Other resolutions were submitted by the Revs. F. A. West, S. D. Waddy, J. Smith (of Agra), S. Coley, B. Field, R. Wallace, and J. Heald, Esq.

Our numerous engagements prevented our being at this meeting. We understand, however, that it was deeply interesting, and that the truly missionary spirit which pervaded the entire proceedings will not soon be forgotten by those who were present.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

THE Twenty-eighth Annual Session of the Congregational Union of England and Wales commenced on Tuesday morning, May 11th, at the Poultry Chapel, when there was a very large attendance of pastors and delegates, with numerous visitors, who occupied the galleries. After the usual devotional exercises, the Rev. Dr. Alliott, of Cheshunt College, who is the Chairman for the year, delivered the introductory address, which was in the main a very lucid and masterly defence of the orthodox doctrine of the Atonement. The address was received with the most profound attention, and at its close, on the motion of the Rev. A. Jack, seconded by the Rev. J. Hill, the cordial thanks of the assembly were presented to Dr. Alliott for the address he had delivered, with the request that it might be published with the other documents of the Union.

The Rev. G. Smith then read the Report of the Committee, which announced the completion of the separation of the affiliated societies, and of the new Trust for the management of the magazines connected with the Union; and said that a copy of the new Hymn-book would be placed in the hands of the Chairman before the sittings of the Union closed. The Report was unanimously adopted, on the motion of the Rev. J. Sherman, seconded by E. Baines, Esq.

The Rev. J. Stoughton gave an interesting account of his visit, as a delegate of the assembly to the Scotch Congregational Union. He stated that he met with a most cordial reception from the friends at Edinburgh. He advocated the claims of British missions, and especially of the

Colonial Society. The day upon which he preached was the Fast Day, when all business was suspended. His discourse was on the "Sacrifice of Christ;" and at the urgent request of the Scotch friends, he had consented to its publication. He congratu lated the meeting upon the spirit of love and peace that prevailed in their midst that day-a spirit which augured well for the interests of the Union.

The Rev. Henry Wight was then introduced to the assembly, as a delegate from Scotland, and received a hearty greeting. He gave a striking account of three lay gentlemen who had recently gone through the length and breadth of the land from which he came, preaching the gospel to the poor with the most remarkable success.

F. J. Sargood, Esq., who was suffering from indisposition, was introduced as a delegate from Victoria, New South Wales, by the Rev. T. James.

Two interesting papers were read,—the one on "Ireland," by the Rev. A. M. Henderson; and the other on "Chapel Building," by the Rev. J. C. Gallaway.

The following took part in the proceedings of the day, the Revs. Dr. Burder, Dr. Halley, Dr. Legge, T. Mann, T. G. Horton, J. Parsons, J. Alexander, G. Rose, H. Allon, and C. Gilbert, and T. E. Plint, and A. Morley, Esqrs.

On Friday the brethren met again, at half-past nine, in a much larger number than we remember to have witnessed before on the second day, owing, no doubt, in a considerable measure, to the fact that it had been arranged for the whole of the morning to be devoted to the subject of a "Revival of Religion." Mr. Charles Reed read a very admirable paper on the American Revivals, setting forth their origin and progress, which was received with marked attention. After prayer by the Rev. James Griffin, a deeply important and heart-stirring paper was read by the Rev. J. A. James, on the general question of Religious Revivals. A hymn was then sung, and fervent prayer offered by the Rev. S. Martin. The Revs. J. C. Harrison, S. McAll, J. Alexander, Dr. Brown, Newman Hall, Andrew Reed, B.A., Edward Ball, M.P.,

schools; and 140 shops closed on the Lord's-day, through the labours of the missionaries. A special mission had been opened at Guy's Hospital; the Committee of that Institution subscribing £50 a-year towards the support of the missionary. The number of in-patients is, on an average, 5,226 annually, of whom 378 die. The results of this mission had been so beneficial, that the Directors of the London Hospital have applied for a missionary, and one has been appointed. The receipts for the year amounted to £32,230 10s. 3d.

The Bishop of Ripon, the Rev. J. Graham, Canon Stowell, W. Landels, and G. Macdonald addressed the meeting, which concluded with the doxology and the benediction.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

THE Anniversary Meeting of this Society was held at Exeter Hall, on Friday evening, May 7th, under the presidency of J. C. Marshman, Esq. After singing and prayer, the Report was read, which stated that during the year the Society had issued 13,018,484 tracts, and that the circulation of periodicals amounted to 10,909,820. Grants had been made to various libraries at home and abroad, to the amount of £3,576 48. 3d. Tracts and books had been distributed among the soldiers proceeding to India, and also among the natives-of that country, in the vernacular tongue. The total receipts for the year were £88,730, being more than any previous year, and exceeding the receipts of last year by £6,854. The total circulation of books and tracts by the Society, during the fifty-nine years of its existence, was no less than 782,000,000.

The assembly was addressed by the Rev. Canon Champneys, Dr. Lockhart (of China), Rev. James Smith (of Agra), Rev. J. Murray Mitchell, Mr. Baxter, and the Rev. J. H. Wilson, of Aberdeen; from whose interesting statements we gathered the following figures, which are highly gratifying and encouraging :

In 1832, the number of the Society's publications was 27,000,000, and in the same year there were issued of unchris

not fewer than 29,000,000. In 1857, the issue of these infidel, sceptical, and useless publications had decreased to 20,000,000, while the publications of the Tract Society had increased to 34,000,000.

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY.

ON Monday evening, April 19th, the Annual General Meeting of this Society was held in the Lecture-room of the Sunday-school Union, Alderman Challis in the chair.

The Rev. J. E. Richards opened the proceedings with prayer. The Rev. R. Ashton read the Report. From that document it appeared that the affairs of the Society, after being in a very declining state, had materially improved. During the past year, it had been the means of doing much good, by keeping up a correspondence with affiliated societies, and by conducting open-air services. Some time ago the Rev. J. H. Wilson, of Aberdeen, was brought under the notice of the Committee, with a view to his being invited to become the general Superintendent of the Society; and at the end of last year Mr. Wilson accepted an invitation to spend a few months in London, that he might visit as many churches as possible, in the hope of stimulating them by his advocacy of the cause of aggressive Christianity. The reception that gentleman met with was of the most encouraging and gratifying character, and the Committee trusted that important results would follow.

The Chairman introduced Mr. Wilson to the assembly, who stated that, owing to the increasing claims of his own mission at Aberdeen to all his time and attention, he felt that he could not accept the kind and urgent invitation given him by that Society to conduct its affairs. Mr. Wilson then read a deeply interesting and important paper which he had prepared on the moral statistics of London.

The Revs. H. Townley, P. Davison, J. H. Hinton, S. J. Pearsall, J. W. Richardson, H. March, and others spoke very earnestly in favour of the principles and objects of this Society, which we

BRITISH JEWS' SOCIETY. THE Fifteenth Anniversary Meeting of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews was held on Friday evening, April 30th, at Freemasons' Hall, when the attendance was large and encouraging.

In the unavoidable absence of Sir C. E. Eardley, the chair was taken by Mr. Bamford, one of the Society's warmest friends and supporters. After the usual devotional exercises, the chairman made a few remarks on the importance of the object contemplated by that Society, whose interests they had met to advance. Mr. John Yonge, the Secretary, then read the Report, which set forth the operations of the Society, both at home and abroad, during the year, and concluded by stating that the Committee had requested all the Society's friends, in all places, to unite in prayer with them at that particular time.

The receipts of the past year amounted to £4,662 17s. being an increase upon the former year of £376 68. 4d. The expenditure amounted to £4,430 9s. 4d.

The number of missionaries employed by the Society during the year had been eighteen, and many pleasing instances were given of conversions in various parts where they had laboured.

The Rev. Dr. Archer, J. Graham, Dr. Hamilton, R. Herschell, and others, addressed the meeting in favour of the Society, which we rejoice to find is still experiencing a large measure of the Divine blessing upon its interesting and important work.

COUNTRY TOWNS MISSION.

THE friends and supporters of this Society held their Twenty-first Anniversary Meeting at the Hanover-square Rooms, on Friday afternoon, April 30th, when G. Hitchcock, Esq., presided.

The Report stated that the number of agents connected with the Society is 109, and the number of missionaries 85. From the general summary of labour for the year, we gathered the following:

visits to the sick and dying, 54,982; number of times read the Scriptures, 196,697; meetings held, 9,924; meetings held in the open air, 1,016; tracts distributed, 390,453; Bibles sold or given, 1,208; children sent to day-schools, 1,942; children sent to Sunday schools, 1,563; persons induced to attend public worship, 1,180. The income of the Society still bears pleasing evidence of prosperity. The amount received by the Committee has been £2,748 14s. 2d., which, if added to £5,670 18s. 9d., the salaries paid by local treasurers directly to the agents, instead of transmitting them to London, gives a total of £8,419 13s. 6d., as the income between March 31st, 1857-58.

The Report was adopted, and resolutions in favour of the objects of the Society having been passed, a cordial vote of thanks to the esteemed Chairman terminated the proceedings.

BAPTIST HOME MISSION.

THIS Society held its Annual Meeting on Monday evening, April 26th, in Kingsgate Chapel, Holborn; Potto Brown, Esq., presiding. The Rev. James Smith having offered prayer, the Chairman introduced the business, by showing the importance that was to be attached, in the present day, to Home Missions, and by expressing his opinion of the desirableness of raising up congregations round large chapels, by which means he considered they would best concentrate their energies.

The Secretary read the Report, which stated that both in the manufacturing and rural districts the agents of the Society had been labouring with gratifying success; and, in some instances, with more than the average amount. Many openair services had been held during the summer, and special services in the winter. In numerous instances they had been instrumental in awakening the attention of the careless, and in inducing some to frequent public worship, who had lived in habitual neglect of the Sabbath and the sanctuary. After giving selections from the correspondence of the

missionaries in various districts, the Report stated that the number of central stations was 105; the number of subordinate and tributary stations, 98. During the year, 401 persons were added to the missionary churches. The entire number of members was 4,208. There were 98 Sunday-schools, with 1,095 teachers and 8,309 scholars. The Society commenced its financial year with a debt of £240, which had been increased by the sum of £130.

The Hon. and Rev. B. Noel, Revs. J. W. Best, C. Vince, Paxton Hood, C. Short, and S. J. Davis addressed the Meeting, which concluded with singing and prayer.

HOME AND IRISH EVANGELICAL MISSIONS.

THE Annual Meeting of these Societies was held in the Poultry Chapel, on Tuesday evening, May 11th. The chair was taken by John Cheetham, Esq., M.P. After the meeting had been opened with devotional exercises, the chairman made a few introductory remarks. Dr. Massie then read the Report of the Home Missionary Society, from which we find that the services of its agents are employed among 538,000 people. There are 113 stations, diffusing their influence among 633 parishes, villages, and towns; 358 chapels and rooms are occupied for worship, while the adult hearers average 30,000. There are 170 Sunday-schools in operation, in which 13,797 scholars are taught by 1,808 male and female teachers. There are 52 missionaries and students, and 63 grantees, associated with 172 lay coadjutors. During the year, 62,000 magazines, 150,000 religious tracts, and 1,565 copies of the Bible have been sold or distributed.

The Report of the Irish Evangelical Society alluded to a handsome gift of books, received from Dr. Campbell, to the value of £100. We regret to learn that the proportion of British Mission collections appropriated for Ireland, this year, has been £111 less than last year.

HOME AND COLONIAL SCHOOL SOCIETY.

THE Annual Examination and Meeting of this Society was held at the Institution, Gray's Inn-road, on Monday afternoon, May 3rd. In the unavoidable absence of the Earl of Chichester, who was expected to take the chair, Mr, Labouchere presided. The examination of the children gave the greatest satisfaction to all present. The Report read by the Secretary was a very lengthy document, and furnished an interesting account of the operations of the Society, and the educational movement generally. After quoting the reports of the government inspectors, it went on to give a summary of the work of the training department during the year, and set forth the number of teachers, schools, and children. The Treasurer's balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £7,307 10s. 11d., and after all the expenses had been met, there was a balance of £10 3s. 5d. in hand.

The Report was unanimously adopted, and several addresses delivered in favour of the objects of this useful Institution.

YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

Association was held at the Regent'sTHE Annual Fraternal Meeting of this park College, on Tuesday evening, May tial attendance, over which Dr. Angus 11th, when there was a large and influenwas called to preside.

After singing a hymn, prayer was Chairman then briefly explained the object offered by the Rev. I. Vale Muminery. The of the meeting. Addresses were delivered on missions-Home, Irish, and Foreignby the Revs. J. Harcourt, A. M. Henderson, and J. P. Chown. The Rev. W. Mead, the senior student in the College, Howieson, Mr. Templeton, and Mr. J. also took part in the engagements of the evening, which were deeply interesting.

LONDON JEWS' SOCIETY.

having been commenced by prayer and