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enterprises for the Divine glory and human benefit, and commending them to God's effective blessing.

From these daily employments, occupying the short hour assigned them, it is believed that much good has been experienced, especially when we consider that no mere denominational or sectarian views have been encouraged or excited; but, on the contrary, that has been inculcated, felt, and exhibited, which relates to the common Christianity and human salvation. We seem, then, to have found at last the secret of Christian union, after which, for so many ages, the Christian world has been striving,— not the subjection of the general will to the mere human will of any individual, or body of individuals, but implicit obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Scriptures. And it must have been observed that the preciousness of Christ and the glory of the Scriptures have been the themes of most frequent remark and strongest feeling, rendering our constant reference to the Bible increasingly interesting, as its treasures have been daily contemplated.

During much of the period under review, a deep interest was taken in the occasional, but frequent, and for some time continued, labours of the Rev. C. G. Finney, President of Oberlin College. These were mostly in connection with Park Street Church, yet not confined to it. Other churches and neighbourhoods experienced a blessing in them, but to what extent is difficult to determine. God's blessing also attended the exertions of his respected lady in her acceptable efforts among her own sex. Nor was it withholden from the labours of the Rev. Mr. Day, who, in different parts of the city and its vicinity, was occupied as an evangelist.

A new feature, also, has marked this period, in the

establishment and continuance of a "Female Prayermeeting," immediately following that to whose special report our attention is now given. Nor can we, without injustice, omit noticing the "Association of Young Men," which, although not formed within the time, still continued to flourish. Their agency was felt and acknowledged in preparing relief for the anticipated, but, happily, not realised, sufferings of the poor,-that service heretofore having been rendered by those mostly who were further advanced in life. But the omen is good. It excites hope, as it draws grateful observation, and leads us to expect that coming generations will do more than the past in fulfilling the civic and Christian obligations which press on our social system. For it may well be esteemed a reproach, that the human nature, in such a country as is ours, and with the enlightenment enjoyed among us, should be suffered, without some vigorous effort to prevent the degradation, to breed down below the brutes,-as, unquestionably, has been in many old communities, and even in our own, most unhappily, the deplorable case.

In the period we review, the furnishing for missions among the islands of the Pacific of a commodious vessel, has engaged at times our gratitude, and we have followed the "Morning Star" with delighted interest. This becomes doubly valuable from the hold it must, of necessity, have on the minds and hearts of our children and youth, whose contributions have aided to realise the blessing; and we now find that the converted natives are following the example set them, and preparing their boats for diffusing the Gospel among their fellow-islanders.

But this may be thought to open too wide a field. We come home, in glancing for a moment at our

own city mission, whose members, male and female, have often met with us. God has blessed and prospered them, and manifested the tokens of His gracious presence in many of their numerous meetings; yet, ah! how much must yet be done to make our city a model for cities and communities of accountable immortals, and our highly-favoured country a model for all states and kingdoms !

The new and powerful impulse which has been given to our meeting, and to hundreds of similar character in these United States, demands, as it has received, our marked acknowledgment, and equally our devout and diligent use. The excitement in New York, and its influence on the large seaports at first, and, specially, crowding the places of prayer, and demanding the opening of new rooms and church-buildings for supplication and instruction, came to us with an overwhelming sensation. Remarkable visitations of Divine Providence had been, indeed, apparent for a considerable time, acknowledged, also, and deeply felt, by no small part of the community; and it is believed that a disposition to lay them to heart, and to profit by them, has pervaded a large portion of our country, and in many quarters is still advancing.

This has rendered meetings for prayer far more common than heretofore, and, doubtless, has led multitudes of souls to seek, in Christ, the consolation which in no other way can be obtained,-shewing God's merciful designs in His providential dealings with us, and prompting every Christian to pray that these visitations may be fully sanctified to the building up of the kingdom of heaven in the earth, and the salvation of men.

One of our late number, a brother of the Episco

pal branch of the Church of Christ, Ruggles Slack, Esq., has been suddenly removed from us by death, in the course of the period we now briefly review. He was a serious, devoted Christian, and took a warm and active interest in all that related to the progress of Divine truth, welcoming every symptom of its revival, and endeavouring to animate the faith of its friends. The Lord, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, raise up many more of similar temper! Respectfully submitted by

WM. JENKS,
Secretary.

(Read at the meeting, May 12, 1858.)

FIFTH REPORT OF THE UNION MORNING PRAYER-MEETING IN THE OLD SOUTH CHAPEL.

(Presented January 1, 1859.)

"Set thee up way-marks," was the direction of an ancient prophet of Israel. And, in the providence of God, this is done for us in the transition we make from period to period of our probationary existence. For few are so thoughtless as not to be in some degree affected by the solemn close of one year and the commencement of another. Such is our present experience.

The year which has just ended, has, in a Christian point of view, been, as is on all hands acknowledged, exceedingly memorable. The work of God, by His Holy Spirit, in our own country peculiarly, has, from stage to stage of it, called for our wonder, gratitude, love, and trust: for our wonder, because of its extent, independent of that human effort which God demands of His people, and because it has taken hold of classes of men not reached by ordinary

means, and has spread from city to city, as it were by a spiritual yet most happy contagion. It seemed to burst forth like light in the midst of darkness, and, with the rapidity of light, to diffuse its salutary influence. And that it should cause thanksgiving to God, no one can hesitate to acknowledge, who has the least becoming sense of the incalculable worth of the soul, and of the price of its redemption. Nor can the Christian withhold his love and confidence from that merciful Redeemer who, at the cost of His own precious blood, bought him for His everlasting inheritance.

With our present information, it would be presumptuous to attempt an estimate of the numbers whom God has brought "out of darkness into His marvellous light" during the year. It has been familiarly alluded to among us as rather to be reckoned by thousands than by hundreds. But, Christian friends, is it possible for us to allow ourselves to rest quietly in the fact of such an ingathering, when "the Lord of the harvest" is so ready to augment the store by the bestowment of new and further mercies, and there are so many thousands, nay, millions, who need them? What Christian heart does not now swell with the earnest desire that, in the increase of this revived spirit, and the great and rapid multiplication of its subjects, God may be glorified and sinners saved?

Every conversion has its own appropriate value and peculiar connections, although the result is the same, in submission to a wise, holy, loving, and merciful Saviour, whose preciousness no tongue can adequately describe, and whose service, in its honour and consequences, no human estimate can reach. And yet, these blessings, infinitely valuable and

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