Academy; J. Bristow, of Castle-street; J. Offord, of Bartholomew-street; P. Ansty, of South-street; and J. Petherwick, of High-street Chapel, and several other ministers, took part in the interesting engagements of the day, which closed with a solemn and affecting communion service, attended by ministers and members of various churches in the city and neighbourhood, at which Dr. Reed presided. The expense of purchase of freehold ground, seventy-two by fifty-three feet, and erection of the buildings, has not exceeded 12007.; about 6007. of this amount has been raised, and a debt bearing interest will remain until it can be liquidated by the aid of the religious public. Towards this object donations will be thankfully received by Mr. Hellings, the minister of the place. NEW CHAPELS OPENED. On Friday, November 10, a neat new chapel, situate near to the village of Longden, in the parish of Pontesbury, Salop, to be appropriated to the use of Congregational Dissenters, was opened for public worship. Two sermons were preached on the occasion: one, in the afternoon, by the Rev. J. Pattison, of Wem, on Matthew xv. 31; and the other, in the evening, by the Rev. T. Weaver, of Shrewsbury, on Luke xv. 2. The Rev. J. J. Beynon, of Dorrington, assisted in the devotional part of the service. The chapel was well filled, and a liberal collection was made towards the expense of the erection. A new Congregational chapel was opened in Melbourne-street, Gateshead, in the county of Durham, on Wednesday, the 15th of March. The Rev. James Parsons, of York, preached on the occasion to large and attentive congregations. The Rev. Dr. Matheson, of Durham, and the Rev. A. Reid, of Newcastle, preached on the following Sunday. The collections after the various services amounted to 451. 48. 4d. This is the only Congregational chapel in the large and populous borough of Gateshead. It is a neat and commodious edifice, with a large school-room underneath. The whole expense connected with the erection does not exceed 11007. Of this sum, little more than 2007. has yet been obtained. ORDINATIONS. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Rev. Obed Parker, formerly of the Newport Pagnel Evangelical institution, was ordained pastor of the Independent Church at Adderbury, Oxfordshire. On this occasion the introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. Josiah Bull, A.M., of Newport Pagnel, and the confession of faith was received by the Rev. Mr. Whitta, of Banbury; the Rev. Thomas Aston, of Wingrave, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. T. P. Bull, of Newport Pagnel, gave the charge; and the sermon to the people was preached in the evening, by the Rev. John Hill, of Oxford. The devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Stonehouse, Davis, Smith, and other ministers. The services of the day were peculiarly interesting and solemn. The cause at Adderbury is of recent origin, and though the village and its immediate neighbourhood contain a population of more than three thousand souls, and the sphere of labour is on many accounts highly interesting, a heavy debt which still remains upon the chapel in a great measure checks that prosperity which, with the Divine blessing, might otherwise be expected. Mr. Parker has laboured with faithfulness and zeal for more than twelve months amongst this people; and he has now consented, though at some personal sacrifice, to be ordained over them, with the hope of thus more effectually promoting the cause of religion in a very necessitous district. The church and congregation are, at present, unable to raise much, and are assisted by the North Bucks Union and the Home Missionary Society. With the hope of removing the burden which depresses this infant cause, a kind friend, whose liberality is well known in the North Bucks Association, has offered 307. if the whole debt, amounting to 2007., can be raised in the course of the ensuing year. Should any friends of the Gospel be disposed to assist in meeting this generous offer, their help will be very thank fully received, and, it is believed, well bestowed. Any such sums may be paid to the account of the Rev. Thomas Palmer Bull, at Messrs. Williams and Co., Bankers, Birchin-lane. On Wednesday, Oct. the 25th, 1837, the Rev. Joseph Field, late of Highbury College, was ordained to the pastoral office over the recently formed Independent Church, in Diss, Norfolk. The introductory discourse, on the nature of a Gospel church, was delivered by the Rev. John Alexander, of Norwich, who also proposed the usual questions to the church and to the minister; the Rev. Edward Hickman, of Denton, offered up the ordination prayer; the charge was addressed to the minister, by the Rev. John Carter, of Braintree, Mr. Field's late pastor; the sermon to the church and congregation was preached in the evening by the Rev. John Raven, of Hadleigh; and the Rev. Messrs. Flower, of Beccles ; Lewis, the Baptist minister at Diss; Buck, of Harleston; and Gooch, the Baptist minister at Eye, engaged in the devotional services. A considerable number of Christian friends dined together after the morning service; and the afternoon was happily and profitably spent, in listening to the addresses which were delivered by several ministers and members of Christian churches, who, though of various denominations, were animated by one spirit, and made all around them feel how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. On Thursday, September 21, the Rev. W. Todman, late student of Rotherham College, was ordained to the pastoral office, over the church and congregation worshiping in Canon-street Chapel, Louth, Lincolnshire. The services of the day commenced with a prayer-meeting, at seven in the morning, when the Divine blessing was most earnestly implored, and the sanction of the Great Head of the Church was sought on the union about to be formed between the minister and the people. The more public services of the day were commenced at half-past ten, when the Rev. W. Wilson, (Wesleyan,) read a suitable portion of Scripture and engaged in prayer; after which, the Rev. J. Stratten, of Hull, preached the introductory discourse; the Rev. J. Pain, of Horncastle, asked the questions, and offered the ordination prayer, with the laying on of hands; the Rev. T. Smith, A. M., Classical Tutor of Rotherham College, gave a most faithful and affectionate charge to the minister, from 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2. The Rev. C. Morris, of London, was to have preached to the people in the evening, but was prevented by indisposition. His place was most ably supplied by the Rev. T. Smith, who addressed the church and congregation from Heb. xiii. 17, in which he showed, in a most luminous and pointed manner, the relation in which the pastor and the people stand one towards another, the manner in which the duties of church members are to be discharged, and the obligations under which they are laid to promote the comfort and happiness of those who "have the rule over them." The devotional parts of the service were conducted by the ministers present, and the hymns were given out by the Rev. M. Lloyd, of Brigg. On Thursday, Dec. 7, 1837, the Rev. John Fernie, Jun., late student of the Theological Academy, Hackney, having accepted an unanimous invitation from the Independent church, Bushy, Herts, to become their pastor, was solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry in that chapel. At an early hour in the morning, a special prayer-meeting was held to implore the Divine blessing on the services of the day. The Rev. Mr. Hull, (Baptist,) of Watford, commenced the ordination service by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. A. Stewart, of Barnet, gave a lucid statement of the nature of a Gospel church; and, after the recognition of the call by one of the deacons, the Rev. Samuel Ransom, Classical Tutor, Hackney, asked the usual questions; the Rev. J. Fernie, Sen., of Brewood, Staffordshire, (the young minister's father,) offered a fervent and pathetic prayer; an impressive charge was given by the Rev. G. Collison, Theological Tutor, Hackney, founded on 1 Tim. i. 18-the interest of which was increased by the circumstance of his having taken the same part at the ordination of the young minister's father more than thirty years ago; the Rev. J. Morison, D.D., preached to the people in the evening, from 3 John 8, "Fellow-helpers to the truth." WALES. MINUTES OF THE LAST ANNIVERSARY OF 1. That this meeting receives with feelings of affection and delight the fraternal letter of the Committee of the Congrega. tional Union, and directs the secretaries to translate the same for publication in the Dysgedydd and Diwygiwr; and this meeting also respectfully recommends it to the consideration of the various County Associations that their respective committees and secretaries may be instructed to collect such information as is requested, to be transmitted to the Rev. Algernon Wells, the Secretary of the Congregational Union. 2. That the Rev. David Rees, of Llanelli, be deputed to represent the Congregational churches of Wales at the next assembly of the Congregational Union. 3. That Messrs. Rees and Thomas, of Llanelli, be requested to forward, at their earliest convenience, the general Welsh Report, together with the Addresses, &c., received from London, to the secretaries of the different county associations. 4. That this meeting rejoices to hear of the liberal efforts made by the Glamorganshire churches towards the "Case of the Castle-street Meeting-house, Swansea," and anxiously hopes that the associated churches in the other counties of the principality will, according to the promises given at former meetings, make a similar effort on behalf of the same cause; and the Glamorganshire committee is recommended to publish a brief statement of the case in the Dysgedydd and Diwygiwr, and to appoint deputations to the different districts to solicit the friendly assistance of the churches. 5. That it is not deemed regular for any county association to apply for any foreign aid without the sanction and recommendation of a general meeting; and that any association intending so to apply, should, after doing its utmost at home, give regular notice of such an intention to its sister associations, six months before the general meeting, that the deputies attending it may be better able to judge of the merits and urgency of the intended application. 6. That all deputations who may be appointed to apply for foreign assistance will be expected to submit their accounts to the first general meeting after their return. 7. That the Carnarvonshire committee be authorised to appoint a deputation to visit Scotland, on behalf of the infant and now depressed interest at Colwyn. 8. That six ministers from South Wales be requested to visit the churches in North Wales, and six from the North to visit those in the South, in the course of the ensuing year, for their mutual encouragement in their works of faith and their labours of love. 9. That the secretaries be instructed to address the churches through the medium of the Dysgedydd and the Diwygiwr, to entreat and encourage them to continue their efforts until the liquidation of all their chapel debts be accomplished. 10. That the next anniversary of the Union be held at Llanfyllin, in North Wales. M. JONES, Llanuwchllyn, IRELAND. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. MR. EDITOR,-As one deeply interested for the spiritual prosperity of Ireland, I rejoice that you have not allowed the year to close upon your labours, without some remembrance of that country. It is not often that so much, or even any thing, regarding Ireland in a religious point of view, is brought before and pressed upon the attention of the religious public through any of the valuable periodicals of the day. These publications, und roce, are incessant in keeping alive and drawing forth attention to the most distant quarters of the globe, as well as to many interesting parts of the continent of Europe, to the end that missionary zeal and enterprise may be encouraged and maintained; but oh, alas! how seldom is a word uttered with reference to similar zeal and similar enterprise on behalf of Ireland! There is something singular in the general apathy which seems so much to prevail with regard to the spiritual wants of that unhappily circumstanced country; but that such apathy and indifference should particularly prevail, as it does at the present day, amongst one denomination of English Christians is, in my humble judgment, truly to be wondered at. After the closest examination of the matter, my conviction is, that the fault is chargeable at the doors of the ministers of the Congregational churches, (for it is to such I allude,) rather than the people. In candour I say it, that ministers are the persons most to blame; for assuredly, were they alive as they should be to the spiritual wants of Ireland, and sought for and obtained information from proper quarters on the subject, they would manifest more of warmth, and of zeal, than they generally do, and would with effect bring the particulars more frequently before their people. I am the decided friend of missions to every people of every colour; but I love Ireland, and I long to see spiritual justice done to her, and to her sons and her daughters; and to the attainment of that end I do most anxiously solicit from British Christians a full share of their sympathy and liberality. Your correspondent, E. P.. has very properly urged the responsibility of British churches with reference to Ireland, and the propriety of supplying that country with Bibles. I offer him my best thanks for his communication; but, Sir, it will be to little purpose (and it is evident he at least will agree with me) to send Bibles across the Channel, unless proper and effectual means be taken to distribute amongst the people the invaluable gift, in a way and manner that will be most effectual to induce them to receive and use that gift to their advantage. How is that to be done? I answer, by itinerant missionaries, who will from day to day traverse the country, under the direction of a local, superintending committee, with those Bibles in their hands, and preach, not envy and strife," but faithfully "Christ, and him crucified." If I mistake not, Mr. Editor, you are a Congregationalist, an Independent, and perhaps you have visited Ireland. Allow me therefore to ask this question-Why is it that there is amongst the Independents of England so much of coldness and indifference with reference to Independency in Ireland? There are, I understand, in England and Wales, about two thousand ministers of the Independent connexion. Allow me again to ask-Is the mind of one in every ten of these ministers ever occupied by one serious thought with regard to tle spiritual wants or well-being of Ireland; or do such ever put this question to their own hearts respectively-What can I indi vidually, or what can the people of my charge do for that dark and benighted country? If ministers will not set the example, what can be expected of the people of whom they have the oversight? There is in Ireland no exclusively Independent mission, and such is the mission particularly wanted there. Independency has gained a tolerable footing in that country, but yet its adherents are comparatively few, and its strength small. In the city of Dublin there are three congregations and churches, all of them exemplary for piety; and though two of them in particular are tolerably numerous and highly interesting, they are of a class of citizens whose worldly means are exceedingly limited, and to maintain their respective pastors in ordinary comfort, and bear the current expenses of their chapels, is as much as ought reasonably to be expected of them, yet they endeavour to effect considerably more. They have many difficulties to contend with, which Christian friends in England are strangers to. The remaining churches and congregations of Independents which are in Ireland, are scattered throughout the country very far distant from each other, and individually are weak, though with encouraging prospects of gaining strength. They are much sustained and upheld by their respective pastors, being employed as missionary agents for the Irish Evangelical Society, but their missionary labour is extremely limited, being confined within a very moderate distance around the spot where each individual agent dwells. That society, however, has done great good in Ireland, by maintaining the preaching of the Gospel, and by Scripture-readers, and it merits from Christians liberal support; but yet, from its principle, it does not reach the present state of the country; besides, it is absolutely necessary that Independency in Ireland should assume a full denominational character; and, as a denomination, set on foot a missionary work upon a broad itinerating plan. This may and can be done without trespassing upon the portions of ground already occupied, and which are not, comparatively, as 1 to 15. Take, for instance, the province of Leinster; there is no Congregational missionary in it but one, and being the stationary pastor of a church in a very remote corner of the province, his work is limited to some ten or twelve miles around his dwelling, and which, compared to the whole province, is as nothing. True, Sir, the work suggested can only be begun and carried out by British Christians who possess missionary hearts, and in those hearts missionary love for Ireland, where there are not less than 5,000,000 of souls almost altogether ignorant of the Saviour's name, save to blaspheme and dishonour it. There are in the country men of high character as members of Independent churches, who are ready and anxious to be employed in managing such a good work; and the Almighty appears to be raising up an abundant number of individuals in Ireland of genuine piety, who are ready to turn out and take the field as soldiers of the Cross, and in their native land "fight the good fight of faith." Suffer me to submit to you the foregoing observations, (feebly as they may be expressed,) in the hope that with the first of the new year, the cause of Ireland may thereby be brought under the notice of your numerous readers, and that many of them through you will communicate their readiness to do for Ireland in a way and manner which have not yet been attempted. AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIBER. perly be not sacrificed. Good teachers will do much for the improvement of an infant population with comparatively inferior buildings and a small play-ground; whilst the most commodious school-room and extensive play-ground will avail little, where the teachers are uninstructed or inefficient. Two cottages standing together, the rooms on the ground-floor thrown into one, a room up stairs appropriated for a class-room, and the remainder as a residence for the teacher, may often be obtained at a moderate rentthe garden forming a play-ground; or a barn with the walls whitewashed, and the tiles pointed, (not ceiled, as that often causes echo,) and, when large enough, a portion divided off for a class-room, will frequently be found to answer the desired purpose, a residence for the teacher being procured very near-a point which should never be lost sight of. Of course, it is unnecessary to mention the advantage of using Sunday-school rooms for infant-schools during the week when they can be obtained. If money cannot be raised for erecting or renting a good school-room, play-ground, &c., and also for paying really efficient teachers, the latter should have the decided preference. Under any circumstances, a school-room should not be too large two hundred children are as many as a man and his wife can manage and instruct well, and one hundred and fifty children are perhaps a better number. More than eighty or ninety should not be given to a female, though assisted, as she ought to be, by a stout girl, from thirteen to sixteen years of age. Two or three infant-schools in a large parish will often be found convenient to the poor inhabitants, requiring them to bring their infants a shorter distance; and as premises of a moderate size can be frequently obtained at a low rent, they may also be found less expensive than a large one. In estimating the size of a school-room, one foot of wall may be allotted to each child: for example, a room twenty feet by fifteen, will be amply sufficient for seventy, and might accommodate eighty or ninety if proper care be taken in the ventilation; a point which should engage the attention of all who erect or visit infant-schools. An oblong form is by far the best, and the outside walls should not be less than ten feet high. Fittings up. These may consist, where economy is desired, of a form, eight inches wide, fixed round the room about four inches from the wall, and from eight to nine inches high; and a single board, about nine inches wide, nailed to the wall above it at the height of six inches; two or three loose forms of the same width, six or eight feet long; and a small table for dining, about eighteen inches high. A gallery according to the number of children: for sixty, seven steps, eight feet VOL. XVI. wide, from eight to ten inches high, and eighteen inches in breadth, will be found sufficient. Galleries may be made exactly like common stairs, the dimensions of the steps only being different. When the space is small, or the room occasionally required for other purposes, they may be made to shut up at a very little additional expense. A country carpenter should not charge more than from ten to fifteen pounds for the plain fittings-up of a school-room for seventy children, and from fifteen to twenty-five pounds for one hundred and fifty, or two hundred. The forms, &c., used in a Sundayschool may, by a little mechanical contrivance, easily be made available for infants, and in that case the expense would be considerably less. Swings, wooden bricks, and other articles for the play-ground, may cost about two or three pounds more; but these are not absolutely necessary, as children will soon find their own amusements. Lessons, &c.-These are supplied, together with rules for infant-schools, prayers, and other requisites, properly mounted and fit for use, by the "Home and Colonial Infant school Society," Gray's Inn Road, near King's Cross, London. Care is taken not to send any thing superfluous. Sufficient to commence a school of seventy or eighty may be purchased for about eight pounds; and for two hundred, for from twelve to fifteen pounds; or even less when great economy is indispensable. Teachers.-The work of infant tuition, properly conducted, is one of great bodily and mental labour: those engaged in it ought, in consequence, to live with comfort, be free from care, and have time to arrange and prepare their lessons, and to rest: it follows, that all plans for making up a salary by evening tuition, Sunday-school teaching, or indeed any other employment, are very objectionable; and as the lives of many valuable teachers have already been sacrificed to this ill-judged economy, they should be decidedly opposed. Holidays. It is very desirable to make Saturday a whole holiday, that the voice of the teachers may be relieved from exertion for two consecutive days. A week or ten days' holiday should also be given about Christmas, and from a fortnight to three weeks, at Midsummer, or during harvest time. The little pupils will generally reap the benefit of this necessary recreation to the teachers, by the increased alacrity and energy with which the school will be conducted. Income. It is almost universally found, that the poorer classes prefer those schools where they pay for the instruction of their children; and it is also certain, that they are more willing to pay for young children, who require constant care, than for those H |