documents, the Act requiring that they should | Dated this* It will be the duty of the Registrar General to expunge from time to time from the List of "existing" certified places all those which have wholly ceased to be used for Public Religious Worship. With this view, and for the purpose of obtaining authentic information upon that point, he will probably have occasion hereafter to seek your assistance and that of the Registrars under your superintendence. Into that matter, however, he will not now further enter, as a complete and satisfactory inquiry in reference to it cannot possibly take place until the Bishops' and Archdeacons' Registrars, and the Clerks of the Peace throughout England and Wales, shall severally have made to the Registrar General the "Returns" mentioned in section 1. I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, THOS. MANN, Chief Clerk. 18 day of above described this 18 , pursuant to the Act above-mentioned. ASSOCIATIONS.] BERKS AND WEST MIDDLESEX. Eighteen churches constitute this body. Abingdon Windsor Wokingham......... in the is forthwith intended to be used, and will be Excluded Clear increase Number of members Village Stations...... 569 ....H. W. Stenbridge. ....J. Bolton. .D. Bridgman. ...J. Chappell. ....... Fuller. ...J. Price. ....J. Baynes. Combmartin Crediton..... Croyde Culmstock Exeter, South Street..........C. M. Wightman. Hemyock Kingsbridge.. Honiton........ Modbury. Lifton Newton Abbott Ringmore..... ..R. P. Cross. .....J. Bussell. ...A. Foster. ..............T. W. Blackmore. St. Hill, Kentisbere Shaldon...... South Molton Thorverton.... Tiverton............... .E. Webb. Torrington............D. Thompson. Torquay....... ...B. Carto. ....- Lockyear. The annual meeting was held at Kingsbridge, on the 16th and 17th of June, 1852. Brother Tuckett was chosen moderator. Brother Webb was requested to continue his services as secretary. Brother Walton read the Association Letter on the Utility of Associations. Brethren Bunce, Newman, and Arthur preached. Statistics. The Western Association held its annual meetings at Taunton, on the 23rd and 24th of June. The Association Sermon preached by Mr. Trafford of Weymouth, on success as promised by God to labourers for him;" and sermons were preached also by Messrs. Fuller of Stogumber and Wayland of Lyme. The circular letter on "prayer meetings" was written by Mr. Pearce of Crewkerne. Mr. Green of Taunton was chosen moderator, and Mr. Trend of Bridgewater was re-appointed secretary. After the reception of a deputation from the Devon Association, several important resolutions were adopted. The American Baptist Free Mission Society met with sympathy and encouragement. The Baptist Union was recommended to the pecuniary support of the members of the association. The grant to Maynooth was condemned on the general principle of opposition to all religious endowments. The objects of the Anti-StateChurch Association were commended to the brethren, and a deputation was chosen to attend the next Triennial Conference. Petition to Parliament against church rates A was adopted, and separate petitions on the same subject were recommended to the churches. The Birmingham Scholastic Institution had a resolution passed in its favour. The low estate of the churches excited the regret of the brethren, and they deemed it desirable to fix on the second Monday in Bristol and the Devon Associations on a October, being the day appointed by the similar account, for the purpose of special meetings throughout the association for inquiry, exhortation, and prayer. churches that have not made collections for the fund are to be affectionately reminded of their duty in this respect. And it was The The following churches are comprised in resolved that the geographical boundary of The principal rules agreed upon as the basis of this Union are as follows, viz.: I. That this Society be called "The Suffolk Baptist Home Missionary Union." II. That its object be the support and extension of HOME MISSIONARY OPERATIONS, by aiding poor and deserving churches, planting permanent stations, and promoting the cause of Christ by local efforts, in any other way approved by the Ministers and Messengers at the Annual Meeting. III. That any Evangelical Baptist church in the county or its borders, that shall contribute to its funds by subscriptions or annual collections, be eligible for membership. Clear increase during the year Number of members Sabbath scholars Teachers...... Village stations The next Annual Meeting is to be held on the second Thursday in June, 1853, at Botesdale. SHIRLEY, NEAR SOUTHAMPTON. The foundation stone of this new chapel was laid on Wednesday, July 14th, by Sampson Payne, Esq., Clayfield House. The assemblage on the occasion was large and respectable. The three baptist ministers of Southampton that are united in this Christian enterprise were countenanced and assisted in the services by the kind co-operation of the ministers of other denominations in the neighbourhood. The above service closed about five o'clock, after which nearly three hundred persons took tea together, in a booth erected on the spot, and were in the course of the evening addressed by the Revs. T. Adkin, Southampton, T. Burt, Beaulieu, J. Martin of Lymington, A. McLaren, S. S. Pugh, W. Yarnold and G. Gregg of Southampton, and Griffiths of Romsey. The company broke up about nine o'clock, and separated cherishing the hope that the building may be completed in a few months, and be known to many generations as the home of" a union church" distinguished for its attachment to the truth as it is in Jesus, and aiding in the establishment of Christ's kingdom in the world. The committee will require one hundred and fifty pounds beyond what they have in hand, or in promise, to finish the building; they therefore very earnestly solicit the assistance of Christian friends at a distance, and as they apprehend indisposition may prevent their secretary from visiting some that expect him, they will feel very thankful IV. That an annual meeting of the representatives of this society be held at a place appointed by the previous annual meeting, on the second Thursd in June; and that, during the services, at least one pub-if friends will forward their kind aid before lic collection be made on behalf of the funds. V. That every church in this Union be represented at the annual meeting by its minister, and one or two delegated members, who shall be entitled to vote on every subject which may come under their consideration. VI. That the services of the annual meeting be as follows:-to assemble at half-past ten o'clock precisely, when the morning shall be devoted to devotional exercises, and reading the statistics sent by the churches. The afternoon to be appropriated to business; and the other services to be such as shall be determined by the church where the annual meeting is held. Michaelmas to the Rev. W. Yarnold, Southampton. HONITON, DEVON. Services were held in this town, July 28th, in connexion with the ordination of the Rev. W. Evans Foote, as the pastor of the baptist church, and the laying the foundation stone of a new chapel for his ministrations. The existing chapel being small and inconvenient, that of the independent church was kindly offered and thankfully accepted for the oc casion. In the morning the ordination service took place, when the introductory address on the nature of the Christian church was de- In the afternoon the foundation stone of 571 and a liberal collection made towards the new the people by Mr. Davis. services by the melancholy fact that the CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Allow me to call the attention of your readers to the subject of the petitions now in course of signature respecting the nunneries existing in this country, and to enclose you a copy of the Memorial to her Majesty praying for the inspection of such establishments. I am aware that some persons object to this movement, on the ground that any steps taken for their regulation might imply the acknowledged legality of their existence. But whether legal or not, it is certain that they do exist, and are increasing much more rapidly than most people are aware of, and it would be well if immediate attention were given to the matter. With us, as protestant dissenters, the great principle of religious liberty must ever stand pre-eminent; but while we would allow to all who feel it their duty to live a life of asceticism perfect liberty to do so, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the conventual system is essentially opposed to liberty both religious and civil, and that while these establishments remain closed to all official inspection, and even to the visits of those related by the nearest and dearest ties to the deluded inmates, they cannot but be considered as most dangerous and pernicious. I am, Sir, Yours respectfully, ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN FOR THE INSPECTION To Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, by the Grace The Loyal Address of the undersigned Female Inhabitants of and its neighbourhood, HUMBLY SHEWETH, That we, the undersigned, your Majesty's most dutiful and devoted Female Subjects, residing in and its neighbourhood, are deeply sensible of the blessings of Civil and Religious Liberty, which, under Your Majesty's Government, we enjoy We however regret to observe that from one class of our fellow subjects these blessings are in a great measure withheld, in consequence of the existence in Your Majesty's dominions of the Conventual females are immured in Nunneries, denied the it is desirable to dispel the mystery which enshrouds Relying upon Your Majesty's benevolent care for the welfare of all classes of Your Majesty's subjects, we earnestly beseech Your Majesty to take effectual spection, so that no person may be received into, steps to open these establishments to regular inor detained in, or dismissed from them, without the knowledge of the proper authorities. may please God long to preserve Your Majesty in And that it the well-being of this nation, and for the furtherthe full enjoyment of all your Royal authority for ance of His own glory, is the earnest prayer of Your Majesty's loyal subjects. QUERIES ON CHRONOLOGICAL ARRANGEMENT The inquiries proposed by different cor- WEISS'S 9.. 17 18 77 104 129 136 COMMON 140 77 ..88 147 ....55 128 It has given us pleasure to find that the EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT. The editor having been about to visit the north of Ireland, the preceding pages were sent to press much earlier in the month than usual. It will be found that there is much more than the common proportion of essay department, but when this has been perused, we believe that the variation will not be regretted. A few of the articles of intelligence which have subsequently arrived are inserted below: others must stand over till the next number. KEIGHLEY. Mr. William Varley, Slack Lane, near Keighley, is about resigning his charge of the baptist church there which he has held for the last six years, and is open to supply any other that may be destitute of a minister. STOW ON THE WOLD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. The foundation stone of a new baptist chapel was laid on the 29th March last, and the opening services were held on Tuesday, August 10th. Mr. Landels of Birmingham preached in the morning, and Mr. Newman of Shortwood in the evening. In the afternoon addresses were delivered by Messrs. Statham, Stevens, Hull, Cross, Bullock, Minton, and Burnet. The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Bliss, Cross, Cherry, Dunn, Hull, and the minister of the place. It being the busy season of harvest many were prevented from attending, but nevertheless, the place was well filled at each of the services. Most of the neighbouring ministers were present, and all manifested a lively interest in the undertaking. On the following Lord's day two sermons were preached by Dr. Hoby. The morning was very wet, but in the evening there was a crowded congregation. The collections altogether amounted to £52, which leaves a debt of about £100; the whole expense being rather over £500. HAWORTH. A hundred years since the first baptist chapel was opened at West Lane, Haworth; and on Lord's day, August 8, the centenary anniversary was observed; when the Rev. J. P. Chown of Bradford delivered two very appropriate discourses to large and listening congregations, in the new place of worship which has been built on the old site. COTTENHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. On Wednesday, June 16th, the Rev. M. W. Flanders was publicly recognized as pastor of the Old Baptist Church, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire. The services of the day were opened by the Rev. T. Sutton of Ebenezer Chapel in the same village. The Rev. C. Elven of Bury delivered an intro ductory discourse, after which the Rev. J. Peacock of London asked the usual questions and offered the ordination prayer. In the afternoon, the Rev. J. Wigner of Lynn offered prayer, and the Rev. T. Robinson of Little Staughton delivered an affectionate charge. The Rev. G. G. Bailey of Haddenham closed. The evening service was commenced by the Rev. W. Nottage of Oakington, after which the Rev. C. Elven of Bury delivered a powerful address to the church and congregation, and closed with prayer. There were circumstances which rendered these services peculiarly interesting, both to ministers and people. Mr. Smith, one of the deacons, in making the usual statement on the part of the church, distinctly affirmed that they had had their eye upon Mr. Flan. ders ever since he visited them in 1840 to make a collection for the new chapel at Risely; and that, when age and affliction compelled their late pastor, Mr. Meakins, to resign, they were only prevented from giving him an invitation by their knowledge of the fact that he had just removed to Eye, in Suffolk. The interest awakened by this statement was deepened by Mr. Peacock's affecting allusion to the fact that he took part in a similar service on the same spot forty years ago; that he, Mr. Flanders, and Mr. Whiting, were originally all members of the church at Little Staughton, whose pastor was about to deliver the charge; and that there were two other ministers present whom he (Mr. Peacock) had the honour of baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus. STEPNEY COLLEGE. The Annual Session, 1851-2, of this institution closed at the beginning of July with the usual examinations, in Hebrew, Moral Philosophy, Church History, the Greek of the New Testament, and Systematic Theology. The examiners were Revs. Dr. Cox, F. Bosworth, M.A., E. S. Pryce, B.A., and Mr. John Freeman; in Logic, Professor Foster of University College; in Classics, Rev. N. Jennings, M.A.; and in Mathematics, Rev. S. G. Green, B.A., and Mr. West. The next session commences on the 14th of September. The annual sermon will be preached on Wednesday evening, the 15th, by the Rev. F. Tucker of Manchester; and the annual meeting will be held in the College chapel, at three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. Friends and subscribers will take tea as usual at the institution, between the services. The Rev. W. H. Elliot wishes us to inform cur readers that he has removed from 12, Wharton Street, to 21, Chadwell Street, Myddleton Square, Pentonville. |