THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1835. (continued 2)

On his last sabbath on earth, his medical friend, having felt his pulse, said to him, "Well, Sir, I think you will soon be where there will be no more pain and suffering." He replied, "Not on account of anything of my own; it is purchased by the blood of Christ."

Soon after this, through weakness, his articulation became indistinct, and dissolution appeared hourly approaching. He lingered, however, till the following Thursday morning, under the influence of much bodily anguish, but having his mind calm—often apparently quite happy—as he passed along the dark valley. It seemed as though a beam of heaven's glory illuminated his path, to assure his soul of her coming bliss. He had bid adieu to his affectionate relatives once before, deeming himself in the last struggle; but again, on the last morning, the mourning family were assembled around his bed, witnesses of his bodily distress; and to receive, more by expressive looks than by words, his final adieu. He faintly said, "Pray for me; pray for the presence of Jesus." Afterwards, with more distinctness than he had spoken for several days, he added; "Oh, blessed Jesus! once more, I implore thy love." One of his sisters remarked, "You will soon rest in his love," quoting an appropriate promise; to which he rejoined, expressively, "That is no mere speculation." He said no more, but apparently listened to that verse, commencing—

"Jesus, I love thy charming name," and in a few minutes closed his eyes on all terrestrial scenes. He died on the 18th of December, 1834, at his father's house, at Plaistow, Essex, aged twenty-seven years.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

FOREIGN.

CANADA.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Dear Sir,

I send you the two following letters, as they tend to throw some light on the religious state of Canada. The details of the first are chiefly statistical; and the extremely interesting communications in the other are illustrative of the important facts alluded to in the previous one. Your insertion of these in the Magazine as soon as possible, will much oblige yours sincerely,

Domesticus. Hamsterley, Feb. 9th, 1835.

Montreal, 6th Nov. 1834. My dear Brother,

The receipt of yours gave me great pleasure. I was happy to learn that you were so deeply interested in Canada. It does appear to me the duty of our denomination to do something for it; and I have no doubt that, if it were properly advocated, something would be done. I am deeply convinced that to do good in this world, it is necessary to keep one object chiefly in view. Now, my brother, suppose you keep Canada before you, and introduce it frequently to the notice of our brethren on your side of the water, much good might be done. I have written several letters, this fall, to different individuals, soliciting their attention, and have now sat down to answer some of your queries. My remarks particularly apply to Lower Canada.

1. By the census in 1831, the population of Lower Canada was 511,000; of these, more than 100,000, were Catholics. There are, at present, two Catholic bishops in the province: the bishop of Quebec, who resides at Quebec; and the bishop of Telemesse, who resides at Montreal. The number of Catholic clergymen is about 150. The influence of these is very great, and I hesitate not to say, very pernicious, both in a temporal and spiritual point of view. Nothing has yet been done to evangelize this people. Here and there, indeed, I have met with a person brought to know the Lord, through reading the Scriptures. Be it observed, however, that few of them can read, and those that can are chiefly females. I am, happy, however, to state, that a missionary, Mr. Olivier, from the Canton de Vaud, has arrived, I hope good will result from his labours.

2. The Episcopalians are, I suppose, the most numerous Protestant body at present in the Lower province. The two Canadas compose one diocese, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Hon. and Right Rev. Charles Stewart, D. D., Lord Bishop of Quebec. The number of Episcopal clergy in the province is twenty-eight. With a few happy exceptions, I fear vital godliness is not a prevailing article in this body.

3. Presbyterians, of the church of Scotland, by the census of 1831, were about 15,000. The number of ministers twelve: of these, six are in the cities of Quebec and Montreal. According to the report of this year, 1834, they have increased to forty churches, and forty ministers. These are also said to be formed into five presbyteries. This, however, relates to both provinces. In regard to what may be termed the Dissenting Presbyterians, there are seven or eight churches, and five ministers in this province; and in the Upper, there is a synod of the secession: but the number of presbyteries in connexion with it, and the number of churches and ministers in connexion with each of these, I have not as yet been able to ascertain.

4. In respect to the Congregationalists, they have seven or eight churches, and four ministers. I do not know precisely what they have in the Upper province; perhaps four or five more.

5. The Methodists, in both provinces have 14,000 in society, and sixty preachers. They also print a paper, called "The Christian Guardian."[A]

In fine, here, as to Protestants in general, in the Lower province, the greater part are not gathered into regularly organized congregations, no inconsiderable portion of them being scattered in the Catholic settlements. To sum up, there are in the province about sixty ministers to 100,000 people. You could easier, however, supply 500,000 in England than 100,000 here, owing to bad roads, and the scattered state of the people. I am sorry to add, that I fear only twenty out of the sixty are efficient men.

I now come to our own denomination. There is, however, much difficulty in collecting definite information concerning it. Seldom able to leave my own church, personal observation is defective, and most of the information I have is through report. I begin with what are called the Eastern Townships. This is a district of country lying on the south of the St. Lawrence, and bordering on the States. It is from 60 to 100 miles east of Montreal; 30 of which are occupied in passing what is called the French Country. There are in it between 40 and 50,000 inhabitants. The land is good, but the people in general are poor. Most of these have emigrated from the States, where the means of grace were enjoyed by them. They are still disposed to have the gospel preached. I am credibly informed that there are among them twenty or thirty little Baptist churches. They would be styled General Baptists in England; here they are denominated Free-will Baptists. They are ill supplied with wholesome teaching. They are also rather wild in their meetings, being more disposed to consult their own feelings than the word of God. Many of them, however, are decidedly good people. Were our General Baptist friends in England to send out a missionary or two into this district, they would confer, under God, a lasting benefit on this people. I wish very much the General Baptists at home would take the matter into deep and serious consideration. It presents a fine field, for labour. But, in addition to these, there are, perhaps, from fifteen to twenty churches of our own denomination. These are miserably supplied with preachers, as not above three or four of the churches have regular pastors; the others have only occasional supplies. An itinerant here is much needed, would be of great service, and could be maintained at small expense. Oh, my brother, if you can, by any means, get a good, humble, prudent man, send him into that field. I wish our denomination would take the subject into immediate consideration. I have visited some of these churches, and the people seemed exceedingly glad. Could an itinerant be supported for a year or two, he would then, it is likely, not need further support. There are some young persons of good natural abilities who, with a little training, would be of immense service. I have met with such young men, and longed to be able to point out a seminary to them, whither they might have gone for a season.[B] I purpose, God willing, two months hence, to spend a week or two in this district, and shall transmit the result to you. Itinerants are much wanted in this country, on account of the scattered population, bad roads, &c. I know one township in which there had not been preaching for seven years: a missionary paid them a visit, and the whole township turned out to hear. He visited them a year afterwards; but during the interval they had not heard a sermon. The main efforts have been made by a very pious and zealous young man of the name of Hayt, who has been very active in establishing Sunday-schools, and supplying families with copies of the Scriptures. Without missionaries, however, these schools will most assuredly languish and die.

We shall now turn westward: and, proceeding up the Ottawa, on its northern banks, about forty-five miles from Montreal, there is a Baptist church of nearly thirty members: they speak Gallic, yet understand English; and have a high character as it regards moral conduct. They are without the regular ministrations of a pastor, but meet for mutual edification: they are, however, anxious to have regular preaching. About thirty miles from them, there is another Highland settlement. About two years ago, a Mr. Fraser, a Baptist minister, paid them a visit. It was the first sermon preached there, as supposed, from the foundation of the world. The people themselves had not heard a sermon for the five years they had been settled there. About seventy-five miles from Montreal, in the same direction, is another Baptist church, of about forty members: they have a good chapel, an excellent pastor, and, at this very moment, God is visiting them with a most refreshing shower; many are awakened to concern, and numbers have found peace, and are rejoicing in God our Saviour. I have just been sent for to come and help, and set off to-morrow morning. Again, twenty-five miles onward, in the same direction, is a Baptist church of thirty members: they have a pastor. We have sent a missionary about twenty miles farther; he left my house yesterday morning: there are a few Baptist families where he has gone, but no church has been organized; they have requested him to labour among them. About forty miles farther, there is another little Baptist church, and after this, in that direction, they become rather plentiful; but they are then in the Upper province, and my information respecting them is but scanty. A Baptist minister, in the Newcastle district, writes me as follows, in consequence of some queries I had put to him: "In the Upper province there are four Baptist associations, about sixty churches, and forty ordained ministers. I am sorry to say we labour under great disadvantages. Our preachers are generally unlearned men, and destitute of useful books. There are many of them under the necessity of attending to secular employments to support themselves and families: this arises from our friends not feeling an inclination to fulfil the duty taught by Paul, 'Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things.' I hope, however, that things will not long continue in this sad state. We have recently been endeavouring to form a convention, and appoint a minister in each of the associations to visit the churches, for the purpose of raising subscriptions to support itinerant preachers, and establish a printing press: how far the attempt will be attended with success is as yet uncertain." In addition to the statements of this gentleman, I may mention, that they had also a seminary in view: this, as yet, has not been carried into effect. As to academies, they are much wanted there, and might be established at a very small expense on the self-supporting principle. It is a little remarkable, that at the time you were writing your letter for the Magazine, three of us, brother ministers, were engaged in prayer and consultation on the very subject of academies on the labour system. We have written to several influential gentlemen on the subject, and purpose giving it a more serious investigation, and will remit the result to you and others. One of our brethren was anxious to proceed to England to lay the matter before the British public; but I thought it would be better to say something about it first through the Magazines. Urge it then, my dear brother, on the attention of the public; do not let it sleep. I am glad to find, from a letter in the September number of your Magazine, one hails yours of the preceding month. As a church, at Montreal, we have been much favoured of God during the present year: not less than forty have been added to the number. Mrs. G. joins in love to you and yours, hoping to hear from you soon.

I remain yours in Christ, John Gilmore.

⁂ We are compelled to defer the second letter to our next number.

THE DESPISER OF BAPTISM BAPTIZED.

The following is an extract of a letter from the Rev. N. Paul, of Wilberforce Settlement, Upper Canada, to a friend in England:—

"My dear Sir,

"Amongst all the numerous tracts and publications that have been printed and circulated on the subject of Baptism, I think there is no one that is more calculated to lead the honest inquirer after truth to a correct and scriptural decision upon that subject, than Mr. Pengilly's 'Scripture Guide to Baptism.' It has been universally approved and circulated by the Baptist churches in the United States of America, and I believe it has been the means of doing much good. A particular instance of this occurred under my own immediate observation, whilst pastor of a Baptist church in the city of Albany, state of New York.

"A young lady, who was a member of an Independent church, but who occasionally attended upon my ministry, was present with us one Sabbath morning when I administered the ordinance in question. I endeavoured in my address to adduce reasons for differing from my Pædobaptist brethren upon this subject, and to show that believers in Christ were the only proper subjects, and immersion the only scripture mode of baptism. The young lady, who had taken her station close beside the baptistry, instead of being convinced by my arguments, was excited to a high degree of irritation, and allowed her temper so far to prevail over her better feelings as, in retiring, to express her contempt of our practice in a very unbecoming and offensive manner.

"Next day she called upon me in the same temper as when she left the chapel, and required to know, why I aimed to wound the feelings of those spectators who differed from myself upon the ordinance of baptism? I replied that I did not intend to wound the feelings of any one; I only aimed at the defence of the truth. After further conversation, I requested her candid perusal of the pamphlet above mentioned, with a copy of which I furnished her. She readily promised to comply with my request, and we parted. The result was, the ensuing month I again baptized twelve persons, and this young lady was one of that number!

"Yes, Sir; by the blessing of God, accompanying the perusal of that pamphlet, she clearly saw the path that Jesus had opened before his disciples—the path in which the apostles and primitive Christians followed their Lord—the path in which she promptly resolved to walk, without reluctance, fear, or shame. 'I do not,' said she, 'leave my former connexion because they are not Christians, for as such I esteem and love them; but the pattern and authority of Christ is more to me than all the world. It is HIS to lead and command, and it is MINE to follow and obey.' Truth, indeed, is mighty, and will prevail.

"May all the faithful defenders of the truth as it is in Jesus, be thus abundantly owned and blessed of God, in every work of faith and labour of love; and to His name be all the glory!"

DOMESTIC.

BAPTIST BUILDING FUND.

At a special meeting of the Board of Baptist Ministers, held at Fen Court, Feb. 17th, to take into consideration a communication from the Committee of the above Institution,

The Rev. W. H. Murch in the chair,

It was resolved:

That the members who compose this Board, feeling the evils that attend the system of making personal application for liquidating the debts on country chapels, and the superior efficiency of the plan adopted in the Building Fund, resolve to sign no more cases, but to recommend them all in future to that Society.

That, in compliance with the request of the Committee of the London Baptist Building Fund, the members of this Board do meet them at their Rooms, No. 5, Paternoster Row, on Friday evening, the 6th of March, at six o'clock precisely, to devise measures for increasing the efficiency of their fund, and rendering it still more extensively beneficial to the denomination.

J. B. Shenston, Secretary.

DEPUTATION TO AMERICA.

On Thursday evening Feb. 19th, a very numerous and interesting meeting was held in New Park-street chapel, Southwark, for special prayer, preparatory to the departure of our brethren, the Rev. Dr. Cox and the Rev. J. Hoby, to represent the British Baptists in the Triennial Convention, at Richmond, Virginia, on the 27th of April next. The Rev. C. Room presided. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. E. Steane, On the advantages arising from such a Deputation; the Rev. C. Stovel, On the spirit which should distinguish the present undertaking; and the Rev. Dr. Cox, On the manner in which the Deputation proposed to discharge their duties. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Messrs. Dyer, Giles, Thomas, and Carey; and the hymns read by the Rev. Messrs. Davis, Overbury, Shenston, Rothery, Room, and Belcher. Our brethren will sail in the "Hibernia," from Liverpool, on the first of March.

BAPTIST UNION.

We are requested by the Secretaries of the Baptist Union, to entreat our brethren in the country to forward, during the present month, their circular letters, and whatever other documents may assist in the preparation of the next Report, addresed to the Secretaries, at the Missionary rooms, 6, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street.

NOTICE.

The Rev. Christopher Wollacott, late of Westminster, has accepted the invitation of the church in Little Wild-street, to become their pastor.

RECENT DEATHS.

REV. DR. MORRISON.

Extract from a letter written by his son to the Secretary of the London Missionary Society.

Canton, August 17th, 1834.

"My dear Sir,—How shall I tell you that my beloved father—that the father of the Chinese Mission—Dr. Morrison, is no more! Scarce can the announcement come to you more suddenly than the event did to me. My dear father had, indeed, been long unwell, and was greatly debilitated by disease; but we had not, within an hour of his peaceful end, much apprehension that he was likely to be so soon taken away from us. The pallid cheek and glazed eye, quickly succeeded by failure of speech, were the first intimations to us that he had heard his Saviour say, 'This night shalt thou be with me in paradise.' At about ten at night, on the 1st of the present month,[A] while yet in the hands of the physicians, who in vain endeavoured to restore warmth and pulsation, he gently breathed out his spirit, without a struggle or a groan. And oh! the recollection of the many preceding days, spent by him in pain and extreme weakness, compels me to rejoice, even amidst my utmost grief, that he has been released from sin and sorrow, has rested from his labours, and shall henceforth be for ever with the Lord. In a letter, written not long before his death, he spoke of his apprehension that his work was finished, expressing his gratitude to God for what he had been permitted to accomplish for the Redeemer's cause; adding, that he knew but of two surviving missionary seniors, Drs. Carey and Marshman. I have this morning learned, with great sorrow, that about the time he wrote that letter, the venerable Carey also was called home.

JOHN BROADLEY WILSON, ESQ. (From the Patriot.)

Died, on Monday evening, the 16th Feb., at his house on Clapham Common, aged 70, John Broadley Wilson, Esq. well known and universally esteemed as an eminently devout Christian, and most liberal supporter of the cause of the Christian religion in every section of the church. His illness was of very short duration; an attack of paralysis on Saturday, the 14th, the effects of which no medical skill was permitted to remove, being the appointed messenger to convey him into the presence of the Saviour he ardently loved, and in whose service it was his supreme delight to spend and be spent. Mr. Wilson was connected, more or less, with a great number of religious and charitable institutions; to the Religious Tract Society, and the Baptist Missionary Society, he stood in the relation of Treasurer, and each of these valuable Societies will have to mourn, not merely the loss of his munificent donations, but also of his judicious counsels and holy example. We trust some authentic account of this eminent philanthropist will be prepared, to edify the world which has sustained so great a loss by his removal; but we could not forbear inserting this hasty tribute of immediate respect to the memory of a man, whom to know was to love, venerate, and admire.

REV. JOHN MASON.

At Exeter, on January 20th, after a protracted and painful illness of twelve months' duration, the Rev. John Mason, for 17 years the beloved and eminently devoted and useful pastor of the Baptist church in Bartholomew-yard, in that city. His removal is felt throughout Exeter as a public calamity. He died at the age of 45. We hope to be able to furnish our readers with a memoir of this excellent servant of Christ.

MRS. ANN CARROLL.

Died on Thursday, Jan. 29th, in the 79th year of her age, at her residence, Baalzephon-street, Long-lane, Bermondsey, Mrs. Ann Carroll, after a protracted illness in which her exemplary piety and sterling faith proved the efficacy of those doctrines of which, during a long life, she had been the consistent and humble believer. Her remains were interred in the family vault of St. John's, Southwark: and it may, indeed, with truth be said, that in her the poor have lost a humane and benevolent friend; the Baptist denomination, a consistent member; and the various Christian charities of the metropolis, a worthy and generous benefactor.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Just Published.

Mr. Bagster has now ready for delivery the Quarto Edition of the Treasury Bible, which is elegantly printed on a fine writing paper of a new manufacture, being prepared with lines in the fabric of the paper for manuscript notes and remarks.

The Pocket edition was published in January.

Preparing for Publication.

In a few days, Baptismal Immersion defended by Christians and Churches of all Denominations. In a letter to a Pædobaptist. Second Edition. By W. Newman, D.D. Wightman, Paternoster-row. Price Threepence.