SOUTH AFRICA.
The following account of the second Annual Meeting of the Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society, conducted by the Rev. W. Davies and his friends at Graham’s Town, is extracted from the local Newspaper, of the 28th of August last:
On Monday last the second Annual Meeting of the above Society was held in the Wesleyan chapel, and we are glad to say that it passed off in the most lively and satisfactory manner. It is ever a pleasing task to trace the progress of such associations—to view their first feeble efforts—to see them gradually acquiring strength and importance, until at length we behold them spreading themselves out to the farthest extremities of the habitable globe—like a perennial stream refreshing the parched desert, and dispensing the purest blessings on every hand.
A very pleasing circumstance attending these meetings is, the concord and brotherly feeling which are produced amongst the different denominations of professing Christians. Here all minor differences are merged in one united effort to promote a common cause—and that the holiest and most beneficial that can employ intelligent beings.
We regret that our limited space will not permit us to give the several addresses which were made on this occasion, more especially as some of them were of a high order, and would have been perused with much interest by many of our readers. The principal speakers were, the Rev. Mr. Heaviside, clergyman of the Episcopal church; Rev. Messrs. Monro and Robson (Independents); Rev. Messrs. Shrewsbury, Young, and Haddy (Wesleyans); Dr. Minto, on the military staff, who has recently returned from India, and the Rev. W. Davies and Mr. T. Nelson (Baptists).
The report gives a general view of the state of the missions connected with this particular section of the Christian church; and we are glad to find that the prospect, by the emancipation of the negroes, and other causes, is particularly cheering. It was also satisfactory to find that the amount collected by this infant society—only established rather more than a year ago at Graham’s Town—has received in contributions during the past year no less a sum than nearly £146. Nothing can be more creditable than this fact to the inhabitants of this frontier, and nothing can show more distinctly that they are not entirely undeserving of that prosperity with which Providence has of late years favoured their efforts.
We may add, as one symptom of the temporal prosperity thus adverted to, of this rising colony, that a great demand exists for industrious mechanics, especially of those classes employed in building. Pious individuals, especially, we are assured, would be welcomed in the district, and labour, adequately recompensed, immediately provided for them.
JAMAICA.
We had fully expected, by this time, to hear of the arrival of our friend Mr. Knibb, at Falmouth; but the mail, which has been due several days, is yet detained. We must therefore give a general summary of the recent intelligence from our various stations, and hope that, before this Herald leaves the press, we may be able to add a postscript, announcing intelligence which many, we know, are anxious to hear.