presented the general prayer; Rev. T. Wood, of London, addressed the pastor and church in an impressive manner. Other ministers attended, and the congregation was good; a large party of friends dined together. Mr. Evans, preached in the evening, the greatest harmony prevailed, and the prospect of usefulness is very encouraging.

On Tuesday evening, May 30, 1826, the Rev. Evan James, late of Newtown Academy, was ordained over the Welch Independent church in Lower Castle-street, Bristol. The Rev. W, H. Grey commenced by a short and impressive prayer; Rev. W. Lucy read a portion of the Scriptures and prayed; Rev. J. Bristow, of Exeter, delivered the introductory discourse on the constitution of a Christian church. The usual questions were proposed by Rev. J. Wooldridge; Rev. J. Philipps, of Bethlehem, offered up the ordination prayer; Rev. J. Liefchild gave an appropriate charge to the minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15; Rev. H. B. Jeula, of Greenwich, concluded with a short address and prayer. On Wednesday evening, the Rev. J. Philipps, of Bethlehem, preached to the church and congregation, from Phil. ii. 29: the devotional exercises were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Weston, Slater, James, and Pritchard. The services were numerously and respectably attended, and many went their way rejoicing.

CHAPELS OPENED, &c.

On Wednesday, March 8, 1826, the Independent Chapel, Warwick, after being very considerably enlarged and improved, was re-opened for Divine worship. The Rev. J. A. James preached in the morning, from Ephes. ii. 20, 22, and again in the evening, from John xvii. 17.

On the following Lord's Day, the Rev. Robert Hall preached in the morning, from Heb. xii. 8; and, in the evening, from John xv. 27; and J. W. Percy, minister of the place, in the afternoon, from Psal. cxviii. 25, last clause. The collections on both days amounted to 1281. 98. 84d. which exceeded the most sanguine expectation of friends, and furnished a pleasing specimen of the liberality of other denominations of Christians in the town, and the good understanding which prevails among them all. The congregations were very excellent, and the season will be long remembered with gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, for the testimony of Divine approbation then afforded.

On Wednesday, March 22nd, a neat and commodious place of worship, connected with the Independents, was opened at Heol Mostyn, county of Flint, when sermons were preached on the occasion; those in the morning by the Rev. J. Thorpe, of

Chester, and the Rev. J. Griffith, of Manchester; in the afternoon, by the Rev. Dr. Raffles, and the Rev. J. Breese, of Liverpool; and, in the evening, by the Rev. J. Saunders, of Buckley Mountain, and the Rev. W. Williams, of Wern; and, on the preceding evening, by the Rev. D. Roberts, of Denbigh, and the Rev. J. Breese. The discourses were delivered one in English, and the other in Welsh. There was also a quarterly meeting of the Congregational Union held at this chapel, before it was yet completed, on the 27th of Dec, last, when sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Pearce, of Wrexham, Rev. W. Jones, of Carnarvon, &c. Several of the neighbouring ministers engaged in conducting the devotional parts of these exceedingly pleas. ing, and we hope very profitable services. Collections were made at each Meeting toward the expenses incurred in the erection of the chapel, when, at the first, was obtained 81. 88. ld.; and, at the opening, 201, Os. 10d.

On Thursday, May 18, 1826, a large and commodious room, 60 feet by 24, situated in Lady Meadow, Tamworth, in the county of Stafford, was opened for divine worship, connected with the Independent Denomination; on which occasion, two sermons were preached, that in the afternoon by the Rev, T. East, of Birmingham; and that in the evening by the Rev. J. Sibree, of Coventry. On the following Sabbath, sermons were also delivered in the same place by the Rev. W. Salt, of Lichfield. Several Independent Ministers in the neighbourhood have engaged to supply the place for a few weeks, at the expiration of which period, a senior student from Hoxton Academy will undertake the charge.

The town of Tamworth, with the adjoining populous village of Fazely, contains 6 or 7000 inhabitants, so that a wide field for religious exertion is presented; for though the gospel is preached by other denominations of Christans in the town and its vicinity, yet there are multitudes of the inhabitants that never attend any place of wor ship; and the chief object contemplated and desired by the friends of this infant cause, in opening the above room, is to bring in such individuals to attend to the Word of Life. Considerable interest has been already excited, and a good congregation collected together. Should Providence continue to smile on this effort to do good, it is intended to erect a chapel in the town, as an eligible piece of ground has been offered, on very liberal terms, by a gentleman of high respectability in the neighbourhood, and the sum of 501. has been generously promised for that purpose, by T. Wilson, Esq., Treasurer of Hoxton Academy.

On Thursday evening, June 15, 1826, the foundation stone of a commodious place

of worship was laid in the town of Atherstone, Warwickshire, belonging to the Independent Congregation, of which the Rev. R. M. Miller is Pastor. The services of the evening commenced by a statement being read by Rev. Mr. Miller, of the Origin of the Independent Denomination in that Town; of the necessity of providing more eligible accommodations for an increasing congregation; and of the exertions which had been made by the friends of the cause, towards raising a fund for the erection of the new chapel. Appropriate and animating addresses were then delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Salt, of Lichfield; Jerrard and Sibree, of Coventry; Percy, of Warwick; Hartnell and Wood, of Nuneaton; and Dagley, of Chapel End. The devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Dix, of Bedworth; and Jones, of Foleshill. The assembly, which it is supposed consisted of not less than 1500 people, appeared highly gratified, and it is presumed that it will be a season long to be remembered, as forming a new era in the history of the Dissenting interest in that neighbourhood.

On Lord's Day, May 7, York-street Chapel, in Bath, which has been taken for the Rev. Dr. Cracknell, and put into complete repair, was re-opened for public worship. In the morning the chapel was well filled; in the evening it was crowded. The population of Bath exeeds fifty thousand; yet, till of late years, there existed only one chapel for Independents, and that furnishing seat-room for about a thousand persons.

The old Tabernacle at Chippenham, which was erected through the influence of the late Rev. G. Whitfield, and opened for public worship on the day of his death, being now in an unsafe state, and far too small for the increased and increasing congregation, under the faithful and acceptable ministrations of the Rev. Benjamin Reece; the Rev. R. Hill, M.A., preached an impressive, suitable, and excellent sermon, on June the 2nd, from 1 Cor. iii. 11; after which he laid the founda

tion-stone of a new Tabernacle, and placed thereon the liberal donation of 20 guineas.

The Rev. B. Reece respectfully solicits the aid of the pious public, to enable the congregation to complete this laudable and necessary undertaking.

HADLOW, KENT.

The Pastor and Congregation connected with the Baptist interest at this place, held their Fifth Anniversary on Thursday, the 25th of April. Mr. Shirley, of Seven Oaks, preached in the Morning, and Mr. Francis in the Afternoon.

The encouragement which the increase of attentive hearers presented, the general prospects of usefulness, the presence of numerous highly valued friends, combined to render it one of their most interesting and pleasing Anniversaries; but scarcely had the afternoon service terminated, when the painful intelligence arrived, that two of their friends, who had intended to meet them, Mr. R. Gower and his wife, members of Mr. Gladwick's church, at Brenckley, in attempting to cross a bridge on the river Medway, were, in consequence of the horse taking fright, precipitated into the water, and both drowned.

They had long maintained a character honourable to their profession, and were greatly esteemed by their pastor and the church, for their consistent and blameless walk. With persevering industry, and the Divine blessing on their daily labours, they bad been enabled to support a family of five children, who by this dispensation, left orphans, without any provision for their future support. Contributions will be gratefully received and carefully applied, by the Rev. J. Ivimey, of Harpur-street, and Mr. T. Thomson, of Brixton Hill.

are

The Rev. Lemon Hall (late of Dorchester) has accepted the invitation of the Church at Payle, near Colnbrook, and is expected to commence his labours there in the present month.

THE REV. JOS. BROWN JEFFERSON.

"THE ways of God are, indeed, in the deep, his paths in the mighty waters, and his footsteps not known." Two years have not elapsed since the Rev. Stephen Morell, jun., a young man of highly-promising talents, and of devoted attachment to the cause of religion, was, in the first year of his stated ministry, called to receive his reward; a short account of his character and state of mind, in the prospect of death, was then written by his intimate and excellent friend, the Rev. J. B. Jefferson, and was inserted in this Magazine for Dec. 1824; Vob. 17,

and now he also is summoned to give an account of his stewardship, "because he may no longer be steward."

Mr. Jefferson entered Homerton College in January, 1821; he passed through the usual course of studies in that Institution in a way that indicated the uncommon superiority of his talents, and that drew forth the admiration and esteem both of his tutors and of his fellow-students: during the summer of 1824, he supplied the church at Attercliffe, near Sheffield, for several Sabbaths, and, at the close of that year, received an unanimous invitation to the pastoral office. In a letter to a friend soon after this pe

tained the closest communion with God. To a little niece she was accustomed to say, (and to whom she acted the part of a mother) "Morning and evening are not the only times for prayer; whenever you find a minute to spare, and feel any holy emotions arising within you, kneel down and pray that the Spirit of God may be poured out upon you." She was much indebted to the ministry of the Rev. Henry Townley, whom she occasionally heard at Paddington Chapel, and of whom she used to say, "If you could tell the peace my soul receives when I hear the glad tidings preached by him, you would not wonder that I love his name." His

leaving England on his mission to India, was an occasion of trouble to her mind, and on his return, the most intimate friend or the nearest relative could not have hailed him with more pleasure. As she was personally unknown to this respected Minister, the writer of this Memoir is anxious to reveal the good that he has accomplished, when perhaps his heart was overwhelmed between the balance of duty, whether he should labour in Britain or in India.

To her inexpressible grief, she was now called to part with her mother, whose death cast a gloom over the whole family, and deeply affected her spirits. Her frame, which was always delicate, for several years before her decease had threatened consumption, and it appears by a letter written to a friend, that she had frequent convictions resting on her mind that her days would shortly be numbered. Under these impressions she writes, "Oh! for faith to look at things unseen, that amid the toils of our journey, we may often be cheered with the sight of a smiling Saviour, and an approving God: this, in a world of tribulation, will lighten our burdens, and enable us to sing, It is good for us that we have been afflicted-for thus have we been reminded of the faithfulness of Him who hath said, As thy day is, so shall thy strength be also; and surely when we look on our pilgrimage, we may truly say-surely goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever-yes for ever! for when our short and fatiguing journey of time is ended, an eternal rest is prepared for us in the happy and peaceful house of our heavenly Father."

In looking over some of her papers, they all bear the same stamp which marked her unabated love to Christ. In a little scrap found in her desk, she writes, "Oh the happy return of these Annual Missionary Meetings; may the Lord give me strength and health to enjoy them as my dear mother and I did." Her health rapidly declined, and in the arms of her beloved father, she calmly resigned her spirit to the Saviour, on the 28th of February, 1826, aged 33 years. Edmonton. J. 8.B.

RECENT DEATHS.

JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, ESQ.

On Friday evening, the 30th June, this truly valuable member of the community departed this life, at his house, Bedfordsquare, after a very short illness. His funeral took place on Friday, the 7th July, when his mortal remains were conveyed for interment to the Wesleyan Chapel, in the City-road. The spacious area in front of the chapel was crowded during the morning by Dissenters of various denominations. The hearse, followed by a train of nearly thirty mourning coaches and many private carriages, arrived at the ground, when Mr. Butterworth, the eldest son of the deceased, as chief mourner, followed by a great number of his late father's friends, entered the chapel in procession, where the burial service of the Established Church was read by the Rev. Mr. Stevens, of Great Queen-street Chapel, Lincoln's Inn Fields, after which the body was deposited in a vault beneath the chapel. The funeral appendages were devoid of all useless ornament; upon the coffin was a plate containing the following inscription:JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, ESQ. Died June 30, 1826,

Aged 56 years.

The loss of Mr. Butterworth will be greatly felt by the denomination to which he belonged, as well as by the religious public at large. He was a zealous supporter of every good cause-a man of fervent piety and catholic spirit-a friend to the poorand the ready advocate of the widow and fatherless. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

REV. GRIFFITH WILLIAMS, LATE MINISTER OF GATE-STREET CHAPEL, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.

On Saturday, the 1st of July, died this worthy man, and faithful minister of the everlasting gospel. But a few days before his decease, he preached to his people with his accustomed zeal and affection, and without betraying any symptoms of his approaching end. How loud the call to all Christ's ministers, "Be ye also ready!" His interment took place at Bunhill-fields, on Thursday the 6th of July, on which mournful occasion a large body of ministers and Christian friends attended to testify their respect for his amiable and excellent character. The Rev. Matt. Wilks delivered the funeral address, and the Rev. Messrs. Smith and Fletcher conducted the devotions.

SIR STAMFORD RAFFLES.

The unexpected death of this warm friend to the cause of Christian Missions took place at his own residence, Highwood Hill, the 5th ult. It was occasioned, it is thought, by apoplexy. With his amiable family we cannot but deeply sympathiss,

EFFECTS OF BURNING THE BIBLE IN PERU.

(Extract of a Letter from a British Captain.)

"BEFORE I close this letter, I must inform you of a very remarkable occurrence which took place at Arica. Some of the inhabitants came on board to see the vessel; on their leaving, I presented each of them with a Spanish Bible. A priest, the same evening, came into one of their houses, and found a gentleman reading the Bible: this instantly attracted his notice, and he demanded it from him, which was refused; a scuffle ensued, and the furious priest caught it from him, summoned him before the governor, who gave directions (influenced by the priest) that it should be burned, which was done immediately, in the most public manner. A search was made for more, but the inhabitants hid themonly one was discovered. The day after, about ten in the morning, a furious hurricane of wind came on instantaneously, which blew some of the smaller vessels from their anchors, covered the town with dust, and left it in perfect darkness. The inhabitants, expecting some awful judgment, either shut themselves up in their houses or churches, using their usual incantations or prayers to their saints. This continued several hours; and it is necessary to remark, that on that part of the coast of Peru it never rains; the wind is always very moderate, and such an event was never known. When I came on shore, after it had subsided, I told them it was a judgment from God for burning his Word. This opinion they themselves had already formed. A universal inquiry was consequently made, whether I had any more Bibles. The news spread all along the coast. I distributed five cases among them, and might have disposed of all I had, but preferred keeping some for Lima. A few days after, the Prefector of Arequipa, next in rank to Bolivar, came to Arica to inspect the custom-house department, and regulate the duties. He was informed of this outrage committed by the priest against liberty of conscience.

The

Prefector requested me to give him two copies of the Spanish Bible, which I did: one was sent to the Bishop of Arequipa, to know why that book should be destroyed; the other was retained for his own use. After I left, he gave directions, I understand, for a circulation of the Bible, and of all religious books, free of any duty or incumbrance. The priest is in great disgrace, and despised by the people. The effect which this may produce on the coast of Peru, no one can calculate but He who caused it."

THE INFIDEL STAGGERED BY A CHILD,

and author of a History of England, was dining at the house of an intimate friend. After dinner the ladies withdrew, and in the course of conversation, Hume made some assertion which caused a gentleman present to observe to him, "If you can advance such sentiments as those, you certainly are, what the world gives you credit for being, an infidel." A little girl, whom the philosopher had often noticed, and with whom he had become a favourite, by bringing her little presents of toys and sweetmeats, happened to be playing about the room unnoticed: she, however, listened to the conversation, and on hearing the above expression, left the room, went to her mother, and asked her, "Mamma, what is an infidel?" "An infidel! my dear," replied her mother, "why should you ask such a question? an infidel is so awful a character, that I scarcely know how to answer you.”—“ Oh! do tell me, mamma," returned the child, "I must know what an infidel is." Struck with her eagerness, her mother at length replied, "An infidel is one who believes that there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no hereafter."

Some days afterwards, Hume again visited the house of his friend. On being introduced to the parlour, he found no one there but his favourite little girl; he went to her, and attempted to take her up in his arms and kiss her, as he had been used to do; but the child shrunk with horror from his touch. "My dear," said he, "what is the matter? do I hurt you?" "No," she replied, "you do not hurt me, but I cannot kiss you, I cannot play with you." "Why not, my dear?" "Because you are an infidel!" "An infidel! what is that?" "One who believes there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no hereafter."

"And are you not very sorry for me, my dear?" asked the astonished philosopher. "Yes, indeed, I am sorry!" returned the child with solemnity; " and I pray to God for you." "Do you indeed? and what do you say?" "I say, O God teach this man that thou art!" A striking illustration of the words of sacred writ, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger."

A STING IN THE CONSCIENCE.

"You will go with me to hear our minister to-day?" said a serious youth in humble life to his younger brother. "Not to-day," was the answer, (( I certainly not to-day." "Why not to-day?" asked the other. "Because next week is the fair. I am sure Mr. will preach against it to-day, and then I should not enjoy the fair at all, for I should go with a sting in my con