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RELIGIOUS AND PHILANTHROPIC
INTELLIGENCE.

Monsieur Malan and the Church of Geneva. We are concerned to learn, by a letter which we have received from Geneva, that since the return of M. Malan to that place, the opposition to him has been continued with unabated, and even with increased ardour. In order, however, to do nothing that could offend against Christian charity, that gentleman presented to the associate pastors four demands, with the reasons on which they were founded annexed, requiring either that permission to preach might again be given to him, or that his cause might be heard, his conduct judged, and that he should not be deprived of his ministry but according to the ordinances of the church, after having been heard in his defence. This demand was explicit and categorical. It was necessary to give a clear and positive answer, which the opponents of the Gospel will seldom, if ever, do. The Genevese pastors, therefore, had recourse to equivocation; and immediately came to a resolution amongst themselves, that no requisition made by M. Malan, or in his behalf, should be entertained or discussed, until there shall be nine pastors assenting to it. In all other cases, the concurrence of two ministers is sufficient; and as the association comprises but five orthodox members, it must be self-evident, that by this oppressive measure every door of appeal has been shut: "And so much the better," says the letter before us, "if a decision must sooner or later be attained, which shall separate him from this Babylon. That is already done, and he is free." His situation is, nevertheless, a delicate and a difficult one. He considers himself still in union with the church in which he has been educated, and is determined not to separate himself from it; because he feels, that as the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by Calvin, is still preached by some of the ministers of the city, though fearfully and with too much weakness, his duty, in the sight of God, is not to act there the part of an innovator, but of a restorer. To this line of conduct he is also the more powerfully compelled, as the chapel in which he preaches, in his own house, and in which he has lately introduced a second service on a Sunday evening, is attended by many persons who were heretofore diametrically opposed to his sentiments, but who have given over that opposition, now that they are satisfied that the doctrine which he preaches is no innovation, but the simple Gospel, such as it was preached by their fathers, whilst they adhered to the faith He has accordingly determined to publish to the world a statement of his conduct, in order to vindicate himself from the charge of innovation; to prove that it is the actual pastors of the people who have been guilty of sophism and heresy; that it is the church of Geneva which he wishes to preserve; that, therefore, he is compelled to withdraw himself from the abominations which Satan has introduced into it, and to protest against them with all his might; and that, though he now preaches in another place than the established churches, he is not separated from the faithful of the church of Geneva, whom he entreats and conjures to hold fast the doctrine which they have received, whilst he offers to them, as a minister of God, the pure Gospel of salvation. A step of this decided nature has excited the enemies of this zealous champion of the faith once delivered to the saints to carry their

opposition against him to the last extremity. "I expect it will be so," says he; " but what does that signify? The God who has put into my heart the desire to serve him will protect me." In order to carry on the work to which he has devoted himself, Monsieur Malan has occasion for a larger place of worship; his present one being very small and inconvenient, both on account of the extreme heat, and of the necessity of extraordinary exertion, on the part of the speaker, in order that he may be heard by the crowd assembled in his garden. A society has accordingly been formed for the purpose of raising a subscription for erecting another chapel; and this zealous preacher has applied to his numerous friends, and the friends of his cause in Great Britain, to assist in this laudable work. Ten thousand pounds is the sum required; it being absolutely essential to the execution of the design that the freehold of the land on which the building is to be erected on Monsieur Malan's premises should be purchased, which, in fact, has already been done. Most heartily do we wish him success in the undertaking; arduous indeed in Geneva, as he justly considers it, but which our British Christians could effect, comparatively speaking, without an effort. We trust, therefore, that they will come forward to the assistance of their friends, who, though foreigners, are brethren. "Is it not," asks Monsieur Malan, in one of his letters to a friend in England, is it not to the same mansion that we are travelling? Pray, therefore, I entreat you, pray every Sabbath in your church, for the work of the Lord in this place, for it is necessary that we should fight in concert. Communicate the contents of this letter to our brethren in ****** Messrs. H. M. W. C. J. H. &c., for, although we are not all of the same sentiments on some points, we are all Christians, and consequently interested in sustaining the cause of the Gospel." The general diffusion of such sentiments will, we are persuaded, greatly further the progress of that Gospel, whose final triumphs over error and superstition of every sort is "a consummation devoutly to be wished." A meeting has lately been held in London for furthering this object, at which it was stated that 600l. was the lowest sum that could be of effectual service in securing it, and we hope that will soon be raised. Mr. Sheriff Rothwell will receive any subscriptions in furtherance of it.

Baptist Academy at Stepney. On the 11th of January, the Anniversary Meeting of the Baptist Academical Institution at Stepney was held at the King's Head, in the Poultry, when a very pleasing report was made of the increasing usefulness of the establishment, whose expenditure, we yet regret to learn, like those of but too many of its sister institutions, amongst other denominations of Christians, considerably exceeds its permanent income. Hopes however were held out, and we sincerely wish that they may speedily be realized, that great exertion will be made to lessen, if they cannot remove, this serious, though too general evil.

Society for propagating Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.-The London anniversary of this society was celebrated on Thursday, April 13th, at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate Street. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex in the chair; supported by Sir William Grant (late Master of the Rolls), and the Lord Mayor. From the statement of the Royal Chairman, it appears that the institution superintends by its care, and aids, or wholly supports, by its bounty, upwards of 300 schools for teaching the common elements of knowledge, and 100 schools of industry. At these establishments, about 20,000 receive the means of instruction; and the total annual expenditure, through the medium of the Society, amounts to more than £5,000. Upwards of £450 was collected on this occasion..

State of Religion in Canada.-A public meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, on Thursday, April 20th, to take into consideration the state of religion in the two Canadas; where it appears that there are 160,000 persons without religious instruction. The Rev. Dr. Waugh, in the unavoidable absence of Charles Grant, Esq., took the chair. The Rev. Mr. Easton, who has lately arrived from Montreal, addressed the meeting at some length, stating that a country, with an extent of 1,000 miles, had only 38 ministers, and those chiefly along the river St. Laurence. The people, who consisted of natives of England, Scotland, and Ireland, were devoted to their religion; but the Gospel was scarcely any where preached, and Divine worship was almost unknown. Upper Canada, he stated, consisted chiefly of Protestants; but there was not one person in ten that received religious instruction. Funds would be wanting to send ministers out, and he had no doubt, on their arrival, the inhabitants would support them alone.

British and Foreign Bible Society. The annual meeting of this Society was held at Freemasons' Hall, on Wednesday, May 3d; Lord Teignmouth, the president, in the chair. The Report commenced, as usual, with the foreign relations of the Society. In France a number of auxiliary societies had been formed. and are supported by Catholics as well as Protestants. The Duke d'Angouleme had given assurances of his friendly disposition to the object, and the Duke de Cazes had corroborated the like assurance by the subscription of 1,000 livres. In the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and most parts of the continent, Christians of every denomination, and even Jews, exhibit the most earnest desire to possess the Scriptures, and to support the societies by which they are distributed. From Switzerland, Hanover, Saxony, Wirtemberg, Prussia, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, and Norway, the intelligence was of the most gratifying kind. Similar accounts had been received from the Ionian Islands, and from Athens, the capital of Greece, where a Bible Society had been established, under the patronage of the highest civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the place. The Eighth Report of the Calcutta Bible Society, and that from Madras and its dependencies, furnished abundant proof of the advantages derived from the labours of the Parent Society. In China, though the jealous power of the government still operates to prevent the free admission of the holy Scriptures; yet well-founded hopes are entertained, that the exertions which are making will eventually succeed in shedding the light of the Gospel over that vast empire. Under the direction of that excellent man, Dr. Morrison, the whole Bible has now been translated into the Chinese language, and £1,000, voted by the Society for that desirable object, had been appropriated thereto. The New South Wales Bible Society had been zealously supported by all the civil, military, and ecclesiastical authorities in the colony; and its establishment promised the most beneficial results. The reports which had been made from the South Sea Islands were most gratifying. The whole Gospel of St. Luke had been translated into the Otaheitan language, and 3,000 copies had been printed and distributed. Multitudes in those islands can now read with ease; many can even write; and it is common to see them sitting in circles under the shade of trees till midnight, listening with profound attention to the reading of the Scriptures. In Africa, and America, Hayti, and the Western Archipelago, there was unquestionable evidence of the great and growing success of that holy cause in which the Society is engaged. In reporting the domestic concerns of the Society, the committee had the satisfaction of stating, that, notwithstanding the untoward circumstances of the times, commercial difficulties, and antichristian doctrines, they conti

nued most prosperous; though, from the extraordinary exertions which had been made, the expenditure of the last year had exceeded, by more than £31,000, that of the preceding one: at the same time it was to be lamented they had not received a correspondent addition to their funds. Their total receipt was £93,033. 6s. 7d.; their expenditure £123,847. 12s. 3d. The issue of the Scriptures within the year was, Bibles 115,755; Testaments 141,108: total 256,883.

Prayer Book and Homily Society.-The annual meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on Thursday, May the 4th; a sermon having previously been preached in Christ Church, Newgate Street, by the Rev. J. Scott, of Hull. In the last year, 9,731 homily tracts, translated into foreign languages, have been distributed abroad, or among merchant vessels which had come into this country. The first three homilies have been translated into Welch and Manks, and the Society has contributed towards the expense of printing in India versions of the common prayer, in the Syriac and Malayan languages, for the use of the Syrian Christians at Travancore. The total issue of prayer books, psalters, and homilies, during this period, was 11,581; and that of homilies, the articles of the Church of England, and the ordination service, as tracts, 34,714. Of these, 125 prayer books, 200 enlarged psalters, and 3,700 homily tracts, were granted to the settlers going to the Cape of Good Hope.

London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. The annual meeting was held at Freemasons' Hall, on Friday, May 5; Sir Thomas Baring, president, in the chair. From the Report it appears, that besides a new auxiliary association in England, an auxiliary society has been formed at Brussels, and another at Frankfort on the Maine. At Amsterdam, preliminary measures have been taken for the formation of one in that city, in which are about 28,000 Jews, and to which place the Rev. Mr. Thelwall is preparing to proceed as a resident minister. The income of the Society during the past year has exceeded that of the former by £1,500, amounting to £11,201: but there has also been a great increase of demands on their funds during that period. There are at present in the schools 40 boys, and 41 girls. The funds for the building of the schools are still inadequate to the demand. In the course of the last year, two editions of 2,000 copies of the Hebrew New Testament, and a large number of tracts in Hebrew-German, and in German-Hebrew, have been printed. A translation of the New Testament in German-Hebrew is completed, and will soon be distributed. A translation of the New Testament in the language of the Polish Jews (which differs materially from the German), has long been desired, and will be attended to as soon as possible.

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London Hibernian Society. On Saturday, May 6, was held the fourteenth anniversary of this Society, at the City of London Tavern. William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. in the chair. The Report of the Society stated the number of schools under the patronage of the Society at 529, (including thirty night schools, and nine Sunday schools), in which 58,202 children and adults receive instruction; making, in the course of the past year, an addition of 49 schools, and 11,000 pupils. These exertions have increased the Society's debt £2,362 (in addition to £1,342 at the last audit), and make the Treasurer overdrawn in the whole £3,704.

Port of London Society for promoting Religion among Seamen.-The anniversary meeting was held on Monday, the 8th of May, at the City of London Tavern; the right hon. Admiral Lord Gambier, G. C. B. in the chair; supported by Admiral Sir G. Martin, Bart., and Admiral Spranger. His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg also attended the meeting, and several naval officers were on the hustings, some of whom

addressed the meeting. The Report stated, that when the upper and lower pools were full of vessels, it is no uncommon sight to witness sixty ships' boats conveying from four to five hundred seamen on board the floating chapel of the Society, in addition to others who, through its instrumentality, have been induced to resort to other places of worship. It adds, also, that there is now decidedly far less swearing among the men who are on board ships, and those who navigate the craft, than there was formerly, and that there is a growing reformation among this class of our fellowsubjects. Twelve masters of vessels held the plates for the collection after the meeting, which was liberal; as was that also made on the following day, after two sermons preached on board the ark, by the Rev. Mr. James, of Birmingham, and the Rev. Rowland Hill.

Naval and Military Bible Society. The annual meeting of this institution was held in the King's Concert Room, in the Haymarket, on Tuesday, the 9th of May; His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester in the chair. We are happy to state, from the Report, that the income of the Society during the last year was £2,162; which was an advance of £250 on its predecessor. The distribution of Bibles and Testaments, during the same period, has been, to the Navy 1,200, and to the Army 4,900, a large proportion of which has been paid for at reduced prices. The committee have agents in Upper Canada and Halifax, who will open a new and ample field for useful distribution; and also in Ceylon and the East Indies. We regret, however, to learn, that notwithstanding all their exertions, one half of the British Army and Navy are still unsupplied with the word of life. Irish Evangelical Society.—The annual meeting of this Society took place on Tuesday evening, May 9, at the City of London Tavern; Thomas Walker, Esq., Treasurer, in the chair. From the Report it appears, that there are now six ministers in Ireland connected with this Society, and partly supported by it, whose congregations have all prayer meetings and Sunday schools, and for two of whom (Messrs. Petheriek and W. Cooper, jun.) new places of worship are now erecting. Their seminary is in a flourishing condition, three students having completed their studies during the last year, making the whole number educated seven; and the other eight having made a very respectable progress in biblical and theological learning. At Wexford, Mr. Rhodes has been ordained pastor of a church newly formed there, and has established a weekly evening school, at which upwards of 80 children attend, many of whose parents are Roman Catholics. Lisburn has been abandoned, after twelve months' trial; but at Carrickfergus the congregations are endeavouring to build a place of worship, a neat one having been erected at Strade. For one at Londonderry £400 has been collected by Mr. Reddy. At Mallow, the principal proprietor of the town has offered a spot of ground for a chapel in a central situation; and £140 has been subscribed by the inhabitants towards its erection. At Tralee, a place has been built and opened, capable of holding 300 people, and the attendance is encouraging. Twelve ministers are assisted in itinerating, besides the six settled pastors; and 14 new chapels have either been built, or are building.

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Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty. The anniversary meeting of this Society was held at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, on Saturday, May 18th; the right honourable Lord Holland in the chair. It is impossible, in our narrow limits, to give even the slightest abridgment of the petty and vexatious instances of intolerance detailed by its Secretary, John Wilks, Esq. in a most eloquent speech, which was listened to with the greatest patience and delight, during more than three hours. Through the interference of the Society, the commissioners of

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