No. 123.

CANADA.

It

[The following article has been for. warded by the general Superintendent, for publication in the "Notices." presents a comparative view of the past and present state of the Canadian Mission, bearing the impress of faithfulness and discrimination. And while acknowledging both mistakes and defective activity, it evinces the existence of an amount of genuine Christian principle, connexional attachment, and a steady progress in all the great elements of prosperity, which cannot fail to excite gratitude for the past, and pleasing anticipations in relation to the future. Let prayer be more fervent and persevering, that, during the present winter, the plans adopted to bring wanderers into the fold of Christ may be rendered pre-eminently successful by the more abundant outpouring of the Divine Spirit.]

CONNEXIONAL PROGRESS.

In our last issue we inserted a conmunication from an esteemed correspondent, on the question, "Why is our Connexional growth so slow and unsatisfactory?" Our motive for this insertion was not that we entirely approved of the tone of the communication, for it was rather sombre and discouraging, but it is undeniable, that our own, in common with every other Christian

body, ought to make greater progress; we all need exhorting to greater fidelity: we might have advanced at a more rapid pace; we might, all of us, have been more faithful, and as a consequence, more successful. There are evils among us, which we, in common with our esteemed correspondent, deplore; and we heartily unite with him in fervent prayers for a richer baptism of the divine Spirit, that all our churches may grow faster, and exhibit more of the Spirit of Christ in all their relations.

But all this may be admitted, while at the same time we are conscious of our mercies, and warmly grateful to God for bestowing them upon us. And, in fact, whether we wish to move God or man in our behalf, we must never lose sight of our mercies, and never suffer the flame of holy and adoring gratitude, to become dull or cold; otherwise our courage will fail, hearts will faint, and God will frown. The policy of a church ought not to differ in its principles from that of an individual christian. We always exhort the individual christian to take the most hopeful view of things, to thank God for even small mercies, and to let his motto be" forward."

In this view, then, what shall we say of our "Connexional progress ?" The writer of this is not so well qualified to give an opinion as some others, since his connection with the body, in this country extends over only the space of six years; but that connection, as a whole, has not produced despondency, but, on the contrary, has inspired gratitude and fostered hope. Shall we indicate a few reasons for praise and blessing, and exultation ?

First, we have had no revulsion, secession, or disturbing controversies among us. We are all free to speak and to act. Our ecclesiastical constitution blends the laity with the preachers in all acts

of administration. Yet we have managed on the whole to agree admirably together. No conference act has been felt to be tyrannical, producing irritation and secession, nor on the other hand, has any local action among the churches defied or repudiated the supreme connexional authority. Injustice if perpetrated, can never be sustained in our borders. A free government like ours can never live by the force of the mere letter of the law; it can only live by the force of love, mutual charity, forbearance, and good will. Liberty is perfect justice to every man, and we rejoice that for so many years, while all have been free, all have acted harmoniously in their freedom, and we have kept "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."

Then, we have had no prevailing heresies among us. Never were the doctrines of Methodism, which we regard as pure christianity, more faithfully preached or more faithfully held among us than

now.

There has been no retrogression in the numbers, standing, intelligence or efficiency of our ministry. In all these elements of strength and usefulness, have we not greatly improved?

We have not narrowed our field of labour; it is wider now than ever, and our only regret is that our ability to Occupy inviting, and ever widening spheres of usefulness, is not greater than it is. On one occasion we sounded a retreat, chiefly for want of labourers to Occupy an important district, but we rejoice that that mistaken act has been retrieved, and the abandoned ground is successfully occupied again.

Six years ago the subscriptions and collections raised in Canada for our Missionary operations amounted to £501 10s. 7d. This year (1857) they amount to £1,310 15s., or one hundred and thirty per cent. of an advance in six years. And the best feature of this is that every year of the six has been an advance upon the last, thus showing healthy progress; not the progress that mocks us, because of its fluctuations.

Six years ago, our Beneficent fund, the fund to which our worn-out ministers, their widows and orphan children, look for support, when the pastor is no longer able to labour, or has been called to his reward, reported the total nett amount of the fund to be £400 17s. 1ld.; this year, the same fund reports the amount to be £1,307 19s. 7 d., or two hundred and twenty-five per cent. advance during the period.

Six years ago, our chapel fund transactions for the year amounted to £18 10s. 2d.; since the year 1853, the year in which the writer became connected with this fund, as its Treasurer, it has

expended £1,683 5s. 6d. in assisting to build chapels and parsonages, and it may be safely asserted, as a general rule that every dollar given by this fund bas secured ten dollars from the friends in the various localities, to which assistance has been rendered, so that according to this rule £16,830 have been raised in different parts of the connexion, for building chapels and parsonages since 1853; but to this sum must be added, all those efforts which have had no connexion with the chapel fund, such as Aurora, and other places, where excellent chapels have been erected, without asking or receiving any aid from the fund. The lowest estimate, therefore, which we can adopt as the amount expended in chapels and parsonages in three-and-a-half years, including cost of land, is eighteen, or, probably, twenty thousand pounds.

Six years ago the preachers' salaries were raised from £50 to £75, and now to £100 per annum, as the minimum allowance, exclusive of house, firewood, horse-keeping, and heavy articles of furniture. These salaries, therefore, are one hundred per cent. higher than they were six years ago.

For nearly four years we have maintained a connexional organ, the Erangelical Witness, which has been steadily increasing in the number of its subscribers and patrons, and now prints 1,200 copies semi-monthly. What its influence for good has been in the body, it does not become the writer to say; but this much he may say, that it has far more than paid for itself in the direct influence it has exercised over all the activities of the connexion, and that the increase in all our funds is attributable in a great degree to the fact, that while this increase has been going on, the connexion at large, and more especially the ministerial bretheren have possessed a medium through which they can speak to each other, and stimulate both themselves and the connexion in all good things. This paper has represented no political party; it has not been sustained by its advocacy of any particulars social questions; it has been a thoroughly connexional paper, and on the connexion almost solely it has depended for its support; whatever the paper is, therefore, it owes to the body it represents, and its existence, continuance, and position, are due to the enterprise, generosity, and loyalty of the friends of the community.

There is one other point yet to be noticed ; our membership. Perhaps this is the least satisfactory of all those we have noticed. Six years ago we had 4039 members, and now, in 1857, we return 4546. But it should be remembered that during this period we

abandoned an entire district, as has been noted, by which we lost nearly 400 members, and though a part of the district is resumed, still the whole membership is not as yet restored.

Then the scantiness of our ministerial supplies in other districts has enabled us only to half work the ground occupied, so that societies have languished for want of proper attention. Taking all these things into account, we can scarcely wonder that our numerical increase has not been greater. But such as it is, and taken in connection with the other facts we have endeavoured to place before our readers, have we not, as a community, reason to bless God and take courage? We have not done all we might, or all we ought to have done, but, considering means and opportunities, has any other religious denomination in Canada surpassed us? Do the statistics of the churches at home show that they, with all the talent, wealth, and influence they have at their command, have surpassed us? We think not. Proportionably we have surpassed them, and, at all events, have no need to be ashamed of our position.

This review of facts indicates several inferences :

1. There must be a large amount of connexional loyalty among us. These results could never have been achieved if our friends had not loved their principles, and loved each other.

2. There must be considerable christian generosity among us. The sums of money raised could not have been obtained, unless there had been men among us who devise liberal things. Doubtless, there are niggardly souls among us, who give a quarter, when they should give a dollar, or even a larger sum than that, but they are not a sample of the mass. Our friends in many places are doing liberally, some nobly, and we hope, that wherever the frost of niggardliness exists, it will be thawed out of every soul, and that every one, according as God hath prospered him, will consecrate his substance to the Lord.

3. There must be "workmen' among us. Hard work, in dependance upon God, has produced these results. Many a cold, weary journey has it cost our brethren and sisters, to raise the funds of our mission to so respectable a figure, but we ought to be thankful that we have such workers; may their number be greatly augmented.

4. There has been much prayer somewhere, or these facts could not have been stated. Perhaps the prayers of the lonely one in his closet, where no eye has seen him, or the prayers of the pulpit, or

at the family altar, have all been joined, and God has heard in heaven, his dwelling place, and sent the blessing.

5. These facts are good indications for the future. What will the next six years do for us? It is not too much to anticipate far greater proportionate results in the future than in the past. We expect a mission income by that time of £2,500 or £3,000. Our chapel fund cannot extend at the same ratio, because in this department our efforts have been extraordinary, and probably will not surpass the present for some time to come. Our new college will probably be erected by that time, and our membership may be estimated at ten thousand. We have but to will it, under God, and it shall be done. There is nothing impossible in all this, nothing even extravagant; let us all get happy in our own souls, strong in our faith, with a corresponding activity, and alĺ this may be accomplished.

In the meantime we have said enough to prove that the kindly notice of our excellent contemporary, the Montreal Witness, in the number of August 22nd, is not undeserved, when he says that the Methodist New Connexion is a body making rapid progress in Canada."

EKFRID CIRCUIT.

Elfrid, Oct. 14, 1857. Dear Brother, In a hasty moment I take my pen to sketch a brief notice of a revival in the church, and a reformation in the world, now in progress on our circuit (Ekfrid in the township of Adelaide). We have held a protracted meeting all through the month of September in our chapel, 2nd line; which faithful and persevering effort has resulted in the hopeful conversion of over thirty precious souls. As the meeting is not yet closed, and there are several penitents coming forward each night to be prayed for and directed to the Saviour, on whom we wait with good will, I cannot give you a full outline of the affair. As expected, the great power of God was and is with us in saving souls, and to His worthy name we ascribe the praise.

At some future period I shall furnish for the Witness a report of the full results of the exercise; and now as Bro. Wild has come to help us in the ministry, I trust in the Lord to have much of the above to report before next conference; and that this large and straggling circuit will be found in a more comfortable condition. Amen, Lord Jesus.

Yours, &c., &c.,

J. BASKERVILLE,