that Mr. Rees has dropped the cognomen of Rev. from conscientious motives, but as yet retains the gown and bands. We trust these also will soon disappear. The Ply

consistent advocates of open communion, and as Mr. Rees is in favour of that practice, the above facts seem to intimate that the church will act in fellowship with that body.

MARRIAGES.

Chapel, Great Yarmouth, by Mr. Henry ON Nov. 19TH, at the Particular Baptist Betts, Mr. James Wilby Mariner, to Miss Mary Sadler, both of the above place. And on Wednesday last at the Independent meetDouglas to Miss Sarah Christie Cattermool, ing-house, by Mr. Henry Betts, Mr. James

Square; by Mr. Stock, of CHATHAM, one; by Mr. Garritt, of UNION ROW, KINGSLAND, one. On Lord's-day, Nov. 9, Mr. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, lately a member of the Presbyterian Church in Carrickfergus, Ire-mouth Brethren are at present the most land, was received into the Baptist Church in that place under the care of Mr. G. C. Moore. He was convinced, like Mr. Wallace of Birmingham, and Mr. Rees, late curate of Sunderland, by reading Dr. Carson's work on baptism. On Lord's-day evening, Nov. 30, at HENEAGE-Street, Birmingham, by Mr. C. H. Roe, six, after an impressive sermon by Mr. T. Pulsford, the evangelist. Same day, at BETHEL CHAPEL, WESTBROMWICH, by Mr. W. D. Corkin, four. Same day, at EYNSFORD, Kent, by Mr. W. Reynolds, five, in the presence of a large and attentive congregation. Nov. 23, at Eldon-street, two, and on the following evening, Mr. Johns, of Manchester, for many years a preacher among the Independents, having adopted the views so clearly set forth in Mr. Stovel's Lectures. Nov, 30, at MOTE ROAD, MAIDSTONE, by Mr. W. Chappell, two. Same day, at BAMPTON, Devon, by Mr. C. E. Pratt, two. Dec. 4, at REGENT-STREET CHAPEL, LAMBETH, twelve. There are also from sixty to seventy inquirers. At ASHAMPSTEAD, by Mr. H. Fuller, pastor, four, one of whom has been a preacher among the Primitive Methodists. At HAY, SOUTH WALES, five. Dec. 2, at ST. CLEMENTS, Norwich, by Mr. Wheeler, two-both of whom joined the church at COSSEY, near Norwich. Mr. Ivory, of Cossey, preached on the occasion from Heb. xiii. 11-13, and received them into the church the following Lord's-day.

both of Yarmouth.

Ar the Baptist Chapel, Tunbridge Wells, by Mr. Henry Kewell, Mr. Lewis Michael Wibner to Mrs. Elizabeth Abigail Golden, both of Tunbridge, Kent.

RECENT DEATHS.

THOMAS JACKSON, of Liverpool, aged 71 On Saturday, the 1st of November, MR. years. He was for about a quarter of a century a consistent member of the particular baptist church assembling in Lime-street, Liverpool, under the pastoral care of Mr. James Lister. On the removal of the above church to the new chapel in Myrtle-street, in 1843, a division took place in consequence of a desire for the introduction of an organ into the chapel. The result was that a separate church was formed, consisting of 27 members (of whom the deceased was

IMMERSION OF A CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH one) who conscientiously objected to the use

OF ENGLAND, AND EIGHTY OTHER PER-
SONS AT SUNDERLAND.

MR. ARTHUR AUGUSTUS REES, late curate of Sunderland, was immersed by Mr. Geo. Müller, of Bristol, on Nov. 24th. Upwards of eighty have been immersed up to this date, and more are to follow. Messrs. Müller and Craik of Bristol, are intimate friends of Mr. Rees, and remained on a visit a fortnight, imparting such instruction to the infant church as they considered needful. Their place for worship is called Bethesda Free Church, situated in the Parish of Bishopwearmouth, which is the principal parish in the Borough of Sunderland. It will comfortably accommodate 800 without Galleries. It may be interesting to know

of instrumental music in the sanctuary,
or in other words, "praising the Almighty
by proxy." The above church, after some
time, gave an unanimous call to Mr. Wal-
ton, of Lockwood, to become its pastor, and
his labours have been abundantly blessed by
God. Several additions have lately taken
place. This is the first breach the Lord
has been pleased to make. May those who
are left, lay it seriously to heart, and be
enabled, by the grace of God, to follow him
as far as he followed Christ. His death,
like his life, was that of a christian.

OCT. 25, at Hastings, Trelawney, West Indies, Mr. W. Bernard, for ten years deacon of the Baptist Church, Bethtephil, Jamaica. He was seized with fever on the Tuesday, and died on the Saturday morning.

JANUARY, 1846.

A WORD ON PECULIAR DIFFICULTIES.

THE following remarks, taken from a letter written by Mr. MCCARTHY, the oldest agent we have in Ireland, have suggested the topic placed at the head of this number. They come from one long experienced in the work, and whose opinions are not hastily formed. They breathe a spirit of reliance on the Holy Ghost, eminently suitable to those who are engaged in prosecuting their work amidst so many peculiar obstacles.

Our excellent friend observes, "I do not shrink from the difficulties of my work in the Lord; but here a missionary has to contend against a pressure of evil, and the power of a spurious Christianity, presenting a stronger force than any other false system under the sun. Every man on earth has his god. Humanly speaking, it cannot be difficult to convince a heathen that inanimate matter could not have created itself; or that a senseless stock of wood or stone could have formed living bodies, and given to them intelligent souls.

"But in Ireland you have, not only the principle of heathenism—namely, that a man may be his own saviour, but you have to undermine a religious system claiming the same authority as the truth itself, and seemingly sanctioned by it, and lcosen it from the grasp of his warmest affections-a grasp like that of a drowning man!

"Express a doubt of his safety, and he is indignant at your presumption. He tells you, 'I am a Christian; your religion is fallacious-a thing of yesterday. Ours is the first and only true religion; for there cannot be two religions and both true. Day after day have I to meet this sort of thing, and to show its folly again and again."

Shall we not, therefore, while gratefully adoring that gracious providence which hath brought us through another year, remember the manifold mercies we have received in new acts of consecration to God, and in increased liberality to his cause? His truth, his Spirit, with his own servants to preach the one, and guided and blessed by the other, can destroy this dreadful system. Readers! of all ages and circumstances, help us to strengthen our little band, and to augment its numbers.

We proceed to quote from the letters of the agents, whose facts, narrated by themselves, cannot fail to interest, as well as to give the best notion of the working of the mission itself. Thus RICH. MOORE

writes,

As I was

walking in Ballina a few days ago, I heard many persons swearing; and having pity on them, I spoke to them in their mother tongue. There was a great silence for about half an hour. Every ear listened, and every eye seemed to desire to have more. After I had showed them how God could be just and the justifier of the ungodly, a shrewd - came up and asked my name, and when I should speak there again, saying, these are new truths to us, for such we never heard from our priests.

Romanist from T

PAT. BRENNAN relates the following for the purpose, he says, of showing the spirit of inquiry which is abroad.

Mr. H- was spoken of by the priest in his chapel, for giving a tract, "On the Novelties of Popery," to one of the parents of a scholar in his school. He spoke to me about it, thinking it would be a charge against for doing so. I said he was at liberty to give a tract to any one who would read it. would prevent a catholic from knocking Nothing but the power of God," said he, any one down who would give such a tract

H

as that."

"Indeed," said 1, "that would be a bad argument to prove their religion was act. The writer's name is to the tract, and if the true one. I will tell you a better way to you can contradict his statement, as you have an opportunity, why don't you do so?" To this he made no reply.

On the following Sunday, he requested that none of his flock would send their children to H.'s school; but I am glad to say, that his words have not had their desired effect.

PAT. GUNNING, in speaking of the good attendance at the several preaching stations which Mr. Thomas visits, at Mount Shannon, Clonavilla, &c., adds

A few days ago I went to M, where there was a large mixture of Romanists and protestants. Some of the former introduced a controversy, which was, however, soon turned into a friendly conversation. A man who worked in the house, a Romanist, who had a small Testament, opened to 1 Pet. iii. 19, and desired me to explain it. This I did as well as I could. He said, "If that be so, the priests have misrepresented this, and other like portions of scripture, in our catechisms." To which another replied, "You will soon be as any protestant.”

PHILIP WILLIAMS, who labours in Cork, sends the following affecting statements. They describe a state of things, both moral and social, which ought to make a deep impression; and they show the great importance of a mission not by any means so generally supported as it de

serves.

ance.

mother said, "I suppose you think it strange
to see a wake so lonesome as this ?"
"If we
were all where babe is, we would not be lone-
some there. Those that are in the presence
of God don't feel as we do, and babe is surely
there." She said, "I don't know that, Sir."
"What makes you doubt ?" "The baby was
not christened by the priest, and on that ac-
count I am afraid it is lost." "Why did
you not get him christened, if you thought he
could not be saved without it :" "To tell
the truth, we could never catch a half-a-
crown, and the priest would not christen
"If the priest knew that
him without it."
he could save the soul from danger, and would
not without getting a half-a-crown, I think
that would lead a person to doubt his Chris-
tianity." "I would not like to say the priest
is not a Christian, but still I believe you are
right." I read the first chapter of the first
I dwelt much on the
epistle of John.
seventh verse; from this and other passages
I succeeded in removing the doubt from her
mind respecting the safety of the baby.
Having done this, I said, "Who shall be the
next ?" The old woman said, "According
to the course of nature, I shall be the next."
"It may be so, or it may not; but if it
should be so, are you prepared to die?"
since I was prepared for death."
prepared you then ?" "Father Corkran."
"None can prepare the soul for death but the
Lord Jesus. It is against him we have
sinned, and he only has the power to forgive
us all our sins." They thanked me, and re-
quested I should never pass that way without
calling in to see them. I hope the Lord will
bless what was said to their souls.

"Indeed, I am not. It is now three years
"Who

Paddy Connor, son of old Johanna, who said, when on her death-bed, she would sooner have one priest before her than twenty after her, is in a dying way. I could not describe the joy which he manifested at my appearA Romanist, named T. O. B., got a Bible some time ago; he was then cautious, for I stayed with him, in a dark room, for three hours, while he opened to me his fear the priest's men should see him reading mind with freedom and pleasure. I endea- it. That fear is gone, and he now says he voured to bring the Saviour before him in the would not be prevented by any man from most powerful manner I could, and was glad reading the word of God for himself. Pray to hear him repeat the words of his mother, that the Lord would give us many more like that he had no hope but in the Son of God. him. His views are pretty clear as regards the plan of salvation through a crucified Saviour. Here, again, we are encouraged to persevere. Though our progress is slow, we are still moving onward.

Returning home I got into a hut, in a lonesome part of the road. I saluted at the door, and was answered in Irish. Two women and a girl were within. I looked round and saw a baby about four months old laid in a cradle dead. I never saw any thing like the misery of this wretched company. The old cradle was half full of rotten straw and heath; over it was an old filthy sheet, not fit for a house cloth. Here the babe slept in the daytime, and here now lay his remains. The only clean thing I could see was a small bit of common calico, that was laid over it. The

RICH. MOORE mentions a pleasing incident, which shows how extensively the desire for reading prevails amongst the young.

A few days since, when travelling, I met with two men and a lad, going to labour. I talked with them about Christ and his work. The men appeared very ignorant, but the lad heard with attention and delight. Finding he could read, I gave him a tract, which he read at once, and asked if I had any more to give him, so that his mother might read them too. I told him to call at my house on a certain day, which he did, and wished for a copy of the scriptures, promising to read it in spite

|

my countrymen, in this time of their distress, appear to regret that they have neglected the gospel so long. However it may end, great depression and dread sit on all hearts, and they expect there will be a want of food. They are in a frame of mind to receive an impression, and the time has come when a word fitly spoken may be expected to tell.

Last Lord's day fortnight, a wet and gloomy day, I met at my house, on my return from morning preaching, a man drenched with wet, who had walked that morning a distance of thirteen miles to hear me preach. I was greatly pleased with his shrewd inquiries, and his evident desire to know the truth.

What makes this case the more interesting, is the fact, that the poorest, most illiterate, but simple-minded, member of our church has been the means of arousing his attention. This poor brother, after his day's toil, often in the dark, visited this man; and the result has

been that he came to hear for himself. I gave him a Bible and some tracts. I told him when I should be in his neighbourhood. He left me rejoicing, and I was rejoiced too,

Mr. McCARTHY pleads urgently on behalf of Tullamore.

When I was last there, the school-house was full; indeed, there was not sufficient room. Here is a place where the people are most anxious to hear. We should have twice as many, had we a place to accommodate them. Can nothing be done to do away with this long talked-of grievance? Priestly interdiction against the schools is fast wearing away. The children are again committing the word to memory; but we are distressed for a good meeting-house.

POSTSCRIPT.

For some time past, Mr. Davis has felt himself unable, from his growing infirmities, to discharge his duties with the same efficiency as formerly. Having faithfully served the Society for nearly thirty years, it seemed desirable to him and the Committee, that he should be released from his engagements. His connexion with it will therefore cease in March, 1846. It is proposed to allow him £50 per annum, in the hope that he may find a less laborious sphere of labour in which he may be useful.

The Committee have had the painful duty, during the last month, of declining applications from four pious and suitable persons, as readers; and two from others offering themselves for missionary work in general, and one proposing himself as a schoolmaster, in which he has had considerable experience. The debt, and want of funds are the sole reason.

Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, EDWARD SMITH, Esq., 60, Old Broad Street; Rev. J. ANGUS, and by the Secretary, Mr. FRED. TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, London: and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom.