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Mr. Waugh, being in the chair, in an appropriate addrefs to Captain Wilfon, expreffed the grateful fenfe which the Society entertained of his important fervices, referring the glory to Divine Providence alone.

The Captain in return declared himself happy in having been honoured as an inftrument of promoting the Millionary caufe; and though, for vari.. ous private reafons he wished to decline a maritime life, yet, he affured the Society its intereits fhould never fuffer for want of his fervices. This gave the most lively fatisfaction to every perfon prefent, and the whole bufinefs was conducted with the most perfect unanimity,

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Dr. Vanderkemp, and the two Dutch Miffionaries who on the 30th of last month arrived from Holland, were prefent on this interefting occafion as was also the Rev. Mr. Difandt, a Lutheran Clergyman, introduced by Dr. Burckhardt, and int from Germany by Baron Van Shirndling with propofals of uniting and co-operating with the Miffionary Saciety, by affiting them both with Miffionaries and pecuniary support. It need not be added that the prefence of thefe refpectable foreigners confiderably heightened the general pleasure of the Meeting; which was, upon the whole, one of the moft profitable and happy fince the commencement of the

inftitution.

BAPTIST MISSION.

THE Baptift Miffionary Society have received intelligence from India, which ftates among other circumstances, that an European, educated for a Popish Prieft, has lately embraced the Gofpel, and built a place of worship, where both Mr. Carey and Mr. Thomas come to preach. He refides at the eity of Dinegapore, about 14 miles from the latter, and 30 from the former."

SURRY MISSION.

ON Wednesday the 1ft of Auguft, the Surry Missionary Society held their Annual Meeting, at the Rev. Mr. Bowden's, Tooting. Mr. Golding, of Croydon, opened the worship of the day with a fhort prayer, and reading the fcriptures. Mr. Hughes, of Battersea and Mr. Dore, of Maze Pond, followed in prayer. Mr. John Townsend preached from 2 Chron. xvii, 9, "And they taught in Judea, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about through all the cities of Judah, and taught he people." Mr. Harper concluded in prayer. In the afternoon Mr. Bowden, the fecretary, reported the progrefs of the gofpel in the village of Suriy, under the direction of the Society, which was very encouraging and pleafing.

The next Meeting is appointed to be held at Mr. Dore's, Maze Pond: Mr. Thou plon, of Clapham, to preach the Sermon.

LONDON ITINERANT SOCIETY.

WE underftand that a new Chapel will be opened at Lewisham, on Monday, October ift, erected and supplied by this Society. ›

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ON Thursday, July 19th, a Sermon was preached at Dei Stafford's Meeing, Broad-treet, before the Congregational Society, for spreading the gospel in England, by the Rev. John Clayton, from Dan xt. 4, "Mary fali run to and fro, and knowledge shall be be increased. 0212

And on Friday was held a General Meeting of the Subscribers and Friends to this Society, in order to confider the best means of carrying into

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effect the great object of thein Affociation, which is to affift and encou↓ rage Minifters, in spreading the gospel in the dark villages of their neigh bourhood, by defraying their travelling expences, registering convenient places of worship, &c.-E. Maitland, Eiq. of King's Arms Yard, Trea

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ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, MANCHESTER.

ON Lord's day, March 25, 1798. St George's Church, Manchefter, was opened for the worship of God, by the Rev. John Johnfon, of Tildfley Banks. This commodious building was originally defigned for Epifcopal jurifdiction; but although erected feveral years ago, has, on account of fome painful occurrences, remained ufelefs till the above period, fince which about 1500 people have conftantly attended the glad tidings of falvation. The fervice is conducted upon the broad plan of the late Countess of Huntingdon's connection; and the pulpit, we understand, will be acceffable to the occafional labours of the Saviour's faithful-ministers; without refpect of parties. The fpirit of hearing in the town of Manchefter has lately experienced a very confiderable increafe. May the zeal and union of the preachers, and an affectionate praying temper in the people, fecure and perpetuate the growing profperity of Zion.

LAYER BRETTON CHAPEL.

ON Tuesday the 17th July 1798, a neat little place of worship was opened on Layer Bretton Heath, about fix miles from Colchester, and nearly the centre of feveral small villages, where, till very lately, a praying family was fcarcely to be found, and many of the inhabitants openly difcovered, both by words and actions, their bitter enmity to real godlis nefs.

Two Sermons were preached at the opening of this place. In the morning Mr. Cratherne, of Dedham, read and explained the 122 psalm, and prayed the first prayer. The Rev. Mr. Hobbs, of Colchester, preached from Matt. iv. 16, "The people which fat in darkness faw a great light." &c:

In the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Stevens, of Colchefter, preached from pfalm xxvii. 4 and 5, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I Seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord," &c. And feveral of the neighbouring Ministers affifted in prayer. The place on both parts of the day was very crouded, efpecially in the afternoon, when many could not get in, divine fervice was therefore carried on at the door. The congregation appeared ferious and attentive.

The circumftances leading to the erection of this houfe for the worship of God, are as follow: One Sabbath evening, between three and four years ago, a ferious young man, (a farmer's fervant in the neighbourhood) being detained from lecture, vifited a poor man, his acquaintance, who lived at a small distance, with whom he spent an hour or two in reading, finging, converfation, and prayer. The poor man requested him to repeat his vifit, which he did in the course of the week, and spent the time as before. He vifited him the third time, and then found feveral of the poor people of the place gathered together, and the opportunity appearing pleasant and profitable, their meetings were continued from time to time; the young man, at the request of those who attended, endeavouring to explain the word of God to them. Their numbers increasing, till the house where they first assembled, could not contain them; they removed to a

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larger one; but this alfo proving too fmall, (owing to a farther increase of their numbers) they hired a barn, that flood near the place, where (upon having it properly fitted up) they met, Sabbath after Sabbath, till very lately and the Lord appeared among them, and made his own word effectual for good (it is hoped) to not lefs than thirty fouls. As the people fo conftantly attended, and discovered fuch a desire to have the gospel confinued amongst them by the fame young man, the proprietor of the barn was requested either to fell or grant a leafe of it; but he refusing to do either, the Lord of the Manor was applied to, for a piece of ground to build a place of worship upon, which he readily granted. The majority of thofe ufually attending being very poor, a fubicription was fet on foot by friends at Colchester, and other places around, and two-thirds of the fum wanted is already fubfcribed. The foundation of this house was laid in prayer, in the month of April laft, and opened with praise, in the July following.

ORDINATION.

REV. MR. HARPER.

WEDNESDAY, June 20, 1798, Mr. Harper was ordained to the paftoral office over the independent congregation of Shelley, near Huddersfield. Mr. Ellis, of Barnfley, opened the service by prayer and reading the fcriptures. Mr. Hale, of Heckmondwike, gave the introductory difcourfe, received the confeffion of faith, and afked the ufual questions. Mr. Toothill, of Hopton, engaged in the ordination prayer. Mr. Moorhouse, of Huddersfield, delivered the charge from 1 Tim. iv. 2. and Mr. Parfons, of Leeds, preached to the people from Ephes. vi. 13, 14. and concluded with prayer.

REV. MR. KIRBY.

WEDNESDAY, August 1, 1798, Mr. Kirby was fettled over the independent congregation meeting in the new chapel, Heckmondwike. Mr. Hale, minifter at the old chapel in the fame village, began the service with prayer. Mr. Cockin delivered an addrets on the ministerial character and qualifications, from 2 Tim. iii. 17. Mr. Laird, of Pudley prayed. Mr. Faifons, of Leeds, preached from Matt. xii. 42. and Mr. Ralph, of CleckMeaton, concluded with prayer.

SCOTLAND.

TO THE EDITOR.

Dear Sir, Paifley, August 11, 1798. OUR Miffionary Society at the laft meeting directed that an account fhould be tranfmitted to you of the money collected by them for the London Miffionary Society. It amounts to 3621. befides interest due at the Bank, which will amount to about 15. moie. Please to inform the Directors that upon writing to me the amount will be tranfmitted. It bears interek at the rate of four per cent.

I am, dear Sir, yours fincerely,
WILLIAM CARLILE,

SABBATH SCHOOLS.

I take the liberty to fend you a fhort account of the creation and progrefs of Sabbath Schools in this place you may commun cate this, it you shink proper, as an article of intelligence in the Evangelical Magazine.

VOL. VI.

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At a Miffionary Meeting, about a year fince, a member called the attention of the Society to the lamentable fituation of children in the town and neighbourhood, without the knowledge of the first principles of our holy religion that, notwithstanding the gospel is preached to the various congregations in the place there are numbers of carelefs parents and mafters to be found, who neglect to inftruct their children and fervants in fcriptural views of golpel knowledge, or of moral duty that many of the poorer class of mechanics fend their children to work at cotton milis, at leven or eight years of age, totally neglecting to give them any Chriftian education that many of thofe boys and girls were to be found ftrolling in the streets on the Lord's day, instead of attending public or private inftruction that, notwithstanding the Miffionary Society had other objects for which they were infiituted, that they might be highly useful upon this occafion, in calling together the friends of religion to confider of the propriety of opening Sabbath Schools, for the purpose of inftructing youth in the leading doctrines of the gofpel, and the various duties inculcated and explained in the icriptures of truth. The Society, after converfing upon the fubje&t, agreed to the propofal, a general meeting of the Minifters in the place, of delegates from praying focieties, and of others impreffed with a conviction of the utility of fuch an inftitution, was called. After prayer, and chooling a Prefes, they unanimoufly refolved to create Sabbath Schools, but delayed the adoption of rules of condu&t until after more mature deliberation. At their next meeting, their plan of condu& was agreed upon. A general committee of inspection was appointed, confriting of the Clergymen in the place, who concurred in the fcheme, with three Laymen from each congregation.

The fund for defraying the expence to he raised by a Sermon to be preached once a month, or when convenient, on the Sabbath evening, by all the Minifters in rotation-the collection to be applied for this purpofe. Each school to have a fixed teacher, but no falary attached to the office, with a Committee of Six to affi.

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The exercifes to be conducted as nearly in the following mode as circumftances will admit the teacher to begin with finging a portion of a pfahu, and prayer-then the scholars to read the fcriptutes, a verfe alternately, and to rehearse a portion given them as a talk, without the book; the teacher occafionally to put fuch questions as may have a tendency to make them undertand what they were reading or repeating-one of the Committee to give an exortation, another to conclude with prayer and praife-the fecond Sabbath the teacher to begin as on the first, then the scholars to repeat the Cateckim, appointed them to learn by the Committee-the teacher to explain fome of the questions, fo that they may understand them-the exer." cife to be concluded with an exhortation, prayer, and praife-this mode to be adopted alternately.

The exercise to continue about two hours.

Bibles to be furnished gratis to those children who cannot afford to purchafe them-premiums of fmall religious tracts to those who make the greatest proficiency, or are most exemplary in their conduct.

The above is the outline of the rules laid down for condu&ing, the inv fitution.

The number of the schools have increased to twenty-five, the fcholars to fifteen hundred.

The benefits refulting from the inftitution are various, it stimulates parents and masters, who are occafional hearers, to diligence in preparing their young pupils for the Sabbath exercife; it layeth the foundation of fcripture knowledge in the minds of thofe formerly ignorant of the truth revealed to us by God; it excites to more regular department in the various

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duties of life-it impreffeth upon the young a certain reverence for the doctrines and duties of Chriftianity, and by the bleffing of God, and the teaching of the Spirit may be one of the means of reviving in this land that true godliness, which is the fureft and the only permanent fource of comfort in this world, and the harbinger of perfection and glory in the eternal ftate.

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This inftitution hath been liberally patronized by the public; the collection at each fermon hath amounted to above twenty pounds.

The minifters of the Etablishment, and of the Diffenters, preach alternately in one church. An union in fupporting and defending the great leading doctrines of the Gofpel, in oppofition to infidelity and fuperftition, is happily eftablished, and we begin to recognize fome glimmering of that glorious light that hall burft forth upon a world encompaffed to a great degree with darkness, and all its concomitant effects-Superftition, Ďelufion, Infidelity, Idolatry, Atheism, Slavery, and Oppreffion.

THEOTIMUS.

SCOTCH MISSION.

It is with much pleasure we infert the following article from the Miffionary Magazine, ardently withing fuccefs to all thofe who, with meeknefs and wisdom, labour to propagate the Gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift.

WE laft year requested the prayers of our Chriftian brethren through the channel of your valuable Publication. The favour we met with, and the many opportunities we enjoyed of preaching falvation, through Jefus, Chrift, to multitudes of our northern brethren, proved, that their prayers, were heard on our behalf. There has been, it would appear, in some places a fhaking among the dry bones, and the anxiety which many have fince expreffed to hear the word of God, we would hope is a token that the, Spirit of life has entered into the hearts of fome.

Two of those who went out last year are about to fet off for the western and fouthern parts of Scotland, with a view of calling upon the, careless to confider their ways. While we take this opportunity of requesting a renewal of the prayers of our brethren, for their direction and fuccefs, we would obferve, that it is our intention to adopt a different line of conduct, from that which we formerly purfued, in animadverting upon the fermons of particular ministers. This afforded a handle to thofe who did not approve our defign, to reprefent us as actuated by party-fpirit and ill-will to individuals. While we can fafely Tay, our coníciences, bear us witness, that our shotives were very different, yet we now fee the propriety of cutting off occafion from those who feek occafion, as well as of removing prejudice from fome of our brethren, who in this particular dif approved of our conduct. We accordingly take this opportunity to ftate, that we are resolved to confine ourselves in our intended journey, to the declaration of what we confider as the truth of God, without making per、”. fenal remarks on any individual.

JAMES HALDANE...
JOHN AIKMAN.

According to the above intimation, these gentlemen fet off June 14th, on ans other tour by Peebles, Biggar, Hamilton, Greenoch, & into Ayrshire and Grade loway, to preach the Gofpel in thefe counties. The other Tcuritt went out fome time ago from the Society for propagating the Gospel at home, and is now labouring in Fife.

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OBITUARY.

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