IRISH CHRONICLE.

JANUARY, 1861.

TO PASTORS AND DEACONS OF BAPTIST CHURCHES, SUPERINTENDENTS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE SPIRITUAL WELFARE OF THE IRISH PEOPLE.

DEAR FRIENDS,-Allow me to engage your attention for a few minutes. I wish to set before you, in some measure, THE CLAIMS OF THE IRISH MISSION. It is now four years since I entered on the office which I have the honour to hold. During that time there has been much to depress and much to encourage. For some portion of that time it was impossible to escape from great solicitude respecting the pecuniary resources of the Society. This solicitude was felt by the Committee in general, but especially by our esteemed Treasurer and myself. The spiritual results of the agency employed also occasioned anxious thought: they were by no means such as to afford satisfaction to those who have the prosperity of the Society and the welfare of the Irish people at heart.

Subsequently there has been much to cheer. The ordinary income is somewhat larger; the spiritual results of the Mission have been very greatly increased. Most generously did you respond to the appeal for a SPECIAL FUND to send ministerial brethren to labour in the districts where the Revival has obtained; readily did many esteemed pastors go forth at our call, and most arduously have they toiled there, bringing back reports of what they had seen and heard, which have renewed the interest and the prayer of their several churches for the evangelisation of Ireland. And more than all, the DIVINE BLESSING has been largely given. The windows of heaven have been opened. The Spirit of God has wrought mightily among the people. A desire for the Word has been excited, unparalleled in their history; opportunities for preaching the Gospel have been afforded, surpassing any previous knowledge; new churches have been formed, and new houses of God are being raised, which plainly show that the Irish people are prepared themselves to take their share in efforts to promote the cause of evangelical truth in their own land. BANBRIDGE, BALLYMENA, BELFAST, COLERAINE, LONDONDERRY, RATHMINES, and TUBBERMORE, especially show that "the people have a mind to work."

It is of the utmost importance that the present favourable opportunities for evangelical effort should be seized and improved. Often have British Christians said that they would heartily support the Irish Mission if it could be shown that it was doing any real service. The recent success of its agency is beyond all question. Support was pledged if the blessing were bestowed; the blessing is being given now; and now the support should be rendered too.

Brethren! Let me speak freely, though respectfully, on this matter. WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR IRELAND DURING THE PRESENT YEAR?

First. Let Ireland be remembered especially in your MONTHLY MEETINGS for PRAYER for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom; and let the reports of proceedings in Ireland have their place in the intelligence which is read on such occasions.

Secondly. Let Ireland be remembered in your arrangements for congregational collections for the year. These arrangements are, in many cases, made in the early part of January. Why should not a day be assigned for the Irish Mission? And why should not sermons be preached, and public meetings held, in its behalf? If such arrangements were made, it would save us from disappointment, and save you from annoyance through the uncertainty and irregularity that now so often cause our applications to be declined, because

they are not made at a convenient time. If you will kindly fix the day for such collections, your arrangements will be most gladly adopted. If deputa tions be desired, the utmost will be done to provide them. This is, however, an item of expense that we desire to keep as low as possible. Experience has plainly shown that deputations cannot be altogether dispensed with in the case of the Irish Mission any more than in other public societies; where they are required let timely notice be given, and all that is in our power shall be done to meet your wishes. In these cases, however, it is greatly to be desired that the arrangement should include all the places in the district, so as to obviate the expense of numerous visits to the several congregations.

Many churches entirely avoid this charge on the funds. If the pastors would generally plead the cause of Ireland themselves, it would be a great diminution of the expense of working the Society. Deputations are not sent because we desire to send them, but because churches fail to contribute if deputations are not sent.

Allow me also to refer to the fact that many churches collect for the Irish Mission only once in two years. This is one cause of our limited income. Scarcely anything more is raised by these biennial collections than would be raised annually. A very large and important part of the United Kingdom was formerly visited only once in two years. It is now visited annually, and more is raised at each annual visit than was raised before at each biennial appeal, that is, the amount contributed is more than doubled.

Thirdly. Let Ireland have its appointed agent or agents in each congregation and in each Sunday school. Much, very much, depends on such an agency. There are, doubtless, persons in every place who would kindly interest themselves in the Irish Mission; persons who would solicit contributions and distribute papers of intelligence respecting the operations of the Society. But such persons are not likely to act unless requested to do so. Let me, then, respectfully, yet very earnestly, ask the pastor or deacons of each church, and the superintendent of each Sunday school, kindly to enlist the services of some one or more persons who will take an interest in the Irish Mission, and inform me of the name and address of the parties, that I may correspond with them on the matter.

The claims of Ireland have often been urged by an appeal to the degradation and sufferings of the people; they are commended to us now by that which God has already accomplished, and by that which we have reason to believe He is about to effect by the word of His truth applied by the power of His Spirit. The appeal to compassion has frequently met with a generous response. Gratitude and hope now prompt us to greatly enlarged effort for the evangelisation of Ireland."

January 1st, 1861.

I am, yours very respectfully,

C. J. MIDDLEditch.

CO-OPERATION OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST BODY.

THE friends of the Society will remember that, at the Annual Meeting of the General Baptist Association held at WISBEACH, a resolution was adopted "commending the important work of the Baptist Society in Ireland to the sympathy and support of the churches" constituting that Association. On Monday evening, Dec. 10th, a public meeting was held in the General Baptist Chapel, Dover Street, LEICESTER, when RICHARD HARRIS, Esq., occupied the chair. The claims of the Society were stated by the Secretary at considerble length, and were commended to the meeting by the Revs. J. MALCOLM and T. STEVENSON, pastors of General Baptist churches in that town; and also by the Revs. J. P. MURSELL and J. LOMAS. It is hoped that other churches in the General Baptist connection will shortly give a similar practical expression to their concurrence in the resolution of their Annual Meeting.