a high testimony of their Christian love to the Mission cause that they have thus liberally upheld it; for it is in the receipts from the home Districts, the real staple of the Society's resources, that the increase has taken place.

The total of the year's contributions is not more gratifying than the postponement of remittances to the last day is embarrassing. At the close of November the total home receipts were only £25,257. 13s. And since the 31st of December, at which date every penny of the year's expenditure had been incurred, £42,000 of the income has been paid. Although the whole month of January is allowed to Branch Societies to close their accounts, many even of the most considerable detain their lists and final remittances beyond that term. consequence of this is, delay in publishing the Annual Report, and very heavy loss of money to the Society paid in interest. Had the £30,000 sent in during January been one month earlier, that alone would have saved £100.

The

The Committee look upon the results of the past year as so noble a proof of the fidelity of the local officers, and the spirit of the contributors generally, that, in appealing to them to place the collection of the funds on a more satisfactory footing, it feels every encouragement. This feeling is also heightened by the fact, that, in consequence of arrangements which have been for some time in progress, the Committee looks forward with good hope that the annual expenditure will in a short time be brought within the annual income. Considering the immense spread of the Society's establishments, this point has not been attainable, but by measures deeply painful to the Committee, and very trying to our devoted brethren in needy Mission-fields. But, convinced that it must be attained, the Committee has now brought its estimates to a scale which authorises it to entertain the hope, that, if the income be only sustained at the present point, this desirable object will ere long be accomplished; and should it continue to increase, which is most desirable, the existing debt will in due time be liquidated, and the additional means be available for the reinforcement and extension of the work.

In this position the Committee has much confidence in soliciting the cordial aid of its friends towards obtaining an early payment of the Income. IF YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS, instead of being held back till December or January, WERE PAID IN MAY, it would save vast sums to the work of God. For this the Committee is resolved, most respectfully, but earnestly and perseveringly, to strive. It knows how much affection and liberality it has to appeal to, and on this point does not mean to remit its appeal; but to urge and urge it again, with all the hope which the kindness of its friends inspires. THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS IN MAY! this is the request we make to all our kind supporters; and especially to our invaluable local Secretaries and Collectors. We may be permitted to add, that we hope no officer will delay remitting sums placed in his hand because they are inconsiderable; for that ceases to be the case when many such come together.

THE amount of contributions and remittances announced on the Cover of the Notices this month, is £10,588. 2s. 2d.

LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1853.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOSEPH ROBERTS,

MORE

FORMERLY MISSIONARY IN THE ISLAND OF CEYLON, AND RECENTLY GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONS ON THE CONTINENT OF INDIA:

BY THE REV. ELIJAH HOOLE.

THE name and character of the late Rev. Joseph Roberts, as a Missionary in Ceylon, and as General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Missions on the continent of India, are well known. Many of his labours have been chronicled in successive volumes of this Magazine, during the past thirty years; and various productions of his pen, illustrative of human character, of Missions, and of the word of God, have enriched our pages, or have been recommended by us to general perusal for their novelty and useful tendency.

The

It still remains to place on record some connected sketch of his life and ministry. In preparing this, we have to regret the absence of some points of information; while, at the same time, our limits will not permit us to make much use of voluminous journals, which would of themselves form a large book, or of the correspondence and other papers which have been placed at our disposal. relation of facts and incidents cannot easily be compressed. When "the days are evil," the Christian is required to "redeem the time." If he is permitted to live in "good days," and to see "times of refreshing," then, as "the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed," he "receiveth blessing from God." This illustration is peculiarly applicable to our deceased friend. He lived in good days, days of spiritual refreshing: his happy soul was as a field which God delights to bless, ever sensible of heavenly influences, and ever yielding the fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God. It was an inestimable advantage to Mr. Roberts that in early life he was an inhabitant of the Christian town of Leeds, and was brought under the influence and care of the Methodist ministry. He became one of the Secretaries of a Juvenile Missionary Association, and was present at the memorable Missionary Meeting held in Leeds in 1813, the detailed Report of which was published in a separate

VOL. IX.-FOURTH SERIES.

2 D

form by Mr. Nichols, and is still in print. Who can tell the effect which that first public Wesleyan Missionary Meeting has had on the immortal interests of myriads of human beings? It gave a fresh impulse to the Mission cause, which continues to be felt to the present day.

The three quarters of a century which had then elapsed since the rise of Methodism, witnessed an extraordinary work of God in the conversion and salvation of men in the British islands and in America; every succeeding anniversary of the model Missionary Meeting at Leeds has been cheered with intelligence of the advance of Christ's kingdom in various parts of the heathen world; and each succeeding year proves that neither the means nor the zeal of God's people in that favoured district are diminished; and it may safely be predicted, that when the Leeds Meetings shall have completed their half century, and the note of jubilee to the Wesleyan Missionary Society shall be sounded, it will be recorded that in the first fifty years of its existence a greater extension of the knowledge of Christ in the heathen world has been effected, by God's blessing on the multiplied agencies of the Christian church, than had been accomplished during the preceding seventeen centuries. The future is known only to God; but our hearts exult in the anticipation of the speedy overthrow of Satan's kingdom, and the universal prevalence of Christian truth.

During his whole life Mr. Roberts found happy and suitable spheres of action. His youthful animation and early energies found employment in the work of a Methodist Local Preacher. When he desired a higher and more responsible office, he was accepted as a Missionary, and was sent to cultivate the field to which Dr. Coke and his companions had directed their way a few years before. Whether in England or in Ceylon,-whether traversing the vast plains and lofty mountains of populous India, or navigating the sea with but few companions,—he was always in the way of useful occupation; he was neither out of place nor out of work. The happy coincidences of his eventful life, the free scope which was ever afforded to his talents and zeal, remind one of the scriptural promise," Delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."

In the present state of the world and of the church, there is more danger that we should fail in execution than in opportunity: we are more wanting in profitable obedience than in the required knowledge of duty. In the example of Mr. Roberts there is much that is worthy of imitation, especially in the great matter of well-directed diligence. During several months of detention in London as a candidate for Mission work, he had the privilege (as he justly esteemed it) of residing with Dr. Bunting; by whose instructive conversation and wise counsels he was greatly benefited. He also received direct and systematic theological instruction from another Missionary Secretary of that day, the ever-to-be-revered Richard