Now this will be obviously the case wherever the population is not numerous and dense. In small towns, and in rural districts, all over England, union with other Christians, and the plans of the British and Foreign School Society, will alone avail to secure schools of a liberal character. The cases must be rare indeed in which it could be wise to establish a denominational daily school, except in connexion with a church, able, by its unassisted resources, to sustain it.

The resolutions of the Conference respecting Inspection-Statistics-Sunday schools-the uses of the Central Fund-the functions of the Central Committeeand Trust-deeds for school buildings-seem to require no comment, except to point out that by the last clause of the thirteenth resolution, the Conference sustains the central committee, as appointed by the meeting of the Congregational Union held in Leeds in October last, in carrying forward the movement till May next, when it recommends that the Committee should report to a meeting of the Annual Assembly of the Union, at which the attendance of all contributors to the central fund shall be invited, and when it may be determined whether any different organisation shall be adopted.

Nor can the Committee allow the last resolution adopted by the Conference, expressive of its sense of the invaluable services of the chairman, to pass without a testimony to the zeal, vigour, and efficiency of Mr. Hindley's efforts in this movement in committee, no less than in conference.

Thus the Conference carefully and laboriously considered the whole subject, and endeavoured to adjust the views and plans on which the Congregational churches may unitedly prosecute this great national and Christian work. The Conference has happily secured harmony of sentiment, plans of action, a firm basis and a powerful impulse for future efforts. But the end of the conference is only the beginning of the work. Now for the work.

The Conference has appealed to the churches and their pastors for efforts in every locality. With them chiefly the work must rest. It is for you, beloved brethren, to see that wherever there is a Congregational church, there may be a daily school in the same vicinity. Where there are schools, your best efforts are needed to improve and extend them-where they do not exist, to originate them. From you the central committee must derive its resources, its facts, and its strength. It invites your communications and intreats your efforts.

The money question must take precedence in the efforts and appeals of the central committee. Subsequently many other subjects must receive attention-statisticsplans of teaching-the education of teachers-votes in aid of schools. But now, first of all, the appeal must be for contributions. The subscription has been nobly commenced. The central committee will forthwith thoroughly canvass the metropolis. The favourable commencement and impulse obtained by the Conference must be taken advantage of to the utmost. Brethren in all parts of England, the committee invites your co-operation. Form committees in large towns to solicit subscriptions. Let sermons be preached in aid of the fund, wherever practicable. Do not forget that within the five next ensuing years, a great work must be done, a great fund must be raised. We are all on our trial before our country. The result will be to us all honour or shame to our country good or evil-to our principles strength or weakness. Never were the Congregationalists more evidently than now in a crisis.

The first practical measure now recommended by the committee, is, that the pastor and deacons of every Congregational church would immediately invite their friends to meet and confer on this great subject. Let no time be lost. Meet forthwith and confer together. Let the pastors and deacons be prepared with all the documents and information on the subject they can procure. The first meeting should be one of inquiry, deliberation, and prayer. Obtain a just idea of the great

work and crisis in which you are called to act. Look in every instance carefully at your respective localities. See what requires to be done, what you are able to do, what assistance you will need in the work of general education in your own neighbourhoods. Consider what you can do to assist the central committee with funds, information, and prayer. Let the first week in the new year witness a devout, earnest, thoughtful meeting for promoting General Education, in connexion with every Congregational church in England. Thus let the work commence promptly, wisely, universally.

The important deliberations of the representatives of the Congregational churches of England, with reference to General Education, were commenced on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1843, at the Congregational Library, Blomfield Street. This spacious room was crowded by ministers and the most distinguished laymen connected with this section of the church of Christ. It had been previously arranged by a provisional com mittee, that there should be two sittings daily. The first to commence at half-past nine o'clock, and close at half-past two; and the second to commence at half-past five o'clock, and terminate at half-past eight.

LONDON MINISTERS PRESENT.

Reverends John Adey; Dr. Alliott; R. Ainslie; John Arundel; R. Ashton; J. W. Aveling; W. Bean; Dr. Bennett; Thomas Binney; J. R. Birch; J. Blackburn ; Charles Brake; James Brown; John Bunter; Dr. Burder; John Burnet; J. C. Butteaux; Dr. Campbell; James Carlile; John Clayton; J. Davies; Samuel Davis ; Clement Dukes, M. A.; E. A. Dunn; George Evans; Joseph Ford; William Forster; J. J. Freeman; M. A. Garvey; C. Gilbert; C. Halliday; J. C. Harrison; S. Hollis ; Dr. Hoppus; John Hunt; C. J. Hyatt; Thomas James; J. Jefferson; Dr. Jenkyn; H. B. Jenla; B. H. Kluht; Dr. Leifchild; Thomas Lewis; R. Littler; James Lyon; W. P. Lyon; E. Mannering; Samuel Martin; Dr. Matheson; J. B. Mc Crea; J. A. Miller; J. Mirams; Dr. Morison; A. J. Morris; W. Owen; James Raban; Samuel Ransom; Dr. Reed; H. Richard; J. E. Richards; J. W. Richardson; George Rose; Thomas Russell; Richard Saunders; H. S. Seaborn; George Smith; James Spong; J. Stoughton; J. Stratten; J. Styles, D.D.; A. Tidman; Henry Townley; George Verrall; William Walford; J. Wallace; J. T. Waraker; A. Wells; John Woodwark; John Yockney.

LONDON LAYMEN.

Messrs. W. D. Alexander; Henry Althans; Daniel Anthony; H. Appleton; William Arman; Henry Bateman; F. Bollen; J. Bennett; W. J. Bennett; R. Best; Henry Bidgood; G. Blackam; Joseph Brown; Edward Brown; W. Henry Brace; J. Capper; S. Carpenter; William Carlile; R. Charles; J. Claypon; R. G. Clements; John Cheap; J. M. Coombs; Josiah Conder; B. Cooke; J. Cowell; Joseph Crane; Charles Curling; P. Danby, jun.; R. Davey; J. H. Davies; Henry Dunn; J. Duthoit ; Joseph East; Daniel Edwards; Edward Edwards; J. C. Evans; S. J. Farrer; Joshua Field; George Fox; F. J. Geary; John Gomm; J. Goulston; B. Hanbury; W. A. Hankey; Campbell Hardy; John Hooper; Peter Jackson; G. J. Jackson; J. F. Johnson; William Jones; G. Knox; W. Leavers; T. Leonard; W. Leifchild; W. Lucas; C. Lund; Edward Mason; John Marchant; George Mathews; John R. Mills; John Morley; Samuel Morley; E. Nathan; Hugh Owen; James Peachey; Thomas Piper; - Procter; George Renolds; Thomas Riddell ; Roope; H. Rutt; John Shoveller; Charles Shepheard; James Smith; J. G. Smith; W. Smith; J. W. Smith; Joseph Soul; Henry Spicer; James Spicer; J. G. Stapleton; Stephen Smart ; K. Summer; George Sweeting; E. Swaine; John Tarring; Hull Terrell; Thomas

Titebury; James Todman; Jacob Unwin; Thomas Varty; J. Warner; R. Watson; Dr. Waller; Charles Webb; George Wilson; Joshua Wilson; S. J. Wilkins; W. Williamson; D. W. Wire; James Wilton; Henry Wood.

COUNTRY MINISTERS AND LAY DELEGATES.

BERKSHIRE.-Abingdon-Rev. W. F. Sharp. Reading-Rev. John Curwen ; Rev. W. Legg; J. Curwen, Esq.; James Sleeman, Esq.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.-Buckingham-Rev. E. D. J. Wilks; Marsh Gibbon-Rev. J. Doxsey. Newport Pagnell-Rev. Josiah Bull; Wooburn-Rev. Samuel Watson. CAMBRIDGESHIRE.-Duxford-Rev. H. Madgin.

DORSET.-Blandford—Malachi Fisher, Esq. Lyme Regis-Rev. George Jones. ESSEX.-Chelmsford-Rev. Julius Marks; Isaac Perry, Esq.; W. C. Wells, Esq. Chigwell-Rev. — Hill. Colchester-Rev. T. W. Davids. Upminster-W. Hammond, Esq.; Rev. R. Thompson. Witham-Wm. Butler, Esq.; R. W. Dixon, Esq. GLOUCESTERSHIRE.-Bristol-Rev. W. Gregory, Clifton; Rev. D. Thomas. Sir George D'Arcy Irvine, Esq., Clifton; H. O. Wells, Esq. Berkeley-Rev. L. Hurndall. Rodborough-Rev. Benjamin Backhouse.

HANTS.--Alresford-Rev. W. S. Ford.

Slater. Portsea-Rev. Thomas Cousins. ampton-Rev. T. Adkins.

Odiham-Rev. James Reading; Rev. W.
Romsey-Rev. John Reynolds. South-

HERTS.-Bedwell Park-Rev. W. Temple. Bishops Stortford-Rev. W. Chaplin. Hertford-Rev. J. Anthony.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE.-St. Neots-Rev. E. Muscutt. Roxton-Rev. H. Winzar. KENT.-Chatham-Rev. P. Thomson; Thomas Hopkins, Esq.

H. J. Bevis.

Ramsgate-Rev.

Greenwich-F. T. Sadler, Esq.; W. Marshall. LANCASHIRE.—Ashton-under-Lyne—Edward Redfern, Esq. Blackburn—Rev. A. Fraser; Rev. E. Jukes. Bolton-Rev. J. D. Elliott. Halshaw Moor-Thomas Barnes, Esq. Liverpool-Rev. W. Bevan; Rev. John Kelly: Rev. Dr. Raffles; Samuel Blackburn, Esq.; Thomas Blackburn, Esq.; Thomas Haigh, Esq.; J. Oliver Jones, Esq.; C. Robertson, Esq.; W. White, Esq.; W. Wood, Esq. ManchesterRev. R. Fletcher; Rev. James Gwyther; Rev. J. W. Massie; Rev. Dr. Vaughan; Samuel Fletcher, Esq.; George Hadfield, Esq.; James Kershaw, Esq.

LEICESTER.-Hallaton-Rev. Hugh M'Kaye. Leicester-Thomas Nunneley, Esq. MIDDLESEX.-Staines-Apsley Pellatt, Esq.

NORFOLK.-Rendham-Rev. G. Wilkins.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.-Newark-Rev. H. L. Adams.

OXFORDSHIRE.-Bicester-Rev. W. Ferguson.

RUTLANDSHIRE.-Uppingham-J. G. Parker, Esq.

SOMERSETSHIRE.- -Bath-H. Godwin, Esq.; Jacob Titley, Esq.; Frome-Daniel Footman, Esq.; Poundisford Park-Thomas Thompson, Esq.

STAFFORDSHIRE.-Wolverhampton-Rev. J. G. Pigg; John Barker, Esq. SUFFOLK.-Halesworth-Rev. G. L. Smith; Mr. Lincolne. Watisfield-William Shair, Esq. Ipswich-Rev. John Whitby; James Collins, Esq. Woodbridge-Rev. John Ross.

SURREY.-Dorking-Rev. R. Connebee. Kingston-on-Thames-Rev. J. Edwards. SUSSEX.-Brighton-Rev. J. Edwards. Chichester-Rev. Joseph Benson. WARWICKSHIRE.-Birmingham-Rev. J. A. James; Rev. J. Raven; James James, Esq. Leamington-Rev. Alfred Pope.

WORCESTERSHIRE.-Dudley-Thomas Whitehouse, Esq.

YORKSHIRE.-Barnsley-Rev. Benjamin Beddow. Bradford-Rev. J. Stringer, Idle; Rev. J. G. Miall; James Gregory, Esq.; Robert Melligan, Esq.; G. J. Osborn, Esq.; John Rawson, Esq.; J. Russell, Esq. Halifax-Rev. Alex. Ewing;

Rev. James Pridie; Rev. J. M. Obery, M.A.; J. C. Hoatson, Esq. HuddersfieldRev. J. Glendinning; C. E. Jones, Esq. Leeds-Rev. John Ely; Rev. R. W. Hamilton; Rev. Thomas Scales; E. Baines, jun., Esq.; Peter Willons, Esq. Otley-W. Ackroyd, Esq. Rotherham-Rev. W. H. Stowell. Sheffield-Rev. R. S. Bayley; J. W. Smith, Esq. York-Rev. James Parsons; George Leeman, Esq.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.-Yardley Hastings-Rev. W. Todman. NorthamptonRev. Thomas Milner; Mr. Perry.

WALES.-Brecon College-H. Griffiths; Morgan Williams.

The Committee nominated at the Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at Leeds, October 11th and 12th, with the additions subsequently made :

MORNING SITTING.

On the motion of J. MORLEY, Esq., seconded by EDWARD BAINES, Jun., Esq., C. HINDLEY, Esq., M.P., was called upon to preside.

The proceedings were then opened by singing the Psalın commencing,

"Shine mighty God, on Britain shine,"

The Rev. W. CHAPLIN offered up prayer for the Divine guidance and blessing. The CHAIRMAN introduced the business of the Meeting with a spirited address, adverting to the various topics which would be submitted to the consideration of the Conference.

The Rev. ALGERNON WELLS then gave a statement of the efforts of the Committee, from their appointment at the Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union at Leeds, to the summoning the Conference.

The first resolution was moved by the Rev. Dr. RAFFLES, of Liverpool, and seconded by SAMUEL FLETCHER, Esq., of Manchester.

That it appears to the present meeting, that in addition to those unchanging reasons in favour of education, which prove sound intelligence to be essential to man's social, moral, and religious welfare, there are considerations, special to the present state of this country, demanding immediate efforts for the better instruction of the people."

The second resolution was moved by the Rev. J. A. JAMES, of Birmingham, and seconded by DAVID WM. WIRE, Esq., of London.

"That the present meeting is fully alive to all the advantages of acting in union with Christians of other communions, for the advancement of great objects of religious benevolence, not necessarily involving differences of faith and practice; yet deems Congregational efforts for general education indispensable in the present state of this country."

The third resolution, moved by Alderman Kershaw, of Manchester, and seconded by GEORGE HADFIELD, Esq., of Manchester.

"That a subscription be now opened for this great work; every donor, now or hereafter, as he may deem most advisable, to determine the appropriation of his donation, to the central fund, to local efforts, to the British and Foreign School Society, or to such other institution for the training of teachers as he may approve." The Rev. JAMES PARSONS, of York, having offered up prayer, the Conference adjourned.

EVENING SITTING.

The Rev. W. H. STOWELL, of Rotherham, commenced by prayer.

Fourth resolution, moved by the Rev. J. KELLY, of Liverpool, and seconded by JAS. JAMES, Esq. of Birmingham. Upon this resolution considerable discussion ensued, which continued to the close of the sitting, when prayer was offered by the Rev. WM. BEVAN, of Liverpool.

THURSDAY MORNING.

The business of the day commenced with singing the 133rd Psalm, Dr. Watts's version, and prayer, which was offered by the Rev. E. MANNERING, of Holywell Mount; and ultimately the following resolution, proposed by the Rev. A. WELLS, and seconded by the Rev. R. W. HAMILTON, of Leeds, was carried, with but one dissentient, the resolution proposed the previous evening, having been withdrawn by

consent :

"That this meeting, utterly repudiating, on the strongest grounds of Scripture and conscience, the receipt of money raised by taxation and granted by Government,