that class of men by whom, to so great an extent, the immense wealth of this vast metropolis has been accumulated, and by whom its high position amidst the cities of the world is maintained, there should be seen, occupying the presidential chair, one of its honoured magistrates-willing to lend his sanction and afford his aid to a cause so dear to every British heart. The Directors trust that the presence and hearty sympathy of the worthy Alderman to-night, may be taken as a pledge of the countenance and support they are about to receive from the shipowners and merchant princes of this giant London.

In referring to the Society's operations in this port, the Directors sincerely congratulate you on having secured the services of your esteemed minister, the Rev. T. Clarkson Finch, whose ministrations at the

SAILORS' CHURCH

have been singularly acceptable and successful. Since his settlement as the chaplain, the congregation has considerably increased, and the several benevolent institutions connected with it have been conducted with additional vigour and efficiency. During the past year, five services in English, and occasionally two in German or Danish, have been conducted weekly in this building; and, out of the gross number of more than 28,000 visits paid to these means of grace during the year, nearly 13,000 of them have been those of seamen.

Our missionaries, in their monthly reports, recount many delightful evidences that your effort in sustaining this church is not in vain in the Lord. Take the following from amongst many. One writes, July, 1848,

"I have met five sailors within the last three weeks, who with grateful hearts acknowledged the benefits they have received by their attendance at the Sabbath services of the Sailors' Church."

And again,

"After a morning service, three Lord's days since, a young man, very respectably dressed, came up and addressed me familiarly, expressing his thankfulness that he was again brought to the house of God, to join in his praises amongst his people. 'When I was last here,' said he, 'two years ago, you kindly brought me to this place, and invited me to the prayer-meetings. I shall ever remember it; it was here, in this church, I was first led to weep for my sins before God; it was here I was led

to see the need of a Saviour, and I can never forget the spiritual blessings I have received whilst worshipping in this place. Many a time during my absence has my soul longed to be here, and in spirit I have often worshipped with you, for my lot has been cast in a barren soil for ordinances. When I last saw you, I was before the mast (a common sailor), but God has prospered me in my temporal concerns, so that I now command a ship under Chilian colours.''

Another, in August, writes,—

"I am glad to say we have an improved attendance in Wellclose-square; the coming of our excellent pastor amongst us, I hope, will be attended with much benefit. I could speak of several indications of good that I have seen, and I have been told of two, as late as the afternoon of Lord's day, the 23rd of July. One sailor was observed by a friend to be of a broken and contrite spirit, and another, who had before been wounded in spirit under the word there, the same afternoon found peace with God. I have since met this man, and he told me himself, he was then happy in God's love."

Again, in January, 1849:

"I have met seven pious sailors lately, who bear testimony to the benefit they have received within the last twelve months, in attendance on the means of grace at the Sailors' Church. May the Spirit of God direct many to attend there and obtain like benefits and blessings."

"In February last, a meeting held on board the J- and A-, of Swas a very profitable season to many present. Here I met three sailors, who are in attendance at the Sailors' Church, Wellclose-square, when in London; and who, in conversation at the close of the meeting, gave me a brief account of their being brought to a knowledge of the truth. Two of them had received their earliest impressions at Bethel meetings, and one had been first awakened by a sermon at the Sailors' Church, about eighteen months since, from the text, 'The great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?' To use his own words- For a while these words were constantly sounding in my ears, "The great day of his wrath is come, &c." I was led to read the Scriptures, and, with many tears and strugglings, to pray in my poor feeble way; but, on a voyage to Jamaica, God, in his mercy, brought my soul out of bondage, and led me to rejoice in his salvation. I was much strengthened and supported in my mind, whilst in Jamaica, by meeting the missionary there, and attending the meetings at the chapel.' This man is now a member of a Christian church at Hull."

The building itself having undergone some considerable exterior repairs in the course of the last summer, sermons were preached at its re-opening by the Rev. T. Binney, and the Rev. George Smith, of Poplar. Our senior missionary gives us one gratifying result of these services, in the following extract:

"In conversation with a sailor, whilst visiting ships in the river some twelve days since, he informed me that, until the last eight months, he had been living in a state of sin and rebellion against God, through drunkenness and every other crime; but being invited to attend a Bethel meeting, held on board the Galena, he became

alarmed for his spiritual welfare, and so great was his fear that he was at times even afraid to sleep. In this state he continued for many days, whilst the vessel was on her voyage to Hartlepool. At Hartlepool he attended the means of grace and found his mind divinely supported, the Lord being very gracious to him; but when he came to London he was resolved, from what he had heard from one of his shipmates, that he would come to the Sailors' Church, Wellclose-square, which he did on the 13th of August, in the afternoon, when the Rev. G. Smith preached from these words, Rev. xix. 9, Blessed are they that are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb,' &c. To this sermon, under God, he attributes his present peace of mind; and, from my conversation with him, I have reason to believe he is sincere; and having cast in his lot amongst the people of God, I hope he will be found faithful unto death."

The alterations proposed to you at the last anniversary, respecting

THE THAMES AGENCY,

have been adopted, and prove to be very beneficial. In September last, simply with the view of economising the funds and promoting the efficiency of the Society, the Directors dispensed with the services of the three gentlemen who were engaged only for the evening of three days in each week; and in their room, and at no increase of expense, they secured the whole time of a third missionary, to labour in conjunction with Capt. Prynn and Capt. Lowther. The individual selected for this post was Mr. Samuel Lonsdale; a seaman well reported of, for good works amongst his brethren, who for more than five years had carried his own Bethel Flag, which he had diligently employed with very encouraging success, both in this and in other lands, and who has entered upon his duties in London with much acceptance.

But another and an unexpected change was in the providence of God made necessary; for your highly-valued missionary, Capt. Lowther, whose health had for some months been extremely delicate, became at length so decidedly unwell, that he was unfitted to attend to his duties; and his medical attendant giving him no hope of restoration, while he remained in London, there was no course open to the Directors but to accept his resignation, which, however, they did with the utmost unwillingness and regret. In supplying his place, the Directors received an application from Mr. H. V. Bailey, who, for about five years, has laboured as a missionary amongst

seamen; and, receiving the highest testimonials as to his character and fidelity, they engaged his services, and he entered upon his work, as your missionary, at Christmas last.

As an instance of the pleasing manner in which your missionaries are sometimes (perhaps for the most part) welcomed on board ship, one of them says:

"One morning, whilst prosecuting my duties, I met the captain of a ship, and said to him, 'Will you let us have a Bethel meeting on board to-night?' He said, 'I have no objection, if my cabin is large enough for you.' 'Will you let me look at it?' I said. To this he readily consented. I said, 'The place will do, if you will be at a little trouble in making seats.' 'That I will,' he said, 'we cannot do too much to serve the Lord; he hath done much to serve us.' In further conversation, I found he had a pleasing work of grace in his soul. He said,' I shall be glad to see you on board any time.' The service was held by my brother missionary, Captain Prynn. I had the pleasure of seeing the captain of the ship afterwards, when I asked him what sort of a meeting they had had. He said, 'It did me good,' and repeated his desire, that, when in port, he might be favoured with another visit."

During the past year, a peculiarly hallowed influence appears to have attended the

BETHEL MEETINGS

held on board ship in the river Thames. The following may be adduced as proofs:

"In conversation with a captain, on board whose vessel I held a Bethel meeting, he said, Had you asked me, twelve months since, to hoist a Bethel Flag, and have a meeting on board this vessel, you would have been refused; but now, Sir, I have much pleasure in obliging you, and am glad you have made the application.' This opened a field for inquiry, how this great change had been brought about, when, having gone at his request into the cabin, after a pause of a minute or two, he thus addressed me:- My dear sir, I know you very well, and have dreaded seeing you, when you have been visiting in the tier where my ship has been lying. I recollect you at Bell-wharf Chapel, and often attended there, when a mate of a ship, and at one time I made a profession of religion. I thought very highly of myself, but at this time I was only flattering myself, and deceiving others. When I was appointed master of this vessel, I was led away into the world, and into company that was much opposed to religion; and trusting in my own strength, in an unguarded hour, I gave way to intemperance, and from frequenting the tavern I was led to the theatre, and in short to indulge in sin without restraint. My parents saw it and were grieved, and many a restless hour have they passed, and many a tear has wet their cheeks on my account. Christian friends reproved and admonished, but all appeared in vain; but the Lord's ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts. Glory be to God for his mercy towards me! I was arrested in my mad career at a Bethel meeting, on board a vessel in this very tier where we are now lying. I had been invited to attend the meeting by one of my former companions, who had found peace through believing in Christ. After much entreaty, I went to this meeting

with my friend, but not with any desire to receive benefit therefrom. The moment I entered the cabin, and saw the minister, I was seized with a terror I cannot describe. I felt assured he knew all about me, and would of course charge my sin upon me. I sat for a few moments; the singing commenced; I attempted to get up and go away, but my knees smote one against another! I had no strength, I felt ill, and could not tell what to do; and when the text was given out, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God," every joint in me shook. In the character of the wicked, as then described, my case was met. Conscience accused me, and I felt guilty before God. I was too much condemned and cast down to make my case known at that time, but retired with my friend, who faithfully followed up what had been said by the preacher, and poured out his heart in prayer, that God would be gracious to me. I wept, and I trust was sincerely humbled before God; and, on my arrival home, I joined the ranks of total abstinence. On the ensuing voyage I became a member of a Christian church; and now, sir, I can praise God for his mercy and grace, and welcome you as a servant of Christ on board the Eleanor.' We had much conversation together, which tended to strengthen my confidence in the sincerity of his love to God."

Again :

"The services I have held during the month have been to my own soul, and, I trust, also to the souls of others, refreshing seasons from the presence of the Lord. They have not only been generally well attended, but have also been pervaded by a gracious influence. Two or three of these services I may more particularly mention. I refer, first, to one on board the Britannia, of Whitby; nineteen were present, ten of whom, after I had preached a short sermon, engaged in prayer. In visiting this vessel, a few months since, the whole of the crew, with the exception of the mate, were living without God, and without hope in the world; but our services have been made a blessing to them,-five of them now professing to enjoy peace with God. Could our friends, the subscribers and collectors, who are interested in the sailor's spiritual welfare, but have been present at this service, and heard the fervent and Scriptural prayers offered by these babes in Christ, amidst tears of penitence, mingled with tears of joy, their hearts would have been melted and their zeal inflamed. The captain of this vessel is, I believe, under deep impressions, and nothing seems to afford him greater pleasure than to hoist the Bethel flag. The next I refer to was held on board the Fairy Queen, of Sunderland. The cabin and steerage were well filled, several pious captains being present. Some of the men seemed much affected under the word; one captain was observed to weep much. At the close of the meeting he wished me to hold a service, during the week, on board his vessel, which I did. He then informed me had never hoisted a Bethel flag before. I will only name one other, which was held on board the Reward, of Sunderland. Twenty-three were present, and among them were eight captains. After addresses had been given by an esteemed captain and myself, nine engaged fervently in prayer. One present, formerly distinguished as a man of prayer and zeal, but who had grown weary in well-doing, at this service was quickened and encouraged. 'In the presence of this company he confessed his backslidings of heart,' and earnestly prayed for restoring grace.

"And it is not long since one of our missionaries met with two Christian captains, in whose society he found great encouragement and delight. But what was the additional pleasure of the encounter, when he discovered that they had both

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