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ORDINATIONS.

STEBBING, ESSEX.

ON Tuesday, the 6th of May, Mr. Charles Duff, of Highbury College, was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Stebbing. The devotional services were conducted by fathers and brethren from the surrounding churches.

The Rev. J. De Kewer Williams, of Tottenham, London, delivered the introductory discourse, which presented a comprehensive statement and able defence of the principles of our "faith" and "order," from Col. ii. 5, The questions were asked by the Rev. J. Carter, of Braintree, and the ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. T. Craig, of Bocking. The Rev. Dr. Henderson then gave the charge, which was founded on 1 Tim. iv. 15, and marked by his usual fatherly affection and wisdom.

In the evening, the Rev. T. B. Sainsbury, B.A., of Finchingfield, addressed "the people' with great faithfulness and fervour, from Psalm cxxii. 6.

The numerous attendance of ministers and friends from the neighbouring churches, and the presence of many from a distance, testified the lively interest felt in the prosperity of the cause of Christ at Stebbing; and it was especially gratifying to see as one of "the Presbytery" the Rev. J. Morison, the former beloved and honoured pastor of the church.

In the morning the chapel was crowded, and in the evening filled with a most attentive auditory; and the services were such as to leave a deep and hallowed impression on the minds of all.

BAGILLT, FLINTSHIRE.

THE Rev. Rowland Williams was publicly set apart to the work of the Christian ministry, in connexion with the Congregational Churches at Flint and Bagillt, on Wednesday the 4th of June, 1851. Appropriate portions of Scripture were read, and prayer offered, by the Rev. J. Griffith, Buckley Mountain. The Rev. M. Lewis, of Holywell, delivered the introductory discourse; the usual questions were asked by the young minister's late pastor, the Rev. T. Edwards of Carnarvonshire; the ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. W. Griffith, Holyhead; after which the Rev. Michael Jones, Tutor of Bala College, delivered a charge to the young minister, and the Rev. Hugh Pugh of Mostyn, addressed the church. Discourses were also delivered in connexion with these interesting services, by the Revs. W. Griffith, Holyhead; O. Owens, Rhês; T. Edwards, Ebenezer; W. Lloyd, Wern; T. B. Morris, Rhyl; and W. Parry, Llanarmon.

Church, Little Hadham, Herts, on Tuesday, May 27th, 1851. The Rev. Robert Ricards, of Ware, opened the services with reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev. R. S. Bayley, F.S.A., of London, delivered a most eloquent exposition of the nature and constitution of a Christian Church; the Rev. George Pearce, of Ware, asked the usual questions, to which satisfactory answers were given; the Rev. C. Berry, of Hatfield-Heath, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. W. A. Hurndall, of Bishops Stortford, gave a very im. pressive charge to the minister; and the Rev. J. Besley, of Buntingford, closed the afternoon service with prayer. The evening service was opened by the Rev. J. Lockyer, of Ponders End; and the Rev. W. H. Stowell, D.D., President of Cheshunt College, preached to the people. Other pastors of neighbouring churches were present, and took part in the services of the day.

THE ordination of the Rev. Albert Foys ter, as pastor of the Congregational Church at Cuckfield, Sussex, took place on Wednesday 30th July, 1851. In the morning, the Rev. J. T. Bright, of Dorking, delivered an excellent introductory discourse, from the words, "But Christ as a Son over his own house." Heb. iii. 6. The Rev. J. E. Judson, of Lindfield, proposed the questions, to which suitable and satisfactory replies were given. The Rev. William Davis, of Hastings, offered the ordination prayer; after which the venerable Dr. Bennett, of London, gave a most affectionate and impressive charge, from the words, "Thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ." 1 Tim. iv. 6. In the evening, the Rev. T. W. Aveling, of Kingsland, preached an admirable sermon to the church and congregation, from "Encourage him and strengthen him." Deut. iii. 28. The Rev. Messrs. H. Rogers, of Petworth; E. Griffiths, of Billingshurst; W. Gravett, of Wivelsfield; J. Williams, of Newhaven; Geo. Hall, of Henfield; and J. Jenkyn, of Rye, also took part in the services of the day. Upwards of forty ministers and friends partook of dinner, and upwards of one hundred and forty of tea, which had been provided by the ladies, in the New School-Room. The addresses after dinner were of the most interesting and profitable character; and the whole of the services of the day were at once exceedingly interesting and truly solemn, and have left a hallowed impression upon the minds of most of those whose privilege it was to attend.

TIKELEY, ESSEX.-ORDINATION AT THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, ON TUESDAY, MAY 20TH.

MR. Thomas Taylor, Home Missionary, THE Rev. Robert Holden was ordained to was publicly set apart, as pastor of the Conthe pastoral office, over the Congregational | gregational Church in the above place, when

there was a large and respectable attendance from the surrounding neighbourhood.

The Rev. C. Berry delivered the introductory discourse, with a brief history of the cause in that place; after which he asked the usual questions. The Rev. J. Lockyer, of Ponders End, London, offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. T. Finch (Baptist), of Harlow, delivered the charge, from 2 Tim. ii. 15.

At the conclusion of this service, upwards of one hundred partook of tea, in a booth provided for the purpose, on the chapel ground.

In the evening, the Rev. J. Lockyer delivered a most appropriate discourse to the church and congregation, from Heb. xiii. 17.

The following other ministers took part in the proceedings of the day:-The Revs. D. Davis, Stanstead; Rook, Thaxted; Henry Stacey, Abbot's Roothing; S. Druce, Henham; H. Holden, Little Hadam; and Fletcher, supplying at Dunmow. It is hoped that the services of the day will long be profitably remembered.

CHAPELS.

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THE NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL IN THE CALEDONIAN-ROAD, ISLINGTON.

THIS place of worship was opened by a series of interesting services, extending from the 8th to the 17th of June. Sermons were preached by the Revs. James Bennett, D.D., Joseph Waddington (late missionary of the London Missionary Society in Berbice), Samuel Luke, Alexander Fletcher, D.D., William Foster, T. W. Jenkin, D.D., and B. S. Hollis. The Revs. Joseph Turnbull, Alexander Good, E. Davies, John Waddington, A. Buzacott, J. W. Richardson, and John Ross (of Woodbridge, and formerly missionary of the London Missionary Society in Berbice), took part in the various services. The con. gregations were numerous and attentive, and among the friends, who, by their presence, manifested their interest in this undertaking, were Mr. Alderman Wire, Mr. Joshua Wilson, Mr. Roger Cunliffe, Mr. G. Brooks, Mr. John Scoble, &c. On the Sabbath-day (June 22) following the close of these services, the Rev. E. Davies, who originated this effort, commenced his stated ministry in the place. Several pews and sittings have already been secured by persons in the neighbourhood, who are glad of the accommodation thus provided.

It may not be known to all who read this notice, that this chapel is erected as the commencement of an entirely new cause, and not for any existing congregation. It was undertaken from a conviction of the extreme importance of providing a place for public worship, on Congregational principles, in this locality, where a large population is gathering

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with almost unexampled rapidity. The building is respectable and commodious. It will seat about eight hundred adults and two hundred children, and contains in the basement a spacious, light, and airy school-room, 12 feet in height. The cost is about £2600. A considerable portion of this has been already contributed by friends in various parts of the metropolis, and of the country; but about £1300 is still required to meet the demands upon the committee. Towards this sum the London Congregational Chapel Building Society have, however, engaged to contribute £700, viz., £400 as a gift, and £300 as a loan, so soon as the other portion shall have been raised. It will, therefore, be evident, that it is highly important that this should be obtained as speedily as possible, so that the place may not be encumbered with debt. Mr. Alderman Wire, the Treasurer; Rev. E. Davies; or any of the Committee, would thankfully receive any contribution to this object.

THE VILLAGE OF COBHAM. THE attention of the benevolent and Christian public is respectfully and earnestly invited to the following statement:

The unfortunately ignorant, and, until lately, neglected state of the village of Cobham, in Surrey, and surrounding villages, induced a lady, residing in the former, to make an attempt to supply the inhabitants (amounting to upwards of four thousand), by means of a resident ministry, with domiciliary visitation, Sabbath and week-evening services, and a Sunday and day-school, which already, though in an imperfect form (through want of increased means) have been attended with great success.

To the improvement that has taken place, it is desired (under the care, and with the support of the Surrey Mission, who have made it their jubilee station) to add a greater power of, and accommodation for, instruction; but the means are wanting, and the people themselves, though very desirous, are, through their position, unable to do more than has already been done by them to promote it, it being an agricultural district, and the inhabitants principally of the labouring class; but they have cheered and encouraged their friends by doing what they could, and have, in many instances, contributed in a manner that would do credit to a much higher position; and in cases where money was out of their power, have contributed by labouring in overtime, and giving the pay to the cause. One poor old woman, advanced in years, has taken in washing for this object. With such examples of merit we are cheered on to the work, and we trust that those who are more privileged, and happily circumstanced, will be willing to lend a helping hand to those who are so ready to help themselves, they

having, by the means already mentioned, raised £40 towards the erection of a chapel, which is felt by all to be much needed to promote and sustain the interests of this infant cause, the congregation being obliged, for the want of which, to meet together on the Sabbath and week evenings in a room connected with secular purposes, and used in the summer months by the cricket-players. Its dilapidated condition also renders its inconvenience to be more deplored, since it is feared these circumstances all combine to deter many of the more respectable class of inhabitants attending, as they declare themselves willing to do in a more suitable building. A chapel is now therefore felt to be absolutely necessary,

and the friends are making every effort to get one, and it is earnestly hoped the Lord will graciously dispose the hearts of his people to respond to this earnest appeal for their kind and benevolent aid, by sending contributions to the following gentlemen and ladies, who have kindly engaged to befriend the important undertaking: viz. the Rev. James Sherman, Surrey Chapel; the Rev. J. M'Soule, Battersea; the Rev. Robert Ashton, Putney; Thos. Miller, Esq., Cobham, Surrey; George Derbyshire, Esq., 61, Lombard-street; Mrs. Payne, The Mansion, Leatherhead, Surrey; Miss Tuck, Rectory Grove, Clapham, Surrey; Mrs. Matthews, The Grove, Clapham; and the Misses Cook, Clifford-street, Bond-street.

General Chronicle.

POPERY IN INDIA.

A LETTER lately appeared in the "Tablet" from a priest at Lahore, in India, complaining loudly of the small sum given by the East India Company to the Popish priesthood. The following is an extract:

"Total amount given by the Company, 960 rupees per month to all the Catholic clergy at large; that is equivalent to the monthly allowance of a Protestant chaplain alone! So a Catholic chaplain receives every month but just the allowance of the list writer, or barrack sergeant! What generosity! And yet, if through sickness the poor chaplain cannot perform his duties, he gets nothing. A Protestant chaplain, after a certain number of years, is allowed to get a pension. The Catholic chaplain is allowed to be a beggar. Not a piece in store for his past services! A Protestant minister, besides his fine pay, gets good quarters in the stations where he is to reside in. The priest has the ground to lie on, and yet the spot is sometimes a camp of quarrels. The Protestant minister has in his chapel everything provided by Government. The priest must get everything on the shillings of poor soldiery and wretched women! The Protestant chaplain can ask for leave, and go to the hills for the benefit of his health, without any fear for his allowance. The Catholic priest may leave if he please, but allowance is cut off. Is it not a fine joke, dear Sir? Truly, the Protestant rulers are very anxious the priests may be in India new Simon Stylites! 66 HEALTH OF THE CLERGY. "F. Raphael is quite helpless. "F. Adeodatus is very old indeed. "F. M'Donnell is about the same.

"F. John Mary is a skeleton.

"F. Angelo is very weak also.

"F. Bertrand is overpressed by business, and only now recovering from a severe sick

ness.

"F. Vincent has to strive with rheumatic pains.

"F. Michael Angelo has to complain of the

same.

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So, very few indeed are in the enjoyment of perfect health! And yet every one must be at work in their own stations, where they have to live without any comfort, even without the consolation of seeing a priest more than once a year! F. Bertrand, at Peshawur, has not seen a clergyman for two years, and nobody can go and afford spiritual comfort to this most respected Father. He is too distant from his brothers, and they themselves had too much to do this year to be able to leave their respective stations."

From this it appears that the East India Company are copying the infatuated policy of the Government of this country, in giving their power to the Man of Sin, and that the Mystic Babylon, which sometimes in this country professes for a purpose to be in favour of the voluntary system in religion, sneers at the "shillings of the poor soldiery and wretched women" in India, and sighs after the "fine pay" and "good quarters" of the Established Church, when there is the least prospect of getting them. This is the true spirit of the system.-From the Bulwark or Reformation Journal for August.

THE JEWS.

BRITISH SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF
THE GOSPEL AMONG THE JEWS, 1, CRES-
CENT PLACE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON.
IN our last Number we placed before our

"F. Dotot does not differ much from F. readers the claims of this Society upon the

John Mary.

VOL. XXIX.

sympathy and the earnest support of all

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who really love the Lord Jesus Christ. We have now the pleasure to enforce the appeal then made, by presenting some interesting facts, recorded in the journals just come to hand from the Society's Missionary recently sent to Germany.

Mr. William Brunner, formerly a student in the Society's Mission College, was appointed, a few months ago, to join another Missionary, Mr. Stern, who has been for several years labouring successfully in Frankfort-on-the-Maine, that, benefiting by his experience and aided by his counsel, he might visit the Jewish population in the towns on the Rhine. He has entered on his work under the most favourable auspices, and opportunities of great usefulness have been vouchsafed to him by the " Shepherd of Israel." We extract the following from his notes of a tour, recently made in fulfilment of his mission to Hesse Cassel, Marburg, Friedeburg, and other places:--

"Hesse Cassel.-This place is inhabited by a large number of Jews, amounting to between two and three thousand. Here, as in many other places in Germany, the Jews are divided into two sects; the Reformed, or rationalistic Jews, who follow only what they call the religion of reason,' and the Orthodox Jews, who profess to adhere to the teaching of Moses and of the Talmud. These form the minority, though there are some very influential men among them. The spiritual condition of the whole body is very deplorable. Division has produced discord. Moreover, they have neither rabbi nor teacher of any kind to lead them. They are like sheep without a shepherd;' consequently some have gone the whole length of infidelity. Many, however, of these have tired of this, and have become conscious of their need of something better, and eagerly desire to attain it, while for it they grope in darkness! With such individuals as I have described, I have come in contact, and the impression invariably made on my mind concerning them was, that they stand between Judaism and Christianity. Indeed, many of them, men of high standing and great learning, would very easily be led into the truth, were the Christians, by whom they are surrounded, to set an example of faith and consistency; but what can the Jews say, when professing Christians themselves deny the Lord that bought them? Nevertheless, I found a great number to whom, during my stay, I declared the gospel of peace through the atonement of a crucified Saviour.

comed me very courteously. There were in
the room a circle of literati, entertaining them-
selves with Mr. R- on scientific subjects;
but they were at once attentive to listen to
what I had to say. The conversation soon as-
sumed a religious character, and after several
observations on both sides, we came to the
subject of 'natural and revealed religion.'
Mr. R-said, 'that it was a great anomaly
in connexion with revealed religion, speaking
dogmatically, that while the Creator could
have had no other design in giving a revela-
tion, but to enable all his creatures clearly to
understand his will, there should prevail such
a variety of opinions, and such opposite inter-
pretations of it-all persons proving their
views from the Bible, and each separate sect
denying that the others understand it aright.'
'This,' said he, 'would tend to prove that
revealed religion did not effect that which, in
the dogmatical sense, could have been its
only design to accomplish; namely, the im-
partial and universal enlightenment of man-
kind. The property of revealed religion,'
he continued to say, is, that it should be un-
mistakable in its seuse; but what is the real
state of things? How do we Jews and
Christians differ in the interpretations of the
Bible? Therefore this appears a great ano-
maly, and especially, when I reflect upon the
subject of Christianity; for if it be really true,
what fearful errors have we Jews committed in
the interpretation! and of what profit has the
revealed Word been to us if we could so mis-
take it?'

"I answered, that a revealed religion was certainly given with the design of benefiting the whole race with equal knowledge of the truth, but that the variety of opinions and interpretations do not result from any susceptibility in the Word itself of various meanings, but comes from the perverse will and inclinations of man; and to ask that no different interpretation should ever have been given to the Word, on the part of man, is to ask a continuation of miraculous working on the part of God, or rather, a continual repetition of individual revelations, in order to prevent mankind from error in the interpretation of the Word!' And with regard to the Jews, I replied, that their fearful mistake was not by any means owing to the indistinctness of the revealed Word, but was entirely their own fault, since the instruction which the Bible afforded them on that point, was clear, precise, and unmistakable. A Messiah had been promised, the time for his appearance had been fixed,-His character and office described, "I visited Town Councillor R, who is -He did come and fulfilled all the prediccelebrated here as a very learned Jew. He tions, and showed, by "signs and wonders," is an amiable and interesting man, occupies a that He was the true deliverer; but the Jews high rank amongst the Jews, and is much rejected Him.' Here, taking out the Bible esteemed by the Christian population. from my pocket, I drew his attention to the "On introducing myself to him, he wel- principal Messianic passages of the Old

Testament, and proved to him that Jesus of and lead me into the safe path, for I feel I Nazareth was the promised deliverer.

"Mr. R- and his friends listened seriously, and examined the portions of Scripture I pointed out, and then allowed me to speak for a long time on this great subject, regarding their salvation. Mr. R-- himself, though he at first made observations which would lead one to think him a 'Rationalist,' gave me every reason to believe that he was on the contrary, deeply concerned to ascertain the truth; and that he made these remarks from an earnest, inquiring state of mind, which may still have to struggle with many difficult insinuations of unbelief. He looks upon Christ as more than man, and is almost a Christian. This he did not conceal; for in the presence of all his friends he boldly said, Yes, my dear friends, if Christianity be not true, our Judaism has never fulfilled its end, but must have been a failure!'

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"A confession like this, from a man in his position, speaks much in favour of his state of mind. I remained a long time at his house, and when I was about to take leave of him, he agreed to accompany me, the next day, on my journey to Marburg, which, however, he was prevented doing by indisposition.

"I left some useful tracts with him and his friends, and he also bought of me a copy of The Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation,' with which Dr. Pinkerton supplied me on going into the country.

"I conversed with Dr. L-, a very sincere Israelite, who is anxious to ascertain the truth. He told me that he had been that morning (it being the feast of Pentecost) to the synagogue, but that he felt that his heart was not satisfied, and that he did not derive the spiritual comfort and peace which the ordinances of God ought to impart.

"I told him that this was because the Schechina of the Lord had passed from Israel since their temple was destroyed, and because their present services and worship are not according to God's apppointment. This led us to speak of the great cause of the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the subsequent spread of the gospel over the whole civilized world; and I endeavoured to show him that Christianity was the fullest extension of biblical Judaism, and referred him to several important prophecies of the Old Testament, which clearly indicate this. Gen. xlix. 10; Isa. xi. 10.

"Dr. L- listened with the utmost attention, and then said, with tears in his eyes, 'I believe, my dear friend, that Christianity must be true; and I must confess to you that I am secretly inquiring after it; but one great difficulty I cannot surmount, and that is, the Divinity of Jesus. Oh!' said he, 'I wish that some one would take me by the hand,

stand on slippery ground!' He retired for a moment into his library, and brought in the New Testament, with Luther's Commentary, and said, 'You see I am diligently studying that book, and earnestly wish that I may be able to judge rightly.'

"A young gentleman then came in, and thus our conversation was interrupted.

"I was very sorry to part with Dr. L--, but I supplied him with several tracts. I sold him also a copy of The Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation.'"

These extracts indicate the state of mind exhibited by multitudes of educated Jews in Germany. They also point out some of the chief difficulties with which the Missionaries have to contend. The godless lives of professed Christians, and the irrationalism of "rationalistic" criticism and interpretation, have cast a shadow upon the glory of the cross of Christ, and have kept back the Jew from considering the claims of Him "who is over all, God blessed for ever." But do not the above recorded facts encourage those who are interested in the restoration of "the lost sheep of the house of Israel ?" Do they not show that the fields are white unto the harvest? And should they not lead the churches to rise and pray, that the Lord would send forth labourers into His harvest, so that the day of ingathering may soon dawn, when all Israel shall be saved?" Rom xi. 26.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE importance of this institution is increasing every day. The number of British colonies, their rapidly growing population, augmented by the myriads of emigrants who annually leave our shores, the efforts made by Popery, Puseyism, and nominal Protestantism to indoctrinate the minds of the colonists with pernicious and destructive errors, are considerations which cannot fail, it is thought, to rouse the attention of all who are concerned for the progress of pure Evangelical Christianity. The slender support rendered by British churches to the Colonial Missionary Society, compared with the greatness of its object, can be the result only of a want of thought and reflection. Did our churches, with their pastors, realize the fact, that for the last three or four years more than a quarter of a million of their countrymen have annually become voluntary exiles from the land of their fathers, they would surely feel it a manifest and imperative duty to send to them that gospel which alone can cheer and sustain them under the difficulties with which they have to struggle, and become the power of God to their everlasting salvation. Emigration is still advancing. It is

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