Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

in the green. Upon which determination, (the act being in open defiance of the opposing majority of the congregation,) there arose such disturbance, as induced the Presbytery to retire, and ordain their candidate in a house in the village.

Here we cannot avoid seizing the opportunity of warning the people to beware of ever being provoked to the most trivial breach of the peace. We approve of their asserting and preserving their right to their Meeting-house; and, in this, we doubt not, the law of the land will protect them. But we deprecate even the most trivial act of violence, were it but the moving of a finger, a word of disrespect, or but a look of anger. The servant of God must be faithful, but he must not strive;" and most triumphantly will he defend the doctrine of "God his Saviour," when forbearance, and meekness, and gentleness are the only weapons of his warfare."

[ocr errors]

Subsequent to this ordination, the Meeting-house continued to be occupied by a few of the Synodical congregation; but, for fear of the Arians coming in, and raising disturbance, by another attempt to occupy the pulpit, or retain the house, they determined to keep the doors closed, and continue their religious services in the green, in which, upon the other side of the Meeting-house, the Arian party also had their service at the same time.

Under these circumstances, it was proposed by the Arian party, that the keys of the Meeting-house should be delivered up to a member of the Established Church, until the right to the Meeting-house should be settled by law. Some disagreement, as to the terms, having prevented this plan from being carried into effect, it was determined between the parties, that "the opinion of counsel should be taken, as to the manner in which the Orthodox party might resign the keys, without compromising any right, or supposed right, derived from their possession of the Meetinghouse." And it was resolved, that, to avoid all possibility of collision of the parties, they should no longer assemble in the green, nor should the Arian party make any attempt to take possession of the house. This negociation was carried on, and completed, under the auspices of Colonel Forde, of Seaforde, and Major Rainey, of Mount-Panther, to both of whom, the Presbyterian people are deeply indebted, for the prudence, patience, and good will, which they displayed upon the occasion.

Upon Tuesday, the 3d inst. the Rev. F. Dill was translated from Ray, in Donegal, to the pastoral charge of Clough. The Rev. Messrs. Bell, of Clare, Patterson of Glenturbet, and Wright, of Annahilt, officiated upon the occasion.

The call to Mr. Dill was signed by upwards of two hundred heads of families; and, from his well-known talents, faithfulness, and zeal, there can be no doubt of a large and speedy addition to the congregation.

The application to counsel has not yet been made. The Meeting-house, consequently, remains still unopened. In our next number, we doubt not, we shall be able to communicate the intelligence, that all matters have been fully arranged, and that the Orthodox congregation shall continue in full possession of the Meeting-house of their fathers, and under the cheering influence of the doctrines of the Gospel.

THE INFLUENCE OF PIOUS WOMEN IN PROMOTING A REVIVAL OF RELIGION.

From a Petersburgh Correspondent of the Bible Society, July 26, 1829.

ONE of the most interesting persons among my Christian acquaintance is Mrs. - -; a woman of little stature, but of uncommon sprightliness and energy of mind. It was the peculiar privilege of this devoted Christian to be brought up by a lady distinguished for benevolence; who sometimes took her as her companion, when she visited the abodes of misery and woe; and at other times sent her as the almoner of her bounty, to relieve their distresses. By this means she acquired a talent for conversing with the poor in various languages, in a familiar, affectionate, and instructive manner-a talent which has since proved invaluable, and which a gracious God has blessed to the good of many. Those persons who have never made the attempt, can form no conception of the difficulty of conversing in this way: yet those who are beginning to engage in the delightful work, should be greatly encouraged by the assurance, that this, like every other talent, becomes brighter by being used.

About seven years ago, the excellent Princess Mmet with Mrs.

; and after conversing with her a short time, the Princess said, "Are you not an English woman?" She answered, “Yes,” Do you ever go to chapel ?" "No!" "Then come along with me," said the Princess; "6 step into my carriage; I am going, and I will take you thither." She consented; and it may truly be said, that now commenced her happiness. Before this period, she was an intelligent, industrious, and kindhearted woman; now she became a religious one. Her labours were transformed into Christian labours; and were followed up with an ardour and perseverance I have never seen exceeded in her visits to the poor she now carried books and tracts, as well as food and raiment; and when she found persons unable to read, which was frequently the case, she made it a point to read to them, and to explain what they could not understand.

I consider her prompt assistance as, in a great measure, instrumental to my becoming extensively engaged in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. She gave me two of the first Finnish Bibles that ever passed through my hand; and when there was a great demand for the Sacred Volume in that language, she actually sold her watch, in order to furnish one hundred Bibles to the poor, at reduced prices. This was a noble effort in the cause of God; it augured well as to future usefulness; and the expectations which were excited by it have been more than realized. We hear of ladies in England taking a part of a district, and using every effort to put the inhabitants of it in possession of the word of God. I rejoice at it-we bless God for itbut this pious woman has taken a whole city for her sphere, and perambulated it alone; and has succeeded beyond all expectations. In the course of a few months, she has sold more than one thousand five hundred Bibles, and Testaments, and Psalters; and in this blessed work she is still actively engaged.

In labours so abundant, a variety of interesting particulars have come to our knowledge. One of the most striking and important is as follows:-She furnished a certain poor family with a Psalter; it was the first sacred book they ever possessed; and it was hoped that great good would result from it. Accordingly, in the course of a week, my friend called to see what had become of the newly purchased volume. As she entered the room, she found

a young person reading it; and after a few observations on the excellency of the Scriptures, Mrs. took the Psalter, and read the psalm which begins with, "Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is covered, unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." A thin partition separated this family from several others, some of whom, hearing an unusual conversation, came in. Another, and another followed, until seventeen persons were sitting or standing around her, listening to the words of Eternal Life. This was a fine opportunity, and it was not permitted to pass unimproved. She explained to them the nature of Divine forgiveness, and the only way in which it can be obtained; showed them how desirable it is to possess this blessedness; and then pressed home the important question to their conscience, "Do you possess this blessedness? Do you see your need of it? Do you earnestly desire it?" At these solemn appeals, one woman began to weep, and walked away. "Stop," said my warm-hearted friend, "stop; remember that our Lord Jesus shed tears over the sins of others, and it is no disgrace for you to weep over your own sins. Come back, and hear more about it." The woman returned, and the subject was continued, until the place became a Bochim, "a place of weepers ;" every one was in tears; and when she arose to come away, they asked her, with much solicitude, "When will you come to see us again?" I am happy to say, she has been to see them again, and has provided them with fifty copies of the First Book for Children; and hundreds of persons in the neighbourhood are now deriving advantages from her visit: some are learning the alphabet, others are reading the Scriptures, with which she has furnished them; and others are listening, perhaps for the first time in their existence, to the joyful sound, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

66

Is not this cheering? Is not this the way to promote a revival? If only one in twenty of the disciples of Christ were to evince an equal solicitude for the salvation of sinners, it would soon turn the wilderness into a fruitful field.

72

ORDINATIONS.-On Tuesday the 3d inst. the Committee appointed by the Synod of Ulster, for managing the affairs of the Presbyterian Congregation of Clough, in the County of Down, assembled at said place for the purpose of installing the Rev. Francis Dill, formerly Presbyterian Minister of Ray, in the County Donegal. The Committee having received most satisfactory credentials from the Presbytery of Letterkenny, respecting Mr. Dill's soundness in the faith, his unblemished moral character, his intellectual acquirements, and his zeal for the interests of pure and undefiled religion, proceeded to set him apart as the Pastor of Clough Congregation, in connexion with the Synod, and as successor to the late Rev. William Campbell.

The services of the day were commenced by the Rev, John Bell, of Clare, who preached an impressive sermon from Galatians, vi. 14.

The Rev. Alexander Patterson, of Glenturbet, proceeded to explain the nature of Presbyterian Ordination, and, in a learned and eloquent manner, proved, from the Scriptures, that it was consistent with the word of God, and from the Fathers, that it was the practice of the Christian Church in its earliest ages.

The Rev. Dr. Wright, of Annahilt, then proceeded to put the necessary questions to Mr. Dill, all of which were answered in the affirmative. Dr. Wright then delivered, to the Minister and people of Clough, a most impressive and eloquent charge. The business of the day was then concluded with prayer.

An immense concourse of people was assembled from various parts of the surrounding neighbourhood. The Ministers present, and upwards of 100 of the congregation, retired for dinner to the school-house erected by Major Rainey, which had been kindly fitted up by that gentleman for the purpose.

On Thursday, the 5th inst. the Rev. John Hanna was ordained by the Presbytery of Clogher to the pastoral charge of the congregation of Carntall, in the County Tyrone, as assistant aud successor to the Rev. Andrew. Miller. The Rev. James M'Williams, of Maguire's-Bridge, commenced the services of the day with singing and prayer, and preached a sermon from the text, 1st Cor. ii. 2. The Rev. Ephriam Stephenson, of Enniskillen, defended the right of the people to choose their own Pastor, and proved that the Presbyterian made of ordination was the only one sanctioned by the infallible authority of Scripture. Mr. Stephenson then offered up the ordination prayer, during which Mr. Hanna was set apart to the sacred office of the ministry, by the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery. The Rev. James Philips, of Five-mile-town, concluded the solemn services of the day by an address to the young Minister and the congregation. In the evening, the Ministers, Elders, and other strangers, were entertained at dinner by the congregation, at which Andrew Millar, Esq. presided.

On Wednesday, the 11th inst. the Rev. W. D. Killen, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Ballymena, was ordained to the pastoral charge of the congregation of Raphoe, by the Committee of Synod, appointed at the meeting in Lurgan. The Rev. W. M'Clure, of Derry, commenced the services of the day, by preaching an excellent sermon from Rev. xiv. 6. He was followed by the Rev. Henry Kidd, of Boveva, who ably defended the fundamental principles of Presbyterianism. The Rev. W. Monteith, of Glendermot, offered up the ordination prayer, and afterwards delivered the usual charge to Minister and people. Throughout the day the utmost harmony and unanimity prevailed.

« EdellinenJatka »