ABSTRACT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT.

325

directed to a man called of God for the purpose, and who will be ready to preach the Gospel to them that are at Rome also. "With regard to the future of the work," says Mr. Wall, "next to the Lord himself it depends on the brother you send out."

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.

The Income, including the balance of last year, has amounted to £10,267 11s. 9d. Of this amount the sum of £6,523 4s. 8d. has been received in England, and £3,744 78. 1d. in India. The contributions for Rome have amounted to £1062 5s. 8d.

The Expenditure has been £9,217 18s. 1d., leaving a balance in the Bank of £1,049 13s. 8d.

It should be known that at least the amount of the above balance is required as "a working capital," and to save interest at the Bank. The half-year's salaries of the missionaries, etc., become due July 1st, so that if at the annual meeting there was no balance in favour of the Society, the amount at the Bank would have to be overdrawn and interest paid accordingly.

Of the home contributions at least one third of the amount has been raised by juvenile auxiliaries—a fact which the Committee notice with pleasure and thankfulness.

The largest amount for mission purposes, raised by any one church, is by the Church at Cuttack; the voluntary offerings during the past year having amounted to Rs.3286 1a. 9p. or £328 12s. 2d. As an evidence of the estimate in which the Mission is held by those who live on the spot, and, as an answer to remarks sometimes made by the enemies of missions, the Committee mention the above fact with pleasure and satisfaction.

CONCLUSION.

Seven years ago, when the proposal was made at the Association at Nottingham to unite with the Rev. James Wall in his noble efforts to make known to the politically liberated Romans the simple truths of the gospel, your Committee reminded the friends and supporters of the Society, that if anything were attempted with regard to a Mission to Rome "it should be done in an extra and additional form." They also stated that "Orissa widened before the view; that it never seemed so large as then; that more men were urgently wanted; and that nothing could be spared from Orissa." "Let Rome be supplied," they said, but not Orissa neglected. Let Rome have the gospel by all means, but do not withdraw the living bread from the mouths of the thousands of Orissa that are eager to feed upon it." So now, in attempting more for the evangelization of Italy, your Committee feel that nothing less must be done for the evangelization of Orissa. To that land-whither

the fathers were led as by the hand of Providence; the land of their earliest efforts in Foreign Mission work; the land consecrated by the dust of the honoured dead; and, more than all, by the souls that have been won for Jesus-they feel bound by the strongest possible ties. They consider, moreover, that, as a denomination, the General Baptists of England, together with the Free Will Baptists of America, are solemnly pledged to preach the gospel to every creature throughout the length and breadth of Orissa. Bearing in mind, too, that there are vast districts-such as Jeypore, in the presidency of Madras; Sumbulpore, in the Central Provinces; and the various Tributary States-extending over thousands of miles, and containing some three millions of people, without a single missionary, the Committee feel that they must not relax their efforts on behalf of Orissa. What they desire is that the churches be baptized with the true missionary spirit-the spirit of Christ. In such a case Orissa shall not suffer, Italy shall receive help, and the home churches shall be enlarged.

"In reviewing the labours of another cold season," writes Dr. Buckley, "I see several things worthy of notice, and most of them hopeful and encouraging. We had many opportunities of making known the Gospel, and in various places a manifest impression was made. I was also impressed with the importance of the work which missionaries' wives may do on these journeys. They may be worthy and useful successors of those holy women who 'laboured' with Paul, and no doubt with other apostles in the gospel.' Another thing that strongly impressed me was the desirableness of uniting efforts to heal the sick with preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The reader remembers that on the first missionary journey on which apostles were sent our Lord charged them, 'As ye go, preach'-Matt. x. 7. This was their first work; but the next verse adds, 'Heal the sick;' and there is instruction for us in this; for though we cannot work miracles, much may be done by dispensing medicines on such journeys to benefit our suffering fellow creatures; and surely they must be favourably impressed towards the gospel. In this way, too, we are acting as humble disciples of Him who, hastening to the cross, halted again and again to heal the sickness, and mitigate the suffering that daily affected His loving heart. On this journey many hours were spent by Mrs. Buckley in prescribing for patients; but, I am sorry to say, our stock of medicines was exhausted a week before we reached home, and many had to be sent disappointed away.

"The wide dispersion of native Christians was another thing that impressed me. We found them at Patpore, Banki, Baideswara, Dhurmasala, and Jajapore, besides the places where we have Christian villages. This scattering abroad will be for good. It shows that they are, as a rule, at least as well educated as their Hindoo neighbours, and that they have a fair share of Government appointments. May the holy light of the gospel by their means be more widely diffused!

"Another circumstance cannot be omitted. At most of my encampments I was visited by educated native gentlemen in good positions with whom I had long conversations on matters of greatest moment. These gentlemen repudiate idolatry-do not hesitate to speak of Kalee as 'a hideous and horrible being'-profess to admire the character of Jesus Christ, and speak of Him as 'the purest and holiest of men;' but the doctrine of the Trinity is a stumbling-block, and the teaching of Scripture on the atonement of Christ is offensive, though it ought not to be to those who understand the ancient Hindoo notion of sacrifice. 'And why cannot I be a Christian,' asked one, 'without being baptized?' I urged the claims of Christ on our highest consecration and love; but we must become as little children' if we would enter the kingdom of heaven; and in this spirit of humility I fear that most of my educated Hindoo friends are greatly lacking.'

Miscellanea.

THE VALEDICTORY SERVICES, in connection with the departure of Mr. J. Vaughan to India, will be held at Friar Lane Chapel, Leicester, on Wednesday afternoon and evening, September 18th. Particulars will be given in the Observer for September.

RECENT BAPTISMS AT CUTTACK.-Lord'sday, May 5th, six young persons were baptized. Five were from the Girls Orphanage, and the other was Shanti Nidhi, son of the late Donardun. His uncle, Thoma, preached an excellent sermon on the occasion from Galatians iii. 27; and Damudar, who baptized his father nearly twenty-two years ago, administered the sacred ordinance.

June 2nd, six girls were baptized from the Orphanage by Ghanushyam, after an excellent sermon by Thoma from Hebrews vi. 18.

THE HEAT OF THE LAST FORTNIGHT has been terrible. The natives say that they have never known it so hot before, and with pardonable Oriental exaggeration, describe themselves as "drowned in their own perspiration." Life has been just endured, for enjoyment has been out of the question. The days have been extremely exhausting, and the nights very trying. The only advantage that occurs to me of the terrible experience we are now passing through is, that we are most favourably circumstanced for appreciating the full meaning and sweetness of the gracious words in relation to

the redeemed of the Lord, "Neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any
heat"-Isaiah xlix. 10; Rev. vii. 16.
How long will it last?
Not more, we
hope, than five days longer. We heard,
three days ago, that the monsoon had
fairly set in on the western coast, and it
should burst here about next Thursday.
We had a precursor of it two days since,
in a storm not likely soon to be forgotten.
It began about five o'clock in the after-
noon, and was a solemn and impressive
scene. The force of the wind was fear-
ful, and the scene of desolation after-
wards presented, in houses unroofed,
trees uprooted, verandahs and walls
thrown down, was a sight to be remem-
bered. I could not but think of Psalm
xlvi. 8-"Come, behold the works of the
Lord, what desolations He hath made in
the earth."

I am sorry to say that brother Miller's health is very unsatisfactory. J. B. THE RAJAH OF POOREE has been removed from the jail at Cuttack to one in Calcutta. The editor of our local paper continues to write as if the question of his guilt was one on which honest and impartial men might differ, but it is impossible for those who have read and understood the evidence to accept this view. He does, however, allow that some of the people are saying that Juggernath would never have allowed such calamities to befall his hereditary guardian if he had not done something grievously wrong.

J. B.

ORISSA AND ITS FAMINE ORPHANAGES. -Special attention is directed to the pamphlet under this title appended to the Observer for this month. As independent testimony to the work of the Mission it is very valuable. Where such

testimony is needed, and likely to do good, the loan of the Magazine may render service to the cause. Separate copies of the pamphlets for loan or distribution may be had on application to the Secretary.

Mission Services

WERE held during the second quarter of 1878 as follows:

Foreign Letters Received.

BERHAMPORE-H. Wood, May 21.
CUTTACK-W. Brooks, June 1, 8, 22.
J. Buckley, D.D., June 8, 15.

99

CUTTACK.-Mrs. Buckley, June 8.

Miss Leigh, June 8. PIPLEE.-T. Bailey, May 31, June 12.

Contributions

Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from the Audit

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Esq., Ripley, Derby, Treasurer; and by the Rev. W. HILL, Secretary, Crompton Street, Derby, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards may be obtained.

Our New Chapel at Walsall.

THE FIRST CHAPEL built under the New Unification Scheme of our Home Missionary Society was auspiciously started on Tuesday, July 30, at Walsall, in Staffordshire. The day was bright, the attendance large and representative, the interest strong and sustained, and, according to the local papers (which give lengthy accounts of the proceedings) "everything passed off in the most satisfactory manner." The Midland Conference was represented by its Chairman, the Rev. E. Stevenson; the churches of the neighbourhood by Rev. E. C. Pike, B.A., of Birmingham, C. Springthorpe, of Longton, B. C. Young, of Coseley, and J. E. Barton, of Wednesbury, etc.; and the Home Mission Society by its Treasurer and Secretary. The church at Walsall, led by its indefatigable and self-denying pastor, the Rev. W. Lees, entered into the movement with enthusiasm, unanimity and devotion.

The style of the architecture is a mingling of the classic and Italian and the building will comprise in addition to the chapel proper a minister's vestry, with lavatory, etc., attached; a large lecture room, which is to serve for Sunday school purposes until the schools, for which the land is reserved, shall be built; two class rooms, ladies' lavatory, basement kitchen, fitted with range and boiler for tea meeting purposes, coal cellar, and heating vaults.

The chapel is 62ft. long and 44ft. wide, the height from floor to ceiling will be 30ft. The orchestra is 18ft. wide and 16ft. deep, the entire length of the chapel, including orchestra, being 78ft. Accommodation is provided in the body of the chapel for 404 sittings, and in the galleries for 276; making a total of 680 exclusive of the orchestra. The walls are of red brick the front and two-side elevations being of best pressed brick, with dressings of Hollington stone throughout, and will be enriched with moulded and carved caps, arches, and cornices. The roof is to be covered with best Bangor slates; and the vestibules and entrances are to be paved with encaustic tiles, for which special designs are being prepared by the architect.

The outlay, including site, which is freehold, will be about £4,000 Mr. W. F. Markwick, of Aldine Chambers, is the architect, and the carrying out of the works has been entrusted to Messrs. Rowley, jun., and Lynex, of Eldon Street, Walsall.

The position of this edifice could not have been better. It is near to the junction of the Caldmore Road with Vicarage Walk, and in the midst of a dense population. Vicarage Walk chapel will have the signal advantage of being well placed.

HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT, BY REV. W. LEES.

Although we believe the Baptist Church to be the oldest in Christendom, yet we have no information of a congregation of Baptists in this town, prior to the year 1824. About that time the late Mr.

GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER, 1878.-VOL. LXXX.-N. S. No. 105.