nerley, of Mitcham; David Thomas, of Stockwell; Samuel Elridge, of Brixton; John Elrick, A.M., of Thame; John Bright of Dorking; Thomas Nicholas, of Stroud, &c., took part in the engagements of the day. Croydon, as a rapidly increasing suburban town, presents a sphere of considerable importance, and Mr. Steer enters upon his labours with encouraging prospects of comfort and usefulness. BEULAH AND LLANFAIR. THE Rev. Philip G. Thomas, of Glandwr, Pembrokeshire, was ordained pastor of the churches meeting at Beulah and Llanfair, near Menai Bridge, on Easter Monday, 21st April, 1851. stated the way in which the church had been The The origin of the infant cause at Ryecroft is a pleasing instance of the way in which Congregational Churches ought to be multiplied in populous districts. The people worshipping here originated from the Independent interest at Albion-street, the east end of the town. In taking their departure from that place, the object they had in view may be said to have been of a two-fold nature; first, to disseminate more widely the principles of Congregationalism at this, the west end of the town; and, secondly, by thus leaving the parent place, to provide more accommodation for parties who had long been pressing for sittings, but who could not be accommodated for want of room. For these reasons, on the 7th of May, 1848, an amicable separation took place, when eighty-six members of the Beulah, 10 o'clock, Mr. W. Hughes, of Carnarvon, opened the service with reading and prayer; the Rev. Rees P. Griffith, Pwllheli, delivered the discourse, on the nature of a Christian church; the Rev. W. Thomas, Beaumaris, proposed the usual questions; and Mr. Timmins offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. T. Edwards, Ebenezer, delivered the charge to the minister, and the Rev. D. James, of Rhosymeirch, delivered an appropriate sermon to the people. At two o'clock, sermons were delivered by Mr. W. Hughes and the Rev. W. Thomas, and, at six, by the Revs. T. Edwards and W. Griffith, Holyhead. On the same evening, the Revs. Rees P. Griffith and D. James delivered sermons at Llanfair. At ten o'clock on the following day, Mr. Joseph Owen, Nazareth, and the Rev. W. Griffith, Holyhead, preached. At two, the Rev. D. Davies, Rhaiadr, and W. Thomas; and at six, Mr. W. Hughes and the Rev. Rees P. Griffith, delivered sermons. The devotional parts of the services were conducted by Messrs. W. Williams, Llanfechell; A. Tim-church, together with a goodly number of the mins, Beulah; and W. Hughes. Sermons were delivered on the previous Sabbath, at Beulah, by Mr. W. Hughes, and Revs. Thos. Jones, Glanrafron; and Rees P. Griffiths. The services throughout were attended by deeply attentive congregations. ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. ON Good Friday, April 18th, the Rev. William Thomas, of Rotherham College, was ordained to the pastorate of the Congregational Church, Ryecroft, Ashton-under-Lyne. For more commodious accommodation, the services were conducted in Albion-street Chapel, which was kindly lent for the occasion by the minister and deacons. The Rev. John Kaven, of Salford, Manchester, read the Scriptures, and led the devotions in prayer; the Rev. David Jones, of Booth, near Halifax (Mr. Thomas's late pastor), delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Ogden, the senior deacon, then briefly congregation, resolved to commence this new interest. Accordingly, on the evening of that day, the Rev. J. Sutcliffe, F.S.A., pastor of the parent place, opened the upper part of the Ryecroft British School as a preachingroom, by holding a prayer meeting, and giving an appropriate address-hoarseness and a sore throat preventing him from preaching; and from that time regular service has been conducted in the morning and evening of every Lord's-day. The church was formed, Jan. 14th, 1849, when the Rev. J. Sutcliffe again officiated. Seventy-nine members were present on that occasion; four were sick, and three were absent. Since then, they have been supplied from the two colleges at Manchester and Rotherham, together with neighbouring ministers occasionally, until the commencement of the present year, when Mr. Thomas began his settled ministrations with very encouraging prospects of success; and so far his labours have been blessed even beyond expectation. The church now numbers 112 members. The congregation, also, has so increased, that the preaching-room, which will seat 510 adults, is getting nearly full; and the scholars in the Sunday-school amount to 640. WHITFORD, FLINTSHIRE. ON Tuesday, April the 22nd, a meeting was held at Zion Chapel, Whitford, near Holywell, Flintshire, when the Rev. John Jones, of North Wales Academy, was publicly ordained pastor of the church and congregation assembling at the above chapel. On the previous evening Mr. John Edwards, of North Wales Academy, commenced the service with reading and prayer, and sermons were delivered by Revs. Thomas Pierce, of Liverpool; and David Price, of Denbigh. On Tuesday, the morning service was commenced by the Rev. Thomas Ridge, of Jerusalem Chapel, near Mold, who read appropriate portions of Scripture, and offered a fervent prayer for the Divine blessing on the solemn occasion. The principles of congregational dissent were stated and maintained in a discourse founded on Ephesians, chap. v., verse 24, "The church is subject unto Christ," by the Rev. Matthew Lewis, of Holywell. The Rev. Michael Jones, of Bala, tutor of the North Wales Academy, asked the usual questions, and received most concise and satisfactory replies from the young pastor. The prayer was offered by the Rev. David Price; and the Rev. Hugh Pugh, of Mostyn, gave a most affectionate and appropriate charge to the young minister. The hymns were announced by the Rev. Owen Owens, of Rhesycae, who concluded the service with prayer. In the afternoon, the Rev. Rowland Williams, of Bagilet, read and prayed; the Rev. William Roberts, of Penybout fawr, ably pointed out the various duties of a Christian church; and the Rev. Michael Jones, in a very solemn and impressive discourse, addressed the congrega tion. Sermons were delivered in the evening by Messrs. Roberts and Pierce. ASHTON KEYNES, WILTS. THE farewell services, occasioned by the regretted resignation of the Rev. John Jones of his pastorate over the Independent Church in this place, were held on Wednesday, 16th April. The Rev. Robert White, of Chalford, preached in the afternoon. In the evening, the Rev. John Jones, and some neighbouring ministers, addressed the congregation on topics relating to the spiritual prosperity of a Christian community. The services were unusually solemn and affecting. One of the designs of the services was to afford the friends in the vicinity an opportunity to aid the congregation in providing a valedictory testimonial to the late pastor, previously to his departure from the scene of labour which he has occupied for fourteen years; during which he erected a neat and commodious chapel, which he leaves disencumbered of all debt; and also gathered a church, which, after deaths and removals, consists of twenty-three members. This village presents a pleasing scene of labour to a minister having pecuniary resources of his own. SUNDERLAND, NEW CONGREGATIONAL THE foundation-stone of a new chapel for the congregation under the ministry of the Rev. R. W. McAll, was laid by the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of Manchester, on Monday, April 9. The church was formed in February, by a secession from that in Bethel Chapel, in consequence of Mr. McAll's resignation, after three years' pastorate, and numbers 240 members. The new building is most advantageously placed in the centre of the town. It will have two handsome fronts of stone, in the Italian style, and the interior will be ornamented by slender columns and graceful arches, carrying the roof, having the ceiling coved between them. The chapel will comfortably accommodate about 1100 persons, with lecture and school rooms behind, for about 400. The services connected with the laying of the stone were of a truly delightful character. Dr. Vaughan preached two impressive sermons in the Athenæum the day previous; and a great concourse was gathered to listen to his spirit-stirring address, in connection with the ceremony. On Wednesday evening a teameeting was also held, at which many ministers and friends testified their warm interest in the cause, and their kind feeling towards pastor and people. In the various services the Revs. A. Jack, of North Shields; S. Goodall, of Durham; S. Watkinson, of Monkwearmouth; C. Pedley, of Chester-le-street; M. Henderson, of North Shields; J. Parker, of Sunderland; and P. R. Williams, of Halifax, took part. As the town of Sunderland is populous and rapidly increasing, and congregational principles are but commencing to win their way in the extreme north of England, the pastor and people trust their efforts will commend itself to the prayers of the churches, as one fitted (under the Divine blessing) to advance the glory of Christ. PUBLIC TEA-MEETING, TO CELEBRATE THE EXTINCTION OF CHAPEL AND SCHOOL DEBTS AT ROCHDALE. ON Good Friday evening, 1851, a public Tea-meeting was held in the large schoolroom connected with the Independent Chapel, Rochdale, to celebrate the liquidation of all debts upon the chapel and school buildings, amounting to the sum of £1357; several friends of other denominations were present. The following ministers and gentlemen addressed the meeting:-The Rev. Dr. Brown, of Cheltenham; Rev. J. G. Miall, Bradford; R. Robinson, Hallford; J. Harrison, Heywood; J. Saul, a Wesleyan Association Minister; and William Littlewood, Esq., Baptist. The tables were gratuitously supplied by the ladies. After tea, Henry Staley, Esq., the senior deacon, and who had been connected with the place froin the commencement of the Independent interest in Rochdale, was called to the Chair. He gave an exceedingly interesting statement of the rise and progress of Independency in Rochdale and its neighbourhood, from the beginning of the Rev. John Ely's pastorate, in the year 1814, to the present time. That worthy man, Mr. Ely, laboured there nineteen years with very considerable success. He commenced his labours with twelve members; now they number upwards of two hundred. The Sabbath-school was begun with a few children, under the east gallery in the chapel; now they number eight hundred and sixteen, besides a daily infant-school. The teachers were about six; now they are eighty-four, most of them attending twice every Sabbath. Four Sabbath-schools have been opened, under the auspices of the church and congregation, and churches formed both at Small Bridge and Calderbrook. Since the formation of the church at Rochdale, no less than two hundred and eleven persons have been added to the church from the Sabbath-schools, some of them teachers, but the greater number monitors and scholars, and the good work is still going on. A new building was erected a short time ago, for educational purposes; one room is capable of holding nearly eight hundred children, another room two hundred infants, with school-vestry for Bible classes and prayer-meetings, &c., all fitted up with chandeliers, warming apparatus, &c., also moveable tables and teaservices for eight hundred persons. The meeting was one of great interest; all present were highly gratified, not only by the successful termination of the debts, but by the excellent speeches delivered on the occasion. you that we are not unmindful of the valuable services you have rendered to the church and congregation, amongst which, by a kind Providence, you have been so long spared to labour with so much ability, zeal, and faithfulness, and which have now come to an honourable close. as Dear and honoured sir, you have, pastor, been permitted to perform your active duties with uninterrupted peace and satisfaction to your congregation, for a longer period than has been allotted to any of your contemporaries; you being now, we believe, the oldest Independent minister in Yorkshire, and have also outlived nearly the whole of the members of the church, who were living when you commenced your labours at Cleckheaton. We had hoped you would have, by a kind Providence, been permitted for many years longer to have occupied your important post; and we deeply regret that your declining health has compelled you to retire from your official labours. We, however, cannot permit you to enter into the calm repose of private life, without manifesting a deep sense of the gratitude we owe to you and your beloved partner, in some form. We, therefore, the members of that flock over which you have presided for thirty-seven years, have willingly subscribed our mite to purchase for you a silver inkstand, and for your dear wife a gold watch and chain, as a small token of our love and esteem, which we beg you will accept, and pray that you may be long continued together to use them, and that your health, now so precarious, may be fully restored. Permit us again to repeat the assurance of our love and esteem, and that our sympathies, our affections, and, above all, our prayers, will follow you into your retirement. And we trust that, as your past life has been spent in the service of your God, so your declining years may be comforted by his presence and favour, and that you may have bright and cheering hopes of your final reward. Signed on behalf of the Subscribers. WISBECH. THE Rev. Henry Trigg, late of Thirfield, Herts, has received and accepted a unanimous invitation from the Independent church and congregation assembling in Castle-square Chapel, to the co-pastorate, in conjunction with the Rev. W. Holmes, who has, during 33 years, been the beloved pastor of the church in that town. REMOVAL. Hungerford.—The Rev. James Alsop, late of Thorseby, Gloucestershire, has accepted an invitation to succeed the late Rev. R. Frost, as pastor of the Congregational Church in this town, and entered upon his labours, May 18th, amidst very encouraging prospects of usefulness. TEIGNMOUTH, DEVON. THE Rev. William Martin, late of Totness, has accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation of the church assembling in Zion Chapel, East Teignmouth, to be their pastor. He commences his stated labours the first Sabbath in June, with prospects of much usefulness. PEACE CONGRESS. WE have only just time, before going to press, to announce that a Peace Congress will be held in London on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of July, to which all the Friends of Peace, throughout the kingdom, are invited to send Delegates. Christian Societies, who may be nominated by the Churches with which they stand connected, will be peculiarly eligible. Also, Officers or Members of Auxiliary Peace Societies; Delegates elected at Public Meetings held for this purpose; Representatives of Religious, Philanthropic, or Literary Associations; and Members of the British Legislature, or of Civic or Municipal Bodies, provided the parties agree in the fundamental principle of the Congress. Every Delegate will be expected to hold and maintain the following fundamental principle of the Congress, and any election where this principle is not recognized and admitted will be considered void: "That an appeal to arms for the purpose of effecting the settlement of differences between nations, is a custom condemned alike by religion, reason, justice, humanity, and the interest of peoples; and that it is, therefore, the duty of the civilized world to adopt measures calculated to bring about the entire abolition of war." We wish well to this great cause, and believe that its triumph would be an unspeak. Ministers of Religion, or Members of able blessing to human kind. แ General Chronicle. EVANGELICAL CONTINENTAL SOCIETY. (To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.) DEAR SIR, Dr. Merle D'Aubigné placed in my hands, a few days ago, on leaving for the Continent, a number of copies of the following paper, with the request that I would use them for the purpose specified therein. Will you kindly insert it in the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE? This movement of the Catholics is another proof that they dread the Bible. The Papacy is unchanged. I shall be most happy to forward any contributions for these objects that may be intrusted to me to Geneva. "The Evangelical Society of Geneva has placed a schoolmaster in each of the stations occupied by it in France. This master teaches both boys and girls, who are separated as much as possible. The Roman Catholic party "The Rev. Mons. Charpiot, of Sornay, thus writes It is time to ward off the blow which this unhappy affair will give to our work. If our girls were hindered from going to school, their parents must necessarily be discouraged, and the faith of new converts might perhaps be shaken.' * * * 'Our people,' he adds, are very poor, but they would give their time and their labour, and they would carry materials for building under the direction of a master mason.' "It becomes therefore absolutely necessary to build schools, and to employ Protestant mistresses. The expense will be considerable. For Mons. Charpiot's School, at Sornay, alone, he calculates that 5000 francs (£200) will be required, and this is but one station out of many. The Rev. Dr. Merle D'Aubigné, now in London, will thankfully receive contributions for this special object, THE MALAGASY REFUGEES. (To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.) DEAR SIR, I beg to enclose you a copy of a letter, received by the last overland mail, from one of the Malagasy refugees residing at Mohilla, one of the Islands of the Johanna, for publication in the next number of your Magazine. It contains particulars of the fierce and fiery persecutions to which the professing Christians at Madagascar are exposed, while it exhibits a power and constancy of faith in those who have been called to seal their testimony with their blood, equal to anything we read of in the early history of the Christian Church. The publication of this letter cannot fail calling forth deep sympathy on behalf of this little portion of Christ's flock in the midst of the wilderness, exposed to the fury of the enemy, without a shepherd or any human aid; nor will the appeal for the prayers of God's people on their behalf be in vain. That the great Shepherd of the sheep would be pleased to open a wide and effectual door for their rescue, and that the Directors of the Missionary Society may soon be enabled to resume their occupation of that deeply interesting field of labour, so long trampled under foot of man, is my fervent prayer; and I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, A. STEEDMAN. "43, Finchley-road, St. John's-wood, 16th May, 1851. "Mohilla, August, 29th, 1851. "To our dear Pastor in the Lord,"We are still here, as we cannot go to Ambongo and Hose-be, owing to their unsettled state. Believers and unbelievers, in Madagascar, are still labouring under great sufferings, arising from the vindictive spirit of Raincharo (the queen's prime minister), and the increasing of the feudal service, so as to cause many of the Hovas (inhabitants of Ima:na) to fly and disperse into the Sakalave countries (enemies' country). A few of them have reached Mohilla. They are those who were captured in approaching the Sakalave at Ambongo (large village on the western side of Madagascar), and were sold as slaves to the Arabs, who brought them here. They have since been ransomed by the sovereign of this place, daughter of Ramaneteka, who was cousin to Tananareivo (capital of Madagascar), and the the late King Radama, and they are people of villages Alasoia, Tinoarioo, Ambokianbrims, and Tikaona. It is now four months since they fled. The following is the latest news brought by them from Madagascar:-Rakotosahema (young prince, heir to the throne) had ordered his male followers to go in search of the Ampamosary (sorcerers or malefactors). Rakatosahalahy, one of the lower class, having disobeyed, was beaten by Ramaka, which raised in him a spirit of revenge. In consequence of which, he seized an opportunity when Ramaka and his friends were worshipping in a remote place, to inform against them, and they were all detected in the very act of praying in the house they had erected for that purpose. The crowd that accompanied the Isialingia (constable of high grade), seeing the great number of the Christians, were struck with surprise, as in this meeting there were two thousand. The constable then set to work in seeking for the ringleaders a:.d the builders of the chapel, and also to trace out those who had been already warned by the sovereign against embracing the gospel, from those who had lately become Christians. Their trial soon ensued, in the presence of the whole population, assembled for that purpose; and the queen herself imposed the form of oath to be taken by those who were willing to accuse themselves, and repent of their misdeeds by saying,- If ever I again pray, I shall take Ravanabona for wife,' the oath generally taken by the Malagasys, in order to be saved, and at all times dictated by the sovereign herself. Ramonjo, the nephew of the queen, was encouraged by the young prince, his cousin. to refuse the oath, in these words,-'Do not accuse yourself, or repent, or take the oath, for he that will put an end to your life will put an end to mine also.' Therefore, when called upon he refused, which brought the whole of his relatives (which are also those of the queen) around him, to entreat him to obey, by pointing out to him the great danger he would run by a refusal, and that he was seeking his own destruction, and would be se parated from his family, or be banished to a distaut land. But all was in vain; he still persisted in his refusal. Then they retired, and told |
