several to attend with us. We enjoy the good wishes of Christians of other denominations. On Lord's-day, November 14th, 1841, we were formed into a Church by the Rev. J. G. Pike, of Derby, who preached in the morning from Numbers. x. 29. Be. fore the congregation retired, he administered the Lord's supper, and read our dismissals, showing that we had all been mem. bers of other Churches: this was an impressive service. In the afternoon, Mr. Pike preached in the Baptist chapel, Han. ley, from Eph. iii. 19.; and in the evening, in the new connexion Methodist chapel, at Stoke, from 2 Thes. ii. 16. Collections were made after each service to defray the expense of fitting up our place of worship. We had a tea meeting on Monday, Nov. 15, when about 120 persons assembled in the new Methodist school rooms. This meeting was a pleasing one; brother Pedley presided. The proceeds of the tea added to the collections, nearly defrayed the whole expenses of fitting the room. We wish to acknowledge the kindness of our friends who lent us their chapels on the Lord's day, and the vestry on the Monday. May the Great Head of the Church deign to bless us, and may the little one become a thousand. G. LOWE. RE-OPENING OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST CHAPEL BELPER.-This chapel was re-opened for divine worship on Nov. 28th, 1841, having been closed for the purpose of boarding the floor, and receiving other improvements, when two excellent sermons were preached; one by the Rev. T. H. Hudson, of Sheffield, and the other by the Rev. F. B. Broadbent (Independent minister) of Belper. Mr. Hudson also preached on the following Monday evening, when collections were made towards defraying the expense incurred. The result of this undertaking has led us as a Church to make the pleasing inquiry, “What hath God wrought?" A short time previous to our worthy pas. tor coming among us, it was thought the chapel must have been closed against us; since then our number of members has been nearly doubled; our congregations have increased, and we have upwards of 200 children in our Sabbath-school. On the present occasion, having expended more than £50, we have been enabled, with the kind liberality of two resident gentlemen, the subscriptions of our friends, and the collections made, nearly to defray the whole. PRAED STREET, PADDINGTON.-The General Baptist Chapel in this place has been recently enlarged by the erection of galleries. On Sunday Nov. 28th and on Tuesday the 30th, opening services were held, when discourses were delivered by the Rev. J. Stevenson, A. M., of Borough-road Chapel; Rev. W. F. Poile, of Keppel-street; Rev. W. Underwood, minister of the place; and Rev. W. P. Lyon, B. A., of Albany chapel, Regent's park. Collections, subscriptions, donations, &c., amounted to upwards of £350. On Sunday December 5th, a baptismal service was held, when eight persons submitted to the rite of immersion, and were publicly received into the Church. 1 On Monday, a public tea meeting was held; after which the Rev. W. Uuderwood, for. merly of Wirksworth, Derbyshire, solemnly recognised as the pastor of the Church. The Rev. Jabez Burns, of Ænon chapel, Mary-le-bone, opened the service by reading and prayer. The Rev. J. Wallis, of Commercial road, asked the usual questions, offered up the designatory prayer, and delivered a very affectionate and faithful address to the newly-recognised pastor; after which the Rev. W. B. Bowes, of Blandford street, addressed the Church in a very Scrip. tural and appropriate manner. Several other ministers took part in the services of the evening.-Nonconformist. was ENON CHAPEL ST. MARY-LE-BONE.On Thursday Evening, Dec. 2nd, seven per. sons put on Christ by baptism, after an excellent, argumentative, and well sustained sermon, by brother Batty, from Rom. vi. 4, at the close of which our beloved pastor administered the sacred rite to the candidates. The attendance was good, and we never witnessed the administration of the ordinance where greater solemnity and order pervaded the congregation. On the Lord'sday following, they were received into fellowship, with two highly-esteemed friends from another Church. sermon by the minister, from Acts xix. 1-7. The Lord's-supper was subsequently administered, when the newly-baptized were received into communion by the right hand of fellowship: the pastor at the same time addressing a few remarks to each on the importance of maintaining an honourable profession after so publicly avowing their allegiance to Christ, and attachment to his cause. At each of the above services the congregations were large, particularly on the latter, when the chapel was densely crowded, and numbers were unable to gain admission: and, although the services were unusually long, a great many remained after the baptism to observe our order in celebrating the Lord's-supper, and receiving the candidates into the Church. We hope these are the beginning of good days; and our prayer is, that the Great Head of the Church may add many more to our num. bers, such as shall be eternally saved, and to him. be the praise and the glory, for ever, Amen. D. D. BILLINGS. baptism of six persons, three of whom were added the same day to the Church. The others were in connection with societies of other denominations, two of whom lived in the neighbourhood of our small interest at Sow, where it is pleasing to notice that the cause continues to advance, and where, too, the subject of christian baptism appears to take great hold on the judgment of the various sections of the religious world. Mr. Tunnicliffe preached, from "Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." J. W. BAPTISM AT LEICESTER.-The ordi nance of believers' baptism was administered in Friar-lane chapel, to five persons, Dec. 5th. The following words were made one male and four females, on Lord's day, the subject of an excellent and impressive thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and discourse, by the minister of the place, "I earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."-Matt. xi. 25. REMOVAL OF THE ACADEMY. - The following resolution was unanimously adopheld at Loughborough, Dec. 8th, 1841. ted at the last Academy committee meeting, Rev. J. Stevenson's acceptance of the Tu"That the committee is gratified with the torship of the Academy; but as our brother cannot see his way clear to leave the Church in which God has been pleased so abundantly to bless his labours, we do not feel empowered to remove the Institution from the Midland District without the sanction of the Association." "That this Resolution be inserted in the next Repository." POETRY. AN ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR. A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.-Ecclesiastes, viii. 5. WISDOM discerning, notes and weighs The times and seasons as they roll, Departed years and passing days, And forms due judgment of the whole: But Life from folly glides away Unheeded, unimprov'd it flies, In worthless gain, or wanton play, And ere he lives the sluggard dies. Wisdom the worth of time discerns, Nor would a valued moment lose; But active strives, or studious learns, As need may urge, or talents choose. The means of grace, the house of prayer, Afford the soul divine employ; Jos. GOADBY, Secretary. For future heavenly things prepare, It would with holy vigour spurn. And thankful times with comfort blest. Wisdom, times' vast event surveys, Nor counts it chance whate'er befal; The varying year excites new praise, And God is seen and lov'd in all. The blooming spring, the summer's glow, The autumn's store, the winter's cold, The healing balm, or chast'ning blow, Almighty power and love unfold. Wisdom, the end of time foresees, The darkening sun-the final year, Looks back to when the Saviour bled, And paradise regained, believes, PRAYER FOR THE POOR. To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. DEAR SIR,-It is undoubtedly known to most of your readers, that many of our countrymen are pining for want of food; the probability is, that ere the year on which we have entered is brought to a conclusion, many will have perished. Will you pardon the freedom with which I have indulged myself, in suggesting that the prayers of the ministers and people of the Churches of our Connexion should not be wanting, that these unnfortunate sharers of our common soil may be supported by the hand of heavenly Mercy under the extreme catastrophe of death by famine? Yours, &c., ONE OF THE PEOPLE. MISSIONARY OBSERVER. SABBATH-SCHOOL MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.-NEW MOVEMENT. THE formation of Sabbath-school Missionary Societies, is a subject now engag ing a good share of the attention of the christian world; and the benefit of such institutions is too obvious to be questioned. By forming such societies in our Sabbath-schools we shall not only be doing something towards spreading the pure principles of our holy religion in benighted India, but the probability is, that we shall at the same time encourage a spirit of enterprize and liberality for the cause of Christ in the minds of the rising generation, which will greatly exceed that of the present day. 66 The necessity for the formation of such societies is evident. In a recent letter from Mrs. Stubbins, she says, "During the past year about twenty children have come to our door, and begged us to take them into our asylum." Many poor, starving children still come to us, but our great difficulty is, we have not the means of supporting them." In the order of divine providence the vast province of Orissa seems to be allotted to the care of our Denomination; and what are the few missionaries at present sent out, to the wants of this numerous people? are they not as the mere dust in the ballance? and might they not in truth exclaim, "What are we among so many?" Let our Churches then arise and do their duty towards the Mission, and our Sabbath-schools form societies to assist in "training up those poor, heathen children in the way they should go," and we shall soon bear of wonders being performed in that far-distant land of wickedness and spiritual destitution. As the New Year is a time peculiarly fitted for making fresh resolves, and rededicating ourselves to the work of our heavenly Master, I would particularly press this important subject upon the attention of Sabbath-school teachers. Let every teacher who may read this resolve in his own mind, that with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, he will not rest satisfied till such an institution be established in connexion with the school in which it is his high privilege to labour; and from what I have seen and heard amongst the children of the Friar-lane Sabbathschool, where the teachers have already formed one, and which will commence its operations on the first Sabbath in the New Year, I am convinced that success will crown his humble endeavours. Let us then enter into the spirit of this new movement, and if we do not take the lead, at least place ourselves on a par with other Denominations, and do something to be "talked of" towards the support of the destitute children of India. S. H, Leicester, Dec. 16th, 1841. 29 THE ABOLITION OF THE PILGRIM TAX-A FAILURE. The I cannot close this journal without noticing the depression of my mind arising from the complete failure of any good from the abolition of the pilgrim tax. influx of the pilgrims this year, in consequence of the tax being abolished, must be pronounced to be great; and had not a grevious famine afflicted the province, so as to prevent the Oriyas from attempting the pilgrimage, instead of 200,000, there would have been 400,000 pilgrims. The fact is this, that a grand delusion has been practiced upon the christian world, in reference to the abolition of the tax. The support of the government which was awarded to the idol Juggernaut having been drawn from the collection of this tax, it was understood as a matter of course, that when the tax was abolished that support would cease. Had this been the case, the anticipations of the christian world would have been realized; but while the tax has been abolished, the sum of 35,000 rupees (an annual direct donation from government) and a sum of 1000 rupees to provide cloth for the idols' cars, have been devoted, in perpetuity, to the idol Juggernaut !! This sum is amply sufficient to support the idol in all its influence and glory. The simple consequence of this measure therefore, is, that the disabilities arising from the pilgrims having to pay the tax being removed, they will flock to Pooree in greater numbers than ever they have done heretofore; and, inasmuch as the allowance of each department of the temple has been fixed by the British Government, and paid for many years, the whole arrangements of the establishment have assumed a fixedness which will contribute to its perpetuity, and be carried on by the Khurda raja; and the pilgrims will, on their arrival at Pooree, see an equal display of activity and glory about their favourite idol, such as they have ever witnessed. C. LACEY. * BRITISH PATRONAGE OF IDOLATRY. * To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. * MY DEAR SIR.-I have just received a letter from the Rev. W. Taylor, of Madras, from which I have made the following extract. Should you judge its perusal adapted to be useful, its insertion will oblige, Yours in Christ, J. PEGGS. Madras, July 16, 1841. Since I wrote, a very important document, in the shape of a communication, from the India house to the Governor general, has been received and published. It contained an undeserved approval of the measures taken in Bengal and Bombay for the withdrawal of British connexion with Idolatry, and a censure of the authorities here, for doing nothing towards the same object. It was however sufficiently evident, that the East India Directors felt themselves forced to an unwilling measure, and it is exceedingly unlikely that any thing within this presidency like vigorous and effective measures, will be pursued. Since the commencement of the system by Governor Place, to the present time, the connexion of the British with Idolatry, may be compared to a garment embroidered with strange animals and monstrous forms, so that it will be difficult to pick out the embroidery, which must be done. Meantime, what has been done in the shape of declaratory measures, and partial acts, may serve to vindicate the British nation from participating, apparently has warded off, and may ward off the scourge that was preparing, and which is still only suspended, not removed. We must be free from all participation with idolatry, or the plains of India, somewhere or other, may be wet with the blood of nominal christians fighting with each other. In a publication of mine, about six years ago, which passed into influential hands, I pointed out in a note, confirmed by clear historical evidence in the text, that so long as the Mahomedans waged war with Idolators and Idolatry in India, nothing could withstand them; but after finding out that Idolatry could be turned to profit by being patronized, and commencing the system (first at Juggurnaut), in which their bad example was too closely followed by the British. After that, they fell into internal dissentions, and became a prey to foreign foes-even a few Swiss like Mahratta mercenaries trampled them down! The parallel I abstain from drawing, because from the good spirit of the people of England, I am persuaded it will not occur. But I mention the fact, as it may help you to an argument in England, and assist, in however small degree, in the good work of maintaining among true-born and home-bred English, that good spirit which determines that the mercenary gain derived directly or indirectly from the patronage of Idolatry, shall not pollute the springs of power, nor provoke a God of mercy and forbearance; who is, notwithstanding, a just God, and "will not give his glory to graven images." BAZAAR AT THE NEXT ASSOCIATION. THE female friends in connexion with the Church in the Borough-road, and our other Churches in London, intend forthwith to engage in getting up a Bazaar, to be held at the next Association, for the benefit of our Foreign Mission. They respectfully and earnestly invite the co-operation and contributions of their christian friends in the Connexion at large. Further notice will be given of the place, or places, to which contributions may be sent, 1, Rockingham Row, West, New Kent Road, Dec. 21st, 1841. EXTRACTS FROM MR. STUBBINS'S JOURNAL. June 3rd, 1841.-Started at noon to Gola Bondha, on the coast, to visit a bathing festival. In the evening preached in the village: congregation at first small, but before we closed it became large, in consequence of numbers of people having arrived to bathe in the sea early next morning. Commenced the opportunity by singing a part of the Epitome, and selected as a text the following line from it," Abandoning reviling ways, secure your own salvation." All were at tentive while I showed in several particulars, 1st, what were reviling ways; but when I showed that idol worship was of that class, it was too much for them. One Brahmin exclaimed, "Aa barda bishma," (this is very annoying.) Reminded him, that I had no thing to do with that-it was truth, annoying or not. This led to a long examination of their gods, idols, &c. Then proceeded further to show, that their works, which they falsely called works of holiness, such as bathing, darsanas (sights of the gods), pilgrimages, festivals, offerings, sacrifices, penances, gifts to gooroos and brahmins, &c., with all reviling ways; that in them they disregarded and blasphemed God, and in opposition to him deified men and devils, paying to them divine honours, and establishing a religion of their own in foolish and wicked customs. 2nd, How they must abandon them. And 3rd, How they must obtain salvation. 4th.-Rose this morning, after spending the night in my palkee under a tree, at halfpast three o'clock, and proceeded to the sea-side. Spoke to different groups, who be. gan to assemble by a little after four, which eccording to their books was the time they should have begun to bathe. From first to last about 12,000 to 14,000 must have been present. We cannot insert the description of this scene. Suffice it to remark, that men, women, and children, were all but in a state of complete nudity; and that they regarded themselves as performing a highly religious act, by which all sin was washed away. Our brother remarks, "One cannot but be shocked at the state of morals such scenes must necessarily induce;" and adds: Here, also, were the officious brahmins receiving their fees. They first put a little of the sea water into the hand of the giver, who in return dipped his or her offering in the surf, and then with a good deal of reverence presented it to the sacred personage. I saw one fellow practising some extortions on some poor women, and sent him off, for which I suppose he would offer me little thanks, but said nothing. It would have been worse than a vain attempt to have distributed books, as in all probability we should have had to endure the mortification of seeing a good many of them borne away on the retiring waves; we therefore went some distance on the road which was likely to be most thronged on their way home, and thus selecting our men, we distributed near 1000 tracts and Scriptures. Several persons to whom we offered them refused to accept, saying they were just freed from their sins and all uncleanness, and by touching them they should be defiled. 6th. This was a day of peculiar interest and pleasure: it was the opening of our new chapel. In the morning I preached at halfpast ten o'clock, in Oriya, from Exod. xx. 24, "In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." Enjoyed a good deal of liberty in noticing |