America contributes L180,000 to foreign missions, and 2000 agents.

The Presbyterian Churches of the world have come late into the field, but they contribute about 900 agents, and 230 ordained missionaries, with an income of about L110,000.

One of the oldest Protestant missionary societies in existence (though now confined to home operations) is the Society in connexion with the Church of Scotland “for Promoting Christian Knowledge.”  It supported Brainerd and the Elliots more than a century ago.]

But in order to enable our readers still more clearly to realise the advance which the Church has made during the last half century, let us consider the progress of one of those societies, and take as an illustration the Church Missionary Society.  It was founded a few months before 1800.  Its income in 1802 was L356.  It now amounts to L104,273.  In 1804, it had one station abroad, two ordained European missionaries, but no native assistants.  It has now 148 stations, 258 ordained clergymen, (many of whom have studied in the English Universities,) a large staff of native clergy, with 2034 other agents, most of whom are natives.  In 1810, it had 35 male and 13 female scholars in its schools; it has now 31,000 scholars.  In 1816, the good Mr Bickersteth had the privilege of receiving its first converts, amounting to six only, into the communion of the Church.  Its communicants now number about 21,000.

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Let us, however, examine the missionary labours of the Protestant Church during this century from another point of view.  Take the map of the world, look over its continents and islands, and contrast their condition, as to the means of grace, in 1800 and 1862.

In 1800; the only missions east of the Cape of Good Hope were in India.  These were confined to the Baptist Mission, protected in the Danish settlement of Serampore; and the missions in Tanjore, in Southern India.  The former was begun by Carey and Thomas, (in 1793,) who were joined by a few brethren in 1799.  The first convert they made was in 1800.  The latter mission had existed since 1705, and numbered about nine labourers at the commencement of the century.[A]

[Footnote A:  The first Protestant missionary who visited India was Ziegenbalg, who was sent out by the Halle-Danish Missionary Society in 1705, to Tranquebar.  He was joined by Plutschow in 1719.  The mission was then adopted by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.  Grundler followed in 1720, and Schultze in 1727.  The mission, in 1736, had four stations, one being in Madras; 24 native assistants; and 3517 baptized members!  The great Schwartz laboured in, and extended the mission from 1749 till 1798.  According to Dr Carey, 40,000 had been converted to Christianity during the last century through this mission.  Dr Claudius Buchanan reckons the number as high as 80,000!]