of Dr. Doran, who was a witness of that melancholy scene. Mr. Campbell's account of Mohammedanism in India contains an appalling view of the baneful policy of the British Government, in reference to that system. The accounts of Malta, by Mr. Wilson; of Basle, by Dr. Steinkopff; of Worms, by Dr. J.P. Smith; and of Rhodes, by Dr. Redford, are agreeable and instructive papers, which, with the biographical articles we have named, give a permanent value to the volume. We cannot resist the temptation to transcribe the following verses by James Montgomery: 66 HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER."-Mal. iii. 3. He that from dross would win the precious ore, Thus in God's furnace are his people tried; Thrice happy they who to the end endure; Who from the crucible come forth so pure Not with an evanescent glimpse alone, As in that mirror the refiner's face; But, stampt with heaven's broad signet, there be shown And round that seal of love this motto be, LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Kimchi's Commentary upon the Prophecies of Zechariah, with Notes and Observations on all the Prophetic passages relating to the Messiah; it will be published early in December. The Life and Correspondence of the Rev. Charles Simeon, M. A. By the Rev. William Carus, M.A. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. The above Memoir will be compiled with as little delay as possible, from the large and valsable collection of Mr. Simeon's own papers, the whole of which have been bequeathed to the Rev. W. Carus. An Efficient Ministry, a Charge delivered at the Ordination of the Rev, Joseph Elliot, over the Church of Christ meeting in North Gate Street Chapel, Bury, on Tuesday, October 4th, 1836, by the Rev. Andrew Reed, D.D. The Americans, in their Social, Moral, and Political Relations. By Francis J. Grund. 2 vols. 8vo. TRANSACTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL DISSENTERS. THE NORTH RIDING ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS. The half-yearly meeting of this Association was held at Stokesley, on Wednesday, October 5, present thirteen ministers besides other gentlemen deputed from various places. James Blacket, Esq., of Stokesley, in the chair. It was unanimously resolved, I. That this Meeting records the great pleasure with which it has learned from those present who have perused a recent pamphlet entitled "Fundamental Reform of the Church Establishment, &c." that the author, supposed to be the Hon. and Rev. Baptist W. Noel, strongly advocates, in a series of pages, such alterations of the law as would allow clergymen of the establishment and dissenting ministers to officiate occasionally, on invitation, in each others' pulpits, and warmly recommends the practice of such intercommunion. II. That in these pages, this Meeting is gratified to recognise views and feelings corresponding with those expressed in petitions, signed by several members of this Association, and other dissenting ministers of this neighbourhood; one of which was presented to the House of Lords by the Right Hon. Earl Grey, and the other to the House of Commons on July 18,1834, by E. S. Cayley, Esq., and supported by Sir George Cayley, Bart. and Edward Baines, Esq., of which petition a copy is printed in the Appendix to the Fortieth Report on Public Petitions, No. 2309, page 1577, and in the Congregational Magazine for October 1834, p. 581. III. That the cordial and respectful thanks of this Meeting be tendered to the Reverend Author of the pamphlet above mentioned, through Mr. Shaw, the publisher, for those pages of it: and that he be informed of the petition above referred to, in the hope it may be some slight encouragement to persevere in seeking an object so highly desirable. IV. That our dear brethren in the ministry, both in and out of the Establishment, and others, are hereby respectfully requested to consider whether similar petitions are not now peculiarly seasonable, since by certain portions of both parties, a desire thus to approximate has been openly expressed a desire, be it remembered, expressed as long ago as the year 1689, (ever memorable for the commencement of the Protestant toleration,) in the "Humble Requests to Conformists and Dissenters, &c." written by that justly celebrated divine, the Rev. John Howe.* V. That the cordial and respectful thanks of this Meeting be given to the Rev. Dr. J. Pye Smith, of Homerton, the Rev. R. Winter Hamilton, of Leeds, and others, who in their publications have advocated the object of the above petition. VI. That this Meeting begs leave respectfully and gratefully to acknowledge the services rendered to the cause of Christian Union, by the Right Honourable Lord John Russell, through his efforts, during many years, to remove the undue legal depression of Protestant Dissenters:- professes with much pleasure its cordial agreement in the sentiment reported to have been delivered by his Lordship in the House of Commons on Feb. 12, 1836, that, "It is the duty of the Legislature to establish such a system of laws, that those feelings of alienation which unhappily exist between members of the Church and Dissenters should be lessened as much as possible:"-and begs leave respectfully to call his Lordship's attention to the subject of the above petition, parti sentence but one, which is totally omitted The passage referred to is the last in the reprint of 1834, but may be seen in the editions of his works, and in Dr. Calamy's Abridgement of Baxter's History, &c. 1713. Vol. I. pp. 497, 8. cularly, because his Lordship in that speech is said to have proposed a voluntary admission by clergymen, of dissenting ministers, to officiate, in certain cases, at funerals, which the granting of that petition would render legal, but which is not so at present. VII. That without abating any efforts for the abolition of Church Rates, and for other benefits for which as Dissenters they have petitioned the Legislature, this Meeting solemnly expresses its paramount desire for the advance of Union among all real Christians, and its hope that themselves and others will be enabled so to seek the inferior advantages, as not to retard the attainment of the more spiritual and important. VIII. That these resolutions be printed and circulated; and sent to the Editors of the "Christian Observer, and the Evangelical, Congregational, Baptist, and Wesleyan Methodist Magazines." GABRIEL CROFT, Secre- FORMATION OF A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT CLAREMONT STREET CHAPEL, HACKNEY ROAD. The above Chapel was opened in January last, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The attendance having been found in every respect satisfactory and encouraging, public notice was given in the Chapel, in August last, that steps were in progress for the formation of a church, and the friends in the congregation who were desirous of being so united, were requested to give expression to their wishes. Twenty persons accordingly gave in their names, and Friday evening, the 28th of October, was appointed for the formation and public recognition of the church. The order of the service was as follows:-Dr. Reed presided after the Divine presence and blessing had been sought in prayer by the Rev. J. Chapman. The Rev. N. M. Harry, of New Broad Street, addressed the friends who were to be formed into a church, in a most affectionate and impressive manner. Mr. Sturtevant having offered prayer, Dr. Reed, after a short but most solemn address, pronounced the candi dates, who had been previously examined and approved by the ministers present, to be formed and constituted a Christian Church, and, as such, entitled to an interest in the prayers and sympathies of the surrounding churches. The right hand of fellowship was given by all the ministers present; and the Lord's Supper was then administered to the church, and a large number of members of other churches who were present. The Rev. J. West, of Bethnal Green, addressed the congregation, and the Rev. R. M'All concluded the solemn services of the evening by prayer. FORMATION OF A SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT READING, BERKS. In the last number we informed our readers of the circumstances which led to the gathering of a dissenting congregation from amongst the former worshippers at Castle Street Chapel. As a considerable number of pious persons are included in that body, they have proceeded to form a Congregational Church, for which purpose a special service was held at their temporary place of worship on Lord's-day afternoon, October 30th: the Rev. R. E. May, of Clevedon, Somerset, presided; the business occupied three hours, and was felt to be deeply interesting to all present. On the following Tuesday the new society assembled at Broad Street Chapel, when fervent prayers and faithful counsels were offered by the Rev. Messrs. Douglas and Legge, the co-pastors of the first Congregational Church in the town; and by the Rev. R. E. May. It is expected that a new Chapel will be erected with the least possible delay, as the present place of worship is not equal to accommodate those who wish to attend. On the Monday evening, Oct. 3d, a preparatory sermon, strongly characterised by Christian benevolence, was preached by the Rev. Wm. Notcutt, of Ipswich. On the Tuesday, in the morning, a very able introductory discourse was delivered by the Rev. T. Q. Stow, of Halstead. A clear and explanatory view of the nature of the whole service, questions, and ordination prayer, by the Rev. Thos. Morell, Theological Tutor of Coward College, London. A charge, of solemn thought and elevated devotion, was addressed to the minister by the Rev. A. Reed, D.D., of London. In the evening, an appropriate and faithful sermon to the people, by the Rev. W. Ward, of Stowmarket. The season was one of deep interest, and we earnestly pray that its solemnities may be followed, in an eminent degree, by evidences of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On Thursday evening, Oct. 20, a public service was held in Mount Sion Chapel, Tunbridge Wells; when Mr. Herbert Richardson, Mr. William Seamer, Mr. Henry Stapley, Mr. James Damper, and Mr. Jabez Scoles, were set apart to the office of deacons in the Congregational church formed in that place. The Rev. R. Penman, of Tunbridge, read appropriate portions of scripture and prayed; and then proposed two questions to the following effect:-1. May I respectfully ask the pastor of this Christian church who are the persons that have been chosen to sustain the office of deacons in it? 2. May I also inquire of these individuals if they cordially accept the office which they have been called by the members of this Christian church to fill? The questions having been replied to in order, the Rev. B. Slight, pastor of the church, offered the designation prayer. After which the Rev. S. Raban, of Marden, addressed the deacons and congregation in a faithful, affectionate, and impressive manner, from 1 Tim. iii. 13. ; and the Rev. J. F. Penman, Peterborough, concluded with prayer. The service was deeply interesting, and was well calculated to illustrate the simplicity of the institutions of the New Testament, as well as the great importance of this office in the Christian church. On Thursday, July 28th, 1836, the Rev. John Henry Cadoux, late a student in Homerton College, was ordained pastor of the Congregational church, at Weathersfield in Essex. The commencing prayer and scripture reading was by Mr. Pinchback, of Stanstead; the introductory discourse, by Mr. Steer, of Castle Hedingham; the proposal of the questions, and receiving the confessions of faith and pastoral professions of Mr. Cadoux, by Mr. Spurgeon, of Stambourne; an account of the proceedings of the church was given by Mr. Emson, one of its deacons; the ordination prayer by Mr. Frost, of Dunmow; the charge from Titus iii. 8, by Dr. J. Pye Smith, the young ministers divinity tutor; the sermon to the church and congregation, from Acts ii. 42, by Mr. Carter, of Braintree; the concluding prayer, by Mr. Burls, of Maldon. On Wednesday, September 28, the Rev. J. Guenett, from the Western Academy, Exeter, was publicly ordained to the pastoral office over the Independent church and congregation assembling in Hope Chapel, Weymouth. The solemn services were commenced with reading and prayer, by the Rev. J. Davies, Weymouth; the Rev.J. Barfitt, Salisbury, delivered the introductory discourse, which he has since been requested to publish; the questions were proposed by the Rev. M. Crump, Weymouth; the ordination prayer was offered up and a solemn charge delivered, by the Rev. George Payne, LL.D.; and the Rev. N. Hellings, of Exmouth, concluded. The sermon to the people was preached in the evening by the Rev. J. Jukes, Yeovil; the Rev. Messrs. Mackenzie, Poole; Harris, Wareham; Hoxley, Sherborne; Chamberlaine, Swanage; Trowbridge, Cerne; and other ministers also took part in the services. The Rev. J. M. Mackenzie, preached the preceding evening. The services were very fully attended throughout; the most cordial feeling between the respective congregations in the town prevails, and the prospects of our young brother are exceedingly cheering. |