man who lives about three miles off. A man was whitewashing there, with whom I entered into conversation. He was a romanist, but a very candid one. I gave him a couple of tracts; I met him again very recently at another house. I gave him two tracts more, which he eagerly took, and said he had found several quotations of scripture in the first, and that if I could get him a bible he should be much obliged to me. He wanted to refer to it for those passages. He is now diligently engaged at all times of leisure in reading it, to which his mind was first called by the tracts. May God bless its perusal to his conversion.

Several romanists have been present at our meetings lately.

Mr. THOMAS of Limerick writes, Dec. 14: That during the past month, I have visited Beechmount, Nenagh, Burrisokane, Clonola, and Mount Shannon, preaching the word, and inspecting the schools. I have had attentive congregations, and find the schools in an encouraging state. This week I have been to Ballycar, Newmarket, and Fergus; I preached three times at Newmarket, several romanists were present, and all heard with great attention.

POSTSCRIPT.

Our kind friends in Glasgow recently invited several of our brethren from Ireland to come over there to attend a soiree in aid of the society. They were most kindly received, and their statements awakened a deep sympathy for Ireland. A liberal collection was made, and a determination expressed to aid the funds of the society more constantly and efficiently for the future.

Our hearty thanks are tendered to our Norfolk and Suffolk friends, for their kindness and liberality to the deputation last month. We hope the ladies who so readily responded to the appeal on behalf of the poor children in our schools, are by this time busily at work for them. The parcel sent by Mrs. White of Cirencester, has been forwarded to the brethren McCarthy at Kilbeggan, and Mullarky of Parson's Town; and that by Mrs. Burls has savely arrived, been distributed, and acknowledged by Mr. Hardcastle on behalf of his colleagues.

Contributions thankfully received by the Treasurer, ROBERT STOCK, Esq., 1, Maddox Street, the Rev. J. ANGUS, and the Secretary, Mr. TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, and by the pastors of our churches shroughout the Kingdom.

QUARTERLY REGISTER

OF THE

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

No. XXXV. NEW SERIES.

JANUARY, 1845.

PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND REPORTS OF AUXILIARIES.

THE Annual Meeting of the North Wilts and East Somerset Auxiliary, was held at Westbury Leigh, on October 22. The speakers were Messrs. Jones of Frome, Barnes of Trowbridge, Fishbourne of Bratton, Dunn of Gillingham, and the Secretary to the Parent Society. The following report, drawn up by the Secretary to the Auxiliary, Mr. Middleditch of Frome, was read to the meeting. It is printed at the request of the Auxiliary:

In presenting a report of proceedings for the past year, your Committee rejoice that they have to speak with satisfaction and gratitude of the success which, by the divine blessing, has attended the labours of your agents. In accordance with the usual plan, they now lay before the annual meeting some extracts from the communications received from the brethren employed by this society.

Mr. KING gives a very encouraging statement of the prosperity of the church under his pastoral care at Semley:

We are happy (he says) to be able to report

a considerable addition to the number of our

of a zealous clergyman, of Puseyite principles, have been constantly directed to prevent the spread of what he denominates error and schism. Being a man of ardent temperament, he frequently visits the people, and intreats them not to allow themselves to be led astray by the Baptists, declaring that we are the most intolerable of all sects, because we reject the fundamental practice of the church-infant baptism. Efforts have been made also to pre

vent the children from attending the sabbath school. They have only succeeded in cases where the parents have been very dependant.

During the past year, Mr. ALCOCK, who zeal, and considerable success, at Berhad for a long time laboured with great members. We have been privileged to bap- wick, St. John's, and Bower Chalk, retize and receive into the church seventeen moved from that sphere of labour, having persons, all of whom gave satisfactory proofs been invited to the pastoral office by the of conversion to God. Several of them, rather church at Parley, in Hampshire. After more than twelve months since, seldom at- considerable difficulty in obtaining a tended the house of God; and their conduct suitable agent to occupy these interesting openly declared their hostility to the religion of stations, your Committee have succeeded the Saviour. We have also several inquirers, in securing the services of Mr. Rowe, of whom we hope on a future occasion to re- formerly a deacon of the Baptist church port that they have cast in their lot amongst in Salisbury, and more recently a city 3. Our congregation has continued to increase, and is now much enlarged. Our Sunday Berwick were unanimous in the request missionary at Gloucester. The church at school is in a more flourishing condition than at any previous time. The teachers are all that he should become their pastor. pions. From present indications, we hope It gives your Committee much pleasure soon to reap the fruits of their labours. While to report that his labours are well rethus favoured, we have been much and perceived by the people, and under the severingly opposed both by the world, and divine blessing will, they trust, be rensome so-called Christian professors. The efforts dered very useful.

Your Committee are happy to state, that the cause of God, in the populous village of Gillingham and its neighbourhood, is far more prosperous and promising than at any former time. After the repeated discouragements which have been met with there, they cannot refer to this without an expression of devout gratitude to Him who has now smiled on the persevering efforts of our brother labouring in that place. Mr. DUNN gives the following statement:

Your Committee have much pleasure in adverting to the state of the Home Missionary cause at Corsham, and its neighbourhood. They have frequently had to mention with thankfulness the encouragement they have had to continue their support to the stations in this part of the county. They have now to announce with gratitude, that the church there has attained to a degree of strength which enables them to retire from your funds. The connexion of the society with the church in that place has, therefore,now ended, not through failure and defeat, but Blessed be God who has caused some reon account of the success with which God freshing drops of his mercy to fall on this barren waste, so that this year's report will be has deigned to bless it. Mr. WEBLEY has At published a brief account of the progress much more encouraging than the last. Gillingham a deeper interest is felt; our aim of evangelical truth in those places, to do good to sinners is better understood; the which furnishes much encouragement to deep-seated prejudices of the people have been persevere in the effort to enlighten the in some measure removed, so that our congre- spiritually benighted parts of our land. gation has considerably increased. In the Some years since, when he settled there hamlet of Langham, where I preach statedly under the auspices of this society, the in the week, we have sometimes found it diffi- morning congregation was not more than cult to supply a sufficient number of seats. thirteen or fourteen in number. Now At Stour our congregation continues stationary. there are seven substantial and good At my settlement an attempt was made to places of worship in that neighbourhood, establish a Sunday school in this place; pre- four of which have been enlarged; there judice ran so high that the attempt failed. The effort was renewed last spring; and since that are five Sunday schools, and three smaller time the school has gradually increased. Our villages, where the preaching in cottages prayer meeting at Stour is tolerably well at- is well attended. These are all contended. We have also succeeded, notwith- nected with the church at Corsham, which contains 128 members, though standing great prejudice, in establishing a most cheering prayer meeting at Gillingham. Many many once connected with it have refrom a distance remain on the Sunday after- moved to other places of abode. Three and tea in the vestry. It is a rule that pastors of churches have gone forth from the conversation shall be spiritual and useful. this Home Missionary station: another One or two persons, who are able to manage of its members is now studying for the such conversation, and engage in prayer, are ministry at Bristol; and five of the generally present. I have visited many persons brethren are constantly employed as vilin sick and dying circumstances. I am aware that little reliance is to be placed on a death-confident that this statement cannot be lage preachers. Your Committee bed repentance; yet in some instances the read by you without gratitude for past evidences of a change have been of a very decisive character. How much do your mis-success, and encouragement to future sionaries need an interest in your prayers, that It would have afforded them much the flame of love to Christ and to precious souls may burn brightly! This is the true pleasure to say, that the withdrawment spring of all useful activity. When this de- of this church from the funds of your clines so does self-denying labour. There are society would enable them to maintain several villages beyond Stour, where the in- your other stations without difficulty; habitants are in a most benighted state. If but it is not in their power to do this. Notwithstanding the appeal made to the churches connected with the society, to secure annual collections in its behalf

noon,

our funds would permit, I would urge your sending a missionary to that dark region; but I am aware that they will not, and can only mourn over the desolation of the people. I am happy to inform you that our debt has been considerably reduced; £100 has been paid. For this we are indebted to the indefatigable exertions of brother King. During the past year nine persons have been baptized. We have a goodly number of inquirers, and hope soon to baptize again.

labours.

are

in fulfilment of the resolution passed at your last annual meeting-they regret to say that there are churches which have not made a collection for these important purposes for many years; and though strenuous efforts have been made to increase the number of annual subscribers,

there are many professing Christians -even amongst those whom God has blessed in temporal things-who do not contribute in support of the efforts for the evangelization of our countrymen, and some who once subscribed have withdrawn their aid. Brethren, ought these things to be? The cause is God's; it is your own. In conclusion, your Committee intreat you to ponder well these two considerations: Are they to be forbidden, by the want of funds, to enter on other scenes of Christian effort? Are they to retire from any of those at present occupied? Are all the spiritually destitute places still to be neglected? Are any of the hopeful stations of the society to be abandoned? They hope to receive from you both the command and the means to "go forward.”

to press the necessities of our county, and the pecuniary wants of the society, distinctly, earnestly, and with all the emphasis of repetition on the attention of our churches. The following extract from the Oxfordshire report, although intended for local, is well adapted for general impression:

A slight glance at the spiritual destitution of the county will at once show the importance of the society, and the need there is for more extended efforts. In addition to this, the consideration of what is being done by the advo. cates of the tractarian heresy to diffuse their poison, ought to rouse every friend to protestantism and the diffusion of scriptural truth. These are not the times for us to sleep or remain inactive. There is a mighty movement being made.

The safety and security of our liberties and privileges depend upon us, as well as the supply of the spiritual wants of thousands who are now living around us in ignorance and sin. We therefore press upon your attention the claims of this society; being aggressive in its character, it is especially adapted to meet the spiritual destitution of multitudes, by the simple and efficient nature of its agency.

Having given several interesting extracts from the correspondence of the agents, the committee proceed to say:

The report of the Oxfordshire Auxiliary has just come to hand. It contains some very encouraging accounts of success; but it is painful to find that the operations of the Auxiliary are checked, and the existence of some of its stations en. dangered, through the inadequacy of its pecuniary resources. It has made a strong appeal to the Parent Society for Many, very many stations might be occuincreased help; but appeals of this kind pied, had they funds. Some of these are are so numerous, and the funds of the supplied by the individual labours of minissociety for general purposes so very ters and friends, in whose vicinity they are; scanty, that it would be impossible to others are obliged to be abandoned entirely, render the amount of assistance solicited, friends of the society to determine what shall which is a serious evil. It remains for the and indeed deserved, without involving be done. We ask you, in the name of the the society-already sufficiently embar- Lord,--Shall we abandon our position, and rassed-in hopeless debt. The Com-retire ingloriously; or shall we continue our mittee-as both their reports and registers will prove-have been averse to inressant, or even frequent references to so unpleasing a topic. The time has arrived, however, when it is indispensable

efforts? We invite your fervent prayers, your sympathies, counsels, and pecuniary aid. Then the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

MR. PULSFORD'S MOVEMENTS.

Accounts have been received of Mr. Pulsford's labours from Sutton-on-Trent and Collingham, Nottinghamshire; Cradley, Worcestershire; and Houghton, Huntingdonshire.

At Sutton-on-Trent the population is small, and the most bitter hostility was evinced by various parties to the movement. The amount of success, however,

was far greater than the pastor and people anticipated. Mr. EDGE says:

The meetings, morning and evening, were in general well attended; increasing in in