Не appeared, for a time, to have gained strength, but became much worse, when, at a town called Chicacole, about 74 miles from Vizigapatam. Dr. Fleming, perceiving his danger, wrote to Mr. Des Granges, who immediately set off to visit him, but did not arrive till six hours after he had breathed his last. On Mr. D. devolved the painful office of committing his remains to the grave. He closed a holy and useful life on Friday, Jan. 6. This,' says Mr. D. 'was a severe stroke to me. I had great difficulty to bear up under it; but God strengthened me! my grief for the moment, and forced me to say, Thy will be done! Still my heart is heavy, and reflection on my loss makes me lament over the mountains of India, as David lamented over the mountains of Gilboa, on the loss of his beloved Jonathan.' He assuaged Mr. D. has sent extracts of letters from Mr. Cran, written to him during his journey, which shew the pious state of his mind, and the earnest desire he retained to the last to be useful. He had acquired the Telinga language, and preached in it but a few days before his death. In a letter, dated Chatterpore, Dec. 17, he says, I have spent many pleasant bours with the natives, and found many very desirous to know more of the gospel. Travelling among them, and proclaiming the good news of salvation, is certainly delightful work.' Mr. Loveless expresses himself, in relation to this distressing circumstauce, thus: 'It has pleased the all-wise Disposer of events to take to himself our dearly beloved brother, George Cran. He fell asleep in Jesus on the 6th instant, at Chicacole, whilst on a journey with Major-General Gowdie for the benefit of his health, which also afforded him an excellent opportunity of preaching the gospel to the natives'; in which blessed work he was employed till within a few days of his death. Brother Des Granges had the painful office of interring his dearly beloved colleague at a distance from home, and among strangers, having also been deprived of the painful pleasure of receiving his dying commands, and hearing from his lips those professions of faith in the glorious gospel, which he was so desirous of making known to the perishing millions of Hindoostan, and which brother D. would have communicated for the comfort of his friends and fellowlabourers, and the edification of the church at large.' How mysterious,' he justly adds, are the ways of Providence, in thus removing a young man, in the prime of life, who had just attained the knowledge of the language, by which he was enabled to make known to the poor Heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ!' In this we are called to be still, and know that he is God;' and, though mysterious, his ways are neither unwise, unjust, nor unkind, as we shall see hereafter. O that this may have a due influence on me, to make me more zealous and devoted in the work of the Lord, and to incline many to offer themselves as Missionaries in this country, where millions are crying, Come over and help us.' To these pious reflections no addition is necessary. The residue of the Spirit is with the Lord, who, we trust, will strengthen the Mission by the speedy arrival of the brethren Gordon and Lee, who sailed from America in May last, to join the brethren at Vizigapatam. Aa account of the pleasing appearances which this Mission now presents, must be reserved for our next Number. MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS, &c. A few Friends at Bicester, Oxon. by the Rev. R. Fletcher Rev. W. Kemp and Friends, Swansea A Circular Letter has been issued by the Directors to the Friends of the Missionary Society, with the following Statement annexed; to which we respectfully request the attention of our numerous readers: ACCOUNT of the STATED Income of the MISSIONARY SOCIETY in the Year ending the 31st of May, 1809, compared with the Expenditure during the same period. L. s. d. It will appear from the above Account, that, notwithstanding the inereased Amount of the Annual Collections, the regular Income of the Society fell short of the Expenditure by the sum of Three thousand six hundred and fifty-one pounds seventeen shillings and five pence; towards which balance, the sum of £857. 14s. 4d. has been received in occasional Contributions and Legacies, leaving an actual balance of £2794. 3s. 1d. upon the expenditure of last year unprovided for; from which the Directors presume, that the necessity of more vigorous exertions by the Friends of the Missionary Society in obtaining Annual Subscriptions, and in making Annual Collections for the benefit of the Institution, will be obvious, when it is understood, that, in the present state of its finances, nearly one half of the expenditure is to be provided for by casual means. Provincial Intelligence. The First Anniversary of the Plymouth Asylum for Female Penitents, was held on Friday, Feb. 3; when an excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hawker, from Isa. xiv. 82, "What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it." After service the Governors and Subscribers adjourn ed to the London Inn, to hear the Report of the Committee, from which it appeared, that since the opening of the asylum, 24 penitents had been received, many from distant counties and places. Some of this number have been placed at service with pious and respectable families; others have been restored to their friends, with mutual joy and thambufulness, and 15 remain within SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY. Dear Sir, Duxford, Feb. 10, 1809. AGREEABLY to your request, I send you a brief Account of the Rise and Progress of our School of Industry. When we came first to the village, in April, 1795, we found the children totally ignorant of needle-work, and without any means of instruction. Most of the poor families were in the habit of putting out their linen to make. This, together with a desire of giving them religious instruction, induced Miss Thompson to begin a school, confining her number to 12; bat these rapidly improving, and others being desirous of admission, the number was gradually increased to 30. Finding some difficulty in obtaining a sufficiency of plain-work, and as an encouragement to industry, she taught them to work a handkerchief; which they took with them on leaving the school and entering into service. Fancy work coming into fashion, and their little attempts being much approved by some ladies in the neighbourhood, we received an order, March 23, 1805: This was the first. It gave satis faction; and was followed by many more from private families; and in the course of a few months, considerable orders were received from five shops, at Cambridge, St. Ives, &c. The business now becoming of importance, the prices for the work were fixed, and a regular account opened. The shopkeeper sent the maslin in the piece, with an order for so many dozen of caps, veils, &c. This was cut out, and given to the children, with the patterns (which were drawn by Miss T. and her nieces) to work. Two hours in the day were appointed to take in and give out the work, which was finish. ed at their own houses. When the order was completed, it was sent home, with a bill, and the money returned; as our plan did not admit of credit. The whole of this It money was divided among the children, according to their work. was required that they should be decently clothed out of the money by their parents, and the rest for their own use, which greatly assisted them in providing comfortable bedding, and other necessaries for their houses, which they were unable to procure. In the beginning of the year 1808, a painful bereavement took place in the death of Mrs. Pyne, a beloved sister; by which the care of seven children devolved, upon Miss T. This, together with a declining state of health, determined her to give the fancy-work into the hands of two of her scholars, who still carry it on with success. On closing the account, the money distributed among the little work women, who at no time amounted to more than forty, came to £678. 159. 9d. in a period of little more than three years. As I observed before, they were at no expence for patterns; many of them being contrived, and all of them drawn, by Miss. T. and family. In addition to the above School of Industry, we have carried on a Sunday School; and in three neighbouring villages, where we have Evening Lectures, Evening Schools. For each school we engage a master and mistress; admit 10 boys and 10 girls, who attend every evening in the week, from six to eight o'clock, excepting on the lectureevening, when we expect them to attend the worship of God. This gives us a fine opportunity to distribute Religious Tracts. The whole of the expence is defrayed by our congregation at Duxford. We have formed other little plans, which, through divine grace, have exceeded our expectations. How much might be done by us if there were not a lion in the way!' Accept of my thanks for the republishing C. Mather's Essays to do Good; and believe me to be, dear Sir, yours, affectionately, B. PYNE. April 11. Independent chapel was opened at Poulton,near Blackpool, Lancashire. Mr. Charrier, of Liverpool, preached in the morning, from Isa. Ix. 1 Mr. Fletcher, of Blackburn, in the afternoon, from 1 Pet. ii. 12; and Mr. Edwards, of Elswick, in the There evening, from Neh. iv. 6. were very crowded audiences; and there is good reason to hope that the labours of Mr. Morrow, the stated minister in this town, and in the neighbourhood, where he is employed as an itinerant, will not be in vain. A small commodious The West Kent Union Society held their Half-yearly Meeting at Mr. Ralph's, Maidstone, April 25. The business of the Society was conducted in the forenoon. In the afternooa Mr. Rogers preached from Ps. cx. 2; aud in the evening, Mr. Sabine, of Tunbridge. The devotional ser vices were conducted by Mess. Ralph, Knott, Morris, Bentliffe, Stanger, and Beaufoy.-The next Meeting is fixed for Tuesday, October 24 next, Mr. Sabine's, at Tunbridge. Public services at 11 and 6. Mess. Ralph and Slatterie to preach: Messrs. Popperwell and Bentliff, in case of failure. A small chapel was opened on Whit-Monday, at Rhes-y-cae, about four miles from Holywell, Flintshire; and which also belongs to the Independent church in that town. The following were engaged on the occasion in the different parts of the services; Messrs. Jones, of Newmarket; Jones, of Moelfre; Williams, of Wern; Davies and Williams, students from Wrexham, &c. The congregations seemed serious and attentive; and far greater in number than the chapel could contain. From the situation of the place, what hath been already done in the course of the two last years, and the continued regard shown by the inhabitants to the word of life, it may be hoped that the Lord hath many people here among the poor unthinking miners, who are very numerous in this neighbourhood. On Tuesday, May 23, the Gloucestershire Independent Association was holden at Mitchel Dean. In the morning, Mr. T. Lewis, of Wottonunder-Edge, preached from Ps. i. 6; Mr. W. Bishop, of Gloucester, from Isa. lv. 1; and Mr. C. Daniell, of Kingswood, from Ps. lxviii. 18. The next Association will be held at Chedworth, Sept. 19, 1809, when the Independent Benevolent Society meeting in Gloucestershire, will hold its Annual Meeting. There will be an open Committee the preceding evening, at Chedworth, at the Rev. Mr. Phillips's, to audit the accounts, &c. An Association of several Ministers and Churches belonging to the Independent denomination, has Jately been formed in Yorkshire, called The Eastern Association of the County of York. The avowed objects of the Members constituting it are, The increase of personal reAgion and Christian union amongst them, the spiritual welfare of their respective connexions, and the exa tension of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world. For the promotion of these important purposes, it was thought expedient that an Annual Meeting should be held at one of the Churches belonging to the Union; and in pursuance of a Resolution to that effect, the First Annual Meeting was held on the Second Tuesday and Wednesday in June, at the Rev. G. Lambert's Chapel, Hull. Two sermons were preached on the evenings of those days, by Mess. Arundel, of Whitby, and Bottomley, of Scarborough. The former part of Wednesday was spent by the brethren in mutually relating the state of religion in their respective connexions. This Meeting was peculiarly affecting and solemn. It called forth all the sympathies. which reside in the bosom of a Christian, while they alternately rejoiced with those who rejoiced, and wept with those who wept.' An unusual impression was produced; when some of the more aged brethren, especially the Rev. G. Lambert, exhorted their younger brethren to diligence and perseverance; and united their testimony in honour of the goodness and fidelity of that Divine Master who had been with them, even to the eleventh hour. We trust, the effect will not be lost Meeting of this Association will be for many days to come! The next held (God willing) at Scarborough, on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of July, 1810. The Devonshire Association met at Bideford, June 21. In the morning, Mr. Pinchback preached from Isa. xxxii. 15; and Mr. Vowles read an Address, on Religious Conversation. Mr. Windeatt preached in the evening, from Luke xiii. 24. Mesr. Jackson, Allen, Evans of Appledore, W. Rooker, and Blair, prayed. On the preceding evening, Mr. Mends preached from Col. i. 28; and Mess. Judson and Smith prayed. - From the Funds of this Associa tion, exhibitions were granted in aid of the Western Academy; of eight indigent congregations; and of an Itinerant, who is labouring in the north-western part of the county. June 14. The Buckinghamshire Christian Society assembling in the Old Meeting, Norwich. Mr. Dennant, of Halesworth, began the service of the day with reading the Scriptures and prayer; Mr. Price, of Woodbridge, delivered the istroductory discourse; Mr. Newton (the aged and venerable minister of the church, and with whom Mr. Hull is settled as co-pastor) prayed the Association assembled at Mr. Fletcher's, Bicester, Oxon. Mr. Scraggs, of Buckingham, preached from Rom. xv. 5, 6; and Mr. Wilkins, of Abingdon, from Acts xvi. 17; Mr. Gardner, of Potter's Pury, preached in the evening, from Phil, i. 27. — The next Association is in tended to be held on the first Wednesday in June, 1810, at Mr. Rey-ordination-prayer; Mr. Parry, Tunolds's, Nash, uear Buckingham. June 23. A small chapel was opened for divine worship at Hornsey, in the neighbourhood of Hull, Yorkshire. Mr. Lambert, of Hall, preached in the morning, from Hag. ii. 9; Mr. Arundel, of Whitby, in the afternoon, from Gen. xxviii. 19 to 22; and Mr. Halesua, of Driffield, in the evening, from Ps. xxvii. 4. To those who are in the habit of frequenting Hornsey, for the benefit of sea-bathing, it is presumed this intelligence will not be unacceptable, June 28. The Annual Meeting of the Sussex Mission Society was held at the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, Brighton. Mr. Martell, of Heathfield, preached; Mr. Styles stated the plan and object of the Society; and the devotional parts of the service were conducted by Mess. Franklin, Fisher, and Kerby. After the morning-service, the Members of the Society met for business, when it was resolved, That Arundel should be the station for the itinerant to preach at for the present ; and Bognor, and the villages adjacent, as opportunity should offer. Mr. Taylor, from Mr. Collison's Academy, who has, for the present, engaged in the work of an Itinerant, connected with this Society, preach ed in the evening at Mr. Gough's Meeting-house; and Mess. Thomas (of Enfield) Sargeant, and Jones, engaged in prayer. The Plan of this Society is precisely the same as that adopted by the Surry Mission. It unites for one cominon object, Bap. tists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Independents. Thursday, June 29, Mr. W. Hull, late student at Wymondley, was set apart to the pastoral office over the 1 tor at the Wymondley Academy, received the confession of faith and delivered the charge; Mr. S. Newton, of Witham, preached a sermon to the people; and Mr. Carter, of Mattishall, concluded the service with prayer. In the evening, an excellent and appropriate discourse was preached by Mr. Pahner, of Hackney. The services of the day, which will be printed, were conducted in a truly interesting and solema manner, and attended by crowded auditories, July 5. The Independent Minis ters in the connty of Kent held their Annual Association at Gravesend, Mr. Slatterie, of Chatham, preached in the morning: Mr. Gurteen, of Canterbury, preached in the evening; and Mr. Tomlin, of Sandwich, on the preceding evening. next Meeting will be held at Sheerness, on the Wednesday after the first Sabbath in July, 1810. - Their setshire Association, it was resolved, At a late Meeting of the SomerNot to countenance any collecting Case in their respective Congrega. tion of the County Association, or tions, until it has received the sa icof the Committee of the Congrega. tional Union in London. The New Tabernacle at Dursley, Gloucestershire, will be opened Au 15, 1809; when the Rev. Mess. Hill, Jay, and Thorpe are expected to preach. RECENT DEATH. Lately, at St. Albans, the Rev. Mr. Gill, who had been nearly 50 years pastor of the Baptist Church in that town. He was a nephew of the celebrated Dr. Gill. July 16, at Birmingham, Mrs. Humphrys, wife of the Rev. J. Humphrys, of London. |