Page images
PDF
EPUB

sufficient to relieve the board from all embarrassment, and give them the means of reinforcing the missions and enlarging the sphere of their operations, as the desires of their own hearts and the providences of God evidently dictate. Or does any one doubt the ability of the present contributors to increase their average from sixty-seven cents to one dollar, which would give us nearly the same result?

In the sixteen States and Territories | This alone would give 50,000 dollars, a sum known as the home field of the Missionary Union, there are not far from 3,500 baptist churches, with 285,000 members; and, after deducting the sums received from government, co-ordinate societies, officers' fund, magazine, in legacies, donations from Canada and other places not included in the above field, there was paid into the treasury last year 77,473 dollars, 46 cents,-an average of about twenty-five dollars to each church, and of twenty-seven cents to each member. But it has been ascertained from the most reliable data within our reach that thirty individuals, the average of whose contributions was 123 dollars each, and individuals in ten churches, whose donations were an average of nearly 1670 dollars to each church, and of four dollars to each member, gave more than onefourth of the amount of donations paid into the treasury last year. The balance of the second fourth came from individuals in sixty other churches, the average of whose contributions was 310 dollars to each church, and one dollar to each member. Including the contributions of such persons as are not members of churches, and of 200 individuals who gave an average of ten dollars each, without designating their membership, the third fourth came from 130 churches, each paying 100 dollars or upwards, and averaging fifty cents to each of their members. Threefourths of the whole amount of donations paid into the treasury last year, then, came from individuals not members of churches, 230 persons supposed to belong to churches not named, and about 200 churches embracing less than 50,000 members. Every member of a few of these churches contributes annually, at least, to your treasury; but it is not believed that two-thirds of all the members did so last year. So much of the first three-fourths as was given by members of our churches may be regarded as an average, therefore, of about 1 dollar, 90 cents to each Contributor.

The last fourth came from among the remaining 250,000 members of, perhaps, 3,300 churches. Shall we say a sufficient number gave something to make an average for the year of 15 dollars to each contributing church, and of 20 cents to each contributing member? Even then the noncontributors in our home field would be 2000 churches, and nearly 175,000 members! And were the whole amount of donations to be divided by the whole number of contributors, the average would be no more than 50 dollars to each contributing church, and 67 cents to each contributing member.

In view of such facts can any one doubt that the amount of contributions to the cause of missions might be vastly increased? Does any doubt that the two thousand churches, who last year paid nothing, might give upon an average twenty-five dollars to each church?

In whatever light we view the subject, it is evident that could the resources of the churches be developed, there would be no want of means to carry forward our missionary operations vigorously and efficiently. The obligation resting upon them to do this is urged by the wants of the perishing millions of the earth, by the whitening fields all ready for the harvest; by the providences of God that are opening the way for the missionary of the cross to all the nations of the earth, by the political changes going on in Europe, all rendering more imperative their demand for the gospel, and by the command of our risen Lord, to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. God has removed every outward obstacle that stood in the way, and given to the church of the present generation every possible facility for obeying this command. No obstacle remains but her own covetousness and inactivity. Will she therefore be guiltless, if that command remains unfulfilled, and, as a consequence, the millions of the present generation are left to perish for lack of vision? But if such be the claims of a perishing world, and such the ability of the churches, by what means can the resources of the denomination be developed? This also was a question with the board. The report says:

"Finally, if it be admitted that the ability and the obligations are such as to call for the proposed enlargement of our foreign missionary resources, the increased expenditure must be, moreover, warranted by the available and reliable agencies to be employed in the collection of funds. What, then, are the means through which this work may be accomplished?

The Union publishes two monthly periodicals, employs eight collecting agents, has one secretary, whose time is occupied in labours connected with supplying the treasury, and avails itself of the occasional aid of returned missionaries. But it is not probable that this number of individuals visit more than 1200 churches within any year. The remaining 2300 churches may be informed of the progress and necessities of the missions through the correspondence and publications of the board; but however great the value of information thus given when combined with timely and thorough individual effort, it cannot alone be relied upon to induce every member of every church to make annual

contributions that shall be "according to his ability." With the knowledge of what is needed, truer conceptions must be formed of the nature and extent of Christian stewardship, and systems for the collection of funds must be devised and faithfully executed."

This, with the present measure of missionary information, and the present type of piety in the churches, is unquestionably true. We can readily conceive of a state of things that would supersede the necessity, to a great extent, of collecting agencies, and save the expense of them to the board. Let every pastor inform himself, so as to be prepared to communicate all necessary information to his people; let him press the claims of the missionary enterprize upon them, and see that each member has an opportunity to contribute to this object; and then let there be a piety in the church promptly to respond to this call upon its benevolence, and a large part of the 13,000 dollars of home expenditure might be saved, to be expended directly in preaching the gospel to the heathen. But till this is the case such agencies must be continued and multiplied, or our missions must continue to languish for want of support. But we do not despair of seeing a much nearer approximation to the right state of things in this respect than we have yet witnessed. The number of missionary pastors is increasing. There is evidently an increasing dissatisfaction with the state of things that requires so much of the resources of the churches for benevolent enterprize to be expended in agencies to persuade them to do their duty. And many of our pastors have discovered, and are applying the true remedy, by introducing into their respective churches a system of benevolent effort that is superseding this necessity. And we trust the number of such pastors will increase, till the field now cultivated shall bring forth its fruit spontaneously; and though the number of agents may not be diminished, they may be left free to go into other fields more barren, and call forth the resources of other churches, which have as yet done nothing in the missionary cause.

JAMAICA.

EDUCATION OF THE PEASANTRY,

At a meeting of ministers and laymen of the three denominations, Baptist, Independents, and Presbyterians, held in Falmouth, 15th February, 1849, the following resolution was unanimously adopted :

Moved by the Rev. Gieorge Blyth, seconded by the Rev. James Milne, and resolved,

"That aid in promoting the cause of education be accepted from voluntary sources only, and that the Revs. Walter Dendy, Benjamin B. Dexter, T. H. Clark, James Milne, George Blyth, and Peter Anderson be appointed a committee to take the subject

[ocr errors]

of education into further consideration, and to adopt such steps in the matter as they may deem proper."

Mr. Dendy was appointed convener of the committee.

A meeting of the said committee having been convened for the 15th March, at which all the members were present, the following statement and appeal to the friends of education in Great Britain was unanimously adopted, and ordered to be consigned to the care of the Rev. Dr. King, who it was hoped would kindly take charge of it, and make such use of it as he might deem best. To the Friends of Education in Great Britain.

Allow us, esteemed friends, on behalf of the missionaries sent out to this island, or otherwise recognized by the United Presbyterian and the London and Baptist Missionary Societies, to lay before you a brief statement relative to the present condition and future prospects of the cause of voluntary education in Jamaica, and to found upon it an appeal, which we hope will elicit your kindest sympathies for us in the trying circumstances in which we are placed, and draw forth your efficient aid.

Convinced of the immense importance of imparting to the children of the peasantry a sound and scriptural education, we and our brethren have for many years endeavoured to maintain day-schools in connexion with our congregations; and though the good which has resulted from these mission schools has not been all that we could have wished, we have reason to bless God for what he has permitted us to accomplish. Many of the scholars have, as we believe, been prevented from pursuing a course of open sin, in which it is more than probable they would have indulged but for the instruction and training which they have received, numbers have obtained such an amount of secular education as has better fitted them for a proper attendance to the duties of their worldly callings; and while many thousands have been taught to read intelligibly those scriptures which are, under the Divine blessing, able to make them wise unto salvation, not a few have, as we humbly hope and believe, been gathered into the fold of Christ.

The funds by which these schools have been supported have been drawn from various sources. In some instances they were supplied by the societies with which the missionaries were severally connected, in others by grants from educational bodies and donations from benevolent individuals in the parent country, while in a great number of cases the teacher looked to the pastor, who alone was responsible for his salary, and it was frequently found that the amount paid to the one was in fact so much deducted from the necessary support of the other.

What, then, it may be asked, has been done with the school fees? We answer, that even in seasons of the greatest prosperity, they have proved quite insufficient for the support of the teacher. Nor need this be a matter of surprise. Uneducated and ignorant as the emancipated classes generally were, it was impossible for them properly to appreciate the value of instruction, and hence the parents not unfrequently grudged the small sum demanded for the education of their offspring.

It might have been expected that assistance in carrying on so excellent a work would have been obtained from the middle and higher classes of the inhabitants, but we regret to state that, with very few exceptions, those who possess the ability have afforded us no aid.

In ordinary, or even in the most prosperous times, it was with very great difficulty that some of us could maintain our schools with all the help which was so kindly afforded from Great Britain. It may, therefore, be readily concluded that if bereft of that aid, and that too in a season of deep and universal depression, our difficulties would be materially increased, or rather, that in many cases we should be obliged entirely to suspend operations. This, we lament to state, is now the case. While we have have had to grieve over a sad declension of piety in our churches, and a consequent unwillingness to subscribe so liberally as formerly to the support of their religious institutions, we have sufficient proof that in many instances, where the will to do so exists, there is no longer the ability. The low price of colonial produce in the home markets, the consequent abandonment of some estates, and the general reduction of wages where cultivation is still carried on, together with a destructive rot similar to that of the potato, among the cocoes, one of the staple articles of food, have brought the community into a state of comparative poverty. At this most critical point of our history, when we stand more deeply in need of sympathy and assistance than at any former period, we are sorry to observe that not only have private friends withdrawn their wonted aid, but even the missionary societies, for the most part, are reluctantly compelled to curtail, or suspend their former support. As a necessary result, many of our schools are already closed, others, if we be left to ourselves, must shortly be discontinued, while in some this will be prevented only by the missionary adding to his already too numerous and oppressive engagements, the labours of the schoolmaster. This has already been done to the partial neglect of other important duties.

We do not expect, esteemed friends, that You will ask why we have not applied for government assistance; but, as the question may be proposed by others, we would anticipate and answer it. Opinions have varied widely among us on this vexed question, nor

are there many of us who have always held exactly the same views as we now entertain. Experience, observation, and continued inquiry have brought us by different steps to our present position, and we have almost unanimously come to the determination not to receive any government aid whatever.

To you, then, esteemed friends, would we most respectfully, but most earnestly appeal, to aid us in our work of faith and labour of love, If ever it was important that the rising generation of the African race should be religiously educated, it is especially so now. Through the munificence of the British nation, they are blessed with the inestimable boon of perfect and entire freedom, but what will this avail if they be still left in the depths of ignorance? Left a prey to their own unre strained passions, it is to be feared that their course will be marked by licentiousness, violence, heathenism, and every species of crime, and will terminate only in endless despair. The cause of universal emancipation, instead of being advanced, as was fondly hoped by their good conduct, will be retarded, and millions of their brethren will still sit in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron. Instead of bands of holy men, going forth continually from this island, as we anticipated, to evangelize the land of their fathers, Africa must still be neglected by her emancipated children, and her unredeemed myriads sink by successive generations into the pit of woe, crying "No man cared for our souls."

But let the means of education be afforded and used in humble dependence upon the Divine blessing, and how gloriously will the picture be changed. Jamaica shall blossom as the rose, and become as the garden of the Lord. Her beneficial influence shall be felt in the surrounding islands, and in both the Americas, till

"Slavery itself shall pass away,
And be a tale of yesterday."

Africa, so long robbed, and peeled, and spoiled, shall be frequently visited by ships from these islands of the west, freighted with the messengers of peace, who shall diffuse the light of truth through her dark places, till her habitations of cruelty shall be universally transformed into the abodes of peace, and righteousness, and holy joy.

Let it not be thought we are too sanguine in our hopes as to the results of the diffusion of scriptural knowledge. In the partial success with which it has already pleased the great Head of the church to bless our humble labours, and the promises which he has left on record, we have an earnest, a pledge, that all we have written shall take place, if the means be afforded and we prove true to ourselves and to Him. Have not a few, as pioneers of the army of the Prince of peace, already gone forth to Africa from the midst of

US.

us to prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight. Whether they shall be sustained in their efforts, and the work of conquest shall go on from this time until the glorious change to which we have adverted be complete, or whether that work shall be left for another generation, depends, under God, esteemed friends, upon you and upon If we will unitedly work for God, He will prosper our labours. If we refuse, He will raise up others who will be more faithful and consequently more successful. Be it yours, then, out of your competency or your abundance, to pour the silver and the gold into His treasury to whom they belong, and ours, with faith and joy, to see that they are so employed as to bring the greatest possible revenue of glory to His name. Let us, then, unitedly, "in the morning sow our seed, and in the evening withhold not our hand, since we know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

Contributions will be thankfully received by the secretaries of our respective societies, and duly acknowledged through the medium of our missionary publications. (Signed) GEORGE BLYTH, PETER ANDERSON, Thos. H. CLARK,

JAMES MILNE,

WALTER DENDY,

BENJ. B. DEXTER,

Presbyterian minis

ters.

Missionaries of the
London Miss. Soc.
Baptist missionaries.

NEW CHURCH.

LEITH.

In the year 1845, the Rev. James Blair, evangelist of the Baptist Union of Scotland, came to labour in Leith. He continued only a few months. When he left, the work was taken up by the students of the Theological Academy, Edinburgh, at the expence of the Union. As little good, however, appeared to result from these labours, the brethren in Leith resolved to form themselves into a church, with the hope that in this capacity, and with one statedly ministering among them, the word of life-the work of Godwould prosper in their hands. Accordingly they were, on sabbath, 3rd of June, organized into a church by the Rev. Francis Johnston of Edinburgh. Mr. Johnston on the occasion chose for his text, Psalm xlviii. 12, and entered fully into an exposition of the nature and constitution of a Christian church.

The brethren are seven in number, including John Pearson, A.M., whom they have obtained as their minister in holy things.

ORDINATIONS.

HOUGHTON REGIS.

James William Lance was publicly recognized as pastor of the baptist church at Houghton Regis, Beds. The Rev. J. J. Davies of Luton read and prayed, after which the Rev. D. Gould of Dunstable delivered an introductory discourse; the Rev. J. Hirons of Luton proposed the usual inquiries, and followed the statements of the new pastor with appropriate remarks; the Rev. Andrew G. Fuller of Evesham offered prayer for the pastor, who was subsequently addressed by the Rev. Joshua Russell of Greenwich from 1 Tim. iv. 16. The service was closed with prayer by the Rev. J. Wood.

In the evening, after reading and prayer by the Rev. James Andrews of Woburn, a sermon was addressed to the church and congregation by the Rev. A. G. Fuller from 1 Tim. i. 5. The Rev. P. Saffery concluded the interesting services of the day with prayer.

Although the weather was most unpropitious, the chapel was crowded with several hundreds of attentive hearers. The church at Houghton was one of the many established in this county by Bunyan.

LUTON, BEDFORDSHIRE.

The Rev. John Jordan Davies, late of Bootle, has accepted the charge of the baptist church at Luton, late under the care of the Rev. Henry Burgess.

RECENT DEATHS.

MRS. REES.

Mrs. Rees was born in London, in 1811. She was the child of pious parents, and the youngest of four surviving children. Her father, Thomas Curtis, Esq., of Paddington, was for many years a member of the church under the pastoral care of the late Rev. James Upton, Blackfriars. He was a man of eminent piety. He died in the year 1821, when the subject of this memoir was only ten years old. Young as she was, the active and cheerful piety, the fervent prayers, and especially the peaceful and happy death of her beloved parent left deep impressions upon her mind, which exerted a salutary influence upon her character through life. It was not, however, till the year 1830 that she appears to have experienced a decided change of heart. During a season of bodily affliction, she became intensely anxious about her eternal interests. For some weeks her mind was oppressed with the most gloomy and distressing apprehensions; a sense of her sinful and ruined condition filled her with terror, and, for a season, she refused to be comforted. Upon her partial recovery, she became a hearer of the late Dr. Andrews of Walworth, under whose ministry she was

On Thursday, May 17, 1849, the Rev. mercifully led to the true source of peace,

VOL. XII.-FOURTH SERIES.

8 L

and she was enabled to repose entire confidence in the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God, as the only ground of her hope of salvation. In the summer and autumn of the same year, she, together with her mother and a part of the family, spent some months at the sea side, in South Wales, where she derived much additional light and encouragement from hearing various English ministers at Swansea and Carmarthen. From that time, to the period of her decease, she was permitted to experience an unusual amount of religious peace and enjoyment. But entertaining very decided views on the subject of baptism, and her mother being a pædobaptist, she did not connect herself with any Christian church till the year 1834, when she was baptized by the Rev. S. Green of Walworth. The following extract from a letter of Mr. Green to the writer, dated 18th of January, 1849, will indicate the views he entertained of her religious character at the time:"I did not take notes, as I have often done, of my conversation with your late dear wife on baptizing her, and I do not sufficiently remember that conversation to be able to commit any part of it to paper. Two things struck me at the time, and when occasionally I have seen her since, the impression has been deepened. One is, that her religion was of the calm, deep, and thoughtful kind, which the frequent study of God's word only could produce. There was no excitement. The other thing was the decision, the firmness which marked her conduct. Your beloved wife thought deeply, as it struck me, and was the subject of a deep-toned piety."

All who had the happiness of an intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Rees will admit, that it would be difficult to convey, in a few words, a more correct and faithful representation of her character than Mr. Green has done. Her extensive acquaintance, and her daily converse with the sacred oracles imparted to her religious belief the character of serene and immoveable confidence. She was, also, equally distinguished by the possession of thorough decision, and unwavering constancy in all her pursuits and engagements, which tended greatly to augment the force of her religious character.

In the year 1835, she became united by marriage to the writer, at that time presiding over the baptist church at Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire. Conscious of the peculiar responsibilities of her new position, she evinced the utmost anxiety to avail herself of the varied opportunities of usefulness which presented themselves, in connection with the congregation and the Sunday school under the care of her husband. As a Sunday school teacher, her services were eminently efficient. While her intelligence, and her modest and cheerful kindness towards her fellow teachers, exerted a general and salutary influence in the school, the members of her own class

engaged her most earnest and prayerful attention. Her wise instructions, and her affectionate appeals, constrained them all to know and feel, that it was "the desire of her heart and prayer to God for them, that they might be saved." And even after she left the neighbourhood, she still cherished the deepest solicitude for their best interests. With some of them she continued to correspond to the time of her decease.

The following extracts will illustrate this part of her character. The first is from a note of M. W. to the writer, just received:"I have a vivid recollection of Mrs. Rees's kind and increasing efforts to do good. I was privileged to receive her instructions during the time she was connected with the Sunday school at Burton, and well do I remember with what earnestness she directed our attention to those things which make for our everlasting peace. But you were removed to another part of the Christian vineyard before I was able rightly to appreciate her worth. I had only reached the age of twelve when your removal from Burton took place, an event which so deeply distressed us all. I enclose one out of many letters I received from her, which may be of use to you."

The letter referred to, is dated, Isleham, 16th of March, 1844. And the following extract is inserted merely as an illustration of the style of her correspondence, especially with young persons.

"My dear Miss W. I was glad to hear from you again, for though I have but little time for correspondence, yet letters from old and dear friends are truly refreshing, and yours are always so. If you persevere in the plan you have commenced, of devoting certain seasons to pray for some definite object, in humble dependence on the Spirit of God, I doubt not that you will receive gracious answers; especially if your prayers, (accompanied by corresponding efforts,) be directed to the conversion of sinners to God. And your own mind will also be abundantly benefited by your frequent visits to the throne of grace. I am pleased to hear that S. S. is thoughtful, but you must use your utmost efforts to bring her at once to decision, and to declare herself on the Lord's side. I have seen too many young persons vacillating and halting between two opinions; persons who have had deep convictions, and yet could not, or rather would not, yield their hearts to God; some of these very individuals, after a time, have sunk into a state of absolute indifference,-and some have even ridiculed serious piety. Hence I feel the vast importance of thorough and immediate decision. You have said nothing of Miss H. I hope you will not cease to use means to bring her to the Saviour, and if you are faithful and prayerful, be assured you will not labour in vain,-God will bless you and make you a blessing!"

« EelmineJätka »