with their parents, were interrogated by Mr. Hamilton upon the way of salvation, and gave correct and ready answers. There are many destitute localities in the vicinity of our congregations in the metropolis, and by the enterprise of officebearers, and other active members, many such stations might be opened: and who can tell what blessed results might follow! CHELSEA CHURCH SABBATH-SCHOOL SCHOLARS' SOIREE.-On Tuesday, January 4, the boys of the Sabbath-school in connexion with Chelsea Presbyterian Church met their teachers, when the whole of them partook of tea in the school-room under the church, which was tastefully decorated with evergreens, and presented a very pleasing effect. The children and friends were then addressed by the Rev. Mr. Shepherd, and the minister of the church, the Rev. W. Cousin. During the evening the children sang several hymns. The teachers, with the assistance of kind friends from the National Scotch Church, having sung the Twenty-fourth Psalm, the blessing was pronounced, and the company separated, greatly edified by the proceedings of the evening. RANELAGH SCHOOLS, IN CONNEXION WITH THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHELSEA. The anniversary meeting of the young women, formerly scholars in the day and Sunday-schools, was held in the school-room on Wednesday, the 15th of December last. For twelve past years these meetings have been held, and have proved highly beneficial. When the girls leave the school they are regularly visited by the ladies, who have watched over them on Sabbath. When they enter service their address is recorded, and altered from time to time, as they change their place of abode. It is attended with some trouble, but the recompense is great, and the blessing of the Lord obvious. Miss Shepherd, the superintendent, aided by others, fulfils this duty. The young women met in the school-room on the present occasion, and were provided with ample refreshment, and to each books were given; their late minister, the Rev. R. H. Shepherd, presided, whose first sermon to the children of the Ranelagh Schools was in May, 1805. He addressed them, as did also his successor, the Rev. Wm. Cousin, and Mr. Dale. These meetings have greatly promoted the interest and usefulness of the Ranelagh Schools. It is hoped this example will be followed in many Sabbath and day-schools. MORPETH SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOIREE.On the evening of Saturday, January 1, a social entertainment, which was attended by about six hundred persons, was held in the Borough School-room, in aid of a fund for the maintenance of the Sabbath-schools in connexion with the English Presbyterian Church here; William Trotter, Esq., M.D., in the chair. Miss Trotter, assisted by other ladies of the congregation, presided at the tables. After tea, the chairman, in a very interesting and eloquent address, drew the attention of the meeting to the great importance and utility of Sabbathschools; and, among other things, gave an historical detail of the rise and progress of those institutions connected with the Presbyterian interest in this town, and paid a high and justly-merited tribute of acknowledgment to the self-denying and untiring efforts of a much respected member of the congregation, to whose zealous services, and those of his kindred spirited coadjutors, these schools were indebted, under God, for their present prosperity. In speaking of that individual's labour of love, he mentioned, that he one day met with a poor boy in the course of his walks, and finding him wholly uneducated, he invited him to the Sabbath-school. The boy was induced to attend; and so much did that poor and ragged lad benefit by the instructions therein received, that, though apparently born to the heritage of ignorance and poverty, he is now an industrious tradesman, the father of a wellinstructed family, and a Sabbath-school teacher himself. The Rev. Messrs. Blackwood and Porter, of Newcastle, Thompson, of Alnwick, Hoy, of Felton, Abbot (Wesleyan), Ayre (Independent), and Messrs. J. Hood and Forsyth, Morpeth, afterwards severally addressed the meeting; and the Rev. Mr. Anderson, the minister of the congregation, having in appropriate terms moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Tait, and warmly responded to by the audience, the meeting broke up, highly delighted with the whole proceedings of the evening. The gratification of the company was much enhanced by the very superior style of execution in which some beautiful anthems were sung at intervals, in the course of the entertainment, by the choir of the congregation. Dr. Trotter has contributed the handsome sum of 207. to the funds of this congregation. have already been instructed in European letters and science, and have made SCOTCH CHURCH, ST. PETER'S-SQUARE, acquirements equal to the students of any MANCHESTER.-JUVENILE MISSIONARY British University, the missionaries have ASSOCIATION.-The Scotch Church Ju- good ground for believing that at least venile Missionary Association held their sixty young natives of the higher classes annual meeting in the church on Christ- are true spiritual converts to Christianity. mas-day. The Rev. Alexander Munro Eight or ten of them are ordained, or occupied the chair, and was supported ready to be ordained, as native preachers. by the Rev. W. M'Caw, of Trinity Pres- The success of the mission at Calcutta is byterian Church, the Rev. Mr. M'Kerrow, proved, among other things, by the vioof Lloyd-street Chapel, and the Rev. lent hostility that is being raised. Great Mr. Gloucester, of Philadelphia, United meetings have been held by the Baboos States. After a short address by the or chief natives, when violent measures Chairman, the report for the past year were proposed, and excommunication was read and adopted. The ministers from caste declared against all who and several of the gentlemen present attend the Free Church colleges. Threats made some interesting remarks. The of personal violence have also been made amount collected during the year is about against Dr. Duff, who calmly and fear70%. Out of this sum this association lessly holds on his way, because the Lord bears an equal share along with the stands by him. The light is at length association connected with the Sabbath-breaking upon India's dark night of heaschools in Liverpool, in the support of thenism. one native catechist at Madras. The meeting was numerously attended, and all seemed much gratified by the interesting particulars which were brought under their notice. The meeting was closed by praise and the benediction. FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. THE Home Mission of this Church has received a fresh impulse from the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Begg to the Convenership of the Committee. The operations of the Mission, especially in large towns, under the territorial system so urgently recommended by Dr. Chalmers, are meeting with signal success. The Building Fund has lost its chief promoter and manager in the death of the late John Hamilton, Esq., a man who in rare degree united sagacious judgment and practical habits of business, with earnest and prayerful spiritualmindedness. The number of new churches completed at last Assembly, in May, 1847, was 676, almost all aided, and some entirely built, from the funds of this Committee. Dr. Begg is acting as interim Convener. Mr. Black, as agent for the Building Fund, is at present visiting different parts of England, and we commend his cause to all our friends whom he may meet with. As to the Foreign Missions, the great design of Dr. Duff and his colleagues in India, to train the native youth in Christian knowledge, is continuing to meet with wonderful success. While thousands From Damascus, Pesth, and Constantinople interesting and encouraging tidings as to the Jewish Missions are published in the last "Missionary Record." "The Children's Missionary Record of the Free Church" we trust is widely circulated in our Sunday-schools. We know no little book so cheap and so interesting for children. The volume for 1847 is indeed a beautiful "Children's Annual." To the Colonies the Free Church is also carefully attending. The Rev. Mr. Burns has been loosed from his charge at Portobello, near Edinburgh, to go out to Otago, a Free Church settlement in New Zealand. Mr. Huie has arrived at Melbourne, in Australia, as missionary from Scotland, and will strengthen the hands of the brethren there, who have formed themselves into the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Australia Felix. A deputation from the Mission Board of the Free Church is to visit many of the towns of England this spring, beginning about the end of this month, and a meeting is to be held in Exeter Hall in May. INDIA. The Christian decision of Sir Edward Gambier and Sir W. W. Burton, at Madras, concerning the freedom of Hindoo females to choose their religion, has been repeated by Sir Lawrence Peel at Calcutta, in a case lately brought before him. These decisions have greatly exasperated the Pagan natives. Few have any idea of the grace manifested by these young converts in publicly professing Christianity, amidst the threats on the one hand, and the temptations on the other, to which they are exposed. Let us plead earnestly that God would supply strength to enable them to continue stedfast in their profession. In August last three native youths were baptized, and on the 20th of October five girls, one of them the Hindoo girl Mooniatha, in whose case Judge Burton gave his decision. The Christian name given to her at baptism was Ruth. The other four were named Joanna, Lydia, Rachel, and Elizabeth. "The Lord bless them, and keep them; the Lord make His face to shine upon them, and be gracious unto them; the Lord lift up His countenance upon them, and give them peace." CANADA. The Institute at Pointe aux Trembles, erected by the French Canadian Missionary Society, for the education of Canadian youth, is built upon a fine farm of about 100 acres, bought on purpose at the village of Pointe aux Trembles, about ten miles from Montreal. It is within an acre and a-half of the River St. Lawrence, of which it commands a very fine view, and within about half-an-acre of the high-road from Montreal to Quebec, which is planked or otherwise kept in excellent repair. The building itself is eighty-eight feet long, by thirty-eight wide, and including the basement, is four stories high, affording ample accommodations for one hundred pupils, besides the teachers and their families. One wing of the first floor is divided by folding-doors into two large school-rooms, which can again be thrown into one for public worship. The offices attached are upon a suitable scale. The Institute of boys contains now fortyeight French Canadian pupils. There are, besides, eleven boys of British descent, most of whom pay a moderate sum for their board-two of these have been rescued from Popery. The female department contains twenty-two French Canadian girls. OLD CALABAR. We regret to announce the death of the Rev. William Jameson, missionary of the United Presbyterian Church, Scotland, to Old Calabar, Western Africa. He died of fever at Creek Town on the 5th of August last, after a few days' illness. Mr. Jameson had for ten years laboured zealously and successfully in Jamaica, and in January last joined himself to the Rev. Mr. Waddell, and a little band of Christian brethren, chiefly negro converts, who were desirous to convey to their fatherland the blessings which they had themselves experienced. He had thus been only about seven months in Old Calabar; but the period of his work, though brief, was remarkable for its influence and usefulness. He had gained the entire confidence and strong affection of King Eyo, who not only gratefully and imposingly received his religious instructions, but committed to him the Mr. Jameson, education of his own son. although suffering from severe indisposition, conducted his usual service to the people assembled in King Eyo's yard, but immediately afterwards became worse, and rapidly sunk, until death terminated his career of earthly usefulness. He was a single-minded, simple-hearted Christian-a devoted, self-sacrificing and laborious missionary. His loss will be deeply deplored not only by the Church to which he belonged, but by the friends universally of missionary enterprise and effort in long-neglected, degraded, and down-trodden Africa. He was the son of the late Rev. Mr. Jameson, Secession Minister at Meethven, and grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Pringle, who for so Ministers of Perth. one of the Secession many years was GOOD WORDS. "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh it glad.”—Proverbs. AND doth any heart remain in heaviness to which gladness might be communicated at so small a cost? Alas! yes; as if the sum of human suffering was all hardness and unkindness of our dealings too little, how do we add to it by the towards each other. How often is the tender word forborne that would appease the irritated spirit, lift up the downcast sick heart. How often is the smile reeye, and give courage to the faint and fused that would fall on the bewildered bosom like the clear moonbeam in the midnight darkness; and more than this, too many of us give the pain that might be spared by the utterance of some unkindly word. Oh, whether it be sin, or sorrow, or folly, or feeling, or injury, or passion, that has left the heart heavy, henceforth let us be always ready to say the good word that may make it glad, though it be but for a time.-Bishop Sumner's Sermons. THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER. THE RELATIONS BETWEEN RELIGION AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE: A LECTURE MORE ESPECIALLY ADDRESSED TO SCIENTIFIC MEN. BY THE REV. JAMES HAMILTON, REGENT-SQUARE CHURCH, LONDON. as many SIR Humphrey Davy has somewhere re-logy, natural history, anatomy. But as marked, that of all blessings, he would for religion-as many men deem a firm faith the greatest. But at the minds; and they can only regard the same time, he more than hints that there whole affair as a matter of mere specuare circumstances in the lot of a phi- lation. This objection we often read and losopher which render such a faith an hear, but we think it will melt entirely arduous attainment. And we fear that away on a few moments' consideration. this impression was not peculiar to the illustrious chemist. We fear that during the last sixty years, by far the most brilliant period in the history of natural science, their number has been small who look from nature up to nature's God. And though there are splendid exceptions, we fear that even yet there are not many who loving Bacon much love the Bible more, and who, amidst all the toils of research, and all the weariness of study, are cheered by the hope which is full of immortality. And in the very outset, I would say a few words regarding a prejudice which exists in many minds. They think that religion is all opinion, whilst science is all certainty. They tell us that so many schools of theology have come and gone, that so many sects and heresies still divide the Christian world-and that there are such fierce debates regarding the interpretation of Scripture, that they will have nothing to do with divinity and its doubtful disputations. Those who have a taste for such things may perplex themselves with theological subtleties, but for their own part they prefer the certain sciences. They prefer those studies where material substances appeal to their bodily senses, astronomy, geoNo. 3.-New Series. They are the works of God which you have chosen for your study. Now these works are candid and truthful. They dread no question, they evade no inquiry. They do not pale to the telescope, nor skulk from the microscope. They do not wince at the anatomist's scalpel, nor shrink away from the chemist's fire. They have no weak points to cover; they have nothing but perfection to conceal. And yet explicit and lightcourting as nature is, how seldom has an honest eye looked on her open visage; how seldom has an unsophisticated ear listened to her clear and liquid voice! Most usually her messages have accosted ears closed by prepossession, or have been read through systematic spectacles, and then that interpretation has been put on them which prejudice or theory suggested. But when some sharper or sincerer observer made out the real purport and proclaimed it to the world, who ever dreamed of laying at nature's door the dulness of her votaries? Who ever branded nature as a liar because her "minister and interpreter" had mistaken her meaning? And it is with God's word as it is with his works. The Bible is the bravest of books. Coming from God, and conscious of nothing but God's truth, it awaits the progress of events with calm security. It watches the antiquary ransacking among classic ruins, and rejoices in every medal he discovers, and every inscription he deciphers; for from that rusty coin or corroded marble it expects nothing but confirmations of its own veracity. In the unlocking of an Egyptian hieroglyphic, or the unearthing of some ancient implement, it hails the resurrection of so many witnesses, and with sparkling elation follows the botanist as he scales Mount Lebanon, or the zoologist as he makes acquaintance with the beasts of the Syrian desert, or the traveller as he stumbles on a long-lost Petra, or Nimroud, or Babylon; for in regions like these every stroke of the hammer, and every crack of the rifle awaken friendly echoes, and every production and every relic bring home a friendly evidence. pretation of some texts, and an Arminian interpretation also, we have an undulatory and an emissionary interpretation of the phenomena of light. But because one man is an advocate of rays, and another stands up for a luminous ether, no rational man would say that the science of optics is all matter of opinion, and light itself a grand delusion. Nay, I freely grant that some systems of theology have passed away altogether, systems which once were popular, and commanded much applause, and were so dear to their abettors, that they could not see them perish without a bitter pang. The angelic theology is dead and gone; the theology which made reason not the interpreter but the creator of Scripture, and put a quibbling logic in the room of the plainest texts. And the Cocceian theology is gone; the theology which made the sacred narrative one long parable, and left no simple history in all And from the march of time it fears no the Bible. And the Hutchisonian theoevil, but calmly bides the fulfilment of logy is gone; the system which made those prophecies and the forthcoming of the Bible an encyclopedia of science, and those events with whose predicted story expected to find the germ of every ininspiration has already inscribed its page. vention as well as the true system of the But whilst like the volume of creation universe in the book which brings imthe volume of Scripture is so truthful mortality to light. All these are gone; and whilst the Bible is in itself so secure when they expired, their champions felt as whilst 2,000 years have left it stronger if truth had perished from the earth. But in outward testimony, and more tri- is this peculiar to theology? Have you umphant in its own self-consistency- forgotten how the abhorrers of a vacuum and whilst at the same rate heaven and abhorred Torricelli and Pascal? Have earth shall pass away, and no jot of you forgotten how the old physiologists that Bible perish, it is very different with hated Harvey for discovering the circulathe doctrines and conclusions which men tion of the blood? Can you wonder have tried to fix on it. Sometimes the that, like a family burnt out, the Stahlian result of bad grammar, sometimes the chemists long lingered round the smokresult of bad metaphysics, and some-ing ruins of phlogiston, and could never times, too, the result of bad science, men have often tried to found on Bible texts prepossessions and systems of their own; and no man need wonder if a better exegesis, or a sounder sense, swept the crude structure away. But when the besom of destruction has brushed aside the false science, nature looks forth serene and ingenuous as before; so when better light has banished the false theology, the Bible smiles out again, sincere and celestial as ever. In either case, man's interpretation has perished; in either case, the truth of God survives. No doubt there are some passages of Scripture, regarding whose meaning divines are not agreed; but so are there phenomena of nature regarding whose import philosophers are divided. For instance, if we have a Calvinistic inter Has pardon Lavoisier and oxygen? Or how |