never have and never will receive, unless by such means it is brought about. I look to voluntaryism as the best thing to improve the Irish character and to implant the principle that they must help themselves-help themselves constantly, if they would arrive socially and religiously at those rights they possess. The sooner the time comes when, by means of such lessons as these, these systems of ecclesiastical tyranny to which my motion refers are overthrown, the sooner will the degradation of the people be removed and their sufferings as well. I conceive the people of this land have been wrong in thinking that the Irish Societies ought to have had greater successes, more instances of large and flourishing churches, and a wonderful augmentation of the churches, arising from a large conversion from the Roman Catholic faith. We must be content to work at old prejudices and feelings. That which it has taken centuries to build up is not to be overthrown by any agency in a few months' operation-a few months' labour. If we do work constantly, assiduously, and prayerfully, for the blessings we desire and the success we anticipate, we shall not always want. It is only by showing that we have no sympathy with the Established principle that we shall lay hold of the Irish people. I do join in the spirit the resolution inculcates, that God would overrule the visitation of this land for good; that to its social and political condition it may alike be blessed, and that changes may soon take place; that systems of ecclesiastical tyranny may entirely and completely come to the ground. I believe that another session of Parliament will not pass away before we hear something that will make us act on the principles that we profess, and make us turn our attention more strongly to this land than, perhaps, even this signal calamity itself has been able to do. Give us labourers to till the soil, men to sow the seed; and they cannot obtain the assistance they require, to bring under tillage the land they possess. Many of the traders, taking advantage of the distress, demand exorbitant prices for the provisions the people require; and so the distress has been ripened to its present maturity, and has touched all classes of the community. In order that we may rightly apply the remedy, it is necessary that we should distinguish the causes by which the evil has been produced, as well as the action of the remedy, if we are about to amend it. The condition of Ireland is not to be remedied by this one thing or the other; and we shall find ourselves, in the application of one exclusive thing, much mistaken in the results that may accrue compared with those that we anticipate. I look for the chiefest good from the instrumentality of such a Society as we are met to-night to support; but, in my opinion, this Society cannot do all that is required to amend the condition of Ireland. It may do much in infusing the principle of selfhelp, which the Irish require; but it cannot do all that is required to remove the present fallen condition in which the people exist. The manner in which Englishmen have used Ireland is the true cause of Ireland's ignorance and misery. First, she was treated as a conquered country; and the rights of man to live on the soil that their forefathers possessed were matters about which they cared but little, and which they regarded with the supremest contempt. If we turn again to the ecclesiastical history of this country, what have been the steps that have been taken? In the reign of Henry VIII., and of Elizabeth, the old cry of alien in blood was changed to alien in creed; and nothing so much surprised the clergy of this country, who turned twice in a few years from Protestant to Catholic, and then from Catholic to Protestant, that they could not get the Irish to go back to Protestant- The Rev. T. F. NEWMAN, of Shortwood, in ism at the bidding of an English monarch; seconding the resolution, said: Ireland has therefore a system of persecution was adopted occupied a large share of attention for several towards them, and the old revolutionary law years past; it has been the difficulty of statescame into play, and disfranchisement and dis- men, the battle field of contention in the possession of property followed. What is the Senate-house; it has been the lever for overresult of the Protestant Establishment of that throwing successive Administrations; it has conntry? It is to this we are to look for her called forth speculations on the part of political present degradation and ignorance. The Pro- economists; it has elicited a considerable testant church has presented the truths we hold measure of sympathy on the part of the Christian in the aspect of an enemy, rather than in the public; and still it would seem as if Ireland is guise of a friend. We will turn to the remedies destined to fill a large space in the view of the they seem exceedingly strange. When one public; and it is a happy circumstance that we reads the accounts of the treatment that Ireland can turn away from political considerationsis undergoing, in one paper, you have laborious, that we can lose sight, for a little, of those lengthened articles, all going to prove that there angry contentions in which partisans strive with is one sovereign remedy for distress, and that is, partisans, that our thoughts and sympathies that they should cultivate the Jerusalem arti- may be directed to Ireland's spiritual condition choke; another tells us it is the parsnip; and and spiritual wants. I do not entirely agree in some landlords have concocted a colonization the notion that the Catholic priesthood invascheme, to pour out of the country a people, riably manifested so deep a sympathy with the who ought to have been instructed and enlight-people as is supposed. I do think some persons ened there. We propose that they should have the Gospel preached by men who will have nothing to do with the principles of an Establishment, who will identify themselves with the people's distress and popular rights, as completely as the Catholic priesthood have done; and while identifying themselves with the people in that way, will hold up the truth they have entertained too liberal and too generous a view of the general spirit and conduct manifested by the Catholic priests of Ireland. At the same time I do feel that the Catholic population of Ireland would never have clung so tenaciously and so desperately to their creed and to their Church, if there had not been a Protestant Establishment there. It has seemed to be with them a point of honour, and I think Į it would be so with me, not hastily to relinquish attachments to that which is placed under the ban, and that which we regard as an inferior and comparatively prostrate condition. I think that has been the case with the majority of the humbler ranks of Ireland; and no one would rejoice more than myself if we could trace in mystic or plainer characters, that Divine Providence would bring about, through the mysterious sufferings of that country, the dissolution there between the state and the religion. Believing, as we do, in the spirituality of the kingdom of Christ, that it was never intended for amalgamation with the princes and potentates of this world, we do long to witness that separation brought about. I am ready sometimes to think that very few have regarded Ireland and the operations of this Society and kindred Institutions in a proper light. There are very few who have contemplated Ireland as the sphere of missionary operations quite as fully and distinctly as India itself. Christianity is supposed to exist there in a somewhat corrupted form; but still it is Christianity; and I do not think that we have impressed on our own minds the conviction that there is as great a need for the distinct announcement of the pure doctrine of redemption through the blood of Christ, through the length and breadth of Ireland, as there is in any part of this wide world. Touching on that point, I cannot but express the gratification with which I listened to the ample, yet deeply-stirring statements of our brother from Ireland. Do we not see that in Ireland, as well as in India and Jamaica, God raises up right men to do his own work, that he suits the labourer to the field on which his energies are to be employed, and that he prepares the labourer for the difficulties, conflicts, and trials through which he may have to urge his way when prosecuting the work of the Lord. May the richest blessings of heaven rest on our dearest brother, and all associated with him in that part of missionary labour; and when he shall again be permitted to visit this part of the United Empire, may he have to tell us that Dagon has fallen before the ark, that the superstructure of ignorance has been for ever removed. Let us deeply sympathize with the men who are labouring in Ireland. They are not cultivating a soil which, like the prairies of the west, need scarcely to be turned over before they produce a most luxuriant crop. Theirs is rather for the most part a sterile, hard, impenetrable soil: not naturally so; but rendered so under some malignant and hostile influence. There our brethren have before them the mighty mountain which must be levelled, the dell which must be filled up, the crooked places which must be made straight, and the rough places which must be made smooth, before they can rejoice in satisfactory and ample measures of success. The prejudices of any man, under favourable circumstances, are not easily overturned. Prejudice is a stubborn thing, hard to bear rebuke, and still more difficult to be destroyed. These prejudices meet our brethren on every hand; and God be thanked! he is overruling these calamities in Ireland to undermine these prejudices. They will be met in the spirit of zeal and tenderness; they will be met, as our brother has proved, and is capable of proving, with a heart full of benevolence, lighted up at the Cross, and maintained by frequent visits to Calvary. Allusion has been made to the scenes of agitation which have heretofore covered that land; and you may permit, in connexion with that reference, a momentary allusion to the renowned man whose voice was employed so extensively and efficiently in that great work of agitation. I neither condemn the work, nor praise it. I leave it alone; but I am sure this congregation will unite in the desire that that mighty mind-for it was a mighty mind-before it sinks for ever beyond the reach of human passion, may have, directed full upon it, the noon-day radiance of that blessed gospel which alone can bring life to a dead soul, and prepare man for the glories of an immortal day. If O'Connell had been our worst enemy, that would be our earnest prayer, that before the mind, shattered and enfeebled, shall lose all its powers, the thoughts may be directed with intensest gaze to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. I assure you I sympathize deeply with every feeling of attachment that has been expressed towards our sister island and the great cause of Christian missions established and carried out in different departments of the church in that portion of the United Empire. I humbly hope that ere long the period will come when, instead of system battling against system, and one church setting up the banner of array against another church, the great aim of all classes shall be to diffuse throughout Ireland the knowledge of Him who is able to save, even to the uttermost, all that come unto God by Him. The CHAIRMAN, in submitting the Resolution, said: Before the collection is made, I cannot help remarking upon the large balance against the Society; I would submit to all my friends in the country, that if they were to double their efforts on behalf of the Baptist Irish Society, it would tend much to promote its interests, and relieve it of the difficulties in which it is placed. But I would suggest to our friends in London, that if they quadruple their subscriptions, it will only be in proportion to our efforts in the country. The Resolution was then put and carried. After singing the Doxology, the Rev. S. J. Davis pronounced the benediction, and the meeting separated. POSTSCRIPT. As might be expected, the contributions to the Relief Fund come in scantily. It is now time to see the general purposes of the missions amply supported. Many will say, Consider the times!-See how provisions rise in price!-Think of the almost universal depression of trade! We are not unmindful of these things. We are fully sensible of the suffering caused by them. But holding back from the cause of God will not mend the times. Consider if you only give when times are prosperous, where is faith, and where, in fact, is principle? Cannot you trust your heavenly Father? Look on the bright skies--How copious and soft the showers have been! See how the face of the earth is renewed! Behold the promise of abundance on every hand! Do not read the lessons which His providence teaches backward. He means to make us all feel our absolute dependence on His bounty and care; and tells us very plainly to put our whole trust in Him. We beg our friends to read with attention the following extract from one of the public prints published in the city of Cork. What our agents and the gentlemen on the Committee of the Pine Street depôt are doing there, most of the agents are doing elsewhere. Testimony from independent parties is most valuable, and ought to be satisfactory. If any inquire, how is the Relief Fund distributed? we say, look at this extract from the Cork Southern Reporter, of May 4th, "RELIEF BY THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. "Some time ago we noticed the praiseworthy exertions of the Baptists of our city to contribute their quota of relief to the destitute poor by whom Cork was inundated. Since then the Comittee of that Association have been working silently, yet not the less surely, visiting the sick, relieving the suffering, and endeavouring to be of the utmost possible assistance to the afflicted and distressed. At the beginning of March a soup depot was opened in Pine Street, supported by voluntary contributions, where food was gratuitously distributed. As the Committee were then but feeling their way, they commenced operations with one boiler, distributing at the rate of 250 quarts per day. They have since increased the quantity according as the subscriptions and donations became larger, and they have now two boilers at work and give 900 quarts of good substantial stirabout a day, or 5,600 quarts per week. The depôt is supported by subscriptions raised here and in England, the Irish Baptist Society in London is the chief contributor, having commenced with a donation of £50 and a monthly subscription of £30, which has since been doubled. We notice this fact to show how usefully the charity of the English Baptists has been employed. They sent their money to their friends in Ireland, by whom it has been expended in the way that could effect the utmost benefit for those for whom it was given. A Committee of ladies has also been formed here, who since January last have distributed among the poor of our city upwards of 1800 articles of clothing, bedding, &c., &c." To this testimony we need not add one word. The numerous letters received, in reply to inquiries for information, all speak of almost unabated distress. The fever has risen to the upper ranks. Five magistrates of the county of Galway died last week. The state of the suffering poor may be inferred from such a fact. Mr. HARDCASTLE, on whose caution and discriminative observation the utmost reliance may be placed,'observes in a letter dated April 30: "Distress has certainly abated with us, owing to the diminished price of Indian meal, and the operation of the temporary Relief Act. Like most government measures, it is very defective, with one-half of the expenditure our Relief Committees could do twice the good." The Relief Committee consisting of Messrs Green, Sanders, Watson, Burls, Beddome, George Lowe, with the officers of the Society, continue to dispense the funds which remain in hand, and hope to be able to distribute in money and food, the latter being by far the chief thing employed, £500 per month till September, if necessary. This will enable our brethren to go on with their present operations, and to meet exigencies as they arise. But our attention must be turned to another matter. The mission must, in future, be made the primary concern. Our churches ought to address themselves to the higher object. Let the facts detailed in Mr. HAMILTON's letters from Ballina, which are but a specimen of those received from other agents, animate our friends to renewed liberality and prayer. April 27: "We had ten of our poor Romanist neighbours with us yesterday morning, as inquirers, for reading and prayer, and we hope to have some young persons from the schools this evening, for a similar purpose." Again: "The chapel has been quite full at our noon service for some time, and I am getting many of the poor people together privately, to talk with them about their souls. I baptized Thomas Cooke, of Mountain River, yesterday. He is a relation of our reader there, and is an excellent man." And on the 17th of May, "We have the intelligence of increasing usefulness: and a brighter spiritual prospect opens on the scene of temporal gloom and suffering. "On Thursday morning last, I baptized William Gray at Mountain River, who seems a steady, intelligent man. His wife will soon follow. The church at Easky has accepted another for baptism and fellowship, who will be baptized at Ballina, on account of the opposition of his wife." "I have now fifty inquirers here which I meet in three separate classes. We need to be much in prayer that the Lord may give the Spirit in an abundant manner, that this poor people may be brought to a knowledge of salvation." May our friends remember this remark, and in their supplications at a throne of mercy, remember these fifty inquirers, that they may speedily become true disciples of Jesus. Here is indeed a rich reward for all your recent liberality, and a double blessing is given. Once more we say, THE MISSION MUST NOW BE YOUR PRIMARY Thanks for parcels of clothing from Mrs. Cozens, and Mrs. Burls; a few friends at Worstead and Ingham, by Mr. Silcock the Sunday-school children, Saffron Walden, by Miss Rumsay; Mr. Risden Pershore, and Mr. Pratt, Mitcham. Other parcels have come to hand, but the Secretary have not been advised by the parties sending them. Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, EDWARD SMITH, Esq. 60, Old Broad Street; Rev. J. ANGUS, and by the Secretary, Mr. FREDERICK TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, London; and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom. OF THE BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting of the subscribers and friends of this Institution, was held at Finsbury Chapel, on Monday evening, April 26th. The attendance was very numerons. J. COLMAN, Esq., Mayor of Norwich, took the chair. The proceedings commenced by the Rev. E. Davis engaging in prayer. included in the Report. Upwards of 500 persons had been added to the churches, not as the result of special movements, but as the fruit of the ordinary, unpretending, but often toilsome, persevering, efforts of the agents. The majority of the Missionaries reported a considerable number of inquirers. Instruction had been given The CHAIRMAN then rose and said: I wish, in 111 Sabbath-schools, by 1196 teachers, to for your sakes, and that of the cause we have 7500 scholars. Partly through the operation of met to advocate, that a more efficient person causes, from which all denominational Instituthan myself had been called to occupy the positions had suffered, the Committee had been tion which I now sustain. I may, however, state, that I have often thought that this Institution has not received that sanction and support which are due to it. If we do not look more to our Home 'Missionary Society, I conceive that our foreign operations will not succeed. It is by the labours of the former that the latter are supported. From that source, our Foreign Missionary Society has derived its Careys and Yateses in the east; our Burchells and Knibbs in the west. I have lately been reading the life of that (I was about to say,) immortal hero, Knibb. We sometimes attach, I think, too much importance to heroes such as those of Waterloo; but I think, that when we compare our hero Knibb with men of that character, we have much more reason to rejoice than those who admire them. I will not further detain the meeting, but will call on the Secretary to read the Report. Rev. S. J. DAVIS then read an abstract of that document. After referring to the trying circumstances in which many of the Missionaries bad been placed, in consequence of the distress prevailing in some of the agricultural districts, it went on to state, that their chief difficulties, however, had arisen from another source. They had been made to know that there was an Established Church in this country; that it had assumed a position of earnest antagonism to Dissent; that many of its friends were wealthy, influential, and determined to promote its ascendency at any cost of personal sacrifice; and that many more, besides possessing these or kindred advantages, were not very scrupulous in using means which every truly honourable and enlightened mind must condemn. The Committee have employed, during the year, ninety agents who had laboured at about as many principal, and, by the valuable assistance of many "fellow-helpers to the truth," at 223 subordinate stations. They had given assistance also, both in England and Wales, to several occasional applicants, whose statistics were not compelled to borrow £400. This together with pos The TREASURER then presented his accounts, from which it appeared, that the total receipts of the Society, during the year, amounted to £5119 1s.; the expenditure to £5118 2s. 6d. ; leaving a balance in hand of 18s. 6d., which deducted from the £600 that had been borrowed, left a nett balance against the Society of £599 1s. 6d. The Rev. F. TUCKER, of Manchester, rose to move, of the Society, in the discouragements under which It is with much pleasure, though with some diffidence, that I appear at your meeting this evening. It is with pleasure I do now appear, as having been once an agent of the Foreign Missionary Society. As you sir, have hinted, it has sometimes happened that these two great Institutions have been pitted against each other most unreasonably and most unwisely. If the one, like the telescope, has brought within our view the state of distant lands and tribes, the other, like the microscope, has made us more familiar with the immediate sphere beneath |