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occasional labours in this way will not only be sweet and comforting to our hearts, but may prove the means of causing to germinate some precious seed which you have scattered in years that are past.

"This memorial of our affection and esteem for you would not do justice to our own feelings, and must seem defective in your eyes, were we to omit to mention our grateful recollection of the kind and diligent labours of your excellent companion and dear friend, Mrs. Townley, and other beloved and pious members of your family. Committing them and you to the tender care of our Heavenly Father, earnestly praying that your valuable lives may be spared for many years yet, and that, wherever your future lot may be cast, you may be honoured with increasing usefulness in your Master's service,

"We remain, yours very affectionately, in the bonds of Jesus Christ."

SABBATH AFTERNOON LECTURE AT FETTER LANE CHAPEL.

WE are happy to learn that this lecture, undertaken by the Christian Instruction Society, is exceedingly well attended, considering that it has been so recently established. Our hope is that it may prove a blessing to the neighbourhood, by affording an opportunity to many persons to unite in worship, who could not attend on any other part of the Sabbath. The lecturers for November are Rev. Thos. James, Rev. John Adey, Rev. J. C. Gallaway, and Rev. Dr. Martin.

NOTICE TO WIDOWS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM THE MAGAZINE FUND.

WE beg to remind our friends, that their applications must be made to the Editor, through the Publishers, on, or before, the 25th Dec.; and that no grant can be made without such application. It is necesary also that their letter should state any improvement in their incomes which may have taken place during the past year.

No one who received a grant at Midsummer can have one at Christmas.

CLAIMS OF THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

As the close of the year draws nigh, we have to request of our ministerial brethren, who estimate the importance of our labours, that they will use their best influence with their flocks to promote the wider circulation of the Magazine. We hope, without vain glory, that we may throw it on its own merits; that it has deserved well of the churches during the past year; that its literary and theological character never stood higher. If we are correct in our impression, let us have

the benefit of a pulpit notice from all who wish us well.

As the profits of the Christian Witness and Christian Penny Magazine are devoted to the relief of aged and poor ministers, let it not be forgotten that the Evangelical Magazine has always cared for the widows of our brethren, and that a hundred and fifty of them are now receiving regular assistance from its fund. We plead as a matter of right and duty that we may have fair-play from the pastors, deacons, and members of our churches. Let new subscribers order the January number of the Magazine in good time from their booksellers.

PROVINCIAL.

INDEPENDENCY IN SHREWSBURY.-CASTLEGATE CHAPEL.

On

The

ON Thursday, June 21, 1849, the Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D., LL.D., preached in the above place of worship, and on the following Sabbath, the Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D preached morning and evening, on the Mon day following, the Rev. E. Nolan, LL.D., with other ministers, gave addresses. each occasion the place was quite full. Castlegate Chapel, which is the second Independent interest in the town, amidst a population of 23,000, was commenced in September 10, 1843. Fifty-six members deemed it their duty to resign their fellowship with the parent Church, and endeavour to raise a new interest. Their first resolve was to commence as far as possible from the old chapel, and with this intent they hired a chapel in the midst of a dense population. It was soon evident that the labours of faithful ministers, aided by the strenuous exertions of the few members of the Church, were being crowned with success; the Sabbath-school soon doubled and trebled; the attendance, at each successive service, increased; there was no stationary period; the progressive, onward movement of the enterprise was astounding; chapel and school were filled; ministers of all denominations gave their help; the three tutors of Springhill College successively ministered to the infant cause. Thus encouraged, thus blessed, the members determined to erect a chapel, but how to obtain funds nearly frustrated their desires; most of them young and poor, they had no money; however, onward they went; premises were bought, contracts entered into, and they found themselves in debt to the amount of £2,700. They had made a firm resolve to erect a sanctuary for the worship of the Most High God, and, therefore, were not overwhelmed when they set to work. By giving of their substance to the Lord, it was soon found that a willing mind can do wonders. The hand

some new chapel, with stone front, was opened in March 4, 1845: the Rev. Drs. Raffles and Urwick, and Rev. J. A. James, preached on the occasion, about thirty-three other ministers attending, either to take part in the solemnities, or to evince, by their presence, their approval of the effort to evangelise a neglected, and, for the most part, ignorant population. The day after the chapel was opened, the minister of their choice, the Rev. E. Hill, was ordained. The excitement being over, it was thought that, as the chapel was larger than that of the parent Church, it would not be full, but, in a few Sabbaths, nearly every seat was let. The school, which is on the top of the chapel, still kept increasing, the pastor's labours were crowned with the Divine blessing, the Church members were soon doubled, and more accommodation was required. In this emergency, the Church resolved to erect a large gallery, and paint the chapel. The money, amounting to £200, was soon obtained, and, in a few weeks, all the additional room provided was occupied, and all this in a town said to be doomed to Church rule,-a High Church town. the new movement came to be known, ministers, in all parts of England, were willing to lend a helping hand, and the little one soon became a thousand. But then the debt; in this the Lord helped us, the people gave liberally, we were a wonder to ourselves; a few gave of their abundance, the majority of their poverty, weekly and monthly contributions poured in; some friends at a distance sent their help, the money kept pouring into the treasurer's hands, and in five years we have raised towards the debt £2,000. The above statement is sent to encourage the timid in large towns. From what is going on in Shrewsbury, it is evident the like may be accomplished in other towns. If ministers, beloved and respected, would lead on a willing people, all obstacles would be removed; our principles are right, and must prevail. Let ministers and people arise and build, obtain faithful, devoted ministers, and the enterprise must be successful.

RE-OPENING OF SALEM CHAPEL, LLANDOVERY.

As

A PUBLIC meeting was held on the 2nd and 3rd instant, for the re-opening of the above place of worship, and the recognition of the Rev. R. Parry, as pastor of the church and congregation assembling therein. The whole edifice has undergone thorough repair. During the ten weeks occupied with the work, the congregation met for Divine worship at the Tabernacle, kindly invited to unite with the Calvinistic Methodists, whose liberality and charitable feelings are above all praise. During this interval, the two churches united

in holy communion at the Lord's table, con ducted by the Rev. D. Charles, Tutor of Trevecca College, with the co-operation of the Congregational minister, which proved to be a most heavenly expression of the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

On Tuesday evening, sermons were de livered by Revs. T. Jones, of Hermon, and D. Williams, of Llanwrtyd. On Wednesday morning at seven, addresses were delivered on the following subjects:-1. "On the propriety of cherishing unity and love between Christians of other denominations," by the Rev. E. Jones, Crugybar. 2. "To the members of the Sabbath-School," by the Rev. T. Davies, of Llandilo. D. Thomas, Esq., Mayor of Llandovery, as their superintendent, gave a detailed statement of the number, labours, success, and present prospects of the school 3. "Our obligations to acknowledge the kind hand of Providence in our being spared from the ravages of the epidemic with which we have been surrounded of late," by the Rev. D. Evans, of Cwmwysg. 4. "To the unconverted," by the Rev. D. Davies, Pauleg, Theological Tutor of Carmarthen College. Ten o'clock, the Rev. D. Williams, Llanwrtyd, commenced by reading the third chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy, and addressed the minister, church, and congregation, in which he gave a very interesting account of the commencement and progress of the religious cause in the place, and earnestly prayed that their future fellowship might be crowned with the blessing of God. The Rev. D. Davies followed in the same strain, congratu lating both minister and church on the relation formed. The Rev. H. Jones, of Carmarthen, preached, and concluded the solemn services with prayer. Two o'clock, Revs. C. Gwron, of Brecon, S. Roberts, Llanbrynmair, (English,) and J. Williams, Llangadog, preached. And at six, the Rev. S. Roberts, and W. Hopkins, of Llangatwf, preached. The devotional parts were conducted by the Revs. E. Griffiths, of Swansea; J. Griffiths, Llanwrlyd; W. Rees, Bethel; and J. Philips, Calvinistic Methodist minister, Llandovery.

The congregations were numerous, and the sermons most appropriate and impressive. The chapel improvements were completed under the inspection of D. Thomas, Esq., one of the deacons of the church, to whose chaste taste, and indefatigable exertions, we are indebted for the satisfactory arrangements in which the whole have been executed. The workmanship reflects great credit on Mr. Daniel Morgan, and others, of Llandovery. The whole improvements, including the deco. ration of the ceiling, the extension of pews, the painting of the building, as well as the cementing of front, &c., meet the approbation of all. The expenditure was defrayed by collections already in hand, and no previous

incumbrance rested on the place. The accession of nearly one hundred new members to the church, during the last two or three weeks, is a great reason for gratitude, and renewed zeal and devotedness, on the part of the members of the Church and SundaySchool. An extensive sphere of usefulness presents itself in connexion with this house of God.

ORDINATION.

ON Thursday, 27th September, 1849, the Rev. Isaac Thomas was ordained as co-pastor with the Rev. Hugh Lloyd, over the Independent churches and congregations assembling for Divine worship at Towyn and Bryncrug, Merionethshire. At nine o'clock, A.M., the public services of the day were introduced by the Rev. James Jones, of Barmouth, by reading portions of Deuteronomy xxxi., and of Ephesians iv., and prayer. The Rev. Samuel Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, described the nature, order, and design of the New Testament Church; the Rev. H. Lloyd asked several important questions to the ordained, respecting his own experience on taking the pastoral charge jointly to himself; to which very satisfactory answers were given, with a truly evangelical confession of faith; the Rev. Edward Davies, of Trawsfynydd, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. Cadwalader Jones, of Dolgelly, delivered an affectionate and solemn charge to the young minister, from 2 Tim. iv. 2, and the Rev. Evan Evans, of Maentwrog, showed very precisely the manner in which the church members should discharge their duties towards their minister, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. The Rev. John Williams, of Aberhosan, concluded the morning services with prayer. In the afternoon, sermons were delivered by the Revs. Samuel

Edwards, of Machynlleth, and Owen Thomas, of Talbout, and in the evening, by the Revs. Richard Roberts, of Clarach, J. Williams, of Aberhosan, (on total abstinence,) and J. Jones, of Barmouth. The Revs. Robert Ellis, of Brithdir, and William Davies, of Rumni, preached on the preceding evening; the Revs. Grey Evans, of Penal, John Owens, of Nevin, and Edward Williams, of Dinasmawddu, also assisted in conducting the devotional parts of the several services. The chapel was thronged with hearers from the beginning to the end of the meeting, and many were ready to say, "It is good for us to be here."

BOLTON, LANCASHIRE.

THE recognition of the Rev. B. Backhouse, as pastor of the church and congregation assembling at Duke's Alley Chapel, Bolton, took place on Wednesday, September 12th, 1849. The morning service was opened by Rev. Lawson Brown, M.A., of Mawdesley. Street Chapel, Bolton. The Rev. Dr. Raffles delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the questions to minister and people. The Rev. J. Sutcliffe, of Ashton-under-Lyne, offered the recognition prayer. The Rev. Dr. Vaughan delivered the charge to the minister, and the Rev. F. Skinner, of the, United Presbyterian Church, Blackburn, concluded the service. In the evening, the Rev. J. L. Poore, of Salford, conducted the devotional services. The Rev. James Griffin, of Manchester, preached the sermon to the people, and the Rev. D. Nimmo, of Bolton, closed the services of the day. The Revs. Messrs. Thorburn of Bury, Pearce of Pendleston, Feaston of Wotton-under-Edge, and Etheridge (Baptist) of Bolton, also took parts in the engagements of the day.

General Chronicle.

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porteurs. In Rotterdam the cholera has been very violent. Van Dorp writes, in one of his reports, that "many have been brought to the grave by the disease, but that many of them have risen in it from a grave of sin and spiritual death." The more I peruse our Colporteurs' reports, the stronger is my conviction that the system of Colportage is the best plan now in working for "preaching the Gospel to every creature," and for "going out into the highways and hedges," as commanded by our Lord, Luke xiv. 23.

On reading, this morning, in an English newspaper, the instructions to the visitors of

cholera districts, I was much struck with one part. It is said, "It will be his duty to visit every house in the district assigned to him once a day at least; and wherever several families inhabit one and the same house, it will be his duty, at each visit, to see one adult member at least of every such family." This is what we have been doing for years past, in those districts where a more deadly malady than the cholera is reigning: this "can only kill the body; that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Van Dorp, in another of his reports, speaking of the Word of God, says, "It flows from an everlasting sea, and discharges itself into an eternal ocean, after having in its course refreshed many with its waters of life. It is now a year ago," continues his report, "that I was called to the death-bed of a beggar's child. It was about eleven o'clock at night. The words I then spoke, and the prayers I then offered, have been blessed to the conversion of the father. I learned this from him some time after at one of our prayer-meetings, in which I had six persons of this class (beggars) around me." These poor persons are despised by the world, and their conversion not much sought after; but Van Dorp has had the happiness of seeing the wonderful change which the Scriptures have wrought on the six to whom he refers; thus showing that they are not despised by our Heavenly Father.

In his report for the present month he gives a most interesting account of a poor sailorboy, a native of the Caucasus mountains. Being with his vessel at Constantinople, he went on shore every day to purchase provisions. He once met, at a baker's shop, a Jewish missionary, who spoke to him of Jesus. He became so interested in what the missionary told him of our Lord, that every day, for three months, he sought out the missionary. On the vessel leaving Constantinople, the missionary told the boy that he hoped they would meet again, and as he was about to go to Holland for his health, perhaps the boy might visit that country during his stay there. For two years the boy sailed from port to port, and wherever he came his first question was, "How far is Holland from here?" At length he sailed for London, and on asking his usual question, he was informed that the steam-boat would soon leave for Rotterdam. In the full belief that God would bring him to Holland, and again to the missionary, in order that he might teach him more of Jesus, he left his vessel at night, and reached Rotterdam by the steamer, but nearly destitute of money and clothes. On entering the town, he wandered into the poorest part of it, but where many of God's children reside. He went into a barber's shop, where he saw a Bible: he immediately asked the barber to tell him something of Jesus. This was rather

a difficult task, for the man knew nothing of the Saviour, but his wife had felt the power of the living Word. "She sent him to me," says Van Dorp; "but as I know little of German, which the sailor-boy could speak, I conducted him to a German family. These friends were so pleased with him, that they intend to keep him for a fortnight with them. We have given him new clothes, and a Russian New Testament, with which he was much more pleased than with his clothes. The expenses have been paid by the poor people who frequent our prayer-meetings."

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In Germany our sales, you will notice, have increased during the last six months. I forwarded you, a few days since, a copy of the government order, which withdraws all restrictions from our work, and orders the magistrates to grant us our patents gratis. This is certainly a noble act of the Prussian government, and His Majesty is showing himself a true friend to Bible distribution. One of the German Colporteurs writes:-" At Dotteran I had an opportunity of seeing the Grand Duke (of Mecklenburgh). I thanked him, in the name of the society, for the permission to colport which he had granted me. duke was very friendly. I begged him to follow the King of Prussia's example, who distributes hundreds of Testaments amongst his soldiers. He merely replied, Does he indeed?' I presented him with a large Bible, which he accepted with thanks. He inquired how I was received by the people. I gave him, in a few words, an account of my labours. He wished me success, and bade me not to be discouraged." This same colporteur has just been detained three days at the police station, in another part of the country. The police thought his papers were not in order, and wrote to the government for instructions. Of course the answer was satisfactory, and the colporteur was released. All his expenses during the three days were returned him. Thus the Lord is removing out of the way every obstacle on the part of the civil power. May He remove the barriers which the powers of another kingdom have set up, and give us grace and zeal to go in and to occupy the ground until He shall come!-British and Foreign Bible Society's Extracts.

AN EXAMPLE WORTHY OF IMITATION.

THE postmaster, clerks, letter-carriers, and letter-receivers, of the town and neighbourhood of Maidenhead, Berks, have sent a memorial to the Postmaster-General, praying his lordship to relieve them from all Sunday duty; and measures are being adopted to induce the Post-Office officials of every place in the kingdom to send similar memorials.

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