of the Rev. H. Hawkins; when three impressive sermons were preached by the Rev. Jenkin Thomas, of Cheltenham, in the morning, from Nehemiah x. 39; in the afternoon, from Isaiah liii. 10; and by the Rev. Robert Stodhart, of London, in the evening, from 2 Cor. iii. 9. The devotional parts of the service were conducted by Messrs. Thomas, Wootton-under-edge; Sutton, missionary; White, Cirencester; Drayton, Gloucester; Rogers, Monmouth; and Richards, Stonebenge. Large and attentive congregations were present. We understand a congre gation of six hundred people attend, and a church of twenty members is formed.

JULY 22, 1824, the Rev. John Wood was set apart to the pastoral office over the Baptist church, at Uffculm, Devon. The Rev. Mr. Singleton, of Tiverton, began the service by reading and prayer; Rev. Mr. Viney, of Bridgewater, delivered the introductory discourse, asked the usual questions, and received the confession of faith. Rev. Mr. Thomas, of Prescot, offered up the ordination prayer, Rev. Dr. Rippon gave a charge from Judges xix. 30,"Take advice;" Rev. Mr. Horsey, of Wellington, addressed the church from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; and Rev. Mr. Williams, (Independent) of Uffculm, closed the interesting services of the day in prayer.

LANDOGO, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

ON September 29, 1824, a new meeting house was opened at Landogo, Monmouthshire; Mr. Jones, of Cardiff, read and prayed; Mr. Davis, of Bristol Academy, preached from Luke viii. 18, "Take heed how ye hear;" Mr. Jones, of Gorsely, concluded with prayer. In the afternoon, Mr. Burroughes, from the Baptist church at Horsely, was ordained, in the same place, to the pastoral care of the Baptist church, at Penhalt; Mr. Wright, of Lidbrook, read and prayed; Mr. John Fry, of Coleford, delivered the introductory discourse, asked the usual questions, and received Mr. Burroughes's statement of his experience, and confession of faith; Mr. Robert Fry, of Hatch, offered up the ordination prayer; Mr. Winterbotham delivered the charge, from 1 Tim. iii. 1; Mr. Jones, of Cardiff, preached to the people, from 1 Thess. v. 12; and Mr. Lewis, of Chepstow, concluded with prayer.

ISLE OF ELY ASSOCIATION.

THE Baptist and Independent Ministers, associated in the Isle of Ely and its vicinity, held their nineteenth half-hearly meeting at Stretham, on Wednesday, October 6th; when three sermons were preached, by brethren Reynolds and Compton, of Isleham, and Green, of Bluntisham. A collection was made in the afternoon, in aid of the respective missions, amounting to £4 2s.

Ordination of Mr. J. Forster, at Scarbro'.

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On Wednesday, Nov. 3, Mr. J. Forster, late of Bradford Academy, was publicly recognized as pastor of the Baptist church, Scarborough. Mr. M'Pherson, of Hull, commenced the services by reading and prayer; Mr. Harness, of Burlington, stated the nature of a Christian church, and proposed the usual questions; Dr. Steadman, (Mr. F.'s tutor) offered up the ordination prayer, and delivered the charge from Colossians iv. 17; and Mr. Thonger, of Hull, preached to the church, from Matthew x. 41; Messrs. Normanton, Sykes, (Methodists) and Morley, (Independent) were engaged in devotional exercises. The services of the day appeared deeply to interest a numerous and attentive audience.

ELLINGHAM, NORFOLK.

ON Thursday, Nov. 4, 1824, a new Chapel was opened at Ellingham, in the County of Norfolk, for the use of the Particular Baptist Church in that place, under the pastoral care of Mr. Hatcher.

In the morning, Mr. Williams, of East Dereham, preached from Psalm cxviii. 25; in the afternoon, Mr. Kinghorn, of Norwich, preached from Psalm xc. 15; and in the evening, Mr. Williams preached from Romans v. 7, 8, 9. The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Hatcher, Kinghorn, Atkins (of Wymonham, Independent), and Williams.

There has been a Particular Baptist Church at Ellingham for upwards of 110 years. The old meeting-house had been long in a decayed state, and for several years past the people have been subscribing for the new Chapel. They had raised about £400 before they began to build, and about £150 more is requisite to clear all the expenses of the building: which sum (with the exception of about £19 collected when the Chapel was opened),

they intend to raise among themselves, without making any application to the public-this is praiseworthy, though they have a small endowment.

London Baptist Building Fund.

THIS Institution bids fair to become a permanent blessing to the poor churches of our denomination. Some gentlemen, we believe, are inclined to leave property for its support; and many, it is hoped, will follow their example. It has, therefore, been thought necessary to consult eminent counsel respecting the mode in which it may safely be done. The following Form of Bequest has been furnished by Mr. Preston, an eminent Conveyancer, and is recommended to those benevolent persons who may be disposed to favour the Society in their wills.

The following FORM OF A BEQUEST, settled by Mr. Preston, an eminent Conveyancer, is recommended to such benevolent Persons as may be disposed to give Money, by their Wills, for the Purposes of the Society.

I give the sum of pounds sterling, to be paid out of that part of my personal estate, which may by law be given with effect for charitable purposes, and to be paid within three calendar months after my decease, and in preference to any other legacy payable out of that fund; and the same legacy to be paid to the Treasurer for the time being of the Society, called "The London Baptist Building Fund," and his receipt shall be a sufficint discharge for the same legacy; and this legacy to be by such Treasurer laid out at interest, in the names of the Trustees for the time being of the said Society, (according to its present, or any future establishment,) and to be transferred by them to the succeeding Trustees for the time being of the said Society; and such interest from time to time as received, to

be applied by the Committee for the time being of the said Society, or the major part of them, towards assisting any Congregations selected for that purpose by the said Committees, or the major part of them, of Protestant Dissenters of the Particular Baptist Denomination, to discharge the debts due to tradesmen and builders, and previously incurred in building, repairing, or enlarging Places of Worship for Dissenters of that denomination, on lands or grounds previously settled for the purposes of Divine worship by such Dissenters, in any parts of the United Kingdom, or for any other pur poses of the said Society, consistent with the laws against mortmain, and to be determined on by the Committee for the time being, or the major part of them.

N.B. If the Testator should intend the whole Legacy to be applied at once, the words which, in the above Form, are printed in italics, must be left out.

NOTICES.

THE Annual Sermon for the Relief of

the Necessitous Widows and Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, will be preached on Wednesday, the 6th of April next, at the Old Jewry Chapel, removed to Jewin-street, in Aldersgate-street, by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, of Stepney. Service to begin at twelve o'clock at noon precisely.

The Subscribers and Friends to the Society will afterwards dine together at the Albion, Aldersgate-street.

A General Meeting will be held by the Port of London Society for promoting Religion among Seamen, at the Argyle Rooms in Regent-street, on Thursday, the 24th of February, 1825, when a Report will be made by the Committee.

The Chair will be taken at Twelve o'clock, and timely notice will be given of the Nobleman, or the Naval Officer, who will preside at the Meeting.

3. Full Moon XI. 15 morn. Too far south to pass through the Earth's shadow.

3. Moon passes Jupiter O. 45 morn. 7. Ceres south III. 1 morn. Altitude 52° 34'.

12. Herschel south IX. 35 morn. Altitude 15° 49'.

14. Moon passes Herschel I. aft. 15. Moon passes Mercury IV. aft. 17. New Moon X. 5 aft. Too far north to cast her shadow on the Earth. 20. Moon passes Mars I. 30 morn. 22. Moon passes Venus II. 45 morn. 25. Moon passes Saturn II. 40 aft.

It has been properly remarked, by one of our public journalists, in reference to the late discussions in Ireland between Protestant clergymen and Roman Catholic priests, that this might be considered as the commencement of the Protestant reformation in that country. Hitherto, generally speaking, Protestantism, and Popery in Ireland, have been terms for designating two hostile and implacable political parties; rather than those on the one side protesting against the gross antiscriptural corruptions of the Romish church; and those on the other, who maintain all the absurd traditions appended to Christian institutions; and the blasphemous notions of the infallibility of the Pope, and the power of the priests to absolve from sin, &c.

It is a providential circumstance, that the late debates have been confined to the single question; " Whether the people in general, had, or had not, the right of reading the scriptures, and of judging for themselves, without the assistance of notes and comments, or the instructions of the clergy as to what were the doctrines they were to believe, and the precepts they were to obey?" This is a question so plain, that all can easily understand it; and so important to their soul's welfare, that it may be expected, all will powerfully feel it.

The debates at Carrick-on-Shannon, and at Carlow, were confined, on the part of Protestants, to clergymen of the Church of England; the Roman Catholic priests having objected to dispute with Protestant dissenting ministers, because they had not received the jure divino ordination; and, consequently, could not prove their uninterrupted succession from the apostles!! A recent debate, however, has been held at Easky, near Ballina, when they condescended to enter the lists with nonconformist ministers! Two missionaries of the Irish Evangelical Society, Messrs. Jordan and Murray, having been challenged to this public discussion, by the Rev. Mr. Devins, the priest of the parish.

About four hours were employed on Monday, the 22nd of November, 1824. They met again the following day, at ten o'clock; and employed seven hours in debating the subjects at issue. The missionaries were accompanied by Mr. M'Kaag, our itinerant, at Ballina; and Mr. Urwick, (Independent) of Sligo. The

Rev. Mr. Devins was assisted by Messrs. Lewis, of Ballina; and Hughes, of Crossmolina; it was finally closed at the urgent request of the Roman Catholic priests.

The discussion was held in the Roman Catholic chapel, and, it is said, a more interesting sight to Protestants perhaps never was witnessed in that country; about six hundred people attended each day, a very considerable majority of whom were Catholics. The pictures hung round the chapel as objects of worship, were taken down for the occasion, and placed (face downward) on the back of the altar, on the steps of which all the speakers stood to address the meeting; and from thence the doctrines of redemption only, by the priesthood and sacrifice of Immanuel, were published; and the authority and suffi ciency of the Bible asserted. The enemy had mustered strong, in the full confidence of crushing and exposing the humble and zealous missionaries. All his attempts, however, proved abortive; and he himself gladly and gratefully retired from the encounter.

It is thought by competent persons, that the Easky discussion is better calcu lated for general usefulness, than any other that has been published. The effect produced by it, so far as we have been able to ascertain, far surpassed that of even the Carrick meeting.

A minister in Ireland says,

"We greatly wish there was some mode of supplying the reports gratuitous. ly. I rather doubt the propriety of insisting upon their being disposed of only by purchase. Thousands upon thousands would be read, if the real friends of the gospel had the power of giving them; more than will be otherwise distributed. We cannot expect the Roman Catholics to buy them. I understand the Roman Catholic clergymen in some parts, are publishing and distributing the speeches in tracts."

In the preliminary rules it was agreed that, "The question to be discussed, is the propriety of the indiscriminate reading of the Bible, and the right of private judgment in its interpretation; and making it the sole rule of faith."

The debate was opened by Mr. Murray, the Irish missionary, who spoke about twenty-five minutes for the purpose, principally, of proving by quotations from the scriptures, that it is the revealed will of

God, they should be read by all persons indiscriminately; He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Devins, parish priest of Easky, who undertook to prove, that regular ordination was necessary to authorize any person to explain the scriptures; thereby intimating, that Messrs. Murray and Jordan, were "intruders into the fold of Christ, and had no commission, either from God or his Church, to preach the gospel." Mr. Jordan, who followed, returned this compliment of Mr. Devins. Referring to the Council at Jerusalem, Acts xv. respecting whether the rite of circumcision was binding upon Gentile converts, he quoted, " And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written." He added, "Now you see there was no allusion to the decision of a priesthood to decide the question; because, my friends, there is no priesthood under the present dispensation, but the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ." The Rev. Mr. Hughes exclaimed, "Really, Mr. Chairman, I am inclined to protest against such language before a Christian chairman, and Christian audience; it is calculated to cause a rebellion in the country." The Rev. Mr. Devins, said, "Let the public, Mr. Chairman, allow him and others of his description, to proceed as he has proceeded this day; and what will be the consequence-was there ever an harangue made before any audience so calculated to irritate and excite the minds of any people into acts of violence and rebellion, as the words which dropped from him; which, if the present audience, both Catholics and Protestants, take notice of the doctrine taught this day, with what feelings would they leave this house -they would go home to their dwellings, and repeat in their families the fine doc. trine they heard from the preacher. We will have no more priests nor ministers, and we will pay no more tithes nor priest's dues-no, we will take the Bible into our hands, it will be quite sufficient for us; the preacher says, it is better for us to have nothing to do with either priests or ministers." He then mentioned an instance of a Bible reader in his parish, who, after having got the confidence of his neighbours, abused it by defrauding them and who justified his conduct by saying, that "Almighty God ordered the children of Israel to act so to the Egyptians, and this was his authority for robbing the people of their property." He concluded by saying, "Now, my friends, look and judge whether the discourses of these gentlemen are calculated to produce either morality or religion amongst you?"

The Rev. Mr. M'Kaag followed, and urged that the great concern of all should

be, whether Roman Catholics or Protestants, to experience what our Lord had made essential to salvation, when he said, "Ye must be born again." "It is," said he, "the Bible that shall make them wise unto salvation. Now Timothy knew the scriptures from his childhood; and he was commended by St. Paul for it. Shall we then attempt to keep the scriptures from the young, or from those that are old, when God has sent them that they might be made wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. Then we disclaim all authority with regard to the traditions of men: foolish traditions handed down to us by men."

The Rev. Mr. Hughes replied:—“ I shall endeavour to prove," said he, “that the indiscriminate ́perusal of the Holy Scriptures is contrary to the constitution of the Roman Catholic Church; and that it renders conversion to her bosom almost impossible. It opens the flood-gates of immorality and error, and leaves man to himself at last to die in infidelity"!!—“ The indiscriminate reading of the Bible never can give that firm conviction to those who read it that they are right, and if they die in that state, having no certain authority to go by, miserable indeed must be their situation, wretched are they who turn from the bosom of the holy Catholic church-they are tossed about by every wind that blows: but not so with those who are directed by the Catholic church-they have a guiding star to direct them, which they follow until it bears them into the harbour of celestial bliss. But look at the sectarian in the hour of death-he looks back and trembles; he has opposed the principles and purposes of Almighty God. I shall not add the consequences; but, surely, he dies in a state of infidelity-because, as I said before, he never can have that firm persuasion of the doctrines of Christ, in order to form what is called faith."

At ten o'clock the next morning, the Rev. Mr. Urwick commenced a most argumentative, learned, and eloquent speech, which occupied him nearly four hours: there is no part but what is worth copying, it is uniformly excellent. He vindicated Dissenting ordination, and proved its scriptural authority and consequent validity :-he proved the propriety of the sentiment of Mr. Jordan, that, under the Christian dispensation, there was no order of the priesthood. He then came to the proposed subject of discussion, "Whether every man has a right to read the Word of God!" &c. &c. Here he introduced considerable quotations from a letter which had been addressed by the Right Reverend Dr. Doyle, the Popish Archbishop, to the Lord-lieutenant," in