SOLOMON describes the return of spring in terms equally applicable to the present season, both in a literal and spiritual sense: "The winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." The pleasures of spring naturally lead us to anticipate the joys of harvest; and it is doubly pleasing to the Christian mind to look forward, not only to a harvest in the world, but a richer harvest in the church. This is a pleasure now annually enjoyed by the members and friends of the Missionary Society; for may we not apply to them the animating words of our adorable Saviour- "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest ?" We cannot but indulge the cheering hope, that the seed of the word, which this Society, and other reli. gious bodies, are sowing in various countries, will produce, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, a glorious harvest of converted Heathens. Possessed of this hope, it is always with pleasure we present to our readers a detailed account of the anniversary Meetings of the Society.

The first public Meeting was at Surry Chapel, on Wednesday, the 11th of May. The prayers of the Established Church were read by the Rev. Mr. Hill; Mr. Weaver, of Shrewsbury, prayed before scrmon; Mr. Bottomley, of Scarboro', preached on Rom. ii. 7. “To them who, by patient continuance in welldoing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, etcrral life." After the sermon, an extract from the Annual Report of the Directors was read by Mr. Eurder, for the general information of the Religious Public. Mr. Humphries, of Hammersmith, concluded with prayer.

On Wednesday evening, Mr. Young, of Canterbury (not as formerly mentioned by mistake, of Ebley) preached at the Tabernacle, from Rom. XV. 20, 21. So have I strived to preached the gospel, not where Christ was nanied, lest I should build on another man's foun- · dation; but as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand." Mr. Fuller, of Kettering, prayed before sermon; and Mr.Mantell, of Westbury, after it.

On Thursday evening, at Tottenham-court Chapel, after the prayers of the Church, Mr. Gr. Ewing, of Glasgow, preached on Acts xvii. 30, 31. And the times of this ignorance, God winked at; but now commandeth all men, everyw here, to

repent; because he hath ap pointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Mr. Williams, of Birmingham, prayed before sermon; and Mr. Wigton, from Scotland, after it.

On Friday, morning the public service was at St. Paul's Church, Shadwell. After prayers, which were read by the Rev. Mr. Winkworth, the Rev. Jeremiah Newell, Vicar of Great Missenden, and Perpetual Curate of Lee, Bucks, preached from Acts xxii. 21. “And he said unto me, Depart; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."

We have the pleasure to say, that these Sermons will be published at as early a period as possi ble, together with the Report at large, which will be found peculiarly interesting.

Appropriate Hymns, from the Missionary Collection, were sung

the various places of worship; and were given out by Messrs. Paul, Legget, Thornton, Dunn, Sabine, M'All, Kent, Philip, Arnold, Moreil, Tracy, Frome, Lowell, and Hinxsman.

The Sacramental Festival, cn Friday evening, at Zion chapel, crowned the public religious services of the Anniversary. The ministers who engaged in prayer and exhortation were Dr. Haweis, Mr. Collier, Mr. Cooke, Dr. Kemp, Mr. Ball, Mr. Bogue, and Mr. R. Hill, who closed the solemnity. A great number of ministers assisted in the distribution of the elements; among whom we recollect Messrs. Greatheed, Hopkins, Williams, of Stepney; Bickerdyke, Brooksbank, Cockin, M'All, Jackson, J. A. Knight, Jones, Towers, Ewing, J. Townsend, Buck, Fowler, Platt, Weston, Knight, Adams, &c. The scene was solemn and grand beyond description, and afforded a delightful resemblance of that celestial place, where the union of all the followers of the Lamb shall be complete and everlasting.

The number of ministers who were collected from various parts of the kingdom, was thought to be greater than on any former occasion; and such was the desire of the friends of the Society to enjoy the public services, that the large chapels, in which they were held, were crowded long before the time appointed; and a great many were unable to procure adinittance. This, we trust, may be considered as an indication that the desire of communicating the word of life to the Heathen, is a steady and increasing principle in the hearts of God's people, and will continue to produce the most energetic efforts for the good of mankind. Already has the Lord vouchsafed to smile on the sacred work; and the Report of the Directors affords the most pleasing evidence that the labours of the Society have been far from being fruitless.

The Meetings of the Society for the dispatch of business were held at the usual time, at Mr. Brooks

bank's, in Staining Lane. The Thanks of the body were voted to the Directors, to the Preachers, and to the Treasurer (Mr. Hardcastle) who was requested to continue his valuable services in that department. The Rev. George Burder was unanimously chosen Secretary to the Society, in the room of the late pious and useful Mr. Eyre, of Hackney, whose talents and influence contributed much to the first formation and gradual progress of the institution; and whose death is most sincerely lamented by all who knew his uncommon worth.

To accommodate a number of friends who attended at Shadwellchurch on Friday morning, and who were to assemble in the afternoon at Zion-chapel for business, a cold collation was provided at SunTavern Fields, by the hospitality of Mr. Sims; and about seventy persons enjoyed the social refreshment.

Religious Tract Society.

THIS excellent institution, like many others, took its rise from the Missionary Society, was founded in the year 1799; and has increased in magnitude and usefulness every suc ceeding year. According to the annual custom, the friends of the Society met at St. Paul's CoffeeHouse, on Thursday morning, at seven o'clock, and breakfasted together. A very interesting Report of the progress of the institution during the last year, was read by the Secretary, Mr. Hughes; wherein it appeared that the funds of the Society were in an improved state, and that about 300,000 Tracts had been distributed in the course of the past year. Several pleasing instances were related, by different gentlemen, of the happy effect of the Tracts on the minds of individuals; which, together with those lately published in "The Originand Progress of the Society," satisfactorily evince the eligibility of this plan of diffusing evangelical truth, and strongly recommend it to the more general attention of the religious world.

As the mission to Otaheite was that which first engaged the attention of the Society, so it has continued to be the subject of their par ticular care. By the arrival of the Royal Admiral, in July last, intelligence was received, that the nine Missionaries, sent out in that vessel, had reached the island in good health, and were cordially received, both by the brethren and the natives. At that time a general meeting of the Chiefs was expected; and painful apprehensions of its consequences were entertained, as a spirit of disaffection to the chiefs had already discovered itself. By a let ter lately received, we learn that a civil war had actually broken out, which exposed the brethren to imminent danger; from which, however, they were delivered by the seasonable interposition of Divine Providence, in the arrival of two. English ships; for, by the assistance of our countrymen, Pomarre, the king's father and principal chief, was enabled to obtain very important advantages over the insurgents, after he had been twice defeated by them, and nearly brought under the necessity of abandoning the island. The immediate occasion of this disturbance, was the seizure of a billet of wood by the chief Otoo, from the inhabit ants of Attahooroo; which billet they worshipped as their supreme divinity. The loss sustained by the Missionaries in their gardens, fences, and cultivated grounds, was considerable; but they inform us, that the work of preaching the gospel continues; and that the Lord so over ruled the disorders of the island, that several hundreds of the natives obtained an opportunity of hearing the word of salvation in consequence of them. One circuit thro' the country had been taken just be fore the insurrection took place, and the gospel was preached in every

district but one. "In the midst of darkness and perplexity," say they, "we sometimes enjoy a gleam of hope, that God is humbling the people, and preparing them for a general reception of his word.”. Otoo himself had desired to hear the word of Jehovah; and assembled many of his subjects for that purpose. He seems to have some idea that there is but one God; and expresses no dislike to what he heard. The Society acknowledges the good hand of God in his protection of the Missionaries on this occasion, and anxiously hope to receive information of the restoration of tranquillity, and the progress of the gospel in that country. It is satisfactory to reflect, that this station has already become of considerable importance to the colony of New South Wales, in supplying its increasing population with salt provisions; and by means of the intercourse which takes place be. tween the two countries, the sccurity of the brethren, as well as their estimation among the natives, is likely to be promoted.

We have two amiable young men, named Maydon and Oly, about sixteen years of age, under the care of Dr. Ökeley, of Mirfield, in a Moravian school. They have given pleasing evidence of improvement in the letters they have writter, and the report received from Dr. Okeley; and promise to be useful helpers to our Missionary brethren, and a blessing to their countrymenwhenever they return to their native land, which we hope will not very long delayed.

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We proceed, in the next place, to give a general idea of the Missions in Afisā.

About three years ago, brother Manenberg, and others, were sent by this Society to Africa; where they were taken under the imme diate protection of the South Ali

⚫an Society. Brother Manenberg was appointed to labour among a congregation of Christians at Cape Town; and also to attend to the instruction of the Heathen, who are more numerous there than at any other place in the colony. Here his labours have been abundantly blessed, especially to the conversion of many of the Hottentots.

Our next Missionary station is at Stellenbosch, about twenty miles from Cape-Town, and under the care of brother Bekkar. This devoted servant of Christ having for. merly resided in that place, and being much affected with the deplorable condition of the Heathen, of fered himself for the Missionary work, and has been successfully engaged in it. He has opened a school for the native children, about thirty of whom are instructed in it: and it appears that several of the poor Heathen have joyfully embraced the Saviour of sinners.

Bastian Tromp, another native of Holland, sent out by this Society, began to exercise his ministry, about two years since, at a place called Waggon-makers' Valley. Here he met with great opposition from some mistaken persons, who misrepresented his mission to the Governor, and would gladly have suppressed it; but General Dundas was so well convinced of its beneficial tendency, that he gave him protection and encouragement. This faithful Missionary has continued to labour among different sorts of people the Hottentots, Boschemen, and slaves from Mozambique; in some of whom he hopes he perceives the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Missionary Kicherer is settled at Zak River, about nineteen days journey from the Cape (300 miles); where there is reason to hope that his labours have been blessed; as also in several other places where he itinerated. He is assisted by a young man, whose conversion to God is the fruit of his ministry, and to whom he is affording such instruction as may qualify him for future usefulness among the Heathen.

Another Missionary station is at

XI.

Graaf Reinet, where a considerable number of the natives hear the word of life from brother Vanderlingen. Here a piece of ground has been given to the Society by the Commissioner Maynier, a distinguished friend and protector of the Missionaries.

An English Missionary, of the name of Anderson, has been for more than two years eminently zealous and diligent, especially near the Great Orange River. He has preached to great numbers of the Heathen of different nations; many of whom intreated that the word of salvation might be declared unto them. They behave in an affectionate manner to brother Anderson and his interpreters; and many of them had begun to learn to read. Some also give reason to hope that spiritual impressions had been made on their minds. It afforded the Directors peculiar satisfaction to learn, that two commissioners, who had been appointed to survey and report the state of the colony, had visited this station, and expressed to go. vernment their persuasion, that the exertions of the Missionaries would prove the most powerful means of civilizing the natives, and tranquillizing the colony.

There are two other individuals employed in the good work in Africa; one named Vester, a native of Holland; the other a native of Mozambique, who had been sold as a slave; but being converted, under the ministry of Mr. Vos, late of Rodesand, has discovered an earnest desire to be instrumental in the conversion of others: he is fa

voured with strong intellectual endowments, which, being now under a sanctified direction, are likely to be rendered extensively useful. He has been placed under the care of the Missionary Society at the Cape, that he may be prepared to accompany other Missionaries to the populous regions of Mozambique.

Our much revered and faithful brother Dr. Vanderkemp, continues his apostolic labours in the Missionary field.

He has removed from

his former station at Graaf Reinet, to Algoa Bay, on the eastern coast, where a Missionary settlement seemM m