ᎡᎬᏢᎾᎡᎢ COMMITTE E DELIVERED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING, HELD MAY 4, 1819, AT FREEMASONS HALL, GREAT QUEEN STREET. REPORT, THE proceedings of the Nineteenth Year of the Society are now to be reported; and the Comm.nee are happy still to meet the Members with the language ni congratulation. The Year has not, indeed, been without its trials and disappointments; but in the mast of all, it has pleased God to grant a steady increase, not only in the actual labours of the Society and na means of supporting them, but in the success which accompanies its exertions. FUNDS. On this subject the Committee report, with pleasure, a considerable increase, during the past year, in the number of ASSOCIATIONS. Soon after the last Anniversary, an Auxiliary Society was formed at Edinburgh, under distinguished patronage, chiefly through the exertions of the friend who has preached before the Society at the present Anniversary. Mr. Noel, being resident for some time in Edinburgh, very kindly availed himself of the opportunity of thus extending the influence of the Society. Other Associations followed in the course of the year at Doncaster; at Attercliffe, near Sheffield; at Lincoln; at Beverley; at Kirkby Lonsdale; at Castletown, Peel, Ramsey, and Douglas, in the Isle of Man; at Newcastle, for North Staffordshire; at Teign mouth, as a Branch of the Devon and Exeter; at Reading, for the County of Berks; at Cambridge, for the Town, County, and University of Cambridge; and at Cork, as an Association in connexion with the Hibernian Auxiliary. At Leeds, at Douglas in the Isle of Man, at Carlisle, at Doncaster, and at Yoxall and Hamstall in Staffordshire, new Associations of Ladies have been established in aid of the Society. It will be seen, by this recapitulation, that the Society is enlarging its borders on all sides. The Committee cannot but hope, in particular, that the Association now regularly organized for the Town, County, and University of Cambridge, will, in addition to the increase of the Society's Funds, be the channel of diffusing Missionary Intelligence and Zeal, by the means of the Younger Clergy, more widely than ever through the kingdom, and of sending forth many pious and well-instructed labourers among the Heathen. The names of distinguished men of Cambridge will be associated with the progress and triumphs of the Gospel to the end of time: some of these are gone to their reward; but others are still maintaining the conflict, and setting a noble example to their Younger Brethren. The Associations of former years have continued their benevolent exertions; and have, in various instances, increased their contributions. The Hibernian Auxiliary, in particular, is rapidly augmenting its income; the interest in behalf of the Society having diffused itself both rapidly and widely in Ireland, in consequence, chiefly, of the extensive communication of intelligence by the Society's various publications. And these exertions have been found in this, as in all other instances, to be their own reward-in the enkindling of a spirit of benevolence, which embraces and fosters all promising Domestic Charities. The Bristol Association also continues to manifest its wonted. energy in this great cause. Thankfully acknowledging the exertions of all their friends, the Committee regret that the limits of the To the Clergy and other Members of the Church, resident in or near the places where the various Associations are established, or who happened to be in the neighbourhood when the respective Anniversaries were held, the Committee beg to renew the sincere thanks of the Society for the frequent and important aid rendered by them; and to request the renewal of such assistance, as the Officers of the Society find it increasingly difficult to intermit their labours in conducting its affairs, in order to attend the Anniversaries of the Associations. |