Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

counsels, and all just works do proceed, most sincerely prays that the future operations of this valuable Institution may greatly tend to the promotion of God's glory, and the happiness of our fellow subjects, in the Sister Kingdom.

By the Hon. CHARLES JOHN SHORE;

And the Rev. HORACE TOWNSEND, M.A. of Douglass, Ireland.

That the system pursued by this Society, of imparting to the peasantry of Ireland an education, founded upon the Holy Scriptures, has, in the estimation of this Meeting, been proved to be efficient in its character, and acceptable to the people of that country.

By the Right Hon. EARL of RODEN;

And the Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST NOEL, M.A.

That the increased aid afforded to the Funds of this Society by the friends of Bible Education in Ireland; and, especially, the additional Contributions from the Parents of the Children in the Schools, is a cause for much gratitude and rejoicing, affording, as it does, a satisfactory proof that there is a growing attachment to the Word of God, and to a Scriptural Edu

cation.

By the Rev. J. R. PAGE, of Newport, Ireland;

And the Rev. CHARLES SEYMOUR, M.A. Vicar of Kilronan, Ireland.

That the most respectful Thanks of this Meeting be presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, Earl of Connaught, for his continued Patronage of this Society; and that the grateful acknowledgments of this Meeting be given to those Prelates, Noblemen, and other distinguished characters, who have favoured the Institution with their countenance and support. That the cordial Thanks of this Meeting are hereby

given to those Clergymen, Ministers, and other friends, who have advocated the cause of the Society; to John Deacon, Esq. the Treasurer, and that he be requested to continue his services ; to the Committee, for their important exertions; and that the following Gentlemen" be the Committee for the ensuing year, power to add to their number.

with

By the Rev. JOHN LYONS;

And the Right Hon. LORD MOUNTSANDFORD.

That the cordial and respectful Thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Most Honourable the Marquess of Cholmondeley, the President of this Society, for his kind and continued Patronage, and for his obliging attention to the business of the day.

The Chairman having acknowledged the Resolution of Thanks, and a Doxology being sung, the Meeting adjourned.

See page 4.

THE

TWENTY-SEVENTH REPORT

OF THE

LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

WITH feelings of lively gratitude to Almighty God, and with confidence in the goodness of the cause which he has entrusted to their management, the Committee of the London Hibernian Society present their Report of the proceedings of the Institution during the past year. They always considered that the means employed by this Society were admirably adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the poor of Ireland: that going among them, with the sincerest desire of promoting both their temporal and spiritual welfare, they hoped to secure their confidence, and to be instrumental in leading many of them to that Divine Saviour, "whom to know is life eternal;" and they attempted to effect this object by the adoption of such measures only as are sanctioned by the Most High, the reading, and committing to memory of the pure and unmutilated Scriptures; undertaking to combat error, ignorance, and superstition, wherever found, neither in man's strength, or by carnal weapons, but by the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And now, instructed by the experience of TWENTY-SEVEN years, your Committee are emboldened to declare their fullest conviction, that an education,

B

based upon the whole Bible, is best calculated to produce a proper respect for, and obedience to, the laws of our country, and the happiness both of individuals and of the community; and they state with confidence, that in proportion as Scriptural Education has advanced in the Sister Island, the effects produced have been highly favourable to the object which they seek to promote; and that it is the want of such instruction which has chiefly occasioned that anarchy, disorder, and bloodshed, which every true Christian and Patriot must deeply deplore.

Before entering upon the details of your Society's operations, your Committee have the painful duty of recording the death of that eminently pious, and distinguished Nobleman, the Right Honourable Lord Gambier, who, for many years, gave to this Institution the benefit of his countenance and support, as one of its Vice-Presidents; and the removal, also, by death, of their long tried and valuable fellow-labourer, John Blackett, jun. Esq.; but, whilst lamenting, on account of the Society, and the Church of Christ, the loss of services, which they believe were influenced by Christian love, they rejoice in the assurance, that the servants of the Lord have entered into their rest, and will evermore be employed in the immediate presence of God, free from those bodily afflictions which embittered the last days of their sojourning here.

Your Committee have the gratification of informing you, that, by the goodness of Almighty God, the Society has been enabled to make a considerable advance in its great work since the publication of the last Report; and that at no former period has there been more anxiety manifested for the connexion of new Schools with your Institution, or more decided testi

monials in favour of its system, or tending to prove the beneficial results of its operations.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS.

The total number of Schools for the year has amounted to SIXTEEN HUNDRED and NINETY; and of Scholars enrolled in them, to ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED and THIRTEEN; but after making a deduction for Sunday Scholars, who also attend Day Schools, all of whom receive seven, instead of six days Scriptural Instruction, during the week, your Committee are enabled to state, that not less than EIGHTY-TWO THOU SAND THREE HUNDRED and TWENTY-NINE persons have been receiving the benefit of your Society's system, during either the whole, or part of the last year; shewing an increase upon the statement of 1832, of no less than ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY-ONE Schools, (of which SEVENTY-EIGHT are Day Schools,) and EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED and SEVENTY-FOUR Scholars; affording, as your Committee consider, a convincing proof of the justness of their frequently repeated opinion, that the disposition of the people of Ireland is decidedly favourable to a Bible Education; especially, when, in the increase just announced, and in the Day Schools only, (for the increase in the Sunday and Adult Schools cannot be accurately ascertained, and, therefore, is not noticed,) there have been Two THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED and TWENTY-FOUR Roman Catholics more than in the preceding year; and this, notwithstanding the prevalence of an awfully devastating pestilence; and, in some places, a more marked and decided hostility to our system, on the part of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.

The Day Schools have amounted to SEVEN Hundred and SEVENTY, and the Scholars to SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND

« ElőzőTovább »