church, are now united together, and have added many more to their number, as the 'second church,' under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Carruthers. The ministry of that honoured brother has been blessed to the conversion of many of those who have joined themselves to our sister church. That church and congregation still advance, and they now worship in a large and elegant structure erected at the opposite extremity of the city. The parent church has already filled up the number who have thus been transferred; while the attendance on the stated ministry of the word is quite as large as it was prior to so many, with their families, and a number of stated hearers, placing themselves under the care of another pastor.

"Moreover, chiefly by the instrumentality of the Colonial Missionary Society, and by the Divine blessing on the agency of your pastor, and his valued and gifted colleague, the pastor of the church at Toronto, the nine churches already alluded to as existing in 1836 have been increased to nearly fifty in 1844. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' We have also in each division of the field a theological institution, where young brethren are trained for the ministry. There are now in both seventeen or eighteen students.

"Turning now to the aspect of the case more exclusively spiritual, we find that our progress has been steady, although at no time rapid. I have constructed a short Table of Admissions to the Church during the eight years, distinguishing between those who were admitted either by letter from sister churches, or as previously godly, and those who were admitted on a confession for the first time made. It is as follows:-

"If to this total number forty-eight be added, as members at the commencement of my pastorate, we have a total of 291; of whom there are now in fellowship, one hundred and ninety-one; leaving one hundred, who have been dismissed by letter, have died, or have been excommunicated during eight years. It is remarkable that although some of us have been bereaved of our children during the year, and have been drawn to the grave to weep over the dust of our babes, no member of this church in full communion has been removed by death. The Lord has spared us all another year.

"Without tracing the history of the sabbath-schools among you for eight years, t may be mentioned, in this annual retrospect, that the pastoral year now just closed has been more than usually successful in this department of your labours. The number of scholars in the Centre School, its Bible and its infant classes, and in the two branch schools, now approaches 400. Several of the scholars have been received into the church as hopefully converted to God, while others are now inquiring 'what they shall do to be saved.'

"There have arisen out of this church six young brethren who have devoted themselves to the work of the holy ministry; one of whom is successfully labouring as a pastor in Scotland, and the others are preparing, by a course of studies, one in England and four in our own institute, to enter in due time upon the great work.

You have been more or less engaged in the distribution of religious tracts, and in efforts to awaken the attention of the careless, by publicly proclaiming the Gospel of salvation. Several of you thus preach the glad tidings of great joy with considerable regularity, now to seamen in our port, now to our African brethren in the city, and now in houses where you can gather the inhabitants of a small district together. "At present you are so far supporting, by your contributions, four labourers in the home field, that, were it not for what you furnish, the places they occupy would be necessarily vacant. In addition, you have pledged yourselves to support one labourer among our French Canadian population. To such great and catholic objects as are contemplated by Bible, Tract, and Seamen's Societies your contributions have been liberally tendered; while you have not forgotten the claims of the perishing heathen. During the past year, moreover, you have supported a large and flourishing day-school, where upwards of sixty children receive daily instruction from a pious school-mistress.

"The claims of the Temperance reformation have met with a goodly measure of your hearty co-operation. Repudiating extremes, and not making any new test of membership, a very large number of you, as a matter of benevolent expediency, have long ceased to use alcoholic beverages; and it is worthy of remark, that not a single member of the church is engaged in the manufacture or sale of them.-But we must not further enlarge. In review of the whole, let us reflect, in conclusion, on-1. Our responsibility. 2. Our debt of gratitude to God. 3. Our mournful short-comings. 4. Our future aims."

TRANSACTIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

CONFERENCE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDEPENDENT THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

THIS most important meeting, announced in our last, was held at the Congregational Rooms, Finsbury, on Tuesday, the 7th, and Wednesday, the 8th of January. The brethren delegated by the several colleges to attend it were as follow; and it is delightful to know that out of such a list only the five gentlemen were absent whose names are marked *.

1. Airedale.-Rev. Walter Scott, Rev. Dr. R. W. Hamilton, Rev. James Pridie, Henry Forbes, Esq., J. Peele Clapham, Esq. 2. Bala.-Rev. Henry Richard, Rev. Dr. Burder, Edwards. 3. Brecon.-Rev. D. Blow, Rev. H. Griffiths, T. Williams, Esq. 4. Cheshunt.-Rev. James Sherman, Rev. Dr. Harris, Mr. Alderman Challis,* T. M. Coombs, Esq., Rev. Philip Smith. 5. Cotton End.-Rev. Dr. Campbell, Rev. Dr. Matheson, Rev. John Frost, B. Hanbury, Esq. 6. Exeter.-Rev. Dr. George Payne, Rev. J. Bounsall, Rev. John Pyer, Mr. Evans, Mr. Wilson. 7. Fakenham.— Rev. William Legge. 8. Hackney.-Rev. Samuel Ransom, Rev. Arthur Tidman, Rev. J. E. Richards, Mr. Stapleton, F. Smith, Esq. 9. Highbury.-Rev. Dr. Henderson,* Rev. J. H. Godwin, Rev. Henry Townley, Joshua Wilson, Esq., J. R. Mills, Esq. 10. Homerton.-Rev. Dr. William Smith, Rev. John Yockney, Rev. George Clayton,* John Morley, Esq., Henry Rutt, Esq. 11. Lancashire.—Rev. Dr. Vaughan, Rev. Dr. Raffles, Rev. John Kelly, Rev. R. Fletcher, S. Fletcher, Esq.,* James Carlton, Esq. 12. Newport Pagnell.-Rev. J. Watson, Rev. Josiah Bull, Rev. Charles Gilbert, Henry Bateman, Esq. 13. Rotherham.-Rev. Thomas Smith, Rev. W. H. Stowell, Rev. John Ely, J. W. Smith, Esq. 14. Spring Hill.-Rev. F. Watts, Rev. Dr. Redford, Thomas Beilby, Esq.,* Rev. J. A. James, Rev. Dr. Alliott. Also Rev.

Dr. J. P. Smith was present by invitation of the Committee of the Union; and the Rev. J. Blackburn, Rev. W. S. Palmer, Rev. A. Wells, as the Secretaries of the Congregational Union.

The Rev. George Redford, LL.D., of Worcester, was requested to preside, who opened the proceedings by reading the Scriptures, and the exercises of praise and

prayer.

The Chairman then called upon the secretaries of the Congregational Union to present any explanations they might wish to offer, relating to the preparatory arrangements of the Committee:

The Rev. A. Wells then read the following

EXPLANATORY MEMORIAL.

As the Committee of the Congregational Union, acting under directions received from the Autumnal Meeting of the Union, held at Norwich in October last,* has conducted the preliminary proceedings that have resulted in the assembling of this Conference, it is thought respectful to the gentlemen present, and likely to facilitate the business of the meeting, that the Committee should at the outset submit a statement of the views and measures in which the whole affair originated; and also of the benefits anticipated from this Conference, coupled with some respectful suggestions as to the manner in which its deliberations should be conducted.

The honoured brethren present know that they have not assembled upon the summons, nor even upon the invitation, of the Congregational Union, or of its Committee. On the contrary, when it was thought desirable to attempt a conference of the representatives of our theological colleges, the question whether such a proceeding should be adopted was referred freely and entirely to their committees. The proposal in a distinct and definite form was circulated among the tutors and committees of all the colleges. Each committee was respectfully solicited to give its independent reply. The decision whether there should be a conference, rested, where alone it could rest, with the unbiased suffrages of the managers of our theological seminaries. This present Conference, therefore, meets by authority of the committees of the various colleges here represented. You are assembled at the request of your colleagues in the management of your several institutions. The Congregational Union did indeed venture to incur the responsibility, far from light, of proposing a Conference. Now, however, the all but unanimous adoption of that proposal by the committees of the colleges, one only having dissented, has vindicated the course adopted by the Union, and has assumed the responsibility of all further proceedings. In this instance, as in many others, the Congregational Union has proved a convenient medium of communication, and centre of action, in respect of affairs and interests common to the entire Independent denomination, and no more. Many reasons presented themselves to some brethren anxious for the good of the Independent churches, when thoughtfully considering their present position, why the great work of training for them a godly and learned ministry seemed to require, at this juncture, renewed consideration, and more vigorous, vigilant, and enlightened care. All those reasons it might not be expedient to state in this memorial--they may come into view more advantageously in the confidential discussions of this Conference. But it is obvious to remark in general, that the present is a great religious crisis that unwonted opinions, activities, and struggles are now moving the Christian mind of our country; that beloved young brethren, now trained for the work, enter public life under circumstances far more difficult than those which

* Our readers are requested to turn to The Congregational Magazine for 1844, pp. 954-975, for the papers, discussions, and resolution which led to this Conference.-EDITOR.

attended the early labours of their predecessors; that within our own body the origination of new colleges has materially affected those of longer standing-that the whole work of educating a learned ministry requires to be advanced into greater popular favour and confidence in our churches, as for many reasons, so especially, because the pecuniary resources needed for its support must now be sought by more extended appeals, seeing they can no longer be provided by the munificence of a limited number of wealthy and enlightened brethren. And it was thought that no proceeding could be so likely to communicate in every way a healthful impulse and a wise direction to this most important of all our public cares, as a free, candid, and devout Conference, attended by many of those learned and able tutors to whose care the education of our rising ministry is so joyfully, so thankfully committed. But though the Committee of the Union, in negotiating this Conference, has been anxious throughout that all its proceedings and conclusions should be strictly its own, yet some preparation seemed indispensable. Public, and even deliberative assemblies, for whose consideration nothing has been digested, are sure to be perplexed and confused, and quite unable to embody and record their proceedings in any authentic and suitable form. Documents, therefore, discussing points of principal interest, open to free remark, and liable to be set aside or altered at the pleasure of the meeting, appeared to present the most appropriate preparation for your proceedings, holding a due medium between the reports and resolutions presented for the adoption of a popular meeting, and the entire absence of any papers for discussion, and for declarations of opinion, so far as ultimately approved.

In the proposal for this Conference submitted to the committees of the various colleges, the principal points which it was thought the meeting, when assembled, should discuss, were distinctly stated. It may now, therefore, be assumed that the brethren present have come prepared to give those subjects their best attention, having deemed them of importance adequate to justify this proceeding, and expecting great advantages to result from a free interchange of sentiment respecting them. Not that the meeting is at all bound to consider every topic so proposed for conference, or restricted from the discussion of other subjects not so proposed. Far otherwise. Some of the points included in the proposals of the Committee of the Union may be passed over with little or no attention, and some of the queries submitted by the Committee may be decided in the negative; while other subjects, which did not present themselves to the view of the Committee, may be brought into discussion with eminent advantage. The fact that the Committee of the Union did not only propose that there should be a Conference, but did also specify the principal subjects for the discussion of which such Conference should assemble; and that these proposals, thus specific, did meet with cordial approval, are only mentioned to show that this state of the proceeding seemed to enable the Committee to solicit prepared papers on subjects thus previously submitted to you, and accepted by you, as appropriate for consideration, without failing in the respect due to the assembly, or assuming, unwarrantably, what it would discuss when convened; while, on the other hand, the Committee would have thought it highly disrespectful to take the part it has borne in the convening of this Conference, without making what it deemed the very best preparations for its effective proceedings, whatever judgment of those preparations the Conference itself might form.

Proceeding under these circumstances and views, the Committee of the Union has obtained the consent of different brethren, to prepare short papers on the principal topics expected to come under consideration. It seemed that no one circumstance has so materially contributed to place education for the ministry among our churches in a new and altered position, as the establishment of the university of London, and the affiliation of several of our chief colleges with that

institution. Taking this, then, as the starting point for your deliberations, the consent of Dr. J. P. Smith has been secured to present a paper on the importance of employing this great literary advantage in the wisest and most effectual manner. Then, next, Dr. Burder will be prepared with one, showing the necessity that increased literary advantages should be attended with equally increased care in theological and religious training; and that, therefore, after all competition for university honours has been completed, an ample term should be devoted to strictly ministerial studies. Further, that these higher courses of study should be successfully prosecuted in our colleges, it was thought needful to show that the young brethren entering with a view to them, should possess some previous training in scholarship and Dr. William Smith had engaged to write on this point. Yet as plain and popular preaching must ever be the great instrument of administering the Gospel in connexion with Independent church polity—and as a numerous class of brethren will always be found amongst us, eminently qualified for this important service, but quite incapable of a highly learned education, the Committee induced Mr. Frost, of Cotton-end, to promise a paper on the desirableness of maintaining an academy in which only an English theological education should be given, or in addition, that knowledge of the original tongues of Holy Scripture, attainable without a previous study of the Latin and Greek classics. Further, if the ministry as trained in our colleges is to be raised higher in learning and piety, in mental and moral power, the choicest young men in our churches and families must be induced to consecrate themselves to this sacred service, and Dr. Hamilton is prepared with an appeal on that subject. Premature settlements in the pastoral office of young brethren, more accomplished in learning than in knowledge of men, are obviously hazardous, and have occasioned the only failure of many who might otherwise have honourably and usefully served the churches; and Mr. Stowell has consented to prepare some thoughts on the best method of securing, in such instances, a useful interval between the close of usual college studies, and entrance on public labours. Dr. Payne has undertaken to write on the advantages of a uniform practice in all the colleges, of an examination of every approved student at the close of his term of study; and of granting thereupon due testimonials of learning and character. These papers the Committee of the Union supposed suitable for consideration in the order in which they have been now mentioned, as bringing into view some chief points necessary to the efficiency of our college system; and would suggest that they should be presented by Mr. Blackburn, on the expediency of the appointment by the committees of every college of some gentlemen in the metropolis to act on its behalf in a Central Committee, for promoting its financial interests, and the settlement of its students.

There remain a few other subjects of a more general character, on which short papers have been promised. One by Mr. Walter Scott, on the advantages that would result, were it to become a general practice, that pastors before giving their first sanction to young brethren desirous of entering the ministry, should obtain the assistance of some other ministers in their examination. Another by Mr. Watts, on the expediency of associating in some of the colleges, in the pursuit of studies common to both, students intending other pursuits in life with those designed for the ministry. A third by Mr. James, on the great advantages to be realised by fraternal intercourse with students and younger brethren on the part of senior pastors; and lastly, as it was thought that an affectionate address to the young brethren in the colleges from such an assembly as the present would be most suitable and beneficial, Dr. Harris has engaged to prepare one accordingly.

It is to be distinctly understood that these papers have not been submitted to the Committee of the Union, and are not presented in its name, but are simply the