Your agent, Mr. Gibson,

attempt to get a congre

I conversed with friends, these objections were overruled. freely granted the use of his chapel. It was feared the gation would fail; but this fear proved quite groundless. The chapel was full by the time the service commenced, and it was evident the majority were Roman Catholics; and before the lecturer proceded far the place was crowded to such excess that the Protestants became greatly alarmed. It was announced that I would answer a recently published pamphlet, on the Rule of Faith,' very ably and plausibly compiled, the work of a clever priest; but bearing the name of David Lyons, a mason. This circumstance drew out the multitude. But there was, besides, a plan laid to interrupt the meeting. A certain brainless tailor-a repeal warden-came at the head of a mob of lewd fellows of the baser sort,' to put me down. He began by begging permission to ask a question, which was granted: but not content with question upon question, which I answered, when they had any sense in them, he went on haranguing in a manner the most absurd and violent. He was cheered, of course, by his party, and the meeting was, after some time, thrown into such confusion, that it was impossible to proceed with the lecture. An old pensioner also spoke in a spirit of brutal bigotry; but the noise was so great that no one could be distinctly heard. Mr. Gibson, who acted nobly on the occasion, sought to still the tumult in vain. The multitude was divided-most were for hearing out the lecture; but the low mob would hear their champion. Mr. Gibson said at length that, as there had been such disorder, the second lecture would not be delivered.

"A voice- One was too much.'

"Missionary-Well, it shall be put to the meeting to say whether 1 am to lecture again or not. As many as wish for another lecture, say-Ay.' It was carried by acclamation that there should be another. No one ventured to say-No. Mr. Gibson, however, remarked, that it was contrary to his feelings to have another meeting under such circumstances. I said I never had been afraid, and never would be afraid, to proclaim the truth under any circumstances.

"The meeting then peaceably dispersed. I had spoken one way or another nearly two hours, and was greatly exhausted with the intense heat, and effort to be heard amidst incessant interruption. I felt much dissatisfied with the issue, knowing that they would make a triumph of what had occurred. I slept little, and rose with a heavy heart, determined to have another meeting if possible. I hastened to Mr. Gibson with this view, when I met him precisely in the same state of mind, equally resolved with myself, to maintain freedom of speech against all opposition. Fresh placards were issued, and six special constables were engaged to keep order. Of these, five were Roman Catholics, the most efficient by far being a young man who was deaf and dumb. Their business was to keep out boys and girls, and those whom they knew to be bad characters.

"At the hour appointed large crowds began to assemble. Our constables kept guard at the gate: and there was the most singular scene I ever witnessed,-Roman Catholics, of both sexes, in crowds, pressing and begging to be let in to hear a lecture against Purgatory;-Roman Catholics keeping order at a Protestant place of worship, and doing their utmost to exclude the disturbers of the peace. But all efforts were vain to keep out the crowd. They pushed open the gate, and quickly crowded the chapel. The chapel door was then shut, and two or three able men kept it barricadoed, in order to preserve the congregation within from confusion. Meantime the street was filled to a considerable distance; and a policeman told me next day that there could not be less than 5000 people outside. The excitement seemed to pervade the whole town. Some endeavoured to hear through the windows; others climbed upon a wall in the rear of the chapel. A number of Protestant ladies got alarmed, and left the meeting before the lecture commenced. Others had the courage to

N. S. VOL. VII.

6 F

remain. Aware that the repeal warden and his party had got in, and determined to resist all such interruption, I began by making a decided statement that no interruption would be allowed. I said I was willing to meet any priest or competent person for discussion, at a fitting time and place, but that I was come there to deliver a lecture, and was resolved at every risk to maintain my rights, and that never should religious liberty be trampled on with impunity in my person. I also showed them the impolicy of their conduct as repealers. How could they be entrusted with power, when they put down argument with brute force? How could they disgrace their country by conduct unworthy of savages?

"These remarks had their effect on the meeting; seeing which, one of the ringleaders rose, shouting- Then, let the Catholics all come out-Out!-Out!!'

"I said 'Out yourself, sir, and let others do as they think proper. Let the disturbers of the peace go out, but let those who have come as rational men to listen to argument remain. Don't presume to speak here, or your name shall be taken down.' He was followed by about twelve; but a greater number rushed in as soon as the door was open. The tailor was following him, but he dropped into a pew, and held down his head to escape observation till this movement was over, and then he came back to his seat near the pulpit, where he listened very attentively. Except the continual shouting in the street, all was now quiet, and for an hour-and-a-half 300 to 400 Roman Catholics listened to an argument against purgatory, full of evangelical statement and practical appeals-exalting the virtue of the atonement, to the exclu sion of all other satisfaction for sin, and urging the sinner's responsibility in the sight of eternity,—with a riveted attention which I never saw surpassed. The congre gation was then dismissed, and all ended pleasantly. Some of our special constables refused payment for their trouble. I regretted that the fears and feverish anxiety of the Protestants, so unhappily common in the south, (where their sensitive, and almost ascetic virtue shrinks away from the rough and perilous tasks, without which the Gospel cannot be propagated,) forbid my prolonging this excitement, and obliged me to leave the field just when I had secured my vantage ground."

The latest journal of another missionary, among other interesting facts, contains the following narrative :

"Preaching one Sabbath evening at R, I was pleased with the marked attention of a venerable old man. He seemed to dwell on the words as they fell from my lips-(my text was Behold the Lamb of God,' &c.)-while now and then I could observe the silent tear drop from his eye. After the service, having some miles to walk to the house of a friend, where I was to stop for the night, I sent my horse before me, in order that I might converse with the people as we left the house of prayer. But none seemed so anxious as this old man, who walked for nearly three miles to speak of his distress about the salvation of his soul. Until this time he had sat under the blighting influence of an Arian ministry, the effect of which seemed to have banished every principle of truth from his heart; but he now, to use his own words, felt that there must be a Divine Jesus to save lost sinners. Often and earnestly did he exclaim, 'Oh, that Jesus would break my hard heart, and wash me in his blood!' On this Saviour I pressed him to cast all his hopes for pardon; and thus speaking we came to that part of the road where I must leave him to cross the country. He was unwilling to part with me; but at last said, 'Oh, sir, will you pray for me?—pray that God may have mercy upon a poor lost sinner, that comes to him at the eleventh hour!' With another friend we retired to the other side of the field, and there, with the blue heavens for our covering, and angels as our witnesses, did we pour out our souls to God. It was a sweet moment, and we all felt it good to kneel on the grass in prayer. We arose, shook hands, and parted. The old man's heart was too full to speak. He has been several times at our meeting since, and from all that I can learn of him, he seems on the way to Zion."

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

BRIEF MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR BRITISH MISSIONS, HELD IN EAST PARADE CHAPEL, LEEDS,

On Thursday, October 12th, 1843.

THAT the Gospel of Jesus Christ may spread and reign throughout the world, human society on the widest scale must be prepared to receive it, and to furnish facilities for its propagation. Thus, the way of the Lord must be prepared. Rough places must be made plain, and crooked places must be made straight. Every valley must be elevated, every mountain and hill made low. This is done by advances in liberty, in literature, in commerce and the arts, in a knowledge of the true principles of government, and in the free, active intercourse of nations. As all these advancements of society furnish facilities for the spread of the Gospel, it is the wisdom and the duty of Christ's servants to avail themselves of them all, for the fulfilment of the great commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." This has been done. Along all these lines of action thus opened for them, the propagators of the Gospel are moving with great vigour and effect.

Colonization is another great opening for the spread of the Gospel, distinct from those already named, yet including them all; for a British colony is an extension of liberty, literature, commerce, and art. It is a new experiment in the great science of forming and governing communities, and opens a new path for the busy traffic of nations. It is plain that Providence is employing Colonization as an additional means for the spread of His Gospel. His servants must therefore avail themselves of this, as of every other facility for their great work. They must send missionaries to the colonies; plant churches in the colonies; prepare in the colonies the elements of future societies, for the still wider spread of the glorious Gospel.

The European colonization of distant regions is now almost exclusively British. They are slips from the noble old oak of British Protestantism, British liberty, the British tongue and literature, character and institutions, that are now being planted, and are now taking root in the fairest unoccupied regions of the globe. What an obvious indication of the design and will of Providence! What a stirring thought in the mind of an English Christian !

British emigration fluctuates from year to year-in 1842, it exceeded one hundred thousand persons; in 1843, it will probably be much less. But take the average of a term of years, and it is certain, steady, and increasing. All probabilities indicate that its future amount will exceed the past. Already the European colonists in the British American and Australian possessions, exceed two millions.

Every one of the great denominations of Christians is in full activity in the colonies. Your own Society is in the eighth year of its operations. It has aided in sending out, or in supporting in the colonies, about forty ministers of these, thirty three still derive part of their support from its funds. It is assisting in the education of thirteen young ministers for colonial service-nine at Toronto, for Canada Westfour at Montreal, for Canada East.

Two brethren have recently gone forth under its auspices, to labour in the colony of New Brunswick.-Mr. Porter, late of Crediton, at his own charges, but with the cordial sanction of the committee, to a church at Sheffield, in that province. Mr. Gallaway, late of West Bromwich, to commence a mission at St. John, New Brunswick, an important city, containing more than thirty thousand inhabitants, as the accredited agent of the Society.

To carry on the work effectively, ministers of mature powers, character, and experience, must, for many years to come, be sent forth from Britain to occupy the

principal stations. Several such have already gone forth with the greatest and most obvious advantage to the work. Several more are, at the present time, wanted, and applied for. To extend and perpetuate the work, a native ministry must be trained in the colonies. The Society is assisting in this indispensable department of effort in the Canadas. The Committee has offered like assistance, for the same object, to the churches and brethren in the Australian colonies.

The income of the Society is very inadequate. For the seven years during which the Society has been in operation, its average annual income has been, in round figures, £2350. Its income last year, in contributions from the churches, did not much exceed that average sum. Its present operations cannot be sustained without an annual expenditure of more than three thousand pounds.

The past labours of the Society have been blessed with great success. At present, the calls and openings for its operations are greater than ever. The hopes of the future unite with past experience and present facts, to commend Colonial Missions to the sympathy, liberality, and prayers of the churches.

TRANSACTIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

GENERAL EDUCATION.

THE Committee on general education, appointed by the meeting of the Congregational Union, held at Leeds in October, has resolved to invite delegates from the churches to a conference on this great question, to assemble at the Congregational Library, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 13th and 14th of December, the Chair to be taken each day at half-past nine o'clock in the morning, and services to be held in the evenings also.

This is a very important proceeding. The occasion is great. If the churches of the Metropolis and of the provinces respond to this call, such a meeting may be assembled, and such measures may be adopted, as will be an honour and a strength to our body, and a blessing to our country. If they fail to respond, and the meeting and its results be, in consequence, feeble, a noble opportunity will be lost, and our churches will be pronounced incapable of any great and united movement. But this we will not anticipate, knowing that the proposal for a conference has been adopted, not only with the sanction, but by the advice of some of the most influential of our brethren in the provinces.

The proceeding is, indeed, indispensable, if anything worthy of our denomination is to be done in the present great and general movement for the education of the people. Nothing but such a meeting will secure the necessary union, mutual understanding, impulse, and strength, without which our efforts can be but feeble and desultory at the best.

ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES,

HELD AT LEEDS, ON THE NINTH, TENTH, ELEVENTH, AND TWELFTH OF

OCTOBER, 1843.

The people of England must be educated. The work is great, but it must be done. The Congregational body must do its part in this great work. What requires to be done, must be done with vigour, and without delay. The Committee appointed to promote this great movement among the Congregational churches, feels that a charge full of importance and responsibility has been devolved on it. Its plans of action are

not yet matured; but the Committee will not, therefore, keep silence on the great subject confided to its advocacy.

1. NEW SCHOOLS.-Congregationalists must at once originate many more daily schools; schools of their own, schools formed by co-operation with other Christians or both, as the wants of different localities may require, or as preference may be given to one of several modes of action. It is not necessary, it is not practicable to prescribe one uniform mode of procedure in all cases. It is not in harmony with the spirit of our body to be bound by prescribed rules of detail; but, whatever Congregationalists do, they will do on catholic principles, and in a generous spirit. In some instances daily schools may be required for the children of the numerous poor families in immediate connexion with the church and congregation. Such schools will be appropriately connected with the churches, being for the education of their own poor, and sustained by their own resources. Even in these same localities, or in the near neighbourhood of such churches, there may be an ignorant and neglected population, requiring what may be termed Missionary Schools. For overtaking the necessities of such neighbourhoods, Congregational churches will be prepared to act vigorously and harmoniously with other Christians, on the British and Foreign School system. In many towns, to secure any daily schools on liberal principles, Christians of different denominations must combine and establish schools on that system completely carried out. Here, again, Congregationalists will be found prompt to act with their Protestant brethren of other communions, contributing heartily their influence to such efforts-both their local influence and such as the Central Committee may be able to supply.

2. GOOD SCHOOLS.-The daily schools established by the efforts of Congregationalists must be good schools. They must provide for good instruction in knowledge, and for good training in morals. A good school will almost maintain itself,—an inferior school we cannot uphold. Nothing will sustain our schools, but a reputation for superiority. This we must give them. They must be seminaries of knowledge, morals, and religion. There must be a wise and vigorous system for raising the mind, and forming the character of the children. Education in England quite as much requires to be improved as to be extended. It is certainly quite as much the appropriate department of Congregationalists to raise the character of education, as to promote its wider diffusion.

3. INFANT SCHOOLS.-These form an admirable commencement in a course of effectual training for the children of the poor. In many cases they will be desirable; in some, they will be indispensable. As the daily education of the children must so generally terminate at an early age, almost a necessity is created that it should commence very soon. Nor can anything be more important than to rescue from evil influences those years, when the opening faculties must be most powerfully acted on for good or for evil. As these years are used or neglected, so will subsequent education be facilitated or rendered all but impracticable.

4. EVENING SCHOOLS.-There should be evening schools established for the scholars, whom the necessity of labour forces from the daily schools, while yet their education is quite incomplete. An hour or two for each of four evenings in the week would be of inestimable value to the pupils for several years after they have left the daily schools. Every effort should be made to render these evening instructions attractive and pleasant. The education given in the daily schools, unless thus followed up, will wither away and be lost. This is the period when character is formed; when habits and connexions are established; when it is determined what the man or the woman shall be. Infant and daily schools, followed up by evening schools, and both assisted by the holy and happy influences of Sabbath-schools, will provide the education we want. Less than this will be incomplete, inefficient.