system become oppressive, till it greatly weakens, if it does not destroy itself? Are not the times so trying to the classes constituting the great numerical strength of the evangelical bodies, as to render such appeals and pressure very unseasonable? Will not many be driven from connexions that bring on them so many appeals, so much pressure? These are difficulties, serious difficulties. There must be caution, wisdom, and economy exercised. Some, perhaps many, will secede from a cause which involves both expense and obloquy, which places them in a disadvantageous social position, aud in many ways tests principle, and requires self-denial. Still God's work must be done; the claims of the age must be met. The cause is worth all it demands. By these efforts and charges we procure or retain what is well worth all its costs. We owe all we are called to pay,-first, in honour of our forefathers, who more dearly purchased what we cannot without difficulty defend-to our own age, that cannot be saved from degeneracy, much less advanced in improvement, without strenuous efforts to posterity, for whom we should preserve and bequeath an augmented, not a diminished inheritance of freedom, intelligence, and religion. And the work can be done. Our resources are not exhausted. We are not doing our utmost. Our zeal and liberality admit of great advances. Our givings are not deficient because our substance is wasted, but because our faith is weak. Further, the want of men, of workers, in all departments of benevolent labour, is beginning to be pressingly felt. May it be said, without offence, that many additional ministers of the higher order, both in acquirement and devotement, are urgently needed? In churches, how are brethren and sisters, of wise, active, and humble labours for the general good, needed! In public societies, the times require an order of Christian men to labour in the executive, full of eminent qualifications. Happily, our Sunday-schools have gathered the choice of our youth—the teachers in those seminaries are our joy and hope. But now arises another want-teachers of both sexes for infant schools, daily schools, and evening classes. These should be intelligent, pious persons, kindly disposed to children, voluntarily choosing the work of their instruction. They should be first educated themselves, then trained for the work of teaching; they should acquire both knowledge and the art of communicating it. These must be sought at once: they are as necessary and more valuable than money. This must be a primary care. We are going to the work of education as one of eager competition: the best schools will win the day. Instruction more requires to be improved than extended. The schools that have truly good masters and mistresses will do both. They will make education valuable. Then the people will seek it, and pay for it.

Then, lastly, it is apparent that the efforts of all classes of our people are both needed for this work of general education, and may be made available for its advancement. Pastors can do much for it. From the pulpit, by private influence, in public meetings, by school visitation, their sanction, testimony, and appeals, will be indispensable and invaluable. Hardly less necessary and important will be the efforts of our deacons, and of other brethren, if not in that office, yet of the same character and social standing. They can themselves give money. They can, perhaps, more even than ministers, induce others to give. They can greatly influence the humbler classes. Their visits to the schools, and countenance, will be a great encouragement. But our Sunday-school teachers can do great things. Their numbers alone give them great power. Are they so few as twenty thousand? Were every Congregagational Sunday-school teacher to collect one sovereign for each of the next five years in support of general education, they alone would procure one hundred thousand pounds for the work. Is this impracticable? Beloved teachers in our Sundayschools, it will not be impossible; it will be easy, if you resolve to do it. Take up this thought, act on it, carry it out. Then, multitudes of the children that should be gathered into our daily schools are already your charge. With their parents you

are familiar. Employ your influence to fill the daily schools with pupils. Moreover, many of you, probably, ought to become teachers of daily schools. This laborious and self-denying, but most honourable work, some of you should undertake. Not for interest, but for conscience and benevolence, give yourselves to it. If you can see a personal call in providence-an open door-and feel within a mental impulse, seek to be educated for this work, to be devoted to it. Those who teach the people of England on sound and enlightened, on religious and scriptural principles, will be the benefactors of their country, of the church, of the world.

THE WYCLIFFE SOCIETY SCHEME.-The Wycliffe Society is a project commenced and carried forward under the auspices of the Congregational Union, most highly deserving, and as urgently requiring the support of all enlightened Independents. It is a proposal for reprinting the most rare and able tracts on Ecclesiastical Reform in these realms from the period of Wycliffe down to the period of tolerated and established Nonconformity after the revolution of 1688. Wonderful were the "times of reformation" from popery. A " day-spring from on high" visited Europe. In England, especially, the period somewhat more than a century in length, including at its commencement the reign of Edward the Sixth, and at its close the struggles and storms of the Long Parliament, brought forth keen and high debates on almost every point of Christian doctrine, every question of Christian polity. The men of those days wrote with a power and impulse which the present times, active and onward as they are, cannot supply. Yet these times strikingly resemble those of the period just alluded to. The same interests are contending, the same opinions are rising up, the same passions and hopes are awake, the same earnest spirit is breathing itself into all parties. But the men of this age have not the leisure to write as their fathers wrote, with patient toil, with profound learning, with deep sagacity. Let there then be a "resurrection" of these "witnesses." Let them live and speak again. Let them testify to this generation also. Let them instruct us, as they taught their contemporaries. They are worthy of this honour. They are our fathers to speak to us, not with authority indeed, but with wisdom.

The society proposes to reprint these choice products of the human mind, on subjects of deep interest, by subscriptions to be annually continued. The whole amount of subscription to be expended on the volumes brought out. No profit to be made in any way. The works republished to be carefully selected, and edited by competent scholars. Historical or biographical introductions and explanatory notes to be given. The typography and style of the volumes to be handsome, without undue expense. Such progress has been made in the subscription list, as warrants perseverance, and encourages immediate efforts to prepare the first volumes. Wycliffe's scarce treatises will probably supply the first volume. The tracts and correspondence of the confessors and reformers of Henry the Eighth's reign, another. Materials will be found in the controversy on the "habits" in the reign of Edward. The writings of the martyrs at home, and of the exiles abroad, in Mary's time, especially the Frankfort troubles, will supply materials. Then follow Cartwright, Smectymnuus, the Independents, Milton-leaders of a host.

The Rev. Robert Ashton acts as the Corresponding Secretary of this Society. All communications on it should be addressed to him, by post, at the Congregational Library, or at his residence, Putney. A sovereign per annum is the subscription, for which, it is hoped, three volumes may be afforded.

ON THE PROGRESS of IndependenCY IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES.—It is not an agreeable thing in itself to be convicted of a mistake; yet, as the evidence which produces that conviction is sometimes on the right side, the pain of acknowledging it is thereby marvellously abated.

This is our position at the present moment; for several esteemed correspondents have shown us to be clearly in error in the number of Congregational churches of North and South Wales, which we published in our last supplement; but an error, as our readers will see, on the right side.

The Rev. Richard Parry, of Conway, has favoured us with the following statement of their present number in the thirteen counties, founded upon recent inquiries, that may be relied on:

"The efficiency of the voluntary principle to spread the cause of Christ," says the Rev. Thomas Rees, of Llanelly, "is sufficiently proved by the fact, that at least five hundred of the chapels belonging to these congregations have been either built or rebuilt during the last forty years, at an expense of from £100 to £1800 each.

'We ought to acknowledge with gratitude the assistance which our brethren in England have given us from time to time; still, the sums collected in England, though positively large, are very small in comparison to those exhibited by the united exertions of our own societies, made up almost exclusively of small farmers and field labourers, and other workmen.

"The fact that more than five hundred chapels have been built in forty years in the principality of Wales, which, in point of wealth, is one of the poorest parts of the United Kingdom, and in point of population has by far a less number of inhabitants than the county of York, is worthy of record, as evincing the power of Christian principle, and the possibility of sustaining the worship of God in poor country districts, as well as in the populous towns and crowded cities of the United Kingdom."

OPENING OF A NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, &C. AT BROCKville, Western CANADA.-On Thursday, November the 23rd, the place of worship erected at Brockville for the use of the congregation attending the ministry of the Rev. James Drummond, late of London, England, was solemnly dedicated to the service of the TRIUNE JEHOVAH, by appropriate religious exercises. Mr. Drummond preached in the forenoon, being assisted in the devotional parts of the service by the Rev. Mr. Carrol, of Prescott, and another minister of the Wesleyan Methodist church. The Rev. H. Wilkes, of Montreal, preached in the evening. The audiences were large, and seriously attentive to the word of life. Collections were made in aid of the building fund.

The site of this beautiful edifice is admirably chosen on the elevation behind the principal street, on a level with the Court-house, and amid a grove of evergreen trees. The design, generously furnished by Mr. Howard, architect, Toronto, without charge,

* Exclusive of the English Independents in that county.

is at once massive and chaste. Gothic in style, the walls are relieved by a series of buttresses projecting between each of the five windows, and tapering to a point towards the roof. It is built of hewn stone from the quarry of William Freeland, Esq. who, with another member of the congregation, has contributed very largely to the building fund. The tower, which, like the other parts of the structure, has at once a massive and chaste appearance, does not project into the interior, and thence forms a large, well-lighted, and convenient vestibule. The fittings within are in harmony with the general character of the building, as to their neatness and simplicity; while the whole forms an ornament to a town which is far-famed for its beauty, both in site and arrangement, and does great credit to the taste of all the parties concerned. The tower is carried only to the roof, and is therefore unfinished. Irrespective of the amount which will be required to finish it, the building and the ground have cost £900. There is room, however, for a house. Towards this sum the members of the congregation and the inhabitants of Brockville have contributed the handsome sum of £500.

On the following Lord's-day, Divine service was held in the new building. The Rev. James Drummond officiated in the forenoon, and delivered an exceedingly interesting and affectionate discourse on "love to the house of God." The Rev. H. Wilkes, of Montreal, addressed a large audience in the afternoon, on "the nature and claims of Christian fellowship," and then proceeded to assist in the formation of a church in accordance with primitive and apostolic order. As agent of the Colonial Missionary Society, Mr. Wilkes explained, to the assembly that Mr. Drummond had left an interesting charge in London, and had come forth at the request of that Society to Brockville. He had found a few who waited with anxiety for his coming, they having been members of Congregational churches in Great Britain, and being conscientiously attached to our apostolic order. His ministry had been attended by others to whose conversion from the error of their way, the Head of the church had graciously blessed it; so that he (Mr. D.) had been called to rejoice in those precious seals, which more than aught else encouraged the faithful messenger of truth. Twenty-three individuals, in whose devotedness to our Divine Saviour, and consistent religious life, Mr. Drummond had confidence, after much acquaintance and conversation, and who, moreover, had confidence in each other, as "fellow-heirs of the grace of life," having agreed to walk together in the fellowship of the Gospel, it became his (Mr. W.'s) pleasing duty, as requested by themselves and their minister, to receive their declaration and to recognise them as a church. Reference was then made to "the Declaration of Faith and Order" of the Congregational churches, as agreed to by an Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales; and the twentythree individuals by rising from their seats publicly, testified the general adherence to the view therein given of Divine truth and church order, and their determination, formed in reliance on Divine aid, to walk together as a church of Christ, according to the directions of Holy Scripture. This done, Mr. W. by the right hand of fellowship, recognised them in his own name, in that of the church of which he is the pastor, and the sister churches generally. Thus constituted, the church unanimously expressed its desire that the Rev. James Drummond should accept the pastoral oversight. This Mr. D. agreed to do in a few affectionate remarks, and this relation being similarly recognised, the Lord's-supper was administered, two members of sister churches communing with the infant church. The service was eminently impressive and interesting, several of the observers were much and we hope happily moved, Mr. Wilkes preached again in the evening, the new building being well filled with attentive hearers. It is our prayer that the Lord will graciously bless this series of services, and still further smile on the labours of our esteemed brother, the pastor of the infant church.—The Harbinger.

ORDINATION.

On the 23rd ult., Mr. William Williams, late of Llanrwst, was publicly ordained pastor of the Independent church at Colwyn, near Conway. The service was introduced by the Rev. J. Hughes, Baptist minister of Llaneilian. The Rev. R. Parry, of Conway, delivered the introductory discourse. The usual questions were asked by the Rev. T. Griffith, of Rhydlydan. The ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. W. Jones, of Nazareth. The charge to the young minister was given by the Rev. L. Everett, of Llanrwst; and the Rev. W. Williams, of Caernarvon, preached to the people. Sermons were also delivered on the previous evening, and at two and six o'clock on Thursday, by the Reverends Jones, of Nazareth; Griffiths, of Rhydlydan; I. T. Jones, of Llanybri; Hughes, of St. George; Everett of Llanrwst; and Williams, of Caernarvon. The young minister commences his labours under very promising prospects of success.

OBITUARY NOTICES AND RECENT DEATHS.

DIED on Wednesday morning, August 16, 1843, the Rev. DANIEL SPENCER WARD, for upwards of nineteen years the truly pious and exemplary pastor of the Congregational church in St. John's, Newfoundland. This event took place at his residence after a distressing illness and much protracted suffering, during the latter part of which the mind (for some time previously oppressed) unhappily gave way to a considerable extent, and the powers of articulation became also exceedingly enfeebled; and thus the small circle of friends by whom he was more immediately surrounded, were disappointed in their expectation of some last words of advice and exhortation, and of some animating confirmation of the great Gospel truths which he had for so long a period preached to them. The subject of this notice was born in London, in 1785, and at the age of seventeen or eighteen, entered upon his studies for the ministry, at Hackney, under the Rev. George Collison. These completed, he was engaged in itinerating among the neighbouring villages until he received a call to the pastoral office at Sidmouth, in Devonshire, where he was ordained, 1816. At Sidmouth he preached to a stated congregation for a period of eight or nine years; and was then induced to visit the colony of Newfoundland, for the purpose of taking charge of the pulpit rendered vacant by the retirement of his predecessor. Mr. Ward arrived in that country in June, 1824, and continued to labour among his flock unceasingly, we believe without one Sabbath-day's intermission, until Nov. 1840, when he took his departure for England, partly for the purpose of recruiting his health, and with the view also of collecting some funds in aid of the erection of a new place of worship. In 1841 he returned from England with his health and strength re-invigorated, and with a list of subscriptions to the amount of about £1200, in aid of the latter object. From that period down to Saturday evening the 30th of July last, he continued to perform the ordinary service (with the exception of that of the afternoon, which he was reluctantly compelled to relinquish ;) and on the 3rd of August, he was by reason of his increasing infirmities confined to his house, from which he was never afterwards able to venture forth.

His life, like his Master's, was spent in doing good;-his charities were best known to those who were the recipients of them; while the concern which he entertained for the spiritual welfare of his fellow-creatures was always manifested by a timely and well-directed inquiry upon that head. Meek, unoffending, and unobtrusive, with much occasional vivacity of manner, yet always anxious for the spiritual concerns of his flock, he most affectionately endeared himself to them; and the final separation, therefore, as far as regards this sublunary state of existence, is felt with