and laity to the items of home expenditure, such as printing, expenses of deputations, outfits, &c. The discussions, which were carried on amicably, were serviceable to the cause of Missions, and resulted in an understood agreement that a vigilant oversight of the expenditures should be maintained, and that the form of the annual accounts should be so far altered as to afford more minute information to the friends and members of the Missionary Society. We do not think it needful to encumber this summary with the statistics of the Society's operations, as they are pretty generally known, at least in their aggregate. A recommendation from the Committee, introduced in the Conference, to employ an additional missionary secretary, whose duty it should be to attend meetings, and visit various parts of the country, to supersede, as far as possible, the somewhat expensive and inconvenient "deputation system," met with strong opposition, and was withdrawn.

THE CONFERENCE.-Seven vacancies in the legal hundred were filled, five by seniority, and two-Revs. Francis A. West and William Bartow-by election. Rev. Dr. Newton was elected president for the fourth time, over Rev. Joseph Fowler, who was subsequently elected secretary. A strong feeling against re-elections has for some years prevailed in the body, overcome mainly by Dr. Newton's personal popularity. It seems to have been understood that hereafter re-elections should cease, unless under very extraordinary circumstances.

Thirty-one preachers, after a probation of four years, were received into full connexion; fifty-four candidates for the ministry in Great Britain were received on trial, eight in Ireland, and sixteen on foreign stations. Among the latter were two natives of Africa, two of the East Indies, and a chief of the Friendly Isles. Twenty ministers had died in Great Britain and Ireland, and three on foreign stations. Eighteen in England and six in Ireland became supernumeraries. Doctor BUNTING applied for that relation; but the Conference were unwilling to grant it, and it was finally agreed that he should continue at his post, on a similar understanding with that between the General Conference and our venerable Bishop Hedding.

Dr. Dixon's introduction to the Conference has been elsewhere spoken of in this number. The report of the Auxiliary Fund, being a preachers' fund, is made directly to the Conference by the treasurer or secretary. The income for the year was £11,755, and

there would be a deficiency of £2642. To meet this, and prevent its recurrence, each preacher, in full connexion, for whom a house had been provided, was required to subscribe two guineas annually; each supernumerary, probationer, and married preacher, without a house, one guinea.

The State of the Connexion occupied the Conference during one entire sitting. The total membership was reported at 459,454; namely, in Great Britain, 333,861; decrease, 518; in Ireland, 23,142; decrease, 1491; and on foreign missions, 97,451; decrease, 2852; making an apparent total decrease of 4861. From the reported decrease on foreign stations, however, were to be deducted 1987 members transferred from the missions in Upper Canada to the Canada Wesleyan Conference, reducing the real decrease on mission stations to 865, and the total decrease to 2874. The principal decrease on the missions had occurred in the West Indies, under peculiar circumstances. The greatest decrease at home had taken place in Cornwall, 1300 members of society having emigrated to Australia during the year. The decrease in Ireland was not so large as might have been anticipated. In addition to the membership reported, there were 20,816 persons on trial." Many suggestions were made in connexion with this subject, and a special minute made upon the published Journal of the Conference in reference to it.

The Stations occupied the Conference much longer than usual, and the body did not finally adjourn until the 11th of August.

We may take another opportunity for a review of the English Wesleyan economy, and of some minor points, more or less entering into the proceedings of the Conference of 1848. We cannot dismiss the subject, however, without expressing surprise, and, all things considered, regret, that our English brethren persist in holding their Conference sessions with closed doors. We cannot doubt that, sooner or later, the custom will have to be abandoned. A progress party is rising up and gaining ground in the Conference, which looks more to the popular opinion than do the preachers of the older school; and these are finding increased favour with the people. Among the membership, also, are indications of a growing desire to have more knowledge of the sayings and doings of the Conferenceof the internal working of the system in its various departments; and we cannot see why such knowledge should be withheld from them. Moreover, the secrecy with which the business of Conference is conducted

supplies the enemies of Wesleyan Methodism with a power of annoyance and injury, which the opening of the doors to spectators would greatly weaken and abridge.

It is also worthy of remark that notice was given, at the commencement of the Conference, but subsequently postponed until next year, on account of the pressure of business, of the introduction of two resolutions covering the grounds that no government grants should be received in aid of Wesleyan Missions, and that, in reference to the controversy respecting the connexion between the Church and State, Wesleyan ministers should be allowed to take which side their judgments and consciences might dictate. The right of private judgment on this question the Conference of course has never interfered with; but it has required its members to abstain from public participation in the controversy between the Dissenters and the Established Church, holding that that is an inferior question, beyond the legitimate sphere of those who are called of God, exclusively set apart for the preaching of the Gospel and the salvation of souls. We incline to think that the Conference will not be moved from this position.

THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.—This association seems to assume a more tangible form, and to be altogether more prosperous in England and on the Continent of Europe than in the United States. Many causes contribute to this result, principally that denominational differences are more marked there than here. In other words, the sectarian spirit is more prevalent, and there is felt, consequently, by sincere Christians and good men, a greater necessity for an Evangelical Alliance. The French section of the association has held meetings in several cities, with apparent success. The “ Evangelical Society of Geneva" had a most interesting session. Rev. Dr. Merle d'Aubigné took a prominent part, and delivered a spirited address, of an anti-Papal character. There seems, perhaps, some ground for apprehension that, upon the Continent of Europe at least, the Evangelical Alliance will dwindle down into a mere anti-Popery associationan object which, however desirable, is more circumscribed and exclusive than that originally contemplated.

The British organization has held its second annual conference. An address to the members of the Evangelical Alliance in the Swiss Canton de Vaud, sympathizing with them in their struggles for religious liberty, was agreed upon. This branch has

divided itself into various sections, each section taking charge of some important issue, as Popery, infidelity, the desecration of the Lord's day, the religious state of Great Britian, education on Christian principles, &c., leaving the members of the conference to identify themselves with any section for which they may have a preference. Subdivisions of the British organization have also been formed. An "intermediate conference " was held in London in October. Thomas Farneer, Esq., of the Methodist Church, placed at the disposal of the conference £300 for the promotion of inquiries respecting Popery, infidelity, and Sabbath desecration. The 13th of November was appointed as a day for special prayer, that peace might be preserved in the British dominions, and that the events on the European Continent might be overruled for the promotion of Christian union. The conference adjourned after adopting a resolution that, in future conferences, matters of subordinate interest should be compressed, as far as possible, into narrower limits, and that the time might be occupied with subjects relating to the spiritual edification of the members and the developement of brotherly love.

CHRISTIAN NURTURE-Our English Wesleyan Brethren.-We have long been aware that several of the ministers of that connexion were, personally, deeply interested in this subject, and in their respective circuits were exercising a vigilant pastoral care over the children of their congregations and Church members. Revs. Samuel Jackson, Francis A. West, Peter M'Owan, Samuel D. Waddy, and others who might be named, have been among the most active in this duty, the fruit of whose individual labours will be perpetuated in the Church. For a while, however, this movement was confined to isolated action, each minister carrying out his views on his own plans. The most usual custom was for the preacher to assemble the children on the Saturday, in the lecture-room, or Sunday-school attached to the Church, and catechise, counsel, and pray with them. From these were generally chosen a select class, composed of those who had given evidence of a serious disposition, who were met by the preacher once a week, and were watched over with special care.

The young men were generally met by the preacher at an early hour in the morning. Mr. West has always been exceedingly zealous in this branch of the work, judging from the means of information within our reach. He appears to have formed classes of young

afford counsel and assistance to isolated evangelical churches, whether within or without the German pale. 7. The maintenance of unity with all evangelical churches throughout the world; and, 8. The united prosecution of all works of love, especially of home missions, for the evangelization of the nominally Christian world.

The meeting was attended by about five hundred persons, clergy and laity, among whom, besides the eminent men mentioned above, were Julius Müller, Nitzsch, Dorner, Von Gerlach, Hengstenberg, and others. The assembly appears to have been blessed with peculiar manifestations of the Divine presence.

Assembly then entered upon the discussion of a plan of ecclesiastical organization. The "Address" was so ingeniously non-committal upon the tenets of the Church as to give general dissatisfaction to the orthodox party, and offended the moderate men of the other party by its too skilful employment of Scripture passages which could be understood either way. The session was closed on the 7th of October, the whole proceedings resulting in the formation of a "Free Church" on the part of the Evangelical party, and, on the part of the Rationalists, in the adoption of a plan of organization consisting of sixty-six articles, which were transmitted to the government, without whose sanction they would have no force.

THE interpretation of Prophecy continues to excite great attention in Great Britain, far beyond anything known in this country. A new Quarterly, specially devoted to the subject, and. styled "The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy," made its first appearance in London in October. According to the prospectus, it is to be pre-millennial in its principles; and, while attaching itself to no Church in particular, it will aim at being the organ of premillennialists in all Churches. The following extract is a specimen of the earnestness with which the subject is taken up :"It is God, then, who is thus summoning us to hear. He is going before us in this path, beckoning us to follow. It is His call

that we are now seeking to obey. His voice is too distinct to be slighted or mistaken. He is seeking to arouse his saints, and warn a heedless world. Let us with all haste respond to his call; for the time is short. The lines of all prophecy are now seen to be converging,―converging with unparalleled rapidity, and toward a point manifestly near. Shall we not eagerly watch the convergence, and proclaim to others what we see? The Lord himself open our lips and guide our pens!" Among the many publications on the same subject, we notice "Apocalyptic Sketches; or, Lectures on the Book of Revelation, delivered in Exeter Hall by Rev.J.Cumming, D. D.;" which has passed through six edi