gratifying results! But what are they among so many? What are they compared with what the Congregational churches might do-could do? What are they amidst four millions of non-worshipping Englishmen ?

In Ireland, amidst six, it may be seven, millions of Roman Catholics, the Irish Evangelical Society is sustaining 22 pastors, ministers, and Irish preachers, who labour in more than 200 stations and outstations; and added last year 60 members to the churches over which some of them preside. Eleven Scripture-readers have also been supported in visiting the people from house to house with the book of life. Will the Congregational churches of England remain satisfied with this limited extent of effort for dark and desolate Ireland?

In the Colonies, amidst two millions of British subjects, of European origin, the Colonial Missionary Society, but just at the commencement of its work, is sustaining 25 ministers, and is assisting in the education of 10 candidates for ministerial labour in the colonies. In connexion with its operations more than 20 chapels have been reared in the Colonies, and more than 1200 members have been gathered into church fellowship. But can this be regarded as more than the day of small things?

The results are, that the Congregational British Missions, for which one annual collection in all the churches is solicited, are carried on amidst thirteen millions of British subjects in most urgent need of the Gospel-that in this immense and difficult field of labour they at present sustain 214 labourers in action or in training-have in present church fellowship, it may be, 4000 souls-are prosecuting all collateral labours of Sunday schools, tract distribution, household visiting, and the like. All excellent, but all too little, as these labours are, the question is not so much, shall they be continued, as shall they be greatly extended from year to year?

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ITS PRESENT NECESSITIES.

The necessity which exists for the general concurrence of the ministers and churches of the Congregational order in the plan of simultaneous collections on behalf of British Missions, was plainly shown in an appeal which appeared last month in this magazine. We have, however, in this department to refer chiefly to the necessities of the Home Missionary Society. That these are considerable will appear from one fact, namely, that, in addition to what is on hand, fifteen hundred pounds will be required before Michaelmas, to meet the quarterly payments of the agents of the Society. Where is this sum to come from? The collections on the last Sabbath in October will be too late for the above payments. It is evident, therefore, that the friends of the Society, should exert themselves at this time, or the inconvenience will be great. Those auxiliaries that have in their possession sums belonging to the parent Society, are most earnestly requested to send them to 11, Chatham Place, without delay. The officers of county associations now in connexion with this Society are respectfully reminded, that the promised assistance towards missionary stations, occupied by the Society in their several counties, will be doubly acceptable at this time. And the friends in general, who are accustomed to aid the Society from Midsummer to Michaelmas, and who can do so immediately without inconvenience, will greatly relieve the officers of the Society by enabling them to fulfil their engagements.

It is well known to those who are acquainted with the working of religious institutions, that, in general, the expenditure during the first half of their year, is greater than the receipts during the same period of time. Very great embarrassment is sometimes occasioned by this circumstance, and places a responsibility on the treasurers of such societies, which the Christian public should be anxious to divide among themN. S. VOL. V.

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selves, by more regular and considerate assistance. If, instead of settling the accounts of auxiliaries once a year, the payments could be made quarterly, as some are accustomed to do, most of this inconvenience might be avoided. Surely it is only necessary to point out this difficulty, in order to excite the kind consideration, and immediate attention, of the Society's friends.

It would be affectation on the part of the Directors, if they were to say they were not anxious about the pecuniary responsibilities of the Society for the current year. With an income prospectively less by fifteen hundred pounds than the pledged expenditure of the Society (even if the large amount of last year should be realized) they cannot but be solicitous about the future. They do not think that they have done wrong in enlarging the operations of the Society, encouraged as they were to do so, by the plain and urgent demands of the churches, and of the times. Their confidence is not lessened in the friends of the Home Missionary cause; they believe that the conviction is deepening, that much more must be done for Home than has yet been attempted. What the Directors wish is, to press on the friends of the Society the necessity of present and augmented aid. This they hope to receive; but had they not made known their necessities, and serious difficulties had occurred, they should have felt that they had acted unkindly towards their friends, and unjustly towards the great interests of the Society.

The Directors wish to state, that, in full confidence of obtaining the promised aid of friends, they have, during the past month, adopted two stations-one in Westmoreland, and the other in Northamptonshire. Besides this, they have engaged to assist several ministers, whose present circumstances require the help of the Society, to enable them extensively to engage in village labour. They are also happy to say, that three of the students have, with the full approbation of their tutor, been sent to three of the stations of the Society, and are preaching with much acceptance. A number of applications from respectable young men, who are highly recommended, are now before the Directors. The present state of the Society's funds, however, will hardly justify them in sending one half of those, who are deemed suitable to receive the instructions of their tutor. The refusal of such would be to the Directors a painful necessity; for they consider the future efficiency of the Society to depend, under God, on the number of those who are suitably trained for this peculiar and most important service.

The calls for such educated agents are increasing. The applications for help in destitute districts of our country are also numerous. During the last few weeks, several most necessitous places have been pressingly urged on the attention of the directors.

What are the Directors to do in such circumstances? To send a cold negative to such applications, would be most discouraging to all parties. To receive them all would be presumptuous, in the present state of the Society's funds. From the beginning the Directors have looked to the friends at home to guide them as to the extent of their operations, and it will be for them now to say, how many applications they should encourage, and how many they should kindly, but decidedly, reject. Alas! this is not a time for rejecting a single application, recommended by those who know the spiritual necessities of their own localities, and are anxious to have them removed. The Directors cannot but hope that the collections to be made on the last Sabbath in October, a share of which the Home Missionary Society may reasonably expect, according to its relative importance and increasing demands, will enable them not only to meet their present engagements, but also to give encouragement to additional claims pressed upon them from all parts of England and Wales.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THE FINAL ADJUSTMENT OF ITS DIFFERences.

It affords us sincere gratification to present our readers with the following documents, which will announce the happy close of the long correspondence respecting the missionary operations of the Irish Evangelical Society and the Congregational Union of Ireland, to which we have been frequently called to refer. Nothing seems now wanting but that the Irish Evangelical Society be so sustained, as not only to fulfil its engagements with our brethren in Ireland, but to be able to enter upon new scenes of missionary effort in that long neglected country, and we hope that its claims will not be forgotten when the churches apportion the proceeds of their October collections. At a Committee of Congregational Union of England and Wales, Tuesday, August 3rd, 1841; Benjamin Hanbury, Esq., Treasurer, in the chair.

A report of the proceedings of the conference held at Liverpool, to advise on the best methods for securing the harmonious co-operation of the Congregational Union of Ireland, and the Irish Evangelical Society, in the missionary labours in that country, having been presented by the Secretaries of this Union, who were present on that occasion; and the recommendations of the brethren to whose judgment the subject was referred having been read, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted.

1. That this Committee receives with entire satisfaction and approval, the recommendations addressed by the conference at Liverpool to the Committee of the Congregational Union of Ireland, and of the Irish Evangelical Society, with a view to secure their cordial, harmonious co-operation in conducting Home Missionary labours in that country.

2. That so far as the influence or action of this Committee can be legitimately employed to promote the adoption and successful working of those recommendations, no effort on its part shall be wanting to secure results in every view so desirable.

3. That the amicable and Christian spirit which pervaded the proceedings and conclusion of the conference at Liverpool, presents to the view of this Committee strong grounds for thanksgivings to God, and for increased confidence and affection towards the brethren present on that occasion.

4. That the best thanks of this Committee be presented to the honoured brethren who constituted the conference, and displayed in that office so much impartiality and Christian wisdom, thereby rendering most important and valuable service to the Congregational body at large, and especially in relation to the Home Missions in Ireland. Also that the thanks of the Committee are in an especial manner due, and are hereby tendered, to the brethren at Liverpool, for all those excellent and most hospitable arrangements by which the comfort of the brethren assembled, and the order of their proceedings, were so greatly promoted.

5. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to each of the five brethren who constituted the conference, to the Committee of the Congregational Union of Ireland, and to that of the Irish Evangelical Society.

At a special meeting of the Committee of the Congregational Union of Ireland, held on Tuesday, August 10th, 1841; Timothy Turner, Esq., Treasurer, in the chair.

An authentic copy of the "Advice" given by the referees at the late conference in Liverpool, for adjusting the differences that existed between the Irish Evangelical Society and the Congregational Union of Ireland, having been presented, it was resolved unanimously—

1. That we full acquiesce in the proposed plan, and consider that in adopting this resolve, we only give expression to the opinions and feeling which prevailed at the annual conference of the Congregational Union of Ireland on the 1st of July last, when the delegates from the Union to Liverpool stated generally the result of the

deliberations there, and arrangements were at once made in conformity with that report.

2. That we cherish an earnest and prayerful hope that the plan thus acceded to will produce harmonious and effective co-operation among the Congregationalists of the empire, in promoting the spread of the Gospel in this country, and engage that nothing shall be wanting on our part towards securing that important object.

3. That our best thanks be respectfully presented to the chairman and other gentlemen forming this board of referees, for their kind and earnest endeavours to bring about the adjustment now happily concurred in, as we believe, by all parties concerned. Also that our grateful acknowledgements are due to the ministers and friends in Liverpool for their hospitable attentions to our delegates and the other brethren, assembled on the occasion.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

NEW AGENTS AND OPENINGS.

The Committee announce with much satisfaction that two brethren have recently proceeded to Canada, with a view to labour in that extensive and spiritually necessitous region.

Mr. James Vincent, who has been pursuing preparatory studies under the direction of the Rev. T. C. Hewlett, of Coventry, embarked in the ship Diamond, bound to Montreal, on the 1st of July. It is intended that Mr. Vincent should obtain further educational advantages in the academy at Toronto, under the tuition of the Rev. A. Lillie. Mr. Vincent has much engaged the confidence and affection of the Committee, and he is sent out with pleasing hopes of his good success as a devoted servant of Christ.

The Rev. J. J. Carruthers, formerly pastor of the church at Toxteth Park, Liverpool, and more recently engaged in the home agency of the London Missionary Society, embarked with his family at Liverpool, on the 25th of August, in the ship Jamaica, bound for Montreal, with a view to occupy the station of Brockville, in Lower Canada, a pleasant and rising town in the centre of a well-peopled district. The prospects of success in this station are very encouraging. The Committee are persuaded that Mr. Carruthers possesses qualifications well adapted to this sphere of labour, and much congratulate themselves on this pleasing addition to the band of faithful and devoted labourers already employed in Lower Canada.

The Committee are still seeking, by prayer and inquiry, for five more devoted brethren, under circumstances which it may be appropriate and useful to explain. And though the difficulty of obtaining funds is at this juncture very great, arising on the one hand from the diminished resources of the churches, occasioned by severe commercial depression; and on the other, from increased demands on their liberality, caused by the continually widening range of effort for advancing the cause of Christ; yet the Committee feel that even under these circumstances of difficulty, they will be warranted in incurring some additional pecuniary responsibility, as otherwise the work of the Lord cannot proceed, and the most inviting openings of duty and encourage. ment must remain neglected.

Kingston, Upper Canada. A very important town, situate on the great central line of communication through the provinces, formed by the lakes and the St. Lawrence, and not unlikely to be adopted as the seat of government for United Canada. It is with the Committee an object of immediate and pressing solicitude to place an able minister at Kingston.

Brantford, Upper Canada. Another inviting and important station, in respect of which, also, the Committee are anxious, as soon as possible, to obtain some devoted servant of Christ.

New Zealand. A very valuable and much esteemed member of the Committee of the Colonial Society, who has, from its commencement, been zealously employed in its service, Mr. John Rout, has recently embarked for New Zealand, with a view to ultimate settlement in that colony with his family. In this movement Mr. Rout combines views of religious usefulness with those of commercial enterprise. The Committe took a devout and affectionate leave of their much esteemed coadjutor, and are greatly strengthened in their previous purpose of speedily sending a minister of suitable qualifications to New Zealand, by the expected settlement there of a brother beloved so well, able to advise, and sustain a devoted missionary. The Committee are in correspondence with the Rev. R. Quaife, who proceeded from Adelaide to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and is, amidst many difficulties, prosecuting his ministry there. Through Dr. Ross, they have also afforded Mr. Quaife some assistance in his labours.

Sydney and New South Wales. Dr. Ross earnestly presses for a coadjutor to render assistance in Sydney, and to extend his labours by itinerating in the colony. Adelaide and New South Australia. Mr. Stowe is no less pressing for a minister to occupy a very promising sphere of usefulness at Hindmarsh, and the port of Adelaide. To both these calls the Committee feel it their duty to respond favourably. They would rejoice to meet with two young men, unmarried, willing to devote some of the early years of their course to scenes as full of interest and promise, as of necessity, where much might be learned as well as done by any who meditate a life of active, self-denying effort, in these eventful times.

TRANSACTIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES, to be held at NOTTINGHAM, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of October next.

The Committee of the Union have pleasure in repeating the announcement of this important meeting given in the last month's magazine, with such additional particulars as the progress of the preparatory arrangements enables them now to supply. The following is the order of services as at present proposed :

The chairman of the annual assembly will preside over the morning meetings of delegates and other brethren present, which are properly proceedings of the Union. The services of some other gentleman will be sought as chairman of the evening meetings, which will be public and open.

Tuesday evening, 19th October, a preparatory sermon will be preached.

Wednesday morning, 20th October, meeting of delegates, &c., when papers for discussion will be presented

1. On the validity of the ministry of our pastors vindicated against the advocates of the apostolic succession.

2. On the best methods for extending and improving the Union.

3. A declaration of views and principles on subjects religious, benevolent, and political, adapted to the present times.

4. On the necessity and means of ministerial recognition.

Wednesday evening, public meeting. It has been deemed preferable to proceed by addresses on given subjects, than by adoption of resolutions. And in such times as the present, the meeting at Nottingham has been thought an appropriate occasion for the avowal and exposition of our peculiar principles. Addresses will therefore be delivered on the following subjects :

1. Congregational church polity, founded on the great principle, that "the Bible, and the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants."