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390 Religious Intelligence:- Miscellaneous. [July,
London Female Penitentiary.- The Annual Meeting of this most benevolent Society was held on Monday the 6th of May, in the great room of the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, and was very numerously attended.
At half-past twelve o'clock, W. Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. took the Chair, supported by several eminent characters.
The Report of the last year's proceedings was immediately read by the Secretary, from which it appears, that 149 applications have been made to the Society. Fourteen young women had been placed in situations, 39 restored to their friends, 21 discharged or left on their own account, one had been passed to her parish, and one died. Several affecting anecdotes were related to some of the applicants. Letters had been received from those who had been placed in service, expressing their gratitude, and requesting permission to become subscribers. There are now 100 inmates in the Asylum.
The Report next detailed the operations of the Society established at Brighton, on the 15th of April, under the auspices of his Majesty, which had effected great good in that town. The subscriptions raised during the last year amounted to £4075. 19s. and the expenditure to £125. less, but there still remained a balance against the Society of £500. The Report concluded by calling for additional pecuniary assistance to enable the Committee to support yhe many cases which come before them.
The Rev. Dr. Winter and Mr. Wilberforce, with other Gentlemen, addressed the Meeting in powerful speeches in support of the Institution.
The Repot was ordered to be printed and circulated, and thanks were voted to the several Officers for their meritorious exertions. The acknowledgement of the Meeting was also voted by acclamation to the Chairman, after which the Meeting adjourned.
Sunday School Union.- The Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday Morning, May 7, at the City of London Tavern, Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.p> in the chair. The Company assembled to breakfast between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning, and the chair was taken at half-past six. About 1000 persons were present.
The Report stated, that the total of Sunday Scholars in London and its vicinity was 52,549 children and 4,870 adults, taught by 4,870 gratuitous teachers, being an increase of 3,687 scholars in the past year. Several new Sunday School Unions have been formed during the past year. In three counties in Wales, there was a total of Sunday scholars, including children and adults, amounting to one-fifth of the population.
The Report exhibited a total of upwards of 600,000 Sunday Scholars in Great Britain and Ireland, in addition to which there were many places from which no returns had been communicated.- The Report then alluded to the spread of education generally throughout the world, and especially by means of Sunday Schools; 9000 scholars were stated in the New York Sunday School Union, and 24,000 connected with that of Philadelphia.
The Report met with great applause, and the Rev. Messrs. Winter, Scott, and several other Gentlemen addressed the Meeting in eloquent speeches, when the Meeting broke up, and a liberal subscription was made at the doors.
We have received from Glasgow several "Reports" of a very gratifying description , a part of which we may defer until our next number.
Presbytery of Glasgow, March 27, 1822.
Dr. Burns went over the same ground he did last year, with respect to the possibility of an union of the receding bodies with the establishment. "Why, (said the Doctor) should restrictions be laid on us to prevent an intimacy on religious points, when in civil matters all degrading distinctions have been set aside?
Why may not a faithful preacher in the one body be enabled to exert his talents by preaching to the members of another, when, with the exception of one point, they are the same in doctrine, in government, in discipline, in faith and in hope?" The consideration of the subject was afterwards resumed with greater energy and feeling, and the Doctor intimated that he would probably soon have the honour of making a specific motion on the subject.
A petition was then read from gentlemen in the neighbourhood of Spring Bank, for obtaining a chapel of case in St. George's parish; there were 1863 families and 9641 individuals in that parish; 6762 of whom were above twelve years of age; the church could only hold 1200.
By the spirited exertions and influence of Dr. Muir, £700. had been raised and more was expected; £150. to be allowed for stipend.
On the same day a petition was put in from the inhabitants of St. John's parish. There is in that parish a population of 8000-5000 above twelve years of age; the church only holds 1640. £ 1,50 has already been subscribed.
In Spring Bank, the right election of a minister is to be invested in the proprietors of seats. In St. John's, the election is to be confined to the subscribers of £100. with a vote for each £100. or to be vested in seat-holders.- Dr. Chalmers has subscribed £700.