Page images
PDF
EPUB

At three o'clock, met to receive the Report of the Auxiliary Missionary Society; Mr. Crook prayed: the Report was read by Mr. Pengilly. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Williamson, Stowell (Independent), Ruston, and Pengilly. Mr. Fisher concluded with prayer.

In the evening, at six, Mr. Stowell commenced by reading and prayer. Mr. Douglas preached the Missionary sermon from Isa. xlv. 24. Mr. Williamson concluded.

re

Twentieth Half-yearly Meeting at Burton Mills. Three sermons were preached on the occasion, that in the morning by Mr. Ward, of Soham; in the afternoon by Mr. Dallison, of Soham; and in the evening by Mr. Cater, of Newmarket. A collection was made in the afternoon for the London and Baptist Missionary Societies, amounting to seven pounds three shillings.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

The ministers and messengers assembled next morning at nine o'clock for business, (Mr. Williamson, Modera- Ordination of Mr. R. G. Le Maire, at tor,) when it was resolved:

1. That the Report of the Committee of the Auxiliary Missionary Society be approved and printed: to which be appended the Minutes of the Association, list of subscribers, &c.

2. That the reasons assigned by the central Committee for altering the time of the Anniversary, and uniting it with the Annual Meeting of this Association, be admitted and approved, and in future they be united accordingly.

3. That it be recommended to each of the Branches, that a congregational collection, in aid of the Mission, be made in each place once a year.

4. That it appears to us very desirable, if the churches of this union would raise funds sufficient, that an Itinerant should be employed in our district, to preach in the more destitute parts; and that the ministers be requested to ascertain what assistance may be raised for this object, to be reported at our next Meeting.

5. That the pamphlet prepared by Mr. Pengilly, in compliance with the request of the Association at our last Meeting, on the Constitution of a Christian Church, Principles of Dissent, and the Duties of Church Members, be printed as soon as convenient, and recommended to all the members of our churches.

6. That the next Association (with the Anniversary of the Missionary Society,) be held at Stockton-on-Tees, on Tuesday and Wednesday in Whitsun-week, 1826; that Messrs. Williamson, Fisher, and Crook, be appointed to preach: Mr. Williamson the Missionary sermon.

JAMES WILLIAMSON, Moderator. North Shields, June 21, 1825.

Half-yearly Meeting of the Association for the Isle of Ely.

ON Thursday, the 16th of June, 1825, the Baptist and Independent ministers, connected with the Association for the Isle of Ely, and its vicinity, held their

Norwich.

G. Le Maire (late of Ipswich,) was orON Wednesday, May 18, 1825, Mr. R. dained pastor of the Particular Baptist Church assembling at Rehoboth Chapel, Union-place, Norwich. Mr. Bean, of Aylsham, gave out the hymns, and read the scriptures; Mr. Spanton, of Foulsham, prayed; Mr. Williams, of Dereham, stated the nature of a gospel church, and asked the usual questions; the Rev. T. Griffin, of Prescot-street, London, offered the ordination prayer, and gave the charge, from Lam. iii. 24: Mr. Pickers, of Ingham, concluded with prayer. Service commenced in the evening at halfpast six, when Messrs. Winter and Coppin led the devotional services, and Mr. Pickers preached to the church and congregation, from Heb. xiii. 7.

Ordination of Mr. Brewer, at Sheldon,
Devon.

ON Wednesday, May 25, 1825, Mr. E. H. Brewer was set apart to the pastoral office over the Baptized Church of Christ at Sheldon, Devon, when Mr. Mason, of Exeter, commenced the morning service by giving out a hymn; Mr. Strutt, (Independent, Teignmouth,) read the scripture, and prayed; Mr. Wayland, of Lyme, gave a scriptural description of a Christian church, asked the usual questions, and received the confession of faith; Mr. Nicholson, Sen. of Kingsbridge, offered up the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands; Mr. Ŏ. Clarke, of Taunton, gave a very judicious charge to the pastor, founded on the 28th of the 20th of Acts; Mr. Clewlow (Independent, Shaldon,) concluded with prayer. Kingsbridge, commenced, by giving out In the evening, Mr. Nicholson, Jun. of a hymn; Mr. Wilson, of Topsham, read and prayed; Mr. Baynes, of Wellington, delivered an impressive charge to the people, from the former part of the 28th verse of the 3rd chapter of Deuteronomy:

Mr. Nicholson, Sen. Kingsbridge, concluded in prayer.

The services were highly interesting, the congregation very numerous and attentive. And our prayer is, "O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity!"

New Meeting-house opened at Watchet,

Somersetshire.

MARCH 17, 1824, A new substantial and commodious Meeting-house, forty feet by twenty-six, was opened at Watchet, Somersetshire. Messrs. Crisp and Winter, of Bristol; and Sprague, of Bovey Tracey, addressed the congregations which met during the day, from suitable portions of the divine word; and Messrs. Cherry, of Bampton; Gabriel, of Stogumber; Elliott, of Peniton; Buck, of Wiviliscombe; Carey, of Stogurcy; and Sturges, minister at the place, engaged in the devotional services.

On June 11, 1825, Mr. Thomas Sturges, lately under the care of Mr. Kilpin, of Exeter, was set apart to the pastoral office over the Church assembling in the above meeting. Mr. O. Clarke, of Taunton, opened the solemn services of the day, by stating the nature of a gospel church, and asking the usual questions. Mr. Tyso, the former pastor, prayed the ordination prayer. Mr. Viney, of Bridgewater, in the absence of Mr. Kilpin, (prevented by illness) gave the charge; and Mr. Tyso addressed the church. The other parts of these services were conducted by several Pædobaptist and Baptist brethren, and the services of the day were very interesting.

evening, Mr. Chapman, of Yeovil, read and prayed; Mr. Baynes, of Wellington, preached to the church from 2 Pet. i. 13.; and Mr. Chapman concluded by prayer the interesting and deeply impressive services of the day.

New Meeting-house opened at Haworth, Yorkshire.

ON Wednesday, May 18, 1825, a new and commodious place of worship was opened for the use of the second Baptist Church and Congregation, meeting in Haworth, Yorkshire. In the morning, Mr. Jackson, of Hebden Bridge, read the scriptures and prayed. Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, preached from Phil. i. 12. "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." And Mr. Trickett, of Bromley, concluded with prayer. In the afternoon, Mr. Scott, of Colne, read the scriptures and prayed. Mr. Ely, of Rochdale, (Independent) preached from 1 Pet. ii. 9, 10. a chosen generation, &c." Mr. Holroyd, of Wainsgate, concluded. In the even ing, Mr. Foster, of Farsley, prayed. Mr. Godwin, of Bradford, preached from Rev. xxii. 17. "The spirit and the bride say come, &c." A large and respectable congregation attended, and the services of the day highly interesting.

Ye are

On the 22nd, the following Lord's-day, three sermons were preached in the newly erected building; that in the morning, by Mr. M. Saunders, (the minister of the place) from Zech. vi. 13. " He shall bear the glory." Those in the afternoon and evening, by Mr. Lister, of Liverpool, from New Meeting-house opened at Montacute, Matt. xxviii. 6. and Exod. xii. 26, 27.

Somerset.

ON Wednesday, the 2nd of February, 1825, was opened the New Baptist Meeting-house at Montacute, Somerset.

Mr. Whitby, of Yeovil, commenced the morning service by reading and prayer; and Mr. Clarke, of Taunton, preached from Haggai ii. 7. In the afternoon, Mr. Joseph Price, son of the late Mr. Price, pastor of the Baptist church at Yeovil, was ordained to the pastoral office, over the recently formed church. Mr. Crook, of Crewkerne, read and prayed. Mr. Horsey, of Wellington, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions. Mr. Cox, of Horsington, offer ed the ordination prayer. Mr. Toms, of Chard, delivered the charge from Col. iv. 17. and Mr. Paltridge, (Independent) of South Petherton, concluded. In the

The chapel was crowded to excess, and many went away who could not gain admittance. Collections were made on each of the above days, which, in the whole, amounted to £110 4s. 1d.

Notwithstanding the laudable exertions of the friends on the spot in contributing towards the new erection, a considerable debt still remains to be liquidated. They will be under the necessity of appealing to the Christian public for assistance, and it is sincerely hoped that the appeal will not be made in vain. All who are acquainted with the interest know, that the few who are possessed of property among them, have uniformly and generously contributed towards other cases; and on that account they may be considered as having a claim on the benevolence of others.

[ocr errors]

NOTICE.

ANNIVERSARY, PECKHAM. THE Sixth Anniversary of the Baptist Church, meeting in the Rye Lane, will be held, by Divine permission, on Wednesday, the 10th of August, when three sermons will be preached: that in the

morning, by Dr. Andrews, of Walworth, at eleven o'clock; in the afternoon, by Mr. Stevens, of London, at three; and in the evening, by Mr. Smith, of Ilford, at halfpast six o'clock.

After each service, a collection will be made towards liquidating the remaining debt.

ELEGIAC LINES

On the late Rev. Dr. RYLAND.

SHALL poets celebrate in lofty strains,
The sons of vict'ry, who have bled,
And bravely fallen among the dead,
On the ensanguin'd battle plains?
Shall they adorn their fun'ral lay
With wreathes of laurel, or of bay,
Around their gilded trophies hung,
Rais'd on the bloody field?
And shall the Christian hero fall,
Admir'd, rever'd, belov'd by all;

And yet no tuneful harp be strung,
Its plaintive tones to yield?
Ah, no! the Muse

Will not refuse

Her tears to shed

Around the bed

Where Ryland sleeps beneath the dull cold clod:
And from his tomb pursue his flight,
To scenes of bliss, and realms of light,
Where aye the pure in heart behold their God.
Convoy'd by angels to his place of rest,
I see him shine among the saints above,
Who circle round the throne, supremely blest,
And lowly worshipping the God of love;
Whose grace conspicuous shone, with truth
combin'd,

To form the features of his heav'nly mind.
Where peaceful Avon pours his silent wave,
And gently rolls his genial tide along,
Whose antique tow'rs conceal the mighty grave,
Where sleeps the hero of romantic song;
Hard by that mournful classic shore,

Whose weeping willows yet distil
Their tearlike dews, in many a rill,
And still their tuneful bard deplore;
The infant first beheld the smiling day,

And there, amidst that hallow'd shade,
Oft on the flow'ry margin stray'd,
In moody pensiveness, and sportive play.
Ere yet the pow'r divine

His early harp had strung,

Aud bade him sing and shine,

To instruct and bless the young;

Till on their path arose the star of day,

To guide their willing feet in Zion's sacred way.

• Guy, Earl of Warwick, buried at Guy's Cliff, near Warwick.

[blocks in formation]

Where his unconscious relicts rest.
Ye teel the loss which ye sustain,
And as ye onward move,
With plaintive sighs, and ling'ring love,
I hear ye thus complain;

Oh Death: thy cruel shaft bas slain
The wisest sage in Wisdom's train:

Who now our steps shall guide?
Twas he, 'twas he, our boast and pride,
That mingl'd salt in Learning's spring,
Which sweetly flow'd meandering,

And pour'd the streams of knowledge round,
To heal and bless the sterile ground.

Remote in India's land,

Carey, I see thee stand,

With lifted hauds and streaming eyes,
Expressive of the sad surprise,

That Ryland first had reach'd the skies.
Last of that small associate band,
That first beheld, with pitying eye,
The paynim realms in darkness lie;

Nor pitied them alone,

But strove, with more than mortal might,
That heav'n, at length, would give them light,
Uniting heart with heart, and hand to hand,
Before the eternal throne;

Dry thy tears, and cease to weep,
He is not dead, he does but sleep.
The trump of God will sound, and he
Shall wake to life and victory.

Ye realms on whom the orb of day
Resplendent pours his dawning light,
And ye who view his latest ray
Expiring in the lap of night;

Behold a brighter sun arise,

To illuminate your darken'd skies!
Though feeble mortats fade and die,
He still pursues his course on high;
And makes the wond'ring nations prove
The glories of his truth and love.
Chelwood, June 25, 1825.

J. DEAR

Calendar for August.

2. Ceres south III. 54 aft. Altitude 41° 20'.

9. Moon passes Saturn VIII. aft. 10. Moon passes Venus VIII. 30 aft. 11. Herschel south IX. 48 aft. Altitude 15° 37'.

12. Moon passes Mars III. 40 aft.

14. New Moon VI. 58 morn. Too far

south to cast her shadow on the Earth.

14. Moon passes Jupiter XI. 45 morn. 16. Moon passes Mercury XI. 15 morn. 17. Sun (as to longitude) between the Earth and Jupiter V. 15 aft. 28. Full Moon at Noon. Too far north to pass through the Earth's shadow.

Irish Chronicle.

Speeches at the Eleventh Anniversary
of the Baptist Irish Society.

THE CHAIRMAN in opening the business of the morning, observed, that he was afraid the state of his health would

have prevented him from attending the Meeting that morning; but the pleasure that he promised himself from being among them had been so great, that he had been willing to run some risk in coming. If the present Society had ever been important, this was the time when that importance was increasing, now that the state of Ireland was more than ever shewn to be that of the grossest darkness, which could only be dispersed by the dissemination of the Scriptures through that land. They had all heard of the religious meetings in that country having been most unprovokedly interrupted, and with great violence and intemperance. In spite of such interruptions, he hoped they were all ready to fight the battle of the Lord. When the walls of Jerusalem were built the times were turbulent, and it was necessary for the workmen to continue their operations with their weapons at hand, that was the case with them, and, while they pitied and commiserated the ignorance of their opponents, it would be necessary for them to join fortitude with their desire for peace. How could they do otherwise when a Catholic Bishop distinguished himself by pronouncing the touch of the Bible to be infectious, and by praising the conduct of a peasant who had taken hold of that precious volume with a pair of tongs that his fingers might not come in contact with it? Surely, when such things as these took place in Ireland,

it was time to exert themselves! At the coronation of the King, a most august ceremony took place between the sovereign and the public. On that sacred occasion the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the rest of the Bishops in the train, presented to the King the sacred volume, as the most sacred thing the whole world contained; and the Sovereign received it in token of his agreement in that truth. Was such a ceremony as this an idle farce? Were they to be insulted by hearing this solemn day called an idle ceremony? In his opinion, truth, wisdom,

and sobriety, were characteristic of the whole; and though he knew that all who then heard him were Dissenters, he was sure that he should be supported by them and King against the Pope and Cathoin calling upon them to sustain the Church

licism.

Wade, moved the first Resolution. There
which emboldened him to hope that he
The Rev. Mr. Middleditch, of Biggles-
should be able to attract the attention of
the Meeting. The Committee had to la-
was one subject mentioned in the Report
ment the loss of several valuable friends,
and, though their place could not be ex-
thiness of the object, he was sure, would
pected to be fully supplied, yet the wor-
object of the Society was not sectarian or
summon many friends to its aid. The
political, but to emancipate those from
the darkness in which Ireland was in-
volved, and bring it to the light of salva-
bore the authority of Heaven: the circu-
lation of the Holy Scriptures and the
tion. The means adopted by the Society
Ireland the way it should go; if those
Education of the Poor, were rapidly
Scriptures were not to be received, they
opening the regions of light, and teaching
could no longer wonder at crime setting
fortunately, it had pleased God to crown
with no inconsiderable success, the efforts
up its handywork on those shores. But,
of the Society; they heard of 8000 chil-
dren educating by its means, in the right
dren on the bed of death, shewing that
the labour bestowed had not been thrown
way, and instances were given of chil-
away upon them. They need not wonder
the Society; for centuries ago the Jew-
ish Priests had combined together to
that opposition should be raised against
oppose the Gospel, and as long as there
and to the salvation of Jesus Christ;
were worldly men, there would be op-
position to the spread of the Gospel,
would descend, and pour the spirit of
that Gospel on its most strenuous op
but they trusted that the spirit of God
ponents. On the whole, he felt great
pleasure in proposing his Resolution to
the sanction of the Meeting. The success
that had crowned the Society, evinced
the presence of the great Head of the
Church, and, indeed, if the cause were
Christ's, how could it do other than pre-
vail? He moved-

"1. That this Meeting sincerely res
21

Joices at the success, which has attended the labours of this Society during the past year, would consider it as a pledge of the continued approbation of the Head of the Church, and as a motive to renewed energy and zeal, and resolves that the Report now read, detailing that success, be adopted, and circulated under the direction of the Committee."

The Rev. Mr. Edwards seconded the Resolution. With regard to the objects of the Society, there was not much to be said peculiar to it. It was locality alone that gave it its chief claim to attention. Why it had been so long neglected, he could not tell. It had not even the apology of the Edinburgh watchman, who, on being asked why he did not give the alarm, had pleaded, that he was asleep, and that besides, it was behind the box, and therefore not visible to him. But how was Ireland "behind the box?" It was a distinct branch of the empire, and the eyes of Englishmen were daily turned towards it. Besides, they had a direct command to go into all the world, and teach the Gospel to all people; but if there had not been an apathy displayed to go, there had, at least, been a very criminal negligence in doing that without which they never would be meeting the commands of God, or the wants of man. If man was hungry, thirsty, or sick, he wished the advice of the physician or the lawyer; but, in a spiritual disease, it was his nature to shew a coldness and carelessness which rendered a cure extremely difficult. Sir W. Curtis had said respecting the Corn Laws, that a man should do his best, and, after that, his next best, and then all would be best: so with respect to Ireland, if it was not in his power to disseminate the scriptures-his best, let him at least give education to the children-his next best; and even this latter was of no little importance, for in a very short space of time the children sprung up to be the reading part of the world; and he remembered visiting Lancashire after a lapse of ten years, when he found those children who had been accustomed to bring their pennies to the Sunday School had cheerfully subscribed their guineas. The consideration that there were so many Missionary Societies, so far from weakening the claims of any one, only gave all a greater claim, for it was a stronger proof of the necessity for their existence, and the circulation of the Report was the more requisite, that the claims of the Society should attack every man at his own fireside. As the day rose let the diligence be doubled, for the church was the light of the world, and those who had already been called to the light of

grace were the most likely to call others to the same light, till it spread further and further, and at last illumined the whole world.

The Rev. Josiah Wilson, of Boyle, observed, that he felt pleasure in being now called upon to address the Meeting,because he thereby followed a Gentleman connected with the Home Missionary Society. No one could rejoice more than he did in the operations and success of Foreign Missions: but the term home is peculiarly interesting to every feeling mind, and in its welfare he considered himself as especially engaged. He was aware that it was too long the practice in this country to consider Ireland as a foreign station; but he hoped that time was gone by, and that it will in future be treated as a part of the British empire. There is something particularly interesting to the inquiring and feeling mind, in whatever view Ireland is contemplated; but its moral aspect is the most interesting to the Christian, and to render it more pleasing must be the desire of his heart. That he has had an opportunity of witnessing its real situation, he is far from regretting; on the contrary, when the Lord disposed his mind to engage publicly in his work, he determined that wherever Providence appeared to open the way, there he would go; at which time he had not the most distant idea that his lot would be cast in Ireland, though he now rejoiced that it had been such, for he thought he might with modesty affirm, that the Lord had in some measure blessed his exertions. To say that there are difficulties to be encountered in attempting the moral and spiritual improvement of Ireland, would be to repeat what has been a thousand times told, but of which no one can form au adequate conception without witnessing it.

Allusion was made in the Report to the opposition of some of the Roman Catholic priests to the Schools of the Society; this may be considered as a general thing, but he was happy to say, it is not universal, and he mentioned it to the honour of those who form the exceptions. Several priests encourage the Schools, two of whom are mentioned in the Report, and others have sent men to him, recommending them to be employed as schoolmasters in their parishes. This shows that the church of Rome does not enjoy that oneness of which it boasts, either in principle or in practice. In the observations he intended to make, he should first speak generally of the good that has been effected by our own and other Societies in Ireland, which are endeavouring to extend the benefits of education and the circulation of the scrip

« PreviousContinue »