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Ir was in the year 1820 that the Society commenced its mission at Benares; a city which, perhaps not improperly, has been called the emporium of Hindoo idolatry. It is also distinguished for its reputed sanctity, and as being the chief seat of Brahminical learning. It is situated in the province of Allahabad, and is distant from Calcutta about 400 miles.* Its resident population has been stated to be considerably more than half a million, but there is reason to believe that its actual amount does not much exceed 300,000; the proportion of Mohammedans to the Hindoos being that of one to ten. At the time of the annual pilgrimages the accession to the population is immense. This will be easily credited when it is recollected that it is distinguished as the Holy City, and that the poor HINDOOS throughout India are taught to believe that such of them as "die within its prescribed boundaries are sure to obtain an entrance into heaven."

From these statements it will be seen that all attempts to introduce Christianity among the natives of this place are likely to meet with more than ordinary obstacles; and this, notwithstanding the facility with which the missionary may obtain auditors at the Ghauts, in the bazaars, and other places of public resort.

Beside

The missionaries of the Society, who have laboured at Benares, have, more or less, availed themselves of such opportunities to propound to the natives, either in the way of address, exposition, or conference, the great truths of the Gospel, together with the evidences of its divine authority. Some of the people come forward to inquire, and others to dispute, but the missionary usually obtains an attentive audience, and receives respectful treatment. these occasional instructions, stated services, for the benefit of the natives, are held, both on the Sabbath and during the week. Native READERS are also employed, under the superintendence of the missionaries, to read the Scriptures publicly, who persevere in their work, notwithstanding harassing persecutions from their own countrymen.

From the commencement of the mission, stated English services, on the Sabbath and in the week, have been also kept up; the congregation being chiefly composed of the soldiers in the cantonment. In 1824 a chapel was erected within the lines, but this has been lately disposed of, and another built within the city; by which change a larger number of the people are enabled conveniently to attend the native services. The English congregation, consisting chiefly of the military, has necessarily been liable to fluctuations, but there is pleasing evidence of spiritual good having been received by those who have statedly attended.

The Scriptures and religious tracts, in the native languages, have been extensively distributed at Benares, in the neighbouring villages, and, occasionally, at more distant places, especially at the Hindoo festivals, melus, &c. By the opportunities thus afforded by the former for the dissemination of Christian truth throughout large tracts of country, Hinduism may be regarded as furnishing means for its own subversion. Of late the number of applicants for tracts has increased; and it is found that these instructive messengers circulate to very remote towns and villages, which have been never visited by a missionary. The prejudices existing among the people against the schools their insensibility to the advantages of education-and their poverty, which necessitates them to take away their children at a very early age, have presented, at this station, formidable obstacles against the success of the missionaries in this department. Nevertheless, they have been enabled to establish several schools for the native children, many of whom read the Scriptures with

*Travelling distance about 460.

fuency. Some of the people have withdrawn their children, in consequence of the introduction of Christian books, while, on the other hand, others among them manifest less prejudice, and have ceased to object to the schools.

By the above, and other similar means, a portion of Christian light has been diffused far and wide; a more ardent thirst for knowledge, and a spirit of inquiry excited, in many of the natives, and in a few, it is hoped, a serious regard to the truths of the Gospel.

When the members of the Society contemplate, beside the positive benefits which result to individuals and communities at large, from the reception of the Gospel, the negative good which would accrue from the complete subversion, or demolition to any considerable extent, of idolatry, at this distinguished mart and sanctuary of superstition-independently of the delusions of Mohammedanism which prevail there-it cannot be necessary to urge them to present, in a special manner, their supplications to the Almighty, for his blessing on the exertions of the various evangelical missionaries who labour in this part of India, that our own and other kindred Societies may speedily be enabled to extend the spheres of their respective operations at Benares, and that, through the outpouring of the Spirit, its inhabitants may, at length, be made really holy, and thus its present name of Holy City, now so inappropriate, eventually cease to be a misapplied designation.

RETURN OF MISSIONARIES, &c.

On Friday, December 6, 1831, arrived in the Downs, in the ship Hero of Meloun, Captain Williams, Mrs. Jennings and child, the widow of the late Rev. Robert Jennings, Missionary at Chittoor.

DEPUTATION TO IRELAND.

On the

In the spring of the present year, the Directors, as usual, appointed a deputation to visit Ireland, consisting of the Rev. Thomas Scales, of Leeds, and George Bennet, Esq., who, in the months of April and May, pursued their engagement as follows:-They first attended the annual meeting of the Hibernian Auxiliary Missionary Society, held in the Rotunda, in Dublin, on Friday, the 8th of April, upon which occasion Admiral Oliver presided. The attendance was large and respectable; and evinced a deep interest in the proceedings, especially in the details given by Mr. Bennet. following day, the deputation attended and addressed a meeting of the Ladies' Association, in Sackville Street. On Lord's-day, April 10th, Mr. Scales preached on behalf of the Society, at the Rev. Mr. Urwick's chapel, York Street, in the morning; and at the Rev. D. Stuart's, Abbey Street, in the evening. At each of these services, Mr. Bennet gave further details respecting the mission stations he had visited. April 11th, the deputation attended the anniversary of the York Street Chapel Association, when Thomas Figgis, Esq., presided; Rev. W. Cooper, offered prayer; and, besides the deputation, the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Mr. Grime, of the Moravian Establishment in Dublin, Rev. Messrs. Urwick, Grey, and others. Wednesday, April 13th, they were at the meeting of the Newry Brauch Society, held in the Rev. Mr. Shepherd's chapel. On the day following, having been favoured with an introduction to the Countess of Lifford, they went over to the delightful village of Rosswevor, where a public meeting

On Lord's

was held in the school-room. day, the 17th, the deputation were at Sligo. Mr. Scales preached morning and evening at the Rev. E. Nolan's meeting house, and Mr. Bennet supplied very interesting missionary statements. The public meeting was held next day in the Court-house. Immediately after this meeting, the deputation proceeded, during the night, to Stewart's Town, in the county of Tyrone, to attend a meeting on the Tuesday afternoon, and at which John S. Murray, Esq., of Drumragh, presided. The anniversary of the Cookstown Society, was held on Wednesday, the 20th, in the Rev. T. Miller's meeting-house, R. Miller, Esq., of Moneymore, in the chair. On the 23rd, they were at Dungannon, to attend a meeting at the Rev. A. Wilson's. Lord's-day, April 24th, Mr. Scales preached at the Rev. T. Miller's, Cookstown, and at the Rev. T. Allen's, Stewart's-town, when collections were made for the Society. On the 26th, the deputation were again in Dublin, attending a meeting of the Ladies' Association, held in the Dorset Institution; and the anniversary of the Association connected with the Rev. W. H. Cooper's congregation, held in the evening; Major Sirr in the chair. On the 27th, they attended a public meeting in the Court-house of Naas, T. Burgh, Esq., in the chair. On the morning of the 28th at Carlow, in the Rev. W. Blood's meeting-house, when the Dean of Leghlen presided, and the meeting was adjourned to the evening; on both of these occasions there was a considerable attendance. On the 29th, at Maryborough, Queen's County, in the Court-house. On Saturday the 30th, at Nenagh, County of Tipperary, in the Methodist chapel; Captain Dobbs in the chair. Lord's-day, May 1st, at Limerick, where Mr. Scales preached morning and evening at the Rev. Dr. Townley's chapel, Bedford Place. The public meeting was held the following evening; and there was a further service in the school, in another part of the city, on the evening of the

3rd. On May the 4th, the Deputation proceeded to Charleville, to hold a meeting. Here they found the Rev. Mr. Hazlewood, of the Church Missionary Society, who had come for the same purpose. It was proposed, and cordially acceded to, that the meetings should be united, and the proceeds divided between the two Societies. A clergyman of the neighbourhood presided. Mr. Scales preached at the same place in the evening. On the 5th, at Mallow, where Mr. Scales preached at the Rev. Mr. Owen's, one of the agents of the Irish Society. The public meeting was held on the 6th, in the Courthouse; Major Freeman in the chair. Several clergymen of the town and neighbourhood were present, and took part in the proceedings. Lord's day, May 8th, Mr. Scales preached, morning and evening, in George's Street Chapel, Cork. On the 9th, a public meeting of the Cork Missionary Society was held in the same place in the morning, and, by adjournment, in the evening. The Mayor of Cork presided; and a considerable number of clergymen were on the platform, several of whom zealously advocated the claims of the London Missionary Society. Mr. Scales preached again on the Tuesday evening. Collections were made, at all the services, on behalf of the Society. On Wednesday, the 11th, the deputation proceeded to Clonakilty, where there was preaching that evening at the market-house; and, on the 12th, the public meeting was held in the same place, the Rev. Mr. Townsend, the vicar, presiding; and also at the adjourned meeting in the evening. On the 13th, a meeting was held in the Methodist chapel, Bandon, the Rev. Horace Newman, the rector, in the chair. Lord's-day, the fifteenth, at Youghall, Mr. Scales preached morning and evening; and the public meeting of the Auxiliary Society was held next day in the Mall room, which, though spacious, was crowded to the doors. On the 17th, at Dungawan, one of the stations of the Irish Evangelical Society. Here a public meeting was held; and, in the

evening, Mr. Scales preached. The last place which the deputation visited was the city of Waterford. On Wednesday, the 18th, a public meeting was held in the Courthouse, at which one of the clergymen of the city, and other ministers of different denominations, were present. Thus concluded a tour which extended over eleven counties of the sister isle, and the deputation were only prevented holding meetings in other counties, as Clare and Kerry, by the excited state of the population. They were generally received with great kindness by numerous warm friends of the gospel, and of the cause of Christian missions.

ANNIVERSARIES, &c.

The anniversary of the Bath Auxiliary Missionary Society was held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of November. The Rev. James Bennett, D.D., of London; the Rev. G Mundy, from India; and the Rev. T. Adkins, of Southampton, attended as a deputation from the Parent Society.

In addition to the sermons preached by the deputation, the claims of the Society were powerfully enforced by them, at the public meeting held in the Assembly Rooms; and also by W. F. Blair, Esq., the chairman; by the Rev. Messis. Gear, of Bradford; Davies, of Bristol; and Stanley, (Wesleyan,) of Bath; and by Messrs. Kent, Kingsbury, and Hunt.

The devotional services were taken by the Rev. Messrs. Jay, Owen, Doney, Gear, and Dear.

The members of the Auxiliary feel much indebted to Dr. Bennett for his very able defence of the South Sea mission.

NOTICE.

On Friday evening, January 6th, Mr. Orlando Thomas Dobbin, missionary, appointed to Berhampore, East Indies, will be ordained at Lock's Fields chapel, Walworth. (Rev. G. Clayton's.)

MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

**The Officers of Auxiliary Societies are earnestly requested to accompany their Remittances with correct Lists, having the Names of Places and Persons alphabetically arranged, as in the Society's Annual Report.

[Collections, Anonymous Donations, and all other Donations of £5, and upwards, received from 1st to 30th November, 1831, inclusive.]

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