with reference to the future distribution of the funds. The congregational meeting shall be convened by intimation from the pulpit, and the minister, if present, shall preside in it. "8. That to the said Court shall belong the appointment and dismissal of the church officer and door-keepers." Puseyism.-From articles which have appeared in another department of the Magazine, even such of our readers as may have been formerly ignorant of the character of this system, must have seen that it is essentially Popish, and if the Popery it contains be not just of the grossest description, it is, perhaps, on that account only the more seductive. Some idea of the extent to which it prevails, may be formed from the fact, that a declaration against it and in favour of Protestantism has, after a great effort to obtain signatures, been subscribed by 2328 clergymen of the Church of England, while the whole number in England and Wales is believed to be about 15,000. Americans and Slavery.-The American Unitarian Association have declared "That viewing the institution of slavery in the light of christianity, we cannot fail to perceive that it conflicts with the natural rights of human beings, as the equal children of a common Father, and that it subverts the fundamental principles of christian brotherhood: That in the necessary effects of slavery upon the personal and social condition, and upon the moral and religious character of all affected by it, we experience an accumulation of evils, over which christianity must weep-against which christianity should remonstrate, and for the removal of which, christianity appeals to the hearts and consciences of all disciples of Jesus, to do what they can, by their prayers, by the indulgence and expression of their sympathy, and by the unremitting and undisguised exertion of whatever moral and religious influence they possess." But what does the association immediately add? It declines "in the course of its ordinary proceedings, to entertain any question, or to adopt any measure, in relation to the institution of slavery." Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. The Baptist Triennial Convention, consisting of ministers and delegates from Baptist churches in all parts of the Union, met at Philadelphia in the end of April last, and after a long debate adopted, with only two dissentient voices, the following most unsatisfactory resolution :-" Whereas, there exists in various sections of the country, an impression that our present organization involves the fellowship of the domestic institution of slavery, or of certain associations which are designed to oppose this institution-Resolved, That in co-operating together as members of this convention in the work of foreign missions, we disclaim all sanction, either express or implied, whether of slavery or of anti-slavery; but as individuals, we are free both to express and promote our views on this or other subjects, in a christian manner and spirit.” The American Episcopal church has, to some extent, been agitated by the slave question. Bishop Andrews has married a second wife, who has two slaves, and he refuses to part with them. We are glad to learn that the Conference, by a majority of 110 to 68, have" affectionately requested the bishop to resign his office." This is moderate enough, but it is a great deal for Americans. A disruption is anticipated. It will be recollected that at the General Assembly of the Free Church, an overture respecting American slavery was referred to the Commission. We are not aware that any deliverance has yet been given on the subject.* We shall not cease, however, to expect something worthy of such a body. Many of their best friends indulge the hope that they will yet decide to reject from their treasury the whole of the money received from the slaveholding states. * A deliverance has now been given. We shall advert to it in our next. QUARTERLY RECORD OF THE MISSIONS IN CONNEXION WITH THE UNITED SECESSION CHURCH, FOR OCTOBER, 1844. CONTENTS: JAMAICA......Extract of a Letter from Mr John Dawson, CANADA..... Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Jameson, PAGE 541 544 548 549 551 552 554 JAMAICA. Extract of a Letter from Mr JOHN DAWSON, Catechist, dated Hillside, Manchester, 4th June 1844. The object of this letter is to lay before you a report of this station during the last year. During this period we have had many things both to encourage and discourage us, yet I am happy to state that the former have been much greater than the latter. These have not only been a source of gratitude from us to the Lord, but they have acted as a stimulus to us, not only to continue in the good work, but to be more zealous in seeking to advance the Redeemer's kingdom in this distant island of the sea, where a great and blessed change has been effected through the preaching of the glorious gospel of the blessed Jesus, which is destined not only to enlighten this land, but which is to spread to the remotest parts of the earth, causing the wilderness and the solitary places to rejoice and blossom as the rose, and which is not only to civilize but to elevate the sons of Adam from their present fallen and degraded state, to become the sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, "and if sons, then heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ." Among the discouragements, I may first mention the lamented death of the founder of the station, the Rev. James Paterson, who continued to take a very lively interest in every thing connected with the station up to the period of his death; but we were suddenly and unexpectedly deprived of his valuable labours. Our loss is, however, his eternal gain, and we therefore bow to the will of the great Head of the church, who saw good to remove him from the church-militant, to the church-triumphant. Since his death, we have not had many visits of a minister. I must in justice to Mr Aird say, that he has visited us as frequently as his other numerous duties would permit. Another source of discouragement which has greatly retarded the prosperity of the station is, the very NO. X. VOL. I. incommodious house in which we meet for worship. The walls are not only very delapidated but the roof is in such a porous state, that when a shower of rain comes on (which is often sudden in a tropical climate), the people are completely wet through. This often prevents many from attending when it threatens rain. This has caused us to use every exertion to get a more commodious building erected, which, thank God, is now fast progressing. The attendance of the people on the different classes has been good. Many of the young people, and a number of adults, who had hitherto kept back from learning to read, have joined the classes, and, by the regularity of their attendance and attention, they have made considerable progress in learning to read the word of life, so that the greater part of those connected with the station are now able to search the scriptures for themselves. The prayer meetings on the different properties have been well attended. Several new ones have been formed. These prayer meetings are conducted by the elders, who, after praise and prayer, read a portion of the scriptures, and then call on some of the members present to join in prayer. The elders often use a small catechism with which I furnished each of them to instruct the people at their prayer meetings. I visit these meetings as often as my time will permit, and have often been much pleased and refreshed at witnessing the order observed at them, and at hearing the people offering up their desires to the Lord in their own simple but emphatic language. The meetings on the Sabbath have been as well attended as we could have expected the general attendance varies from 250 to 300. The Sabbath school opens as soon after nine A.M. as we possibly can. From this to eleven o'clock Mrs Dawson and myself, with the assistance of several whom we had trained for Sabbath school teachers, are engaged in instructing both young and old in reading, teaching them hymns, catechism, &c. At eleven o'clock we meet for public worship. This is opened by praise and prayer. I then read and explain a chapter in either the Old or New Testament, then sing, after which I take a passage which I have previously studied, and make such practical remarks on it as I think are best calculated to benefit the audience. We close the service at two o'clock by praise and prayer, when the people return to their respective homes. At five o'clock in the evening I hold a meeting on one of the properties in the neighbourhood, where I have generally a good assembly of both old and young, whom I often find waiting on me to hear (as they term it) the good word. I conduct these meetings by explaining some portion of scripture, and then catechising them for a short time. These meetings are often very interesting. I have visited the congregation family by family as often as I possibly could, and am happy to state that domestic worship is regularly kept up by all the members, and by many of the candidates. Since freedom, many of our people have purchased small portions of land, on which they have built comfortable houses; around these they have got neat gardens, well planted. The houses are in general very neat and much improved in their construction by what they were in slavery time. The efforts of the people to get the church finished have been pleasing. They have given upwards of 300 days' free labour, and their subscriptions and collections have been even larger than we could have expected, when we take into consideration the number of the congregation, and that many of them are old and not able to work, and consequently not able to contribute anything. The receipts for the year are as follows:By one year's subscriptions and donations, By collections during the year, By school-fees, L.86 13 6 36 0 0 26 17 0 22 10 0 L.172 0 6 Two couples have been married, and ten children baptised; fourteen new members have been admitted; and twenty-five candidates added to the list. We have transferred eight members and two candidates to Mile Gully church, on account of their having purchased land in that district. One member has gone to the church of England, on account of her having got married to a man who is attached there. The following are the numbers in connexion with the station, not including the children of the school : Members in full communion, 84 89 173 Most of the members have given us great satisfaction, by their humble walk. They continue to show that they have felt the power of the truth. One member and one candidate have been suspended on account of their having fallen into that debasing sin which was so very prevalent in Jamaica, and which the poor black people were taught to look upon as an accomplishment by those who came from a land of bibles!! These two people have manifested deep signs of repentance, and we are in hopes of seeing them soon restored to their standing in the church. I am happy to say that this sin of fornication is fast going into disrepute, not only among the black population, but among the whites. Many of the attornies and overseers around this, have got married to their former housekeepers. In consequence of some of the people having purchased land at a distance from Hillside, and removed thence with their families, we have found it necessary to increase the session, and have added three new elders; so that the session now consists of ten, all of whom are zealous men, from whom I get great assistance in watching over the people. At a session meeting lately, when a number of candidates were proposed by the moderator for members, the elders appeared exceedingly careful of the admissions, and refused to admit several of whose knowledge and conduct I could find no fault. This, I can assure you, was gratifying to me, to see their desire to preserve the purity of the church. Two members got offended, sometime ago, with the session for being rather strict (as they termed it) with them, and left the church, and went to attend the church of England. After going to the curate's church for about two months, and not finding themselves very comfortable there, they then went to the rector's church, for about a month; but, like the man in the gospel, who went about seeking rest, and finding none," they came back to me, and said that if I would receive them again, they would never again find fault with the session for doing their duty towards them, as they had got no good since they went away. A number of people who were formerly connected with the church of England, on seeing how far the people of Hillside surpassed them in knowledge, have come and requested to be received as candidates. I am in hopes that the congregation will much increase as soon as we get the new church finished. The church is a neat building, fifty-five feet long, by thirty-three feet wide, and ten feet high, built on a beautiful site, and of good substantial materials, with a large tank to receive the water from the house and barbicues. You are aware that we purchased the site of the church, with the tank, and ten acres of land, at L 184. The tank is worth more than the sum which we gave for the whole, and will be of great value to the station, as we had often to send two miles for water. We have got the building all shingled and boarded inside. The carpenters are now flooring it, and putting up the seats and the pulpit. We intend to get it Spanish walled outside, but are not able to do this at present, on account of the low state of our funds. I think that the building, with the land and tank, will not cost above L.800, when finished. I would here express the thanks of myself and the congregailon, to the congregations and ministers of the Dunfermline presbytery, for their kindness in sending us L.30, which I have received through the Rev. Dr Robson of Glasgow. This is a larger sum than we could have expected, and it has come at a very seasonable time to assist us in paying a large sum which we owed for timber. I trust that the Lord may abundantly reward your congregations for their liberality, and trust that they may be, from time to time, refreshed by hearing of the advancement of the good work of bringing souls to Christ, in this little church which they have contributed to erect. We have still pecuniary difficulties to contend with, but trust that the great Head of the church will provide for the accomplishment of his own work. We have appointed the 4th of August for opening the church. The school is not so large as it formerly was. Two reasons may be assigned for this :-First, Many of the children who had been at the school for a number of years, and who had made considerable progress with their education, have been taken away by their parents; some of them have been sent to learn trades, and others have gone to assist their parents to work. Second cause, A new school has been opened at a short distance from this by the Moravian Brethren, and all the children belonging to them, who formerly attended us, have now gone to their school. The school still numbers above eighty. Many of these have made good progress in reading, writing, and ciphering, and in the rudiments of English grammar and geography. A few are very interesting, and are showing evidence of piety. The general attendance of late has not been good, on account of the great scarcity of provisions, caused by the severe drought. Many of the parents are in such distress that they cannot get any provisions for themselves and children. For the last four months they have had to support their families on flour and corn meal, which they purchased from the stores at a very high price. To give you an idea of this: During the last week, the people of the congregation got me to order from Kingston, L.25 worth of flour and corn meal for them. By my doing this it costs them much less than if they purchased it from the stores in the parish. Seven boys and eight girls who had attended the school for a length of time, and who had given evidence of piety, have put down their names for candidates, and are giving us great satisfaction. Considering the difficulties which we have had to contend with, we have great reason to be thankful to the Lord: He has been with us, and His work has advanced. Our lives have been spared, while many of our fellow-labourers have been called into eternity. It is our desire to devote ourselves and all that we have to the service of the Lord in this island of the sea. We desire a deep interest in your prayers, that we may be made the instruments in the Lord's hands of doing good. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. WILLIAM JAMESON, dated Goshen, 17th July 1844. Your important letter I received by last packet, but having, immediately on the receipt of it, to leave home to attend to congregational business at Carron Hall, I was unable to attend to its considerations before now. In reply, I will begin with the committee's instructions, which are as follow:-The income of your congregation, the sources from which it is derived, your expenditure, and the number of the members of your congregation. 1. THE INCOME OF THE CONGREGATION. That you may see the present average of income, I will lay before you |