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and he must, by this time, have been considerably proficient in the Latin; for his fellow students in the university of Glasgow, often spoke of him as of superior attainments; and the professor of humanity remarked to a friend, that he would very likely have gained a prize had he remained till the close of the

session.

Mr Kennedy had a respectable standing in all the classes, but his great timidity prevented him from succeeding in proportion to his abilities and diligence. He was fully aware of this defect himself; and, accordingly, in 1845, we find the following reflections in his diary:"In some respects, I am not well qualified for public life; but this I may say, and I am very confident of its truth, that I have seldom, very seldom, been able, in consequence of a natural diffidence, which completely unmans me, to do myself justice, and to make my slender talents appear in the light in which I am perfectly certain I might otherwise have exhibited them."

that we are all sinners, and that there is a Saviour; pray that you, and I, and all of us, may be enabled to love him. For if we do not love Christ and hate sin, we may be sure that we are yet in an unconverted state. We who are living in the enjoyment of gospel privileges, are in danger of becoming hypocritical. Though we appear to be Christians, we may be deceiving ourselves and others, and so perish."

Among his papers has been found a solemn form of self-dedication, after the manner of Doddridge. It is headed "Self-Dedication," dated November 1843, and is as follows:-" Blessed God! I desire to draw near into thy presence, through him who is the way, the truth, and the life, and let not the Lord be angry with his servant. I would remember that thou art the Holy Lord God, and that my words ought to be few, and well-ordered before thee. Heavenly Father! knowing that I am a great sinner standing in need of pardon and justification, having learned from thy holy word, that there is salvation for me through the Lord Jesus Christ, and under a deep sense of gratitude for favours received from thee in days that are past, I hereby make a solemn dedication of myself to thee, to be saved by thee in thine own appointed way. Also, in the strength of divine grace, I resolve to devote myself to thy service, to spend my life in endeavouring to promote thy glory in the advancement of my Redeemer's kingdom among my fellow-men. I am unable of myself to abide by my resolutions, but, O Lord, make thy grace sufficient for me, perfect thy strength in my weakness. Withhold not thy grace from me, but may I ever feel that I am under thy gracious care. My Father!' be thou the guide of my youth,'-of my manhood, of my hoary age. Preserve me safely unto thy heavenly kingdom. O, make me useful while I live, to the church, and to the world; and may I be distinguished for piety, for devotedness and zeal in thy service, and for wonderful success in the work of edifying thy people, and bringing sinners into the fold of Jesus!

When he went to college he was for the first time away from home, and he seemed then, more than formerly, to have felt deeply concerned about the spiritual well-being of the family of which he was a member. He was in the habit of writing letters to them on the subject of personal religion, and his example, in this respect, is well worthy of the imitation of those who are placed in similar circumstances. These letters are carefully preserved by the members of the family to whom they were respectively written; and in these epistles, he being dead, yet speaks to them. To a very near relative, during his first session, he thus wrote; "I wish to speak plainly and affectionately to you, and I hope you will receive it in love, and ponder well what I say. We are all ready to admit that the salvation of the soul is of the highest importance, and demands our greatest anxiety and concern; but, alas! we appear not to be concerned most about the soul's welfare. We live as if there were no hell to avoid, nor heaven to gain. O, let us consider the importance of being prepared to die! The very possibility of being unprepared, should stir us up to anxiety and diligence in ascertaining our state. O remember "EBENEZER KENENDY." that there is no pardon beyond the In 1843, he made application to the grave! that if a mistake is made in re-directors of the Glasgow City Mission, gard to our condition now, it cannot be for the office of an agent of that mission, remedied after death. Remember that and after the usual examination and there is an eternity of weal or woe before trials before the directors, he was adyou. You know this, and you know mitted to the office. He continued in

"I hereby subscribe with my hand that I am thine.

the mission till his death, and was en- | January 1844, he said,—“ I meet with gaged in official duty when he caught many discouragements and many diffithe disease of which he died.

He was three sessions at the divinity hall of our church, and while his discourses received the very decided approbation of the professors, his amiable deportment towards his fellow-students, secured the warm affection of all. His natural diffidence, however, prevented him from delivering any public address in the Hall (as at the annual missionary meeting, or the friendly meeting of the Relief students), though he was repeatedly urged by his fellow-students to do so. Previous to his becoming a city missionary he had not spoken in public, except on two or three occasions. He then, however, required to deliver two addresses weekly in his district, and he began to deliver occasional addresses at public meetings. He was always well received, and, unquestionably, had he been spared to go to the pulpit, he would have become a very popular as well as very useful preacher. He usually got quit of his timidity shortly after beginning to speak, and, when he got fairly into his subject, he had few equals as an energetic and effective speaker. The writer has seen him swaying at will the feelings of the audience, and eliciting the most rapturous applause. The temperance cause, especially, he laboured to promote by his eloquent and effective advocacy.

He was a very faithful and successful missionary, and was much esteemed by the people among whom he laboured. After reading his solemn form of selfdedication, we can easily account for his devotedness in this work. It is proper that those who are engaged in the course of preparatory study for the work of the holy ministry, should regard the present as the time for study, and the future for action; but it is possible that they may act too exclusively on this principle. Had Mr Kennedy abstained from active efforts to promote the Redeemer's cause, he would not have afforded an opportunity for the blessing of God to be conferred upon his labours, in answer to his prayer for "wonderful success in the work of edifying the people" of God, " and bringing sinners into the fold of Jesus." He was not spared to engage in pastoral labours, but he availed himself of the opportunity which the providence of God afforded him of engaging in his Master's work. He was often much discouraged, however, by the difficulty with which he was met. Writing to one of his sisters on the 6th of

culties; but I am happy to say that I meet with many things to encourage, which greatly preponderate; and even every thing difficult which I have yet met with, and which, to my inexperienced mind, seemed insurmountable, has lessened down as I approached into an object which even common exertion might overcome, or it has disappeared altogether, and left me wondering and ashamed at my own timidity. I trust, dear sister, that I am learning many a useful lesson from past and present events and circumstances, and making great improvement even in the midst of difficulties,— lessons and improvements which, I hope, will enable me to serve God and the church better than I could do without them. Even the Christian, the private Christian, I mean, has many a lesson to learn from the time of his being a 'babe in Christ,' till he arrives at the fulness of the stature of a perfect man in the spiritual life,-lessons which I need not wait to mention to you, as they will, no doubt, readily occur to your mind. But besides all these, the man who would aspire to be a spiritual guide and teacher in the church of God, has many others which must be learned, if he would discharge the duties of the christian ministry in a manner calculated to promote the glory of God and the good of souls. Now there is one way in which you could very, very much assist your brother in becoming, in our Lord's vineyard, workman that needs not to be ashamed;" and it is this-by prayer on his behalf. O! prayer has wonderous power! It can open heaven, and draw forth from its valuable, varied, exhaustless treasury, blessings suited to our every want, and equal to our largest wish. Let your prayers, then, dear sister, not be withheld from your unworthy brother; for though I also need the countenance of friends, I especially require the grace of God."

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The district in which he laboured was seldom free from disease; and his constitution seemed peculiarly susceptible of the contamnination of contagious disease. The consequence was, that he was several times severely afflicted. The following extract from his diary, of date February 20, 1844, adverts to these trials, and indicates the state of his mind under them :-" Since the 12th I have been very sick. It is now the second time I have been unwell this year, and the third time since I entered the City

Mission. God has seen meet, in his in- calmly fell asleep in Jesus, in the hope finite wisdom, to afflict me frequently and of a glorious resurrection, when the dead severely; and certain it is, he has found shall hear the voice of the Son of man at in me good reasons for dealing thus to- his second appearing, and shall come ward me. I know he has seen much sin, forth from their graves. He died on the neglect of duty, the commission of sin 11th of November 1845, at thirty minutes too, a want of humility, carnality of past three o'clock in the afternoon.-mind and affections, love waxing cold," Blessed are the dead who die in the the want of that measure of confidence Lord." in him in regard to my efforts among the poor and unconverted, and other sins which are 'past reckoning.' O, that I could look upon my afflictions as fatherly chastisement, sent for the double purpose of turning my feet from the path of sin into the path of duty, and of causing me to look far more to the leadings of my heavenly Father, when he would teach me his will! Shall I not hope that one end may be served by my being thus afflicted, namely, that I may be qualified, by what I have experienced, for sympathizing with others with whom I may meet during life, who are in affliction ?"

He kept a Bible class in his district, and during his absence at the Hall, he sent them a letter weekly, to be read at their meetings. Did space permit, we might here give an extract or two from these very affectionate and interesting letters. It was very affecting to witness the great grief of these young people when they received the news of his unexpected death.

Writing, on the day following, to a friend, regarding this event, one of his brothers says, "My brother Ebenezer, is no more. This has again made a sad blank in our family; for, O! he was very dear to us all! I have just been thinking how wonderfully God has been dealing with us as a family,-taking the ripe and sparing the green. I arrived about two hours before he died. He was in great distress, but his mind was quite composed. He died as God's children die-full of hope and peace.” It is not surprising that the family should mourn their loss-it would be unseemly were it otherwise; but it is proper that their minds should be duly influenced by the consideration that their loss is his gain. He left for a little his friends on earth, to join immediately the company of his friends in heaven. He parted with one parent on earth, to meet with the other in glory; and next to the happiness of seeing Christ in his glory, would be the joy he experienced in meeting with his father among the redeemed. For a little while, farewell! happy saints!but we shall meet again. M.

REV. WALTER DUNLOP.

Ir is with deep_regret we record the decease of the Rev. Walter Dunlop of Dumfries, minister of the Secession Church. As a preacher he was distinguished for practical power, scriptural closeness of argument, and aptitude of illustration; as the spiritual guide of a large congregation, he was indefatigable in his visitations, and in the opinion of the best judges, whether in his public or private ministrations, he manifested qualities, natural and acquired, heightened by a homely force of expression, which won their way to every heart.

When visiting in his district in the end of October 1845, he happened to go into a house where a child was ill with smallpox. He waited some time with the family and engaged in prayer; and he seems not to have been apprehensive of danger. In a few days, however, he was seized with the same disease; and though, up till the day of his death, some hopes were entertained of his recovery, yet his distress was very great. A day or two before he died, he told his mother, who was waiting by his bedside, of his unshaken confidence in the Saviour, and requested her to pray for him, for he said he felt his affliction pressing heavily on him. For some time before his death, he ardently longed for release. His mind, however, remained calm and collected. After remaining quiet for some time, he In early life the deceased, from the turned to those about him, and said that respectability of his parents, received he had just been praying for himself and the rudiments of a good education; buť them, and he requested them to pray for was apprenticed, notwithstanding, to him. One of his brothers arrived in some commercial pursuit-a business, Glasgow only about two hours before the we believe, he followed for a very few closing scene, and he spoke to him when-years. He was thus later than usual ever he heard he was in the room. There in attending the Edinburgh University; was no violent struggle at last, but he yet, from previous training, tasks vo

luntarily adopted that became labours by the congregation of Liddesdale, to of love, and decidedly strong intuitive whom he ministered for several years talent, he distinguished himself both in before his translation to Dumfries. the philological and philosophical classes. The deceased was in the 72d year of Mr D. studied divinity under the cele- his age, and 42d of his ministry.—Dumbrated Dr Lawson of Selkirk; after a fries Courier. short probationary service, he was called

MONTHLY RETROSPECT.

ENDOWMENT OF A COLLEGE AT

MANCHESTER.

BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

professorships, the appointment of teachers and assistants, the providing THE late John Owens, Esq., merchant, of books and other requisites for such Manchester, lately deceased, besides studies, the institution of exhibitions, leaving in his will L.1850 for charitable premiums, and other rewards and alinstitutions connected with that town, lowances for superior diligence and has bequeathed the residue of his attainments, and such other means as estate, amounting, it is said, to the trustees shall, in their absolute L.100,000, for the endowment of an discretion, think fit, together with such educational institution there, subject schemes, orders, rules, and regulations to the two following "fundamental as they shall deem advisable, for preand immutable rules," viz. 1st, That venting and repressing, by expulsion, the students, professors, teachers, and suspension, or other means, any abuse other officers and persons connected of the institution, and any misconduct with the said institution, shall not be in the students, professors, teachers, required to make any declaration as or others employed therein." It is exto, or submit to any test whatever of, pected that an additional L.100,000 will their religious opinions; and that no- be raised by subscription. thing shall be introduced in the matter or mode of education or instruction, in reference to any theological subject A great public meeting was held in which shall be reasonably offensive to London on Thursday 5th Nov., the the consciences of any student, or of his Lord Mayor in the chair, for taking relations, guardians, or friends, under steps to better the condition of the whose immediate care he shall be. 2d, working classes by the establishment That if the number of applicants for of a "National Provident and Beneadmission shall be more than adequate volent Institution," and a great amount to the means of this institution, a pre- of interesting information was preference shall in all cases be given, first, sented, and many valuable suggestions to the children of parents residing in offered, chiefly by Mr Cobbell, M.P. for Manchester or within two miles there- St Albans, with whom the movement oriof; and, secondly, to the children of pa-ginated. Benefit societies are just Murents residing in the Parliamentary Di- tual Assurance Societies, adapted to vision of South Lancashire; but subject the circumstances of those whose to this, the institution shall be open to all applicants, without respect of place of birth, and without distinction of rank or condition in society. For carrying the will into effect, a body of trustees (of whom Mr Cobden, we observe, is one) are appointed, and they But, in order to this, it is necessary are authorised to make all necessary that they be constituted on sound prinregulations for conducting the insti- ciples, and properly conducted. Most tution, and "for supplying the students of those in Scotland have proved failwith such aids, assistance, and encou- ures, and consequently the people are ragement in, and for the promoting of disgusted with them. Apart from mistheir studies, by the establishment of management altogether, their failure

means are small; and we hold, that together with Savings Banks, which we lately recommended, they are of vast importance, and absolutely essential to the well-being of the labouring portion of the community.

was inevitable.
were generally too small for the bene-
fits promised, and there was no pro-
per scale for the admission of members
of different ages; indeed, till lately,
the means of forming such a scale
were wanting, and are still but imper-
fectly possessed. Persons, too, of bad
constitutions, and of irregular habits
calculated to impair health and shor-
ten life, were indiscriminately received.
In England, it appears, that there are
vast numbers of persons connected

with Societies of one kind and another,
many of which are in a most unsatisfac-
tory condition. Large sums of money
are in the hands of persons who give
no sort of security, and therefore may,
and often do, abscond with the whole.
The expenses of management are enor-
mous, sometimes amounting to one
half more than is paid to sick mem-
bers. In one society containing 2800
members, the expenses in 1845 a-
mounted to nearly L.1100. The busi-
ness also is generally transacted at
public houses, where tippling habits are
rapidly contracted. All these evils call
loudly for a remedy, and few greater
services of a temporal nature could be
rendered to the working classes than
by putting these matters on a proper
footing, or rather by kindly instructing
and exciting those concerned to do
that for themselves.

For the payments | Established church, the teachers being all her members, her liturgy being used in all the schools, and every one of the scholars (the children of Baptists not excepted) being required to declare, in the words of her catechism, that their godfathers and godmothers gave them their names in their baptism, wherein they were made members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven; all of them also being required, on Sunday, to attend the ministrations of her clergy. It is but justice, however, to say, that this party are scarcely venturing at present to put forward their pretensions. has gone by. Dr Hook of Leeds, a Probably they understand that their time high churchman and Puseyite, but one who spurns at the name of an "Establishmentarian," as if the distinction of the Church of England depended on its being patronised by the state, proposes a much more moderate scheme, the general features of which are, that schools should be maintained by the state, in which secular education alone should be given, and from which religion should be sacredly excluded; but that to every school there should be two rooms attached, for religious instruction on certain days of the week, the one room being for the use of the Established church, the other for dissenters, and the ministers, or such other functionaries as the several denominations might appoint, acting as instructors. This scheme will satisfy many in the Establishment, and an influential portion of the dissenters will also acquiesce in the principle, WE have still to remark, that on this though they will insist on some alteragreat topic of the day, Scotland is main- tions in the details. The great body taining an almost unbroken silence. The of the English Dissenters, however, leading organs of public opinion seem will certainly give this scheme their afraid to commit themselves. Even the most strenuous resistance. They protest recent number of the Edinburgh Re- against religion being excluded from the view shuns the subject. The Relief general education of children. That Synod and our own have met and parted may suit young men at college; but without the slightest indication of opi- children must be nurtured in an atmonion. It might be deemed presumption sphere of piety. Religion would by this for us, in such circumstances, to propose scheme be rendered a secondary matter any views of our own; but it may be of in the estimation of the scholars. Inuse, by way of opening up the question fidelity or indifference would be almost a little, to notice some of the conflicting an essential qualification for the office schemes and opinions which have been of teacher. Sectarianism would be enfreely enough canvassed in the south. gendered, and an undue pre-eminence A variety of plans have been talked of; afforded to the Establishment-it having but the great fundamental question is an entire room for itself, while all other Whether government ought to charge denominations, ranging from Popery on itself with the education of the people? the one hand, to Socinianism on the other, There is unquestionably in England a would be huddled ignominiously and inlarge and influential party, who wish a congruously together. Beyond all this, it national education, and that entirely un-is maintained that the education of the der the control and superintendence of the people does not legitimately belong to

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NATIONAL EDUCATION.

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