4. That the assistance given to burdened chapels shall never exceed 50 per cent. on the amount they have raised in their own Churches for that express object. Thus, a Church desires relief, and it is agreed during next year to meet their case. In order to obtain £20, they must raise forty among themselves.

5. That a committee, with treasurer &c., be appointed by the annual Association for this purpose, which shall consider the cases applying for relief, and which shall recommend those to the Association which they deem most pressing and necessitous, the grant itself being always in the hands of the Association.

In this way I am satisfied that very great assistance might be afforded, the expense of ministers visiting the Churches avoided, and the uncertainty of application by letter superseded. If twelve hundred of our members would enter on this plan at the average of sixpence yearly, three hundred pounds would be raised. In the disposal of this the Churches receiving must raise six hundred more, so that nine hundred pounds of our chapel debts might be liquidated annually! Is it not worth the consideration of our Connexion? If so, let it be taken up and fully discussed.

A letter from my dear brother Rofe, of Smarden, by this morning's Post, has stirred me up to submit these hints for the consideration of our Churches.

3, St. John's Wood Grove. J. BURNS.

CHURCH STATISTICS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. Dear Sir,-Perhaps several of your readers, beside the one who now addresses you, has received a "Specimen Copy" of a new series of "The Protestant and Church Advocate" for February, in which occurs an article headed as above. The conductors of the work appear to wish to conciliate the regard of dissenters, or, at least, not to provoke their hostility. It is probable that before long all sincere Protestants will perceive that sound policy, as well as true christian principle, will dictate the cultivation of their friendship as the firmest bul. wark against popery, because the most conscientious, after all that even the " Protestant" says of " the Church of England as the bulwark of truth in this christian land." The Church of England seems fast verging towards the gulph of popery, whither her semi-popish forms naturally lead her. But

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The writer professes to show from the returns of marriages celebrated in the Church as compared with those celebrated before the Registrar during the last three years, that the dissenters are not a majority of the population, as he says, a few years since it was constantly repeated, both in and out of Parliament," that they are; but that, "according to the marriage returns they are only one-seventeenth of the popu lation; for it is a fact proved by the returns, that only one person in seventeen is married out of the Church of England." This may seem very conclusive reasoning, but to my apprehension it is very fallacious. Several considerations must be taken into the account, to show the amount of the fallacy.

It should be considered that in favour of established customs prejudices linger which are not at once diverted from their accustomed channel, and even conscientious dissenters may not all be free from these prejudicesin favour of marriage at Church, whither, till recently, they have been compelled to go for it.

Further, all dissenters do not much ob. ject to, and therefore dissent from, the marriage form as established in the Church. With this, therefore, they comply, without any idea of compromising their general principles as dissenters from a national establishment of religion. To this some are induced from an objection to have their names published before the Poor Law Guardians. My object is not now to reply to objections to the marriage law, but merely to state facts which show that it is no true standard of Church statistics. For this object let it be observed again, that,

From the conscientious objections of dissenting ministers to becoming participants in the union of their Church members with persons that make no profession of religion, some habitual and steady dissenters have gone to Church for this object, rather than to be married by a merely civil officer without any religious form.

Then, it should not be forgotten that the Act for dissenting marriages is but comparatively recent; and according to the "Protestants" own showing, notwithstanding all impediments, several of which I pass over, as expense of licence, and fees to a civil officer, dissenting marriages have increased in three years from one-twenty-seventh to one-sixteenth. This of itself might have been sufficient to show that his data of reasoning must be far from fixed and cer. tain, and that for any thing which these

prove to the contrary, it will be evident, even from the marriage returns, that dis. senters are a majority of the nation.

But no one who wishes to come to any fair and just conclusion on this question, can be satisfied with any results that may appear from such returns. They undoubt edly show the proportions of marriages in the Church and out of it; but they give no just representation of the proportions of conformists to a national establishment of religion, and dissenters from it. This method is not very dissimilar from that of deducting the number of avowed dissenters from the population of the country, and reckoning all that remain true churchmen. The majority of such churchmen, as to any conscientious regard to religion, may, it is lamentable to say, be as properly called any thing else as churchmen. This is a ready way to have it understood, that for a person to say he is a churchman is nearly equiv. alent to saying he is nothing.

If any sincere desire exists to ascertain the proposition between conformists and dissenters, let it be sought from those that really avow themselves to be either the one or the other; by communion with either of the particular divisions in religious ordinances; or, at least, by general attendance at the respective places of worship. From this mode of proof it is presumed the "Protestant" will keep at a sufficient distance, lest he should find the truth, evidently very unwelcome to him, that in communicants at the Lord's table dissenters have a decided majority; and that probably they have also in attendants on the ministry of the word,

The rural districts of the nation have hitherto been the boast of churchmen. From one of these districts I now write, in which the communicants at Church are probably not one sixth of those amongst dissenters, and the attendants not equal; and this it is apprehended would be found the case through the nation.

J. M.

STATE OF LOUGHBOROUGH

CHURCH.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository Sir,-Through the kind providence of God, and we trust by the leadings of the Holy Spirit, we are at Loughborough again provided with a pastor to take the oversight of this part of the Lord's vineyard.

I feel inclined, with your permission, to take a retrospective view of our circum. stances during the critical period while we have been destitute of a minister, in the hope that it may furnish an example that might be safely and beneficially imitated by

our brethren and sisters of other Churches, inasmuch as I have not to communicate any thing novel or striking, or any plans put in operation which will exalt the efforts of human wisdom or ingenuity.

The peculiar circumstances in which we were placed, impressed the minds of our friends with the sentiment that each and every one was responsible to a certain extent for the preservation and welfare of the cause of Christ amongst us. To be left without an earthly shepherd to watch over the flock, was felt to be a calamitous event; the fear lest that cause which was dear to our hearts, which for so long a series of years had been in a prosperous state; the fear lest that cause should now decline was depressing to our spirits, and the Lord was made acquainted with the grief that preyed upon our minds. Publicly and privately was the throne of grace approached, and the request made that the Great Shepherd would take us under his own care, and send us a man after his own heart, who should feed us with knowledge and understanding. All minor considerations seemed to merge in the one grand desire to uphold the cause and promote its prosperity; and as they had lost their leader, to form themselves into one compact body, which should present an invulnerable front to the enemy. This seemed to be the principle that in the first instance animated every bosom, and the Church appeared as the heart of one

man.

As a natural result of this spirit our prayer-meetings were well attended, a disposition was manifest in many to say to their neighbours," Know the Lord," and to be willing to stay at the inquirers' meeting, to give a word of instruction to those who were anxiously seeking the forgiveness of their sins; and it would be easy to name pious sisters, also, who laboured in this work with unwearied assiduity and great success. This spirit was particularly manifest in the teachers of the Sabbath-school, who made more vigorous exertions than before in this holy cause, and by their conversation, their prayers, and meetings between the services to instruct the children, with the divine blessing, there have been several that have given their hearts unto God; and it is pleasing to hear the clear views of Scripture truth, and of the plan of salvation proceed from the lips of those so young. Thus the Church was at work, and every individual seemed to be doing something, and He who does not despise the day of small things condescended to hear the prayers of his people, and in some measure to bless their feeble endeavours.

There is another cause of success, which

During little more than twelve months the

church at Smalley has lost several valuable members by death. The following brief notices of them may not be uninteresting to some read. ers of the Repository. J. W.

RICHARD OLD KNOW, of Kilburn, was awakened to a sense of the importance of heartfelt religion upwards of forty years ago, and for a time his distress was extreme. When, however, he was enabled to recognize his interest in a dying Saviour, his comfort was great. Often has the writer heard him speak with deep emotion of the transport which he then felt. As a christian his general character was respectable. Blameless in life, and affectionate in disposition, he was "well reported of by the brethren." In his last illness he was cheered by the presence of his Redeemer, and he died, with great resignation, Dec. 29, i840, aged eighty years.

JOHN THORNHILL, of Smalley, died Mar. 2, 1841, aged seventy years. He was an old disciple, having been baptized early in life. Though somewhat wanting in zeal, his conduct in other respects was exemplary. He was a man of peace; constant in attending the public means on the Lord's-day, and liberal in the support of the cause. Previous to his last affliction he appeared remarkably vigorous for his years, but when disease came he sunk very fast. He died

ELIZABETH REYNOLDS, of Smalley, was a lively and devoted christian; circumspect in her walk, and creditably discharging the several duties of wife, mother, neighbour, and Church member. For more than two years she was confined to her house by af. fliction, yet during this heavy trial she " possessed her soul in patience," and her edifying conversation gave witness to her friends that she was ripening for glory. She died May 23, 1841, aged fifty-eight; having been an honourable member of the Church nearly thirty years.

JOHN Fox, of Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, died Sep. 7, 1841, aged sixty two years. In early life he was connected with the Methodists, but subsequently becoming acquainted with the distinguishing doctrines of General Baptists, on mature consideration, he embraced them, and was buried with Christ in baptism. Though a plain man, and possessed of little of this world's wealth, he was sincerely respected by most who knew him. The disease that led to his dissolution was long and trying, yet the Saviour, whom he loved well, supported him. He expressed his entire resignation to the will of God, either for life or death. He knew in whom he had believed, and was persuaded that he was able to keep that which he had committed to his care. By his death that branch of Smalley Church assembling for worship at Langley Mill, has sustained a real loss.

To recede from their engage

The meeting to transact the business of the Churches in the Yorkshire district commenced at two o'clock p. m., when a statistical account of the Church at Bradford was read. The report of the moral character of the town of Bradford, and of the peace and prosperity of the interest of religion there, was not so encouraging as previously. The bad state of trade tends to demoralize the people. Over this we lament.

ments, because some formidable difficulties present themselves, is not the proper course to raise a respectable General Baptist interest in Leeds. We still hope to enjoy their cooperation, which is very desirable, and indispensibly necessary to sustain the responsibilities.

The Treasurer for the Home Mission reported the state of his finances.

The representatives, as at former meetings, informed the Conference of the progress of the Redeemer's cause in their various localities.

fax they are united, and three have been added. At Birchcliffe, seven have been baptized, and there are many in the experience meetings: some of their Sunday-scholars are hopeful, and they have good revival meetings. At Heptonstall Slack, they are peaceful, and have baptized eighteen: they have many on probation in the experience meetings of whom they hope well. At Lineholm, they have baptized ten, and many have commenced attending the meetings for experience. At Shore, they are still in prosperity; the new members are steady, and the revival meetings are crowded. At Burnley, they have baptized six, and have called one out to preach the Gospel: the revival meetings have been blessed by the great Head of the Church, and many have dated their conversion from them. The Secretary desired to resign his office. A vote of thanks was given him for his past services, with a request that he will continue in office another year, Stubbing House.

J. HODGSON.

BOSTON.-The new Sabbath-school rooms recently erected in Witham Green, (a section of Boston comprising about 1000 inhabitants, who have been literally " as sheep not having a shepherd") situate about a mile from the chapel, in High-street, were opened on Lord's-day, Feb. 20th. About 120 children attended; most of whom were such as had gone to no other Sunday-school. Three excellent sermons were preached on the occasion. In the morning Mr. Henry Kirkby was engaged, in the afternoon Mr. Mathews, and in the evening Mr. Henry Benson. The congregations were good, especially in the afternoon and evening; and the collections amounted to £10. This station presents a most promising field for usefulness, and the introduction of preaching and Sabbath-school instruction will be a great blessing to the neighbourhood. The building is neat, but perfectly plain; length within forty-six feet; breadth twenty feet. It has a folding partition, dividing it for teaching, capable of being opened for public worship, which will be conducted by the laborious pastor of the Church, Mr. Mathews, and several of the brethren. At Wyberton, also, the services are well attended, and the congregations at the High-street chapel are very good.

LONG SUTTON. Ordination &c.-No statement having appeared of the following services in the Repository, a few brief particulars will probably be interesting. On Wednesday Dec. 22nd, 1841, the Rev. Thos. Burditt was publicly recognised as the pastor of the General Baptist Church in this town. The solemn engagements of the day were commenced by the Rev. H. Edwards (Indep.) with reading and prayer. The Rev. J. C.

Pike, of Wisbeach, gave the introductory discourse; the Rev. J. Jones, of March, proposed the usual questions to the Church and the minister; the Rev. J. G. Pike, of Derby, offered the ordination prayer, and gave the charge to the minister. After a social Tea Meeting in the Chapel and school-room, the Rev. J. Jones addressed the Church and the four brethren who had been appointed to the office of deacon. The meetings were well attended and were interesting and profitable. May the union previously existing, and thus publicly confirmed, be of long duration, and may a Divine blessing, rich and copious, be constantly enjoyed by pastor and people. On the following day the Lincolnshire Conference was held, and in the evening a meeting of a revival nature, which was addressed by the Revds. J. C. Pike, T. Burditt, J. Jones, T. Yates, and J. G. Pike. "Heads of Families," "the Church," "Servants," "the Unconverted," and "the Young," were addressed in the most serious and impressive manner, and it is hoped, that in some instances permanent good was experienced. C. A.

ARCHDEACON-LANE TRACT SOCIETY.The following is a brief extract from the report of this institution, presented to the Church, Feb., 1812. Our labours are confined to the immediate neighbourhood of our place of worship, which we have divided into twenty-nine districts, containing 350 families. The number of tracts distributed since June, 1840, (when the institution was reorganized) is 3250. 1200 have been given away in these districts, and 1200 hand-bill tracts on baptism have been distributed when that ordinance has been administered at the chapel.

Through the agency of this society, three or four persons have discontinued selling on the Sabbath. From twenty to thirty who were unaccustomed to public worship have been led to attend the district prayer-meetings, and not less than fifty individuals, who seldom were seen in a house of prayer, have joined our congregration. We have also the satisfaction to add that above 100 children have been introduced into our Sabbath-school through the influence of the tract distributors. The society has purchased upwards of 3000 additional tracts, and is preparing to double cludes with an earnest appeal to those memthe sphere of its labours. The report conbers of the Church who have the opportunity to offer their services as distributors.

ENON CHAPEL, ST. MARY-LE-BONE.-On Lord's-day Evening, Feb. 27th, the solemn and interesting ordinance of believers' bap tism was administered to thirteen persons on a profession of their faith in the Gospel. Our esteemed pastor preached from Luke ix 26,