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The Legacy of £5, acknowledged in the December Herald as from Mrs. Elizabeth Perry, late of Wotton under Edge, should have been from Miss Elizabeth Perrin, late of Kingswood.

Treasurers;

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by William Brodie Gurney, Esq., and Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., M.P., by the Rev. Frederick Trestrail and Edward Bean Underhill, Esq., Secretaries, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street, LONDON: in EDINBURGH, by the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Jonathan Watson, and John Macandrew, Esq.; in GLASGOW, by Robert Kettle, Esq.; in DUBLIN, by John Purser, Esq., Rathmines Castle; in CALCUTTA, by the Rev. James Thomas, Baptist Mission Press; and at NEW YORK, United States, by W. Colgate, Esq. Contributions can also be paid in at Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., Lombard Street, to the account of the Treasurers.

OF THE

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A FEW months ago, while engaged in visiting the stations of the Society in Monmouthshire, the attention of the secretary was called to Llandogo and Whitebrook, two villages between Monmouth and Chepstow, where places of worship had been erected, for the supply of which local assistance could not be obtained. Persuaded that the Committee would not send an agent to these villages, unless they could be associated with another and a larger, he visited St. Briavell's, in the same neighbourhood, a central village of considerable extent and importance, which is without any dissenting chapel, and where he found several persons ready to encourage the residence of a missionary. Mr. P. G. JOHNSON, formerly a city missionary, having been strongly recommended for zeal and energy, the Committee instructed him to visit St. Briavell's in connexion with Llandogo and Whitebrook. His report, which will be read with interest, is published with the hope that some kind friend will be found willing to render the missionary the temporary aid without which he will be seriously hindered in his self-denying yet hopeful labours.

St. Briavell's, Gloucestershire. In furnishing the first report of these stations, I have to tell of success and disappointment; of favourable circumstances and powerful obstacles; of zealous co-operation and determined opposition; the effects of antagonistic principles energetically carried out; the conflicting action of which has been followed by an encouraging measure of success to the efforts used to extend and consolidate the cause of Christ Jesus in this neighbourhood.

You are aware that in their relative positions the three stations form a triangle, each one being about two miles and a half distant from the other two. At each station I preach once on the sabbath; consequently my Lord's day duties are three services, to conduct which I have to walk eight miles. At Whitebrook and Llandogo, the service at each place is alternately, morning and afternoon, but at St. Briavell's it is always in the evening.

The attendance at Whitebrook does not usually exceed thirty-five in the morning, and fifty-five in the afternoon.

At Llando

go it does not generally exceed twenty in the morning, and thirty in the afternoon. A congregation, however, varying from sixty to eighty, can be secured at this station on Lord's day evenings. I have therefore induced a fellow helper to hold a sabbath evening service once a fortnight, during the greater part of the last quarter.

Both these stations are in the same parish -a parish which is under the ecclesiastical government of a curate of high church principles; and so powerful is the influence he wields in both places, that few of the poor cottagers dare attend chapel when there is service in the church. I have therefore de

termined to originate a Loan Tract Society, that, by visiting the poor at their own homes, once a fortnight, and supplying them with scriptural reading, and suitable instruction, and counsel, a healthful, spiritual influence may be exerted upon them by our means. At neither station can we obtain a sabbath school, because we cannot furnish secular instruction during the week; for at each station there is a church school, at which it is an indispensable condition that the children that receive education during the week, shall attend school and church on Sundays.

At St. Briavell's your agent has laboured with manifest tokens of the divine favour, amidst powerful and determined opposition. The room in which we worship accommodates about a hundred persons, and is always crowded on the sabbath. Many are also accustomed, when the weather permits, to congregate outside the building, and in the coach house and stable below, where they have, at different times, been subjected to insult and annoyance from several young men of the baser sort,a class whom Bunyan quaintly but expressively designates the "sin breeders of the village," who are indirectly and covertly incited and encouraged to annoy us by individuals whose temporal interests would be materially affected by the prevalence of religion and morality in the village. And this has been the uniform course pursued towards every attempt made to introduce the gospel amongst the inhabitants of St. Briavell's, from the days of John Wesley to the present time. Mr. Wesley, after being repeatedly stoned out of the village, feeling that he had fully discharged his duty towards its inhabitants, is said "to have shaken off the dust from

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his feet as a testimony against them." At a more recent period, my esteemed ministering brother and neighbour, the Rev. Thomas Jones, of Chepstow, was also stoned when he first attempted to preach Christ unto them. My valued friend, the Rev. Moses Philpin, now of Alcester, Warwickshire, formerly laboured for about three or four years with much success at St. Briavell's, but had, I am assured, powerful opposition to conflict with. Unhappily no continuous or well-sustained effort has ever been made to raise a Christian church in the village, and the fear that the cause of Christ will now obtain a firm footing in it (from the Baptist Home Missionary Society having adopted it as one of their stations), has nerved the zeal of our opponents, so that every means has been used by them to prevent us obtaining an eligible plot of ground, for which we were in treaty, as a site for a chapel and burial ground, and, unhappily for our cause, their opposition has been successful. Elated by their triumph, and stimulated by success to renewed action, they next prevailed with the person of whom we rent the room in which we worship, to give us notice that we cannot have it after Christmas. Unfortunately there is no other to be had in the village, and at the present inclement season of the year we cannot worship in the open air. Our circumstances, therefore, dear sir, are becoming desperate. What we shall do we know not. Our only consolation is, the Lord reigneth.

Ever since my settlement at St. Briavell's, the poor people have not ceased to importune me for a chapel, and as the members of the church had resolved to have a tea meeting on the 6th of October, that their minister might have a public recognition by the neighbouring ministers and churches, I availed myself of the occasion to bring our necessitous case before the meeting, and engaged to raise £50 towards the object at the three stations. After animated and encouraging addresses by several ministers and gentlemen who were present, Thomas Nicholson, Esq., of Lydney, kindly engaged to raise £50 for us amongst the neighbouring churches; and Mr. Edy, of Cardiff, £50, among the churches in Wales. These sums, with £100 which we hope to obtain on loan from the Baptist Building Fund, will be nearly sufficient in this neighbourhood to provide us with a comfortable chapel, capable of seating from 250 to 300 persons; and we have reason to believe, that, had we a chapel at St. Briavell's, our Lord's day attendance would always exceed 200, and that we should be able to secure a sabbath school of from sixty to eighty children. We cannot, however, proceed to collect the sums promised us until we have secured land on which to erect our proposed chapel, and, unhappily, by the failure of the Monmouth and Glamorganshire bank, a kind friend who would have advanced the amount (£50), necessary for

this purpose, has been placed in such circumstances as prevents his doing so; and none of the friends connected with the cause are able to do it; consequently we are in a fix, for the want of a friend to help us to help ourselves. Our confidence is in Him whose cause it is, and in whose hands are the hearts of all men, that He will be a "present help in time of trouble."

That no permanent amount of good will ever be effected at St. Briavell's unless a chapel can be obtained, is the unanimous testimony of all, both ministers and friends, acquainted with the neighbourhood. If, therefore, a chapel cannot be had, the abandonment of the station by the Baptist Home Missionary Society will be inevitable. And such is the spirit of hearing manifested amid the most formidable and active opposition, that we cannot but think "that God has much people," even in hardened, ungodly St. Briavell's.

Besides our Lord's day services, we have also at this station a service on Thursday evenings, the attendance at which has ranged from twenty to forty. Three or four persons are the subjects of serious impressions and deep concern about their souls, the result of the ministry at this station. I have also occasionally preached on a Tuesday evening to a crowded congregation, in the house of one of the members of the church, living on St. Briavell's Common, about a mile and a half from the village. The Common is a large tract of land, studded with about 180 isolated cottages, about a stone's throw from each other.

The following is a summary of the quarter's engagements at the three stations:Religious services Public meeting Families visited

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Of these visits, twenty-one have been to the sick and dying.

In addition to the above, I have been occupied, on an average, one day in the week ever since our tea meeting, about our proposed chapel, on account of which I have travelled 112 miles; while in the discharge of my station duties I find I have travelled 134 miles more, together 246 miles.

P. G. JOHNSON,

Bridport.-I beg through you to solicit a renewal of the aid kindly rendered to Bridport last year by the Committee of the Baptist Home Missionary Society. In doing so, I am thankful to be able to present a more encouraging statement than last year, of our state and prospects.

Our position then, was, as we considered, hopeful; but we can now rejoice that our hopes have been in a great measure fulfilled. Additions have been made to our church by

baptism, and by the return of one who was formerly an influential member. About a dozen who were members of an Independent church, which has become extinct during the year, habitually commune with us. Our sabbath congregations are greatly increased; and our three week-day services are, on the whole, well attended. The Sunday school has, within the last eighteen months, been nearly trebled. We are too, delighted to know that there are inquirers amongst us, of whom we entertain great hope. With this general improvement our pecuniary resources have also improved; though even now I do not receive from the cause more than at the rate of £40 per annum. We are all hopeful of further improvement in this respect; especially if we can get rid of our debt, on which £17 are thrown away annually as interest. We are raising this year by means of the Share Plan," about £30, toward the debt, thus reducing it to £300; and are prepared to organize and carry out some plan for its entire removal, provided we could secure help from the " Loan Fund," or from some other source. If the Committee could, in any way further such an effort, we think they would be taking the surest steps towards rendering the cause ultimately self-sustaining. I am quite prepared to meet the anxiety and care in which such an extended effort would involve me, and to devote myself more fully than ever to the cause, provided I can be freed for the time from anxiety on my own and my family's account. This will depend mainly on the view which the Committee may take in reference to Bridport; and the amount of help they may be disposed to render, as I am anticipating but little from any other quarter.

THOMAS YOUNG.

P.S. Since writing the enclosed we are placed in some difficulty as a cause, from the £300 lent on our chapel being this day called in; we have about three months in which to make arrangements. I have written off to-day to the "Loan Fund" to ascertain whether there is any chance of a loan. We could undertake £300 if we could secure it; or should be thankful with any smaller amount on the same terms. Could you in any way help or advise us under the circumstances?

I am thankful for all kindness to me and to the cause.

Shiffnall.-In reply to yours respecting the church under my care, I will endeavour to give you a brief but faithful statement. With regard to the internal state of the church, I may say that a spirit of harmony, peace, and unanimity prevails. The prayer meetings and week evening services are better attended as is generally the case as winter approaches. We have had no cases of

church discipline. One has recently been added by baptism. There are others of whom hopes were entertained that they would unite with us; but as yet these hopes have not been realised. Still we trust impressions have been made which will issue in decision. Though we dare not say that good has not been done, it is far from reaching to the standard of our wishes. We have been called to suffer again in removals. Mr. and Mrs. P, two of our most respectable members (and who were great helps in pecuniary and other points of view), have embarked for the United States; two other members also have been dismissed to other churches. Thus, while we have been building up in one direction, our work has been pulled down in another. We hope this dispersion may be for the furtherance of the gospel in other places: still it retards our progress, and our friends have great difficulty in making up the promised amount. With regard to the general aspect of the cause, our congregations have kept up pretty well during the summer, and now are on the increase. Sometimes the chapel is well filled; many of the hearers never entered the chapel before. I have made extra efforts during the summer in open air services, which have been well attended. I have also directed my attention to a neighbouring village, where I was kindly received, except by the clergyman, who gave the people a castigation accompanied with some tea as a bribe to keep them to the state church; indeed such is the influence of the clergy and their adherents, that tradesmen seem obliged either to sacrifice their business or keep to the church. These things are painfully discouraging to me, and sometimes excite thoughts of removal, as I am obliged to sacrifice many comforts I have hitherto enjoyed; but I have the satisfaction that many have heard the word of God, and with your kind assistance I am willing to try it longer, hoping and praying that through the divine blessing, the next year may be more abundantly fruitful. I have considerably reduced the debt, but there is still an amount of it which cripples the energies of the people. JOSEPH BUTCHER.

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Dunchurch, Warwickshire. I write a line as to our present state and prospects. Extraordinary efforts have been made this year by the vicar with his two curates (one of whom is his own son) to thin our attendance; persuasion, intimidation, allurements have been perseveringly exercised; the effect of which has been felt, though not to the extent I anticipated. The congregation of late has improved; our chapel is usually filled; and extra forms for the aisle are often required. Marked attention, and not infre

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