QUARTERLY REGISTER OF THE BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. In a note accompanying the following Report from the Cheltenham District, Mr. CUBITT, of Bourton-on-the-Water, the respected secretary, says " The brethren are of opinion that it is desirable that as much of it as you can find room for in the Quarterly Register, should be inserted there, for the information of subscribers to the Auxiliary, and others." It is deemed advisable to publish the whole, as it exhibits a fair specimen of the spiritual destitution which obtains in several of the rural districts, the labours of the agents in such districts, and the difficulties which they have to overcome : It is now about twelve months since this Auxiliary was formed. The objects contemplated by it are-The evangelical instruction of the rural population in the south-eastern part of the county of Gloucester, and the rendering of aid to such town stations as are unable to sustain themselves, but may be deemed worthy of assistance. Two such stations at present receive assistance from this Auxiliary. The labours of your missionary commenced with the early part of the present year, and they extend over the whole of that district which lies between Cheltenham and Stow; although, as the part of the district most destitute of evangelical instruction is that which is most remote from Cheltenham, your committee have thought it desirable that the greater portion of his attention should be given to that part. The first of those villages to which your committee would direct attention, is Great Barrington. This is situated about four miles from Burford, and contains a population of 530 inhabitants. The only place of worship is the established church. The village is almost exclusively the property of a nobleman. Some years since there was occasional preaching in a cottage in this village, but an intimation having been given that this was offensive to his lordship, the preaching was discontinued. In this village tracts are regularly distributed, and the gospel preached from house to house. Broad Rissington is about two miles from Barrington; its population 500; no place of worship but the established church, the ministry of which has of late been decidedly Puseyistic. This village is also, to a great degree, the property of the nobleman referred to above. The inhabitants are, generally speaking, lamentably ignorant of the leading truths of the gospel. The visits of the missionary, however, are well received here, and it is confidently hoped that some good is being effected. During the summer months your missionary frequently preached in the open air in this place, and was always heard by a large and attentive audience, and on no one occasion was the slightest interruption offered; on the contrary, your missionary was several times offered money for his services, (which he, of course, declined;) a circumstance, however, which, though trifling, may serve to show that his services were favourably received. Since the weather has become unsuitable for these open air services, and no place has yet been obtained in the village which could be used for conducting public worship in, several persons go regularly to neighbouring villages to hear the word, and a few of them give pleasing evidence that they do not hear in vain. One young man appears to be anxiously inquiring the way to heaven, who ascribes his first impressions to the perusal of a tract entitled "Poor Joseph," which was left at his house by the missionary. His mother, with G whom he resides, when tracts were first offered at her cottage, objected in the most decided manner to receive them; after much entreaty, however, she was induced to take them, and since that period, not only her son, but she herself has become deeply interested in their contents. The young man has become a teacher in one of the Sunday schools under the superintendence of your missionary, at a distance of six miles from his own residence. A young woman in this village, who describes herself as having been greatly impressed under a sermon preached a long time since in the church by an evangelical clergyman, but who for want of any one to watch over and admonish her, had gone back very much to the course of this world, appears to have received great benefit from the preaching and visits of your missionary. Little Rissington: population, 250. Besides the established church there is a small chapel here, capable of accommodating eighty persons, in which your missionary preaches monthly, generally to a full and attentive audience. Wick Rissington: population, 220; a Puseyite clergyman; no preaching except in the church. An open air service was held here some time since, which met with some little interruption; but generally speaking, tracts are well received, and the people appear to appreciate the visits of your missionary. Upper and Lower Staughton: population, 550. No preaching except in the church. Tracts left fortnightly at all the houses, and frequent visits by the missionary. Formerly a cottage-lecture was regularly delivered in one of these parishes; and it is hoped that before long an opening will occur for the renewal of this exercise, which, so long as it continued, was felt by many to be very profit able. Upper and Lower Swill: 400 inhabitants, generally very ignorant, and, there is reason to fear, very depraved also. A short extract from the journal of your missionary may serve to illustrate this statement. "Saw," he says, "an aged woman lately recovered from illness; asked her whether during her illness she had reflected seriously on her state before God." She replied, "I am no scholar; I pray, and do all I can." I spoke of the necessity of a change of heart. "I felt," she said, one day such a pain at my heart, that I could scarcely contain myself.' "Do you think," I inquired, "that the change of which I have been speaking occurred then?" She replied, "Yes." I endeavoured to show her that it is a spiritual change wrought by the Holy Spirit, and is known by its effects. Her mind appeared to be lamentably dark. These villages are regularly visited with tracts by your missionary, who, but with few exceptions, finds easy access to the cottages. Aston Blank and Notgrove contain about 500 inhabitants. The gospel has been occa sionally preached in both these villages for years, and there are several residing there of whom there is reason to hope that they know the grace of God in truth; a large number, however, remain in ignorance and sin. Vigorous measures have been adopted since the formation of this Auxiliary for the instruction of the young in Aston, many of whom it was found had grown nearly to maturity without receiving the first elements of learning. In the first instance, the Sunday school was taught in the cottage in which it had been customary to preach; this, however, was soon found to be too small for the purposes of the school. A schoolroom has since been fitted up, which serves also as a chapel, and here about fifty children receive instruction every Lord's day. There are also two or three public services every week, the attendance on which is very good. Some of those means which sufficiently indicate the prevalence of a spirit of intolerance, and which are but too frequently resorted to in agricultural districts for the purpose of deterring the poor from hearing the gospel, and their children from receiving instruction at the meeting-house, have been tried here. Prior to the commencement of the Sunday school in connexion with your Auxiliary, no other existed in the village, and no intimations had been given of any intention on the part of the " dominant sect' to commence one. So soon, however, as your missionary had commenced his operations, another school was begun in connexion with the established church, and strenuous exertions were made, both by threats and promises, to induce the parents to send their children. Some few were removed from the chapel to the church school, in consequence of these efforts. A part of those who were thus removed have returned, and at the present period the attendance at your school is nearly, if not quite as good as it has been at any time since its commencement. The children are for the most part very orderly in their behaviour, and seem to appreciate the privileges they enjoy. In proof that the instruction is valued, it may be mentioned that since the commencement of the Sunday school, many children have obtained admission to the British school at Bour ton, and walk thither daily, a distance of about three miles. Haselton population, 120. The missionary has preached here occasionally, but as the house, which is licensed, is in the possession of the Plymouth brethren, who have offered some objections to his continuance, he has been obliged to desist. Turk's Dean: 250 inhabitants. The Wesleyans sometimes preach in this village, but not regularly; and as the people appear very anxious to receive the visits of your missionary, he has established a Loan Tract Circulation has since devolved in a great measure on your there, and occasionally preaches. committee. Brockhampton. This has long been a station in connexion with Cheltenham. Your missionary reports that he finds a few consistent, with many inconsistent, professors of religion here. An influence exists which seems to counteract, to a great degree, the benefit of any efforts which are being made for the moral and spiritual advantage of the population. Nevertheless he hopes that his efforts and those of his coadjutors in this part of the field are not altogether in vain in the Lord. The attendance upon the preaching has somewhat improved of late, and some who, though professors of the gospel, had abstained from the public means, have resumed their attend ance. Clapton-on-the-Hill contains a population of 120 persons. Here tracts are regularly distributed and the gospel preached. The attendance is very encouraging, many of the hearers come from a considerable distance, and listen with marked attention to the word preached. name. Sherborne population, 800. This village is the property of the nobleman of the same No opportunity exists of preaching the gospel here; but several from this village, within the last two years, have been united to the church at Bourton, and it is hoped are as lights in a dark place, and these with others frequently attend the preaching at Clapton, and several pleasing instances of conversion have occurred, while some others seem still to be anxiously inquiring. Many tracts are circulated here. Windrush.-This village is contiguous to Sherborne, and the larger part of it is the property of the same nobleman. Your missionary has been much encouraged by his visits to this place, from the interest which the people discover in the tracts, and the ready and even grateful manner in which they listen to his admonitions and instructions. Several have expressed a wish to have preaching in the village, and your missionary is not without hope that a door will be opened for that purpose here. For some months, the pulpit was gratuitously supplied by neighbouring ministers, but as it was impossible that this plan should long continue, your committee were induced to seek after a more permanent supply. They were directed, they trust, by the Head of the church to Mr. Acock, who was for many years the much-esteemed pastor of the church at Naunton, but subsequently, for a short period, of the church at Shipston on Stour. After serious deliberation, Mr. A. was led to accede to the invitation of your committee, and has entered upon his labours at Stow, under what appears to your committee to be somewhat favourable circumstances. The attendance on the ministry of this brother your committee rejoice to learn is good, and the unhappy spirit referred to above, appears to be subsiding. Besides supplying the chapel at Stow, Mr. Acock preaches in the villages of Donnington and Maugersbury. Means are being adopted by Mr. A. which it is hoped may ultimately lead to the formation of a new church in Stow, and your committee confidently hope that by the divine blessing on the labours of your agent there, the cause at Stow may at no very distant period, become prosperous and influential. At Winchcombe, Mr. Dunn enjoys some token of the divine blessing upon his labours. The attendance upon the public worship during the sabbath afternoons and evenings especially, is encouraging. The schools keep up, and twelve have put on Christ by a public profession during the past year. From the preceding statement it will be seen that the seed has been scattered over a wide surface, and that there is every reason to conclude that much more good has been done than has yet openly appeared. Your committee, therefore, affectionately and earnestly call upon those who are anxious for the salvation of their fellow-men, to give this auxiliary all possible aid in prosecuting its great and important objects. Great effort is necessary, not only that it may continue its present labours, but that it may extend the sphere of its operations, and thus they hope and trust that while one plants and another waters, God will give the increase. In addition to the above-named places which are under the regular visitation of your missionary, your auxiliary affords assistance to the interests at Stow and Winchcombe. The former town contains a population of 2000 persons. In addition to the established church there are small baptist and Wesleyan chapels; the baptist interest is of considerable antiquity, but it has never been large, and of late has been in a low and decidedly declining condition. At the com- As soon as things appeared in a progressive mencement of the present year, owing to the state in Windsor, our thoughts were directed prevalence of a party spirit, the church came to the villages around. One about a mile to a resolution to dissolve their union as a distant, called Spittal, where the Horsechurch, and the management of the interest guards are quartered, appeared the most des In a communication from our esteemed brother, Mr. LILLYCROP, of Windsor, the following narrative is given, which will interest and encourage many of our readers : titute, being without church, chapel, or remaining burden it would enable me to school. There we opened a room for a branch remain more steadily at my post. A few weeks after the conclusion of Mr. PULSFORD'S labours at Hereford, the committee received a report of them from a respected correspondent, the most important parts of which are given in the following extracts: 66 Sunday-school, and reading. Soon after this, one of the children was taken ill and died; I called to see the parents and family. The father was one of her Majesty's body-guards, but an enemy of all righteousness; an infidel in principle, who contended strongly for such men and doctrines as those of Paine and Owen, After much argumentation and many visits, he promised to read his bible. He did so, and soon became so delighted with its interesting truths, and the wonderful things In April, when our friend arrived, the contained therein, that when his little daughter cause was so much depressed that I utterly was asked by her teacher: "Have you a despaired of any ultimate good resulting from bible?" "Yes, ma'am,' was the reply. his visit. However, I have seen great "Who reads it?" 66 'My father, ma'am." things done, whereof I am glad ;" and while "When does he read it?" "Morning and I anxiously look forward to the future, yet I evening; but then," said she," he is reading cannot think that God who has brought us it all the day long when he is at home!" This thus far will desert us. My hope is that ere led to a further inquiry, viz.; "Does he do long a suitable pastor for the church will be any thing else?" "Yes, ma'am." "What?" secured, who will continue to collect the "He prays." This was good news from the ripening fruits of our brother's labours here, lips of his own child. I believe he really and who will watch over those who have prayed under the Spirit's teaching, for he already entered the Saviour's fold in this became a most anxious hearer at chapel, and place. one that searched deeply in the mines of revelation for the knowledge of God and the pearl of great price; which he soon found to the joy and rejoicing of his soul. About six months after he sought fellowship with the church, but like Ananias with Saul of Tarsus, we were still afraid of him; but when he pressed the subject again and again, saying, "Christ has received me, and you ought," we could no longer resist his importunity; but being desirous of knowing the effect of religion on his conduct in the army, application was made to his corporal-major, who bore such evidence to his external reformation, as proved that the lion had become a lamb, the drunkard a sober man, and the enemy of truth a follower of Jesus. He was baptized and united to the church, and I believe him to be a consistent Christian. We have three of the Queen's guards members of the church. Such is one case connected with the effort to introduce the gospel into the village of Spittal, which will more than compensate for all the labour and expense bestowed thereon. The Lord has been pleased to enable us to pay off £1200 of the chapel debt, besides the interest on the money, &c., &c.; a circumstance which often caused the song to rise at our church meetings, of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." But there still remains a debt of £500, which presses heavily on the energies of the people. I have had to travel some hundreds of miles to reduce the sum to its present amount; in those towns I have received much kindness from the friends of the Redeemer, but my absence from home so frequently has tended greatly to impede the progress of the cause. Could we remove the During Mr. Pulsford's visit our people have been aroused from the death-like lethargy which surrounded us on all hands, and we hope a powerful stimulus has been given to the piety of those who were previously members of the church. A spirit of fervent prayerfulness has been awakened amongst us, and in answer to our supplications there has been a large out-pouring of the Holy Spirit's influences, and we have been gratified to see many souls come to us with brokenness of heart, anxiously asking, "What must I do to be saved?" It has been truly delightful to see the work of grace, and to trace its subduing and hallowing influence upon the hearts and conduct of those whom it has reached. We have taken all the care possible in the admission of members to the church; still, notwithstanding this, eighty have been added, nor have we yet had any reason to regret that they have been admitted. We have many inquirers, who are more or less under the influence of religious impressions, from among whom we are from time to time making additional increase to the church. The We all of us feel towards Mr. Pulsford the strongest personal attachment which was strikingly evinced last week, when he was in Hereford, after his return from Ledbury. We begged him once more to meet his friends, and give us a parting exhortation. largest room in the city was secured, where five hundred persons took tea with him, and I believe hundreds more were shut out for want of room, who would gladly have paid this tribute of regard and esteem. He will long live in the best affections of our hearts, and our prayers shall ascend to the throne of God that he may be permitted for many years to labour for souls in the same spirit, and with | one hundred pounds; and paid it is! In a greater success than at Hereford. few months we shall have a sum in hand to apply to the next hundred. Should we be spared another year or two, I hope the monster will be crushed, or so enfeebled that no future danger need be apprehended. As to the means he employs I must think them fully borne out by scripture precedent, as far as my humble judgment goes. Before he came I had heard much of the "excitement," ," "enthusiasm," "reign of terror," &c., &c,, which marked the track of revivalists, and I was sufficiently sceptical as to the policy Respecting the debt at South Molton, and propriety of such efforts; but after a long Devonshire, Mr. TEALL, in an interesting and careful observation of all that has been communication, says:— done, I must say that these feelings have given way to the most hearty concurrence in all that has been done, and my prayer to God is that he would raise up a thousand such men to rouse those that are at ease in Zion to a sense of their obligations to save a dying world. I am pleased to be able to inform you that by our combined exertions, myself abroad and the people at home, we have raised since Christmas last £200 towards our chapel debt. This you will say is doing nobly. But, beloved sir, we have still more than £400 to remove, and this we are anxious to raise by Christmas, 1846. I have applied to and also for the loan of £100 from the late the "Building Fund" in London for a grant, Dr. Newman's bequest. In a note just received from a brother of considerable experience, who is at present supplying at Hereford, we have the following spontaneous testimony :— The attendance is exceedingly good. The people appear teachable. They are Mr. WHITLOCK sends similar cheering trying to lessen the debt on their chapel, intelligence from Belton, Rutlandand have raised the money for a gallery, shire:which will be finished before next Sunday. There is no doubt at all that the cause would be a self-supporting one, if a diligent and suitable pastor were at once settled here. I have conversed with some of the converts whom brother Pulsford was instrumental in turning from extreme wickedness to God, and have been much delighted with the simplicity and firmness which they manifest. In several of our stations vigorous measures are being adopted to reduce the amount of the chapel debts. A few weeks ago the secretary visited Dorchester, to assist Mr. Sincox in encouraging his friends there to make an effort. Mr. SINCOX gives the following account of the result: You will be pleased to learn that our meeting in relation to the debt succeeded very well. We have obtained enough to pay off The tea Dr. Cox very kindly complied with our request, and preached us a beautiful and useful sermon in the afternoon. went off well; the meeting in the evening was well attended and interesting. The influence of the services altogether was of a very favourable character. All parties were much gratified with the Dr.'s visit. The anniversary was successful beyond our expectation. A friend sent us £10, which with all other proceeds makes our receipts for the year just closed, £43 12s. 6d. Above £20 of this will be required to pay off some small sums, for which we have paid no interest; but we intend to pay off £25 of the last £100, for which we pay interest, thereby reducing the debt on the chapel, to £75. This is pleasing, and shows that the God of all grace blesses our efforts. I look forward with much pleasure to the time when we shall be able say, The debt is discharged, the chapel is free-is our own. |