annually, the second Wednesday -in the year, and shall consist of two persons from each congregation. 3. That the Committee shall meet the first Tuesday in the months of April, August, and December; of which the Secretary shall give 10 days notice; and five shall constitute a quorum. 4. That the number of cases admitted annually shall not exceed three. 5. That no countenance shall be given by the ministers, or their friends, to cases. not recommended by the Committee. 6. That chapels in the county of York, and the most urgent cases in the neighbour. hood of Leeds, shall have the first at tention. 7. That the following Gentlemen constitute the Committee for this year: Messrs. Halliwell, Lawson, J. Clapham, Lobley, Sayher, Brown, J. Jackson, and Davidson. 8. That the Ministers be informed of the Meetings of the Committee, and requested to attend. 9. That Mr. Lawson be requested to act as Secretary for the ensuing year. 10. That applications be made by letter (post paid) to the Secretary. 11. That the religious public be made acquainted with these arrangements, through the medium of the Evangelical Magazine. MISSIONARY ORDINATIONS. Feb. 7, Mr. W. Reeve, one of the students from Gosport, was ordained to the solemn work of a Missionary to India, at the meeting-house of his pastor, Mr. S. Douglas, at Chelmsford. Mr. Smith, of Brentwood, began the service by prayer, &c. An introductory address was delivered by Dr. Winter, who also proposed the usual questions, which were answered by Mr. Reeve in a very simple and affecting manner. Mr. Thornton, of Billericay, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Hill, of Surry Chapel, gave some truly wholesome and important advice, from "Who is sufficient for these things?" Mr. Newton, of Witham, gave a short address, on the usefulness of prayer, for the person ordained, and the necessity of making more extensive exertions in the cause of Missions; Mr. Gray concluded with prayer. Mr. Douglas was reluctantly obliged, on account of the state of his health, to decline taking any part in the delightful service.-Mr. Hill preached in the evening. the questions, and received the account of the experience, views, purposes, &c. of the Missionary; Mr. Taylor offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Parsons gave the charge. It was an exceedingly interesting occasion, and the services seemed to make a deep impression upon the numerous congregation. The friends of the Missionary Cause, of different denominations, united in the evening to commemorate the death of the Saviour of the world. Mr. Boothroyd presided; and Messrs. Mather, Taylor, and J. Cockin addressed the communicants and spectators. The funds of the Society received an accession of £ 35.; but it affords still higher pleasure to reflect on the extensive and permanent advantage which the institution must derive from such a service. The West Kent Union for village preaching will meet on Tuesday, April 9, at Mr. Ralph's, Maidstone; Mr. Kent, of Gravesend, and Mr. Shirley, of Seven Oaks, to preach. The next Meeting of the East Kent Union will be held at Ramsgate, April 17: Mess. Praukard and Giles to preach. The Place of the Hampshire Anniversary, owing to peculiar circumstances, not being yet ascertained, the Secretary will send Notices to the Ministers. The Anniversary of the Auxiliary Missionary Society for Notts, Derby, and Leicester, will be held at Leices ter, April 16 and 17. LONDON. Irish Catholic Schools. "for im learn, that this useful Institution, which THE religious public will rejoice-to was formed two years ago, proving the Condit on of the Poor Chil ren of Irish Parents, in St. Giles's and Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic," has its Neighbourhood, by teaching them persevered in its philanthropic labours, notwithstanding the active and decided priests have manifested against it. hostility which the Roman Catholic Since their first establishment, 361 boys and 236 girls, in all 597, have been admitted into the schools. Of this mumber 346 have been so far instructed as to read the scriptures, as also to write, and understand the common principles of Arithmetic. Above 40 of the former scholars are now in service.-See First Annual Report, 1815. Feb. 21. Mr. Samuel Render, a Missionary student, appointed to the Tinivelly As a most gratifying instance of British country, in India, was ordained in Salem liberality, we cannot forbear to mention chapel, Wakefield. Mr. Bruce commenced the promptitude with which a supply was the service by reading and prayer; Mr. provided for the pressing necessities of Vint delivered an appropriate introduc- the poor Irish in St. Giles. tory address. Mr. Boothroyd proposed quence of Advertisements in the daily In conse that in a very few weeks, we understand, above £700 were collected. It became even necessary to restrain for the present. Andrews, the papers, alluding to their distressess, sub- ing. This was refused. scriptions poured in with such freedom, name of one of the men unknown, saying, that Mr. B. ought to have an opportunity of winning in return. The reason of this was obvious, it was thought more might be got out of him. They returned to dice, and then to cards, till this unhappy victim had lost £1600 to Wallace, the other stranger, as well as £200 to Andrews. Mr. B. then gave drafts for £200 to Wallace, and £100 to Andrews, and the party broke up. It was quite unnecessary to say, that these two men and the woman were old acquaintances, and in league for the destruction of any whom they could ensnare. Tho' threatened with prosecution if they persisted farther in their demands, they were not to be intimidated; but in return, threatened, that if not paid the remainder, they should insist upon the satisfaction of gentlemen. They bad the impudence to call upon Mr. B.'s brother; and so pursued and harrassed the poor man himself, that worried by them, and doubtless harrassed up by the reproaches of conscience, he retired, and Alas! with a pistol blew out his brains. When he took the first step in sin, He knew not that it was for his life!' AWFUL SUICIDE. [From the public Newspapers.] Mr. B. aged about 26, was the first partner in a respectable firm of business. In an evil hour of temptation, he determined, with two companions, to attend a Masquerade in Argyle Street, on the night of Jan. 29, when he was introduced to a prostitute who lay in wait purposely to deceive and entrap the unwary. With much fair speech she caused him to yield: with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks ;;-as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knew not that it was for his life. Two persons, unknown to Mr. B. and his companions, joined them in the way. On arrival they found preparations for supper in a high style. The supposed gentlemen proposed and introduced dice. Mr. B. lost, and offered to pay, and finish play ANNIVERSARIES. The Annual Meeting of the Society for the Support of MEтHodist MisSIONS, will be held at the New Chapel, City Road, April 25, at Five o'clock in the Evening. The religious services will be as follows: Wed. Even. April 24, at the Methodist chapel, Long Lane, Borough, Mr. Griffiths, of Leeds, to preach. Thursday, 25th, Morn. City Road, Mr. R. Watson.. Friday, 26th, Morn. Great Queen Street, Dr. Clarke; Even. China Terrace, Lambeth, Mr. R. Newton. Collections at each Service; likewise at the eight principal Methodist Chapels in London, on the Sunday Morning following. The Anniversary of the N. E. London Auxiliary BIBLE SOCIETY, will be held at the London Tavern, April 18th, at One. The Duke of Kent in the chair. April 30th, will be held the Anniversary of the CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY; when the Sermon will be preached at Blackfriars' Church, by the Rev. D.Corrie; and the General Meeting held as usual at the Free-Masons' Tavern. May 1, will also be held the Annual Meeting of the B. and F. BIBLE SOCIETY, at Free-Masons' Hall. The Chair to be taken at 12 o'Clock. The Third Anniversary of the Society for the Improvement and Encouragement of FEMALE SERVANTS, 70, Hatton Garden, will be held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Monday, the 29th inst. See the Advertisement on the Blue Cover The object of this Society is one in which we consider every Christian family deeply interested. The Anniversary of the LONDON FEMALE PENITENTIARY will be held on Tuesday, May 7; and the Annual Sermon will be preached by the Rev. T. S. Grimshaw, A. M. Rector of Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire. The Place of Meeting and Church will be announced in due time. Same day at Noon, the Annual Meeting of the Naval and Military BIBLE SOCIETY will be held at the King's Concert Room, in the Haymarket, DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS. The following, voted in July, 1815, were omitted in the List, published Sept. 1, 1815:-- Missionary Chronicle FOR APRIL, 1816. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE General Annual Meeting of this Society will be held in London, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the '8th, 9th, and 10th days of May next. The Rev. Mr. BROWN, of Cheltenham; the Rev. Mr. FLETCHER, of Blackburn; and the Rev. Mr. JULIAN, of Trimley, near Ipswich, are expected to preach. Further particulars in our next. ALL LETTERS, whether for the Treasurer or Secretaries of the Missionary Society, are requested to be addressed to the Missionary Roems, No. 8, Old Jewry, Cheapside, London. Messrs. Osmond and Barff, Missionaries to the South Seas, who sailed in the Surry transport from the Downs, Feb. 28, arrived safe at Cork, March 12, after experiencing some heavy gales of wind in the Channel. INDIA. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Fyvie. Rev. and dear Sir, several Bibles, Testaments, and a small size; viz. Doddridge's Rise and variety of other useful books of a Progress, Baxter's Call, &c. which were read often, and by many with a considerable degree of attention. May the impressions made prove lasting! as Ir will, we have no doubt, afford the Directors much pleasure to hear Our first business, after landing, of our safe arrival in this place. By was to call on the Governor, who the good hand of God upon us, we received us in the most friendly mancast anchor in Bombay harbour, on ner. We delivered to him the letter the morning of the 9th of August, the Directors sent by us. He said after a safe and comfortable passage there was no obstacle in the way from England of 15 weeks and 14 of our proceeding to Surat, as soon days. The Captain acted to us in a a conveyance could be obmanner which reflects credit to him- tained. His Excellency reminded self, and which calls from us the live- us of the mildness and prudence proliest gratitude to Jehovah, whose per and necessary on the part of wisdom designed our crossing the Missiouaries, which perfectly acnighty deep in his vessel. Indeed, corded with our own sentiments, and his kindness all the way far exceeded our instructions from the Directors. our most sanguine expectations. The Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were officers and ship's company showed voured with a free passage in the us much attention. On the Sabbath, Psyche, ore of the Company's we had public worship on the quarter- cruizers, bound to Pulo Penang. deck. The service was conducted The Psyche sailed from this port on by reading the Scriptures, singing the 22nd of August, and was expecthymus, extempore prayer, preached to arrive at Pulo Penang in less ing, and hearing the gospel. Mrs. than three weeks time. Fyvie acted as leader in the singing part of the service. The attention which the sailors showed to the word, and the sorrow they manifested on our leaving the ship, induce us to hope that our labours, during the passage, have not been in vaip in the Lord. We distributed among them XXIV. fa. On the day that we landed, many thousands of Hindoos were assembled at a certain place to worship the snake. For this religious service they assign the following reasons :--1st. Because a suake is the bed on which their favourite god Vishnu reposes on the sea of infk: 2ndly' X Because they suppose that a snake sustains the earth, by putting his head under it; 3dly, and principally, Because Krishnu, one of their ten incarnations of Vishnu, in one of his adventures, fell into the mouth of a snake, and was in danger of being devoured. This threw his mother into the greatest distress; and baving interceded for the life of her son, she vowed to the snake, that if be would spare him, every body should worship the snake one day in the year. About a fortnight ago, more than fifty thousand Hindoos were assembled by the sea-side, to present offerings to the vast ocean. If this ceremony were neglected, the natives would not consider it safe to sail on the Malabar coast. We have visited several of the Heathen temples since our arrival: they are in general very mean and dirty-are full of idols, many of which have a shockng appearance. Alas! what ignorance of the true God Who does not feel bowels of compassion for such idolaters? Who would not rejoice to lay down even his life, if he might be the means of bringing a few, nay one of them, out of such, amazing darkness into the light of the glorious gospel! Our letters of introduction have procured us many friends in this place. From them we have endeavoured to gain as much information as possible, respecting Surat. But it is astonishing how little is known about it even in Bombay. The result of our enquiry is, that Surat is an immensely populous place; but no one can tell us the number of its inhabitants. The wall of the city is said to be ten miles round. Formerly it was one of the most healthy places in India; but two years ago there was a grievous famine (occasioned by the want of rain) throughout the Guzeratt country, and since that time Surat has been rather unhealthy; but the effects of the famine are nearly gone, and it is expected Surat will again resume its former salubrity. The languages spoken, are the Hindostanee and Guzurette; the former by the Mahometans, and the latter by the Hindoos. As the Hindostanee is spoken by all the people in business on this coast, it would be geatly to the advantage of Missionaries coming our hither, to pay a little attention 0 the rudiments of this language in England. We a are happy to inform the Directors that Abdallah, teacher at Stepney, was perfectly correct in his instructions; and we shall find great benefit from the little time we spent in attending to this language while in London. During the latter end of the south, west Monsoon, the passage betwixt. Bombay and Surat is considered as shut up. The Asia arrived about a month before, this monsoon ended. The Governor spoke of giving us a passage in one of the Company's cruizers, the first day we saw him, as soon as the season broke up. This being the case, we thought it proper, when the time of sailing canie, to remind his Excellency of his promise, and also to inform him that, for several reasons, it was our intention not to go to Surat all at the same time. I As no cruizer was likely to sail for Surat for some time, Mr. Skinner set off yesterday in one of the Company's small boats. Mrs. F. and I will remain with the American brethren till after her confinement. have engaged a Guzurattee Bramin to instruct me while in Bombay, and Mr. S. will engage one as soon as he gets to Surat. Our attention for some time will be directed chiefly to the study of the language. We think very highly of our American brethren. They have a school for teaching both the native and English languages,they preach to a few persons in English on the Sabbath; but their principal employment is the instruction of the heathen. They have acquired the language, and spend part of every day in going from house to house, and from one heathen temple to another, preaching Jesus Christ, and him crucified! The natives listen with much attention. Mr. Nott is returning to England on account of his health; the other two brethren, Messrs. Hall and Newell, are most pious and devoted men. .................. Extract of another Letter from Mr. Fyvie. Bombay, Sept. 28, 1815. Rev. and dear Sir, By the time this arrives in London, I think it likely you may have 1 received our letter by the Asia. Since the time it was written, we have reason in a particular manner to sing of merey and of judgment:' mercy in the preservation of life, and judgment in taking life away. On the 6th of this month, Mrs. Fyvie was delivered of a still-born child. We feel the bereavement; but bow with submission to the righteous will of God, and earnestly pray that the affliction may be sanctified in leading ns more than ever to seek all our happiness in God, and in showing us the very uncertain tenure whereby we hold every created enjoyment. We expect to sail for Surat in the course of a few weeks. We long to reach the place of our destination, and to be able to preach 'Christ, and him crucified,' to the numerous inhabitants of that benighted city. I have the pleasure to inform you, that Mrs. F. is now recovered, and is quite well. I have just received a letter from brother Skinner, who arrived at Surat on the 16th, after a safe and comfortable passage from this place of four days. In this letter, he says, I am aware we shall meet with many difficulties; but these I hope will not overwhelmn us with discouragement; for though the enemies of the gospel fight against it, they shall not prevail, for the Lord is a rock of defence, yea, even a wall of fire round about his church, and the glory in the midst of her. On the whole, I think every thing here is as encouraging as could be expected.' Mr. S. is living at present with Mr. Aratoon, the Bap tist Missionary, who appears to be a pious devoted servant of Christ, and greatly rejoices at our coming to labour in the same place. We are both engaged in the study of the Guzurattee language. Some friends in Bombay have kindly afforded us the best helps that are to be obtained. No Dictionary of this language has ever been published. The thought of making known the dying love of Jesus to thousands of immortal spirits, may, I think, well support the mind of a Missionary, while engaged in the arduous work of learning a foreign language. No obstacle, I think, will be thrown in the way of our preaching the gospel to the Heathen. Our American brethren, Messrs. Newell and Hall, spend part of every day in visiting the Heathen, and instruct, ing them, none forbidding them. They have not yet the pleasure of seeing the fruit of their labours; but the seed is sowing in faith and patience, which we hope will, ere long, spring up and yield an abundant harvest, to the glory and praise of God. P. S. I should be glad to hear how things go on in Africa.-Send us the Evangelical Magazine, and the last year's Report. I hope you will send these also to brother Hall and Newell. I hope you will write to us soon. Wishing the Society every blessing, I remain, yours, affectionately, W. FYVIE. MALACCA. A letter from Mr. Milne, dated Malacca, Sept. 25, 1815, has been received, announcing the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Thomson. Mr. M. says, We`rejoice in their arrival, and view it as the commencement of a new era to the dark extra-Ganges countries.' Mr. Milne is engaged in publishing a Chinese Magazine, the third number of which was in the press when he wrote. BELLARY. A letter from Mr. Hands, dated Bellary, Sept. 1815, is come to band, He has sent the Directors a number of idols of silver, copper, &c. for their Museum. Also a copy of St. Luke's gospel, written on leaves; Christ's Sermon on the Mount, in the Canara language, &c. He wishes for a supply of school-books, &c. He says, that though he cannot gra tify them with an account of the poor Hindoos around him having openly embraced the gospel, yet, he thinks there are many convinced of its excellence and divinity, and who are desirous of becoming more and more acquainted with it. pels, in Telinga (says Mr. H.) and the 1st and 2nd Catechisms, have been widely circulated in the country around us, and have excited much attention. Scarcely a day passes without several coming for books, and to make enquiries.' The gos |