a work on the Decalogue, published soon after the commencement of his ministry at North Shields. In 1849 he published an able treatise on the work of the Holy Spirit. The former of these works consisted of lectures delivered in the course of his ministry at North Shields, and the latter of lectures delivered in the Congregational Library, London, at the request of the promoters of what is called the Congregational Lecture. It was immediately after the publication of this latter work that he received the degree of D.D. from the University of Glasgow. He wrote largely for the periodical press. At one time he was joint editor of the Eclectic Review. Some of the monthly volumes of the Religious Tract Society are from his pen. To the magazines and newspapers of the denomination to which he belonged he was a frequent contributor. His last illness was very short, typhus fever having done its sad work in a few days. He was only fifty-eight years of age. READING.-CASTLE-STREET CHAPEL. A PUBLIC recognition service was held in this place of worship, on Thursday evening, October 29th, 1857, in connexion with the settlement of the Rev. Thomas Galland Horton as pastor. The chapel was crowded in every part. After the opening devotional services by the Rev. Wm. Legg, B.A., the recently elected pastor read a personal statement, which related to his doctrinal views, his religious history, and his call to the ministry. The Rev. C. H. Bateman then offered the dedicatory prayer; after which the Rev. Thos. Aveling, of Kingsland, gave the address to the pastor, founded on 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2. The Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, preached the sermon to the people, taking for his text Rom. xv. 29. The Rev. J. Aldis closed the service with prayer. The engagements of the evening will long be remembered with satisfaction by those who united in them. The attendance has greatly improved since Mr. Horton's settlement, and many have been added to the church. The chapel has been thoroughly renovated, and its seat accommodation considerably increased, at a cost of nearly £400. HYDE, CHESHIRE. THE Rev. John Henry Gavin, late of the Lancashire Independent College, has received and accepted a call to become pastor of the church assembling in the Congregational Chapel, Union-street, Hyde, and entered upon his pastoral labours last month. ECCLES, NEAR MANCHESTER. AT the close of last year a chapel, several years ago occupied by the Primitive Methodists in this village, after undergoing various alterations and improvements, was re-opened for Divine worship in connexion with the Independent denomination, when three sermons were preached; those in the morning and evening by the Rev. James Bruce, of Manchester; and that in the afternoon by the Rev. G. Shaw, of Patricroft. Appended to the building there is a large room, intended for Sabbath schools, and also to be used as a Temperance Hall. At the opening services, and since, on the Sabbath, the attendance of hearers has been very encouraging. LYMINGTON, HANTS. THE REV. J. E. Tunmer, of Hoddesdon, Herts, has accepted an invitation to become the pastor of the Congregational church, Lymington, Hants, and commenced his ministry on the first Sabbath in this year. BOW, NORTH DEVON. ON Tuesday, December 29th, 1857, the Rev. John James was publicly ordained as the pastor of the church and congregation assembling in the Independent chapel at the above place. After the reading of the Scriptures and prayer by the Revs. J. Williams, of North Tawton, and W.H. Bassett, of Tappord, the introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. D. Hewitt, of Exeter. The Rev. J. Young, of Brampton, proposed the usual questions, and the Rev. J. Fernie, of Chulmleigh, offered the ordination prayer; after which, the charge to the minister was delivered by the Rev. J. Buckpitt, of Torrington; and in the evening the Rev. W. Slater, of Barnstaple, preached to the people. The Rev. J. Snell, of Crediton, and others were present, and took part in the solemnities of the day. HORSLEY-ON-TYNE. THE annual tea-meeting, in connexion with the Independent chapel in this place, was held on Christmas-day. It was very numerously attended, and excited much interest. The Rev. J. H. Hughes, the minister of the congregation, presided. Excellent addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Pearson, of Ryton, on "The Importance of Religious Decision;" and by the Rev. R. Menzies, of Broomley, on "The Waste Land, and how to reclaim it." On New Year's-day the friends, desirous of expressing their gratitude for the success which has attended their pastor's labours during the few months he has been amongst them, made him a handsome and valuable pre sent. ELLSBOURN, NEAR SALISBURY. THE new Independent chapel in this village was opened on Wednesday, the 30th of December, 1857, when sermons were preached; that in the afternoon by the Rev. W. Crosbie, LL.B., and in the evening by the Rev. H. Quick, of Bristol. The following ministers took part in the devotional services: the Revs. R. P. Erlebach, of Meer; - Evans, of Shaftesbury; J. King, of Semly; - White, A. M., of Tisbury; H. Chancellor, and J. West, of Salisbury; C. Baker, of Wilton; and W. Mace, Broad Chalk. SUTTON VALENCE, KENT. THE Rev. James Hamer, pastor of the Independent church at Sutton Valence, Kent, has resigned his charge there, and accepted an invitation to the new Congregational church at Barrow, near Ulverstone, Lancashire. On the evening of the 22nd December last, a meeting of the congregation was convened, for the purpose of taking leave of their esteemed pastor, and presenting him with an address, expressive of their sincere and unanimous regret at his removal, and their high estimation of his faithful and affectionate ministrations for a period of twenty-four years. Mr. Viney, one of the Deacons, read the address to Mr. Hamer, which was couched in terms of the highest regard, and also presented him with a purse of thirty guineas, the freewill offerings of the people, to which Mr. Hamer responded with considerable emotion. Mr. Harman and Mr. Buss, the two other deacons, also addressed the meeting, and read letters from friends at a distance, who were glad of an opportunity to unite in bearing testimony to the devotion, faithfulness and usefulness of Mr. Hamer as a Christian minister. COWBRIDGE CHAPEL, HERTFORD. THE REV. W. Spencer, having resigned his pastorate at Providence Chapel, Rochdale, has accepted a very cordial invitation to the above place of worship. He intends entering upon his duties there on the first Lord's-day in February. WARE, HERTS. On the last evening of the old year a public meeting was held in the Town-hall, Ware, the Rev. Dr. Leask presiding. More than 200 persons sat down to tea, which was provided by the ladies of Dr. Leask's congregation, so that the profits might be devoted to the incidental expenses of High-street chapel. Speeches were delivered by the chairman, the Rev. Messrs. Ricards, Cane, Sumner, Morrison, and Pearce, and Messrs. Fletcher, Newell, and Stokes. The people were congratulated on the revival which had taken place since Dr. Leask's settlement among them, the Sunday-school having increased so as to render a school-room, and the congregation so as to render a new chapel very desirable. From the interest we feel in the oldfashioned, but beautifully situated town of Ware, and from the high opinion we entertain of our friend and brother Dr. Leask, we shall rejoice if his settlement there shall, through the divine blessing, result in the erection of a new chapel, which is so much required. HINDLEY. THE Rev. Robert Berry, from Blackpool, having accepted a very hearty call from St. Paul's Independent Chapel in this populous village, a tea-meeting was held on Christmas-day to welcome him. The chapel was crowded in every part. The Rev. Wm. Roaf, of Wigan, and the Rev. T. Sparks, Baptist minister, with several friends in the congregation, delivered addresses, and an evening of great delight was spent. Mr. Roaf stated that the chapel in which they were met was one of eleven which had arisen from the one of which he is the pastor. PECKHAM-RYE, LONDON. THE Rev. J. Hiles Hitchens, of the Western College, Plymouth, has received and accepted a very cordial and urgent invitation from the congregation assembling for worship in the New Congregational church, Peckham-rye, London, to become its permanent minister, and intends (D.v.) entering on his labours the first Sunday in February. TIPTON. BROTHERTON, YORKSHIRE. ON Monday evening, January 4th, a public meeting was held in Ebenezer Chapel, Brotherton, for the purpose of taking farewell of the Rev. G. B. Scott, on his removal to the city of Lichfield, W. Wood, Esq., M.P., presiding. The chairman spoke highly of the past usefulness of Mr. Scott in Brotherton and neighbourhood, and said he felt pleasure as one of the people's representatives in giving whatever aid he could to a meeting called to do honour to one who had laboured for them. Messrs. Powell and Greaves, a deputation from the teachers of the Sabbathschool, presented Mr. Scott with a testimonial of respect from them. The Rev. J. Denniston presented from the Sabbathschool a handsome volume, bearing an appropriate inscription. The Rev. J. Innes introduced Messrs. J. Smith and W. Tindall, who presented Mr. Scott with a purse containing 25 guineas, subscribed by the church and congregation, towards which friends of other denominations had contributed. The Rev. S. Gladstone also addressed the meeting, and intro THE REV. David Addenbrook, of Tip-duced a deputation from Mr. Scott's ton, has accepted the unanimous call of the church worshipping in Ebenezer Chapel, Tipton, to become their pastor, and commenced his stated labours on the first Sunday in the year. Bible and music class, who presented a splendid tea and coffee-pot to Mr. and Mrs. Scott. The Rev. G. B. Scott replied to these expressions of esteem and regard in a suitable address, General. VISIT TO THE VALLEYS OF PIEDMONT. of God, except in such fragments (in an "unknown tongue") as a superstitious (Concluded from p. 41.) and ignorant priesthood chose to dole out Genoa.-Some of the members of the de- of their scanty depository; evangelical putation, on entering the narrow streets religion was unknown; the very name of Genoa, could call to mind what this of Protestant held in abhorrence. But city of palaces was more than thirty years twenty years have wrought strange revoago. No ray of evangelical light, save lutions in the metropolis of Liguria-an what might break from an obscure church open Bible, free discussion on religious of England chapel, then appeared; no and even on political subjects; an ancient native inhabitant had ever read the Word | people, once despised, rising into import ance; and Italians from other regions of Italy, not long ago devoted to Romish errors, now meeting around the Word of God, and singing the praises of the Redeemer. Our first object was to seek out the brethren who conduct the work of evangelization in Genoa and the neighbouring towns, and to make arrangements for meeting them in greater numbers in the evening. Signor Mazzarella accompanied us from Turin, and at seven o'clock had assembled together about thirty of his brethren in the hired room where those evangelical Christians usually meet for edification. The rooms might admit, on an emergency, about 120 persons. The number usually assembled on a Lord's-day we understood to be seventy or eighty. Two or three times a-week, a certain number of them meet in a Bible class. A chapter is read, or some portion of it, each in turn reading a verse and taking part in commenting upon the passage. We joined them in this devotional exercise. It was the third chapter of Philippians. Signor Magrini appeared to preside. Mazzarella took his place as one of the audience. The remarks made upon the verses, as they followed in order, showed a clear perception of the word of truth. towns in the world-most of the houses and churches are of pure white marble, and from the sea look like palaces; but Satan's seat is there. We dared not distribute a single tract or book in Genoa, we would have been imprisoned imme| diately. The Catholic priests, in their black dismal cloaks, and the monks, with their coarse brown dress, tied with a cord, a crucifix and beads hanging round their necks, bare feet and cowl, swarm in every street. I counted that we met twenty of them in ten minutes' walk. Popery reigns here triumphant, yet the people are sitting still and at ease,' living for this world only." It is different now: tracts and copies of the holy Scriptures are freely distributed without let or hindrance; two Protestant congregations (exclusive of the Scotch church and the Church of England) meet as often as they think fit, on Sundays and week days; and the priests of the dismal cloaks, aided by all the power of the Archbishop of the Pallium, are unable to put down the Christian assemblies; a commodious place of worship for the ancient people of the Alps is in the course of erection; the monks of the coarse dress are turned out of their convents, and have the alternative of a pension for life, or a home in some of the monasteries reserved out of the general abolition. Popery still reigns, but it is no longer triumphant, and priests are no longer exempt from the punishment due to crime and misdemeanour. The people still live for this world, but are no longer "still and at ease.' A spirit of inquiry has come in with religious toleration, and the night of ignorance is invaded by the light of a Protestant press, protected by the strong arm of the law, and by a constitutional government. Viewed in this light, the brethren of the Alps and of Italy have done already a great work. The introduction of the gospel into Genoa must be considered as the Lord's doing, and it is When the late pious and devoted Ro- marvellous in the eyes of those who saw bert Murray M'Cheyne visited Genoa in Genoa and Turin twenty years ago. But April, 1839, he thus spoke of it in its re- taken absolutely, and in its own limited ligious aspect:space, it is with the Italian evangelists "Genoa is one of the most beautiful the day of small things as yet, and the The righteousness of Christ (ver. 9), which is by faith, was rightly distinguished from the righteousness of the law; and the power of the resurrection, after being made conformable to the death of Christ, was dwelt upon with more than ordinary discernment. Occasionally, one of the humblest, and apparently least instructed, offered a remark, which was listened to with respect and attention; and it afforded us much gratification to hear strangers, whom we had never seen or heard of before, give utterance to the same views of Scripture which we had been taught to hold; so that it might have been said, "We write (or speak) none other things unto you than what ye read or acknowledge." Waldenses may only be said to be plant-lish peace," are now thrown open; and ing their church at Genoa. A pressure from without keeps the little bands within their narrow limits, and they have rather the protection of the laws than the sympathies of the people. Few of the converts are above the grade of the artisan or the common labourer. Some of a higher social class, who would fain join themselves unto them, fear the loss of "caste" with their Roman Catholic relatives and patrons. All this is but the repetition of the Acts of the Apostles, and a return of the days and circumstances when it was said, "To the poor the gospel is preached." The leaven of truth has begun to work, and the Word of God will "not return unto him void;" and whenever that which hindereth is taken out of the way, Italy will be saved. The prospects of that country, as it respects the propagation of true Christianity, are greatly affected by its political condition. As long as the despotic rulers of that ill-fated land consider the evangelist as a mere revolutionist in disguise, the prospect of a speedy diffusion of the reformed religion, humanly speaking, is dim; but the outpouring of the Spirit can be given to the effectual fervent prayer of "ten righteous men" in a city; and the silent stream which is now turned beneath the towering edifice of popery, will gradually undermine its foundations. The Word of God is not bound; it makes its silent way amidst error and superstition, until it brings the idolatrous temple to the ground, and builds the temple of the Lord upon its ruins. A few years will probably decide the fate of Italy; and it would be treason against Him who has committed unto the churches of Britain the incorruptible seed, if they should neglect to aid the native labourers to sow beside all waters, that, when the day of the Lord shall come, both Waldensian and Italian converts may reap with joy together. We consider that the time has come when British Christians should unite in more decided efforts to spread Protestant Christianity in Italy. The portals of the Alps, which have been closed for centuries against "the feet of them that pub | Piedmont, at least, is no longer the Bithynia into which the Spirit suffered not the evangelist, essaying to go, to enter. Along with a constitutional monarchy, the elements of religious liberty have appeared, and men may speak and write their thoughts upon subjects which, ten years ago, were forbidden to be entertained. In the mysterious providence of God, the Waldenses, a people prepared by a great fight of afflictions, which they endured through many generations, have been restored, as it were, from death to life. They not only exist in their native valleys, but they have been revived and made to rejoice in the God of their fathers. They appear, after three or four centuries, not in spiritual decay or destitution, but they stand forth with the Word of life. They are ready furnished with their "school of the prophets," and provided with all the needful appliances for missionary work. They have recently given a decisive proof of their resolve to maintain the evangelical doctrines of their ancient church in strength and purity. A candidate for the ministry having proved unsound in doc. trine, after careful examination, has been rejected. We further offer a friendly suggestion to our countrymen and country women visiting or residing in Sardinia, to be cautious in selecting particular persons or localities as the objects of their patronage, and rather to leave the foreign brethren to do their work in their own way, without seeking to effect unions for which neither party is as yet prepared, nor yet to encourage elements to repel each other, which, if let alone, may come together of themselves. We may have our own views as to which is most likely, under God, to do the more solid and enduring work; but in all new fields of labour, some are better employed in clearing the soil and in sowing the seed; for so it was from the beginning-"one soweth and another reapeth." It will be time enough to make the fold, when the sheep are gathered that are to be put within it, that "they may go in and out and find pasture." |