ESSEX CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

WE have received a copy of the last Report of this valuable County Missionary Society, from which it appears the county is divided into eight districts, which include between thirty and forty rural stations, at which Sunday Schools, Prayer Meetings, or Lectures, are held by the Pastors and Members of the Essex Churches. They also have six larger stations, where Chapels are built and Churches formed, towards the support of which they voted upwards of £300 last year.

The last annual expenditure amounted to £571.9s. 4d., but we regret to ob

serve that £106. are due to the vene

rable Treasurer, J. Pattison, Esq. of

Malden.

FORMATION OF A CONGREGATIONAL

SOCIETY, AT MONTREAL, CANADA. THE population of Canada is at present estimated at above a million of

We announced in our last volume, that the Rev. Richard Miles, who was Superintendent of the London Missionary Society's stations in South Africa, had embarked with his family for Montreal.

It affords us now no small pleasure to inform our readers of their safe arrival in that city, after a passage of forty-five days from Greenwich. The city of Montreal has a population of more than 30,000 persons, the greater part of whom are Catholics. There are at present only six Protestant places of worship; viz. an Episcopalian, an American Presbyterian, two Scotch Presbyterian, a Methodist, and a Baptist, and some of these not very

prosperous.

Mr. Miles resolved to avow himself at once as a Congregational Minister, and commenced his ministry in a school room on the first Sabbath after his arrival, under that denomination. The attendance has been equal to the accommodation for hearers; indeed more room is required. Several pious persons who held a lively interest in the infant cause have come forward, and nearly £200 has been already subscribed towards the erection of a Chapel, and a Sunday School has been formed which includes about Miles's labours will prepare the way forty children. We trust that Mr. for greater things. It has been for a long time our conviction, that the Congregational Churches of Great Britain should not exhaust all their energies upon missions to the Heathen, but make some vigorous efforts for their poor emigrant. countrymen in the colonies, who are, in too many cases, themselves sinking into heathenism for want of suitable religious advantages.

Many of our readers will learn with satisfaction, that it is strongly recommended that tavern dinners be altogether discontinued, and that sandwiches or other convenient and moderate refreshments be provided in the schoolrooms or vestries of the places of meeting, by which a great loss of time as well as needless expenditure will be obviated, and a better opportunity be afforded for serious and fraternal conference.

It has also been determined that the pastors shall preach in the order of their seniority, and that instead of publishing the whole list of preachers and subjects for three years, the Committee will prepare a list annually, by which there will be secured a more seasonable and appropriate selection of subjects than could be expected by making the list for the entire

course.

We are happy to present our readers with the arrangements for the present year, observing, that the service is on the Thursday morning after the first Sabbath at eleven o'clock.

Subject.

The Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

National Sins a Call to National

Humiliation.

The Efficacy of the Prayer of Faith.

Dr. COLLYER,

Mr. DUNN,

April 5. May.

Islington,

Mr. HARPER,

Christian Patriotism.

Moral Reform essential to National Prosperity.

Universal Integrity in Secular Transactions essential to Sincerity in Religion.

On the permanent Importance of aiming at the Conversion of Sinners in the Discharge of the Christian Ministry.

A Comparative View of the Snares and the Advantages of a Religious Profession in the Metropolis.

On the Importance of the Co-ope

ration of Christian Churches with their Pastors, in promoting the great objects of the Christian Ministry.

On the Temper to be maintained in Religious and Political Controversies.

CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL, For the Sons of Ministers in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Silcoates, near Wakefield.

The second examination of the Pupils in this school took place on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Notwithstanding the short period which has elapsed since the opening, the improvement of the boys in their several departments gave great satisfaction to the Rev. Messrs. Parsons, Hamilton, Lorraine, and Scales, who attended on this occasion, and reflected much credit upon their tutors. The shortness of the time necessarily limited the attention of the examiners to exercises in Latin and Greek, and geography and history, in each of which several of the pupils evinced very respectable proficiency. An increase of numbers is expected on the first of February, which commences the next half-year.

OPENING OF A NEW CHAPEL,

Will this noble example, of a comparatively poor man, be lost on those who are taught to regard themselves as" stewards of the manifold grace of God;" and are accustomed to ask themselves the question, "How much owest thou unto my Lord?"

The time has arrived when the fact should no longer be concealed from the Religious Public, the Government, and the Country, that more than One hundred and twenty villages have been enumerated in the county of Sussex, besides some towns, wholly destitute of Evangelical instruction, and of any efficient means for the religious education of youth! Can we wonder, then, that ignoranee, immorality, and wretchedness, disaffection, incendiarism, and

lages of Sussex.

A neat little chapel was opened for public worship at Lurgashall, on Wednesday, 19th October, 1831, when two sermons were preached, that in the afternoon by the Rev. J. Greenwood, of Petersfield, and that in the evening by the Rev. R. Chamberlain, of Petworth the devotional services by the Rev. Mr. Heskett, of Haslemere.

Lurgashall is an extensive parish in the county of Sussex, betwixt Haslemere and Petworth. The Rev. D. Evans, late of Haslemere, now of Bognor, preached in the houses of two of his pious members, residents in the parish, to good Congregations, for some years. Recently, Mr. Heskett and Mr. Chamberlain have occupied this interesting field of labour, as often as their other engagements would allow. One of the pious men above referred to, who is a small farmer, and who has just been ejected from his farm by the clergyman of the parish, has been enabled, this autumn, to carry

the county? To what part of England can the benevolent, the patriotic, and the pious, better direct their attention, than to the county of Sussex? Chapels, Sabbath Schools, Day Schools on the British System, and Evangelical Ministers, should forthwith be planted in all these destitute towns and villages.

The Congregational Ministers and Churches in the county are, it is hoped, in conjunction with other denominations, willing to do their utmost; but they are a feeble band, and greatly need the contributions and the prayers of their brethren, whose lines are cast in more pleasant places, and who have a goodly heritage. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

Communications on this subject will be very gratefully received by the Rev. J. Edwards, of Brighton, or the Rev. R. Chamberlain, of Petworth, the Secretaries of the Sussex Congregational Society.

N. S. No. 85,

I

THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND.

A correspondent of the Richmond Telegraph, (an American Journal,) who has recently travelled in Scotland, gives the following interesting statistical information relating to the established church of that country. We cannot pledge ourselves for its entire accuracy, yet it will be acceptable to our readers.

66 According to the most recent statement, which I have seen, there are under the General Assembly, 16 Synods, 79 Presbyteries, 952 Parishes, and 987 ordained ministers.

"There are besides, in the Highlands and Islands, 39 parishes called parliamentary, to which as many ministers are named by the crown. There are also 61 chapels of ease, which are in every respect a part of the Establishment, being by permission of the Assembly, and under its controul, except that the congregation choose their minister, and pay him by voluntary contribution. The Church of Scotland, therefore may be said to number 1052 congregations, and 1087 ministers. In a published list of the above 991 parishes, there is appended to each the name of its patron. A summary of this patronage, hastily made but sufficiently correct, will probably be interesting.

In 581 parishes the clergyman is selected by individual noblemen or gentry. In 289 by the crown.

In 52 by town councils.

In 31 by the crown, in conjunction with nobles and gentry.

In 10 by Universities.

In

In

In

In

4 by heritors, in conjunction with the session.

4 by the heads of families in the parish. 3 by heritors.

2 by the parish, in conjunction with the town council.

In 2 by the Session. 2 by directors.

In

In

In

In

1 by the session, and an incorpora

tion.

1 by the session, and the town council.

1 by the Church Patronage Society. In 1 by trustees.

1 by the inhabitants.

In

In

1 disputed.

5 overlooked in the summary.

991

"In only five instances, as it will seem to you, is the right to select a religious teacher where it should be. And although a patron, from regard to his own popularity and comfort, may be expected to consult the wishes of his parish, yet it is obvious that the system is liable to great abu-es. These abuses, however, are said to be of much less frequent occurrence than in former years. Many patrons allow the parish to select some two or three of the candidates whom they may have heard, and out of this number he selects their pastor. Others may allow the parish an unconditional choice, or may choose themselves, under the influence of religion, the most useful and best qualified candidate. But others again must be expected to consider their right of patronage as a part of their estate, and to use it accordingly. To such it is money; it is influence; it procures votes; it obtains office; and, unaccompanied as in such cases it is by any serious notions of responsibility, it must be greatly desired. The following newspaper advertisement I lately observed. I do not know that such advertisements are common. "There will be exposed to public roup at on the 7th June, 1831, the patronage of a church in a southern county. This stipend amounts to upwards of £300. ayear." This stipend belongs to the patron, and it is not probable that he will always bestow it, without some solid consideration in return. At any rate it is easy to see that in this purest of all religious establishments, a cure of souls may become matter of bargain and sale. 'But,' says Dr. Hill, the abhorrenee of simoniacal practices is, in this country, so strong and general, that reports and suspicions of such practices are extremely rare.'

6

"In the statement just given the number of ministers and of parishes is nearly the same. That does not include, however, the licentiates and unplaced ministers, who, in great numbers, are waiting for employment. They are known in the pulpits which they may occasionally supply, by not wearing the band. They are known elsewhere by not having a wife. Ministers who have a living,' may wear the band and marry a wife if they choose-and I believe they generally choose to do both--but young ministers without charge are expected to wait. I do not find that it is a law; but

such at least is publlc opinion, which, in Scotland, has nearly the same authority. To obtain a living, then, it would seem, is to obtain a wife, but that is the difficulty. A young man who possesses no extraordinary talents, nor high connections, has no chance, I have been repeatedly told, unless he can obtain the place of a tutor in a nobleman's family. This you will understand better by the following statement given me by an excellent minister of Glasgow. It is a list of students that have undergone probationary trials, before the Presby tery of Glasgow, for the 7 1-2 years immediately preceding July, 1828, and the way in which, at that period, they were disposed of,' exclusive of nineteen still under trials, rejected or dead. The whole number licensed and received from other Presbyteries was 73, who are accounted for as follows:

"This respects one Prcsbytery only out of seventy-nine. The average number of vacancies in the whole church, annnally occurring, is about 30, whieh, at the above rate, three of the seventy-nine Presbyteries could supply. It is to be regretted that these young men have not the missionary spirit which would send them to other countries. The world is all before them where to choose.' On the subject of missions, however, the Scotch church has slumbered longer and more profoundly than many of her dissenting sisters. She is now, I believe, beginning to awake. A missionary was ordained for India, and an Auxiliary Society, in behalf of missions, was organized for Canada, during my stay in Edinburgh.

"The ministers of the establishment are divided into two classes, according to their religious sentiments. The terms Moderate and Evangelical will sufficiently explain their different character. The former have the greatest number, reckoning six hunured ministers out of ten, or three fifths of the whole; but the latter have the greatest increase, are most sought after, and I need not add most useful. The moderate preachers, it may be supposed, do not elevate their standard, either of doctrine or practice too high, nor make the way of their

But

hearers too strait; but yet they may not disregard their vocation as many in the English establishment are said to do. Scotland does not tolerate a pluralist, nor a non-resident, nor a'dumb dog,' and still less the practice of open vice. Indeed the moderation of merely intellec tual and official religion, is in such bad repute, that many Town Councils. though moderates themselves, will only patronize the evangelical minister. Where the. gospel is not preached, the congregation dwindles, aud policy, therefore, may introduce it to keep out dissent. besides, that, the evangelical ministers are admitted into high places, not only, because their aid is needed, but because their doctrines are esteemed, or at least are considered true, and in many of the higher circles are not in disgrace. Dr. Chalmers, as a preacher, has done much to gain from the wealth, the fashion, the ears polite' of the principal cities of Scotland, a frequent and respectful hear ing for the evangelical doctrines; and now, as a theological professor, with about 200 students under his instruc tion, he is doing still more to insure the preaching of those doctrines throughout the land.

The

I have said nothing of the tythe-system in Scotland. There are properly no tythes. One fifth of the rental of each parish, called the teinds of the parish, is paid to the Teind Court, and forms a fund, out of which the national clergy are paid, The highest city salary in Scotland does not exceed £600, whilst the poorest parish is so aided as to be worth £150. Besides this there is a Manse and a fouracre glebe allotted to every minister, which may be reckonod at £50 court just named, which grew out of a commission of parliameut, in the reign of James III., determine the salary which shall be paid out of the teinds of each parish to its minister, subject, however, to an appeal to the presbytery. If either manse or glede be wanting, the minimum salary of £150 is raised to £180. If both are wanting the salary becomes £200. No minister is invited to preach in any church of the establishment, who is not connected with it: and one cannot be connected by ordination, until after long and thorough training.

The order of public service differs little from that of America. Rouse's version of the Psalms, with a few good Scripture paraphrases, is the only medium of public praise. So is it also, I believe, universally with the dissenting Presbyterians of Scotland and Ireland` Even the Baptists and Independents of Scotland retain it in partial use. The singing is conducted