power to these elements of concord-combines the energies of many for moral power in serving Christ-increases love by fellowship, and wisdom by counsel-and connects itself with missions as the natural and appropriate channel into which to pour whatever impulse, whatever energy it may have produced by the fellowship, the deliberations, the prayers of the brethren it has assembled in the home and centre created by it for the fraternization of the Congregational brotherhood.

In January, 1841, we open the selected record of these hallowed operations. We believe them accordant with the mind of Christ-the theology, the polity, the union, the missions—to our minds have the stamp of apostolic, scriptural Christianity. We are full of hope as to the results. We have confidence in our Master, our principles, our brethren. In a less, but not a little degree, we have confidence in our plans. They are in harmony with the times. They have met with very extensive approval by our brethren. Their commencement has been with prayer, thought, conference, conciliation, and not without success. We expect to record the rising up of able body-the triumph of our principles. We hope the Chronicle of British Missions, in connexion with the Congregational Union of England and Wales, will be conducted missionaries—the rearing of chapels-the gathering of churches-the growth of our in the spirit of love, will be favourably accepted by our brethren, and graciously approved by our Saviour.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

FREQUENT and urgent appeals from the Directors of the Home Missionary Society have so recently been made to the Pastors and Churches of the Congregational order, that it almost appears intrusive to address them again. But the present day calls for reiteration in presenting the claims of religious institutions. These societies are numerous; and as each one has some peculiarity on which it rests its claims for general support, the public must bear patiently the evil, if it is one, of repeated appeals, which can diminish only by generous and ready assistance. The Home Missionary Society does not seek to depreciate the merits of other institutions, nor would its friends make unkind comparisons. It is quite enough for them to plead their own cause, and, as occasions arise, to present new arguments for a fair share of the sympathies and co-operation of the friends of Home Missions. The commencement of the Chronicle of British Missions, presents an appropriate occasion for the following appeal.

As events move on, discoveries are made which strengthen the conviction already entertained, that the existence of the Home Missionary Society is almost essentially necessary, if the Gospel is to be widely diffused in England, in connexion, at least, with the Congregational denomination. The ground on which this conviction rests has often been referred to; but it deserves to be better known in order to secure, more promptly and vigorously, the co-operation of the churches of our order. The following observations will show, by plain facts, that such is the case.

In two counties in which associations exist, ministers have made applications for agents for destitute districts, describing their total inability to introduce or sustain the Gospel in those districts, unless the Society affords them efficient aid; that they have no churches around them able to assist; and that it is useless to apply to neighbouring counties for aid, as they have already more than they can accomplish in their own boundaries. From another county in which Congregational churches are associated, five applications have been made for missionaries, and grants to ministers

to assist them in village labours. The directors have recommended that application be made to the secretaries of the association for the help required: the answer has in substance been-it is of no use: for there are no funds for affording aid to any application-the income being only £70 a year!

In another county, where an association is active but poor, one minister says: "I have written to the secretary of our association, at your desire. I enclose you his answer: from it you will see that there is no hope from that quarter of obtaining a missionary, or aid towards his support. Unless, therefore, your society will take up the case, and send a missionary, the people must perish: no Gospel is near them— the district is so far distant from our church that we cannot render them efficient help; and yet many of them desire the bread of life."

Another association, in a county containing a very large population, sought the aid of the society in supporting an agent in a populous town and neighbourhood. When a refusal was made, as the churches in that association were numerous, and some of them wealthy, the reply was to this effect:-The thing cannot be done unless you help us: no agent can be sent to that district, if you do not mainly sustain him. We are deeply indebted to the treasurer, and have no hope of change until after the annual meeting.

From several other counties, the secretaries of the associated churches have sent urgent applications for aid. Two associations have lately united the missionary stations in their counties with our society, as they found great difficulty in sustaining them.

The last case that shall be named is that of a county in which for many years there has been an active and useful association. The churches feeling their strength, and being desirous of acting alone, have kept aloof from all combined efforts with other associations, for doing good to England generally. From that county, several applications for aid have come, on the ground that the association was unable to afford assistance; and that there was an intention of reducing the aid now afforded twentyfive per cent., as the funds would no longer meet the present grants to the different stations!

Now, if in the counties where our churches and ministers are strong and energetic, such is the present state of things-if in others, where no help can be afforded for an extension of Home Missionary efforts-if in a third class of counties, the churches are not strengthened by association, and there is no combined movement against the ignorance around them-what is to be done! If our society did not exist, to what quarter could application be made for assistance? It is in vain that the poor churches in one destitute county apply for help to a neighbouring county, rich in numbers and in wealth. The geographical line of the county, except in one or two cases, is not passed over, and the cry for aid remains unnoticed. What is then to be done? As far as we can judge, an organization like that of the Home Missionary Society is the only one likely to supply this great and acknowledged deficiency—to stimulate the vigorous associations, and draw something from them by presenting the large claims of England, and thus enable it to help the weaker associations and churches in their attempts to spread the Gospel around them.

The consequences to the Congregational denomination would be most injurious, if at the present time-in this day of activity on the part of all denominations-it should be left entirely to the influence of that cautious system of tardy operations which might have been suitable fifty years ago, but which is feebleness itself in the present day of competition and aggression. It is only necessary to look fairly at this subject, to consider it in all its bearings, to feel that no greater benefit can be conferred on churches, associations, and on our country, than to strengthen and cooperate with an institution like the Home Missionary Society. And as it is the great

66

design of the Society to act through associations, it will give that security for combined movement and efficient local superintendence, which is to be greatly desired in the operations of all public institutions. This will draw out the sympathies of the churches, and prevent any central power from being injurious. It will direct the Home Missionary Society in carrying out its plans, while the calls on the churches will fully and fairly be made. Enough has been said to show that help is needed, that it is urgently sought by those who already are doing their utmost in the cause. There is every security that the sums contributed will be faithfully and scripturally applied. And if any complain that they are too much importuned, that demands are so multiplied they see no possibility of meeting them all, let them be seriously reminded, that the only way to diminish the pressure, is to multiply the number of those who will share it. Make sinners acquainted with the value of the Gospel, and they will seek to secure its ordinances for themselves. Let Christ be preached, where he has not been named, and the day will come, when, from those very spots, now waste and barren, contributions will arise, instead of calls for aid, and thus Home and Foreign lands will be benefited. This is especially worthy the consideration of those Christians who are just entering on life, for they may hope, in their own day, to see such fruits of their liberality. And let their fathers, who, during a season of unprecedented activity, have already borne the burden and heat of the day-let them not give an example of being 'weary in well-doing," but rather by immediate and generous efforts point out the honourable path of Christian liberality, as one which their descendants ought to follow. Never did our nation need the regulating principles of the simple gospel more than at the present time; never was it more necessary to use means to check the progress of errors, which are destructive of every thing which the Christian values. The directors disclaim the arm of flesh, but we must, therefore, use the sword of the Spirit. The coercion of law they reject on principle-but the same principle ought to lead them to employ the compulsion of love, in seeking the well-being of our fellow-men by personal exertions, and by the labours of others. In promoting this great object, we look for suitable agency. This is not prepared. But devoted men, whose energies are to be spent in faithfully preaching the Gospel of Christ, are already receiving an appropriate education. The work has been undertaken in faith. Believing the statements of their brethren as to its necessity and importance, the directors wait for their efficient co-operation. They look at the anticipations of the churches as to our success, sometimes with fear and trembling, lest too much should be expected from them ere their plans are fully matured, or before they have obtained that amount of men and money, without which they will be unable, even with God's blessing, to realize their high expectations. They speak not despondingly-but with hope-not as doubting the sincerity of our brethren's promises, but to urge them, on account of the present necessity, to the discharge of an acknowledged duty.

In future numbers of the Chronicle of British Missions, some accounts may be expected of the transactions of the Home Missionary Society. These will necessarily be brief, the Society having, in the Home Missionary Magazine, (a new series of which has this month commenced) ample room for publishing its transactions, and describing its progress. In conclusion, the kind and generous co-operation of the pastors and churches of the Congregational order, is respectfully and earnestly desired. The Directors feel their dependence on God, and while they do so, they place a subordinate reliance on their brethren. Already they have had most encouraging proofs that their influence is beginning to be generally exerted in our behalf. Let this become universal, and the work, as far as man can do it, will be accomplished.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

IRELAND.-Surely no enlightened Protestant can look on the spiritual condition of that noble country without sorrow, nor without a measure of self-reproach. In that land our better faith has long been allied with wealth and secular power; but only to demonstrate that such are not the weapons by which it can be made to prevail. Nor may the adherents to more scriptural modes of diffusing "the truth as it in Jesus" account themselves faultless in this matter. Independency, which took such root in England two centuries since, as to survive, and wax strong, through all the subsequent changes in our history, has put forth but feeble signs of life even in Scotland, until within the memory of the present generation, and in Ireland is still a plant so tender as to be relying for support much more upon aid foreign from itself, than upon its own vigour.

Part of the limited space that can be given in the Chronicle of the present month to the claims of Ireland, cannot, perhaps, be better occupied, than by a brief statement as to the entire amount of effort now making for the spread of the Gospel in that country, in connexion with our principles as Congregationalists.

The number of Independent churches in Ireland is not more than twenty-six, or at the most, twenty-seven; of which number, the two churches in Dublin, and the churches in Cork and Sligo, with, we believe, one or two more, constitute the churches of the Congregational Union of Ireland. The remaining churches, being about twenty out of the twenty-six-are in connexion with the Irish Evangelical Society, as churches which have been called into existence almost entirely by its labours, and are still receiving more or less of aid from its agents and funds. The Congregational ministers of Ireland do not amount to thirty, about a fourth of whom are the ministers included in the Congregational Union of Ireland; the remaining three-fourths being in connexion with the Irish Evangelical Society, as its agents, and taking no part with the Union so far as respects its Home Mission labours. Besides the twenty brethren employed as pastors and evangelists in Ireland, the Irish Evangelical Society has about that number of devoted men engaged in the humble, but highly useful occupation of Scripture readers. The agents, the Rev. Messrs. Godkin, Fordyce, Keeling, and Bewglass, are occupied as missionaries; the remaining brethren are pastors, but extend their labours, as missionaries, over the surrounding country, often to the distance of ten or fifteen miles; their regular preaching-places varying, in the average, from five or six to twice that number. Their duties, as pastors and missionaries, generally call them forth every day in the week, except Saturday; and distinct accounts are required by the committee, as to the places, frequency, and apparent result of all such exercises. Beside the assistance which members of the committee, who have long been acquainted with Ireland, are capable of affording, in the superintendence of these efforts-the committee is in frequent correspondence and communication with intelligent and devout persons in that country on the subject of the society's operations.

Altogether, however, the above is the sum of agency at work in connexion with our principles as Congregationalists, amidst the benighted millions of Ireland. In some

of the departments of this agency, the success attendant on the efforts made is highly encouraging; and in all, we believe, that directly, and indirectly, much good is done; nor are we willing to despair of seeing harmony pervade all the efforts of British and Irish Congregationalists, for the prosecution of their common object.

Still our want in regard to Ireland-our pressing, painful want is, next to the Divine blessing, the want of men, and the want of means-of men endowed with that apt

ness to teach, and that spiritual energy of mind, which are so imperatively demanded by the exigences of the sister island! and of means adequate to raise such men above the cares and entanglements of this life. At this moment, three Congregational churches in Ireland are destitute of pastors, and dependent on such temporary aid as the Irish Evangelical Society can with difficulty afford them. Students of the colleges, and pastors of the churches of England! is there no power in the story of Ireland's wrongs of Ireland's wants-of Ireland's miseries, to touch your compassion, or kindle your zeal in her behalf? On those shores, over the face of that fair country, there is a craftily-adjusted and gigantic superstition at work, which dooms the spirit of multitudes to perish for lack of knowledge, as surely as do the paganisms of India, of Southern Africa, or of the islands of the Pacific. Yes! and these things are done at your threshold-these people go down before your face, at your very door! Are you learned?—Your learning shall find ample field for its exercise there, in the exposure of antiquated error, and in the vindication of more ancient truth. Are you concerned that your love to God and to man should be stirred up, in the spirit of the true Evangelist, to the utmost? Go, then, where the thirsty lip is beseeching you to pour upon it the water of salvation, where the enthralled are waiting that you should set them free, and where the buoyant with false hope appeal unconsciously to your pity, to prevent its ending in despair!

But in vain is it, in the present state of Ireland, that we have men, even of the best sort, if we have not means. Poverty is almost every where in that land, and especially in those parts where the labours of the messengers of salvation are most needed. Our iterated call, therefore, is for MEN and MEANS-men who shall not be drones, but men of action and power, capable of success in England, but possessing self-denial, moral heroism enough, to go in search of it in Ireland; and our call for means is for these, in such measure as would at once be ours, if all our churches would only care for Ireland as honourably as some of them have long done.

Our extracts from the journals of the agents of the Society will be given more at length on future occasions; at present we must restrict ourselves to a few passages from two of these documents only.

The Rev. S. G. Morison, who is the pastor of a prosperous church at Armagh, writes

"I preach, in the country around me, at about sixteen farm-houses, to congregations varying from fifty to one hundred and fifty. In one direction, where I regularly preach, strangers have observed to me, that there is a manifest change in the morals of the people generally. Formerly the Sabbath was profaned by crowds, who assembled for different sorts of amusement in the public road. But now, the most hardened would be ashamed to be seen in such occupation on the Lord's day."

"After riding eighteen miles, I kept my appointment to preach at seven in the evening, five miles from C, where I found a numerous congregation awaiting me in a large barn. A very intelligent person remarked to me after the service, that the value of such itinerating operations could scarcely be told. Now,' said he, the greater part of the people in that barn go no where on the Lord's day, and would be without any religious ordinance at all, were it not for the occasional visits of you and such like ministers.' Having availed myself of the assistance of one of our Wesleyan brethren at my station in Armagh, I went to A, and preached in our mission-room on Saturday evening, to an interesting congregation, who seemed deeply interested in the word preached. Some of the people refrained not from audibly supplicating mercy during the sermon. On Sabbath morning I walked to C-chapel, about two miles from the town, where I preached at eleven o'clock. A solemn sense of the divine presence appeared to pervade the large audience, who gladly received