which I have had the privilege to witness in many other instances. Such facts speak for themselves, and show the necessity of continued and increased exertion to diffuse more extensively than ever the pure truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Steady progress in Missionary Labour.

"It is encouraging to the Society, as well as to their missionary, when it is in his power to report progress. This, however, he is unable to do every time a journal is required. He is thankful at the same time to know that his labours are still being blessed to the conversion of souls. This has been the case within the last few months with regard to a young person who, previous to his coming to our chapel, scarcely ever attended any place of religious worship. From the time he came to the present he has been regular in his attendance, and we have good reason to believe that the word preached has been rendered effectual in the conversion of his heart to Christ.

"During this month we have proposed a young person for church membership at our next church meeting; and it is pleasing to know that we have others in the congregation who are, we trust, convinced of the evil consequences of sin, and are anxiously desiring to live wholly to the Lord. We are still incessant in our missionary labours; and this, we find, must be the case if we expect to witness gratifying results.

"Since my last journal, we have commenced preaching in the open air, as is usual in the summer season. The attendance is numerous and most pleasing. The greater part present on these occasions rarely enter any church or chapel. Their Sabbaths are frequently spent in rioting and drunkenness; no man has cared for their souls. Now the good order which prevails, and the marked attention paid to the preacher during these services, cannot fail to interest all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

"My villages have been hitherto more encouraging than my principal station; but they are becoming vice versa. I have laboured much, very much, at T——————— of late to effect this, considering that, while my out-stations are not inconsiderable, my principal station is vastly more needy and important. Our Sabbath-school continues progressing. Most of the teachers are young people, and members of the church; they are very united and active in their work. May the Divine blessing attend our efforts, and most readily will we ascribe to our Saviour all the praise !"

We cannot better conclude this paper than by the insertion of the following statement and appeal. They afford an interesting illustration of the working of the system pursued by the home missionary in rural districts. The agent sent to reconnoitre and to commence operations, had just completed his term of study under the Rev. J. Frost, at Cotton End. From the energy and success with which he has opened his commission at Brassington may be inferred the kind of training which our students receive. They are sent forth, not with a store of useful knowledge and theoretical opinions or maxims only, but after being actually engaged as village evangelists, their whole course of study having been accompanied by practical experiment. The site that has been given for a chapel, and the money obtained on the spot for its erection, form another feature of interest in the case. Good-will to the cause, and materials for its advancement were not wanting, but unless a home missionary influence had been applied from without, these local elements of moral interest and feeling would have remained useless. It will also be seen from the names of the county ministers who know the case, that they are interested in the success of the cause. In addition to those who are to receive donations, the Secretaries of the Society, 4, Blomfield-street, will most cheerfully receive and forward to the missionary any sums that may be entrusted to them towards the erection of the chapel.

BRASSINGTON, NEAR WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE.

In August last, the Directors of the Home Missionary Society having been made acquainted with the state of this village and its neighbourhood, sent a missionary to see what could be done. He has preached in the open air, and in a large club-room connected with a public-house; a Sunday-school has been established, in which there are seventy scholars, and from seventy to ninety attend the weekly Bibleclasses; a British school has also been commenced with much encouragement. The missionary preaches and conducts Bible-classes in three villages beside Brassington, and God has graciously blessed his labours, not only by the attendance of many who were accustomed to frequent no place of worship, but also in the conversion of souls. As soon as a chapel is built, a church will be formed. From these particulars the necessity of a chapel and school-room is evident. The site has been kindly given by a farmer in the village. The whole expense is estimated at £350. Towards this, £80 has been collected in Brassington alone; and the friends of Home Missions and education are earnestly appealed to for their assistance in this good work.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THE Committee have great pleasure in stating, that all the agents are labouring in their several spheres, with unceasing assiduity and varied success. The oppor tunities for preaching the Gospel multiply in every direction. It is most afflictive to be compelled, for want of funds, to send negative answers to applications for missionaries. Such is the state of the country, that every class of agents is needed. Scripture readers to visit the cabins of the poor, for reading the word of God and prayer. Missionaries to preach the Gospel, both in Irish and English, to multitudes who could be collected to hear. Pastors to look after and encourage those who through grace have believed, and who might be gathered into the fellowship of the Gospel. Twice or thrice the number of agents at present engaged, could be immediately stationed in fields may be said to be "white to the harvest." Oh! when will British Christians pity and relieve the spiritual necessities of Ireland? She is "beautiful for situation," lovely in her personal aspect, rich in her natural resources; but, alas! degraded by ignorance and superstition. Let the Scriptures be widely circulated, and the pure Gospel of Christ be faithfully preached, and Ireland may yet be rescued from the iron grasp of the "Man of Sin." But if efforts more commensurate with her necessities are not put forth for her spiritual freedom, she will remain in the state of distraction and moral degradation in which she has for so many ages been involved. What may be done, can be seen in the effects which have already resulted from the attempts which have been made by this and kindred institutions. The following extract is from the journal of one of the Scripture readers; who, though a humble, are found in many instances an exceedingly useful class of agents. They are often listened to when visiting the cabins of the peasantry, by Roman Catholics as well as Protestants; and by many to whom no access could be gained by any other means. One of these excellent men writes as follows:

"I have been enabled this month to read many important portions of holy Scripture, in the Irish language, to people confined to the bed of sickness, all of whom were Roman Catholics, and I am happy to say each, and every one of them, listened to the word of God with deep interest. They seemed much affected by the love of God exhibited in the Gospel, which is always found to be wonderfully adapted to subdue their hearts. One old man exclaimed, 'Oh, sir! may the blessing of God be with you for ever, for your great kindness in coming to see me so often! The spiritual benefit I have received from your reading that blessed Irish Bible, gives me

more comfort and happiness than if you bestowed an estate on me. It seems as if the weight of a mountain had been removed from my guilty conscience, since you began reading and explaining what the Lord Jesus has done for perishing sinners. Oh! what a blessing to be assured that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin!' I have also been engaged this month in re-visiting my pupils; I was delighted to find them busily employed in reading the Irish Scriptures. Some of them were engaged in comparing the English Protestant Testament with the Douay version; and others repeated from memory whole chapters of the Irish Testament, and verses in Irish from Dr. Townley's works. In one house there were nine old people assembled together, reading and searching the Scriptures of truth. One of them exclaimed, 'Oh, sir! a thousand welcomes to you this morning. You are more welcome here than the pope of Rome. There was a day, and that not long ago, when I should have hated the very sight of you; and I should be so still, had I not been taught to read this blessed Irish Testament which I hold in my hand. What a treasure is this book, which contains the words of eternal life!' Others spoke in a similar strain. Twelve adults lately came to me for Irish primers, which I felt great pleasure in giving them. I meet with no opposition in my work. I have visited houses where I had never been before; and all the people received me most kindly, and listened to the reading of the Irish Scriptures with the greatest attention. Some of them had never before seen a Bible; and were sunk in the very depths of ignorance and superstition, not having seen a glimpse of the light of truth. They appeared anxious for information. It was affecting to witness the feeling excited by the simple exhibition of the truth as it is in Jesus. I met one young man, who had been educated for the priesthood. He appeared much prejudiced against the Protestant Scriptures. I reasoned with him for some time; when he requested me to call again the next day. This I did, and found him prepared, I trust, by the Lord, for the reception of his word. We read several chapters together; and he listened with much docility and earnestness, whilst I endeavoured to explain and apply the truths which were brought before him. I gave him an English Testament, and exhorted him to look up to the great Teacher, to enlighten and bless him in his inquiries after truth."

The Committee present this merely as a specimen of the labours of the Scripture readers. When the right men can be found, they prove most useful agents; especially if, as in the above instance, they possess a knowledge of the Irish language. To address the native Irish in their vernacular tongue, at once secures their attention, and awakens their interest. The Committee are exceedingly anxious to increase the number of their agents, who possess this qualification. Their new effort is the province of Connaught; four out of the six who are engaged, are fully competent to conduct their missionary operations in the Irish tongue. They have commenced their work under the most auspicious circumstances. They are located at Castlebar, the principal town in the county of Mayo; but will extend their labours in all directions. To ascertain the moral condition of the inhabitants in the county of Galway, the most southerly portion of the province, their indefatigable missionary, the Rev. J. Godkin, has just completed an extended tour. He gives a sorrowful account of the state of the people; but clearly shows that, by suitable agency, the greatest good may be reasonably anticipated. He visited the islands of Arran, and had an opportunity of preaching the Gospel to the people there, who listened with deep interest to his ministrations. He concludes his report by remarking, "An able man, speaking Irish, stationed in Galway, with a reader or two in that city; another in Arran; one in Connemara; and one in Clare, would do much to enlighten this dark region." Will the churches of Britain hear this, and not come "to the help of the Lord against the mighty?" The Committee make

their earnest appeal to the friends of the Gospel, and ask for that augmentation of their funds, without which, much as they desire it, they dare not venture on this undertaking which Mr. Godkin presses on their attention.

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Rev. J. Roaf's Appeal for more vigorous efforts in Canada West.

AFTER an account of operations and successes throughout the provinces, Mr. Roaf concludes :

"And now, my dear brethren, say you that little work is done in proportion to the liberality of our churches, and the zeal of our society at home? Tell me if there is another department of the efforts of our body where the same amount of expenditure sets a-going more labour, or produces more results? Look at your Upper Canada expenditure, about £100 annually, and then remember we have thirty-two brethren in the field-are annually raising above £2,000 currency in the province for the support of the Gospel-have already above £9,000 worth of chapel property, nearly all paid up-have thirty chapels, and four about to be commencedhave two students about to go forth to their work, and two ministers coming to join us have seven students under training-have, in miniature, if you choose to say so, all the institutions and apparatus of the body at home, and then say if the Lord will sanction a retrograde movement on your part, or even a hesitation to go forward? My dear brother, I verily believe God would sustain you if you were to plant half-way, between me and Mr. Wilkes, another corps of missionaries, to do a work like that which is going on at either end of this vast province. It is out of my power to give you a return of church-members, Sabbath-scholars, &c. in our connexion here; but I am of opinion it would accord with the more external progress which I have detailed. I am mistaken as to God's ways, if you would not double your present work in this country as easily as you do now what is going on. Canada, dear Sir, is open to you if you would only send a few energetic, active, able men to take possession of it; merely pious men will not do. I long to see you begin afresh. The British are now a colonising people; and British Christians should regard colonial missions as a part of their calling' or vocation-more so even than missions to the heathen, imperative and important as these latter confessedly are. You will never get along-pardon my freedom-while you creep along the coast, and fear to put out into the depths and breadths and free breezes. Here are we, training students in a small wooden house of £21 a-year rent; we are declining valuable ministerial help, which it would cost but a trifle to secure-we have chapels standing unused because we cannot obtain a few pounds per annum for a minister who would gather souls within them-we are all feeling small in the presence of a vast work that ought to be done, and might be done by us. Lord, baptize Committee and churches, secretary, agents, and ministers with thine own Spirit !"

The following pastoral letter is given here because it presents in a very interesting form the beginning of Christ's work in a new Canadian district. The devoted missionary and pastor by whom it was written, the Rev. William Clarke, left his native land for Canada in 1837; and, after giving about six years of devoted and successful labour to originate and carry forward to stability a church at London, Canada West, he resigned that station to an efficient successor, the Rev. E. Ebbs, educated at the Toronto Academy, and commenced his work anew at Simcoe, where there is every prospect of like success.

"Simcoe, Canada West, January 5, 1845. "To the church of Christ of the Congregational order assembling in the town of Simcoe, Canada West:

"My beloved brethren and sisters in Christ,-As your affectionate pastor, placed over you in the providence of God, and by your own voluntary choice, I have deemed it proper and edifying to address to you an annual epistle, in which I purpose to review the dealings of God towards us, and to give you some idea of our position.

"This Christian church originated in the labours of your pastor, who removed from London, Canada West, to this neighbourhood in May, 1843. It was organised on the 10th of September following, when sixteen persons voluntarily agreed to walk together in the fellowship of the Gospel. On the next day the church exercised its scriptural right of choosing its own bishop and deacons.' The choice of pastor fell upon myself. The deacons elected were Robert Gibbons and Joseph Tilney, the former of whom had stood in the same relation to the church of the same order in London, Canada West. Here commenced the nucleus of what I trust will prove a holy, influential, numerous, and useful band of devoted Christians.

"A short time previous to the formation of the church, an effort was made for the erection of a meeting-house. God prospered the undertaking. The subscription list amounted to about 1200 dollars, and the pastor pledged himself to raise 400 dollars more. Thus encouraged, a building committee was chosen by the subscribers, and in dependence, hope, and prayer, the foundation-stone was laid September 25th, 1843. January 5th, three additions were made to our number, two by letter, and one on a profession of faith. At this meeting it was unanimously resolved to hold special meetings for the revival and extension of religion among us, the members pledging themselves to sustain the efforts of their pastor by their co-operation, influence, and prayers. At the close of the month your pastor, favoured with the valuable assistance of the Rev. T. Baker, commenced a series of continuous meetings, upon which evidently rested the influence and blessing of Heaven. These meetings were continued daily for three weeks. The sermons were pointed and awakening. Many were aroused from their slumbers. About thirty publicly professed concern for salvation, and at the following church-meeting twelve were proposed for churchfellowship. The meetings were peculiarly useful in raising the tone of piety, and promoting a holy fraternal feeling among the members of the church. February 1st, two members were received by letter, and one on a profession of faith. The ordinance of the Lord's supper on the following Sabbath was particularly solemn and impressive. The protracted meeting having commenced, the church felt its responsibilities and duties. March 1st, three beloved friends were received by letter from the Congregational church, London. At this meeting brother Ells was unanimously chosen to the deacon's office. April 7th was a high day. God was favourable to our Zion. Sixteen beloved brethren and sisters were publicly received into the church at the Lord's table. On this Sabbath truly did we say,

'Often, O Sovereign Lord, renew
The wonders of this day.'

But we rejoiced with trembling, and received our beloved friends with hope and prayer that they might be faithful unto death. In the case of the special meetings, there is one great subject of regret,-that so many of those who then came forward to the anxious seat, have returned to the indifference, formality, and worldliness of former days. Oh that God may not say of them, 'They are joined to idols, let them alone! On the first Sabbath in May, a Sabbath-school was commenced among us. May it long prove a blessing to the church! On this day seven more dear friends were received among us, two by letter and five by profession. About this time a