118 66 GIFTS UNTO THE LORD." some. In two years and a half we had collected 3007. Then soon we got another, for which we paid 2007., and also one at Porirua, for 1501. I worked with my hands at the ground, to help get the money. Then all the people went the right way. Then I thought again, and my heart said it would be a good way to have a baker, a butcher, and a store for clothes, in our town. After a time, that, too, was done. Then I said to my father, "Now you have come on shore again, let us go on with the large church, the largest in New Zealand, which you began before, larger than the one in Waikanae." My father said, "O yes!" and he spoke to the people, that they should cut wood. I had then given up the power to my father, and when he went wrong I showed him the right way. Then we all went into the bush to cut wood-the totara wood-for the church. The totara is the strongest wood in New Zealand, and very beautiful too. When we had cut the wood, then we began to build. We were two years and a half in building it.” The next object which Tamahana thought of was a college, in which the most promising of the natives might be trained as catechists and schoolmasters, so that the people might be well instructed, and Christianity take root amongst them. It was the hope of accomplishing this which brought him to England, that he might bring his plans before the Committee of the Society. But we shall let him speak his own thoughts on this subject in a subsequent Number. "GIFTS UNTO THE LORD." WE conclude our account of these "gifts" from our last Number. Our readers will remember that they are all to be found in the lately-published Report of the Church Missionary Society. Juvenile Contributions. We find that we have received from Juvenile Associations 1816. Nearly two thousand pounds! The largest of the Associations are at Bath, Brighton, Hereford, and York. But besides the contributions through Associations, there are multitudes of sums through schools and similar sources, amounting to 1314l. more so that the total of our Juvenile Contributions seems to be about three thousand one hundred and thirty pounds. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give the glory."+ We now proceed to another class of contributions, viz. Missionary Baskets, Sale of Work, &c. The sum received from Missionary baskets is 10251., and from other sales of work about 8601., making a total of 18851. How many busy fingers must have been employed to raise so large a sum as nearly two thousand pounds! Again, we have After his detention on board the "Calliope." We would respectfully suggest, that, in all cases, Juvenile Contributions should be made to form the nucleus of Juvenile Associations. While on the one hand it no doubt requires care, lest such a movement should take children and youth out of their proper sphere; yet, under judicious management, it would seem to be a means, not only of increasing the Society's resources, but of benefiting the youthful donors. 66 GIFTS UNTO THE LORD." Contributions from Servants 119 amounting to more than a hundred guineas; and, no doubt, very much more, only it does not distinctly appear as coming from servants. There are also other instances of liberal contributions from persons in the humbler walks of life. Take the following Do we all come up to the standard of these working-men? Legacies. The Society has received many legacies during the past year, one being of very large amount, from a lady at Islington. She left the sum of eight thousand pounds to us, free of legacy duty. By so kindly directing it to be paid duty free, the Society benefited to the extent of eight hundred pounds. We have only received one legacy of larger amount than this during the Society's existence. The next class of "gifts" we must call Miscellaneous. First we will notice sundry products of the earth that have been pressed into the service of Missions The last is quite a veteran in the cause. For nearly twenty years has John Hoyle had a gooseberry tree producing Missionary gooseberries, that have sold for nearly forty pounds. The produce has always exceeded a pound, and in one year reached four pounds. Then we have— Produce of Missionary trees We rather suspect, however, that most of these trees, if not all, were so valuable because of the trinkets hung upon them-in fact, that they were Christmas trees, although not so called. We have besides 19 0 tree 0 0 We come now to another class, animals and their products— First-fruits of a small Sheep. 1 0 Sale of a pet Lamb 0 1 5 0 dairy 12 0 10 6 . 13 6 Two fortunate persons have devoted rewards to this cause— gold chain, &c. 10 0 10 0 Two others, who have profited by the repeal of the window-tax, send Moiety of late window-tax 1 0 0 Two others have adopted a plan that produces a good subscription in an easy manner― A halfpenny a day for a year Proceeds of bracelet Profits on sale of pictures, 1 10 0 Friendly dressmakers lend their aid Hint from the Croston Milliner* 7 3 2 . Friend, a farthing per 1s. gained in a year, in imi- Moiety of dresses made And, lastly, under the head of Miscellaneous, we find two contributors who have "rested from their labours". Our review of the gold mine is nearly ended. But we must say one word as to the Foreign Contributions. By these we mean, contributions raised in the countries where our Missions are carried on, and spent there in furtherance of our work. Now of course persons in those countries are likely to know whether our Missions are worthy of support or not, and they will only give their money if they find that they are worthy. What, then, is the fact? Why, that the sum of about eleven thousand pounds has been raised within the year, chiefly in India, by friends of the Society abroad. In conclusion, we would remind our readers that money in itself can do nothing towards the conversion of the world-absolutely nothing, even if spent in the wisest manner, and in support of the best Missionaries. There must be the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit before the dry bones can live, or the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. this outpouring let us pray more fervently, that our efforts may result in glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.' A VILLAGE MISSIONARY MEETING. WE have given this month a sketch of a village Missionary meeting. The scene described takes place annually, in a pretty village in the North Riding of Yorkshire, close to the splendid castle and domain of one of our most distinguished noblemen. At an early hour in the afternoon the friends begin to assemble; tea is provided under the tent which appears in the sketch, the price of the tea tickets being sixpence; and then the meeting is held, which is usually addressed by two or three clergymen from a distance, as well as by some neighbouring clerical friends. This year the noble earl himself presided on the occasion, and a degree of extra interest was occasioned by the former part of the meeting being held in the open air, immediately in front of the chapel. The scene during this part of the proceedings was very beautiful and striking. On the gradual slope of the village green benches were arranged in a semicircle, accommodating about four or five hundred of the neighbouring gentry, farmers, labourers, and their families. In the rear, and on the sides, of the circle, were the tent, the trees, gardens, and cottages of the village. Behind the tent, and directly facing the speakers, appeared the castellated mansion, with the sun shining full upon it, and rising above the dark foliage of the splendid trees which surround it. It was a scene well calculated to animate the various speakers, and to remind all who were assembled of the peace and prosperity which prevail in their own favoured land. In the course of the interesting and excellent address which the noble chairman delivered on the occasion, he referred to this subject, and dwelt forcibly on the vast extent of our territories, and also of our commerce. He enlarged upon the fact of the different nations of the earth contributing to supply us with such a profusion of the necessaries, comforts, and luxuries of life, while many of them still continued in a state of heathen darkness and ignorance. He then showed how it was that to Christianity alone we are indebted for our great national pre-eminence, religious liberty, and varied blessings; and earnestly impressed upon the meeting the duty and privilege of imparting to those who are still destitute of them the rich benefits of the gospel. His Lordship then dwelt much on the necessity of individual exertion of each one contributing his mite towards the Missionary cause, and, in order to this, on the importance of domestic economy. With such a great work before them, none ought to indulge in excess: there ought to be no unnecessary expenditure in dress, in vain amusements, frivolities, and pleasures. If this principle of duty were more deeply considered and acted upon, he said, " much more might be done for the present and eternal good of our fellowmen, both at home and abroad." The strong claims of the Church Missionary Society were then urged by him upon the meeting, and he concluded by expressing an earnest hope that their support would be heartily, liberally, and prayerfully afforded to it.. |