661

Benevolent Institutions.

plaudits, was called to the chair after some time, when it was known that his Lordship was unable to attend. The speeches delivered by the different speakers at this meeting, though full and appropriate, were all absorbed in that torrent of eloquence and vigour of thought, with which Mr. Wilks entertained and instructed the audience, in a speech that occupied nearly two hours and a half. This speech, which was frequently interrupted by bursts of reiterated applause, was followed by a string of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted. These were followed by the appointment of a committee to watch the progress of public measures, and to give the alarm should any attempts be made to introduce innovations, or accidentally to infringe upon the rights which the Protestant Dissenters enjoy.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

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PROMOTING

LONDON SOCIETY FOR
CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS.

DURING several years, this truly be-
nevolent institution has laboured under
some discouraging circumstances; and
it was observed with pain, that many
persons, who had previously contri-
buted to its support, had begun to
grow weary, from seeing little or no
fruit of their labour. Still, however,
it had some warm and persevering
friends, who, relying upon the Divine
veracity, prediction, and promises,
have continued their patronage and
exertions with unwearied assiduity.

The anniversary of the present year, (Sir Thomas Baring in the chair,) seemed to furnish a more pleasing prospect than any which had preceded it; but still it appeared from the report, that although the duty of endeavouring to evangelize the sons of Abraham was obvious, much room still remained for the exercise of faith and hope. Some instances indeed were adduced, to prove the beneficial effects of this philanthropic society, by stating specific facts which former exertions had called into existence. This meeting was numerously and respectably attended. Among the spea

Richmond, Right Rev. Bishop of
Gloucester, Rev. Mr. Bushe, Rev.
Lewis Way, Rev. E. Burn, Rev. Mr.
Jowett, Sir C. S. Hunter, Rev. D.
Wilson, and others.

THE anniversary of this Society was held on Thursday, May 10th, in Great Queen-street chapel, when W. Alers Hankey, Esq. treasurer, was called to the chair. Among the numerous anniversaries which have taken place in the metropolis, no one seemed to ex-kers were, R. Grant, Esq. Rev. Legh cite a more lively interest than this of the London Missionary Society, and this was considerably augmented by the presence of Prince Ratafe, and of Mr. Campbell the celebrated Missionary traveller, who has penetrated farther, perhaps, into the interior of South Africa, than any other European. Even to those who do not perhaps feel that interest in the spread of the Gospel which every Christian ought to feel, the suppression of the slave trade, and the civilization of Africa, cannot but afford cause for unequivocal satisfaction.

At this meeting the speakers were the Rev. Dr. Bogue, Rev. Mr. Ward, Rev. J. Brown, Rev. Dr. Steinkopff, Rev. J. Saunders, J. Taylor, J. A. Coombs, T. Jackson, Mr. Marsden, J. Mead Ray, W. B. Williams, Col. Munro, and E. Phillips, Esq. The statements given by these speakers, show the rapid spread which the gospel has lately taken in different parts of the heathen world, particularly among the Islanders in the South Seas, who seem unanimously to stretch forth their hands unto God.

There is scarcely any fact in existence, that can tend more powerfully to prove the authenticity of the scriptures than the phenomenon which the Jews exhibit. Their characteristic obstinacy, so long foreseen, and so clearly foretold, continues to make a constant appeal to our senses.

BRITISH INDIA SOCIETY.

ON Saturday, May 26th, a meeting was held at the great room of the ThatchedHouse Tavern, London, for the purpose of considering the propriety of founding " a Society for the Moral and Intellectual Improvement of the Native Inhabitants of British India." This was a new institution; but from the vast numbers, and high respectability of those who attended, proofs were given, that the spirit of benevolence, for which England has so long

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Benevolent Institutions.

and so justly been celebrated, still continues to glow with unabated fervour.

About 12 o'clock, the chair was taken by the Right Hon. J. C. Villiers, M. P. On his right hand sat the Earl of Clare, Lord_Teignmouth, Lord Dunally, Lord Gambier, Sir James Mackintosh, M. P. Sir Wm. Burroughs, and several gentlemen of distinction, who had filled official situations in India. On his left sat the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Lord Gosport, Wm. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. The Right Hon. J. Sullivan, Admiral Sir J. Saumarez, Fowell Buxton, Esq. M. P. and several Directors of the East India Company. The room was crowded to excess.

In the various speeches that were delivered, the degraded character of the Hindoos was set forth in a most luminous manner, and the duty of instructing those whom Divine Providence had committed to our care, was enforced by arguments, which, on moral and political grounds, appeared irresistible. It was observed by Lord Teignmouth, that about fifty years since, when he went out to India, he recollects a request made by a native, then in his service, that a letter should be written to his friend who resided at a distance, soliciting him to send a particular stone to him, which he described, as he wanted it to make a God!

The business of the meeting was highly interesting; and the grand object which the society had in view, as expressed in its title, met with the unanimous approbation of all present, who appeared to render it support by their cordial co-operation. The Hindoos were represented as possessing a teachable disposition, and as already prepared for the reception of those truths which can alone ennoble man, and make him wise unto salvation.

ROYAL UNIVERSAL DISPENSARY FOR

CHILDREN, ST. ANDREW'S HILL,

DOCTOR'S COMMONS.

664

On Thursday, the 19th of April, a special meeting of the Directors and Governors was held at the Mansionhouse, the Lord Mayor in the chair. The meeting was convened to receive a communication through Lord Sidmouth, from his Majesty to the Duke of Beaufort, one of the Vice Patrons, signifying that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to take this charity under his Royal protection.

Since the commencement of this institution, no less than 13,202 objects have been relieved; and with a design to facilitate its usefulness, stations have been appointed at Lambeth and Southwark on the same benevolent principles.

ASYLUM FOR THE RECOVERY OF
HEALTH.

ON Tuesday, May 29th, a meeting of
the subscribers and friends of this in-
stitution took place at the Thatched-
House Tavern, London. The design
of this charity is to afford medical
aid and accommodations to persons
who are poor, but not wholly destitute
of every other resource. Of this de-
scription, multitudes may be found,
who, at a distance from their friends
and connections, can neither procure
nurses, nor command such conve-
niences as their cases may require.
For the relief received, each person
pays a weekly sum, in proportion to
the benefits enjoyed. Since the last
annual meeting, the donations have
amounted to £371. 17s., and the sub-
scriptions to £137. 13s. At this meet-
ing it was unanimously resolved, that
a proper place for the formation of
an asylum, should speedily be taken;
in consequence of which, a large col-
lection was immediately made.

THE CAMBRIAN SOCIETY.

Of this Society, the first anniversary was held on Thursday May 17th, at Albion chapel, Moorfields, R. H. Marten, Esq. in the chair. It appeared THIS humane and benevolent institu- from the report, that on board of tion was founded in the year 1816, by various vessels lying in the river, from Dr. John Davies, for the sole purpose two to three hundred persons may of affording immediate medical and constantly be found, who undersurgical aid to the necessitous poor stand no language but their own. in all parts of the metropolis and its These ships, when cleared out, are vicinity, without waiting for any other used alternately for preaching and recommendation than that which cala-prayer every Sabbath day, and fremity and distress can always urge.

quently at other times when occasions

665

On the Origin and Nature of Human Knowledge.

offer. This institution_appears to have originated in the Port of London society. The object is to protect, facilitate, and cherish, these laudable measures, and to promote, by all judicious means, the spiritual interest of the sailors.

666

ing assert, that it is yet in its infancy, and the conflicting opinions of metaphysicians bear them out in the assertion.

When Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding made its appearance, the doctrine of innate ideas was generally believed; since that time it has been gradually losing ground. It received its death-blow from the pen of

Of several other benevolent institutions in London, the anniversaries were held during the month of May. Many of these, though of local appli-that author, and it is now, by most mecation, must be considered as of much importance to several branches of the community.

taphysicians, regarded as "a wretched relic of a dark and barbarous age.” But as most theists, in their attempts to demonstrate the existence of a Deity, had urged, as an argument in their favour, that, "the notion of a Deity was imprinted on the minds of all men," the levelling of this mound, which ignorance had raised, was view

The same liberal spirit has been diffused throughout the community at large, so that there are few towns in the united kingdom, which, in pro- | portion to their magnitude, wealth, and extent of population, have not emulated the metropolis. These, ined with no small alarm, by many their united energies, even more than her victorious fleets and armies, conspire to render Great Britain the queen of Isles, and to make her a praise in the whole earth.

excellent men, who imagined that its
demolition would be followed by an
inundation of infidelity. Time has,
however, proved that their fears were
groundless, and that there is no ne-
cessary connection between that doc-
trine, and the proof or belief of an in-

ON THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF HU-telligent first cause.
MAN KNOWLEDGE RESPECTING GOD
AND DIVINE THINGS.

(Continued from col. 533. )

THE preceding paragraphs of this article relate to the substratum of matter; the following, to the origin and nature of our knowledge respecting God and divine things;-a change therefore has been adopted in the title.

Some facts stated by Mr. Locke, and on which he founded his reasonings, were in substance as follows;that a language existed, which contained no name for God; and a people, in whose minds no traces of a Deity could be found; and, as “God was not in all their thoughts," so they had no priest, no temple, no worship. Ånd though abundance of ridicule has been poured on him, for what his opponents call "his The present inquiry is, whether all credulity in giving ear to the increour notions of the spiritual world are dible tales of Thevenot and others," purely negative. On this subject, as the relations he believed and repeaton most others, men are not agreed in ed, have been corroborated and contheir opinions; and they differ, be-firmed by men on whose veracity may cause the only standard by which it can be decided has not been constantly appealed to. Our knowledge of spiritual objects, is one of those phenomena about which philosophers "are in the dark." And humilitating, to the pride of reason, is the reflection, that though they have been investigating, or pretending to investigate, the nature and operations of the human mind for several thousand years, with "nine-tenths of the phenomena of mind, they are quite out at sea, with respect to their origin." So little indeed is the progress that has been made in mental knowledge, that the wisest of men in this branch of learnNo. 29.-VOL. III.

be placed the most implicit reliance. The intelligence received from the missionaries to the heathen world, establishes the mortifying truth, that where no ray from the orb of revelation has fallen, there, “the world by wisdom knew not God." Their state is more deplorable than was at first imagined. The Rev. Basil Wood concludes his account of the life and death of Mowhee, a native of New Zealand, thus; "I have only to add one remark, which much surprised myself and friends: it was Mowhee's opinion, that the New Zealanders have no idea of the Supreme Being; that they perform no religious wor2 U

66

667

Review-The Cottage of Pella.

ship to the grotesque figures found in their possession; and that these strange and distorted figures have no reference to a religious use. I have sifted him on this subject, and could only discover that they seemed to believe in some evil spirit named Atuce, who greatly annoyed them, by entangling their nets and oversetting their canoes."-Missionary Register for February 1817, page 79.

668

supposition that it has a direct perception of these things, similar to that which it has of the objects of sense. And though your correspondent's opinion is the reverse of this, it is not, I conceive, less wide of the truth. The principle that all our notions of the nature of spiritual objects are purely negative, annihilates, as far as a principle can be said to do it, all divine knowledge! It extinguishes the light of heaven; and leaves us, like madmen, staring at vacuity!!! Knowledge has been defined to be

Other nations are in a similar state of moral degradation. A converted African, in a conversation with the writer, assured him, that until he had" that in the mind which answers to left his native land, he never heard a name for God, nor ever thought of such a being; and it was his opinion, that the aged persons of his nation were as ignorant as himself on this subject. He observed further, that when he was first told of the existence of such a being, he laughed at his informer, and did not believe him.Query. If no revelation had been given, would men, by the mere exercise of reason, have discovered the existence, unity, and eternity, of the divine Being?

Nor are heathens less ignorant of other subjects of a divine nature, than they are of the being and perfections of God. In some instances, the state of their minds may be aptly compared to paper on which no characters are inscribed; in others, to paper on which is depicted the most unmeaning, fantastic, or disgusting forms. But whether viewed as enveloped in ignorance, or under the domination of a cruel or a foolish superstition, their condition demonstrates the necessity and utility of a divine revelation. And contrasting their mental condition with that of those who are enlightened by the gospel, the natural inference is, that all divine knowledge is derived from revelation.

its object." And the absence of something answerable constitutes ignorance. When, therefore, negative notions refer to a whole class of objects, and to every thing relating to the nature of those objects, thin indeed are the partitions that divide the bounds between negative knowledge and sheer ignorance. If all the information we possess of the spiritual world is derived from the sacred volume, and if all our notions of the objects of that world are negative, it follows that God has revealed to us, not what spiritual things are, but what they are not, and a negative revelation is an object that startles and confounds my understanding. Whatever is the kind or quality of our notions, as they refer to the spiritual world, they must agree with that revelation which gives them birth; and it is to the nature of revelation, as well as to the notions which the mind actually possesses, that we must appeal for the decision of the question.

(To be continued.)

REVIEW.-The Cottage of Pella, a Tale
of Palestine; with other Poems. By
John Holland, Author of Sheffield
Park, &c. 8vo. pp. 80. London,
Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, &
Brown, 1821.

IN our number for October last, col.
854, we had an occasion to notice a
poetical production of this Author,
entitled "Sheffield Park." His muse
has since taken a bolder flight, visited
the regions of Palestine, retired into
the periods of antiquity, and brought
the village of Pella to our view.

As all divine knowledge emanates from the volume of inspiration, it is to this source that we are indebted for whatever knowledge we have of the spiritual world. And it is to the nature of this knowledge that your correspondent's remark evidently refers. I have now lying before me a compendium of the different theories that have been adopted to account for the origin, and to explain the nature of that knowledge which the mind pos- In a preceding number of the Imsesses of spiritual things; and most perial Magazine, we published a criof them proceed upon the erroneoustique on the Rev. H. H. Milman's

Review-The Cottage of Pella.