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In the evening, at half-past six, the annual meeting of the Baptist Home Missionary Society is to be held at Finsbury Chapel. Thomas Challis, Esq., Alderman of London, has engaged to preside.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24TH.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH.

In the evening, at half-past six, an adjourned public meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society will be held in Finsbury Chapel. The chair will be taken by Joseph H. Allen, Esq.

In the morning, at ten o'clock, the annual It is scarcely to be expected that any of general meeting of members of the Baptist our friends should be present at all these Missionary Society will be held, for the trans-meetings, however much interest they may action of business, at the Mission House. The persons entitled to attend and vote are "all persons subscribing ten shillings and sixpence a year, or upwards, either to the parent society or to auxiliaries, donors of ten pounds and upwards, pastors of churches which make an annual contribution, and ministers who collect annually for the society; also one of the executors on the payment of a bequest of fifty pounds or upwards." At this meeting, the committee and officers for the ensuing year are to be chosen, the auditors of accompts appointed, and other business pertaining to the society is to be transacted.

In the evening, at six, the annual public meeting of the Baptist Irish Society will be held in Finsbury Chapel, Richard Harris, Esq., M.P. for Leicester, in the chair.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25TH.

In the morning, at eleven, service will commence at Bloomsbury Chapel, (near the British Museum,) when the Rev. Octavius Winslow of Leamington will preach on behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society.

Ministers educated at Bristol, Stepney, and Bradford colleges will dine together at the Guildhall Coffee House, at two o'clock.

The annual public meeting of the Bible Translation Society is to be held on Wednesday evening, at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, the chair to be taken at half-past six.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26TH.

At eleven, in the forenoon-not ten, as on some former occasions-the annual public meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society and its friends is to be held in Exeter Hall. S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., one of the treasurers, will preside.

In the evening, at half-past six, the annual meeting of subscribers to the Hanserd Knollys Society will be held at the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle Street, the chair to be taken by Dr. Acworth.

At six o'clock on the same evening, we are requested to state that the annual meeting of the Baptist Tract Society will be held in Eagle Street Chapel; the chair to be taken by Robert Lush, Esq.

feel in the societies whose claims are to be advocated. It has been suggested to us, however, by a gentleman who has lived part of his life in the country and part in the metropolis, that it might be advantageous to give a hint that some of the congregations within five miles of St. Paul's do not furnish a fair proportion of these annual assemblies. No man knows the demands made upon the time of a Londoner, but one who has been a Londoner himself. Yet our London baptists should remember what must be the impression on the minds of persons who have travelled scores or hundreds of miles, at considerable cost, if they find that the meetings are not attended by Christians of the same class with themselves, who live within a walking distance of the places in which they are held. They are led to suppose either that in the judgment of their metropolitan friends the societies themselves are of little worth, or else to form an estimate of London zeal very much to the discredit of its inhabitants. It is not, we believe, as much considered by them as it should be, that presence at these meetings, if there be nothing more than presence, affords encouragement to those who are gratuitously spending inestimable hours on committees, and toiling at private work which few men would have self-denial enough to perform, and that it cheers and inspirits friends of the institutions who have come from a great distance, and who seldom visit our immense city.

On another subject we will venture a suggestion having respect to those meetings which are to be held in Finsbury Chapel. If we advert to what respects the comfort of speakers there, all who are accustomed to attend such meetings will know that we speak disinterestedly. The vestries behind the platform, which afford in some respects valuable accommodation, are in other respects very annoying. When friends who live at a great distance from each other meet, they often have much to say; and the temptation is strong to continue conversation after a meeting has commenced, or to enter upon private communications before it has terminated. In the vestries it may seem to them as though they were hidden from the assembly, but it is not so. What is going forward behind the platform sometimes interferes with decorum in a manner of which those who are in the vestries have no conception. Sapientibus verbum sat.

VOL. XII.

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ASIA.

DACCA.

DEATH OF THE REV. O. LEONARD.

Mr. ROBINSON, writing under date the 28th of November last, announces the death of this excellent missionary as having occurred on the 23rd.

Mr. Leonard was one of those raised up by Providence in the country. He was a European converted under the ministry of Dr. Carey in 1808, and baptized on the 2nd of April, 1809, at which time he was represented in a letter to the Society as a singular monument of mercy. In the latter part of the same year he was appointed a deacon of the church in Calcutta, when it was stated that he had waded through uncommon temptations, which had left a deep impression of seriousness on his mind, and that he was a man of real piety and considerable intelligence, and very active among inquirers, especially the young.

In the following January Mr. WARD says, "Having read a letter from Mr. King relative to the success attending the schools at Birmingham, brother Leonard remarked that we might have a free school in Calcutta for the multitudes of poor country-born children who are in the most pitiable state of ignorance. I took up the hint, and proposed the consideration of it ;" and thus originated the Benevolent Institution, which has since been the means of diffusing its benefits to thousands. Mr. Leonard undertook its superintendence, for which he appears to have been admirably fitted; and by his affectionate attentions to the children he very soon rendered it the means of exciting the desire of the parents, particularly the females, to attend the preaching of the gospel.

In a letter he particularizes one of his scholars as coming to him under very remarkable circumstances. He says, "Among the children just added to the school is Thomas, a distressed Malay boy introduced by Captain Williams, a subscriber to the Institution, who saved his life, with that of two other boys, who had been stolen from a neighbouring island for the purpose of being sold for food to the Battas, who are cannibals; they were at the time being fattened for slaughter."

In the year 1816, Mr. Leonard was appointed to occupy the mission station at Dacca, where his talents and attention to the Bengali and Persian schools immediately raised them from the depression under which they were labouring, and by subsequent reports the number of scholars appear to have been above 500. Here he continued for thirty-two years, faithful to his trust. "His labours," as Mr. Robinson justly states, were for many years very great, almost beyond human strength." For some years he has been laid aside from active labour, which has been a source of great distress to him, but he rejoiced in the success of others, and the conversations of his missionary brethren on the efficacy of the atoning blood and the saints' prospect in a better world supported and animated his mind. After such conversations he would say, "Now I have something to think about during my sleepless hours." As his end approached he said repeatedly to his wife, in his figurative style, "I am going to Paradise-I am going to Paradise." He was interred in the mission burial ground in the spot he had himself marked out, "in the corner under the mango-tree," and his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Robinson, who had travelled from Assam to attend him in his last hours, but who arrived too late to be recognized by him.

ADDITIONS TO VARIOUS CHURCHES.

The Calcutta Oriental Baptist for January contains the following gratifying intelligence.

Agra. One European female was baptized by Mr. Williams on the 5th of December.

Chitaura (near Agra). Mr. Smith writes that he had the pleasure of immersing two new converts from Hinduism on sabbath the 10th of December.

Narsigderchok (south of Calcutta). Three native brethren were baptized by Mr. Lewis at this station on the 17th of December. Dum Dum. Two persons, one an East Indian, and the other a native female of the Madras Presidency, were baptized on a pro

fession of their faith in Christ, by Mr. Lewis on the 24th of December.

Jessore. Mr. Parry, writing from Sátberiyá under date of the 21st December, says, "You will rejoice with us that last sabbath fourteen converts were baptized in two vil lages, and on the following day three more made a public profession of their faith. Most of these converts have been hearing the gospel for years, others for some months, and have been under serious impressions for a long time."

DELHI.

From a letter from Mr. THOMPSON, we extract the following interesting information respecting a missionary tour in which he has been engaged.

Visit to Garhmukteshwar Fair.

Nov. 4th, 1848. Here I am, through mercy, another year, to meet and labour among the multitudes drawn hither at this season of the year to bathe in the Ganges, in the expectation of washing away their sins and being saved; and I pray it may be my happiness to labour with earnestness in making known the truth, and in seeking to apply it to the condition of my hearers.

At Dasna, as I passed a day in the serai, I was happy in being recognized by a wellspoken, respectable Muhammadan, who, being no stranger to our books, earnestly desired to have more, and as soon as he received and carried them to a party of his friends, I saw them eagerly take and open them, to acquaint themselves with their contents. At Hauper there were a number of applicants for the words of Jesus, and they were thankful for the smallest portions given them. Inquiry may be promoted and knowledge diffused by these distributions among persons who seem not to have met with our bocks before. I here had the opportunity of worshipping with three individuals who by their situation are destitute of the public means of grace.

At this place, where I arrived to-day, I met with an uncommonly attentive reader of our books in a Muhammadan, who sat for hours patiently perusing them. Others from Bijnour came, and took books, for which they seemed thankful but did not stay long. Two Sikhs from Shahabad beyond Umbalah, came, read, and took books, and desired to know their purport. I gave them a brief history of redemption, stated the objects of missionary labours, and the divine purpose of subjecting all mankind to the faith of the gospel, and

leading them to confess that Jesus alone is the Saviour of the world. The men owned that they had taken our books from Hurdwar with the intention of reading them, but were dissuaded by brahmans and others who spoke against them. I said their trade in the souls of men was in danger. The men resolved to read and fully understand the books now.

On the 6th a good number attended to hear and take books, and have a better understanding of their purport. Some think that the contents of our books agree with certain portions of their shastras, and therefore profess to esteem them; while others will have nothing to do with them, as being contrary to generally received opinions and practices.

An interesting youth.

A young brahman of Garh, named Hazárí, said he had a great esteem for our books, greater than that of scores who had taken books from me year after year; and in proof of his assertion he went home and brought forward a copy of the Hindi New Testament, which he said he had had six years, and that his father had brought it from Delhi for him; he had this book carefully wrapped in a juzdan or cloth case. Perceiving the binding to be injured, and that the edition was of 1818, I offered to exchange it for a copy of more recent date, but he seemed startled at the idea of parting with it, though it was to exchange it only. "No," he said, and took up the book in a fright, as if it would be taken away from him. I wish I had the whole of the Old Testament to gratify him with the gift of it; yet if he believes to the saving of his soul, what more does he need of divine writ to assure him of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ? He is, however, young, and if

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his life should be spared, and he continue to love the sacred writings, he may yet meet with the entire volume of God's word, and thereby have his joy increased in God's salvation, which appears to be the object of his search. A young Hindu pupil of the Rev. Mr. Moore's school at Agra, seemed anxious to become fully acquainted with the meaning of the New Testament, and when presented with a comment on the parables of our Lord, was very glad, and said, "This is what I want! I wish to understand the New Testament."

A little brahman boy of Delhi recognized me, and asked for a book, on which I offered him a tract: he refused it, and said he wanted a gospel, the book of glad tidings! Oh, that this would become the general desire and anxious wish of all the youth of India, even to have the gospel, whether preached or in its written form.

Missionary efforts.

A few Punjabís who are located near us, have been amongst the most attentive of our hearers these three days. On the 7th and 8th we were much distressed by fierce west winds and sand storms, which through a great part of the day hindered our doing any thing satisfactorily; but some scores of men came to us at different times, and particularly at the close of these days. We read, discoursed, and prayed and sang at proper periods. Some few bairágis, who are mad upon idols, when the declaration against idolatry began to be read, rose and went away, while the rest of the hearers continued to the last, seemingly impressed with what they had heard, though every thing was contrary to their views and practice. The greater part of those who heard were strangers to the doctrine of our books. One man, a Muhammadan, was desirous to receive our controversial tracts. On the 9th and 10th we had greater numbers to hear the word, ask for the New Testament and parts of the Old. Most of the latter were Muhammadans from Umroha, Chundansi, Bijnour, and Moradabad; and they were anxious also for controversial books and tracts, which they had heard of or seen. Many Hindus also were desirous of Dr. Wilson's examination of their shásters. Of the successive crowds that came to us, numbers were unable to read, and had come only to hear, and so contentedly sat down to listen to the reading, conversation, or discourse. Some made inquiries, and a few pandits and brahmans joined in singing the Artee or Adoration of Jesus. Numbers heard of the Saviour for the first time, and to several the account appeared to be glad tidings, and worthy of further inquiry, which they hoped to prosecute with the books they had in hand. The ignorance of some people, Muhammadans and Hindus, is very great as to the kind of Looks we offer them; some of the former

asking with great seriousness for the Qurán, and not a few of the latter for some one or other of their shásters! and when informed that the books are solely of the Christian faith, and distributed with the view of disseminating the knowledge of that faith, in order to lead all men of all castes to believe in Jesus our Saviour, and look for salvation to him, they stare, and cannot be made to believe that God has sworn that to Jesus every knee should bow, and to him every tongue confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Effects of former efforts.

11th. The multitudes have bathed, and are going away, this being the day of the full moon. There have been numerous parties to-day also, both to hear and take books, and the desire for both is rather on the increase. Great numbers have heard, but certainly a very small portion of the people of the fair. Still it is matter of thankfulness that so many have heard the word, and some hundreds taken the books and tracts offered for their consideration. I have had evidence at this fair that the books and tracts of former distributions have, in some instances, been preserved, and I may venture to express my hope that those now so ardently desired and so eagerly taken by numbers, will, to a certain extent be preserved in the homesteads of the recipients, and the contents of them engage their attention and occupy their thoughts. It was in this way in years past that the seed of the word was sown, and in a few honest and good hearts it yielded the fruits of faith, love, and obedience. By humble prayer we are led to look for the like results, when the truth shall have purified the heart, and the Spirit of grace have deigned to perform his office; and may it be our happiness to learn in the course of time, that some poor soul has been awakened by the efforts of this season, by the slow operation of the truths of revelation, and by the power of God the Spirit. Of this, however, I may be sure, that of those who heard the word, numbers carry away with them a knowledge of divine truth they never possessed before; and some few, a correct view of the way of salvation and its relation to the various forms of religion in the country. There are also those at this fair, who are departing to their homes with an increased desire for our books, and whom it was difficult to satisfy with the portions available for them. Muhammadan applicants seem hardly satisfied without each having the Pentateuch and New Testament entire, and pandits among the Hindu applicants are equally urgent for the account of our Saviour's birth, its date, the country where and the people among whom he became incarnate. The generality of the people, Hindus in particular, like tracts, and some go away satisfied with a single tract, the contents of which may have particularly

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