really pious, truly gratifying: and the increase of their number on the voluntary principle, which is the only right and proper one, is always to be desired. State grants for this object, how desirable soever its accomplishment may be, are most decidedly wrong. The New Testament principle recognises no such thing. The Christian religion, for extension and perpetuity, depends not on the sovereignty and authority of the State. Its legitimate source of consolidation and diffusion is in the church. The Great Head of the Church attested an absolute and an eternal truth when he said My kingdom is not of this world." On this glorious principle, we, although far from being wealthy, have been enabled to bring into existence, a Wesleyan Methodist Association New Chapel; the first, of our own denomination, raised in the populous and important tov n of Macclesfield. As we have not had the aids of the rich and the affluent, it may be truly said "What hath God wrought." Looking also at the extraordinary era in which we live; at its civil excitements and commercial embarrassments, we may say the "walls" of our "Jerusalem have indeed been built in troublous times." To show this the more clearly, I will relate an occurrence which took place under my own personal observation. Whilst I was standing, on the morning of the 12th of August last, looking at the operations of some of our workmen, a number of armed men suddenly presented themselves, exclaiming "Ye munna work now, (no) ye munna work no more!" I quietly said to them, " Why all this? we must go on with the building." But nothing would avail; they continued their cry of "Ye munna work, ye shanna work-now, (no); ye munna work no more!" And we were compelled to desist; and were also prevented proceeding with the work during ten or twelve days. But, I am not intending to sing"Unto us, O Lord! unto us, &c." No! I trust to be ever ready, and prompt to give all the glory to Jehovah Jesus. And do most truly and sin My prologomena may refer to just another topic. It is, Mr. Editor, that I may stand clear with yourself, as regards the adjective appellation"reverendus." I am not, it is true, intending any discussion of the abstract, or rather, the concrete question, with reference to its scriptural propriety or otherwise. It is, in this communication, merely to avoid that which, in similar ones, has always been discordant with my mental perception of harmonies. In your own periodical, reported proceedings of meetings, at which different individuals have taken part, are frequently being given. In such published statements, it is often represented that, the Rev. Mr., or the Revds. Messrs. did a something; then follows a break, with an addenda; that Mr. or Messrs. did a something else. This is dissonantic and grating.* To avoid, therefore, any thing unharmonious, we will, so far as ourselves are concerned; lay the aforenamed distinguishing and designating appellative quietly aside. The opening services of our new chapel, were arranged to be on the Sabbath of September 18th, Monday evening the 19th, the Sabbath of the 25th September, and a tea-party in the evening of Monday the 26th. On the 18th Sep., two sermons were preached by our much respected and esteemed ex-president, Mr. Robert Eckett, of London. His text in the morning was Rom. i. 16; and in the evening, St. Matthew's Gospel, vi. 33. Mr. Eckett's discourses were characterised by both clearness and comprehensiveness; and were also conclusively argumentative, as well as powerfully impressive. Monday evening, the 19th, the Rev. Samuel Bowen, a deservedly respected and much esteemed dissenting minister of this town, preached from Isaiah iv. 5. Mr. Bowen's sermon displayed a judicious exposition of the passage, with a chaste and an accurate applica See Note by Editor, Page 462. tion of its most important metaphorical | singing-"We thank thee Lord for allusions. The effect was solemnly impressive, and delightfully interesting In the morning of Sabbath the 25th Sep., Mr. David Rowland, our highly respected and esteemed connexionalcorresponding secretary, of Liverpool, selected for his text, the last clause of the 5th verse in 1 Chron. xxix. And in the evening, Prov. xii. 26. On both occasions, Mr. Rowland's appeals were powerful, and especially so in the evening. In the latter discourse, fertility of invention was manifested in his enumeration of topics; and also a diffusiveness in his employment of the antithetical figure. The word spoken at every several service, was accompanied with an influence from above-the "demonstration of the Spirit." And we could most truly say "the best of all isGod is with us." In the following evening, Monday, Sep. 26th, our tea-meeting was held; and the scene presented, was somewhat splendidly imposing. The arrangements were of a decidedly superior kind. And because of my not having any personal predilection in favor of large parties, shall not be, for that reason, much suspected of overcharging in description. Near three hundred persons were in the spacious area of our chapel, partaking of China's exhilirating, but not inebriating beverage. And, whilst the sipping of the nectar, and the disposing of the more substantial accompaniments were going on, every countenance seemed beaming with gratification and delight. At every table, the viands were not only abundant, but to spare. On all having concluded tea, thanks were presented to the infinite Donor of all our blessings, by [Note to this our food, &c." And after the lapse of a little time, employed in clearing away, and so forth; and after further singing, and prayer, the more special business of the meeting was commenced. Mr. Joseph Blythman was called to the chair. And the meeting was severally addressed by Messrs. Ainsworth, Lunt, Walker, and the chairman. The various speeches were distinguished by fervid religious feeling; and also by pleasing strains of pious expression. It were indeed, almost impossible that it could have been otherwise. Sincerest gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, for his providential goodness in having enabled us to rear this house of mercy -this temple of charity, pervaded all our minds: and we believe that, "there Jehovah hath put his name: " and that within its hallowed walls, many will be born for the skies. The chapel is both neat and commodious. Its dimensions are 16 by 11 yards and the site on which it stands is considered to be the most eligible which could have been selected. And looking at the extraordinary state of the town and vicinity, arising out of the late unhappy outbreak concerning wages, our opening proceeds have been very good. Our tea-party was especially, importantly productive. A number of kind friends gratuitously furnished (to adopt the expression of an idiomatic tea-meeting technicality), two-thirds of the trays! To all of those friends our sincerest acknowledgments are specially due. The attendance at the chapel on the Sabbaths since the opening, has also been cheeringly pleasing. May we be faithful. Amen, and Amen! J. B. page 461.] REMARKS ON THE WORD REVEREND. The observations made by our much esteemed friend and correspondent on what "has been discordant with" his "mental perception of harmonies" in the reports given in this periodical, require us to make a few remarks. The discord to which he refers, is that of designating certain individuals Rev. and others who may have taken a part in the same services, Mr. We confess that we have oftentimes felt some difficulty in reference to this matter, and should be glad if we knew how to please all our readers on this unimportant point. We say unimportant point; for such we believe it to be, except so far as persons by contend ing for, or against the use of the prefix, raise it into importance. Some persons strongly condemn the use of the prefix, because they suppose the term Reverend to be an appellation of the Divine Being,-which ought, therefore, not to be applied to man. We highly respect the scruples of those who entertain this opinion; and because we fear, that the occasional use of the prefix in our Magazine, may be offensive to them, we embrace this opportunity of stating the reasons by which, on this subject, we have been guided. The term reverend occurs only once in the Scriptures, "Holy and Reverend is His name. The question, therefore, is, does this passage contain evidence, that the term Reverend is a term which can only be properly applied to God? We answer, that to us it appears indisputable, that any objection which can be made to this use of the term "Reverend" must be equally applicable to the term "Holy;" this latter term, is as much said to be the name of God as the former, and is frequently applied to God; and yet in the Scriptures the word Holy is often applied to persons, places and things. Hence we read of "holy men, holy women, holy brethren, holy hands, holy city, holy gifts, and holy vessels." conclude, therefore, that it does not follow, because the term Reverend is found in this passage, that it is impious to apply it to man; otherwise it would be impious to apply the term holy, as it is applied in the Scriptures, in the cases to which we have referred: which it is absurd to suppose. We Again, the term Reverend is not the original word used in the passage in which it is found, nor is it of equal import. The original word, Dr. A. Clarke observes, "is nora, and signifies terrible or tremendous." The Dr. also observes, that the term Reverend is now only used by Protestants, as a term of ecclesiastical respect. These reasons satisfy us that whatever other objections there may be to the use of the term, to employ it in this way is not impious. Nevertheless, as the use of it may induce vanity in some weak-minded persons, to whom it is applied, and may occasion pain in the minds of others, to whom it is not given, and who suppose that if appropriate to any person, it ought to be applied to themselves. We, therefore, should be glad, if the usages of society would allow us to be quit of it altogether. This we might easily accomplish if we had not occasion to address, or speak of, or write of ministers of other churches; and if our Magazine were not occasionally read by ministers and members of those churches. But, such is the general use of the term among other churches, with whom we wish to have fraternal intercourse, and the occasional services of whose ministers we desire to have, that we are almost compelled to use the term. In many instances it would be regarded as disrespectful, and would give offence, if a minister of a neighbouring church were publicly announced to preach in one of our chapels, and the prefix were omitted. Although the minister might care nothing about it, yet he would most probably be surprised at the omission, and many of his friends would think he was treated disrespectfully. Well, but it may be asked, admitting there to be a sort of necessity to apply the prefix to the ministers of other churches, why apply it to our own ministers ? We answer, because, if as a mark of respect it is prefixed to the names of ministers of other churches, to omit it, before the names of our own ministers, would be construed into a mark of disrespect towards the latter; and would raise the presumption that we did not regard our own ministers as entitled to ministerial designation and respect. We refer, now, not only to those who are members of other churches, but also to many who are members of our own. If the term is to be used at all, we say it ought to be uniformly applied according to some general rule the rule which usage has generally established, is that of giving it to all who, devoting themselves to the service of some church, have relinquished engaging in business; and to whom, consequently, it has become, by the consent of the church, their ordinary occupation and business to minister in holy things. There are many excellent brethren who do not come within the line which this rule describes, who, from the excellencies they possess, and the services they render to the church, are equally worthy to be respected, honoured, revered, and called Reverends, as any to whom the rule applies:-but, unless the rule of usage were extended so as to apply the term to all who occasionally preach the Gospel, the application of the term to particular individuals not included within the existing rule, would appear invidious to others, and it is admitted that the rule cannot at present, with general consent, be so extended. Besides which, in fact, the use of the prefix is not now generally understood as conferring any special honour, any more than the use of the prefix Mr. is supposed to acknowledge any superiority in those to whom it is addressed: it amounts to no more than a courteous designation of those whose usual business is acknowledged to be that of ministering to the church; and not to use it, in such cases, is regarded by most persons, as a discourteous act. Some of our most esteemed friends strongly object to the use of the term Reverend as applied to any of the ministers of our connexion, and yet are in the practice of addressing the prefix to the ministers of other churches. We have been present in meetings where this distinction has been publicly made. The reason which would justify such a practice, is unknown to us. We confess, that to us it appears improper to make any such distinction, as it may induce the supposition, that the ministers of our connexion are less worthy of the prefix than those of other churches. If it were wrong to give it to our ministers, it would be wrong to give it to others who fill the same office in the same degree. In communications sent to us, we sometimes find this sort of dissonance. An Independent or Baptist minister is designated with the prefix Rev. ; an Association minister, equally entitled to it, by the rule which governs such cases, is designated Mr. We are of opinion that no such difference ought to be made, and ought not to appear in our pages; and we wish our correspondents, if they at all use the prefix Rev. not so to employ it. Our correspondent, J. B. complains that the use of both the terms, Rev. and Mr. in reporting the proceedings of meetings "is discordant with his 'mental perception of harmonies,"" is "dissonant and grating," and, he therefore adds, "we will, so far as ourselves are concerned, lay the aforenamed distinguishing and designating appellative quietly aside." To this we have not any objection; let all who object to it "lay it aside," and keep it there. But does our correspondent do this? no! He only lays it aside while he writes seven or eight lines, and then, we suppose, to avoid discourtesy, he brings it full out to view, and prefixes it to the name of a respected Independent minister; and thus strikes the very notes which he designates "dissonant and grating.' We are most fully assured, that nothing disrespectful was meant by our correspondent, nothing of the kind is suspected, nor would it have been noticed in any way, by us, only he has afforded us a favourable opportunity of explaining ourselves in reference to the remarks he has made, on what, from time to time, has appeared in this Magazine, and in reference to which, we were desirous of explaining ourselves to our readers. We conclude by recommending our correspondents who object to apply the word Reverend to the ministers of the Association to drop its use altogether, in order that it might not be thought, that they regard the ministers of the Association unworthy of such official courtesies as, in accordance with the usages of society, they award to the ministers of other churches. POETRY. THE MOURNER'S SOLACE. "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Ps. cxxvi. 5. Rejoice, rejoice, ye suffering sons of men, voice, And let the broken-hearted catch the strain, And bleak affliction seize your mortal frame; Hark! they that sow in tears shall reap in joy." True, life is linked with sorrow; tears and Are but the birth-right of degen❜rate man: But let the mourner wipe his weeping eyes, Here's the full recompence for earth's alloy- Affright th' adopted ones of Zion's God? Submit to heaven's behest, and kiss the rod; And never let dull care your peace destroy, For "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.". Where'er your lot be cast; however dark The low'ring future o'er your spirits brood; On the loose winds your every fear embark, And let your refuge be your Saviour's blood: Oh let this heaven-traced line each bosom buoy ; Lo! "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy." T. C. JOHNS, PRINTER, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. THE WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION MAGAZIN E. DECEMBER, 1842. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. JOSEPH WEST, OF BROMPTON, KENT. By Mr. George Chesson. THE subject of the following brief sketch was born at Halden, near Tenterden, in the county of Kent, February 7, 1769. His parents were in respectable circumstances. Their family consisted of seven children, of whom Joseph was the youngest. In those days Methodism was but little known in that locality in which they resided, but the family were accustomed to attend the services of the Established Church. Joseph was naturally of a good disposition, and strictly moral in all his deportment; consequently he was generally beloved. However, it does not appear that any thing of a decidedly religious character was observable in him, until he had completed the period of his apprenticeship. Till then, he had attended the Established Church rather as a matter of course, than from a desire to derive spiritual benefit from its services. In fact he had no enlightened views of spiritual things, but with a heart alienated from God, a mind blinded by the prince of this world, and in the most perfect ignorance of the danger to which he, as a sinner, was exposed, he sought his supreme happiness in the vanities of the present world. While in this state of darkness and spiritual death, a circumstance occurred which was attended with the happiest results. A female member of the Methodist Society, to whom he was known, invited him to attend the ministry of that body he yielded to her request, and from that Sabbath evening resolved to give his heart to God. When the service was concluded, the minister kindly asked him, "do you desire to save your soul?" He answered 'yes,' and from that time he began to meet in class. Religion now appeared to him a very different thing to what he had hitherto considered it; he now regarded it as the "one thing needful to make him happy here, and to prepare him for happiness in another world; he now began to pray as he had never prayed; to read 20 |