THE RELIEF OF THE WIDOWS OF GOSPEL MINISTERS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, AND TO OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES. TRUSTEES AND STATED CONTRIBUTORS: Rev. T. Adkins, Southampton. J. Bennett, D.D., London. T. Binney, London. J. Boden, Sheffield. J. Bulmer, Haverfordwest. H. F. Burder, D.D., London. J. Burder, Stroud. W Chaplin, Bishopstortford. J. Clayton, A.M., London. G. Clayton, London. G. Collison, London. T. Craig, Bocking. S. Curwen, Reading. R. Elliott, Devizes. W. Ellis, London. J. Ely, Leeds. G. Ewing, A.M., Glasgow. J. Fletcher, D.D., London. E. Henderson, D. Ph., London. H. Heugh, D.D., Glasgow. J. Hunt, London. T. Jackson, London. J. A. James, Birmingham. Rev. W. Jay, Bath. R. Knill, London. J. Leifchild, D.D., London, J. Morison, D.D., London. C. Morris, London. J. Parsons, York. J. Paterson, D.D., Edinburgh. G. Payne, LL.D., Exeter. J. Raban, London. T. Raffles, D. D., LL.D., Liverpool. G. Redford, LL.D., Worcester. A. Reed, D.D., London. W. Rooker, Tavistock. H. Roper, Bristol. J. Sherman, London. J. Smart, Stirling. J. Smart, Leith. J. P. Smith, D.D., LL.D., London. C. F. Steinkopff, D.D., London. J. Stratten, London. T. Stratten. Hull. W. H. Stowell, Rotherham. J. Styles, D.D., London. J. Thornton, Billericay. A. Tidman, London. P. Thomson, Chatham. W. Urwick, D.D., Dublin. M. Wilks, Paris, R. Wardlaw, D.D., Glasgow. A. Wells, London. J. Young, A.M., London. VOL. XVII. NEW SERIES. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY THOMAS WARD AND CO., PREFACE. FORTY-SIX years have now elapsed since the first number of the Evangelical Magazine was given to the public. The establishment of such a periodical, in 1793, was a marked era in the history of the religious community of this country. The distinct organ of no ecclesiastical body, it became a centre of union among good men of various sections of the visible church; and devoted mainly to the spread of the much-neglected doctrines of grace, it gave a powerful impulse to all the existing means for the evangelization of the British empire. Humble as were its pretensions, it obtained, by the Divine blessing, a measure of patronage unprecedented in the history of any religious periodical, the Wesleyan Magazine only excepted; and by the same kind Providence which smiled upon the efforts of its devoted founders, it continues to the present day, to occupy its relative position among the religious magazines of the age. During the last two years, indeed, its sale has been increased more than two thousand; so that the Trustees are enabled, at the present moment, to give a larger assistance to the widows of pious ministers, than at any former period since the commencement of the work. This fact is the more gratifying, as the growing demand upon the magazine fund has rendered an ampler income indispensably necessary. At the last Midsummer Distribution of Profits, a measure was adopted by the Trustees, which they are persuaded will give general satisfaction to the friends and supporters of the Magazine. Upon a survey of their pecuniary position, and fully confiding in the zealous co-operation of the religious public, they agreed to increase the amount of the gratuities voted to those widows receiving assistance from the funds of the Magazine. By the new arrangement, widows are divided into two classes, those under, and those above fifty years of age. English widows, in the southern counties, under fifty, will receive 81., and above fifty, 107. In Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the four northern counties of England, those under fifty, will receive 67., and those above fifty, 87. As the Trustees, by adopting this new scale of distribution, have proceeded to the very limits of their income, they feel warranted in throwing themselves upon the energetic support of their friends both in town and country. When they assure them, that the increased sale of the Magazine, during the past year, has enabled them to add 120l. to the widows' fund, |