go down to Baptism, &c. Calcutta to be baptised in connexion with the Free Church. In all my trials and ditBculties as a Christian, and as a subordinate missionary to my countrymen,. I have been strengthened and encouraged by the example of another officer and his lady, whose testimony for the Lord Jesus has been so remarkable, so simple- minded, and so consistent, as to lead my blinded countrymen to confess that he is after all their best friend. [Here the speaker turned his face to Major-G-en. Alexander and said,] — The officer, Sir, was the adjutant of the regiment of which you were the dis- tinguished commander. Afterwards I laboured as a teacher in the Free Church institution, then as a teacher among the Jews, and then as a city m,issionary, and, last of all, a teacher among the Mahommedans of Calcutta. Few of you, dear Christian friends, will rise from the hearing of the following affecting case without feelings of increased respect History of a /» 1 1 1 T ■ ^ -r Hiudoogirl. and veneration for the pure and gentle religion of Jesus, and feeK ings of hatred for the cruel spirit of Hindooism. Some of you may have seen the little narrative published by Dt. Sutton, of the General Baptist Missionary Society, of a Brahmin girl whose life was wonderfully preserved, and who was brought up by him andi his lady in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. For the in- formation of those of you who have not read the narrative, I be'^ to mention a few leading incidents connected with the wonderful preservation of this little girL In 1829, among the pilgrims who travelled to the shrine of Juggernaut, there was a Brahmia familv. TiieBraii- consisting of husband, wife, and a little babe, about six months grims. old, with one or two servants. On the arrival of the pilgrim party at Balasore, 150 miles distant from the temple, the wife of Punda* Narain, for that was the name of the husband, was seized with cholera. Narain was not to be found at this critical time. Whe- ther he fell a victim on the way to this disease, or not, no one could say. The unfortunate woman found that everybody had forsaken cholera. her. Thus, a stranger seized by the ruthless cholera, with a feeble infant at her breast, she wandered to a neighbouring village, where she was informed medical aid could be obtained. Although, however, she reached the door of the doctor, who was a fat, wealthy Brahmin, she could get no assistance from him. How long she remained here is not certainly known. But it was so ordered that, in the good providence of God, Dr. Sutton went 184 BET. B. L. SINGH. one evening to preach in the village, and found the poor woman and child lying under the shade of a large tree. The shadows of the evening were closing apace. Not far from the spot were lying the bodies of many pilgrims who had fallen victims to this frightful malady, and where the jackals, the pariah dogs, and vul- tures, were tearing the flesh of the dead. Overhead, too, they were canopied with thick darkness, sadness, and gloom, as the great dense clouds were gathering from the west, and were threatening to burst upon them in a tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain. Dr. Sutton's The missionary ascertained the nature of the disease and adminis- Liiorts. tered some medicine which he had with him. He went to the neighbouring village and pleaded long in vain for some food for the poor and starving infant. No one would give her any. At length an egg-cupful of milk was procured, and never was a more pitiful scene beheld than when the starving child crawled to the missionary, and, looking up to his face, seemed to say, " O sir, pity me, I have no friend in this wide world to care for mj body and soul!" Dr. Sutton removed the helpless woman to a neigh- bouring shed, where he attended her for three days, but at the end of that time she expired. When the missionary perceived that the poor woman was fast expiring, he inquired of the Brahmin doctor, who was standing by, what was to be done with the child ? to which the monster replied, " Oh! let it die also, what else?" The mother had some gold and silver ornaments about her, besides some money, and the possession of these was what the doctor sought to obtain. This he effected, and was unwilling to undergo Orphan girl ^W trouble respecting the child. Seeing how matters were likely cducaS"^ to go, the missionary determined to save the little girl, so he took with him an old female servant and intrusted the child to her pro- tection. When the poor infant was brought to his house, some rice-pudding was placed on a plate on the floor before her, while a spoon was sent for ; but no sooner did the child perceive that it was food, than she crawled towards the plate, and, helping herself with both hands with the utmost greediness, would not suffer herself to be removed until the whole was eaten up. As the mis- sionary had no children, the little girl was soon adopted as a Visit to daughter. She went with her foster-parents to America, where Amonca. ^^^ ^^^ p^j. ^^ ^ boarding-school. She returned with them afterwards to her native land. After affording satisfactory evidence of her conversion, she was admitted into the Christian church by the sacred ordinance of baptism. She was for many years an assistant-teacher in the female schools of Orissa. It has been my privilege to have been united in marriage to this SECOND MISSIONARY SOIREE. 185 Christian native lady. In India, when a man is married, it is His wife. not husband and wife tliat see each other and consult, it is the mothers and fathers or some distant relative, by whom the afiair is settled. But such was not the case with us. I went down to Cuttack and shared the hospitality of the excellent Christian missionaries of the General Baptist Missionary Society. I stayed there for a long time, and then when both of us came to the conclusion that we should be a suitable match, then — we got married. (Laughter and applause.) ON THE PESHAWUR MISSION. By Lieut.-Col. Edwaedes. Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Edwardes, who on risinjir met Lieut. -Coi. ° Ldwatides. with a most hearty reception, then addressed the meeting as fol- lows: — I have been asked to give you an account of the Peshawur Mission, and I do so with pleasure, because the history of that Eng- lish mission cannot but be an interesting and valuable narrative for all friends at home to hear. I suppose there can be no mission in any part of the world, which can reach a lengthened existence without exhibiting in its history some very interesting events. The Peshawur mission must necessarily have many instances of this. I will first tell you the position which that mission occupies. You will all suppose you have got a map of India at the end of Position this room and at the top, the very north-western outpost ot your Peshawur Indian empire, across the river Indus, there stands Peshawur. It ™ ^^' is in fact the picket to British India. Peshawur, geographically speaking, is part of Afghanistan. The people who inhabit it are therefore Afghans. On the east is the river Indus, on the western side the Suliman range of mountains, in which stands the Khyber Pass. From that pass to the Indus is about fifty miles, and on the south side stands the Kohat Pass. The hills of Swat shut in the north. The valley lying between these ranges and the river Indus is most fertile, and px'oduces crops and fruit in luxuriant abundance. For this valley the tribes have all contended for ages past, and the its tribes, tribes that inhabit those mountain-ranges are the fiercest clans that Can be found anywhere on the face of the globe. I do not think that finer specimens of physical human nature can be found. Nurtured on those hills with very little to support them, they have been reared in constant warfare. Each man is armed to the teeth, and he goes forth with his hand against every man, prepared to 186 LIEUT.-COL. H. EDWAKDES. meet every man's hand against him. Whatever truth or whatever falsehood there may be in the great Lord Macaulay's description of the mountain clans of our own north, I must say that if you were to take those pages, and apply them to the inhabitants of the Khyber Pass and the Afghan mountains, you would find it suit exactly. They possess every vice with which human nature is afflicted. But they have their virtues. They have the great virtue of manly courage, and they have the great virtue of hospitality. When the English soldier is brought in contact with them, it is a refreshment, after coming from the slavish plain, to meet a race able to struggle with him for empire. (Applause.) If you were to look over the map of Asia, certainly over the map of British The mission India, and were to select the spot most ungenial for the establish- founded. . . ^ ° ment of a mission you would put your finger on Peshawur ; but I am glad to be able to tell you that a mission has been planted there and flourishes at this time. (Applause.) The founder was a military officer, one of the best, and most consistent and earnest among our Indian Christians, Colonel Martin. (Applause.) He first conceived the design of having a mission there, and he and others united in prayers for this object. But they did not see their way clearly for a very long time. There were sundry hin- drances in their path which are too painful for mention, and the persons who did hinder them were removed in the providence of God from off the scene. Permission was given ultimately by the authorities in the valley of Peshawur for the establishment of Meeting. the mission. A great meeting of the civil and military officers was called to consider the question, and there was not one dis- sentient voice. (Applause.) I attended that meeting myself and I did not hear in the room where we were gathered one person who seemed to have any misgiving on the point of introducing a mission into such a place as that. When the subscription list went round there was, however, one name put down on that list, — I won't mention it as it is unnecessary, — andto it was sarcastically appended "one rupee." That is a thing which in India we fling about or give away just as we would a sixpence in Eng- land. The subscription of one rupee was intended to throw contempt upon the undertaking, and opposite the subscription was written, " To buy a revolver for the first missionary." Well it is a most extraordinary thing that that officer was one ef the vei-y first victims of the Indian mutiny, and it made a great impression on its end. mfi afterwards when I came to look back on it. Here was a man who considered that in a frontier valley full of such a hostile race A sarcastic donation ; SISCOJfD MISSIONAKY SOlRiE. 187 a Christian mission was unsafe, and who noted down one rupee to buy a revolver for the first missionary wlio sliould dare to enter that valley ; he goes away to what he considers a safe cantonment in the very heart of our empire, and yet that man and his family in that safe place were among the first victims of the mutiny. I wonder if, when that sad hour came, any such thought flashed across his mind as that he had looked unharmed upon danger in dangerous places, and found it where he thought he was safe. How much better it would have been to have trusted his life and the lives of others in the hands of God. Well, the programme of the mission was put out, and it was responded to at once throughout India in Response to 111 m 1 ■ • ■ '^^ appeal. a remarkable manner. There was something enterprising, some- thing thoroughly missionary about the undertaking, which, like the sound of a clarion, seemed to awake the sympathies of every Christian in India ; and the response to the call was immediate and loud. In a short time no less than 3000Z. were subscribed : and from that day forward the mission has gone on prospering. (Applause.) We were blessed certainly with most admirable its first missionaries. The first, I think, the father of the missionaries, ™'^'*"'"™^^ was Dr. Pfander, a most admirable man, who had spent forty years Dr Pfander. of his life in missionary labour. He was well constituted for the purpose. He used to go down into the streets of that city, which contained 60,000 inhabitants, and with the Bible in his hand would take his stand in the street. It was a service of danger to go into the streets of that city and preach the gospel of Christ ; and when Dr. Pfander took up his stand in the street, opened his Bible, and preached Christ before the whole of those His work. people, I consider that he performed an act of great Christian ccurage and great Christian faith. (Applause.) That man was admirably suited for the duty. His very face reflected all the Christian virtue of love to all men. It was impossible for the most thorough blackguard to take exception to such a man ; and if there were any man who dared to interrupt him he would just stroke him down and pacify him ; tell him that was not the time for discussion ; but that if he wished he would accompany him to his house, or take him to his own, and there talk the matter over. The people at last got accustomed to the good man, and His iuflu- actually got fond of him. What I wish you to observe in this slight sketch of the Peshawur mission is, that it was founded in a very difiicult place at a time when everybody looked gloomily upon it, but that God has honoured those who honour Him : for I believe that mission has brought a blessing to us in India in our 188 LIEUT.-COLONEL H. EDWAEDES. hour of need. Peshawur, as I told you, stood as an outpost to The mission British India. Twelve miles from it frowned the Khyber Pass, a public /> • T -n blessing. beyond which was the immense country of Afglianistan.. It 'will not matter now if I say that the war in which, twenty years ago, we engaged with the Afghans was an unrighteous war. I have expressed the same opinion to Government. We had no quarrel with them, and because we were afraid of Eussia, that was no righteous cause for marching up with a poor refugee puppet prince like Shah Shoojah in our hands, and saying, " We will dethrone your king and put up this man in his place." That war ended, as all unrighteous wars should end, with disaster. Angry passions had thus been aroused between us and the Afghans, and though years rolled over, yet the angry passions remained. At length a Change in change Came over the policy of our Government, and I was, I am (joveriinient ° r j ' 3 policy. glad to say, instrumental in bringing that change about. (Applause.) In 1854, T recommended that "bygones should be bygones,'' and I was authorised by my Government to make efforts to bring about a more desirable state of afi'airs. I did make efforts, and in a very short time it was rumoured all over Central Asia that a with*ttie friendly treaty was made, and the quarrel was at an end. (Ap- Atghaus. plause.) Again, on my recommendation, a still closer treaty of friendship was signed in the beginning of 1857. Three months had not passed over when the dreadful Indian mutiny broke out. If we had not been at peace with the Afghans, the old story of the Tartar incursions would probably have been repeated. The tribes of Afghanistan and the countries beyond would have rallied round the standard of their faith. Tliey would have swept like a torrent inaSeMe!*^^ through Peshawur over the whole Punjaub; Delhi would never have been taken, and the whole of the British possessions in India would have been wrested from our hands. But Peshawur, with its mission and the friends of that mission, the civil and military authorities, stood safely across the path of danger. Shall we attribute this result to this officer or to that officer : shall we say it was from the wisdom of this or that proposition ? I trust no one in this room will do so. I say those thoughts were put into men's minds for good purposes, and I believe God himself inspired LausDeo. „s that we might reap the reward of having honoured God. (Applause.) I trust the safest policy may be pursued hereafter in India of honouring God in the government of that country. I am quite convinced that if we do we shall find Him the best sword and buckler, and that we may say with David, " My God, in him WILL I TK0ST." (Applause.) 6EC0ND MISSIONARY SQIRiB. 189 MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA. Bt the Rev. William Shaw. The Rev. William Shaav, of South Africa, said: — I regret Eot. w. Siww. that I should have been called upon at this late hour to address you, after the very interesting speeches you have heard ; for I fear that the matter I have to bring before you will be found much less interesting. Had I time to address you at length, I might pos- sibly have made a selection of facts to interest you ; but it is exceedingly difficult, after listening to those thrilling details con- cerning the work in that most interesting part of the globe, British India, to take you away to an entirely different scene. I must, however, say a few words with regard to the missions in Southern S. African ^ , missions. Africa. This month it is forty years since I sailed to the Cape of Good Hope ; and since that period I have spent there thirty- three years of my life. Without entering into details I may mention, that the chief scene of my labours has been in the ex- tensive country bordering upon the eastern boundary of the Cape of Good Hope, and along the coast of Caffraria, which terminates as far up as Delagoa Bay. The missions in Southern Africa have Extensive. a very extensive range; and I am happy to state that they are not prosecuted by one or two Societies, but by several of the more important Missionary Societies in this country and in Germany. Our excellent brethren the Moravians were first in the field ; ^(fJiJii^g they were followed by the London Missionary Society, and these by tlie Wesleyan Missionary Society. These were followed again by others ; there are now also missions there in connexion with the Free Church, and more recently with the Church of England. By the blessing of God great results have been derived from the labours of the brethren of the various Missionary Societies. Very Successes. recently a complete Kaffir version of the Holy Scriptures has gone forth from our press; so that with the Sechuana version of the indefatigable Moffat, the great tribes of Southern Africa now have the law of God which they can read in their own language. There are, I believe, at this time fifteen or eighteen thousand natives, regular accredited members of the various Churches, c°i"""™' admitted to the communion of the Lord's table. (Applause.) There are at least 20,000 children who are in attendance at the ciii'd''™' various mission schools within and beyond the colonies. Taking together the attendance at the schools, the members of the church, 190 KEV. WILLIAM SHAW. and the still very much larger number, of those who, although not recognised as members of the Christian congregations, and not admitted to the communion, are, nevertheless, more or less in the habit of regularly attending the administration of gospel Chri^lans Ordinances, I estimate that at least 100,000 natives of the various classes may be considered as won over to Christianity. (Applause.) Very far indeed are we from thinking that all has been accom- plished that we had hoped for when we went into the field ; but, notwithstanding this, we may, I think, take courage, and hope to surpass what has hitherto been done. (Applause.) The meeting concluded with singing and prayer, at nine o'clock. 191 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE. Thcksdat, March 22nd. THIRD GENERAL PRAYER MEETING. Thursday Morning. The third general Prayer-meeting was held at Hope Hall, on Prayer- Thursday morning, at 9"30 a.m. The Rev. Patrick Forfar, of the Church of Scotland, of Liverpool, presided. The devotions of the meeting were led by the Eev. J. Walton, Wesleyan missionary from Jaffna, in Ceylon; the Rev. Christian HcERNLE, Church missionary at Agra ; the Rev. Behari Lal Singh, of the Free Church Mission in Calcutta j and the Eev. Dr. TlDilAN. FIFTH SESSION. Thursday Morning. The members of Conference again assembled for business at lO'SO A.M., at the close of the Prayer-meeting, and held one of their most interesting and valuable meetings. Majok-General Alexander in the chair. Beforg the proceedings commenced, the Rev. G. D. Cullen limitation announced that the Mayor of Liverpool, who took a deep interest Mayor. in the proceedings of the Conference, had kindly invited all the members to breakfast with him in the Town Hall on Saturday morning, at nine o'clock. A letter, expressing great regret at his necessary absence from the Conference, was read from the Hon. A. KiNNAiRD, M.P., who had joined with others in issuing the invitations by which the Conference was assembled. 192 SUBJECTS roK discussion. Rotterdam. Dr. Steane intimated that a communication had been received from a new Missionary Society recently formed in the Nether- lands. The communication comprised a letter, and the first Eeport of the society, both in the Dutch language. These documents had been confided to the Rev. Dr. Baylee for examination ; Dr. Bay lee had pronounced them to be of a most interesting character, and had prepared a fraternal reply. On the motion of Dr. Steane the reply was read, and having received tlie signatures of the Chairman and Secretaries, was transmitted as the answer of the Conference to the Society at Rotterdam. Subjects for Discussion. Prcigramino. The businsss of the session then commenced, the following programme being read by the Chairman : — Subject: Native Agency. Paper, or Address, of ten minutes, by Rev. R. S. Habdt, formerly Wesleyan Missionary in Ceylon. Advantages of Native Agency. How should Native Agents be obtained ? From among the most spiritually -minded and experienced adults of the Native congregations ? Or from among tlie young? If the latter, should they be specially trained for their specific mission work among the masses of their fellow- countrymen, in Training Institutions, through the medium of their mother-tongue ? How far should the English Language be employed in Missionary Education ? Difficulties in the way of ordaining Natives as Evangelists and Pastors. How far should the Clerical principle be introduced into Native Churches ? How far should each individual Christian be encouraged to strengthen his brethren, and propagate the Gospel among those still in darkness. On what principle should the stipends of Native Agents be regulated ? Chaieman. The Chairman, in announcing that the subject for the day was that of Native Agency, expressed a trust, that every one FIFTH SESSION. 193 •would consider the vast importance of this question with regard Spirit of to all places where they had established, and hoped to establish Christian missions. He felt that they would need to keep their minds in the spirit of the prayers which had just been offered for the blessing of Almighty God upon their deliberations. They must maintain the principle of " speaking the truth in love ;" and, on simple dependence upon God the Holy Spirit, seek his gracious and harmonising influences, that the " mind that was in Christ Jesus" might also be vouchsafed to all assembled here. He wished that there were more of their native brethren from other countries present, to express their sentiments, as he Experience. should call upon their Hindoo brother, Behari Lai Singh, to do his. They would, however, have the advantage of the expe- rience of missionaries who had laboured in many lands, and been in actual contact with Asiatic and African minds, as well as with the untutored Indians of America ; and thus this most important subject would be brought forward and illustrated with fulness in all its varieties. He adverted to what had already been be- fore the Conference, as the record they had of the missionary The earliest agency and proceedings of the early Church ; and turning to the agentsT" 6th, 8th, Ipth chapters of the Acts, and 16th of Romans, said it would be well to the purpose to consider the persons and posi- tions in life of those who were then constituted or recognised as missionary agents and fellow-workers with the Apostles ; that they were men and women of all classes, including the imperial house- hold of Rome, the family of Herod, the hospitable Gaius, Phoebe the deaconess, Aquila and Priscilla, who each and all evangelised society around them, and spread Gospel light and truth among the idolatrous and unbelieving masses among whom they dwelt. In dealing with native agencies now, is it not well to look to what was done to raise up and extend it in apostolic times, at Jerusalem, at Antioch, at Corinth, at Philippi, and in Crete ? They would also have to consider the weakness of some branches What to be of the Christian church, the comparatively slow progress by °°™' '^^^ ' means of existing agencies up to the present day, and the desir- ableness of devolving upon the natives of every country under heaven the obvious duty of evangelising the lands of their births, and the people of one blood with themselves. Considering the emergencies of the times, and the rapidity with which events are rushing towards that mysterious future, into which they could see no farther than the light of the Holy Spirit shining upon the revelation made by God in his Holy Word will permit, o 194 EEV. ME. haedt's paper. surely no time stould be lost in bringing native agencies into the fullest and most efficient operation, and committing them more to their own responsibilities, than it was his (the Chairman's) impression, they had hitherto been suificiently permitted and en- Exmpie in couraged to assume. He would but adduce one instance, taken from the sacred records, as strictly in point. A Gentile traveller picked up a wayfarer by the roadside. He read a book which he could not understand ; a plain exposition of the word gave light ; the result of a short intercourse, and the instruction given, while it lasted, were so blessed of God to the conversion of a soul, that the missionary effects of that day's journey are found in Ethiopia at the present time. Let them (he repeated) consider thoroughly the apostolic and early Christian ways of working ; let them experience whether there is not as much facility now, as there was then, of making fellow-countrymen the fittest mis- sionaries to each other, and how best to remove any impediments which prevent their being such; and may God, of his infinite goodness and mercy, guide the Conference to a wise deliberation, in accordance with his most holy will and word. The following paper on the subject was then read to the Con- ference by the author : — ON NATIVE AGENCY IN FOREIGN MISSIONS. By the Eet. E. S. Haedt, Ceylon. Native The subject appointed for this morning's investigation and tesT|ointiQ discussion is, Native Agency. In this theme we have tlie missions. culminating point of the Conference. All that is done at home is the mere mustering offerees; but where "the native" lies, is the battle. Are funds collected, or missionaries sent forth, or schools established, or the Scriptures translated, or books printed and circulated? It is the good of the native that is the first cause of all this preparation and sacrifice. Whatever is expended, whether in men, or money, or moments, that does not ultimately tend to- wards this issue, is so much power lost to the great cause of the world's salvation. Essential. When we speak of Native Agency, we include the entire Church of the future ; as it is evident that, if Christianity is per- manently to live in the lands that are now the object of missionary "wiiyi care, it must be by means of Native Agency alone. Foreign agents FIFTH SESSION. 193 could not be found in sufficient numbers. If sufficient numbers were forthcoming, the means of tlieir support could not be pro- vided ; and if the men could be both provided, and provided for, this would be an inefficient instrumentality to accomplish the work to be done. The truth must be naturalised ; it must cease to be regarded as an exotic, before it can thoroughly permeate and per- manently regenerate any given nation. Its power can only bo universally diffused by that which is alike native in its fount and its flowing : look, tone, word, imagery, idiom, all must be native. Every people, even the most degraded, has a nationality, and each tribe an idiosyncracy ; sacred circles, that the stranger can never completely penetrate. 2. This position being established, we have then to ask: How How to be is this Native Agency to be the most rapidly raised, the most ^^"^'^ ' highly gifted, and rendered the most powerfully procreative and germinant? Here we are in danger, lest, by looking at the sub- ject from one single stand-point, we should seek to establish laws that, if universally carried out, would cramp the free play of the Church's action, and impede its intended course towards limitless conquest. As well might we ti-y to grow all plants, from the lichen to the lotus, in one temperature and soil, as attempt to lay Localities down rules that would be equally applicable to all nations. The mind of the contemplative Brahmin and that of the wild Bush- man of Australia will not be influenced by the same process of instruction. We shall consider these classes as the two extremes, and therefore, in some sense, exceptional cases ; and concede, that modes also. the circumstances of the one are best met through the medium of college tuition ; and those of the other, through that of village localisation, the plough, aiid the alphabet. But we contend that, in other cases, the course that has been the most successfully pur- sued by the Church in the greatest number of instances, is the example we are called upon to follow now in the present position of the heathen world. 3. Guided by the light of the past, we say, then, that thcAspeoiai truth has been propagated in all ages with the greatest efficiency rlq^iJred. by agents set apart for this one service, whether called preachers, evangelists, pastors, or ministers ; with the schoolmaster, as a collateral, but most important auxiliary power. Those agents, again, have been the most efficient that have been " thrust forth" by the Lord, to use our Saviour's own expression (Matt. ix. 22), " as labourers into his harvest." They have been called from the plough, as Elisha ; from the cattle-pen, as Amos ; from the fisher- 196 EEV. MB. hardy's PAPEE. Prayer for such. Their quali- fications. How to be prepared. Distinction Evils to bo guarded against. boat, as Peter ; and frpm the school of the sage, as Saul of Tarsus. The prayer of the Church must therefore be, that God would raise up such men ou all our mission-stations ; and, secondly, that he would guide the responsible principals of all churches, in calling out and sending into the work of evangelisation the instruments that have been thus prepared by a divine call. The indications of the receiving of a divine commission will be a sincere and simple piety, an ardent zeal, a spirit of self-sacrifice, a right apprehension of the principal truths of revelation, and success resting upon the efforts already put forth to do good. Unless there be the presence of these qualifications, lay no hands upon the men, however else they may be gifted ; and if these are possessed, however lowly and unpretending the men may be, reject them not, for by them will be made manifest the wisdom and the power of God. 4. The next question is: How are they to be prepared for the most efficient performance of their future labours? We would here make a distinction, that has already been acknowledged in this Conference, between the course that is taken by the mission- ary for the general enlightenment of the native mind, and that which has reference exclusively to the formation of a native pas- torate. To bring about the former issue, the vast importance of which we are ready to acknowledge, instruction in English litera- ture is, in certain countries and under certain circumstances, indis- pensably requisite ; to effect the latter, the same course now appears to be much less absolutely necessary, even in those same localities, than was once supposed by many good and great men. We have seen that in his homogeneity with the people, whom the teacher seeks to influence, consists a considerable portion of his power; and, consequently, that whatever tends to deprive him of this, renders him, so far, less fitted for his work. This wiU be the result, more or less, of scholastic training, of temporary isolation from his usual modes of living ; and, above all, of an increase of income greatly beyond the means of the people among whom he has to minister. These are evils to be guarded against in the training of native pastors ; but they may be immensely overcome by the advantages gained from a coui-se of regular and continued discipline ; and in some instances they are evils to which it is necessary to expose ourselves, as much more direful consequences would result from an immature piety, a misguided zeal, or an imperfect theology. 5. But there is, we think, a more excellent way, as to those missions in which it can be accomplished ; and that is, for the FIFTH SESSION. 197 missionary to superintend the studies of the native teacher whilst instruction he is yet actively engaged in the worli of evangelisation. This Temacuiar: supposes that men, whose principles have been tested in private life, rather than untried youths, be called out ; and that the in- struction be in the vernacular alone. In rare instances a know- practical ledge of other languages will still be gained, whilst the teacher go with it. is pursuing the duties he is required to attend to in the house, the bazaar, the school, or the church ; as many ministers in England, who have not had the advantage of a college education, neverthe- less, by self-culture, attain to literary distinction. From having had the opportunity of knowing the make and metal of his agents, when moving in inferior positions, the missionary will be better instructed whom to trust in places of greater responsibility and danger. 6. This question of responsibility is another subject of great ''*« pastor importance. The native pastors may be used as mere mp,chines, every motion being regulated by a power exterior to themselves; or they may be sent abroad, as the unreined steed, which may have had a careful training, buii yet cannot be left to run anywhere at its own will. Avoiding these extremes, the native pastor must be taught that, within the limit of certain fixed rules, he is re- responsiMe, sponsible to another for the course he pursues ; but that, in adapt- ing himself to circumstances within that limit, he is to exercise his own judgment. He is to be a free and unfettered agent, ''""'"^• within an appointed sphere of action. It will be better for him to be left, like the wild tree of the forest, which has room to wave in the wind, and put forth all its vigour and vitality, than to be tended and trellissed like the tree of the garden, and thus become sickly, stunted, and formal. Without the feeling of responsibility, there will be no putting forth of the entire strength of the mind or the full energy of the will. 7. After an attentive study of the various organisations that have been tried upon the mission-field, none have appeared to me ' so perfect as the one carried out by the Eev. R. B. Lyth, in Fiji. Bev. e. b. He had to meet the wants of a large and wide-spread district of tem in Mji. country, the native teachers being but babes in Christ; and to care for an extensive society of about 1400 church members, with- out order or discipline. The great principle by which he was enabled, under circumstances the most difiicult, to reduce this chaos to comparative order, was "by training the natives ybr their work by training them in their work." " The entire circuit," he says, " was made a training institution with the mission-station 198 REV. ME. HAEDt's PAPER. Dr. Mason's at Touugoo. In the early ?orampore Mis.sioji. Summary, Vernacular. Teaching and work uoited. for the centre. The natives of these countries cannot endure the close confinement of an Institution ; but give them plenty of work and exercise, and they will come to their studies with zest and pleasure, and what they learn they will digest and communicate; and what is quickly communicated is twice learnt."* It will, perhaps, be said, that all this was among recent can- nibals ; but that the same rules will not apply to the more civi- lised portions of the world. We may pass, then, to Burmah. The following extract is from Doctor Mason, of the Toungoo mission. " When I stroll into the forest at evening, a long, peripatetic train, questions me at every step .... My school of theology is as wide as the province, and its pupils are as numerous as the students within its borders. Many, in this anomalous way, without pausing in their labours, learn more than those immured for years in brick- walls, who complete a curriculum under a dozen professors ;n and it is an undeniable fact, that when we need a man to go to a sta- tion, where there is real self-denial to be endured, it is not the man who has passed through a regular course of instruction who goes, but one of this irregular corps." When we come to India proper, we* are not without proof that a similar course has been attended by the blessing of the Lord. It has been supposed that the illustrious missionaries of Serampore were never more successful in raising up an indigenous ministry, suited to the wants of the churches of Bengal, than at the com- mencement of their missionary career. They saw how necessary it was that their native agents should retain, as much as possible, the simplicity of their former habits ; and that, by manifesting a holy walk and conversation, without, at the same time, losing their nationality of character, they would thereby present a more perfect example for the imitation of their converted countrymen. 8. In conclusion. Whilst again acknowledging the unspeak- able benefits derived from the establishing of high schools and collegiate institutions, and, in many instances, the necessity of their continuance ; and whilst deprecating most strongly the employment of an untrained or uneducated pastorate, I would recommend : 1. That the native pastor, for the most part, and, as a general rule, be educated in the vernacular only. 2. That he be trained for the pastorate, by the simultaneous influence of personal instruction from an European missionary and active employment among his countrymen. * Mr. Lyth's Paper on the subject will be found in the Appendix. FIFTH SESSION. 199 3. That no native he ordained for the ministry, until he has Character. been well tried and found faitliful. 4. That, when ordained, he should be left in a great degree, Freedom, but not absolutely, as a free agent, in the sphere of labour to which he is appointed. 5. That the amount of his stipend be not more than a native stipend. church, of an average number of members and of average wealth, would be able to afford, upon the principles of the New Testa- ment. 6. That unpaid, though qualified, lay-agents, who work on Lay-agents. the week-days at some secular employment, should be encou- raged to act upon the sabbath as evangelists, under the direction of tlie chief pastor of the church. There are some of these recommendations that cannot at •present be carried into effect ; but something similar to them is a result at which, I think, we ought all to aim. They will, in some respects, be controverted by many of tlie wisest of tlie brethren who are around me ; but they are put forth unhesitatingly as tlie pro- duct of long experience and a most careful study of the subject. And I would ever remind myself "and others that these words are yet found upon the page of everlasting truth : " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." " God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God cliosen, yea, and things wliich are not, to bring to nought tilings that are ; that no flesh should glory in his presence." (Zech. iv. 6 ; 1 Cor. i. 27.) The Chairman imagined there would be a wide difference of ^"^'™*''- opinion amongst brethren present; but urged that their views should be freely and fully expressed, and received with cordiality, with sympathy, and the forbearance of Christian minds. This one point, amongst others, ^ould receive grave consideration; Whether the native mind had not been too much kept in a state of tutelage ; whether there was not existing an unwillingness to emancipate it from that state, and to throw it entirely on the grace of God and the supporting power of the gospel ? The Rev. J. Mullens expressed his satisfaction at the prac- Rev. j. tical and concise manner in which Mr. Hardy had brought the question before them. He should, however, like to have had that 200 EEV. J. MULLENS. Two ques- tious: Ordinatiou. Salary of pastors. Kule of the American Board. gentleman's experience and opinion on one or two matters, which might be considered supplementary to the paper itself. One was the ordination of their native brethren. It was a very important question: Whether the ordinations, which were now beginning to take place in India and other mission fields, should be ordinations of native brethren to missionary service among the heathen, or ordinations of these brethren as pastors of native churches ? The two things were entirely distinct ; and some brethren who were present had had great experience on this point. Again: Mr. Hardy had spoken of the ordained native brethren being appointed as pastors, and yet of a salary being given to them, in amount not greater than that which they would natu- rally and properly receive in their own sphere of life. Here arose a question of vital importance : If you ordain a man as pastor of a native church, who is to pay his salary; on what prin- ciple should a Foreign Society continue to pay the salary when a native agent is ordained over a church ? He referred to the question, because their American brethren had been dealing with it in a clear and decided manner. When Dr. Anderson, the Foreign Secretary of the American Board, and his colleague, visited the Missions of the Board in Western and Southern India, they suggested, in regard to this matter; that whilst it was desirable to have their native brethren ordained as pastors of churches, and for those churches wholly to support them, the dif- ficulty that arose, from a small church being unable to raise suf- ficient salary for a native ministry, should be met by the Society continuing to supplement any deficiency in the salary of the native pastor, year by year, until the church could take the entire duty upon itself. He believed that the Board in America unanimously approved of such an arrangement. Eev. E. 8. Hardy. Natives ordained over a circuit. Mr. Hardy, in reply, said; — That his paper was intended to be suggestive, rather than exhaustive. The manner of working the native ministry was different in the Wesleyan body, with which he was connected, from that pursued in other churches. It might, of course, be supposed that he most approved of their own mode. The natives who were appointed to such a charge were appointed, not to one particular place, but to a circle of churches. There was generally a principal station under one native minister, with three or four chapels and flocks, and maybe three or four schools also ; of all these he was supposed to have the care. According to their rule, he could not remain more than three years in one FIFTH SESSION. 201 place. They did not, in their mission stations, absolutely insist upon this ; but still he was liable to be removed at any time : and they ordained him, not as the pastor of any particular church, but as a pastor of the Church of Christ at large, liable to be sent to work anywhere where' duty called. Then, as to salaries, he (Mr. Hardy) agreed with the prin- Salaries ciple adopted in the American missions, — to supplement what the mented. native teacher received from his congregation. Their own plan was to receive all that the native churches could give ; and to supplement what was necessary. That necessity, he thought, had hitherto been supposed to be much greater than it really was. He believed they had acted in error in their own stations in South Ceylon, by giving so high a salary to their native assist- ants, that the churches alone could not continue it. The sup- plementary principle should be carried so far as it was applied in their churches at home, and no further. As to the amount of salary, he would make no distinction betwixt the remuneration given to a native pastor, whether he understood English or only the vernacular ; unless he were appointed to some church in which English was used in the services he held ; in which case his own congregation would be able to aiford the extra remune- ration. Colonel Dawes, Hon. East India Company's Service, and Coi. dawes. Lay Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, viewed the sub- ject of native agency as one of the utmost importance. He did not wish to occupy any time in introducing himself, or by way of preamble, but he might mention that his opportunities had been frequent, whilst a resident in India, of becoming acquainted with missionaries of diiferent denominations, and of witnessing the working of their various systems. The want of a good native Native agency had always appeared to him most pressing. He bore ^?™<=y ™ost high testimony to the immense exertions and unwearied zeal of the European missionaries. It was above all praise. Nothing was assuredly wanting on their parts. But they had never been able to overtake the work, nor would they ever be able to do so, without a larger native agency. As to the description of agency trained in best suited to the work, he preferred men brought up without tongue: a knowledge of the English language — men who were willing and able in their own tongue to declare " the unsearchable riches of Christ" to the heathen by whom they were surrounded. Another practical point which he would mention was the necessity that 202 COLONEL DAWES. keeping existed of native agents conforminsr, as far as was practicaHe, to theirnative ° , , n mi i, ij habits: the habits of the countries in which they laboured, iney shoma endeavour to eschew the adoption of European customs, and even dress. And this he was happy to tliink was the practice adopted by the native agents, especially in South India. When a native visited a village station, the people should be induced to regard him as one of themselves, in appearance and general mode of life ; whilst the great points of difference between him and them should be found, not in his dress and manners, but in his enlightened views and opinions respecting religious questions, especially this idol-worship. The Chairman had referred to the probable causes of " failure." He thought the word employed in the programme was unfortunate (hear, hear) ; and would himself rather be dis- posed to say, " partial success.'' The agency that had been used hitherto was in many instances inadequate, both as to quality and quantity. The native agent should be, as much as possible, like one of those amongst whom he labours ;*not coming amongst them as one having received education in a foreign language, and having adopted a dress and manners half English, half Indian, but as one, in these private matters, in all respects like themselves. fromthe It should at onco be seen that the great diiference between him ofiiyhrtbeir ^"'^ them lies in something beyond externals ; in the views which religion. jjg entertains of the blessed gospel which he has been led to embrace ; and in the earnest compassion with which he invites them, one and all, to receive that message of reconciliation which has been proclaimed for the whole world. His impression, after lil^gifah °^ several years' residence abroad was, that the European missionaries missionaries. \^g^^ f^j. more work on their hands than they were able to attend to. In one place which he could instance there were three missionaries : the time of one was given wholly to the press ; of another, to the work of translation; and of the third, to preaching; whilst if there had been an efficient native agency, the whole time of the three might have been devoted to the chief work, of pro- claiming with their own lips the gospel of Christ. Since his return from India, he had read some hundreds of letters and journals from China, India, Africa, and New Zealand ; these all united in confessing the great want at the present time to be — the extension of native agency. Eov I. The Rev. Isaac Stubbins, General Baptist Missionary at Cuttack, in India, said, — He had laboured for twenty-four years in the province of Orissa, where the great idol Juggernaut held FIFTH SESSION. 203 his seat. Their work there was — from conscientious motives — carried on almost exclusively in the vernacular tongue. They both preached and taught in that tongue, so far as they had schools to teach ; and they raised up native ministers to do the same to their fellow-countrymen. From all that he had seen of the use of the native language, he should most strongly urge that all missionaries, — especially missionaries going out to India, should Missionaries . „ , . sliould ler.i-n acquire a clear, tuU, and comprehensive use ot the native tongue, the lan- Unless they could or would do that, the sooner they returned the better. They had been taught by a wise Teacher that " the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light." The Government makes it essential that their GoTemment civilians learn the language of the people, and pass an examina- tion in that language before they receive their full appointment to any sphere of labour ; and he did think their missionary com- mittees ought to require that all their agents should pass through a similar ordeal. Not only so, but their wives also learned the tiieir wives language of the natives — a most important thing to keep in view. In gathering around them native churches, there were native Christian females who required instructing in a variety of mat- ters ; and only the wife of the missionary could impart that instruction which they so imperatively needed. In their mis- Whiy? sionary tours, also, their wives frequently accompanied them ; and while the missionaries attended the busy market, the festival, or the bazaar, their wives repaired to the villages to converse with itinerancies the native heathen females. Such visits were always welcome, and had proved in many instances exceedingly useful. During these tours they did not pretend to sell their tracts or Scriptures, but endeavoured judiciously to distribute them ; and in this way they parted with some fifty or sixty thousand tracts annually. These had been conveyed into parts of the country which they themselves could never visit, and had been the means of drawing numbers out from heathenism ; many of whom had afterwards died rejoicing in the faith of Christ Jesus, though they had never seen a missionary, or even a native minister. (Hear, hear.) God had blessed their labours in the vernacular tongue with great Success of success. Between 500 and 600 native converts had been bap- tised during the last thirty-two years of their history, and their mission had been but small. Between twenty and thirty native Theirnative preachers had been raised up, and some of these dear brethren had laboured with a zeal and an ardour scarcely equalled by any minister of our own land. They had exposed themselves to un- 204 DH. LOCKHAKT. Tlieir zeal. Their beat men were once hea- then. Their salary. numbered dangers ; penetrated deadly jungles; slept under trees, in sheds, or in open verandahs ; they had deprived themselves of everything but what was really necessary, to accomplish their great Master's work among their own countrymen ; and he might remark, that the men who had, as a rule, specially devoted them- selves, were those who had grown up in heathenism; had been converted in mature years ; and had then given themselves to the preaching of the gospel. Out of twenty-three native ministers raised up in connexion with their mission, all of them, except eight, were converted and called to the ministry as adults. After a satisfactory period to prove their change of heart, they were baptised, and instructed, and commissioned to preach the gospel. The stipend which had hitherto been allowed them was small, not exceeding ten rupees, or 11. per month, in addition to some- thing for travelling expenses, and something for the carriage of their books and clothing. The missionary, at whose station these native brethren may be placed, endeavours to make their instruc- tion an important part of his duty. They are encouraged to come to him at all times for the reading and exposition of the Scriptures, and for general instruction ; especially in relation to their all- important duties as ministers of the word of God. Dr. Look- hart. Native agents ^ essential in China : successful. Their zeal and elo- quence. Dr. LocKHART said, — The mission churches could not do with- out native agency. The European missionaries must be the evan- gelists, but the great spread of the Gospel must be effected by native agents ; and in a great country like China, distinguished by the vastness of its territory and the difficulties of its language, it was incumbent on all systems of missions to raise up an exten- sive native agency. The London Missionary Society missionaries had all of them devoted themselves, from the time when they had acquired the language, to raising up a number of converts who might go forth to preach. And to this was their great success in the north of China mainly attributable. Careless, apathetic, and indifferent, as the Chinese are in a heathen state, let them only come under the influence of Christianity, and the same change passes over them as over Europeans : they become earnest, hearty, and steadfast in showing to their fellow-countrymen the way of salvation. To the eloquent declarations of gospel truth, made by some of them at Shanghai, he had listened with the greatest pleasure. They ex- hibited in their work as much carefulness as earnestness. They would carry on the work of the Gospel throughout China much more extensively and efiB.ciently than any Europeans could. Dr. Lock- FIFTH SESSION. 205 tart then adverted to Mr. Stubbins' observations regarding the influence of females, which (he said) in China was imperatively Natire demanded. Without it they could do little for the spiritual wel- sionarie'saiso fare of the women of that vast empire. Female converts must aid "^'^i'^'"''''!- in the conversion of their countrywomen. Europeans had very little chance of access to them ; but the wives, daughters, and sisters of native converts, could reach them. Female influence and agency were extensively and beneficially employed at Amoy and at Ningpo, rendering very great service to the cause of Christ. Miss Aldersey, whose useful labours are well known in Europe, went out on her own responsibility to establish and carry on a large school at Ningpo ; and God had raised round her a number of females who had consecrated their time to the great work. In all the countries of the East, too great stress could not be laid on the agency of converted female natives. They visit the villages, Their work. and gather around them a number of women, to whom they declare Jesus and his salvation ; and it was a cheering circumstance that even in China, which was generally supposed to be so unapproach- able, and where women would come so little under missionary in- fluence and teaching, the work was going on so heartily and well. He (Dr. Lockhart) then spoke on the subject of rendering into Eomanising Roman orthography the signs of the Chinese language, briefly brought before the Conference on the previous day by Dr. Gun- dert. It might be to some extent desirable, that in a school small books and tracts should be printed in this particular orthography ; but it could not be thus used extensively, because dialects in China difier so materially. A book written in the orthography of one place could not be understood in another place, thirty or forty miles ^rhj not distant. One produced at Shanghai would be perfectly useless ^•I'l^^i'io. at Ningpo. Every missionary has hitherto used his own discretion as to the sound of certain vowels and consonants. This produces endless confusion. No Roman orthography, however, can accurately render the sounds and tones of the Chinese characters so that it can be used in books for the natives. The Chinese language and Chinese can character can be acquired by Europeans by industry and applica- tion, and they must use it if they would fully get to the minds of the natives. The native mind must be used to a large extent in the writing and translation of tracts ; but of course natives should not translate the Scriptures unassisted. No European missionary ever idiomatically translated the Scriptures into any foreign Ian- Translation guage without a judicious employment of native teachers. The ° '''^^i''^''- best-instructed native teachers, being obtained for the purpose, the 206 CHARLES SWALLOW, ESQ. translation of the meaning and spirit of the word of God from the original tongues must emanate from the mind of the missionary himself. It had been well put by Dr. Baylee, that he would not give his University Greek for aU the vernacular Greek ever spoken. Eev. W Pairbeo- THER, Success of native agency. No rules llliiversally applicable. The Rev. Wm. Fairbrother, Secretary for Funds to the Lon- don Missionary Society, said, — that modern missions had a history to which they could now refer. In certain districts native agency had accomplished wonders. By it a great number of the South Sea Islands had been won to the church of the Redeemer ; and the same might, under God, be said of Madagascar, and of the Karen church. Let them ask themselves, — Was it possible to apply the the plans and measures which had been adopted in these parts, and which had been so honoured of God, to other parts of the mission-field ? C. Swallow, Esq. Native females should be evangelists. Charles Swallow, Esq., Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, spoke of the tie which bound him to mission- work in a dear brother-in-law who had laboured and died at the Missionary Institution maintained by the Church Missionary Society at Cotta in Ceylon. He asked, — Could not the female native converts be more largely employed as evangelists, especially on the Sabbath, and among the unconverted heathen of their own sex? They might prove most useful and powerful auxiliaries. He thought that no more effectual plan could be adopted for increasing the liberality which the Sunday-schools of our land have bestowed upon Christian missions, than to show that some- thing like a Sunday-school plan is prevailing in our missions. Children jump at conclusions without reasoning through the pro- cesses by which those conclusions are arrived at ; and he believed that in the manufacturing districts especially, practical men also had a growing idea that by employing native agency in this way, missions would effect greater results. Maj. David- son. Major Davidson said, — I have very great diffidence in ob- truding myself on this meeting ; yet having resided for a long period in India, and having been brought very much in contact with the great body of the people ; and having also had, when employed in the revision of the Land Revenue, to raise and educate a large native agency; I think I may be permitted to add my testimony to that of Colonel Dawes as to the great importance FIFTH SESSION. 207 of having in missionary-work a native agency thoroughly suited to the work in which they are engaged. I believe there is a charactorof great deal of misapprehension with respect to the character of j^j"^'^™" the people who are to be operated upon in India. I myself was ten years in India before I knew almost anything of the people of India. The reason was, that I was with my regiment going from station to station, and I came in contact only with those natives who are to be found at the large stations and in large cities. The last ten years of my residence in India were passed entirely among the native agricultural population. I pitched my tent by their villages and lived amongst them, altogether away The pea- from European society. For months I never spoke my own ^"^ '^' language. During that period I came in contact with what constitutes the great body of the people of India. Many people in this country view the natives of India as if they were all learned Brahmins. Now these said Brahmins constitute a mere Brahmins fraction of the population. Are we, then, to educate our native '^''' agents as if they were to contend only with learned Brahmins j or are we to educate them so that they may be able to labour among the native population at large ? I had, as I said, to raise a native agency for a special and a very difficult purpose, that Native of making a correct survey of the country ; and also a careful esti- BSveysT mate of the comparative productive powers of the soil, of each field, a work altogether new to them. I did not seek to make them qualified for anything more than the very work they had to perform. I se- lected them from the people amongst whom I was acting ; they were mostly young men, whom I chose in a great measure from their how raised intelligent appearance ; I then educated them for their work, and "^' for it alone. And this is, I think, the principle which we must observe in our efforts to evangelise India. I am far from consider- ing a high education as thrown away. I do believe we ought to educate some of our native agents in the highest possible manner; but for the general agency by which we are to operate upon the people of India, I do not think so high a class of education is so in mission either necessary or desirable. We should seek to make nativa agents fit for the work they have to do. A great deal of time and labour have been wasted in attempting more than this. I fully agree also with Colonel Dawes as to the advisability of their not adopting our English dress and English habits. I think the Xative native agent will have far greater influence when he goes amongst tolive uke the people as one of themselves, differing from others only in trme™™" having the love of Christ in his heart, and in seeking to impart 208 MAJOR DAVIDSON. The pea- santry a fine people. Religions instruction. that love to his fellow-countrymen. Having passed so many years in close intercourse with the rural population, I may be permitted to say that the impression left on my mind was in the highest degree favourable. There were two things that fixed themselves in my mind : the first, the almost inexhaustible resources of the soil in India, with the great extent to which it yet remains to be developed ; and the other, the almost inexhaustible resources of the minds of the people of India. I was greatly struck with the fine heads and countenances of the rural population generally, and with the intelligence they displayed; these men had been brought up in the most primitive manner, and had scarcely ever come in contact with Europeans, yet they were ready to converse in an intelli- gent way on any ordinary subject. I was also much pleased with the great interest they take in theological discussions. I had not much time to devote to this great work ; but on the Sabbath I was accustomed to invite them to my tent at the time when I was instructing my own servants, and to ask them to join in conversa- tion on the subjects under notice. Large congregations would as- semble OH these occasions at my tent-door, and the conversations that took place were exceedingly interesting. I have felt most deeply, during the recent disturbances in India, that a very erroneous im- Wrong im- pression has gone abroad with respect to the natives of India. We pressiona * p p about them, take Our opinion of them from the cases of atrocity that have come before us, and from the opinions of those who have come in contact only with the natives found at our military stations, who are the very worst specimens of the race. I myself have a great love for the people of India ; and if I were to return to those dis- tricts where I laboured, I firmly believe that at every one of those villages I should be received with cordiality and friendship by those poor natives. It will, indeed, be a cause of rejoicing to my heart to find that something adequate is being done in order to communi- cate to them the " unsearchable riches of Christ." Dr. Mao- Dr. MACGOWAif, American Medical Missionary from China and QOWAiT. Till Japan, remarked, that he also might say things pleasant to the ear, suggesting encouraging prospects ; but he thought their time Defects would be more profitably employed in indicating the defects and should be . ,.,,.- _„ pointed out difficulties attending the subject under their notice. If two hours were set apart to this end, for addresses of five minutes each, he felt assured there would be twenty-four speakers who could detail defects that had come under their own observation which would prove useful to us all. The great subject after all was : How far FIFTH SESSION. 209 have missions been successful? Considering the great outlay of Our success money and labour that had been expended, there had been a want our efforts. of success; the results had not been commensurate with the just expectations entertained. This subject they had not grappled with. He represented China, but his observations of the mission- field extended from Bengal to Japan ; and, coming from that colossal country, he was bound to state that some mistakes of colossal proportions had been committed in his field. As regards the language, that man is an encumbrance who does not master it, Missionaries , 1 . /^ • 1 TT 1 • rnust know whatever other qualifications he may possess. He must also strive the language to become intimate with the people, and grapple with the subject, people.'' not at arms' -length, but man to man, as it were. Their experi- ence in China suggested that they should " make haste slowly," and that the employment of native agency had been, to some extent, detrimental to the healthful growth of missions in that empire. The results of the too early employment of native agents had been dis- Undue haste astrous. Native agency was, indeed, all-important ; but they had mtrves"^"^ been pressed and impelled by friends at home to employ and trust to natives too soon; one of the results being, that they were filling their churches with hypocrites, because men were anxious for Evil result : employment. The heathen outside saw this, and, as a consequence, became only too anxious to join us. He had suggested to his own Society that hereafter, in establishing new missions, they should rely for a time on native agency only so far as it was unpaid ; that "s cure, the natives, every man of them, should understand from the be- ginning that it is their business to propagate religion. It is safe, as a general rule, not to salary native assistants until their fellow- church members so far confide in them as to aid largely in their maintenance. It is by this slow process only that healthful churches can be established. The Rev. Thomas Gardiner, Free Church missionary in Rev. t. Calcutta, observed that he was known to be connected with a par- **^''"''™- ticular system ; but the few words he should say expressed only his own individual views and sentiments. He fully agreed with Major Davidson, that there had been B»ir,etimes manifested a want of due consideration as to the fields of labour for which it was proposed to raise up these men. Missionaries in India laboured in very different localities. The Presidency cities were crowded Differences with English educated young men, whilst in many of the rural require' c^f- districts scarcely an European idea or word had yet penetrated. tSiiig."^ It was thus perfectly clear that the trainings for these diverse F 210 KEV. T. GARDINER. 'Expei'icuce of their loissiou. Englisli- tanght agents suit- tible for towns. Agents for rural dis- triets should be trained in the vema- cular. Their sala- ries. localities must be different ; a uniform system was entirely out of the question. They of the Free Church mourned that they had not more native agency in connexion with their own mission. Perhaps they might have in some respects their own system to thank for it ; and it behoved them to study to find out their weak points. No man had yet enunciated a perfect system ; and he was a very hopeless man in many ways whom experience taught nothing. Now what was the training they gave to their men in Calcutta ? They introduced them into the world of English thought and feeling, English science and literature ; they felt its fascination and its charms; they lived therein for years, until they were brought through a college education, and had become to a very great extent anglicised and denationalised ; and after all this, they sent them off into the country districts, where not a single English idea or sympathy was to be met with ! Was it to be wondered at if such young men found themselves out of their element, and experienced a difficulty in settling down to the work of evan- gelising their countrymen ? And were we to be surprised if a considerable amount of moral weakness continued to cling often to brethren who had been born, and brought up, and had lived for years under the influences of a system so unspeakably corrupting, perverting, and degrading, as Hindooism ? If we are to raise up men to labour amongst their educated countrymen in a city like Calcutta, then English education is the thing required; but for men for the country at large it is manifest that, instead of this high English education, which has been made so much of, we should have a special training, very much in the vernacular tongue. Not that we should send forth any of them ignorant or uneducated, for there were works in theology and philosophy in which it was desirable they should all be instructed ; but he did feel that great discrimination and judgment should be exercised in this matter. Mr. Gardiner further adverted to the difficulty attaching to the stipend of native agents. It was at present a standing difficulty with mission boards. He wished he could say, from his own experience, that even the high salaries they had given to their native brethren had satisfied them. They must, on these points, fight their way to the light, and endeavour to learn by experience, owning where the difficulties were of their own creation, and striving to get rid of them. Rev. P. La- TaoBii. The Eev. P. Latrobb observed, that if there was any one subject on which, after forty years' connexion with missionary FIFTH SESSION. 211 •work, he still wished to learn something, it was that of native agency. The Society he represented had been a pretty long time in the missionary field, and God had blessed them with a large measure of success among certain tribes and nations of men ; but he candidly confessed, that with regard to the training of native agents tliey felt themselves somewhat in the rear of their brethren, Experience and would therefore be thankful for any suggestions which would '^f^^l^l"'^' enable them to do better in time to come. They had laboured °"'™" amongst, perhaps, the most unfavourable races, — Greenlanders, Esquimaux, and the American Indians, — people who led a very peculiar kind of life ; and amongst their poor sable fellow- subjects of the West Indies and Southern Africa — classes not to be compared for a moment with the intelligent races of British India, in the matter of intellectual advancement. Still he thought they ought to have been more successful in the North, West, and South, than they had been. In substance he agreed with the paper that had been read, as also with the excellent remarks that had fallen from Colonel Dawes and Major Davidson. He fully recognised the distinction drawn between native agents evidently The called called by God and those to a certain extent trained, — trained trained, either by the missionaries in schools, or trained by God's provi- dential dealings. In their own missions, they had some very striking examples of the power of the grace of God in preparing native agents. He would just name one: Samuel Kayarnak, the Example, first Greenland convert, whose conversion taught a lesson not only to their own feeble and insignificant Church, but to the whole Christian Church throughout the world, in the circumstances that led to it, — the simple setting forth of the story of a Saviour's love. That man proved a marvellous evangelist among his countrymen. His life was short ; but during the three- years that followed his conversion, he made more converts — speaking after the manner of men — than the missionaries themselves. There were many , others equally useful and energetic, although they possessed little of that knowledge deemed necessary for teachers — little of human wisdom or learning. He (Mr. Latrobe) doubted whether The call of they were suflaciently attentive to the workings of God Himself, watchedfor. and particularly in times of gracious revival. Were they sufii- ciently careful to ascertain, who were fitted for the work in their hearts, although they might be deficient in those other require- ments which were thought desirable ? Our missionaries should be more attentive to this point, seeking amongst their flocks, especially the younger portion, for those who were trained by 212 EET. DR. OMEAEA. Don't loot too high. God's Spirit, and by the workings of His Providence, to become useful among their fellows. Major Davidson's remark was of immense importance — that we should not fly too liigh, and should not employ men for work they are unfitted to perform. It was a remark peculiarly applicable to the natives of the West Indian islands. "To the poor the gospel is preached," and to the poor and ignorant they must have special reference in all their labours; praying for the outpouring of the grace of God upon them, and giving them such a measure of education as will fit them for the work of evangelists, before calling them into the service. Key. Dr. O'Meaba. Difference of rules. Indians look up. Native should be like the English: civilized, yet zealous. The Rev. Dr. O'Meara stated, in reference to the North American Indians, amongst whom he had had considerable missionary experience, — that the rule so applicable to India did not apply to them. He had heard that in India it was desirable for the native agents to be as much as possible assimilated in habits and mode of life to their fellow-countrymen amongst whom they laboured. That was not the case among the North American Indians. It was strange that such a rule should be required amongst an educated and comparatively civilised people, and its very opposite amongst a barbarous nation. But he thought it arose from that very fact, — their being in a low state of social existence. The Indian looks upon himself as a being of an inferior race ; and his desire is to rise as much as possible to the level of the white man. If a native goes amongst them to preach the gospel, but retains habits akin to their own, his word is regarded as of no moment whatever; for this reason it is desirable, nay, absolutely necessary, that a considerable degree of civilisation, and of the habits attaching to the white man, should be attained. It was not necessary that, in all cases, a very high degree of education should be imparted; but when that was possible, it would and did prove a most valuable adjunct to the native agent amongst the Indians of North America. He had found this to be the case with the one native missionary whom he had himself been enabled to prepare for the work, and who was now an ordained minister to the people of the fold which he himself had just quitted. This man had received a secular education under the care of Bishop Anderson, who gave him a letter of introduction to himself. Being at that time in want of an assistant, he employed him at first as a catechist. He resided at his house, and pursued his education under his own care. He found him very far advanced in classical and other knowledge; and he looked forward to making him an efficient FIFTH SESSION. 213 agent in other portions of the work; and not in vain. After he had studied theology with him for two years, he went to pre- sent himself for ordination ; and he (Dr. O'Meara) had the gratifi- cation of hearing that he stood second amongst a large number of candidates, the one above him being a Cambridge man. When he returned, and set to work, he did not show that his superior education had at all spoiled him for labour among his countrymen : he was just as ready to enter dirty wigwams as before for their sakes ; and to sit down for the translation of the Scriptures when he was with himself. This man was at the present time engaged in preparing another native agent, a relative of his own, who would in due time come out in just the same way as his relative had done before him. Again he repeated, the North American The Indian Indians, as a people, were not only desirous to be raised from barbarism, but to raise themselves. Civilised men should go amongst them, men who would be looked up to by them. They viewed the white man as a being of superior race, and expected words of wisdom from his lips ; and his cultivated and earnest native brother of whom he had been speaking was now just as much looked up to as was the European himself. The Rev. Hope Waddell claimed the interest of the Con- 5^"^ H. m. ference in favour of African missions. The question of native agency presented itself to him in regard to the African race in the West Indies, and in the African continent itself. He did not wonder at diversity of opinion on this subject. The mission-work was yet young : the Church was only now taking it in hand : but two generations had passed since its need had first been largely felt. They might have made mistakes, but they would learn from the experience of the past to correct the future. Missionaries everywhere felt the necessity of native agency, and were all desirous of employing it. But he feared that they frequently employed such agents too soon ; urged by the greatness of the work. Agents 1 • • . 11,.,,. employed the opportunities pressing around them, the willingness of their too soon. young converts, and the pressure from home. The question had been raised whether young men prepared for service in the church would make the best agents, or those converted in middle life, and past the period for any considerable mental improvement. Perhaps a combination of both was the best. In the West Indies, middle- Older and aged men, being the first converts, had been the first employed ; and men both many true and valuable Christian men were amongst them, who ''^i'""^- would not by anything be turned aside from rendering service to the 214 REV. H. M. -WADDELX. Lord. But they had also found it advantageous to employ younger men, who had not been wedded to old things before they became converted, and had received some education under the care of the missionaries. He would, therefore, combine the two. As to Education ^}jg amount of education to be imparted, he would not aim too not to be too , , .- , , ,■ 1 ^'gi^- high. Latin and Greek, science and philosophy, were not essential to make a man a good minister of Jesus Christ. These our home ministry cannot well do without; but when a native Christian teacher entered upon his work, he would not be able to make use of them. There must, however, be a measure of comparison between the teacher and the taught. In this country, general education was prevalent, all minds were taught ; and the ministry must not be below the ordinary level, but rather above it ; and it must be so to some extent betwixt the native agent and those whom he Native is ggjjt to instruct. Mr. Waddell then adverted to the idea which n^entsmust t t i j be raised on was at One time prevalent of making the West Indian coloured population a kind of native agency for the introduction of the gospel amongst the Negroes of Africa. It had not succeeded. Although the former were of the same race as the latter, they were no longer to be considered natives. He would not wish to under- value their use for this purpose, but Missionary Societies had expe- rienced too many disappointments to warrant him in saying that much dependence was to be placed upon this agency. In every country they must raise their native agencies on the spot. In Calabar all the missionaries learn the native tongue, and teach in it both in schools and from the pulpit : they deemed this a matter of the first importance. English, however, was taught in the schools, as it furnished a means of great improvement to the young people, who, as well as the chief inhabitants of the country, were quite ambitious of learning it. They may differ in their languages from each other ; coast tribes may not be able to converse with each other ; but they all know something of English. As to native teachers copying the dress and mode of living of the Europeans, in Africa, it was to some extent indispensable. It would be a great hardship to oblige them to conform to the heathen in these respects, Dress. for the dress of the latter, as they well knew, was almost nil. We did not insist upon their adopting all our dress, but something was necessary for decency's sake. As to the work of translating, when their native converts acquired a proper degree of education, — which in time they would assuredly do, — and gave proofs of true piety, then.sthey might well be intrusted with this work. None are better than those who thoroughly understand the language into FIFTH SESSION. 215 which the word is translated ; for what sort of an English translation should we have, if it were made by foreigners. The Eev. G. R. Biech, Secretary to the Turkish Missions' Aid Rev. g. b. BlItCH. Society, explained that the object of this Society was expressly that of raising funds for the rapid extension of native agency, in His Society connexion with the American missions among the Turks. That native'''^ mission presented this very remarkable feature ; it was, to a great ^™*^ °'^'y- extent, a native-agency mission, and it was the aim of their American brethren to send their missionaries there simply as evangelists, not Missionaries as pastors. They wished to raise up, as rapidly as possible, native oSyf^ pastors ; educating young men for the ministry, and planting them over churches ; but regarding their own work as wholly evange- listic, and willing to retire from the field so soon as native churches are supplied. The number of agents now employed was nearly 300. Number The missionaries announced openly, " We do not come here to be ag°ntrin pastors in your churches; such is not our intention or desire: we ti^^ ""'^s'™- come here to teach you the word of God, and to form churches which shall in due time govern and support themselves." He was incessantly receiving communications as to this work of native agency, which narrated wonderful results. Look at the wisdom Tiieir educa- of their system of education. In Constantinople, the capital seat, not only of the Turkish empire, but of their missions, they had established a college; and there, for 16Z. a-year, they were edu- cating a man for the native pastorate : this was the sum now charged to the Turkish Missions' Aid Society for the board and lodging of each student, during a five or six years' course of pre- paration for the native ministry. But some parties had said, — "How miserably these students are clad: why do not the Americans styioana improve their condition?" "No," they say, "we want to keep'"'"'™' these men precisely in the position we found them ; we wish to educate them sufficiently for the work to which we send them: and it shall be for them a good thing to become the pastor of a native church, though that native church will never be able to give them salary sufficient to Europeanise them." Mr. Birch then animadverted upon the letter addressed by Rev. Dr. Wolff (whose Proposal of peculiar missionary peregrinations were well known) to Professor Williams of Cambridge, to the effect that he had found one idea reigning among all the high dignitaries of the Greek and Oriental churches, that England should adopt the same principle as the Pope had adopted in Rome ; viz. that of allowing colleges with professors and tutors of the Oriental churches : all that the Pope 216 EEV. BEHAEI LAL SINGH. required being, that they should acknowledge him as head, and to open the then they might teach whatever tenets they liked. Dr. Wolff Umveraties ^^^^^^ ^-^^^^ ^^^^^ recent legislation had opened the doors of °wSL Cambridge University to Dissenters, it had also widely thrown open its doors for members of the Oriental churches ; the plain proposition being that these men might not only enter as students, but might actually aspire to university degrees, without any in- terference, direct or indirect, with their peculiar tenets or usages. He (Mr. Birch) would only ask, if native agents were coming over here, what was to be done with them ? In his office as secre- tary he was perpetually assailed by native agents, Nestorians, Turks, and others, dissatisfied with the salaries they got, and they never would be satisfied with an Europeanised education. This question had a very important pecuniary bearing, and was worthy of the deepest consideration of the members of the Conference. Sev. B. L. The Eev. Behaei Lal Singh being called upon, then ad- dressed the meeting. He thanked Colonel Dawes and Major Davidson for the judicious remarks they had made. With the latter gentleman, however, he differed on one point. He had stated Brahmins that the Brahmins composed a small portion of the native com- powerM?°^' munity. That was quite true ; but they were, nevertheless, the lords of the Hindoos' consciences ; they were worshipped as gods, and considered part of the Deity himself; and, moreover, these Brahmins were generally very learned men, distinguished for their metaphysical and theological acquirements ; so that when the native brethren. went to preach in villages and country places, they generally found that the mass of the people were most Eui-alpeo"'e illiterate, and said, "We do not understand anything, we are re^'onthe just like the COWS and bullocks; will you go and speak to our Brahmins, ppjggt . jf ygu can Convince him, then we shall hear you." The people, in the presence of the colonel and major sahebs, did not speak out their internal sentiments. But when the people were found in the company of their own countrymen, then they were ready to disclose their hearts, and tell the missionaries what they thought of them and of the Christian religion. So that he perfectly agreed with Major Davidson, that when they went to preach amongst those rural people, not much learning was Learning in required; but when they had to encounter Brahmins and Moul- the teacher ... itt_ npi i ■, • • required for vies, then it would be well lor them to have such training. The speaker then narrated how, when he was labouring amongst the FIFTH SESSION. 217 Mahommedans, they confronted him with their Moulvie, who was Example. well versed in the Hebrew and Arabic Scriptures ; and the argu- ment he brought against the truth of the Bible was, that it was perverted in the translation into Hindostanee. This, of course, he (the speaker) denied ; when he was challenged by the Moulvie to read a chapter out of the Hebrew Bible. Having done so, the Moulvie said it was not translated by competent men. Having argued a little longer, he called upon him, in his turn, to read the same chapter out of the Hebrew Bible; and by that means thoroughly confuted him, by showing him that they both agreed in the main points. The Bible, the blessed gospel of God, was the only power that could convert the Brahmin or the Moulvie; but with different classes in India it required a different way of dealing with them. There was one way of attacking the Hindoo mind, and another of dealing with the Mahommedan ; and it was requisite to understand this. He begged to differ on one point from another father of the Conference. The Scotch system of Scotch sys- education was not too high; on the contrary, he thought that in has too uttie one respect it was too low. The knowledge of Greek and Hebrew Hebrew? which Dr. Duff's College imparted to the students of divinity was a mere smattering, in consequence of which he learned these sacred languages with a converted Jew, and with the late Mr. Morgan, of the Doveton College. Nearly the whole list of subjects on their programme, concerning native agency, had been again and again discussed and considered in the Calcutta Missionary Con- ference ; and the only difference that had arisen was respecting the salaries of the native agents. Perhaps his remarks might lead Salaries. some to think that he received a very high salary, and that there- fore he was not fitted to labour among the rural population. When he joined the Free Church mission as a teacher, for two years he had laboured five hours a-day, and got nothing. After that, he His own. got the same pay with the convert pupils attending the Institu- tion, viz. eight rupees a-month ; then sixteen ; then successively twenty, thirty, and forty ; and, last of all, sixty and a house ; and when last the subject of salaries was brought before the Calcutta Conference, he had said that if it would conduce to the welfare of the native churches, he was willing to surrender anything. (Cheers.) He had never stipulated for any amount of salary. But whilst they had been listening to the venerable fathers on this question, they must at the same time hear what the other parties had to say, in order to the formation of a correct judgment. The principle on which the salary of a native agent should be 21S EEV. BEHARI LAL SINGH. stancS'tliat regulated depended on various circumstances. The first, the should deter- real necessities of his position: secondly, the condition of the mine their ^ , . . amount. preacher prior to his baptism, and prior to his appointment as a preacher; thirdly, was he fed, and clothed, and educated, at the expense of the Missionary Society; or did he himself make considerable sacrifice in getting a theological education; also, as to the moral and physical qualifications of the agents themselves ; and last of all, and certainly not the least important, the resources of the native churches ; what they could pay ? That question could only be finally decided when the native popula- tion should be elevated from their moral and physical degradation, and when their landed aristocracy should be evangelised, and become the nursing fathers of the churches. As to the amount of salary, the highest class of native preachers received betwixt 100 and 150 rupees per month,* which was much less than most of the English missionaries received, but nearly equal to what his friends of the General Baptist Society and American Free-will brethren got. Actual pay given. The Chairman here requested the speaker to tell the Con- ference, by way of comparison, what was received in Calcutta by the first class of Mahommedan native teachers. MoZits"*^ He replied, that he did not think the majority of the Moulvies Brahmins, and the Brahmins got more than from five to twenty rupees per month ; but then, besides that, there were the annual feasts, when the grand idols or pirs were worshipped, and great numbers of persons assembled ; and also the marriage festivals and funeral ceremonies of the Hindoos, at which they received various presents. In answer to a further question, put by Colonel Edwakdes, as to what a principal pundit would get, Mr. Behaei Singh replied, that it altogether depended upon the different classes of and pimdits. pundits, and the relation they bore to the wealthy heathen. For instance, only a few years ago, one man spent 50,000 rupees at a special celebration, and the Brahmins had their due share. The second class of native Christian preachers received a salary of fifty to eighty rupees per month; the third class, * Although his remarks are confined to the native agents of Evangelical Missionary Societies, yet he sees no harm in stating that some few of the native clergy of the Propagation Society receive higher pay than any of their brethi-eu in connexion with other Missionary Societies, rirTH SESSION. 219 between sixteen and thirty; and the fourth, between ten and twenty. The highest class was not always the most effective ; and when he was asked how it was that so many of the second- class men got the lower salary, he answered, " Oh, greater would be their reward in heaven." In answer to a question he had put to a highly-esteemed missionary as to the propriety of giving high pay to some native preachers, he received the following reply: "Oh, we have in- creased their salary because we have ordained them." Mr. S. remarked, that he could not appreciate the value of this answer, unless it could be shown that the native brethren had received calls from the native churches, whose members came forward to add to their salary. This the missionaries were never able to show. The Eev. Feedertck Teesteail, Secretary to the Baptist Rev. p. Missionary Society, said, — That one of the main principles con- nected with the foundation of the mission with which he was associated, was this, that European missionaries should, as far as Missionaries possible, be regarded as evangelists in the centre of some im- et-augeiists, portant district, and that they should direct thence as many ^° ^""^ "^^' native preachers as could be obtained. For a very long time that principle had been acted upon by the Serampore mission; but a change took place, and the Society at home somewhat departed to a great extent from that policy, very much to the regret of many of their friends. They were, however, at the present time, manifesting some degree of vigour, as returning to the practice of their fathers. In soma parts of India they had four (if not more) native preachers for every European missionary. The mission at Delhi presented features of encouragement that were very system now remarkable. When the mission was resumed after the mutiny, DeiM."^ '" they had only four native Cliristians remaining. Mr. Smith had since been joined there by two Europeans, for the purpose of helping him ; and some twenty-four or twenty-five native Christ- ians had been selected to take charge of certain small stations where there were schools set up, and preaching and praying going on constantly throughout the day. The consequence was, its effect. that additions had been made to that Christian community every month, so that they now numbered about 120. He was informed that sixteen were added during the month ending 20th February last. Whilst the presence of the missionaries in rural districts was esteemed to be requisite in order to certain operations, yet 220 EET. F. TEESTEAIL. The insti- tution in Jamaica. Native training at Serampore. Native agency in England. SO far as the converts were brought in, it was mainly from the labours of the native agents. This result obtained at Chitoura, and other places in the North- West Provinces ; where, too, both mis- sionaries and native preachers had had to endure no inconsiderable amount of persecution. Then, as to Jamaica, the Calabar institu- tion had been by some friends pronounced a failure. Though out of the twenty-four or twenty-five brethren who had passed through that institution, some after trial were found wanting in qualifi- cations; yet they must remember that that sort of thing some- times happened at home, and many were found attending our colleges and universities who ultimately were discovered to be unfit for the work they thought they were entitled to. His co- secretary, and the Rev. J. T. Brown, of Northampton, were in Jamaica now, and had been present at recent examinations held there ; and he (Mr. Trestrail) was assured that, so far from being a failure, the examiners were perfectly astonished at the proficiency, intelligence, and aptitude of those young men, and expressed an opinion that the committee at home ought further to support that institution. Then, as to the great college at Serampore, they had a flourishing native class there, wholly trained in the ver- nacular ; and when the confidence of the brethren in the country districts towards that institution became what they trusted it would be, they would soon find there the men suited for them. There was also a home aspect about this question. If they had not a native agency in England, what would become of reli- gion? Take the Wesleyan body, for example, and ask, were they to lay aside aU their local preachers, what would become of them ? He himself was a kind of lay preacher for seven years before he became connected with the regular ministry. Where pastors would do their best to pour out from the churches them- selves men to evangelise the surrounding districts, they would certainly have prosperous churches. These local preachers did not preach to the Brahmins of England, the churches had another and a difierent set of men to do that ; but the Brahmins of Eng- land were few, and the Brahmins of India were few likewise. In conclusion, he trusted that from the flood of light now thrown on this great matter, they would most unquestionably return and adhere to the great principle that whilst the European is there for certain purposes, unless he is surrounded by an adequate staif of native agents, his eflibrts will be comparatively futile. G. F. Bak- SODB, Bsq, Geokge F. Baebouk, Esq., of Edinburgh, instanced the work FIFTH SESSION. 221 which had taken place at Amoy some six years ago. A very remark- able work of grace then commenced, and the agents in spreading Native it were mainly natives. It was the aim of the missionaries to Amoy, &o. gather together some of the more promising and hopeful young converts, for the purpose of training them as native evangelists ; and, by means of this agency, the seeds of truth were rapidly disseminated from place to place, and an extraordinary outpouring of the Divine blessing attended the instrumentality of these native Christians. He understood that, at Shanghai and Singapore, the like agency had been blessed. As to the salary question, he knew Tt^ir saia- that some of the native teachers were receiving less than they had previously received when following their several occupations. Five or six dollars a-month was the ordinary salary. He felt con- vinced the discussion that morning would establish, first, the desirability of native agencies being instituted ; secondly, that the agents should be trained in the vernacular ; and, thirdly, that according to the different fields of labour, a different agency was needed. The Eev. G. Peitchard said, he had for thirty-three years Rev. a laboured in a very important part of the mission-field, the South Seas ; where, perhaps, more native agents might be found than Native any\^here else, and where God had most signally blessed their ^e's.^s'eaa. labours. The question, therefore, arose, How had they been trained ? Some of them had been blessed with very little instruc- tion. When the Tahitians first embraced the gospel, in a very short time willing and suitable persons were found, whom the missionaries sent to the neighbouring islands, selecting those whom they believed to be really changed characters, and who seemed to possess a talent for speaking their native tongue. Thus these pioneers went forth ; and their numbers augmented, until now they had four or five colleges in the South Seas for training Conches, native agents, from which had proceeded a very considerable ' "^'^ "''"'^ ' number of teachers well qualified for their work. Pie had listened to some of them, preaching to large congregations, with as much pleasure as ever he had heard a white brother speak to the people. Amongst the Feejees God had blessed the labours of the Wes- Work in Fiji, leyan mission to such a degree, that they could not supply the native brethren fast enough. The people had got sufficient know- ledge to lead them to refrain from breaking the sabbath, and were now waiting for teachers to come and preach tlie whole gospel to them ; and in this case the missionaries were acting very wisely 222 EEV. C. E. LETJPOLT. in sending the best men they could get. Wherever colleges for training these valuable agents could be established on the spot, by- all means let them be founded. In those he had named, they had four years' hard study, but were supposed to have had a moderate education before they entered the colleges, like the youth- in the High Schools of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Whilst there, they hbm?"f frequently acquired practice by preaching in the villages around. those agents. Chiefly by means of these native agents, directed by the Euro- pean missionaries, the gospel had spread from Tahiti over all the groups in the Eastern Pacific, and a large portion of Central Oceania. Turning to the relation held by societies towards each other, Mr. Pritchard said, — It was not desirable to locate two Different native evangelists of different denominations in one small village. tions. Where this has been done, many evils have arisen. Bad leelings have been excited ; unnecessary expenses incurred ; and much labour thrown away, which in other portions of the mission-field might have been productive of great good. LEUPoi.?' '^^e Eev. C. B. Letjpolt, of Benares, said; he supposed it was quite unneceFS'.^y to say a single word as to the piety required to be possessed and manifested by their native agents. He was pleased to htar of tLeir Hindoo brother who had addressed them, that he was of the same stamp as his brother at Azimghur. The latter had had his salary not long since raised ; but he accepted the gift on the condition that if the mission fell short of money, they should not pay him the increase. This was unfortunately the case during the mutiny, and his salary was most cheerfully Natives not surrendered. As to the advantages possessed by their native better lieard ,, ^ ,, t-i than Euro- brethren, tney were not all exactly such as they might suppose. peans. What Mr. MuUens had already stated he must repeat ; that they did not generally receive a more attentive hearing in the bazaars than Europeans themselves received. The European missionaries were listened to in the bazaars quite as attentively, as their brother Beliari had been listened to in an assembly of Englishmen that morning. There was another point which must not be overlooked. (jood The more eloquent the native preacher was, and the higher his preachers standing in society, the more abuse he got. The speaker in- stanced the cases of Mohan, Nehemiah Neel Kanth, and other native agents, who, for heavenly-mindedness and devotedness to their Master and His cause, could not be surpassed. He had at times been obliged to stand betwixt them and their congregations; though they spoke the language most eloquently, and their preach- FIFTH SESSION. 223 ing was quite of a superior order. Nor did he think that their Can't bear native brethren were able to bear more fatigue than the mission- than the|^° aries. They could, perhaps, bear more of the sun, or of sleeping under trees, than we could ; still as regards actual work, Euro- peans could stand quite as much as they. Nor did he think that the native Christians trusted them more than they trusted us. But notwithstanding all this, their advantages were immense. But possess What we gained by the hard labour of years, they possess at once: tag'es.' the language they have. Very few natives understand the language well, who have had a purely European training. He had seen natives of first-class European training, who could not write a page of Hindostanee. The vernacular must form an important shouia be . f, 1 .. 1 • • n -n trained in portion 01 the training that is given to them, bome Europeans the verna- could acquire the language as well as the natives themselves. Their brother Smith of Benares, for instance, and Mr. Lacroix in Calcutta, spoke the language equal to any native. Generally speaking, however, such excellence could only be acquired after twenty or flve-and-twenty years' hard study. Another point was : the native agents understood the habits of the people much better understand than any body of Europeans did or ever could ; and could thereby trymen better effect an entrance into their hearts. Another advantage we: ' Behari had mentioned, namely, that they wanted less than Euro- peans did ; in other words, they could do with less. For it was not need less. asked with them as often it was with ourselves; How much can I get, and how little can I do ? If they wanted to construct a large native agency, they must have men who would require smaller salaries than European missionaries. And this was generally the case with the native agents in India. Then, whence would they get these men ? They must get most of them from amongst the old and adult population ; for such had their own peculiar advantages. SsSuf.' ^ They knew all about their old religions ; and in this respect they possessed an advantage, which the young man who had been trained in a college from his childhood did not possess. But the latter class had also advantages peculiar to themselves. By the knowledge which had been instilled into them, they were better able to meet and cope with the Brahmins, than those who were not converted until they were thirty or forty years of age. What he said, therefore, was : Get native agents wherever you can, whe- ther from amongst the adults or from the orphan institutions. Higher and More men were wanted to be trained in the vernacular languages, needed"'*' to whom, also, science, philosophy, and everything else, likely to be useful, should be imparted, in such a way that they could 224 REV. J. WALTON. again impart it in the native tongue. Let the native pastor or missionary be specially well trained, superior in mind to his native brethren ; but, at the same time, in his habits simple as themselves. Translation, j^s to the translation of the Scriptures, they would only get a good Hindostanee version when such was made by the natives them- selves, on the soil ; but before they could hope to come to that, they must have a Hebrew-and-Hindostanee dictionary, a Greek- and-Hindostanee dictionary, and an English-and-Hindostanee dic- tionary. The churches must be better established, they must have a full and settled native ministry ; and then they might expect Luthers to rise up, who would set about translating the Word into Hindostanpe for themselves. The native brethren would furnish the language, whilst our part would be to superintend the work. Salaries. As regards the salaries of native agents, he had little to say. They must look to the native zemindars, for instance, partly in this matter. And as to female agency, it was required every- Native where. They wanted female missionaries, and also colleges for 161113.16 ^ ^ f* It -t -WW missionaries, the proper training 01 females. He wished this matter had oc- cupied the attention of the Conference to a greater extent. Pious native females might be of immense service in going from house to house ; but they must be careful to select none but right persons for that work. Eev. J. Walton. The Eev. J. "Walton, of Jaffna, followed : — The salary ques- tion, he said, had been felt to be one of great difficulty and much embarrassment in Ceylon. It had been inseparably connected National with that denationalising process which attached to their present not to be methods of training, and which, he held, emphatically unfitted ^^ ■ their native brethren for mission work. Their mission to India was to carry the Gospel to the people : their national customs and habits, in so far as such were not heathenish, but simply national, they had nothing to do with. They had not to change their coats, but their hearts ; they did not wish to destroy their national cus- toms, but the enmity against God that was in their hearts. The ..he position present system of missions was purely temporarv. Thev did not of tiio mis- '■ .,1 , 1 , n -r sionary tern- expect to tiave to Send men and money lor ever. India would not poraiy. -^q^j^i them. It therefore now strongly behoved them to select native agents suited in every respect for the position they were to fill ; and not to raise up in their churches a race of hybrids, dressing like Europeans, detached from their own countrymen, and needing an income which the native churches will, of them- ' selves, be unable to furnish for a long time to come. If the right FIFTH SESSION. 225 men are thus trained in the right way, when the time came for them to leave the churches to themselves, they might leave them free from customs foreign to their wellbeing. Colonel TuDOE Lavie, of the Church Missionary Society, coi. lavie stated his impression, as the result of a visitation of fourteen dis- tricts in India, from Delhi down to Southern India, that those native missionaries who had been invested with any kind of special responsibility, had been by far the most efficient and blessed Eesponsi- in their labours. He had seen this exemplified with congregations ^'^^^y- numbering from 500 to 1200 persons. The Rev. Dr. Tidsian, Foreign Secretary to the London Mis- Rev. Dr. sionary Society, said that he had been both interested and in- structed by what he had heard that morning. He felt deeply indebted to Mr. Hardy for his excellent paper, and also to their practical and devoted friend, Mr. Leupolt, whose observations were most valuable. As for himself, he was irresistibly drawn to success this conclusion : that the largest amount of success which had been tributaUe realised was, in the great majority of instances, attributable to a°ency''° native agency. He appealed to all missionaries present, to say whether they were not indebted for the greater number of their converts to the direct or indirect agency of Christian natives ? With regard to the churches to which Mr. Pritchard had referred, they must permit him to say one word concerning the native Native pastors of Tahiti. Why did they become so ? Just because our ^aiSr '° Europeans were sent adrift by French authority ; they vrere thus called forth by the necessities of the situation. These native brethren were not ordained before ; but as soon as they were called to the work in the providence of God, they proved quite equal to it. And after twenty years of French misrule ; not- withstanding all the influences of Popery on the one hand, and of brandy and vice on the other ; there were now living under the instruction and influence of these native pastors a greater number of church members than ever they had had aforetime. (Cheers.) Then as to another field in the South Pacific, the Samoan Islands. lu Samoa. Almost at every village there was a native agent; in some in- stances, a pastor ; and all these Christian teachers were supported by the natives themselves, and did not cost the Home Society a penny. With regard to Madagascar, twenty years ago or more, in Mada- the European shepherds were all sent away; and a few poor timid ^^^'""' lambs were left in the midst of wolves. And what had been the 226 EEV. DE. TIDMAN, result? Why, men had been raised up by God to take the oversight ; and instead of tens of Christians under the care of European pastors, there were now hundreds, nay thousands, under Their great the teaching of these men. The conclusion he came to was this : work. that native agents had done the work in time past, and must do it for the time to come. As to gathering them into schools or colleges, that must be the work of discreet men on the spot; but they must be thorough Christians. They could afford to differ as to the mode of training ; but there had been no discord in their discussion ; though their respected Chairman had so carefully admonished them at the outset, as if he expected they were going To be fitted ^o loggerheads ! The great thing they had to aim at was, to fit ScSfar ^^'^ ™®^^ ^°^ ''^® particular work each had to perform. The man spheres. -^,rho would have to labour in Calcutta, must certainly have a different class of qualifications to the man whose sxDhere was con- fined to the Hindoo village. In his opinion, all the modes that had been named were extremely good ; and it was a blessed thing that they had them all ; they could thus borrow wisdom from each one. In conclusion, he trusted that their dear brethren in every part of the great mission-field would not look to them continually to send forth a great increase of white faces and European teachers; but rather consider themselves bishops in the best sense of the word, and labour, with God's blessing, to raise up suitable native agencies themselves. MisuTE. In the following Minute are embodied the sentiments, which, with singular unanimit}', found favour among the members of the Conference on the important subject of this discussion: — FIFTH SESSIOlSr. 227 MINUTE ON NATIVE AGENTS. The members of this Conference recognise as of vital im- Native portance, in every healthy plan of Christian missions, the work important. of raising and employing, on the field itself, various classes of ■well-qualified native agents. The European or American mis- sionary, who, in obedience to Christ's command, bears the gospel to some heathen country, is a stranger and a foreigner there : his Mission- ft .... . aries are work is temporary ; his position is exceptional ; and when Chris- foreigners, few and tianity becomes localised, his peculiar functions and duties come to expensive: an end. Christianity must be embodied in a living form in native churches ; and the outward services it demands must be performed by native pastors and native missionaries of all grades. Apart from this circumstance, missionaries are few ; the work is large ; foreign climates are often unfavourable to their health ; it is difii- cult to acquire foreign languages and manners ; the expense, more- over, of the voyages and maintenance of missionaries is heavy. In all these things native converts have the advantage ; they are at natives, at tome. home ; the language they have learned in childhood ; the climate is their own ; the cost of maintaining them is comparatively small. These considerations show the maintenance of a native agency to be essential to the successful establishment of Christianity in a foreign land, and urge upon every missionary the duty of securing in his work as many well-qualified agents as, on careful inquiry, he is able to find. They consider that, while among the ■ converts, zealous lay- Lay-agents, agents may be found, who, though supporting themselves, are willing systematically to fulfil the coipmon Christian duty of urging, both on the heathen and Christian population around them, the faith which they have themselves received, it is still required that Native pastors and some of the converts shall devote all their time and all their powers prc.u;iicrs. to the service of the Lord ; and, in various spheres of duty, as pastors, evangelists, readers and teachers, endeavour heartily to promote his cause. In all such men personal piety, zeal for the Tiieir work, and fitness to teach, they reckon essential to the right discharge of their important spiritual duties. 228 MINUTE ON NATIVE AGENTS. Fplieres differ; ftlso tha men. All kinds are req_uired. Tounp men and old. The call of God: inquu-y ; prayer. Training. Simpler and Lighcr. The demands of Bumerous localities, states of society, and spheres of usefulness, differing greatly from each other, at once exhibit the necessity of securing a suitable variety in the native agents who are to occupy them. Some wiU be required to labour among a simple, rural population ; others, among the people of great cities ; some, among uncivilised tribes ; others, among scholars, with minds perverted by false philosophy ; some, among isolated communities, where a great deal is left to their own judg- ment ; while others labour immediately under a missionary's eye. They consider it a rule, of the first importance, that each native labourer should be placed, as far as practicable, in the sphere for which his various gifts render him suitable : and they believe that, in the present dearth of agents in the vast sphere open to their eflbrts, the services of all may be well employed, from the ablest to the most humble labourer. While young men, trained from their childhood amid Christian privileges, have proved most useful in leading a community to higher stages of Christian experience ; older men also, converted from heathenism in riper years, have been found to bring their sober character and their Isnowledge of idol-systems to bear with great efiiciency upon their still heathen neighbours. The Conference consider it, therefore, the solemn duty of all missionaries to endeavour to secure for the Church of Christ the services of as many such agents as possible. They should watch well the call of God's Spirit, remembering that, in the exercise of his prerogative, he has taken his servants from all ranks, and has especially employed the lowly, making the weak things of the world to confound the wise. They should seek out aU agents that may appear to possess the right qualities of head and heart ; and make it a matter of constant prayer that they may be chosen and called forth by the Lord of the harvest, whose fields they are required to reap. The system of training adopted to render such agents, under God's blessing, competent and well-furnished teachers, should have direct and due regard to their intended spheres of labour. With the greater number an education, througli the medium oi their own tongue, will be fouad sufficient : with others, English FIFTH SESSION. 229 may be added to a certain extent ; and with a few, an extensive knowledge of the English language and literatui-e will be found a means of storing their minds with large knowledge, and fur- nishing them for those higher labours to which men of distin- guished ability, in great heathen cities, are constantly called. In some cases, where native missionaries are pioneers of civilisation ■as well as of the Gospel, industrial pursuits have been found not only valuable but necessary. The Conference, however, believe that in all cases the more Theological instructioa directly theological portion of their education should be given ii tbe ™r- in the native language ; that in their own tongue they may become perfectly familiar with all the expressions, texts, tech- nical terms and phrases, which are required in every hour of an active preacher's life : lessons on preaching, specimens of sermons, ^■guments and discussions, should all be given in the native tongue : and it would be well if, in their private reading, these native students used only their vernacular Bible. With this teaching of principles, should at the same time be Practice. associated direct practice in mission work ; exercises in preaching and the like should be undertaken under the missionary's own eye; that the capacities of all may be thoroughly understood before they are appointed to positions of heavy responsibility. These studies also may most usefully be continued after native agents have studies continued. been so placed : that as their experience increases, their know- ledge also may grow, and they may be stirred up to seek higher attainments and greater ability for usefulness so long as they live. The Conference would dread that any course of training Native - .. ,, T lA habits to be should be so conducted as to injure their power to do good. A kept. missionary should so guide, and teach, and train his converts, as not to injure their national character. While he should seek to improve that character in every way, to raise its tone, and to Christianise all its elements ; when native customs are harmless, and are likely to continue among the community of his coun- trymen, the native teacher should seek to maintain them ; he should, in his dress, food, manners, and style, continue to re- semble his fellows ; and show, that while he is a Christian indeed, differing from them in the possession of a purifying and ennobling 630 MINUTE ON NATIVE AGENTS. Responsible, yet Iree. Salaries. Standard. faitli, ho is still one of themselves. By so doing, he will rather add to his influence with the heathen ; on the opposite plan he may wreck it altogether. When the right men have been thus trained, and been duly qualified, the Conference consider that, in the various positions in- which they may be placed, as pastors, evangelists, teachers or readers, of whatever grade, they should be placed under such responsibility as they are able to bear ; should not be too closely tied down ; but should enjoy that amount of freedom in action, which will both test their principle and stimulate their zeal : in> this way the agents of the native Church may in due time grow out of pupilage, and be enabled to work perfectly alone. On the important question of native salaries, the Conference consider that no rules can be drawn from the artificial position occupied by the missionary himself. They think that it may most appropriately be settled in every case, by a careful consider- ation of the average Incomes of natives moving in that rank to which the native agent belongs ; and to evangelists, supported by Missionary Societies, they would apply the same rule as that of the foreign missionary ; of securing an income that will supply real wants, give him ordinary comfort, and keep him free from all Salary of a anxiety.- Where a native pastor has been appointed over a Christian congregation, they think that his support should come from them. It is neither natural nor just that his support should be derived from a foreign Society in a distant country ; but where a church is poor or weak in numbers, a Society may well continue to supplement such salary as the church can give, by an annual grant, until it is able in due course to bear all the burden alone. They believe that, in the extension of the gospel among the heathen, the power of female Christian influence should be em- ployed as far as practicable ; and that, where the state of society allows, and circumstances are favourable. Christian females should endeavour, not only as school teachers, but as visitors in heathen families, to lead them to an acquaintance with gospel truth and an acceptance of its claims. Great sue- The Conference rejoice that the native agents, in whose wel- BgentaT* '™ fare they feel so deep an interest and for whose increase they so Native female agents. FIFTH SESSION. 231 ardently long, have already, under the blessing of God, been made the instruments of great good. They rejoice and give thanks to God, that in many countries, in many spheres of missionary labour, converts, raised up from among the heathen, have been found faithful pastors, eloquent preachers, self-denying evangelists, and that in some cases they have joyfully laid down their lives for Christ's cause. They reckon this fact as one of the most gratify- ing proofs of the success of the gospel in modern days. They trust that this agency will be largely extended in every field of mission- ary labour ; and they pray, that according to his own example, in answer to his own promise, and his people's intercessions, the Lord of the harvest wiU send forth more labourers to reap the harvest, to which the great field of the world is ripening. After a few business announcements, the sitting was terminated by the singing of the Doxology. 232 SIXTH SESSION. Thursday Afternoon. After dining together as on the previous days, the members of Conference re-assembled at 4 p.m. Major-General Alexander in the chair. The Friday After prayer had been offered by the Rev. Dr. Somekville, session X J *' ' the Rev. G. D. Cui.len proposed that the Friday morning's sitting, being the closing one, should be prolonged tiU three o'clock. The proposal was unanimously agreed to. Committee EoBERT A. Macpie, Esq., proposed the appointment of a CojiMiTTEE : — To inquire and report in such manner as they may deem most expedient, on the best means of obtaining increased income for religious Societies : and that the Committee consist of the following members ; viz. Rev. W. Arthur, London ; Egbert Barbour, Esq., Manchester; Rev. R. G. Gather, Londonderry ; Jasies Cunningham, Esq., Edinburgh; Rev. W. Fairbrothf.r, London ; Rev. H. M. MacGill, Glasgow ; Rev. John Ross, Hackney, London; AND Rev. J. B. Whites G, London, The proposal, being duly seconded by John Henderson, Esq., was unanimously adopted ; and the above Committee were appointed, Mr. Whiting being Convener. Programme. The following is the programme proposed for the afternoon's discussion :— SIXTH SESSION. 233 ■Subject: How may we best obtain and qualify Candi- dates OP THE KIGIIT STAMP FOR MiSSION AVORK? Paper, or Address, of ten minutes, by Rev. Thomas Green, Principal of C.M.S. College, Islington. Eev. E. H. Bickerstetli's Letter for United Prayer in 1861. How far it is possible, and advisable, to induce men and women of private fortune to devote themselves to missionary work ? The Paper named in the Programme was then presented and The paper. read to the Conference as follows : — HOW MAY WE BEST OBTAIN AND QUALIFY CANDIDATES OF THE RIGHT STAMP FOR MISSION WORK? By the Rev. Thomas Green, PKINCIPAl OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY COLLEGE, ISLINGTON. It is obviously impossible within the few minutes allowed for An outline our opening paper, to do justice to the important topic I have been requested to treat on this occasion. The utmost I can hope or shall attempt to accomplish, will be the suggestion of hints and outlines of thought ; which may form a basis of discussion, and help to elicit the views and opinions of brethren, who feel inter- ested, as every friend of Missions must necessarily feel, in the question; "How we may best obtain and qualify Candidates of the right Stamp for the Mission Work ?" I need not occupy at any length the time of this Conference *i™ °f *^® , . .. nprht stamp in the preliminary inquiry : Who are men of the right stamp ? defined. Mr. Mullens, in the valuable paper read by him on the first day of our sittings, described the qualifications we look for in the Euro- pean missionary ; enforced the necessity of a high standard; and fully exhibited the zeal, sound judgment, and decision of character, the gentleness, patience, and fidelity requisite for the arduous office. In this matter we are all agreed. Spiritual agents alone can rightly Spiritual perform spiritual duties. The men we want are men of God, truly converted in heart, and holy in life ; baptised with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; taught by the Spirit ; led by the Spirit ; filled with the Spirit ; men of one idea, one aim, one object ; like the Great Apostle of the Gentiles, counting aU things but loss for the excellency 234 RET. T. GEEEN S PAPER. devoted to Okrist: the gift of God; sanctified by Him. We are to pray for them: and seek them out. Keans of doing so suggested. Experience. By sei-mons. of the knowledge of Christ; determined not to know anything save Jesus Christ and him crucified ; loving Christ, living Christ, ready and willing, if need be, to die for Christ. Such men are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. They are God's workmanship. They are the special gift of the risen and ascended Saviour to the Church. So saith the apostle : " When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ; some, apostles ; some, prophets ; some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints ; for the work of the ministry ; for the edifying of the body of Christ." A live coal from the altar has touched their lips, and put away their iniquity. With Isaiah they have heard the voice of the Lord, saying. " Whom shall we send, and who will go for us ?" and with the prophet, they are ready to reply, and have replied, ", Here am I, send me." If the Church would obtain such men, she must not only remember the divine command ; " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" but, also, the no less impe- rative duty ; " Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." The Holy Ghost, now, as in the days of primitive missionary enterprise, separates men to the work, and fits them for it. It is our great business, to ascertain whom He thus calls ; and to be humble fellow-workers with God, and instruments in the Spirit's hands, in preparing them for the glorious warfare. Fully sensible of the necessity of divine agency to give us missionaries of the right stamp, and of the subordinate position which man occupies in obtaining and qualifying them for the ofiice, I proceed to throw out some practical suggestions as to the best means of enlisting suitable labourers into the missionary ranks, and equipping them for the important duties in which they -ndU be engaged. Connected, oflScially, as I am with an Institution in which there are, at the present time, not fewer than forty students preparing for missionary service, I have had opportunities of observing the various ways in which God is pleased, ordinarily, to direct the thoughts of his servants towards the work, and to bring them under the notice of those who may be instrumental in introducing them to the field of foreign labour. I will briefly refer to some of these various ways : 1. Missionary Sermons. The value and importance of the pulpit as a means of enforcing missionary principles, eliciting missionary SIXTH SESSION. 235 sympathy, and" exhibiting the results of missionary enterprise, have been fully acknowledged in the previous meetings of this Conferenoe. The pulpit is, if possible, yet more valuable and important, as affording a means of influencing the hearts and minds of our pious youth in the direction of entire self-consecration to the missionary ■work. I am surrounded by brethren who have been engaged for many years in the foreign service : it would be interesting to ascer- tain in how many instances the first missionary thoughts and aspirations were awakened in connexion with appeals from the Example of pulpit. Little as has been attempted in this direction, I find that ence. one-tenth of Our Islington students owe their earliest impressions to this source. In the United Kingdom there are probably not fewer than forty juicii more to fifty thousand pulpits, connected with the several Protestant ^yVhem?''° denominations. What a powerful engine for good do we here possess ! The press has been designated the fourth estate of the realm. What may not the pulpit become ? Let the duty, the privilege, the trials, the success of the missionary work, have the place assigned them in the pulpits which their importance demands ; and who shall predict the result? Might we not expect that our missionary force would, by this means alone, in the course of a few years, be increased many fold ? 2. A second instrumentality is the Missionary Meeting. The jngsionai-y immediate object of the meeting is to communicate intelligence ™"^'^'i"S2- and report progress. Details, hitherto almost systematically ex- cluded from the pulpit as though unsuitable, or beneath its solemn dignity, have been given in the annual, quarterly, or monthly meeting. And, mark the result ! While one-tenth of the students in our Islington College trace back their missionary history to the ^^ pulpit, more than one-seventh acknowledge their debt of gratitude their iuflu- to the meeting. Need I suggest that at every such meeting one or more of the speakers should seize the opportunity of appealing to the conscience, the love, the sympathy of our younger Christian brethren ; and of inculcating the obligation to honour that divine Saviour to whom the Father has promised the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession ; and who gave as his last charge to the Church the command, '•' Go ye ;" and as his last legacy the promise ; " Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." 3. The next means to which I would allude, is the Sunday sunday- School. And here permit me to mention my own experience. ^°''°°^'^- I do so, believe me, in no spirit of egotism or boasting, but as a 236 EEv. T. green's paper brotlier amongst brethren, simply desirous of furthering the one great object we have in view, and of contributing any hint which may help to secure that object. Until recently I had charge of a parish in the West Eiding of Yorkshire, containing about 2000 inhabitants, partly agricultural, partly manufacturing, and with His own few exceptions consisting of the operative class. When first ap- pointed to the charge, about eleven years ago, there was no church, school or house, no parochial machinery or agency whatsoever in existence. It is hardly necessary to add there was no branch Asso- ciation of Missionary or kindred Societies in connexion with the body to which I belong. Through the Christian munificence of a family resident in the neighbourhood, church, school, and house, were erected, and an endowment provided for the support of the minister. Before I had resided a month in the district, and whilst in posses- sion of a mere temporary building which served the double purpose of Sunday School and place of worship, I endeavoured to interest in the work of missions the few young persons who at first consti- tuted my Sunday School. The subject was novel : many had Effect of the never even heard the name of a missionary ; soon it became a familiar and household word ; the feeling of interest deepened ; God touched the heart of one and another of the teachers he had graciously raised up as my helpers ; and, not to extend these remarks, or occupy too much the time of this Conference, as the Kve mis- result of these simple efforts, five devoted labourers have gone forth sionarics. ... into the mission field. One, alas! is not. After a brief missionary life of fifteen months he succumbed to the pestilential climate of Africa : his remains lie in the churchyard of Ake in Abbeokuta. A second was compelled, after about the same period of service, to retire for a time to England j he will, with the divine blessing, shortly be ordained, again to go forth ; the other three are all usefully employed in various parts of the field. grrataess of There are 300,000 Sunday-School teachers, and two and a half millions of Sunday scholars in England and Wales ; add to these our youth in Scotland and Ireland. Is there not here an ample and inviting field for the cultivation of the missionary spirit, and the promise, with the divine blessing, of a rich harvest of mis- sionary labourers ? I can only very cursorily touch upon other means of obtaining candidates for the work. We have now an important auxiliary in, TouurMoh's 4. Young Men's Christian Associations. Such Associations Asssciatioj;!?. are of Comparatively recent growth ; but they are exercising in the metropolis and most of our provincial towns, an immense SIXTH SESSION. 237 influence over the class of persons for whose spiritual benefit they are specially designed. It will afford some idea of the value such an agency may prove Thoir offeot. to our missionary operations, when I mention, that the metropolitan Associations alone have supplied us with no less than six of the forty students we have at present under training in our college. 5. I would next speak of our Universities. In our first day's Universities. discussion some valuable remarks were made by Mr. Titcomb in reference to the various ways in which the missionary subject is brought before the notice of the undergraduates, and other members of his own University, Cambridge. Those observations proved that an agency, quiet and unobtrusive, yet most influential in its character and results, is at work in that seat of learning. I may add, what was not stated by our friend, that during the Example of last two years from fifteen to twenty zealous and devoted servants ence. of Christ, connected with Cambridge, have offered themselves to the Church Missionary Society for her Indian and other spheres of operation. Of the 160 European ordained missionaries, labouring in connexion with the Church Missionary Society, forty, or one in four, are members of Oxford, Cambridge, or Dublin Universities. It must not be forgotten that Judson, and several of his honoured Similar contemporaries in America, and Dr. Duff, Nisbet of Bombay, and '™'™°^^- others in our Scotch Universities, owed their first missionary impressions to influences brought to bear upon them during their College career. The universities, then, present a mine which may be worked with the greatest possible anticipations of eventual success. 6. Parental Influence must not be overlooked when speaking of Pm-entai the several means in our hands for obtaining a missionary supply. "" "™'^°- The Scudder family will occur to the recollection of many who listen to me. While the father is labouring in Madras, five sons instances, are employed with a large measure of the divine blessing resting upon them at Arcot. Two of the students under my charge at this time have thus been led to offer themselves for the work. This is becoming from year to year a more decided and promising element of supply. Many proofs and illustrations occur to me. I will merely mention one. Twelve months ago, when attending the anniversary meetings in Dublin, a physician, a barrister, and a clergyman, quite independently of each other, spoke to me on the subject, stating that they had dedicated their sons to the work, and that it was the constant prayer of their hearts that the neces- sary missionary qualifications might be vouchsafed to them. 238 EET. T. GEEEN'S PAPEK. Individual eifort. Examples. Special appeals. Example. Church Missionary Society. Missionary literature. 7. Individual Effort has been greatly blessed of God to the promotion of the object we have in view. It may surprise some of the friends here present to be informed, that the large proportion of one-third of the students, to whom I have already so frequently alluded, trace their more direct and immediate call to missionary employment to the personal efforts and appeals of Christian friends interested in the cause. The clergyman or minister, the missionary, the student, the zealous private Christian, has employed the influ- ence he possesses in directing attention to the subject, and enforcing the claims of the vast heathen world. May not the servants of the Lord Jesus do far more for their beloved Master than they have hitherto attempted in the way here indicated ? T may not be able to go forth myself: circumstances in which I am placed — social, family, relative ties — may obhge me to remain at home ; but I am acquainted with one and another on whom no such debt of obli- gation rests ; men who appear to have the right spirit, and the necessary qualifications ; is it not my duty and privilege to present the matter to them, to commend it to their prayerful consideration, and bid them inquire whether they are not summoned to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty ? 8. Special Appeals by the Committees and Secretaries of our leading Societies have been found exceedingly valuable, and pro- ductive of large results. Only yesterday I was informed by one deeply interested in Moravian missions, that when, a short time since, an appeal was put forth amongst the Continental brethren connected with that body, for volunteers to go forth to the untried fields of Thibet and Central Asia, though only two were wanted, not fewer than thirty responded to the invitation. In the early part of last year a special appeal of this nature was issued by the Committee of the Church Missionary Society. Reference was made to the many open doors ; to the loud cry for help from India China, Japan, Turkey, Africa : to the exalted Saviour's inquiry, " Who will go for us ?" The response has been most gratifying. Amongst the many who have offered themselves, I will only allude to two : one, a Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, who some time ago sailed for India, and may possibly by this time, have arrived at the scene of his future labours, Allahabad: The other, a Fellow of Emmanuel, Second Wrangler of his year. Tutor and Dean of his College, and Moderator in the public schools ; both of them, men of devoted piety, singleness of purpose, and earnest missionary zeal. 9. I will simply add one word on the Missionary Publications SIXTH SESSION. 239 and Periodicals, as a further means placed in our hands of obtaining men of the right stamp for the work. It will be found on inquiry that these have largely contributed to the filling up of the mis- sionary ranks ; and it cannot be doubted that they are capable of yet more extensive usefulness in the same direction. Let me impress upon my brethren one important consideration Summary. applicable alike to all these various instrumentalities. They involve no new agency or machinery ; all we need is, fresh energy and life infused into existing instrumentalities. There is not a brother in the ministry present on this occasion, — there is not a brother amongst the thousands whom we represent, who has not, to a great extent, these several means of influence within his reach and under his control. Shall we, or shall we not, use the oppor- tunities thus placed in our power? Shall we, or shall we not, put out to usury the one, the five, the ten talents intrusted to us by the Great Proprietor ? Shall we determine, in the strength of our God, in humble, but firm, reliance upon his grace and promised blessing, that we wiU avail ourselves of the pulpit, the meeting, the Sabbath-school, aye, and day-school too, — the Toung Men's Association, our parental influence, individual effort, special appeal, periodicals and publications, and all other agencies intrusted to us, for the promotion of this great object ? If we thus resolve, should no other result or practical benefit follow from our Conference, we shall not have been called together in vain ; and the very ends of the earth will, ere many years have passed, rejoice and call us blessed. A concluding word on this topic. Let not the thought suggest Home work itself that if we urge our pious youth to dedicate themselves to ^ffer.°' the foreign field of labour, we shall dry up our home resources, impair our strength, or deprive ourselves of adequate support in our more immediate spheres ot duty. The contrary has invariably proved true. Here, as in the other exercises of Christian phi- lanthropy, it will be found that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that in what measure we mete, it shall be measured to us again. In lengthening our cords we shall at the same time strengthen our stakes ; and, whilst watering others, shall be yet more abundantly watered in our own souls and within the denominations to which we belong. Time forbids me to dwell on the second branch of the subject studios or suggested by our programme : the qualifying of the candidates '''^'"^ '' "■'^'■''■' who may have been obtained for the work. I would merely remark that the course of training, whether long or short, should 240 EEV. DK. BATLEE. certainly include a systematic study of Holy Scriptures, if possible in the original languages; Dogmatic Theology, with a view to the clear apprehension and thorough grasp of the great distinctive doctrines of God's Word ; the leading branches of Christian evi- dence; Church history, ancient and modern, including the more important efforts of Missionary Societies during the last hundred years ; and, above all, the cherishing and maintaining throughout the entire course of study the true missionary spirit. I close these *nieiais- imperfect observations with the remark that the missionary spirit sjS^ can only be cultivated by habits of simple dependence on God ; by the practice of self-denial ; and by active labours (in proportion to the limited opportunities leisure from study permits), in missionary work at home, in teaching and superintending schools, visiting the poor and the afflicted, holding cottage-meetings and Bible- classes, in open-air preaching, and, generally, in going to the highways and hedges, " compelling men to come in.'' " The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few ; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers unto his harvest." (Matt. ix. 37, 38.) Hev. Dr. The Eev. Dr. Baylee, Principal of St. Aidan's College, Bir- Baylee. lienhead, said; he rose to express himself strongly, but much less so than he felt, seeing that he presented himself under very pecu- liar feelings at this Conference. He could not call himself a " distinguished" missionary, for he was an extinguished missionavyl It was to the missionary cause that he owed a large part of his present knowledge of God, of his present acquaintance with the His wish to Bible, and of hie present earnestness for the salvation of souls. siona™^" It had pleased God to bring him to a knowledge of his truth without any human means ; he had not had one human teacher to instruct him ; but under hedgerows when the Sundays were fine, and in his own bedroom when the days were wet, he studied his Bible for more than seven years of his earlier life. Unaided by any human help he had toiled through, and had overcome diffi- culties insuperable to every human eye, but not to faith and patience. Having at length attained the object of his toil and prayers, a degree at the University, eight-and-twenty years ago, he offered himself to the then existing committee of the Church Hindrance. Missionary Society; and it was the cold and official manner in which his application was received that created circumstances, which rendered it impossible for him to become a missionary. He had never ceased to regret it. It might be said that his was an SIXTH SESSION. 241 individual and peculiar case ; but he contended that it was not. One of the pi'esent most distinguished officers of the Church Missionary Society was also an extinguished missionary. It was true that in the providence of God he had been brought into the mission field at home, but he was lost to the foreign work. This was the case witli many others ; which only proved to him that, similar with the best intentions on the part of the Societies, their present ''"^''''' arrangements were too often an extinguisher on missionary worli. Ho was resolved to do his best to remove this for Christ's sake, and to speak and to labour until every needless hindrance was removed. Every word of Mr. Green's paper had gone home to his heart. But whilst listening thereto one passage of Scripture had forciblj' recurred to his mind ; " Betwixt us and you tliere is a great gulf fixed." In those strong observations he (Dr. Baylee) was not speaking in a merely critical spirit. He gave all honour to the men who had to originate missionary enterprise. It was one thing to create an institution ; it was quite another to see its faults when created, and to endeavour to repair them. He (Dr. Faults in Baylee) had been permitted to found St. Aidan's College. That ^^^ <:m . institution necessarily partook of the faults of his own mind; and whenever it should please God to remove him (Dr. Baylee) from St. Aidan's College, those who succeeded him would find many of his weaknesses and mistakes, and would carry out many improve- ments which he had failed to perceive. He therefore did not speak in any spirit of fault-finding ; but whilst there was on all sides a complaint of want of men, he would say that if he could offer to get 3000/. a-year, he would guarantee to find and keep up a class of a hundred young men, who would stand any test that might reasonably be required, that their hearts had been converted by the power of the Holy Ghost, and that they were desirous of devoting themselves, body and soul, to the service of the Eedeemer. It was an easy experiment to try. Their Missionary Societies had generally (if he might use the expression) " begun at the end." A young man, truly earnest in mind and heart, but untried. Difficulty of uneducated, and unknown, presented himself to become a mis- on'mtried"^ sionary. Now he (the speaker) would like to know by what rules ' any one would be able to look through that young man and ascertain whether he had true missionary qualifications, or not. If he occupied the post of Mr. Green, ho should be obliged to do what probably Mr. Green did, reject the majority of young men who presented themselves to his committee. B , men. 242 EEV. DE. BAYLEE. Mr. Geeen here explained that he was not the preliminary examiner of missionary candidates. Missionary classes ia colleges. He will be glad to take students. Several now wittL Mm. All classes of students welcome. Dr. Batlee said that his remarks applied to any examiners. In conclusion, Dr. Baylee observed that he had been much struck on Wednesday with what Mr. Lewis had said, that they ought all to have missionary classes in all their theological schools. Here would be given an opportunity of trying young men ; and instead of beginning at the end, beginning at the beginning. If they took the colonial as well as the heathen field, they would be able to find a niche in some part of the Lord's kingdom for all young men, of small talents it may be, but of devoted piety, who might offer themselves. He was not aiming at bringing " grist to the mill" of St. Aidan's College (if he might venture on the expression), but he should be happy if any body of people would send him young men (if his various brethren could trust him with such), possessing no other qualification than satisfactory evi- dence of true conversion to God and devotedness to his cause, upon whom they might think it worth while to spend a few pounds annually, to see if they could not be fitted for the mis- sionary work, either foreign or colonial. He had now in the College fifteen missionary candidates, one of them from near where Noah's ark rested in Armenia. He came to him with very little of the missionary feeling in a theological sense, and though only in his second term he was now full of it. Referring to the various conditions of life formerly occupied by his students. Dr. Baylee said he had one who had been in the Northampton workhouse ; and that he would rather have such, with an earnest zeal for souls, than a hundred gentlemen without the love of God in them. When he (Dr. Baylee) ventured upon taking men of a lower social class, his prudent friends remonstrated with him. They feared that gentlemen would not like to come and associate with men in a lower station in society. He replied, then let the gentlemen stay away. On their principle, if St. Peter were to present hiE?5elf for admission to St. Aidan's College, he would be re- ject. 1. (Laughter and cheers.) If we want apostolic success let us have apostolic practice. It is Christian men that we want. Give him a class of earnest, pious men ; let them mingle freely with gentlemen in their daily studies ; let them unite in works of piety and love ; and we shall soon see them become Christian gentlemen. There is even in the religious world a wisdom which SIXTH SESSION. 243 IS foolishness with God. But what has been the result? The number of gentlemen at the College has increased. He wished he . could transfer Mr. Green and his forty students down to St. Aidan's College (where they would make him Professor of Mis- sionary Theology) ; so that they might unite the whole ninety-five students in earnest preparation for tho great work in contempla- tion. If candidates for instruction were unable even to spell, they were welcome to him. He put them into classes fit for them ; and when they attained the necessary amount of knowledge, they entered the candidate class (translating the gospels in Greek, and Examples. a book in Latin). This tested them. And what had been the results? One did not know one letter in Greek from another at the beginning of the year, but at its close he beat his (the student's) master at the Greek Testament. Out of 500 or 600 theological questions he had correctly answered nine-tenths. There was another who would certainly not master Greek were he to study it for ten years ; but he had the love of Christ in his heart, was able to carry a stout stick in his hand, and by his robustness and physical capacity could walk thirty miles a-day in Nova Scotia or some other colony. He had thrown out these hints that there might be as few as possible " extinguished missionaries " for the •future, as the result of the present system and way of receiving youthful candidates. Further detailing the plan pursued with Cost of their regard to missionary students at St. Aidan's College, Dr. Baylee said they now received them for board and education for 30/. a college year ; and if any brother knew of any pious young man who possessed the qualifications he had spoken of, and would prevail upon his friends to raise this amount annually, he would receive such with pleasure ; or if any one would pay 301. into his own hands he would undertake to find a pious and suitable young man for preparation for this great work. He was a constant poacher on their Wesleyan brethren, and on the , raw material he found amongst them, to a very considerable extent, of ear- nest-minded and devoted young men fit for Church-of-England missionaries. The Chaiuman explained that the other Societies did take up Chaibmab, these very young men, unprepared and uneducated, and had many of them brought under college instruction. Eeferring to a remark made by Dr. Baylee, he added that Mr. Green had not indi- vidually the power of rejection, that responsibility devolved oa a committee. 244 DE. LOCKHAET. Dr. LocK- HAllT. Medical missionaries should not be ordained. They do best as layineu. Pistracfed by two pro- fessions, they injure their spiri- tual useful- uess. Dr. LocKHAET wished to impress upon the secretaries and officers of the different Societies the subject of the qualification of their medical missionaries. They should send them out as surgeons, and iiot as ordained missionaries. They would find by experience that the latter course did theip injury in the field of labour ; as it distracted them from their particular work. If a man tried to devote himself to two professions at once, he was sure to be perfect in neither. Some Societies were beginning to send out more medical missionaries than they had done previ- ously. If medical missionaries were to do their work efficiently, they should be sent out as laymen ; taking in hand the temporal welfare of the heathen, and endeavouring as much as possible to win their confidence and esteem, preaching and teaching the gospel as they had opportunity, if thereby they might win souls to Christ. If such were sent out as ordained missionaries, their minds became distracted from their special engagement ; and the heathen, seeing them otherwise than perfect in their temporal work, would be apt to distrust them ; and thus discredit was brought upon the heavenly message they had to deliver. A medical missionary might do as much spiritual work as any other missionary; but it was in all cases better that he should do it as a layman, and not as an ordained minister. A preaching missionary, who had a medicine chest and a good work on popular medicine, might be able to do much good in the relief of suffering, when other medical aid was not attainable ; and this was often the case. But it was always better that one man should not profess himself to be qualified in the two professions, as this was likely to place him in situa- tions of difficulty and responsibility, from which he was unable to extricate himself. Rev G. D. Cl'llkh. The Eev. G. D. Cullen expressed his obligations to Dr. Lockhart for calling atiention to this subject; and further instanced efforts that were being made in Edinburgh, which were received with considerable favour, to draw the attention of the students in the Medical Schools there to mission work, both foreign and require two domestic. Medical missionaries were an exceedingly useful class. elements of o j ■-) if qualified to teach "the truth as it is in Jesus," as weU as to attend to the temporal well-being of their fellow-men. It was very desirable to ascertain that these brethren possessed both the missionary element and the requisite medical training. He suggested that they should be trained to medical missionary Medieal missionaries character. SIXTH SESSION. 245 work in the lower parts of our own towns before they were sent out to foreign service. The Eev. Dr. O'Meaea said that, in labourino; amongst the ^er. Dr North American Indians, having to travel great distances where thftre were no means for the natives to gain access to a medical man, he had himself obtained some little knowledge of medicine, ^'''^'?.<' "' ' ° , , medical and had accustomed himself to carry constantly about with him knowledge p *° every a few simple medicines. He thought it absolutely necessary for missionary. a missionary, placed in his circumstances, to have some knowledge of this nature ; as frequently it proved a means of gaining access to the native heart, which they could not otherwise secure. This knowledge it was also exceedingly desirable for missionary students to acquire ; thus combining in themselves the two qualifica,tions refen-ed to ; the power of healing the body, and of applying the gospel antidote to the maladies of the soul. The Rev. Egbert C. King, of the Colonial Church and R^v. e. c. o . . . King. School Society, Liverpool, remarked that one great opportunity for the evangelization of the heathen rested with their own people scattered among them. It had been a matter of regret to every one connected with direct missionary work, that there was so much practical negligence found among our own people who permeated the mass of the heathen. Missionaries bore testimony that there Eviiinflu- was a far greater difficulty in "making way" in the large towns vicious than in the country districts. He held in his hand a communi- onrnatiro cation from a Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, stating <:°™™i'''ty- that the proportion of converts in the rural populations was far larger than in the towns ; and the reason was obvious ; for in towns there was a larger European element, and consequent im- morality ; so that when the missionaries pointed to the theory of Christianity, the heathen pointed to the practice of Christians ; for the natives would look to see what kind of people Christianity makes, and what kind of a thing it was in its working-out. When, therefore, they talked of getting candidates of the right stamp for the missionary work, they should not ignore the fact of their own people going up and down amongst the heathen, as they might ; and being a great element for good by their example and conduct. Tliey were watched far more than they imagined. He was quite sure the Conference would agree that if their own people, moving amongst the heathen, were what they professed to be, it would work directly and to a great extent in 246 KEY. W. FAIKBEOTHEE. furtherance of tlieir missionary labours. He thought this matter was worthy of their most serious attention. Kev. W. I'aiebko- THER. Many wlio are willing are not (Qualified. Need of prayer. Impressions on children. Young men An business. Eev. William Fairbeothee said ; that in his public services he frequently made appeals for young men, and was obliged to take the responsibility of saying, whether ho would encourage or discourage them in making application to the Society he repre- sented. But he was pained to say that many who had thus come forward did not present qualifications needful for missionary work ; and in such cases he felt that if they were to present themselves before the committee, their offer of service would be declined. The number of young men from the middle ranks of life, offering themselves for this good work, was, he was happy to say, steadily increasing ; and he hoped this would continue ; but he wished to suggest what appeared to him a grave defect, attaching not only to the Churches with which he stood connected, but to otliers. He feared they did not sufficiently pray " the Lord of the harvest " to give them labourers. They had been using all sorts of means, by circulars and various appeals, to induce young men to come forward ; but had in part forgotten the scriptural in- junction, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth more labourers into his harvest." This was the chief thing. He had found in almost every instance, when speak- ing to such young men, that first thoughts of missionary conse- cration were entertained at a very early age. This fact gave an intense interest to those appeals which were made to their Juvenile Associations, showing that the Most High might influence even the little ones to offer themselves to God for missionary work. The young men in their Colleges had generally made up their minds beforehand whether they would labour in the home or foreign service ; and his only hope had latterly been in appealing to devout young men engaged in commercial pui-suits, but who had not yet made up their minds whether they would enter the ministry or no. Eev. J. B. - Whiting. liesponsi- bility of wOmmitteOa The Eev. J. B. Whiting said, they should all remember that a very great responsibility rested upon committees of Missionary Societies in the matter of accepting or rejecting those who came before them. It was possible that committees might sometimes, nav, often, reject those who afterwards became eminent clergymen in their own country, but who at the time of their candidature might not appear to possess all the qualifications necessary for work in SIXTH SESSION. 247 the mission fields. Nay, the rejected candidate at one time might even again present himself after a year or two had elapsed, and be accepted. In no matter was there more caution requisite than in this. They had better (if the alternative were presented to them) reject a good man, than accept a bad one. He thought that mis- sionaries would do well to correspond with boys in the schools with Missionaries which they had been previously connected and associated at home, g"^™"^^!. Suppose a missionary to have been at Rugby, Cheltenham, or any tiieiroid other public school in England ; let him periodically send details from his distant location to the boys in such Schools, and he could not fail to stir up a missionary spirit there. He believed that the missionary spirit existed to a large degree in the academies and schools of the country. Ten years ago, some seventy men were in the habit of meeting in the rooms of Mr. Nicholson, Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, for the purpose of fostering their missionary spirit; the number has now increased to about 250 ; increase of and the meetings are no longer held in private rooms. He thought ^MtTta^ that in general the missionary spirit was imbibed before men came ^°™'^™^''' up to the University. The happy circumstance to which he had alluded was rather an indication of the great spread of true religion throughout the country. There is an amount of family piety, and of religion in public schools, which delights the Christian heart ; and this, he thought, was the source and origin of the great increase of religious feeling, and especially of the missionary spirit, at our Universities in the present day. The Eev. Dr. Someeville wished to present a point in order Rev, Dr. to elicit information. In the Church to which he belonged, there was no difference observed in the education required in a mis- sionary from that required in a home minister. Thev both Education •' , . . •* ofministers attended the same classes m the University, they underwent ™. .i . ,., converts. protection 01 the Christian ryots from the oppression of the heathen zemindars, and for elevating their physical and in- tellectual condition. I know of one Christian zemindar (Mr. Hugh Fraser of St. Andrews), who has protected the Christian ryots by freely inviting them to settle down on his estate. If Vernacular others would follow his example, it would be a blessing. 2d. I " would propose the establishment of Christian vernacular- schools, which will elevate the Christian ryots to a higher intel- and native lectual and moral status. 3d. I would propose as pastors the appointment of the more spiritually-minded, experienced, and intelligent of the native Christians, who form the village con- gregations. SEVENTH SESSION. 295 Mr. Macfib heard witli gratification the remarks of Mr. r. a. mao- Mullens, and of the preceding speaker particularly, as to the '''^' ^'^' necessity for caution with regard to the expenditure on churches in India. He was especially gratified with the indications of Expensive hearty response he heard given to their remarks by the Con- buiidmgs a ference. There could be no greater hindrance to the multiplica- abroadT" tion of churches than needlessly augmented cost. Even in this country, a great deal might be saved, without impairing comfort and convenience. In his belief, the more simple and economical, the more Christian, — a rule, by the way, of most extensive appli- cation, — it being applicable to other matters besides church- building. He traced the root of the evil among Nonconformists — anainEng- (for it is with regard to them only he spoke ; he would not say a ^'""^■ word as to the Church of England : and in what he did say, he represented his own sentiments only ; he did not commit the Con- ference, nor any person but himself;) — to deviation from the habits of their forefathers, in whose days their place of Christian assembly was called the meeting -house, the name indicating that there brethren met with one another. Nowadays, in hymn-books and elsewhere, it often is called the house of God. The moment old names it is thought of as such, and not as a meeting-place of brethren, ^" ^••••■•■y- people will decorate and embellish. A word to his Scotch friends : there is danger in having dropt the fine old word "kirk" for the modern "church." The former, resembling the word z.ug(«x«, sug- gested "the Lord's,'' the Son of man's ; and reminded us of Him, who laid aside his glories to tabernacle in human flesh, and who dwelt in the same humble tenements as the plain men with whom he associated, and whose nature he took. If these principles were borne more in recollection, we should be simpler in our tastes, and better able to multiply churches, beneficially for India ; where (might he add), as he had heard (he hoped wrongly), a a modem new order of modern canonised saints had been introduced ; a church in having been called after the name of one departed The name of labourer, for whom in life he, the speaker, entertained most purposely'^ justly the highest esteem and regard. The report to which he '^^' "*"''■ had alluded, is credible ; for at home the same tendency had developed itself; and churches now bear the honoured names of Knox, Willison, Chalmers, McCrie. He hoped these frank observations would be taken in good part. Captain Lataed, speaking to the question, " How can the Captaia character and social influence of native Christians be raised ?" '"'""'^' 296 EEV. C. B. LEUPOLT. Converts to said that the late Mr. Daniell, of the Baptist Missionary Society by the mis- in Ceylon, brought his influence to bear upon the hearts of the self-denial, natives, by "condescending" to them, by bringing his own mind and his own habits down as much as possible to the level of the native mind and habits; in order, by God's blessing, to raise them from the position they occupied. He was eminently useful in his labours ; as those might be who followed him in the manner in which he pursued his heavenly calling. His association with the natives was of a truly apostolic character, fulfilling to the letter what the apostle meant when he said, "being all things to all men." Example of jje went without scrip or purse; God gave him a heart full of love Mr. Daniell ,.,-.„, . ,. -i, in Ceylon, to his brethren. He was out in all weathers, going from village to village, lying down on a mat on a mud-floor, and so associating himself with the habits, thoughts, and feelings of the people. Thus was he able gradually to bring them up to higher habits and thoughts. If one had fallen into a well, it was not by another standing at the top and saying, " Come up here," that he could be saved ; but the latter must obtain a rcpe and, perhaps, himself descend. In proportion as we brought these principles to bear on a heathen population, we should succeed in elevating them to our level. Eov. c. B. LEUrOLT. Indian missions Catholic. Secular affairs. Christian villages ad- visable: The Eev. C. B. Leupoi.t said ; thiit in Benares, where he had been placed over a congregation more than twenty years, having also the superintendence of three or four others, different denomina- tions adhered, as it was natural they should, to their own forms ; but the missionaries never spoke about the distinctions between them. In every mission establishment, one missionary must give his time to secular affairs, or the management of his mission.; he could not help it : but that missionary would not allow secular duties to interfere with his duties as a missionary. The only respect in which he was a loser was a personal one ; he remained stationary, whilst others could devote leisure to self-improvement. When he himself returned home, he found he was fifteen years be- hind his brethren ; but, in heaven, that would not matter. With regard to congregations, he had advocated from the beginning, and still advocated, where it was possible, the aggregation of converts in villages. Unless truly converted, firm, and men of experience, they would, if scattered among the heathen, be carried along with the stream. As soon as they had a catechist who could stand alone, they placed him in the village in an independent sphere ; and to him, as at Sigra, native brethren would send their children dis- SEVENTH SESSION. 297 tances of two hundred miles to be educated, and pay for their education. There were difficulties with regard to the association of congregations with pastorships ; but those difficulties might be obviated. At Sigra they had three different departments. The a cTiristiaE first was the judicial; for at the beginning they had to bepaiity: magistrates, and to inflict punishment. Then a system of twoJ™ies: juries was introduced to settle the affairs of the village ; and if the people were not satisfied with the decision of a jury, there were '22sfo^°*^° the missionaries to appeal to. Every Christian who wished to belong to the community must subscribe to its laws. So, for the last few years, native brethren had managed their own afiairs without any difficulty ; the missionary had little to do with them ; and the more they were thrown back upon themselves, the better it would be. There were poor, and there was a poor-fund ; there Poor-fund : was a box to receive what the people could spare every Sunday ; and there was usually sufficient to relieve distress. There was also established a widows'-fund, to which every one belonging to widowa'- the community subscribed, There was also a missionary -fund ; missiou- and all subscribed a certain amount to the mission. A pastoral- ^™'^- fund was wanted, and he hoped that now it would soon be estab- lished. As pastor, he had only to do with the spiritual depart- ment, and occasionally to look after temporal affairs ; and when a jury sat he had to sign the papers. He had an assistant who was the senior-catechist, and who helped him in going from house to Ho'jse- house, to speak and pray with the people. Besides him, there were five other assistants. They divided the village, and selected several pious men, each of whom had a certain number of Christians under him, to endeavour to see that all the people attended a place of worship. In this way they were able to supei-intend the village with the greatest ease. Church discipline was exercised ; and DisdpHne. perhaps the greatest punishment that could be inflicted was expul- sion from the Christian village, in which no one was permitted to live except his walk and conversation were in accordance with the gospel. Thus they were able thankfully to say ; " If you want to see Christians, come into our village." As to edifices, he would BuUdiDgs. say erect good, substantial brick buildings : wood was too expensive to be used. There was a difficulty in raising Christians to respecta- bility : but all was done that could be done to help them on. At Converts •' , . ■'^ should Sigra, every man must earn his own bread ; those who did not, support could not belong to the community. Every young man, before marrying, must prove that he is able to maintain a wife, and the girls had their own choice. He might almost thank God for the 298 EET. B. S. HAKDT. and main- tain their pastor. mutiny, wliich had helped them on, so that Christians could main- tain themselves better now than before. They still remained members of the congregations ; and as they were able to obtain larger salaries, they had been enabled gradually to maintain their own pastors. At Sigra, they never had a press which required a European superintendent; but they had a carpet manufactory which was carried on by his wife (Mrs. Leupolt), and a native superintendent. Now there were in the Benares Mission two native churches with native pastors, maintained by the people; and three more churches required native pastors. EeT. E. S. Hardy. Villages monastic ; and a mis- talie. Power lost in isolation. Weak coD- vertsbenefit: but commu- nities lose ; in strength ; and iu influ- ence. A model Tillage The Eev. R. Spence Hakdt said: — I always felt a degree of jealousy as to the formation of villages of the kind referred to by one or two brethren. It was thus at the commencement of monachism. The thought was a good and pure one, that, by isolating those who wished to serve God from the evil around them, they might be preserved in their integrity, and glorify God; but I think the whole history of the Church shows it was entirely a mistake, and has worked great evil. I look upon all isolation that can be avoided, as carrying out the same principle I have seen to be evil. The isolation of individuals from the persons around them, and of communities from other communities around them, I think is so much power lost to the general good. It may be for the benefit of the individuals, and for the benefit of the persons connected with these village communities. That I will grant to a certain extent ; and then there, I think, we must pause. Some of these individuals would perhaps be overborne by the evil influences to which they would be exposed from the want of a power within them ; but as to the greater masses, if they had to battle and fight, and had those persecutions to brave that we read of in the institution of Christianity in all countries, these men would have come out much more prominently than they possibly can do now. Their example would have been more prominent than it can be now ; and consequently the influence they would have exercised upon their country at large would have been much more than it possibly can be under the circumstances in which they are now placed. Some of the prejudices I had against the system have passed away since I listened to the details. If in each station there is something like a model village that can after- wards be imitated by natives, as there is no doubt it will be, I say so far the system may be allowed, but no further; except in such cases as are presented by South Africa, where the people are SEVENTH SESSION. 299 nomads, and must be located before Christianity can be brought before them in its power. Wi^th respect to the teaching of technicalities, it has been said Techni- that it cannot be avoided ; but let us take into all our intercourse avoSld*" ^ with each other abroad the same principle so beautifully mani- fested by the present Conference. The echo of the present Con- ference I should wish to be heard by the world ; and it would be, " Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" By all means let us have this principle al- ways and everywhere before us, and we shall have God's blessing. There is, however, confessedly, a difficulty with which the mis- in the sionaries have to contend, arising from the necessity, under the English present constitution of the Societies to which they belong, to toms; transfer the church forms of Britain, in their utmost rigidity, to the churches established among the heathen. In all that concerns doctrine, and in much that relates to discipline, there must be uni- essentials formity of faith and practice between the several sections of the Stataed; same church, or confusion and collision will ensue. But there are instances that will recur to the mind of every one, in which the course now referred to has acted as a hindrance to the spread of tntarigid ... IP • adherence to the truth ; and in all cases m which it is impossible for the native details win mind rightly to comprehend the origin or purpose of our home perplex the requirements and regulations, or in which their adoption would churches. be attended by no advantage to the converts from heathenism, and only tend to perplex and puzzle them, it would be a great boon to our native churches to allow of their being disregarded. The Eev. J. H. Titcomb said : — Mr. Mullens had made one or Rev. j. h. two remarks in regard to the building of churches by Missionary Tit<=°"b- Societies, which the natives could not keep in repair. So far as cinches in the Church Missionary Society was concerned, he believed, it was Sfssiom* no longer in the habit of building churches. The churches for Society built .../>, f, oy priYate native converts were now built out of their own funds, aided by funds. the subscriptions of benevolent individuals in their respective countries. With regard to the more general question of the eccle- siastical constitution of native churches, it appeared to him that it oid systenn was in the very nature of circumstances that the organisation of ^^^Jl'; the old churches ought to be, and must be, reproduced. Truth must necessarily be encased in some outward form ; and if that outward form be of any value at home, it must be worth repro- elasticity ducing abroad. At the same time, there should be a large amount eJ^uia ^e'^* of elasticity, a great amount of latitude, allowed to it. We should allowed: 300 EEV. J. H. TITCOMB. in the standards of instruction : and the like. Between different Societies, non-inter- ference and co-operation. Native churclies sliould be catholic and imsectarian. All mission- aries the same. not cling to every principle we endorse at home in an old country ■with settled institutions. There may be principles which we flght for here, which it would not be wise to contend for under other circumstances. Suppose a bishop, ordaining native converts, uniformly required of them a knowledge of Latin and Greek literature, he apprehended that would be an instance in which, whilst maintaining the right theory abstractedly, there would be too strict an adherence to it in particular. It appeared to him that the remarks of Dr. Davis were perfectly just. In cultivating Christianity among the heathen, no missionaries could be expected to abandon their own forms of church government for the sake of external unity. Neverthe- less, they ought to abstain from all interference with one an- other, and from every attempt to gain an advantage for them- selves at the expense of the brethren near to them. But might he not go further than this, and say, that it would be well if we could begin the organisation of our native churches, apart from that narrow sectarianism, and those selfish jealousies, of which we have all been so guilty in this country ? Ought we not to learn wisdom from an experience of the unprofitableness of all our past divisions and dissensions? Why should these be re- produced in other countries ? If we seek liberation from them here, surely we should guard against them there. Surely it would be well if, while retaining our own views of ecclesiastical arrangements, we could carry them out in a spirit of Christian brotherhood before the heathen ; devoid of that bigoted attach- ment to every minute particular, and that intense feeling of separation, which has too often marked our churches at home. He would impress upon every missionary that, as they were labouring in a common cause, they should do all things for God's glory, and seek to have no emulation amongst each other, except in their love for Christ, and their success in the salvation of souls. Col. Lavie. Native pastors not to be interfered ^vith. Colonel Lavie said, as regards the native evangelists and pastors, the less they were interfei-ed with by the European mis- sionaries the better ; the period of their probation should be the time for ascertaining their gifts and graces; the greatest care should be taken in recommending native Christians for ordina- tion; but once ordained, let them, according to their qualifica- tions, be placed in more or less responsible positions to develope those gifts and graces. The character of the native is such, that SEVENTH SESSION. 301 SO long as he can rest on the European, he will do so, and not rise ; it is far better he should stumble than remain the best part of his life dependent. As regards the native church, it has been hitherto placed under great disadvantages, having so few of its PoTerty and members men of independent character and independent means, the native The consequence is, that the European missionary has much of hitherto. his valuable time occupied in investigating acts of injustice, often amounting to great cruelty, perpetrated by Government ofiicials and others against the native members of the congregations. Missionaries . . ° . . ™ust help It IS impossible for them to remain passive when persecutions tiieir con- arise ; and the interference in secular concerns is deprecated by most Societies. Few European missionaries can look on with in- difference when they see members of their congregation subjected to gross injustice ; and that often for no other reason than that they profess Christianity. This evil may be remedied when Dependence; India is blessed with European settlers ; men living on their own cuied. estates, and conducting their own factories. As regards denomi- national church systems, he was happy to say, in India, so far as Catholicity he had seen of it. Christians were so few they could not afford to split on non-essentials. Their only inquiry is, does a man preach and teach salvation by faith ; and is his life such as to exalt the blessed Saviour ? These being decisive, he has found he could work well with any Christian, to whatever denonaination he belonged. The Rev. J. Mullens said : May I be allowed a word or two Eev. j. of explanation. I must have spoken very indistinctly, if it be thought that I wish to make my brethren Congregationalists, or to lay down, for their adoption, principles which would have the effect of landing them in Congregationalism. Such a thing never does not entered my head ; and such principles of Christian union never brethrenTo came from my heart. I wish to see our systems applied in the °™ ^^*-<"^- most elastic way : and their essentials separated from their local, technical, and historical elements. My friend, Dr. Tweedie, does me a little injustice in thinking I class the principles Principles of of the Deed of Demission among the technicalities of the Free church not Church. Not at all : the principles are very grave ones ; but the ties.""" circumstances of the case form part of that history of Scotch Christianity, which has made the Church what it is. The native brethren, when ordained, may justly be committed to the result, without being asked to commit themselves to the process by which that result was produced. 302 EET. J. MULLENS. Co-operation does exist already. Adaptation of plans of labour in India. The same required in ciLurchea. Must the old denomina- tions be reproduced? Rule of the American Board. The essen- tials which we do require. I think, sir, that the position advocated by Dr. Davis is ex- cellent: that there should be division of spheres, division of labour, no interference, a kindly spirit, and hearty loving co- operation. Such co-operation is a great step in the practical union of the Church. But it is nothing new with missionaries abroad. We have attained it abeady ; and have had it long. The point I urge goes far beyond this ; though it deals with us not together, but in our separate capacities, as Churches and Societies. I wish that we should be willing to examine into our own deficiencies ; to put them aside ; and not lay upon our native brethren a burden which we have begun to find too heavy for ourselves. In respect to our plans of labour, much has been done in this very way already ? Look at the position of missionaries in India. They belong to many Societies, many Churches, many denominations. Yet when they have come conscientiously to adapt their plans to their position, to the demands of the people and of their sphere of labour, they have really come to adopt very much the same plans, and to act in the same way. In many of our Indian provinces, if you walk from one mission into another, you can scarcely teU the diiFerence between them. I want the same wise adaptation in respect to the forms of the churches, their organisation, their mode of worship, and their bonds of union. It is said these denominational peculiarities rhust be repro- duced. I should be sorry if it were true. We are beginning to file down their most prominent angles ; why should we reproduce them as they are ? It is natural that we should start from the platform on which we ourselves stand ; but if we reproduce these systems entirely we do the native church a wrong. We ought to do so in such a general way, that if we think it right to retain them at all, we may at the utmost preserve their essential features, and adapt them to local wants. The American Board of Missions on this point in clear terms have laid down the principle that their missionaries may adopt those forms of organisation which they prefer, and which they find most suitable. Our missions, in aU Societies, have been well instructed, are thoroughly scriptural, and well taught in the word. What we want is pure doctrine, a holy life, an earnest zealous ministry, active Christian and missionary churches, growing in liberality, united to each other, sound in discipline, pure in fellowship. May not these essentials coexist with many outward forms ? Let us look more to the spirit in our mis- SEVENTH SESSION. 803 eion churches, and they may attain a way far better than our own. The Rev. J. Stjgden said: — I should be happy if the Confe- ^^ j rence adopted some Address to the native churches throughout the Sogdes. world. Such an address should have a direct reference to our ji^adresa to Christian affection and sympathy for them all; and should state in °^^^°^ few words the views of the Conference with regard to the subiect fr°mtiie Couiereuce. of self-support; impressing this matter upon them, and re/erring also to some other questions of vital moment. I would suggest Topics it a subject mentioned the other day, that of Temperance; and also J^g"^' "'"' that the address should have special reference to churches which are at the present time self-supporting. I believe it would have an important and happy bearing upon churches at home and abroad, if a considerable number of churches could be pointed to as self-supporting and evangelizing. With regard to the teaching of missionaries, I beUeve that very little attention has been _ , . given to matters affecting Church government ; and I believe ^ibout that the great concern of missionary brethren has been to preach governmeut: the unsearchable riches of Christ. I hope that those who venture, in the exercise of their ministry, to introduce questions affecting principles and modes of Church government, will be just as con- defects in scientious in dealing with the several weaknesses of their de- tobe'pSated nominational svstems, as in setting forth their excellencies and °"t. as well •J ' ^ as their virtues. With regard to descending to the level of the natives, a exooUencies. man may descend too low ; and there have been instances of mis- sionaries who desired, by the adoption of native habits, to increase Missionaries their influence; but who in the long run have not only diminished JJJJJ_'° g° '"" their power to do good, but even lost their self-respect, and injured the cause of the gospel. Christian condescension does not involve any sanction, much less any adoption, of doubtful habits, customs, and institutions. D. F. MACLEOD, Esq., Financial Commissioner in the Punjaub, d. p. Mac- observed that, after thirty-two years' experience in India, he had '■^°°' ^^'^^ come to the fixed conclusion, that in our administration of that Difficulty in country we had committed no error fraught with more serious men?°the"" results, than that of practically excluding the bulk of the people Sous a" S'^' from all share in the management of their own affairs; and he be- 3°'™™™'- lieved that the difficulty which the missionary brethren found with regard to the establishing of self-government in native churches, was precisely analogous to the difficulty which public officers had S04 D. p. MACLEOD, ESQ. experienced in connexion with the afiairs of the Government itself. Though for a century India had been under British rule, up to the present time the whole nation had been kept in a state of pupilage. Now, under the native rulers, there was a The old most admirable municipal form of government : in point of fact, uuimcipal ^ ° , system. the only government of India which then existed was one of self- government by the body of the people themselves, under a municipal system, a system which maintained its vitality in the most remarkable manner. Our rule has We had, unfortunately, virtually put an end to that system ; not ^^ ' ' intentionally, but unconsciously, and through ignorance of the ultimate result of our laws. We had established in the place of the public opinion of the people the authority of our courts, which are now the arbiters of everything ; and even where we professed to allow the people any voice, we found that, in practice, our officials prevented their exercise of it, though quite contrary to our wishes. OurCoxu-ts A very remarkable instance of the eifects of our Rule, might override it. be adduced in the fact; that whereas, the "Panchayet" (a kind of jury) was a most favourite and effective mode of adjudica- tion under native rule, it has become wholly inoperative under ours ; and all our efforts to incorporate it with our procedure, by legislative enactment, have hitherto utterly failed ; owing, without doubt, to the fact, that we insist on maintaining our right of supervision and control ; and so widely are our races apart in sentiment, enlightenment, and power, that this circumstance at once puts an end to all independent action. We have The Conclusion he (Mr. Macleod) had come to was, that the chief high. reason for this state of things is that we insist upon too great perfection, and are not prepared to bear with something of defec- His own tiveness in native modes of management. He had himself, in past restore self- times, as a public officer, urged that the heads of villages should be invested with authority, to a certain extent, in the suppression of crime and the punishment of slight offences ; and that ten or twelve perhaps of the principal or most reliable of these heads of villages should be occasionally collected together for the holding of courts of a superior character, to dispose of complaints of a more serious nature ; but his views were always regarded as Utopian, and were not acceded to. His own impression, however, was, that until we did something of this kind, we should never create vitality amongst the people ; who would remain, as now, totally estranged in their feelings and distinct in their interests. The governmeut. SEVENTH SESSION. 305 very same thing applied, he conceived, to the Church : the same The same analogy held good. We expected too much from the natives, apj?.ies'to and were unwilling to give over everything to them, taking our ""* ''ii"'^<>i'- chance of imperfections. Mr. Leupolt had described a state of Defect in Mr. things approaching towards self-government; but even in that pJ^'JJT '" system there seemed to him to be too much of reservation. We laid down the laws or rules of guidance ; we selected men to rule over the communities of converts ; and when juries were to be appointed, if we did not actually nominate them, we exercised our why have influence and control over them. But why not leave them entirely to amissiomry. themselves ? Let them select the men they think best, and allow them to make their own laws. These laws and arrangements might Let us leave be very imperfect; but unless we consented to them, we should to mie them- never have a robust constitution, either in social or in missionary government. He would strongly advise that we should consent to leave the natives more to themselves in matters of this kind ; and from the tenor of Behari's remarks, he gathered that his opinions were shared by that excellent native minister. Observations had been made upon the churches formed in the West Indies, in the Pacific, and in other places, as exhibiting somewhat of self- government ; but he called attention to the fact, that we had, in immediate contact with our older provinces in India, a Church Maturity of which, though perhaps the youngest of all, seemed to have arisen churches. to maturity in advance of all the rest. He referred to the church amongst the Karens. It was marvellous that people, just emerged from barbarism, should all at once have arisen in the most extraordinary manner to a degree of energy, self-govern- ment, and Christian enthusiasm, which was seen nowhere else. They selected and appointed their own counsellors, pastors, and How shown. teachers ; supported them ; built churches and schools ; and, in fact, managed the affairs of their own communities, which amounted to several hundred. Everywhere amongst them was manifested an indigenous native vigour. An investigation into this subject wh.at are its might elicit much practical and valuable information; and anyone who could explain the causes of this great difference between their rate and mode of progress, and that exhibited in other parts of India, would confer a great benefit on the cause of missions. The people of Hindostan had not the simplicity of the Karens ; but still human nature was everywhere essentially the same ; and if those people were once left to themselves, we should find them exhibiting more or less of the vigour of apostolic times. From the impossibility of our correctly'estimating character and X 306 EEV. H. M. -WADDELL, S'oo™ tki'^ qualifications, when dealing with a race to whom we are strangers most suit- and foreigners, the selections made by the native communities able men* o ? ■/ would probably be very diiFerent from ours ; but he was much mistaken if, in the end, these native selections would not be found by far the best. (Cheers.) Let us, therefore, consider well this Mistakeswiii subject, and agree, if possible, upon some mode of throwing the selves. natives more upon themselves, not hesitating to allow imperfec- tions. They might at first, perhaps, abuse this authority; but its exercise would create the cure and remedy for such abuse in a thousand ways. (Applause.) Roy. h. m. The Rev. H. M. Waddell said : It should be the desire of Waddell. Missionary Societies at home that, so soon as missionary churches abroad were prepared to assume all responsibility, they should be Mission jgft to themselves ; and he did not suppose, the churches at home churches to he left to would attempt to form organisations for them. He had had some- thecoselves. , . .,.,,,., .,? « . , thing to do With the buudmg up oi new congregations, one on each side of the Atlantic ; and for himself and brethren he might say, it had always been their desire to promote self-government in a con- gregation as much as possible : in doing which, they had succeeded as well as any others. He was not sure that the withdrawal of the Perhaps benefit of their experience from their mission congregations would tSSJof lead to improved forms of church government. The natives might mu'aSe™' strike out new and strange, not better, forms for themselves. It was quite a legitimate thing for missionaries to carry out, in a, reasonable and moderate way among Christian converts, and in native churches, the systems of the denominations with which they iiistmioai Were connected ; their own feelings and judgments, and, it might be, c!d"ystoi?J their own prejudices, would lead them to it. At the same time, all to bo left out. this might be done in perfect harmony, and that harmony might be promoted, as it was here, by forgetting the historical associations of the different churches. Our native churches had no need to know anything of them ; and he was happy to say that, for the most part, the missionary churches harmonised exceedingly well. Dis- cussion might arise, but it might be conducted in a Christian way ; and for the most part he thought congregations did not seem disposed to go into anything that would mar their accord. Rev. s. The Eev. S. Hislop said, that, while he would rejoice to see native Christians in India gradually accustomed to independent action, yet in considering this question some allowance should be made for the difference of national character. Near his station SEVENTH SESSION. 307 there were two classes of people very distinct : Hindoos in tlie in luJia. ^^^'\o 1 -ill plains, Aborigines on the hills. He had come in contact with both ; tribes inde- and whatever the Hindoos might become after they had surmounted truthful.™ the evil effects of systems, under which they had been crushed for centuries, there could be no question that, at present, they are a dependent, feeble, and deceitful race, while the hill tribes are manly, energetic, and truthful. Even in Burmah, to which Mr. Macleod had referred, the experience of their American Baptist brethren had by no means been uniform. Among the Karens they had found a people, as it were, prepared of the Lord. Not only TheKarcns were these mountaineers, by their traditions and freedom from tteBumians. priestly institutions, placed in circumstances favourable for the reception of the truth, but, after they had embraced it, by the remarkable energy of their character, directed by God's grace, they were fitted for communicating it far and wide over their native hills. But among the Burmese, in the plains, it was well known there had been no such general willingness to receive the gospel — no such exemplary zeal in diffusing it ; and if this had been the case with Buddhists, who were unfettered by caste, was it wonderful that it should have been so with Hindoos, whose individuality and independence had been well-nigh annihilated by the working of that iniquitous system ? Lieut. S. Flood Page said ; that it was with very great de- j,ieut. s. r, ference that he ventured to address the Conference. His apology ■'^•*-'^'^- for doing so was, that several members of Conference were anxious to know something of the work going on amongst the Karens ; jj^g ^[arens. and that a recent speaker had expressed the greatest desire to know how it was that the Karen churches were, to so great an extent, self-supporting ; and how they were able to govern them- selves. He had been stationed in Burmah for eighteen months ; sixteen months of that time at Tounghoo, the chief station of the Karen mission in Eastern Burmah. During that time he knew the American Baptist Missionary, and some native Karen catechists. One main reason that the work had progressed more in the Tounghoo district than in almost any other place, he thought, was owing to independ- the fact, that there the Karens, though part of the Burmese empire, Kareus or never acknowledged more than a very slight allegiance to the Bur- ^°™s''°°- mese government. Each village governed itself by means of a head- man. Doubtless, this system of local government had enabled them to govern themselves in ecclesiastical matters. With reference to the Karen churches being self-supporting, for years there had 308 LIEUT. S. F. PAGE. Their tradi- tions. How they support their teachers. Self-goveni- ment neces- sary during the rains. Catechists pioneers. Desire for baptism. Disinterest- edness of Sau Quala. Causes of this great success. The martyrs in Pegu. been a tradition among them that a white man wnuld come with' a book ; and whenever they saw a white man with a book, they were anxious and ready to listen to him. The Rev. Mr. Whittaker was quite unable to provide as many catechists as the different villages were desirous of supporting. The Karens build the huts for the catechists to live in, and furnish them with clothes and food ; and this is all the pay the catechists get. From May until December it was absolutely necessary that the Karen churches should govern themselves ; for, owing to the rains, the jungles could not be penetrated by Europeans. The system followed by the American Baptist Missionaries was to train catechists, and send these catechists as pioneers before them. The Eev. Mr. Whittaker, on one occasion, came to a village where a white face had never been seen, and out of the 300 inhabitants found 130 can- didates for baptism: after examination, he baptized only a small number ; the remainder, headed by the chief man of the village, followed him for fifteen miles, begging that they might be bap- tized. The Assistant-Commissioner of the district was, at one time, anxious that a man who valued the English system of go- vernment should go amongst the Karens, and prove to them the advantage of attaching themselves warmly to the English. The Commissioner sent for their teacher, by name Sau Quala, known as. the "Karen Apostle,'' and offered him a salary equal to 300Z. a-year to undertake the office. Sau Quala was not receiving one penny in the way of pay ; he had no home of his own, no income, and knew not in the morning where he would sleep, or how he would live ; yet he declined the offer, saying, " Suppose I accept it, what will my countrymen say ? Will they think I preach the gospel for the sake of Jesus Christ, or because of the salary I get from government ? But if you like I will, when in the district, look out for three good, steady men : you can give them the salary ; I will not touch it." This, he believed, had since been acted upon. The wonderful success in this mission was, doubtless, to be very greatly ascribed to the fact, that the Karens were without any religion, and were waiting for one ; to their power of governing themselves ; and to the system of making the natives pioneers of the Europeans: but it must be especially ascribed to this fact, that it had pleased our Father in heaven that it should be so. And it was what we might have looked for, when we remember the work and labour of love of God's devoted servants. Dr. and Mrs. Judson, and their able successors ; when we recall the Karen martyrs hanging on the cross, refusing to deny the Lord that had died for SEVENTH SESSION. 309 them, and to the last preaching from the cross to the multitudes around them. Dr. Davis had alluded to the fact, that there was room in the mission-field for all to work without interfering with one another ; he (Mr. Page) had asked the Rev. Mr. Hazledine, Noa-mter- the devoted chaplain of Tounghoo, whether it was his intention to persuade the Church Missionary Society to send a missionary to labour amongst the Karens? He replied. No ;■ God is pleased so to example bless the labours of the American Baptists, that I should not think it right to try and take the work from them. Another speaker had alluded to the necessity of union and love between fellow- workers for Christ. The Rev. Mr. Hazledine was ordered to Union and England on medical certificate ; there was no clergyman ready to """"P'^'''''"''"- take his place. Captain Bond, Commander of the Madras Artil- lery at Tounghoo, said to the Rev. Mr. Whittaker, the Baptist, " Will you object to preach to my men ? I myself must read example. the Church of England service ; will you come and preach the sermon?" Mr. Whittaker replied, "I am here to preach the gospel of Christ to every man that is willing to listen;" and Sunday after Sunday did this good man preach the gospel to those English soldiers in the building used for the Church-of- England service. The Karen mission is second to none in the world in interest ; and in no portion of the world has God's Holy Spirit been more manifestly working with, and blessing the efforts of his devoted servants. In the following Minute are embodied the views entertained miuute. by the Conference generally, on the subject discussed during the final session : — MINUTE ON NATIVE CHURCHES. The subject of native Churches is, in the opinion of the Con- Thoii im- ference, equally important with that of native agencies already ^"'^ brought before them. Native Churches are the germs of those Christian communities, of those Christianised nations, which, according to the sure word of prophecy, will at length occupy every country of the world. It is therefore of the greatest importance that they should be based and built up, from the commencement, on perfectly sound principles. Such Churches should, in their view, be formed of those Members. " faithful men " who make a public profession of their belief in 310 MINUTE ON NATIVE CHXJECHES. Christ, and of their consecration to his service; and who desire together to maintain gospel ordinances for their own spiritual benefit, and as a means of usefulness to others. Guided by the Aim of their teachings of the New Testament, they should in every land aim to maintain pure doctrine, holy life, and active zeal amongst their members ; preserve purity of fellowship by the exercise of proper discipline; and fully support Church ordinances among them- selves, as administered by duly appointed officers. From the first, these essential principles should be pressed upon their infant Churches by the missionaries who found them ; and from the outset such measures should be adopted as wiU steadily tend to accomplish the object in view. Depending, not upon distant and Self-support, foreign Churches, but upon their own exertions and their own spiritual graces ; and possessed of those essential elements which underlie the spiritual prosperity of all Christian communities, these Churches may, in the opinion of the Conference, very naturally Systems of adopt various modes of worship, various systems of Church various. order, and different principles of fraternal association. Tiiemis- The European missionary is the founder, instructor, and adviser, not adviser of native Churches ; and, except in their mere infancy, their pastor. , , ought not to be their pastor. The higher Christian civilization from which he has come ; his position as a messenger of foreign Churches, as a man of superior social rank, and as one of a domi- nant race, render him unfit to be merely their pastor ; while they fall in with his influence as an adviser and friend. It is feared that, from the dependence generated by the continued pastorate of a European missionary, many Churches have been kept back from that healthy and vigorous growth which leads to self-support and self-control. Self-reliance grows only by exercise, and learns the most valuable lessons from the experience of mistakes and errors. National The Conference are of opinion that, in cultivating that self- andoustome. reliance, and leading it to higher degrees of vigour and of useful- ness, missionaries should take advantage of such national customs, notions, and tendencies as will help to foster and render it efficient. The national independence of the Bghai-Karens, and the village municipal system of Northern India, illustrate the importance of this step. SETENTH SESSION. 311 Desiring to see increased the number of native pastors, who Native pas- ° _ ^ tors to ba are merely superintended by a missionary, they judge that in the '"^f '''^^^ management of their various churches these pastors should be freed from all needless control, and encouraged to settle all difficult questions by the prayerful exercise of their own judgment. Until they are entirely supported by their people, such income as the ^^g^J^j'^iJ^ churches can give may well be supplemented to a proper amount, ^°^ ^ '^"^ by a grant from the Society which was the means of founding them. But the Conference think that, from the outset, it should be kept in view that, whatever forms of union be adopted by the native churches, in every mission-field, dependence for instruction, ordinances, or discipline upon the mother churches is, in due time, o^^™fg°"™ to cease ; as it does in the case of colonial churches that have *° ''"'^^^ sprung up amongst our countrymen in the different colonies of the British Empire. In thus starting forward these new communities of converts Their '-* national on the race of personal and social proffress, the Conference con- justoms to A JT o ? be preBerved. sider that everything unsuitable to their national life should be rigidly guarded against. In the salaries given to native teachers and preachers, or sanctioned and supplemented for native pastors and missionaries to the heathen; in the size, style, and cost off'^ia^s, ' *' ' dress, DUild- church buildings, native parsonages, and dwellings of teachers, j?j|^'^'"i""' due regard should be paid to the customs of the native brethren ; and the same scale be adopted from the first as will probably prevail among them when Christianity becomes naturalized. In regard to the formation of separate Christian villages in the ^fP?''!''* midst of a heathen population, the Conference are generally of a^'Ji^^ie""' opinion that Christian converts should not be separated from the heathen community ; and they believe that the practice in most missions throughout the world has been to keep them mingled with the heathen. Such a practice they deem beneficial to the converts, Benefits of living amoiig in testing their principles, making them watchful, increasing their ^^'^ heathen. usefulness, and preventing a great deal of evil ; it is beneficial also to the heathen by keeping constantly before their view the prac- tical fruits of the new and pure faith which their Christian coun- trymen have adopted. They allow, however, that in a country like India, where a small, weak church, may be overshadowed by the 312 MINUTE ON NATIVE CHURCHES. Advantage great, powerful, and wealthy system of Hindooism, and where its of separation •/ e™''''™ it has been given in a candid and obviously honest manner. It embodies the results of the experience of many good and practical men. I do not say that we have evolved or settled great principles ; but I think the information which has been supplied is fitted to correct our rules of action where they may have been wrong, or to confirm them where they are right. The substance of that informa- tion going abroad cannot fail to have a very useful and beneficial effect. I have been specially delighted with the obvious unanimity Unanimity existing among us in regard to great and sacred truths ; I have priucfpies. not seen the least difierence with respect to the great doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, which, when communicated to unenlight- ened and perishing men, awaken those feelings, which, nursed from above, mature themselves into the image of God and meetness for 316 REV. DR. SOMEEVILLE. the heavenly world. I have seen no essential difference : I have not heard a doctrinal statement to which I have not assented. There Some are amongst us no doubt differences of external organization which 1 ereuces . ^^^ ^^^^ conscientiously ; but these have not been obtruded in a way that can have offended the feelings of the most sensitive and delicate mind. I have been dehghted exceedingly. Some of my friends from Edinburgh know I came hither with no very fervid anti- cipations : but my best expectations have been more than realised ; they have been vastly exceeded, and I am grateful to God that I came. I feel that my heart has been enlarged, and that the Church of Christ but substan- is after all one church, and that all here acknowledge one Head, one la ™i J. y^fg^j^ oug Service, one Gospel, and one Divine Spii'it. We have no hope but in the creating, renewing, sanctifying energy of that one Spirit. Every brother has spoken in language that recognised the All servants fact that, whatever we do, we do but as servants, as mere instru- ments; the success is of God. And as, in the first creation, the Spirit brooded on the dark waters, and evolved those beautiful elements, which constitute our material world ; so now that same The Spirit Spirit is going abroad, over all our world, diffusing those influ- thenew" enccs which are to bring forth that new creation which, unlike the other, will never wax old, but be transferred to the eternal state, the admiration and the joy of all pure and happy intelligences. And I have felt here — I cannot sufficiently express it — extreme delight in listening to brother after brother bringing forward state- ments upon this subject. I feel in parting with these brethren The pros- that they are brothers in Christ. I have looked back ; I have also Ss. ^ '^ looked forward : I have thought of that one assembly, standing on the sea of glass, with palms in their hands and crowns on their heads ; all human imperfections done away ; all bearing the one Divine image ; all hearts thrilling with love, perfect love ; aU beating in unison ; and all uniting in giving glory and praise unto Him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. I trust we are all in the way to that blessed place ; and when we reach it, I do not think that any of us, looking back to earth, will regret that we were here. We will feel that on this occasion, during the four days' Conference, we received an impulse that helped us forward on our journey, and that we were encouraged and stimulated in the great and blessed work of the Divine Master, the glories of which we shall then see around us, and in some degree appreciate and understand. But, Sir, in parting with these beloved brethren, let me say, as a United Presbyterian, I am prepared to take every one by the hand and SEVENTH SESSION. Sl7 cordially to exclaim : Go on, Brothers, in the work of the Lord, depending upon Him that guides us, and praising God for all His mercies. The Rev. George Osbokn, in seconding the Eesolution, Rev. g. said: — I wish to say "Ditto" to my eloquent friend who has just sat down. I adopt the sentiments of the mover as well Agi-eos. as of the Eesolution, and am glad to find that much of what it would have been in my heart to say upon the general subject has been already said. You will permit me to add a word or two, more particularly as I have not troubled you since the Con- ference commenced. I understood, partly from the terms of the invitation, and partly from some other expressions employed, that it was not considered desirable that those of us who filled ofiicial positions at home should take any very prominent or active part in the deliberations of the Conference; but that what was said should be said mainly by our friends and brethren who had been personally occupied as labourers in the foreign field. I trust that the proceedings and deliberations of this Conference The confer- . «uce will aid Will be found to have exercised an important influence in prepar- in preparing ing for that great and blessed outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to outpouiiug which all the Churches of Christ have lately had their attention ° ""^ '''" ' so strongly directed, and upon which, whatever denominational difierences there may be, we are all agreed that the whole suc- cess of Christian Missions must depend. I trust that the influ- ence, which the harmonious and prayerful spirit of this Conference its harmony r ./ r felt through will exert, will not be confined to this country, but will be felt, the world : not merely through Christendom, but throughout the world. Wherever felt, I rejoice to believe it will be an influence for good; and will have the efiect of encouraging our brethren in the labour which God's providence has assigned to them, and of giving them full assurance that they are remembered in the prayers of a great en- Christians at home; and that the sympathies of the Christians of tomission- this country go fully, strongly, and continuously in favour of all who labour for the spread of Christ's kingdom, by whatever name they may be distinguished amongst men. The Resolution was unanimously adopted. Prayer having been offered by the Rev. Edmund Prttst, of Northampton, the Doxology was sung ; the Rev. Canon Stowell pronounced the benediction ; and the Conference separated. 318 GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. Friday Evening, May 23d. Public meeting. At half-past six o'clock a great Public Meeting of the friends and supporters of the Missionary cause took place, in connexion with the Conference proceedings, at the Philhaemonic Hall. It was one of the largest Missionary meetings ever held in Liver- poo], the Hall being densely crowded in every part. Upon the lofty platform were seated the various members of Conference, and a great gathering of both clergy and laity. CBAiEMAif, On the proposal of the Rev. Dr. Eapfles, made in brief terms, and carried by acclamation. The Earl of Shaftesbttrt toot the chair. The Eev. G. D. Cullen then gave out Bishop Heber's Mis- sionary hymn, " From Greenland's icy mountains,'' which was sung by the audience, the organ accompanying. The Rev. George Scott, formerly Wesleyan Missionary in Sweden, having offered up prayer. Major-Gen. Major-Gcneral Alexander was called upon to describe, in ' brief terms, the proceedings of the Conference during their several sittings. He said the members of the Conference had been pleased to elect him as Chairman over the very interesting meetings which had been held during the past week ; and he had been requested to complete the duty that had devolved upon him, by bringing brieiiy before that meeting a general statement of the manner in proceedings, .^^j^jgij ^he Conference had been conducted, and the results to which they trusted it would lead. In the first place, it had pleased Object iu God to put it into the hearts of some of his servants to meet and ^"*"' take counsel together, regarding the best way of giving a new Brief state- ment of tiie Conference GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 319 impetus, if possible, to the work of carrying out their Saviour's command to carry the everlasting gospel to every creature under heaven. All had joined heartily in the task they had set before them. He mentioned no names, not even one that all present would hail, because he felt that he might offend Christian delicacy by a well-meant, but perhaps blundering, compliment, if the in- adequacy of his expression should unhappily faU short of the ardent sincerity of his feelings on the subject. The first and great object set before them was the grand commission to make The great known the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which hadmSaions. been issued for eighteen long centuries ; yet hundreds of millions were still living and dying in ignorance and error. This was the deep and solemn thought impressed by those Christian minds which had convened this Conference. Among the objects of their dis- cussion they had considered, first, European missionaries abroad The mis- — how to seek for them, how to select them; and having sent hiTwork" them forth, how best to guide them in their several spheres of "'"^"^^ labour. They had taken into consideration their use of the ver- nacular languages of the peoples to whom *hey were sent, the ne- cessity of their acquainting themselves with the customs, manners, thoughts, and religious observances of the different nations to whom they were despatched. In connexion with that topic, they had Keflex in- also deeply and anxiously considered the reflex character of the mlSonary missionary work abroad upon the Church at home, and on that ^°'^'^' catholicity in the Church, which they were all most anxious to promote. The next subject considered was. How best to stir up, How to stir direct, and work the missionary feeling at home. He would not a£r™eSnK" attempt to describe at length, that which would be published here- after. The result of their deliberations had not been drawn up in authoritative resolutions, but had been embodied simply in the form of Minutes ; for from the beginning it was felt to be essen- mmitee. tially necessary not to lay down anything in a dictatorial and dog- matic manner, but rather to give those engaged in missionary matters the practical experience, the Christian knowledge, the wisdom that had been gathered in the different fields of labour throughout the world. Then came the subject of education. That, EdscatioB of course, referred principally to education abroad, — to education, not as a primary object of missions, but as a necessary and indis- pensable adjunct of missionary work. They had considered the important subject of vernacular literature, as well as English peri- Literature. odicals, tracts, and school-books ; also native agency ; and how jj^.^ best to obtain and qualify candidates of the right stamp for their 320 MAJOE-GENEEAL ALEXANDER. own mission work. And that morning they had concluded the Native whole by considering the organisation of the native churches, and how far it was wise and expedient to impose upon them, in all their rigidities, the ecclesiastical systems which had arisen in our own country. He thought he need not enter into details on these subjects. He might say, that when they assembled, he believed there was a deep conviction in the mind of every member of the Conference, not only of the solemnity, but of the difiiculty of what Variety of was before them. Men of all the great evangelical missions and menpreaen . ^^.^^ every dime had been present, and had freely expressed them- selves, without yet exhausting the subject. Indeed, he might almost say, that they had but so far gone into the past, as to lay a better foundation for the greater efficiency of future missionary eiFort, and that another Conference may hereafter be deemed de- sirable. They had had no differences in doctrines. A wonderful Unanimity: unanimity, a sanctified and Catholic spirit had been vouchsafed cat icity. throughout all their proceedings ; a spirit which, he hoped and trusted, would be borne by the various members of the Confer- ence into the several branches of the Church universal, and per- meate through the hearts of all the congregations in our land. Were the doctrines and evangelical principles, in which God had, Effect, if the by the presence and power of his Holy Spirit, united the hearts fSnference^ and minds of his servants on this occasion, to be carried forward becamed ^^^ through, in preachings from our pulpits, and teaching in our schools and families, the missionary cause would become the cause of all. Protestant Britain would be in the midst of the world as a fountain sending forth the pure streams of the water of life to every kingdom and people under heaven. The purpose for which God has exalted us above all nations, and given us a dominion to the very ends of the earth, would be fulfilled. AVe should be honoured in carrjdng peace to mankind, and proclaim- ing salvation from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same ; instead of, as we now are, spreading bloodshed and de- vastation, in a warfare caused by forcing a soul and body-de- stroying opium traffic, upon one-third of the human race in China, while in our two viceroyalties we nationally foster Popery in the West, and impede the free course of the word of God, in that which is providentially established for the spiritual and eternal, as well as for the temporal welfare, of the hundred and eighty million inhabitants of our God-given empire in the East. Chairmas. The Chaieman, who was greeted with loud and prolonged GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 321 cheering, then said: — Ladies and gentlemen of Liverpool, when any one is called to preside over such a meeting as this, he is bound as Chairman to consider vehether he should say much or little. In my judgment, the present occasion calls upon me to say but little ; and for this reason : I can give you no personal experi- ence of my own of the information acquired, or the feelings ex- cited, during the meetings of this Conference, not having been able to attend them. I cannot enter into those important details that have been just sketched out for you by Major-Gen. Alexander ; I can only deal in general principles ; and it might be sufficient — and I think it ought to be sufficient — that the Chairman, having indicated what is to come, should be allowed to sit down and not weary the assembly by any oration of his own. (Cheers.) But it is the custom, and I must conform to the custom, that the Chair- Congratula- man should say something ; and I confess that, when I look at objects kept this vast assembly, and when I consider the purpose for which it "^ "^^' is brought together, I am moved to call you to feelings of con- gratulation, and to thank Almighty God that He has put it into the hearts of so many to be warmed by the desire, which all here manifest, to spread abroad his holy name, and bring millions now sitting in darkness to the light and liberty of the gospel. (Applause.) Tou are here to-day, as it were, a National Synod ; a National you are here to-day collected, the representatives of all branches of the Christian Church, — Baptists, Moraviarfs, Wesleyans, Inde- pendents, members of the Church of England, members of the Church of Scotland ; branches of all those denominations that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. That is your symbol ; that is your connecting link ; that is the principle that guides you ; that is the object you have in view. (Applause.) 1 must say that it appears to me something like an ([Ecumenical Council of the dominions of Her Majesty Queen Victoria (hear, hear), and I trust that it will be quite as pure in spirit, wiser in conduct, and happier in issue, than most of the QEcumenical Councils that have been held in other times (laughter) ; and that it will be a great precedent and example to all the habitable parts of the globe to meet together as we have done, every one in his own nation, and see what he can do to spread abroad the glad tidings of salvation from one extremity of the earth unto another. (Ap- plause.) Now, the business of this Conference, so far as I gather Business it, has been this : to inquire and to conclude in what way the Q^^^g^^^ missionary spirit could be best stirred up in this country ; in what way the means for bringing that spirit into action could be best X 322 CHAIRMAN. Present position of the world. Only a frac- tion of its people Christians. Arguments for tenfold vigour in Christ's work. raised ; and then to see in what manner both could be best directed to the object you have in view abroad. This will be set before you by gentlemen of great personal experience ; by those who speak to what they know, and can tell you what they have seen ; and I am convinced that their rhetoric and their exhortations will command your sympathies, and will guide your judgment. But, my good friends, do, for one moment, consider the present position of the world. Do consider, that at this moment the num- bers of those who do not believe in the name of our Lord are ten, twenty, perhaps thirtyfold, those to whom the knowledge of salvation has been administered. Recollect, that though the state of things be so, the world has been for eighteen centuries in this condition ; and, during the latter part of these centuries, it has been in the power of those who hold the truth, having means enough, having knowledge enough, and having opportunity enough, to, evangelise the globe fifty times over. And yet they have done nothing of the kind ; and now, after eighteen centuries of saving knowledge, we find there is but a small fraction of God's crea- tures who have any knowledge of his word ; and a still smaller fraction who have any desire to make it known. But I hope, when we lay seriously to heart our responsibility ; when we con- sider how much has been given to this nation ; and particularly when we consider its energy of heart ; when we consider its extent of intellect; when we consider the peculiar character of our people ; when we consider the enterprise of England's sons ; when we consider the enormous wealth we enjoy j when we con- sider that we have been professors, — ay, and free professors of the Protestant faith for some three centuries ; when we consider that we have an open Bible, no man forbidding us (loud cheering); and when we consider that we have means and resources such as never yet fell to the lot of any nation ; when we consider that our dominions extend from one end of the earth to the other, that one hand of the Queen rests upon the East and the other hand rests upon the West ; when we consider that every enterprise of the kind we have now undertaken has been blessed by God with signal success; — how can we sit still and not tremble under the weight of responsibility that devolves upon us, if we delay for one moment, from the hour at which I am now addressing you, to come forward with tenfold vigour, tenfold resolution, tenfold amount of prayer, praying that God would be pleased to put into our hearts these great designs, and enable us by his grace to bring them to good efiect ? (Applause.) This responsibility is GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 323 indeed terrible; this responsibility is more than fearful. Our Our nationai neglect of it, therefore, would seem to be unpardonable. Never- tuity. theless, in God's mercy, there are indications of a better spirit ; signs of a and if we could from this day go forth, like John the Baptist, ^ "^"^^P""- and announce that there was a dawn beyond ; that there was something coming that would bring light, and liberty, and shining light to the nations sitting in darkness and the shadow of death ; then, indeed, we might have hope ; then, indeed, we might have confidence ; then, indeed, we might retire to our rest this night, in the full and assured belief that a great, a long, and a glorious period of usefulness and joy was reserved in the service of Almighty God to this great, blessed, and ancient Protestant Kingdom of Great Britain. (Loud applause.) But now, my gotsd friends, while every heathen and benighted One special soul ought to be to us an object of solicitude and prayer, ought India. ' we not to consider, whether God has not given to us a peculiar field for our operations, and whether our principal eiforts ought not to be made in that land where lies our principal responsibility ? For what purpose, think you, were two hundred millions of hea- thens consigned to our care in her Majesty's dominions in the East ? J^y s^^ For what purpose has India been placed under the sceptre of Queen Victoria ? Is it that it may add to our idle state ? Is it merely for the extension of commerce ? Is it merely that India may take our goods, and we receive hers in exchange ? Is it not for some greater, mightier, holier purpose than that? Most unquestion- ably it is. Most undoubtedly that is our duty. (Loud applause.) obligation Ay, and the nation at one time, almost to a man, recognised that the muti^. great and sacred obligation. Well do I remember the time when the mutiny in India had carried terror to every man's heart. Well do I recollect that many men who cared no more for Christianity than they did for the ground they walked upon ; many such men said to me, — "Clear it is, that nothing is left for the saving of that empire but that the people should be Christianised : we must introduce the Christian religion among them ; that will be the true conservative principle, and will bind the people of India to the throne of Queen Victoria." (Loud applause.) Ay, they said convirtinns that ; many said it in sincerity and with deep devotion ; many dull! ^""™ said it in mere policy, and as a temporary expedient. The mutiny subsided, and so subsided their convictions, and a greater deadness ensued after the mutiny than existed before it ; and soon, — ay, and rapidly soon, shall we lapse into that nondescript, that inconceivable, that wild condition called Government Neu- 324 CHAIRMAN. trality. (Hear, hear.) Eecollect, my friends, that GoTernment neu- trality will shortly become national neutrality (hear, hear) ; that Government indifference will shortly become national indifference ; ay, and that Government sin will shortly become national sin. (Hear, hear.) After all, what is this neutrality ? Neutrality is a word you may read in the dictionary ; and neutrality is a thing you Neutrality ^^7 ^^^ ^^ ^^^ grammar. But neutrality in the moral life of man Impossible, jg g, thing that cannot have existence. (Applause.) Politicians talk of neutrality, because they delight in mutual mystification^ (Laughter.) But neutrality in religion is impossible. (Applause.) A man must either believe or disbelieve. If he disbelieves, he is What the be- an infidel; and that is an end of the matter. If he believes, he hever must jg bound, by every consideration of heaven or of earth, with all his soul, with all his heart, with all his mind, with all that he possesses, with all that he covets, with all that he can lay his hand upon, by every energy of body and soul, he is bound to do all that in him lies, in a legitimate way, to labour that the Word of the Lord may Union now have free coursc and be glorified. (Applause.) This union of all aSongaii evangelical and orthodox denominations is a great sign of the th'^'chm-?! times. (Hear, hear.) It shows that there is a mighty effort directed to one single view, and that, the holiest and the purest that can enter into the mind of man. Setting aside all externals that are non-essential, and looking to the internal that is indis- pensable, these churches set before them the one single object of preaching Christ crucified to every ignorant soul on the surface of God's earth. It is a great discovery to have made, that we can have a common feeling ; that we can have a common heart ; that we can have a common action ; that we can have a common sym- pathy ; and this, because we know that we have one common Master ; and therefore we can have a common affection and a common labour towards the attainment of this great and mighty This union a end. This great union is one mighty protest against idolatry, combination agaiust indifference, against sluggishness in all matters of religion, emj^' *^ '^^J> '* is ™°''S til™ a protest against them ; it is a great combina- tion ; it is one great aggression against the strongholds of Satan. The time is past when we should stand in an attitude of resistance. The time is come when we should go forward, and show that the Kingdom of Heaven may suffer violence, and that the violent may We must not take it by force. (Hear, hear.) Tlie attitude of resistance some- batf attack":' times is necessary, but it is always more or less the attitude of weak- ness. I remember well the great Duke of Wellington saying to me one day, when discussing the question of the frontier between GBNEKAL PUBLIC MEETING. 325 our provinces and those of tlie Burman Empire : " I advise the Government to take that point ; because, take my word for it, no point is ever good for defence unless it is equally good for attack." And if that be true in military matters, it is still more true in religious matters. Let us no longer stand in this attitude of resistance ; in this quiet attitude of waiting what may come ; but with vigour; let us go forth boldly and courageously to attack all that is before us ; and there is no doubt that the whole thing will fall, — ay, and more speedily than we are aware of, before the united efforts of this combined attack. (Applause.) But if you go forward, there without must be no shrinking ; there must be no hesitating ; there must ^''""'^"S- be no looking back ; no falling off to the right or to the left ; and no pause in the great work when begun. Why should you pause ? I ask you whether, in the history of the world, there was ever a time, whether it be in the old country or in the new, whether Favourable among nominal Christians or those sitting in heathen darkness ; °fe p"e1eiit was there ever a time when men's minds seemed more ready to "^^ ■ receive good impressions ? Was there ever a time when men were more inclined to listen to the truth ; when there was a greater opportunity offered ; when a wider sphere was opened for the efforts of the missionary ? Never, I believe, was there a time more favourable. All things are far more advanced than they were. It hath pleased God to remove many obstacles and to give many facilities. All spiritual things are as good as they were; the in the world prospects of the future are as powerful as before ; but all secular severally. things, and the condition of the world itself, open ten thousand means, present ten thousand advantages in the present day, that we never enjoyed in any antecedent period. Ah ! but you must turn your minds very seriously to the state of things in the world around us. It deeply concerns your temporal peace. It deeply gj^te of the concerns the security and enjoyment of yourselves and your^°^'^, ^ children. Can any be blind to the stirring events taking place in every nation under heaven; can any one be indifferent to the perils that surround us ; can any one feel secure under those mysterious movements that are taking place, and that leave us in doubt from day to day whether we shall be to-morrow in a state of peace or in a state of war ? Can anybody hesitate to believe that some great conflict — (who can decide the form and pressure of it ?) — can any conflicts, one hesitate to believe that some great conflict of the nations is at impSfng. hand? Can any one hesitate to believe that some great judgment is impending upon all peoples ? It may fall lighter upon some and heavier upon others. It will fall lightest upon those (though all, 326 MAJOE DAVIDSON. Only in doing Christ's work, will be fouud safety; and accept- ance. perhaps, will feel the scourge) who in the day of trial will be found watching, engaged, — if not all, at least ten out of the city, — engaged in watching, and in their Master's service. (Applause.) I do implore you to put your shoulders to the wheel. I do implore you to be more earnest and active in your endeavours. I implore you to be more intense, and earnest, and devoted' in your prayers. I implore you to have more constantly, more unceasingly, more vigorously before you, the great work that has been opened to you this evening. It is for temporal, as well as for eternal things, the one great object of our existence. It will give you security; it will give you peace ; it will save you in the great trial and danger that is coming on ; and if at that hour when the judgment shall arrive, you be found busily engaged in the work of the Master, then, after a period of suffering and purification, you will, by the blessing of the Almighty God, be found to be an acceptable — aye, and an accepted people. (The noble Chairman resumed his seat amidst rapturous applause.) Major Major Davidson, formerly of Bombay ; — It has been hinted during the deliberations of this memorable Conference, that India has, perhaps, been too strongly represented ; especially as we pro- fess to deal with missionary work in all parts of the world. But Importance I would bring to the recollection of this meeting, as your lordship o NDiA. jj^^g already done, that while " the field is the world," India is that portion of the field for the culture of which England is peculiarly responsible. Is not India a part of the British empire ; and have not the heathen millions of India, as our fellow-subjects, a peculiar claim upon our sympathy ? I will not apologise, then, for speaking Our deep re- of India. On the contrary, I cannot find words to express our sponsi 1 y. ^gg^ responsibility with respect to that great country ; and if ever there was a period when our position with respect to India was more than usually interesting, it is the present. God has, in his wondrous mercy, restored that land to us. God has once more put us on our trial, and it will be an awful thing for England, if she fail to render a better account of her stewardship in the future than she has done in the past. (Hear, hear.) My Lord, I have spent the best years of my life in India. Half of that period I was engaged in the prosecution of a work, which had for its object the relief and improvement of the agri- cultural population. Although the prosecution of this work required me to give up the society of my countrymen, and to live in comparative solitude, without the amenities of social and His own life in India. GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 327 civilised life, yet I look back on those days as among the happiest of my life; and on the gratitude and affection of that simple people, as a precious and unlooked-for reward. (Applause.) My Lord, I love and respect the rural population of India. I Character of its rural see in them the elements of a great people ; and I could wish that population: my countrymen were better acquainted with this portion of their fellow-subjects;, but the fact is, that while the agricultural classes form the great body of the people, and contribute the bulk of our revenue, they are the class who, of all others, have been least ttey have , beengreitly known and most sadly neglected. (Hear, hear.) For example, I neglected: would ask, what has been done to educate these people, and so to elevate them in the scale of moral and intellectual worth ? Some slight efforts have been made by Government in the way of education; but these efforts have been almost entirely in favour of oppressed by a class who, for ages, have sucked the life-blood out of these simple mius: villagers. In other lands the tax for education has been chiefly a tax upon the rich for the education of the poor; but in India it has been exactly reversed, and the poor and industrious cultivator has and for their been taxed for the education of the indolent and supercilious Brahmin. (Hear, hear.) The result of this system is, that the Government native agency is composed almost entirely of Brah- mins ; and so great is the influence of these men, that the culti- vators, among themselves, speak of our Government as the Brahmin raj, or Brahmin reign. Let the Church be careful to avoid the same error ; and let Their me urge that redoubled efforts be made more effectually to reach this interesting portion of the people. They are living in the most primitive condition, reminding one of the patriarchal ages ; and who can venture to say they are not in a favourable condition for the reception of the gospel ? The Bible is to them the most ^^^ gj^g attractive of all our books. Its histories and illustrations have the ™°them*^'^'^ clearest light thrown upon them by the customs and incidents of their every-day life. Indeed, in many respects they can under- stand the Bible better than we can. (Hear, hear.) This fact was brought strikingly before me by an occurrence which came to my notice when I was living among them. An ofiicer, engaged in luustration the same work with myself, had occasion to take a long ride through a part of the country that had been rarely visited by Europeans. He halted at a village in order to escape the hottest visit of an hours of the day ; and sitting down in the usual resting-place for ° °^'^' travellers, the village temple, he entered into conversation with some of the villagers who happened to be there. The news soon spread that a gora sahib, or white gentleman, who spoke Mara- 328 MAJOK DAVIDSON. thee like a native, was sitting in the temple; and in a few minutes the whole village, men, women, and children, flocked to see and hear this wonder. with them '^° *^®'^ surprise, he not only conversed freely with them, but he could talk about all their processes of husbandry, knew the nature and peculiarities of the soil they cultivated, the tenures by which they held it, and, in short, was familiar with all the outs and ins of their village life. In the course of this conversation one of the natives asked him if he knew anything about Yoosuph, which is the native name for Joseph. This surprised him ; and the more so, when on further conversation he found that many of them were quite familiar with the history of that patriarch. On asking how they had got this information, he found that one of their number, when on a visit to a distant European station, had The History got possession of a tract entitled The History of Joseph. It was, in fact, a simple extract of the Bible narrative translated into Marathee. Unable to read himself, he got the koolkurnee, or very popular village clerk, to read it for him ; and it was liked so much, that he and his fellow-ryots used to assemble in the evening by the village well, while the koolkurnee read and read again the in- spired story of Joseph and his brethren. (Cheers.) To them it was peculiarly interesting. They knew too well from their its case, own sad experience what famines were. "Within tie precincts of their village were the pekows, or underground granaries, for storing grain against such emergencies ; and they had, in the place of Pharaoh, the hard-hearted village corn-dealers, to dole out to them, at famine prices, just grain enough to keep them alive and to furnish seed for their fields. In spirit, the picture drawn by the inspired penman was one for which they might themselves have sat ; and it is an interesting fact, that some of them stated their conviction that the God of Joseph was the only true God. (Cheers.) They should Now, My Lord, I trust I have shown that the Bible is pecu- Bibie. liarly suited to the natives of India. How important is it, then, that they should be taught to read, and that the Bible should be put into their hands. Let us do this ; let the people of England insist that education be made available to their fellow-subjects in the East ; and then may we look for the Holy Spirit to do his blessed work, and to write the words of that book on the hearts of the people. Hope for ^7 Lord, I have great hope with respect to the future of India. India. j^ jg ^^^.<^ pf ^jjg inheritance which God has given to his Son, and his Son will assuredly claim it. Much prayer has been put GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 329 up for India, especially of late ; and I am a humble believer in the irresistible power of prayer. (Applause.) The blood of native Christian martyrs has been freely shed in India, and will shortly prove the seed of a glorious church, gathered from among the heathen, to Jesus. (Cheers.) Often, My Lord, in my solitary rides over the vast plains of Thedawa India, I have watched the first streak of light that indicated the approach of day. Methinks I now see in that dark horizon a streak of light, which, though faint and feeble, is the harbinger of a glorious dawn! Yes, the Sun of Righteousness will soon arise on India, with healing in his wings, and will dissipate the thick darkness that so long has brooded over that deeply inter- esting land ! (Applause.) The Eev. Joseph Mullens, of Calcutta, next addressed the Bev. j. assembly as follows: — My lord, ladies, and gentlemen, I stand ■'^'"''^'^''^' upon this platform as the representative of my missionary bre- thren. At this meeting wise and experienced officers of our various missionary Committees, as well as clergy connected with our home churches, will plead before you the obligations of that sjioaks in great and glorious work in which we are engaged ; but I stand li^l ^^J' °^ here to speak a word in the name of those numerous brethren, ^'™=^»«s- whom the providence of God has brought together at this time, from their various fields of missionary labour in many and distant lands. At least six times have I begged to be excused from occu- pying a position so difficult before this immense audience; but the work has been pressed upon me, and however unworthy, I cannot refuse to say one word in respect to the features which our glorious work is of late years beginning to assume : though an Indian missionary, however, I shall to-night leave my own sphere of labour, to deal with our missionary work at large. During this Thirty-seven most memorable Conference, there have been gathered in Liver- p'''^^'''- pool no less than thirty-seven missionaries from various parts of the world. One of our brethren has come from among the Red Where from. Indians, in the snowy settlements of Upper Canada. Another has told us of his experience in the Islands of the South Seas; the only representative of that great band, of whose lowly labours and marvellous success we have now been accustomed to hear great things during a long course of years. Two brethren have laboured amidst the tropic heat of the West Indies and the swamps of the Gulf of Guinea ; another has spent years of solitary toil among the Buriats of Siberia. Two have visited us from 330 EEV. J. MULLENS. Caifreland ; and one from the city of Damascus. Two of our honoured brethren, distinguished as Medical missionaries, who have laboured long on the coast of China, represent the eighty- missionaries of all Societies at present living on the seaboard of that thickly-peopled empire ; and more than twenty of us have Impressions resided in the various provinces of India. I find that, without themT ■*' exception, we have enjoyed intensely the delightful meetings of this Conference ; that we have all benefited greatly by those solemn and searching discussions, which we have held with each other, with the valuable and experienced Secretaries of our many Societies, and with other brethren who have shared in these deli- berations ; and I believe that in us all the result has been, only to lodge more completely, at the very bottom of our hearts, the solemn conviction, that there is nothing in this world so great and Their glorious as the work of the missionary ; and that, by the grace of God, if our brethren at home continue their confidence in our character, our purposes, and our plans, we will go forth with fresh energy and fresh consecration, with a deeper earnestness and a heartier love, to become once more the messengers of the churches, and the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Applause.) The union My lord, it needs not that much should be said about that de- lightful union which has been exhibited in such practical forms during the proceedings of this Conference. Very little was said about that union there : the thing itself was so obvious : we made its practical very fcw professions of affection and good feeling towards each character : "^ ^ o o other. We stood on higher ground ; and from the first, recognising ourselves as a single body, though representing many churches and many agencies, we sought to bring all the materials and the results of our experience to bear upon that work of salvation, which we felt to be the object of our highest admiration and of our most devoted love. Our union has been of the closest and most practical kind. We have gone over all our plans ; we have dis- cussed the suitability of our various agencies to the many spheres of labour in which we are engaged ; we have endeavoured to count our gains ; to see where the obstacles to our work lie, and what is the blessing of the Spirit that has been poured upon our efforts, not now in The practical union that has been thus exhibited in our delibera- niissionary , . ■ t i • ■ , i • fields. tions IS, i am nappy, as a missionary, to say, nothing new among the servants of God in foreign lands. (Applause.) Many here are aware that it prevails extensively in India and in China, where numerous missionaries of several Societies are found labouring to- gether. For instance, the missionaries of all Societies residing in GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 331 the three great cities of India, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, are instances in accustomed to meet each other montli by month, for homely dis- ^'"^^■ cussions of the very kind which we have been carrying on in Liverpool. In our various labours we strive to co-operate Co-operation on system. It is a rule with us that we should work together. Because, my lord, we all feel, that if there be any place in the world where the disciples of Christ, whilst respecting to the fullest degree each other's conscientious convictions, should yet endeavour -wty : to show, that there is to those disciples but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, one aim and purpose in their Christian life, and above all, one love to the perishing souls around them ; it is when we stand face to face with those gigantic inthepre- systems of heathenism, by which the devil has enslaved the minds idoiatrythoy of millions during a long course of ages. Before those giant sys- ^^ °^'^ ' tems of error, our differences of organisation grow small. If we are separated by varying judgments on the externals of the gospel, we are all one in relation to its great heart. In the awful dark- ness of heathenism, — darkness that may be felt, — 'tis only the "children of Israel" who have light in their dwellings. That golden light streams on us from the Cross ; and, therefore, " the children of light" cling more closely to each other, and to the cling to each Great Master, whose compassion to lost souls is their own ruling motive in that fearful gloom. Stirred up, therefore, by the exhorta- tions of the Word of God, and feeling that the peculiarities of our position draw us much nearer to each other, I believe that through- out the world at this time it is not only the solemn conviction, and do one but the standing practice of all missionaries, not only that they shall love each other as brethren, but, as far as ever they can, that they shall work together for the same grand and glorious end, — the salvation of the dying world around them. (Applause.) In prosecuting that work of compassion, my Lord, how numerous Position of are our encouragements. What a glorious position do we now missions. occupy compared with that in which the fathers and founders of our Missionary Societies stood when they commenced it only a few years ago ! Our modern missions are only sixty years old, and already we see the face of the wide world rapidly changing under their mighty influence. I doubt, my lord, if through those labours a single convert had been made before the year 1800. Dr. Carey contrast in had gone to India ; his few brethren had joined him, and they had settled at Serampore as the centre of their labours. A few of our brethren had sailed for the South Sea Islands. There were one or two in Africa, one or two in the West Indies, and the rest of 332 KET. J. MULLENS. the dark world was an awful blank. But now we look abroad 1600 upon the earth, and, without reckoning the work carried on in our nanes. jjjjgjjgj^ golonies, we see at this moment 1600 foreign missionaries from Europe and America labouring in heathen countries and in many languages ; the hand of the Lord has opened their way. Their _^g q^q result of our work, we have already gathered 200,000 converts, . t • communicants, in many thousands of native churches. Including them, more than a million of converts, young and old, who other- wise would have lived in heathenism and died in despair, are, now sitting beneath the banner of the gospel, rejoicing in Sabbath ordinances, and all the blessed privileges that cluster round the gospel of Christ. (Applause.) Our work began, my lord, amidst Character of the apathy of friends, and the loudest obloquy on the part of our ' enemies. Society in England was thoroughly devoted to world- liness, and steeped in the most shameless wickedness and vice. Beau Brummel and his crew ruled in the world of fashion. French infidelity, the great product of the Revolution, was all the rage among the so-called thinkers of the day; an infidelity which found its way to our colonies, and to the English settlements in India ; and which there, as elsewhere, brought forth its bitter fruit. But just when the enemy had come in like a ilood, the Spirit of the Lord lifted up a standard against him (applause) ; and now, and now. thanks be to God, that glorious standard has been lifted high-; and all branches of the Christian Church, throwing aside their doubts and casting away their apathy, are delighted to enlist in its service and to go forth under the Great Captain of our Salvation, conquering and to conquer idolaters in his name. (Cheers.) Work done: How great the work which has already been accomplished ! We go to one part of the earth, where the missionaries followed the track in the South of Captain Cook. Island after island, tribe after tribe, have cast away their idols ; and all the children are growing up, like our own, entirely ignorant of the idols, the temples, and the cruel systems that were honoured by their fathers. (Cheers.) More than two hundred thousand Christians are now gathered into the ciinrchesand Church of Christ in those many islands, by the four great Societies there.' ^ that have laboured to convert them to God. These new converts, young in the faith but active in zeal, are drawing on towards that position at which we all aim ; their native churches are striving to provide for their own native ministers ; and they are constantly sending men, drawn from their own number, to be missionaries in the islands far to the west, that still lie in the darkness of cannibalism and heathenism. (Applause.) Amongst GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 333 other things stated during the Conference, the delightful fact sandwioi was mentioned, that our brethren of the American Board, who christiaua!'' have laboured with so much success in the Sandwich Islands, have for some time been planning to reduce considerably, in those islands, their staff of American missionaries. Eighty thousand people in the Sandwich Islands, the entire native population of the group, now profess Christianity like ourselves. They gather together in churches like ourselves ; every place is provided with its own schools ; numbers of native pastors preside over the wor- ship and discipline of those churches ; the Sabbath is kept better Missionaries than in London ; the Bible is the standard of public and social leayo them. law ; and now our brethren have received fair warning, that only a small number will for the future be maintained in those islands; to train a native ministry, to expound difficulties in the Scriptures, and to act as advisers, guides, and overseers of the weak faith and imperfect knowledge of the native churches, until their services are no longer needed. (Applause.) We go to Africa ; and where, at the beginning of this century, success in the Hottentot, and Fingoe, and Kaffir, were shot down without ""* ' mercy, there we find a people, 100,000 in number, saved from destruction, brought to Christ, and adorning the doctrine of the Saviour whom their fathers never knew. (Cheers.) We go to the Negro settlements in the West Indies. How many thousands in the West there have become Christians ; redeemed not only from the slavery of earth, but from the slavery of sin. They who oqly thirty years ago were sold in the open market, have proved the most liberal supporters of gospel schemes that the modern Church has known, and were the first converts to maintain ministers of their own. Only seventeen years ago the various ports of China m China: were open to gospel teaching for the first time ; and now we see in those ports no less than eighty Protestant missionaries of many churches working for Christ. Already, in the course of those seventeen years, they have been permitted to gather into their churches some 1400 communicants, and 3000 Chinese Christians. We pass on to Burmah; and there we find rejoicing in the light inBurmah: and liberty of the truth, 100,000 Karens ; every one of whom, thirty years ago, was entirely ignorant of its very existence. There they are, meeting like ourselves on the Sabbath ; working like ourselves for their ignorant brethren; supporting their pastors with the most active and self-denying zeal ; conteinplating the destitution of their heathen countrymen with compassion; and sending forth one and another of their brethren, with their lives 334 EEV. J. MULLENS. in their hands, to preach Christ among the barbarous tribes, stiU living in the mountains and the dense jungles of their own wild in India: land. (Applause.) We pass on to India; and again we see, in several provinces of that great empire, churches and Christians gathered, and the foundations of a large and great work in the future, laid by the hand of missionaries who have been working there for many years. Obstacles to our entrance, to our permanent residence, to our safety in the country, have all passed away ; and, blessed be God, after the appalling history of the recent mutiny, we rejoice to know that India has found, not only order claims of and peace, not only the services of faithful missionaries within reragn'isedat her own borders,' but has at last found a place, deep and firmly home: fixed, in the, hearts of our brethren at home; and we feel sure that, when the claims of that mighty continent are faithfully pressed upon them, our voice will be heard and a hearty response given to our appeal. (Applause.) And let us not forget the in Turkey, successful toil of our brethren in Turkey, to revive the decayed churches, and to grapple with Mahommedan error at its very heart. (Applause.) Further : Not only may we rejoice in these great successes ; but, with all my missionary brethren here present, I cheerfully ac- Work done knowledge, that in securing them, we have been largely indebted OTeachis *° °'^'' '^^'^ive brethren, working side by side with us, in these fields of labour. We were told in very affecting terms by Dr. Tidman, the other day, to look at the poor island of Madagascar. More than twenty years ago the English missionaries were driven from that island by the unrighteous queen, and scarcely fifty native Christians were left behind. They possessed but very small portions of the Word of God, some little tracts, and a few Persecution hymns. They have been bitterly and unrelentingly persecuted church: '^^*'^ Satanic cunning and Satanic hate. They have been fined, imprisoned, degraded, and made slaves ; they have been poisoned by the tangena-water ; they have been speared to death ; they have been cast over lofty precipices ; they have been burned at the stake, while the glorious rainbow arched the heavens and in- spired them with more than mortal joy; they have given more its great than a hundred martyrs to the Church of Christ: but, far from gi-owth : ijeing rooted out of the land, while, twenty years ago, when the persecution began, there were not fifty Christians on the island, it is believed that there are now at least 5000 : all of whom have been raised up by the special blessing of the divine Spirit upon the teachings of native agents and the secret study of God's holy GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 333 Word. (Repeated applause.) We pass away to the island of '■? T^iiti Tahiti ; and there we see that, whilst French Popery has endea- voured to exert its influence, and to present its blandishments, to those who were despised as the poor and ignorant natives of the country, they have adhered most fiiithfuUy to their Protestant religion. We find that when the missionaries were compelled to th™nati?9 leave the country, their own native pastors came forward ; pastors. received from heaven all the grace ever promised to Christ's children in the time of need ; and at this hour, in spite of French Popery, and in spite of French brandy, the members of the Tahitian churches are more numerous than when the missionaries were compelled to leave them. (Applause.) tau^lhtusby I might allude to other facts of a similar kind ; but these will ™'='^^ss- suffice. I merely seek, in the name of the missionary brethren around me, to direct your thoughts to a few of those great results with which the Spirit of God has been pleased to bless our labours. In looking at these things ; and finding, in our discus- sions, not only how important, how efiicient, our plans have been rendered, but how well calculated they are to secure the great end for which missionary agency has been appointed, we have no desire Wot boast- to boast. If we have learned anything during the discussions of huimty : this week, we have learned that all boasting is utterly excluded : we have rather learned, from our successes, and from the mar- vellous grace poured upon our fields of labour, notwithstanding all our short-comings, to lie more low than ever before the footstool of that Eedeemer, who condescends to accept our poor and imper- fect service in his cauee. Whilst, therefore, my Lord, I speak of the changes that have passed over missionary fields ; whilst I allude to one great fact and another, here and there, that exhibits p™^^ ^ the substantial progress of the gospel, I desire not to be lifted up, but to feel more deeply than ever, — " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us ; but unto thy name give glory." Henceforth, I trust, on the part of missionaries, on the part of our committees, of our ministers at home ; on your part. Christian brethren, and on the part of all churches of Christ throughout this favoured kingdom, there will be but one feeling and one purpose : that because of these '^^^ ""re .... 1 -IP,! complete things, we will give ourselves with fresh humility, with purer oonsecra- motives, with inore complete consecration, with more earnest prayers to the work of Christ ; and that, like the Apostles, the model missionaries of ancient times, we will go forth, more than we have ever done, to spend strength, time, experience, wealth, 336 EEV. J. MULLENS. Promise of the future. 'All nations shall be Christians. China; India com- pletely given to Christ. people. All crowns His. completely and without reserve, in the service of our Divine Master. (Applause.) If that be our resolve ; if, in looking back to the past -we only learn to derive greater strength, greater faith, greater humility for the future, what a glorious day must be secured in answer to our petitions, and in accordance with the promise of G-od himself: " All nations which thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, and shall glorify thy name." Not only the uncivilized tribes ; not only the barbarous and scattered populations of the earth ; but the great races and the mighty people, that fill the provinces of empires like India and China, shall all come to Him. The learn- ing, thought, and skill of China shall all be sanctified to the Lord. Even India itself, poor erring India, after her long wandering, her fearful systems of superstition, her slavery of opinions, her multitude of vices, her awful ignorance and degradation, shall be brought safe home to Christ. From the lofty range of the Himalaya, crowned with the stainless snow, and clothed with redundant forests of the soft, feathery pines ; from the towering crags, where the pure, crystal air, wafted from icy caverns, breathes life and vigour into the weary invalid ; across the heated plains, where for ages the hand of violence has stained the earth with blood; over countless fields, tilled by a teeming population of precious souls, whose willing hand shall cover the smiling soil with richest harvests of waving corn ; over mighty cities filled with the beautiful products of ingenious skill ; over cities now marked by the lofty towers of Hindoo temples, the gilded pagodas of Gaudama, the marble mosques and jewelled palaces of Mahom- medan kings; down to the very verge of the land, where the dark Ghauts, clad in dense jungle, yet lightened by silver waterfalls, o'ershadow the sand-fields of Christianized Tinnevelly and the green slopes of Travancore, with their glorious forests of waving palms; — over all these noble provinces, rich in material wealth, but richer far in their priceless heritage of immortal souls, the Eedeemer shall extend his mighty march of love. Joy, righteous- ness, and peace, shall spring where'er he treads. Gorgeous in its tropic beauty, but lovelier far in the rich adornments of his jewellery of grace, the land shall pass under his perfect sway ; aU wrongs redressed; all sins forgiven; saved from destructive errors, the multitude of its immortal nations, with hymns of jubilee shall bend before his feet ; the crowns of every city, every province, shall be clustered on the Saviour's brow; and, in spite of the GENEKAL PUBLIC MEETING. 337 crimes of ages, liis children brouglat home at last, the Redeemer shall behold the work of his bleeding cross accomplished : " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." (Loud and protracted applause.) Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Edwaedes was next called on Lieut.-Coi. to address the meeting, and was received with tremendous and ""^^ repeated cheers. He proceeded to speak as follows : ; — My Lord, and ladies and gentlemen of Liverpool, our noble Chairman has given good advice to all the speakers at this meeting, that they shall speak what they do know; and, having myself recently come Missioua from the scene of the Indian Mutiny, and believing, as I do, that by the that great mutiny throws a bright, though indeed a lurid, light ™'^*"'y- upon the great object for which this Conference is assembled, I think that I cannot do better than direct the few remarks, with which I shall trouble you, to the lessons which I. think England may learn from that great war. (Hear, hear.) Friends and fellow- countrymen, you know as well as I do the history of India's past. You know that it is now somewhat more than a century ago since God gave the empire of India to us on the battle-field of Growth of Plassy. Within that century you know well what changes have Empire. come over that empire. It is told in all our histories, and in all our schools ; it is learned how we found a shivered empire ; how we bound that empire up ; how we absorbed its rebel governors ; how we introduced justice where we found violence and crime ; England's how we have abolished some of those cruel and bloody rites triumphB : which debased the land; how the perfidious crime of Thuggee; how the bloody custom of infanticide, by which the chiefs of tribes, from the mere pride of lineage, murdered their infant daughters by thousands, in order to prevent the possibility of their contracting inferior marriages, have, under English rule, been thoroughly abolished. With all these things you are fami- liar. And far be it from me to undervalue those great triumphs of our country's labour. They are, indeed, noble triumphs of Eng- Effect of our lish civilisation. They witness to a true heart of humanity ; they '^'™^™'*y- witness, in spite of ourselves, to a true feeling of Christianity, which we cannot repress, although we try to do so ; they tell that the Englishman, wherever he bears rule, will carry with him some of that Christianity which he has drunk in with his mother's milk. Still, in spite of these efforts, we must all know, — if we are honest men, and will dare to look the matter in the Our duty to face we must all know, that there are duties which we have not 338 LIEUT.-COLONEL EDWARDES. Why was it given: not for ourselves; but because we have au open Bible. Have we done our duty? We have hid the Bible. Judson and others expelled : He went to Burmah. Converts thei*&. performed towards that country. (Hear, hear.) I take it, fellow- countrymen, that that country was not given to us, — one hun- dred and eighty millions of our fellow-creatures were not handed over to our charge, purely for our own benefit. It was not merely that we should enrich our land with commerce ; it was not merely that we should provide for our sons and daughters ; it was not to gratify the lust of conquest and the pride of our own nation ; nor was it that we should abolish those crimes and hideous customs, and cover the country with roads and tele- graphs : these were not the objects for which God gave empire to us in India. I do believe, in the bottom of my heart, that that empire was given to England because we were the country of the open Bible. (Hear, hear, and applause.) If you look in the page of history, you will see that other foreign nations preceded us to that land, and yet they have not now got a footing in it. We have succeeded to the charge ; and why ? I conceive it is be- cause we have sternly, and after bloody contests, held fast our Protestantism and our Bible. We have had it open, and in- sisted on having it open ; and fought for it that our children should hold it ; and I conceive God looks down on this people and says, — " Here is a people that values the open Bible, and I will give the charge of that great empire to them.'' But have we fulfilled this charge ; have we met our respon- sibilities ? I tell you, with the Chairman, that it has been, from the very first, our English policy in India to conceal this Bible, and, if possible, hide its light. We have taken up at the very beginning, with that devil-fearing, God-dishonouring policy of neutrality in religion. Our Government has endeavoured, if pos- sible, to keep the very name of Christianity from the natives. Shiploads of missionaries went out, and shiploads were driven back again. The great Judson went out with his brave country- men ; and does it not call a blush on every face, when I say, that Judson was not sent out from these shores, but from our cousins in America, who have not one acre of land on those shores, but who feel what we have been so slow to feel, the responsibility of Christians and Protestants? Our Government repelled those missionaries. Judson was driven from the shore of India, and where did he go ? He landed upon heathen soil, where a heathen king sat on the throne, the shore of Burmah ; and there he was received, and founded that mission which has now reaped the rich harvest of which you may have heard. A hundred thousand Karens are now the fruits of the labours GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 339 of the great Judson and his colleagues ; and they are now holding prayer-meetings, and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their brethren, just like ourselves. These are the fruits which we might have had in India, if we had dared to follow a brave and a Christian policy. In every shape we have carried out that policy of neutrality. We have held partnershi]: ourconneo- even with Juggernaut. We have collected revenues from that luui-tempies great idol temple. We have taken into our charge and manage- ment the revenues of other temples : we have made our civil officers administer to them. Is that or is it not a shame to Christian England ? (Hear, hear.) And when Government has attempted to educate the people, has it founded that education Education upon the only root which education can ever take? Has itB^ble™*'* struck the roots of education into the Holy Word of God ? No ; it has declared that the Koran may be in the schools, the Shastre may be in the schools ; but the Holy Bible may not be in the schools. (Hear, hear.) Now 1 must do justice to our country, and say, that in follow- Liberalism ing this policy they have not been actuated altogether by those policy. base and ignoble principles which might appear upon the surface. They have, at all events, thought they were acting upon some broad principles of justice. They did at least think they were giving fair play, as they called it, to the heathen. But has this been understood by the. native ? The native has never from the The native beginning been able to comprehend this policy of our government, comprehend The native is constituted altogether differently from us : his mind "^' is of a totally diffiirent construction. Whether he is a Hindoo or a Mahommedan, religion is to the Asiatic the very beginning and He is a very the end, the Alpha and the Omega, of his existence. Its fibres run bemg°"^ through every act of his life. There is no feast, no fast, no event of happiness or sorrow in that man's family : he never eats or drinks, but in whatever he does, he does it to the glory of his god. Can a people whose heart is thus fixed in its religion, — can it understand how the English people can go, as conquerors, perfectly free and unbound ; free to follow their own convictions, and do as they choose in the management of India ? Can they understand how that noble Saxon people can begin their govern- ment by abnegating God ? And when they see such a phe- He ascribes nomenon as that, they argue upon it ; and the conclusion to to h;™"*^"'* which the people of India has come is, not that England is just and fair, and wants to let the light of truth force its own way among them, but the conclusion, that the English are a tricky 340 LIE tJT. -COLONEL EDWAEDES. Suspicion wide-spread- TUustra- tions: Tlie electric telegraph. The native hostelriea ; TVhy made. Another case. people ; that they dare not go straight to the object they have in view, but are approaching it by some sly contrivance of their own. The consequence has been, that throughout the length and breadth of India suspicion has gone abroad ; and the whole Indian people are always in doubt, always suspecting their government and rulers, and wondering what next is coming. Whatever measure of civilisation we introduced, we might tell them anything we chose ; explain its science, philosophy, and object, as we liked, they would look on and think, " Beneath this there is some contrivance to take our religion from us.'' I have hundreds of times heard natives tell me that, some of these days, when the telegraph wires were spread all over India, the Governor General would pull a string, and those wires would convert the whole of the natives to Christianity. (Laughter.) Take anothei instance : Along the great line of road from Calcutta to Peshawui our Government has established little hostelries for the traveller to rest in at night. Formerly, under the native rulers, there were strong forts along the roads, for the protection of the people from highway robbers ; but the roads now are perfectly safe, and mere lodging-places are required. A few years ago, when these hostelries or caravansaries were being built on the main line of road, the people asked; "What can possibly be the object of building all these along that road?" The native, you must know, is a very avaricious creature, and cannot under- stand how any one could lay out money, unless it is to bring him in money in return. Reflecting, then, upon these caravansaries, the natives speculated : What can be the object in building these places ? At length some wise man knocked out this idea : That he should not be at all surprised if some fine night, when all the travellers at the season of some great pilgrimage, in passing along the road, had lodged within these hostelries, all on a sudden the Governor-General gave orders that the doors should be shut, and that all of them should be made Christians. (Laughter.) I will give you another instance: We never take a new country in India, — and when I say we never take a new country, it seems as if we were in the constant habit of taking new coun- tries. However, after all the talk about annexations, havino- studied the history of past annexations, and having had an unworthy share in some other annexations (Applause), I can truly say that I believe, with a very few excep lions, which I should not wish to conceal or blur over, that the annexations of our country in India have been forced upon us by the native GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 341 rulers. (Applause.) But I was saying that we never have taken a new country without the report being immediately spread abroad that all the little babies were being kidnapped by the suspicion English; what do you suppose for? They say we are going tOdowntheir^ make moomeai of them. This, with them, is an ointment, a""^*"*^- mysterious ointment, which possesses most extraordinary pro- perties, with which, if anybody is rubbed, he becomes a very Rustimi in the field, the strongest of heroes. But this mysterious ointment can only be extracted with the most extraordinary in- cantations ; and these poor little babies must be got, and hung over a very slow fire, that their poor little innocent fat may be drawn out of them ! And, actually, there is scarcely a popula- tion in any province of India that does not, first of all, hail our advent, by expecting that we are going to boil their babies ! These are the suspicions which are entertained in consequence of our indirect proceedings in the matter of religion. Another in- Another: stance just occurs to me. There is scarcely a half-year passes ^9"'' Jf''^"^ over India but what you hear the report that all the flour which dust: is in the market has been adulterated with bone-dust by order of the Government ; and that certain rascals, native confederates of our Government, are going about underselling the really whole- some, sound, good flour, selling it 2 lbs. or 3 lbs. cheaper than the why: real flour, in order that the poor people should buy the flour adulterated by bone-dust, go and make their cakes with it, eat it, and every one of them be turned into Christians ! ^jTow, fellow-countrymen, I have mentioned these facts, be- The people cause they speak more in reality than a thousand figures of ^^^'J,™^^'' rhetoric. They tell the real truth. There you get into the very heart of the people ; you understand their idiosyncrasies ; and you see at once what a fanciful, imaginative, suspicious people the Asiatics are. Now, if you had come forward and told these Opendeaiing Indian people that you were Christians ; that you came to them Bible in the name of God and of his Son ; and that, without violence, Secessar^ without persecution, yet with consistency, you desired in all your heart and soul to give them the best thing that you could confer upon them, the most bountiful and best possession God has given to you; — if you had told them that, and encouraged them, by all the legitimate means in your power, to read the Bible and become Christians, and explained to them how only they could become Christians ; they would then have honoured you, have respected you, and have loved you, and would never have feared or suspected you. (Applause.) What, then, havt 342 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWARDES. Missions and their success. Work still remainlDg. Basis of our power, moral. The country how held : The native army; its size in 1S57. The Madras ar Qjy. been the consequences of this neutral policy which we have pursued? Thank God, we have had at home hundreds and thousands of earnest Christian hearts, taking a different view of that great question. Tliey have, at their own charges, sent out missionaries to the East; and these missionaries have reaped a harvest which, though small in comparison with the field, is not small in comparison with the means you have employed ; for out of 180,000,000 of heathens and Mohammedans, they have, within the period related to you by the previous speakers, made 120,000 Protestant native Christians. (Cheering.) True, that is only one Christian in 1.500 heathens and Mohammedans; but still it is a great reward for their labours, and a great encouragement to you all to send out more labourers into that harvest. But while these have been the rewards of the missionaries, you see what the fearful balance of the heathen and Mohammedan population is. The balance of nearly 180,000,000 stares us in the face, still unconverted at this day ; still not only unconverted, but looking upon their rulers with suspicion. Now, let me explain to you, in a few words, what has been the basis upon which our power in India has been sustained. Of course, one great element of our strength in India (thank God !) has been our moral power. I thank God that there has gone abroad widely in India an impression that, at all events in secular matters, we do desire to do justice betwixt man and man ; and that has certainly been a great moral strength to us. But that moral power could never for a moment enable a handful of Englishmen to hold that vast continent in an imperial way. It would be impossible for a small band of thirty or forty thousand Englishmen to hold two hundred millions in their hands, and bid them do their will. What, then, has been the contrivance ? We have called unto our aid a native army. As we, bit by bit and step by step, advanced in our career of empire, we have added regiment to regiment, brigade to brigade, division to division, army to army ; till at last, in the year 1857, there stood three hundred thousand native soldiers under English arms. That army was divided between the three Presidencies ; the army of Bengal, the army of Bombay, and the army of Madras. Now, I do not know to what I am to attribute that, in the Madras presidency, from the very beginning, there has reigned, for some reason or other, a more Christian spirit than has prevailed in the other two Presidencies. I suppose it has been attributable, originally, to some band of real earnest, devoted, and praying Christians, who from the very begin- GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 343 ning have prayed to God for the Presidency to which they belonged; but certainly, bit by bit, there have crept into the Madras army native numbers of native Christians vcho have not been expelled from it. that army ; there has been no ban put upon them ; and they have been wholly regarded merely in their physical capacity. The consequence is, that the Madras army is largely leavened with the element of native Christianity. In the Bombay army this state of Bombay •* '' army. things has not been obtained. But there has been a transition state there. They, too, have been wise in their generation ; they have seen the great evil and the great tyranny of caste, and have from the very beginning ignored it, and declared that they will have no caste in the Bombay army. You see the Sudra and the outcast stand side by side with the proud Brahmin : and here is a Tt« wastes ■^ ^ miied : lesson. Does the Brahmin refuse to stand by the side of the outcast in the ranks of the Bombay army ? No ! There is such a sight as this: a Soubadar or native Captain, of low caste, commanding a body of one hundred men of mixed races, in which the Brahmin shall be largely seen. If that can be done in one army, why not in all? Pass to the Bengal army, and there you will find the very in tie temple of heathenism, there you will find the real refuge and strong- araf: hold of caste. From the very beginning this policy was taken up, the respecting of castes of native soldiers. From the very beginning, the Government has enjoined upon the officers on no account to do one single thing, which shall in any way oifend the caste of anyone 'i'^f-^^t . of his sepoys. And the consequence has been, that bit by bit the native army of this part of India has become more distinguished, for its rigid and strict observance of caste, than any other portion of the population of Bengal. Now, fellow-countrymen, a priori, do you consider that a wise or sound policy to pursue ? I suppose there is not one man in this room who would not be able, in his own wisdom, without any experience of India, to foretell that no good could come of a policy like that. (Hear, hear.) The results were soon to be seen. An army thus constituted was like a sheet Growth of of gunpowder spread over the land; one single spark of offence ''^'"^™"°®' might any day set fire to that army. And our Government knew it well. Our Government gradually, as that army grew, and as province was added to province, and new regiments were obliged to be formed, looked with alarm upon that great army growing under its hands. It was like the old story of Frankenstein : this The monste great monster we had created, and we now viewed it with the steiu utmost horror and alarm. We lived in the greatest dread lest gome day this monster should turn upon us and tear us. Con- 344 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWAEDES. sequently, our Government enjoined upon our officers never to offend the natives in this Bengal army; and the native soldier, a very quick-witted, intelligent fellow, soon saw how things lay; and soon saw that he was not the servant, but the master of The army the Government. He began, a very few years ago, to dictate master: as well as Serve. He began to tell our Government that he could march here, but that he could not march there. He began to tell our Government that there were certain rivers which it was against his caste to cross ; and that he could not go into boats ; and go down upon certain wars, because he would and dictates have to cross the sea. He began, I say, to tell these stories serTioe. to our Government ;- and our Government, unable to dispense with him, and lacking the courage to grapple with the diffi- cu\tj, coaxed the sepoy ; begged him to go on board the boats ; and even promised him a little money; — begged him to go to Affghanistan ; and pampered him till the monster grew a hundred times the monster thathe was. Atlast the year 1857 came round. We, in our desire to complete the organisation of our Indian army, and in our extraordinary infatuation, perhaps, planned to put that The Enfield magnificent weapon, the Enfield rifle, into its hands. The Enfield cartridge, ^ifle, you all know, is of no'use without the Enfield cartridge ; and this cartridge is anointed with grease. I suppose a more ingenious device was never laid hold of by the devil himself, than to throw out the idea that the Enfield cartridge-grease was made of pig's- fat and beef-fat ; because that hit at once the prejudices of both the Hindoo and the Mahommedan soldiery. Sfgiou oT ^ '^^^ Hindoo religion is a religion of externals ; and it is not externals, with him as with the Christians ; he is not taught that the defile- ment comes from within ; he is not taught that to " eat with un- washed hands" defileth not a man; he is taught, rather, that contact with inferior caste defiles; that he may be defiled by accident ; that if by accident he touches his own conqueror, his own master, the Englishman, he is a defiled being from that moment. It is no uncommon thing for a Mohammedan missionary: How a fo^ sven they (and let us take example by it ; — let us take example where we can) — even the Mohammedan, in his zeal, unable as he Mussulman tricks ™tog™on"'° !® nowunder the English rule to propagate his religion by the sword, verts. is obliged to sheathe his sword, but he has the courage to open his Koran, — it is no uncommon thing for such a one to find it easier to shut the Koran, and take the Hindoo by a trick. He dresses him- self as a Hindoo, associates with Hindoos, invites them to sit along with him, and eat a jolly good dinner. And after they have freely GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 345 partaken of dishes which they thought orthodoxly cooked, the host turns round and informs them that he is a good Mahom- medan, not a Hindoo, and consequently that every one of them has lost his caste ! That is a common thing, and tells you at once that this is a people which believe that they can have their religion taken away from them involuntarily, without their heart entering into the matter at all; that they can be converted from Hindooism against their will. But why do the Mahommedans enter into that Mahom- View ? They ought to have a true idea of the one living and pre- influenced sent God ; — they ought to have an idea of the religion of the ideas. heart (and very many of them have) ; but they have been con- quered by the very customs of the people whom they have con- quered themselves. The Hindoos have Hindooized the Mahom- medans in India ; and the Mahommedans in India are now half Hindoos, and largely subject to this accursed caste. When, there- fore, they were told that these cartridges were mixed with beef and pig's fat, there was no Hindoo in our army but believed that strong if he once bit off the end of the cartridge (which he was obliged about the to do before he put it into the barrel), that by that act he would °"™ ^*'^' be un-Hindooized ; and there was no Mahommedan but believed that by that act he would be turned into a Christian. Now, my fellow-countrymen, you who have not travelled in the East, will find it difficult fully to enter into this ; but, whatever the value of the opinions of old Indians may be on otlier points, and I know they are very much questioned, at all events they ought to know something of the people among whom their lives had been passed; but do take the experience of an old Indian when I tell you, that there never was a more unfounded or absurd witticism invented, than that one pronounced in the House of Commons by one of our most brilliant speakers, when he said that " Eevolutions were not made with grease !" The greatest The mutiny revolution, perhaps, this world had ever seen, — the Indian mutiny ^^P^^gfrom of 1857, — if anything in this world was made with material elements, was made with grease. (Cheering.) Having explained that to you, I turn round upon this meeting. By full and and ask you if this misconception could ever have taken place, if teaoSng, we had not systematically kept the people of India ignorant of our ™on mid Christianity? (Applause.) Had you from the very beginning i^^™ i^eeu opened your Bible, put the Bible into your Government schools, ^™°^^ ' and made your schoolmasters explain the beautiful doctrines of the Christian religion, it would have gone forth over the land, among your people and among your armies, that the religion of Christ 346 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWARDES. was a religion which could only be made in the heart and not in the stomach. There would have been no misconception upon that great cardinal point ; there would have been perfect safety to us in dealing out that cartridge ; you would never have had one man suspecting you had, at all events, a mind to convert your armies to your religion by a material device like that. Thenratiuy But you did not do it, and you reap the harvest. One hun- P oe. ^^^^ thousand sepoys, with your bright arms in their hands, with your discipline and drill, handed down through one hundred years of military esercise, rose like one man against you to drive you out Number and of India. When they rose, they took us certainly at a fearful dis- thTnSti-" advantage. They were in possession of all our forts, of all our °°°"" magazines, of all our arms, of two-thirds of our artillery, and they stood sentry over all our houses. Well might they suppose that it would be an easy thing to drive these English out of the coun- try. They rose, indeed, and took us at a disadvantage; but they little counted that, many as they were against us, there were more with us than were with them. (Applause.) Thank God, our countrymen then recognised the crisis which was at hand. They saw that this was a war of extermination ; that it was race against race, religion against religion, Hindooism and Mahommed- anism against Christianity, and that we must look up and trust in Heroism of ^ our God for Safety. (Applause.) I trust it was in a Christian ' spirit that our Englishmen displayed the heroism of which you have read, and which you have applauded whenever it was read. And not only our Englishmen, but let me bear testimony to the and Bnglisii- heroism of our Englishwomen. (Applause. ) Then, indeed, in women. , . , „, . . that hour ot danger, you saw what it was to have a Christian woman put face to face with danger. You had not got the poor girl who from her infancy had been a slave ; you had not got the poor creature, whose heart had been stunted by tyranny, by idolatry, and by slavery ; you had not got the creature whose finest feelings as a wife had been repressed and almost extin- guished in her breast ; but you found a girl who had come from a country, where she had been taught from her earliest infancy to be a Christian wife. (Applause.) She saw the danger that her husband was in, and she rose like a Christian woman, hand in Tiieir noble hand, to share it with him. (Loud applause.) And whenever the deeds. history of that great war shall come to be written, I do believe that no brighter page, no more aifecting passage, will be found in it, than that which tells how our Englishwomen bore those extra- ordinary dangers; how they faced the foe; how they helped GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 347 their husbands ; how they attended the sick ; how they dis- regarded cannon-balls ; how they went through all things ; and how, with a woman's wish to do honour to the dead soldier to the last, they wound him in his winding-sheet with their own delicate hands, while the roar uf a siege was going on. (Applause.) I say, fellow-countrymen and countrywomen, that that indeed is a spectacle which you may all look on with a hallowed pride. I don't say with an unsanctified pride, but with a hallowed pride ; for it is, indeed, the fruit and savour of Christianity alone. (Ap- plause.) Well, this heroism, as it came from God, so also indeed it was blessed by God. We had our noble soldiers there. We The great had our Henry Lawrences. (Loud cheers.) We had our Henry '^° " Haveloeks. (Renewed cheers.) We had our John Nicholsons. (Cheers.) I perceive that you do not applaud enough the name of Nicholson. (Renewed and louder cheers.) Let me tell you, that Nicholson. though he fell young — he fell at the age of thirty-five — in no army, not only in your own, but in no army that stands a-foot in Europe, lived there a soldier in whom the greatest gifts of the war- rior were more skilfully, and happily, and nobly combined with the highest order of humanity, than were welded together in the noble heart and form of John Nicholson, who fell at Delhi. (Im- mense applause.) We had, too, our Neils : do justice to that name. (Loud cheering.) We had, too, our William Peels. (Re- newed cheers.) We had, too, our last sacrifice, our Adrian Hope. (Reiterated applause.) And these heroes did not fall in vain. They with their blood won for us a brilliant victory ; and, in two shprt years, this mighty army of 100,000 soldiers has been sub- dued, and once more England is master of the British Indian empire. But, fellow-coutitrymen, in winning back your empire, you Great ehas- have had fearful chastisements from the hand of God. Our Queen has lost these noble spirits, these noble generals, whom, indeed, she will find it most difficult to replace in the hour of danger. There is scarcely a village in our land which does not mourn fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, and children. This awful chastisement must, indeed, fall like a deep shadow upon our hearts ; and I would counsel you, as one who has come from those scenes ; I would counsel you, fellow-countrymen, not to wish to get from out that shadow, not to wish to emerge from it, and get within the glare of your old levity, and frivolity, and carelessness, and their many indifference about India ; but walk, all the rest of your lives, lessoul within the deep shadow of these judgments. I tell you that they 348 LIETJT.-COLONEL EDWAKDES. Lessons of raercy. by peace : by the electric telegraph. MessagQ from Delhi to Lahore, come from the hand of the same God that gave you India They come laden with fatherly advice ; they come to tell you that you have neglected the great responsibility that was put upon you; that you have forgotten that 180 millions of your fellow- creatures were put into your hands for holy, and not merely for commercial and selfish, purposes (Cheers) ; they come to teach you lessons which, I trust, you will all carry away with you to- night, if you have not read them for yourselves. There are lessons of mercy which I will first recount. I tell you that if ever in any war, — if ever in the history of any nation, — the hand of God was seen coming forth out of the cloud, to in- 1 terfere on behalf of any people, — the hand of God was seen fight- ing for us in British India during this war. (Applause.) I will recount to you some instances of it, for they are fresh in my recol- lection. There were both war and peace on your side. You had made a war with Persia ; you had a large division of your army absent there,-both natives and Europeans. With that army yoa had two of your best generals. Sir James Outram and Henry Havelock. (Loud cheering.) That war, for no reason that I can see, was brought to a close ; and peace was made precisely in time to enable that army to return to India, with Outram and Have- lock, to fight against the Indian mutineers. That was peace. Now I will tell you what war did. You made a war with China: you had a great difference of opinion as to whether you should make war with China; but you made war with China. You sent out your armies, and they arrived at the threshold of India just as we were in our extremity, and wanted them. Lord Canning put out his hand, and drew that Chinese division into India ; and they were the first reinforcements which en-' abled us to hold our own in that country. This' I conceive to have been an interposition of Almighty God in our behalf. A third was this ; that just before this mutiny broke out, the system of electric telegraphs had been completed over the surface of British India. There was a poor little boy employed in the electric telegraph-oflice at Delhi, who, when the mutineers came over from Meerut, and were cutting the throats of the Europeans in every part of the cantonment, had that sense of duty, in those tender years, to manipulate a message all the way from Delhi to Lahore, to tell Mr. Montgomery that the mutineers of Meerut had arrived, had killed this civilian, and that officer ; and wound up his message with the significant words, "We're off!" That was the end of the message. Just look at the courage and sense GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 349 of duty which made that little boy, with shots and cannon all around him, manipulate that message ; which, I do not hesitate to which saved say, was the means of the salvation of the Punjaub. (Loud cheer- ° ™^™ ' ing.) When that message reached Lahore, it enabled Sir Robert Montgomery to disarm the native troops before they had received one word of intelligence on the subject. The same message was flashed from Lahore to Peshawur; and we took our measures there in the same way. And just before any of the mutineers or Hin- doostanee regiments had the opportunity of laying their plans, we had taken all ours, and were able to defeat them when the hour of difficulty arose. Another interposition I consider to have been, that the chiefs The native ^ princes ou of India, as a body, sided with the English. Now, fellow-coun- om- side. trymen, if there is one class of Indian people from whom we should have least expected assistance, surely that class was the Indian aristocracy. It was the very necessity of the case that English rule should crush the aristocracy. We could not help it. It would have been a happier and a kindlier thing, if, in our career of empire, we could have welded the aristocracy into our system ; but they would not let us. They were the people we found in power ; they were the very people we were obliged to depose ; and the whole of our system, from beginning to end, has operated to reduce the aristocracy, and to elevate the people. Thus, in the hour of danger, the class from whom we should least have expected assistance, were the native chiefs of India. But what has been the result ? This very class has stood firm and loyal to the English. (Loud applause.) Another blessing toTheEajaof us was, that the King of Cashmere, that great country which is also. above the Punjaub, stood firm. Had he chosen to revolt, had he chosen to call upon the Sikhs, his late comrades in the Punjaub, to rise against us, no doubt they would have risen at his com- mand, and we should have been unable to hold that province. But he remained firm from beginning to end ; and I consider this, among others, to hav* been an interposition of Providence in our behalf. Another, perhaps still more remarkable, was this: that the The ' r r „ . Affghana. AfFghan people never once moved from their fastnesses to come down upon us as enemies. You all know the history of the Affghan war, and I will not repeat it. You all know it was a most unhallowed, unrighteous, causeless war ; and that we reaped in due ti.ae the reward which those deserve who enter upon and The former wicked war. carry ou such unrighteous wars. We lost a whole army of 350 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWARDES. 12,000 men amongst the fastnesses of Cabul ; and from that time forward there had reigned in both the hearts of Affghans and English a mutual enmity and hostility. But it pleased God, fore- " seeing these events, to put into the hearts of your rulers to make Becoutre- peace beforehand with these Affghans; to review the events of conoii>ation, ^^^ ^^^^_ ^^ ^^^j ashamed of the Affghan war, and tostretch out across the border the right hand of fellowship ; and in our hour of security and power, before one speck of danger had appeared in the horizon, when we could do it with dignity and honour, we and assist- Came forward in the hour of the danger of Affghanistan, stretched °'"°°' out to them our hand, and gave them a subsidy of a lac of rupees a-month, to enable them to defend their frontier against the en- croachments of Persia. That treaty was made with Dost Mahom- med in January 1857. Scarcely had he returned to his own capital when the Indian war broke out. What would have been om- rauitofan position had wc not made that treaty; and if that great, wily ooJrae*^ chief had raised the standard of his faith, bound the green turban of the Prophet around his brows, and called upon his hordes of barbarians to rise in a crescentade against the infidel and the Christian ? We should have been unable to maintain our posi- tion at Peshawur ; and, swept away by that great avalanche, we should have been carried through the Punjaub down to Delhi; Delhi would never have been taken ; and the English would have been driven helpless to the sea. (Loud cheers.) The people Another interposition was this : Not only did the chiefs of aisowitiiuB. jQ^ja gijg with us, but, in general, the people of India sided with us too. I announce that fact without the slightest hesi- tation. Let party men for their own party purposes, let men with peculiar crotchets and peculiar views of their own, try to dis- seminate this view throughout England, that this was a rebellion of the Indian people, and not a mutiny of the Indian army ; but I tell you, on the honour and the word of an English soldier, that this was not the case ; and say that, however sad are the con- They did not Sequences of that war for England, however melancholy a page tyrante.^ ^^^^ '^^^^ ^® ^" °'^'-' J^'^to""! l^ereafter, I do say that it will be a bright speck, a bright spot in it, to find that the Indian people as a mass, over whom we had ruled for a century, stood aloof from this great contest, and showed at least that ihei/ did not think we had been tyrants and oppressors. (Loud applause.) Had they not been satisfied that our rule was at least beneficent ; had tJiey not thought that, at all events, the English conquerors were animated by a sentiment of humanity and justice; would GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 351 they not, when they saw the heroes and leaders of their country, the armed soldiers, rising to fight the national battle, would they not have joined them, with their agricultural implements in their hands ? Of course they would : they would have risen like one man ; and with a handfal of thirty, or forty, or fifty thousand English standing in the midst of two hundred millions of heathen and Mohammedans, what possible hope could we have had, except in a miracle itself? Then I say, this is a proud thing for Eng- land to look back to, as it shows that our countrymen have done justice in India. But it should also be a humbling thing, a cause of humble gratitude to Almighty God, that He has enabled us, at all events, with all our shortcomings, to sow these seeds of gratitude in the hearts of that great people. A further interposition was this: that no leader, no able native No able leader, arose in that great army of mutineers. Is it not a most amongtho astounding and extraordinary thing that 100,000 native soldiers, ™'^''"'*^^'^- drilled and disciplined, with magnificent arms, all our own, and with a knowledge of war, should turn upon us, burning with hatred, and every desire of nationality in their hearts, desiring to win their own country back and expel us from their land ; and yet that from out their ranks not one single man should come forward to lead them on to victory ? Not one man appeared from out those rebel ranks whose military talents were in the least above mediocrity. Had there come forth a Tippoo Saib, had there come forth a Hyder Ali, I say there would have been no hope for the English, except, indeed, it was in God. But it Their was our God's pleasure that it should not be so ; and this in- con&uuded. fatuated army fought without management, without wisdom, without advice of any kind, and so came on like sheep to the slaughter. We won the victory by this confounding of the coun- sels of our enemies. (Cheers.) Once more; was it not strange, that the Punjaub province, the ThePuu- last province which we had acquired in India, the last in our series side. of annexations, instead of being (as you might suppose) raw and galled under the new yoke of conquest, should stand up and be, under God, the main means of our salvation in British India. It was from that province that we drew our new army to fight against the mutineers ; it was from these heroes that that very man, whose name I call upon you to receive with the honour it should always meet from every Englishman ; — it was from that province that Sir John Lawrence (immense and repeated cheer- La-wrence ing) — I thank you on behalf of my master and my friend (re- force. " ' 352 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWARDES. newed applause) — it was from that province that Sir John Lawrence drew the noble army which, under the command of that noble soldier, John Nicholson, went down and carried the breach of Delhi. It was that army which went down to sup- plement the exertions of our own noble English soldiers. A handful of English soldiers alone could never have done the work; but, supplemented by that brave Punjaub army, 8000 sol- diers, led by John Nicholson, dared to enter into a breach which was defended by 25,000 of the rebel mutineers. (Enthusiastic cheering.) Lessons. And now, fellow-countrymen, when these have been the inter- positions of our God in our behalf, what are the lessons which we, as Englishmen, are to learn from this great page of history ? I The giver of g^y ^i^g^ gj,f,f ^g j^j-g ^o learn, and take it much to heart, that the empires is .^ ' ' ' God. giver of empires is our God. Let us no longer go on with the godless, heartless, senseless theory, that you can have a nation without a national feeling of religion. (Loud cheers.) I say that if you allow this cold, demoralising, denationalising principle to take root amongst you, you will have no national actors in future in your history; and you will find that some day — you who choose to act without your God, — you will find that you s/joZZ act without your God, and that you will be deserted in your hour of need. th'^t^t^'™ (Applause.) Learn, secondly, that that God has given India into bo blessed by your charge, in order that you may confer upon it the benefits that ally He has conferred upon you. Learn, thirdly, that you must in that empire begin your labours by honouring the God who gave it you. (Cheering.) I counsel you, fellow-countrymen, if you look forward to any future in India ; if you hope, indeed, to attach that great country to your own ; if you hope, indeed, to weld it into this empire, and to proclaim your good and great Queen Victoria as the Empress of Hindostan (loud applause); if j-ou have that in with the your hearts, as Englishmen, I counsel you to lay your foundations ^'='''=- in the Holy Bible. (Renewed applause.) I counsel you to begin as a nation, not as individuals ; I counsel you, as a nation, to begin to declare that in the schools for which you pay, and to which you attach your name as an English government, the very first book, always the first book that is put into the hands of the native scholar, shall be the best book that you can put into them (Cheer- Jeifefo^n^not ^"S") fourthly, let us all learn that Hindooism and Mahommedan- %i!t.ni' ''"^ ^'^ "°* *^^"f ""^'f ''^^ ^^ neglected. Let us learn that these neglected, are not names ; let us learn that they are principles. Let us le too, that Christianity is a principle ; let us learn that these gr^t GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 333 things lead on to great ends. Let us look to what Hindooism has shown itself to be in that great land. I do not wish to dwell upon painful details ; I do not wish to mar the effect of the kind and Christian words which have been addressed to you by that great and good English soldier, Major Davidson; I fully share with him those feelings of kindliness towards the natives of India, and add The natives my testimony to his that some of the happiest days of my life have m°uy ways; been passed amongst that people ; and that if God has been pleased to put honour upon me to render any measure of usefulness to my countrymen in that land (cheers), it has solely been through the instrumentality of those good, kind, and noble men, the natives of British India. (Loud applause.) I say that they are a people who will respond to our kindness; I say, their humanity is a great humanity ; I say that they have warm hearts, and can return gratitude for kindness ; and that they are impressible to every kind act you like to bestow upon them. But still, in spite of this, but still are which I feel and am ready to admit, I tell you that beneath all this tS^re^^ goodness and amiability, beneath all this charming exterior, there ^s*™^- lies a substratum in their hearts of Hindooism and Mahommedanism. And when the hour of trouble comes, and you reach that substra- tum, and stir it with a feeling which appeals to the deepest thought they have within them, you will find that people will leave you in your extremity ; and you will find no man to stand by you when your real hour of distress comes, except the native Christian, who shares with you the faith of the Redeemer. (Loud cheers.) And now, lastly, fellow-countrymen, let me tell you, if these what shall things be true, what we can all of us do. I have told you what Sidividuais. we can do nationally. Now let each individual resolve at least to do something for himself. I teU you as individuals, that every one of you here can come forth with a resolve this night that, by the help of God, you will assist missions for the future. Those who have got means — (and where in England shall I speak to men — where shall I find an audience, who are more possessed of means, than this audience I address to-night : where shaU I find an audience which has been more blessed in the labour of their hands by God, than you men of Liverpool ?) — I counsel those of you who christian have means ; I beg of you, as a friend, a brother, and a fellow- to misdons countryman, to consecrate your riches by giving a large portion of them to the missionary labours of your countrymen. I also ask you to bid your brothers, your friends, and your sons, whom you send out to India ; and I take the same advice to myself, for I am not preaching to others what I do not wish to practise myself; A A 354 LIEUT. -COLONEL EDWARDES. Christian (applause;) I say, bid each man, who has a sphere of labour in the natives: India endeavour, by God's help in the future, in the new era which we are opening in India, and bid all, endeavour to lead more Christian lives than we have done. (Hear, hear.) Let us endea- vour, if we have been kind before, to be kinder still ; if we have been Christians before, to be more Christian; and if not Christian before, let us endeavour to be Christians now, in order to set before the heathen and the Mahommedan a life and an epistle which can be read and known of all men. (Great cheering.) care for the I ask you, also, fellow-countrymen, to remember that in that SidieHn ' Country you have not only got the souls of the heathen and Mahom- india. medans to care for, but the souls of your own fellow-countrymen, the British soldiery, to look after. (Hear.) I tell you that in India the machinery for Christianising the British army is a weak, inefficient, and inadequate machinery ; and I counsel you each, to the extent of your power, to send out Christian readers to your regiments; in order that these men may carry into the heart of the regiment, into the hospital and barrack, that Bible which alone will teach them the plan of salvation, and make them true soldiers of their country. (Loud applause.) Act also Yet once more : I ask you, as individuals, to perform one of on'the Go? the most sacred rites which you as Englishmen can perform. We veniment. jj^ve talked to-night somewhat of the blame which attaches to our country as a nation, and the blame which attaches to our Govern- ment as a government ; but I tell you that you cannot blame your government, you must blame yourselves. You, as Englishmen, live under a representative system. (Hear, hear.) You are not Frenchmen, living under a despot (cheers) ; you are not Russian Our system serfs (renewed cheers) ; you are not Austrians, living under a tivo. worse tyranny still (reiterated applause); but (thank God !) you are Englishmen ; living under a representative system, and under an accessible, a condescending, and a gracious Queen. (Cheering.) Your Government is not your master ; your Government is the wiifit the climax of yourselves. Your Government, men of Liverpool, is just do7w?S>!'^* what you choose to make it. If Government has not acted a Chris- tian part in India, you men of Liverpool have not acted a Christian part in India. I told a story the other day in Manchester, which lUustration. seemed to please them very much ; and I will also tell it to you. It is now ten years ago since I was crossing over your ferry to Birkenhead. In a corner of the steamer there were two gentle- men who were very loud and noisy in debate ; and I could not help overhearing their conversation. They laid it down ; they hit the GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 353 deck ; tliey hit the side ; they hit the bulwarks ; they seized each other by the arm ; and at last one said, " I tell you, sir, the ministers daren't do it !" "Why not?" said the other, shaking his fist in the face of his companion ; for he was evidently on the other side of the question. "Why not?" said he. "Why not!" replied the other, "because Lancashire W07i't let 'e>n .'" "Larioashiro (Great cheering and laughter.) If there is any force in that 'emi" story, any truth in that saying ; if, indeed, that is your strong self-dependence ; if, indeed, you have got that pluck in you which justifies that saying ; then I call upon you, men of Lancashire, to -look to it at the hustings in the autumn. (Cheering.) After an earnest appeal to the female portion of the audience, "the witches of Lancashire," whose co-operation and favour he solicited on behalf of India, the gallant speaker withdrew amidst loud and protracted applause. The Eev. Canon Stowell, who was greeted with loud KeT.CAsoN applause, next rose and said : — My Lord and my Christian friends, it seems to me that our hearts and heads are so full that it would be better to let what is full alone, than, by endeavouring to make it overflow, diminish the effect. If, however, my Christian friends in Liverpool wiU bear with me for a few moments (hear, hear), I ynW. endeavour to bring before them as briefly as possible, and as pointedly as I can, a few of the great moral lessons that have Lessons. been enforced upon us by these solemn assemblies. This solemn assembly is but the climax of those assemblies of a smaller kind, but not of a less efficient nature, which have been held throughout the week in this town ; and though I have had the privilege to be present but on this one day, I can truly say I carry away a refreshing influence on my spirit, such as I scarcely remember to have carried away from any former assembly. And I will tell you why. It is because the scene realised that spirit of apostolic Brotherhood brotherhood, devotion, and simplicity of purpose, which is needed Conference. more than anything besides in order to unite the disunited members of the church of Christ ; for though there were representatives of many distinct sections of the church, they rose to their glorious enterprise with one heart and with one mind. We have met, my lord, in a most auspicious place, the Philharmonic Hall, for this Philharmonic meeting (hear, hear); for surely there is no way of cj^afs uniting the servants of the cross so effectually as uniting them in on7common common action in a common cause. (Hear, hear.) It is not enough ™'^'^- 356 KET. CANON STOWELL, The Con- ference gathered from many spheres. All in harmony. Practical result : native agency to be enlarged : pupilago ci-iunps. Colour not to be despised. to meet and reciprocate words of kindness, and talk of brotherhood and love ; but the great means of concentration is, to gird them- selves to the common work of their common Master, and become so a,bsorbed in that work as to be comparatively dead to all besidesJ The question then will not be: What is your particular sect? but. How true are you to your Master, and how earnest in his service ? My lord, when St. Paul came up to communicate his gospel at Jerusalem, he did it first privately, lest by any means he should have run in vain. Now it appears to me that our mis- sionary brethren, from the east, the west, the north, and the south,' have thus come together in this town, in order that they might confer together, and compare the common gospel that they were preaching in heathen lands. And it is delightful to find that, however varied the instruments ; some, the flute ; some, the trumpet ; and some, the harp ; yet they have all had one concert pitch and one divine key-note. The pitch has been love to God and man ; and the key-note glory to God in the highest ; on earth, peace, good will towards men. (Applause.) Now, my lord, what is to be the practical issue of this Conference at home and abroad ? I believe it will be the giving to the churches wiser, and broader, and juster views of the purposes and plans of mis- sionary labour. The deduction especially as to the Indian missions is that we must not neglect native agency ; but foster and cherish it by every possible means ; we must not keep down the native population, and, because our skin is white, look upon them as of an inferior race. (Hear, hear.) Look upon a people as degraded, and you make them degraded ; keep them down, and how can you elevate their minds ? I fear there is too much tendency in the missionary, and in missionary agency in general, to keep the native converts in a state of pupilage, and not to let them walk independently and alone. Now if you keep the Christian child too long in the go-cart, the Christian child will become rickety and unsteady in his gait. It is true you may endeavour to keep him from falhng ; but it would be better to let him have a fall or two, than that he should be rickety all his life. (Hear, hear.) Why I am told of Europeans that would not bear to be under a black Bishop ; but for my part I should rejoice to be under a black Bishop. I fear that we must have a little of the taint of our former slave-trading and slave-holding still amongst us; and whilst we point the finger of just reprobation at our transatlantic brethren, they may to a certain extent retort the charge, if we would not GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING, 357 consent to be under the superintendence of a black Pastor or Bishop, just as soon as we would be under one whose skin is as fair as our own. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I come to two or three lessons that we at home ought to Home learn. I conceive that we have entered upon a new epoch in the history of the means and condition of the church in the world. I consider that it is an epoch emphatically of enlarge- ment. God is enlarging the borders of Japhet and making him Enlarge- dwell more and more in the tents of Shem. He has given to the people of this country a grasp of a large proportion of the human race. How enlarged are our openings ! The time is not of our far gone by, when we scarcely knew what fields were open to us, labour : — whither the missionary could go. Now, however, the difficulty is to find labourers. China with her hundreds of millions is open, to us ; Japan is open to us ; the uttermost ends of Africa are open to us, with all the boundless interior ; and Living- stone, the noble Livingstone — (cheers) — is carrying commerce thither, that commerce may be the harbinger and the herald of salvation. And then we have all the outlying countries opening ; the very Bedouins of the desert, the wild Arabs, that were neg- fK''°/"J°"s lected and forgotten, are asking for the gospel ; a missionary to the Jews has been preaching the gospel amongst the Arabs under the guidance of our Consul in Syria, who is so beloved by them, that they have chosen him as Prince of the Arabs of the desert. Now if God is so throwing open proportionately the world to receive the gospel, are we preparing for the glorious work ? Are we prepared to be enlarged in our liberality ? Merchants of Eniarge- -I- . 1 -n .1 in -nr 1 /I mentofour Liverpool, will you give the challenge to Manchester — (hear, liberality. hear) — to adopt a nobler scale of consecrating to the Lord. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Why you know some twenty or thirty years ago, when Manchester and Liverpool had a far smaller revenue, not perhaps a third of what they have now, they gave a consider- able amount. The style of giving was 11. Is., ll. Is.; and 21. 2s., 21. 2s.; and what is the style of giving now ? It is very much the same ; but there is no proportion here. Manchester, they say, is setting its half a million a-week : but take it at half that immense wealth of amount : what then ought to be the effect ? Oh, let the men of Liverpool Liverpool and the men of Manchester resolve, that in proportion Chester. " as God has increased their income, they will increase the con- secration of the first-fruits to him. (Hear, hear.) Let them resolve, by the help of God, to give in a new proportion. Why should not every Christian man say, I will give five per cent upon 358 EEV. CANON STOWELL. the increase of my traffic to God's work. (Hear, hear.) Now if all had done so, I venture to say that Manchester would have had to give this year very nearly her million ; and Liverpool would have had to give very little less, if not perhaps something more. (Hear, hear.) And do you think that that would not have been more satisfactory and more noble than to have been building finer houses, setting up grander equipages, living in greater luxury and pam- of'seif-^"^ paring every desire ? Oh, that we knew the luxury of self-denial denial. fgj. q^j. gaviour's sake ! (Hear, hear.) Oh, that the style and measure of giving came up more to the Apostolic times, when they sold all they had and dealt out to every man as he had need. mentfn There is another point in which we need enlargement. We devoting need enlargement in the devotion of our young men to this noble service of the Captain of their salvation. Our young men have come forward nobly in their country's defence ; and whatever some may think of the volunteer movement (applause), it is in my opinion a glorious movement (applause), a righteous movement, a Thevoiun- movement for peace, not for war (hear, hear) ; for defence, not mentgood: for offence. (Hear, hear.) May we never wish to draw the sword again in aggressive war (hear, hear) ; may we never, if possible, embark in war at all (hear, hear) ; but if it should ever be ne- cessary, let it be only to guard our own shores, or to defend the oppressed against the oppressor; the freeman against him that would make him a slave. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Now that volunteer movement is a noble one. Tens of thousands of youno- men, accustomed to peaceful pursuits, have put on uniform, and girded themselves with swords. But where are the volunteers for this far nobler service, this far more glorious enterprise ? (Ap- but the mis- plause.) Here is an enterprise not of earth, but of Heaven ; here sion cause is. , . i ,^ r^ , • n i. Uglier. is an enterprise under the Captain of our salvation, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords ; here is an enterprise in which every soldier, from the commonest to the highest, shall have his recompense of reward ; here is a glorious enterprise, in which the laurels never drip with blood, and victory is never stained with cruelty; here is an enterprise not to destroy, but to save; not to desolate the earth, but to bless it and glorify Heaven. My Christ- ian friends, are we prepared, above all, to do all this readily, promptly, and effectually, with all devotedness and delight ? Signs ofthe The signs of the times are expressive; there are indications that we are not so far from some grand revolution in the state of the civilised world. The fact we have this day so often reite- rated and insisted upon is, tliat the gospel is being preached in GENERAL PUBLIC MEETING. 359 every nation for a witness, and He that uttered that prediction said, " Then the end cometh." Is not the gospel being preached Preaching. in every nation ? Where is the country under Heaven, where it is not sounded : what, the language in which it is not heard: where the people, to whom it has not gone forth ? If then it is being preached to all nations for a witness, lo ! " the end cometh." And are there not other signs? The world is arming. Look at Alarms of Italy. Hear the tocsin of terror sounding in the affrighted ears of the boasted successor of Peter, the Antichrist of Rome. See the noble bearing of the oppressed and scattered nationalities ; see what scenes there are everywhere ; all are arming for the battle. Is not all Europe resounding with the din of arms ? Is not every country resounding with the anvil, beating the sword-blade, and forming the musket? Do we not find every nation in a state of uncertainty and disquietude ? Are we not every day seeing Distress of strange and eventful circumstances ? And what is the voice that God is addressing to us, but ' Blessed is he that watcheth, and blessed is he that worketh :' 'Blessed is the servant that his King when He cometh shall find so doing ; ' diligent, not disturbed, courageous, not disquieted. Let others fear ; what have His people to fear ? Let them fear Him, and they shall have nothing else to fear. Oh, Christian AU Christ- men and women of Liverpool, let us give ourselves to the Lord's work at work; let us do it more heartily; as the season is shorter, let us with zeal: give double diligence to be found as His children ; and let us thank God that we have such noble encouragements in the agents which He has raised up. We talk of ministers and clergy as the great instruments for evangelising the world ; and so in their measure they are : but thank God that we have such men as the not the noble officer that has addressed us to-night (hear, hear, and ''^y ^ °° ' cheers) ; and, praised be God, we have many such noble warriors, some who, whilst wearing the uniform of their Queen, are true to the uniform of their Captain in Heaven (hear, hear) ; and who, while the boldest in battle and the most prudent in council, are the most bold to confess their Master, are not ashamed to own Him amidst scoffing and sneering, whether at home or in India. (Cheers.) Whilst we have such men, if the ministers of religion were to be wanting in their duty, and should not take up the blessed work, why our very soldiers will take it out of our hands, and God will raise up missionaries from the ranks of our army. (Cheers.) Let us, above all, be enlarged in the spirit of prayer, Prayertobe of faith and Christian zeal. Oh for more prayer! (Cheers.) We '""«''^^Iission. By the same Author. Fcap. Svo. 3s. 6d. cloth. XV. THE LIFE OF THE REV. RICHARD KNILL, of St. Peters- burgh ; being Selections from his Reminiscences, Journals, and Correspondence, with a Eeview of his Chamcter by the late Rev. John Angell James. By Charles M. Bikrell. Fifth Edition, with Portrait. Crown Svo. 45. 6d. cloth. THE INDIAN CHURCH D^URING THE GREAT REBEL- LION. An Authentic Narrative of the Disasters t'l.it bofel it, its Sufforijigs, and Faith- fulness unto Death of many of its Europeaii and Native Members. By the Eev. M. A. SHERaiNG, 11. A., formerly Missionary at Benares. Crown Svo. 5s. cloth. LONDON: JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. 'i.