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At this Meeting the following resolutions were unanimously passed:

I. It having appeared from the statement of several brethren from the country, that the annual meeting of the Denoanination in London, has proved highly advantageous: Resolved, That these meetings be continued, and that in future this Society be designated, "The General MEETING of the Particular (or Calvinistic) Baptist Denomination, to be held annnally in London."

[We expect Dr. Ryland will favour us with a statement of the objects contemplated by the Annual General Meeting.] II. That it would be highly gratifying to the country members of the Society, if our London brethren would prepare a general account of the state of religion in the churches in the metropolis, and its vicinity, by the next meeting.

III. That the very cordial thanks of this Meeting, be presented to brethren Hinton and Birt, for their appropriate sermons preached yesterday in aid of the Missions in India; and that they be requested to furnish a compendium, for the Magazine.

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IV. That the most cordial thanks of this Meeting, be presented to the Trustees and Managers of the Chapels, belonging to the late Countess of Huntingdon, for the affectionate and respectful manner, in which they have accommodated the subscribers and friends to the Baptist Missionary Society, with the use of their commodious chapels for the Missionary Sermons, and for the facilities granted for making collections, and receiving the names of annual subscribers; and that this resolution be printed in the Baptist Magazine.

V. That it appears desirable to this Meeting, that a place of worship should be procured in London for the use of the denomination, sufficiently large to contain the congregations usually assembling at our Annual Meetings, and other purposes; and that the place be under the regulation of trustees, two-thirds of whom shall be selected from the baptist churches in London; and that this Meeting recommends it to the brethren in the metropolis, to select a Committee from among their churches, to take into consideration the propriety of this measure, to arrange the plan, &c. for the erection of the building, and either prosecute the plan, or prepare it for the next meeting, as shall seem to them most proper.

VI. That the thanks of this Meeting, be presented to the Secretaries for their attention to the concerns of the society during the past year, and that they be

requested to continue their services during the ensuing year.

VII. That the respectful thanks of this Meeting be given to the Deacons of the church in Eagle-street, for the kind accommodations afforded the society by the use of their place of worship, &c. The time allotted in the morning, for this Meeting, being insufficient to do all its business, the society adjourned till the evening, and concluded it at Dr. Rippon's Vestry. A Prayer Meeting was also held, at which the brethren Saffery, Shenstone, and Rippon prayed; brother Steadman delivered an animated address, and Dr. Ryland and other brethren gave out the hymns.

STEPNEY

BAPTIST ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION,

THIS service was held at Eagle-street Meeting, and commenced at 12 o'clock. Brother Hughes, of Battersea, addressed the students (fourteen in number) from Isaiah, lii. 11. "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord." Dr. Ryland, and brother Dyer, of Reading, engaged of the institution was read by brother in prayer. A short report of the state T. Thomas, the secretary. A collection was made, which amounted to upwards of forty pounds. It is expected that Mr. Hughes, will comply with the una institution afterwards assembled, to pub. nimous request of the friends of the lish his sermon.

BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.

and friends of this Society breakfasted On Friday morning, the subscribers at seven o'clock, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside. The chair was taken at eight o'clock, by Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. Brother Penny, of Portsea, began by prayer. The first annual report was read by the secretary, Mr. Ivimey, which contained "a simple narrative of facts, as to the manner in which the committee had attempted to carry the designs of the society into effect, according to the second Rule, viz. That the principal objects of this Society, be to employ Itinerants in Ireland, to establish Schools, and to distribute Bibles and tracts either gratuitously, or at reduced prices.'

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It appears, from the report, that this itinerants, Mr. Isaac McCarthy, in the infant Institution already employs, two county of Westmeath, and Mr. Robert

Dunlop, in the county of Sligo. They have also agreed to employ Mr. Hamilton (late of Youghall, but now chosen to assist Mr. Richards, of Cork, who is very old) in the vicinity of that large city. Mr. McCarthy' has baptized ten persons at Thurles, who are formed into a church, over which he is ordained pastor: the first baptist church formed in Ireland since the close of the seventeenth century. The account of schools for teaching the native Irish, and of persons employed to read the Irish Testament, was of the most encouraging description. There are sixteen evening schools, for which the society pays for some 2s., and for others 2s. 3d. per week! Sixteen sabbath readers receive each about the same sums. There are ten day schools, for which the masters receive twenty guineas each per annum. In all the schools there are about 1000 adults and children. Some of the Roman Catholic masters have already publicly renounced popery, and some, at first employed as sabbath readers, are become masters of day schools. There are two worthy men, of good abilities, for reading and explaining the scriptures, who go from place to place reading the Irish Testament; the effects of which, upon the minds of some of the darkest part of the population, are truly surprising. We shall extract some of these facts for the next number of our work. The permanent annual expense already incurred by the society, amounts to 700l. The donations last year amounted to 6701. 19s. 3d. and the subscriptions to 103l. 19s. making a total of 774l. 18s. 3d. The friends to Ireland, in Liverpool, sent the society, by brother Fisher, 130l. 16s. 3d. collected by him in that town.

The following Resolutions were passed unanimously.

1. That the report, now read, be approved and adopted, and circulated at the discretion of the committee.

2. That the society cordially approve of the measures employed for teaching the Irish language in those counties where it is the prevailing speech; and recommend it to the committee, that the number of school-masters and readers of the Irish scriptures be increased.

3. That the cordial thanks of this society are due, and are hereby presented to the corresponding committee in Dublin, particularly to W. Allen, Esq. the Treasurer; to the Rev. J. West and J. Purser, jun. Esq. Secretaries; and that they be requested to continue their valuable services the ensuing year.

4. That the thanks of the society be presented to the committee for the manner in which they have conducted the business of the society since its commence

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5. That, in order to meet the views of subscribers who may wish to promote the circulation of the scriptures, and the support of native Irish schools exclusively,

It be resolved, That the subscriptions for the above objects shall, in future, be kept separately from the contributions for the general purposes of the society.

6. That the cordial thanks of this society be presented to the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society; of the Hibernian Bible Society; of the Edinburgh Bible Society; and of the Religions Tract Society, for their liberal donations in aid of the objects of this Institution.

7. That the cordial thanks of this society be presented to the Rev. C. Anderson, of Edinburgh, for his pamphlet, entitled "A Memorial in Behalf of the Native Irish;" by the publication of which, and the handsome manner in which he has introduced this society, he has rendered essential service to the Institution.

8. That the cordial thanks of this society be presented to those ministers and others, who have procured for the society congregational collections and annual subscriptions, or the assistance of auxiliary

societies.

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man, Lister, Fisher, Dyer, Wood, Birt, Cox, and Newman; also, by the following gentlemen: J. Allan, Esq. Joseph Taylor, Esq. of Trinity College, Dublin, Charles Dudley, Esq. and John Steele, Esq. of Philadelphia.

*

The subscriptions, &c. received from the commencement of the society, account of expenditure, &c. will be printed, and appended to the report, and also in this Magazine.

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Thus ended the last, and, in the opinion of many, the most interesting of all the very delightful annual meetings of the Baptist Denomination which have, within these three years, been held in Londou. We most sincerely congratulate our churches on the many tokens of the di vine approbation, which, in the midst of circumstances of great affliction, continue to attend them. During the last year, their hearts have been painfully exercised on account of the heavy loss experienced by their young brother, Mr. Felix Carey, through the distressing event, which depriv

children, and the society of a large amount of property. The deaths, too, of the venerable fathers, Sutcliff and Fuller, cast a silent gloom over those meetings, which had been formerly animated by their presence, their prayers, and their coun sels. Without presuming, we think, it may be justly concluded, that in the an nual meetings this year, the presence and blessing of our exalted and omnipresent Lord, have been enjoyed, according to his promise, "Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE world."

It is impossible to describe the effusions of ardent and benevolent zeal manifested by all who addressed the meeting. The relation given by brother Palmer, of a six weeks' tour in Ireland, from which he has just returned, produced a powerful effect. The de plorable condition of our fellow subjects in Ireland, and especially of the 1,500,000, or 2,000,000, of the native Irish, who use the Irish language, has, at length, excited the compassionate feelings of British Christians! It was extremely pleasant to hear gentlemen of other deno-ed him, in a few minutes, of his wife and minations express their approbation of the principles of the society, and their determination to support it. Presbyterians, Methodists, both Calvinistic and Arminian, and Quakers, have pledged them selves to assist; particularly in the objects of reading, and circulating the Irish scriptures, and the establishment of Irish schools. One gentleman present proposed the translation, into Irish, of some of the Broad-Sheet Tracts, circulated by the Religious Tract Society, that they may he pasted in the cabins of the poor Irish, and thus these silent monitors, through being read by the children, may be "perpetual cabin preachers," or their "domestic chaplains." This gentleman offered to give the society 5,000 copies; presented it with a donation of ten guineas, and promised, if the receipts, in any future year, should not meet the expenditure, that he would give a second donation to the same amount. Mr. Steele, of Philadelphia, (a native of Ireland,) promised an annual subscription of ten pounds as long as he lived, and promised to get, on his return to America, a handsome sum to aid the operations of the society. Brother Weare, of Ipswich, addressed the meeting, with a design to stir up the females present, to assist the Institution; as did also the worthy chairman. Some of these left the room, expressing their design immediately to attempt forming a FEMALE Auxiliary Society in London. In short, all hearts and all hands were apparently consecrated to God, to do every thing within their power, by their prayers, their money, and personal exertions, to promote the prosperity of the society.

The amount of subscriptions, donations, &c. received for this society, during the week in which the meeting was held, amounted to about 150l.

The ministers appointed to preach the Sermons next year, are Dr. Rippon, of London, and Mr. Roberts, of Bristol; in case of failure, Mr. Jarman, of Nottingham,

The "Periodical Accounts" of the Baptist Mission, No. 28, will be ready for delivery in a few days.

VERSES

Sung at the close of the Prayer Meeting,
AT DR. RIPPON'S,

On Thursday Evening, June 22d.

Sweet the time, exceeding sweet,
When the saints together meet;
When the Saviour is the theme,
When they join to sing of him.
Sweet the state, exceeding sweet,
Where the saints in glory meet;
Where the Saviour's all the theme,
There we'll ever sing of him.

We have been under the unavoidable necessity of suppressing the Literary Iny telligence; also, much of the Foreign and Domestic, but which will appear in our next number.

London: Printed by J. BARFIELD, 91, Wardour-Street, Soho.

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A BRIEF MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN HOLTBY, LATE STUDENT IN THE BAPTIST ACADEMY, BRAdford.

Mr. Holtby was born at Seampstone, a village about six miles east of New Malton, Yorkshire, towards the latter end of May, 1789. Till he was about seventeen years of age, he appears to have lived in ignorance of "the things which belonged to his peace." At that period, it pleased God to introduce him to the society of a few Christian friends, residing at Hunmanby, by whose pious, conversation, in connection with the ministry of Mr. Harness, of Bridlington, God was pleased to turn him " from the error of his ways," and to convert him

AMONG the various instances of the sovereignty of God, in his conduct towards his people, we have to enumerate the early death of Mr. John Holtby, a person, whose piety and talents seemed to warrant the expectation of his future eminent usefulness in the church of Christ. He died, about eight o'clock, on Lord's day morning, August 21st, 1814, in the twenty-fifth year of his age. Thus, just at the period in which his friends had anticipated the pleasure of seeing him engage more fully and statedly in the work to which he was devoted, he was called upon to join the assem-effectually to himself. He was bly of just men made perfect," and to associate with angels in the paradise of God. But the Lord hath done it, and it becomes us to be "dumb with silence," anxious chiefly to derive that instruction from this afflictive event, which may tend to prepare us for the summons which awaits us, and which we shall shortly receive; "Give account of your ste-ing previously anticipated, from wardship." his rapid increase in the know

VOL. VII.

baptized, on his profession of " repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," on the 3d of September, 1809, and received into Christian fellowship with the church, under the pastoral care of Mr. Harness, at Bridling

ton.

Mr. Holtby's Christian friends, with whom he associated, hav

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ledge of divine things, his being engaged in the work of the ministry, invited him to the exercise of his gifts, at an early period from the time of his baptism. Accordingly, in October, 1809, he preached to the church, of which he was a member, with the view of ascertaining, whether, in the estimation of his brethren, God had endowed him with talents, for proclaiming to his fellow men "the unsearchable riches of Christ." As the result of this trial of his gifts, he was encouraged to exercise them as providence might direct. He did so till October, 1810, when, by the recommendation of the church at Bridlington, he was admitted a student in the academy at Bradford, Yorkshire, under the superintendence of the Rev. William Steadman.

be spared, and his labours continued and blest. These hopes were soon blasted. His disease returning, which appears to have proceeded from an obstruction in the kidneys, he returned to his friends towards the latter end of November, 1812. Here he continued, being greatly afflicted, till called to the rest which awaited him in his Saviour's presence, at the period above mentioned.

The disposition and conduct of our departed brother were such, as greatly endeared him to all who knew him. As a preacher, he stood high in the estimation of those who had the privilege of hearing him; and strong anticipations were indulged of his future eminence and usefulness. But God has taken him to himself; his work was done: his excellencies, on the one hand, and his imperfections on the other, are secured under the seal of death; and, in the day of judgment, there is every reason to expect, that he will appear in glory, amidst the innumerable company that shall attend the Saviour in his tri

Mr. Holtby had now entered upon a new scene. He was delivered from the cares and anxieties of the world, and had only to attend to those studies and labours, which, under God, were calculated to render him more generally acceptable and useful as a minister of the gos-umphs over every enemy, as a pel. A fair and pleasing pro- monument of sovereign and alspect now opened upon him- mighty grace. self and his friends, but it was Though Mr. Holtby's friends soon beclouded by the afflic-were fearful, from the comtion, which, at length, termina- mencement of his second afflicted in his death. In the spring of 1812, he was obliged to leave the academy, in consequence of debility of body. But, recovering partially from his affliction, he returned to Bradford at the close of the summer vacation of the same year. The hopes of his friends now revived, that his life would

tion, that he would not recover, he does not seem, himself, to have relinquished all hope of being restored, till within a few months of his death. This was owing, no doubt, in a great measure, to the flattering nature of his complaint. At that period he was confined to his bed, where he continued, till carried

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