ers.

desire to distribute in the neighbourhood at his conduct was uniformly consistent, and their own expense. One of them is truly exemplary, so that he "purchased to himself converted to the Lord: his letters afford me a good degree, and great boldness in the faith the greatest pleasure; his faith has been tried which is in Christ Jesus." His affectionate by persecution. Do not forget us in your disposition, and condescending manners; his prayers, in order that we may increase in unshaken attachment to the cause of the Refaithfulness in the work which we have to deemer; his undeviating attention to the perform in the fine field that lies before us, means of grace; the exalted tone of pious and in which there is a great lack of labour- feeling which he manifested; the strict inteMay the Lord be pleased to raise up an grity and firm decision by which his character adequate number. was distinguished; and the spirit of christian liberality which he cherished, all combined to procure for him universal esteem, and to endear his memory to a large surviving family, to the church of which he was a member, and to all by whom he was known. On the following Sabbath week, a funeral sermon was preached for him, to a very crowded audience, from Isaiah xxviii. ver. 16, a passage which afforded him much consolation and support in the prospect of his dissolution.

DOMESTIC.

Recent Deaths.

On Monday, Oct. 18th, 1830, died, after a short illness, in the 74th year of his age, the Rev. James Aston, for upwards of 25 years the faithful and affectionate pastor of the Baptist Church at Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He was very laborious and successful in his ministry, greatly beloved by the church and his conduct was wise and holy, congregation; and his death is a matter of universal lamentation.

Dec. 1st. Died at the house of his sister, near Bromham, Wilts, Mr. George Perren, Baptist Minister, formerly of Sandy Lane, in that county, and lately of Little Wild Street, London. After lingering about nine months under the ravages of consumption, he closed his eyes in peace and entered into rest. His affliction was marked by great composure of mind, united with strong and steady faith,

and the most entire submission to the will of

his heavenly father. His remains were deposited in the Baptist Chapel at Bromham, Dec. 7th, and on the Sabbath following, a funeral sermon was preached on occasion of his removal, to a crowded and attentive congregation. The passages of Scripture selected by Mr. Perren himself for this discourse were Psalm li. ver. 5. and 1 John i. part

of ver. 7, "The blood of Jesus, &c."

EDUCATION OF THE SONS OF POOR
BAPTIST MINISTERS.

To all the Friends of the Baptist
Denomination.

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN,

In June last, at the annual meeting of the the sons of poor Baptist Ministers, was a Baptist Missionary Society, the education of subject of much conversation; when it was resolved unanimously, that to accomplish such an object would be an immense blessing to very many. At the same time donations and subscriptions were presented, a provisional committee was formed, and a secretary and treasurer, pro tempore, were elected.

Since

that period the subscribers have been publicly convened, and the committee repeatedly assembled. Our design is to give to the sons of poor Baptist Ministers a sound commercial, or a classical education; in the prosecution of this object, particular regard will be had to the sphere in which the minister moves, and to the situation, and circumstances of his family, generally; so that no expectations may be raised, or habits formed, which would be prejudicial to the harmony of the family. schools in which the boys will be placed. Great care will be taken in selecting the The committee feel it to be their duty to pledge themselves on this point, and having Died, Nov. 20th, 1830, in the 82nd year done so, they feel confident that they shall not of his age, Mr. John Weller, Senior Deacon have reason to complain, of wanting that supof the Baptist Church, Lewes, in the county port which a society so benevolent in its naof Sussex. In January, 1781, he was bap-ture, so useful in its operations, and so necestized and united to the Church, and about four years afterwards was chosen to the office of deacon. During the whole of this period

the latter passage affording to his mind, during his protracted illness, the most substantial

consolation.

sary to the honour and welfare of the denomination, demands.

The whole of the money entrusted to the

committee will, as far as possible, be appropriated to the education of the children. No premises will be rented; no tutors or servants be supported; no travelling expenses of the boys paid; one single object alone demands expenditure-the education of children.

Before any boy is taken under the patronage of the Society, an answer to the following questions is required; and the application is to be signed by two neighbouring ministers. 1. How long have you been a pastor? 2. How many children have you? distinguishing their names, and respective ages. 3. Are all dependant upon you for support; if not, which of them are?

4. What is your income from every source?

ORDINATIONS, &c.

We now hail you, christian brethren, with the delightful information, that we have begun to work. Four children are already received on our funds; and are to repair to suitable schools, after the christmas vacation. A work of mercy is now commenced, with feelings of the most pleasing kind. How many poor ministers, alas, have only the bare means of subsistence! Every shilling they can obtain must be expended on food and raiment, and the necessaries of life. To procure a few books for improvement, is, in many cases very difficult; in others, impossible. How at Shefford by neighbouring ministers, and The Gospel was for some years preached then, are they to train their children to enter in the year 1825, a missionary was stainto society? Many a minister's heart has tioned there, under the patronage of the Union been wrung with grief, while he has witnessed of Christians at Bedford. A new meetinghis own family distressingly destitute of edu-house was erected and opened for public worcation, without having it in his power to render any assistance whatever.

But the work is begun, yet it is only commenced; and it is commenced especially for our brethren in the country. We may then, justly expect that our country brethren, will arise simultaneously to assist in this important service; yes, you, brethren, not we, are to reap the benefit. Present this object to your friends; make congregational collections; obtain donations; and especially annual subscriptions, and go to the work immediately. There is no time to lose. The same conveyance by which your missionary contributions are forwarded, will avail for handing your funds to this object. Our treasurer is John Penney, Esq., Great Scotland Yard, Charing Cross. Many applications are already before us, and we are only waiting your concurrence to give them cheerful acceptance. The members of our churches in town, will readily give us their aid; but we must abandon our hopes, if you do not zealously co-opeOn our present movements our future prosperity will almost entirely depend. as we wish to have as much as possible of every donation appropriated to this object, we respectfully request our country friends to pay all their postages to us, that the whole business may be conducted on a plan, the most economical. Praying for your peace, comfort, and abundant success,

rate.

And

I am, Christian Brethren,
Yours, in much affection,
W. SOUTHWOOD,
Secretary.

Kensington,
Decr. 24th, 1830.

SHEFFORD.

ship, in the same year. About three years since, Mr. William Brown, who had been Northampton, was called to labour there. prosecuting his studies under Mr. Grey, of His ministry proving acceptable and useful, a church was formed Nov. 10th, 1829, on which occasion Mr. Middleditch, of Biggleswade, preached and administered the Lord's Supper.

On the 1st of Nov. 1830, Mr. Brown Mr. Hobson, of Maulden, delivered the introwas ordained to the pastoral office, when ductory discourse. Mr. Holloway, of Carand offered up the ordination prayer. dington, Colton End, asked the questions, Mr. from 1st of Peter v. 2-4. Middleditch, of Biggleswade, gave the charge

Hr. Hilyard, of Bedford, preached to the people, from Col. iv. 11. Messrs. Woodward, of Ashwell; Wayne, of Hitchin; Muston, of Bedford; and Rowland, of Baldock; assisted in the devotional exercises.

There is an encouraging prospect of future usefulness in this place, which had long been neglected; many attend the ministry of the Word; and a Sabbath school has been established. "O! Lord, send now prosperity."

LLANTWIT.

On Monday, October 28, 1830, a new Baptist Meeting House was opened at Llantwit Major, Glamorgan. The preceding evening, Brother E. Jones, Castletown, read and prayed; Brother Thos. Davies, Argoed, and Chris. Evans, Cardiff, preached from 2 Cor. iv. 7, Rev. iv. 3. Wednesday morning, 'ten o'clock, Brother J. Roberts, Cowbridge, read and prayed; Brother C. Evans, Cardiff,

JANUARY, 1831.

WE commence the New Year with the pleasing employment of returning our thanks to those kind friends, who have sent us within a few days past, various articles o Clothing, &c. &c. &c. as rewards for the most deserving children in our schools. Respecting some similar presents lately sent to Dublin, the Rev. Mr. West says in a letter dated November 28th, 1830, "I am very glad that two boxes containing rewards for the children in our schools, have lately come to hand. The paper will save the expense of purchasing writing paper, which the agents are obliged to give as premiums, and the small books, &c. &c. will much gratify the children. I wish our good friends in England would send us a supply of such articles."

Mr. Ivimey has received a parcel for the same purpose, dated Birlingham, near Pershore, Worcestershire, December 16th, 1830, from Benjamin Risden, Esq.

"DEAR SIR, Mrs. R. seeing inserted in the Baptist Magazine, a line from Mr. Wilson, of Sligo, that "premiums for rewards, in the Irish Schools, would be useful to the children, and also encourage them to pursue their duties with somewhat more alacrity and delight," has sent a few articles as named, viz. aprons, handkerchiefs of various sorts, pincushions, and hymn-books; but these are sent merely from her own judgment, not knowing exactly what would be most suitable for Irish children, and therefore I think if a list of proper articles was printed at the foot of the Irish Chronicle and continued monthly, or altered, or enlarged, as occasions or circumstances required, it would be both a stimulus and direction; a stimulus to excite, and a direction to inform what articles to send. This, no doubt, would so increase your stock of those pleasing requisites, that your ministers and teachers would have a sufficiency to reward those among their scholars, that they should judge deserving of them, and a distinction might also be useful, as to what would be suitable for either sex."

The following is a list of articles communicated by Mrs. Francis, a member of the church in Eagle Street, London: tippets, 23; spencers, 2; shawl, 1; frock, 1; cloak, 1; pelisse, 1; bonnets, 2.

The committee will feel highly gratified, if their numerous female friends, will from their left off garments, or short remnants, which may be cheaply purchased, make up similar articles of clothing for the girls' schools. They may be sent (if possible, free of carriage,) to the care of the Rev. John Dyer, at the Mission-House, Fen Court, or to either of the gratuituous secretaries, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, 51, Devonshire Street, Queen Square; or the Rev. George Pritchard, 4, York Place, Pentonville; or to William Napier, Esq. Treasurer, 1, Mecklenburgh Street, Mecklenburgh Square; by whom and at the banking house of Messrs. Ladbroke, Gillman, and Co. Lombard Street, donations and subscriptions will also be received.

I

From the Rev. Wm. Thomas to the Secre- not only brought numbers from popery, but taries. a great many, I believe, to trust in the Lord Limerick, November 18th, 1830. Jesus, and also preserved numbers from going to popery. I found one truly pious man in Dingle, in Kerry, where I preached twice on the 17th ult. and, but for him, I should have been probably left in the street all night; he intends soon to apply in order to be baptized; there is another excellent character, who lives within two miles of Dingle, Lord V., he would have been hearing me, were it not for indisposition. I circulated a number of tracts. It is unnecessary to mention all the places in which I endeavoured to place the truth before the minds of my hearers in the plainest manner I possibly could. I also preached at Kilkee and at Rahinisky repeatedly since my last, 60 miles north-west from Limerick, in the county of Clare. The poor and long neglected protestants at Rahinisky are truly grateful to the Baptist Irish Society. I supplied them with Bibles, Testaments, and Tracts, in Irish and English; and preached

MY DEAR SIRS,
Since my last monthly communication, I
have been some very long journeys, and have
published the glad tidings of salvation, in
places where our denomination had been
scarcely heard of, and where a Baptist minis-
ter was never known to preach before.
allude to the wild and western parts of Kerry,
next to the Atlantic shore. I travelled more
than 100 miles south-west from Limerick, over
tremendous precipices and mountains, where
the people are buried in spiritual ignorance,
and more dark and barren than the mountains
with which the country abounds. I found
that numbers of protestants were in the
habit of going to mass, and I am sorry to say,
from the want of scriptural instruction, and
in some instances, from awful examples in
those who call themselves spiritual instructors.
Our society has, I hope, in some other parts

D

the life and light-giving gospel to them, with, | I trust, depending on Christ the Lord, en

so far as I could judge, great acceptance and
apparent success. They have since sent to
beg of me to come back, as soon as possible,
to preach to them. There is a prosperous
school under our society at Clarefield, for
children, and a great many of the adults as-
semble at night for the purpose of reading
and conversing of the Irish Scriptures. I
desired John Nash to meet them, and have a
night school.
There is a stop put to popish
proselytism in that part. I also directed
Nash's son-in-law, a school-master and Sab-
bath reader, to have a night school about four
miles from that place, near Kilrush. The
first night he commenced, I understand he
had thirty adults reading the Irish Scriptures
with the greatest avidity. I was fifty Eng-
lish miles east from Limerick last week, and
preached at Birr, Burrisskane, and Clough-Jor- |
dan, and expounded the Scriptures in several
other places, and inspected the schools, which
I am happy to say are doing well. George
Connors, who was a most dark, determined,
and bigotted papist when I first went to
preach at Camas, but was at length prevailed
on to hear me, has died since my last, rejoic-
ing in the Saviour. Since his conversion he
proved himself a pious and decided man; he
continued faithful unto death, and has, I
hope, received a crown of life. John Welsh
has also died since my last. I had doubts
concerning him since he left popery, but they
were, I hope, groundless, as he died renounc-
ing his former errors, professedly "looking
unto Jesus."

W. THOMAS.

This letter is from Mr. Stephen Ryan, who gives some particulars of the death of George Connors, mentioned by Mr. Thomas. Mr. Ryan has since come to London, for the purpose of reading the Irish Scriptures, and preaching in the Irish language.*

Limerick, 12th November, 1830. REV. SIR,

In my last, I said I expected the death of one of the readers in the count y, as near at

hand, (I meant George Connors). My anticipations have been realized; he has departed

tirely trusting and committing his spirit to
him, as a true and all-sufficient Saviour, and
to God, through him, as to a faithful Creator,
renouncing every other name, and fully ap-
proving that inspired saying of one of old,
"Cursed be the man who trusteth in man, &c.'
I visited him the evening previous to his de-
parture, he told me his life was nearly at an
end. I endeavoured to speak comfortable
words to him; and repeated and read to him
many great and precious promises, in which
he acquiesced and much rejoiced. I met his
brother in about an hour after his death, and
he told me that his brother had died with up-
lifted eyes and arms, calling on Jesus: and
remember the earnest and expressive look and
tone with which he thanked God; and
prayed for a blessing to remain on me, when
I told him the Lord has deigned to become a
father to the fatherless, &c.

Another, who only had heard occasionally,
was afflicted with dropsy.
I with many
others, entertained no idea of his not calling
for the Popish Priest. But how agreeably
were we disappointed, to find that the Sword
of the Spirit, the Word of God, had been to
him that seed fallen in good ground; that
though the Priest frequently sent him wine,
&c. a very unusual thing, he died professing
Jesus crucified to be the Lord and Giver of
life, and calling on him as the High Priest,
and committing himself unreservedly to him.
He refused to have the Priest to anoint him.
Thus, you see, Sir, that though the labours
of the Baptist Irish Society have been at-
tempted to be retarded here, they are not in
vain; that they are the humble instruments,
in the hand of God, of bringing many souls to
glory, and of daily, as it were, plucking a
brand from the burning.

I am enabled, by Jesus, who is the perfect strength of my weakness, to go on with my humble labours. I have had numberless questions put to me by the gainsayers, which, I hope, I answered according to the Oracles of God.

I have had various important discussions with Roman Catholics, and I sincerely hope

and trust, I was enabled to shew the reason

of the hope that is in me, with meekness,

fear, and Christian forbearance.

I think it useless to detail these discussions, * Mr. Ryan preaches in the Meeting- as they are of no real interest, any more than house in Nightingale-lane, Ratcliff Highway, to shew the spirit of enquiry and opposition and in the Christian Instruction Society's that still exist in the country. But let me School-room, Gravel-lane, Southwark. Per- remark, that if every well-wisher's mind were sons inclined to give support to this under- as well acquainted with what the society's taking, are requested to send their Donations circumstances and affairs in this country were or Subscriptions to the Rev. Mr. Stodhart, ten years ago, when I first became a servant Pell-street; the Rev. Wm. Shenstone, Bed- of theirs, and contrast that with what it now ford-square East; Mr. William Bowser, is, they would find their most sanguine exParson-street, in the Borough of Southwark.pectations surpassed; and they would cry,