APPOINTMENT OF A DAY FOR SPECIAL

HUMILIATION AND PRAYER.

IT gives us peculiar satisfaction to present our readers with the proceedings of the Congregational Board respecting the observance of a day of humiliation and prayer in our Churches of the metropolis, and as far as may be found convenient, throughout the kingdom. Arrangements, it will be seen, have been made to include brethren of the Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist Boards. The unhappy influence of Socinianism in the Presbyterian Board forbids any proposals being made to them as a body upon such a subject; but individuals connected with the orthodox portion of it have kindly consented to unite in the exercises, so that we shall have the pleasure of witnessing members of the three denominations, who "honour the Son as they honour the Father," engaged in public intercessions on behalf of the Church and the World. "Monthly Meeting of the Congregational Board, held at the Congregational Library, Blomfield Street, January 10th, 1832; the Rev. J. P. Smith, D. D., in the Chair. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

1. That it is expedient that a day be set apart for imploring the blessing of Almighty God upon the Religious and Civil Interests of our Country.

2. That Thursday, the 16th of February next, be recommended for that purpose.

3. That on that day the members of this Board invite their congregations and friends to hold a united meeting for this sacred purpose, in the Poultry Chapel, at 12 o'clock at noon; and that it be recommended to ministers and congregations to hold a meeting for solemn prayer in each of their own places of worship, or in district associations, at a convenient hour in the earlier part of the morning, and again in the evening.

4. That a letter be addressed by the Secretary to the Baptist Board, affectionately inviting the concurrence of

that Body in the above proposals; and that the Committee now named do invite a brother of the Presbyterian, and of the Baptist Body, to engage in the devotional exercises at the Poultry Chapel, and to make the other arrangements necessary for the occasion."

We have been favoured by the Secretary of the Baptist Board with the following account of their proceedings on the same subject.

MEETING OF THE BAPTIST BOARD OF MINISTERS.

Ar a meeting of the above Board of Ministers, at Fenn Court, January 24, 1832, the Rev. Wm. Newman, D.D in the chair, a letter was read from the Secretary of the Congregational Board of Ministers, accompanying a series of Resolutions passed by that body, recommending that a day be set apart for humiliation and prayer, on account of the present state of the nation.

Resolved, That fully concurring in the propriety of such a measure, this Body recommends to the churches connected with it, to set apart Thursday, Feb. 16th, for the purpose of humbling ourselves before Almighty God, and imploring his blessing on the civil and religious interests of our country.

That on that day the Members of this Board invite their congregations and friends to hold a united meeting for this sacred purpose, in the Rev. Jos. Ivimey's Chapel, Eagle Street, Holborn, at twelve o'clock; and that it be recommended to ministers and congregations to hold a meeting for solemn prayer in each of their own places of worship, or in district associations, at a convenient hour, in the earlier part of the morning, and again in the evening.

That a Presbyterian and an Independent Minister be requested to take part in the public devotional services of the above day.

That the Secretary be requested to acknowledge the communications received from the Ministers of the Con

NOTICE RESPECTING THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES.

Congregational Library, Blomfield Street, Finsbury, Jan. 2, 1832.

THE Committee of the Congregational Union beg to remind the Secretaries of the County and District Associations in England and Wales, that it is highly desirable they should bring forward the subject at their Spring meetings, in order that any further suggestions respecting the Union may be communicated to the general secretaries, previously to the appointed meeting in May next.

By order of the Committee.
ARTHUR TIDMAN,
Jos. TURNBUll,
JOSHUA WILSON,

Secretaries.

OPENING OF A HOUSE OF PRAYER, AT MORCOMBELAKE, NEAR CHARMOUTH, DORSET.

ON Sunday, January 1st, 1832, in the above-named hamlet, was opened a new building intended to be used for public worship on the Lord's day, and as a school-room during the week, for the gratuitous instruction of the poor children of the place.

Mr. Jeanes, of Charmouth, conducted the morning service; his text, Psalm lxxxix. 15, 16. Mr. Hargreaves, Home Missionary, took the evening solemnities, when he preached from 1 Kings xiv. 13. The attendance of the villagers on this interesting occasion was full, and their attention and seriousness most exemplary. The building, which is of stone, is 36 feet by 20 in the clear, and cost, with a cottage and garden adjoining, for the use of the mistress, not exceeding £150. This sum includes also the purchase of the ground, and the fittings up of school-room. The friends at Charmouth, Episcopalians as well as Dissenters, have contributed nearly N. S. No. 86.

the whole of this sum, and are entirely responsible for the support of the day and Sunday-school. In no part of England was provision for the religious and moral instruction of the poor by preaching the gospel, and teaching the children-more needed than in this benighted hamlet, which is now, principally through the kindness of a lady residing at Charmouth, and the cordial co-operation of the Home Missionary Society, the residence of an agent of that admirable institution, who preaches there two or three times every week, and in seven or eight other dark places in the neighbourhood.

ORDINATIONS.

On the 20th December, the Rev. A. J. Jupp, from Wymondley Theological Institution, was ordained to the pastoral office over the Congregational Church at Armitage, Staffordshire. The Rev. R. Davis, of Tamworth, supplicated the divine blessing, and read appropriate scriptures; the Rev. J. Roaf, of Wolverhampton delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions; the Rev. J. Chalmers, of Stafford, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, gave the charge; and the Rev. J. Shaw, of Tutbury, concluded with prayer. In the evening, the Rev. R. Newland, of Hanley, addressed the church and congregation.

Wednesday, December 21, 1831, Mr. William Williams, formerly of Wymondley College, was ordained to the pastoral oversight of the Independent Church at Bulford, Wilts. Mr. Temple, of Birdbush, commenced with reading the Scriptures and prayer; Professor Hoppus delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Reynolds, of Romsey, asked the questions; Mr. Elliott, of Devizes, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Williams, of Chelsea, gave the charge (which, at the request of the members of the Church, and other Friends will be published); Mr. Good, of Salisbury, preached to the people, and Mr. Hyatt, of Wilton, concluded. In the evening Mr. Reynolds preached at Dorrington, and Mr. Williams, at Bulford, on the following evening.

Ꭱ

The late Mr. H. Blatch, of Ratfin, and the late Mr. M. Devenish, of Bulford, were (under God) the founders of this interesting cause; they found it very inconvenient to go to Salisbury every Lord's day, a distance of nine or ten miles across the Downs; and on the death of the late Mr. Adams, to whose church they belonged, erected at their own expense, a chapel at Bulford, which was opened on the 30th of July, 1806. The foundation having given way, it was taken down, and a larger chapel was erected at the sole expense of the families of those two excellent men. It was opened in September, 1828. In 1824, Mrs. Blatch, the widow of Mr. H. Blatch, erected, at her owu expense, a chapel at Dunington, a mile distant from Bulford, in the immediate neighbourhood of which are two other villages, and the chapel-house is the gift of Mr. Devenish's family. Mr. Williams commenced his labours on the 20th of March. The attendance is

encouraging, and the prospect of usefulness pleasing. He preaches at Bulford on Lord's day morning and evening, and at Dorrington in the afternoon, and there are services on week evenings. If there were many Blatches and Devenishes among our rich Dissenters, religion would flourish in the villages much more than it does at present.

January 11th, 1832.-The Rev. J. Pinkerton, late of Weedon, in Northamptonshire, having received a most cordial invitation from the Church at Whetstone, was recognised as their Pastor. Mr. Gilbert, of Islington, commenced the service, by reading and prayer; Mr. Stewart, of Barnet, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Bull, of Newport, offered prayer for the Pastor and Church; and Mr. Chapman, of Greenwich, addressed the Minister and people, from 2 Cor. ii, latter part, 3d verse. Mr. Gilbert preached in the evening, from Ps. lxxviii. 38, 39.

SPIRIT OF PRAYER AMONGST THE CON

TINENTAL CHURCHES.

For the Sixteenth of February. In the contemplation of the approaching day, which many of our Churches intend to observe for especial supplication and intercession, we trust that the following accounts of similar exercises by our brethren, in two of the most interesting parts of the European continent, will be read with peculiar interest. We also presume to offer the earnest request that our pious countrymen, both frequently in their private and public intercessions, and especially on the approaching day of united prayer, would earnestly remember the countries of Huss and Luther, of Zuinglius and Calvin and Witsius, that the Spirit of grace may copiously pour but his influences upon their vast and now most excited population, and may crown with transcendent blessing the present arduous labours of his servants in each of those countries, for the counteraction of error, infidelity, and impiety, and for the revival of their pristine faith and holiness.

The following articles are translated from the Number of the excellent Paris

us.

"The Spirit of God doth not leave himself without testimony among Many persons are learning the knowledge of their Saviour; but as yet it is only a preparatory work, proceeding in a gentle and noiseless way. In the month of August we held a solemn day of prayer, and though the observance had some defects, both in matter and form, yet we may say that it was generally desired by the Dutch nation. In the proclamation issued by the King on this occasion, he spoke at least the language of humility and Christian piety.

"Our literary productions, as in most other places, are now chiefly on politics; and scarcely any thing is published but pamphlets, because, at the present time, large works are not generally acceptable. Mr. Molenaar* has just sent from the press a new volume of Sermons, several

* An evangelical parson of the national Church at the Hague, who has had to endure many reproaches and difficulties for his fidelity.-Transl.

of which relate to the remarkable circumstances of our recent history. Mr. Ter Borg, the Mennonite minister, who was lately compelled to retire from his connexion, has published two Sermons, distinguished by a character of Christian simplicity and spirituality which are, unhappily, too rare in the present day. Dr. Dacostat has published a pamphlet, entitled, "Memorials of the Covenant of 1573;" in which he invites the king and the people to renew their covenant with God. The occasion to which he refers is a saying of the Stadtholder William I. One of his generals, in a time of extreme distress, having asked him whether he had concluded a treaty of alliance with some powerful sovereign, the prince replied, "Before engaging in this enterprise, I have made a treaty with the King of kings."-"The mercies which we have experienced from God are innumerable. There is a very general acknowledgment of the hand of God in the late Occurrences. Even in our army, there are many young men who are decided followers of Christ."

66 ANNUAL MEETING OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AT LAUSANNE. DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER.

"The 7th, 8th, and 9th of November were days of joy and blessing for the Canton of Vaud, and particularly for the town of Lausanne.-They were devoted to Religious Meetings of the highest interest. The presence of God was as if felt by all; and we doubt not but that fruits of conversion, sanctification, and salvation, have been happily produced. More than seventy faithful ministers,

* This gentleman, having signalized himself by his love to the gospel and zeal for holy usefulness, experienced severe opposition from his fellow-ministers, which led to a separation from them. The Mennonites are a denomination of Dissenters rejecting Infant Baptism, and having some peculiarities which our Antipædobaptist brethren of England would not approve. Their venerable founder, Simon Menno, a native of West Friesland, died in 1561. He was a holy and excellent man; but his followers have, within the last century, sunk very much into formal sectarianism and a general dereliction (we fear) of the gospel of grace. --Transl.

A distinguished lawyer and a writer of great energy and diversified talent. He is of a Portuguese Jewish Family, but a convert, not to nominal, but to vital and active Christianity.--Transl.

trom almost all parts of the Canton *, confessing their devotedness, one after the other, to the Saviour God whom they serve, was of itself a sight sufficient to move any heart susceptible of sacred emotion."-[The Institutions assembled were the Bible, Missionary, Tract, and Religious Book Societies.]

66

One resolution was adopted which was of universal interest.- Considering, on the one hand, the progress which the kingdom of Christ is making in our days, and on the other, the opposition which it has to encounter, and the vast empire which the prince of darkness still maintains; considering the awful Scourges with which God has visited several countries, and which threaten our own; and considering the wondrous blessings which, in some other countries, and particularly the United States of America, have resulted from special unions for prayer, with fasting and Christian humiliation; a considerable number of the Christian friends assembled at Lausanne, on the 9th of November 1831, unanimously resolved, with the divine permission, to dedicate Saturday the 31st of December, to fasting and prayer, with the general purpose of imploring from God an abundant out-pouring OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ may be strengthened and enlarged; that Christians of all countries and all de. nominations may be mutually united in the bonds of sincere love, as they already are in their common faith; that the kingdom of Satan may be destroyed; that the unconverted may be brought to the foot of the cross; and that all persons may be prepared whatever kind they may be, which threaten for the chastisements and judgments, of

nations and individuals.

"We know that a great number of pious persons in Switzerland and France have declared their adherence to this resolution; a resolution which is so eminently in the spirit of the gospel.- Who can describe the blessings which will flow from it?--What two or three agree to ask of the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, he will grant to them. O brethren in Jesus! let us unite to ask, with faith and earnestness, for great things, and we shall see great things.--Particularly, let ministers hold special meetings among themselves, and with their hearers; and that very frequently: let heads of families and all who belong to them thus unite in peculiar domestic prayer; and let no one forget this special duty in the retirement of his closet, to send up his

Its extent is about equal to that of the county of Essex.

Date. Feb. 7.

Feb. 14.

Feb. 21.

Subject.

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Salters' Hall Rev. J. BENNETT, D. D. Silver Street.

Rev. T. PRICE,

Devonshire Square.
Rev. E STEANE,
Camberwell.

Rev. T. BINNEY,
Weigh House.

Rev. J. BURNETT,
Camberwell.

Rev. J. BLACKBURN,

Pentonville.

Rev. J. MORISON, D.D. Brompton.

Rev. G. CLAYTON,

Walworth.

Rev. J. YOUNG, M. A. Albion Chapel.

Rev. J. ARUNDEL,

Union Street.

DISSENTERS IN SCOTLAND.

We published in our last Number an article on The Kirk of Scotland, which was extracted from an American Journal, the Richmond Telegraph. We now present our readers with a second article, by the same correspondent, on the Dissenters in Scotland, which appears to us to be written with commendable candour and general accuracy.

"After my notice in my last of the Presbyterian Establishment in Scotland, it is natural to turn to the Presbyterian Dissenters, Among these, the first in order of time are

"The Reformed Presbyterian Synod, better known as Covenanters, or Cameronians. The Scots speak of the first and second Reformation in the history of their national religion. The first from Popery, which was advanced to maturity under Mary, and consummated upon the

Aldermanbury.

accession of James VI. The other from Prelacy, which was completed under William and Mary. The leading principles which had been contended for at the expense of so much suffering and blood, during the reigns of the last two of the Stuarts, were established upon the accession of the Prince of Orange; but yet not all that some of the Reformers had contended for. Richard Cameron, a distinguished preacher, who was killed at Airmoss, in 1680, and many others, attached very special importance to the duty of public covenanting. Those who succeeded to their views were not satisfied. They required, as the Covenanters still do, that the king, the parliament, the whole nation, as in Judea of old, should unite in a public testimony, and in mutual covenant engagements, in support of truth and holiness. Charles II. became hypocritically a covenanted king,