reasons were assigned equally discouraging; but Mr. Nasmith had been too well disciplined to give up a cause, when he felt assured that cause would, under the Divine blessing, prosper. On the 16th of May, two friends met at his house by appointment, they began with prayer, and then formed the London City Mission. In six months they had ten agents at work, and in twelve forty, and in twenty-two months sixty-three agents employed. By this time the great Head of the Church had so smiled on the Mission, that a sum exceeding £4000 had been received and nearly all expended. Thus did David Nasmith succeed in founding the London City Mission, which has done, and is still doing great things. His next great work was the establishment of the London Female Mission, in which he took a lively interest, and whose growing prosperity greatly rejoiced his heart, Having accomplished his purposes so far, and believing himself called rather to originate and form societies than to aid in their operations, he commenced the British and Foreign Mission. This society he had contemplated in the year 1832, when he laid his plans for life, subject to the sanction of an over-ruling Providence; but it was not until the 16th March, 1837, that it was brought into existence. The British and Foreign Mission was instituted for the express purpose of carrying out, by a collective body, what for ten years before had been done by the individual efforts of Mr. Nasmith. The object of the society is to form City and Town Missions, Female Missions, Maternal Associations, Young Men's Societies, Servants' Homes, and various others, as opportunities may be afforded. With the purpose of forming one or more of these Societies, he left his home on Saturday, the 16th November last, for Guildford, in Surrey, where it pleased the Lord to release him from his labours, and to take him to himself. The account of his last moments must be reserved for the next number of the "Beacon." J. S. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CHURCHES CONSECRATED IN THE DIOCESE OF CHESTER, IN THE YEAR 1839. (Continued from page 84.) The village of Holme consists of 1000 persons, two miles distant from their parish church of Burton, in Westmoreland. Here a Chapel of Ease was consecrated on the last day of September; being built by subscription, and a grant of £200 from the Incorporated Society. The ground was given, and a liberal portion of the funds was contributed by the Honorable Col. and Mrs. Howard, who at a cost of £7000 have also built and endowed a Church on their own estate at Levens, and have largely aided the many other good works which have been undertaken in their neighbourhood. Holme Church is built on the plan of that at Casterton, as described by the Rev. W. Carus Wilson in his useful publication, entitled "Hints for Building Churches." He was scarcely credited, in asserting that 66 a Church like that at Casterton could be built for £750." Here the plan is repeated for the same money. An oblong building, surmounted by a tower; having a deep front gallery; and not more remarkable for its cheapness than its neat appearance, and convenient accommodation for 500 persons. This Church could not have supported a resident minister, if the Pastoral Aid Society had not given their liberal assistance. Mention of Casterton reminds me of the Clergy Daughters' School established there: in which, and in the nursery attached to it at Silverdale, 140 daughters of the poorer clergy receive an education which would be valuable for any station in life, and enjoy advantages which the richest of our land might be happy to secure for their children. Without believing that all our sense of beauty has its basis in utility, we cannot but acknowledge that the effect is unusually gratifying when natural and moral beauty is found in association. Casterton affords an example of all that is picture que as well as of all that is useful. A groupe of buildings, designed and employed for the highest purposes, is sheltered by surrounding hills, and surrounded by spreading trees: and pleasure grounds, beautiful in themselves, are ornamented by parties of happy children who are here allowed to take their occasional recreation. The owner of these grounds, Carus Wilson, Esq. has for more than forty years been a zealous promoter of every object which could contribute to the glory of God or the welfare of man. And now, in the decline of life, he has seen raised on his estate a memorial which will perpetuate the name and the benevolence of his family through future generations. Mr. W. Wilson has also in operation another establishment, where a hundred orphan or otherwise destitute children are received and educated, and prepared under the best instruction to fill the office of donestic servants or country school mistresses, at the annual payment of £10. per head. They are here brought up in Christian principles, their morals closely watched over, their characters formed: and doubtless in numerous instances the destitution which once seemed a grievous calamity, in directing them to this refuge, has been over-ruled to their temporal and eternal blessing. These Schools have already set the example of several others on a like plan. One for the daughters of clergymen has been established at Bristol: another at Brighton, by the Rev. Charles Elliott: and a fourth is now proposed for Yorkshire. What a different scene our country would present if these examples of benevolence were more common. There will always be orphan children; deserted children; children from some cause or other left destitute. These poor young creatures, left in their natural situation, are seized upon by abandoned persons, and before they can either know the nature or the consequences of sin, are plunged into the depths of vice and misery. If Christian charity were as quick sighted as selfish interest, if the good were as active in well-doing as the wicked in evil-doing, these might be preserved from ruin, and the community, instead of being injured by their profligacy, might be profited by their industry. And of such charity, beyond all others, may it be affirmed that it is twice blessed:" blessed no less "to him that gives, than to him that takes." The superintendence of such plans is an object of delightful interest, occupying hours which would otherwise be vacant: suggesting also thoughts of comfortable reflection, if the mind, looking towards futurity, finds need of some proofs of faithful stewardship, and is led to enquire what "foundation has been laid up in store against the time to come." Such, if she were not too humble to entertain them, might justly have been the reflections of the late Mrs. Richardson, of Kendal. It would be ungrateful to leave this district and this subject, without mention of her name: for she was indeed a faithful stewardess : "faithful over a few things" not rich, in the usual sense of the word; but cer tainly rich towards God: for instead of increasing her establishment, or surrounding herself with superfluous luxuries, she gave to His glory what many might have supposed that her own comfort and station required. It was said of a patriot of old, that instead of children he left two victories to his country. This lady left two churches: neither of them, indeed, built solely by her means, but neither of which could have been raised so early or completed so satisfactorily without her ample contributions, amounting to several thousand pounds. She was rewarded before she died by the gratification of seeing a regular congregation of nearly a thousand persons added to the establishment at Kendal, without any diminution of attendance at the parish Church. And Milnthorpe, where 1300 persons had been collected together as a flock without either fold or shepherd, is now possessed of its due ecclesiastical provision: its Church, its Parochial School, its Parsonage house, its Clergyman. We now proceed to Clitheroe. In the preceding year a Church had been consecrated at Chatburn, a village of that parish two miles from the town. The opening of a School-room for evening service some years ago had been welcomed by the inhabitants with unexpected satisfaction; now the School-room serves its proper purpose, and a beautiful village Church receives its congregation, in the midst of which their settled minister resides. This year the advantage of another Church and Clergyman is given to Clitheroe itself. It contains about 700 on a large area; and by the erection of galleries, as the population increases, will easily accommodate 1200. The Diocesan Society may be said to have erected this Church : having given £800 in a direct grant, and having indirectly contributed £300 towards the endowment, by causing the erection of a Church at Oswaldtwistle. The late Mr. Halstead resided there. and when he saw the rising Church, and anticipated in his mind the blessings which might follow, he endowed it with £2000, and afterwards bequeathed a portion of his estate, which eventually produced £4600, towards the endowment of other new Churches which might be built in the parish of Whalley. Of this sum ST. JAMES'S, Clitheroe, shares £300. In the district assigned to this Church, 1080 of the people were found to be Dissenters, 650 Churchmen. Had not timely measures been taken, such would have been the case in all our populous towns: and no reflecting person can be doubtful as to the ultimate result. It has pleased God to awaken us, and by a view of the consequences, though through his mercy a distant view, to show us the guilt of conniving at spiritual desti tution. The change cannot be illustrated by an example more striking than is furnished by the parish of which Clitheroe is a part, the vast parish of Whalley. It extends over 108,140 acres; the population being at the last census 97,868. To this population in 1834, there were 20 Clergymen: viz. 17 Incumbents of the different chapelries, and 3 assistant Curates. There are now 43: viz. 26 Incumbents and 17 Curates. Since September, 1825, nine new Churches have been opened, and one enlarged giving an addition of 6268 sittings, by an expenditure of £27,000.* Five more Churches are in progress, the sum raised for which exceeds £18,000. And £5,200 are offered as a beginning for four more. During the same period, viz. since the year 1834, the sum of £7,192. 13s. 1d. has been expended in the erection of 22 School-rooms: and £2,336 is raised towards building 14 others.† Within a period, therefore, not exceeding five years, there will have been added to the means of religious instruction in this single parish of Whalley, twenty seven Clergymen, fourteen Churches, and thirty six Schools. That this should be recorded, is due not less to the liberality which has contributed to this large expenditure, than to the indefatigable personal exertions by which that liberality has been called into action, and conducted to such a successful end. Providentially, also, the "Pastoral Aid," and "Curates' Fund" Societies were instituted at the precise moment when the local exertions were requiring such extensive aid. Out of the seventeen Incumbents, who in 1835 superintended the parish of Whalley, the annual incomes of 16 were £141. Such incomes left no surplus for Curates. Of those who have been since appointed, eleven receive the greater part of their salaries from the Pastoral Aid Society, and two from the Curates' Fund.§ For many preceeding years there has been a duty to perform at Blackburn where, as at Preston, the Vicar has made strenuous exertions to meet the wants of his increasing parish by proportionate church accommodation.|| Consequently, Preston and Blackburn are, perhaps, the only towns of any size in Lancashire, where there is seat-room for one in four of the population. There is still, however, great occasion for another Church at Blackburn on the north eastern side: and the foundation is already laid. The approach to the principal entrance will be through a quadrangle flanked with Schools in character with the architecture of the Church and when the proposed plan is completed, Blackburn will possess two of the finest Churches in the kingdom. town. Passing on, therefore, this year, through Blackburn, we proceeded to WALMERSLEY, in the parish of Bolton, three miles to the north of the We left behind the old Chapel, with seats for 128 persons, and came to the beautiful building now substituted for it, from a design by Mr. Sharpe, and mainly completed through the exertions and liberal * One of these, Habergham Eaves, in Burnley, was built by Her Majesty's Commissioners. A small endowment has been added by subscription. +£3838 had been expended on ten others between the years 1830, 1834. I have been furnished with the exact particulars of these Churches and Schools by Rev. J. Rushton, whose industry and experience has greaty contributed to many of them. They are given in an appendix. It ought to be mentioned that the Parliamentary Grants gave valuable assistance towards building the different Schools. § In the which, The Pastoral Aid Society has made Grants for 64 Curates in the diocese of Chester, at an annual charge of about £4800. Twenty more are supplied by the "Additional Curates' Fund." The Churches at Mellor, Over Darwen, Lower Darwen, St. Paul's, Tockholes, Bamber Bridge, Feniscowles, and Witton, in Blackburn Parish, have all been consecrated within the last ten years; and two Chapels formerly occupied by Dissenters, have been converted to the use of the Church. contribution of Mr. Haworth and Mr. Slater. It contains 650, without a front gallery, which is in contemplation, and might easily be added. The cost £2600: the whole of which was raised by local subscriptions, except £350 from the Incorporated Society, and £300 from the Diocesan. Schools, in character, and a Parsonage-house are in the course of erection towards which £113 was collected on the morning of the consecration, and the following Sunday raised the sum to £200. The amount may seem large, in comparison with the seat-room, which this Church and some others which I am to mention presently have cost. But the additional or ornamental expense has been furnished by private munificence: the Societies, when they have given at all have only given according to the accommodation: and we cannot be surprised if the inhabitants of a flourishing neighbourhood, whose own houses are built with every attention to comfort and even luxury, should be unwilling to dedicate to God" that which cost them nothing." Such was David's feeling, when he reflected within himself, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." And the contrary disposition is severely censured by the Prophet: "Is it time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house (the house of God) lie waste ?" There seemed great danger, some years ago, that this reproof would apply to England. Privately and individually we have begun to wipe off the reproach: and perhaps before it is too late the nation at large may be moved to say, "With the help of our God we will arise and build." THE NEGLECTED SCHOLAR. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, "Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; MY DEAR MR. EDITOR, SHAKSPEARE. In my last, of many privileges enjoyed, in addressing yourself and your readers, I had the melancholy pleasure of bearing witness to a glorious triumph of faith and other graces over "the last enemy that shall be destroyed:" I wrote of Elizabeth Creighton, passing through the valley of the shadow of death, and yet fearing no evil; but, in the holy confidence and moral courage of a Christian pilgrim and warrior, under the banners of the cross, speaking out thus from the abundance of her heart-"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." On the present occasion I crave your indulgence, and hope you will suffer me to present you with a short, sad narrative of the living; or, of one very well-known and dear to me, who (to use a metaphor well understood,) is buried alive!" This may be startling intelligence; but it is quite true, nevertheless, as you will see presently. An acquaintance originated, I may say, a lasting friendship was formed, between Theophilus Lynforth and myself, when Providence first brought us together as schoolfellows, at a small town in Yorkshire, nearly thirty years ago. He was an orphan, and heir to a nice paternal estate of, I bave understood, about three or four hundred a-year; both of which circumstances I feel obliged to mention, because much of his future and |