clergy. Guiccioli, minister of finance, has resigned. The disorders which had arisen owing to the want of money had been in some measure appeased by the creation of a million with the plate. Mazzini has arrived in Rome. The government has published a long proclamation, calling on the people to abstain from acts of violence, and threatening signal punishment for some murders which, though it states they are rare, have been committed. ORDINATIONS. CAMBRIDGE. On Wednesday, December 27th, 1848, Mr. C. T. Keen, jun., was recognized as the pastor of the church meeting at Zion chapel, Cambridge. In the morning at 11 o'clock, the Rev. R. Roff of St. Andrew's Street chapel gave the introductory address on the nature of a New Testament church; the Rev. J. Flood of Melbourne asked the usual questions; the Rev. J. P. Briscoe of Chesterton offered the ordination prayer; and the pastor's father delivered the charge from 1 Tim. iv. 16. In the evening, at 7 o'clock, the Rev. J. T. Wigner of Lynn preached to the church from 1 Cor. xvi. 10, 11, "See that he may be with you without fear, for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man, therefore, despise him." Seven neighbouring brethren took part in the services of the day, and it is hoped the dawn was realized of God's "set time" to favour a shattered interest, in the midst of a most important and thickly populated locality. OAKHAM. The Rev. J. Jenkinson, who has for more than twenty-five years been pastor of the second baptist church at Kettering, has accepted an invitation from the baptist church at Oakham, and will commence his labours there on the second Lord's day in April. POPLAR. The Rev. D. L. Pughe of Pembroke Dock, South Wales, has accepted an invitation to become the pastor of the baptist church at Cotton Street, Poplar. He is expected to commence his labours there on the second sabbath in April. HOUGHTON REGIS, BEDS, Mr. J. W. Lance has accepted the unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the baptist church in this village. RECENT DEATHS. MISS A. M. BENNETT, To awaken in the young attention to a subject on which they are least likely to think, is the object chiefly aimed at in thus giving publicity to family bereavement. The name at the head of this notice may attract the attention of some to whom she was once known; her early death may excite thoughtfulness in others. Something, at least, will be gained if this brief memorial should lead any to think more seriously respecting themselves" I know not the day of my death." A. M. Bennett was born at Buckingham, October 14th, 1830, and became a member of the baptist church there December 31st, 1844. Of her personal character little need be said, her excellencies and talents were chiefly displayed, where they were best appreciated, in a large circle of friends and at home in the family, where the loss of her endeared society, and constant, energetic exertions to promote the happiness of her beloved parents is most deeply felt. These, best knowing her worth, are her best memorials. As a sabbath school teacher she was persevering and diligent, and much beloved; her interest in the class she taught continued unto the end, and though unable at last to fulfil her wish to see and admonish each one, she selected for them suitable books, inscribed with affectionate wishes for their eternal welfare. The sickness which, on December 13th, 1848, terminated in death, was protracted and trying; excessive weakness being throughout the most distressing symptom. It soon became evident that the disease gained ground, and the thought of so near an approach of death produced, not unnaturally, a feeling of dread. There was an interval of painful suspense; hope was darkened, but God shined into her heart; simple trust in Christ was fully felt, and almost the last words she uttered with reference to her eternal prospects were, "I should not know where else to trust if not on Him." She died in hope, calmly and peacefully resigned, to join, we trust, those who are "without fault before the throne of God." MRS. MUCKLEY. Died at Kidderminster, January 29, 1849, in the 93rd year of her age, Mrs. Elizabeth Muckley, widow of the late William Muckley, baptist minister, whose death was recorded in the Baptist Magazine for March, 1845, P. 147. Mrs. Muckley was the youngest of ten children, three of whom were ministers of the gospel, namely, Mr. Edward Edmonds, formerly pastor of the church meeting in Bond Street, Birmingham ; Mr. John Edmonds, many years pastor at Guilsborough, Northamptonshire; and Mr. Thomas Edmonds, who for a number of years was pastor of the church at Leominster, Herefordshire. It was the privilege of this faithful disciple to have been made acquainted with the way of mercy in the days of her youth. On hearing a discourse from the words, "This man receiveth sinners," Luke xv. 2, she first became convinced of her need of a Saviour, and was soon enabled to surrender herself to that gracious Redeemer. In her constant attendance on the public means of grace she has left an example worthy of imitation. Even till within a few weeks of her death she filled her place in the house of prayer, never being absent but when necessitated by infirmities or sickness. Her anxiety for the salvation of sinners was very great; and her regard to the sanctity of the Lord's day most sincere. From her lips, not only have thoughtless sabbath breakers been reproved, but the poor and afflicted frequently consoled. Her sympathies with the needy and suffering members of Christ's flock were unabated to the end. When the time of her departure drew nigh, she calmly resigned herself to the will of her heavenly Father, and relying with an unshaken confidence on the merits of the Redeemer, she committed her spirit to him in peace. In accordance with her request, that portion of the divine word which had been blessed to her conversion was taken as the foundation of a discourse delivered in the baptist chapel, Kidderminster, in reference to her death, on Lord's day evening, Feb. 4. MRS. BROOKS. Died, February 7th, 1849, at Northampton, in the 68th year of her age, Sarah, the beloved wife of Mr. W. Brooks of the above place. The deceased had been a member of the baptist body nearly forty-seven years, having been baptized by the venerable Sutcliff, and received into the church under his care at Olney on the 14th of March, 1802. She was, however, soon after that time dismissed to the church at College Street, Northampton, of which she continued to be a member until her decease. Seldom have we seen death encountered in a manner more becoming a Christian. A life marked by activity and energy was succeeded by a long and painful affiction, eminently and evidently sanctified. The language of her heart was, "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.' ." These words, and the sermon founded upon them by the Rev. J. A. James, in which he sought to improve the death of his daughter-in-law, were exceedingly interesting to the deceased; indeed for some time she dwelt in the land Beulah, just below the gates of the celestial city, and her end was emphatically peace. also an heir of promise, the deceased has left behind nine children; and let it be written to the praise of our God and for the generations to come, eight of these have put on Christ by being baptized into his death, and one of them is the pastor of the baptist church at Aldwinkle. These are all the children of many prayers. What an answer to prayer! What an encouragement to pray! MRS. TWELVETREES. In Mary, the wife of Mr. Harper Twelvetrees, of New Millman Street, London, devoted herself to God in her earliest years. She was the daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Hubbard of Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, was born on the 8th of September, 1825, and at the early age of fourteen years was baptized at Thrapstone by the Rev. W. Barnes. She exhibited a remarkable development of matured Christian character, whilst her meekness of spirit, and genuine, unaffected. humility, produced a likeness to the divine image seldom found in youthful disciples. In all her engagements she aimed at the glorification of God, and diffusing abroad the excellence and loveliness of religion. missionary work and Sunday schools she was deeply interested. During a residence of nearly three years in Yorkshire, she was connected with the school at Heptonstall Slack; and amongst her memoranda and diary are particulars of the conversion of several of her class. Soon after her marriage, January 28th, 1848, and removal to Dunstable, special notice was taken by the church of her unwearied attention to the young, and increasing anxiety to promote their everlasting interests, and a vote of thanks agreed upon, which was forwarded to her by the officers of the church. Shortly after her union with her husband, it was evident that withering consumption had set in, and was fast gaining ground. A change of air and residence was resorted to for the winter, but proved to be inefficacious; and after exhibiting a rapid growth of grace and daily increasing ripeness for glory, she was transplanted into the paradise of God, on March 3, 1849, terminating a union of only thirteen months with her sorrowing and surviving companion. The entries throughout her diary are remarkable for the spirit they breathe of profound humility and earnest desires after an increasing love for communion with her God. MRS. AND MISS BOOTH. On the 18th December last, at the Cottage, Well Street, Hackney, Eady, relict of the late Isaac Booth, Esq., son of the late Rev. Abraham Booth, formerly pastor of the baptist church, Little Prescot Street, London and on the 22nd of February, 1849, in the In addition to her bereaved husband, who is 17th year of her age, Elizabeth Harris, "Gently the passing spirit fled, Sustained by grace divine." granddaughter of the above Eady and Isaac | of their undiminished affection for him, for Booth. MISCELLANEA. RESIGNATIONS. The Rev. S. Spurgeon, having sent in his resignation as pastor of the baptist church, Wesley Road, in Guernsey (after having sustained this office for nearly seven years), has, by some of the members of his church and congregation, been presented with an elegant drawing-room time-piece, as "a token the mildness of his disposition as a member of the community, for his exemplary and unsullied character as a Christian, and for his unwearied efforts to extend the kingdom of Christ in the world, as a minister of the glorious gospel of the blessed God." The Rev. W. H. Fuller has resigned the pastoral oversight of the church in Thrissell Street, Bristol. CORRESPONDENCE. ON THE LETTER OF THE REV. J. P. MURSELL. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-In the second paragraph of the first letter in the Baptist Magazine for March, on the Proposed Charter for the Baptist Missionary Society, there are some inaccuracies reflecting upon the committee, which you will, perhaps, allow me to correct. It is said that the charter "was condemned upwards of six months ago by the all but unanimous voice of a quarterly committee;" and again, "That the question was revived at a weekly sitting of the committee." Both statements are inaccurate. The charter has never been condemned or approved by the committee; a resolution condemnatory of it was written at the meeting referred to, and read, but withdrawn. No decision was taken upon the question. Nor was "The question revived at a weekly sitting;" it was at a quarterly meeting, when a sub-committee was appointed, with instructions to report in writing upon the whole question. These inaccuracies are not unimportant. In the hands of Mr. Mursell, indeed, they are used for no mischievous purpose; but they have been noticed elsewhere with the view of making charges of unfairness and pertinacity, which are (I believe) entirely unfounded. [meeting of the] committee." The meeting referred to was held April 29th, 1848, and no such resolution was adopted at it; the record on the minutes is this:-" Mr. Hinton brought up the following report from the sub-committee appointed in reference to a charter of incorporation, "Resolved, That the report be received." He says further, that "the question was revived at a weekly sitting of the committee." This is not accurate. The question was only conversationally "revived at a weekly sitting of the committee;" it was regularly introduced at the quarterly meeting held on the 12th of July, 1848, at which the reappointment of the sub-committee was resolved on. To his statement, that "had the vote been taken on the question, charter or no charter," on the 17th of January, 1849, "it would, from all appearance, have been negatived," I have to add that no attempt whatever has been made to raise such a question in committee, or to submit it to any other decision than that of the society itself, at its general meeting. He says, finally, that "a small majority only was in favour of publishing the report." The fact is, that out of twenty-seven persons present, twenty-one voted, thirteen in favour of it, and eight against it; a majority of more than three to two. After observing justly that "the intention for which the Baptist Missionary Society was instituted, was not the acquisition and the holding of property," Mr. Mursell says, "to charter the society merely to enable it to compass the more easily what is purely incidental to it, and which may drop off from it any year in its progress, seems to me to be at variance with a truly wise and sound policy." This is written as though the society could get rid of its interest in property. To a very large extent, however, this is not possible. Much property the society has (for its most important and indispensable purposes) accepted in trust for others, and it cannot be released from this obligation. No one imagines that the possession of property is, for its own sake, "advantageous to the society;" the justification for its possession is that it is necessary, and that the great object of the society cannot be carried on without it. Hence, as anxieties and responsibilities are inevitable, a desire to reduce the inconveniences attending them to the smallest possible amount is not unreasonable. "Suppose a charter should be obtained," *says Mr. Mursell," it is by no means certain that it would be of universal application." Will he kindly allow further inquiry, as the sub-committee suggest, to be made into this point, and be guided by the issue? He asks, whether the local inapplicability of the charter" might not introduce into the deliberations of the society a merely secular element;" as though he imagined that "merely secular elements" had nothing to do with the deliberations of the society now. What else are the questions, whether a situation is unhealthy, or whether a house could be procured for a missionary to live or to preach in? As to any "dignity" which may be supposed to attach to the mere "holding of property," operating as an inducement to the occupation of a missionary field, the notion seems to me (to borrow a phrase of his own) to be "splendid trifling." "The application for a charter," Mr. Mursell goes on to say, "would be derogatory to the position of the Baptist Missionary Society as a religious institution." This is an assertion, however, of which he adduces no proof; all that he has written under this head being a reply to that part of the sub-committee's report which is not officially published, and which, consequently, is not properly open to remark. On that part of the report which assigns the reasons why, in the judgment of the sub-committee, a society in the strictest sense religious need not fear to accept a charter, he says nothing. I can desire nothing more than that the reader will take the trouble to refer to it again. "In this matter," he continues, "we are in danger of compromising ourselves as dissenters." He supports this position by saying, that, since the society is "set up specifically and exclusively for religious purposes, we cannot, as nonconformists, ask for it the patronage of the crown, or the favour of parliament, without detriment and dishonour." My reply to this is, that to seek the incorporation of the society, either by the crown on the one hand, or by parliament on the other, is not to seek for it either "We are told," he proceeds, "that the society will save money by a charter of incorporation." Mr. Mursell ought in fairness," patronage" or "favour." In pursuance of however, not to have so put this statement as to lead his readers to suppose that this was the only, or the principal reason assigned for the proposal. Every attentive reader of the sub-committee's report must have felt that this is not the truth; and every considerate reader of Mr. Mursell's remarks will feel, that his puttting this part of the case forward so as to conceal or disguise the more important aspects of it, goes far to warrant a suspicion that there is more in it than he is able to answer, even to his own satisfaction. "Should the charter of incorporation be obtained," he continues, "the freedom of the Baptist Missionary Society would be destroyed." This sweeping sentence he illustrates by the difficulty which would then exist in altering any essential (non-essentials may be modified in either case) part of the society's constitution; but he entirely overlooks the difficulty (quite as great, although perhaps different in form) which attends 'milar alterations now. He claims, indeed, that the society "must be left unfettered and independent, and capable of any modification which experience or circumstances might suggest." How little he knows of its actual condition! A society which has accepted property in trust is as substantially fettered its religious object, the society has of necessity acquired a secular standing, by means of the large amount of property in which it is interested; and all that is sought, or would be obtained, by incorporation is, a secular standing for the society more equitable and just. Can Mr. Mursell show any reason why a society, merely because its object is religious, should be at an unjust disadvantage in its secular affairs? "The Under this head Mr. Mursell is pleased to notice a statement made by the sub-committee for a very different purpose. report of the sub-committee," says he, "politely intimates that the objectors,' poor things! to the charter, do not seem to know that, not only municipal bodies, but banking companies, &c. &c., are corporations;" and then follows a piece of caustic irony, concluding with a reference to "water companies." Mr. Mursell has previously told us that a part of the report of the sub-committee is "splendid trifling;" of this sally of his imagination it may be said with at least equal truth, that it is "trifling," but not 66 splendid." What is gravely to be complained of here, however, is, that the intention of the sub-committee in this part of their report is wholly lost sight of. They CORRESPONDENCE. are addressing themselves, not to "objectors Mr. Mursell proceeds to assign some rea- It must be evident, I think, that the extreme position taken by Mr. Mursell cannot be sustained; but that, on the contrary, a society in the strictest sense religious may very consistently recognize the existence of those authorities in the state, to which they have (in things not contrary to the will of Christ) to render obedience, and from which they have, as exposed to social wrong, to expect protection. It may be assumed, indeed, that Mr. Mursell's language is only an exaggerated mode of expressing the maxim generally held among us, that neither indi the authority of the state in religious matters. viduals nor societies can consistently recognize This, no doubt, is true, but is nothing to the purpose. secular and civil advantage which is sought, Besides," he goes on to say, "if it be a no reason can be adduced wherefore the fact that the party seeking it is a body in favour should be conferred, founded on the the strictest sense religious,' without the most wretched compromise, since other bodies have an equal claim on the consideration of the state." Mr. Mursell here does injustice to the sub-committee. They have not argued supplies a reason why a charter should be that the religious character of the society" granted; all that they have said is that it constitutes no reason why a charter should be refused. Mr. Mursell does injustice also the sentence I have quoted, it would inevitto himself. From his argument as it follows ably result, that "purely civil privileges ought to be withheld by the state on religious grounds; a principle which he certainly must be the last man in England to maintain. 66 on the very tangible ground of profit and loss." "A further reason rests," he says, He here contrasts the "saving of money and of trouble" anticipated from a charter, with which he alleges the sub-committee to have the loss of the society's "freedom of action," admitted in saying, "it is no doubt true that the movements of an incorporated society cannot be absolutely unfettered." the movements of an incorporated society, more, however, is here admitted concerning Nothing than holds equally true of a society not incorporated, having an interest in property. The Baptist Missionary Society is very far from being "absolutely unfettered and its present and inevitable subjection to law will be in no respect modified for the worse by incorporation. now; Mursell observes that, if it were Proceeding to a different ground, Mr. seek a charter, "it might not be expedient." lawful" to He here refers to the light in which the step might be regarded by many persons, both in and out of the society; a consideration of undoubted importance, and one to which, for one, I shall be ready to pay as serious attention as himself. the sub-committee, that, in granting a charter, Mr. Mursell next notices the statement of the sovereign is "not so much the represenquite mistaken in the use for which he suptative of the state as of the law;" but he is poses they intended it. It had been objected to seeking a charter for a religious society, that it would involve the principle of a con nexion between the church and the state; and to this the sub-committee reply, that, in the act of granting a charter the sovereign to the objection, if true. would not represent the state, a fair answer when it is stated that the sovereign, in such What is meant |