ciation be formed among the Baptist | Churches within a circuit round Bristol, including parts of Wilts, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire. That an annual collection shall be made by each church belonging to the Association; the whole to be applied in aid of the Widows' Fund. That a circular letter be annually drawn up, and that Dr. Ryland be requested to write the first, on the specific objects of this Association. That the first meeting be held at Mr. Murche's Meeting-house at Frome. That three sermons be preached at the annual meeting: one of the preachers to be chosen by the Association, and the other two by the church where the meeting is held. That the preacher appointed by the Association be the Moderator at the meeting. The following churches, with their respective pastors, agreed to unite in the proposed Association : services of the day were truly interesting.-We believe there never was a Baptist interest in the town before; may it increase and prosper, and may the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be daily enlarged, till the whole earth be filled with his glory!Amen and Amen. The AUGUST 20, the Rev. John Ham, (late of Crewkerne,Somersetshire,) was ordained over the Baptist church in the borough of WARWICK. service in the morning was conducted in the Baptist Meeting-house, when the following ministers engaged.The Rev. J. Bate of Braunston, commenced with reading and prayer; the Rev. F. Franklin of Coventry, delivered the introductory discourse, asked the questions, received Mr. Ham's account af his religious experience, and his confession of faith; and then offered up the ordination prayer, which Salisbury, Rev. John Saffery.- was attended by laying on of hands. Shortword, W. Winterbotham-Trow- The Rev. Isaiah Birt of Birmingham, bridge, Ebenezer Chapel, P. M'Far- delivered the charge from Luke xii. Jand-Wedmore, Chandler--Sod- 43, and the service was concluded bury, Wm. Southwood Pill, David with prayer by the Rev. J. Percy, InEvans-Keynsham, Thomas Ayres- dependent minister of the same town. Wotton Underedge, Thomas Thomas- In the evening, the service was held Frome, Badcock-lane, Samuel Saun- in Mr. Percy's chapel, kindly lent for ders, Sheppard's Barton, Wm. Murch the accommodation of the numerous -Devizes, James Biggs-Uley, Wm. hearers. The Rev. J. Price of AlcesCalton-Hilsley, J. M. Chapman- ter, began with reading and prayer; Avening, Phillips Norton, the Rev. T. Morgan preached the serBristol, Broadmead, Dr. Ry-mon to the people from Phil. i. 27. land and Thos. S. Crisp; King-street, when the whole of the highly devotional Thomas Roberts; Bath-street, Thomas and impressive work of the day was Winter-King Stanley, James Cousins. closed with prayer by the Rev. J. Barker of Henley-in-Arden. It is well known, and has been long deplored by many of the friends of Zion, that this church and congregation have been for many years in a declining state; but since Mr. Ham has been there, both have considerably increased, and the greatest peace and harmony prevail among the people. God. has heard the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer for this part of Zion. Indications of the Divine presence and blessing were most sensibly discovered, while many acknowledged, "It was good for them to be there." THOMAS S. CRISP, Secretary. On July 15, 1823, a new Baptist Chapel was opened at DUNMOW, Essex; and Mr. A. Sangster (lately called to the ministry by Mr. Bailey's church, Great Alie-street, London,) was set apart as pastor of the newly formed church at the above place. Mr. Payne of Coggeshall commenced the service of the day by reading, and prayer for the Divine presence and blessing. Mr. King of Halsted stated the nature of a gospel church, and asked the usual questions on those occasions. Mr. Shenston of Little Alie-street, London, (in the room of Mr. Bailey, who was absent through indisposition,) delivered a faithful charge from 2 Tim. ii. 7. Mr. Francis of Colchester preached to the church from Heb. xiii. 22. Mr. Shenston preached also in the evening, and the SEPTEMBER 9, 1823, was opened at AXBRIDGE, in the county of Somerset, a new Baptist chapel; Mr. Opie Smith of Bath, commenced the service by reading and prayer; Dr. Ryland preached from John iii. 17. Mr. Shell of Wells, concluded with prayer. Ia the afternoon, Mr. Winter of Bristol, so, as the hope is thence cherished' that the society has only to be better known in order to secure more extensive and adequate support. The collection amounted to upwards of £21. NOTICE. THE Annual Meeting of the STEPNEY ACADEMICAL INSTITU TION will be held, (Providence permitting) on Tuesday Evening, January 20, at the King's Head, in the Poultry. Chair to be taken at six o'clock precisely. The following Sums were voted to the M.S. ON Tuesday, the 21st of October, the autumnal meeting of the HERTS' UNION, was held at the Rev. W. 'Greenwood's chapel, Royston, when the Rev. G. Browne of St. Albans, preached in the morning, and the M. P. Rev. T. Thodey of Cambridge, in the It was very gratifying at evening. this first meeting of the Union in that distant part of the county, to witness the cordial feeling evinced in favour of its plans for evangelizing the villages, and the generous encouragement given to its objects; the more Thoughts suggested at the Commencement of a new Year. ANOTHER fleeting year has spent The measure of its stay: Its steady course pursues: £5 5 M. D. 4 H. M. 4 M. E. 4 M. S. 5 M. I. 5 M. H. 5 M. B. M. R. 5 H. E. M. M. 5 I. H. 5 M. H. The sprightly hue on Beauty's check Can't 'scape his ruthless hand : Whilst Time outlives them all!-- Then shall the just in glory meet, Nor dread a parting hour: G. TO CORRESPONDENTS. who sold his Master for the love of pelf:'-and as to "reputation," that WE were happy to learn, from indis- also is a very equivocal term, and putable authority, that the mock" Trial depends entirely upon what kind of of the Rev. Edward Irving," is not, as adjective should govern the noun! we had been given to understand, the We hope to be excused for offering our work of a “ Christian minister;" but friendly advice, “to all whom it might that of a Layman of considerable concern," to have no future dealings talents and reputation." It is not in the Market, making even the imperdenied that the writer has "consider-fections of good men and ministers of able talents," and 30, no doubt, had he Christ an article of trade! Irish Chronicle. THE Commencement of a new year affords a favourable opportunity for ac knowledging the Divine direction and superintendence, which have been so evidently displayed in the affairs of the Society, from its establishment to the present period. The stations to which the attention of the Society has been directed-the Agents they have been led to employ-and the measure of success which has followed their endeavours, all require distinct and grateful remembrance. Whatever, therefore, may be the future operations of the Society, or their results, past and present mercies demand the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. "Ebenezer,-Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." The labours of the Society, under the gracious auspices of Divine Providence, have already greatly multiplied and extended; and the state of Ireland still presents a scene of wide and persevering exertion for the future. These facts are introduced, that the necessity of importunate prayer, and the enlarged exercise of humble and entire dependence on Divine influence, may be constantly kept in practical remembrance. The expenditure of the Society, in the support of its numerous Schools, its itinerant Readers and Preachers, has become much more than double the amount of its annual subscriptions; but, then, an appeal to the Christian public, on behalf of this important Institution, has never yet been made in vain ; the deficiency having always been made up by donations and congregational collections; and it is confidently believed that, as its claims to benevolent attention become increasingly known and understood, pecuniary supplies will be cheerfully and liberally communicated. Encouraged by these considerations, the Society are desirous of proceeding in the discharge of present duties, trusting that, at the conclusion of the year on which we now enter, it will be found their labour has not been in vain in the Lord. The following extracts from the Society's correspondence will be read with interest, as affording several pleasing indications of zeal and perseverance. From an Irish Reader to the Rev. J. West. I spoke to him in a feeling manner, and proved all that I said from the Boyle, Sept. 1823. word of God; but to my great sur THIS month I did not go far from prise, before I left the house he was home; but I hope wherever I am, that shedding tears. Blessed be the Lord! I spend my time doing the service of see what a sudden change the word of my Master, and where the Lord gives truth made in this man in a short time. me an opening I strive to direct them He often thanked God for hearing so to the fountain of life. A few days much of such good news before he ago I was sent for by the young man died; and requested of me to visit that I spoke of in my last Journal, that him as often as I could spare time; was learning the Irish, to a house" And," added he, "I hope in the where there were a great many men Lord that I shall spend the rest of my and women together, that I might read life, let it be long or short, in the serand speak to them. I went to the vice of God, as well as I know how, house, and immediately I began to or possibly can." The old woman that speak to them about the salvation of was sick, whom I made mention of in their souls. There was an old man in my last Journal, is recovered of her the company, about eighty years of sickness; and I hope she is spared, age, and when I began to read and through mercy, to get more knowledge speak to the people, he began to sing, of her Saviour, for she was hardly able in order to interrupt the discourse; so to move when she came to my house, immediately I directed the conversa- and wished that I should read for her; tion to him, and told him, that accord- although I went to see her often, and ing to the course of nature there was the poor woman said that it was all no person in the company so near go- the comfort she had in her sickness ing before the tribunal of God, where when I went to visit her. I read the he should give an account of the deeds word of truth in several places, but done in the body, whether they be nothing interesting took place. I regood, or whether they be bad. Thus main yours very truly, &c. &c. From the same to the same. REV. SIR, This month I went to my former parish of Kilmatigue, where the Lord is still showing his amazing power in bringing many from worshipping the works of their own hands to serve the living God. On my way I met a young man, who was bred a rigid Roman Catholic, who has of late been affected by hearing the scriptures read; he openly confessed his sentiments, and acknowledges that he has been all his lifetime led into gross darkness and error. He expressed himself to this effect in my hearing. I was much rejoiced to hear him; one that I knew to be some time ago an enemy to the cause; but I hope that He who has given him to see his danger, will manifest the efficacy of his atoning blood to him. I stopt a night in one Finey's house, a Roman Catholic; I read and explained a portion of the scriptures to the man of the house, and he said, "I never had so much pleasure in all my life." They paid the greatest attention while I was reading, and continued until it was very far in the night, which rejoiced me to see them so much delighted with what they heard-and some of them asking questions such as they did not understand; and when I would tell them the meaning, they seemed to be much rejoiced, as if I gave them a great gift. From the same to the same. I am happy to inform you, that in every direction I travelled, the people are beginning to see what good the Society is doing for the poor children, in giving them free education. I have seen an instance of this a few days ago. I was carrying a few books to one of the teachers, and I met an aged man on the road who asked me if they were the poor children's books I had with me, I told him they were, and he immediately took off his hat, and said, "May the Lord bless the Society that are sending these precious gifts to our children, and are giving them what we never could afford to give them, for we cannot keep them in clothes, not to speak of their schooling." "But," said he, the Lord has raised up friends for my poor children in England." I asked him how many children he had going to the school? he told me he had five, and his brother four, and, said he, "If ten-pence was sufficient to pay for their schooling, I could not well " spare it in the quarter." Indeed, Sir, it you were to witness the cheerfulness which appeared in his countenance when speaking of the Society, you would be highly delighted. In the part of the town which I live in at present, my neighbours are all Roman Catholics. I trust in the Lord that he will make both me and my wife useful among them, for they seem to like what they hear from us; for a great many of them come designedly to hear us read the Testament. I endeavour first to impress on their minds the danger of living in the indulgence of sin, and secondly, the happiness of relying on Jesus Christ for salvation. From an Irish Reader to the Rev. J. Wilson. REVEREND SIR, IT has been repeatedly proved, that the most effectual means to better the condition of the benighted inhabitants of the mountainous parts of this country, is the preaching of the everlasting gospel, the school, and the Bible. Ard also that the disorders and appalling outrages which have taken place in Ireland, have, in most cases, been confined to districts, to which as yet, the labours of the Society have had no access, which is manifest here, and in other parts, where peace and subordination have been preserved. I have travelled through the dark parts of this country as usual, and read for them the glad tidings, and was received with kindwhen they heard in their own tongue ness and respect by the inhabitants; the wonderful works of God. So that I trust I shall be able at all times, to give such pleasing details of the Society's operations, as may be gratifying to its benevolent supporters. The schools were never better at. tended than at present, owing to a formerly existed, and a disposition decrease of that opposition which the number of their pupils, the scripon the part of the teachers to augment ture tasks they must have, which gives both master and pupil an increasing desire to search the scriptures, with the assurance warranted by divine promises that their labours shall not be in vain: it has been often impressed on the minds of the teachers, extend the triumphs of the gospel, that the Society has for its object to and the reign of the Saviour, which emboldens them to anticipate with confidence, that, as long as they dis | charge their several duties, they shall not, want, but goodness and mercy shall follow them all their days. And those who send their children to the school bear testimony to many happy results, and exclaim that they have cause of thankfulness, that instead of swearing, quarrelling, and idling, their children remain at home committing their tasks to memory in obedience to their parents and teachers. A poor man who had two of his children at Mrs. Carney's school, and who was a ribbondman, the Testament was the class-book of his eldest child; he read it from cover to cover with great earnestness and attention; and so powerful was the effect of divine truth on his mind, that his first conviction and confession was, that he could not be a christian and remain a ribbondman. I met with E. K. of B-, in D-, who travelled with me to his place, he invited me to read the Irish scriptures for his mother, which has proved more profitable to himself than to her, as he has lately, through the medium of hearing the holy scriptures expounded, renounced popery and all its delusions. He met with a priest accompanied with a schoolmaster near S., who knowing that he had left their communion, began to mock him. "Please to tell me," said he to the priest, "what is the reason that you use tow, salt, oil, a white cloth, and a candle, in baptizing the infant? Or why do you blow on the water three times, anoint the child's ears and nose, and put the salt in its mouth, and cut so many crosses ?" "These are mysteries too high for you to know," said the priest. Ir affords much pleasure to the Committee, to find that the plan first adopted by themselves, of employing Readers of the Scriptures, has led some pious persons in Dublin to form what they call the "SCRIPTURE READERS SoCIETY;" the following are the "Instructions, [which are] to be strictly attended to by Persons employed as Readers." object must be to call the attention of men to the Scriptures, strongly urging, upon their own authority, the sin of neglecting them; setting them forth as the only infallible rule of faith and practice, as able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Jesus Christ: so that your hearers may learn that they are given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works. 1. You are 66 to travel about, through the district appointed for you, visiting from house to house, for the purpose of reading the Scriptures to the lower orders, accompanying such reading with plain remarks; pointing their attention to Him of whom they testify throughout, as the way, the truth, and the life. 2. "Remember that your principal 3. "You are strictly prohibited from carrying about with you, for the purpose either of reading to the people, or of distributing among them, any book or publication but the scriptures of the Old and New Testament. 4. "You are strictly prohibited from preaching, either in houses or elsewhere; and must avoid, altogether, assemblies of the people at fairs or markets-your business is to be with families and individuals. 5. Carefully avoid giving offence, by harsh or unkind attacks (upon the errors of those with whom you have to do; but avail yourself of such op portunities as the passages you read, or the remarks of the hearers, may afford, for affectionately setting before them the truth from the Scriptures themselves; so that their errors may appear to be exposed or reproved, rather by the Word of God, than by your own words; and that in a spirit of love, and not of controversy. In so doing, you are not to rest satisfied with quoting from memory; but, as much as possible, make it your habit to refer to the book itself, and to read from it. 6. "If you are well received in any place, continue there as long as you find yourself useful, unless your presence should excite violent and public opposition; in which case it will be your duty to depart for a time. 7." On your arrival in any place, or in journeying through your district from place to place, you must leave no house unvisited where there is any rea sonable prospect of your being useful. If every door is shut against you, do not spend time in endeavouring to overcome opposition, but seek another neighbourhood. 8. "If in any place, or with any person, you have been the means of awakening attention to the Scriptures, it will be in the highest degree important to endeavour to keep that attention alive, by frequently revisiting that place, or that person. 9. The limits which you are to tra |