returned from Bremen, where I spent some delightful days with the church, and three of our vorsteher (elders) of the church in Oldenburg. Three converts, with whom I lodged, were baptized. The prospects at Bremen are most encouraging. I preached this morning (Good Friday) to a large assembly. God was among us ;-nearly the whole church was in tears;-text, Luke xxiii. 31. We continue to enjoy the power and presence of our risen Lord, and our position becomes every day more important.

"My throat is again very faint; as, alas! my feelings predominate so much in preaching, especially when speaking of the awful

end of the wicked!

NEW CHURCHES.

HENDON, NEAR HAMPSTEAD.

On the 2nd of April, 1847, a church in formed at Hendon, and Mr. G. Warne was connexion with the baptist denomination was recognized as its pastor. The Rev. E. Smith, independent minister at Edgware, read the scriptures and prayed; the Rev. Joseph Wallis, late of Risley, stated the nature of a gospel church; the Rev. W. A. Blake of Shouldham Street, Paddington, asked the usual questions and offered the recognition prayer; the Rev. J. Castledon of Hampstead gave the charge to the minister; and the Rev.

W. Elliott of Shoreditch addressed the church and congregation. Several other ministers were present and took part in the service. This chapel, which had been closed for some time, was re-opened by the church at Shouldham Street about eighteen months since. The Lord has so far blessed their endeavours to extend the knowledge of the Redeemer in this dark village that in future they will be relieved from the expense incident to the cause, the people themselves having undertaken to defray it.

ILMINSTER, SOMERSET.

On Tuesday, April 6th, a baptist church was formed in this small but respectable town, when the Rev. H. Trend of Bridgwater delivered a most important and affectionate address to those who were to form the church, and then gave the right hand of fellowship to eleven persons, who had been dismissed from other churches for the purpose. The new church, together with a few others, then surrounded the Lord's table: the Rev. H. Trend presided, the Rev. H. W. Stembridge of Hatch, and Mr. J. Gibson of North Curry, who has been preaching to those friends the last five months, prayed, and Mr. Bult, one of the deacons of the baptist church, Taunton, distributed the elements. In the evening of the same day, about sixty took tea together in the room where they worshipped. which, Mr. Bult read and prayed, and appropriate addresses were delivered by brethren Hallet of Blindmore, Stembridge of Hatch, Perrat of North Curry, Stocks of Taunton, and Gibson of North Curry, who closed the interesting and solemn services of the day.

After

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SMETHWICK, NEAR BIRMINGHAM.

At this place a baptist church was formed on the 12th of April, consisting of nine persons honourably dismissed from Bethel Chapel, West Bromwich. Others are expected to join them as soon as their letters of dismission arrive. Messrs. Swan, Fisher, O'Neal, Stoke, and Phillips took part in the interesting services,

226

MR. ANDREW WILLIAMS

Died, March 21, 1847, in the seventyfourth year of his age. He had been a consistent member of the baptist church Pmygam, Pontypool, for forty-three years, and a useful deacon of the same for nearly forty years. He commenced his Christian career. being persuaded that Jesus Christ was able to keep that which he had committed to his care, and continued stedfast and immoveable in his reliance on the testimony of God concerning his Son. He had the privilege so to die as to illustrate the text from which his funeral sermon was preached by his pastor on Lord's day morning, April 4th, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

MR. C. Bedford.

Died, at Princes' Risborough, March 16th, 1847, in the eightieth year of his age, Mr. Christopher Bedford, about fifty-six years a member, and nearly twenty-three years a deacon, of the baptist church in that town. His character was honourable and consistent. For more than half a century he had been accustomed to preach in the surrounding villages, and he was sometimes engaged by other churches in the neighbourhood to supply their pulpits.

MR. BARCHAM.

At Tonbridge Wells, on the 25th of March, 1847, Mr. Barcham, aged sixty years. The deceased was for upwards of thirty years a highly respected and consistent member of the baptist church at Seven Oaks, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Thomas Shirley, but resigned his connexion with that church in 1845 in consequence of his removal from Tonbridge to Tonbridge Wells. Mr. Barcham had the happiness of being born of eminently pious parents, and was brought to a knowledge of salvation at the age of thirteen years. Through divine grace he was enabled "to hold on his way" during a period of fortyseven years. Towards the close of last year, it pleased God to afflict him with fever, which left his hitherto strong constitution in such an enfeebled state that he never recovered. The God whom he had endeavoured to serve during his days of health and activity, did not forsake him during his illness, or amidst the solemnities of dissolution. Amongst many other observations, he said, "I feel myself stayed upon God. I have no particular joys, but I can enter into those words, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.'" Thus was he called to his eternal rest, in the enjoyment of the "peace that passeth all understanding," and only four months after the death of his second son, who in November last died in the triumphant assurance of everlasting salvation.

REV. JOSIAS WILSON.

:

In January last, the esteemed minister of the presbyterian church, River Terrace, Islington, accepted an invitation to preach one of the annual sermons for the Baptist Missionary Society on the 28th of April. The style of his letter was very kind: "I feel," said he," that the committee have done me a high honour in asking me to advocate the cause of the Baptist Missionary Society, and I beg to say, in reply, that casting myself on the promised aid of the Holy Ghost, I shall undertake the duty in the most fraternal spirit." On the 17th of March he wrote again, saying, "I regret exceedingly that I am compelled to make the following communication to your committee through you. It has pleased my heavenly Father to afflict me very seriously by an attack of jaundice of a stubborn character. I have now had seven silent sabbaths, and have been confined to my house for seven weeks. The complaint still continues, notwithstanding all the skill and attention of two medical friends. In consequence of this distress I have been greatly reduced in strength, and my medical attendants assure me that I must avoid all excitement for many weeks to come. Under these painful circumstances I am reluctantly obliged to say that I fear it will be wholly out of my power to fulfil my promise to your committee of preaching for your society. I make this communication with deep regret. I deferred making my state known to you from week to week, hoping the Lord would change his hand with me; but my distress continuing, I fear it will be unwise for all interests to hold my engage. ment any longer. It is the Lord's will: may it be sanctified to your society as well as to myself!"

Before the appointed day arrived, however, he was relieved from all sufferings: his removal took place on the 13th of April. Mr. Wilson's age was forty-seven.

REV. G. HOSKINS.

On Monday morning, April 19th, died, in the forty-first year of his age, Mr. George Hoskins, late pastor of the baptist church at Highbridge, Somerset, which charge he sustained for twelve years. He had been unwell for many months, but on the day before his death he preached twice at Burnham, and after the services he spoke in a very impres sive manner to several of the friends. He retired to rest much as usual, but about one o'clock in the morning his wife was awoke by his hard breathing, and found him speechless. Medical aid was immediately procured, but it was in vain, the vital spark had fled. He had no sooner terminated an earthly sabbath in his Master's work than he entered upon a heavenly sabbath to receive his reward and be for ever with his Saviour. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing."

MISCELLANEA.

THE BAPTIST BOARD.

The annual meeting of the Board of Baptist Ministers residing in and near the cities of London and Westminister was held on the 16th of March. Mr. Groser was re-elected secretary, and the following report was adopted for presentation to the General Body:

"Since our last Annual Report, the Rev. W. Williams, twenty-eight years a member of the Board, has been removed by death; the Rev. W. Dovey and the Rev. F. Wills have removed into the country; and the Rev. G. W. Fishbourne, pastor of a church at Bow, and the Rev. Joshua Russell, pastor of a church at Greenwich, have been admitted to membership. The committee appointed to the General Body for the ensuing year are Mr. Hinton, Mr. Overbury, Mr. Miall, Dr. Davies, and Mr. Groser."

It being the turn of the Baptist Board to nominate a secretary for the General Body for the ensuing three years, a double ballot was taken; first for three names, out of which one should subsequently be selected, and then for that one. The choice fell on Mr. Groser.

FRATERNAL INTERCOURSE.

On the second Tuesday in the month a meeting of the Baptist Board is held at the Mission House, not for business but for friendly conversation and prayer. Baptist ministers who reside in the country are affectionately

invited to attend at these "fraternal meet

ings," when they happen to be in town, to which it is believed that their presence would add much interest. The following are the resolutions by which these meetings are regulated:

"1. That the Board meet on the second Tuesday in the month for fraternal intercourse and prayer; and that accommodation be obtained in the Mission House, from four till seven o'clock in the evening.

"2. That three quarters of an hour be devoted to united prayer and other devotional exercises, to commence at half-past five precisely: tea to be ready at a quarter before five.

"3. That no business be attended to at these meetings, unless special notice thereof be given previously by the secretary."

THE THREE DENOMINATIONS.

The annual meeting of the General Body of Dissenting Ministers of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist Denominations, residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, was held on the 13th of April. The three years for which the Rev. Thomas James, congregationalist, had been chosen, having expired, the Rev. William Groser, baptist, was nominated as his successor, and elected unanimously.

BIRMINGHAM.

At a social meeting of the Sunday-school teachers and friends, held in Cannon Street, Birmingham, the Rev. T. Swan in the chair, April 6, 1847, the following resolution, moved by Mr. T. W. Showell, and seconded by Mr. J. H. Hopkins, was passed unanimously.

"That this meeting cordially rejoices in the great success with which the Head of the church hath blessed the labours of their friend, the Rev. John Ham, nine years minis ter in this town, in Melbourne, Australia, the far land of his adoption; and yet more do they rejoice in that soundness of principle manifested by their friend in the rejection of government aid, either for his own support, or the erection of his chapel; and it is their fervent prayer that his valuable life may be extended to a remote period, and that even to the end he may be the honoured instrument in turning many to righteousness, and may shine as the stars for ever and ever."

IMPUTED ACQUIESCENCE OF THE BAPTISTS IN EDUCATIONAL GRANTS.

In the Educational Conferences held during last month, in Crosby Hall, some gentlemen appeared anxious to produce an impression, that the baptists have till very recently concurred with them in desiring government interference in the support of education. We do not refer to Mr. Joseph Sturge, because Patriot's report has made him appear to say we doubt not that an error of the press in the exactly the reverse of what he meant. He is

reported to have said, in reference to the Borough Road Conference, in 1844, "Some forward in the British and Foreign Schools, of our baptist friends were the first to come to support the principle that government money should be taken." This should be, "that government money should NOT be taken," for this, we are told, is what Mr. Sturge was understood by others to say, and this it was that was strongly urged at the Borough Road by Messrs. Hinton, Stovel, and Groser, the only baptists, we believe, who spoke on the subject; but the Rev. John Blackburn evidently meant what he is reported to have said, April 14th, when a resolution was under discussion affirming that," it is not within the province of government to educate the peopeople." After saying, "I am here as an opponent of the Minutes of Council and a convert, but by slow degrees, to the principle involved in your resolution," he adverted to a meeting of the Congregational Union in the autumn of 1843, and added, " But at that time what did our baptist brethren do? The Baptist Union in 1843, did not follow the leadings of the Congregationalists in affirming your principle, but they put out a resolution that they would stand by the British and Foreign School Seciety, which is taking £700 or £800 from government up to the present