ASSOCIATIONS.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION.

menced the services by reading the Scriptures and prayer; Rev. B. Godwin, of Bradford, delivered a Discourse on Dissent and the nature of a Gospel Church, asked son's confession of faith; Rev. Dr. Steadthe usual questions, and received Mr. Thomman offered the ordination prayer, and from 1 Thess. ii. 4. delivered a most affectionate and impressive charge; Rev. Moses Saunders, of Haworth, concluded by prayer. In bridge, began the services by prayer; Mr. the evening, Rev. J. Crook, of Borough

THE Southern Association met, Sept. 12 & 13, 1826, at Long Parish, near Whitchurch, Hants. Brother Futcher preached on the Tuesday Evening. Wednesday Morning, Br. Jefferson, of Andover, read and prayed; Br. Russell, of Boughton, preached from Rev. xx. 1-8; Br. George, of Romney, closed the service in prayer. In the afterHOOD, Br. Jefferson prayed and preached from Matt. vi. 33. In the evening, Br..11; and Mr. W. Liddel, of Bradford. Whitewood, of Andover, read and prayed; Academy, who also gave out hymns suited Br. Tilly, of Portsea, preached from Rev. to the engagements of the day, concluded xi. 15; Br. Clay concluded in prayer. by prayer. The whole of the services were The next meeting of the Association will interesting, and delightful, and seemed to be held at Lockerley, on Tuesday in the produce a powerful and pleasing impression Whitsun-week; Br. Draper, of Southamp-upon the minds of all who were present.

ton, and Br. Davies, of Whitchurch, are expected to preach on the occasion. In case of failure, Brethren Miall and Neave.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

BLISWORTH.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1826, Mr. G. Foskett was ordained Pastor of the Baptist Church, Blisworth, Northamptonshire. The Rev. J. E. Simmons, Stony Stratford, introduced the service with reading and prayer; the Rev. J.Simmons, Olney, stated the nature of a Christian Church, and asked the usual questions; the Rev. W. Haighton, Road, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. T.P. Bull, Newport Pagnell, delivered an affectionate and impressive charge from 2 Tim. ii. 8. "Remember Jesus Christ;" the Rev. W. Gray, Northampton, preached to the Church from Heb. xiii. 22, word of exhortation ;" and the Rev. J. BarSuffer the ker, Towcester, concluded in prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. T. W. Wake, Kislingbury, commenced the service by reading and prayer; the Rev. J. Clarke, Guilsborough, preached from Luke, xiii. 29.; and the Rev. W. Hawkins, Towcester, Independent, concluded in prayer. Though the day was unfavourable, the congregation was large and respectable; the services of the day were bighly interesting: the prospect a source of encouragement to minister and people.

BEDALE, YORKSHIRE.

Saunders addressed the church, from 2 Cor.

BRAINTREE.

ON Tuesday, March 6, the Rev. W. Humphries, late of the Baptist Academy, Bradford, Yorkshire, was ordained the pastor of the Bastist Church, Braintree, Essex. The Rev. G. Francis, of Colchester, introduced the service by reading and prayer; the Rev. James Pilkington, of Rayleigh, delivered a and received Mr. Humphries's confession of discourse on the nature of a Christian Church, faith; the Rev. John King, of Halstead, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. I. Mann, A. M. of Maze Pond, London, addressed the pastor, from 1 Cor. iv. 1; the Rev. James Smith, of Ilford, preached to the church from Judges xix. 30; and the Rev. Mr. Fish (Independent), of Braintree, concluded; the Rev. J. W. Goodrich, of Langham, read the hymns. In the evening, after prayer by Mr. Smith; Mr. Mann preached from Rev. v. 6, and concluded the interesting services of the day. Mr. Humticularly gratified to know that the different phries's prospects are good, and we are partreat him with respect and affection. Denominations of Christians in the town

NOTICES.

Worcester, has undertaken the pastoral The Rev. William Belsher, formerly of charge of the Church in London Street, Greenwich. A service will be held at that place on the evening of Friday, the 13th (commonly called Good-Friday) to recognise publicly this event.

JANUARY 3, 1827. Mr. Robert Thomson, The Bedfordshire Association of Baptist late of Bradford Academy, was ordained Churches will be holden at Ridgmont, Beds. pastor of the Baptist Church, Bedale, York-On Wednesday, May 2d. Messrs. Knight shire. Mr. W. Tolly, of Dishforth, com- and Middleditch are appointed to preach.

MONTHLY REGISTER.

FOREIGN.

March 5. After numerous petitions THE discussions on the law of the press had been presented, for and against the continue to agitate France. It passed Roman Catholic claims, Sir Francis the Chamber of Deputies, March 12, by Burdett moved the following resolution, a majority of 99. Should it finally suc- which was seconded by Lord Morpeth: ceed, the effects will be very distressing; "That this house is deeply impressed it is affirmed, that the bookselling trade with the necessity of taking into immewill be so injured, as to be almost anni-diate consideration the laws inflicting hilated, and that the efforts of Tract penalties on his Majesty's Roman CathoSocieties and similar Institutions will be lic subjects, with a view of removing entirely suppressed. The passing of the them." An animated discussion follaw is therefore justly dreaded by all the lowed, and the house adjourned to the friends of freedom and knowledge, and next day, when the debate continued especially by the Protestants. till the morning of the 7th. Ou a division, there appeared, for the resolution, 272; against it, 276. Majority, 4. In consequence of this decision, the Marquess of Lansdown declined bringing the subject before the House of Lords.

We rejoice that the cause of liberty continues to prosper in Portugal. Successive defeats have destroyed or dispersed the rebel forces.

A commercial treaty has been concluded between Prussia and the Republic of Mexico.

Symptoms of religions inquiry are appearing in some parts of the Continent. In Silesia, several Roman Catholic families had obtained possession of Bibles, and refused to deliver them up, when required by the Ecclesiastics to do so. Some clergymen, too, have united in demanding reformation.

It is said, that a treaty is in progress, to which France, England, and Russia are the parties, for securing the independence of Greece. May it succeed!

A treaty of amity and commerce has been concluded between Siam and the East India Company.

DOMESTIC.

The Earl of Liverpool continues slowly to amend, but his public labours are most probably closed.

March 13. Dr. Lushington moved for and obtained an order for the production of all despatches received by Government from Jamaica, respecting a violent attack on the house of Mr. Radcliffe, one of the Methodist Missionaries, in December last. The attack was excited by an inflammatory sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Brydges, a Clergyman, and had nearly proved fatal to the Missionary and his family. the same day, Mr. Peel brought in several bills for consolidating and amending the laws against larceny, &c. and thus effecting a very desirable improvement in our Criminal Code.

On

March 23. On the introduction of the Annual Indemnity Bill, a discussion arose respecting the disabilities under which the Protestant Dissenters still labour. Lord John Russell said, " that We notice the following, as the most the laws against the Protestant Disimportant of the proceedings of Parlia-senters were most absurd, odious, and ment during the past month:

disgusting" and that, “having a very March 1. Mr. Canning introduced decided opinion as to the effect of the his measure respecting the Corn Laws. Test and Corporation Acts, if the DisAll sorts of foreign grain are to be ad- senters generally wished him to bring mitted, on the payment of certain forward a motion on that subject, he duties, in an ascending and descending should be willing to do so." We shall scale, to be regulated by the price of be happy to see his Lordship so em-' corn in this country. The debates on ployed, and most cordially wish him this subject have been frequent and long. | success.

IRISH CHRONICLE,

APRIL, 1827.

THE Secretaries deem it respectful towards their kind friends, to acknowledge the testimonies of esteem and confidence which they have received, in reply to their circular in the last Chronicle. The prompt and liberal contributions which have been transmitted, during the present month, and the arrangements which are made for congregational collections before the Annual Meeting in June, encourage them to conclude, that the Baptist Irish Society, stands well with the Churches of the Denomination. The Secretaries are so fully convinced of the usefulness of the Society in Ireland, by its direct exertions and its indirect influence, that they are resolved by divine assistance, (so far as their other engagements will admit), to give their whole exertions to carry on the operations of the institution with energy and zeal; feeling confident that the importance of the object, the simplicity of the means, and the unexpensive agency of the Society, will all contribute to secure and extend the assistance which from its commencement in the year 1814, have been so cheerfully and readily afforded. — Should the Committee be enabled by an addition of funds, they will increase the number of that most efficient class of agents, the Scripture Irish Readers, whose labours have so greatly contributed towards that surprising reformation which is now taking place in Ireland. Respecting these the following extracts from the last Annual Report may not be unsuitable or uninteresting at the present period.

"THE Committee might congratulate themselves and the Society, that they were the first who employed persons of this humble, but most efficient class of labourers; they would however, rather return their grateful thanksgivings to God, "from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed," and without whose special blessing such agents could not have been raised up. The Society has now thirty-five Irish Scripture Readers; of these nine are wholly employed as Itinerant Readers and Expounders, the rest are Sabbath Readers only. Could £ 400. annually (which is about the sum required for the labours of these useful men) be more beneficially expended? A short, but expressive anecdote, furnishes an instance of the utility of the labours of these Scripture Readers. There is an Irish Schoolmaster, who is one of our Sabbath and Evening Readers, situated about sixty miles west of Limerick, in a most solitary and neglected part of Ireland. The people, who are very numerous, and in the most awful darkness, flock by hundreds to hear him read the Irish Testament, and he has also taught many of them to read it. One of his hearers said, "When I think of the words which I have heard John Nash read, I find I cannot sin." Another said, "I had intended to destroy my neighbour on a certain night, but after hearing John Nash read the word of God, my conscience would not let me do it!" Mr. Thomas adds, "I consider there is a growing increase of religious light; inquiries are made after scriptural instruction, which the people are very desirous of obtaining the priests are the only persons who oppose it." It is hoped that the funds of the Society will be so effectually assisted, that its operations may, instead of being retarded, be effectually enlarged.

Reader.

Extract from a Speech of the Bishop of Ches- Extract of a Letter from an Irish Scripture ter, (from the Times of Saturday, the 18th, ult.)

REV. SIR,

January 15th, 1927.

I MET major O'H. yesterday, where there was a great number of men employed by

versation, I asked him if he got the Report I left at his place the day before? He told me he did, and thanked me, adding, that he paid two of our Schoolmasters their portion of his subscription the day before. I thanked his honour, adding, that the Committee would be very thankful to him for his generous contribution and zeal in supporting the cause of truth. "No," said he, "but I am

THE Bishop of Chester said, "The noble Earl (Darnley), had spoken in terms of great asperity and contempt of the attempts now making to enlighten the benight-him in making a new read; after some coned people of Ireland, (but continued the Rev. prelate,) "I say, woe be to the man who would stop the flood of light that is now spreading in that benighted country. Day by day the tide of education and conversion was rolling on. He would raise his voice against those who would stop this reformation or crusade as it had been called; for what was it but a crusade? in the spirit of the cross, diffusing the tenets of our pure re-highly indebted to both the Baptist and Hiligion over the unenlightened, at the same bernian Societies, for their charitable exertime that it ennobled those who were en- tions in arousing me and the people of this gaged in the undertaking. We owed to Ire-kingdom, from the dead lethargy in which land a debt of religion, and hailed with joy the approach of that hour when the debt would be discharged."

we were, without expressing the least mercy or pity to our poor fellow creatures around us, who were perishing for lack of knowledge." He proceeded, and preached a complete sermon on that subject, to all the men working at the road, who were all gathered about bim. The Major pointed out

From a Protestant Magistrate to the Rev. several advantages that were to arise from

W. Thomas.

MY DEAR SIR,

1 HAVE the pleasure of enclosing you Thynne's Journal for the past month. I see on looking over Thynne's Journals from time

early education, and how thankful they should be to the charitable Society that was affording them such opportunities.

P. B.

to time, that he is not at all inclined to From the Rev. J. M'Carthy to the Score

boast of any good effects from his exertions. He is of a very humble mind, and sensible that the grace of God alone can enable him to be useful, or his bearers to be benefited by his exertions; but I have many sensible proofs of his usefulness, in the cause he so zealously endeavours to promote, in the applications for Bibles and Testaments from those he visits, as well as the increase of your little congregation here. Those who have heard you from the beginning, gladly attend whenever we have the pleasure of seeing you here; but in the large assembly that crowded us so much the last night you were here, many were new comers, induced by his reading the Scriptures to them, to come and hear the truth from you. May God in his mercy be pleased to increase the number, and to open their hearts and minds to a knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus! though I really do not know where we shall put them all; we must go to our good large school-house, when the weather will permit. Yours very truly,

Ballycar, 1st Feb. 1827.

J. C.

taries.

Eden Cottage, Feb. 5, 1827. DEAR SIRS, HAVING returned home rather unwell, after inspecting the schools under my superintendency, and preaching at the usual places, I now embrace this opportunity of communicating to you a short account of the occurrences which have taken place since the 2d of December, 1826, when I last wrote to you on the Society's business. On the 3d of said month (Lord's Day), I preached twice, and baptized three persons, on the profession of their repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Chris. And what greatly added to the pleasure of the day, one of the persons was my own daughter. Joyous as it must have been to have seen my ministry owned and blessed to the conversion of so many, how much more so to see the seed of eternal life springing up in my own family? She of course has connected herself with the church at Rahue, and the other two have been added to the newly-formed church at Ballymahon. There

are now twelve members in it, and there is a but 23 names on the books, we have inmost promising appearance of an abundant creased to 99. The progress the children harvest. I preach there and within its vici-have made since the Rev. Mr. West was nity once a month, and sometimes once in there with me is very pleasing. three weeks. I have been lately going over some new ground in that county, as I have been preaching for the Rev. Mr. Kenedy, a Presbyterian minister, and he preached for me at Rahue on the same day. How good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren of different denominations to dwell together in unity! I preached at the Scotch quarters on my return, and the house was so crowded that some of the people were fainting. I inspected schools at Kenagh and Tuam also on my way; and though I had come at an un-house at Tullamore has been fitted up for expected moment, I found the masters on ther posts, and the improvement of the children and their number in attendance much to my mind. Of course I preached as usual, and had my spirit much refreshed at the meetings. So returned to Terelecken and Ballymahon. At the former place the church met for communion in the forenoon, and we had an augmentation to the number of our bearers.

My attendance at Ferbane is still the same; and the church persevering in the Lord's way insomuch that their faith and love are spoken of. The young man I baptized there the last visit has gone to live at Cloughen, and it has opened my way into that town. I have preached there twice. The first time the attendance was not en-, couraging, but the last time our hopes were revived. And at Ballycumber I think some good has been done. Since the new school

At six o'clock in the evening preached at Ballymahon. Let it be impressed on every mind as an indubitable fact, that there is a spirit of hearing now excited in that town which had never previously made its appearance. Let us strike the iron while it is hot. Every part of the Doctor's house where I preached was crowded to excess; it could not contain the people; and if we hope for an enlargement of the work, we must get some convenient place for the accommodation of the hearers. For about 47. a year I ean get the walls of a house which will suit our purpose, and several persons have come forward and have promised handsomely to contribute towards fitting it up for the accommodation of the public, without troubling the Society or any other person with bearing part of the expense. I hope a resolution will be passed at your next committee meeting to allow me to take the place, and that the axiom of the Rev. Andrew Fuller will guide the committee-"Be more anxious to do the work than to get the money;" "hitherto the Lord hath helped us." And although the place is under the eye of the titular bishop, it will be a suitable place for a school, nor need we dread his prohibitions, for they are now becoming unavailing.

I now pass on to Athlone. I generally preach there at least once a fortnight, as it partly lies in my way to and from the county Longford. Hence they are something better off in being supplied with preaching than the rest of the places on that account. The steady and regular attendance of my auditors there latterly cheers my spirits and gives me hopes. Our school is in a flourishing state. Since the last dispersion, which left

preaching in, my hearers have increased in number every sermon. I have preached several sermons on the principles of the Reformation, which caused very great excitement in the town. The last time I was there, my text was, "There remaineth no more sacrifice for sius." As I had previously published my intention of preaching on the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the house was so crowded it could not contain more. Of course I did not forget to impress it on their minds that the sacrifice of the mass is subversive of the doctrine of my text. The time before, I purposed to have delivered this discourse, as it would have been in connection with the other four; but on coming into town I found on the chimney-piece of one of my friends, a note without name, saying, “Sir, have the goodness to preach from the following text, A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.'" Titus, iii. 10, 11. I read the note to the people, and preached from it. On leaving the place, they expressed approbation; and as a proof of it, the number of hearers was greatly increased at the next sermon.

I purpose regularly to discuss all the controvertible doctrines of the church of Rome, as this is a day of controversy in. Ireland. Through the operative influence of the different religious institutions in the island, we may now say of Ireland as Ridley the martyr said to Latimer, of England, "We have this day kindled such a torch, as, I trust in God, shall never be extinguished." The people are reading the word of God, and will read it in defiance of all opposition.

In my next I shall give a more detailed account of the number of children in the schools, and the progress they have made during the quarter. However, I shall just mention, a gentleman who was in company a few days since told me he had seen a very

This is the Macdonnel School.