JAMES HARGREAVES,

Secretary.

ing Fund will be held at Albion Hall, Lon- | statement of the providential circumstances don Wall, Moorfields. The chair to be by which they had been led to desire the taken by J. B. Wilson, Esq. precisely at union; Mr. Hargreaves, of London, read one o'clock. Friends to the Society, Ladies several letters of dismission, gave the right as well as Gentlemen, are respectfully in- hand of fellowship to eleven persons (who, vited to attend. having given themselves to the Lord, gave themselves to one another in his name,) affectionately and appropriately addressing each of them, and offered up prayer on their behalf. Mr. Pritchard, of London, addressed the newly formed church from Eph. v. 15. "See then that ye walk circumspectly;" after which Mr. Ivimey administered the Lord's Supper, and Mr. Pritchard concluded the pleasing service in prayer.

March 7, 1828.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

ROMNEY STREET, WESTMINSTER. On Wednesday, March 12th, a new Chapel was opened in Romney Street, Westminster, for the use of the Baptist Church (lately meeting in Lewisham Street) under the Pastoral care of the Rev. C. Woolla

cott.

Sermons were preached to large and respectable congregations, by the Rev. J. Ivimey, the Rev. E. Andrews, LL.D. and the Rev. A. Fletcher, A.M. The Rev. Messrs. Davis, R. H. Shepheard, Edwards, Shenstone, &c. &c. took part in the services of the day.

By the divine goodness, this village station at present, assumes a very encouraging We understand, that, since appearance the formation of the church, Mr. Allen has baptized seven persons; and that a considerable desire to hear the word is manifested. May the little one become a thousand.

SPALDING.

Mr. Margerum was ordained at Spalding, November 8, 1827. Rev. George Marvell, of St. Neot's, began by reading and prayer. Rev. J. Stevens, London, stated the nature of a Gospel Church, received the confession of faith and offered up the Ordination prayer. Rev. G. Marvell, St. Neot's, delivered a very

It was to many, a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The collections were large, and evince the kind feelings with which the Christian Public regard the erection of the first Baptist place of wor-impressive charge from 2 Tim. ii. 7. Rev. ship in the City of Westminster.

ALPERTON.

Thomas Lingly, Kirton, concluded by prayer. Afternoon Rev. T. Robinson of Pinchbeck, Independent, prayed. Rev. J. Stevens preached to the Church a very useful and important Sermon from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13, and concluded by prayer.

NOTICES.

The Anniversary of the Bedfordshire Auxiliary Missionary Society will be held on Wednesday, April the 9th. In the morning at Maulden, the Rev. W. Thorp of Bristol has engaged to preach; and in the evening the Rev. at Ampthill.

Mr. Allen, late a member of the Church at New Mill, Tring having for some time preached at Harrow on the Hill, was requested to carry the good tidings of Salvation to the village of Alperton, about three or four miles from the former place. A house was accordingly procured and registered, in which, for several months, Mr. A. preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. The ministry of the word was well attended-some declared their faith in the Saviour and were baptized; and, there being some who were On Good Friday, April 4th, 1828, will be already members of other churches, it be held the Highgate Anniversary. Three came desirable that they should be formed Sermons will be preached at the Baptist into a Christian church, according to the Chapel, Highgate; that in the morning by primitive practice; that they might keep the Rev. Joseph Hughes, A.M. of Batterthe ordinances as they were originally de- sea; that in the afternoon by the Rev. Jolivered. The day appointed for this trans-seph Ivimey, of Eagle Street, London; and action was Dec. 12, 1827. The service that in the evening by the Rev. F. A. Cox, commenced at 11 o'clock in the morning. LL.D. of Hackney. Mr. Southwood, of Kensington Gravel Pits, read the Scriptures and prayed; Mr. Ivimey, of London, delivered an instructive discourse on the nature of a Christian church, founded on the last clause of the 2nd verse in the epistle to Philemon; Mr. Southwood on the behalf of the persons to be united in communion, read an interesting

Services to commence at eleven, three, and half-past six o'clock.

The Fourteenth Anniversary of the Bedfordshire Baptist Association will be held, providence permitting, at Steventon, Beds, on Wednesday the 7th of May next. The Rev. Messrs. Middleditch and Holloway are expected to preach.

180

MONTHLY REGISTER.

"Be it enacted, that it may be lawful for his own.

APRIL, 1828.

THAT large proportion of the Roman Catholics in Ireland who were unacquainted with the Scriptures, and who knew no language but the Irish, were placed out of the reach of evangelical instruction, until pious well-informed men were employed to read to them the Scriptures in their own tongue. The usefulness of such agents having been fully realized, the Baptist Irish Society resolved to employ all whom they judged to be competent for such labours: they have accordingly done so, and there are now FIFTY-FIVE in number. The salaries of fifty-five Irish readers, of ninety schoolmasters, and of six ministers, with other incidental expences, amount to about £2,800 annually. This large sum has been by a kind Providence supplied, as the quarterly payments have become due, notwithstanding the Treasurer has never at any time had a quarter's amount of expences in his hands. There is a deficiency for the past quarter: the Committee, therefore, respectfully urge it upon their long-tried friends to exert themselves to the utmost, between this period and that of the Annual Meeting in June, that they may, at the close of another year, be able to "render to all their dues," and to "owe no man any thing.”

From Mrs. B

receive gladly. Mr. B. joins me in the most sincere and friendly good wishes for Mr. T. and yourself, and believe me to be in Christian love and fellowship,

Yours truly,

M. B.

This letter is from a distinguished Protestant female, and shews the high estimation in which the Readers of the Irish Scriptures are held in the county of Limerick.

From an Irish Reader.

REV. SIR,

Feb. 12, 1828.

Camass, Feb. 3, 1828. MY DEAR MRS. THOMAS, MR. B has commissioned me to write to you, to request of Mr. Thomas to send Mr. R. to us as soon as possible. Both Mr. B. and I found him a sincere, pious Christian, and we trust in God some of his instructions will be of great use to several whom we have here, anxiously inquiring the way to Zion. His being able to speak to them familiarly in their native tongue, and being one of themselves, seems to be a strong encouragement to them, and I assure you many of the people here absolutely liked him. I think, please God, he will help us A man and his wife, who have been turned much in our blessed calling. I was much from the error of their ways, through the obliged to Mr. Thomas for sending us the instrumentality of the Baptist Society, which Report of the Society; it was indeed highly they acknowledge with gratitude, came to gratifying to every Christian mind; and I pray visit me on the last Sabbath. They said that God may continue his assistance to the that when they first heard us read and exblessed work of pious Christian education; plain the Scriptures of truth, they believed, nothing can serve the cause of our great and since that period they were gradually Master better, than "bringing little chil- emerging from the ignorance in which they dren to him." A short time since, another have been involved. They first began to little boy came to us, who had been driven inquire why the second commandment was from his family for reading the Scriptures. left out of their Catechism, and why the He has been brought to a sense of Christi- liberty of conscience was denied them in anity by Mr. R. and without any certainty about him except his own account, we have taken him in. His name is L. C.: he appears to be well inclined to learn, but he is far from having the knowledge of the Scriptures that the other unfortunate boy had; however, I hope his fruits will be very different.

If R. is too much engaged, any other pious reader that Mr. Thomas sends we will

many instances: they then exclaimed against the domination of the priests, so lamentably prevalent among those who do not hear the Scriptures; but those who hear and believe them, it is abundantly manifest that their chains are loosening, and that they are beginning to lay down the manacles of superstition, and to assert and improve the right of private judgment as their privilege and birthright.

J. O'B.

From an Irish Scripture Reader.

Moynoe Scariff, Feb.9, 1828.

REV. SIR,

thankful. The owner of the tract begged the loan of my English Bible, which I gave him, till himself and a neighbour of his, who got another tract from the priest, should read the portions or texts which the tracts referred them to. 1 am told that they have been day and night since, on every opportunity, searching and reading the Bible for themselves and families.

Friday, 18th. Visited Scariff, read and reasoned out of the Scriptures in three houses, to upwards of twenty persons. Called into the forge; lectured three men there. I have frequently met with persons from various parts of the country in this forge; the smith has always the greatest welcome for me, though he generally opposes me.

ON the 13th ult. whilst I was reading a portion of the Holy Scriptures to a young man from the western extremity of this county, and about a dozen boys and girls, there came a young man direct from the chapel, who told us, that were it not for the great exertions of priest V. these five years back, the chief part of his flock would have become Bible readers long ago, and that himself would be one of them too. I then read various portions of the word of life, to shew him that he should obey God rather than man, &c. He came twice since, and as his anti-scriptural adviser is gone, I trust he will be a hearer of the word in future, which is able to make wise unto salvation. Immediately after a few others came in, amongst whom a man from the parish of Inniscaltraugh, who told us that he heard his cousin, who lives in Nenagh, read portions out of the Irish Testament which I gave him. This man fell into a long conversation with me, on the doc-pheu and I visited the Clonoly school, and trine of his church, in the course of which went from thence to Clounrush, &c, he asserted that the popish bishop, though living near Newmarket, could make fish of the flesh for a rich man in Scariff, who, if report speaks truth, has leave from his bishop to eat meat on every Friday. An intelligent Romanist who was present highly disapproved of the arguments which this man made use of.

Saturday, 19th. Visited Scariff again, and frequently since, and am happy to say, that at every visit it presents a more encouraging, appearance.

Thursday, 24th. Visited the Society's school at Mount Shannon, thirty-three present. Eighteen of the children read the 24th and 25th chapters of the Acts. Ste

Friday, 25th. Met priest Sheehy near Tomgrany: he saw me afterwards lecturing Darby Lamy and another young man, and was within a few feet of me, but did not interfere; he did not seem to care for the sheep.

Sunday, 27th. Curate Mr. M'Cormick, of Scariff, went to the chapel of Cappaduff, and earnestly requested of the flock to beware of the Irish Scripture Readers, who, he said, were undermining them, and striving to turn them from their pure and holy religion, &c.

Yesterday I went to a funeral to Scariff. The people saw me going into a house opposite where the dead man lay. About forty persons followed me in, all Romanists save one; several others stood outside, lis

14th. Met upwards of thirty Romanists in Killicormick, Callaughan's Land, and Balloboy; to all of whom I endeavoured to make known the glad tidings of salvation, through the atonement of our Saviour alone. 17th. Visited a very old man in Killicormick, whom I frequently read to and reasoned with heretofore; he lay very sick, and after being anointed by the priest, he told me that it was his friends who sent for the priest, and that it was in Him who suf-tening. I commenced reasoning and reading fered for our sins he would put his trust, whose blood cleanseth from all sin. From thence I went to Carhamon, read two chapters in the native language to nine or ten persons, one of whom, a poor ignorant woman, not long ago told me, in presence of Stephen Ryan, that the priest V. is God on earth. Thus you see what gross darkness pervades the minds of numbers of these wretchedly ignorant creatures. Three men from the parish of Tulla, accompanied by a few of the neighbours, came in at night; one of whom, being armed with one of the Catholic Association traets, which he got from his priest, entered into a discussion on the principal points of Popery, which lasted two or three hours. The strangers were highly delighted, and seemed extremely

out of the Testament; there was the profoundest respect and attention paid till I read the 9th verse of the 6th chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians-"Neither fornicators," &c. whereon A. B. interrupted me, and cried aloud, "Läll! Läll! Lall!" and said that he would not believe the Apostle, &c. In fact, he surpassed all that was in the house. Several reproved him, and all present disapproved of his opposition. At about two o'clock the funeral began to move towards Moynoe; the people flocked about me; a few persons produced their reasons, to which I mildly replied. A drunken pensioner was the only person who manifested an unfriendly disposition towards me; he swore a vehement oath that I renounced my religion and turned from God (meaning the

persons the first night, and the second night there came twenty-one, who, when they heard the Scriptures read in the Irish language, expressed their earnest desire to have the priest put down of his tyranny.

priest) to the devil. On being reproved by | again at night to E. R.'s, and stopped there several who stood around him, he swore two days and nights, and read to twelve again and again, that he would think it a less sin to shoot a man than renounce his religion. His wife and wife's father took him away from interrupting me. Upwards of 100 heard the word this day, through my wek instrumentality. Oh, that the Spirit of Truth may guide them into all truth!

T. B.

From an Irish Scripture Reader.
Clounrish, Jan. 15, 1828.

REV. SIR,

I AM glad to inform you, that the influence of the priest is lessening very much in this neighbourhood.

December the 1st, I visited a neighbour's house, and after I had read a portion of the word to six Roman Catholics, they lifted up their voices, saying, “ May the Lord, who has made these charitable societies instrumental in bringing thousands from darkness to light, impress upon their minds to do something to liberate us from the tyranny of priesthood, that we may be at our own tree will, to send our children where they would be brought to the knowledge of Christ!"

Monday, the 2d, at G. L.'s. Read the 3d chapter of Romans to twelve persons, four Roman Catholics present. One of them,named J. S. said, that the priests could | not be guilty of a greater sin than that of preventing the poor of Ireland to send their children to the free school. Another of them, named P. R. opposed him. Thus there arose a division among those four Romanists. I reasoned with them awhile, and then pointed them to the 2d chapter of the first epistle general of Peter. They seemed to be well pleased, and heard the word very attentively.

Thursday, the 5th, at J. R.'s; about 30 persons attended. J. R. and I read the word of God in the English and Irish languages; they seemed to be very much interested.

On the 13th, in my own house, 23 people attended, who gladly heard the word. On the 17th at E. S.'s, whom I have mentioned to you before in one of my last, 1 read to ten Romanists; the people were pressing in here for four days and nights; the increase was about fifty persons. I had the pleasure of having Mr. B. one of your itinerants, with me in this house.

I AM happy to state, that since your Reve-
rence employed me as a Sabbath Reader, I
have been heard with the greatest attention
wherever the Lord gave me an opportunity
of reading his blessed word.
As the many
conversations I have had with Roman Ca-
tholics, &c. would be too tedious to men-
tion, I shall briefly state my labours the last
quarter.

Oct. 7, 1827, coming from church I read for five men the 3d chapter of John's Gospel and 10th of Hebrews. They all seemed quite satisfied with the conversation.

Oct. 14. Went to Rubul, and read in H. H.'s; during my reading, many flocked in. I read many chapters out of the Scriptures of truth, and strove to explain the plan of salvation as well as the Lord enabled me.

Oct. 21. Went to Craggybollach, and read in Pat. M'G.'s. As soon as it was known that I was in the house, all the villagers flocked in to hear the Irish Scriptures read. I read for them the 10th of John, 3d of Romans, 1st, 2d, and 3d of Galatians, 3d of Philippians, and 10th of Hebrews. Saturday, the 7th, visited G. L.'s again, They all paid the greatest attention, save and to my great satisfaction found six Roone man, who walked out and would not man Catholics there, together with seven or hear. One of the company, named J. M. R. eight Protestants, and Mrs. L. disputing more intelligent than the rest, said it was a with them out of the Scriptures. I read most lamentable case to see how many were the 12th of Hebrews, pointing them to the led astray by the priests, and that they could 2d verse. One of them, named E. R. in-have no other motive for prohibiting the vited me to his house, and the night follow-reading of the Scriptures, or opposing the ing I gladly embraced the opportunity; and finding about twenty persons assembled there, I opened the Testament, and read the 1st and 2d of Luke, and then pointed them to several other passages of Scripture. On the morning following I went about seven miles distance, to Coose, and read at the house of J. B. to five persons. I returned

schools, but to keep back the glorious light of the Gospel, lest the people should see their tricks, and think the less of them, and then their craft would fall to the ground. Many other conversations took place, too tedious to be inserted.

Oct. 28. In R. M.'s, and read for eight men and three women the 25th of Levitious,