" English Preshi/terian Si/uoiVs Foreign jtfitision. — This Church entered lipou foiei'jn inis^ionary opeiations in 1844. The principal scene of i;s ialmr- is I'liina, and al- though the work has not as v. a lieen ciiidilrled oil a
large scale, it is hoped that la-tin- - 1 wdl br the le-iili.
The funds of the society were considerably aumnented a few years ago by the handsome bequest of the late Mr. Saudeman, to whose benevolence and general Cliristiaii character a graceful tribute is paid in tlie annual report for lSo:>. Prom, sing missicm stations have been lonned at Amoy and Swatow, where a few converted natives have been united in Church fellowship, and an additional mis- siimary has recenlly been ordained and sent forth to strengthen the hands of the brethieu who have been some time in the field.
"7iV/ormed J'resbijterian Church Mission, — Foreign mis-
sionary operations were commenced by this body in 1842. The principal scene of its labor has been the South Sea Islands, especially New Zealand and the New Hebrides. The Kev. John Inglis labored for many years in the island of Aneiteum with considerable success. By the blessing of God on his unwearied efforts a goodly number of con- verted natives were irathered into the fold of Christ, some of whom iMM-aiiie ellicient Church ollicers and teachers of others, whil.' tlie ri-im_' generation were carefully trained in a kiiowleilL'c' cd'tiod's holy Word to an extent which is not often witnessed even on nrission stations. At one time, out of a population of 1900 iu a certain district, 1700 were able to read the Bible— a proportion of readers per- haps scarcely surpassed in any country.
" ///.s/i rnsh:;t,'n\(ii chiirrh's Mission.— The General As- semldv of tlir i're>li\teiiaii Church in Irelaud commenced its niissionaiy .ipiaatious in 1840. Their first field was India. ( wM-idrralde attention has also been paid to the r.iitisli colojiii- In- tills liody, missionaries having been sent out a.t ditVrivni times t'o North America, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The Assembly has also Jewisii missions at Hamburg, Bonn, and in Syria.
^•Scottish Society .for the Conversion of Israel. — This so- ciety was instituted in the year 1846, uot iu connection with any particular branch of the Christian Church, but ou a broad apd catholic basis, the directors being chosen from difterent denominations. It was originally designed to aft'ord temporal relief to the migrating Jews who vis- ited Glasgow. Subsequently it extended its operations to the seed of Aliraham in fo"rei-ii lands, and sought their spiritual benefit as well as naiiporal wilfare. Stations were formed Jind asreiits employed al llambuig, Algiers, and Alexandria: l)ut in l^t,',, w lien the L'nited Presbyte- rian Cliiiich oiiL'inated a mission to the Jews, these for- r\'s\\ stations weic transferred to that bodv, from which mo>t oftlie funds had been derived, aud the Scottish So- ciety again contined its labors to home, ns before.
•■'Fiiinimriih Mciical Missionary .Voia. ,'.'. — In il;e year 1S41 several' of the leading medi'ctil jn artiiioneis in" the Scotch metropolis, in the course of their roailing. having come to the cmeliisiini that medical skill mi-hlbe greatly helpful to Christian missions, formed themselves into an association lor this object. Their hrst efforts were di- rected to China, wheie the want of medical knowledge was sorely felt. The constitutiiui of the society does not restrict its operations to the Celestial empire, but leaves it at liberty to aft'ord its aid to the missionary enterprise in any part of the world. The intention of its patrons is to <rive L'laluitoiis ini'iliial aid to the suffering poor, aud at tlie saiiH- lime lo cmlii aie evei'v oiipoil unity of impart- iiiu' reli-ioiis instiiniion to ilie d'ark, benighted heathens who are the objei't^ of iis biaievokoire.
"/.eye/,,// M ,.-<.■., .ai,, i\' .s.,ra7/.— Towards the close of the vear lT'.t4 a spirited iMpia- apjieared in the lli-nnyclical 'Magazine advoratin- Ilie lormation of a mission to the hea'then on the broadest possible basis. This led to the organization of the London Missionary Society. The Rev. David Bogue, D.l)., of Gosport, the author of the i)a- per alluded to, mav therefore be regarded as the father and founder of tliis mdde instituti(Hi ; and his name will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the friends of missions. Two months after the appearance of Dr. Bogue's practical jiaper, a conference was held to tidce steps for giving effect to the laudatile proposal. That conference was attended by representatives frcnii several evangelical bodies, in accordance with the proposed catho- licity of the spirit of action. The result of that conference was a caiefuUy-prepaied address to the ministers aud members oftlie various cli inches, and the appointment of a committee to dilTiise infoi mation, and to learn the senti- ments of the Christian public upon tlio a' ;< ri. A con- ference upon a lai-er scale was held ii, -> , ' i - r. IT<.I5— twelve months af.er the publication ol 1", 1, _ paper.
The conference la-ted three days, and ■ mpi-rd, a large and influential body of Christians. Tlie Kev. Dr. Haweis preached an eloquent and impressive sermon ou the occa- sion, taking for his subject the great commission (Mark XV, l(i) ; and the Rev. J. Bnrder and the Rev. Rowland Hill also took part in the preliminary work which issued iu the formation of the institution. 'Thus, amid many pray- ers, much fraternal love, and the promise of large sup- port both in counsel and contributions, the London Mis- .sionarv Society was launched.