testants to be selected by me, the Catholics by you. It will be required of them, that, at the close of our discussion, they will pronounce a conscientious verdict upon the point argued between us; and you and I shall sign a declaration of our willingness to abide by their decision."

When it was ascertained that this letter was not a hour, but that the ex-professor had resigned his office, and would risk his reputation in the dispute, the Rev. Robert Daly, of Powerscourt, near Dublin, met the proposal with the following answer :-"You propose a jury of one hundred persons as a tribunal, by the verdict of which both parties should bind themselves to abide. This, Sir, if proposed seriously, was in direct opposition to the principles of every denomination of Christians. It is contrary to the principles of Roman Catholics to set up such a tribunal, which might give a decree in opposition to the doctrines of their Church, It is equally contrary to the principles of Protestants to submit their judgment to a tribunal, which might give a decision contrary to the written word of God. Had we met upon the terms you proposed, you would have proved yourself a bad son of your Church, setting aside the authority of the Pope and his Councils. We should have proved ourselves bad Protestants, abandoning, in limine, the right of private judgment.

"We are ready, on our part, to meet you, or any other Roman Catholic clergyman, for a conference on any subject agreed on between us, upon the proposed plan of mutual question and answer."

The Rev. Mr. Urwick, of Sligo, also addressed a very long and able letter to Dr. M'Sweeny, in which he boldly says, "I now come to your challenge. In the strength of the Lord of hosts, whose truth you controvert, I accede to your proposal, under certain modifications. As to the mode of argument, you are dissatisfied with "speeching"--though that be the method adopted in the Senate, the Bar, and in the councils of your own church: and although no other was proposed at the meeting in the chapel at Carlow, arranged under your own superintendence, for trying the identical question now at issue. I agree that the controversy shall be carried on by the novel method of question and answer, provided that an equal number of interrogatories and replies be permitted on each side alternately. As to time and place, I propose that the meeting be held, on the first Thursday in November, in the city of Dublin."

We know not the final decision of Dr. M'Sweeny on these points, but we sincerely wish he may consent to discuss the subject with such opponents in the capital of Ireland.

HAMPSHIRE EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVO

LENT INSTITUTION.

As the religious public is, in all probability, but imperfectly informed concerning the plan, the objects, or even the existence, of this important and valuable establishment, a brief account of it may not be uninteresting. In the year 1812, a number of gentlemen,* alive to the best interests of the rising generation, and particularly concerned to assist poor ministers and others in the important affair of providing a good education, either wholly or partly gratuitous, for their children, set on foot an institution which should have this for its ultimate object; while, in the, mean time, it might afford an useful, solid education to the youth of Dissenting or other families, on peculiarly moderate

terms.

An especial attention to the religious instruction and improvement of the pupil was likewise a leading principle with its The Institution was first projectors. formed by thirty proprietors, who advanced each an equal share towards the primary expenses; but for which they are never to receive more than the legal interest of their money. A commodious house was built for the purpose, in the town of FORDINGBRIDGE, to which are attached an extensive play-ground and kitchen-garden, with every desirable accommodation for the health and comfort of the scholars. The concerns of the seminary are conducted by a committee, (chosen annually from the proprietors,) who meet for this purpose at the schoolhouse every three months. From the commencement of the Institution to the present time, the literary department has been conducted by Mr. LANGFORD, (with proper assistants,) whose character and ability have afforded high satisfaction to the committee. Writing, arithmetic, merchants' accounts, English grammar, geography, history, and the rudiments of mathematics, are taught to all the scholars; with Latin and Greek, geometry, algebra, &c. when required, in addition. Nearly 50 pupils have, for several years, been in the seminary: at present, the number is about 30. An auxiliary subscription has already afforded the means of instruction, more or less gratuitously, to the sons of several worthy ministers; but it is earnestly hoped the progressive prosperity of the Institution, corresponding with the improved circunstances of the times, will soon enable the proprietors to accomplish its benevolent design on a far more extensive scale. Any farther

information, which parents or friends of youth may require, will be readily afforded, on application to the Rev. Alfred Bishop, of Ringwood, the present Treasurer and Secretary of the Institution.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACADEMY AT IDLE.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to this Institution was held June 22d, at the Academy-house. On the preceding day the Examining Committee met, to ascertain what proficiency the students had made. For this purpose the following selections were read :-

In Latin--Cæsar. Bell. Gall., Lib. i. 34--36; Cicero, part of the Oration for Ligarius, and of the 3d against Cataline; Horace, Lib. i. Od. 12, and the 6th Epistle of the First Book; also the character which Tacitus has given of Caractacus in the Twelfth Book of his Annals.

In Greek--The 10th of Lucian's Dialogues; a passage from the Second Book of Xenophon's Cyropædia, and another from his Anabasis; and Homer. I., Lib. ii. 99-140.

In Hebrew-Gen. xiv. and Hab. iii.; and in Syriac, the 13th chapter of the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians.

Throughout the preceding year, the usual attention had been paid to those studies which have an immediate reference to an acceptable discharge of ministerial duties; and, on the day following the classical examination, in the presence of the subscribers assembled at the general meeting, three of the senior students delivered Essays, which discovered their progressive improvement-Mr. Garbutt, on the Resurrection of Christ; Mr. Hunter, on the Gospel, as being worthy of all Acceptation; and Mr. W. Vint, on the Consummation of all Things. Mr. Fox commenced the public meeting with prayer; and Mr. Hamilton concluded with an address to the students, on the importance of preparation for the Christiau ministry. In the evening, Mr. Hudswell delivered a judicious and interesting discourse on Redeeming Time.”

66

Since Christmas five of the students, after completing their period of education, have gone to occupy important stations in the church. Mr. Buckley has settled at Thirsk, and Mr. Evans at Flockton; Mr. Heselton has accepted an invitation to Morley, and Mr. Garbutt to Elland ; and Mr. W. Vint, junior, has entered on the stated labours of the ministry at St. Helen's, in Lancashire.

The prosperous circumstances of the Independent denomination, in the populous district in which this Institution is situated, have formerly occasioned its enlargement at different periods. Of late, the urgency of applications to the tutor to furnish occasional assistance, and to send candidates for vacant congregations, has

rendered it very desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to make a further increase in the number of students; and this year eighteen will be admitted, under a persuasion that the public will proportion its support to the exigencies of an Institution which has been so highly favoured by the great Head of the Church.

CITY MISSIONS.

Many inquiries having been sent to the Home Missionary Rooms, on the best mode of fulfilling the wishes of the gentleman who has so liberally offered a Thousand Guineas to be expended on City Missions, we now state, that they may embrace and combine tent-preaching, free chapel; the hiring of rooms in poor neighbourhoods for preaching, reading, prayermeetings, and Sunday-schools; the organization of plans for visiting the sick poor, distributing tracts, and conversing from house to house, &c. &c. &c.

The classes of persons to be noticed may embrace the poor in general; but especially labourers, villagers contiguous to cities and populous towns, hackney coachmen, watchmen, rivermen, sailors, soldiers, &c.

A Society should be formed in regular order, with the proper rules and officers, modelled according to that formed in London, of which an account was given in a former number of this work.

The towns for which application may be made, are all those containing a population of 10,000, and upwards.

The Rev. THOMAS SCOTT has observed, "If those who are in authority were to employ select men, of known and approved piety and ability, protected and countenanced by them, to go from city to city, and from village to village, through the kingdom, teaching in every place the plain acknowledged truths of the Bible, immense good might be done." Dr. Chalmers has strongly upheld the cause of City Missions, and commended the agents that may be usefully employed in them: he says, "Though ecclesiastics should be accomplished in the whole lore of scholarship of their profession, they should not discourage the efforts and activity of lay operations in the cause. They may inspect their work, but they should not put a stop to it. When they discover an unity of intelligence and piety in an individual, even of humble life, they should patronize his attempts to spread around him the moral and spiritual resemblance of himself. They else may freeze into utter dormancy the best capabilities that are within their reach of christian usefulness."

In America the plan has been adopted with success; and our transatlantic brethren have surpassed us in this work of faith and labour of love.

The Home Missionary Society has, from its commencement, kept this object in view; and, by circular letters, by repeated appeals in its Magazine, and other methods, has endeavoured to excite the religious public to action. It is hoped that the liberal offer now made will effect this great design, and tend, through the divine blessing, to remove that mass of moral misery which is to be found in all our populous towns and cities.

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

On Thursday, September 22d, was held the half-yearly meeting of the Northamptonshire Association of Independent Ministers and Churches, at the meetinghouse of the Rev. Thomas Toller, at Kettering. The Rev T. Gibson, of Yelvertoft, preached in the morning. The business of the Association was transacted in the afternoon, when gratifying statements were given of the growing prosperity of the Missionary and Provident funds connected with the Association; that of the former exceeded that of any former year; the funds of the latter now amount to £3364. 10s. 2d. Several important cases were relieved from its funds. When the great object of the Institution is accomplished, it will, for ages to come, prove an unspeakable blessing to the aged ministers, and the widows and children of deceased ministers. The Rev. James Pinkerton, of Weedon Beck, preached in the evening. The next half-yearly meeting to be held at Yelvertoft on the Thursday before the last Sabbath in April, 1826.

The

On Wednesday, October 5th, the halfyearly meeting of the Leicestershire Association of Independent Ministers and Churches was held at the chapel of the Rev. T. Williams, at Lutterworth. Rev. J. Bycote, of Enderby, preached in the morning. The afternoon was, as usual, appropriated to the business of the Association. The Rev. William Harris, of Churchover, preached in the evening. The next half-yearly meeting to be held at the Rev. R. Hunter's chapel, at Great Wigstone, near Leicester, the first Wednesday in June, 1826. The subject proposed for discussion is, Church Fellowship. The Rev. T. Williams, of Lutterworth, to preach.

The Annual meeting of the Durham and Northumberland Association of Congregational ministers and churches, was held in Durham the 12th July. The Report having been read by the Rev. James Matheson the Secretary, the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Stratten, Pemble, Ivy, Chamberlain, Nicol, and Scot, Lewis and Selbie, Home missionaries.

On the Monday evening preceding, the Rev. R. Chamberlain preached on a given subject. On the Tuesday morning at seven o'clock, a public prayer meeting was held; three of the ministers present engaged in

prayer. All the meetings were pleasant, and it is hoped were profitable.

From the Report it appears, that the following sixteen ministers and churches, form this association,-Barnardcastle, Messrs. Prattman and Ivy; Bishop-Auckland, Mr. Lewis; Chester-le-Street, Mr. Nicol; Darlington, Mr Gollop; Durham, Messrs. Matheson and Jones; Haydon Bridge, vacant; Middleton in Teesdale, Mr. Selbie; Newcastle (Postern) Mr. Davison; Ditto, (Westgate-Street) Messrs. Gibbs and Turnbull; North Shields, Mr. Stowel; South Shields, Mr. Chamberlain ; Stockton, Mr. Pemble; Sunderland, Mr. Stratten; Weardale, (Stanhope and Westgate) Mr. Scott.

The total number of Villages and Hamlets the members visit, is seventy four, and the number of hearers above four thousand.

ORDINATIONS.

July 6th, the Rev. J. Garbutt, from the Academy at Idle, was ordained over the Independent Church at Elland, near Halifax, Yorkshire. Mr. Rhodes of Stainland commenced the services with reading and prayer. Mr. E. Parsons, Jun., delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the usual questions. Mr. Scales offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Vint gave the charge; and Mr. Scales preached to the people. In the evening, Mr. A. Blackburn, of Eastwood, also preached.

August 2d, the Rev. James Buckley, late student at Idle, was solemnly set apart to the pastoral care of the Independent Church at Thirsk. After Mr. Martin had read select portions of Scripture and prayed, Mr. Vint described the nature of a Gospel Church, asked the customary questions, and received the confession of faith. Mr. R. Holgate engaged in offering up the ordination prayer; Mr. Scott, of Cleckheaton, impressively addressed the ordained minister on the importance of discharging ministerial duties; and Mr. Parsons, of Leeds, stated to the people their obligations. Mr. Benson, of Northallerton, concluded with prayer.

August 4th, the Rev. C. Holgate, from Idle Academy, was ordained pastor of the Independent Church at Horsley upon Tyne. The solemn services of the day were commenced with reading and prayer, by Mr. Harper, of Alston Moor. Mr. R. Halgate, of Pateley Bridge, brother to the minister to be ordained, advocated the cause of Dissent, and asked appropriate questions; Mr. Davison of Newcastle set him apart, by prayer and the imposition of hands; Mr. Vint, in the form of a charge, stated the minister's duty; and Mr. D. Jones, of Monkwearmouth, enforced the obligations of the people in relation to their ministers. Mr. Stratten, of Sunderland, also preached on the occasion.

August 10th, the Rev. John Heselton,

late student at Idle, was ordained to the office of pastor over a church of the Independent denomination at Morley, near Leeds. When Mr. Hudswell, minister of another Independent congregation in the same village, had read and prayed, Mr. Vint delineated the character and discipline of a New Testament Church, and, along with the answers given to the usual questions, received the confession of faith. The ordination prayer was offered by Mr. Parsons, of Leeds, who accompanied it with imposition of hands. Dr. Boothroyd gave the charge; and Mr. Pool, of Kipping, detailed the duties of the people. In the evening Mr. Parsons, of York, preached to a crowded audience. At this ordination nearly fifty ministers were present, and the whole of the services created peculiar interest.

On Monday morning, August 22d, 1825, Mr. Chamberlain, late of Hoxton Academy, was set apart to the pastoral office over the Congregational Church recently formed at South Shields. Mr. Jones, of Monkwearmouth, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Nicol, of Chester-leStreet, asked the usual questions; Mr. Davison, of Newcastle, offered the ordination prayer; and Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, delivered the charge to the minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15. In the evening the services were resumed; when Mr. Ewart and Mr. Keedy were set apart to the office of deacons. Mr. Nicol offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Gibbs, of Newcastle, delivered a discourse on the office of deacons, from 1 Tim. iii. 8, 9, 10; and Mr. Stratten, of Sunderland, preached to the people, from Heb. xiii. and the former part of the 22d verse. Messrs. Sample, of Newcastle; Holgate, of Horsley; Lewis, of Bishop Oakland, Home Missionary; and Selbie, of Teesdale, Home Missionary, were engaged in the devotional parts of the services.

On Thursday, September 22, 1825, the Rev. Luke Forster, from Hoxton Academy, was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church assembling at the Independent chapel, Chapel Street, Blackburn, late under the care of the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, A. M. The Rev. J. Ely introduced the service by reading and prayer; the Rev. W. Harris, LL.D., delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the usual questions; the Rev. G. Payne, A.M., offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. W. Scott gave the charge; the Rev. R. Philip preached to the people; and the Rev. R. Littler concluded with prayer.

On Wednesday, 28th September, Mr. Alexander Marshall, who studied at the Glasgow University, and at the theological academy under the tuition of Mr. Ewing and Dr. Wardlaw, was ordained over the Congregational Church in Stirling. The order of the services on this interesting and delightful occasion was as follows: On

Tuesday evening at 7 o'clock, Mr Gilbert Wardlaw of Edinburgh, delivered an admirable and impressive discourse, from

Thess. i. 5. the first part of the verse. On Wednesday, at seven o'clock A. M., Mr. Mackenzie of Falkirk opened the meeting by praise and reading the scriptures; Mr Watson of Grangemouth engaged in prayer. Mr. Hercus of Greenock preached the introductory discourse, from Ephesians ii. 20, 21. Mr. Ewing, of Glasgow, stated the object of the meeting; called on the church, and on Mr Marshall, to recognize publicly the call, and its acceptance; asked the usual questions; offered up the ordination prayer, and gave the charge from 2 Timothy ii. 1. Mr. Knowles, of Linlithgow, gave a most interesting address to the church, from 1 Thess. v. 13; and Mr. Hill of Alloa concluded by prayer and praise. In the evening, after prayer and praise by Mr Maclaren of Callander, Mr. Ewing preached a very suitable and impressive discourse, from Rev. iii chap. 21

verse.

October 5th, The Rev. Joseph Evans, from the Academy at Idle, was publicly set apart to the office of pastor over the Independent Church at Flockton near Wakefield. Mr. Rheeder, of Osset, commenced the solemn services of the day with reading and prayer. Dr. Boothroyd described the nature and constitution of a christian church and proposed the usual questions. Mr. Bruce, of Wakefield offered up the ordination prayer. Mr. Vint gave the charge; and Mr. Cockin of Holmfirth, stated to the people the reasons which should induce them to encourage their Minister, and the manner in which they should encourage him.

On Tuesday, October 18th, the Rev. John Cooke, late a student in Blackburn Academy was ordained to the pastoral office, over the Congregational Church assembling in Bear Hill Chapel, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. The Rev. W. Salt, of Lichfield, introduced the service by reading and prayer. The Rev. J. F. Whitridge delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the questions. The Rev. B. Brook, of Tutbury, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. G. Payne, A.M. Theological Tutor of Blackburn Academy, gave the charge; the Rev. J. Tallis, of Alton, concluded with prayer. In the evening, after the service had been introduced by the Rev. J Gawthorne, of Derby, the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, preached the sermon to the people. The Rev. G. Ryan, of Stockport, concluded with prayer. Messrs. Johnson, of Cannoch, and Rhead, of Rugely gave out the hymns.

On Thursday, October 27, 1825, the Rev. Isaac Anthony, late of Homerton College, was ordained to the pastoral care of the Independent Church at Hertford; when the Rev. Dr. Smith gave the charge

and asked the questions; the Rev. J. Harris, of St. Albans, prayed the ordination prayer; the Rev. W. Walford gave the charge; and the Rev. W. Chaplin, of Bishop's Stortford, preached to the people.

PROGRESS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN MEXICO.

His Holiness Leo XII. having published an encylic or circular letter to the clergy

of Mexico, calculated to excite alarm and discontent; the constituent Congress of the State of Mexico, has published a most important address to its Constituents, which cannot fail to promote the march of religious liberty in that country, and consequently to weaken the declining authority of the See of Rome in the New World. The following extract will give our readers a specimen of the Scriptural opinions, and enlightened views of that Congress.-

"The Congress would do a manifest in jury to your religious feelings, and your advanced knowledge, if it for a moment suspected that a document of that kind could affect your adherence to the religion which you profess, or the liberty and independence which you have purchased at the price of your blood, and of twelve years of sacrifices and sufferings. The time has passed when a bull forged in Rome could throw into combustion empires and nations, and in which they saw themselves under the necessity of breaking off their connexion with the Roman See, or becoming the puppets of the intrigues of its courtiers. The moderation and knowledge of this philosophic age have succeeded to that exaltation of the passions which characterised the ages of barbarism. We now know enough to fix with precision and clearness the limits between the rights of the Church and of its visible Head, and those of the nations in which it is established. The controlling power which belongs to governments, used with care and circumspection, has avoided those tumultuous schisms which never began without bloodshed, nor ended without bringing scandal on religion and good morals.

"Your Congress assures you, and you cannot but recognize the fact, that the religion which you profess is no wise opposed to the liberty and independence which you have adopted as the basis of your Government; that the ecclesiastical authority neither interferes, nor can interfere, in that kind of affairs; and that the civil Government is sufficiently authorized by justice and the laws to repress all the excesses which endanger the public tranquillity, and which are committed under pretext of religion.

Whoever has read the Gospel with attention will comprehend the spirit with which it is animated, and the plan which the holy and wise Founder of Christianity proposed respecting civil Governments. Jesus Christ assures us, in the most direct

manner, that his kingdom is not of this world that the mission which he received from his Heavenly Father was only to establish the empire of Holiness, and the doctrines of faith. He constantly refused, though pressed by the Jews, to exercise any civil function, such as that of deciding between brothers respecting a paternal inheritance. He always abstained from meddling with Governments, not because

he would authorize their vexations and in

justice, as some unjust censors of his conduct calumniously pretend, but because his mission was simply limited to the establishment of the church, which had nothing to do with them, and because that was the only object of his cares and his labours. Finally, he was so circumspect and delicate in this point, that he even refused to give his opinion respecting the Roman dominion exercised over the Jewish

people, in spite of having been provoked to do so by the Pharisees, to whom, evading the question, he replied, "Give to Cæsar the things that be Cæsar's, and to God those that be God's. A reply full of prudence and wisdom, admirable in all respects, and which, in a few words, comprehends all the plan of the Gospel respecting civil governments. The principles of doctrine and conduct adopted by Jesus Christ to place civil governments apart from all ecclesiastical interference, being so clear, solid, and luminous, what have such governments to fear from authorities which not only have no power to intermeddle in such affairs, but even have no right to express an opinion, if they wish to follow the example of their divine Master ?"

LECTURE TO MECHANICS.

The Rev. Timothy East, Minister of the Independent Chapel, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, has commenced a series of Lectures on Sabbath evenings, addressed to the numerous mechanics of that populous town, on their social, moral, and religious character; which we understand commenced on Sabbath evening, October 16th, with the apprentices. We sincerely hope the Divine blessing may attend this praiseworthy undertaking.

LIBERALITY OF THE LATE DR. S. PARR. This eminent clergyman, who was universally acknowledged to be the greatest Greek scholar of our country, was on terms of friendly intercourse with the Rev. R. Hall, of Leicester, for whose talents and character he cherished feelings, which he has recorded to his own honour in the following sentence of his will:

"I give a ring to the Rev. Robert Hall, of Leicester, as a mark of my reverence for his exemplary virtues, and my admiration of his sublime and hallowed eloquence."

REMOVALS.

The Rev. James Gray, M.A., has been unanimously chosen, by the united associate congregation at Albion Chapel, Moor