cieties-denominational statistics-better provision for inadequately sustained pastors in both their active and their declining years-the Wycliffe Society-general education. These and other related subjects connected with either the internal prosperity or general usefulness of the denomination, will require the wisest counsels of the brethren present at these meetings.

The evenings of these three days will be occu. pied by the sermon on the Tuesday, the British Mission public meeting on the Wednesday, and the Union public meeting on the Thursday.

On the following Lord's day it is hoped that sermons for the annual British Mission Collections will be preached in the pulpits of our brethren in Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse, and of other towns in the surrounding district.

Here then is presented a series of engagements of an importance and interest sufficient to claim from every brother able to be present his best thoughts, and prayers, and efforts for securing wise counsels and vigorous action in respect of them. No observer can doubt that in our day there is a great work to be done in the cause of truth, liberty, and salvation. As little can any thoughtful Congregationalist question that, to the religious body with which he stands connected, Providence has assigned a no unimportant share in the general contemporary movement towards a happier future for the church and the world. Nor can any friend of our Union hesitate to assign to its proceedings a great and salutary influence on the welfare and efficiency of the denomination at large. Such a combination of the Independent churches, such counsels and proceedings as it adopts, such advantages for mutual consent and encouragement as it provides, are the want, and, being provided, the blessing of our body in these times. The meetings of the Union, both vernal and autumnal, have hitherto been marked with many tokens of the Divine favour, and have been productive of important benefits still felt, and of happy recollections still cherished. It needs but the same spirit of devotion, harmony, and zeal, to render the approaching assembly fully equal to those that have preceded, and to make the Eighth Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales worthy to be numbered with the foregoing seven.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Directors are looking forward with great anxiety to the simultaneous collections for British Missions to be made on the last sabbath of next month. Their receipts since the annual meeting in May have been very small, which circumstance, regarded in connection with the excess of expenditure over the income of the

Society last year, awakens the deepest solicitude in their minds. The prosperity of the Society is in jeopardy. Unless the friends of the Institution come forward to its aid, there must be a considerable diminution of its efforts. Stations must be given up, and the number of missionaries must be decreased. Will the wealthy members of our churches allow this, especially when they are informed that an evident blessing is attending the labours of the agents, and an earnest appeal is made from many quarters for additional help? The Directors are practising the greatest economy possible in the administration of the funds; but with all their endeavours the deficiency of last year will be repeated this, unless strenuous efforts are made with promptitude and perseverance. The following extracts from the journals of the agents will enable the readers of the WITNESS to judge of the labours of the respected brethren who, with unwearied diligence and great self-denial, are doing the work of evangelists.

Open-air Preaching.

-the

"I preached again in the open air at week before last, and had a numerous and attentive congregation. Brother- of - followed my example last week, and had a better one still. He and brother of -, are going

in turn the alternate week that I am not there. We hope that this regular occupancy of the post will prove conducive of much good. At last week I held also an open-air service, which was attended by from thirty to forty persons, although the Puseyite clergyman was at the same time holding his usual daily evening service, at which, I suppose, not more than eight were present. The people were very attentive, and expressed great thankfulness on my promising to go there again."

Encouraging Prospects.

"Instant in season and out of season' should be the motto of every Christian, especially of every minister and every home missionary who would meet the claims of his station. Many and diversified are his engagements, which are often delightful to himself and beneficial to others. On this station your agent has still to contend against false doctrine and the blind zeal of those whose influence impedes the success of his efforts to increase the number of hearers and members. It is cheering, amidst all these difficulties, to enjoy the sympathy of the Directors, and, through them, the support of the Christian public. Added to these advantages, the confidence of his church and congregations, with their many proofs of attachment to his character and services, greatly mitigate the distress of mind which would be otherwise suffered.

"In one of our villages there are several anxious inquirers, who, by their attendance on the means of grace, and the great change witnessed in their general conduct, have excited the astonishment of their fellow-villagers. There is reason to believe that they will become eminent Christians, should they be preserved from the errors by which they are surrounded. They are objects of anxious solicitude on the part of your agent, who, aware of what has been done by proselyting parties in such cases, would not express himself with too much confidence. Yet with all due caution, he indulges the hope that in a future journal he shall have to report that

which will be more animating respecting these interesting characters.

"Yesterday we held the annual meeting of our sabbath and day-school at C, when the children were treated with tea and cake. As the rain descended in torrents, they were prevented passing through the village in procession, on which account we did not, as on former occasions, receive the congratulations of the admiring hundreds, who have invariably expressed their joy at the means employed by us for the instruction of the rising generation. One circumstance is interesting, which is, that with the exception of Mrs. S- and another member of the church, a man who was converted about three years since, all the teachers were once scholars in the same school. The whole of the engagements of the day were of a most encouraging character, and are reflected upon with gratitude to God, and a sense of obligation to the Home Missionary Society."

Sabbath-School Success.

"During the past month I have attended several Sunday-school anniversaries belonging to the Wesleyans. These meetings are far more numerously attended than any other in this neighbourhood. No wake or club feast during the year excites half so much interest as the anniversary of a Sunday-school. Nearly all classes, except the State clergy, manifest equal sympathy in the labours of the Sundayschool teachers, and hence in villages containing a population of from 300 to 500 souls, we have 200, 300, 400, and even 500 taking tea together. Nothing I ever saw equals the examinations of the children; the pieces they recite, the hymns they sing, and the progress they exhibit in scriptural truth, would perfectly astonish those who have never had the privilege to witness such joyful scenes. The patient and persevering labours of the teachers, and the marked success attending their efforts in the advancement of the children's minds, in their knowledge of the simple truth of the gospel, I regard as a pledge on the part of Divine Providence, that this district, overrun as it is with Puseyite clergymen, and deluged with Puseyite tracts, is not to be delivered over to the man of sin. When the enemy would come in as a flood, by Sunday-schools, and kindred instrumentality, Almighty God is lifting up a standard against him."

An Interesting Fact.

"I have recently been called to weep with those who weep. The beloved family of one of our deacons have been called to mingle their tears over the grave of a child, and a brother. The deceased was a youth of some intellectual promise, and whose prospects in life were of a pleasing character. God, however, in his inscrutible Providence, hath so ordered, that, instead of his entering upon the active scenes of life, he has been called to enter, as we believe, the rest reserved for the people of God. Our young friend was naturally retiring in his habits, and the effect of his long and debilitating illness increased his backwardness. It was, however, evident that his shyness in speaking about personal religion, was chiefly from fear lest he should say too much, and thus convey a false impression with respect to his real character and experience as a Christian. Observations

would sometimes escape from him when conversing with his beloved parents, which indicated that a gracious change had been going on in his heart for some time previous to his affliction. On one occasion he expressed his regret that he did not feel himself able to speak about his future prospects; but he added a hope that God would before long enable him to leave a satisfactory testimony for the comfort of his dear parents. His desire in this matter was in due time realized. A few days before his departure I held lengthened conversations with him, in which he was enabled to open his mind to me with considerable freedom. I found his views clear and decided concerning the way of salvation by a Divine Mediator. There was, it is true, an absence of strong rapturous feelings in the prospect of death; but there was, what I take to be more satisfactory under such circumstances, a settled tranquillity, an enlightened apprehension of God's testimony concerning his Son, and freedom from anxious uncertainty about the future. In this calm and quiet state of mind, he breathed out his spirit in the presence of his sorrowing family, affectionately exchanging farewells with them as he entered into the dark shadow of the valley of death. I preached a sermon on the occasion of his decease, which seems to have been attended with God's blessing. One of my hearers, who had been in a serious state of mind previously, has, since hearing the sermon, offered himself for Christian fellowship. The church has received him as a Christian brother, and yesterday he sat down at the table for the first time."

The Good Soldier.

"We have lost by death one of our few members during the present month; and laid his body in our burying-ground. He was born in 1777, at in this parish. He enlisted in the 1st Dragoon Guards when twenty-one years of age; and was discharged in 1813 with fifteen years' service and a pension. Some few years after, he came back to his native neighbourhood, and entered into business as a shopkeeper. Curiosity led him one Lord's-day to attend the chapel here, to see for himself what they did there. He had attended church when a soldier and since, but never before a chapel. He approved all he saw and heard, but he could not do this and approve himself too. He found that, though before unconscious of the fact, he had been all his lifetime on a battle-field and fighting on the wrong side. After some struggles he resolved to change sides, and enlist a second time, which he did into the service of the King of kings. Six years saw him constantly at muster, conducting himself as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, when it pleased his commander to lay him on a bed of affliction, till he called him to himself,-a space of more than twelve years. It was during the latter part of this time I became acquainted with him: I found him patient under his affliction, meekly resigned to his Father's will,-full of gratitude that God had provided for his wants before laying him aside from business; but most especially that he had led him to Jesus Christ by inducing him to attend our chapel while in health and strength. He enjoyed the presence of God, and called to mind the truths he had heard in the sanctuary; he manifested at all times a deep concern for the

prosperity of the cause of Christ; more especially among his neighbours. None visited him but he urged them to attend on the worship of God if he knew they neglected it, or encouraged them to continue it if they practised it. He remembered our collections, and sent the contributions he could not take. His heart was open to every call for the cause of God, and without solicitation he contributed to the extent of his ability. The last three weeks of his life he was in a state of great langour and much pain. He remarked to me, on my last visit, 'a dying bed was not the place for repentance.' He wished his neighbours could have the benefit of his late experience, then he thought they would seek God at once. His last end was peace. At his funeral I gave to each of his relatives, bearers, &c, a copy of the tract entitled "The Roll-call; How will you answer it?" and improved his death on the following Lord'sday, from 2 Tim. ii. 3, 'A good soldier of Jesus Christ.' He was one of the early fruits of Home Mission labour, and has been gathered in, after eighteen years of well-sustained profession."

Hope in Death.

"I may mention an instance of the triumph of grace over the depraved heart, which has lately come under my observation, in the case of a young man who has died of consumption at the interesting age of twenty-three years. He had long been the object of much solicitude and prayer on the part of pious relatives, and other Christian friends, but he perseveringly resisted all their warnings and tender expostulations, and exhibited symptoms which indicated that his mind was tinctured with the poison of infidelity. He maintained a character blameless in the sight of man, and attended the preaching of the gospel on the sabbath with tolerable regularity. He remained, however, a stranger to God, and the experience of gospel truth. Under the means of grace his mind seemed occasionally to be wrought upon, and sometimes he spoke as if he believed that the truths advanced had been intended for him. Still he succeeded in stifling conviction, and in banishing all thoughts of God and eternal things from his mind. Young in years, buoyant in hope, and eagerly aspiring after what Providence seemed pleased to deny, he was estranged from God. Symptoms of consumption appeared in him, which gradually undermined his constitution; and while it appeared evident to all around that he was fast hasting to his end, he continued to cling to the hope of life. I frequently visited him, and presented to his mind those allimportant truths which are connected with the soul's present and eternal well being. These subjects, however, for awhile seemed unwelcome. He removed for a time into another part of the country in the hope of receiving benefit from a change of air. He speedily returned much weaker. I was sent for, and from that time till his death I visited him almost daily. On the first of these visits, while speaking to him of the soul-saving efficacy of the blood of Christ, and the way of justification by faith, his countenance suddenly brightened up, he extended his feeble arm as he sat upon the side of the bed, and, grasping my hand, said, 'Now I see what I never saw before, now I understand that passage, "This is a faithful say

ing, and worthy of all acceptation, &c., that Christ came into the world to save sinners." Now I see that the atonement which I have so long slighted is the only true foundation !' From that time till his death he maintained an unceasing reliance on Christ's finished work. So evident was the change manifested in him, that even the careless were constrained to acknowledge it. His countenance, conversation, and the very mental wanderings of expiring nature, all partook of the change which had passed within. On the last sabbath previously to his death he was much engaged in singing when his strength would permit. On feeling his weakness, he said, 'I shall soon be able to sing more sweet, and more loud, and Christ shall be the song.' He died on the following Tuesday. His death was improved on the sabbath. May the Lord bless the truth advanced for the salvation of souls!"

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THE Committee would place before their friends the circumstances of the Society, in the hope that the British churches, on whose liberality the existence of the institution depends, will sympathize with the anxieties they feel, and alleviate them by prompt and generous assistance. By appropriating the remaining portion of stock they possessed, and by the increased amount of contributions received during the past year 1845-6, they closed their labours with an almost even balance-sheet. This pleasing circumstance had not occurred for several years. The satisfaction, however, which this afforded was abated by the remembrance that unless the regular income of the Society should be considerably augmented, the current year would be attended with the most perplexing embarrassments. They clung to the hope that the wealthy members of our churches, especially, would awake to the importance of Ireland as a most promising field of missionary enterprise; and that they would furnish the Committee with the means not only of sustaining their present operations, but also of employing new Agencies in those districts from which they have received the most urgent appeals for help. This they have not as yet obtained. To remit when due the quarterly stipends of the Agents, and to defray other necessary expenses, they have already, since the last annual meeting, incurred a debt of nearly £200; and by the end of the present month, another quarter's salaries will be due, amounting to about £500; so that they require no less a sum than £700 to meet the present demands on their funds. The Committee are quite aware, that this is a part of the year when but little money is remitted by their friends. But this consideration is not sufficient to allay their anxiety, when they know that the usual amount received at a later period of the year, will be required for expenses which will then accrue. Could they hope that the simultaneous collections in October would be so increased both in number and amount as to meet the pressing necessities of the case, they would be comparatively at ease. And why should this not be the case? If our churches would universally adopt the plan, which has been found by those who have acted upon it to work so beneficially, not only this, but each branch of our "British Missions," might extend

their operations, and the several Committees would be relieved of the embarrassing anxieties which go far to neutralize the pleasure which the conduct of their affairs should afford. It is universally admitted that Ireland has never yet received that amount of assistance which her circumstances require. Whence does this arise? The opportunities for preaching the gospel were never more numerous or more inviting than at the present moment. The Committee would, therefore, earnestly entreat the friends of the Protestant faith to make amends for past neglects by present effort. Multitudes in the sister land are influenced by a spirit of inquiry which, if rightly guided, would, by the blessing of God, issue in the happiest results. The tour of inspection recently undertaken by Mr. Garvey afforded ample proof of the good effects which have attended the labours of the Agents; many of the Stations presenting the most encouraging aspect. Are they to be sustained? Are they to be strengthened? Or, must the Committee seriously contemplate the withdrawal of their Agents, and thereby the extinction of the only light which in many cases is shining amidst the thick darkness of superstition which overspreads the land? these inquiries the churches of Christ in Britain must reply.

To

As an example of the effects resulting from the labours of the Agents, the following account of a meeting recently held at one of the Stations might be cited with advantage, and which, it is confidently believed, will be read with interest.

"On Thursday, the 23rd of July, the eighth Annual Tea Meeting of the Independent Church and congregation at Strade, in the county of Antrim, was held. About 300 persons partook of the refreshment provided, many of whom had come from places some miles distant. After tea a hymn of thanksgiving was sung, when the pastor, the Rev. James Bain, was called to the chair. Mr. B. commenced the business of the meeting by a brief outline of the past history of the church, and its present state and prospects. Heart-stirring and interesting addresses were then delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Bates and Moore, Baptists; Torrents, Methodist; and Shelley, Dougan, and Hodgens, Independents. A spirit of fervent piety, fraternal affection, and deep spirituality prevailed, and produced the most delightful influence. The speakers enforced the necessity of ardent piety, eminent spirituality, and fervent and continued prayer, as the only sure ground to hope for prosperity within the church, and the conversion of the world through the instrumentality of the church.

"On the following day, the sabbath-school, numbering nearly 200 children, was assembled, when they were regaled with tea and cakes; after which suitable addresses were delivered by the chairman, the Rev. T. A. Shelley, and Mr. W. J. Bain. Tracts and books were presented to the children, and the whole concluded with singing and prayer. During these two days of happy activity and interesting social intercourse the blessing of the Lord was specially felt to be upon us; and the whole service will be looked back upon as a season of sweet Christian communion."

It is to sustain operations which lead to such a result as this communication describes that

the Society exists; and to extend such efforts the Committee appeal to the piety and zeal of British Christians. Could Ireland be fully supplied with holy, active, and devoted ministers, who would labour, as Mr. Bain and many others labour, the teeming population of that interesting country, it is confidently believed, would soon become a really Christian people, displaying the virtues and graces which ought ever to distinguish and adorn the character of those who profess themselves the disciples of Christ.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ESTABLISHED 1836.

To the right and successful conduct of every mission, an accurate knowledge of the country and people of which it is the scene is quite indispensable. In no instance is this remark more true and applicable than in respect to colonial missions. Whatever, therefore, brings into clear light the conditions and elements of colonial society, will have the double effect of both exciting general interest and zeal in missions to those deeply-interesting communities, and of directing to the wisest plans for their management in every respect.

The following paper, written by a devoted and experienced colonial missionary, is designed to correct some English misconceptions as to the religious state of the people of Canada. We shall hardly be liable to any material or injurious mistake in our estimate of the religious state and wants of the British colonies, if we bear steadily in mind that in them all there is a reproduction of English society, with almost all its excellences and defects, under circumstances in which the removal of many restraints prevailing in the parent land sets almost every interest and opinion at work with a liberty, or perhaps, rather, a licence, here unknown. There every man is more bold and free. There every party feels itself more likely to realize ascendancy or success. They all meet on more equal terms. But the interests opposed on principle or policy to the overshadowing elevation and privileges of any one religious body are proportionally more powerful than in England. They will allow of no such result; they will tolerate no such injustice. All our questions on theology, polity, and, what is compounded of both, the status of various religious bodies, are rife in Canada. There are, moreover, some forms of religious error, of American origin, there prevailing, but here happily unknown.

The double conclusion from such a view of colonial society must surely be, that there the seeds of religious truth and liberty ought to be most widely and early scattered; that sacred cause most vigorously and faithfully maintained, and that none but sound, able, and well-instructed men are competent for such a work and mission as this.

A PRELATE'S VIEW OF COLONIAL WANTS.

It is sometimes amusing to those on the spot to read descriptions intended for a London auditory of the condition and necessities of the British colonies. At a meeting in that great metropolis, held in March last, called for the purpose of taking into consideration the alarming spiritual destitution of the colonies, and for the further purpose of raising special contributions,

in order to the supply of wants so pressing, the Bishop of Jamaica is represented to have moved the following resolution, and to have made the subjoined statements: - Resolved, "That the poor labourers and workmen who are compelled to seek an independent subsistence for themselves and their families in the colonies, and are thus deprived of the advantages provided for them at home, in their own parish church and school, have a strong claim on their countrymen for help, in providing themselves and their children with the ministrations of religion and the means of education." "He (the right rev. prelate) had travelled hundreds of miles in North America. In Canada there were only one hundred clergymen for a population equal to this county ;* in New Brunswick, only thirty-seven; in Nova Scotia, thirty; and in Newfoundland, twentyseven."

...

How very plausible an erroneous statement may be made to appear if a little truth be mixed up with it, and a dash of good principle be thrown in to qualify it! Our bishop, or rather the parties who framed the resolution, appear to be adepts at this sort of alchymy. The truth found in the resolution is, that our poor countrymen "are compelled to seek an independent subsistence for themselves and their families in the colonies," and that "they have a strong claim on their countrymen for help, in providing themselves and their children with the ministrations of religion and the means of education." The good principle is, that the strong should help the weak-the well-furnished should assist in the supply of the ill-furnished-and that British Christians, having freely received from the God of all grace, should freely give. And yet these true and good points have all the force of error in the connection in which they are found.

1. Said " 'poor labourers and workmen" are not "deprived of the advantages provided for them at home, in their own parish church and school;" for in respect of many of them there existed at home, as there exists here, considerable doubts of the advantages supplied by the parish church in which such men as Gathercole are wont to minister, or else some semi-papist, taught more of Rome than of Christ; and as a consequence, there then existed and there does exist a very weighty and really determined preference for the ministrations and solemnities of some other portion of Christ's church.

2. The advantages of parish schools, having reference to the poor labourers and workmen of England as a whole, are presumed to be somewhat problematical as a fact. There are a great many such persons in the colonies, who do not recollect that they had opportunities of attending good parish schools in the father-land.

3. It is the boast of the body in connection with which the meeting was held, that they do not desire so much to help the colonists to supply themselves, as to dip their hands as deeply as practicable into the public purse, in order that they may eschew the abominable Voluntary system, and give the people the gospel and the marvellously effective sacraments of THE Church "free, gratis, for nothing." At least we happen

* Was the county of Middlesex intended? In my copy of the Patriot,"country" is the word, but the bishop could not have meant England. Á comparison with Middlesex was an exaggeration. Canada does not yet possess a million and a half of inhabitants.

to know that the Episcopalian hook is not unfrequently baited with two flies: "We don't want your money; only come to Church," and "Ours is the respectable Church." Oh that the Nonconformist churches more correctly apprehended their vocation in regard to the colonies! If they would only help, really and effectively help, the colonists to supply themselves-that is, if they would furnish them with an able ministry, and assist for a season in their support, these young nations would show forth the might and majesty of the Puritan principles, as New England has done. How is it that the Colonial Missionary Society, whose principles and management are really adapted to promote true religion in the colonies, receives such comparatively meagre support from the Congregational churches? Is it not their own institution? Has it not done admirable service? What singularly effective measures has it adopted and carried forward successfully during a period of only ten years, and these with an exceedingly limited income! It helps the colonists to help themselves the true policy; and it is training on the field a number of young men for the ministry.

4. What shall we say of the West Indian prelate's numerical facts? One hundred clergymen in Canada!!! Did he not know that probably one-half the entire population of the united province consists of Irish and French Roman Catholics, and that they are abundantly supplied with clergy? Did he forget this sister or rather mother church? What will Messrs. Newman and Ward say? and what Dr. Pusey? The Scottish portion of the Protestant population is large, and for their supply there are between eighty and ninety clergy connected either with the Residuary or the Free Church, and twenty belonging to the United Secession Church. There are upwards of fifty Congregational, a considerably larger number of Wesleyan, and a large number of Baptist clergy in the province, besides some smaller bodies. Where were the good bishop's visual organs as he journied through Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, that he did not see numerous, very numerous steeplehouses, not Episcopalian? It is perfectly notorious that in all these provinces not only is the Episcopal Church in the minority as to the population, but it is by no means the largest denomination; and as we have no Established Church, it is sheer impertinence thus to dilate upon the number of clergy and the wants of our population, as if Episcopacy was everything.

We do need more enlightened, truly devoted, and able ministers of Christ. We require wellconstructed and stable institutions. We need an extensive and well-directed system of sound education. We need churches trained to exertion, and wholly consecrated to the Master. The exigencies of our case demand more prayer, zeal, and liberality among ourselves, and on the part of British Christians. We have, indeed, some very excellent clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church in this province, but we have not a few who would be more fitted to Romanize than to Christianize the people; and, at all events, neither the education nor the importation of scores or even hundreds of Anglican priests will prove at all fitted to make this land "blossom and bud as the rose."

Canada, May, 1846.

A PASTOR IN Canada.