TRANSACTIONS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

ADJOURNED meetings at NOTTINGHAM.

(Resumed from page 804.)

On Thursday morning, October 21st, the delegates and brethren again assembled in Friar-lane Chapel at nine o'clock. The Chairman commenced the opening devotions by presenting to be sung the 133d Psalm, C.M. The Rev. J. C. Gallaway, of West Bromwich, then offered prayer, on the call of the Chairman. The 204th hymn of the Congregational Selection was then sung, after which the Chairman requested the Rev. J. Hammond, of Handsworth, to offer the second prayer.

The Chairman then addressed the meeting on the position and order of its proceedings; and called for the report of the sub-committee, to which the revision of the declaration had been confided by the meeting at its former session.

The Rev. A. Wells then presented the paper as revised by the sub-committee, which we printed in our last, at page 799, and stated distinctly the alterations proposed, reading the amended passages in the altered form.

Some further discussion followed, and a few verbal amendments were proposed, and agreed to. The resolution for its adoption was then unanimously passed on the motion of the Rev. J. Burnett, of Camberwell; seconded by the Rev Wm. Alliott, of Bedford.

Dr. Matheson, one of the Secretaries of the Home Missionary Society, was then requested by the Chairman to present a communication to the meeting, from the Directors of that branch of the British missions, and he proceeded to read the following paper :

Memorial presented by the Directors of the Home Missionary Society, on the affairs of that Institution, to the Adjourned Meeting of the Eleventh Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union, held at Nottingham.

So frequently has the subject of Home Missions been pressed on the attention of the churches, and so lately has a report been issued and circulated throughout England, containing encouraging accounts of success, that it seems unnecessary to repeat the ordinary claims of the Home Missionary Society.

What, however, is not required in ordinary circumstances, may be demanded by the aspect of national, or denominational affairs. To mark these as pointing out our present duty with reference to Home Missions, will form the object of the following brief statement.

It may be sufficient to say, with regard to the operations of the Home Missionary Society, that since last May, the Directors have added five stations to the number already on their list, and voted grants to four ministers, besides sending six missionaries to stations vacant, or only partially supplied.

Many applications have come before them from various counties, but the state of their funds forbade them to extend their operations. A hope is indeed cherished, that the liberality of the churches on the last Sabbath in October, will justify the Directors in attending to these pressing calls for aid, coming from so many quarters, and presenting strong and urgent claims to immediate attention.

Besides the usual and important reasons which should induce us to sustain Home Missions, strong additional arguments are to be found, in the very peculiar circumstances of our country, at the present moment.

In reference to these, there is no intention of magnifying the difficulties of our posi tion, or of leading the opposers of voluntary efforts for doing good at home to suppose, for a moment, that they can ever succeed in stopping the onward progress of the Gospel. The object is, rather to stimulate the friends of home, to combine and

increase their exertions in order to help the weak, to draw out their sympathy for the oppressed, and to direct attention to those facts, which, though known to many, have not yet had public opinion sufficiently expressed respecting them,

It can no longer be disguised, that there is an influence exerted in certain quarters, to check the voluntary exertions of evangelical Christians. This is especially the case in country districts, though in all places there are efforts made to accomplish the object.

It is right to look fully at this matter, in order to ascertain the nature and extent of the opposition made to the religious instruction of the people. This is not the question of party. It is not the onward or retrograde movement of a denomination that is to be considered, but the cause of Christ, and the highest interests of religious liberty. Let the opponents of a free Gospel, sought to be preached to all that need it, succeed in their plans and avowed intentions, and the light of truth will be extinguished in many country towns, villages, and hamlets of our beloved country. That there is a regular, systematic, and known combination, among those who thus thwart the exertions of the voluntaries in all parts of England we do not assert; but that there is an evident unity of action among the zealous friends of high church principles, we are constrained to believe. We can in no other way account for the fact; that in so very many instances in which home missionaries try to introduce the preaching of the Gospel, they are opposed by individuals who, formerly, cared nothing about their movements.

The last year especially has furnished cases of such decided hostility, that we can only explain it by supposing that these efforts in distant and various places to put down real protestantism, are all prompted by the same exclusive views.

The dwellers in large cities are little aware of the power wielded, and the improper influence exercised by certain parties in small towns, and in the rural districts, against freedom of religious worship. And yet, without some acquaintance with such attempts to retard the progress of simple Christianity, the necessity and peculiar importance of Home Missionary exertions, at the present time, on the part of our denomination, cannot be sufficiently felt, nor their connexion seen, with the present state of our country.

In some of our large cities and towns, there is a powerful counteraction to high church influence, and to error in doctrine.

1. Arising from the numbers, the moral and political strength of various denominations. 2. From the ability and influence of their ministers, respectably sustained, and associating with the leading parties in their several localities. 3. From the number of schools, and facilities given to the education of the poor of all classes, as well as from the general intelligence of the people. 4. From the liberality of political opinions, cherished by many of the inhabitants. And lastly, From the age and stability of the churches formed in such places.

Such are some of the advantages of towns in this great moral conflict; yet even with all, or some of these counteracting circumstances, it is sometimes difficult for our churches to surmount the unfriendly, and often unchristian barriers set up against their efforts for doing good. Misrepresentation of their designs, insinuations as to their motives, contempt for their assertions of equality as Christian men, and Christian ministers-these are all directed against them; and, on many minds, they produce prejudice against their principles and their persons.

But what must be the effect of such opposition in localities where there are few, if any, of the counteracting circumstances referred to?

1. There are few week-day schools on liberal principles, so that dissenters cannot offer free education to the poor; while on every hand this boon may be obtained from the clergy, who demand, in many instances, as a condition, the attendance of children and parents at church, or at least their absence from chapel, thus trying to monopolize the education of the rising generation, including even the children of dissenters.

2. In the agricultural districts, the poor are under the controul of their landlords or employers, who, if unfavourable to Home Missionary efforts, can exercise an authority, and an oppression, which the poor cannot resist. Their very threats are sufficient to deter many from hearing the Gospel; and, in some instances, these threats have been carried out, under the direction of certain parties, to an extent which it is painful to contemplate.

3. This opposition is increased by the political object which is ascribed to all the religious efforts of the dissenters. Even, therefore, though our pastors, home missionaries, and local preachers, never introduce such a topic into the pulpit at all; the fear of losing political power is so associated with the progress of dissent in the minds of men possessed of local influence, that they receive, with greater readiness, the suggestions of clerical men, and oppose the voluntary efforts of Christians on behalf of home.

4. In many country districts, there is a new cry raised against the efforts of our churches. It comes from the Oxford divines, and breathes the very element and spirit of the Vatican. Our ministers are declared to be no ministers of Christ's holy Gospel; our home missionaries are denounced as breaking into Christ's fold. Our religious services are pronounced null and void; and even the Gospel, which depends on the Spirit's influence for success in saving men, is declared to be worthless, when preached by others than apostolically ordained men. We are given up as being without the pale of salvation, and all men are warned against us, as if we were enemies, instead of being the friends of the human family.

What is the consequence of all we have stated? Many of our churches have been injured, a number of them at this moment can hardly sustain themselves, and had it not been for religious principle on their part, the strength of union in County Asso ciations, and the assistance rendered in some cases by the Home Missionary Society, there are many places, which must have been deprived of the Gospel, and the little flocks, gathered from the wilds of ignorance and vice, must have been scattered as sheep having no shepherd. The people cannot, without help, successfully oppose prejudice, wealth, and influence, directed against them. Our institution happily comes in to aid them, and thus many, who would not sacrifice much for Christ, have his Gospel preserved to them at little cost, till they become more fully attached to religion and its claims.

But if these things are true, with regard to existing churches and efforts, what can be said of those moral wastes in our country which remain entirely destitute? Are they to continue in their present state? Can no plan be devised for removing the ignorance of Divine things that so widely prevails? The last report of the Home Missionary Society states, that there are within eight miles of the present stations of the agents, three hundred and fifty villages and hamlets without the Gospel from any denomination. If we apportion seven villages to one missionary, here is work at once for fifty agents. But beyond the range of eight miles, and in other counties, where Home Missionary operations are still more limited, there are many hundred parishes in the same destitute condition. This condition, too, is becoming worse every day, under the zealous teaching of men, who seem inspired with a devotedness and ardor unknown in former days, but all fitted to thicken the darkness of superstition; and to throw around the minds of the people a stronger prejudice than ever against the pure Gospel, and the authoritative word of God.

In such circumstances, what is to be done? The question is not what is to become of our denomination, but what is to become of the souls of our countrymen. If Home Missions are not extended, how can the evil be remedied? And in what direction are we to look for an increase of Home Missionary efforts? If we look to churches in towns-their efforts are not always available even for villages in their own neighbourhood; but beyond this they cannot reach-nor can an occasional service meet the moral wants of the people. Shall we look to County Associations? They

do take under their care a larger number of villages, and extend their aid to those more distant towns; and yet all this agency is defective, both as to the number of agents devoted entirely to the work, the effects produced by labours which are necessarily divided, and diffused over a space too wide to be efficiently cultivated.

Shall we look to the Home Missionary Society? The institution is doing its part, according to the countenance given to it by the churches of the Congregational order. It is trying to extend its agency and its stations, and only waits for funds to extend them much further. It is however quite evident, that unless our large churches and vigorous associations become more Home Missionary in their character, and make aggressive movements on the localities around them, two things will inevitably happen-souls must perish, and our own denomination will suffer injury, and incur deserved reproach. The increase of Home Missions, whether by means of Individual Churches, of County Unions, or of a general Home Missionary Society, will be found absolutely necessary, to prevent evils being inflicted on our country which cannot be contemplated without well-grounded alarm. On the contrary, let self-denial and zeal be more generally exercised in all the churches, and means will soon be furnished for blessing our country. The Gospel will be introduced into many hundred parishes where it is at present unknown. The people will hear it without being called on to pay for it, till they have learned to desire or to love it. Christian churches will be formed in many places where no materials for such are at present to be foundpreachers will be protected by the friends of religious liberty, and till the novelty of a preached Gospel in many parishes shall no longer be the excuse for opposing it. In every such place there will be on the Sabbath a place of refuge for the Christian cottager, and a school for his child—he will have the ordinances of the Gospel administered without superstitious rites-and the company of fellow-believers journeying to Heaven. There will be an asylum for enlightened Christian liberty; the bigot will not be able to destroy it; and the true friend of man will approve and admire it. Plant such a community of converted holy men and women in every parish, and it is impossible that our country could ever be brought into bondage, either political or ecclesiastical.

As yet, we are very far from this state of things. Means, beyond any thing we have hitherto attempted, must be used, if we are to keep pace with other sections of the Christian church, in furnishing our share of religious instruction to the people of this country. If we consider the number of our churches-the religious intelligence of our people-their acquaintance with the great principles of civil and religious liberty-if we look at the aggregate wealth of our denomination-at their comparative freedom from sectarian bigotry-at their enterprising character, and the tendency of all their opinions to increase it; we feel disappointed that the advancement of Home Missions, is not a more leading distinguishing characteristic of the body. That we have done much in past years is admitted-that we are doing a great work now we also believe-but there are mighty achievements yet before us to which we are called by the greatness of the work, and by the hope of ultimate success. Other denominations are exerting their energies, and we ought not to be behind them. We marvel not at the vigor displayed by the advocates of the National Establishment. Many causes at present combine to induce this manifestation of zeal and power; and as so much national wealth is under their control, we cannot say that their large expenditure surprises us. Besides, if an examination takes place, it will be found that the Protestant Dissenters of England and other denominations, raise more for religious purposes, annually, than all the friends of establishments put together. Startling as this assertion may appear, facts might easily be produced to confirm its correctness. It is by the free exercise of Christian principle, in the way of contribution, that we exist-with them it is only an adventitious part of their system, and, in fact, in opposition to the principle of an Established National Church.

The accomplishment of aggressive movements, on an extended scale, is yet on the part of our denomination greatly to be desired. The problem to be solved is-how can this neglected duty be adequately and quickly discharged? Have the means recently employed to arouse our ministers and churches to look earnestly and efficiently at the claims of home been of the right kind? In describing the appalling spiritual destitution of multitudes of the people, has justice been done to the affecting case? Has the Divine appointment, and adaptation of the means we possess for removing the ignorance and guilt of our perishing countrymen, been sufficiently urged upon the friends of Christ? Have the responsibilities of their situation been presented in all their importance and solemnity; and has the guilt of withholding the knowledge of salvation been pressed on their judgments, their sympathies, and their consciences, with all the earnestness demanded by the importance of the subject? What more can be done to awaken still farther the slumbering energies of our people? Does the fault lie with the ministers? Have they, from the pulpit, represented to their hearers, the wants of their dying countrymen as impressively as those of the heathen? Have they in their weekly services made home a frequent and regular subject of consideration and prayer? Are the people, through the instrumentality of their pastors, acquainted with the necessity for exertion, self-denial, and liberality in helping forward a cause like this? Have they obtained such thorough information on the subject, that they can no longer say, “Behold we knew it not," that men are yet drawn unto death and delivered to be slain? Have the proportionate claims of home and foreign lands heen wisely and fully laid before them, so as to show that if the ignorant in their own counties are neglected, the inhabitants of distant lands, must ultimately lose much of that help and pity, to which they are justly entitled? Has each pastor anxiously sought to raise his flock to the high moral standard of apostolic zeal, and yet has he tried in vain? Has he by his own example of holy consecration -of unwearied zeal of earnest longings and direct efforts for men's salvation, exhibited a pattern worthy of their imitation, and yet have they refused to follow it? Then the fault does not rest with the pastor, but with the people; and on the day when He that now ponders the doings of professors shall declare the thoughts of his heart, the neglect of souls will be found, among the most fearful crimes of the visible church of Christ. Whoever is to blame-the evil exists; and if the meetings of this week are to be of practical and permanent benefit to Home Missions, the assembled brethren will require to consider how numerous, great, and various difficulties can be removed.

The following inquiries are made, in order to elicit the opinion of the meeting, respecting subjects of great importance to the cause of Christ in England.

1. How can the opposition now made to the introduction of the Gospel into many villages be counteracted?

2. What should be done in villages, where, although no cottage can be procured, the people are yet anxious to hear the Gospel?

3. How should the unkind, and, as we believe, unscriptural attacks on the right of the missionaries to preach to the people, be met? by controversy in the pulpit, or by visitation among their people, or by the circulation of suitable Tracts among them, or should it be by silence on the subject, while the Gospel is perseveringly preached, without reference to particular errors?

4. In what way can the lack of week-day schools in Home Missionary stations be supplied? In many places, the schools formed on the exclusive principle are made an engine for weakening, and, if possible, destroying our Sunday schools.

5. Can any plan be adopted for protecting the people who are not only threatened, but injured, if they persist in attending the preaching of our missionaries.

6. How long should the Society continue to sustain stations, which owing to the circumstances of the people, are not likely, for many years to come, to support the ministry of the Gospel?