Mr. Tester was a man who through life carried with him the esteem of all who knew him; nor did a near r acquaintance with him, as is sometimes the case, detract from this well-merited reputation. As a Christian and a minister his piety was without ostentation and unobtrusive; but in devotional exercises, in which he delighted, it was fervid, and in all the walks of life eminently practical. His remains, interred in Albert Town cemetery about one mile from Port Adelaide and seven from the city, await therefore the resurrection of the just. MR. LEWIS ANDERSON. The late Mr. Lewis Anderson, of Elgin, was born at Kinnedar in the parish of Draivie and county of Elgin, in the year 1783. He was the fourth son of James Anderson, for many years farmer at Kinnedar, and whose ancestors had lived there for several generations; his mother being a descendant of the Grants of Grant's Green, near Elgin, which property has since passed into other hands. His mother died when he was a child, and he was placed in early life at the parish school of Drainie, where he received the rudiments of a good education. The teacher, Mr. James Anderson, who subsequently removed to Orkney, and was ordained minister of the parish of Orphir, took a deep interest in the welfare of his pupil, and carried on a regular correspondence with him up to the day of his death, which took place about the year 1845. Being naturally inclined to study Mr. Anderson made considerable progress in various departments not immediately connected with the ordinary branches then taught in the parish school; and ultimately came to reside in Elgin for the purpose of acquiring a practical knowledge of business and commercial transactions as conducted by one of the principal merchants in that town. After a period of six years' residence in Elgin, he commenced business on his own account, and soon after married Jane, only daughter of Eric Sutherland, Esq. of Kearn of Duffecs. Mr. Anderson's attention was early directed to the importance of personal religion, and it was his happiness to have found the Saviour in the morning of life. He was brought to the knowledge of the truth under the ministry of that eminent servant of Christ, Mr. Bain, the minister of the Free Presbyterian congregation which assembled for Divine worship in the Little Kirk, as the place was called. This congregation was composed of persons who had seceded from the established church in consequence of the intrusion of an unacceptable presentee on a reclaiming people. It was not long, however, before Mr. Anderson's views of church polity and government underwent a change, for in the year 1808 he withdrew from connexion with that congregation and united himself with the independent church. This church was formed in the year 1804 by Mr. Ballantine, a talented and faithful minister of the gospel, whose labours in Elgin were blessed to the conversion of a goodly number of persons, some of whom still survive and regard him as their spiritual father. Mr. Ballantine left Elgin for London in 1807, and was succeeded by Mr. Stewart from Perth. Mr. Stewart was only eight months in Elgin when he became a baptist, and shortly after twelve or fifteen members of the church embraced the same sentiment and were immersed on a profession of faith. As might be expected, under these circumstances, Mr. Anderson was led to examine the subject, and notwithstanding all his predilections and feelings were strongly in favour of the cherished and popular custom, and against the innovation (as the immersion of believers was loudly called) he was gradually conducted by the force of scripture evidence alone, to the same conclusions as his recently baptized heathen. For a while he entrenched himself behind the Abrahamic covenant, that stronghold of pædobaptists, satisfying himself that he was right on the ground of some supposed connection between parents and their offspring in virtue of which the latter were entitled to the rite of baptism; but that passage in the third chapter of Galatians and twenty-ninth verse opened his eyes on the spirituality of the gospel dispensation, and produced an entire change in his views, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." He was baptized in the year 1809, being honoured as among the first in Morayshire, (at least in modern times) to observe this much-neglected ordinance of primitive Christianity. Mr. Anderson united himself with his brethren, who had a meeting of their own, but they laboured under the disadvantage of having no regular or efficient ministry, and hence made little or no progress. Warmhearted and desirous of doing good, he chalked out a course for himself in which his Christian benevolence might have full scope. At this period the religious condition of Scotland generally, and of the north in particular, was deplorable, "darkness covered the land and gross darkness the people." Evangelical religion was a scarce commodity, and the few that possessed it mourned over the heathenism that prevailed; while scarcely any efforts were made to reclaim the moral wastes. Mr. Anderson in union with other kindred spirits, who lamented the spiritual state of their countrymen, engaged in a scheme of Christian usefulness, at that time not well known, nor favourably received in many quarters, viz. sabbath school tuition. He was for many years in the regular practice of visiting every sabbath afternoon various parts of the surrounding country where he established and conducted sabbath schools. Burghead, Stolfield, Pluscarden, &c. might be mentioned as places at which he taught classes of young people. Nor were his efforts confined altogether to the young, for on these occasions he addressed the parents and others who assembled, on the things which belonged to their everlasting peace. It required no small amount of zeal and self-denial and perseverance to persist in "this work of faith and labour of love," for he had to attend his business closely during the week, and to forego the evening service at home, and to walk distances of five, seven, and ten miles to meet his classes. Often was he drenched to the skin before he reached his destination, and in that condition would remain for two or three hours until the duties of the evening were discharged, and then retrace his steps homewards about midnight. converse about the things of the kingdom of God; and for a long time before his death he ceased to take any prominent part or particular interest in the news and politics of the day. He often acknowledged to the writer that he had experienced the baneful effects of having mingled too freely in the society and politics of the world in the earlier part of his career. He was remarkably fond of reading missionary intelligence, and everything bearing upon the progress of the gospel at home and abroad. The bible and the magazines were always on his table and formed his chief delight. As he approached nearer his end he was much more communicative and free in speaking of his own religious experience than formerly. Among the last times the writer saw him he complained of the prevalence of indwelling sin and corruption, and the natural aversion of the mind to dwell upon the things of God, and wondered if other Christians felt these things as he did. Mr. Anderson was long in a debilitated state of body, having suffered much from bronchitis, which disease at length terminated his life. And but for his natural buoyancy and vivacity, coupled with the nursing care and assiduous attentions of his now bereaved partner, he would in all probability have been laid aside from the active business of life much sooner than he was. His last illness and confinement were but short, and it was only within a few days of his dissolution that his friends became apprehensive his end was fast approaching. He did not seem to suffer much bodily pain, but he became so weak and exhausted that it was with difficulty he could speak. His countenance, however, indicated the possession of mental peace and spiritual comfort; and in this condition he fell asleep, resting his hopes for eternity exclusively on the atoning blood and righteousness of Immanuel. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do Like Gaius, Mr. Anderson (in unison with his partner who felt and acted with himself) was "given to hospitality," and ever manifested a readiness to receive and entertain strangers; thus discharging the duties of Christian kindness to deputations from the various societies and others, long before there was any stated baptist minister in Elgin to receive them. It was in the year 1843 that the writer of this sketch became acquainted with his deceased friend, and in the following year when he was publicly recognized as pastor of the church, Mr. Anderson was at the same time elected to the office of deacon. As a member and an office-bearer of a Christian church his conduct was unimpeachable and exemplary. It was so especially in his attachment to the gospel and ordinances of Christ, and in the regularity of his attendance on the means of grace. While his health permitted him he not only made a point of being in his place on the Lord's day, but he was sure to be there also in good time. He seemed to have felt like David when he said, "I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness;" for he acted in that capacity for some years, and liked to show attention to strangers who might come to the place of worship. Nothing de-follow them." lighted him more than a good attendance The following tribute of regard is from the and an arousing sermon. He possessed great pen of a gentleman who knew Mr. Anderson zeal for the conversion of sinners and the well, and its insertion here will be gratifying propagation of the gospel. He had sound to friends in this locality. He says, "I was views of the doctrines of grace; but he was intimately acquainted with him during the always better pleased with those sermons period of forty-five years in which he carried which were calculated to arouse and strike on the business of a merchant in Elgin; and the consciences of the thoughtless and care- experienced without interruption much of less, and when he heard of any being brought that friendship and kindness of disposition under concern for their souls he would shed which formed through life conspicuous featears of joy. It would be well if all the pro-tures in his character. It may with truth be fessed disciples of Christ felt as warmly and anxiously on this point as our deceased friend did. It would be a source of great comfort and encouragement to pastors, whilst it would be eminently conducive to the advancement of the cause of Christ. Mr. Anderson loved retirement and seclusion from the world. He felt more at home among those who could said that he was always to be relied on as a devoted friend and a faithful counsellor on every occasion where his aid or advice would beneficially be exercised: while his exemplary conduct, honesty of purpose, and unaffected piety rendered his friendship doubly estimable to all who had the happiness of knowing him. Mr. Anderson, who was for many years it was taken by the compiler of our list. a magistrate of the borough of Elgin, in, into the Baptist Manual of last year, whence public as in private life discharged the duties which devolved upon him with undeviating uprightness. And having spent a life unblemished by the breath of calumny, and dedicated to the service of his Maker and the promotion of the welfare of his fellow men, he died on the 4th day of December 1849, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, leaving a widow and an only son to mourn his loss." ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF BAPTIST MINIS- We have been favoured with the following addenda to the List of Ministers in our last: Buck, J...................Liverpool. Goodman, W. .......................... Harrison, T. .Steep Lane, Yorkshire. ....Keighley, Yorkshire. ............ We are informed also that Mr. Frost of Cotton End is a pædobaptist; that Mr. Manning, stated to reside at Potton, resides at Spaldwick; that Mr. Banting of Trenchmoor is deceased; and that Mr. Smith of Whitchurch has left England for Australia. MONTHLY SUMMARY. FRANCE-PROTESTANT ALLIANCE-VOLUNTARY EDUCATION NONCONFORMIST CLUB-LON- ASSOCIATION-POPE'S JUBILEE, ETC. As our readers will have learned from the newspapers, France during the past month has been the theatre of another revolution. On previous occasions we have seen the people rising up and wresting the power from the hands of those who used it for their oppression; on this occasion, on the contrary, we see the man who was in possession of office using the power which that office conferred upon him to overthrow the constitution and to set up a rule of the most unmitigated absolutism. On the 2nd of December he issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly, re-establishing universal suffrage, and in the most unmistakeable terms, resting his authority on the brute force of the army on which he threw himself for support. The Assembly was prevented by force from meeting; the leaders of the various parties, together with the most distinguished generals, were thrown into prison; the High Court of Justice was dispersed; the newspaper press with the exception of one or two papers devoted to the President were suppressed; and Paris was declared in a state of siege. On the two or three days following, the attempts at resistance on the part of a few were met by a most sanguinary attack, not only on the insurgents but on the houses in the neighbour hood and their occupants, and not less probably than between 2000 or 3000, the majority of whom were in no way compromised in the revolt, fell victims to the indiscriminate brutality of the soldiers. and France generally are now said to be 66 tranquil;" but it would appear to be little better than the stillness of men fearing to move lest they should at once become the prey of the destroyer. What the event may be it is impossible for us to conjecture: further than this, that we may be sure that a nation which has tasted in any degree the sweets of liberty will never permanently submit to despotic rule, and that the man who has been lifted to power on the bayonets of soldiers and through the prestige of a name, can never be sure that his supporters will not in a moment turn to his destruction. On the whole we have another striking instance of the impossibility of securing civil freedom, whilst the masses of a nation are without Paris religion, and politicians almost invariably seek to gain their ends by physical force, rather than by waiting for the slower but only sure way of operation of moral and spiritual enlightenment. What the effect of this change may be on the religious interests of the people it is at present possible to do little more than conjecture. Of this, however, we may be sure, that political despotism never was allied to or sought to encourage religious liberty; and that that government whose base is brute force, will never willingly allow the circulation of spiritual light. Some few indications are already afforded us. Probably as a political manœuvre, Louis Napoleon has issued a decree reconverting the Pantheon into the Roman Catholic church of Sainte Geneviève. This building, originally erected a Romish edifice, after the revolution of '91 lost its religious character and was ledthe Pantheon. In 1822 it was reconecrated as the church of Sainte Geneviève; out since 1830 it has been regarded only as a monument to the heroes of the revolution of that year. This conversion is said to have been demanded by M. Montalembert and the other leaders of the Ultramontane party as the price of their adhesion. Be this as it may, the fact is that the Univers, a fierce Roman Catholic organ, is one of the few papers whose circulation is permitted; that M. Montalembert has taken office under Napoleon; that the Ultramontane bishop of Chartres has addressed to the clergy the strongest recommendation to throw their influence into the scale of the President, whilst the more liberal archbishop of Paris is placed under the surveillance of the police; that the bishop of Chartres declares that "God is with the President;" that the bishop of Le Mans recommends his clergy to give their active support to Bonaparte; and that the Pope has expressed his approval of the coup d'etat. That this party will make the largest demands in requital for their support is not to be doubted: but we imagine that the cause either of civil or religious liberty will lose little by this unmistakeable alliance. Men will think; and when they do so it will appear to be but little in favour of the Romish church that it lends itself with such goodwill to the purposes of absolutism; and but little in favour of the government of the President that he identifies himself with a people universally hated by all true lovers of liberty. The PROTESTANT ALLIANCE has been somewhat vigorously pursuing its work. Meetings of an enthusiastic character have been held in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle-onTyne; and the committee in London has met and passed various resolutions, among others, one which we recommend to the notice of our readers, urging upon them the taking of im VOL. XV.-FOURTHI SERIES. mediate and effective steps towards the formation of similar organizations throughout the country. As we stated last month, the repeal of the Maynooth grant is that to which they intend to give their immediate attention. In this, as dissenters, we can most cordially unite. Having, as we hope, at length compelled the government to free us from the incubus of the Regium Donum, with the more spirit and the more effectiveness we can demand that this other form of religious state-endowment be given up. We hope that our friends universally will interest themselves in the movement. Already, to some extent success has followed the efforts of the Alliance in the cause of protestant continental persecution. Dr. MARRIOTT, whom we mentioned last month as confined at Carlsruhe for the distribution of protestant tracts, has been liberated. The attention of Lord Palmerston was called to the fact, and he most promptly caused inquiries to be made, which resulted in his release. It appears that the duchy is under martial law, and that this gives the colour of legality to this act of oppression. The friends of VOLUNTARY EDUCATION have, during the month, been more than usually active A conference, called by the Voluntary School Association, was held at Crosby Hall, on Dec. 11th. The chair was taken by G. W. Alexander, Esq. Papers were read in the course of the proceedings, by Rev. J. H. Hinton, on the Religious Character of our Public Schools, taking notice of and rebutting School Association; by Mr. Miall, on the the various arguments of the National Public Voluntary Principle in Reference to Education; and by Mr. Richards, on the importance of the friends of voluntary agency combining their efforts, irrespective of denominational distinctions. Addresses were also delivered by Dr. Cox, Messrs. Burnet, Brock, C. Gilpin, and others from different parts of the country. Meetings on the same subject have also been held in connexion with the Congregational Board of Education, supported by the majority of our congregational friends, who unnecessarily, and, as we think, unwisely prefer denominational and so far sectarian action. Bristol, Birmingham, and Sheffield have been visited by them; much enthusiasm has attended the gatherings, and numerous donations have been realized. Mr. Morley has also published a letter, calling on all the friends of voluntary education to bestir themselves; and pointing out the evils of the various proposed compulsory systems. There is no doubt that the most strenuous exertions will be called for during the approaching session, in order to counteract the efforts which the advocates of the compulsory G 42 schemes are evidently prepared to make. We are glad to learn that the members of the Society of Friends residing in Manchester, have issued a formal protest against the Manchester and Salford Education Bill. We trust that our own friends will be on the alert, not only to resist any inroads on the voluntary principle, but practically to assert its efficiency and the possibility of effective unsectarian action. A proposal for the establishment of a NONCONFORMIST CLUB in London has, during the month, been made public. The proposition originated with H. Bateman, Esq., and was discussed at an influential meeting of nonconformists, convened by circulars restricted to those who do not hold the ministerial office. It is proposed to erect a building in some central part of London, which shall serve as a focus of union among dissenters, both of London and the provinces. One side of the building, which is to be quadrangular, it is proposed to fit up as committee-rooms and offices for our various societies; another side is intended to constitute a hall capable of holding from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons, which would be let for public meetings; other portions of the building would be occupied with the necessary adThe cost is estimated juncts of the club. at from £50,000 to £60,000, to be raised by shares; and as establishments of this nature are notoriously profitable, it is regarded as likely, in a commercial point of view, to furnish a good investment. The management it is proposed to leave entirely in the hands of laymen. The want of such a centre of friendship, information, and action has long been felt. Men holding the same views and animated by the same feelings have hitherto had no suitable opportunity of acquaintance and intercourse; whilst gentlemen residing in the country have been driven either into the narrow circle of personal friendship, or have been forced to avail themselves of opportunities already offering but which are destitute of anything rendering them in themselves attractive to nonconformist Christian men. The names of those who have taken the matter in hand are a sufficient guarantee that the scheme will be effectively carried out ; the presence of men of every shade of nonconformist opinion will secure the impartiality of the proceedings; and our only fear is lest the rate of subscription may be too high to allow many to avail themselves of it, who would be among those to whom it would be most valuable. We have no doubt, however, that this will receive the attention of the committee appointed to carry out the plan, most of whom have long been regarded with confidence by all classes of dissenters. A meeting of the friends of the proposed SCHOOL FOR THE SONS OF MISSIONARIES, was held on the 20th of November, at the Baptist Mission House. The chair was taken by Mr. Sherman; and addresses were delivered by Dr. Tidman, Messrs. Trestrail, Underhill, Clarke, Soul, and others. There have been already collected £800 towards the establishment of a home for the sons, similar to that existing at Walthamstow for the daughters, of missionaries; and it was sought to increase this sum to £1,000 before Christmas. A donation of £100 was promised by W. B. Gurney, Esq., and others of smaller amounts by various friends. The matter was referred to a committee to consult as to the best means of carrying it forward. The LONDON UNION ON CHURCH MATTERS have, during the month, adopted an important document. It more definitely than anything before given announces the course they are prepared to take, and makes avowals in reference to the relation of church and state which show that they have turned their attention to the degree of freedom which there is any hope of their obtaining, and to the price that they will have to pay for it. They consider that they should aim at the introduction of a bill to permit the provincial convocations to make canons for the reform of those bodies, in order to fit them hereafter to be the legislature of the church in each province :-" a legislature that should have power to enact canons which should not need the control of parliament seria tim." Their plan, they assert, gives every security that anything which tends to disturb the relations of church and state will be dealt with cautiously. They think that there is no doubt that eventually the church will be enabled to decide on matters of doctrine-"a Cæsaropapacy is a monster that will not stand the close inspection of the nineteenth century." What they fear is an unwillingness to admit changes, and against this they can only urge the hardship that a body comprising all denominations should rule the church of England." On the other hand, they admit the duty of the legislature to keep a sharp eye on all matters relating to property. They allow that those who contribute to the maintenance of the church have civil rights connected with it; that they cannot get rid of these without some modification of their liabilities; that "a modification of the law of church-rate will have to be made, and the powers and operations of church courts will have to be reconsidered;" and that all compulsory power over dissenters must be abolished. Such a manifesto on the part of men in the fore front of the battle in favour of ecclesiastical and sacerdotal power is a sign of the times that may well encourage us to renewed exertion. : We must look to facts and not to antiquarianism," say they let us not be wanting in accepting these challenges and meeting them on their own ground. |