peculiar views. Ours is a special work to present to the church and the world correct views of the will of Christ as to the constitution of his church and the ordinances of the gospel. With respect to Romanism, Ritualism, and Infidelity, we, as a denomination, could without blushing meet these confederated foes of Christ and his cause. In seconding the resolution, Mr. Harvey said-If ever we had occasion to sing heartily

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow," it becomes us especially to do so to-night. I do not remember such a gathering as this, or listening at any former meeting to such a report as that presented this evening. I am in the position of an old tradesman who gives the following counsel to the young:-"Think well of all the articles in your shop, and endeavour to get all others to think well of them too." Our design and object is to help all other kindred societies, but especially to do what they must necessarily leave undone. The instances of direct conversion are very encouraging. Some short time ago a sailor showed me a medal given to him as a memorial of his having saved six individuals from drowning. I took the opportunity of asking him, "Are you saved yourself?" Permit me to press the same question upon every one present on this interesting occasion. The collector, Mr. Whitehead, here briefly acknowledged his sense of obligation and sincere thanks for the very kind and brotherly reception given to him in his various travels in England, Scotland, and Wales. A collection was then made amounting to £7 4s. The second resolution, moved by Rev. W. T. Henderson, of Devonshire Square, seconded by Dr. Price, of Aberdare, and carried unanimously:-“That this meeting, deploring the increasing conformity to Romanism in the professing Church, and the tendency to infidelity in the world, earnestly prays for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Christian Church generally, and for his blessing on the operations of the Baptist Tract Society in particular." Mr. Henderson said:-I

appear with some degree of diffidence, as a comparative stranger to this society. As far as my judgment goes, I think your tracts are eminently calculated to be useful. In connection with some remarks on Ritualism, Romanism, and the English Establishment, the speaker said: I have seen the mountebankism and heard the blasphemy of many in this metropolis, and yet these churches are often literally thronged with young people of both sexes. I have no faith in lordly commissions, or in any controlling authority within the Church. I know of only one cure for its manifold evils-its entire separation from the State. As to Infidelity, it must be confessed and deplored that the leading scientific men of the age are generally against the Bible, but let science pursue her inquiries honestly, and we can have no fear of the result, for "the Word of the Lord liveth and abideth for ever." Dr. Price, in the course of a most earnest and encouraging address, observed:-We are not much troubled either with Romanism or Ritualism in Wales-the air does not seem to agree with either. We never did belong to Rome or submit to its authority. It is true we have had two or three attempts to introduce the thin end of the wedge, but the attempts have failed. I believe there is not a single Welshman among the priests of the Roman Church, and I only know of one Welshman who has joined that Church. We have also very little infidelity, we have no leading infidels, no avowed infidel publications such as those common in England. We in Wales are Baptists indeed, and we are very thankful to be able to say that while the increase in the churches of our denomination in England is declared to be five per church, the average increase in Wales is twenty per church. The third resolution moved by John Stock, LL.D. of Devonport, and seconded by the Rev. Peter Prout, "that this meeting, believing that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, rejoices in the prospect of the dissemination of gospel truth in countries where Popery has hitherto reigned, and fervently prays for the Divine

Dr.

blessing on this branch of the labours of the Baptist Tract Society." Stock observed-As one of the founders and fathers of this institution, I fully approve of the proposition respecting an annual meeting of the members previous to the public meeting. Many years ago, in the beginning of my pastoral labours, I was brought into contact with a Roman Catholic priest, but when he found out I was a Baptist he declined to enter into discussion, "because," he said, "we have no common ground on which to carry on a discussion." Infant baptism is altogether traditionary, &c. Dr. Stock then stated some interesting facts and anecdotes connected with his recent visit to America. Mr. Prout observed -We have God's revealed purpose and his gracious promise to encourage us, but the intermediate duty of earnestly sowing the seed must not be overlooked. The Reformers were not altogether clear of Popery. Brother Oncken and others have been the instruments of working out a still grander reformation. The fourth resolution was moved by E. J. Oliver, Esq., and seconded by Mr. J. Woolacott: "That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to J. H. Hopkins, Esq., for his kindness in presiding on this occasion."

THE BIBLE TRANSLATION

SOCIETY.

THE annual meeting of this society was held on Monday evening, April 27th, at Kingsgate Chapel, Holborn; Henry Kelsall Esq., of Rochdale, presided.

The Secretary (the Rev. A. Powell) read the report of the committee. It stated that the society, with others, had suffered from the depression of trade, yet it had been well sustained and the statement showed an extending interest in the object of the society. The funds had been aided by two legacies, and the Rev. S. Blackmore, of Eardisland, had presented a donation of £100 as an expression of devout gratitude on his attaining his 70th birthday." The income of the society from all sources during the year amounted to £1,654 18s. 1d., being about £110 in excess of that of

66

last year. The sum of £1,000 had during the year been paid to the Baptist Missionary Society in aid of the translations in Bengal and Upper India, and £100 to the General Baptist brethren in aid of the New Testament in Orlya. The balance carried forward to the next year is £35 15s. 11d.

The sum of £700 is continued on loan at interest, waiting a favourable opportunity for securing a satisfactory translation of the Scriptures into the Chinese language. The communications received from the beloved brethren who were in different places engaged in the work of translation were in every respect satisfactory. An extract was read from the last annual report of the Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society on Biblical translations, which stated that a small type edition of the Bible in Bengali had been completed, of which threo thousand copies had been printed. In Hindi, the printing of Mr. Parsons' translations of the New Testament were now all but completed. In a recent letter to Dr. Underhill Mr. Wenger said "I have resumed my loved translation work, and made some progress with Jeremiah in Sanscrit, which is now advanced in manuscript to the 32nd chapter. I have also made preliminary corrections in the Bengali, and commenced revising the New Testament." Information of a gratifying character had been received from the Rev. J. Parsons, of Monghir, respecting the Hindi version of the New Testament, and extracts from Mr. Parsons' letter were read.

It

was the earnest wish of the committee that Mr. Parsons might be induced to continue and complete his translation of the whole Bible in Hindi. The Rev. John Buckley, of Cuttack, in a letter to the secretary of the General Baptist Missionary Society had written-"Much time was usefully spent in attending to our Bible and tract work. In regard to the special effort to circulate the Word of God in Orissa, it was reported that two agents had been chosen, and were now employed in this important work. -one in the Cuttack and the other in the Piplee district. It was decided to print a second edition of selections

from the Scriptures. It is nearly twenty years since this useful work was printed, and only a few copies remain." In addition to this extract the Rev. W. Pike remarks:-" With 1,500 famine orphans to train and educate in Orissa, in addition to their ordinary engagements, the missionaries will certainly want, and that speedily, larger supplies of Orissa New Testaments. The last edition was only 1,500 altogether." The Rev. Chas. Carter, of Ceylon, who has been in England some time, writes to Dr. Underhill that he had to report the translation of the latter half of Exodus, the book of Leviticus, the last seventythree Psalms, and the books of Ezekiel and Hosea. He had still to

translate the books of Numbers, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and eleven of the minor Prophets. A duplicate of all that had been translated except Hosea, had been sent to Ceylon, and arrived at its destination in safety on the 10th of March last. Mr. Carter was now on his way to America, where he hoped to finish the translation in twelve or fourteen months, and then, after a few months rest, to return to Leghorn to revise and carry the work through the press. He desired and prayed that he might be permitted to finish the work, and see it in the hands of the Singhalese people. The committee regretted to state that Mr. Saker had been necessitated, through serious illness, to leave the western coast of Africa, and to return to England. Last year the committee had voted £50 to assist the Rev. J. G. Oncken and his brethren in distributing the Danish version of the New Testament on the Continent, and were now able to state that 3,316 copies of the Danish New Testament had been sent to different places. The Rev. J. Goble, of the American Mission at Yokohama, in Japan, pleads, and has pleaded long, for assistance in the printing and circulation of his translation into Japanese. Dr. Wyckoff, secretary of the American Bible Union, speaks in the highest terms of the character of both the translator and his translation, expresses the regret felt by the committee of that society that other claims

so press upon their funds as to incapacitate them affording him the assistance he needs, and earnestly recommends his application. The committee trusted that the liberality of their friends would enable them to make a grant in this case. Other applications had been received, and were mentioned because the committee considered that they showed by their very nature the importance and value of a society whose object was to aid in printing and circulating those translations of the Holy Scriptures from which the British and Foreign Bible Society had withdrawn its assistance, on the ground that the words relating to the ordinance of baptism had been translated by terms signifying "immersion"; and further to aid in producing and circulating other versions of the Word of God similarly faithful and complete. "That object was becoming more and more widely appreciated. In conclusion, the committee presented their sincere thanks to every minister, deacon, and member of the churches who had aided the objects of the society. They solicited the continuance of their kind services, and especially entreated their prayers for the Divine blessing on the translators, and on the Word of God issued among the heathen. They desired also to inform them that the Memorials presented at different times to the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, with a preface by Dr. Underhill, were now in the press, and would be published as soon as practicable. The committee had been induced to take this step by numerous expressions of desire for information suited to the inquiries of the younger members and ministers of our churches, whose interest and generous aid in behalf of the society, they feel assured, will be thereby promoted. Dr. Steane then read the financial statement. The total income for the year was £1,654 18s. 1d., of which £1,000 had been voted to the Baptist Mission, and £100 in aid of the version for Orissa. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. G. Kerry, of Calcutta, W. Bailey, of Berhampore, and J. P. Chown, of Bradford.-From The Freeman.

DR. GOTCH ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BAPTISTS. DR. GоTCH in his admirable paper recently read before the Baptist Union, refers as follows to the relations which Baptists sustain to the question of Church and State.

'Let us now change our point of view from the political to the religious. How ought the Church of Christ to look upon establishments? Should

it accept the patronage and submit to the control of the State-or, at least, may it legitimately do so if it see fit? The largest section of the Christian community in this country answers that it should. Other sections will, I think, agree that it may. Others, again, as far as I see, whatever may be their views of the impolicy or impropriety of the Establishment, are nevertheless in a position that will warrant their entertaining the question if they choose, without abandoning their denominational principles. It appears to me that our distinctive principles are irreconcilable with State alliance, and that we are the only denomination of Christians who thus, from the very nature of the case, are obliged to refuse such alliance. Episcopalians can and do accept it. Presbyterians can and do. Wesleyans could; and I suppose many of them would, if the alliance were such as to secure, in their judgment, practical freedom of action. The Society of Friends, I think, could. The Independents, as a body, certainly at the present time would not, but I do not see that their principles preclude their entertaining the question. I think our principles do preclude our entertaining it. What, then, is the difference? Precisely that which distinguishes us from all the other denominations, that which we may call the principle of individuality.

"It belongs to the very essence of our creed that Christianity is simply and solely personal. A Christian nation, as distinct from the individual Christians that compose the nation, is from our point of view an impossibility. A Christian family, as distinct from the individual Christians that compose the family, is equally impossible. In the case of all, or nearly all, Pædo

Baptists the children of church members have some status more or less definite in the Church, and thus the Church appears to the eye of the statesman a more stable body. With us the children of church members become connected with the Church only by their own voluntary act. If they do not become members of it, they do not by this omission forfeit any church privilege which they once enjoyed. To the statesman, then, the Baptist denomination will scarcely realise the notion of being a section of the National Church, since that large class which from a State point of view belongs to the denomination, and which is growing up under its teaching and becoming imbued with its principles, has in truth no status in our churches, and, therefore, cannot belong to the National Church, however comprehensive it be made: whilst, on the other side, the members of Baptist churches, from their very principle of individualism, will be more likely than any other denomination to resent the control, however gentle it may be, which the State exercises. Thus it seems to me that our principles place us at a further distance from the possibility of our forming part of a comprehensive National Church than those of any other denomination place them.

"I should be extremely sorry to be misunderstood as asserting that we are more consistent or more earnest opponents of a State Church than Christians of many other denominations are, than the Congregationalists or than the Free Presbyterian churches. In the present condition of things there can be no question that the voluntary principle finds many and perhaps the majority of its most earnest and successful advocates in these communions. What, however, would be the effect on them or on ourselves of a large and liberal extension of the national Church, how far such an extension is possible, how far if at all it would be beneficial, how far prejudicial to the real interests of Christianity are questions we can by no means answer with certainty. But in all likelihood they will in the course of events come to be answered before