while, at the same time, in all deeds, provision He lifted up his voice against the iniquities is made for securing the property for the of that system, till, by the religious feeling of general use of our body, and the object for British Christians, it was swept away. He which the chapels were built. When the has aided them to make equitable arrangedeputation landed in Jamaica, fifty-six deeds ments with the planters. He has measured had been recorded; thirty-nine more were pre- out with his own hand the sites of the pared during our stay, including twenty-six negroes' cottages and gardens. He has rechapels, eight schools, twenty-four mission- corded their titles. He is now sometimes houses, and 295 acres of land. ~ It has already their lawyer, sometimes their physician, and been stated that we were empowered by a always their friend. No man will assert friend or two in this country to give aid to that this constant interposition, on the part of our brethren, if we found it necessary (as was our brethren, has, in every instance, been expected) to aid them. On reaching Jamaica, wise,-that would be to claim for them superwe deemed it desirable to examine the ac- human prudence, or that such interposition Counts of the chapels before we proceeded to is generally desirable. Manly independence help them. We then formed our plans. The and self-sufficiency on the part of the people chapel-debts in the island amounted to about would obviously be preferable. The true £8500-a small sum on so large an amount defence is, that such interposition was necesof property; but part of it was pressing sary to the very being of our churches. severely upon our brethren, especially upon Without it, the churches would have been the widows of honoured missionaries who scattered, the people robbed, and peeled, and were personally responsible for it. We then oppressed, and the very name of emancipation appealed to the churches, and by giving have proved a mockery, a delusion, and a £1800 we induced them to contribute or snare. Not to have interposed when they become responsible for another £1800; and alone could have interposed, would have been we induced various friends to relinquish to side with the wrong-doer, and to alienate claims to the amount of nearly £1400 more; the affections of the people; and it has had, so that our £1800 diminished the chapel-debts in the issue, some happy and important fruits. by £5000, leaving the entire debts under It has taught the people to honour our breth£4000; a quarter part of which is not press-ren, and then to honour the religion which, ing at all. To complete chapels now in pro- in the person of the missionary, had proved gress, we also gave about £400, on an equal itself so friendly to their interests. Another amount at least being contributed by the secondary cause of success has been the people. Our £2200, therefore, has conferred union subsisting in the churches. There is on the island an advantage represented by no jealousy, no quarrelling, no suspicions. £5800. The gratitude of the people, the At the very time when our brethren had relief to the minds of our brethren and the differences between themselves, they conwidows of the missionaries, cannot be repre- cealed them from the people; and till recent sented by figures at all. But these are the unhappy disputes on one side of the island, material results of the labours of our Society: quarrelling between sister churches was unof great value in themselves, and yet more known. "We are all one concern," said one valuable as the means of the future education of the members of a church on the north side. and improvement of the people. Spiritually, "Falmouth, and Brown's Town, and St. the results are not less important. Thirty Ann's Bay, never fear trenching one another. years ago, when our mission began, there were It's only one church, and we are all brothers." a few baptists in the island. Our brethren The last cause of success, which has often laboured with zeal, though with but little occurred to me, has been the simple evanAt the end of thirteen years their gelical character of the preaching of our mischurches numbered 5000 members; in fifteen sionaries,-like Andrew's preaching,-their years, or just before the rebellion of 1832, message has been, "We have found the they numbered 10,000 members; and now Messias,"-and its great object, to bring their they contain upwards of 30,000. Twenty hearers to him. The spirit of discussion, so thousand at least have passed into glory; and common and perhaps so necessary in the 30,000 remain. And all the churches to east, they have never allowed. The doctrine which they belong have been formed and of the cross, especially in its aspect on the matured in thirty years; a result which, if it sinner, and in relation to his justification, was be as real and spiritual as it is apparently ever upon the lips of Burchell, and Knibb, glorious and impressive, must fill all our and others. Christ was all their theme. hearts with gratitude and encouragement. And his doctrine proved the power of God, The secondary causes of this success I cannot and the wisdom of God in the conversion of refrain from naming, because they are in thousands. Now that these thousands are themselves of interest, and also of great converted, it is perhaps obvious enough that a practical value. Everywhere in Jamaica the more comprehensive exhibition of divine truth minister is known as the protector of the is required. I believe our brethren feel that people. He stood by their side when, in the-while Christ for us, is part of the gospellays of slavery, they were flogged for praying. it is but part; and that Christ for us and success. Christ in us, is the whole. I doubt not, to £900 a-year for all purposes. Their however, they will adapt themselves to the chapel roof needs to be repaired, and is wants of the people; and, in the meantime, coming down. The expense will be £500. we can but thank God that the one principle There is not a man among them who could of salvation, by the blood of the Lamb, was give any large amount. They have said to so dear to the hearts of our brethren, and has us, "Give us £200, and we will raise the become so mighty in their hands. I have rest." We exclaim, "Give you £200! Oh, but two remarks more to offer before I close no! we will lend you that sum, and we must these statements. In the first place, let me have a bond to secure the repayment." The say that our brethren in the island of result is, that in one fortnight they raise Jamaica would deplore, and every true £300, and they then claim the loan. There friend of the Baptist Missionary Society is no reason why other churches in that island and of these churches ought to deplore, if should not do as much for themselves and one single farthing more of the money of the their brethren. This I lay down as a first Society were spent in that island. I will tell principle in all the future proceedings of the you the grounds of this declaration. Four Baptist Missionary Society. But then, se and twenty churches raised for all purposes, condly, continue to give our brethren your not, be it remembered, for salaries,-but the sympathy, your counsel, and your prayers. churches under four and twenty ministers Be it ever remembered, my dear friends, that raised for all purposes, in the worst year they Jamaica differs from this country essentially have ever known, more than £10,000, which in this single particular: there is no public is more than £400 for each church. The religious opinion in the island to sustain the income of these churches varies from £150 a- ministry, or to shield ministers against misre year to £1200 a-year; and £400 is the presentations. Christian ministers stand, so far average of each, be it remembered, for all as the island of Jamaica is concerned, nearly purposes. Now, sir, I should venture to pro- alone; and on this account they need your syntest, in the name of three-fourths, nay, of pathies and your counsels all the more. We nine-tenths, of the brethren connected with must be prepared most strenuously to make the our churches at home, against the giving of a people do their part, so far as pecuniary cir single farthing of money, contributed out of cumstances are concerned; but we must be our poverty, to support the gospel amongst a prepared also to sympathize with our brethren, people who are able to do so much. Look at to advise them, to keep up written communithe facts. Here is the church at Montego cations with them, and to do all that we can Bay. It is well known that the chapel cost to help on their work and to cheer their hearts £12,000, and it is without debt; and there is amid the toils and difficulties which they have also a minister's house which cost £1000. I to encounter. God grant that our other fields do not find fault with this outlay. The of labour may have a share of the blessing people raised the money themselves, and they which the island of Jamaica has received, and had a right to spend it; but here they are we shall then be repaid a hundred fold for all free from debt, and able to raise from £600 that we have done. Resolutions which we must defer till next number were then carried, after addresses by J. Sheppard, Esq., J. L. Phillips, Esq., the Rev. W. Fraser, W. H. Bond, Esq., and S. M. Peto, Esq. CONTRIBUTIONS, Received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, during the month of £ s. d. Annual Subscriptions. By Mr. Boulton 45 8 0 Anderson, W., Esq....... 1 1 0 Benham, Mr. James, ad March, 1847. ditional 0 10 6 Carey, Rev. E. Allen, William, Esq., 110 1 0 0 1 Carey, Mrs...... 0 0 1 0 0 Davies, Rev. Dr. Allen, George, Esq., Bell, Miss M. S....... 110 Bell, A. M., Esq..... 110 1 0 0 1 1 Bell, Mrs. F. H., Can 0 Hislop, Mrs. 1 1 0 Ashby, F., Esq., Staines, Hume, Mrs. 0 10 0 1 1 McLaren, D., Esq. 1 0 Nelham, Mrs.... Payne, Mrs., Penton Ashby, Thomas, Esq., 2 2 0 0 50 Ashby, S., Esq., do., for Peto, S. M., Esq..........100 terbury Villas pole Street...... 0 10 0 Elgood, Miss, Wim 010 6 0 10 0 Knight, Mrs, Camden Esq., New Town. 050 terbury Villas 0.10 6 110 |