United Kingdom.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
PROCEEDINGS OF ASSOCIATIONS.

Turvey-Mar. 8: Ann. Meeting; and that of Olney, Mar. 9. Collections, 91. 7s. 6d.

Leicestershire-Mar. 11: Sermons, by the Senior Secretary, at Melton Mowbray, Barkby, and St. Mary's, Leicester-Mar.12; Ann. Meeting of Lutterworth Branch; Rev. R. H. Johnson, Chn.-Mar. 13: Ann. Meeting of Loughborough Branch; Hon. and Rev. H. D. Erskine, Chn.-Mar. 14: Thirteenth Ann. Meeting, at Leicester, of the County Association; T. Babington, Esq. Chn. Collections, including the produce of a Bazaar at Loughborough, 1041. 4s. 8d.

Northamptonshire - Mar. 15: Third Ann. Meeting, at Northampton; Rev. W. Thursby, President, Chn. Col. 291. 5s. 6d. Same day: Third Ann. Meeting of the Kettering Branch; Rev. Jas. Hogg, Chn. Col. 71. 10s.

Clapham - Mar. 18: Sermons; at the Church, by Rev. W. Dealtry, in the morning and the Junior Secretary in the evening, Coll. 681. Os. 5d.; and at the Chapel by Rev. W. Borrows in the morning, Col. 521. 2s. 6d. -Mar. 20: Ann. Meeting; Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart. Chn.

Broadway (Westminster) — Mar. 21: Sermon by the Senior Secretary: Col. 51. 5s. 6d. -Mar. 27: Ann. Meeting: Rev. G. Mutter, Chn. Col. 4l. 12s. 9d.

Stratford-on-Avon - Mar. 22: Sermon, at Billesley, by the Senior Secretary: Third Ann. Meeting, at Stratford; Rev. F. F. Knottesford, Chn. Coll. about 201.

Gloucestershire-Mar. 23: Ann. Meetings, morning and evening, of the Campden Branch; Hon. and Rev. Leland Noel, Vicar, Chn. Mar. 28: Ann. Meeting of Newland and Coleford Branch; Philip J. Ducarel, Esq. Chn.-Mar. 29: Meeting for the formation of a Branch at Cirencester; G. Bever, Esq. Chn. David Whatley, Esq. appointed Treasurer; and H. Wood, Esq. and G. Bever, Esq. Secretaries Mar. 30: Ann. Meeting of Tewkesbury Branch; Capt. Campbell, Chn. -Mar. 31: Meeting of the Ladies' Association at Gloucester, in the morning: in the evening, Ann. Meeting of Stroud Branch; Rev. Dr. Williams, Chn.-Ap. 1: Sermons: by the Senior Secretary, at Stroud, Pitchcomb, and St. Michael's, Gloucester; and, by Rev. E. T. M. Phillipps (Chancellor of Gloucester), at St. Michael's and at Stroud-Ap. 2: Tenth Ann. Meeting of the County Association, in the County Hall, Gloucester; MajorGeneral Prole, Chn. Evening Meeting, at Poor's School. Collections, including the Branches, about 1107.

Worcester-Mar. 25: Sermons, by the Senior Secretary and the Rev. G. Hazlewood (Assistant Secretary of the Hibernian Auxiliary), at St. Martin's and St. Clement'sMar. 26: Seventh Ann. Meeting; Richard Spooner, Esq. Chn. Another Meeting in the evening. Collections, 781. 19s. 10d.

Bromyard-Mar. 27: in the morning, the Deputation from the Society met theCollectors. Hereford-Mar. 27: Ninth Ann. Meeting; Rev. H. Gipps, Chn. Sermon in the evening, at St. Peter's, by the Senior Secretary-Ap. 1: Sermons, at Burghill and St. Peter's, by Rev. Joseph Beddy and Rev. G. Hazlewood. Collections, nearly 1001.

Monmouth-Mar. 28: Fourth Ann. Meeting; Rev. H. Barnes, Chn.-Ap. 1: Sermons, by Rev. H. Gipps.

Penrith-Mar. 28: Eleventh Ann. Meeting; W. Crackanthorpe, Esq. Chn. Col. 21. 17s. Carlisle- Mar. 29: Ninth Ann. Meeting; Rev. John Fawcett, Chn. Col. 147. Newcastle-on-Tyne-Mar. 30: Ninth Ann. Meeting; Rev. J. Dodd, Vicar, Chn. Col. 204. Sunderland, &c. - Ap. 1: Sermons; by Rev. Thomas Gisborne, in the morning at Sunderland Church, and in the evening at Monkwearmouth; and, by the Junior Secretary, morning at Monkwearmouth, afternoon at Sunderland Chapel, and evening at Sunderland Church: Coll. 381. 19s. 8d.-Ap. 2: Sixth Ann. Meeting; Rev. Rob. Gray, Rector, Chn. Col. 71. 15s. 7d.-Ap. 4: Ann. Meeting of Monkwearmouth Branch; Rev. B. Kennicott, Chn. Col. 77.

Bristol- Ap. 1: Sermon, by Rev. W. Spooner, at Maryport-Ap. 3: Sermon, by the Senior Secretary, at St. James's-Ap. 4: Sermons, by Rev. J. H. Stewart, at St. Werburgh's, and by Rev. E. T. M. Phillipps at St. Philip's-Ap. 5: Fourteenth Ann. Meeting; John Scandrett Harford, Esq. Chn. Major Audain, from Ceylon, gave honourable testimony to the character and labours of the Society's Missionaries in that island-Ap. 6: Sermons, by the Senior Secretary at St. Mary Redcliff in the morning, and in the evening at St. Thomas's by Rev. J. H. Stewart-Ap. 8: Sermons; at Bedminster and at the Temple Church, by Rev. E. T. M. Phillipps; and at St. Michael's and at Christchurch, by Rev. G. Hazlewood. Coll. 4201.

Bath-Ap. 3: Ninth Ann. Meeting, in the Guildhall; Sir W. Cockburn, Bart. Chn. Mr. Wilberforce addressed the Meeting. Col. about 451.

Durham - Ap. 3: First Ann. Meeting; Rev. T. Gisborne, Preb., Chn. Col. 7.-Ap. 8: Sermons, by the Junior Secretary: Col. 161. Darlington-Ap. 5: Fifth Ann. Meeting; Rev. James Carr, Chn. Col. 91.

Barnard-Castle- Ap. 6: Third Ann. Meeting; Rev. J. Davidson, Chn. Col. 107. 4s. 10d. - Ap. 8: Sermons, morning and afternoon, by Rev. W. Carus Wilson: Coll. 177. 10s. 11d. Warkworth-Ap. 8: Sermons, by Rev. T. R. Shepperdson: Coll. 131.

Bromley and Beckenham-Ap. 10: Fifth Ann. Meeting; John Cator, Esq. Chn. Col. 15l. 6s. Sermons were preached; by Rev. T. Woodrooffe, March 18, at Sydenham, Col. 117. 6s.; and by Rev. T. Bartlett, March 25, at Beckenham, Col. 231. 10s.

Hatfield Broad Oak-Ap. 15: Sermon, by the Junior Secretary: Col. 77. 1s.

Mr. Mark Harrison, and Mr. John Pychott-Canada: Mr. W. Faulkner. Members of the Society at Mission Stations. France, 135-Gibraltar, 80 Gambia, 25-Sierra Leone, 91-South Africa, 292-Malta, 38-Madras, 164-Ne. gapatam, 34-Ceylon, 439-New SouthWales, 122-Van Diemen's Land, 38West Indies, 27,158-British America, 4536. Total, 33,152.

The increase is upward of 800. Missionaries employed by the Society. Ireland, 22-Sweden, 1-France, 6— Gibraltar, 2-West Africa, 4 South Africa, 11-Mediterranean, 3 - South India, 6-Ceylon, 21-Australasia, 9Polynesia, 2-West Indies, 50-British America, 45. Total, 182.

Remarks on the State of the Funds. The Committee cannot but make their report of the amount of the contributions of the year with the deepest feelings of gratitude: that in a year of unexampled pressure on the interests of the country and of widely-extended distress, the amount should have fallen short of that of the last year by only a few hundred pounds, has certainly most pleasingly disappointed the anticipations of the Committee. The satisfaction is height ened by recollecting, that the receipts of the year preceding had been greatly advanced; so that the contributions of the present year, distressful as it has been, have exceeded any former, the year 1825 only excepted, by several thousand pounds. Nothing can more satisfactorily mark the strength of that interest which has been excited throughout our country, in the great and holy enterprises and hopes of the Missionary Cause. The experience of another year has thus given additional testimony to the stability of that principle of Missionary Zeal, which has already poured forth so full a tide of liberality, and spread its exertions for the salvation of mankind over so many parts of the earth. This principle has upon it no signs of decay; although, in some places, it has been checked in its expression by the pressure of adverse circumstances: it is, in fact, yearly acquiring additional vigour; and warrants the conclusion, that it is the effect, not of a temporary excitement produced by novelty or other incidental circumstances, but of that work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people, by which they are prepared to co-operate with those purposes of Redeeming MerApril, 1827.

cy, which are now displaying themselves with so marked a character before the world.

Success already granted to Missions.

These sentiments of zeal for the honour and triumph of the Saviour, and of sympathy in the moral degradation of His redeemed creatures, have been cheered and animated by large and growing success: a success the more gratifying, as not being confined only to a few of the Societies engaged in this elevated service; but which, by the blessing of Him in whose name and for whose glory they all act, has been bestowed upon the labours of each. As it is no longer a question, whether the Churches of Christ at home can be brought to co-operate largely and liberally in the work of extending the knowledge of Christ among the Heathen, so it no longer remains a matter of doubt whether success shall follow exertion in their behalf. Where is the territory of Satan upon which the love of Christ has constrained His servants to plant His Cross-however dark or savage, however rude or artfully complicated its superstitions and idolatriesin which it has not been demonstrated that the Gospel of Christ is still the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth? Jew and Greek, barbarian and Scythian, bond and free, have been made the subjects of its saving influence. In many places, these its modern conquests have exhibited it in the sublimity of its powers-expelling idols from their ancient seats, and rescuing whole tribes and nations from a guilty and gloomy subjection to the demons of superstition.

There is doubtless great reason to exult in the monuments of success and in the trophies of conquest, which Christian Missions have, in these later times, and especially within the last half century, erected in so many lands-in the breakings of those dark clouds, which for ages have overhung the Sister Kingdom, and through which the beams of heavenly truth at length begin to pour their vital radiance upon a people whose hearts are expanding to receive them in the rekindling of those lamps of evangelical truth in the Protestant Churches of the Continent which have been so long extinguished, and the stirrings of the once mighty spirit of the Reformation so long rocked to slumber by a false and insidious philosophy-in the visitation of the regions of Slavery and degradation, by the commiserations, the consolations, and

2 C

the better hopes of Christianity-in the introduction of our Divine Religion into the regions of degraded Africa, where she has led up in her train agriculture, and arts, and laws; and, literally, converted the desert into a fruitful field, and Hottentot Kraals into Christian Villages, with their schools of learning, and their humble but consecrated Temples of Worship-in the incipient triumphs of the mild and merciful spirit of the Gospel, over the rude and sanguinary habits of the Savages of the South Seas-in the impression made upon the closelycompacted idolatry and the obstacle of Caste, in India. Nevertheless, it is yet true, awfully and emphatically true, that the world lieth in wickedness; for such is the vastness of that majority which is still under the dominion of error, superstition, and vice, as almost to annihilate in our consideration the comparatively few, who, by the hand of mercy, have been rescued from the gulf which has drawn down the millions of past ages below the reach of hope; and which still whirls within its deepening eddies the millions of the present, to rescue whom no helping hand is near.

Call for enlarged Exertions. Ample as is the ground of our confidence, joy, and gratitude, yet never is it to be forgotten, that the Churches of Christ, in these latter times, have but recently girded themselves to this holy warfare, and that they have but won the outposts of the enemy. In almost every part of the world, the providential rule of God has conspired with the dispensations of His grace to open the way for further progress, and beckons to triumphs of truth and mercy still more glorious. To this call may we prove faithful! May no difficulties discourage nor exertions weary those who have pledged themselves to this sacred cause. The Lord our God is with us, and will not forsake us.

Our grateful exultation is not forbidden; for this is for the honour of our Saviour, the Author of all the good which has been effected, and the only object on whom hope, as to the future, can rest: but, with this joy, let us min. gle the deepest sympathies, and yield up our hearts to more tender and stirring anxieties. The case of an alienated, a perishing world, is under our eye, and we cannot avoid seeing it. Our Colonies carry us to the scene-our commerce

wafts us to it-our enterprising travellers expand it before us, in its length and breadth of wretchedness; and, what is more, the empire of our country opens the high road to the march of our practical compassion, and thus, by giving us the opportunity to do good, literally, to almost all men, renders that the high vocation of British Christians, and binds it upon us as one of our most solemn duties.

This duty has been largely recognised and acted upon; but there remain many hearts, among the professed Christians of this country, still insensible to the obligation-hearts which never thrilled with these sacred sympathies, and never glowed with the sublime anticipation of the universal reign of our adored Saviour. Greatly as our Missionary Exertions are outrunning the means, liberal as they are, which are provided for their support, it might be comparatively hopeless to expect, from the majority of our friends, that their contributions should be greatly increased; and the temporary pressure of the times may, in some de gree, affect the receipts of the next year but there are large and unexplored resources around us; and he who, by his arguments, his example, and the activity with which he spreads those publications which bring the real condition of the world and the cheering progress of salvation among the Heathen under the notice of the public, wins another heart to embrace this Sacred Cause, at once opens to its affections new and sanctifying interests, and secures additional aid in promotion of its glorious designs. So long as this is felt to be a sacred duty, our resources cannot diminish, and will surmount the temporary shocks of national adversity itself: we shall then see bands of holy men in greater number and frequency leave our shores, to enterprise labours for Christ and the souls of men, more arduous, more lofty, and more distant: we shall trace them, as they push their unstained and noiseless conquests deeper and wider into the yet unpenetrated empires of superstition and idolatry, into the central regions of Africa, now for the first time opening to the distant view of Christendom-to those seats of eternal ice and regions of storm, which, as they witnessed the unshrinking courage of the British Mariner, shall be braved as nobly by the breast of the British Mis, sionary-into those yet unpenetrated living masses of immortal men, which

NATIONAL-EDUCATION SOCIETY.

FIFTEENTH REPORT.

State and Progress of the Society. In the First Annual Report, the Committee had to state that there existed only about 40 Schools in the kingdom on the National Plan, containing altogether about 8000 children. In the Report of this, their Fifteenth Year, they have the satisfaction of mentioning the existence of about 2200 National Schools, in which not less than 330,000 children are at this time receiving education. This statement speaks for itself, and requires no comment. It gives evidence of successful results to the operations of the Society, greater than its most sanguine projectors and supporters could have anticipated in an equal space of time; and it excites the hope, that, should it be the will of Providence to bless its exertions with similar patronage and support during another period of the same duration, scarcely a parish will exist, of sufficient population to admit advantageously the introduction of the National Plan, in which a School on this System will not have been erected.

An increase in the number of Schools united to the Society has taken place, to the amount of 104: the total is at present 2199.

The number of Scholars here given is that in the Schools in Union: it is said

When, to these, a further addition is made of the number of children, trained,

either on week-days or only on Sundays, in Schools, not actually united, but formed essentially on the principles of the Society, a result is presented of great and extensive good, derived immediately or mediately from its exer tions, such as every benevolent mind must contemplate with unmixed satisfaction.

State and Progress of the Central Schools.

in the course of the last year, in the A decided improvement has taken place regularity of attendance of the children, and in the general good order and management of the Schools. The average number of Boys attending the school is 350, exhibiting an increase of about 40 on that reported last year: the average attendance of Girls is at present 182, exhibiting a still larger increase of 48 on that reported last year. The Schools were publicly examined in the last month: it was the general opinion, that considerable improvement had taken place, since the last Annual Examination, in the knowledge exhibited by the children, and in the general good order and discipline of the schools.

The Committee have been desirous of making the Central School as extensively useful as possible in assisting different schools throughout the kingdom: 16 Masters and 22 Mistresses, sent from different places in the country, have been received into the school for instruction, in the last year: 49 schools have been provided with permanent Masters and Mistresses, and 22 with Assistants and Monitors for a limited period. Thus there is exhibited on the whole a list of 109 schools, which have been assisted by the Parent Society, through their Central School, by being supplied with permanent or temporary teachers.

Necessity and Means of a strict Adherenos to the System.

The Committee have learnt with regret, as well from the representation of Dr. Bell as from other statements which they have received, that, in some instances of schools situated at a distance from the metropolis, a partial departure has taken place from the accurate practice of the National System: they have, in consequence, turned their serious attention to the means of applying a remedy to this evil; and, having received the valuable advice of Dr. Bell on the subject, have determined on making the