slavery, to set apart a large sum of money for the moral and religious instruction of the enfranchized negro population, to which proposal, at the suggestion of Mr. Buxton, the words" on liberal and comprehensive principles," were added. This latter clause excited discussion and opposition. In the House of Lords a division took place upon it; the clause was, however, finally agreed to, and welcomed as the promise and the pledge, that the western isles would speedily receive from the mother country schools of sound and scriptural instruction, in which. without any compromise of principle, every child might enjoy the blessings of a good education; be prepared for the wise exercise of restored rights; and witness with how kind and generous a spirit a Christian people, when awakened to penitence, will hasten to repair unutterable wrongs. Here the matter rested until the month of November, 1834, when circulars were issued from the Colonial Office by Mr. Spring Rice, first to the different missionary societies, and then to each distinct missionary station, requesting an immediate reply to certain queries therein proposed, relative to the progress and prospects of the mission. These queries were of a two-fold character; the first series relating exclusively to chapels and missionaries, the second to schools and teachers. Answers were in due course returned, and again the matter stood over. Shortly after the accession of the present government to power, however, the Colonial Office made distinct offers to the various missionary societies to the following effect; viz., that government would give two-thirds of the cost of erecting any school-house in the West Indies, to such society or societies as would agree to furnish the remaining third from its own funds; and further stipulate to maintain therein a school for the education of the negro children, such education to be in accordance with the constitution of the said society, government claiming no right of interference whatever. This offer was too tempting to be refused, and after much discussion at some of the committees, and amid conflicting opinions, the money was accepted. Two sums of £20,000 each, voted by Par. liament, have we understand been in this way already divided among the friends and the foes of the voluntary principle. Government, it is generally understood, are now prepared to go a step further, and are inclined to offer (indeed we believe they have already offered) to grant sums towards defraying the salaries of teachers, such teachers still to be the bona fide servants of the missionary societies. This second proposition (necessarily arising out of the former one), while it has again awakened the fears of many who foresaw whereunto the acceptance of the first would lead, has been hailed by the majority in every missionary board with gratitude and satisfaction; so that before another twelve months has passed away (unless some very strong expression of public opinion prevent the calamity), all our missionary societies will have a certain number of their agents in the pay of government. Now, sir, we are simply desirous of stating (and for the purpose of eliciting a reply) why we conscientiously object, not merely to the pending treaty in relation to schoolmasters, but to the existing arrangement with regard to school-houses. The assistance offered proceeds in both cases on the same principle, the difference relates only to degree. Our objection would be as strong to the payment of money for the erection of a school in which Popery was to be taught, as it would be to the payment of the teachers; so far as any principle is involved, there is not, there cannot be, any difference. We object then, I. Because we consider that acceptance of public money for the purpose of promoting religious instruction in any part of the world, recognises the principle, that it is the duty of government to provide RELIGIOUS instruction for the destitute. But this notion we utterly repudiate. The spread of religious truth is the exclusive prerogative of the church. The magistrate, however pious or praiseworthy may be his intentions, cannot in his magisterial capacity afford the church any help, beyond that of protection, without inflicting a severe wound on the cause he wishes to promote. But these grants for education in the West Indies go exclusively on this principle. Government think it to be their duty to see that the population of the West Indies is religiously educated; and on this account alone do they avail themselves of the agency of missionary societies. We honour the men, we venerate their motives, but we will never cease to oppose this fatal error. We object, II. Because we cannot sanction the taxation of the community in aid EVEN of evangelical truth. God is just. But this is manifest injustice, and we dare not abide the question, "Who hath required this at your hands?" Popery is antichrist; Unitarianism is deadly heresy; infidelity is the madness of guilt; but what right have I to tax the superstitious, the heretical, or him whom God calls "fool," for the promotion of my views of truth? Yet this is the peculiar advantage, the crowning excellence, the glory of the system we are reprobating, in the eyes of not a few, who, strange to say, are at other times the decided advocates of the voluntary principle. It all goes to promote truth," they say; true, and your views of truth. Does any man pretend that the public money is expended in any other way than in the direct promotion of what we term, in contradistinction from heresy, evangelical truth? No one! If any teacher were to become even cold or neutral on such topics, would he not be instantly dismissed? If he were not, they who retained him would be guilty of a breach of trust. We object III. Because, by accepting this money, even for school-houses, we retard instead of promoting the general instruction of the negroes in the West Indies. This is a question of fact. We have retarded it. In is33, Parliament (in order to prepare the negroes for complete emancipation) agreed to sanction an expenditure adequate to the instruction of the negro population; and now in December, 1836, if the question be asked, "What has been done?" the answer must be nothing," or next to nothing. And if it be again inquired, "Where has the little, which has been accomplished, been effected?" the reply must be, "Just in the very spots which needed it least," the localities around which missionary labourers had in the highest degree prepared the people for freedom. And why has nothing more been done? Just because this well-meant but ill-judged experiment of acting through the agency of the missionaries must first be tried and found wanting. We say not that this is the sole cause of the delay, but we do affirm that the idea of something being in progress through the societies, has quieted the conscience of government, and deluded and silenced the public. Eventually the plan must be abandoned; every hour of its conti Duance, therefore, only delays the common schooling of the mass, in order that religious truth (at the expense of the infidel) may be communicated to the few. We object IV. Because, by consenting to the partial promotion of education on sectarian principles, we endanger the religious liberties of all negroes residing in those districts where missionary stations do not at present exist. With what consistency (so long as we take public money for education on our principles) can we object to government placing the education of all those districts where there are no missionaries under the care of the church of England, such schools of course to be carried on upon their principles? Now the principle of the church of England throughout the West Indies is exclusive; she demands that in all cases the formularies of her church shall be introduced, and that all children, as the price of admission into common schools, shall attend the services of her ministers. It may be said, indeed, "this is of little moment in their present condition;" true! but will it be of no moment five, or ten, or twenty years hence? Will the prevalence of such a system form no obstacle to the diffusion of truth, the extension of the missionary field? A moment's reflection will supply the answer. We object V. Because the whole proceeding (that of giving aid to missionary societies) is an evasion of the pledge extorted by Par liament that the education imparted should be on liberal and comprehensive principles. Does any man believe that the House or the country understood by "liberal and comprehensive principles" the inculcation of the peculiarities of different denominations? Not one of these schools is conducted on national principles, each one is under the exclusive control of a peculiar religious body; yet, altogether, viewed as a whole, they form a liberal and comprehensive system"!! Marvellous transformation!! This notion must puzzle a High Churchman, a Quaker, a Unitarian, a Jew, a Catholic, an Infidel, or any one else who is shut out of the management of these schools, amazingly. Do let us have the true-the orthodox explanation. We object VI. Because any large donation of money for a particular station, given in a way which necessarily involves an ever increasing annual expenditure, is, in relation to a missionary society, highly mischievous. Its tendency is to destroy the independence of such an institution, compelling expenditure in a particular direction, absorbing funds which ought to be laid out upon other stations, and drawing away the attention of officers from their peculiar work by the amount of secular business which such a state of things involves. It may be very flattering to this or to that member of a board, to be in the confidence of a minister of state; to receive notes, to hold private conferences, to be consulted; but (let it never be forgotten), while human nature is constituted as it is, this kind of connexion with a government will invariably, to a certain extent, blind the eye and warp the judg ment, and largely occupy the time and thoughts of the parties who are honoured by it. Let it be remembered, too, in relation to the subject immediately in view, that the chief object of a missionary society is the conversion of the heathen. It is among the myriads of the East that we mainly look for the reward of missionary toil, and sad indeed will be the day (should it ever come), when our brethren there shall be neglected, because our funds are mortgaged, if I may use such an expression, to the government in return for their aid towards the education of the negro. We object VII. Because we are convinced that perseverance in the course now pursued will be fatal to the peace and unity of missionary associations. Sophistry may quiet immediate discontent, but it can never permanently satisfy a thoughtful, but disturbed mind. The voluntary principle, as it is termed, is as yet scarcely recognised in the south of Britain; but it will be discussed before long in all its bearings and in all the variety of its applications; and then, woe to the institution that is in any degree fettered and enslaved by compulsory aid! Even now there are hundreds ready to withdraw their subscriptions, not in anger, but in grief, sorrowing that they cannot promote the conversion of the heathen without at the same time sanctioning, nay being parties to what they consider injustice to the world, and degradation to the church. Our objections, then, lie against the principle on which aid has been accepted, as wrong; against the general tendency of the plan, as bad; against the actual working of it, as mischievous. We are quite aware that, in reply, we shall be met by two classes of persons, the devout and the busy. The first, persons whose minds are simply absorbed by the desire of doing immediate good, will say to us, "The negroes are perishing for lack of Divine knowledge, are we to sacrifice their spiritual interests to 'the theories of a party ?" God forbid, we reply; but remember, you are not to do evil that good may come; you are not, in order to do good in your way, to make me a party to that which I esteem as evil. It is true that millions are perishing, and if we could save them by laying down our lives, we believe that Divine grace would enable us to do it; but if we thought we could save the whole world by one single act of injustice to the meanest or vilest creature that breathes, we had rather take the responsibility of leaving all to perish than do that one act. This is the way in which it strikes us a Christian should reason. We exaggerate our own importance when we imagine that everything must be done in our day or not at all. No human arithmetic can calculate the amount of mischief which has been done to the church of the living God by Christian men acting on unsound principles, in the hope of effecting some immediate good. Let us pouder these things. By the "busy," we mean those who are not contented with managing their own affairs, but must meddle with everything within their reach. These will cry out, "But what is government to do?" We should reply, "What is that to thee?" Leave government to manage its own affairs; it is responsible to the people. But we will tell them what government might do, if they were to consider the plan eligible. They might first lay down, in relation to this money, some great general principles on which it should be expended, such as "that all schools built with public money should be open to all the population on equal terms without the introduction of any religious tests whatever; they might then, through the governors, and apart from the colonial legislatures, form local committees composed of those only who were prepared to act on national principles; they might through these channels establish normal schools; and in short put in motion all the machinery requisite for the universal education of the people. Having the command of the purse, they might, if they would, defy alike all bigotry and persecution, whether lay or cle rical. We do not say this would be the best mode of acting; but we do say that in this and in many other ways the object might be effected without any material difficulty. Twenty thousand pounds certainly would not do it, but one pound out of every twenty given to compensate the slave-holder for no loss would abundantly suffice. The deficiency in religious instruction would then be made up by the free and unfettered efforts of the missionaries, consecrated to their sole work, the impartation of religious truth by Sunday-schools and Sabbath services. We are, Sir, Your obedient Servants, &c. A. and B. HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. [We sincerely hope that the following appeal will be warmly responded to by the public.-EDITOR.] The Directors of the Home Missionary Society to British Christians. We beg leave, most earnestly and respectfully, to call the attention of our fellowChristians to the present position, the future prospects, and the urgent claims of the Home Missionary Society. In our last report it was stated, “that during the year ending May, 1836, fifteen new stations had been adopted." It was also stated, as a reason for this increase of stations, "that two legacies of considerable amount had been bequeathed to the society." The following paragraph from the report briefly states the line of conduct we adopted, after accredited information had been conveyed to us of these legacies: "It now became a question of serious consideration with the directors, how to act in regard to the bequests which they expect soon to receive. There were two extremes in the application of them, which they wished to avoid, and which they believe they have avoided. The one was, to fund the legacies; the other was, to expend them as annual income. "The first they felt would not comport with their duty as responsible stewards, while thousands are every day perishing for lack of knowledge, whose souls are of infinitely more value than silver or gold. The latter they saw would soon involve the society in a heavy debt, and plunge many missionaries and their families in deep distress. They therefore, after prayer for Divine direction, and after mature deliberation. adopted a middle course. They have added such a number of agents, as, with former additions, will require about £1,500 per annum above the regular receipts of the society to support. They thus place the onus of reducing the number of missionaries and of relinquishing stations, on the friends of the Redeemer and of their country. But this painful alternative they will not, they dare not anticipate. The very idea of retrenchment in operations so important in their character, and so loudly called for by the spiritual necessities of millions of our countrymen, would not be more painful as it respects the perishing condition of these millions, than it would be as it respects the piety, the zeal, the benevolence, and the patriotism of British Christians." Since the above-mentioned report was read to our constituents at their annual meeting, six months have elapsed. During that period various circumstances have transpired; a donation of £1,000 has been received, four new stations have been adopted; three stations that had been relinquished have been resumed; and several grants to aid pastors of churches in village preaching have been made. The society in these respects has still been progressing, and could it hold on at the same rate of progress, or even sustain its operations to the present extent, the directors would congratulate their friends on the essential service they are rendering to their countrymen. But this, experience is teaching them they cannot do. From the rapidity with which the legacies and donations are melting away, and fresh applications of the most pressing nature are pouring in from all quarters of the country, both for grants and for missionaries, they have forced on them the painful conviction, that now they must decline every application for aid in any shape, and at no distant period begin to reduce the number of stations occupied, unless their Christian brethren come forward more generally and efficiently to their help. About a month ago, a special finance committee was appointed to compare the receipts with the expenditure of the society. The report of that committee is, that we are about £1,800 per annum beyond our regular income. A resolution to admit no fresh applications has been adopted. Thus to arrest the glorious work of evangelizing the vast masses at home, who are still in darkness, is painful; but the prospect of relinquishing stations is agonizing. Merely to relinquish one station consisting, as our stations on an average do, of seven or eight villages, with a scattered population of from 3,000 to 4,000 souls, would require a callousness of feeling which we trust we do not possess; but to relinquish from fifteen to twenty stations, involving in one fell swoop about 50,000 in spiritual destitution, is a work from which we recoil with feelings which we cannot express. If you ask why we have gone so far in advance of the regular income of the society, we reply, first of all, in a few words, for we address Christian brethren who know their meaning, we could not avoid it. The applications for missionaries were so urgent, and the descriptions of temporal poverty and spiritual destitution, on which they were founded, were so distressing, that, with a few thousand pounds in hand, we could not resist them. One by one in succession, they wrung from us, in spite of our prudential reasonings and determinations, a favourable reply. Nor can we conceive how any one, who has a Christian heart, could have acted otherwise, if placed in our situation. Could the progress of sin and death be arrested, we could have doled out at ease £200, £300, or £400 per annum above our regular income for years to come. But when we reflect that during that period death shall have cut down a third or fourth part of the present generation, and shall have placed them for ever beyond the means of grace and salvation, such cold-hearted calculations and timid policy seem to us to partake much more of the wisdom of this world, than of the wisdom that cometh from above, "which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits." But we have more to say in behalf of the line of coduct which we have adopted. It is this-Hitherto the Lord hath provided; and so remarkably has he provided for the Home Missionary Society since its commencement, that we trust we may, without the slightest tincture of presumption or fanaticism, add, Yea, and he will provide. Not a year has yet passed by in its history without our having to record extraordinary supplies, either in the shape of large donations or legacies. A third consideration that urged us forward is the hold which the religious wants of home, and the importance of home missions, have now got of the minds and hearts of British Christians. This is obvious to every one who has watched the progress of events for the last two or three years. Let us connect with this another fact, that the Home Missionary Society has contributed its full share in producing this attention to home, and participates largely in the feelings of patriotic benevolence which have been enkindled. Deeply convinced that the flame which has been kindled is only, as it were, in its commencement; that it is spreading in every direction, and is increasing in degree, and that the liberality which it has prompted is yet far from its maximum, we have ventured forward in anticipation of more liberal support. Having honestly and ingenuously stated our position and prospects, we conclude with a respectful but urgent appeal to you for aid. We appeal to every individual Christian who has and to spare for annual subscriptions. We appeal to ministers and their congregations either for annual collections, or contributions in any other form. In the name of perishing myriads of our countrymen we make this appeal. Bread must be found for this great multitude, or they perish; and it becomes us seriously to ponder at whose hands their blood will be required. We appeal to you in the name of him who, by his own example and authority, has invested home missions with paramount claims, and has assigned them the first place in the order of Christian efforts. Trusting that our appeal will be as affectionately responded to as it is made, we subscribe ourselves, on behalf of the Directors, Your fellow-labourers in the Gospel, THOMAS THOMPSON, Treasurer. STREET CHAPEL, HACKNEY ROAD. The above chapel was opened in January last for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood (see account of the opening in the Magazine for April last), since which time the cause of God in this place has been progressively successful. Soon after the opening, a desire was manifested by some of the friends to be associated in church fellowship, and application was made on the subject to the Rev. Dr. Reed, who advised the propriety of waiting until the latter end of the year, in order to prove the regularity of the attendance. This having been found in every respect satisfactory and encouraging, public notice was given in the chapel in August last, that steps were in progress for the formation of a church, and the friends in the congregation who were desirous of being united to the proposed church were requested to come forward and give expression to their wishes. Twenty persons accordingly gave in their names, and Friday evening, the 28th October, was appointed for the formation and public recognition of the church, at which Dr. Reed presided. The order of the service was as follows:-a hymn was sung, and the Divine presence and blessing were sought in prayer by the Rev. J. Chapman, one of the agents of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society; another hymn was then sung, and the Rev. N. M. Harry, of New Broad Street, addressed the friends who were to be formed into a church in a most affectionate and impressive manner. The 116th Psalm, Dr. Watts's, "What shall I render to my God?" &c., was then sung; and Mr. Sturtevant having offered prayer, Dr. Reed, after a short but most solemn address, pronounced the candidates, who had been previously examined and approved by the ministers present, to be formed and constituted a Christian church, and as such entitled to an interest in the prayers and sympathies of the surrounding churches. The right hand of fellowship was given by all the ministers present; and the Lord's Sup per was then administered to the infant church and a large number of members of other churches who were present. The 13th hymn, 3d book (Watts), was then sung; the Rev. J. West, of Bethnal Green, addressed the friends present; and the Rev. R. M'All concluded the solemn services of the evening by prayer. Thus has a church, consisting of twenty members, been united together in the short space of nine months, and the foundation laid of a cause which we earnestly hope and believe will soon extend itself so as to become a blessing to the very populous neighbourhood in which it is situated; and we trust that the friends of the Redeemer who are labouring and praying that his kingdom may come, and his will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, will not fail to include this infant church in their prayers at a throne of grace, that its cords may be lengthened, and its stakes strengthened, and that many may be added to the number of the disciples here of such as shall be saved. The impression produced by the service was of no ordinary kind, and, we doubt not, will long be remembered by all who were present. DEVONSHIRE SQUARE CHAPEL. At a church meeting, held Nov. 21, in the above place of worship, the following resolution was unanimously passed: "That the most grateful acknowledgments be presented to those ministers who, during the suspension of the labours of their esteemed pastor, Dr. Price, so kindly and efficiently occupied the pulpit." RECENT DEATH. We have to announce the death of that venerable servant of Jesus Christ, the Rev. Dr. Rippon, for more than half a century the laborious pastor of the Baptist church assembling in Tooley Street, Borough. The event took place on the 17th Dec., in the 86th year of his age. PROVINCIAL. HOME AND COLONIAL INFANT SCHOOL SOCIETY. We have learned with pleasure that the Home and Colonial Infant School Society (the resolutions of which were inserted in this Magazine last month) has prepared and placed in situations upwards of thirty teachers, male and female; and that there is the prospect of a demand for as many teachers as they can prepare. This we are disposed to receive as proof of the growing interest taken in infant education, and of the advantages held out by this institution, as respects both the young persons desirous to engage in the work, and the friends and |