Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

GERMANY.

Extract of a Letter from J. F.Sling, Master of a Grammar-School in Balingen, a Small Town in the Kingdom of Wirtemberg, dated the 5th of August, 1809.

On the 31st of June, a flash of lightning struck a house in the suburbs of our town; and the fire spread so rapidly, that, notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions, in less than 22 hours the whole town was burned down, with the exception of a few houses. 320 houses were laid in ashes; and 630 families deprived of their habitations, and of almost all their property. Their misery and distress is indescribable. They had suffered much before from the war; which, having equally affected their neigh bours, they can expect but little as sistance from them.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Dr. Knapp, Director of the Orphan-House in Halle, in Saxony, dated the 12th of August, 1809. · HITHERTO the Lord has helped us in the midst of various difficulties. Our university again subsists since Easter, 1808, though very thinly attended, to what it formerly was. That God bas preserved Franck's Institutions, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, and the failure of former resources, is a wonder in our sight, aud has greatly strengthened my faith. Our government has last year done more for their support than we ever could have expected. It is true, they signified to us they could not continue it to the same extent for the future; but He, who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and to whom all resources are open, can easily continue to provide for it; for one thing is evident, that the blessing of their Founder still rests upon them. In extent, they have recently increased, in consequence of an order from government, that the two grammarschools in the town should be incorporated with them; besides

[merged small][ocr errors]

As the different sums which you committed to our distribution have long since been exhausted, I humbly beg leave once more to recom-. mend to the attention of your benevolent Committee, the numerous sufferers in Austria, Nuremberg, Augspurg, Tyrol, and many other places, who have been reduced to the greatest extremity by the late awful war; so that some of them are literally starving. Therefore, now the kiud ass stance of the generous friends in London, would prove more acceptable than ever, and be productive of the greatest blessings,

for which our common Lord would

richly reward them.

Oh, ye generous friends of hu manity in England, could you but for a moment be transported to the cabins of Poverty in Germany, see their distresses and hear their tales of woe, your hearts would melt within you, and you would gladly exert yourselves to the utmost to alleviate the burdens of your suffering fellow pilgrims; and now to our blessed Lord and Saviour, I commit every thing: he has the hearts of his people in England in his own hands; and can incline them as seemeth good to himself.

[blocks in formation]

church, have received from God any power over things temporal and civil; but only over spiritual matters. The chief article is succeeded by three other articles, declaring, That, even in spiritual matters, the power of the Pope is limited by the Decrees of the Council of Constance, and by the usages and constitutions of the Gallican Church.

By a late Decree of the French Emperor, the Roman territory is to be divided into two departments: The department of Rome, and the department of Trasimene; the former to send seven deputies, the latter four, to the Legislative Body in France. The territory is to give the title of King of Rome to the hereditary imperial prince; and the city is to be deemed the second city of the empire.

By this decree, the Popes are to make oath never to do any thing contrary to the four propositions of the Gallican church, agreed to in the assembly of the clergy in 1682.

The decree further provides for the temporal support of the Pope. He is to have palaces in several parts of the empire, where he may wish to reside; and of course, one at Rome and one at Paris, with a revenue of two millions (we suppose of francs); but he is to have no temporal authority.

Baptist Mission, East Indies.

We are informed that pleasing accounts of the State of the Mission have lately been received. The work of grace appears to be going on among the natives; and also among some Portugueze Catholics, at Calcutta. The Missionaries at

Goamalty, Dinangépore, and Berhampore, have likewise been successful. The brethren Chater and F. Carey have got into their new mission-house at Rangoon; and are so far masters of the language as to be able to meet the natives twice a week, and converse with them about religion. They have met with a book, containing Serin ture, Extracts, translated into tas Burman language, by an alian issionary, who has been in the country five and twenty years.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

This will be useful to them till they are able to translate the New Testament themselves.

Having finished the translation and printing of the New Testament in the Orissa language, they are about to commence a Mission to that part of India; for which purpose Providence appears to have provided suitable instruments; and the expence is prop sed to be de fraved by the church at Calcutta There have been, we rejoice to hear, several remarkable instances of converting grace among the Europeans; one of whom was a notorious infidel.

[ocr errors]

Mr. Carey, who has been very dangerously ill, is mercifully recovered; but is si li indisposed.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. De Queteville, Preacher to the French Methodists, in the Islands of Cuernsey and Jersey, to Dr. Coke. [From the Methodist Magazine.] Monsieur P. informs me, that the Credit: that Monsieur Shas Reformed in France are in high great interest with Napoleor, and

is the friend of the Minister of the Interior; and that the sincere Methodists are much esteemed where they are known.

The Emperor has of late publish ed a Declaration, which he has obliged the Priests to read in their several congregations, stating, that they who call themselves The Successors of Jesus Christ, and his Apostles, ought to imitate their Master; who publicly avowed,' My kingdom is not of this world; and who took no part in the public affains of the state; but was wholly occupied about spiritual things. He says that he will listen to them when they speak to him on subjects connected with the salvation of his soul; but on no other ! ! !'

You will be pleased with the ac. Gount Mrs. Mahy has given me of Mr Pontavice. She says that he arrived in Caen a little before their departure, on a visit to the Society, as he had been accustomed to do every winter; and, in the intervals, he wrote them very edifying pastoral letters that he is much alive

Gg

[ocr errors]

to God, preaches with great power, and sees the fruit of his labour amongst the inhabitants of Bolbec, where he statedly ministers. He is held in high estimation by the Reformed Ministers, who frequently invite him to preach in their churches, where he has crowded Congregations. The last Whitsuntide he spent at Rouen, in supplying the place of one of the ministers who was indisposed. The church could not contain the crowds of Protestants and Roman Catholics; who listened with the greatest attention, whilst he published the doctrines of salvation as they are taught amongst us.

Mrs. Mahy observes further, The little Society at Beuville was much affected at our departure, and shed many tears. They are very lively; as are a few others in the Commune of Conde. Two are dead; and a few have turned aside. There are eighteen in Society at Beuville, and eighteen at Perier, one of them was formerly a great opposer of the truth; but now he is a leading man; and, in the absence of Mr. M. reads sermons to the people.'

[blocks in formation]

some of the Jews, when attending their dying beds, and in the near prospect of eternity, If Jesus of Nazareth, in whom the Christians believe, be the true Messiah, may God have mercy upon you for his sake!'

Power of Conscience.

A MAN and his wife were recently executed at Augsburgh for murder, the discovery of which, after a long lapse of time strongly manifests the impossibility of eluding the all-seeing eye of Providence. The criminal, whose name was Wincze, was origi nally of Nurenburgh; but removed to Augsburgh in 1788; where he followed the law. In this city he became intimate in the family of Mr. Glegg, to whose daughter he paid his addresses; but the old man not sanctioning his, visits, he met the daughter privately, seduced her, and persuaded her, in order to remove the only obstacle to their union, to administer poison to her father! The horrid plan succeeded, no suspicions were entertained, and their union put him in possession of the father's wealth. During a period of twenty-one years they were externally happy; but, in secret, a prey to the greatest remorse. At length, unable to endure any longer the load of guilt, the wife made confession of the particulars of the atrocious crime she had been prevailed on to commit. The husband was apprehended; and both suffered by an ignominious death.

LONDON.

The Annual Meeting of the BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY Will be held on Wednesday, May 2, at the [Old] London Tavern, in Bishopsgate Street, near Cornhill, the former place of meeting having been found too small. The President will take the Chair precisely at Twelve o'Clock,

The Annual Sermon for the Benefit of THE LONDON FEMALE PENITEN TIARY, will be preached on Wednesday Evening, the 2d of May, at St. Lawrence Jewry Church, near Guildhall, by the Rev. Legh Richmond, A. M. Rector of Turvey, Bedfordshire. Service to begin at Half past Six o'Clock, precisely.

[ocr errors]

The Annual Meeting of the Society engaged in the Support of the London Female Penitentiary, will be held on Tuesday, the 8th of May, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside, at Twelve o'Clock, precisely.

י

THE Annual Meeting of this Society will, if God permit, be held in London, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 9th, 10th, and 11th Days of May. The Arrangement of the Services is as follows:

[ocr errors]

SURRY CHAPEL.

Wednesday Morning, May 9, the Rev. W. B. COLLYER, D. D. of Peckham, to preach.

TABERNACLE.

Wednesday Evening. The Rev. T. KELLY, A. M. of Dublin, to preach.

SILVER STREET.

Thursday Morning, May-10, the Members and Friends of the Society will meet at the Rev. Mr. Jones's Chapel, Silver Street, to transact the usual Business of the Institution, to hear the Annual Report, and elect Officers and Directors for the Year ensuing. An Address will be delivered to the Society.

TOTTENHAM-COURT CHAPEL.

Thursday Evening, the Rev. G. COLLISON, of Walthamstow, to preach.

ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH, FLEET STREET.

Friday Morning, May 11, the Rev. W. B. COCKER, A. M. Vicar of Bunny and Ruddington, in the County of Nottingham, to preach.

On Friday Afternoon, at Four o'clock, the remaining Business of the Society will be transacted at the School-Room of Sion Chapel.

AT SION CHAPEL.

On Friday Evening the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be administered to those Members and Friends of the Missionary Society who are Stated Communicants with a Christian Church (of whatever form) who produce Tickets, signed by their respective Ministers. It is hoped that no Person will be offended by the strict regard which, to prevent confusion, or the admission of improper persons, must be paid to this Regulation.

Ministers resident in town, will be pleased to send to the Secretary, 53, Hatton Garden, for Tickets, on the preceding Thursday, Friday, or Šaturday Morning. Ministers from the Country may obtain them on Monday Afternoon, at No. 9, Old Swan Stairs; or on Wednesday Morning, before the Service, at Surry Chapel.

We are desired to say, That the Front Seats in the Galleries at each of the Chapels, being reserved for the Ministers, other persons are requested not to occupy them.

The Morning Services will commence at Half past Ten, and the Evening Services at Six. A Collection will be made at each place.

The Annual Meeting of the RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY will be held on Thursday, the 10th of May, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, at Seven o'clock in the Morning.

The Annual Meeting of the HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, for the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge in ireland, will be held on Friday, the 11th of May, at Seven in the Morning, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside.

The Annual Meeting of the GENERAL CONGREGATIONAL UNION will be held on Wednesday Morning, May the 16th, at the Rev. Mr. Wall's Meeting-House, Pavenient, Moorfields; when a Sermon will be preached by the Rev. Dr. Winter. Service to begin at Eleven o'clock. The Business of the Society will be transacted after the Service. The Members and Friends of the Union are requested to breakfast together at the New Loadon Tavern, at Half past Seven in the Morning of the same day.

TOLERATION ACT.

IN consequence of the Motions made by Lord Sidmouth, in the House of Lords, we are informed, that Returns have been transmitted by the Registrars in each Diocese, of the number of places registered therein; and also by the Clerks of the Peace of the several Counties, both of the Preachers and Places licensed therein, according to the Toleration Act, from the beginning of the year 1760, to the end of the year 1808. The totals, we understand, are as follow:

[blocks in formation]

We confess that the number of preachers falls far below our expectaLtion, and seems not to afford any ground of alarm, even to those who are the most jealous on account of the supposed increase of Methodist aud Dissenting Teachers.

[ocr errors]

In looking over the list of counties, the greatest numbers are, as might be expected, in the most populous places; for instance,

Yorkshire, 351 | Middlesex, 810.

If there has been any abuse of the Toleration Act, by obtaining licences, by persons who are not preachers, we suspect it has been in London. We are assured, by ministers in the country of considerable information, that no case ever came within their observation of such a fraud. Indeed, such cases are so few, that it seems preposterous to ground an infringement of the Toleration Act on such a pretext. Besides, the -evil, if it really exists, is already obviated, in great part, as the late Mistitia Bills excuse no preacher from serving, unless he be the minister of 'a congregation.

As to the number of places licenced, it is not very great: twelve thousand in 48 years, is only about 250 in a year; which is not five annually in every county, and if we take into the account, as we certainly ought, that, in many cases, four or five different licences have been obtained for one congregation (as a dwelling-house, a barn, a small meeting, and then a larger) the number is much reduced.

Then again, let it be remembered, that many a place has been licenced, for fear of disturbance or persecution; in which there has been preaching but once or twice, or for a very short time, and then dropped. Our brethren in the country well know this. This will reduce the number still lower; and thrus, taking the above and other similar circumstances into consideration, it seems probable that not more than 5000 or 6000 places have (probably many of these are merely Sunday-Schools) in nearly 50 years, been licenced a number by no means formidable to thinking and candid men, who wish to promote the religious instruction of the poor aud ignorant.

:

African Institution.

THE Annual Meeting of this Society was held at Freemasons' Hall, on the 28th of March, the Duke of Gloucester in the Chair. Au in teresting Report was read by the Secretary; from which it appears that the Committee have diligently directed their atterion to the en

couragement of Agricultural, Me-
chanical, and Commercial Pursuits
among the natives of Africa. The
Report states, that the enemies of
the abolition of the slave trade have
been actively employed in attempt-
ing to evade the operation of the
agolition laws, by carrying on a

A

« AnteriorContinuar »