"household," it would go far towards doing away with the arguments employed against infant baptism. We have learnt, and trust we shall profit, by your expe. rience. I have said that Canada is free from many evils to which you are subject. I have the happiness of telling you, that two dignitaries of the episcopal church have been dismissed from our legislative council during the last two years, and that now there is no such person troubled with legislative duties. It has now been determined that there shall be no ecclesiastical personages in our House of Lords. The last session of our legislature was an exceedingly important one, being the first after the death of Lord Sydenham, and the union of the provinces. I have the pleasure of telling you that, not from one party, but from all parties, I received copies of almost every act of the assembly which had even been brought under discussion. They were sent to me by persons to whom I had never spoken, and were accompanied by a request that I would examine them, and see if they favoured any bad views. I had the hap piness of repeatedly striking out the phrases, " clergy of the church of England," and “dissenting ministers,” and placing all parties under the common denomination of ministers. There is an attempt made by the episcopal party, to appropriate to themselves a distinct title. They make this distinction at the meetings of Bible and other societies, and by the distinction of phraseology and recommendation, they seek to establish and set themselves up as the church. Now we are very ambitious ourselves in this matter; so ambitious, that in order to prevent any other party from setting themselves up as the church, and calling us dissenters; we have determined always to erect a steeple when we are building a place of worship, and we actually do it. It is astonishing what may be done when the necessity arises. We have found the means of erecting steeples at a very cheap rate. It may sound ludicrous, but depend upon it that in the formation of communities and societies it is exceedingly important to anticipate prejudices, and to crush them out of existence while they are yet small. When we arrived in Canada, we found that the Gospel was much preached in the settled parts of the country; in others, there was very great destitution; but even where religion existed to a considerable extent, it greatly needed the infusion of your distinctive sentiments. I believe the supremacy, the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, is by no means rightly understood. What I mean by the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus Christ, is, his entire and exclusive right to enact laws for the government of his church, and the entire absence of ecclesiastical legislation by individuals and bodies. There is a general lowering of the standard of church communion in that colony. In our body communion turns not upon attachment to this or that church; but upon the credible evidence of personal godliness. I fear that amongst some others there is a great lowering of the standard of communion, and that the general character of their religion is that of a species of momentary excitement— a conversion which requires to be repeated next week, and to be very frequently reproduced. Now, Sir, it may be asked what have we done in Canada. Five What great moral years is the term of your operations in Western Canada. changes could you expect in that period? It has, however, pleased God to enable us to do much. Though our body is small, and our numbers are but few, our moral influence in the community is by no means weak. Our principles, as I am informed by persons who have no prejudices in their favour, are recognised and approved by large and influential bodies of colonists who are seeking to carry them into general operation. If we are small, I trust that we have the principle of vitality amongst us: that principle which makes the grain of mustard-seed to possess verdure and bring forth increase. We have the principle of vitality, I trust, both in the doctrines which we hold, and in the spirit by which we are animated. There is amongst us perfect union, which is, however, perfectly compatible with Independency, for we value and love both. Ours is that species of union which might exist between two vessels

bound for the same port, which, though they would take care not to be lashed together lest storms should founder them, would render mutual assistance as they proceeded to the same destination. Such is the character of our Union. Is is a union to promote our personal happiness, our personal efficiency, and the extension of the cause of religion. I have seen a little axe, not larger than my hand, which has swept away whole forests, which have been replaced by thousands of smiling farms, that have yielded subsistence to thousands of families. I trust, Sir, we have the moral axe, and that we shall be able to clear away a forest still more deadly, still more drear, than that which is physical and evident to the senses. Let me express a hope that the colonial subject will from this time be more deeply pondered by the brethren throughout the country. I see many here this morning who ought to be on the other side of the Atlantic-men who have philosophy enough to apply their principles to new circumstances. How much would such men be elevated by having such a work before them. It is true that they might preach only to small congregations, but then they would have a great number of them. I have known persons throughout every day in the week, even in harvest, meet together to hear the word of God. If there are only a dozen persons, they are becoming the founders of families from which shall issue the future population of the colony; the formation of their views and habits is, therefore, of very great importance. Canada is the principal of our colonies; what we do in that colony, therefore, will form a precedent for the guidance of other colonies. This question affects the colonial office, because they cannot repudiate in one colony a principle which they have established in another. What have we not gained by obtaining a recognition of the principle, that the phrase "Protestant clergy," in an act of parliament, does not exclusively mean the clergy of the Church of England? I apprehend that if you had done nothing more than obtain the unanimous decision of the judges upon that question, you would have achieved an important work. We will go on. Only strengthen us, only strengthen us, in the work. I know there are some who will say, "What a climate you have got in Canada." Why, the man who would say that, is not a man whom I should ask to go to Canada. We do not want the man who wishes to go where there is no difficulty, where all is smooth. I love my native country. I have often felt the force of the lines of Walter Scott:

"Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,

This is my own, my native land."

But let me here say, that I would not exchange the climate of England for that of Canada. You have severer winters, as regards the senses, than ours. None of us suffer from the climate; not even the little children. We want our roads to be improved; and now that we have got our government reformed, there is nothing to hinder that our ways should be mended also. Let it be remembered, that in Canada Christianity is now exerting no influence, through us, on the Canadian Indians. There are thousands of heathen Indians who are not touched by the London Missionary Society; we applied to them for assistance, and they told us that they could not afford to assist us. But we glory in our infirmities; when we are weak, then are we strong. We have made provision for sending Christian missionaries to the Indians of the Western frontier; already we have had an offer of a minister to go to those Pagans for the purpose of preaching to them the Gospel; and when opportunity arises, we shall avail ourselves of this offer. But there is no influence exerted upon the aborigines of the Western territory in Canada, except by us. There are openings beyond us. Let but churches be established, and they soon might be established, and they would send

the Gospel to the native tribes beyond them, till we shall reach the distant shores of the Pacific, and there meet what you are doing on the other side. I trust there are many present who will live to see the time when the Congregational churches of Canada will have a large share in the evangelization of the wandering and miserable hordes of Indians on our western frontier, teaching them the same doctrines which are held by this Union, and producing there the same effects which have been produced in our own country.

J. CONDER, Esq. would be glad to hear from Mr. Roaf what is the name which they gave in Canada to ecclesiastical edifices.

The Rev. J. ROAF said, the name commonly given is church. The ministers had it in contemplation to call each other bishops, and as soon as they could get rid of their feeling of delicacy on the subject, they would probably adopt that title.

J. CONDER, Esq. said he had a friend settled for some time in the island of Jersey, who was accustomed to give the name of Congregational church to his place of worship. This had proved to be a point of no small importance. He had been accused of taking a great liberty in giving that name to a dissenting edifice, and had been the object of angry attack from the opposite party. It was evident that they were well aware of the importance of that phraseology.

The Rev. JOHN NISBET, pastor of the second Congregational church, Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land, after a few prefatory observations as to the circum. stances which had induced him to appear before the meeting, continued as follows: I have no particular information to convey to you respecting the state of things in Van Dieman's Land. The colony being situated at so great a distance from our native country, we felt it to be of the utmost importance, in an early stage of our church history, that we should not continue in that isolated state in which the churches of our denomination in England too long remained; but at once form ourselves into a Union, that we might thereby be strengthened, and strengthen each other, and be the better able to assist in carrying out the various plans devised for the extension of the Gospel. There are but seven ministers of our denomination in that colony, and these, with the five churches, are all combined to form our Union. We are indeed but few and feeble, but we have felt greatly rejoiced and greatly encouraged by the communications which we have received from this Union; and I would here return thanks, on behalf of myself and my brethren, for the kindness and sympathy which they have manifested. It is matter of regret to us that your communications should be so few and far between, and that we have so little opportunity of personal communication. I would call the attention of the meeting to the position of the Australian colonies. We are near to the continent of Asia; contiguous to all the South Sea Islands; both highly important in a missionary point of view. The popu lation of our Australian colonies is greatly increasing; and it is of paramount importance that attention should be given to the moral and religious education and training of the rising population of those colonies, inasmuch as we hope that the time is not far distant when young persons will be found in them giving themselves to the work of the ministry, and offering themselves as agents to labour in the missionary cause. In Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, the only minister of our denomination is the Rev. Dr. Ross. There is in that colony a population of upwards of 130,000, and there we have but one minister of our body, unsustained and unstrengthened by the presence of any of his brethren. If our brother from Canada solicits assistance in behalf of that colony, I may surely be allowed to solicit assistance on behalf of our Australian colonies, that the hands of the brethren who are there labouring may be strengthened, and that we may be able to go forth in the full confidence that, notwithstanding all our difficulties, the cause of the Redeemer shall universally prevail. On the part of myself and my brethren, I would again express

my thanks to this Union for the sympathy and kindness which they have expressed towards us.

The Rev. Dr. FLETCHER, of Stepney, then said, I rise to move the following resolution

"That this assembly responds with warm affection to the addresses of the beloved and honoured brethren, the Rev. Dr. Uhden, the Rev. Dr. Russell, the Rev. Samuel Roberts, the Rev. John Roaf, and the Rev. J. Nisbet, and has hailed their presence this day with great delight. The assembly assures these respected brethren, that it cherishes the most unfeigned Christian love for the associated churches they respectively represent, and feels the deepest interest in their peace and prosperity."

If we had met, brethren, for no other purpose than to hear the addresses of these respected visitors and delegates, without having any other business before us, we should have returned to our respective homes and circles refreshed and encouraged. The information communicated, the sentiments expressed, the sympathies called forth, and the resolutions of which every heart must have been conscious in the presence of God himself, in consequence of these appeals and communications, would of themselves have been an ample compensation for all that has been projected and accomplished by this Union. We need to have our best feelings excited, and our best principles confirmed. Tell me not of those who are perpetually asking the question, What has the Union done? which proves them to be rather utilitarians, than fully imbued with the principle which ought to pervade our hearts. We are asked what the Union has done? It has done much in the feelings which it has awakened, in the sentiments which it has established among us. It has done much practically—it has done much by causing us to do more. It has given efficiency and union to societies which were too separate and too isolated before, and it has made us feel, too, that there is a perfect accordance between the independence of our churches, and the principle of union, so that the liberty of our sentiments and principles is in no way violated thereby. I cannot, my dear friends, advert to the presence of one individual on this occasion, without unusual and unmingled satisfaction. I have had the pleasure of knowing for many years, and knowing with increasing satisfaction and delight, the character, and works, and labours of our friend Dr. Russell, of Dundee. And there is one special point of union and sympathy between us. We both feel and feel deeply on this occasion; and my beloved friend and brother who is to address you before the close of this important meeting, (Dr. Burder,) will respond to this appeal. We cannot think of the honoured and revered name of Greville Ewing, who might almost be called the father and founder of the Congregational body in Scotland, and certainly of the Congregational Union,-we cannot think of that illustrious and venerable man, without the deepest fulness of affection and of love. He has entered the noble assembly of the spirits of the just made perfect, and if there be any desire of which his heart is conscious in that beatific state, it must be a desire if possible, to mingle with us on an occasion like the present, to see the same principles which led him to endure sacrifice and privation, and to devote a laborious life, with hallowed and uniform consistency to the service of his master, obtaining so wide and extensive influence in this country. He was a Congregationalist, shall I say of the highest order; with him it was the result of conviction, the result of enquiry. He was an expositor of truth; he was an able divine; he was an eloquent orator; and when his heart was moved and exalted on some special and hallowed occasions, no man, either on this or on the other side of the Tweed, ever moved more powerfully, or more holily, or more effectually, the hearts of all around him. But I would not for a moment attempt the delineation of his character-our friend from Dundee (the Rev. Dr. Russell) has done that, and we have now an imperishable memorial of the facts, the spirit, the disposition, and the life of that illustrious, and excellent, and honoured man. I rejoice, my friends, to see

amongst us this day one who has so large a portion of the spirit of Ewing, and who is qualified by such large attainments in influence, in knowledge, and in power, to carry on the cause in Scotland. And what, Mr. Chairman, has tended more than any thing else to advance that cause? I speak of that cause denominationally, not so much for its own sake, as for the sake of the higher cause with which it is associated and identified, the preservation, advancement, and influence of scriptural religion, of vital godliness, of evangelical truth. The Union of the churches of Scotland has been one of the main sources of the extension of that influence, and of the success of that cause. I can well recollect the formation of that Union. Its venerable founder visited this country not very long after that period; but he had no fears,-with all his jealousy and with all his apprehensions of ecclesiastical domination, he had no fears that the Union would trench upon the independency of the churches; whilst he knew that if all who were interested in diffusing the Gospel united for that purpose, it would greatly increase their strength. And I would ask, have we lost anything during the last ten years by the Union which has been formed? Have we diminished in numbers, in energy, in affection, in co-operation, in direct and positive usefulness? I look upon the circumstances and the efforts of this Union, as one of the most successful antagonists of Puseyism, of Popery, of infidelity, of intolerance, of every evil and of every ism which can possibly affect or injure the interests of the church of God; and I would urge upon each pastor and each member of a church before me, to uphold this Union in his respective district. The resolution which I have proposed refers to the brethren who have come amongst us from distant parts of the world. Here we have brethren from the east and the west, from the north and the south. Why, we make this place an Appii Forum; we thank God; we take courage; we go back to our respective associations and duties encouraged to persevere, showing that we are not afraid for our cause and principles, but know how to maintain them. Allow me, however, to address a word to the brethren who are stationed in the metropolis. Brethren, we want more union in London. The principles which we recommend to our country brethren and churches, need to be carried out in our own city. We ourselves, are far from each other, and we are not united as we ought to be. I was delighted to see a suggestion in the Congregational Magazine lately, that there should be four district unions established in this metropolis-a union for the east, for the west, for the north, and for the south. Let the members and ministers of our churches, in adequate and sufficient numbers, meet, and meet resolutely and determinately, every quarter, and by that means we shall strengthen each other in all our plans for doing good, and for extending abroad and at home the interests of pure and undefiled religion. I am afraid to trespass longer on your patience. I will therefore conclude by expressing my hallowed satisfaction at seeing and hearing the brethren who are present from different parts of the world, together with my hope that this Union may prosper, that "Esto perpetua" may be its motto, and that generations yet unborn may thank God for its foundation.

The Rev. J. A. JAMES, of Birmingham, then said-Had my esteemed and beloved brother referred to all the names contained in the resolution, it would have been unnecessary for me to add a single syllable. I shall not touch upon the name of Russell, much as I honour that name, and much as I am indebted to the individual who bears it for some of the clearest theology to be found in the English language.—I shall not touch upon the name of Greville Ewing, otherwise than to express the veneration which I feel for the memory of that illustrious servant of Christ- but I shall, for one moment, allude to an individual who has appeared among us this morning as one of our accredited agents, who are labouring so honourably, and so successfully in Canada; and I refer to him especially, because I had the happiness to