readers from time to time to the movements of those great institutions which, especially within the last fifty years, have sought to accomplish the great end for which Christ instituted a visible Church on earth, and ordained the Christian ministry, as an institution which should be coeval in existence with the duration of our world.

We have also expressed our pleasure that a society has been lately established for the especial purpose of interesting the classes to which our periodical is more especially addressed; viz., to those young in years and Christian experience, who, feeling the value of their own souls, are so quickened to a sense of the value of the immortal spirits around them, that they are constrained to devote that time, which perhaps once they consumed in idle leisure, to the solemn work of exhorting those around them to flee from the wrath to come; or the still more important duty of guiding the infant mind to Jesus, and imparting to youth that knowledge which alone can

save.

We rejoice, then, that we are now enabled to set apart a stated portion of our pages to the society in question, that is, "The Church of England Young Men's Society for aiding Missions at home and abroad."

We propose every three months to present a brief view of its operations, together with such statements and facts connected with the great Missionary objects involved in its constitution, as we trust will be at once interesting and useful.

A special blessing has ever rested on the reading and hearing of the progress of the grace of God. Many now in glory have owed their saving conversion to their becoming acquainted with or beholding what God had done for others.

We view, then, with no small anticipations, this attempt to do that systematically, which hitherto we have done only occasionally. As an introduction to our design, we deem it indispensable to present a view of the objects, principles, and operations, of the society, even though we run the risk of reprinting what has already appeared in our pages.

As its title indicates, the society is formed among the members of our own Church. It had a small, a very small beginning; but a blessing has rested upon it, and now it numbers 300 or 400 in its lists, not only in the metropolis, but already in one or two provincial towns. To one of these we feel thankful to allude, because we understand that the notice of the society contained in a former number of the "Teacher's Visitor," led to its formation; we mean the branch at Bury St. Edmunds.

The first and main object of the Society, is to excite and cherish

in the minds of these young men of our Church, a real and deep Missionary sympathy; to be, in fact, a nursery for the very spirit of Missions in the Church. This it aims at, before and more than at the collection of funds. This it seeks to root and ground in the hearts and affections of its members, that thus a foundation may be laid on which the next generation and succeeding generations may raise a glorious and enduring superstructure to the praise and honour of the Lord of Missions-a vast multitude of immortal spirits gathered from the four corners of the earth: from burning Africa, and from the frozen north; from the western prairie, to the eastern land of palms, sitting at the feet of Jesus, " clothed, and in heir right mind."

We are sure that the absence of this real Missionary spirit, even in Christian minds, is one of the greatest deficiencies of the Church in our day; and we are equally persuaded, that the cause of the prevailing apathy, the reason why we are content to give our smaller or larger annual subscription to some society, and think no more of it, is that there is a prevalent ignorance in the subject. Men have not been stirred up by a knowledge of the simple truth on the subject, while their minds were invested with the susceptibility of youth. Now, it is for this society to supply this deficiency, to pour streams of information across the path of those who pant for knowledge, come whence it will.

It is for this Society to supply a great desideratum in relation to the work of the church of God, which is supplied in relation to other departments of human truth and enterprise, by our colleges, literary institutions, and schools. Considering the alarming aspect of the times, we feel that it is a blessed thing that in our own beloved but distracted Church, young men holding, as the members of this Society professedly do, the doctrines of the reformation in their evangelical purity, are thus banded together, and are calling (and we wish their call was so loud as to be heard by every young churchman,) on their Christian brethren to unite for the best of purposes, to support institutions among the noblest and the best in our land for the Society seeks not only to inspire with a love for Missions, but to direct the inexperienced mind to the channels in which its new-born sympathies should flow, to fertilise in its various fields the vast desert of human woe.

In our opinion, it wisely divides Missionary labour into four departments, viz., those represented by the Church Pastoral Aid, Colonial Church, Jews, and Church Missionary Societies, to which we shall next direct our attention:

The Church Pastoral Aid Society stands first in order, because

the Christian is bound first to "provide for his own, and for his brethren and companion's sake"-to labour and pray for the peace of his native land. The object of this Society, which held its tenth annual meeting in the spring of 1845, is, "the salvation of souls, by giving aid towards maintaining faithful and devoted men to assist the incumbents of parishes in their pastoral charge." Desirous of making the finished work of their only Saviour known to the masses of our fellow countrymen, who, for lack of knowledge, are growing up without God in the world; and to do this through the established Church, it employs such methods only as are wholly consistent with her discipline and order. So far as the funds entrusted to the committee will permit, they furnish the ministers of populous and destitute parishes with the means of supporting a curate or lay agent, who is, in every case, to be nominated by the incumbent, but of whom the committee must be satisfied that he is a man "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." The prosperity of every missionary society is, by direct consequence, affected by, and supported in, the support given to this. We are to pray that "God will be merciful to us at home, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us, in order that his way may be known upon earthhis saving health among all nations."

The Colonial Church Society has the next claim upon British Christians, because it sows the spiritual good of our countrymen in the colonies and foreign dependencies of Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe. Many are required to reside "in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;" and these yearn, like David, for the ordinances of religion which they once enjoyed, and their "soul is cast down within them." For these, as well for such other emigrants from the father land, as have altogether forgotten God, this invaluable Society sends out clergyman, catechists, Scripture readers, &c. Its operations have been signally blessed by the Most High.

The London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, tells, in its title, its high and Scriptural aim. The more conversant each humble-minded reader of Holy Writ becomes with its sacred contents, the more in every case 'his heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved."

The Church Missionary Society, whose largely blessed efforts, directed at its first institution, near half a century ago, to Africa and the East, now comprise the whole heathen world, is, we trust, too well known, and too dear to our readers, to make a detailed notice of its object or plan here requisite.

Of all the monuments of guiding and protecting love, which the

Great Head has given to his Church of these later days, none stands out so prominently as the history of this Society.

Some of the means by which young men may become eminently useful in furthering the great objects contemplated by the four societies, suggest themselves as follows:

1. By the cultivation of personal piety. This is indispensibly necessary, since, without it, no guarantee can be taken, that the work will be perseveringly followed, and what is of more importance, it cannot be owned or blessed of God. The multitude of sacrifices brought in ancient days by an unsanctified people, were rejected of God; the Almighty had not required such services from such a people.

The abiding influence of the Spirit of God, prompting to the acceptable performance of those duties which we owe to him, and which it is our honour and privilege to give, can only be with those who have renounced the world with its affections and lusts.

2. The dissemination of knowledge, appertaining to Missionary operations. This may be effected by means of a well-selected library, accessible on easy terms. The foundation of such a library, with a reading room attached, has been laid by the Parent Society, in London, as well as in the North Staffordshire Auxiliary, where the terms of admission to such great advantages consists in membership, which is obtained by a subscription of one penny per week, to the general fund of the Society. The delivery of lectures, by parochial or district clergy, is also another valuable means to this end. In London two yearly courses of twelve lectures in one, and eleven in the other year, have been completed, the majority of which have been well attended. Two courses are intended for the current year, one in the North, a second in the South, London Auxiliary. In addition to these means, periodical meetings of members of the Society to hear and give information gathered from the lectures, the library, and in the reading room, as well as from the publications of the Societies, are eminently calculated to create among the rising generation of young men that healthy tone of feeling which has been so long wanting among the laity towards religious societies.

A glance at the following subjects for conversation, arranged by the North West London Auxiliary, will shew the amount of important, useful, and interesting information, likely to be diffused by such means:

JANUARY.-The Missionary work a duty commanded in Scripture. The motives which should animate those who undertake it, illustrated in the conduct of the early Christians, and the blessings which result from actively engaging in it.

FEBRUARY.-The importance of enlisting the energies of young men in the Missionary work, and the benefit likely to result, with God's blessing, from a full development of the Church of England Young Men's Society for aiding Missions at Home and Abroad.

MARCH.-The spiritual wants of England and the causes which retard the spread of vital Christianity in this country.

APRIL.-The character and effects of heathenism and Mahometanism as contrasted with Christianity.

MAY.-The present state and condition of the Jews, and the prospects of the Missionary work among them.

JUNE.-Southern India-The character of its inhabitants; their superstitions, and the state of the Missionary work there.

JULY.—The state of the British Colonies in North America, and the history of the Moravian Missions in that country.

AUGUST.-Africa-The character of its inhabitants; their superstitions, and the state of the Missionary work amongst them.

SEPTEMBER.-The New Zealanders-their character and habits, and the history and progress of the Missionary work there.

OCTOBER.-The Holy Land, its former condition, and the fulfilment of prophecy, as shewn in its present state.

NOVEMBER.-The spiritual destitution of the Metropolis, and the mode of providing for the increasing wants of the population. DECEMBER. The capabilities which England possesses for extending the knowledge of salvation throughout the world, and the paramount claim which the Missionary work has upon British Christians.

EDUCATION ADVANCING IN INDIA.

"SIR H. HARDINGE is very popular," writes Mrs. Micaiah Hill, from Berhampore. "His administration is likely to prove a great blessing to India. He is doing all in his power to promote education, and, by a rule published in the Government regulations, specifies as the most eligible candidates for public situations, those who have distinguished themselves in colleges or schools: this will be a strong stimulus to the youth of this country. The educated natives in Calcutta are so gratified by it, that they have sent an address to Sir Henry, signed by 500 of the most influential persons."