the introductory discourse, which was a most able, full, and candid statement, of our reasons for dissent; the Rev. J. Jackson, of Green Hammerton, asked the usual questions, and with much fervour and solemnity offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. T. Smith, A.M. of Rotherham College, gave the charge to the minister, from Acts xx. 28, which was distinguished by great affection, pertinence, and practical utility; and the Rev. W. L. Prattman concluded the service with prayer.

In the evening, in the Wesleyan Chapel, which was kindly offered for the purpose, after prayer by the Rev. T. Smith, A.M., the Rev. James Parsons of York, with great faithfulness and power, addressed the church and congregation, from Acts ix. 31, and then concluded with prayer. Hymns were given out in the course of the services, by the Rev. Messrs. Jackson, of Staindrop, Roe, of Middleton (Baptist), Allason, of Feetham, Bruce, of Lofthouse, Jackson, of Green Hammerton, and Hawthorn (Wesleyan).

The services of the day, as was manifest by the countenances of the crowded audiences by which they were attended, were deeply interesting and affecting, and have produced an impression which it is hoped will be useful and lasting.

At the close of the morning service, the ministers and friends dined together, after which a very interesting account of the progress of religion in Barnard Castle and its neighbourhood was given by the Rev. W. L. Prattman, and the subject of the proposed Congregational Union was very ably discussed.

The ordination of the Rev. D. Senior, of the Independent College, Rotherham, over the united church of Fairburn and Brotherton, took place on Wednesday, May 30th, in the Wesleyan Chapel, Brotherton. In the morning, the Rev. J. Robertson, of Selby, commenced the services by the reading of the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. Rawson, of Pontefract, delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed the usual questions; the Rev. J. D. Lorraine, of Wakefield, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. T. Scales, of Leeds, gave the charge; and the Rev. J. Armstrong, of Wortley, concluded with prayer. In the evening, after prayer by Rev. W. Gothard, of Knottingley, the Rev. J. Pridie, of Halifax, preached to the church and congregation, and closed the impressive and interesting solemnities with prayer.

The Rev. Ebenezer Prout was ordained over the Independent church at Oundle, Northamptonshire, on Wednesday, 20th of June. Rev. D. Parkins, of Aldwinkle, opened the morning service by reading the Scrip

tures and prayer; the Rev. R. Halley, clas sical tutor at Highbury College, delivered the introductory discourse; Rev. T. Haynes, of Boston, asked the usual questions; Rev. T. Toller, of Kettering, offered the ordination prayer; Rev. J. Blackburn, of London, gave the charge; and the Rev. C. T. Sevier, of Wellingborough, concluded with prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. E. Prust, of Northampton, read and prayed; Rev. J. Robertson, of Wellingborough, preached to the people; and the Rev. C. J. Hyatt, of Northampton, closed the interesting and most impressive services with prayer.

On Tuesday, June the 26th, the Rev. Thomas Giles was ordained to the pastoral office over the Independent Church at Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks. The Rev. G. Newbury, of Burnham, offered the first prayer; the Rev. J. Statham, of Amersham, read the Scriptures and prayed; the Rev. T. G. Stamper, of Uxbridge, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. J. Harsant, of Beaconsfield, asked the usual questions; the Rev. W. Sexton, of Chesham, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Jukes, of Yeovil, Mr. Giles's pastor, gave a suitable and impressive charge; and the Rev. J. Hall, of Chesham, preached to the people. The Rev. Messrs. Weston, of Wooburn, Allom, of Missenden, and West, of Chenies, engaged in the other devotional exercises, Appropriate hymns were read by the Rev. T. Styles, of Marlow, and the Rev. J. Cooper, of Amersham. The whole of the services were deeply interesting, and will be long remembered by the ministers and friends who were present.

On Wednesday, June 27th, the Rev. J. G. Hewlett, late of Newbury, Berks, was ordained to the pastoral care of the Indepen dent church at Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The Rev. W. Wild, of Harborough, commenced the services of the day by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. T. Price, of Devonshire-square, London, described the nature of a Christian church; the Rev. Walter Scott, of Rowell, received the confession of faith, asked the usual questions, and offered the ordination prayer, with im position of hands; and the Rev. Dr. Col lyer delivered an impressive and appropriate charge to the new minister from 2 Tim. ii. 15. The Rev. E. Webb, of Leicester, concluded the morning service with prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. T. W. Percy, of Warwick, preached to the people from 2nd Epistle of John 8. The Rev. Messrs. Mursell and Trestrail conducted the devotional services.

The Independent church and congregation at Lutterworth appear to have now presented to them the prospect of much comfort and

prosperity in the settlement among them of the Rev. J. G. Hewlett at their unanimous invitation.

The services of the day were numerously attended by the ministers and Christian friends of the country. They were of a peculiarly interesting and it is hoped profitable character, both to the parties more immediately concerned, and to those from other Christian societies who attended on the occasion.

On Whit-Monday the Rev. Charles Thomas, of Cheshunt College, was ordained at Netley Tabernacle, Gloucestershire, as an evangelist. An excellent and judicious charge was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Griffith, of Cam; and a sermon addressed to the people on their duties by the Rev. Benjamin Parsons, of Ebley. The Rev. George Neaton, of Dursley, John Lewis, of Wotten, John H. Cox, of Uley, and other neighbouring ministers, engaged in the services. The day was marked by much spiri tual enjoyment, and the statements of present and the prospects of future success are truly animating.

The Rev. Joseph Fox, late of Hull, has accepted an unanimous invitation to the pastoral office from the congregation of Howardstreet Chapel, Sheffield, and has entered on his stated duties at that place.

The Rev. R. Ashton, late of Dedham, Essex, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the church at Warminster, Wilts., and commenced his labours there on the last sabbath in August.

FOREIGN.

POPERY IN THE UNITED STATES.

It is not, perhaps, so generally known in this country as it should be, that, in consequence of the immense tide of emigration which is rolling on towards the shores of the western world from Ireland and other parts of e papal dominions, popery-that system of imprety and imposture-is most alarmingly on the increase in that country, and threatens, by pursuing a course of vigorous and artful proselytism, to undermine the foundation of Christianity, and to root up the tree of liberty which has afforded its grateful shade to so many thousands of our own and other climes. In America, so highly distinguished as it is for the gracious and sovereign effusions of the Spirit's influences, there are half a million papists ready at a moment's warning to take up arms in defence of their unhallowed religion, and spread desolation and death through that now peaceful and flourishing quarter of the globe; and every wave that lashes the western shores of the Atlantic, bears on its

bosom a reinforcement to this already formidable army.

Protestants, however, are not asleep. There are many in whom breathes the inspiration of Luther, and Melancthon, and Huss, and Wickliffe; upon whom the mantles of these noble reformers have descended, and who dare to make a firm and uncompromising stand against this Hydra of Antichrist.

In the contest, however, which is now carrying on with the Jesuits in that country, they feel most lamentably the want of standard works on the popish controversy, as books of reference, evidence, &c. The object of the writer in making this communication, is to lay before Christian ministers and others the difficulties under which our American friends labour in pursuing this contest from the above cause; and thus publicly to express a hope, that, should there be reposing undisturbed on the shelves of any of our ministers' or public libraries, duplicates of any of the standard authors on this controversy, there would be no reluctance on the part of their owners in transporting them to the new world, where they might again do the wonders of former times.

The following extract from a letter addressed to the Rev. Octavius Winslow, of London, by the editor of the New York "Protestant," will more explicitly unfold the object of this appeal :

New York, May, 1832. MY DEAR SIR.Having heard that you are about to return to the United States, I beg to remind you that any books upon popery, especially the standard authors, would be invaluable to us here. I am continually at a loss for documents and books of refe rence. No present could be more acceptable than one hundred volumes of the best works upon popery and Jesuitism, ancient and modern, and these could be obtained in London immediately. We have organized a regular public discussion with the papists in this city, and the priestly foxes are continually calling upon us for documents, proofs, evidence, &c., and you know that, in these respects, we are most lamentably deficient. You could not perform a more beneficial service to the protestant cause than to bring over with you a quantity of the most important books upon the papal controversy. Any minister in England would certainly devote a superfluous book from his library in consi. deration of the public purposes to which it was to be consecrated in the warfare in this country. I am, your friend and brother, G. BOUDNE.

The writer of this communication would only add, that any books on this subject, addressed to the Rev. Octavius Winslow, from America, and left in care of Mr. R. Baynes, Paternoster Row, would be thank. fully received, and promptly forwarded. London, July 20, 1832.

REV. WILLIAM BISHOP.

Died, on Monday, the 23rd inst., of paralysis, in his 67th year, the Rev. William Bishop, nearly thirty-eight years pastor of the Independent church, Gloucester. His first attack took place in his own house on the first Sunday in May, when preparing to enter his pulpit. The necessary aid was instantly obtained, and he so far recovered as to administer the eucharist on the first Lord'sday in June. A second attack shortly followed early on a Sabbath morning, when he had purposed to preach. This attack enfeebled him greatly, and excited among his friends the serious apprehension that his ministerial duties were ended. A slight amendment, however, took place, and he again, and for the last time, administered the eucharist to his church on the first Sabbath in July. On Tuesday, the 17th inst., he was present at a special prayer-meeting in his own chapel, convened to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God under the scourge of Cholera, which had recently visited the city. He engaged in prayer, at considerable length, and with great earnestness. On the following Thursday, he determined to address the people of his charge. He was assisted, with considerable difficulty, into the desk; when, after engaging in prayer, he addressed the congregation, with peculiar feeling, from Psalm cxii. 7. "His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." After proceeding for about fifteen minutes, his voice faltered, he fell back, beckoning for assistance, and was immediately carried into his house by one of his members, a powerful man, to whom he said, "HAPPY-HAPPYHAPPY!" Every means that affection or medical skill could suggest, were employed to alleviate his sufferings; in the course of the night he became insensible, and, on the following Monday, expired, closing a life of great usefulness and piety. His loss will be long felt, not only in his own church, but in the churches of the county generally.

REV. WILLIAM WILLIAMS.

L.

It falls to our painful lot to record the departure from this life of the Rev. William Williams, late pastor of the Independent church and congregation at Norwood, in the county of Surrey. This event, which has plunged his family into the deepest distress, took place at his residence in the King's Road, Chelsea, on Thursday, Aug. 2, 1832. On the preceding Friday, Mr. W. was attacked with sudden illness, which increased notwithstanding every attempt of his medical attendants to check its progress, until it terminated fatally on the sixth day from its commencement. The sufferings from the disease were of the most painful nature, but were

sustained with almost incredible fortitude. During the Monday and Tuesday, the family were led to cherish hopes, from some favourable symptoms of the disease, that the valuable life of Mr. W. would still be spared; but these anticipations were painfully disappointed, and during the whole of Wednesday the sufferer rapidly sunk, until, at ten minutes past ten o'clock on the Thursday morning, his spirit entered the mansions of eternal rest. On the Tuesday preceding his dissolution, his medical attendant, a pious member of the Church of England, expressed his surprise at the wonderful serenity and composure he manifested. He said, 66 Mr. W., if you should recover, it will be entirely owing to the astonishing calmness of mind you possess." The reply was, "Yes, Sir, it is all peace within." On the last day spent by this holy man on earth, one of his Norwood members called to see him, and asked, "How does your mind feel?" He replied, with as much emphasis as his weakness would admit, "It is in perfect peace." This uninterrupted tranquillity of mind he retained to the last. And when he had waited his appointed time, he fell asleep, without a struggle or a groan, in the 59th year of his age. His remains were deposited in the burial-ground at Norwood, when the Rev. R. H.Shepherd delivered an impressive address over the grave. Mr. W. has left a widow and numerous family, the greater part of whom are dependent on their bereaved parent. He has left behind him two sons in the ministry. The elder son was ordained in December last, when Mr. W. delivered an affectionate charge, which was subsequently published in the Home Missionary Magazines for April and May. Amongst his pa pers has been found a charge prepared for delivery at the ordination of the other son. This, at the particular request of many of the friends of the deceased, will shortly be published, with a short Prefatory Memoir. Oh, that this mysterious providence may be blessed to them, and that they may be taught to work while it is called to-day, seeing the hour ap proaches wherein no man can work!

REV. SAMUEL ROOKER.

On the 9th of August died, aged 64, the Rev. Samuel Rooker, of Bideford. In 1807 he succeeded in the pastoral office the Rev. Samuel Lavington, the well-known author of several volumes of valuable sermons; having assisted him in his ministerial duties since 1795; and, till his death, he continued the beloved and highly esteemed pastor of the Independent church and congregation at Bideford. He departed this life in humble hope of salvation, through a crucified Redeemer.