are proposing to do something, that they must acknowledge to be so, are they to turn round upon us and object that we, as a Union, are now attempting to do good? There is no dealing with such men, they must die out, and we must hope better things of their successors.

The Rev. R. BURLS-Those are not the men that I mean; I refer to men whose co-operation it is very important to secure. I could not sit down without expressing my conviction, though I perceive the feeling of the meeting is so general to the contrary, that I will not disturb the harmony of the meeting.

The Rev. J. A. JAMES thought there was force in the observation. As the first resolution now stood, it appeared to him they were altering the very designation of the Congregational Union. It would be strictly denominational if they would say, "That a Society for the support of Home Missions in connection with the Congregational Union be now formed, to be designated" what they pleased. And he would, moreover, propose, that it be designated the Congregational Home Missionary Society. He (Mr. James) confessed that the term British Missions appeared to him vague, indefinite, and cold. There was a warmth, and something that laid hold of the imagination, in the term "Home Missionary Society." And let it not be thought either that, in giving to it this designation, they would be purloining a term which belonged to another Society in a state of consumption, vanishing away; let it not be supposed that we are thus appropriating a term which properly belonged to au already existing institution; for (said the Rev. Gentleman) by calling it the Congregational Home Missionary Society, we shall make the term strictly appropriate to ourselves. For my own part, he continued, I think we ought to have the term "Home Missionary Society." Mankind are, to a great extent, led by names, but if we give up this term, we shall lose the whole charm which the title possesses.

The Rev. J. KELLY, of Liverpool, wished to ask one question. He had certainly understood Mr. Burls, that the great objection amongst his brethren in Essex, to the Colonial Missionary Society, was the circumstance of its being in connection with the Union. Would they not, then, have the same objection, if we form a Home Missionary Society in connection with the Union at all? He really thought gentlemen should recollect that they were indebted to the Congregational Union for the position they held that day. (Hear, hear.) For himself, he could say sincerely, that he should never have felt such interest as he now did in many important objects, but for the Congregational Union. (Cheers.)

An amendment was then moved by the Rev. J. A. James, and seconded by the Rev. R. Burls, embodying their views upon the subject.

The Rev. A. WELLS.-I was going to ask, Sir, is it possible that there is not a voice ready to be lifted up in favour of the Congregational Union of England and Wales? (Hear, hear.) We have been toiling together to secure one common end, and now you propose to snatch away from us the whole object. Do you think, brethren, that this Home Mistionary Society will succeed apart from the Congregational Union? If you do, I think you are under a prodigious mistake. The men that will help your Home Missions, Sir, will help your Congregational Union. (Hear, hear.) Why are we to have two organizations, when our Union comprises nearly all the county associations throughout the realm? If they are connected with us for union, let them be connected with us for work; if they are connected with us for love, let them be so for labour. (Cheers.) Ever since this Union has been instituted, the cry has been, "What is it to do?" I struggled, with Dr. Redford, to secure the Colonial Missionary object for the Union. We sent a mission to America; we endured all the gibes of our brethren about that as a wild and strange expedition; we explored the country, and ascertained the necessities of our brethren in the British colonies; and then, when every thing was ripe for the Union to make an effort on their be half, our brethren contended that we must provide for the colonies society-wise;

and, as is well known to many who are present, we had great difficulty in carrying the present constitution through two committees-I have spent many painful and anxious hours (here the speaker became deeply affected, referring to the sacrifices he had made,) and now, when at last the substantive thing, the Congregational Union of England and Wales itself, not something connected with it, when this is to be put to work for the benefit of our denomination, and through it, of the world, then, at the very point, do you come and say, "No, the Congregational Union shall not exist, or it shall be an organization that shall have nothing to do, and there shall be another organization to which we will give the work!" What is to become of your Union, brethren? Do you really mean to say that, as a body of Christians, you are united for any object but love, and peace, and labour? (Cheers.) Brethren, I will do any thing that you set me to do, but I really do feel, at this moment, as if my child were taken and strangled before my eyes. (Great cheers.) (The Rev. Gentleman was here so much affected, that for some time he was unable to proceed.) My dear brethren, said he, be convinced of this, that if you, who are yourselves the Congregational Union of England and Wales, say that you cannot, you will not, work a Home Mission, as the Congregational Union of England and Wales, it will lead to the final and speedy dissolution of that Union, and I might as well be this day the pastor of my poor people at Coggeshall. (Very cordial cheers, which lasted for some time.)

The Rev. J. A. JAMES said-Mr. Chairman, I speak, I am sure, the feelings of all when I say that nothing has been said in the way of charge against the Congregational Union as the Congregational Union. (Hear, hear.)

The Rev. A. WELLS--My dear friend, (addressing Mr. James) allow me to say that you propose to take away every thing from the Union, when you take away the declaration which says that the Union is the Mission. If so, then I am not its officer-your committee in London are not its committee-you have to begin again. (Hear.) We dissolve from that moment as the Congregational Union, and we become nothing more than a band of Congregational ministers. I will not contend for the exact explicitness of the phraseology of this document, but do let us have the Union. (Hear, hear.) Borrowing the words of our great antagonist, the Congregational Union and entire, not one part Union and the other Mission, but let whatever is Union be Mission, and whatever is Mission be Union, that they may be one entire consolidated body.

The Rev. J. A. JAMES said that was the view he took of it-he had no wish to set up a distinct society; it was merely that he thought there was a clashing between two resolutions, and it had struck him that they might avoid that by giving the Union another name. He was sure his friend Mr. Wells did not suppose that he intended to take this away from the Congregational Union.

After some further explanations between Mr. Burls, Dr. Halley, Mr. Kelly, Mr. James, and Mr. Wells, the Chairman addressed the meeting-Would this meet your views, "That the Congregational Union of England and Wales undertake a Home Mission under the designation of the Home Mission of the Congregational Union of England and Wales?"

The meeting assented, and the resolution was carried amidst loud acclamations.

The Chairman said, he for one was not sorry that the discussion had taken place. It had shown the devotedness of their beloved friend to the cause of the Union; that was one of the securities that they had, that all which they held sacred, was sacred in his breast. (Hear, hear.)

The Rev. J. KELLY moved, "That the Congregational Union shall hold a distinct annual meeting for the transaction of the business of its Home Mission."

The Rev. R. BURLS explained, that it was through his not knowing this fact, that the difficulty had been so great in his apprehension. If churches might become sharers in the Mission, though they did not belong to the Union, all the

difficulty was in fact removed. He again expressed a hope that he should not be misunderstood.

The Rev. A. WELLS said-My dear friend, I have known you too long to quarrel with you about anything. My only object is to promote the interests of the Union. I shall die happy if this Union survives me. (Loud cheers.)

The meeting then settled the remaining articles of the plan, and then adjourned to Ebenezer School-rooms to dinner.

THE DINNER.

At 3 o'clock most of the ministers and laymen who had attended the meeting sat down, as on the previous day, to a dinner provided in the school room, under the superintendence of the deacons of the churches in Birmingham.

On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman proposed "Victoria, Queen of these Realms." (Loud cheers.)

The Rev. ALGERNON WELLS then rose, and said-Mr. Chairman and honoured brethren,-I am exceedingly anxious to take this early opportunity of submitting to you a resolution in which I am sure you will all heartily concur. I have had the honour of negociating with our beloved brethren, Mr. James and Mr. East, for the reception of this assembly of our Union. (Hear, hear.) From the first moment that it was proposed to their attention they gave the most cordial response to the proposal, and they have now given us such a welcome of hospitality and kindness, that has delighted all our hearts and fallen in with other considerations to complete the gratification and delight of this occasion, which I cannot look back upon without very peculiar emotions of thankfulness to God first, and to my brethren subordinately, and I am satisfied and delighted with every thing in these proceedings, except myself. However many disadvantages may attach to the Independent body, yet, as we say of England, so will I say of our denomination-" with all thy faults I love thee still." I do not know any other community of Christians that could present greater attractions, at the present moment, than our own. I cannot notice the affectionate reception which has been given to us by the pastors and churches of this town, without feelings of the warmest gratitude, not only to our beloved friends who have so generously welcomed us, but to the Head of the Church who has so knit our hearts together in love both for delightful intercourse in private and for harmonious co-operation in our public enterprise to promote the extension of our Redeemer's kingdom; and in departing from this scene of solemn devotion, all who have laboured in it will, I am sure, carry with them to every part of the country a lasting and grateful remembrance of the christian hospitality of their Birmingham friends. He then moved,

"That this assembly is deeply and gratefully sensible of the hospitable, devout, and affectionate welcome given to all who have convened on this memorable occasion, by their honoured brethren, the pastors and churches of this town; and not only offers to them expressions of warm gratitude, but also gives praise to our Great Lord, who has knit together our hearts in love, both for delightful social intercourse, and for cordial co-operation in public efforts for the advancement of His cause. And this assembly assures the friends in Birmingham, that on retiring from this scene of hallowed friendship, those present will carry, to every part of the country, a lasting remembrance of their kindness."

The REV. DR. FLETCHER, in seconding the resolution, said-Mr. Chairman, my esteemed and beloved brethren,-I never rose on any occasion with more solicitude on the one hand, and more delight on the other; solicitude merely arising from the consciousness that I cannot, by any possible expression of my own, give an adequate utterance to the feelings that at this moment are cherished in my breast, and which I am sure are felt by every individual of this happy fraternal association. (Hear.) With Birmingham, as the esteemed pastor of Carr's Lane, and my other beloved friends and brethren well know, some of

my happiest, and oldest, and most tender associations are bound up, and I cannot but recollect that we are assembled in a place which has been the scene and the centre of very important operations, affecting both the moral and the political, the temporal and the spiritual interests of our country and of the world. (Hear.) Far be it from me to make, on this occasion, the slightest allusion to any subject that by any possibility of comparison or contrast could at all throw a discordant note across our minds; and yet there are some points, happily some points of contrast, between this association and some associations that have been held in this place. And there are points of comparison, too, which, in the contemplation, will present no ground whatever for dissatisfaction or regret. Birmingham has very recently been the scite and scene of highly important meetings for the advancement of science; and I have had the pleasure of hearing many references to those recent meetings. Any town and every town in the empire must feel itself honoured by meetings of associations relative to science, and therefore relative to the interests of the country; but we have met, Mr. Chairman, on this occasion, without vain-boasting or unwarrantable comparison; we have met for far higher and more important results than literature, with all its refinements, and science with all its discoveries can contemplate. To have been in any way connected with a movement that shall give union, and stability, and consolidation, and future success to the Congregational Body of the united kingdom, is, I think, a matter on which we shall reflect to the latest period of our lives, with devout as well as grateful remembrances. The first movements of the Baptist Missionary Society had a very close connexion with Birmingham, and I well remember that at the first meeting of the most influential friends of that body, held in Birmingham, not £20 was the amount collected for that object. You all know what were the after results-how it extended, and what has been the effect of that meeting of your Baptist brethren in this town. We are met to represent the Congregational churches to a very large extent throughout our kingdom. It is, indeed, matter for gratitude that we have thus far succeeded. If nothing else had been done but that it had brought us together to cause such a union of heart and head, I may say judgment and feeling, in relation to the object, the principles to be adopted for attaining the object, and the plan for carrying into effect the operation of these principles, all this is in itself matter of the highest satisfaction to our minds; and recollecting what our friends have done in this place to facilitate this meeting, and remarking what substantial expressions they have given to their kindness and regard, we must all feel that they are entitled to our special and thankful acknowledgments. (Cheers,) To have met as we have for two days beneath this roof, to have shared in their kindness and hospitality here and amongst their various friends who have welcomed us to their fire sides, their homes, and their hearts, with the same feeling and the same affection, will endear Birmingham to our hearts as long as we live. (Cheers.) And I hope other large towns in our country will have similar meetings, and that I shal! have the privilege once more, Mr. Chairman, of transacting with my friends in the north,-and I should delight to do so, the business connected not merely with the county association of Lancaster, but with the general Union of the Congregational churches throughout this country. I rejoice to have witnessed the harmony, zeal, and affection which exists among the churches in this place, and I hope that when we meet again in this large, and influential, and populous town, we shall find other churches planted, (hear) other pastors presiding over such churches, (shall I say with equal?) with no less efficacy, and, by the blessing of God, power and usefulness, than my brethren before us this day; and I hope that there will be from this meeting an impulse given that shall raise churches in other large towns, as well as in the villages of our empire. And let me say, Sir, I hope poor London, as it has been termed, will not have to be ashamed of its Metropolitan Building Fund. When connected, as it ought to be, with our churches, I hope it will then have a power and efficacy which it never can have as a mere association, and become

a part and parcel of the Congregational Union, built upon the solid foundation of our churches, their discipline, their principles, and their objects. (Cheers.) I have great pleasure, Sir, in seconding the resolution, and in responding to all the feelings of affection and brotherhood which my esteemed friend has expressed.

DR. REDFORD, of Worcester, and the Rev. THOMAS SCALES, of Leeds, having supported the motion,

The Chairman wished to make one observation. If Birmingham were permitted to monopolize this autumnal meeting, it would not be their fault in Liverpool. Mr. Kelly, he had no doubt, would join him in saying so. (Cheers.) The resolution was then put and carried by an unanimous show of hands. JAMES JAMES, Esq. in returning thanks, spoke as follows:-It really would ill become me to occupy the time of this valuable meeting long. All that we have had to do in this business, my duty and that of my friends around me, has been "to serve tables," and in doing so we have only manifested that christian hospitality, which is enjoined upon us by very high authority. If our arrangements have conduced to your comfort, we have our satisfaction and reward in the gratification, which the knowledge of that fact affords. I am sure we should not feel justified in withholding from you the fact, that you are indebted to the well-directed taste and zeal of a lady for much of the comfort which you have found. (Cheers.) I can assure Dr. Raffles and our Liverpool friends, such has been our enjoyment, that although we should be quite prepared to repeat this hospitality at any given period, we should not feel justified in monopolizing it, but feel confident that your next meeting will be held in Liverpool. (Loud cheers.)

The Rev. T. EAST then said- Mr. Chairman, My christian brethren, I rise not so much to receive the vote of thanks which you have presented to us, as to express my thankfulness to God and to you that you have come amongst us. I consider that you have been the means of conferring a very high honour on the town of Birmingham and your christian brethren residing in it, and therefore, if you will be kind enough to accept in return for your thanks my warm thanks for your presence, this shall close that part of the little speech that I have to make. The Rev. Gentleman then referred, at considerable length, to Spring Hill College, recently established at Birmingham,-a subject which had before excited considerable interest, and detailed to the meeting its present position and prospects. He concluded by expressing his regret that there was no chance of their meeting again in Birmingham, at least for some time.

The Rev. J. A. JAMES, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, said-With regard to myself, I really, Mr. Chairman, rise before you and my honoured brethren, with some feelings of shame. When the honour of having the first provincial meeting of the Congregational Union was offered to Birmingham, it was, I must say, received with some reluctance on my part. Not, Sir, that I did not appreciate the value of that distinction; not, I hope, that I am wanting in hospitality-I must, indeed, be a miserable dupe of self-delusion, if, whatever might be my faults, that, at least is my besetting sin-but it did occur to me that either the brethren would not have been induced to come here in such numbers as to make it an efficient meeting and a fair representation of the body, or, that they would come in such numbers that we had no means whatever of entertaining them. Now I am delighted that I was mistaken in both these suppositions; first, that there are such numbers here, exceeding all the anticipations which I had formed; and next, that my good friends of both congregations-for to them the credit is due-have exerted themselves, I may almost say, for days preceding the meeting, to get things ready for you, so that I hope none have been turned out houseless, supperless, or bedless. (Cheers.) Well, now, my dear friends, I do rejoice with all my heart to see you here. My brother Wells will, I am sure, sympathize with me-(The Rev. Gentleman here seemed deeply affected)-if there be a little overflow of feeling. (Cheers.) Oh that, with his feeling, I had but the intellect with which that feeling is

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