Many of our readers are perhaps aware that the Irish CATHOLIC DEFENCE ASSOCIATION has by no means met with the general support which its initiative proceedings seemed to indicate, and that generally there has resulted a wide-spread dissatisfaction on the part of the Romish laity of Ireland, principally because the association was to so great an extent under the influence of the priesthood. This feeling would now appear to have broken out into an open rupture, in consequence of the election to the office of secretary of the Rev. Henry Wilberforce, who was vicar of East Farleigh, Kent, previous to his secession to the church of Rome. The election has been for sometime pending, and the fact that an Englishman has been chosen to the office, instead of Mr. Burke, who had hitherto worked the association, has given dire offence to those who do not lose sight of their nationality in their adherence to the church of Rome, and who look to the association to defend what they profess to be their political, no less than their religious rights. Seven leading members of the Irish brigade have addressed a letter to the people of Ireland, in which they protest against this choice, as an act of ignoble folly and national degradation. The fact of Mr. Wilberforce being a married man, and consequently unable to take orders in the Romish church, has led his new friends to procure for him this situation -unfortunately not to the satisfaction of their earlier associates. An ENCYCLICAL LETTER has just been published by the pope, announcing his intention to open anew the celestial treasures of the church under the form of a jubilee. That is to say, to all who during the space of a month shall have fasted, attended confession, received absolution and the eucharist, visited church three times, and there "have poured forth prayers unto God for the exaltation of the holy catholic church, and of the apostolic see, and for the extirpation of heresy," and "shall have bestowed some alms on the poor and a pious offering to the most religious institution of the Propagation of the Faith, -he concees a plenary indulgence of all their sins in the form of a jubilee, which may also be best owed by way of suffrage for the souls in purgatory." In order to open to all an easier way that they may return to the path of salvation," he gives to the confessor the power of absolving "all those who have miserably enrolled themselves in the sects," "and of dispensing them from the obligation of denouncing their accomplices," "those cases excepted in which to avoid greater and more grievous evils denouncement may appear to be altogether necessary." Their prayers are called for, he declares, by the deplorable darkness which blinds so many minds, the vehement war which is waged against the whole catholic religion and this apostolic chair; the implacable hatred which persecutes virtue and honesty; hence the most shameful vices which usurp the name of virtue; the unbridled license of thinking, corrupting, doing everything, and daring everything; the absolute impatience of all restraint, all power, and all authority; the derision and contempt for the most sacred things, for the holiest laws, for the most excellent institutions." "And that God may be more accessible, and give ear to our prayers, and hear our petitions, let us raise our hearts and hands to His most holy Mother, the immaculate Virgin Mary. We could not find protection more powerful or more effectual with God. She is to us the most tender of mothers, our firmest reliance, and the very spring of our hopes, since she asks nothing which she does not obtain, and her prayer is never refused. Let us also implore, in the first place, the intercession of the Prince of the Apostles to whom Jesus Christ himself has given the keys of the kingdom of heaven whom he has established as the foundationstone of his church, against which the gates of hell will never be able to prevail. Let us then pray to Paul, the companion of his apostleship. Let us pray to the patron of each city and country, and to all the blessed, that our most merciful Lord may shed upon us in abundance and munificence the gifts of his bounty." P. G. CORRESPONDENCE. VOLUNTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I presume your next number will contain an account of the recent conference of the Voluntary School Association. The opportunity seems a favourable one for calling the attention of our brethren throughout the country to the claims of that association. Obliged, as we are through our repugnance to government support, to withdraw from the Borough Road Institution, and prevented as we are from co-operating with the Congregational Board of Education, we have nothing left us but to avail ourselves of the unsectarian and voluntary association for which I venture earnestly to plead. The opponents of our great principles, both in the government and out of it, are aiming to counteract their increasing power through the medium of the school room. The two Manchester schemes are bidding high for popularity and patronage; and, judging from Lord John Russell's reception of a deputa tion from the advocates of the worst of those schemes, we may infer that he will render it his aid. We must be on the alert, if we would take our proper part in vindicating the claims of our countrymen to retain in their own hands the education of their own children and to assist in their own way the education of the children of the poor. I beg my brethren throughout the country to put themselves in correspondence at once with the treasurer of our voluntary association, G. W. Alexander, Esq. Lombard Street, London. The congregationalists are doing nobly. Let not the baptists fail! I am yours sincerely, WILLIAM BROCK. CATECHISMS IN INDIA. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-In the Report of the Baptist Missionary Society last presented, occurs the following paragraph: "A catechism of Christian doctrines in Bengali, prepared at the request of the Bengal Association of Baptist Churches, has occupied the pen of brother Wenger." Now, with all respect for the parties immediately interested in this matter, perhaps you will permit me to express a doubt as to the propriety of this step. Surely if there be a denomination of Christians who can afford to rely entirely upon the scriptures, it is that to which we have the honour to belong. Why then can it be requisite to introduce into India a system that has done so much to perpetuate a sectional Christianity? while at the same time, as we all too well know, it has given rise to bitterness and to a sacrifice of vital truth, the ultimate effects of which no one can foresee. Moreover, we should not now lose sight of the fact that very many of the best friends of education are which appeared in our preface, signed by many gentlemen bearing office in our principal societies, attesting the usefulness of the Magazine in reference to the various institutions with which they are connected: One which will be stitched into each copy of the present number, the reader is requested to detach, in order to make use of it in any way which he may think best adapted to increase the number of subscribers. It will be found with other advertisements, and any friend who is disposed to exert himself in endeavours of this kind, and has opportunity to make use of more copies, may obtain them by applying to Messrs. Houlston and Stoneman. The transposition of the Missionary Herald and the Irish Chronicle is a matter of practical convenience to the printer and binder. The Irish Chronicle is "worked" with the last portion of the Magazine: their separation for stitching involves, therefore, additional labour. The Herald constitutes an entire and separate sheet. It is well known that there are ministers and churches of our denomination who have not been accustomed to support our societies for the spread of the gospel at home or abroad, and who have been believed to be opposed to such institutions on principle. We are glad to learn that some of these have recently united in forming an association for the diffusion of divine truth according to their own views of it. On the 3rd of Nov. a society was formed in the Surrey Tabernacle, Kent Road, the avowed objects of which are, preaching out-of-doors and in-doors in destitute neighbourhoods-reading and expounding the scriptures in families and places of concourse-holding prayer-meetings at convenient places-and distributing tracts. We opposed to catechisms as a means of impart-co-operation from societies with which we are can easily conceive of good men withholding ing instruction on any subject. Knowing the value of your space, I content myself with a few words, though the question is a most prolific one. I am, yours truly, JOHN FRANCIS. ORATORIOS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. MY DEAR SIR,-I have been accustomed to regard as not the least important of your valuable pages, those which you have sometimes devoted to propounding and answering queries. Will you or some of your correspondents be good enough to furnish me with an opinion as to the propriety of professors of religion attending oratorios, concerts, or lectures on music with illustrations. Yours very truly, A YOUNG MINISTER. connected, because, while they prize the doctrine of grace through the righteousness of the Son of God as truly as ourselves, they regard some opinions as inconsistent with it which we believe to be true and important. The determination to combine for the promotion of their own views of truth among the ignorant and careless is however a step in the right direction. Let them be faithful and diligent, and then, if in anything they be otherwise minded, we trust that God will reveal even this unto them. A well known Wesleyan gentleman residing in the City Road, Thomas Marriott, Esq., who had been accustomed to travel with methodist deputations, and take the chair at public meetings in the country, died on the 19th of November, having bequeathed the sum of £10,000 to the Wesleyan Missionary EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT. Society, and the residue of his estate, after Our publishers inform us that they have the payment of some other legacies, to the reprinted for general distribution the letter" Worn-out Wesleyan Minister's Fund." IRISH CHRONICLE. JANUARY, 1852. THANKS. WE cannot begin the new year in a manner more congenial with our feelings than by performing an act of justice to those pastors and deacons who have responded to our September Appeal, by forwarding spontaneous contributions. They have been very numerous, and the advantages of the course they have pursued have been great. Had the usual expenses of deputations been incurred in making these collections, the discount would have amounted to many pounds. Kind and encouraging observations have also frequently accompanied the remittances. Thus, one says, "I brought the case of the Irish Society before our last church meeting, and it was unanimously resolved to give you a collection. I hope all the churches, both in London and the country, will at once come to your aid. If they do not, never more let them complain as to the expense attendant on travelling agents." Another says, peal met my views so completely with regard to the saving of the expense of deputations, as often as possible, that I resolved to see what we could do for the Irish Society without foreign aid. Our collections are equal to former years, and the whole, without deduction, flows into your treasury." In the name of the society, we thank very cordially all the brethren who have thus promptly and manfully taken this business into their own hands. creased rather than diminished by our not having a deputation." We only wish to remind these friends that we are relying upon them. We are exercising confidence in their steadfastness. They will probably need fortitude to resist the urgency of some who will plead their being come, and their having come a long distance, as the reasons why they should be attended to at once, and why our case should be postponed, but our brethren, we believe, will show a determination that they who trust them most fully shall not on that account receive the worst treatment. We wait the re sult with some anxiety, but with a strong persuasion that our brethren will prove themselves worthy of the confidence we have exercised in them as men of principle. FINANCIAL POSITION. At a Committee Meeting held on the 2nd of December, the Treasurer pre"Your ap-sented an account of the Receipts and Expenditure since the Annual Meeting, in comparison with the Receipts and Expenditure of the same portion of the year 1850. Few of the reductions which were agreed upon in the spring have as yet taken effect, so as to reduce the amount of expenditure very sensibly, but they will now come into immediate operation. The receipts have exceeded those of the same portion of the year 1850 by £671 15s. 10d., and the balance in favour of the society this November over last is £743 78. 3d. This is cheering in some degree; but when it is remembered that our debt in April was above £1828, it will be seen that strenuous exertion is still necessary on the part of all our friends. Next to these, we are indebted to some who have promised that collections shall be made and transmitted ere long. Approbation of the effort to save the cost of travelling agency has been expressed by many who have coupled with it assurances that though local circumstances compelled delay, the Baptist Irish Society should not be forgotten. Some have fixed the day, others have spoken more generally of the winter, or the spring. Thus one says, "We cannot well do any thing here just now by way of special contribution, but if my life be spared till the time comes round for the Society's visit, I will take all possible care that your funds be in It will be lamentable to have to make further reductions in the number of agents employed in making known the gospel in Ireland at the time when the hearts of men are prepared by divine providence to hearken, and when the zeal of the adversary has been roused to an unprecedented degree of energy. It must however be borne in mind that the increased receipts arise principally from special donations which have been made towards the liquidation of the debt, and that they do not authorise us to enlarge our expenditure in the slightest degree, whatever auspicious prospects may present themselves in any locality. We feel that it would be wrong to do anything like complaining, or to repress emotions of gratitude towards God or man; but it would be equally wrong to conceal the fact that the present position of the conductors of the society is extremely painful. We know that our agents are unable through the limited means at their disposal to avail themselves of opportunities, and make the best use of their time and talents; to have to answer the most reasonable requests with perpetual declarations of inability, and to be for ever writing about the debt, the debt, the debt, cannot fail to exhaust the spirits. The continuance of this is depressing and disabling to a degree of which nothing but experience can enable any one to judge. The occupant of such a situation requires either great insensibility of heart, or a very firm determination to persevere in duty irrespective of discouraging circumstances. Our brethren who sympathize with our purpose have indeed need to pray for those to whom the management of the society is committed "that their faith fail not." From this important place, now the second city in Ireland, the population as ascertained this spring being 99,660, Mr. Eccles, the esteemed pastor of the baptist church, wrote thus, a few days ago:-"The Lord has been latterly doing such things for us as greatly to gladden our hearts. Within the last nine weeks I have baptized four times; and eight have been added to the fellowship of the church; some of these baptized are truly flowers offered in the bud; but one, a female, has already reached the threescore years and ten which de termine the ordinary limit of human life. Oh, for more of that devotedness of spirit which influenced one so aged and frail to forget her infirmities, and to be buried in baptism with Him whom her soul loveth.' On the whole, the cause here is in a satisfactory condition. I trust that next year you may be able to visit these parts, and to find that I do not overstate the facts." CONLIG. The following pleasing information was given in a letter dated December 8th, by Mr. M'Kee, our brother who 1bours in this village, which is about seven miles east of Belfast and one mile north of Newtonards:-"It is now sometime since I wrote you anything of my labours here. It is therefore with pleasure that I state, that on Lord's day November 23rd, I baptized a young female in our chapel, who has since been added to the church. She is the daughter of a widow who was one of the earliest members of the church. I have been a good deal interested in her case, as she has long been a hopeful character; and it was very gratifying to the church to see her, at the age of sixteen years, giving decision of character, and publicly acknowledging herself to be on the Lord's side. The congregations both here and at the out-station, are much as usual. The latter somewhat fluctuate from a variety of circumstances over which I have no control. Some of those who attend, there is reason to believe, never hear the story of the cross' elsewhere. I have just returned from an evangelistic tour, which I took to the central parts of the county Antrim, where I spent ten days plea santly, and, I trust, profitably. preached in the Wesleyan chapel, Ballymona, and in five other places in the surrounding neighbourhood. The attendance in most cases was encouraging. In one instance there could not have been less than 130 present. There were some Romanists who came and heard the message of mercy. On Lord's day, November 30, I preached morning and evening to the baptist church in Grange, about seven miles from Ballymona. There are about forty members in fellowship, and although they have no stated pastor, they forsake not the assembling themselves together as the manner of some is.' The congregation I in the morning was about eighty, and in the evening upwards of a hundred. Altogether I was much pleased with my visit to Grange. The members are very intelligent, steady, and consistent. "I am happy to state that while there is still much sectarian prejudice in the North of Ireland, it has in some measure given way, as the following fact will show:-I was recently invited by the minister of the New Connexion Methodists in Bangor, to attend a soirée in their school-room. I did so; and the chairman of the meeting was the Rev. Dr. Colter, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in Ireland. At the conclusion of the meeting, in referring to the speeches which had been made, he made allusion to mine in very complimentary terms, adding, that he felt great pleasure in referring to the respectable denomination to which I belonged, as some of the writers of that denomination had laid the Christian church under lasting obligations; among which he might name a Foster, a Fuller, a Hall, and others. He added that, when in 1825, he went out a young man to preach the gospel, wherever he met a baptist minister he met a friend, and wherever he met a member of a baptist church he found in him a friend who was willing to assist him in his works of faith and labours of love. He said it therefore gave him great pleasure to meet me there as a minister of that denomination. These observations were made publicly in the presence of nearly 200 persons, many of whom had been accustomed to hear us spoken of as 'the offscouring of all things.' I am sure you will be gratified to hear of such manifestation of fraternal feeling between an agent of the Baptist Irish Society, and the Moderator of the General Assembly." COLERAINE. Here, in the county of Londonderry, 145 miles north of Dublin, Mr. Brown continues to labour. On the 15th of December he wrote, saying:-"Nothing very particular has occurred here since I last wrote you. The two last sabbaths save one I was enabled to spend with the church at Ballymoney, having obtained a supply for my own pulpit. The brethren there go on comfortably, and I had the pleasure of proposing an intelligent man to their fellowship on the last day that I was with them. On the evening of the same day I preached to a good congregation at Balnamore, a place about five miles distant, which I intend to occupy as a new station. "The church here goes on much as usual. We have had no additions for some time; but I hope we soon shall. Last evening, after the regular services in the chapel, I preached at Knockbarne to about ninety people. This station is about two miles distant, and promises well. I think I mentioned in my last that a society had been formed by some of the female members of our church in conjunction with some of those of Mr. Richey's congregation, for the distribution of tracts. Since then, a Young Men's Christian Association' has been formed, a copy of whose rules I enclose. This society embraces four denominations of Christians-Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Baptists. As I said before, I think it is a favourable circumstance, that whilst we hold forth our distinctive principles without the slightest compromise, we nevertheless enjoy the friendship of our brethren who differ from us. The "I may mention the death of a young man, the son of one of the deacons. He had been long ill of consumption, and it appears his affliction had been sanctified. He gave very satisfactory evidence of conversion to God. day before his death he remarked that although it had not been his privilege to join the church below, he should soon join the church above. Next day he fell asleep in Jesus. I improved his death from Rev. xiv. 13." |