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nessed so much ignorance anywhere as I have at H- and its adjoining parishes. The inhabitants are but a small remove from the brute. I use no figure: I might mention facts, only too disgusting and abhorrent, which would show at once that gross darkness which covers the place."

"The system of church domination bears every thing before it. It is to be lamented, that the clerical power and influence are extended over the agricultural portion of the community in various ways. The clergyman of the parish inculcates, that he has a right over all the parishioners, because he has the care of souls. Hence, he will not suffer any one else to meddle with what he conceives belongs exclusively to him. By this means, I have been prevented from visiting some persons when sick and dying."

He proceeds to describe the cases, which were very distressing.

"I have not much to communicate this month, save the increasing hostility of the clergy to my attempts to do good. They are exciting the Tory aristocracy in the neighbourhood, who own the greater part of all the villages, to intimidate those who are known to be favourable to the truth. They are erecting school-rooms in this village, including one for infants, where week-day instruction will be given to all. The intolerance of the clergy will prevent every child who enters them from attending any of our places of worship, and will exert a baneful influence on many of the parents. The dogma of baptismal regeneration is held forth with more intemperate zeal than ever, and their afternoon sermons are frequently so many attacks upon the poor home missionary, and those that sent him. I could give you many details of persecution, if needful; but in the midst of it all, the truth is, I trust, steadily advancing. Pray for me, that I may be upheld and encouraged, and that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.”

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

EXTRACTS FROM REV. J. GODKIN'S LAST QUARTERLY JOURNAL.

May 2d, 1841.-Lectured in the Rev. Mr. Coulter's church, within a mile of CastleBlaney, a neat little town in the county Monaghan, adjoining the beautiful demesne of Lord Blaney. We had a full congregation, but as it was in the forenoon, there were few, if any, Roman Catholics. Immediately after this service, I proceeded to another Presbyterian church, (Rev. Mr. Boyd's,) near the town, where there was a very large congregation waiting for me. It was announced that I should again lecture in the evening in a commodious preaching-room over the market-house. But long before the time this place was densely crowded with most of the respectable people of the town and neighbourhood, while groups of country people were waiting about the streets with no prospect of getting within hearing. Under these circumstances, Mr. Boyd kindly offered his church, which was accordingly opened, and as it stands nearly a quarter of a mile out of town, it was most interesting to see the congregation covering the whole way thither from the market-house: it had a very animating effect on the people, and it was remarked by several, that they had never before seen anything like it in that place; not only was the lower part of the house crowded, but the galleries were all well filled; the audience, which was most attentive during a long service, included a considerable number of Roman Catholics.

May 3d.—I gave a fourth lecture this evening in the same place. The attendance was very large, and the galleries were filled mostly with Roman Catholics, including some Irish readers; one of whom has made a most determined stand against the denunciations of the priest. The Presbyterian ministers here spoke in the strongest terms of the importance of these labours conducted in such a spirit; a spirit which none are more ready to appreciate than the Roman Catholics themselves.

May 9th.-Preached in Creggan, a Roman Catholic district in the southern and mountainous part of Armagh county, a district which has been greatly disgraced of late years by Ribbon murders. The Rev. Mr. M'Williams church was quite crowded in the forenoon. It was intended that I should lecture in the evening in the markethouse, Cross Maylin, a town in the centre of the disturbed district; but as it became exceedingly wet, and as the Methodists did not deem it prudent to give their chapel, and the upper-room of the market-house being filled with corn, we did not think there could be any meeting, and had almost given up the idea of going. We went, however, that there might be no disappointment, and on the way met an elder, who came to hurry us, stating, that the lower and open part of the market-house was filled with Roman Catholics, who had repeatedly sent so see was the minister coming? When we arrived, we found the place crowded as close as they could stand, while the rain was beating in full upon them through the iron gates. Mr. M'Williams opened the meeting with prayer, and then I mounted a cart for a pulpit, and commenced a leeture on the power of the Keys, church authority, and confession. In such a place, it would have been thought hardly prudent to preach controversy, even in a house of worship, still less in a town hall, but least of all in the open space which we then occupied, affording as it did every facility for annoyance. Nevertheless, I gave them a long, practical, and pointed discourse on the exciting topics above mentioned; and though there were many children present, there was not a breath of disturbance! After meeting, I walked out to a friend's place in the country, with one or two strange men, at night, without the least idea that I was in danger. All I apprehended was some interruption at the meeting. But if any were disposed to give annoyance, they were completely disarmed by my introductory remarks, and by the spirit of the whole services. A deep and solemn impression seemed to rest on their minds. Many walked three or four miles to this meeting, and some respectable persons from Louth county had driven six miles to attend. I was earnestly requested to return again, and I promised them a field preaching before the fine season is over, which promise I hope, God willing, soon to fulfil.

May 24th.-Visited a venerable Presbyterian minister in the Down county, in compliance with an invitation received under the following circumstances. In consequence of the disgraceful way in which Roman Catholics have been attacked by controversialists in this country, this gentleman, who is a thorough liberal, was quite disgusted; and though he approved of my labours through the press, he was opposed to my lecturing on these subjects. However, he was induced to go and hear me in Raithfriland, when he came forward at the close of the meeting, and took me warmly by the hand, declaring that his mind was quite changed, and that he never heard fair reasoning from the pulpit before, where the claims of rival churches were concerned. Therefore, to the astonishment of all the neighbourhood, he invited me to lecture to his people, and as he is very popular, and deservedly so, we expected a large attendance. His place of worship is near the splendid Roman Catholic chapel, lately erected by the Rev. Dr. Kernan, and as it has been the scene of a most interesting contest between the people and their bishop, I must briefly refer to the circumstances connected with it, which I had learned from the lips of Dr. Kernan himself, who showed me all the documents on the subject, and which I found corroborated by testimony on the spot. This highly respected priest had incurred the displeasure of his bishop, chiefly, I believe, by the independence and liberal tendencies of his mind; and was, therefore, arbitrarily superseded as parish priest, and another, called an administrator, placed over him. The people, considering this an unwarrantable and despotic stretch of authority, refused to receive the bishop's nominee; they shut the doors of the chapel in his face, and would not open them except to the man of their choice. The right rev. father himself came to the spot, but they were equally deaf to his intreaties and his threats. Thousands of non-intrusionists assembled round the chapel,

and bid defiance to the episcopal power. Meantime, a small tent was erected to shelter the altar in a farm-yard, where, for the space of nine months at least, the administrator continued to celebrate mass to the very few who adhered to the bishop, while the multitude, who were true to their own pastor, stood aloof all that time, till Dr. Kernan returned from Rome, where, he successfully pleaded his own cause. The faithful laity celebrated his victory with bonfires; and after a formal compromise to save appearances, the bishop came to consecrate the chapel. Such facts are significant signs of the times. I therefore felt a good deal of interest in visiting this place. The morning congregation was not much crowded; but in the evening we had an immense multitude; the aisles and all parts of the house were crammed. Several ministers, including the Church of England incumbent, attended. This is quite a Presbyterian district, and the Episcopalians are but a handful, though the parish affords a fine living to its amiable possessor. It was interesting to see the Roman Catholics, peeping through the windows, passing the doors, and glancing in timidly, faultering, hesitating, retiring, and then at last yielding! passing the rubicon, and mixing with the crowd; the love of knowledge, and, (let us hope and pray,) in many cases, the grace of God silently vanquishing prejudice and the superstitious fear of "the church."

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

NEW ZEALAND.-This is one of the most important of the British settlements in the vast Pacific. To it the current of emigration from this country at present sets in very strongly. Great numbers are flocking thither as to the land of hope and promise. Since the following letter from Mr. Quaife was written, the numbers of British settlers must have greatly increased. The spiritual necessities of the people must have equally increased. The subjoined letter shows the writer to be a man of a right spirit. It also illustrates the moral necessities of Colonial society when first forming. Such representations plead powerfully for Colonial Missions. They also contribute to give intending emigrants correct ideas of the state of things, in all respects, they may expect to encounter in Colonial life and enterprise. They show to how severe a test religious principles, moral courage, and powers of endurance and of effort, must be subjected in new settlements on remote shores; not indeed to deter them from emigration, but to arm them with the resolution essential to success. The supporters of the Colonial Society will entirely approve of the resolutions of the Committee to assist Mr. Quaife :

To the Secretary of the Colonial Missionary Society.

New Zealand, Kororarika, Bay of Islands, Jan. 18th, 1841. MY DEAR SIR,—If I am not mistaken, I wrote to you recently a letter from this place, but as always from so great a distance there is some hazard about the safe arrival of letters, it may not be amiss if I correspond with you again. If I did write to you, I must have informed you of a number of particulars respecting this country, and of my position in it. As I am not able to take copies of correspondence, I do not know what I may have said to you. Whatever I wrote, however, I have some fresh particulars not unimportant.

I may just inform you, if you have not already received the information, that while remaining at Adelaide, without a field of labour, and without the means of usefulness, a proposition was made me there to come down to the Bay of Islands and establish a newspaper. The field was represented to me as being completely open, both in that department and the ministry. The latter I felt to be the appropriate inducement; the former appeared important to me only as a means of support. I consulted Mr. Stowe and other friends, and all were of opinion that the call was providential, and that I

might even make the paper a means of great good in protecting the native interests. After earnestly committing the matter to God, I embarked with my wife and child. We touched at Hobart Town, where I preached for brothers Nisbet and Miller. Both thought well of the movement, but regretted the connexion with the newspaper, as likely to impede my usefulness. I was urged to write to you. I had nothing to do but to follow the Divine guidance, and that has truly thus far led me by a way which I knew not.

We arrived at this place on the 19th of May last. The voyage, though quick, was one of suffering, owing to the bad state of the vessel. On arriving we found by far the greater part of our goods almost ruined by sea-water. We just managed to set up our press. Our health had also suffered severely, and I nearly lost my little boy. I was greatly disappointed at the sight of the place I was to occupy. To establish a newspaper amidst a population of two hundred! For that population it immediately appeared, however, that ministerial exertions were required. But how were we to live? and yet our money was all spent. I had nothing to do but to go on with the paper in the best manner I could. But I was in every thing completely dispirited, and rather moved on by a sort of mechanism than otherwise. Amidst it all I preached on, and though I could not do any thing else in the ministry, I was, by this means, enabled to secure my footing.

In the mean time the little town grew rapidly in size, and promised to become a place of consequence. In both respects my field of labour seemed to be extending, but my powers were every hour diminishing; I felt that the paper could not pay for two or three years, and that it was an impediment to my better exertions. Questions also arose from which, as a Christian and Philanthrophist, I felt it impossible to shrink. The native rights had been assailed, denied, trampled on, and I was, as far as I knew, their only public and persevering defender. The commercial difficulties of my situation, combined with the conflict in my mind, between the claims of the ministry and of the paper, were too much for me, and I was attacked by jaundice. From this God mercifully soon delivered me, and by abridging some part of my bodily labour I have been enabled to keep on through another three months. It began to be a question what steps I should take, when Divine providence manifested itself in a manner I had not been led to expect.

The paper which I conducted at first from personal necessity, soon became a most important means of defending native and public rights. Hence I felt it imperative on me to persevere, there being no other paper in this part of New Zealand. I did so, arguing the question on all sides. The result was, that the government stopped us by the application of the Sydney law respecting newspapers. Thus in a moment the entire amount of our income from that quarter is taken away, and my further labours in that department entirely prevented.

Now this step of the government relieves me of one half of my difficulties. It leaves me free for ministerial labours. It puts an end to a conflict which has been too severe for me to sustain. And it leaves my mind open for spiritual enjoyments. My posi tion is, in all these respects, very superior to what it was; so much so, that it is not my intention to involve myself in the same manner again. But on the other hand, it does not yet appear from what quarter our wants are to be supplied. But I will just give you a description of the place with which I stand connected.

Kororarika contains about one hundred houses and stores. Its population is probably five hundred. It has a church, of which the congregation is not more than thirty or forty. This place is the principal not only of the Bay Islands, but also of New Zealand, at present, if Port Nicholson be excepted. Its importance as a place adapted for commerce, is exceedingly great. It is surpassed indeed by none, for its splendid harbour and other advantages. The white population all over the Bay may

be about fifteen hundred. Auckland on the Thames is to be the capital; but is, in fact, not yet in existence, so that it remains to be seen what its advantages will be in a ministerial point of view. Whatever may arise there, it seems to me that this spot is the most important in New Zealand, at the present moment, in that view. Now, the missionaries excepted, whose labours are devoted to the natives almost entirely, and also the ministers at Port Nicholson, I am the only one of any denomination in this country, who labours among the white people.

One great difficulty has been the want of a place of worship, which caused the congregation to diminish from seventy or eighty to seven or eight. We have now erected, at our own cost-which, however, we are anxious to get subscribed for if possible-a building on a piece of ground lent for three years. It is weather-boarded and shingled, and cost £80. The whole is twenty-four feet by fourteen. This is partitioned so as to allow a room fourteen feet square for public worship, the other part being divided into two small rooms for our own use to save us rent, which is enormously high in these places. Since this place has been opened our attendance has been much better, and several people seem to be seriously impressed. I do hope and believe that the blessing of the Head of the church is with us. We have two services on the Lord's-day, and two in the week. I am about to extend my labours to another spot, across the water, on the Lord's-day afternoons. We are commencing a Sunday-school, and tract distribution, all which things have been kept back by my other engagements. In the mean time I am holding my mind in readiness for any movement to which God may call me. I have communicated with Dr. Ross, who regards my position as so important as to advise me to remain if possible. As it regards funds, but little, if any thing, can be raised on the spot, so that we are thrown almost entirely upon the exercise of our faith in the maintenance of our position. If our friends in England can send us any aid, it may enable us to do much more than we can otherwise do. Among other reasons why I should continue to labour here rather than elsewhere, is this, that my health is benefitted by the delicious climate in a very high degree. This climate is almost meat, drink, and medicine.

The spiritual necessities of the people are great. There is much infidelity, much profaneness, and an almost entire forgetfulness of God, and even of the forms of religion. Now is the time for us to exert ourselves in order to give a better impulse to the public mind. God knows how anxious I am to give that impulse, and how determined, in his strength, to do so.

Some Watts' Psalms and Hymns, Tracts, and Bibles, and Testaments, I am very much in want of.

Could you contrive to aid us in any way?

I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly,

B. QUAIFE.

TRANSACTIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

THE ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CON. GREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES, will be held at NOTTINGHAM, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of the present month.

The arrangements proposed for its proceedings are as follow

The Rev. Richard Elliott, of Devizes, will preside in the morning meetings of delegates; and Sir Culling Eardley Smith, Bart. in the evening public meetings. Tuesday evening, 19th of October, a preparatory sermon will be preached, in James Street Chapel; service to commence at seven o'clock.

Wednesday morning, 10th of October, a meeting of delegates and brethren will be held in Friar Lane Chapel; to commence at nine o'clock precisely. Papers for discussion will be presented :-

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