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hundred persons. The Rev. S. Packer, minister, and Joshua Vines, Esq., treasurer, distributed the elements.

HARTLEY ROW, HANTS.

On Monday, Dec. 25th, a new baptist church was formed at Hartley Row, upon open communion principles. The Rev. J. Bray of Rickmansworth commenced with reading and prayer; the Rev. J. Statham of Reading, after stating the nature and constitution of a gospel church, addressed the candidates upon their union (who then gave to each other the right hand of fellowship), and administered the Lord's supper.

In the evening, the Rev. W. Reading (independent) of Odiham read and prayed, and the Rev. C. H. Harcourt of Wokingham preached to an attentive congregation, from Romans xiv. 7.

GLOUCESTER.

On Lord's day, Jan. 7th, a baptist church was formed, on strict communion principles, in Providence Chapel, Worcester Street, Gloucester, under the pastoral care of Mr. J. Ramsey.

ORDINATIONS.

HOUGHTON REGIS, BEDS,

The Rev. George Hull, late of Chelsea, has accepted a unanimous invitation from the baptist church at Houghton Regis.

LLANELLY, CARMARTHENSHIRE.

The Rev. William Hughes, late of Bwldnewydd, has taken the pastoral charge of the baptist church assembling in Bethel Chapel, Sea Side, Llanelly. Strenuous efforts have recently been made towards liquidating the debt on this place of worship. The church consists of about 120 members.

ORFORD HILL, NORWICH.

The Rev. James Pulsford, late of Borobridge, has accepted an invitation to supply this church, lately under the pastoral care of the Rev. Charles New.

RECENT DEATHS.

REV. J. JAMES.

On the 24th of November, the Rev. Joseph James, pastor of the baptist church meeting at Beulah, Pembrokeshire, entered into the joy of his Lord. On the 27th his mortal remains were committed to the keeping of

VOL. VII.-FOURTH SERIES.

the tomb, in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection to life everlasting. The Rev. H. Davies, Llangloffan, preached from Matt. xxv. 21, and the Rev. J. G. Jones, classical tutor of the Haverfordwest Academy, and the deceased minister's co-pastor, delivered an oration at the grave.

The period of our brother's allotment in this wilderness was eighty years. For the long space of sixty years he had been a faithful minister of the cross, and had published to his fellow-men the glad tidings of mercy, and during half a century he had filled the pastoral office. He has run the race, won the victory, and now he carries the palm, and

wears the crown.

MISS SABIN.

On Saturday, Dec. 23rd, 1843, died, at her residence in Shipston-on-Stour, Worcestershire, in the sixty-ninth year of her age, Miss Sabin. She had been for more than thirtyseven years an honourable and useful member of the baptist church in that town, and for many years an active and constant Sunday school teacher. As her means were ample, so her charities were considerable, and her benevolence expansive. She was the sincere friend of her pastor and of the church to which she belonged. Her life was upright, and her end was peace.

MRS. DORE.

Died, on the 27th of December last, at Walworth, in the sixty-sixth year of her age, Elizabeth, widow of the Rev. James Dore, formerly pastor of the church in Maze Pond. Though little known, owing to a feebleness of constitution which made her almost a recluse for more than twenty years, Mrs. Dore did not fail to evidence her faith by quiet acts of benevolence, and her sound judgment and excellent discretion were ornamented by that grace the apostle Peter so strongly recommended to Christian women in his days, and which is not less needed now. During the long continuance of her revered husband's illness, she was a pattern of conju gal solicitude and devotion; and learned from his exemplification of Christian patience, those lessons, which divine grace enabled her also, through a protracted and severe affliction, so eminently to illustrate.

MRS. MATHEWS.

Died, on the 31st of December last at her house, Denmark Road, Camberwell, Mrs. Susanna Mathews, in her seventy-third year, (member of the church at Denmark Road Chapel) widow of the late Mr. David Mathews of Bridlington Quay, Yorkshire.

N

MRS. CARSON.

Mr. W. Tomlin, baptist minister. She wasTM highly esteemed in the Christian church with which she had long been connected, and generally respected by the inhabitants of the town. Her health had been declining for some

Died, on the 4th of January, in the sixtyfirst year of her age, after a short illness, Mrs. Carson, the wife of the Rev. Alexander Carson, LL. D., of Tubbermore, Ireland. "The doctor has sustained," says our inform-time, but the power of religion supported her ant, an irreparable loss. She was almost mind, and her afflictions were borne with "The memory of the every thing to him; and he feels the trial exemplary patience. deeply, though he has been most mercifully just is blessed." supported. Mrs. Carson was an eminently pious and interesting woman, greatly beloved by a large circle of friends, and by the numerous church and congregation at Tubbermore."

MISS E. SMITH.

Died, Jan. 7th, in her twenty-ninth year, Eliza, the only surviving daughter of Mr. Thomas Smith, late of 99, Newgate Street. Looking unto Jesus her end was peace.

MR. J. GRAY.

On the 9th of January, after a long illness, borne with Christian patience and fortitude, Mr. James Gray, who for the last eleven years has been a deacon of the church, Lion Street, Walworth, under the care of the Rev. Samuel Green. Mr. Gray had arrived at his forty-seventh year; during thirty-six of them he served the Redeemer. At a very early age he was expelled from the house of his parents, who were ungodly, because he would not promise to leave off praying for his father's conversion. His father and his mother forsook him, but God took him up. Soon afterwards he was introduced to the large hat factory of the Messrs. Christy, in Bermondsey, where, by unbending integrity and uniform punctuality and diligence, he gained, and for near thirty years uninterruptedly enjoyed, the confidence and high respect of his employers. Here he was enabled, when his parents had become poor, to evince the power of Christian principle. Notwithstanding the wrongs they had inflicted upon him, he became their supporter, receiving them into his house, ministering to their comfort, and at last closing the eyes of them both in death. While his health permitted, Mr. Gray was active and useful as a Sunday school teacher, and as a preacher in connexion with the London Itinerant Society. His family connexions were exceedingly limited; and of the little property he had been enabled to save, as he supposed against the day of need, he has left a considerable portion to benevolent objects, mostly connected with the church to which he belonged.

MRS. TOMLIN.

Died at Chesham, Bucks, on January the 13th, Mrs. Sarah Tomlin, the beloved wife of

MRS. JOANNA MAYWOOD.

Mrs. Maywood was led by divine grace to unite with the church of God under the care of the late excellent Dr. Newman in 1801, and was the first individual baptized in the meeting-house at Old Ford. From that period till the death of her venerable pastor, she was one of his greatest comforts, encountering all weathers in attending the stated worship of God from her residence at Plaistow, distant nearly three miles. Her singular vigour of character, her uniform cheerfulness of disposition, and the exalted tone of her piety, were a blessing to the church, which can only be fully estimated when "every one's work shall be tried by what sort it is."

It was only with the wreck of this noble mind, when enfeebled with age, that the writer of this notice was personally acquainted; yet, even in her second childhood, there was an animation of character, an abstractedness from the world, a love to the Redeemer and to all his followers, without regard to distinctions of sect, which indicated a soul "full of the Holy Ghost." It was but to touch the sacred chord of love to God or his people, and her whole being was moved to extacy. Depression, the usual concomitant of a highly susceptible heart, found little or no place in her; nor could the decrepitude attendant on four-score years and ten, dim the flame of her love. With the most humbling views of herself, she rarely knew what apprehension was, as to her acceptance with God, so exalted were her views of the efficacy and power of a Saviour's blood. "Because I live ye shall live also," was a truth dear to her as her life, and often on her lips. Even her mental illusions, which during the last few months of her career were more or less frequent, were of a kind that yielded to herself unspeakable delight, while to her friends they were an indication that the ruling passion" was under the holiest guidance. Her sanctified imagination luxuriated in the actual society of the Marys and the Marthas; and the scenes of Bethany and the sepulchre were associated with visions of pleasing reality.

In the acute sufferings of her last hours she verified her own words," he who sends pain can given patience." She slept in Jesus Dec. 4th, 1843, in her 91st year.

REV. S. WEBB.

Died, on Thursday, January 18th, at the house of his son, the Rev. James Webb of Stoke Green, Ipswich, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, the Rev. Samuel Webb, late pastor of the baptist church, Appleby, Leicestershire. His end was peace.

MISCELLANEA.

ANTI-STATE-CHURCH CONFERENCE.

An advertisement thus headed, which has appeared already in some of the public prints, will be found on the wrapper of our present number. It is signed by about two hundred ministers and gentlemen, of different denominations, who are in favour of a Conference, or Convention, for promoting the dissolution of the union of church and state.

That there should be a difference of opinion respecting the desirableness of such a meeting, among the most staunch adherents to dissenting principles, can occasion no surprise; a strong conviction of the unscriptural character and pernicious tendencies of the union between the church and the state being quite compatible with an apprehension that a numerous assemblage of delegates from various parts of the land for the discussion of the subject will be productive of injury, and more likely to retard than to promote the object in view. To this it must be imputed, not to indifference, that the names of so few of the London baptist ministers are in the list of those who have given in their adhesion to the plan. It has been stated, indeed, in more than one periodical, that when the project was submitted to the attention of the London ministers, they did not give it that consideration which courtesy required; but sheltered themselves behind forms, and returned to their country brethren no answer. Whatever might be the case with any other bodies, we can assure our readers that such was not the course pursued by the "Board of Particular Baptist Ministers residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster." A document signed by a large number of ministers in Leicestershire and the adjacent counties was forwarded by Mr. Mursell to a member of the Board, with a note requesting him to lay it before the Board, dated Oct. 3rd. The member brought it to the Secretary, who stated at once that he would accept it as though addressed to himself, and that though special meetings of the Board are convened generally only on a requisition signed by six members, he would take upon himself the responsibility of summoning a meeting immediately. A meeting was held on the first open day; and within a week the following answer, drawn up at the meeting, and agreed to nemine contradicente, was in Mr. Mursell's hands.

"London, Oct. 10, 1843.

day laid before us by the Secretary of the Board; and, having taken it into our serious consideration,

"DEAR BRETHREN,-Your appeal has been this

we make to it the following reply.

"We have not failed to observe, that although Mr. Mursell has requested that the Appeal should be laid before the Baptist Board, it is not addressed to that body, but to "The Dissenting Ministers and Churches of London and its vicinity," for whom the Board is quite incompetent to answer. And even had it been otherwise, the fact of its antecedent publication might well have warranted us in regarding it as an appeal rather to the public than to ourselves. We lay aside, however, all considerations of this class, and without any tenacity on technical points, address ourselves to the substance of your communication.

"In common with yourselves, we are actuated, as we hope, by a deep sense of duty and responsibility; and in perfect sympathy with yourselves, we desire carnestly the dissolution of the connexion between But we cannot say that the church and the state. we think favourably of a Convention, to be assembled for the consideration of this subject, as your appeal proposes. With this view, you will not expect that we should proceed further; and you will accept, we trust, the assurance of our unfeigned

Christian regard, and our fervent prayers for divine direction in all the measures you may undertake.

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Signed, by direction of the Board, on its behalf, "J. H. HINTON, Chairman. "W. GROSER, Secretary." Respecting the wisdom of this answer there may be two opinions; but it shows conclusively that the strong observations that have been made in print respecting the want of courtesy exhibited, and the disposition evinced to evade the question, have been, as far at least as the baptist ministers in London are concerned, founded in misapprehension. This explanation seems to be due, however, under existing circumstances, both to the brethren who have advocated the plan and to the public at large.

RESIGNATIONS.

We understand that, owing to domestic affliction, the Rev. J. Macpherson has been under the necessity of resigning his pastoral charge at Salendine Nook, with the view of trying a milder locality, and has in consequence engaged for a time to take the oversight of the church at Bromley near Leeds.

The Rev. Manoah Kent, who for the last twenty-one years (as successor to the late Rev. John Palmer), has held the pastoral office over the first baptist church in Shrewsbury, has given notice that on the 10th of April next his official connexion with the church will cease. After that time he will be open to invitations.

The Rev. J. F. Sparke has finished his ministerial engagements at Botesdale, Suffolk, and is now open to invitation.

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TORY OF THE WALDENSES.

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THE QUEEN AND THE AUTHOR OF "THE HIS-, paid quarterly. Should it suit you to accept this appointment, the Queen has much pleasure in offering it to you, and will nominate you forthwith. "I am, Sir,

(Signed)

"Your obedient servant,
"G. E. ANSON."

"To MR. WILLIAM JONES, M.A.,
39, Frederick Street, Gray's Inn Road,
London."

Albert.

There are many reasons why the following correspondence, creditable as it is to all the parties concerned, should be recorded in our pages. Mr. Jones is a man to whom the baptist denomination is, in our judgment, deeply indebted. Though we do not agree with him in every point, we do not know any living writer whose pen has done more than his in the advocacy of what we deem correct principles in reference to the kingdom of From Mr. Jones to the Treasurer of Prince Christ. He has long been one of the pastors of a small Scotch baptist church meeting in Windmill Street, Finsbury, and is now eightytwo years of age. To Her Majesty the occurrences developed in the ensuing letters are highly honourable, and also to Mr. Blewitt, the secretary of the Literary Fund, by whom Mr. Jones's name had been placed second on a list of thirteen which he had returned for Her Majesty's consideration. But, especially, it is right that publicity should be given to the case, as an illustration of the pernicious influence of the connexion between the dominant church and secular institutions; meeting us at every turn, bribing the venal, injuring the conscientious, and impeding the exercise of kindness and liberality even by the occupant of the throne.

"London, 25th October, 1843. "MUCH HONOURED SIR,-The receipt and perusal of the communication with which I was yesterday favoured from you, Sir, by Her Majesty's gracious command, was so wholly unexpected, and so completely a matter of surprise to me, that I found myself quite overpowered by the royal condescension, and incapacitated for the task of making any immediate reply to it.

"I was indeed perfectly conscious that in all Her Majesty's extensive dominions she could not have a more loyal subject than myself, nor one who would more cheerfully sacrifice his life in her behalf; but that any thing which had proceeded from my pen, during the course of a long literary life, should have been deemed deserving of Her

From the Treasurer of Prince Albert to Mr. | Majesty's notice and regard, much less of a

Jones.

generous remuneration, was so entirely out of my calculation, that I can truly say, a thought so utopian had never entered my imagination.

"Windsor Castle, 22nd Oct. 1843. SIR,-Her Majesty has been informed of the distressed situation to which you are re- "I have attentively read your letter, Sir, duced, and is sorry to find that an author to and perceive, with unbounded gratitude, the whom the public is so considerably indebted provision which the royal mind has contemshould arrive at the state in which Her Ma-plated for the solace and accommodation of jesty understands you are now placed; and I am commanded to write to you to ascertain whether it would be agreeable to you to avail yourself of the benefit of a charitable institution for decayed persons who have formerly seen better days, to which Her Majesty could now nominate you. The appointment in question is a poor brothership of the Charter House; the qualifications for it are, that he must be a bachelor or widower, a British subject, a member of the Church of England, and not under fifty when admitted. The advantages derived from it are as follow: each poor brother has a separate apartment, with table, chair, bed and bedding kept in repair and clean; fifty-four bushels of coals and thirteen pounds of candles yearly; room kept clean, and bed made, and fire lighted by a nurse, with such extra attendance as sickness and infirmity may render necessary; dinner in the hall when in health, at other times in his room; bread and butter daily for breakfast and supper; advice and medicine in sickness; a cloak once in two years, worn in chapel and hall; a yearly allowance of twenty-six pounds ten shillings in money,

her old and faithful, but very unworthy sub-
ject; the very offer of which has penetrated
me with sentiments of profound gratitude to
Her Majesty, which no language that I can
command is adequate to express.
As you,
Sir, have kindly undertaken to be the me-
dium of conveying to me her most gracious
Majesty's pleasure on this occasion, I beg to
return my very sincere thanks for the hand-
some manner in which you have so far exe-
cuted your commission. And now let me
entreat the favour of your completing what
remains, by making known to our gracious
Sovereign the high sense of gratitude with
which I am impressed, and also my unfeigned
regret at being compelled to decline her mu-
nificent offer! In the detail which you have
presented to me of the qualifications indis-
pensable to the participation of the Charter
House grant, there is one item which forms
an insurmountable barrier to my availing my-
self of Her Majesty's intended munificence.
I am not a member of the Church of Eng-
land, and in consequence am disqualified: I
am a dissenter upon principle, as is well
known to all who are conversant with my

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