against the deceit and treachery of our the exercise, and is made still more un. comfortable by the request, but is com evil natures. If people return from places of wor-pelled to say something because he has ship in company, mutual inquiries of a been asked and does not like to refuse; eimilar nature would lead to the same or is like a praying machine and must results in both cases, and be much go, because he has been set in motion. more useful than the inquiries, How Thus strange fire' is offered upon the did you like the preacher?' altar of God. At the same time brother B. whose heart and affections have been touched and aroused, is burning to pour out his soul unto God in devout and acceptable prayer, but has not the privilege of so doing, because he has not been called upon.' The latter would be the instrument, in the hands of God, of causing showers of blessings to descend upon his own soul, and the souls of those present; the former is hindering both. I believe the above plan, well-carried out, would tend to the enlargement of our Christian sympathy, and by the prayers which would be the same results of it, the hands of ministers would be held up, and they would more than ever rejoice in the affection of their friends, and their co-operation and zeal in the carrying on of the work of the Lord. In conclusion, let me say that I believe the Sabbath-day may be always better spent than in discussing the rival claims of the ministers of the gospel of Christ. Surely such are not the means we should employ to aid us in our endeavours to keep holy the Sabbath-day. Hoping I have not trespassed too much on your valuable space, and that these casual remarks may at least lead some friends to think over the matter for themselves. I am, Dear Sir, J. SUMMERSON. ON PRAYER MEETINGS. Magazine. DEAR SIR,-I am very glad the above subject is engaging the serious attention of some of your numerous correspondents. It is one which for some time past has occupied my mind, and I trust with some beneficial results. I have frequently thought that our prayers, so called, which are offered in the public prayer meeting, were little less than solemn mockeries to God, which is the reason we receive not the blessings asked for. For instance, the minister, or one of the deacons, commences by giving out a hymn and calling upon brother A. to pray, because he knows him to have a gift in prayer,' and yet it may happen that brother A. feels in a very unfit state of mind for Now I believe if the hymn were given out, and any brother or sister permitted to pray whose heart was full or had some burden to let go, that our prayer meetings' would prove such in reality,audwhile the earnest desires of the heart were being poured forth, God would abundantly bless the souls of those present. This is the mode we adopt every Sabbath evening, at a village chapel I attend, and delightful have been the refreshings from the Holy Spirit of God. The more simple, sincere, and earnest the petition the greater the blessing. Another reason why I think we do not receive the blessings asked for is, that our prayers are not offered in faith; that is, we often, to make our prayers beautiful in the ears of the people, ask our Heavenly Father for things we never expect to obtain; unbelief is mingled with our petitions; we do not believe in our hearts that God will grant our requests. Then again as to the mode. I very much approve of the American one as stated by our respected friend and brother, the Rev. T. Goadby, in his very interesting letter in last month's Magazine, which is the one we have adopted for some time in the village chapel before mentioned. I cannot quite approve of the suggestion of your correspondent B., that prayer meetings should be regarded more exclusively as church meetings,' or, assemblies of believers,' for I have heard some of the most touching and heart-stirring prayers from those who were 'seeking Correspondence.-Amusements, &c. · 143 Jesus.' Often have they broken forth | which are very popular and very generally practised, to which on various grounds exception' may be taken as inconsistent with that sobriety which our religion teaches. The question, therefore, is-What amusements are there in which we can sanction and encourage our young people to engage without injury to themselves, and without offence to any? in a song of praise,' at other times they have declared what God has done for their souls. Some have a dislike to females praying in public; but I have not, for I generally enjoy their prayers more than any, and I think the less restraint or formality we have in our prayer meetings' the more acceptable will they be to God. Perhaps your correspondent, B., may refer to the week night' or Monday evening prayer meeting. I think if Christians, members of our churches, were oftener to meet for prayer and spiritual improvement we should realize much more of the presence of God, and enjoy that spiritual A reply to this question would oblige many of your readers as well as, Dear Sir, yours very truly, AN OBSERVER. DENOMINATIONAL TRUST DEEDS. Magazine. blessedness which our Heavenly Father To the Editor of the General Baptist is waiting to bestow, and which the Apostle Paul so frequently exhorts the churches to aspire after. I do not think, as Christians, we have half the spiritual life we ought to have, and that God wishes us to have. May the Lord teach us how to pray.' Yours sincerely, J.S. BALDWIN. DEAR SIR,-In common with many of your readers, I was much pleased that the subject of amusements' at our social gatherings had been introduced for discussion into your pages, believing that it was one in which the credit of many of our churches, and the welfare of many of our young people was deeply involved. At the same time, in common with many others, I have been disappointed that the discussion so far has not been productive of more satisfactory results. Will you allow me, therefore, to recall the attention of your correspondents to the question at issue, which has not yet been answered, and to which, for many reasons, it is very desirable a definite reply should be given before the discussion is closed. At present the matter stands thusWhen our young people assemble at our social gatherings they must and will have some amusements by way of recreation. There are amusements DEAR SIR,-It will be seen by the Minutes of the last Association that a case from the church at Wisbech was presented; and the following resolution adopted thereon: CASE: Is it not desirable that a Registrar be appointed, and a central situation selected for the safe deposit of chapel and other trust deeds belonging to the Denomination?' RESOLVED:-That a Committee be appointed to draw up details of a plan for the registration and custody of chapel and other deeds; and that the following be the Committee:-Rev. T. Watts, Messrs. R. Wherry, R. Clarke, T. Dawbarn, and F. C. Southwell, all of Wisbech.' With the view of eliciting the opinion of those of your readers who concur in the importance of the subject, the Committee appointed as above, begs the insertion in your next number of the accompanying outline of the plan intended to be recommended for adoption at the ensuing Association, and will feel gratified by the receipt of communications with suggestions from any one desirous of rendering the plan as perfect and practicable as possible. The Committee is fully alive to the probability that many difficulties will arise in practice, but believes none will be insurmountable, and that the advantage of a systematic registration of church property as detailed below will prove of very great utility. Correspondence.-New York.-Baptist Union.-Weekly Offering, 145 House, 33, Moorgate-street, London, on Friday, April 19th, 1861. The Session will open in the forenoon, at ten o'clock, when an introductory discourse will be delivered by the Rev. J. Wiberg, of Stockholm; and the remainder of the morning will be devoted to brotherly conference and prayer. Refreshment will be provided at one o'clock, and the business of the Session transacted in the afternoon. to call the attention of the Denomina- | Ireland, will be held at the Mission tion to our forthcoming bazaar? We hope to have the assistance of our friends both in enabling us to make a good show, and to realize a good sale. May I therefore ask our friends for help in either of these ways? If those who can help us by sending us things, will do so by the last week in April, we shall be very much indebted to them. I need not say how glad we shall be to see a large number of our friends on the sale days, which will be in the second week in May. Trusting we shall not make this appeal in vain. I am, my dear Sir, Truly yours, WILLIAM JONES. To the Editor of the General Baptist SIR,-Kindly allow us, through your Yours faithfully, Secretaries. London, March 15th, 1861. SUCCESS OF THE WEEKLY To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. of the success of the weekly offering sent in connection with our church. It has may all the churches wake up to a sense of the great power, both financial and spiritual, which this admirable system places within their reach.' ་ Mr. Ross in his Weekly Offering Re cord of this month thus writes, The Divine principle is, giving. Man having by sin cast off and forfeited God, He seeks to give himself to man again by conferring on him freely Christ as a Saviour: eternal life to us, who merit death; heaven as our secure and blissful home; and Himself as the soul's all sufficient and glorious delight. God wishes to train us in likeness to himself, among other respects in giving. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.' Every man according as be purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.' But man has very largely substituted for the heaventaught process of giving the human device of paying. The request, if not demands, is, pay your pew rent. Pay your subscription. Giving to God cultivates dependence, gratitude, love, fidelity, and bountifulness. Paying lowers the transaction to the level of business-the realization of the fullest benefits for the smallest price; putting love, gratitude, bounty, ability, and the magnitude of the object out of the question. The writer is solemnly determined, in the strength of God, to use his best efforts of tongue and pen to aid in bringing back the church from the heartless practice of paying to man, to the noble and joyous process of giving to God.' Some of our churches object to the abolishing pew rents, on the ground that by so doing, they give up their claim to particular pews. This is a mistake. Seats are appropriated as usual, but instead of making a charge, it is left to the honour and Christian principle to give instead of pay. In all cases, in commencing the system, friends who may disapprove, should be allowed to pay their money on the old way. It would be well, however, if some of our aged friends who do not like this new plan, as they conceive, would pause before manifesting any strong opposition to a method which is so greatly promoting the welfare of the cause of Christ. Yours affectionately, J. E. P.S. Let no church commence the plan without the use of the envelopeit seldom succeeds. THE UNION OF THE GENERAL AND PARTICULAR BAPTISTS. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-As I understand this is to be the great topic of discussion at our next Association, it appears to me high time that some of our Connexional luminaries began to shed their rays upon the subject in the pages of your periodical, for the benefit of the friends to whose hands the decision of the question may fall. There are now only two months more intervening during which the project may be debated by means of the press by far the most convenient organ of public discussion-before the annual parliament of our own section of the body assembles; and I hope during that brief space the grave and reverend seigniors of our tribe will not fail to communicate to us, the more readily and abundantly as the time is short, the ripest thoughts of their contempla tive hours, and their experienced wisdom touching this great argument.' I do not quote the expression 'great' here altogether playfully, Mr. Editor; for I do think it a great subject and a great occasion. A distant member of the wide religious world will perhaps smile at my idea of its importance. What nonsense,' he might say, casting his eye over the vast expanse of Christian society, to make a fuss about the amalgamation of two little bodies like the General and Particular Baptists, which, when united, will be no more important by the side of Christendom at large, than the mingling of two drops of water by the side of the ocean.' In itself it may be so; but the two first drops of rain in the deluge were the commencement of a great flood. The proposition in 1828, to transfer the members from Gatton and |