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ity was there in their supplications, that it was impossible to say to what particular section of the Church any one of them belonged; and at the same time they were so copious and distinct, that there was not the slightest approach to anything like "vain repetition." Surely never was "the Spirit of grace and supplication" more evidently poured out; nor the promise more faithfully fulfilled"While they are calling I will answer, and while they are speaking I will hear."

I believe there was not a person who entered the room, who, although they thought it their duty to make the attempt, had the least hope of a successful result; nor one who left it without thankfully acknowledging, that "what is impossible with men, is possible with God."

I have thus attempted to give you a faint outline of the blessed scene; but it is utterly impossible for language adequately to describe all that was done, and said, and felt on the occasion. Could you have heard and seen the honest confession of sin, and heart-felt sorrow and contrition, which were openly expressed, with tears, by some of the most influential of the Dissenting ministers, who had in times past been the most violent in their abuse of our Church, and churchmen; and their determination, by God's help, to do all henceforth in a spirit of love and for the glory of God; it would have reminded you, as it did me, of the beautiful language of contrition described by St. Paul in

2 Cor. vii. 11; and would have made "rivers of waters" run down from your eyes, as copiously as they flowed from mine. Surely this was that "godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of." Surely it was a presage of the speedy fulfilment of the promise of that copious shower of blessing which shall be poured out upon the Church of Christ in the last days, when the windows of heaven shall be opened, and "there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. iii. 10.) Truly, I felt it good for me to be there;" and would greatly have rejoiced to have had you and many others who are dear to me there also, that you might have been partakers of my joy!

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Committees are now sitting at London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dublin, for the purpose of preparing an authorized Report of the proceedings, for publication; (as reporters were excluded, to prevent garbled reports from being circulated;) and also to carry out the objects of the conference, preparatory to a public meeting, which is intended to be held in London next summer; and previous to which a general meeting of the several committees is to held here in January.

You are at liberty to make what use you like of this communication. And if I am spared, you shall be supplied with further information, as it may arise.

Believe me always, very gratefully and affectionately, yours,

THE NEW GERMAN REFORMATION.

THE accounts which we are enabled to present to our readers of the progress of the Reformation in Germany will be found most satisfactory. They are chiefly derived from the Augsburg and Leipsic papers.

ULNE.

Sept. 21.-The journey of M. Ronge from Stutgard to our place, resembled more the triumphal march

of a conqueror, and the inhabitants of Esslingen and Goppingen distinguished themselves in particular in the reception they gave to the hero of our days. Our town, where he is to stay for some days, would, however, not remain behind, and it has performed its duties of hospitality in the true spirit of Christian love and charity. A deputation of aldermen and distinguished citizens went out to

meet him; and on his arrival in our town, he was received by the population with an almost endless shout of joy. The mayor welcomed him in the name of the inhabitants, and a young lady of noble birth, and the youngest member of the new community, offered him a crown of laurels. M. Ronge, and his fellow-labourer in the vineyard, M. Dawist, twice addressed the people from the hotel where they have taken up their residence, and were listened to with very great attention. Our common council has granted for the use of the German Catholics, 500 florins, of which 100 florins are to be employed in the fitting up of the Corn Exchange for a place of worship. However,

this latter will no more be necessary, as the ministry has now granted the petition, signed by 1800 citizens, and allowed to the new community the use of the cathedral for Divine service. It is said that the King of Wirtemburg is much displeased with his ministers for having refused a similar request to the German Catholics at Stutgardt; and that it is owing to this that an order of a more favourable nature has been lately issued by the government of that country, according to which the German Čatholics there are allowed the free exercise of their religious creed, except the permission for their ministers to officiate at the altar, and for the public papers to call their sermons other than speeches.

BADEN.

The private informations from this country agree in stating that the German Catholic Church is there making continual progress, and that in a short time the secession of its Roman Catholic inhabitants will be effected on a very large scale.

FRANKFORT.

The cause of the new Church is said to be taken up by the people there with the same ardour as the cause of Germany itself. The com

munity of German Catholics is daily increasing, and the offerings made by the Lutherans and Reformists, for the use of the New Catholic Church, are already very considerable.

WIESBADEN.

The government has refused the petition of the German Catholics to have a suitable place for Divine worship granted to them. All those, however, who, having separated from the Church of Rome, desire to form a new Catholic community, are to be tolerated on the general principle of religious liberty established in the kingdom. However, this community is to be deprived of the rights of co-operation, and of legally nominating its chiefs. Its ministers are only there to be allowed to perform the ceremonies of baptism and marriages when the clergymen of the Established Church have refused to do it on being applied to.

POSEN.

No reason has been assigned why the government has refused to grant to the German Catholics a suitable place for performing Divine service, and the new community has been obliged to fix upon the prayer-room in the Protestant church-yard for that purpose. M. Cost, the officiating clergyman, prayed and preached in the German tongue, and administered the Sacrament to a great number of his congregation under both forms.

STUTGARDT.

A letter from Stutgardt, dated the 15th instant, says "The arrival of M. Ronge attracted a numerous assemblage at the meeting held to-day. After a speech from the President, and a few words from one of the Stutgardt committee, Ronge got up, and, amidst the deepest silence, spoke as with an inspired voice. The President then proposed that Germany

should be divided into western and southern provinces, and this was declared by acclamation. Twenty-four communes sent representatives. The votes were taken by communes, by which several delegates had four votes, and several others had only one vote between them. The organization of the commune was reserved for another meeting. There already exists a similar organization at Breslau, and Leipsic, which will be taken for this. The right of women to vote was adopted by a majority of 13 to 11. Independent women, widows, and those who are unmarried, may, consequently, take part in the discussions of the German Catholic commune.

All the communes have the right of managing their own affairs according to their local habits, manners, and interests. A committee has been appointed for receiving the adhesions of Roman Catholic priests, and for placing German Catholic priests in the different communes. Elberfeld, Heidelberg, Ulm, and Saarbruck, form this committee. The next Concilium is to be held at Frankfort-on-the-Maine. It

was further decided that a Synod should be held annually, but more particularly this year, on account of the quantity of business. The meeting broke up at seven o'clock. The last assembly will be held at Cronstadt.'

THE exhibition of "the holy coat" at Treves brought matters to a point. Ronge's appeal to Germany found an echo in innumerable hearts; and while multitudes who read it burned with indignation, not a few pondered the matter more deeply, and determined to separate. Churches were almost simultaneously formed at Breslau, Berlin, Dresden, Leipsic, and many other places; and several priests of respectable character and standing joined in the formation of

what is now termed "The German Catholic Church."

Since then a mixed multitude have attached themselves to the new communion. Various motives have operated in producing secession, and all shades of doctrine have found a common home in the new Church. The confessions which have been published differ very considerably in many most important points, and the character and standing of the members of the Churches differ still more. It is essentially a middle class movement; it is mainly a city movement. The peasantry are not affected by it, and the nobility do not countenance it: it is chiefly sustained by tradesmen, merchants, and persons of limited but independent incomes. The latest esti

mate that has been made of their numbers, reckons their churches, large and small, as amounting to about 160; and the number of seceders from the Romish Church at 50,000.

The amount of alienation from Rome is, however, far greater than can be represented by the actual numbers of the separatists. A deep and settled feeling of disgust pervades the middle classes generally in relation to the recent movements of the Church of Rome, and hatred of the Jesuits mingles with aspirations after a greater amount of political liberty.

The great source of hope for the new reformation is the avowed adhesion to the Scriptures of the entire party. The paramount duty of English Christians in relation to them, is to pray earnestly that they may be preserved from false doctrine, and be speedily led into all truth. The friends of the Bible Society may now greatly rejoice that Dr. Pinkerton is so firmly established at Frankfort: and in the extent and success of his labours they may find, if they need it, an additional reason for supporting that admirable institution.

FRANCE.

To the Editor of the Christian Guardian. Boulogne Sur Mer.

MY DEAR SIR,-Though I have not

travelled far, yet sometimes a detail of first impressions in another country

may be worth recording. Although this town, from the long residence of the English, has acquired, in some respects, an English character; yet there are, of course, some features of French nationality, that a stranger must observe. One of these is the exceeding quietness, goodnature, and politeness with which the common transactions of life are carried on among the multitude. I have been here a week, frequently walking the quays of this seaport, and never yet noticed a single quarrel, or a noisy raising of the voice. It is not to be supposed, for a moment, that this is the result of religious principle; or that the religion of the two countries, in respect to its practical influence, can be put on a level; yet it is surprising how far superior, in this respect, the intercourse of the people with each other appears. If it is only conventional, if it is only the conclusion of prudence, that it is better to be good-natured than to dispute, that the stream of life runs smoother under the oil of a polite civility; it certainly is a gain, and might be imitated by us with profit. The Frank has the advantage of the Saxon.

Another characteristic of the people is neatness of dress. There is evi

dently a national good taste in dress. It is a matter of minor morals; but is certainly highly conducive to domestic comfort and happiness. The dress of the lower order of women is not at all expensive. It is of a coarse fabric; but the gown is neatly put on, the kerchief is gracefully folded round the head, the stocking is well drawn up, and the shoe neat. In the same class of people in our own country, how often we see much better things thrown on and hung on with carelessness and indifference; as if the day were utterly gone by when the wife thinks it necessary to please her husband. The national character of slatternly dress is as marked in England among the labouring classes, as is the reverse here.

I have been equally pleased with the readiness of the people to communicate to strangers. I know enough of the language to place myself in communication with the

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people of all classes; which I have done frequently because I really wanted information, and at other times because I wished to converse. I have met with no impatience of such approaches, but the greatest willingness to meet my enquiries with all the information that could be afforded, and that with a degree of kindness and gentility of manner that I fear a foreigner would look for in vain in our land. Why should such blame attach to the first country in the world? Why should a country with whom moral and religious principle stands highest, be wanting to itself in these lesser matters?

Another pleasing feature of this place is the public institution for education, including a school for music and for drawing, and a museum, open at all times to strangers on application, and to the town on a certain number of days in the week. Boulogne is only a provincial town, with about as many inhabitants as Northampton; yet here is a museum of minerals, coins, and natural history generally, which would do credit even to Liverpool. The collection of birds and their eggs is very good, and scientifically arranged. There is a very respectable collection of butterflies, beetles, and serpents. In fact, the whole assemblage is such as to afford extensive means of instruction. Which of our country towns, or even maritime towns, where of course the facilities of collection are greater, is in possession of such a source of pleasure and improvement? or rather where, in such localities, does the public spirit exist that would give rise to such an institution? It is true, that in some places, such as York and Leeds, under peculiar circumstances, there is an approach towards such a collection, but very much limited to the peculiarities of the locality; and also that there are in many of our towns Mechanics' Institutions that make a sorry attempt at a museum; but they are languishing for want of patronage, and they are viewed with jealousy by the aristocracy and the clergy; and in many such cases a beginning, which might well have been led on to something better, has ended in ridicule and

disappointment. It is to be feared that a want of attention to general science in our higher orders, hangs as a clog upon the eager progress of the classes below them. This is a dark feature of the times, and if it is to be continued, and to increase, more evil may arise from it than has been generally anticipated.

All these things, however, have reference to this present world, and in these matters the people certainly appear wiser than the Protestant children of light. But if you look for anything better, I fear we shall be sadly disappointed. Speak to them of God, and of practical influences from Christian truth telling upon the life and the affections, and there seems no response, no community of thought. Religion seems with them a mere formulary routine, altogether disconnected with morals and duties, and that system of forms is most melancholy.

I entered on a week-day the chief and central church of the town. Excepting at one end, it bore the aspect of an assembly room, in which the route chairs in use the previous evening were all scattered about. But at the east end there were three highly decorated altars. The means of worship which is here provided, is intended to meet the tastes of different classes of the people, and to supply them with an object of reverential attention suited to the character of their particular superstition. Over the central or high altar is a crucifix as large as life; over the altar to the left, is a full length figure of the Virgin, holding the infant Jesus, the dress of both being highly silvered and gilt; and over the third, is a picture, painted with some ability, and evidently intended to produce excitement, of a human heart, in the clouds of glory, bound with a crown of thorns, a flame issuing from the top of the heart, and in the midst of it a cross. Beneath are two worshippers, looking up to the heart, with an intensity of anguish and devotion expressed in their countenances. The central exhibition is intended to maintain the great feature of the Christian system, for those who, either intel

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ligently or otherwise, yet look to itamidst the overwhelming superstitions of the Romish system. The statue of the Virgin is the grand delusion of the whole scheme; turning away the mind from the true and elevated notion of the incarnation of Deity, and fixing the devotional thought on female beauty and female influence, and merging the true character of Mediatorship-the power to interfere exercised by one who, being possessed of both the divine and human natures, can "lay his hand upon both,”—in the mere imaginary control of a mother, though finite, over the infinite mind of her eternal and almighty Sun. This is the essential idolatry of the system; and if there is any devotedness to religion at all, it seems to consist, among the women, in the intensity of sympathy with a female mind, and its intelligence of their particular sorrows; and among the men, in reverence for an abstraction of female beauty. The third altar is for the pietists, and the mystics, and the enthusiasts. The Romish clergy, who have much to do with the people, know well, that deep-seated in many a heart, both in the freshness of morning life and unoccupied affections, and also among those whom the misfortunes of life have scathed and blighted, there is a craving for some mighty object to absorb all the powers of the mind, and administer fulness where there was only emptiness before. This yearning is the true consequences of the fall. It is the absence of God. It is the want of return to the true rest. The priests feel intimately the reality of this emptiness; and though many of them in their own case have recourse to very different means of dispelling it, they find it necessary to supply to a certain portion of persons naturally prepensed to enthusiasm, a means of inflammatory religious devotion. This is the origin of "the worship of the sacred heart." There is something enthusiastic in it, which serves where the worship of the Virgin has failed to fix the wandering affections of the few who appear to have any abstract and reflective devotion at all; and the sytem is provided

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