C of his ministerial brethren, and of all other adults, he descends at once to the level of his auditory. Happy art! He plunges at once into his subject. Every ear is erect; every eye is fixed upon him; the buz and the hum expire in a breathless stillness, which neither the Chairman nor even Mr. Moffat has been able to command. He had asked a school-boy, some days ago, who were the Heathen; and the boy replied, "The Irish!" This is good to start with. He shows who they really are, and what is their state. He presents a most touching picture of their wants and sorrows. Then comes the lion. He remembers a famous lion, at Exeter Change, where the Hall now stands, which was, many years since, the object of wonder and terror to little holiday-folk. This lion was very old and very powerful; but there is another lion, six thousand years of age, and of strength the most gigantic, and fierceness the most appalling. He leaps from nation to nation, and devours mankind in every land. Besides this magnificent and terrible beast, there are destroying mankind, three mighty robbersIgnorance, Idolatry, and Cruelty. Having descanted on the first and second of these three robbers, he reaches the last, Cruelty; and, detailing his crimes, he seizes a lovely little Chinese child, that is beside him, and whose mother had put out its little eyes, and exhibits it to the auditory. What a sight for a mass of English youth! How strikingly illustrative of the horrid cruelty of Heathenism! How strong an incentive to zealous efforts to spread the Word of the living God! To Mr. Fletcher succeeded the Rev. Mr. Pritchard, from the South Seas; the friend and fellow-labourer of the late John Williams. Mr. P., to-day, wisely confined himself to matter befitting the occasion. He has scarcely begun, till forth comes a horrid idol, formerly one of the chief gods of Rarotonga, jet-black, and highly decorated. This hateful object was intently gazed at by the juvenile spectators, with a mixture of astonishment and pity. Next comes one of the gods of Mangaia, a contemptible thing, composed of feathers tied together. The youthful emotions, however, of the audience, were strongly excited, when the Missionary intimated that, to appease the imaginary wrath of this mere plaything, human blood had been shed and human flesh offered up! Mr. Pritchard then enlarged upon the subject of education in the South Sea Islandsa theme which was obviously agreeable to the meeting. Among other matters, he read part of a school hymn in the native language, when nothing would satisfy his hearers but he must sing it; and sing it he did, to the great delight of both old and young. Mr. Freeman followed with an explanation of the horrid process by which the three blind Chinese children, then present, had been deprived of sight. One of them was old enough to recollect that cruel process. The victim, being laid upon a table, was pressed down by a stool, and then a red-hot needle was planted in the pupil of his eye, which instantly destroyed vision. This act, it seems, was perpetrated, not as a rite of idolatry, but to subserve mendicant purposes, by exciting feelings of pity. A book for the blind was produced, and one or two of the children read with great facility. The exhibition of these hapless children produced a deep sensation throughout the Hall, and yielded a touching illustration of heathen cruelty. Several other gentlemen and ministers addressed the assembled children, and the Chairman then arose to terminate the business which he did by pressing on the attention of the children a sentiment, a motto, and a prayer. The children then sung the hymn "Joyful," and the meeting dispersed. CHILDRENS' GRATITUDE. AN ANNIVERSARY HYMN. AGAIN the soon revolved year, Our thanks sincere to pay : May God from whom all good comes down, This welcome, annual day. He is our first and greatest friend,- Our life, and health, and mental powers, To Him then, may our praises rise, And teach us, Lord, thy throne to address, The gospel on our hearts engrave, From Satan's deep-laid, varied snare, In mercy Lord, thou dost delight- To us let all thy grace abound, Then never will we cease to praise, Dear TEACHERS, now we you address,- Yet our acknowledgements we make, The Lord" your work of faith" succeed, Kind PATRONS now assembl'd here, Your favours to renew To you, for every kindness shewn, Our thanks accept for all the past, Our funds re-stock, and we will pray, W. H. B. |