for that object. It would be desirable that all such associations should make a return every fifth or every seventh year to the Congregational Union, or to the Board of the Home Missionary Society, in order to publication, that each may see what is doing by the rest for the common cause, and thereby be instructed, corrected, or encouraged, according to circumstances. It is in moral as in physical nature; nothing conduces so much to healthful vegetation as light. In the table here given it will be seen at a glance what the London churches are about. This is a mirror in which the churches themselves may look with advantage to the cause of benighted counties. A number of City churches, both numerous and able, if not opulent,— churches which almost always appear to advantage in everything else,-will see that, after all they have done, there is still room for improvement in their position on the roll of Home contribution. But even as matters now stand, the country churches will observe that those of the Metropolis contribute more than one-third of the entire revenue. The state of things with regard to Ireland is, as it has always been, far from satisfactory. It will appear, however, that during the last two years the financial aspect of the matter has greatly improved. The total receipts for 1846 are nearly equal to those of 1830, which, considering the various obstacles that have arisen, is matter for hearty congratulation. Into the vexed question between the Irish Congregational Union and the Irish Evangelical Society this is not the place to enter; but this is a matter which the British churches ought to bring to a speedy issue. The existence of two societies for the same object, both appealing in succession for support to the same churches, is, on various grounds, most seriously objectionable. It is to be hoped that the matter will be gone about in a right spirit, and conducted to a proper issue. cestershire. Warwickshire, South Staffordshire, and Wor Wilts and East Somerset Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding 1,786 7 6 417 12 7 393 8 2 93 5 4 1,315 18 8 2,442 17 2 5 9 6 385 10 1 2,667 19 4 Total £38,595 10 6 3,214 5 0 327 2 2 675 16 11 294 2 11 2,585 13 6 : £22,461 16 0 £31,935 15 4 has so long and so generally enjoyed. Its integrity has ever been without spot, and the wisdom of its administration, under the circumstances, all that could reasonably have been expected. At the outset all was new and strange, and every step was encompassed with difficulties. The arrangements proposed in the way of improvement are few, but of great importance. The Annual Representative Meeting is the chief, and merits the most emphatic approbation. It is not merely a judicious act of homage to a great principle, which cannot too speedily pervade all nations, but, practically, the introduction of a bona fide representation. It will indeed add nothing to the rectitude of the administration, and perhaps not much to its efficiency; but it will greatly "strengthen the bonds of confidence and affection" between the Directors and the churches; it will put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and be attended with other collateral advantages. It will be an entirely unmixed good to the cause, and a source of greatly increased comfort to the Directors and officers. The appointment of district agents, too, is one of great moment, and a wider diffusion of missionary intelligence is exceedingly to be desired. Upon the whole, the practical suggestions are such as can hardly fail to commend themselves to the judgments of the churches, and redound to the glory of Christ among Heathen Nations. This table indicates rapid progress in the Metropolis, and in some of the counties-progress which nothing can explain but the growth of the spirit of Missions. The position of the Metropolitan churches deserves particular attention; they have greatly surpassed those even of the principal counties, although some of the latter have more than doubled their contribution. It will be seen that, as compared with 1830, the Anniversary collections of 1844 sunk from £1,474 to £642, while the regular revenue rose from £4,236 to £10,136. This must be considered a very pleasing fact, strongly tending to show that the cause is becoming yearly less dependent on the doubtful impulse of the passing hour, and resting more and more on Christian principle. Is it too much to hope that the Society will advance in a like ratio for the next fourteen years? What is to hinder such advancement? Is it not most desirable? Is it not certainly possible? May not the recent arrangements of the Directors be reasonably expected very materially to contribute to this result? The report of the Select Committee, made by Mr. Baines, will doubtless be read with universal satisfaction. It is most gratifying to reflect that, after a thorough scrutiny of the proceedings of the Society by such a body of gentlemen, they have not reported a single flaw. The Direction, from the first hour, has well merited the confidence it Essays, Extracts, and Correspondence. AN APPEAL TO YOUNG MEN, ON BEHALF OF INDIA AND CHINA. For the Christian Witness. Ir has been once and again said, in reply to applications for increased aid in missionary operations in China and the East, that there is not only a deficiency in pecuniary resources, but that suitable and fitting men were wanting; that there was not even a sufficient number of wellqualified ministers to fill all the pulpits at home; that the Dissenting colleges had scarcely any of them their full number of students; and that some were greatly beneath their number, and amongst these scarcely any who were preparing for missionary labour. And why is this? Oh! ye young men, members of our Christian churches, ye members of literary and scientific societies, when ye meet to solve problems in science and in art, solve this. The battles on the banks of the Sutlej have thinned the ranks of British soldiers in India; but think you they will remain long so thinned? Will the families weeping over the slain deter others from seeking appointments for their sons in the Indian army? Will the fate of those who have fallen, sword in hand, deter young men from following them? Nay, is there not many a youth whose heart beats high as he puts on for the first time the insignia of military order? and is he not ready to wish the winds to waft him a little quicker to the land of sunny skies, that he may there join the ranks of the brave? If, then, there are so many ready to fill up the ranks under the British flag, say, how is it that the ranks are thinned in Immanuel's army, and no high ambition is manifested to fill them up? Williams has been crowned with the laurels of victory; Yates has ceased to wield the pen of the translator; Knibb, who fought many a hard battle that the slave might be free, has finished his course, and exclaimed, "O death! where is thy victory?" John Reid has sickened and died under the heat and burden of the day-his sun has set at noon; and many a weakened soldier in the missionary band turns with a sickening and languid eye and an aching heart as he looks at the little flock he is leaving behind as sheep without a shepherd. But leave them he must; to stop he knows would be certain death; to leave them he knows not how. And are there none who are willing this day to consecrate themselves unto the Lord? I know it may be said there are many willing, but not qualified; but may it not be said with equal truth there are many qualified, but not willing? And why not willing? Do you think of the pain of leaving so many loved ones behind? Ay, well I know that pain, for I have felt it. And think you the young cadet feels not the same? But he looks at the promotion in the distance; he thinks of the victories he may win, of the laurels that may encircle his brow; and, urged on by this, he brushes from his manly cheek the tear that will fall, as he says farewell to father and to mother, to sister and to brother. But he hears no such sound as this: "I say unto you, No man shall forsake father, or mother, or sister, or brother, or home, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting." to honour, is it less an honour to rescue captives from Satan, in the very heart of his dominions, than to subdue a foreign foe? Does it show less of patriotism to plant the banner of the cross where Satan's seat is, than to hoist the British flag on the plains of the Punjaub? Is the great Captain of our salvation-I stop the comparison, it will not bear to be carried out; the fading laurel of human applause and the crown of glory which fadeth not away must not be named together. As I am aware there is another objection which would arise in the mind of an affectionate son. You may say, "I am willing to give up the comforts and endearments of home myself, and to contend with all the difficulties that, as a missionary, may come across my path; but my father and my mother, how could they give me up? it would be a trial I cannot expect them to bear." Ay, full well I know it would be a great sacrifice for them to make; but have you ever asked them if they are willing, first asking God to make them so? I am a mother, and love my boys as dearly as a mother ought, perhaps too much; but knowing what I do of missionary work, after nearly nine years' experience of it, and their father, too, who has had no small share of missionary toil, yet both can say, We ask no higher honour for our sons than that to them should "this grace be given, that they should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Fathers and mothers who seek civil or military appointments for their sons love them, and many a heart aches and many a tear falls at parting-nevertheless they go; and surely the fathers and mothers in Israel will not be less willing to give up their sons for the glory of God and the benefit of more than 400,000,000 of immortal beings devoted to idolatry, but open to Christian instruction. What, then, is to hinder high-minded, warmhearted, enterprising young men from saying, "Here, Lord, am I; send me?" Oh! my dear young friends, let me beseech you, take this matter to heart; take it to your closet, think over it, pray over it, resolve over it. Think not for one moment I would urge any unqualified man to enter the missionary field. Oh! no; rather let it remain unoccupied than unfitted men be there. But why not be fitted? Natural talent is not wanting; education is not wanting; a spirit of enterprise is not wanting; and say not the Spirit of God is wanting, for here, surely, we may say, "If we have not, it is because we ask not." "He will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. I might urge the claims of the heathen; I might tell you of young men, many of whom now are thirsting for knowledge which runs from purer springs than the puranahs and shasters of the Hindoos. I might tell you of fathers who, though they would tell you their daughters could not learn, would be proud for their sons to be taught by an Englishman. I might tell you of wives and mothers, unable longer to bear the miseries heaped upon them, putting an end to a life spent in degradation and turmoil. I might tell you of widows of six or seven years of age doomed to a life of shame and contempt; of all these I might speak, for I have seen them all. But I would rather point you to Him "whom not having seen you love," but who, in so vast a part of this wide earth, is still unknown. The story of his great love remains to be told to millions. As yet he has not received "the heathen for his inheritance," but Satan, the arch-foe of God and man, sits on his throne, and with hellish delight exclaims, "We are legion still." He whose right it is to possess the kingdom has bid you go and preach the gospel to every creature. Surely we need in these "And thou, dear Jesus, thou shalt wear "Who is on the Lord's side, who?" RELIGION IN NEWFOUNDLAND. SIR, I have been about eighteen months in this colony; and, as Divine Providence does not seem to promise a long course for me, I am anxious that our churches in England should know something of the religious state of this land, and especially of the existence, condition, and proceedings of a sister church at Saint John's. Distant and isolated churches, like this, must always suffer great disadvantages, because shut out from the friendly oversight, intercourse, and sympathy of Christians at home; but, unless their circumstances and labours are made known, they can never receive the attention and aid which they require. When a pastor in Derbyshire, I knew but little of this colony, and of the congregation to which I now minister; and I am persuaded that there prevails, among the people of Great Britain generally, great ignorance in reference to the real state of Newfoundland. This colony contains an area of thirtysix thousand square miles, and is nearly as large as England. It is full of beautiful bays and harbours, and most favourably situated for extensive commerce. Its chief exports are fish and oil; but they already equal, in value, those of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island put together. Its population, in round numbers, is ninety-seven thousand souls, scattered along the coasts. The average increase of the population, for the last nine years has been more than thirty per cent., while in some dis tricts it has exceeded sixty. The immigration is chiefly from Ireland; and hence nearly one-half of the population are Roman Catholics, though the first colonists were from the west of England. Newfoundland has a Catholic bishop, with twenty-two priests; a bishop of the Church of England, with twenty-five clergymen; fourteen ministers in connection with the Wesleyan Missionary Society; and a Presbyterian congregation, with a minister at Saint John's, in communion with the Church of Scotland. But there are large districts of the colony, with numerous small settlements, altogether destitute of religious ordinances; and, with present means, it is impossible to meet the destitution, on account of the distance and scattered state of the population. The city of Saint John's contains twenty-one thousand inhabitants. The Catholics have here a large chapel, while they are building a magnificent stone cathedral: there are two Episcopalian places of worship, one Wesleyan, and one Presbyterian. their contributions, or more regular in their attendance on the ministrations of the sanctuary; but it must also be said, that their means of usefulness can scarcely be exceeded by those of any congregation of equal numbers in any country. It has always, however, been a matter of grief to me, that such a people should be so separated from sister churches, and should receive so little attention or cooperation from them; for whatever their own ability and liberality may be, they must be comparatively inefficient, when labouring single-handed, in this large and remote island. I have always rejoiced in the useful operations of the Colonial Missionary Society abroad, and its acceptance and success among the churches at home, and have ever read, with interest, the communications of brethren, labouring in connection with that Society, as they have been published; but I feel that, while other colonies have their advocates, and are receiving large benefits from the British churches, in sympathy, in prayers, and in contributions of money and of ministers, Newfoundland, the most loyal and British, in its spirit, of all your colonial possessions-has none to plead its wants and claims, receives no aid, and is never mentioned even, as an English colony, in your denominational literature. This is neither fair nor wise. Ireland pours its people and its Popery into Newfoundland; and Puseyism sets no little value upon it. It is neglected only by English Nonconformists. The Congregational Church at Saint John's was founded in the year 1775, by Mr. John Jones, then an officer of artillery. He laboured in the ministry here for twenty-one years, and died in 1806, as you will see in the Evangelical Magazine for that year. Since his time, there have been many ministers in succession; and the last, the Rev. D. S. Ward, died in August, 1843, after an honourable pastorate of nineteen years. At his lamented death, the congregation was dispersed, and the place of worship needed extensive repairs, which it received after my arrival; and it was reopened toward the close of 1844. Our congregations are good: the church has received several additions, and numbers on its register eighty-eight members, with six deacons; the sabbath-school prospers; several Bible and other classes are well attended; and there is a fair prospect of a far larger sanctuary being erected, so as to insure still greater usefulness. Our present house, though very comfortable, is too small for the present state of the colony, and of the congregation; and our people have the means and the heart to accomplish greater things in connection with the cause of Christ in this land. The experience of eighteen months enables me to state that no people can well be kinder to their pastor, more ready to co-operate with him in every good work, more liberal in pastor, and his work has already been I left my good people in Derbyshire, and came hither, not simply as invited, to be the minister of the church in Saint John's, but also to do the work of a missionary, and I have laboured, according to the ability and grace given me, for the spiritual good of our fellow subjects here. But, while we have been as much blessed by God, perhaps, as our brother colonists in other parts, and feel humbly and devoutly thankful, we desire to have also a small share in the kind remembrance, the prayers, and the liberality of sister churches in Great Britain. I seek nothing for Saint John's, for my friends are able and willing to do more than meet their own wants; but I wish to receive little to add to their surplus means, that we may support other ministers in this land, and do our part towards supplying its religious destitution. And such a measure would also be beneficial to the church here; for when anything ailed its |