ART. VI.-MISSIONARY CONFERENCES.

Proceedings of the Union Missionary Convention, held in New York May 4 and 5, 1854. New York: Taylor & Hogg.

The Missionary Conference in London. Evangelical Christendom, December, 1854. Proceedings of a General Conference of Bengal Protestant Missionaries, held in Culcutta September, 1855. London: Dalton.

Outlines of the Benares Missionary Conference.. "Calcutta Christian Observer," March, 1857.

Proceedings of the South India Missionary Conference, held at Ootacamund April, 1858. London: Missionary Societies.

Conference on Missions, held in 1860 at Liverpool. London: James Nisbet & Co. 1860.

Report of the Punjaub Missionary Conference, held at Lahore in December and January, 1862-63. Lodiana: American Presbyterian Mission Press.

Report of the General Missionary Conference held at Allahabad, 1872-73. Madras C. Foster.

WITH the rapid growth of the Christian Church during the present century, and especially during the past twenty-five years, there has been an ever-increasing interest in the cause of Missions. Missionary societies, organized before this latter period, have been quickened with new life, and stimulated to larger efforts and nobler plans. Churches that had been accustomed to give liberally in this direction have learned to give more. Science has made the world larger by discovering new countries, and smaller by shortening its paths, while God has prompted those

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to put forth more earnest and untiring efforts for the salvation of those who are sitting in the darkness of heathenism.

In keeping with this increased interest and enthusiasm, and as one of the results of the growing union of all branches of the Christian Church in Europe and America, the desire has arisen for general meetings for the agitation of the great subjects connected with the missionary enterprise, and for expressing sympathy and pledging assistance in this incalculably great work. Such meetings have been held from time to time, and although none of them have been ecumenical, several of them have been far from local in their influence, and all have an interesting history.

The first of these assemblies was the Union Missionary Convention, which met in New York May 4, 1854. It was

occasioned by the visit to America of that tireless worker and well-known Indian missionary, Rev. Dr. Duff. His thrilling utterances in behalf of foreign Missions, and his spirited appeals to the various Churches, influenced several persons in New York and Philadelphia to issue a call for a missionary meeting. On the appointed day one hundred and fifty meinbers of the Convention met in the lecture-room of Dr. Alexander's Church in New York. Of this number eleven were missionaries, and eighteen were officers of various missionary societies and boards. The session was a very brief one, continuing only a day and a half, and, as a matter of course, the discussions were limited in number and in time. The greatest harmony prevailed, and a most excellent spirit was manifested throughout. The Convention is spoken of as a complete success, and, beyond doubt, it was productive of great good. It took up, and pronounced opinions upon, the following practical questions:—

1. On the subject of concentrating or scattering laborers in a foreign fold, the Convention resolved that, while judicious itinerancies should be encouraged, it was equally proper and desirable to seize on commanding stations, and concentrate powerful agencies there.

2. On the subject of interference, the Convention gave as its opinion that the efficient pre-occupation of any portion of the field by one evangelical society should be respected by others, and left in their sole possession.

3. On the important question of raising up missionaries, the Convention considered that much depended on a deeper missionary spirit in pastors of Churches, and on the efforts they put forth in their respective fields of labor "for impressing parents, teachers, and the young with the duty and glory of personal dedication to the work of the Lord."

The next Missionary Conference met in London, England, in the autumn of the same year, the session continuing two days, October 12, 13. This Convention, like that at New York, dealt with general missionary subjects, and its discussions were necessarily limited. Members of the leading missionary societies of Great Britain were present, and this the first gathering of the kind in England tended greatly to an

increased interest in the cause of Missions, and suggested the utility of a more largely attended Convention.

India, as one of the most gigantic mission fields to which God has as yet led his Church-having a wide territory, a dense population, numerous mission stations, and a large number of devoted missionaries-has perhaps witnessed more of these gatherings than any other country on the earth. And although to the casual observer of the antipodes these meetings may have seemed local and unimportant, still, when it is kept in mind that in the great Indian peninsula one fifth of the world's population rushes forward with accelerated pace in the paths of heathenish darkness; and when it is remembered how many, since the gloomy days of Carey, Ward, and Marshman-worthy pioneers of any glorious cause-have given themselves to the evangelization of this mighty country; and how, by ties which can never be over-appreciated or forgotten, the Land of the Veda is joined to England and other countries of Europe, and America as well, the importance of these Missionary conferences becomes apparent.

Of these Indian gatherings, the Bengal Missionary Conference, which led the way, met in Calcutta September 4, 1855. It continued four days, holding eight sessions in all. Fifty-five members were present, and fourteen papers were read on practical questions connected with the extension of the Redeemer's cause. Delightful harmony prevailed, and much benefit was derived by those who were privileged to be present. A very full and interesting report of this meeting has been published.

The next Conference of this kind was held by the missionaries of the North-west Province at Benares, the great center of Hinduism, January 6-8, 1857-three months before the commencement of the great mutiny. Thirty-six members, representing seven Churches and Societies, participated in the proceedings, and fourteen valuable papers were read. The Conference was pronounced most interesting and profitable. It is to be regretted that the resolutions adopted, and a few brief notes from a private pen in the "Calcutta Christian Observer," constitute the only account now remaining of this meeting. The proceedings were printed at the Allahabad Mission Press; but the mutiny broke out just as the volume

was completed, and not a single copy was preserved. The manuscripts and printed proofs were also destroyed by the mutineers, who would have gladly swept every missionary from the face of the land had they possessed power to do so.

The South India Missionary Conference was held at Ootacamund, a lovely station in the Nilgherry Hills, in April and May, 1858. It differed from the previous conferences in the wide range of topics introduced, and in the length of time devoted to their examination. It continued from April 19 to May 5, and was attended by thirty-two missionaries. Twentyseven papers were read, and thirty historical accounts presented. The subjects discussed included not only such leading topics as "Native Agencies," "Missionary Education," "Vernacular Preaching," and the like; but also more special topics, as "Industrial Exhibitions," "Caste," "Public Morals," ," "Government Education," etc. The deliberateness with which these questions were examined is sufficient to recommend, in no ordinary way, the conclusions reached. The published proceedings of the Conference constitute a large volume, which is a valuable acquisition to the missionary literature of India, and of especial interest to the many Christian laborers in the Madras Presidency. It has now been out of print for several years.

The Liverpool Conference deserves careful consideration in connection with this subject, as it was beyond doubt the greatest gathering of the kind ever held upon Christian soil. It met in the city just named March 19 1860, and continued four days. A number of the officers and members of the missionary committees in London and Edinburgh were of the opinion that after the many years of continuous missionary labor carried on in heathen lands, after the many struggles endured and triumphs achieved, it would be profitable for the directors, secretaries, and missionaries of all the societies and Churches to come together and confer with each other concerning the interests of their common work. As was stated, "It was felt that it must prove a lasting benefit for them to examine in detail the working of their various missionary agencies, to compare their different plans, and to throw into a common stock the results of that valuable experience which they had hardly earned upon the very fields of heathenism.

It was felt that while all must find abundant means of adding to their own knowledge through the information given by brethren, all must be cheered by the tokens of missionary success, all must be stimulated to greater zeal in the service of Christ, the common Lord, and all must be bound in closer and more loving sympathy with brethren toiling for the same great end."

Being thus impressed with the importance of such a gathering, invitations were issued and the preliminary arrange ments made. The invitations met with a hearty response from leading members of almost all the missionary societies and committees, the officers of twenty-five or more taking part on the occasion. The Christians of Liverpool extended a cordial welcome to the assembly, and at the appointed time one hundred and twenty persons came together to carry out the proposed plan. The four days were busily occupied in discussing the various questions relating to the work of missions at home and abroad. Two sessions were held each day, morning and afternoon, of about three hours and a half each, preceded by a morning prayer meeting, and followed by a missionary soirée at night. The first meeting was held Monday evening, March 19, in Hope Hall, at which Major-General Alexander, of her Majesty's Indian Army, was selected as the Chairman of the Conference, and Rev. G. D. Cullen, Rev. Drs. Steane and Mullens, and H. Carre Tucker, Esq., were appointed Secretaries, and also Editors of the Proceedings. On the following day, at 10.30 A.M., the first regular session began.

In whatever manner it be viewed, this Conference-which to the Earl of Shaftesbury seemed "something like an ecumenical council of the dominions of her Majesty, Queen Victoria" -was a grand success. The attendance, while it was almost entirely made up of Englishmen, was large, and represented a number of most interesting mission fields. Of those who participated in the proceedings, thirty-seven at least were missionaries. These had come from all quarters of the globe, and their presence showed how wide-spreading and permeating had been the influence of Christian England. One was from the far-distant islands of the South Seas, and one from among the Indians of Upper Canada. Two had been laboring amid FOURTH SERIES, VOL. XXVII.-19