bury, Barons-De Clifford, Arundel, | opened Nov. 25, 1828; when three sermons Dormer, Stafford, Stourton and Petre. During the extended discussions of the Bill, petitions were poured into Parliament from all parts of the country: To the House of Commons were preached by Messrs. Peters, of Water Beach; Sutton, of Cottenham; and Allen, of Cambridge. The services were well attended, and we hope the church is in a prosperous state. NOTICES. The Rev. Isaac Mann, A. M. Dr. Harris, -1058 and T. Lewis, will preach the anniversary sermons this year at Crouch End Chapel, on Whit Tuesday, June 9th. -1507 With respect to the public press, it appears that in the united kingdom there are 107 newspapers in favour of Emancipation, 87 against it, and 44 neutral. The Anniversary of the Baptist Chapel, Highgate, will be held on Wednesday, May 27th, 1829. The Rev. Joseph Hughes, A.M. of Battersea, and the Rev. Dr. Cox of Hackney, are engaged to preach on the occasion. Services to commence at eleven, three, and half past six o'clock. The Bristol Association of Baptist Churches, will be held in Broadmead, Bristol, on the Wednesday and Thursday in the Whitsunweek. The brethren Saffery of Salisbury, Viney of Beckington, and Aitchison of Bratton, are expected to preach. The Bill, however, has now received the sanction of our triple government: and the wisdom or folly of the counter efforts and contesting energies which have been put forth to aid or retard its progress, remains to be read in the history of those effects, which an expedient of such mighty import cannot fail to develope. Whatever be the political speculations of our readers, it now becomes them as loyal subjects, as sound The Kent and Sussex Association will patriots, as consistent Christians, to unite with us in the petitions which were in-hold their Fiftieth Annual Meeting at Ashterwoven with the speech of the Right Honourable Secretary who introduced the Bill. The next Anniversary of the Bedfordshire Union of Christians, will be held at Bedford, on Wednesday, May 27th, when the Rev. Edward Steane of Camberwell will preach in the morning, and the Rev. Enoch Manning of Gamlingay, in the evening. ford, on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26 and 27. The Rev. Messrs. Bowes of Woolwich, T. Cramp of St. Peter's, and Shirley of Sevenoaks, are expected to preach. The Ministers and messengers are requested to put up at the Royal Oak. "God grant," (said Mr. P.) “that in the simple and appropriate language of that prayer by which, on the present, The Association for part of the Western as on every other occasion, the proceed- District, will hold their next Annual Meetings of this House are preceded; the ing at Bridgewater, on the Tuesday and result of our councils on this day may Wednesday in the Whitsun week; when lead to the maintenance of true religion the brethren Chapman, Singleton, and Aveand of justice; to the safety, honour line are expected to preach. The Ministers and messengers are respectfully reminded and happiness of the kingdom; to the that the Association will commence at eleven public welfare, peace and tranquillity of o'clock on the Tuesday morning, with a the realm; and to the uniting and knit-public prayer meeting for the effusion of the ting together all classes of persons, and Holy Spirit. all estates in true christian charity." BOTTISHAM LODE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. The Baptist Meeting House at this small hamlet, which was built in 1810, and a church formed of seven members in the following year, has been enlarged, and was re The Southern Baptist Association will hold their Annual Meeting at Whitchurch, Hants, on the Tuesday and Wednesday in the Whitsun week. The Annual Meeting of the Society of Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers, instituted in Bath in 1816, will be holden at Bath, on Wednesday, June 10th, 1829. PUBLIC, MEETINGS IN MAY, 1829. Day. Hour. Fr. 1. 11. 12. Sat. 2. 12. Tu. 5. 12. Preacher or Chairman. Place of Meeting. Society. Free Masons' Hall. Sund. Sch. Soc. for Ireland, Sermon.. Rev. Lundy Foot, M. A. Bentinck Ch. Paddington. Wesleyan Mission. Society, Meeting Earl of Mountcashel .. City-road Chapcl. London Hibernian Society, Meeting Lord Bexley....... Free Masons' Hall. 12. Continental Society.... Sermon.. Rev. H. M'Neilė, M.A. St. Saviour's Ch. Southw. 64. Church Missionary Society, Sermon.. Rev. J. H. Singer, D.D. St. Bride's, Fleet-street. Ditto Ditto.... Meeting Lord Gambier Free Masons' Hall. 6. Christian Instruction Soc. Meeting Rev. Rowland Hill, M.A. Finsbury Chapel. 64. Sund. Sch. Soc. for Ireland, Sermon.. Rev. J. H. Singer, D.D. St. Stephen's, Coleman-st. W. 6. 11. British and For. Bible Soc. Meeting Lord Teignmouth...... Free Masons' Hall. 64. Prayer Book and Hom. Soc. Sermon.. Bp. of Lichfield and Cov. Christ Ch. Newgate-st. Th. 7. 11. Religious Tract Society Meeting Marquis Cholmondeley Willis's Rooms, King-st. 11. Moravian Missions ...... Sermon.. Rev. G. Noel, A.M..... St. Clement Danes. 12. Prayer Book and Hom. Soc. Meeting 64. Jews' Society Fr. 8. 12. Lord Bexley.... Free Masous' Hall. Ditto Ditto.... Meeting 5. Seaman's Friend Society.. Meeting 64. Moravian Missions...... Sermon.. M. 11. 12. British and For. Sch. Soc. Meeting 12. Port of London Society.. Meeting 6. London Missionary Society, Ser. Juv. 6. London Itinerant Society.. Meeting Tu. 12. 6. Sunday School Union .... Breakfast 11. Sp. & Fr. Translation Soc. Sermon.. Rev. D. Wilson, M.A... St. John's Ch. Bedf-row. Sermon.. Rev. E. Andrews, LL.D. In the Floating Chapel. Meeting Sermon.. Rev. J. Hunt ........ 11. Port of London Society 12. Naval and Mil. Bible Soc. 3. Port of London Society 64. Newfoundland School Soc. Sermon.. Rev. G. Noel, A.M... 64. Sund. Sch. Soc. for Ireland, Sermon.. Rev. J. Clayton 6. Irish Evangelical Society, Meeting Thomas Walker, Esq... W. 13. 10. London Missionary Society, Sermon.. Rev. John Burnet ...... .... .... ...... Free Masons' Hall. Loudon Coffee-house. 11. Naval and Mil. Bible Soc. Sermon.. Rev. J. H. Stewart, M.A. St. John's, Bedford-row. 12. Newfoundland School Soc. Meeting Lord Bexley.. 6. London Missionary Society, Sermon.. Rev. Mr. Lucy Th. 14. 104. Ditto Ditto Meeting W. A. Hankey, Esq. Meeting Viscount Mandeville 12. Metropol. City Mis. Soc. Sale .. Free Masons' Hall. 6. London Missionary Society, Sermon.. Rev. D. Dickson, D.D. Home Missionary Society, Sermon.. Rev. H. Townley...... Ditto Ditto ...... .... ...... .... ....... Zion Ch. Orange-st. &c. Meeting Viscount Mandeville.. Free Masons' Hall. Lond. Female Penitentiary, Sermon.. Bishop of Chester .... St. Andrew's, Holborn. MAY, 1829. MANY of our readers will recollect, that the deceased Thomas Bushe, in the commencement of his pious and zealous endeavours to enlighten his countrymen, by reading the Scriptures to them, was violently opposed. He was anathematized, and forcibly expelled from the Romish chapel. Nothing dismayed, however, he persevered with increased diligence, and by an extract from one of his letters, published in the Society's Report for 1824, it is evident that he laboured not in vain. "Having," he says, "been requested by you (Mr. Thomas, of Limerick,) to attempt assembling a small congregation in my own house on the Lord's day, I went round and invited my neighbours to attend; as there is but one Protestant family in the parish, only seven or eight persons came, and these were all Roman Catholics. Three or four of these, indeed, were like Nicodemus, and came by night, for fear of the priests. I trust the few who attended found it good and profitable to be present. I am happy to say many more than these welcome me to their houses to read for them, as they åre in general nearly as much attached to me as ever; for all the public denunciations and private stratagems employed will not prevent the people from hearing me read and explain the Scriptures. The same persons who would not hear me, after the priest turned me out of the chapel, nor even look at or touch my Irish Testament, are now inviting me to their houses, and are earnestly desirous that I should procure for them Bibles and Testaments." And to the termination of his life, his fidelity, fortitude, and industry, were truly exemplary. It was confidently expected by some, that in the dying hour he would be induced to solicit the administration of the rites of the Romish church; but solemnly renouncing every other ground of dependence, he departed trusting alone in the sacrifice and righteousness of Christ. From the following passage, in a letter just received from one of the agents of the Society, it appears that “he being dead, yet speaketh:”— "The death of Thomas Bushe, the Society's late itinerant reader, has made a very great impression on the minds of many in this country; even the most violent opponents and persecutors are now giving him credit for his manly and decided principles, and seem to respect his memory more than they valued his words while living among them." From the Rev. J. Wilson to the Secretaries.] found brother Franks, who will join me in Belfast, March 17, 1829. DEAR BRETHREN, Although I have sent the Readers' journals to Dublin, unaccompanied by a letter of my own, from want of time to write when I sent them, I am unwilling that they should proceed to London without an observation or two from me, relative to the Society's proceedings for the past month. I was more than fully employed during that time inspecting schools, preaching, and collecting subscriptions in my district; this latter I have not yet completed, not finding some of the gentlemen at home after repeated calls, but I hope to see them on my return in time for the annual accounts. I reached this town last evening, where I endeavouring to collect subscriptions in this part of the country, where I am happy to find that the interest felt on behalf of the Society is not at all abated. You will learn from the journals that I have forwarded, that notwithstanding the most determined opposition, to prevent this deluded people from attending to the Scripture readers, numbers continue to listen to them with earnest attention. And I will add, that the little parties that have been formed, for the purpose of dispassionately discussing the merits of the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church, by several persons and the readers during the last winter, have been the means of very considerably extending the spirit of inquiry. But it may be observed, that in proportion to the number of individuals thus influenced, does the hostility T of the friends of popish darkness discover itself. With regard to the schools, I have to remark, that of the thirty-three under my superintendence, seven or eight of them continue to be violently, and in some measure successfully opposed, that is, so far as to diminish the numbers in attendance. But it is with pleasure I state, that the others are doing well, and are progressing far beyond my expectations. I have again to mention the increasing desire that is evinced, both by parents and children, to possess the Bible; this has been manifested in several schools, and especially by Roman Catholics; and one circumstance deserves to be noticed, as calculated to afford pleasure to the friends of the Bible. In one school, out of eighteen readers in the Testament class, sixteen had merited premiums, and ten of them capital premiums; that is, a Bible. Four of this number particularly requested Bibles of a large print, such as their parents would be able to read, for that they were desirous of reading the Scriptures. Another evidence that the Scriptures are really used by those who thus become possessed of them, is, the debates that are often held between the parents and the children, and the repeated requests that are made for murginal Bibles. Permit me here also to request, that if any of the female friends of Irish girls should send you any articles, as pincushions, work-bags, &c. as premiums for the female schools, they may be forwarded as early as possible, as my stock is quite exhausted. Yours sincerely, J. WILSON. Mr. M'Carthy to Mr. Ivimey. Eden Cottage, Kilbeggan, DEAR BROTHer, As my last journal chiefly treated on the subject of preaching, and the circumstances connected with it, in this laconic report, I shall now confine myself mostly to the state of the schools. They have not in general experienced as fierce opposition this quarter as we have had heretofore to complain of, yet No. 1, the Tullamore, or M'Donnell's school, has suffered much for a long time, and is now injured much from that source. I have inspected it three times in this quarter, and I have preached there as usual, about once in the fortnight. We have now on the books in the school 85 children, 41 Protestants and 44 Catholics. In the last year 262 chapters have been committed to memory by the repetitioners, and 65 since the last report. No. 2, the Clanshanny school, is at a stand, as you may see by the cash roll; and as the gross number amounts to but 33, and the number in regular attendance 28, yet the school is worthy of patronage, as the children are anxious for instruction, and, for the number, have improved in proportion as much as in any school under my care. There have been committed to memory the last year 166 chapters. It is situated in a destitute and a poor neighbourhood. I preach here generally at the time of inspection, and sometimes on my way to and from Ferbane. No. 3. the Barry school, as you may see from the cash roll, is in a good state. The Rev. Mr. Handcock, a pious minister of the established church, visits this school in my absence, mostly once a week. Though Mr. Ward is no more, and the school is under the care of his widow and son, on the last inspection I was highly pleased, both with the number and the improvements made in it. No. 4, Evans's school, of Keanagh, seems to vie with No. 3, as to number and improvements, the first having on the books 59, the latter 54. The former have committed chapters in the last year, 423, and in the latter 208. In the other improvements there is a great similarity. Now comes on No. 5, the Athlone school. This one keeps considerably a-head of all the rest of the schools, both as to number and improvement; 992 chapters have been committed to memory the last year. There is on the list 109 children's names, 67 in regular attendance. I preach here and in the circumjacent neighbourhood about once in the fortnight. No. 6, the Moate school, I believe, will soon equal the above, if not outrun it ; 98 are the number on the books, 76 in attendance daily. Mr. Barlow will soon be able to let me have the place in which I now preach, at the same rent we pay for the house in which the school has been conducted, and then we will have a house suitable for the purpose in every respect. ! have not fixed on the place for the seventh school, therefore I omit it this quarter. What shall I now say of the whole? I think that I may affirm it, without fear of contradiction, as to the schools under my care, though they may be equalled, yet they are not excelled, by the schools of any other denomination. Much of this is owing to their regular inspection. This serves both master and children, as their minds are disbarthened each time of the stock they have laid in, and with greater facility they can proceed until the next. There must, of course, during the year, be a great flux and influx of children. When you read in my report so many added and so many dismissed, the former you can readily under stand, but the latter requires explanation. Some of their parents leave the towns, the names of their children of course must be obliterated; others, through necessity, go to service, are bound apprentices, before their education is finished; but we have numerous instances of children who enter the schools not knowing their alphabet, and never leave till fully fitted for almost any situation, and some of them now filling them in society. The answers to scriptural questions are generally satisfactory. What is it children of this generation will not be! My preaching stations are as described in my last. I have taken in to the number Abbyleix. I never rode and travelled so much; I am this moment with fatigue hardly able to hold my pen, but what does it matter? The cause is good, it is the best, and I am willing to spend and be spent in it. O, how happy would I be, could I see the kingdom of God prosper in my day, but this I do not to my satisfaction. I have many discouragements. Brethren, pray for me. Believe me, dear Sir, From a Scripture Reader to Mr. Thomas. Limerick, March 17, 1829. REV. SIR, Though the country is at present so much agitated, and serious inquiry somewhat abated, that is, we are not as well attended to as on former occasions, nevertheless, thank God, I trust he has rendered my humble labours profitable to many since my last, in this much injured, degraded, and benighted country. In Birdhill the Lord seemed to break the stony heart of a woman to whom I addressed myself, in the Irish language, at the Repository; so much So, that Mr. Flood, who spoke to her also, and the lady who attended the institution, expressed their apprehension of her being overcome; she wept much, and asked many eager and earvest questions. I trust another man whom I met with was benefited also. He told me he was very bappy In his three children who attended the Society's school at Birdhill; he said one of them, not seven years old, did not know his alphabet six months ago, when he first entered the school; that now he could repeat ten chapters of the New Testament, and form letters on his slate that surprized every person who saw them; that their whole employment was, when at home, reading their Testaments and committing their tasks to memory, and singing the finest hymns he ever heard; that he never liked the Scriptures until he saw the effect they had on the minds of his children, but that now he would not think the day long listening to his youngest child reading it. On the 12th inst. I went to visit the Clonouley school, and was hearing the children in their lessons and tasks, when there followed me into the schoolroom an officer and his lady. The officer made several objections to their not being taught the Church catechism. I said, I believed the Society wished to give every denomination professing the Christian religion, whose children attended their schools, an opportunity of teaching and training their children any way the parents and pastors pleased; but while at school they were to read the Scriptures, and commit their tasks to memory at home mornings and evenings. I added, there could be no catechism so good as the word of God, which had the internal evidence that it made men wise unto salvation. After which he strongly advocated the practice of infant sprinkling, and reproved the Baptists for their nonsense about adult baptism. We had a discussion, which lasted, I believe, more than an hour, after which the officer retired, declaring that I was too well acquainted with the Scriptures. His lady, Mr. Clark, and several others who crowded to hear, said my arguments were overwhelming, and the Scriptures conclusive in favour of believers' baptism. I was no less successful in O'Gonally during the greater part of three days, in rebutting the charges made against me by many bands of papists. Thank God, I was not ashamed of that which is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth-the gospel of Christ. During my stay in this city I have had several good opportunities of doing good afforded me too. Yesterday I saw an immense crowd running to see the judge. I addressed them, and said, What great terror, amazement, and surprize, will seize many of the children of men, when they start into instant animation, and will be awakened from the slumber of ages, when they will come forth from their darksome and silent graves, when the sea and even hell will deliver up their dead, when many of the great ones of this earth will open their long locked and stiffened jaws, to call, not to the Judge for mercy, but to the mountains and rocks, saying, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand," &c. May God add his blessing to the exertions of every individual that strives to sow the good seed of his word, and grant an abundant harvest for his name's sake. Amen. Yours truly, S. R. |