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of the Frankfort Bible Society thus | Saxon, Danish, Swedish, Hanoverian,

write :

"Since the time of the Reformation, no other Bibles are used throughout all Germany, but such as contain, besides the canonical books, the apocryphal writings also of the Old Testament in a separate division, namely, the following only - Judith, the Book of Wisdom-Tobit-Jesus SirachBaruch First and Second Book of the Maccabees-Portions of Esther and Daniel-the Prayer of Manasseh.' These books are not regarded, in the Protestant churches of Germany, as being inspired like the canonical books, but are considered as having been written by pious and wise men, and on that account useful to be read. A Bible in which these books are wanting, is held to be incomplete. Neither the more enlightened nor the common reader of the Bible will have a copy of that description, Amongst readers of the last class, such an omission would lead to endless inquiries and disputes. It would be asked, if the Apocrypha deserves to be rejected, why has it been given to us for so long a time? is it, on the contrary useful, on what ground is it withheld from us? or is it intended, perhaps, to deprive us of other books of the Scriptures also, to which this is a kind of preliminary step?-Were our Society to distribute Bibles without the Apocrypha, it would be an infringement of the regulations of the German Protestant church, and the Society might be blamed, and called to account for its proceedings by the ecclesiastical authorities. The British and Foreign Bible Society, moreover, in opposition to its views, so clearly expressed, seems compelled to interfere with the religious views and opinions of the German church, and with its rites and usages,' if by its generosity it induces German Bible Societies to circulate Bibles without the Apocrypha. This proceeding appears to us to be an indirect attempt to controul the liberty of conscience in the members of the German church, which the governments of the different states in Germany will not likely suffer to pass with indifference. If, therefore, the Society intends carrying its Resolution into effect, according to the sense implied by the letter before adverted to, it will, in our opinion, either be acting in opposition to the Resolution itself, or it will be withholding, for the future, its beneficial anh laudable assistance from the Protestant church of Germany, by imposing conditions which canuot be accepted, and thus in part leave the noble object of its endeavours unaccomplished." p. 122.

Letters of similar import have been received from the Central Prussian,

and other Societies. The following extract is taken from the letter sent by the committee of the Hanoverian Society :"When they call to mind the great loss which would be felt, were the apocryphal books of instruction to disappear from the Bible-books, the value of which needs not here to be extolled,-books which exhibit the maturest experience, the noblest sentiments, the holiest emotions, at once SO simple, so pions, and so incontestably true, and in a style so generally intelligible, and at the same time so easily to be remembered: when, further, they consider that the Bible, in the form in which it is circulated among the people, and under which it is known to them, has always contained the Apocrypha; and that, consequently, in the view taken of it by the people, these books are to be regarded as essential and integral parts of the Bible. When, again, they reflect that these books can be, and up to the present period actually have been, always used with great benefit in the instruction of youth, and that in particular the authorized catechism of the country contains a great number of passages taken from these books, which the candidates for confirmation are required to seek out in their Bibles: that, moreover, by the omission of these books, the displeasure of many, and perhaps the suspicion of some, will unquestionably be excited against Bible Societies generally, and the Committee of this Society in particular, as if they indulged in improper and arbitrary proceedings, by mutilating the sacred writings; and hereby sentiments of hostility against the benevolent object of the Bible Societies are likely to be engendered. That, further, such proceedings may easily rouse the curiosity of a certain class of people, together with a wish that more alterations and omissions may be sanctioned, which in their opinion may be of little consequence in respect to a book from which a whole series of portions, hitherto considered as highly important, have been wrested. That, lastly, such an alteration would tend to oppose fresh hindrances and many obstacles to the sale and circulation of the Bible, inasmuch as the purchasers uniformly desire to have the Apocrypha included:-When the members of the undersigned committee take all this into consideration, they feel themselves impelled to come to the unanimous Resolution, That it is desirable to continue to unite, as heretofore, the Apocrypha with the canonical books.'" pp. 139, 140.

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On the other hand, many pious individuals, and some of the smaller Socie

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ties have undertaken to circulate Bibles | prayer. In the evening, at half-past six,

without the Apocrypha. The Rev. Mr. Krafft, Secretary of the Cologne Bible Society, says:-

"With regard to the 500 Bibles without the Apocrypha, the last dozen of which we have within these few days disposed of, there has only one been returned to us yesterday, on the ground of its wanting the Apocryphal books. Some clergymen have complained of these books being wanting, but have not on that ground desisted from circulating them. We shall therefore be greatly pleased to receive the 500 New Testaments and 200 Bibles very soon, in order to supply the barracks and gaols of our town." p. 121.

The Rev. D. Geibel, Secretary of the Lubeck Bible Society observes, in a letter dated Aug. 10, 1826:~

"The dispute respecting the Apocrypha, which has arisen in England, although it may prove highly unpleasant to many for the time being, will be, in my opinion, beneficial to the Protestant church on the Continent. It is true the Apocryphal books are no where considered in it as of equal authority with the canonical books; nay, in every catechism, it is decidedly taught that they are of buman origin, and consequently not to be used in proof of divine truth. But the circumstance of their being found in every Bible tended to lead many to attach a certain degree of authority and respect to them, and several pharisaical doctrines which are in open contradiction with the Gospel of Christ, had actually gained an ascendancy over many minds. I trust, therefore, that what has recently taken place in England, will rouse many amongst us, and ultimately induce them to reject from our printed Bibles what in nowise belongs to them." p. 145.

It will give us great pleasure to be able to report, on some future occasion, that these expectations have been realized.

ASSOCIATIONS.

Bro. Hooper, assistant minister at Bromsgrove, prayed; Brother Smith preached ;

and Brother Scroxton closed the public service with prayer. The ministers and messengers stayed for business.

Wednesday morning, Brethren White, Brindley, and Hall prayed; after which the money for the Association fund was received and distributed. At eleven o'clock Brother Waters prayed; Brethren Page and Davies, of Evesham, preached; and Brother Morgan closed in prayer. The ministers and messengers remained for business. In the evening, at half-past six, Brother Shawyer prayed; Brother Blackmore, of Kington, preached; and Brother Watts, of Wolverhampton, concluded in prayer.

The church assembling in Temple-street, Wolverhampton, was added to the Association; the Circular Letter, on "The Spirit of Christ essential to the Christian characBrother Ham to write the next Letter. The ter," by Brother Blackmore, was approved; annual meeting next year to be held at Kington, Herefordshire, at the usual time, Brethren Morgan and Waters to preach.

Clear increase of members of 32 churches, viz. Blakeney and Tewkesbury, no letters 143. From the remaining two churches,

were received.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

GRAVESEND.

place had for a considerable period borne The means of religious instruction in this but a very small proportion to the number of its inhabitants, when Mr. Giles and his friends at Chatham were induced to occupy a station in it, with a view to raising a Baptist interest.

For this purpose, about two years since, a spacious room, capable of containing 200 hearers, was taken, and a very encouraging congregation soon collected, which was regularly supplied by preachers from the church under Mr. Giles's charge. The Divine Being was so pleased to smile upon this attempt to advance the Redeemer's kingdom, that the congregation gradually increased, and twelve from among them, after giving satisfactory evidences of conversion, were baptized. In consequence of this success, further measures were resolved upon, and on Wednesday. July 11, after much deliberation and prayer, a Baptist church was formed of twenty members, conTuesday, three o'clock, Brother Ham, sisting of the twelve members already menminister of the place, was chosen Modera- tioned, and others connected with different tor, and prayed; the preliminaries and let-churches, but resident in the place; and ters of the churches were read; and Bro- Mr. Mills, former settled at Mile Town, was ther Smith, of Kidderminster, closed in solemnly recognised as their pastor.

MIDLAND.

The Baptist Churches constituting the Midland Association, held their annual meeting at Bilston, Staffordshire, June 5 and 6,

1827.

Mr. Giles, of Chatham, commenced the | ing and prayer; Mr. Tandy, of Great Gidmorning service by reading and prayer; Mr. ding, described the nature of a gospel church, Rogers, of Eynesford, asked the questions asked the usual questions, and received Mr. relative to the formation of the church; Manton's confession of faith; Mr. Pickerafter which Mr. Giles gave to each of the ing (Independent), of Brigstock, offered up members the right hand of fellowship. Mr. the ordination prayer, Mr. Simpson, of ByRogers preached from Phil. i. 27. on the thorn, delivered an affectionate charge to duties of members towards each other, and the minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15.; Mr. Raboffered up prayer for the newly-formed hett, of Raunds, addressed the church, church. Mr. Giles then asked the questions from Rev. ii. 29.; and Mr. Allen, of Irthrelative to the settlement of the pastor, and lingborough, concluded in prayer. Mr. received his confession of faith; and Mr. Jeukinson, of Kettering, gave out hymns John Giles, a student of the Bristol Educa- suitable to the occasion, and preached in the tion Society, concluded by prayer. evening.

In the afternoon, Mr. Groser, of Maidstone, read and prayed on behalf of the pastor: and Mr. Giles, of Chatham, delivered the charge from Tit. i. 7. and closed the service.

In the evening, after reading and prayer, by Mr. Rogers, the sermon to the church on its duties towards the pastor, was preached from 1 Cor. i. 10. by Mr. Groser, who finished the engagements of the day by

prayer.

STRATFORD ON AVON.

A chapel has been erected, to attempt the establishment of a Baptist interest in this populous and respectable town, which was opened for public worship on Thursday, July 26, 1827, when three sermons were preached on the occasion, by the Rev. Thomas Morgan, of Birmingham, from Joshua xxii. 20.; in the afternoon by the Rev. Thomas Coles, A.M. of Bourton-on

All the sermons were solemn and edifying, and the day, without doubt, was one much to be remembered by many who were pre-the-Water, from 2 Cor. vi. 9.; and in the

sent.

DOVER.

On Wednesday, August 1, 1827, the Rev. D. Crambrook, was ordained Pastor of the Baptist Church at Dover. Mr. Vincent, of Deal, introduced the services of the day with reading the Scriptures and prayer; Mr. Belcher, of Folkestone, delivered an address on the constitution of the primitive churches, asked the usual questions, and received the confession of faith; Mr. Payne, late of Ipswich, presented the ordination prayer; Mr. Shirley, of Sevenoaks, delivered the charge, from Col. i. 7.; and Mr. Denham, of Margate, concluded the morn ing service.

In the evening the congregation again met, and four brethren were set apart to the office of deacons. Mr. Wren, of New Romney, read the Scriptures and prayed; Mr. Belcher introduced the business of the evening and offered the ordination prayer; and Mr. Groser, of Maidstone, addressed the deacons and the church on their respective duties, from Acts vi. 1-4.; and closed the impressive and animating engagements of the day with prayer.

OUNDLE.

On Tuesday, August 7, 1827, Mr. Rich. Manton, of Kettering, was ordained pastor over the Baptist church at Oundle, Northamptonshire. Mr. Philips (Independent) of Weldon, commenced the services by read

evening by the Rev. J. W. Percy, of Warwick, from Mark vii. 24.

The Rev. T. Helmore (Independent), Minister of Stratford; the Rev. F. Franklin, of Coventry; the Rev. G. Jayne, of Campden; the Rev. J. Price, of Alcester; and the Rev. S. Barker, of Henly Arden, conducted the devotional parts of the services. The attendance was overflowing, and the very impressive sermons delivered on the occasion were listened to with no ordinary degree of interest.

Stratford presents a wide field for useful-ness. The population is estimated at nearly four thousand, and until the erection of the present place, there was but one dissenting interest in the town. There are also several large villages round Stratford, where the inhabitants are in a very destitute state. May the Lord in his own due time send a labourer into this part of his vineyard, who, in connection with those employed in the field, shall be rendered a blessing to the town and neighbourhood! The number of Baptists in the place is at present very small, but they rejoice that their place of worship is unincumbered with debt; their means, however, of supporting the ministry of the word are at present very limited and inadequate : they therefore embrace the present opportunity of appealing to the liberality of Christian friends to aid them in the prosecution of so good a work. Contributions will be thankfully received and faithfully applied, by the Rev. G. Jayne, of Campden; the Rev. T. Coles, Bourton-on-the-Water; and J. Cox, draper, Stratford-on-Avon.

MONTHLY REGISTER.

FOREIGN.

The Allgemeine Kirchen-Zeitung contains the following statement of the number of Protestants living in Germany under Catholic Princes, and of Catholics under Protestant Princes:

I. Protestants under Catholic Princes in
Austria.

In the Country below the Eins
Above the Ems

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.....

....

Total in Austria....

In Bavaria...

In Saxony

In Anhalt Coethen

In all ....

Thus there live near three millions of Protestants in the Catholic States of Germany, and five millions and a half of Catholics under Protestant rulers, mixed up with majorities of an opposite creed to their own.

About half the population of Wirtemberg are Catholics, where they and the Protestants under equal laws, appear 4,300 24,700 mutually to have forgotten the necessity 2,500 of asking about each other's religious 17,000 sentiments. In Prussia, where the pro50,000 portion of Catholics to Protestants is nearly the same (one third,) as in the 166,500 United Kingdom, every function of a 1,100,000 citizen in military and civil life is ex1,420,000 ercised indifferently by Protestant and 34,000 Papist.

68,000

2,720,500 In the two Principalities of Hohenzoltern, and in that of Lichtenstein, there are very few Protestants.

Baden....

800,000

Greece. The communications, official and otherwise, which have been received from the Turkish Capital within the last few days, are so far of importance as that they left the Porte in direct collisII. Catholics under Protestant Princes. sion with the three great powers of In Prussia 3,250,000 England, France, and Russia. Hanover.. 250,000 Spain. At present, it is pretty geneWirtemberg 470,000 rally understood that there are on foot, and have been for a considerable pe106,000 165,000 riod, negotiations on two most impor1,000 tant questions; viz. Whether King Fer285,000 dinand shall follow the example of the 10,000 Emperor Pedro, and of his other relative, Louis XVIII, by giving some sort of constitution to his people: and whe2,500 ther the French army shall evacuate 1,000 Spain or not.

Hesse Cassel..

Hesse Darmstadt..
Holstein-Lauenburg
Luxemburg

Saxe-Weimar, Elsenach..

.....

Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Coburg Gotha..
Brunswick...
Mecklenburg Schwerin

Mecklenburg Strelitz

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In the dominions of Schwartzburg, of the Princes of Reuss Lippe, Delmold, and Schaumburg, Waldock, and in Bremen and Lubeck, there are very few Catholics.

IRISH CHRONICLE,

OCTOBER, 1827.

THE Committee have, since the last month, engaged several pious Irishmen, strongly recommended by the Ministers employed by the Society, as suitable for Sabbath and Itinerant Readers of the Irish Scriptures. This will make a considerable addition to the annual expenditure of the Society, but it is not doubted that the pleasure it will afford its friends, to find that God has raised up such useful agents, by his blessing upon the labours of the Society, will lead them to increased exertions to supply the requisite funds for their support. The Treasurer is at this time overdrawn about SEVENTY POUNDS, to pay the expences up to Michaelmas.

From the Rev. J. West, to the Secretaries.
Dublin, August 27, 1827.

DEAR BRETHREN,

collect for the Society in two places where Mr. West and Mr. Davis could not obtain collections, at the time they were in that direction. I SEND you three letters from the Secreta-kindness, and the objects of the Society I experienced great personal ries of the Hibernian Bible Society, to say that they cannot supply our Society with Bibles and Testaments, gratis, unless they are kept in the schools. The children must not take them home, to commit them to

memory.

We very much want Irish Testaments, and small English Bibles and Testaments. I hope the Committee will lose no time to apply to the British and Foreign Bible Society for a large grant. If you receive them from the Society, send them by the London steam-packet, and a letter to inform me when they are sent off.

I think our second Spelling-book has too little reading, and I have therefore bought fifteen reams of paper additional, to add another sheet of Scripture reading. I have given the printer the first three chapters in Genesis, on the Creation; a part of the history of Joseph and his brethren, the 90th Psalm, and the Lord's Prayer. The above will make about twenty more pages.

I remain yours, respectfully,

JOHN WEST.

On an application to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a grant was instantly made of 500 Irish Testaments, 500 English Bibles, and 1000 English Testaments. The Committee of the Baptist Society could not, by any means, agree to accept Bibles and Testaments upon the conditions proposed by the Hibernian Bible Society.

From the Rev. J. Wilson to the Secretaries.
Boyle, August 15, 1827.

DEAR BRETHREN,
SINCE I had last the pleasure of addressing
you, I have been to a part of the north, to

appeared to interest all to whom they were
with them or not.
made known, whether previously acquainted

the pleasure of addressing in two Presby-
The very large congregations which I had
occasion, were almost a new scene for me,
terian meeting-houses, kindly lent on the
being a perfect contrast to any thing wit-
nessed in Connaught, except in the Roman
Catholic chapels. But though it is desirable
and gratifying to have large congregations to
address, I was not less interested last Lord's
day, in speaking to a far less number of
persons in Ballina, on the occasion of Bro-
followers of the Redeemer, being united
ther Briscoe, his wife, and a few humble
together in church fellowship. The ques-
tion "Who hath despised the day of small
and it is a pleasing reflection that He hath
things?" occurred to me on this occasion,
not, who hath promised that "a little one
shall become a thousand, and a small one a
strong nation;" and this question and de-
claration have both a reference to the exten-
sion of the Redeemer's kingdom. This
Baptist church is an addition to the already
numerous small bodies scattered through
this country, who, however despised by
their fellow-men, "continue stedfast in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers." May
the Lord add to them daily such as shall
be saved!"

I am rejoiced that the Committee bave appointed the two men I recommended as Readers, for a conviction of the usefulness of such humble agents in this country deepens with almost every passing day.

I have to request, on the behalf of Pat. Brenan, that he may be permitted to reside in the town of Sligo. He finds that, in the

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