A

From the Rev. W. H. Angus to Mr.
Ivimey.

Hamburg, March 11, 1823.

ALLOW me, my dear friend, to send you the following, which I have translated from the "History of the different religious denominations in Altona, by John Adrian Boltens," published in Altona, 1790. I have extracted the following particulars from a very long story about things of very little consequence. If you judge them worth a place in the Baptist Magazine, you are at liberty to publish them. A succinct Account of the Mennonite Church at Altona, extracted from the German History of different Denominations of Religion in Altona, by John Adrian Boltens.

"In the year 1536, was issued a severe decree in the six towns of Lubeck, Bremen, Rostock, Stralsund, Luneberg, and Hamburg, against the Anabaptists, a name then given to the adherents of the reformed religion as well as to the Baptists (Taufgesinnten). In this decree it was among other things strictly forbidden that any one should unite themselves to this sect. In 1555, however, it was par tially rescinded, but put in full force again in Hamburg 1560, with this further prohibition, that no rebaptized persons should be taken into employment, or exercise any profession; and for a long time after this decree was read from the pulpits of the city. These violent measures, as well as the much greater toleration there was at the same time to be found in Altona, were doubtless the cause of many Baptists esta

EXTRACT of a Letter from John Barker, Esq. British Consul, dated Aleppo, May 9:-" I have informed your Worships of my preliminary steps towards the execution of your commands respecting the distribution of the Charity to my fellow-sufferers by the earthquake. Our difficulties increase at every step; but ably seconded as I am by my worthy colleagues, the French and Dutch Consuls, I hope to surmount all obstacles, and in due time to give your Worships and the Public a satisfactory statement of all our proceedings. Meantime I can assure you, the infinite details of this delicate business engross my whole attention. I have already realized 112,000 of the 118,000 piastres put at my disposal, with a saving of agio, seven per cent; and I make no doubt of being able to draw for the remainder on equally advantageous terms. Your hearts will bleed on learning the disastrous effects of the ophthalmia, during the month following the 13th of August. That extremely painful and dangerous disease was so prevalent throughout the district to which the earthquake extended, that I can venture to affirm not more than three persons in ten escaped the infection! Of nine persons who composed my family, five were suf-blishing themselves inthat town. Many ferers from that cruel disorder. Of the of this denomination indeed were to be survivors of the Jews at Aleppo (not found in Holstein in the middle of the more than 2400,) 74 lost their sight! sixteenth century. Menno Simons And although the number of Turks and himself, who first systematized the docChristians here who became blind, im- trines held by the Baptists, (and from mediately after their providential eswhom they took the name of Mennocape from the earthquake cannot be nites,) fled about the last mentioned exactly ascertained, I can safely state period into Wustenfelde, a Holstein it to be more than 1500! The names village in the district of Fresenburg, of the most destitute of these will ap: where many of his own religious senpear in my future statements, and will timents had previously for a long very much increase the number of the time found a refuge from persecution, partakers of the charity. The people and to whom he united himself. It of Antiochia, and the neighbouring was in Wustenfelde where this venervillages, were also afflicted with oph-able man died in the year 1561. At that thalmia, as well as those of Aleppo, but time the church at Wustenfelde was I did not hear of any person's having important for the number of its memlost his sight in consequence of it.-Ibers, many of whom repaired time am happy to say, that six weeks have after time to Altona, and settled there now elapsed without an earthquake in 1570." strong enough to be generally felt."

"Notwithstanding the intolerant

"From the records of the ministers of this church, they appear to have been, for the most part, men more remarkable for piety and moral worth, than learning and talent. Among them however for talent Jacob Denner stands an exception. He was born in Hamburg, Sept. 20, 1665. His MAY 28, the BUCKINGHAMfather was Balthasar Denner, a deaconSHIRE ASSOCIATION of Baptist of a church in that city, and a staunch Churches, assembled at New Mill, defender of the Immergenten. His Herts. Mr. Williams read and prayed; son Jacob learnt in his youth the art Mr. West, Chenies, preached (Matt.

vi. 33); Mr. Tyler, (Ezra v. 16;) Mr. Elvey, London, concluded.-Evening, Mr. Collett commenced; Mr. Hopley, Hemel Hempstead, preached (1 Thess. i. 10,) and concluded, Baptized within the year, 50. Clear increase, 29. The churches supply thirty villages with preaching, and instruct in their Sunday-schools about one thousand children. The next Association May 20, 1824, at Great Missenden.

JULY 29, Rev. Cornelius Elven was ordained pastor of the ParticularBaptist Church at BURY ST. EDMUND's, Suffolk. Mr. Dickenson of Rattlesden began the service with reading and prayer; Mr. Cole of Ottley delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions; Mr. Cooper of Stoke-ash offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Hoddy of Clare gave the charge from 1 Tim. iv. 5; Mr. Reynolds of Wattisham addressed the church from Ephes. v. 1, 2; and Mr. Hoddy of Bildeston concluded with prayer. Messrs. Reynolds and Dickenson gave out the hymns, and Mr. Baker of Stowmarket preached in the evening.

THE Baptist Churches of the MIDLAND District met in ASSOCIATION at Coleford, May 20 and 21, 1823. Mr. Fry was chosen Moderator. The preliminaries and letters were read at the commencement. The church at Withington, Herefordshire, was added to the Association. SerJULY 30, a place of worship was mons by the Rev. Messrs. Birt of Bir-opened at NITON, Isle of Wight, mingham, (1 Thess. ii. 12,) Page of when four sermons were preached by Worcester, (Rev. xi. 12,) and Waters Messrs. Mileham, Tilley, Draper, and of Pershore, (Prov. xix. 21.) The de- Saffery, from Isa. lii. 7, Psalm xxvi. 8, votional exercises by the Rev. Messrs. Acts xix. 32, and Acts v. 42. Messrs. Page of Worcester, Williams of Rye-Caston, (Independent,) Franks, Clay, ford, Morrell of Brettell-lane, Fry of Coleford, Ragland, Drayton of Gloucester, Davies of Withington, Waters of Pershore, Coombe of Ross, Beddow of Coseley, and Birt.-The Circular Letter by Mr. Drayton. Mr. Fry to draw up the next Letter. Clear increase (of 28 churches) 92. The next annual meeting to be at Coseley, at the usual time. Messrs. Butterworth and Morgan to preach,

Flood, Read, and Arnott, conducted the daytonal services.-Niton is a villageht miles from Newport, on the s side of the island, about a mile from the sea; and with the surrounding parishes presents a considerable population. A zealous friend to evangelical truth, a member of Mr. Franks's Church in Newport, has been anxious to provide it with a faithful dispensation of the gospel, and for this purpose has converted a large malthouse into a remarkably agreeable place of worship, with a good schoolroom appended.-Mr. Arnott of PortChale, (a village two miles distant,) sea purposes to preach at Niton,-and for some months. He is now assisted by the Baptist Home Missionary Society; and if intimations of the Divine blessing are granted, he will probably settle with his family at the former place,-Persons well acquainted with

JUNE 10, Rev. John Dunn was or dained pastor of the Baptist Church, HOLY CROSS, Staffordshire. Rev. John Scroxton of Bromsgrove delivered the introductory discourse, asked the usual questions of the church and minister, and received the confession of faith. Mr. Birt of Birmingham prayed the ordination prayer, and delivered a most interesting address Mr. Dunn from 2 Tim. yes to Niton, and the attendant circumRev. T. Morgan of Birmingham ad- stances, contemplate the effort with dressed a judicious discourse to the great satisfaction.-The whole expense church from Eph. iv. 31, 32, and v. of this undertaking will be moderate, 1 and 2, and closed in prayer. The endeavours of Mr. 'Dunn to recommend has been most active in the establishyet the praiseworthy individual who Christ in this village have been ment of the interest cannot be expecteminently blessed. The little banded to sustain the charge. He intends have risen from six members to to convey the premises to Trustees, twenty, and the congregation is greatly and thus to make them the property of increased.-May the Spirit's influences the public, to whom application will largely descend, that the disciples be made; and we think few cases of may be comforted and edified, and that this description can be produced with converts to Zion, here and elsewhere, better claims to the attention of the may be numerous as the pearly drops pious and the liberal. of morning dew.

Frish Chronicle.

The following Statement, extracted from a Letter, addressed to one of the Society's Agents in Ireland, by the pious and benevolent Lady O'Brien, cannot fail to excite considerable interest, especially among Christian Females, on behalf of the Society's Female Schools.

"SOME years ago, two of the girls who had been educated in our Schools, obtained some knowledge of satinstitch, from a person who chanced to reside in their neighbourhood for a little time. From these girls, six or eight others learned it, and were, occasionally, employed by ladies in the neighbourhood, but could not get sale for the work done on their own account.

"In October, 1822, when that most useful institution, the BRITISH AND IRISH SOCIETY, was formed, Lady O'Brien sent specimens of these poor girls' work to Miss Rollesten, the Secretary, and requested her to say to the Committee, how melancholy it was to see young women, who could do such work, nearly naked for want of employment. Miss Rollesten was no sooner informed of the circumstance, than she exerted herself to get orders for work, and in a short time, more was called for than the girls, already taught, could do, so that it was necessary to instruct others, which has been done gratuitously, as well as could be expected by persons of little experience in such business. There are now three hundred young women engaged at this work in the county of Clare, and, from the improvement which has taken place in their habits, since they learned it, there is every reason to hope, that, if this simple domestic manufacture can be carried on for a few years, it will be of the greatest benefit to the female pea

santry.

"It is generally supposed, when manufacture is mentioned, that a number of women are so congregated together, as to render employment injurious, instead of beneficial; but this

is not the case here. The work which, in many instances, is so clean, as not to require any making up, is done in the wretched hovels of our miserable peasantry. It is, at present, given out by ladies, one day in each week, and the worker, together with her work, receives a small book, or tract, which she returns when the work is done. The benefit of such a system may easily be conceived; but the impossibility of speaking to such a number, as are to be served with work in one day, as also, the uncertainty of ladies being able to attend regularly, makes it most desirable to place it under the superintendence of a family, who will improve the opening which God has made, for the moral and religious improvement of this neglected people; and there is every reason to hope, that, if such persons can be found, instruction may be conveyed in a way before unthought of, but, perhaps, quite as beneficial to the mind as the ordinary modes.

"Since every thing will depend upon the zeal and activity of the persons to whom the superintendence of this business is committed, it cannot be too earnesty desired, that God may be pleased to direct to persons suited to the undertaking. It seems a sitų, ation well suited for a Missionary's family, and, though the labour of attending to it is very distressing to the ladies now. engaged in it, they do not like to put it into the hands of any persons who have not the interest of the religion of Jesus at heart."

At the earnest request of Lady O'Brien, and other distinguished Protestants in that part of the kingdom, Mrs. Thomas has undertaken the superintendence of this useful Institu tion; and, for that purpose, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, with the consent of the Committee, have removed from Limerick, to Newmarket upon Fergus, thirteen miles from that city, and within eight miles of Ennis, the capital of the county of Clare.

N. B. A box of the children's work is sent to London, for the inspection