the use of which was kindly granted for this purpose. It is highly gratifying to the friends of the great Redeemer in this church and congregation, that Divine Providence has sent to this important station a preacher so acceptable as Mr. Jack. The great number of persons that attend, and the marked seriousness of the congregation, is peculiarly encouraging. Although the sermons of Mr. Jack are not considered, by some persons, of the first order, yet they are truly excellent, and adapted, by the Divine blessing, to reach the heart. His hearers may, with great propriety, adopt the language of Louis XIV. to Massillon: Father, I have heard many fine orators in my chapel, and have been much pleased with them; but as for you, always when I have heard you, I have been very much displeased with myself."

On Wednesday, the 27th of August, 1834, the Rev. S. B. Schofield, late of the Independent College, Blackburn, was ordained to the pastoral office over the Congregational Church assembling in Nile Street Chapel, Burslem, Staffordshire. The independent minister of Uttoxeter, commenced the services of the day with reading the Scriptures and prayer. The introductory discourse, which contained a manly, and scriptural defence of our principles as Dissenters, and of our mode of church government, was delivered by the Rev. W. H. Dorman, of Stafford, from Acts xxiv. 14. confession of faith was received by the Rev. Mr. Chalmers, of Stafford.

The

The ordination prayer, characterized by solemnity and fervour, was offered up by the Rev. R. W. Newland, of Hanley. The charge to the minister was delivered by the Rev. Gilbert Wardlaw, A. M. Theological Tutor of the Blackburn College, from Acts xx. 24; and the sermon to the people by the Rev. J. Kelly, of Liverpool, from John iii. 8., which was truly excellent, appropriate, and impressive.

The Rev. W. Silvester, of Sandbach, concluded the interesting services with prayer. The congregation was so numerous on the occasion, that the chapel did not contain the number of persons disposed to attend; the services were interesting and impres

sive, and many were impelled to exclaim, "Surely the set time to favour Zion is come."

On Tuesday, the 2nd of September, the Rev. Thomas Schofield, who has presided many years as Minister of Chertsey Chapel, Surrey, was ordained pastor of the church now formed in that place. The Rev. R. Porter, of Staines, opened the services of the day; the Rev. J. Stoughton, of Windsor, exhibited, with much force of argument, the primitive model of a Christian church; the Rev. J. West, of Sunbury, asked the usual questions; the venerable A. Redford, of Windsor, offered the ordination prayer; and his son, the Rev. Dr. Redford, of Worcester, gave a most impressive and persuasive charge from 1 Thess. ii. 40.; and the Rev. G. Clayton, of Walworth, delivered a concise but affectionate commendation of the duties of a people towards their pastor, from Jeremiah iii. 15. The whole service was marked by solemnity; and it is devoutly hoped the blessing of the Lord will be found to follow it.

On Tuesday, the 3d of September, 1834, the Rev. George Edge, late of Airedale Independent College, was ordained pastor over the Independent Church, assembling in Mill Street Chapel, Congleton, Cheshire. The Rev. W. Silvester, of Sandbach, commenced the services of the day with prayer, and reading the Scriptures; the Rev. J. Turner, of Knutsford, delivered an excellent and able discourse on the nature of church government, and the principles of dissent, proposed the usual questions to the minister, and received the confession of faith. The Rev. Job Wilson, of Northwich, with much solemnity of feeling, and fervency of supplication, offered up the ordination prayer. The Rev. R. S. M'All, LL.D. of Manchester, delivered an eloquent and affecting charge to the newly ordained minister, from Luke xxi. 36. The Rev. B. G. Kidd, of Macclesfield, preached to the people from 1 Thess. ii. 9, and the Rev. J. Kempsted concluded the services with prayer. A great number of the country ministers were present on the occasion, and though the state of the weather was very unfavourable, yet the chapel was

crowded with an attentive, and deeply interested audience; and what ought to be matter of still greater rejoicing, a hope is confidently expressed that, in several instances, real good was effected.

On Wednesday, September 3rd, the Rev. Joseph Wilberforce Richardson, late a student at Rotherham College, was ordained to the pastoral office over the Independent church assembling in Bethel Chapel, Bishopwearmouth, where the Rev. Thomas Stratten (removed to Fish Street Chapel, Hull) ministered with great success for many years. The services of the day were commenced by the Rev. John Mather, of Beverly, with reading appropriate portions of Scripture and prayer; the Rev. Thomas Scales, of Leeds, delivered an interesting and forcible introductory discourse on the principles of Dissent; the Rev. Samuel Watkinson, of Monkwearmouth, asked the usual questions, to which Mr. Richardson made suitable and satisfactory answers, after which he offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. Thomas Smith, A. M. Classical Tutor of Rotherham College, gave an affectionate and impressive charge, characterised by great pointedness, simplicity, and

faithfulness, from Côl. iv. 17. “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it;" and the Rev. J. R. Browne (Wesleyan) closed by prayer. In the evening, the Rev. John Harrison, of Barnard Castle, commenced the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. James Parsons, of York, preached a soul-stirring sermon from Job xv. 4. "And restrainest prayer before God ;" and the Rev. P. Robertson (Presbyterian) closed by prayer. The Rev. Messrs. Reid, Orange, Anderson, Thompson, Blair, Froggat, and Davies, also took part in the devotional exercises of the day. On the preceding evening, the Quarterly Meeting of the Durham and Northumberland Association of Independent Ministers and Churches was held, when the Rev. Thomas Scales, of Leeds, preached at Bethel Chapel, on behalf of the Home Missionary Society.

REMOVAL.

The Rev. H. L. Adams, Burnham, Norfolk, has accepted the unanimous call of the church and congregation at Newark, to become their pastor.

HOME MISSIONARY OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The last report of the American Home Missionary Society illustrates the ener getic and growing labours of its supporters to overtake the moral wants of that country. This is, indeed, a powerful and effective machinery for improving both the moral and social condition of the people," and yet upheld by the strength of the voluntary principle alone.

"This society was organized under its present constitution on the sixth of May, eight years ago. It assumed the responsibilities of a previous organization in this state, and had on its books, at the commencement of its operations, 104 missionaries. This number was increased, during the first year of the society, to 169; the second year, to 201;-the

third, to 304;-the fourth, to 392;-the fifth, to 463;-the sixth, to 509:-the seventh, to 606;-and the eighth, which is the year now terminated, to 676. This constant augmentation of the number of labourers employed has required a proportionate increase of collections and expenditures, and has rendered the business of the society, every year, more multifarious and arduous. Yet a kind and beneficent Providence has prospered our enterprise beyond the anticipations of the most sanguine.

"The number reported as added within the year to the churches aided, has been 4,055, viz. 1,319 by letter, and 2,736 by examination, on profession of their faith, 79 of the churches aided have been blessed with special revivals of religion; and the probable number of conversions under the ministry of our missionaries, is about 4,000.

"The number of Sabbath schools reported, embrace not less than 35,000 scholars.

"The number of Bible classes reported, embrace about 8,500 pupils, of all ages.

"The number of subscribers to the principle of entire abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors as a drink, reported by the missionaries on the fields of their labour, is 62,547.

"From the foregoing tabular view, it appears that the number of missionaries has been increased, in eight years, to 676; and the number of congregations and districts annually aided in their support, to 899. Under their ministry, upwards of 20,000 souls have been reported as added to the churches on profession of their faith. Add to these the number thus received, during the first year of the Society, not embraced in our tabular view, but supposed to be not less than 600, and the whole number received into the churches aided, since May 5, 1826, is 20,915. There have been annually instructed in Sabbath schools under the care of our missionaries, from 10,000 to 35,000 children and youth, and from 2,000 to 10,000 in Bible classes. They have also been efficient helpers in the cause of temperance, in the support of common schools, in the distribution of Bibles and religious tracts, and every good work which has presented its claims on the fields of their labour."

RECENT DEATHS.

The Rev. THOMAS JONES, a native of Carmarthen, and for nearly fifty years a preacher in the Independent Connexion, was on a visit to his friend, Mr. Howells, of Milford, when he preached at the Tabernacle, on the Sunday morning, and was announced to preach again on the following Wednesday. He retired to rest on Tuesday night, in his usual health, but as he did not come to break. fast at the appointed hour on Wednesday, Mr. Howells entered his room, and found him in a kneeling position by the bed-side quite dead. "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Mr. Jones was a

bachelor, and about 65 years of age. He enjoyed the friendship of the late Rev. William Thorp, and the other ministers of Bristol, who united to recommend a volume he published on "The Mediation of Jesus Christ," which passed through two editions. In his will, a copy of which was amongst his papers, sundry bequests were made (the savings from the sale of his book) to various religious societies and individuals, viz. London Missionary Society, £100.; Mrs. Thorpe, of Bristol, £100.; Irish Evangelical, £19. 19s.; Baptist, £19. 19s.; Moravian, £19. 19s.; Wesleyan, £19. 19s; Home Missionary, £19. 19s.; the Rev. Mr. Sibree, £20.

Died, on Thursday the 18th of September, at his mansion, Clapham Common, EBENEZER MAITLAND, Esq., in the 82d year of his age.

This venerable gentleman was for many years President of the Dissenters Orphan Working School Charity, City Road, and a member of the Congregational Church at New Court, Carey Street.

NOTICES.

The Autumnal Meeting of the Dorset Association will be held at Wimborne on Wednesday, Oct 5. The Association Sermon will be preached in the morning by the Rev. Mr. Chamberlayne, of Swanage. The Rev. R. Keynes, of Blandford, is expected to preach in the evening of Wednesday, and the Rev. J. M. Mackenzie, of Poole, on the Tuesday evening preceding.

The next half-yearly meeting of the Wilts and East Somerset Associated Ministers and Churches will be held at Devizes, on Wednesday, the 8th of this month. Rev. Mr. Doney, of Trowbridge, will preach in the morning.

On Wednesday the 15th, the Faculty of Arts, in the University of London, will recommence, when the Rev. Professor Vaughan will deliver the usual introduc tory lecture, at two o'clock in the afternoon. Professor Vaughan will also deliver the first lecture in his course, on Ancient History, on Tuesday, the 21st, at seven o'clock in the evening. Both these lectures will be open to the public.

CHRISTIAN biography has been chiefly occupied with memorials of the ministers of the church. Valuable as such documents confessedly are, on account of the ecclesiastical, theological, and and practical information they contain, yet they are too professional to come home to the consciences of most private Christians. For it is a melancholy but common mistake, to suppose that a degree of sanctity and devotedness is required in the ministry, which is in no way obligatory on private Christians, forgetting that all the faithful are required to be "a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that they should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." The lives, therefore, of such men as Boyle, Howard, Thornton, and Reynolds, who, amidst the fascinations of pleasure, the allurements of wealth, or the bustle of commercial life, could serve God and their generaVOL. XVII. N. S. NO. 119.

tion, must produce, by the blessing of Heaven, a more powerful and practical influence, than many memoirs of those who have been officially engaged in the services of the sanctuary.

We have received, therefore, with much gratification, "The Posthumous Works of the late William M'Gavin, author of the Protestant, &c. accompanied with a Memoir, including Autobiography, Extracts of Correspondence, &c." because his history strikingly illustrates the fact, that a Christian extensively engaged in commercial life may, by his wisdom and probity, win the admiration of his brother-merchants, and command the applause of his fellow-citizens at large, and yet be successfully engaged in those practical efforts to do good, which membership with a Congregational church requires, and defend the Gospel, too, by laborious and popular appeals to the public mind through the press.

4 M

The first volume of these "Posthumous Works" is devoted to the biography of this extraordinary and useful Christian. We are compelled to regret that it is not more worthy of its subject; we shall, however, glean some of its more important statements, and shall, from other sources, supply information on several topics that have been strangely overlooked. The second volume contains thirty of his Discourses and Lectures, characterized by that native good sense, sound scriptural knowledge, and elevated piety, which were always apparent in his occasional ministrations.

William M'Gavin, the son of James and Mary M'Gavin, was born at a considerable farm in the parish of Auchinleck, in Ayrshire, on the 12th of August, 1773, O. S. corresponding with the 25th of the present style. He, in common with the other members of the family, was employed in the labours of the farm as soon as he was able to work, and received only the very scanty instruction which a village school afforded; for as soon as he could read his education was finished, and he was called to share in the toils of the farm. It was with him a favourite occupation to attend as cowherd upon the cattle, while grazing in the common land during summer and autumn, and to indulge in those musings which such scenes inspire in the minds of boys of genius.

In an autobiographical fragment of about thirty pages, which Mr. M Gavin wrote but a few days before his death, and which forms the most interesting part of "The Memoir," there is a full account of his youthful years. We transcribe his sketch of the religious connections and domestic piety of his progenitors.

"My parents were both Seceders

of the Anti-burgher division. My mother, whose name was M'Millan, was of the strict race of Covenanters; her father was an extensive sheep farmer in the parish of Muirkirk. His house was within three miles of the spot where John Brown was murdered by Claverhouse, where the martyr was buried ;

and my mother, when a girl, was sometimes employed in conducting pilgrims to the spot. Her father had a principal hand in forming a congregation, and building a meeting house on a high ground between Auchinleck and Cumnock. He had contributed twenty pounds towards the erection; and I have heard

my mother say he called that the most prosperous year of his life.

He died at a great age, and was buried in Cumnock burying ground, in the grave which contained the remains of the celebrated Alexander Peden, who was a martyr in purpose, though he died in his bed, and was first buried in Auchinleck churchyard; but the enemies of the covenant grudging him such an honourable resting place, raised his body, and buried it at the foot of the gallows in Cumnock, and as if the whole parish had coveted the honour of lying near him, that became, and is now the common burying-ground.

"Before the erection of this new meeting house, my father and mother, as well as the family of their father, belonged to the congregation in Kil maurs, distant from our house about twenty miles, and from my grandfather's upwards of thirty. The pastor was the then Mr. Smyton, who made a noise in the world, and a schism in the church half a century ago, by a controversy about the lifting of the bread before the blessing in the Lord's Supper. My father and mother went regularly to church, distant as it was, on Sabbath days, on one horse, and returned the same day. Mr. Smyton's congregation extended over a diameter of nearly a hundred miles. It was the mother church of the Antiburgher congregations in Greenock, Paisley, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Beith, and Auchinleck My father was an elder in the new congregation at Auchinleck: their minister, the Rev. Robert Smith, was a man of a feeble and deformed body, such as I suppose Alexander Pope to have been, but of a most acute and vigorous mind; and his congregation became distinguished all the country round for the extent of their religious knowledge, correct acquaintance with their principles, and the ability with which they maintained them.