the word in this village, nearly 45 years, a house for God has been erected, capable of accommodating 300 persons on the ground-floor. In addition to the public means of grace, other plans of usefulness are in contemplation; and it is confidently expected, that the many hearty prayers of those present on this occasion, will be answered by increased prosperity to the infant interest. The Rev. J. Gray, E. F. Bodley, J. B. Law, E. Price (Sheerness), Jacob J. Ward (Baptist Minister of Stoke, Kent,) Higgins, -Williams, and Mr. W. Barnes, took part in the delightful engagements of the day. The Rev. E. F. Bodley, of Rochford, administered the Lord's supper to the newly-formed church on the 7th inst.

ORDINATIONS, ETC.

The ordination of the Rev. John Hall took place on Thursday, the 28th of March, at Crossbrook-street Chapel, Cheshunt, Herts, when the following ministers engaged in the service-The Rev. Philip Smith, B.A. classical tutor at Cheshunt College, read the Scriptures and offered prayer; the Rev. A. J. Morris, of Holloway, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. M. A. Garvey, of Kentish town, asked the usual questions; the Rev. M. Jeula, of Old Gravel lane, offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Blackburn, of Pentonville, delivered the charge; and the Rev. T. Aveling, of Kingsland, preached to the people.

The ordination of the Rev. Thomas Coward, of Manchester, as pastor of the Independent church, assembling in Hatherlow Chapel, Bredbury, near Stockport, took place on Friday, April 5. The Rev. John Clunie, LL.D., of Manchester, commenced the service, after which, the Rev. Jonathan Sutcliffe, F.A.S., of Ashtonunder-Lyne, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions. The ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. Richard Fletcher, of Manchester; the charge to the pastor was given by the Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D., President of the Lancashire Independent College; and the sermon to the people was preached by the Rev. James Griffin, of Manchester. The Rev. R. Kirkus, of Marple Bridge, concluded the service with prayer.

On Wednesday, April 24th, Rev. G. B. Johnson, formerly of Coward College, late of East Retford, was ordained to the pastorate over the Independent church in the town of Doncaster, York. The Rev. Thos. Stratten, of Hull, delivered the intro. ductory discourse, which was a lucid and able defence of the order of the Congregational ministry. The usual questions were proposed to the church and pastor by Rev. J. E. Millson, of Pontefract. Rev. W. H. Stowell, of Rotherham College, offered the ordination prayer. A very impressive charge, founded on Hosea ix. 8, was given to the pastor by Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Leeds. In the evening, a faithful and affectionate discourse, from 1 Cor. xvi. 10, was preached to the church and congregation by Rev. S. M'All, of Nottingham, their late beloved pastor. The devotional parts of the services were conducted by Rev. E. H. Delf, of Coventry, Storron, of Bantry, Beddowe, of Barnsley, M. Docker, of Melton, J. Hill, of Knottingley, and G. B. Johnson. The full attendance at each service, and the affectionate gratulations expressed, were such as to confirm the hope of future extended prosperity.

The Congregational church meeting, in Barrack-street, Bridport, have tendered a cordial and unanimous invitation to the Rev. T. Wallace, late of Petersfield, Hants, to become their pastor, which invitation he has accepted, and commenced his labours among the people on the first Sabbath in May.

A special service, deeply solemn in its character, was held on the evening of May 6th, to commend the new pastor to God, and implore a blessing on his ministry. The Rev. John Wills, the late highly respected pastor, presided on the occasion, and delivered a pathetic and impressive address; and the present pastor reciprocated the kindly and truly fraternal spirit, which had been so pleasingly expressed.

On Wednesday, May 15th, the Rev. R. Thatcher was publicly ordained over the Congregational church at Coal-pit Heath, near Bristol. The Rev. Thomas Haynes, of Bristol, delivered the introductory discourse, the Rev. W. Lacy gave the charge, and the Rev. John Jack addressed the church and congregation. Other ministers were also engaged in the service. This is one of the stations arising out of the Bristol Itinerancy, where the continued labours of the devoted evangelist have led to the more regular and extended benefits of pastoral superintendence.

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT SHREWSBURY.-Mr. Edward Hill, of Spring Hill College, Birmingham, has accepted an invitation from the newly-formed Congregational church in that place, to become their pastor, and will shortly enter upon his labours. The congregation at present worship in a chapel which they have hired for temporary accommodation; but a handsome and commodious building is being erected, which it is expected will be opened in the autumn. The subscriptions to the building fund already amount to £800.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS.-A CAUTION TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. EVERY one acquainted with the contents of this Magazine, from its commencement until now, must acknowledge, that it has warmly maintained a position laid down in the Declaration of the Congregational Union, "That Christian churches unitedly ought to consider the maintenance of the Christian ministry, in an adequate degree of learning, as one of its especial cares;” and we may add, that this has been mentioned and reiterated till, in some quarters, we have been reproached for the stress we have laid upon it.

But whilst our pages have been open to the advocacy of a course of collegiate training for our young ministers, we also supposed ourselves possessed of equal right to discuss the questions of academical theology, ministerial adaptation and success, and kindred subjects important alike to the stability of our churches and the extension of the kingdom of Christ. In this, however, it seems we are mistaken, and that for the course we have lately adopted, this magazine is to be proscribed, and its editor put down.

That our readers may distinctly understand the position in which we are placed, we call their attention to the following resolutions which have been forwarded to us by the students of two of our colleges, the names of which, however, we withhold, from regard to the institutions whose alumni have thus committed themselves.

"June 19, 1844.

"Resolved, That the students of College, having seen with regret the several articles inserted in the Congregational Magazine, written professedly with a view to correct the alleged defects in the rising ministry, but in fact tending to magnify their faults, depreciate their influence, and lessen their usefulness, by giving a false view of their character,-do unanimously agree to discontinue taking in the above periodical, as also to discountenance its sale in their different circles, so long as it maintains its present character."

"June 22, 1844.

"Resolved, That the students of College, having observed with much surprise, not unmingled with regret, the articles lately inserted in the Congregational Magazine, purporting to rectify certain defects in the public ministrations of the rising ministry, but really tending, by giving currency to certain unjust opinions, to awaken a prejudice in the public mind respecting them, thereby seriously injuring their character, and lessening their usefulness, do protest against such misrepresentations, and do unanimously agree to withdraw their support from the said periodical, so long as its pages are open to such calumnies."

Passing by the question whether it is fitting and seemly for young gentlemen in a state of pupilage, and whilst “under tutors and governors," to act in a corporate capacity, without the knowledge and consent of their collegiate superiors ;-leaving this question for the present, we have a remark or two to offer upon the documents themselves.

It is somewhat remarkable, that there is in these resolutions, not only a coincidence of thought, but of phraseology too, which, we think, can only be explained by the supposition that they have pretty much a common origin.

We well know how quickly and how strongly young men are apt to feel, when they suppose themselves reflected upon; and therefore can forgive such hard phrases as "false views," "unjust opinions," 39 66 misrepresentations," "calumnies," &c.; and can smile at the somewhat petulant resolve "to withdraw their support," and "to discontinue taking in "this periodical.

But we cannot be silent when a combination, we might say a conspiracy, is formed against this magazine, "TO DISCOUNTENANCE ITS SALE" in the "different circles" to which the students are admitted. We, therefore, caution our subscribers and friends, should they find these young gentlemen occupying the leisure of their present academical recess, in attempts to depreciate the character, and restrict the circulation of this journal, that they have come to the unanimous determination TO DAMAGE US IF THEY CAN!

This, however, must be decided by our subscribers, the pastors and deacons, the intelligent and pious members of our churches. We have not acted in this matter without an extensive and intimate acquaintance with the opinions of some of the best educated and most influential of our lay brethren upon the subject. Several months ago, we received the following communication from a gentleman of wealth and station, a county magistrate and a deacon of one of our largest churches; if we do not egregiously mistake, his sentiments, and those of his friend, are pretty generally entertained by those who are the chief supporters of our churches and collegiate institutions too.

TO THE EDITOR.

DEAR SIR,-Will you excuse my calling your attention to the enclosed extract of a letter I lately received from a valued friend and liberal Congregationalist. The subject is one of vital importance to our own denomination, and to the cause of Christ; and the regret he expresses is, I am sure, shared by many individuals, as well as myself. I am thankful to see the Congregational Magazine is nearing the subject, in the recent excellent papers on public prayer and Divine influences connected with ministerial success. I sincerely hope there will be a continuance of such papers, making Christianity a personal and practical thing with ministers, and laymen too. We want vital heat, as well as, or rather more than, professional propriety.

Extract.

"I had quite hoped that you would have been at Leeds, at the interesting meeting of the Union, and would have aided a deep consideration of the state of ministerial pulpit labours in our body. My mind is increasingly engaged with it; and I feel really anxious that it should not be passed by with vain regrets. There must be something extremely defective in our collegiate course, I will not say of theology, as a science, but of divinity in its truly spiritual sense. Long and often has it been remarked that the clergy of the Establishment were without a sound theological education: yet, when individuals of them are really converted, and sent forth by the Holy Spirit, their pulpit exercises are marked by a plain, practical enforcement of the truths that are able to make wise unto salvation; whilst the perhaps more deep scholastic theology of others, is often propounded in a coldly correct style, unintelligible to the mass of the hearers, and uninfluential on all The heart is not warmed; the conscience is not awakened; the slumbering energies of the mind are not aroused into action; souls are perishing under the delusion of a gospel ministry. Just such essays or themes as I used to hear on the anniversaries of College, often very clever, always carefully orthodox, but generally pointless, seem to me to be the staple of most sermons; as though the heads, not the hearts, of the hearers were at fault.

How different from the soul-searching, powerful, though too frequently vulgar, exhortations of the Methodists I was used to hear in my earlier days! They seemed to be always most earnestly engaged in plucking souls as brands from the burning they spoke as from the fulness of an awakened heart, anxious to convey the good news to perishing sinners, rather than to occupy precious moments in elaborate descriptions of what was the good news.

You will understand I am not undervaluing the blessings of a sound theological training; but I do most earnestly deplore, what I cannot but consider to be its subsequent awfully erroneous direction. I write to you, because I know you feel as I do on the subject, and because you love the Lord. Will you not stir up others to look fully and fairly at this subject, as in the sight of God? I have no pride of my order. I care not for any denomination, simply as such. I care for the Redeemer of mankind, for His precious cause, for the multitudes of my fellow-creatures in danger. I am not of Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas; I wish to be of Christ, and of Christ only."

Sustained by such communications, we are not overwhelmed with the apprehension of immediate extinction. But let the young gentlemen at these colleges take care. What we have published on the subject has been written by men who warmly regard our collegiate institutions, and have an affectionate and most paternal solicitude for the welfare of young men devoted to the ministry amongst us. Let not then the students mistake their position; they may be as learned as Gamaliel, and as eloquent as Apollos, and yet some humble Christians, like Aquila and Priscilla, may be able to teach them "the way of God more perfectly." Both as Christians and ministers, they are yet in a state of pupilage, and to them truth should be welcome however communicated. These pages have only reflected what is in the minds of manyhave only re-echoed the voices of thousands. Let our young brethren, then, take

care.

Some of the most effective men of our body have attained their present commanding position without passing through the curriculum of any college. The churches are not shut up to the alternative of young academicians or nobody-and if we know them at all, they will seek a warmly evangelical though it may be, an unpolished, ministry, rather than submit to a cold and doubtful orthodoxy, though it may be very cleverly set forth.

BRIEF NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS.

THE news from ABROAD during the past month has neither been abundant nor remarkable.

Pope Gregory XVI. has issued a bull, dated the 8th of May last, against all Bible Societies, and also against a new association formed at New York, called the Christian League, which proposes to "propagate amongst Italians, and especially Romans, the principles of Christian liberty." This his holiness denounces; and condescends to name and forbid the books, such as Merle d'Aubigne's History of the Reformation, which have been translated into Italian by it.

A "holy" war is said to be proclaimed by the Emperor of Morocco against France. The colony of Algeria has brought on this collision, and it is probable that it may greatly increase the already frightful number of victims, that has been sacrificed to the wild project of a French colony in Northern Africa.

Events at HOME have been varied and exciting. Our gracious sovereign has received the visits of some illustrious strangers. Princes of Denmark and Holland, the King of Saxony, and Nicholas I., Emperor of all the Russias, have seen our capital. The coming of the autocrat is a doubtful subject of congratulation, and his profuse expenditure of money on race-courses and snuff-boxes-in subscriptions for the exiled Poles-and for the monuments to Nelson and Wellington, has not at all excited popular enthusiasm at his visit, which is generally regarded as suspicious and sinister.

In Parliament there has been more than an average display of those tactics which we fear are rapidly bringing public men into contempt.

In the House of Lords, Earl Powis proposed the second reading of a Bill to repeal so much of the 6 & 7 William IV. as relates to the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. This was opposed by the Duke of Wellington on the ground that it "would disturb the existing political arrangements respecting the number of bishops." The bishop of Exeter supported the Bill, and vindicated the presence of the prelates in that house; contending that it had a beneficial influence on their lordships' deliberations, when matters connected with religion were brought before them." His lordship forgot the conduct of his brethren on the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. The bishops of Bangor and St. David's also supported it; but the archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishops of London and Lincoln, opposed it. Still the second reading was carried by a majority of twelve.

The House of Commons has exhibited scenes in no way likely to exalt its character in the estimation of the country. The second reading of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill was carried by a majority of 190.

We have reason to believe that the highest party influence was employed to silence the only member who was fully competent to expose the iniquities of the Bill, and that by a confederation of Roman Catholics and infidels, whigs and tories, this decisive majority was secured. The Bill is most mischievous in its character, and will create, and not prevent litigation. But it will be far more mischievous to its allied supporters. Evangelical Churchmen now see how hollow are the professions of attachment to