IRISH CHRONICLE.

A RETROSPECT.

WHAT a mournful task it is to many of us to survey the past; to recall into "mirrored remembrance," the bright hopes and noble resolves entombed in the grave of the days that are fled. How few there are to whom the past does not speak in terms of reproach! How few there are who do not wish to draw the mantle of oblivion over the record of its omissions! And yet it is the dictate of sound and sober wisdom to gather instruction from its teachings, to mark our failures, to mourn over our follies, and to rejoice in our performance of duty. Let us then, for a moment, enquire how far we have reason to congratulate ourselves in our past individual and denominational actions in connection with the Baptist Irish Society.

In the year 1814 this society was formed. The men whose praise is in all the churches, Saffery, Ivimey, Fuller, and others, their compeers, were its "fathers and founders." It was born in prayer, nurtured amidst many storms and trials; the men who sustained it, however, were men of strong faith, giving glory to God. In the darkest times of its history they held fast by the promise; and now the society having outlived its youth, has existed more than the third of a century. But our fathers where are they? the founders of the society are gone, and have committed it to us, as a stern duty and a sacred trust. How have we discharged our responsibilities? Thirty-five years have passed away since its commencement. In the first year its income was nearly £900; in its fourth year it was nearly £2,300, and in the last year, the thirty-fifth of its existence, its income (including collections for special objects) amounted only to £2,670. We look at income as the test of efficiency simply because without it we cannot employ agents, or schoolmasters, or scripture readers-without it we cannot sustain schools, distribute copies of the Scriptures, or circulate religious tracts-without it we cannot secure any of those instrumentalities which God has blessed, and has promised to bless; and in proportion as that is augmented these are increased, and the more abundantly they are increased, is increased success ensured, and the blessing more certainly secured. Reverting then again to the fact, that in 1818 our income was £2,256, and in 1849 only £2,670, ought we not as a denomination more energetically to bestir ourselves? We have much less agency in the field now, in proportion to the population, than we had then. In 1818, the population of Ireland was five millions and a half, in 1849, it is verging on nine millions. The population has increased three millions and a half, while our income has increased but £414. Or, if the figure be allowed, the population increases in geometrical, our agency in arithmetical progression. We shall never overtake our responsibilities at this rate. Is it not time then, brethren, that our churches were fully awakened to a sense of their obligations? Here are nine millions of people bound to us in the closest of national and social ties; nearly seven millions of whom are Catholics the victims of a degrading and a soul-destroying superstition; the majority of them morally and spiritually dead; thousands of them the abettors or the slaves of terrorism, agrarian outrage, and social crime; and while we can command God's own appointed instrumentality to elevate and save the nations, how niggardly do we send the cherished boon to Ireland! Ireland, the "observed of all observers," whose own orators are continually calling the attention of the civilized world to her woes-whose poets can only wail over her fallen fortunes, and find nothing to rejoice in but the fabulous glories of the past-for whom political economists are daily devising their schemes of melioration, and philanthropy and benevolence maturing their plans of relief. Ireland, whose spiritual destitution immeasurably outweighs her political and social evils, is sadly neglected by the Christian church. Let it be so no longer; now is the time for vigorous action; secular philanthropy almost desponds, and political eco

nomists are beginning to despair. The Times, of October 17th, in a most elaborate article, tells us, that it never despaired of Ireland till now. It augured blessings, great and lasting, from the Queen's visit, and hoped that the famine and pestilence would operate as instruments of good. But now the leading journal despairs; it expects no blessings; it hopes only to avert a greater curse; and the agencies it relies on are newspapers and police: "for by their (certain Irish journals) energetic and honest truthfulness, not less than by soldiers and police, will Ireland be saved from sinking into a wilderness of barbarism or an Icaria of communism."

Such is the testimony, and such is the hope of the world. WE, however, dare not despair--we do not even despond. The men of faith, in the midst of severest trials and darkest gloom, can ever hear the words of the sustaining promise, "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." We have no fear of the issues when Omnipotence is working for us. But God works by blessing human instrumentality, and God answers fervent prayers. Brethren, let us bear Ireland upon our hearts whenever we approach the footstool of God. Let us seek to be baptized in the spirit of devotion, and look up in strong faith for the answer to our prayers.

On Friday evening, the 19th of October, a public devotional meeting was held in the Mission House to beseech the Divine blessing upon Ireland, and especially on the labours of our agents. Our friend Mr. Trestrail gave us an account of his recent visit to the stations. The spirit of devotion eminently pervaded the meeting. Many felt that God of a truth was there. It is contemplated to hold these meetings as often as possible. We feel more and more the necessity and the benefit of constant and united prayer in conducting the business of this society, and we ask of our brethren to remember us at the throne of God-to commend our agents and their work to His guardian oversight and blessing, and to pray that the time to favour and elevate Ireland may speedily come.

We gave in our last Chronicle several proofs of the prevalent and increasing desire of the Irish people to hear and read the book of God. Our letters during the past month furnish numerous corroborations of these.

ENEAS MC. DONNELL, under date October 14th, writes:

The people in general are not half so much opposed to gospel truth, or to instruction, as they were some ten or fifteen years ago; for in conversing with some of them they will can didly tell you that they believe the judgments of God are to be seen visibly in the land, in the shape of pestilence and famine. And they further admit, that all these visitations are from God, on account of our manifold transgressions against him. They say that repentance towards God is absolutely necessary, and yet they will not have it in the way offered them in the bible. They often tell me that the terms are too easy, and too cheap as recorded there; and that prayers, fastings, absolutions, and many other things of the like kind, are the only means to gain the favour and friendship of God. It is in vain to show them the passage which says, "By grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast." They still believe that one third of the work of salvation must be done by themselves another part by the priest, and what is left undone by both

parties Christ will forgive. But don't suppose that all our Roman catholic neighbours are of the like opinion. Many attend our meetings very regularly since the first time Mr. Mc. Namara preached in my house, and our meetings since have never been without Roman catholic hearers, and the oftener they hear the gospel preached the more they think of it, and the better they like Mr. Mc. Namara.

In the above extract we see how the

native pride of the unrenewed heart is deepened, and takes its special form of manifestation from the prejudices of their religious or rather irreligious education. Still we rejoice that the spirit of enquiry is created-when popery is brought to the light its reign is doomed. WILLIAM MC. ADAM, under date October 13th, writes:

The people of all ranks, high and low, rich and poor, acknowledge with seeming regret their heinous sins; but still there is no reformation; there is no genuine repentance; no thorough and saving faith in Jesus Christ; no turning to the Lord; no godly sorrow for sin.

But while, as he says, "there is no genuine repentance; no godly sorrow for sin," he furnishes many proofs of a

great and a permanent change for good, in the social customs and opinions of the people.

The people in this part of the country, thank God, are greatly changed and enlightened to what they were about thirty or forty years ago. When I was a boy, wherever I went, to kiln or mill, fair or market, bakehouse or funeral, we could hear nothing but the most lying fictitious tales about ghosts spirits of the dead returning after death, and telling most wonderful things-fairies taking children away, and even cows to give the children milk-then how these were brought back again by charms and other mummeries. Why even about sixteen years ago when I was baptized, I remember how bitterly I was opposed by protestants and presbyterians, as well as papists, for daring to doubt this ridiculous creed. But now gospel light is shining so clear every where, not a word of such trash do I hear go where I may. Even the abettors of it have the sense to keep silence. All who have ears to hear are most willing to hear of the wonderful works of God.

Thus does the light of truth, when it rises upon any people, disperse their darkness, and remove pernicious customs and foolish and absurd opinions. There is many a secluded nook, and many a retired district, even in our own loved land, where superstition still lingers, loath to quit its ancient dwellingplace: but it is slowly yet surely retiring before the efforts of the devoted evangelist and home missionary. In Ireland, however, ridiculous and degrading superstitions still enthral the minds of the masses. We have there a credulous, too confiding and imaginative peasantry, and a crafty and jesuitical priesthood. What a tale might be wrought out of the contrast! But send Ireland the gospel, and superstition, and ignorance, and priestcraft, will flee at its approach.

Our next extract is from RICHARD MOORE's letter, dated October 15th.

In Crossmolina, I had many to hear the good news. A Roman Catholic heard with great attention during the whole time I was explaining the nature of faith and its great importance. He (Duffy) put many questions respecting the doctrines of the Romish church. I had shown them, that it is the object of that church to oppose God, his church, and his word; and moreover had proved to them that Jesus Christ had put an end to all sacrifice by the sacrifice of himself. The next morning Duffy came to my lodgings requesting that I would obtain a copy of the word of God for him; and that I would also

give him on paper the different portions I rereferred to on the night before respecting the blood of Christ, and the marks of an apostate church, and concluded by saying that he would never go to Mass again.

JOHN JUDGE, in his letter of October 15th, gives us numerous interesting incidents, and states how earnestly desirous the people are to hear the Scriptures in the IRISH tongue. In their catholic chapels the service is entirely in LATIN, and an IRISH SERMON Would, we think, be an astounding novelty even in an Irish catholic church.

Read and prayed in the house of Mary Loftus, who received me kindly. In the course of conversation, she said, that she did not care for the priest or for any thing he "I will receive you," said she, or said. any of your readers, and thank God for the opportunity of hearing the word of God in the language I can understand."

Read and prayed in the house of Mark Harrison, who paid great attention during the time I read in the Irish language about the sufferings and death of Christ. His wife wept bitterly, and asked how her sins could be forgiven. I told her to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. "And is it true," said she, "that Christ died on the cross for us?"

Even upon the minds of priests is the light of truth falling. RICHARD MOORE says,

A Mrs. Phlym informed me that priest Madden had stated from the altar that it was useless for any person to pray to saints or angels, that none could be of any service to them, but Christ alone, who died for sinners. "I could not, during the whole time," said she, "help thinking on you who had told me this so often."

Here is a different specimen of priest. JOHN NASH writes:

In the morning I proceeded homeward. On my way I entered the house of an aged woman. I drew out my Irish book to read, but she refused to hear because of the strict commands of her clergy; said she, "I have often heard you, and like to hear, but Father M'Carthy sent me to Listowell for a ticket in consequence of hearing you."

JOHN DALTON writing October 18th, says,

All the Romanist shop-keepers of this city (Waterford) have indulgent boxes from the sisters of charity. Each catholic who will

slip in a penny will get sixty days' indulgence. I met yesterday a country Roman Catholic, and conversed with him about the religion of Christ. Said he, "I am after paying in halfa-crown to the indulgent boxes, and the sisters of charity told me I should have four years' full indulgence."

(D.v.) I shall continue this service and baptize once or twice a month.

Respecting this last baptism Mr. M'CARTHY writes,

Between the hours of twelve and one o'clock we advanced towards the water. Pro

Is not this trafficking in the souls of testants and catholics were soon seen in great men?

Mr. BERRY writes,

It is with pleasure and gratitude I have again to inform you of renewed blessings. On last Sunday week I preached in the open air to a good congregation, and baptized three excellent and pious persons. On last Sunday again I baptized two, and Mr. M'Carthy preached to a large congregation mostly Roman Catholics, and to his effective sermon the utmost attention was paid; and now again more than a dozen candidates present themselves, and

numbers lining each side of the river. While a suitable hymn was sung I took my stand on a contiguous bank, and after prayer preached from Mark xvi. 15, 16. While every eye was fixed on the preacher, every ear seemed intensely occupied in hearing what I had to say about this new religion.

POSTSCRIPT.

It gives us much pleasure to announce to our friends, in and about London, that the next monthly lecture of the Young Men's Missionary Association will be on "Ireland, its malady and cure." Lecturer, Mr. ALDIS. The place of meeting is Mission House, Moorgate Street, on Wednesday Evening, 21st of November, at 8 o'clock. We hope that all who feel interested in Ireland will strive to be present.

Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, JOSEPH TRITTON, Esq Lombard Street; and by the Secretary, Mr. W. P. WILLIAMS, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street; and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom.

COLLECTOR FOR LONDON, REV. C. WOOLLACOTT,

4, COMPTON STREET EAST, BRUNSWICK SQUARE.

J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.

THE

BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1849.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. W. ADAMS,

OF CAMBRIDGE.

BY THE REV. ROBERT ROFF.