uninstructed another twelvemonth; or be sent to England, to acquire an elementary knowledge of her language? Probably, these worthy young men may stand on the same level, in regard to knowledge, with the majority of our students, at the season of their admission; and, what is the common ground they occupy? We answer, neither capable of reading or speaking English, in any manner. Does it fall, then, within the province or design of the highly respectable establishments at Bristol, Bradford, or Stepney, to teach Welshmen the English tongue? Certainly not. But was not this the principle thing-the precise object-the leading design-the characteristic feature-the expediency of which being made to appear, before a large assembly, twelve years ago, gave birth to our CambroAnglian Institution? Yes, truly. Then, can our appeal be in vain? We want help these young ministers want immediate assistance. Friends of religion and benevolence, make yourselves acquainted with their situation. Should we not blush there is an existing impediment, though no sea divide us: the separating wall between Welshmen and Englishmen is not yet taken down; though we inhabit the same isle, are fellow-subjects of the same government, and fellow-believers of the same gospel, yet even the teachers of our common religion amongst the former, are, down to the present period, ignorant of the speech of the latter. "In our country, the chief depository of learning is the English language. It is become, indeed, a very capacious storehouse, of universal knowledge; but an access to which cannot, on any rational ground, be denied to any, much less to those whose special office it is to instruct others in the purest and most important science. The circumstances of the times, however, supply us with a very cogent argument. How truly cheering! What a bright lustre of glory is shed on the present generation! The national impetus is directed to inform youthful minds of all capacities, ranks, and sizes. Knowledge is running to and fro, fulfil ling prophetic writ; and behold the march of wisdom is becoming very rapid. Suffer not, then, any department to be neglected-any corner to be passed by. Look to the Principality, and its wants, and say," shall these be last of all regarded?" No, no: let the sons of Albion, without delay, unite with the sons of Cambria, to remove every material of the separating wall, and assist in con ducting such of the latter as thirst for knowledge to the nearest stream. The spot is well known, it is aptly situated, the way is short and plain, and to attain the object is far from being expensive. We are much obliged by the steady assistance afforded us, now for many years, from a few of our brethren in London, Birmingham, Middleton Chiney, and other places: nor must we forget to acknowledge the contributions from Oxford and Norwich, the last year, which were so seasonably forwarded: yet the paucity of our friends is a theme of regret. Whilst, then, we feel grateful to you for past favours, and hope for a continuance of them, allow us to prevail on you to recommend, in your respective circles, the object which you have learned correctly to appreciate. It is a pleasing feature in the character of the present age, that makes a delightful im pression on every mind improved by religious virtue, that although the claims on Christian benevolence are so multifarious, Christian benevolence, with daily renewed strength, at all times unimpaired and unexhausted, keeps pace with those claims. It resembles the sun, which daily ministers its blessings, and yet wastes none of its vigour. And, again, like that bright orb of day, whose rays are divergent and diffusive, it enlivens and refreshes every spot within its sphere. Such considerations, while they prove its nature to be divine, encourage us with cheerful boldness, to solicit an integral portion of its offerings. But there are some professionally incorporated amongst the friends of Christ, whose character is not here delineated. They possess no grace that impels them to communicate; although Providence, of its ample stores, might have distributed sufficiently to them. What the apostle gave in counsel to his son Timothy, wherewithal to address persons of the same description of character in that day, may now apply::- Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.' Brethren of England and Wales, we com mend you all to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance amongst a them who are sanctified.” BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY. Extract from the Journal of Mr. J. McCarthey. Lord's Day, Feb. 1, 1818. When my congregation were collected, 1 mounted on a chair, when a gentleman said, "As the day is so inclement, you may come into my house, and I will accommodate your hearers in the best manner I can." We had the place soon filled, and had a memorable time. In the evening, I preached at Mr. F.-'s, near the Poor Man's Bridge, in the county of Tipperary. The next evening, Monday, I preached at Mr. C-.'s, at the Island, where people came for two and three miles round to hear the Word of God. On the 4th, I baptized a young woman, R. S. in the river, and though the snow was several inches deep, yet there were crowds who were anxious to hear and see, as the ordinance of Baptism had never been administered in that part of the country. As there were many Roman Catholics, I considered it necessary to set Christ before them as the only hope of the sinner; and endeavoured to convince them, that we did not place our dependance on baptism for salvation, but alone upon the righteousness of Jesus. I afterwards preached within doors, from Acts, ii. 41, 42, and discoursed on the nature and constitution of a Christian church: though a large place, it was filled; the people seemed astonished, and many were bathed in tears. Thursday, 5. I baptized Mrs. D. F. who has a large family, of 10 or 12 children, one of whom I had previously baptized. I had a very numerous congregation upon the banks of the river, most of them Roman Catholics. O what a fine opportunity to preach Christ to poor perishing sinners. I then formed the three persons into a church, and administered to them the Lord's Supper. The house was so full that it could scarce contain the hearers; I never remember a more vivifying time in my life. The hearts of the people were softened under the sermon, and not one went away until all was over. We cannot expect this to be a large church, as the field for cultivation, in this part of the country, is not very extensive nevertheless, there is reason to expect, more will be added to it shortly, and the things which may seem unlikely to men, are possible to God. Friday, 6. Preached at Templemore, and had more to hear than usual, Saturday, 7. Preached at Castleotway; most extensive mountains, surrounded by the towns of Roscrea, Thurles, Temple more,and Nenagh. Lord's-day,8. Preached to the poor mountaineers, and have reason to believe that good was done. A young woman, after sermon, wished to be baptized; and while I sat by the fire, reading the Word of God, she was shedding tears all the time. For about an hour I aimed to point them to the Lord Jesus; but though the young woman was very anxious for baptism, I deferred it till my next visit. ASSOCIATIONS. ALCESTER. Breviates of the Association of Baptist Congregational Churches, in Oxfordshire, and the adjacent Counties, assembled at Alcester, Warwickshire, on the 12th and 13 of May, 1818. Alcester, Tuesday afternoon, 3 o'clock.~ Mr. J. Smith read the scriptures, and prayed. The letters from the churches were read. The contents of these letters were calculated to inspire gratitude and hope, as to most of the Societies united in the Association; there were, however, two or three painful exceptions. The ministers and messengers cannot omit the opportunity, of expressing their earnest request to all the members of the general body, that they would set apart some special seasons for more immediately addressing the throne of grace for the spiritual welfare, prosperity, and enlargement of that portion of Zion, in which the great Head of the church has placed them. Mr. Gray suggested the improvement of the contents of the letters, and concluded in prayer. Evening, quarter before 7.-Mr. S. Taylor prayed. Mr. Walton preached from Luke xii. 31, and closed the service. Half past 8.-The ministers and messengers met in the vestry. The circular letter, written by Mr. Price, was submitted to the consideration of the brethren, and approved. Wednesday morning, half-past 6.Mr. G. M. Smith, of Chipping Norton Patrick, of Sibford: Beetham, and Cook, led the devotional exercises of the morn ing; on which, there was a pleasing attendance, notwithstanding very unfavourable weather. Eight o'clock.-The ministers and messengers settled the accounts of the Association fund, and distributed the sums voted to the several applications; so as to leave no balance in the Trea surer's hands. They beg leave to recommend the fund, with renewed energy, to the attention of all the churches, as possessing powerful claims on their most liberal support and encouragement. Eleven o'clock.-Mr. E. Smith began the service, by reading the scriptures and prayer. Mr. Howlett preached from Titus, ii. 14. Mr. Hinton preached from Ephes. iv. 21; and concluded in prayer. Quarter before 6.-Mr. Gray commenced the service by prayer; Mr. Coles preached from Romans, x. 4; Mr. Price concluded. and Thursday morning, 7 o'clock.-Such of the associated brethren, as were able to stay, communicated to each other some of the principal events of the past year, in their respective connections; and engaged in affectionate intercession for each other, for all their brethren, and for the whole Israel of God. The next circular letter to be written by Mr. Howlett, on the best Means of recommending Religion to those around us. The Auxiliary Missionary Society will be held at Campden, in the autumn; of which due notice will be given. The double lecture to be at Hook Norton, on Easter Tuesday, 1819. It is expected that application be made to the ministers, who are requested to preach, one month before the time. The next Association to be held at Bourton-on-the-Water, on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Whitsun-week, 1819. Mr. James Smith to preach; and, in case of failure, Mr. S. Taylor. The second preacher is chosen by the church, where the Association is held. STATE OF THE CHURCHES. Received, on a pro- Dismissed fession of faith 43 Received, by letter....... 7 2 Dead........ 16 Restored...... 1 Excluded 6 24 at North Shields, Northumberland, May 12 and 13, 1818. Met at 7 o'clock, the preceding evening, when the Rev. Mr. Fisher, Rev. R. Pengilly, and Rev. C. Whitfield, prayed. Tuesday morning, May 12.-Met at 7 o'clock, when Mr. Lightfoot, messenger, from Stockton; W. Hartly, jun. and Rev. W. Hartly, sen. prayed. Met again, quarter-past 10 o'clock.--Rev. C. Whitfield prayed; after which, the letters were read from the different churches, the state of which is the following: Cold Rowley, none added, one dead; 29 members. Hamsterly, four added, one dead; 90 members. Newcastle, 13 added, one dead; 90) members. North Shields, 19 added, one excluded, one dead; 60 members. Stockton, one added, one excluded; 24 members; in all 37 added, two excluded, and four dead, leaving an increase of 31; number of meinbers, 293. It was then unanimously agreed, that the next Associa tion be held at Hamsterly, Durham, on Tuesday and Wednesday in Whitsun week, 1819. The Report of the Northern Baptist Itinerant Society, was then read by the Secretary, Rev. C. Whitfield, when it was resolved unanimously : 1. That the proceedings of the Itinerant Society have the decided approbation of this meeting. 2. That the officers of the Society be requested to continue their services ano ther year; which was agreed to, with the exception of the assistant Secretary, who was under the necessity of declining the office, in consequence of other engage ments, of a public nature, pressing upon his time and attention. 3. That the Rev. J. Williamson be requested to take the office of Assistant Secretary; which he accepted. 4. That this meeting_do_request the Secretary, to apply to Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, for one of his pupils to spend the approaching vacation in South there be any prospect of raising a conShields, and its neighbourhood; and if gregation there, that the ministers and messengers present, will do all that lies in their power to forward the object beyond that time. 5. That each congregation make a collection for the Northern Baptist Itinerant Society, to defray the expenses that may be incurred by the foregoing resolution; and that the amount, so collected, be transmitted to the Treasurer forthwith. Rev. R. Pengilly concluded the meet, ing by prayer. Met again at a quarterpast 2 o'clock, when one of the members of the church was ordained to the office of deacon. Rev. C. Whitfield prayed, and read 1 Tim. iii. Rev. W. Hartly prayed the ordination prayer, with laying on of hands. Rev. C. Whitfield gave the charge from Rom. xii. 6, 7, and concluded by prayer. Met again at 6 o'clock in the evening. Rev. Mr. Fisher prayed, and preached from 2 Cor. viii. 9; and Rev. R. Pengilly concluded by prayer. Wednesday morning, met at 7 o'clock. Mr. Jopling, messenger, from Hamsterly; Mr. Hallowell, messenger, from Shields; and Rev. C. Whitfield prayed. Met again, at 10 o'clock.-Rev. W. Hartly prayed; Rev. Mr. Pengilly preached, from Luke, xi. 2; and Rev. W. Hartly, from Heb. xiii. 14. Rev. J. Williamson delivered a short address to the ministers and messengers present, and concluded by prayer. The Divine presence was manifest in all these meetings, which, we trust, will leave a lasting impression on all our hearts. church, in the year 1815. They were principally supplied by the students from the Bristol Academy, till November 10, 1816, when they obtained a minister, who has since been ordained over them. From the commencement, they have been necessitated to worship in a small room, till the month of July last, when a freehold house and garden were purchased at a public sale, by one of their members, which is now converted into a very neat place of worship, capable of containing nearly 400 persons; and having studied the most rigid economy, the whole expense of purchase and alteration amounts to about 450l. More than a fifth part of this sum has been already collected in Wells, and its immediate vicinity; for the remainder it will be necessary to appeal to the well-known benevolence of the religious public. NORFOLK. WALSHAM-LE-WILLOWS. ON Tuesday, May 5, 1818, a new On Wednesday, the 13th of May, Meeting was opened at Walsham-le1818, the ministers of the Baptist Willows, in the county of Suffolk for churches in the central part of the county the Baptist denomination. On this ocof Norfolk, held their annual meeting at casion, Mr. Cowell, of Ipswich, preached, East Dereham. The Rev. Jonathan from Acts, xx. 24; Mr. Paine, of IpsCarver, of Necton, preached in the wich, from Psalm lxxxix. 15; Mr. Cole, morning; the Rev. Charles Hatcher, of of Otley, from Zech. xiv. 8, 9; Mr. Great Ellingham, in the afternoon. The Ward, of Diss; Mr. Garthwaite, (IndeRev. Middleditch, of Rattlesdon, pendent,) of Wattisfield; Mr. MiddleSuffolk, being on a visit in the neighbour-ditch,_of_Rattlesden; Mr. Catton, of hood, very kindly complied with an invitation to preach in the evening. The next annual meeting to be held at Wymondham, on Wednesday in Whitsun-week. Put up at the White Hart. NEW MEETINGS OPENED, WELLS. ON Wednesday, December 3, 1817, a new Baptist Meeting was opened in the city of Wells. The Rev. S. Saunders, of Frome, preached in the morning, from Deut. xxxiii. 3; the Rev. J. Holloway, of Bristol, in the afternoon, from Exod. xx. 24; and the Rev. T. Gough, of Westbury Leigh, in the evening, from Hebrews, ii. 3. The devotional exercises were conducted by Messrs. Burnett, Chandler, Williams, Seabrook, and Cantle. For several years past, there have been a few Baptists in this city, and their number increasing, it was considerad advisable to form themselves into a Bury St. Edmunds; and Mr. Cooper, of Stoke Ash, assisted in the devotional services. There is a pleasing prospect for raising a cause to the Redeemer's honour in this place, SOUTHAMPTON. ON Wednesday, the 27th of May, 1818, at Southampton, was opened, in East-street, a neat and commodious place of worship, belonging to the Bap tist denomination; when appropriate sermons were delivered on the occasion: that in the morning, by the Rev. John Ryland, D.D. of Bristol, from 2 Cor. xiii. 14; and that in the evening, by the Rev. T. Griffin, of London, from Phil. ii. 16. The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Saffery, of Salisbury; Atkins, (Independent,) Southampton; Miall, of Portsea; and Yarnold, of Romsey. The hymns were given out by Messrs. Clare, Clarke, Shoveller, and R. Owers, the pastor of the church. The blessing of him, whose favour is better than life, was largely felt. The Rev. J. Saffery, of Salisbury, preached the last sermon in the old place, the preceding evening, from Exod. xxxiii. 14, 15. The whole of the services were numerously attended. ROWBOROUGH, SOMERSET. NEW CHURCH FORMED. WAKEFIELD. ABOUT the month of November, 1816, the itinerant preachers employed by the Baptist Itinerant Society, for the counties of York and Lancaster, visited Wakefield. They found a Baptist or two in the town ready to encourage them in their work. In January, 1817, they engaged a school, in which divine wor ON Wednesday, July 15, 1818, a neat and commodious Baptist Meeting was opened, at Rowborough, Somerset. Three sermons were preached on the occasion. In the morning, by Dr. Ry-ship has been regularly carried on; but, land, from Luke, i. 17; in the afternoon, by Mr. Williams, of Huntspill, from Psalm cii. 16; and, in the evening, by Mr. Seabrooks, of Glastonbury, from Luke, xv. 10. Several other ministers assisted in the devotional exercises. The services, throughout the day, were very interesting, and the attendance and spirit, for hearing, Highly encouraging. as the situation was inconvenient, and too small, a place of worship, occupied previously by the Methodists, in connection with the late Mr. Kilham, who had then abandoned it, was rented. In this place, on October 22, 1817, public worship was attended to. Mr. Scarlet, of Gildersome, prayed; Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, preached, from John, i. 25, and concluded in prayer: after which, three persons were baptized in the river below the town, by Dr. Steadman, at tended by 5,000 spectators. In the afternoon, Mr. Trickett, of Bramley, prayed: Mr. Aston, of Lockwood, preached, from Ephes. v. 2; in the evening, Mr. Hughes, a student from Bradford, prayed; and Mr. Hargreaves, of Ogden, preached, from Mark, xii. 37. Since then, preaching has been regularly continued. On April 21, in the evening, Mr. Bottomley, a student from Bradford, prayed; Mr. Mann, from Shipley, preached, from Acts, xi. 23, and concluded. April 27, 10 A. M.-Mr. Sample prayed; Mr. Mann preached, from Rom. vi. 4, and after the sermon baptized two persons. In the afternoon, Mr. Sample preached, from Psalm cxxxiii. 1, and concluded. Immediately, five persons were formed into a church of the Particular Baptist denomination, and the Lord's Supper administered, in which service Mr. Mann presided: two* or three more are expected very soon to unite with this small band. Seven in the evening-Mr. Sample prayed; Mr. Scarlett preached, from Psalm xvi. 11, and concluded. The services excited considerable in. terest. A little one is formed in this large town, which, we hope, by the blessing of God, will soon become a thousand. * Two persons, previously baptized, and members elsewhere, have applied for a dismission, to unite with them. |