Special Indian Fund were £49,005 8s. 2d., which, after all expenditure for the object of the fund, left a disposable balance of £41,097 8s. 2d. A letter from Sir John Lawrence was read, apologising for absence, and accepting the office of VicePresident of the Society, which they had urged on him to accept. He enclosed a check for £50 as his contribution to the funds of the Society. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. -The 57th anniversary of this society was held May 4th, in Exeter Hall, under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who was supported by the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Carlisle, the Bishop of Cashel, the Marquis of Cholmondeley, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, Sir Culling Eardley, Mr. T. Farmer, Mr. J. Thornton, the Revs. N. M'Leod, W. M. Punshon, W. Arthur, J. Stoughton, F. Tucker, &c. The noble chairman, in opening the proceedings, said, that on every succeeding meeting of the society he was more and more impressed with the solemn inagnitude of its importance-not of the reality of that importance, but of its singular adaptation to the times and circumstances of the present day. He desired, in the first place, to refer to the importance of obtaining, from the ruling powers of this country, an affirmation which should remove the ban of exclusion which now rested upon the Word of God (cheers)the decree of non-admission, whether actual or virtual, of the Bible into the schools established in India, by public money. This was a very simple and clear request. They asked no more, and they would be satisfied with no less. He next referred to the state of things on the Continent, and said he had never concealed his sympathies upon the subject. He might not have alluded to them, however, upon this occasion, had not the letter which he had addressed to the editors of some of the public papers been greviously misrepresented, and his consistency as the president of that society somewhat called in question. He was charged with defending, by implication, at least, the conduct of the Emperor of the French, in the strictures which he had made upon the conduct of Austria. He denied that any just inference of the kind could be deduced from that letter. He had intentionally avoided all mention of the Emperor of the French in that letter. If any one would take the trouble to read the letter he would see that he (the Chairman) had shown that it was a contrast between the empire of Austria and the kingdom of Sardinia, between merit and demerit, weakness and strength, | liberty of conscience and the intolerable servitude of the Austrian Concordat. He mainly pressed the claims which Sardinia had on our sympathy. If he had been called upon to say anything in favour of the Emperor of the French, it would be that the Word of God had free circulation throughout the whole of his empire. He (the chairman) had not made that appeal to the friends of religious liberty without meeting, already, with a response from the Continent. Immediately upon the arrival of his letter at Turin, the pastor Meille,of the Waldensian Church,called together his congregation and offered up special prayer for the welfare of the Government under which he lived, and of the English people who had expressed their sympathy in its cause; and he (the chairman) maintained that it was no small thing for the kingdom of Sardinia, to enjoy the prayers of such a church, and that it was equally good for England to enjoy its prayers. He believed that God would not forget Sardinia in the hour of her necessity, for the protection she had given to that ancient and persecuted church; and it was the privilege and duty of English Christians to send the Bible freely into that country. There did not exist a body of men more eager to receive the Scriptures than the Piedmontese soldiers. Let them pour the Word of God freely upon that land, and they would yet realize the prophecy of Bishop Latimer, and light such a candle in Italy as, by the blessing of God, should never be put out. The secretary then read the annual report, from which it appeared that the receipts of the year had exceeded those of any preceding year, exclusive of special funds. The amount applicable to the general purposes of the society was £78,047 Is., and the amount received for Bibles and Testaments £76,859 5s. ld., making the total receipts, from the ordinary sources of income, £154,906 6s. 1d., being £5,597 19s. more than in any former year. To the above was added the sum of £823 17s. 6d. for the Chinese New Testament Fund, and £4,332 15s. 9d. for the Special Fund for India, making a grand total of £160,062 19s. 4d. The issues of the society for the year were as follows:-From the depôt at home, 989,287; from depôts abroad, 636,698 -1,625,985 copies, being an increase of 23,798 copies over those of any preceding year. The total issues of the society amounted to 35,609,931 copies. The ordinary payments had amounted to £153,590 7s. 9d., and the payments on account of the Jubilee and Chinese New Testament Funds to £5,052 7s. 3d., making ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. the total expenditure of the year £158,642 15s., being £5,465 10s. 4d. more than in any former year. The society was under engagements to the extent of £87,576 16s. 9d. On the motion of the Bishop of London, seconded by the Rev. Dr. M'Leod, the report was adopted unanimously. Among the remaining speakers were the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rev. Mr. Henderson,and Mr.Josiah Foster. Several resolutions having been agreed to, the proceedings terminated in the usual manner. LONDON CITY MISSION.-On Thursday, May 5th, the 24th annual meeting of the friends of this Society was held in Exeter Hall; Mr. J. Pemberton Plumptree in the chair. Mr. Garwood, secretary to the Society, read the report of the committee, from which it appeared that during the past year the income of the Society amounted to £35,798., being an increase of £3,567 over the income of the preceding year. This was the largest increase yet received in any single year, and one which, as it arose from an increase in the receipts from Associations, might be considered to be of a permanent character. In addition to this £568 12s. 6d. had been received for the Disabled Missionary Fund. It was stated at the last anniversary of the Society that the expenditure of that year had exceeded the income, but the committee now reported with thankfulness that the receipts and expenditure had been equalised, and the increase in the funds had enabled the committee to make an addition of twelve missionaries to the former staff, and six others would be appointed as soon as they could be found. This would make the present number 362, which, when the vacant districts had been filled up would be increased to 368. Missionaries had been appointed to the St. Pancras Workhouse, and to the East and West India Docks. By the efforts of the missionaries 1,247 persons have been added to the Church during the year, giving an accession of more than 100 communicants by means of the Society to every monthly sacrament. The number of families regularly visited was 211,811; of visits paid, 1,670,223; of Scriptures given away 3,899; of religious tracts given away, 2,401,346; of books lent, 62,186; of meetings and Bible classes held, 35,838; of readings of Scripture in visitation, 541,238; of adults induced to attend public worship, 4,115; of children sent to schools, 10,479; of unmarried couples induced to marry, 332. There had been a meeting of cabmen recently held, at which a resolution was come to, that 263 measures should be taken for the establishment of reading rooms, of a provident fund, of a penny bank, and of Sunday services. A deputation of twelve of the meeting waited upon one of the missionaries of the Society for aid in carrying out these objects, and a committee had been formed, and a room opened for the purpose by Lord Shaftesbury. The first Sunday evening meeting was conducted sometime since by the auther of "English Hearts and English Homes," and the meeting was attended by large numbers of cab-drivers, desirous of improving their condition, physical, moral, and religious. The Earl of Cavan moved, and the Rev. J. Patterson seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to unanimously. Other resolutions expressing the objects of the Society and its claims upon public support, were afterwards proposed and carried, and the proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks to the chairman. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.-The annual meeting of this institution was held on Thursday evening, May 5th, at Exeter Hall, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, in the chair, and was very numerously attended. In the report read by the secretary (Mr. W. H. Watson) it was stated that the claims made on the committee for grants of lending libraries had much increased, but had been cheerfully met. The number of libraries granted had amounted to 304. The schools thus assisted contained 60,745 scholars, of whom 37,903 were Scripture readers." The libraries supplied would have cost at the retail prices £1,878 16s. 9d. but the schools only paid the sum of £638 13s. 9d. for them. The total number of such libraries granted to the present time amounted to £4,252. The sales in fifteen months amounted to £18,455 38., showing an increase of £3,000 over the sales of the corresponding period previously; and, as so large an addition to the business of the Union rendered an augmentation of the capital indispensable, the committee had resolved to appropriate to that purpose the sum of £750 out of the profits of the year. The report was adopted, and several resolutions bearing on the object of the Union were subsequently passed. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-The sixtieth annual meeting of this Society was held on Friday evening, May 6th, at Exeter Hall, under the presidency of Lord Kinnaird. Mr. G. H. Davis, the secretary, read a brief abstract of the report, which stated that the present year completed the sixth decade of the Society's existence; and in the review of its course increased evidence was furnished | RAGGED SCHOOL UNION.-The 15th annual meeting of this Society was held on Monday evening, May 9th in Exeter Hall, the Earl of Shaftesbury in the chair. In opening the proceedings, the noble chairman congratulated the meeting on the position at present attained by the Ragged School movement. There were now 23,000 children in the schools, 160 edifices, 369 paid teachers, 360 paid monitors, 4,000 children in the industrial classes, and 326 shoe blacks, whose earnings amounted to about £4,000. During the last year 1,740 scholars had been put out to domestic service or other employent, and 568 had been rewarded for having continued 12 months in the same situation, and brought certificates of good character. His lordship expressed his conviction that but for the efforts of the promoters of Ragged Schools, London could not now be kept in order by the largest standing army; yet he believed that no class, when properly cared for, would yield a larger harvest of honest, sober, moral citizens than the inmates of these schools. He regretted that the number of voluntary teachers had fallen off, and appealed to the friends of the movement to give their personal attendance and assistance at the schools. The report, read by the honorary secretary, Mr. Locke, gave a variety of details, in addition to those mentioned by the chairman, respecting the results of the past year's operations. The total sums raised by the various schools and refuges during the last year was stated to be £28,600, in addition to £4,640 the receipts of the Union, making a total of £33,240. The penny banks in connection with the schools were 64 in number, and had received during the year £4,300. In one school a farthing bank had been established, in which 96 boys had deposited £12, all collected in farthings. The report was unanimously adopted, and resolutions commending the Society's operations were agreed to by the meeting. CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY.—-The annual meeting was held on Tuesday evening, May 3rd at the Poultry Chapel, the Lord Mayor, in the chair. It appeared from the report that there are now seventy-five self supporting auxiliaries to the Society. Last March printed papers were circulated by the Society, among the Congregational and Baptist churches of London, asking for statistical returns in reference to Christian instruction work, with a view to its methodizing and increase. Out of seventy-five Associations, only twentytwo made returns. They possess 491 visitors, and have under their care 11,558 families, giving an average to each church of 525 families. They had been instrumental in prevailing upon 290 persons regularly to attend the house of God, and had relieved 1,241 distressed persons. Now, there were in and around London 311 Congregational and Baptist churches; if, therefore, each of these churches visited the families round about them in the same ratio as the twenty-two, and God blessed their efforts in the same measure-and who shall say He would not?-there would then be under the care of these two Christian bodies 163,275 families, or one-fourth of the families of the metropolis, and they would be the ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. means of inducing 5,000 persons to attend the house of God additional every year. It appeared from the financial statement that the year was begun with £226 in hand, that that sum was increased to £381 17s. 1d. and that there is now a balance in hand of £146. Addresses were delivered by the Lord Mayor, Mr. Charles Reed, the Rev. W. Tyler, Rev. J. H. Wilson, of Aberdeen, Rev. W. O'Neil, Rev. F. Wilis, Rev. Mr. Madgin, Rev. R. Ashton, Rev. S. March, and Mr. Woodhouse. CHRISTIAN VERNACULAR EDUCATION SOCIETY FOR INDIA.-The first annual meeting of this Society took place on Tuesday afternoon, May 17th, at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, London. The Lord Bishop of Ripon, Sir John Lawrence, Bart., G.C.B., and J. C. Colquhoun, Esq., who were announced as speakers in support of the Society, were all unfortunately absent from illness. Sir John Lawrence, in his letter, intimating that his medical advisers had strictly prohibited his attendance, enclosed £10 as his contribution, for the year 1859. There was a numerous gathering of the friends of the Society. The Hon. Arthur F. Kinnaird, M.P., occupied the chair. The secretary read the report. The object of the Society was to aid in giving a Christian education to the 180,000,000 of our fellow-subjects in India, by training teachers and preparing Christian books in the mother tongue for the use of the natives of India. The report stated that an arrangement had been made with the secretaries of the Church, Wesleyan, London, Baptist, and Moravian Missionary Societies, to select a certain number of their best established schools in various parts of India, as Vernacular Training Institutions. In virtue of this arrangement such institutions will be open to pupils of good character who may be willing to avail themselves of the training afforded there, at the charge of the Christian Vernacular Education Society, irrespective of their religious sentiments, on the honourable understanding, in the case of Christians of different denominations, that no influence is to be used prejudicial to the interests of any particular society or denomination. By thus working through existing agencies, the Society will be enabled, without any delay, to set in motion a very extensive machinery for providing a native agency, and will, at 265 the same time, draw closer the bonds of Christian love and co-operation throughout the missions and the future native Christian churches of India. The Bishop of Cashel, the Rev. C. Knox, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Hon. and Rev. B. Noel, and the Rev. W. Arthur, were the speakers CHINESE EVANGELIZATION SOCIETY.The annual meeting of this Society was held on Friday, May 20th, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. Sir Culling E. Eardley, Bart., presided. The business of the meeting was opened by a speech of the chairman, of a highly interesting and impressive character, after which the report was read by Mr. J. A. Merrington, one of the honorary secretaries. The report alluded particularly to the beneficial results which have followed the labours of the medical missionaries connected with the Society, and also the importance of promoting a native agency. The Rev. Dr. Legge, of the London Missionary Society, then addressed the meeting, in doing which he expressed an earnest desire and hope that before long, the Protestant Church would be as much alive to missionary operations as the Romish Church. He alluded to the fact that there was a family of four young men, the sons of an Italian nobleman, who had given themselves up entirely to the work of the mission in China, two of whom are still labouring there, the other two having died while engaged in the work. Dr. de la Porte, a missionary from China, bore a very warm and hearty testimony to the value of the labours of one of the medical missionaries connected with the Society, whom he described as spending and being spent in the great and arduous work of the mission. Dr. Hirschbeg, formerly a missionary in China, bore testimony to the value of medical missionaries of the class which this Society usually sends out. The chairman stated that a proposal had been made by a gentleman in Denmark, much interested in missions to China, that a conference should be held of those who are engaged in labouring in that country, for the purpose of devising the best means of carrying on operations there. After some discussion it was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and the secretaries. The proceedings of the meeting, which were of a very interesting and encouraging character, were closed by prayer. THE ANNUAL ASSOCIATION. THE Ninetieth Annual Association of the New Connexion of the General Baptists was held on the 20th of June, and the three following days, in the Baptist Chapel, St. Mary's-gate, Derby. The majority of the General Baptist churches being in the midland counties, and the weather proving propitious, great numbers availed themselves of the opportunity of renewing their christian and fraternal intercourse; and the various public services and meetings for the transaction of connexional business were well attended. On Monday evening, June 20th, a devotional meeting was held, to implore the Divine blessing on the engagements of the ensuing week. Revs. T. Barrass, of Peterboro', T. D. Matthias, of Halifax, G. Hester, of Long Sutton, H. Ollard, F.S.A., (Independent) of Derby, and T. Watts, of Wisbeach, took part in the religious exercises. The occasion was one of peculiar spiritual refreshment and profit. On Tuesday morning, June 21, after the appointment of Rev. G. Cheatle, of Birmingham, and W. Newman, Esq., of Louth, as moderators, Rev. W. Orton, of Louth, and Rev. T. Gill, of Melbourne, as assistant secretaries, the chairman, Rev. J. Burns, D.D., of London, delivered his opening address. After presenting his christian salutation to the brethren assembled, he insisted that these yearly gatherings ought not to come and pass away without leaving traces of their being and influence upon us. "They are," he said, "so many milestones indicating our annual progress, so many halting places in our upward path to the city of the heavenly Jerusalem." He then very impressively alluded to the striking changes and ever fresh aspects which distinguish each successive Association, admonishing us, not only that the fashion of the world, but the scenes of the churches, are passing away. Since his connection with the General Baptists in 1836, he stated, that forty-eight ministers had finished their course at home, and two missionaries abroad. Especial allusion was made to the recent decease of the Rev. J. Goadby, of Loughborough, whose learning and talents had been interwoven with the monthly periodical of the denomination for so many years. After referring to these losses, the chairman continued, "But the rock of our salvation, the Head of the Church ever liveth, and is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Well may we take up the memorable saying of one of the sainted founders of another section of the church, The best of all, "God is with us." We have His gospel in our pulpits, His Spirit in our churches, His gracious presence with us this day in our Association." He then very happily explained what he considered should be the great object of these annual gatherings. "It is well known, he said, "that we meet, not to legislate for the government of the churches; recognising as we do the thorough independence of each congregation. We meet, not to establish priestly power or lordly authority, being believers in the one priesthood and divine authority of the Lord Jesus, and in the common equality and fraternity of of all christian brethren. We meet, not for mere sectarian glorification, as though we were holier than the other tribes of the Lord's spiritual Israel; for nowhere would the benediction be more heartily pronounced than here, 'Grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' As brethren in common with independent Christian churches, we assemble for mutual Christian intercourse, for mutual counsel, and for united cooperation-more especially for sustaining and extending the public institutions of the churches, such as missions to the heathen, and among our home population, and in the education of young men for the exercise of the Christian ministry. Other objects may be mentioned as including general sympathy with each other, and counsel and aid, as far as practicable, to the weaker churches, and that we may take decided action in the great moral, and ecclesiastical, and benevolent questions of the day." The chairman then proceeded to show that the Association ought to tell in a threefold respect for good: on those convened together, in exciting and promoting Christian love and sympathy; on the town and churches where the meeting is held, that the influence of each minister and representative there be felt for good, and the savour of it remain behind him; and on the churches represented by their respective ministers and deputies, which ought to receive some reflex influence for good from our Associations. Important counsel was given in conclusion on the exhibition in all our meetings of Christian courtesy and kindness. The address, of which we have given only a sketch, was powerful and effective, and in every way suited to the occasion. One of the most interesting circum |