object. It was true that the Pharisees were censured for their eagerness to make proselytes, but the reason was, that when they made them, they inflicted upon them the severest injuries. It was not making proselytes, but the spirit which it implied, and the results to which it led, that our Lord condemned. So far from condemning proselytism, he laid down the constitution of his own church upon that principle, and when he commissioned his disciples to go forth, his command was, "and proselyte every creature." If men were proselyted from ignorance to knowledge, from error to truth, from misery to holiness, was there any thing unworthy in such a change-any injurious accomplishment in such a principle? No. Let the system be general. He trusted that every Society which professed to have Ireland at heart, was anxious to proselyte every individual there that needed proselyting, and to instruct every ignorant, and convert every unregenerated man. This Society furnished the greatest safeguard, on account of the purity of the principle on which proselytism was conduct ably necessary to impart knowledge to Ire- | land: there would be so much perplexity in the counsels, so many impediments in the way of the operations of one Society, by whatever name it was called, that scarcely any thing would be effected for the benefit of that country. But now every Society had an especial object, upon which its attention was fixed, and for the accomplishment of which all its energies were employed; and while all were separately at work, there was a grand common object which engaged the sympathy of every heart, and rendered every hand efficient and useful. The great object of these Societies was the spiritual advantage of Ireland. This was very important; not only because the spiritual interests of Ireland were of the highest importance, but because it accorded with the divine proceedings, that while we were anxious to promote their spiritual advancement, we must necessarily promote their temporal welfare. There never had been an instance of a spiritual blessing being conferred, but temporal blessings followed in the train. It was impossible individually or nationally to improve the spied by it, and the benefit which it connected ritual condition of Ireland, without at the with the end. He alluded especially to the very same moment, and by the very same instruction of the young, who were taught act, advancing her civil interests. Ireland to read and commit the Scriptures to memight be raised in the scale of civilization, mury. Was it possible for there to be a and yet after all be left in a state of total greater bulwark against those evils that darkness and destitution of every thing some had seriously dreaded, and others had connected with the salvation of the soul; really feared, than scriptural education? but go (said Mr. B.) and preach the Gospel Could that proselytism be otherwise than to them, and, by a divine blessing, let it good and beneficial, that was effected by enter their heart, pervade their souls, and reading the sacred Scriptures, the benefit of regulate their lives, and it will be impossible which Christians had themselves found, and for them to remain in a state of barbarism. which they knew were able, through faith, to Yes, it would be as impossible for them to make men "wise unto salvation?" He remain without industry, or a regard to would only notice one thing more as conthose things which contributed towards the nected with the Report, and that was the comforts of this life, as it would be for a motto adopted by the Society, and not by man to abstain from food under the agonies this only, but by every other which was - of hunger. Therefore, whatever difference framed for the relief of Ireland. It was of opinion might exist with respect to con- PERSEVERANCE. He was especially glad ferring political favours, which was a sub- the motto was made so prominent at the ject not to be entered upon, except for the present moment, because great success had sake of illustration, he would say, let Ire- already attended the labours of the Society, land enjoy spiritual blessings, and she must and the moment of caution and vigilance have civil privileges of the highest order; was come. He did not think it surprising thus fulfilling the statement of the volume that men should persevere through difficulty. of inspiration, "Godliness is profitable for There was something in human nature, that all things, both for the life which now is, when a great object was before it, difficuland for that which is to come." This led ties goaded it on rather than drove it back. him to notice what he observed with great He was not afraid of good men giving way, pleasure, when the Secretary read the Re- because the object was difficult of attainport, namely, that the object of the Society ment-he was not afraid of a Society ceaswas not concealed, that it was to make pro-ing to exert itself, because great difficulties selytes in the proper nature of the term. He knew of nothing more injurious than that kind of dread which for a moment seized the friends of Ireland, lest they should be suspected of proselytism. Proselytism, in one sense, was not an unworthy were before it his fear began when the career of success commenced, when the day of prosperity began to dawn. He rejoiced therefore to find, that the same report which recorded so high a degree of success, accomplished through the blessing of God, operations of the Society, whose fourteenth anniversary they are assembled to celebrate; and, while earnestly calling upon its friends and supporters to present the sacrifice of encouraging events which have resulted from its exertions during the past year, it is also anxious to impress upon their minds the unspeakable importance of continued and increasing prayer, for the more enlarged effusion of divine influence, that the great objects contemplated in all the proceedings of this Institution may be more effectually and extensively attained; and that this impression may be preserved, recommends that the Report now read be adopted, and circulated under the direction of the Com W. B. Taylor, Esq. then rose and said, that as it was his good fortune to be present at the formation of a Branch Society in Dublin, fourteen years since, he felt called upon to state his opinion upon the subject. It began in a very incipient marner indeed, and very few persons joined it. He had very little connection with it lately, but he had the means of knowing how it proceeded, and he was proud to add his testimony to its usefulness, and to declare that it met with his entire approbation. He begged to second the motion. closed with the word perseverance; and he trusted, as the Society had persevered for fourteen years amidst great difficulties, that the Society's friends would not be induced to withdraw their support and co-praise to the Father of mercies, for the operation, either to enjoy an inglorious rest, or to turn to other objects, but remember that now was the time (when the blessing of God descended upon their efforts, when they saw his hand,) to increase their energies, to enlarge their contributions, to pray more earnestly and fervently than before, knowing that what God had commenced he would accomplish, and knowing that their highest duties were identified with being workers together in the cause and service of God. He rejoiced to find that the Society persevered in praise and prayer, as well as la-mittee." bour. He rejoiced in the spirit and tone of the resolution which he should presently have to submit to the meeting, because it ascribed every thing that was past to God, and looked to him for all that was future. This was the only spirit in which the countenance of the divine blessing could be expected. It was truly alarming when men in the pursuit of the best objects looked to themselves, when they ascribed to human skill, to human ingenuity, to human industry, that which belonged to God alone. God was jealous, and would refuse to bless their labours, because they forget that they owed every thing to him, and were bound to expect every thing from him. It was very delightful to find, that in every assembly similar to that which he had the honour of addressing, there was a prevailing disposition to acknowledge the necessity of the influences of the Holy Spirit. There was a pleasing improvement in this respect, and he trusted that Christians would be more and more convinced of the truth, and more anxious than ever to receive copious effusions of divine influence, to transform the forest into a fruitful field, and by which effusion the fruitful field should so surpass all that ever had previously appeared, that that which was accounted a fruitful field, should then be esteemed a forest. Then, when the nations of the earth rejoiced in the brightness of the rising of the suu of righteousness, Ireland would enjoy every thing that could be wished. Then the light which dawned upon the summit of her mountains, the light which expanded itself down the broad breast of her hills, should occupy her vallies, and purify the places of iniquity. Then would the friends of Ireland exclaim, "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." The Rev. Gentleman concluded by moving I. "That this Meeting desires devoutly to acknowledge the divine superintendence aud blessing which has accompanied the The Rev. J. P. Briscoe, of Ballina, rose and said, that after an absence of nearly five years from his beloved native country, the meeting would very easily imagine that it was with feelings of no ordinary character that he rose, as one of the agents of the Baptist Irish Society, to address that numerous and respectable auditory. The Chairman and himself had had the happiness, and as far as he was concerned, the honour, of meeting more than once in the sister country. The instruction of the rising generation, as the meeting had frequently heard, was one of the important objects constantly kept in view by this Society. They would readily suppose that even in these movements the Society was warmly and uniformly opposed. In the list of means employed by this Society for the accomplishment of its objects, the important and efficient labours of the Scripture readers ought by no means to be overlooked. The meeting had heard, and heard he was persuaded with considerable pleasure, that the number of those interesting and useful men had been increased. He wished from his very soul that the funds of the Society would allow them to double their number. He was fully satisfied, from actual observation, that this class of individuals was most likely to accomplish the greatest good. They could go to the cabins of the poor, and could gain the ear of individuals, when a preacher would not be permitted to address them. But Scripture readers, who could read to them, and talk | to them in their own language, broke up the fallow ground, and prepared them for the preaching of the Gospel. They might be considered as the pioneers of the Society; they were successful, under the divine blessing, in removing many of the difficulties out of the way. With respect to the characters of these men, which was an important point, he felt no hesitation in saying that they were all men who understood the Scriptures, men of good moral character, and more than that, most of them, as far as he could judge from the expression of their feelings, and from the line of conduct which they adopted, were under the influence of the truth which they endeavoured to communicate to the hearts and to the consciences of their fellow countrymen. He thought this was an important fact to mention, because the Society and all its friends, as far as possible, should be assured that they were not in the habit of employing any individual, of whom they had not reason to hope that they were under the influence of religion. Certainly in no case were they employed, where they were not known as persons of good moral charac ter. Now it would perhaps be asked, after the use of all these means for such a succession of years, what effect had been produced? He could assure the meeting that something had been done, not only through the instrumentality of the schools, and by the exertions of Scripture readers, but by the efforts of the different itinerating ministers of the Society. If he might be permitted to speak of himself, and of his own exertions in the cause of the Society, he had reason to be exceedingly thankful to the Divine Being, without whose blessing and influence nothing of importance could be accomplished, that he had not entirely laboured in vain, nor spent his strength for nought. While preaching in the little meeting-house at Ballina, during the course of the last winter, it was not an uncommon thing to see, concealed under the darkness of evening, many Roman Catholics constantly attending. On one occasion, two or three of the Roman Catholic bishop's servants attended. Whether they came to hear with a desire to benefit, or whether they were sent as spies, he would not say; all he could say was, they were there, and he endeavoured to point them to the foot of the cross. An individual who was once employed as a priest's clerk, attended on his preaching for some time, and though he (Mr. B.) was not in the habit of making a direct attack on the principles of popery, he never evaded this question when he found that the truths which he endeavoured to illustrate were in direct opposition to certain distinguishing tenets of the Roman Catholic system; he was endeavouring to was shew the absurdi y of the doctrine of pargatory, and of resting on human merit for the salvation of the soul, and looking to the priests for the forgiveness of sin, and his attention was arrested. He came again, and again, and again, and frequently had be seen him sit listening there, while the tears trickled down his cheek. It was this that first arrested his (Mr. B.'s) attention; he got acquainted with him, and the consequence was, that after a further instruction and conversation with him from time to time, he had every reason to conclude that he had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth as it was in Jesus. At his own personal request, after examining the New Testament, he baptized him in a river, and united him to the little church of which at the present moment he remained an honourable and useful member. He would advert to another pleasing instance of success, accomplished through the instrumentality of one of the Scripture readers, residing about eight miles from Ballina. In the course of his labours, he was directed to the house of an individual, upon whom, after a good deal of opposition, he prevailed to listen to the reading of the Scriptures in his own native tongue. The man brought up a Catholic, but he was convinced of the absurdity of popery, and the necessity of a better foundation for his hope than popery could furnish. A few weeks ago the poor man was taken ill, and died. A short time before his decease, in the middle of the night, he sent his son to the Scripture reader, desiring him to say that he had been very ill, and thought he was dying, and that he wished to see him before he left this world. The reader immediately rose, and went with the son. When he went into the room, he perceived that he was fast advancing to the borders of the eternal world. The man lifted up his eyes and hands, and said to him, "I am glad to see you-you are heartily welcome; but I never shall see you in this world after to-night. I have sent to you in order that you may read to me, before I depart, a little of the contents of that book which has been so valuable, so useful to my soul." The man read with him, and prayed with him, (for he was a pious man, and a member of the little church at Ballina,) and when he rose from his knees, the dying man said, "Thank God that I ever heard the Scriptures read— thank God that ever you came into my cabin, to bring unto me the words of eternal life; for I could not, on account of my age and infirmities, come to you to hear." Before the reader left, the saint said to him, "Tell the Baptist Society, how thankful I feel that it has been instrumental, under God, in making me acquainted with the words of eternal life." He laid great stress upon Wilson, of the parish church, and we shut this; and told the reader to inform him (Mr. | we commenced, I retired with a blessed miB.) of this, in order that it might be trans-nister of the Moravian church, and with Mr. mitted to the Society, and that they might receive his dying thanks and blessing; that they had been the instruments, in the hands of God, in snatching him from popery, and from the blackness of darkness, for ever. Now he thought that the circumstances to which he had adverted were sufficient to encourage the exertions of the Society. There were, however, great difficulties to contend with; there were many obstacles which still impeded the progress of truth; and the agents of the Society felt that they ought to call upon the sympathies, and solicit an interest in the prayers of all who wished well to the sister island. In drawing to a conclusion, he had to present some specimens of needlework done in some of the schools. This was a proof that the Society was 'not only concerned to convey religious knowledge, but that they were also concerned to impart unto the children all useful knowledge. The Rev. Gentleman then presented to the company several samplers, and other specimens of the children's work, which appeared to afford high satisfaction to the company, particularly the ladies. There was one fact, the correctness of which he wished to impress upon the minds of the auditory. He referred to the quantity of Scripture committed to memory in the different schools. Some might feel inclined to think that the quantity stated in the Report was exaggerated, but he could positively assert that that was not the case; it was rather underrated than otherwise." duty requires you to go"-" God sparing They were employed from day to day, and from week to week, increasing their stock of scriptural knowledge; they were required to repeat four additional chapters each quarter, and if the master did not see this duty was performed, his pocket suffered, for every child who was deficient in this was deducted from the number present, and the master suffered in proportion; but it was seldom such instances occurred. The Rev. Dr. Rippon spoke nearly as follows:-We cannot help being charmed with such an assembly as this, especially upon business of so much interest. If it were necessary, said Dr. R. I could lead you back to Ireland thirty years since. Myself and Mr. Birt, sen. were the two first Baptists who visited that country. The first sermon I preached was at Saint Mary's. Mr. Hutton said to me, "we will go and preach in the villages ;"—I replied, "I am very little accustomed to village preaching, but I will do what you direct." Fourteen or fifteen friends took me beneath their wings to Leixlip; we went there to preach, and that blessed man, Henry Hutton, and another person, went through the streets to And a place where we could stand. Before me, (he replied,) I will go." He went and opened the meeting. The events which a: e now taking place in that country are truly gratifying; the finger of God has been there, and the same grace and mercy which bas hitherto attended the society, I hope, will continue from year to year, until the Jews are called in with the fulness of the Gentiles. While I stand here, I can hardly help saying, Hallelujah, Hallelujah to God and the Lamb!" But what an Hallelujah will be sung when the great outpouring of the spirit takes place. I think many people take a wrong view of the term proselytism. I remember Rowland Hill was once speaking upon this subject, and he said, "I do not want you to change your religion, but I want religion to change you." That is all the proselytism this Society wishes to effect. I congratulate the Society on what it has accomplished, and I think it must do good. I beg to move, II. "That while it affords peculiar satisfaction to this Meeting to find that the importance of the Resolution, adopted at the last Anniversary of this Society, to increase, as far as possible, that class of its agents who are employed in reading the Holy Scrip to think fit for themselves. He would merely move, ability which he has shown in conducting the business of treasurer to this Society, on behalf of his much-respected father, William Burls, Esq.; and that he be requested to undertake that office for the ensuing year." tures to the Aborigines of the Sister Country, has been duly appreciated, and that the funds required to meet the additional ex- III. "That Mr. William Burls, jun. is penditure occasioned by carrying it into entitled to the cordial thanks of this meeteffect, have been most providentially sup-ing, which hereby present them, for the plied, it must be obvious to every friend of the Society, that the union of growing zeal, perseverance, and liberality, with humble dependance on divine aid, will be essential to the continued prosperity of the Society's enlarged and enlarging sphere of operation." The Rev. S. Nicholson said that if he were The Rev. T. Gough said, at the time the to consult his own feelings, he should con- commercial earthquake took place in Wilttent himself with simply seconding the re- shire, nothing could be done for this institusolutions; but, nevertheless, he would cheer- tion. He (Mr. G.) one day waited upon a fully express his attachment to the Baptist respectable clergyman to request a donation Irish Society, for he held himself bound, by in aid of the foreign Missions. The clergyevery method within the compass of his man promised to call upon him: he fulfilled power, to support its objects. He remem- his promise, and came over and said, "Take bered to have heard of a gentleman who was this; I wish the Mission success. It was conversant with occurrences in Ireland, re- a twenty pound note. In the course of a late a very impressive anecdote. A child, short time, he (Mr. G.) wrote him a letter, who had been instructed to read the Scrip- and inclosed a Report of the Baptist Irish tures was compelled by the parish priest to Society. Two days after, the clergyman give up her New Testament, she, crying, sent over his servant with a respectful messaid, "You may take away my New Testa- sage, wishing to see him as early as convement, but you cannot take away the forty-nience would admit. He went to him, four chapters I have learnt by heart." Here thinking that surely he should not get less was an effect produced which was well cal- than 101. for the Society. This gentleculated to call forth the warmest gratitude man was a magistrate as well as a clergyto God. man, (said Mr. G.) and he furthermore observed, "If I had any influence in the Cabinet or with Government, I would advise them to vote to the Baptist Irish Society a certain sum every year to aid their funds, it would be the best political method they could adopt, and far better than sending a standing army to Ireland." Well," continued the clergyman, "I have lately been engaged in some legal proceedings with a priest, and have been under the necessity of taking hold of him with the iron hand of the law; the matter was put into Chancery, but through influence I got it out, and the decree was given, that he should pay over certain sums of money which he had unjustly obtained; among these was a sum of 1007. which, with great pleasure, I now hand over to you: let the money be sent to Ireland to promote Scripture education." Previous to leaving, the clergyman observed, "I was not aware that the Baptist Irish Society was doing half so much good; it has my best wishes; I shall be glad to see you at any time.” The Rev. gentleman then seconded the resolution, and sat down amid loud cheers. The Rev. Thomas Morgan said, that while listening to the various details and remarks made that morning, he was deeply impressed with the thought, that they were assembled together under the broad protection of religious liberty. He was sure they dare not have made such speeches, but for the liberty which they had received, and as a friend of liberty, that liberty which he claimed for himself, he would most cheerfully tender to all his fellow-subjects. He stood there as a decided Baptist, but, surrounded by members of the Church of England, by individuals belonging to other denominations of Dissenters, and probably by gentlemen belonging to the Roman Catholic communion, he would say in reference to them, they had just as much right to engage in the practice of proselytism as he had. Let them go forward upon the system of proselytism in the sense in which his reverend friend had used the term. He was well aware that there were bigots in all religions-that there were bigots among the Baptists-bigots among Dissenters of every denomination--and was it to be a matter of surprise that there should be bigoted Roman Catholics? He was pleased to find from the report, that even in Ireland a few Baptists could stand up in the midst of multitudes, and administer baptism according to the ancient mode without any interruption or molestation. Such circumstances indicated that the day was fast approaching, when in Ireland they would not only act for themselves, but allow others The Rev. Dr. Newman said, he had the honour of moving, IV. “That the grateful acknowledgments of this Meeting are due, and are hereby presented, to the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, and the Rev. George Pritchard, the Secretaries, for their very valuable and gratuitous services; and they are respectfully requested to continue the same." |
