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quently, none of those efforts are so fully enriched with the blessing of God, nor so successful, as we could desire.

2. That a sense of the infirmity which cleaves to each one of us in particular should not only produce in each humbleness of mind before God, but also great carefulness against severe censures on others; and especially should lead us gravely to consider the consequences which may follow the censure of Public Religious Bodies, which cannot in their joint capacity, composed of diverse elements, work on any given point with the energy and concentration of power that may sometimes be found in one ardent mind.

3. That this Association deeply regrets the offensive attitude which has been assumed towards the Direction of the London Missionary Society by the Rev. Dr. Reed; and records its deliberate conviction that the position, in which he has stood towards the Society, does not sustain him in any one of the general but heavy accusations which he has brought against it.

4. That, in the opinion of this Association, if the Doctor had himself acted, in the case of Tahiti, on the rule he has since laid down as that which should have regulated the Directors, and if he had been able to transfuse his own energy through all the Auxiliaries in the kingdom, he would in that case have brought the Society to a wreck in conflict with public opinion, or the nation into a war by the mastery and excitement of that opinion.

5. That, if an accusation lies anywhere, on the ground of the deficiencies of the Jubilee Fund, it must be on the Supporters of the Society to whom "The Appeal” is made, and not on the Directors, against whom the charge is brought; and that, so far as there is any foundation for the charge, it should be matter of self-accusation to all who permitted the opportunity of offering an extra contribution to pass by unimproved.

6. That, as to China, inasmuch as the field is yet open, and the work demanded by it so far exceeds the utmost powers of all the labourers who can be employed, and inasmuch as the objections on this head do not appear to lie against any principles of action adopted by the Society, but against the want of diligence in carrying them into effect, this Association devoutly hopes that such arrangements may yet be made in the spirit of mutual concession and forgiveness, as may bring the Doctor's earnest zeal for China into the furtherance of the Society's work for that vast Empire; that, in the opinion of this Association, to project another Society for China, even if it did not prove a failure, would be to us a lasting reproach, and that it might, on trial, be found more onerous to cope with the difficulties which obstruct the progress of the peculiar work of this department,— than which none requires greater deliberation,—than it has proved, to stand by and censure those who would have moved faster if they could.

7. That, in conclusion, this Association proffers its sympathy to the Directors in this, as it appears to them, unadvised attack, and that they sympathise with them the more deeply, because it comes from a hand which, having done so much that is good in the common cause, and laid the Church under such varied obligations, has thereby acquired the power, if under the temporary influence of the infirmities incident to our nature, to inflict a deeper wound; and that this Association pledges to the Directors and Secretaries of the Society its unabated confidence and undiminished support.

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WEST LANCASHIRE AUXILIARY.

At a Meeting of the Committee, held in the Vestry of Newington Chapel Liverpool, March 31st, 1847,

It was resolved,

1. That, after a careful and patient consideration of the accusations brought against the Directors of the London Missionary Society by the Rev. Dr. Reed, with reference to their proceedings in relation to Tahiti, China, and the Jubilee, this meeting feel constrained to give expression to their conviction, that these charges are unsupported and unjustifiable; and that they believe the important affairs entrusted to that Board,-often involving great complexity and delicacy,— have been managed with great attention, zeal, and discretion.

2. That this meeting regard with surprise and regret the fresh charges adduced by the Rev. Dr. Reed, in his " Final Appeal," against the financial management of the Society; that, in their opinion, these accusations not only convey a most unfair view of the facts of the case, but can be considered in no other light than as an impeachment either of the ability or honesty of the Select Committee, by whom these matters underwent a searching examination, and whose Report was received without question at the meeting of the Board of Directors, previous to the last Annual Meeting of the Society, at which Dr. Reed was present.

3. That this meeting further record the sincere expression of their unabated confidence in the ability and integrity of their christian brethren who have been engaged in the conduct of the affairs of the Society; and of high appreciation of the faithful discharge of the arduous duties of their office by the Rev. Arthur Tidman and the Rev. Joseph John Freeman, Secretaries of the Society.

(Signed)

THOS. RAFFLES, Chairman,
WM. BEVAN, Minute Secretary.

At the Annual Meeting of the WILTS and EAST SOMERSET CONGREGATIONAL UNION, (which is also an Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society,) held at Devizes, April 6 ;

1. That this meeting desires to express its unmingled surprise and regret at the uncalled-for and ungenerous animadversions of the Rev. Dr. Reed on the Directors and Officers of the London Missionary Society; and hereby records its firm and undiminished confidence in the direction and management of that Society's affairs.

WM. FERNIE, Chairman.
THOS. MANN, Secretary.

At the Annual Meeting of the CORNWALL ASSOCIATION of Ministers and Laymen of the Independent Denomination, held at Truro, the 6th of April, 1847, (the Committee of the County Auxiliary Missionary Society being present,)

It was unanimously resolved :—

1. That this meeting sincerely and deeply regrets the ungenerous attacks made by the Rev. Dr. Reed, in his recent publications, upon the Directors and Secretaries of the London Missionary Society; and begs to offer them its cordial sympathy, under the trying circumstances in which they have been placed, and to assure them of its unabated attachment and support.

JOHN PADDON, Chairman.

At a Meeting of the Committee of the DUNMOW and WEST ESSEX DISTRICT MISSIONARY SOCIETY, held at Hatfield-heath, on Tuesday March 30, 1847,

It was unanimously resolved :

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1. That we deeply lament the unhappy controversy which has recently arisen between the Rev. Dr. Reed and the Directors of the London Missionary Society; that, after serious and impartial consideration of the Statements and Replies on both sides, we cannot but regard the accusations brought against the Executive of that invaluable Institution as gratuitous, ungenerous, and unjust; that we hereby express our sympathy with the Directors, and more especially with the Secretaries, in this unexpected trial, assuring them of our christian esteem, undiminished confidence, and zealous co-operation in the great work of Evangelical Missions to the perishing heathen.

C. BERRY, Secretary.

At the Annual Meeting of the Ministers and Delegates of the Churches constituting the LANCASHIRE CONGREGATIONAL UNION, held in Grosvenor-street Chapel, Manchester, on the 8th of April, 1847,

Resolved unanimously:

1. That the Ministers and Delegates of the Congregational Union of Lancashire, now assembled, regard it as incumbent on them to express their judgment relative to the course recently taken by the Rev. Dr. Reed towards the Directors and Officers of the London Missionary Society; that, in their judgment, it did not become Dr. Reed, whose neglect, in so many respects, of his own duties as a Director and a Member of the Society has been so clearly proved, to take up the office of censor of his brethren; that such an Appeal to the Constituency of the Society, as Dr. Reed has made, should not have been resorted to until his whole complaint had been laid before the Board of Directors, and the hope of reform from that quarter, if reform were really needed, had been found to be in vain ; that, without assuming the infallible correctness of the Directors of any Public Institution, they feel bound to say, that they regard the charges of Dr. Reed against the Society, and especially those concerning China, Tahiti, and the Jubilee Fund, as a case which, in all its material points, has failed on examination; that, looking to the severe scrutiny which the course of the Society has undergone from the hands of Dr. Reed, and to its result, they rejoice in being able to record their conviction, that the London Missionary Society never filled a posi tion giving it a stronger claim on the confidence, affection, and liberal support of its friends, than at this hour; and that they regard it as due in particular to their esteemed brethren, the Secretaries-the Rev. Arthur Tidman and the Rev. Joseph John Freeman-to express sincere sympathy in their behalf, unabated confidence in them, and the highest appreciation of their services.

2. That the Ministers and Delegates present, although not authorised to express any opinion on behalf of the Churches they represent, and which take great interest in the prosperity of the London Missionary Society, confidently believe that, if an opportunity were afforded, those Churches would readily concur in the preceding Resolution; and they cannot withhold the decided expression of their regret that the Author of the Brief and Final Appeal," has aggravated the injustice of his former attack by re-asserting charges which have been completely refuted, and introducing new statements, especially regarding the financial management of the Society, which, if he believed them to be true, he ought to have made in his former "Appeal," but which are proved to be false by the most satis

factory explanations given in accordance with the Report presented by the "Select Committee" of last year, and adopted without dispute at the annual meeting of the Society.

JAMES CARLTON, Chairman.

At the Annual Meeting of the DERBYSHIRE CONGREGATIONAL UNION, held in Derby, Tuesday, April 20, 1847,

It was unanimously resolved

:

1. That this Meeting records its conviction of the zeal, discretion, and integrity, with which the Secretaries and Directors of the London Missionary Society have conducted the affairs of that important Institution; and hereby expresses its unabated, and, if possible, increased confidence in their management.

At the Annual Meeting of the DURHAM and NORTHUMBERLAND ASSOCIATION of CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS and CHURCHES, held at Sunderland, April 6th, The following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

1. That this meeting expresses its grief on account of the attacks which have been made by Dr. Reed on the Directors of the London Missionary Society, respecting their management of the Society in general, and especially with respect to Tahiti, China, and the Jubilee Fund.

2. That, having read both Dr. Reed's charges and the replies thereto made by the Directors, this Meeting feels itself bound to express the most entire confidence in the Directors, and especially its entire satisfaction with their mode of dealing with the question of Tahiti; with the efforts they have employed in reference to China; and also with respect to the Jubilee Fund.

3. That this meeting cannot withhold its expression of deep regret, on account of what it looks upon as Dr. Reed's most unkind and unfounded charges, against the Directors and Officers of the Society; and laments them, both because of the spirit which seems to have dictated them, and the tendency which they have to injure the interests of the much-loved Missionary Society, with which this Association esteems it an honour to be connected.

4. That this meeting expresses its sympathy with the Rev. A. Tidman, the Foreign Secretary, and with the Rev. J. J. Freeman, the Home Secretary, as the persons chiefly aimed at in Dr. Reed's unfounded animadversions; congratulates the Society on having two such men as its Secretaries; and assures these brethren that they possess the unabated confidence and affection of the Members of this Association.

ROBERT POW, Chairman.

At a Meeting of the Committee of the SOUTH DURHAM AUXILIARY to the London Missionary Society, held in Darlington, April 7th, 1847;

It was resolved,

1. That this Committee, having read with attention the various charges brought against the London Missionary Society by Dr. Reed in his Appeals to the Constituents, together with the full and satisfactory Replies of the Directors, would deliberately record its conviction that the charges are as unfounded and uncalled-for as the replies are frank and conclusive; and would gladly embrace this opportunity of testifying not only its unabated attachment to the Society, but its undiminished confidence in the Directors, who have so ably managed its affairs.

2. This Committee, while mourning over the disastrous events which have occurred at Tahiti, cannot attach any blame to the Directors, and is disposed to believe that, if the measures now suggested by Dr. Reed had been adopted, injury, serious and irreparable, to the cause of Missions, would have been the result.

3. With regard to the Jubilee Fund, this Committee believes that the Contributions fell short of the sum proposed not from want of energy at head-quarters, but from the partial manner in which the call was responded to, and from the extra efforts which had recently been made for China.

4. That the pledge which the Directors gave respecting the Chinese Mission has not been literally fulfilled, this Committee would ascribe to their wise caution in selecting, and their difficulty in obtaining, men possessing the rare qualifications which would fit them for such a sphere of labour.

5. This Committee would more especially express its decided disapprobation of Dr. Reed's attempt to shake the confidence of the Constituents with regard to the financial arrangements of the Society ;-an attempt, however, which cannot succeed with any who have read the last explanation of the Directors, proving that the Home Expenditure, though apparently large, is rigidly economical.

6. In conclusion, this Committee would sympathise most cordially with the Secretaries under the painful and injurious attacks made upon them, and express its hope that the chief result of these charges will be that real friends of the Society will rally round it with increased affection, and promote to their utmost the great objects for which it was formed.

R. C. PRITCHETT, Secretary.

At a Meeting of the Committee of the BATH AUXILIARY to the LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, held April 7th, 1847,

Resolved unanimously :—

1. That this Committee, being apprised of the very painful circumstances in which the London Missionary Society is now placed, deem it their bounden duty to express their unalterable attachment to that excellent Institution, and to avow their entire approbation of the past labours of the Directors, and their confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the plans they have adopted for future and enlarged operations.

2. That this Committee desire thankfully to acknowledge the ability, the zeal, the prudence, and the firmness, which have distinguished the conduct of the Rev. Arthur Tidman and the Rev. J. J. Freeman, the highly-esteemed Secretaries of the Parent Society; and, while they express their sympathy with these beloved brethren, under the unjust reflections cast upon them by a Director of the Society, they beg to assure them of their unabated esteem and confidence.

3. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Board of Directors, and to the Secretaries; and that it be inserted in the Patriot Newspaper.

The Rev. William Jay, who was absent through indisposition, expressed his cordial concurrence with the foregoing resolutions.

W. T. BLAIR, Chairman.

At the Annual Meeting of the SHEFFIELD and ATTERCLIFFE AUXILIARY to the LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, held in Nether Chapel, on Easter Monday, April 5th, 1847,

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