by the union of the families. M. Camilon | the old French fashion. When M. Camilon also sometimes meets them, but not regularly. kissed me on one cheek, I forgot to present They have family worship in the evening on the other, but he did not omit the entire ordinary days. ceremony. To my surprise I found Mr. Clarke in the evening at my hotel. M. Barbez also had accompanied him from Orthez. They had come I believe with the view of baptizing M. Camilon. I explained to them what had passed, and the grounds of our difficulty. 3rd. This was a day of much converse with M. Barbez and M. Camilon, and of mutual explanations. M. Barbez, who was the instrument of M. Camilon's conversion, and who manifested the deepest interest in him and the people, elicited that Camilon adhered to his objections to publicity, but not from any fear-solely on a ground of humility. He said he had a conscientious scruple about declaring what he was going to do, fearing it was ostentatious, and on this account he refused to publish the time to the church, as we had wished, on the sabbath. Publicity in itself considered he did not dread, having already suffered obloquy and persecution. M. Barbez proposed that he should inform the people when it was settled, and invite them to attend; and requested me to baptize M. Camilon. I agreed to do so, upon the ground that his private feeling was overruled by the nature of an avowal as distinct and public as the circumstances would admit, and that the reason of its being domestic and not in the river, was his health. Accordingly, we fixed on the next day, M. Barbez having to return. This, to my great regret, precluded the attendance of my brother Hinton, who was among the mountains; but M. Barbez naturally pleaded his deep interest in his son in the gospel, whose profession he desired to witness, he having been himself baptized within a few days. Barbiez is a man of decision and zeal, and has far less of the hypochondrical constitution than Camilon. We held a meeting with the people from the villages in the afternoon, when M. Barbez prayed and gave a long but rather impressive address. I retired very early, for in addition to the general excitement about our religious concerns, it was a day of intense heat and of high market, from an early hour in the morning till night, hundreds of the country people filling the square and neighbouring streets, and every room of the hotel. 4th. This was the important day of Camilon's baptism. I repaired to his house at the time appointed. About ten were present, chiefly his relations. M. Barbez began in prayer; I then delivered an address, and solemnly baptized Camilon in the name of the Trinity. M. Barbez then read and expounded Rom. vi. 1-14, and concluded in prayer and singing. At the conclusion of the service we had a brief conversation, and then took leave after M. Barbez expressed his conviction that with the divine blessing the service was likely to be followed with important results. He did not doubt that the report of it would produce a strong impression on many minds, and perhaps excite some salutary public agitation. 5th. As I had enjoyed ample opportunities in conversation both with M. Barbez and Mr. Clarke of ascertaining_the_general state of things at Orthez, upon Mr. Hinton's rejoining me this day, we concluded it was not necessary to extend our journey thither, and therefore returned to Pau, on our way home. About nine persons, it appears, including M. Barbez himself, had been baptized on the preceding sabbath by Mr. Clarke at Orthez. Others, it is believed, will very soon follow this example. They may be called lively Christians, but have imbibed deeply the sentiments and adopted the plans of the Plymouth brethren. M. Barbez is their leader, and like Camilon at Nai, really their pastor. He is a man of excellent sense, real piety, and ardent zeal. He lives from day to day in entire dependence on Providence, and glories in his necessities. They have, he says, been always, and divinely, supplied. 6th and 7th. Left Pau at three, and reached Bordeaux the next morning about eleven, a distance of 120 miles. In the evening, spent an hour or two with our friends the Crowes. Found that Mrs. and Miss Crowe had not yet been baptized, and delay rather increased than diminished the difficulties. Miss Crowe was unhesitating, and her brother expected to baptize her and her mother next week. We endeavoured to encourage them to a speedy decision, assuring them that universal experience proved that delays only multiplied obstacles. 8th. Met our friends in the chapel erected by M. La Harpe, at half past nine. Mr. Hinton preached, but scarcely any one was there besides the family of Crowe. At one, attended the worship conducted usually by M. Alphonse La Harpe; but in his absence his brother Henri, on a visit from Geneva, officiated. In the afternoon at three went to the protestant church. A miserable exhibition. Dined at M.La Harpe's. The average congregation at M. Alphonse La Harpe's may be 150. The place accommodates perhaps from 200 to 250. Protestantism is feeble in this part of France, wherever it exists. WEST INDIES. EDUCATION IN JAMAICA. The attention of our readers was called < two or three months ago to a Circular Dispatch from Earl Grey to the Governors of the Colonies, and to Suggestions for the establishment of schools for the coloured classes from the Educational Committee of the Privy Council, the effect of which would be to subvert the plans of education which the best friends of the negro race have been accustomed to follow. Eighteen pastors of baptist churches in Jamaica have drawn up and signed a statement respecting their educational efforts, to which they are anxious that publicity should be given in this country, and which we commend to general attention as illustrative of subjects interesting to every philanthropist. Our brethren say, referring to the Despatch and suggestions, By these documents it will be seen that it is proposed to establish and to assist schools, of a religious and industrial character, throughout the island; that the labouring classes shall be compelled, under heavy penalties, to send their children to those schools, or to others which have the approval of the government inspector, and that a new direct tax shall be levied upon the people at large to support the contemplated educational establishment. able to dispense with such kind assistance, we now need it more than ever. In consequence of diminished resources last year we were compelled to close several schools, and to conduct others with less efficient agency than could be desired. We had also to mourn over a great falling off in the numbers attending school, arising principally from the drought and distress which then prevailed. Now, we rejoice to say, nearly all the schools are well attended-in some the numbers have more than doubled, but for want of funds we cannot re-open those that were suspended, nor are we able to yield to the earnest importunities of the people to commence new ones in destitute districts. "The improvement which has taken place, and the increased desire for instruction which has been manifested, we regard as indicative of a better appreciation of the value of education amongst our peasantry, and we feel encouraged to use every effort to continue, and as far as possible to increase the number and efficiency of our schools, that our youth may not be surrendered to the influences of a new educational establishment, which, judging from the state-supported schools now in existence, will be little fitted to train them up in habits of manly independence, virtue, and piety. "Believing as we do that it is no part of the business of the state to provide for the "Under these circumstances we venture to religious instruction of the people, and that appeal to our English friends to renew their the system proposed is essentially unjust in efforts on our behalf, that we may be enabled, principle, and will prove most injurious in in connexion with brethren of various denoits consequences, we feel bound to protest minations, to impart a religious but unsecagainst it, and to refuse to participate in thetarian education to the rising generation of pecuniary advantages it offers. this island, uncorrupted and untrammelled by state patronage and control. "In adopting this course we cherish the confidence that we shall not be deserted by those friends in England who have hitherto kindly assisted us, but that they will by their generous aid enable us to prosecute our efforts for the religious instruction of the rising race in this colony. "In connexion with the Western Union (which comprises about two-thirds of the baptist churches in Jamaica) we have at the present time thirty day-schools and a greater number of Sunday-schools in operation. In the former there are 3000, and in the latter 8000 children, besides adults, under instruction. "These schools are carried on at an expense of at least £2000 per annum, of which nearly one half is raised by the weekly payments of the children and the contributions of our congregations: for the remainder we are dependent on the liberality of Christian friends in England. "The deficiency has, to a great extent, been supplied by members of our own denomination and of the Society of Friends, and by grants of materials from the British and Foreign School Society and the Sunday School Union. "We regret to state that so far from being "The necessity of such aid will be evident when we state that we have no wealthy persons in our churches; that they are composed almost entirely of labourers earning from one shilling to one shilling and sixpence per day; that they are heavily taxed to support a church from which they dissent, with the prospect of an equally expensive educational establishment being soon superadded, while they have to defray the whole expenses of our mission, and to bear the burden of debts on school-houses and chapels. "Of the importance of our schools little need be said. Although the want of suitable agency (sickness and death having from time to time deprived us of our most efficient teachers), and more frequently paucity of funds, have rendered it a matter of no small difficulty to keep the schools in existence; and although the children have not attended with the regularity, nor remained the length of time under instruction we could have wished, a vast amount of good has, with the divine blessing, been accomplished. Many thousands have been taught to read the word of God; considerable numbers have made satisfactory progress in other branches of education, while the greater part of the teachers now employed, both in our Sunday and day schools, and others who assist in various ways in the work of God, are indebted to them for whatever instruction they have received. : "That this association, considering the present posture of ecclesiastical affairs in this country, feel that it is high time for voluntaries to give in every possible mode a distinct enunciation of their views, and as one effective means of doing this, would earnestly recommend to all the members of our churches who possess the electoral power, to withhold their vote from every candidate who does not entertain Anti-State-Church principles." At the annual meeting, which was held at Long Buckby, May 25th and 26th, Mr. Burdett presided, and sermons were delivered by Messrs. Pywell and Foster. The circular letter, written by Mr. Brown, is on "The "On the continuance and efficient manage- Peculiar Necessity for Fervent Piety, arising ment of these schools the character of a from the pressing Public Duties of the Chrislarge portion of the next and succeeding tian in the present Day." The following generations in this colony depends. If resolution was passed: abandoned, the fruit of our labours and those of our predecessors will, to a great extent, be destroyed our youth will probably become a prey to the soul-destroying errors of Puseyism, or to an equally dangerous indifference to all saving truth; and the hopes long cherished of the evangelization of Africa by the instrumentality of her emancipated children be blasted. We therefore earnestly entreat our friends not, at this crisis, to withhold the assistance they have in past years so kindly extended to our schools, but rather to increase it, that we may be enabled to provide for the religious instruction of the whole of the rising race within the reach of our influence, on the broad and catholic principles of the founders of the British and Foreign School Society, and to place our schools on equal footing, in all other respects, with those about to be established under government auspices. Statistics. Number of churches furnishing reports... 30 Removed by death Excluded.. Withdrawn Clear increase 136 30 5 171 74 29 11 34 148 23 The next meeting is to be held at Kettering. SUFFOLK AND NORFOLK NEW ASSOCIATION. cular letter he had prepared on "The Efficiency of Christian Churches," which was Twenty-four churches in Suffolk, and two approved. It was determined to forward a in Norfolk are associated in this body. protest to the Baptist Union, as in former. years, against the plan of holding the annual meetings of the union in provincial towns. It was also resolved : "That the association, being deeply impressed with the conviction that the small increase of members in the associated churches during the last year calls for humiliation and earnest prayer, recommends that each church should, on the third Monday evening of every month in the ensuing year, have special reference to this want of spiritual prosperity, and should most earnestly entreat of God an enlarged communication of the influences of the Holy Spirit." Statistics. Number of churches furnishing returns...10 Glemsford Wetherden Pulham St. Mary. Crowfield.. Chelmondiston Stoke Ash.. Sutton Ipswich, Zoar Chapel Revell. . Barnes. Taylor. ...Saxby. ...Oakley. .Clarke. .Austin. Boast. The annual meeting was held at Occold on the 8th and 9th days of June. Mr. Cooper presided, and Mr.Wright was re-chosen secretary. Sermons were delivered by Messrs. Galpine, Irish, Wright, and Collins. The circular letter is on "Baptism in its relation to the Lord's Supper." Statistics. Number of churches....... .26 On Thursday, Sept. 9th, a new baptist church was formed at Taunton, consisting of thirty-nine seceders from the church in Silver Street, in consequence of that church having introduced the practice of mixed communion. They had received an honourable dismission for the purpose; and five others were added to them, having received a dismission from other churches. The Rev. J. Little of Street presided, and the Rev. D. Wassell of Bath delivered an appropriate charge from "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast This association consists of eleven churches. been faithful over a few things," &c. The Lord's supper was then administered to the newly-formed church, and between thirty and forty members of other baptist churches. In the afternoon, the Rev. J. G. Fuller, of Stogumber, delivered a lecture on "The Connexion between Baptism and Churchfellowship." And in the evening three addresses were delivered; on "The Edification of Saints," by the Rev. J. G. Fuller; on "The Conversion of Sinners," by the Rev.. J. H. May of Prescott; and on "The Attention due to the Young," by the Rev. D. Wassell. At the close of the evening service, a collection was made in aid of a fund for the erection of a new meeting-house. 4 0 by the union of the families. M. Camilon | the old French fashion. When M. Camilon also sometimes meets them, but not regularly. kissed me on one cheek, I forgot to present They have family worship in the evening on the other, but he did not omit the entire ordinary days. ceremony. To my surprise I found Mr. Clarke in the evening at my hotel. M. Barbez also had accompanied him from Orthez. They had come I believe with the view of baptizing M. Camilon. I explained to them what had passed, and the grounds of our difficulty. 3rd. This was a day of much converse with M. Barbez and M. Camilon, and of mutual explanations. M. Barbez, who was the instrument of M. Camilon's conversion, and who manifested the deepest interest in him and the people, elicited that Camilon adhered to his objections to publicity, but not from any fear-solely on a ground of humility. He said he had a conscientious scruple about declaring what he was going to do, fearing it was ostentatious, and on this account he refused to publish the time to the church, as we had wished, on the sabbath. Publicity in itself considered he did not dread, having already suffered obloquy and persecution. M. Barbez proposed that he should inform the people when it was settled, and invite them to attend; and requested me to baptize M. Camilon. I agreed to do so, upon the ground that his private feeling was overruled by the nature of an avowal as distinct and public as the circumstances would admit, and that the reason of its being domestic and not in the river, was his health. Accordingly, we fixed on the next day, M. Barbez having to return. This, to my great regret, precluded the attendance of my brother Hinton, who was among the mountains; but M. Barbez naturally pleaded his deep interest in his son in the gospel, whose profession he desired to witness, he having been himself baptized within a few days. Barbiez is a man of decision and zeal, and has far less of the hypochondrical constitution than Camilon. We held a meeting with the people from the villages in the afternoon, when M. Barbez prayed and gave a long but rather impressive address. I retired very early, for in addition to the general excitement about our religious concerns, it was a day of intense heat and of high market, from an early hour in the morning till night, hundreds of the country people filling the square and neighbouring streets, and every room of the hotel. 4th. This was the important day of Camilon's baptism. I repaired to his house at the time appointed. About ten were present, chiefly his relations. M. Barbez began in prayer; I then delivered an address, and solemnly baptized Camilon in the name of the Trinity. M. Barbez then read and expounded Rom. vi. 1—14, and concluded in prayer and singing. At the conclusion of the service we had a brief conversation, and then took leave after M. Barbez expressed his conviction that with the divine blessing the service was likely to be followed with important results. He did not doubt that the report of it would produce a strong impression on many minds, and perhaps excite some salutary public agitation. 5th. As I had enjoyed ample opportunities in conversation both with M. Barbez and Mr. Clarke of ascertaining the general state of things at Orthez, upon Mr. Hinton's rejoining me this day, we concluded it was not necessary to extend our journey thither, and therefore returned to Pau, on our way home. About nine persons, it appears, including M. Barbez himself, had been baptized on the preceding sabbath by Mr. Clarke at Orthez. Others, it is believed, will very soon follow this example. They may be called lively Christians, but have imbibed deeply the sentiments and adopted the plans of the Plymouth brethren. M. Barbez is their leader, and like Camilon at Nai, really their pastor. He is a man of excellent sense, real piety, and ardent zeal. He lives from day to day in entire dependence on Providence, and glories in his necessities. They have, he says, been always, and divinely, supplied. 6th and 7th. Left Pau at three, and reached Bordeaux the next morning about eleven, a distance of 120 miles. In the evening, spent an hour or two with our friends the Crowes. Found that Mrs. and Miss Crowe had not yet been baptized, and delay rather increased than diminished the difficulties. Miss Crowe was unhesitating, and her brother expected to baptize her and her mother next week. We endeavoured to encourage them to a speedy decision, assuring them that universal experience proved that delays only multiplied obstacles. 8th. Met our friends in the chapel erected by M. La Harpe, at half past nine. Mr. Hinton preached, but scarcely any one was there besides the family of Crowe. At one, attended the worship conducted usually by M. Alphonse La Harpe; but in his absence his brother Henri, on a visit from In the afternoon at Geneva, officiated. A three went to the protestant church. miserable exhibition. Dined at M.La Harpe's. Protes The average congregation at M. Alphonse La Harpe's may be 150. The place accommodates perhaps from 200 to 250. tantism is feeble in this part of France, wherever it exists. WEST INDIES. EDUCATION IN JAMAICA. The attention of our readers was called |