History Of The Church Missionary Society eBook

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The two Parts comprised in Vol. II. cover twenty-four years, 1849 to 1872. The Author much regrets that this period was not divided into three Parts, of about eight years each. As it is, the Parts are too long and full, and the chapters overlap more than is desirable. For example, the reader will find himself in the Revival period of 1860 at home before he comes to events abroad ten years older; and Dr. Pfander''s later work at Constantinople has to be taken before his earlier work in India. But there need be no confusion if the dates are carefully noted.

The first two chapters of Part VI. deal with the Environment. Many of the events recorded in Chap. XXXIII., the Gorham Judgment, the Revival of Convocation, c, are the commonplaces of modern Church Histories; but those of Chap. XXXIV., the new Evangelical Movements and their effect upon the Church, although equally important, are generally ignored. Chap. XXXV. introduces the Personnel, as in previous Parts. Chaps. XXXVI. and XXXVII. also introduce persons - the candidates from the Universities, and the Islington men - with many biographical details. Then, in turning to the Missions, we take New Zealand first, because we have to review Bishop Selwyn''s plans for Church organization and the resulting controversies, thus continuing certain discussions in Chap. XXXIII., the first in this Part.

The rest of the Part, comprising twelve chapters, is devoted to the Mission-field. Chap. XXXIX., on West Africa, touches interesting points, the interest taken by the Queen and Lord Palmerston in African affairs, the efforts of H.Venn to promote industry and commerce, and the brief episcopates and deaths of the first three Bishops of Sierra Leone. Chap. XL. introduces the story of East African exploration; and Chap. XLI. the "proselytism" controversy regarding Bishop Gobat, and the British relations with Turkey after the Crimean War. Chap. XLIX. also touches political matters, in refe