almost nothing to their support. Those who support their own ministers are not worse in their worldly circumstances than those who do not support them; but still the government pensioners have a most withering influence on anything like a missionary spirit in the churches here; and in a country such as this, where money is so scarce, their being spread over the old and thickly settled townships, operates most powerfully against people connecting themselves with voluntary churches. The Kirk of Scotland in this country is very likely to be divided ere long. The people are very generally against remaining any longer in connection with the Established Kirk, and in favour of being connected with the Free Church of Scotland. Five or six of the ministers have already decided on renouncing all connexion with the parent kirk; but there are no indication of the ministers being generally in favour of any change in their ecclesiastical relationships; and probably the fear of losing their present pensions, and their prospective share of the clergy reserves, part of which, it is now reported, they will receive during the current year, will prevent the greater part of them from breaking up connexion with their naturally erastian mother. The ministers of voluntary churches in Canada have generally the charge of more than one congregation. Their labours are thus spread over too extensive a field for collecting and consolidating any one congregation; but the great lack of preachers, and of the means of supporting ministers, renders it, in the meantime, absolutely necessary that ministers take the charge of more than one congregation, except those who are settled in towns. I have myself had, since January 1843, the charge of several congregations; and, therefore, since then, I have been in journeyings and labours often. I have, however, strictly adhered to and fulfilled my original appointment, to preach two Sabbaths in Eramosa and one in Nichol alternately. On my second Sabbath in Eramosa, I commence divine service at ten o'clock A.M., and dismiss the congregation at a quarter past twelve noon. After which, I ride off to the town of Guelph, a distance of fully eight miles; commence divine service there at two o'clock-dismiss a little past four o'clock-and return back to Eramosa the same evening. As we had no supply of preachers, I agreed with the congregations of Paisley Block, and Puslinch, to preach in Guelph on the afternoon of every third Sabbath, and the members have certainly been very steady in their attendance. With the exception of the week-days on which I have preached to these congregations, this is all the supply of sermon which they have had since I was located in Eramosa. I dispensed the ordinance of the Lord's Supper in Guelph on the second Sabbath of February last. The audience was comparatively large, and the number of communicants about seventy. Guelph is at present a promising station, and I am persuaded that were an active and devoted preacher settled in it, he would soon collect a good congregation. I have also sometimes preached on Sabbath evenings and week-day evenings at the village of Elora, township of Nichol. I have always had a good audience there; but a successor of the apostles has lately taken up this station. I have also had to supply a congregation in the township of Esqueesing. Since September last year, I dispensed the ordinance of the Lord's Supper to this congregation, on the first Sabbath of January last; and on the Monday after I preached three times, and baptized sixteen children of members belonging to the congregation. In this extensive district, religious sects are numerous, and there is no lack of church accommodation, such as it is. In the township of Eramosa, there are—one congregation of the United Secession, one of the Methodists, one of the Campbelite Baptists or Disciples, and two stations in connexion with the Independents. In the township of Nichol there are-one small congregation of the United Secession, one large congregation of the Kirk of Scotland, one of the Methodists, and one station connected with the Independents. In the town of Guelph there are-one large congregation of Roman Catholics, one large congregation of the Church of England, one of the Kirk of Scotland, one of the Methodists, one of the Independents, one of the Baptists, one station of the United Secession, and one of the Covenanters. The meeting-houses of the three first sects being dignified with a steeple each, have a state-like appearance. In the township of Guelph there are-one congregation of the United Secession, (Paisley Block,) two stations of the Methodists, and one of the Independents. In the township of Waterloo, which lies contiguous to the township of Guelph, there are-one congregation of the Dutch Catholics, one of the Lutheran Church, one of the Menonites, and one of Tunkers. The male members of the two latter sects seem to have a wonderful pride in long beards. In the township of Woolich, which lies contiguous to Nichol, there are-one congregation of the Kirk of Scotland, one of the Church of England, one of the Methodists, and one of the Baptists. In the township of Puslinch there are-one congregation of the Kirk of Scotland, one of the United Secession, and a station of the Methodists. In the township of Esqueesing there are two congregations of the Kirk of Scotland, of one of which Mr Peter Ferguson, a licentiate of the United Secession, is pastor-two of the Independents, one of the Methodists, one of the Baptists, one of the Old Light Seceders, and one of the United Secession. The Old Light Seceders were formerly under the pastoral care of the Rev. D. Coutts, who connected himself with the United Secession about twelve months ago. Part of the congregation followed Mr Coutts, and was received into the fellowship of the United Secession; the other part are standing stedfastly by the Old Light standard, witnessing for Scotland's covenants, and against the man-made psalms. There is yet, however, in these townships a great number of unexcavated heathens. Ignorance of the doctrines of the gospel greatly prevails, and practical religion is very much neglected. The education of the young, until very lately, was almost entirely neglected. Parents needed the services of their children as soon as they were able to do anything; and being able to gather chips, as soon as they were able to go to school, they set them to chip gathering. The schools were also few and far between, and few parents had any money to pay schoolmasters. I asked a mother some time how she brought up ago, her children; she replied, " And sure, sir, we don't bring them up at all in this country, they just grow up." Many of the youth of the old settlers are, therefore, regular naturals-very illiterate, but they are generally shrewd and active. Government is now, however, doing something efficiently towards getting the youth of the province educated, and Sabbath-school teaching is much more attended to than it has been in times past. These improvements, however, have not yet reached my near neighbours of the six nations. This is truly a penal settlement, into which the scum of society and floating poverty of the province have been driven. They have not, so far as I know, either a church or school, and a more irreligious, immoral, and wretchedly poor people are not, I am persuaded, to be found in any land. I am sorry that I cannot find time to visit them now and then. I have had scarcely any intercourse with the Indians. We have had encampments of them during both the winters that I have been in this quarter. They are upon the whole very quiet and inoffensive, except when they get ardent spirits. Some families professed to be christians, and some have learned to read English. I gave a few tracts to one last winter, and who could both read and speak English; after which he asked me, "Would you like us to come to your church?" I replied, "I would." Next Sab bath, I had three of them hearing me. I asked them, after the service was over, if they understood me, they replied," Not well." This is the only time that I have had any of them hearing me. The congregations, more especially under my charge, have prospered as well as I expected they would do. In Eramosa, the number of members when I was located was 34, it is now 49. Average number of hearers when I preached as a probationer was 45, it is now fully 100. Persons who have taken seats, 80; but some of them have whole pews. Class of young persons for religious instruction during last summer, 20; and 12 during last winter. Average attendance at the monthly prayer meeting, 40. Dispensed the ordinance of the Lord's Supper during last year twice, and baptized 9 children. Visited all the members once ministerially, and catechised them once. Members dead since my location, 2. With the exception of two cases of drunkenness, the session has had no occasion for the exercise of discipline. All things considered, the people of Eramosa have done astonishingly well in pecuniary matters. The members of the congregation are also very steady in their attendance on the public ordinances of religion, the Sabbath is generally more respected, and family worship much more generally attended to, than formerly; and, therefore, although there have been no striking conversions yet, a marked improvement has taken place. In Nichol, Irvine Settlement, the number of members when I was located was 18, it is now 24. Average number of hearers before my location, 40; it is now 80. Persons who have taken seats, 20; but most of these have whole pews. Class of young people for religious instruction during last summer, 17; and 11 last winter. Average attendance at the monthly prayer meeting, 30. Dispensed the ordinance of the Lord's Supper twice during last year, and baptized 8 children. Visited all the members once ministerially, and catechised them once. From the present influx of settlers to this quarter, I do expect that this congregation will, in the course of ten or twelve years, be a good congregation for the backwoods. The number of members is at present certainly small, but they were nearly all members of the United Secession Church in the old country; and, I am persuaded, that during this last year they have done beyond their power to support the gospel. My receipts of money have been, since November 18, 1842 : From 18th November 1842, to the end of December following, Eramosa congregation for the year 1843, Irvine congregation, ditto, Guelph station up to 14th March 1844, Currency, L.3 0 0 55 15 0 From Irvine congregation, on 15th January last, for the current year, Total amount for the current year, ditto, L.10 0 0 19 10 0 L.29 10 0 My board and lodging cost me 12s. 6d. currency per week, and I have got comfortable lodgings both in Eramosa and Nichol. I have only farther to state, that ever since my location in the backwoods, I have felt much more comfortable than the greater part of the circulating preachers in Scotland. There are no blauk days on our preacher's list, no preacher languishing at the fireside of a relative or friend, or becoming fretful through ennui,—no one is troubled with a pain in his temper, because he cannot get an opportunity of exhibiting his talents in a vacancy,- -no one hardening his heart in the sourness of blasted expectations, or sleeping his brains in the sulkiness of real or imagined wrongs, done by presbytery clerks. Most of the things which preachers most complain of in Scotland have not yet any existence in Canada; and those young preachers who are strong, and devoted to their proper work, and are desirous to have a field of labour, would do well to come to Canada without delay. Young strong people are best for young countries. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. RALPH DRUMMOND, dated Adelaide, 10th December 1843. Things have been moving on with us much in the usual way since I wrote you last. There has been almost no emigration to our shores of late. Trade has been much depressed, and money become scarce; so that the congregation has not increased either in numbers or in pecuniary means. Numbers, from want of employment in the city, have removed, and are removing, to the country stations; but our audience, though not so large as formerly, is still very respectable. I visit the distant parts as usual on week days, and always find the people willing to hear the gospel. I trust that my labour will not be altogether in vain. We are likely to have the voluntary controversy among us. Although the acts which constitute this a British colony appear to me to give no countenance to a church establishment, our governor seems desirous to foist the evil upon us. He last year passed a marriage law, in which the principle of a church establishment is distinctly recognised; and as I, along with others, remonstrated and memorialised against it, till the time of its being passed, I have thought it consistent not to submit to the brands laid upon dissenters, and have ceased to perform the ceremony of marriage. I shall send you the newspapers containing the law, and our memorials, if I can get them; so that you may judge. Mr Haining's congregation (the Scotch Kirk) lately memorialised his Excellency for an endowment, and I send you the accompanying memorial, which, after having an interview with the governor, I presented him. There are many influential individuals here of all denominations, save (I believe) the Kirk of Scotland, who are decided Voluntaries; and it was thought advisable for the friendly congregations to memorialise, in the meantime, by their office-bearers only; and then, if required, a general memorial of the colonists, comprising all the various denominations, will be easily obtained-but with what success time must determine. MURRAY AND GIBB, PRINTERS, GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH. THE UNITED SECESSION MAGAZINE, FOR AUGUST, 1844. MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. MEMOIR OF JOHN JAMIESON, D.D., MINISTER OF THE UNITED SECESSION CHURCH, NICOLSON STREEt, edinburgh. Ir is known to the intimate friends of the late Dr Jamieson that towards the close of his life he employed his leisure hours in composing a record of the most important incidents of his "Life and Times." This narrative the writer has not had an opportunity of seeing since the death of its author; but having for some years been on terms of closest intimacy with him, and not seldom in his company when engaged in its composition; it was his privilege to become acquainted with many portions of it, and many anecdotes detailed in it, from his own lips. The materials thus gathered accumulated to a considerable extent. From these the following memoir is drawn; and will, we trust, be acceptable to our readers, as recalling to their recollection a man the memory of whom is already fast fading away-who was an able minister of the gospel, and a distinguished ornament of the Secession Church. Dr Jamieson was born in Glasgow on the 3d of March 1759. His father was a minister of the Secession Church in that city, and for many years a respectable and respected servant of the Lord Jesus. His mother's name was Cleland, the daughter of a Mr Cleland in Edinburgh, an excellent man, and of whom the subject of this sketch used, in after life, to speak in terms of most affectionate interest. The Doctor's paternal grandfather was a farmer, near Linlithgow; and it is rather a singular fact, that this man, the father, and grandfather of two antiburgher ministers, was himself a rigid Episcopalian, and died a churchwarden of the vicar of Riccarton. When a mere child the subject of our memoir received the elements of his English education from a person of the name of Macnoir, who NO. VIII. VOL. 1. 2 Z |