THE CHILDREN'S MISSIONARY NEWSPAPER. DESIGNED TO COMMUNICATE INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING THE MISSIONARY EFFORTS OF ALL EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS, IN LANGUAGE ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF CHILDREN. EDITED BY CHRISTIAN HENRY BATEMAN. EDINBURGII: JAMES GALL AND SON, HOULSTON AND STONEMAN, LONDON. G. GALLIE, GLASGOW. 1847. TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO READ THIS PAPER. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, Four years have now elapsed since this little Monthly Periodical began its course. Four years is a long time in your short lives. Let us look back upon it, and see what has been done for and by you in it, for missionary objects. We shall see that much, very much, has been accomplished, for all of which we should bless God; and from which look and hope for enlarged success in future. 1. A great many juvenile missionary publications have come forth, very cheap and very interesting. This was the first little periodical of the kind and price, and is still the cheapest; but many have followed in its train. First after this Paper came the Juvenile Missionary Magazine of the London Missionary Society," with its pretty cuts, and nice music from time to time, and interesting news. Then the "Free Church Missionary Record for Children" brought down its price and altered its shape, and soon gained a noble circulation. Next came "The Juvenile Baptist Herald," a beautiful book. By and by the "Juvenile Missionary Magazine of the United Secession Church," and then that of the "Relief" body, and I think that of the Established Church of Scotland, came down in price. Along with these, the Methodists came in, and their Juvenile Magazine was started at a halfpenny; and then I think the Church of England sent out its little work at the same low price as others. In this way, all classes and all denominations of children have been supplied with their own missionary works, within the reach of their little means, and suited to their minds, and age. I cannot tell you exactly how many all these publications make together, but it cannot be less than 250,000, or a quarter of a million every month. Besides these, many other children's books on the same subjects have come out. Beautiful missionary annuals, nice little missionary stories, and pretty books of larger size. Who can tell the good that may arise from all these interesting works, read and delighted in by the children of our land! When I was a little boy, we had no such nice missionary books or pretty stories to read; and I look to you, dear children, to grow up, in consequence of your better lot, far more filled with missionary zeal than those of us who have gone before you. 2. But missionary books have not been all the last four years have seen. witnessed great efforts by the young in the missionary cause. They have The money for the Missionary Ship has been raised within the period, and large sums presented for other objects. I cannot tell you exactly how much has been raised by the children of this country, but it is somewhere between £30,000 and £40,000. This has been divided amongst many Societies; but it has all gone to swell the sums expended on winning the world for Christ, and is a fine proof of what little folks can do when nce they set to work. May the blessing of God give all these gifts success! |