between the missionary and the mass of the people as in former times. In the dark days of unmitigated slavery there was no eye to pity and no hand to help the suffering slave but that of the missionary. Whatever may be said of the "sectarians,' and their "meddling with politics," and their "interference between master and slave," it is a fact which will go down recorded upon the brightest page of missionary annals, that but for the despised missionary worshipping God, and teaching the people to do likewise, in his "snivelling conventicle," the iron yoke of slavery would have continued unbroken to the present day. In those days every man crowded beneath the sheltering wing of missionary protection, knowing that he alone of all mankind he ever saw regarded even the negro as a man and a brother. But these days are past, and with them the concurrent influences that attached so many people to our various stations; insomuch that many young men would scorn to ask or receive a missionary's advice, or to appear to have any but the slightest visible connection with the "parson." Nor is this to be wondered at: vexatious, trying, baffling as it is, when we withdraw ourselves from the present and look into the past, we see that human nature is always the same, and that even the best of men are but men at the best. Even "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked." Although he had seen Jehovah's wonders in the deep, and the flinty rock gushing forth living streams, and the heavens bestowing angels' food, and the cloudy pillar each day directing their march, yet with all this they forgot the God of their salvation. "6 According to their pasture, so were they filled: they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me." And shall it be thought surprising that Africans, stolen from a land of darkness and death, or their children, brought up in the school of slavery, where every base passion was indulged, and man was educated as a being of mere muscle and bone,—shall it surprise us overmuch that these people, too, have forgotten in many instances the kindness of God their Saviour? Trying

as it is to the Christian teacher, confounding as it does all his previous calculations, for these disappointments we must be prepared; and to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

3. Here another circumstance must be stated strongly. Our West Indian colonies are being ruined with imported curses. The wild schemes of immigration so suc

cessfully introduced into this colonial legislature bid fair to throw back this colony a hundred years in morality and public virtue. As it was the "mixed multitude" that so often corrupted and seduced the Israelites, so here will the hundreds of Portuguese and Hill Coolies that are deluging the colony impart a deadly influence to the character of our negro population. This wholesale immigration system is not at all understood― perhaps I ought to say not at all sufficiently thought of in England. The AntiSlavery Society do lift up their energetic voice against the abomination; but how few listen to that voice-how few indeed read the Anti-Slavery Reporter! Already some thousands of Portuguese from Madeira have found their way hither. Some have made their fortunes as storekeepers and speculators; others are hucksters and pedlars; and the remainder are agricultural labourers on the estates. Every month brings fresh accessions to their ranks.

The effect is of course to shut the negro out from the middle class. In Jamaica hundreds of black men, formerly slaves, have risen rapidly into a substantial, thriving middle class. Here there is no such body. The black man is doomed by the self-elected legislature of this colony still to be a "hewer of wood and drawer of water," and such for years to come he must continue to be. Add to these, Roman Catholics, many hundreds of idolaters and Mahomedans, (the refuse of the streets of Madras and Calcutta)—I know not how many hundreds, but I am within bounds when I use this term-and bear in mind that there are now fifteen vessels chartered from Hindostan, with 300 Coolies on board of each for this doomed Demerara, and you may picture to yourself the probable condition of this colony some ten or fifteen years hence. The whole scheme is a delusion, a mockery, a snare; a delusion to the planter, a snare to the Coolie, and a mockery to the whole community. There is not a road in the country parts, there is not a street in town, in which half-naked, nearly starved and diseased Coolies, unable to speak a word of English, do not meet your eye, so filthy and disgusting that a lady fresh from England would cover up her face in shame and disgust. Yet every one of these wretched creatures costs the colony FORTY POUNDS STERLING MONEY OF GREAT BRITAIN, the greater part of which is paid by the labouring classes, by excessive import duties on the necessaries of life. So that the negro population are

absolutely compelled to pay their employers for reducing their wages! Was ever iniquity more complete? Was ever ruin more certain to a colony? We are dependent on America almost entirely for the necessaries of life. From this part of South America the voyage to or from New York or Philadelphia occupies but sixteen or seventeen days: nevertheless, before you can buy a barrel of flour you must pay 42 per cent. duty on its prime cost; on a barrel of corn meal, 30 per cent.; on a barrel of beef, 524 per cent.; on a barrel of pork, 32 per cent; on tobacco, used so extensively, (and, as I think, all but a necessary of life in this muddy swamp, where not a hill as high as a table can be seen from one end to the other,) 254 per cent.! And all this, or nearly so, to provide for purposes of the most costly, most blundering expenditureimmigration among the rest, by our infatuated court of policy. Perhaps to all this some will say, But what has this to do with missions? Should such a question be asked, I answer, Much every way," and therefore it is that as a missionary I address you upon this question. It is well known that most of the missionary societies expect the churches in the West Indies to support the gospel amongst them from their own resources.

Such a

thing was possible four or five years ago, and to me, with others, appeared extremely probable. But I am prepared to prove that now, and for some years to come, the negro churches of the West Indies will be wholly inadequate to selfsupport. Part of the proof rests upon the facts already stated; the remainder of proof lies in other causes, to be hereafter alluded to. The fact is, that you cannot separate the prosperity of missions from the state of the country in which your stations are planted; and although some may think this letter too political for the columns of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, I feel persuaded that you, my dear sir, will not sympathize with such a perversion of feeling. At present 1 will close this long letter. I hope and intend to follow it with one or two more, and in the meantime I remain,

Mr. Editor,

Very faithfully yours,
W. G. BARRETT.

Montrose, Demerara, West Indies,
August 14, 1846.

WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE SUPPORT AND SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL.

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him."-1 Cor. xvi. 2.

1st. Weekly offerings have Scripture precedent in their favour, if not Scripture command. Whatever else we may gather from the passage above quoted this we may learn, that the early Christians were accustomed weekly to appropriate part of their substance to the cause of God; and we learn also from the preceding verse, this was done by order of an inspired apostle. Some consider from this that it has all the force of a divine injunction, binding us also to present our contributions weekly, but even on the lower ground of being a Scripture precedent, it has great weight, and is entitled to respectful consideration. Was gathering weekly introduced among the churches by order of the Apostle Paul? then the system comes with a recommendation which few Christians will be inclined either to slight or resist and this the more especially when it is remembered that under the guidance of inspiration he has recorded the fact in the Book of God.

But descending from this elevation we proceed to consider the system on its own merits, and

2nd. Weekly Collecting is more productive than the usual quarterly mode. By its means a greater number will be enabled to give. Owing to the present system many are excluded from contributing, who on the weekly plan would willingly present their mite. A small sum weekly can easily be parted with by many, who would be utterly unable to pay if the money was called for at the quarter's end; and thus our poorer brethren are shut out from contributingare denied this privilege and happiness. Yes, who that has tasted it but knows that no luxury equals the thrill which follows any benevolent effort. He who made man, and who knows the springs of our nature, has left this saying on record, "that it is more blessed to give than to receive," and shall we not then try to let every one taste this blessedness; surely on this ground alone the plan which is here advocated is worthy of being thoughtfully and conscientiously acted upon-but this by the way. The weekly plan will prove more productive, not only by enabling a greater number to contribute, but it will induce those who

are steady givers to give more largely. When the subscription is looked at as so much a week, many see the inadequacy of their present doings. The thought then occurs to them that they spend a larger sum on this unnecessary and that luxury, and feeling it to be wrong to do less for the sustenation of gospel ordinances and advantages, than for the gratification of some bodily appetite, they forthwith enlarge their gifts. Doubtless it will sometimes happen that either the gratification must be stopped, or their contributions remain as they are; then it may certainly be expected that the highest and best object will have the preference.

From what has been said we may reasonably conclude that a larger sum will be raised if gathered weekly, than there would be if collected quarterly or annually.

3rd. Weekly contributions will tend to form a valuable habit—the habit of giving to the cause of God. Every one is familiar with the power of habit; the common proverb is that "habit is second nature," that is, what we are in the custom of doing we do freely and naturally -without constraint, and the not doing of which would cause us uneasiness, if not pain. This is true to the letter. Examine now what constitutes the propelling cause of our daily actings. Is it that after reasoning the matter we are urged forward by a sense of duty? assuredly not; in the overwhelming majority of instances it is nothing more than the force of habit which propels us. In fact, we are creatures of habit-we are so constituted that our enjoyment greatly consists in going through a certain routine of actions, and it requires an immense effort to break through this accustomed round. Habits are the working machinery of principles; principle may construct the machinery, but afterwards it seems as if it retired and delegated its functions to the steady power of habit. So much for the commanding influence of this characteristic of our being, and hence the importance of enlisting it on the side of benevolence and virtue, in other words on the side of God.

If this were the case and the habit of giving for His cause were acquired, who does not see the immense advantages which would result from it. Collectors would give their time, and contributors their money, cheerfully and abundantly;

and pain were their accustomed gifts withheld, and this just because they had got into the habit of it: and now arises the question, why will the weekly system have an influence in the formation of so valuable an acquirement? This influence it will exert because of its frequent repetition. In order that a habit of this kind may be formed, the one act of giving must have some bearing on the next; this never could be the case when so long a time as three months or a year was allowed to intervene, but occurring so frequently as every week, the connection between the one act and the other is felt and responded to, and thus it is the habit is gradually formed. It is worthy of inquiry whether non-attention to this phase of the subject may not be one of the main causes for the comparative unfruitfulness in the grace of Christian liberality exhibited by the church at large.

In connection with the ideas here dwelt upon, let parents learn the importance of attending to this point of training up their children. Are habits so influential as we have seen they are, all the more potent are they when formed in youth. Parents! see to it then, that your children are early inured to consider themselves as weekly contributors to the best of causes. Oh! it is a blessed practice and fraught with important consequences, thus to habituate your children; and as it were to bring them into connection with God as fellow-workers with Him.

4th. In addition to argument weekly collecting has the testimony of experience in its favour-its capabilities have been tried, and the trial has demonstrated the soundness and efficiency of the principle. Why is it that an equal number of Methodists raise double the money compared with any other denomination? Is it that Christian principle is so much more abundant among them than other bodies of Christians? this cannot be said to be the case. To what other cause then are we to refer it? Principally, if not wholly, to their weekly gatherings at class-meetings, &c. These weekly offerings bring in a large sum, but this is but half the benefit, it begets the habit of giving, and so we find when any extra call is made upon them, being quite in their element when so doing, they give largely. The constant, frequent giving of the Methodists far from draining their charity seems but to open the sluice for

Church of Scotland-a great part of the wonderful success attending all its efforts is attributable to the very same cause. In particular its school-building scheme and sustentation fund are indebted to the weekly system for their triumphant results.

We

And is there not enough in all this to convince every one of the propriety and advantages of weekly offerings. have Scripture precedent in its favour: through its agency a larger amount will be brought to aid in upholding and spreading the blessed gospel: by its means the valuable habit of Christian liberality will be formed and strengthened, and lastly experience comes in and demonstrates all this to be truth; together forming a body of proof which it seems difficult to withstand.

Some one may say all this may be true, but in my case it makes no difference, as I can give at once as easily as every week. To any one who may be disposed thus to object, the answer is,-in addition to your contribution, give your example in favour of the plan, it may influence others. Another may wish to save the collector trouble; the intention may be amiable, but it in reality hinders the collector from acquiring thoroughly the habit of collecting, and generally those who act upon this objection are the very persons the collector would have most pleasure in calling on, and by whose mode of giving they might be refreshed and encouraged in their sometimes not over-agreeable duty; and surely these objections when viewed in opposition to all that has been advanced in favour of the weekly system, can never seriously be persisted in. Hull.

A. M.

PASTORAL SUPPORT, PEW RENTS, &c. To the Editor of the Christian Witness. SIR, I have read with much interest the various papers which have appeared in your magazine relative to the more efficient support of the ministry. In a church of which I was formerly a deacon the practice of charging seat rents has long been discontinued, and the following plan substituted :—Every person, as at other chapels, is allowed to select the seat they wish to occupy; but instead of a fixed charge being made, a printed paper, in the form of a letter, is given to them, in which they insert the amount they will be able to subscribe quarterly,-thus one

person may only pay a few shillings ayear, whilst the individual sitting next to him may be subscribing two or three pounds; indeed some of the wealthier members are paying four or five times as much as they probably would if seatrents were charged in the usual way. Besides raising a much larger sum by this plan than would be raised otherwise, the evil of charging various prices for seats, according to the desirableness of their situation in the chapel, is got rid of.

I may add that a similar plan is adopted to defray the incidental expenses. The minister's fund (or substitute for the pew rent) is collected on the sabbath after the usual quarter-day, and being enclosed in the printed paper, is dropped into the plate in passing out of the chapel; and the collection for the incidental expenses is enclosed in the same manner, and collected at the half-quarter. I have enclosed a copy of each of the papers.

CHURCHES IN LEICESTERSHIRE.

To the Editor of the Christian Witness.

SIR, The Congregational churches in Leicestershire have recently made a combined effort for the extinction of all their chapel debts. The amount is about £4,000. This it is proposed to liquidate in four years. The money to be raised by shares of £5 and of £1 each. All classes are thus included in the movement.

We consider our object to be virtually secured, as during a series of meetings which were held during ten days, we have realised, either by payment or by promise, £3,267. This sum includes £1,438 subscribed by those who being themselves free from such liabilities, are anxious that others should enjoy the same exemption. Several congregations have engaged to discharge their own debts in the course of a few months, and have promised that they will then cheerfully contribute to assist those who are more necessitous. There is, therefore, every probability that the whole amount will be realised during the present year.

We are anticipating the accomplishment of this purpose with confidence and gratitude. It will be the removal of an evil which has operated prejudicially both on the churches themselves, and on our County Association. The very existence of the Home Mission Stations was in jeopardy. They are now safe. Their strength will increase, and we shall thereby be enabled to make fresh inroads upon remaining darkness.

The deputation appointed to visit the churches to plead for this object was accompanied by the Rev. R. Knill, of Wootton-under-Edge, whose presence and advocacy greatly contributed to the interesting character and satisfactory results of the various meetings, which were all marked by the prevalence of Christian feeling, and the development of a practical and generous voluntaryism. The comparative ease with which our object has been attained, and the cheerful and general adoption with which it was favoured, leads me to hope, that a plan so simple, and yet so efficient, may be prosecuted with success in other localities.

pense be reduced to the means of the majority. Having started a cheap book society last year, which appears likely well to answer the end for which it was proposed, I send the outline of our plan, hoping it may induce some of your readers to commence similar societies, for mutual improvement, in other places. I may observe that the desirableness of such a society was forcibly suggested by the recommendation of works in the review department of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, which also furnishes a valuable guide in the selection of books. We have twenty members, which are about as many as will in general be found convenient for a society of this kind, but a large congregation should not confine itself to one. The members' names may be arranged according to their residences, for convenience in forwarding the books from one to the other, and a fixed time should be allowed-the same on all books (with the exception of magazines and pamphlets.) Thus a regular succession of reading might be supplied to every member with little trouble. The subscription may be as low as 3d. per month, thus bringing the advantages offered within the reach of all reading persons. This sum for twenty amounts in the year to £3. If, therefore, we can calculate upon half price for the works, which is generally the case, when sold at the end of the year, each member has the advantage of perusing for the annual sum of only 3s. books to the amount of six pounds, which, in these days of cheap literature, will procure a variety of the most popular and excellent publications. Bury St. Edmund's.

C. W.

PREVALENT EVILS IN CHURCHES.

To the Editor of the Christian Witness. SIR,-Will you permit me to make one or two remarks on what appears to me a great evil among churches of the Congregational order? It is well known that, in very many of our churches, there are certain individuals, often deacons, and generally persons of property, who possess great influence, and constitute, especially in pecuniary matters, the main support of these churches. It is also but too well known, that, in many instances, these individuals take undue advantage of such influence, and use it to carry everything their own way. It often happens that the minister incurs their displeasure; it may be that there is no flaw in his character, or any open fault with which he can be charged. Still they do not like him; they "cannot profit under him," or something of the like kind; and so they contrive to raise a spirit of dissatisfaction, and the minister is obliged to leave. I could name a church where one individual has been the chief agent in the removal of two ministers within a few years, and is just accomplishing the departure of the third! But this is not the evil concerning which I now write, though, doubtless, it is a great one. What I mean is this: No notice of the conduct of such churches in thus dismissing their ministers is ever taken by other and neighbouring churches. Ministers are removed, sometimes on the most frivolous pretences, but the churches still maintain their character. No inquiry is made. Other ministers are easily procurable, and matters go on again as smoothly as ever. 2 L