other. When the American brethren arrived they urgently desired that a ninth article, on the immortality of the soul, the eternity of future punishment, &c., should be appended. In America, it would appear, infidelity, for the most part, assumes the form of Universalism, and they would have considered the basis as grievously deficient without the proposed ninth article. Much earnest and powerful speaking ensued; deep and solemn convictions were uttered in most impressive language; men, whose unimpeachable conscientiousness would shrink from the compromise of any the smallest item of God's truth, were not less jealous lest they should say or do aught which might wound the heart of a Christian brother, and thus mar the beauty of their felt unity, or should draw the line of demarcation with unnecessary restrictedness. At length the Article IX. was adopted. After which the several articles of the basis were taken into consideration one by one; but after full discussion no important change has been made, except the addition already mentioned.

We boldly affirm, notwithstanding newspaper aspersions, that never for a moment was any ill-feeling produced. One or two brethren, indeed, whilst speak ing, too much overlooked the character of the audience, and indulged in a declamatory style of address, which rather impaired than assisted the impression they hoped to make. And once or twice the assembled brethren, when everything had been said, became impatient that the chairman should put the question; but never was there anything, throughout the whole proceedings, of which the most tender-hearted and conscientious Christian had cause to be ashamed. The transaction of so large an amount of business relating to such delicate and important matters, by so numerous a body of men, in so short a space of time, without limiting individual speakers or in the least encroaching on individual freedom-to say nothing of the admirable spirit that prevailed-we believe to be altogether unexampled in the history of deliberative assemblies. If the devotional meetings testified to the real unity of heart and purpose in those who formed this confederation, the business meetings at once tested and unanswerably proved its soundness and vitality.

BAPTIST UNION OF SCOTLAND.-The Annual Meetings of this Society were held at Perth, on the 5th and 6th August. On the first day, the pastors and delegates from the churches met for preliminary consultation; on the evening of the same day, Mr. Johnstone of Edinburgh preached an interesting and impressive sermon, from Isaiah xxxii. 13-20. The preacher noticed,

I. The lamentable state of things in the church and the world without the Spirit.-II. The glorious change produced by the pouring out of the Spirit from on high.-III. The manifestation of the Spirit in the church.-IV. The duty of the church. The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Mackay and T. Henderson.

On the second day of the meetings, the brethren from a distance, with many of the friends in Perth, met for prayer, at 7 o'clock in the morning. This was a delightful and refreshing season in the experience of many. At 10 o'clock forenoon, the general Committee, consisting of the pastors and delegates from the churches, met for the transaction of business-Mr. Thomson, of Perth, presiding. After prayer by Mr. Blair, the minutes of the last annual meeting were read; also the minutes of the executive committee. Three new churches were admitted into the Union, namely, the Second Church, in Galashiels; the church assembling in Roxburgh-terrace Chapel, Edinburgh; and the church assembling in the New City Hall, Glasgow. The Third Annual Report of the Union was read by Mr. Johnstone, one of the Secretaries: it was highly interesting, and unanimously approved of. The two evangelists, Messrs. Blair and Henderson, were re-appointed for another year-the former to labour for a time in Dundee and neighbouring towns, and the latter in Galashiels and surrounding district. It was agreed that the station at Leith should be supplied, under the direction of Mr. Johnstone, of Edinburgh, in the meantime, for three months. It was also resolved to engage more evangelists, as soon as suitable brethren can be foundmany fields of labour opening up to the Union, which they are unable at present to occupy for want of agents. Mr. Taylor, of Glasgow, gave a report regarding the Magazine, from which it appeared that 2,000 had been sold of each of the

numbers already published, which was approved of. After prayer, the meeting adjourned.

At 4 o'clock, the Committee again assembled, when the letters from the churches were read; the intelligence was interesting. At this meeting, the resolution proposed at the Meeting of the Baptist Home Mission Society, in May last, was read. The resolution adopted by the Union on this subject is subjoined. The next annual meetings of the Union were appointed to be held at Glasgow, on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of August, 1847-Mr. Thomson, of Perth, to preach. It is proper to add, that all the meetings were characterised by the greatest harmony and brotherly affection.

In the evening, a Soirée was held in the chapel-Mr. Thomson presiding. After tea, interesting addresses were delivered by the Chairman, Messrs. Taylor, of Glasgow, Watson of Montrose, and William Landells, Cupar. Messrs. Blair and Henderson, evangelists of the Union, also gave a delightful account of their labours during the year.

THE FREE CHURCH.-The following is a general abstract, showing the whole sums raised for the various objects of the Free Church of Scotland, for the year ending 31st of March, 1846:-

Sustentation fund, £80,290; Building fund, £66,796; Congregational fund, £69,930; Missions and Education, £79,110; Miscellaneous, £4,148; making in all (for we have omitted the fractions of a pound) £300,276 4s. 6d. We may add, as an interesting record of the remarkable prosperity with which God, who alone can open the hearts of men to generous deeds of Christian benevolence, has blessed the Free Church, that the sum-total which has been actually raised from the 18th of May, 1843, to the 31st of March, 1846, amounts to one million, one thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine pounds, seventeen shillings, and ninepence. Let the glory be to God, our bountiful Benefactor; and let our gratitude be shown in the most earnest endeavours to extend His spiritual kingdom in the souls of men. Thus, and thus only, can we render the fruits of the vineyard in their season.

BIRMINGHAM.-A Baptist Church has been formed in Livery-street, in this place. The Revs. T. Swan and C. H. Roe conducted the interesting services. The Rev. A. O'Neale, whose past history is one of no ordinary interest, has become the pastor of the church. There is every prospect of good success to this hopeful young cause.

Mount Zion Chapel was re-opened on the 9th instant, after repairs. £2000 have been subscribed towards the liquidation of the debt; and arrangements for supplying the pulpit till Christmas have been made.

SOUTHAMPTON.-Rev. Alexander M'Laren, B.A., late of Stepney College, University of London, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the church and congregation at Portland Chapel, Southampton.

WALSALL.-The foundation-stone of a new Baptist Chapel was laid in Stafford Street, on Monday, the 10th instant. A public meeting was held in the Independent Chapel, kindly lent for the occasion. The proceedings afforded great pleasure to many.

SABDEN.-The Rev. C. Kirtland, late of Newark, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the Baptist Church in this place.

HERTFORD.-Rev. S. Whitehead was ordained to the pastorate of the Baptist Church here on July 14th. The services were well attended; and great good is anticipated from the labours of Mr. Whitehead.

JAMAICA.-The Rev. J. Woolley has left the island for the United States.

J. Hasler, Printer, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London,

ASIA.

GHAUT AT HURDWAR.

On the banks of the Ganges, in the province of Delhi, very near the territory of the Seiks, is a town called Hurdwar, at which a fair is held annually in the month of April. Pilgrims flock thither to bathe in the Ganges, the time being deemed by the brahmins peculiarly auspicious; while myriads of buyers and sellers repair to the spot, to transact business in cattle, shawls, jewels, and many other kinds of merchandise. Prefixed is a view of one of the principal ghauts, at which visitors land and ablutions are performed. Missionaries are accustomed to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by these scenes, to meet multitudes to whom they could not otherwise gain access, and proclaim to them the glad tidings. In a recent letter, Mr. Thompson says, "One of the hearers at Hurdwar, who followed and joined us at Gurhmukteshwar, has now been united to the Christian church by baptism, making the second of my Hurdwar hearers, and the fifth of the pilgrims at both fairs, who have joined us from the ranks of the heathen. Two of these, Sukha Mirr and Budd Seu, are now, I humbly trust, before the throne, having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, whilst the remaining three are in the vineyard of their Lord on earth."

The course adopted by our brethren on these occasions, and the reception with which they meet, are described in a letter written by Mr. Williamson of Sewry last May, a portion of which will be found on a subsequent page.

SERAMPORE.

Our brethren at this station are making arrangements for rendering the college buildings available to the interests of the community, and especially for training converted natives of India for missionary service. There is very much in the following letter from Mr. Denham, dated May 21st, that will afford the reader pleasure.

It must not be forgotten years have passed, my efforts, at no very distant period I hope away since the duties of the college were to see two or three young men, as the first suspended, that every thing is to be done, even to the obtaining of pupils. Our intention is to commence as soon as possible, and to prosecute our work noiselessly until such time shall elapse as will test its character and ensure general confidence. Workmen are now on the building to do what may be necessary, and we hope to be in a position to receive students in the course of a month or six weeks from the present date. Having proceeded so far in the work of the station, a place so dear yet so long overlooked, I begin to look forward with anxiety to this additional branch of labour, and to the reinforcement of the mission from the AngloIndian young men and the more promising native members of our churches. If God graciously spare my life and health, and bless

fruits, speaking the languages and able to preach the glorious gospel of the blessed God to the people. After these may we not hope to furnish one or two young men successively to strengthen the hands of our brethren? By these means your cares as well as our own would be lightened, to say nothing of the saving of expense with regard to the funds of the society. To expect a succession of labourers from Europe to meet the growing emergencies of the Indian field, is to expect what is utterly hopeless and undesirable. The men we should be anxious to see multiplied in our churches in India, are such men as brethren Thompson, Smith, Page, and Robinson; while such men as Smylie (who is one of the humblest men in India) would be raised up amongst us from among the

middle class Europeans who visit the land. These men all speak the languages like the natives, and possess an intimate knowledge of the native character. With one exception, they were all from Serampore. Another and similar band is now required to aid in the work, and to supply the many desolate spots which otherwise will not hear the gospel for years to come. You have set an object before me, which I am ready and willing to follow, and I hope in a reasonable time to satisfy you we have not laboured in vain; in the meantime remember me in your prayers at the throne of heavenly grace, that health, and strength, and God's blessing may be upon

me.

May I here introduce to your notice a memorandum I found among the papers of the late Mr. Mack? It is not in his handwriting, but I know the hand, and coming as it does from a man who had been a half century in the work, may entitle it to some consideration. To suit the place I have slightly abridged it.

sentiments and mode of operations be based
on scriptural warrant and apostolic example.
"God has visited the Gentiles, and taken
out of them a people, and after our departure'
we are anxious that as a people they may be
established, and by them the boundaries of
the church be extended. The duty we owe
to God, to ourselves, and to our successors,
as well as the heathen, urge us to make some
effort to accomplish this, or at least to take
some precautionary measures to facilitate it.
Every reader of the New Testament must be
aware of the similarity of our work with the
early teachers of Christianity, and it would
be well for us did we follow them more
closely in preaching and teaching the gospel.
They were not, generally speaking, pastors,
but evangelists; some few may have been
settled over particular churches, as perhaps
James at Jerusalem, but the majority were
left free for labour. Scripture, as well as the
necessity of the case, urges this on our atten-
tion. With the exception of those of our
number who may be engaged as translators,
printers, tutors, and so on, the missionary
should be left free from pastoral charge for
instance, let a pergunnah or several pergun-
nahs, be considered as a missionary sphere.
In order to effective labour, the missionary
should have the entire oversight, together
with the East Indian and native preachers, as
many as may be afforded him. Let these, as
circumstances may require, be appointed
pastors and teachers; let the teachers be
settled in the most promising central villages
to raise new bands of Christians; let the
missionary be at liberty to visit every part
periodically, and let all meet occasionally as
brethren for mutual consultation and prayer.
Thus would the superintendent be in a posi-
tion to instruct, encourage, reprove, or com-
fort, and be prepared to enter on new plans
of usefulness, as circumstances might require,
and an important step would be gained to-
wards attaining that unity of purpose neces
sary to efficient labour, which is enjoined and
sanctioned by the apostolical founders of our
faith.

"May I be permitted to suggest a few plain thoughts which have occurred to me while thinking of the cause of Christ in India? Though they appear to my own mind practicable, and the plan they are intended to illustrate adapted to missionary operations in general, yet I fear they will expose me to the charge of exercising myself in things too high for me. If an apology be necessary, I will make one. The subject has long held my attention, and I have surveyed it again and again in the field of labour, and am prayerfully anxious to learn the way by which its millions may be effectually won to the Saviour. I have dwelt on this almost to despondency; for it is a fact known to all the churches, we are in numerical strength much less efficient than we were twenty years ago. We have been called to mourn the removal of many beloved brethren and devoted fellowlabourers by death; the strong men of the mission-men who had braved the storms which laid their contemporaries low. The time is now come for us to turn the facts before us to profit, and endeavour to make the "Another important point would be likebest possible use of the men and the means wise gained; our East Indian and native we can command, for we have little reason to brethren would be raised from their present expect the European and American churches anomalous position, to one similar to that will send a strong re-inforcement to India. which the primitive converts attained, and They have in hand already plans which ren- which our friends at home expect. Many of der this next to impossible, it is therefore our East Indian brethren may be included, imperatively necessary for us to do something these being fitted to become pastors; their with the materials we have at our command. local knowledge, key to the native mind, and The Master may soon summon us to follow their adaptation to the climate, point them out our fathers and brethren to our long home. as better qualified, other things being equal, "We shall have little occasion to depart from the faith and practice of our ancestors; may the spirit, and piety, and prudence that characterized their measures, mark our own, while at the same time we are careful our

*The late Mr. Moore, of Monghyr.

for this office; though some might be employed to greater advantage in particular spheres of labour. The plan appears to possess a third recommendation, it would give an aspect of stability to our operations, as well as greatly promote them. In case of death or removal by illness or other causes, stations