After we had concluded our preaching labours and the distribution of books, we all assembled in the tent of our Baptist brethren, and as, with the native assistants, we mustered a sufficient number to form a small christian assembly, we thought it might have a beneficial effect, not only on us, but also on the heathen multitudes, if we joined together in Christian worship, ere we left the mela. A Bengali hymn was sung by us all, in praise of God our Saviour; after which, by the desire of my brethren, I engaged in prayer in the same language. We were surrounded by a large concourse of people, among whom were many Brahmins and Sunnyasis. The people were very quiet and particularly attentive-especially while the prayer to an unseen God was offered up-and seemed impressed with the solemnity of the scene, as well as with the order and propriety of our mode of worship compared with the noise, levity, and indecency of their poojahs. Having thus united together in praising God, publicly, in the very place where Satan holds his sway, we returned to our boats, thankful that the Lord had given us so good an opportunity of making His Word known extensively. The great day alone will reveal the results of our visit to Saugor-mela! The number of persons who assemble at Sangor fair, including pilgrims, merchants, jugglers, &c. &c., have sometimes amounted to 150,000. There has, however, of late years, been a gradual decrease; and I do not think that this year the whole amounted to more than 80,000. In fact, several of the shopkeepers sadly complained of this falling off; and, in consequence of the scanty sales they effected, declared they would never attend another fair at this place. Left Saugor-mela with the night's tide, at the same time with most of the pilgrims, and after three days' journey, returned home in safety, and invigorated by our excursion to prosecute our regular labours in Calcutta and the immediate neighbourhood.-Praise be to the Lord for all his goodness to us! A. F. LACROIX. IRISH CHRONICLE. SPHERES OF USEFULNESS. In addition to several important spheres of missionary labour, which the Committee of the Congregational Union would be desirous to occupy, two of the most important pastorates in connexion with the Union are now vacant,-the one in Cork, the chief city of the south of Ireland; and the other in Newry, an important town, north from Dublin. None of the students connected with the Union are ready to undertake any of these posts; and the committee,-in common with the friends more immediately concerned, are most anxious that they may soon be suitably occupied. To a man adapted to the peculiarities of the people, and devoted to the cause of truth in Ireland, a most interesting and important sphere of ministerial labour is presented in Cork or Newry. OPENING OF A NEW MISSION CHAPEL. ABOUT two months since, an interesting post was occupied by a young Evangelist connected with the Union, in Mountmellick, a populous town in a central district. This place was selected, partly from its being favourably situated as a centre of missionary operations. After much anxiety, Mr. Csucceeded in procuring a room which has been fitted up as a chapel, and Dr. Urwick went down from Dublin to preach at its "opening " for public worship and the preaching of the gospel. A cheering congregation assembled on the occasion; and it is hoped a beginning of good things was then witnessed. Our brother gives the following as an incident of peculiar interest connected with his first labours in this new sphere:- a "I cannot omit to mention one trip of peculiar interest. The Rev. clergyman of the Established Church, who had heard of me from a friend, wrote, inviting me to visit him. I did so, and was most kindly received. On the evening of my arrival we went to a distant part of his parish, where, in a real Irish cabin, we held a most gratifying meeting. Mr. commenced the meeting, himself, with devotional exercises, and I addressed the motley group. The scene was truly interesting; a large turf fire smouldering on the hearth, and a small candle, faintly glimmering through the smoke, served to show the happy expression of warm feeling, the flashing of intelligence, and the smile of gratitude, which indicated that the simple truths of the gospel were not presented in vain. "On the following day we had two meetings in the lecture-room connected with the parish church; the clergyman, as before, opened the services, and I preached. "The evening meeting was very large; and it was to me and others a season of Divine favour. Between these two meetings we spent three hours in visiting through one of the poor districts of the parish. I was delighted to find the poor of the flock so carefully attended to by their devoted minister; and I trust I learned some useful lessons, myself, from the pastoral visits of one so experienced in the work."-J. M. C. EXTRACTS FROM A MISSIONARY'S JOURNAL. On the 9th I proceeded to N , and on the following day had two very interesting meetings. In the evening my congregation was most cheering; and many of the people seemed deeply impressed. Our visits at this town are received with great apparent interest and gratitude. On the 11th I held a meeting in the Court-house at K- ; the attendance was larger than on any former occasion, including a good many Roman Catholics, who had been attracted by a placard bearing the following invitation : "Fellow-Countrymen, do you long for freedom? Our blessed Saviour declares 'The truth shall make you free.' Do you desire to see your country-beloved Erin-elevated among the nations of the earth? The word of God declares that 'righteousness exalteth a nation!' Believing these statements, I come to you in love to proclaim the Truth, and to make known the way of righteousness. You are affectionately invited to attend the meeting this evening," &c. It was gratifying to find that this effort was not made in vain. ; the attendance was much larger than formerly. This promises to be a very important station. On the 19th I proceeded to T--, and, after much trouble, procured a place to preach in. I posted the placard before-mentioned, and had a truly gratifying meeting. The place was crammed! Many heard outside the doors. The majority were Roman Catholics. I am promised the use of the Court-house at my next visit, which I hope to make shortly. On the 20th I preached in the Presbyterian Chapel at F This is a very important town; and, as I expect the use of the Court-house, I intend to make it a permanent station. The Presbyterian minister mentioned a village in which Roman Catholics attend the preaching of the gospel; and promised to make particular inquiries against my next visit. This tour was the most gratifying I have had since coming to the south; and proves how much may be done by extensive itinerancy, in some parts of the country. H. M. END OF VOLUME SIX. Ordination of Mr. Hannah, Dundee, Perth, Angus, and Mearns, Itinerating Railway Missionary, Notes of a, 41-46, 94-96, 238-240, 332-334, 370, 371, 429, Slavery and the American Presbyterian DENOMINATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Church, 380 142 476 41 477 State of Religion in America, 478 Wight. Recognition of Mr. as Pastor of 424 Cullen, Opening of the Congregational MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. Chapel Debt at Dalkeith, Extinction of, Czerski's Visit to London, French at Huahine, the, Glasgow Theological Academy, 47, 429, 607 India, Honour to whom Honour is due, 232 Kalley, Flight of Dr., 372 384 42 234 522 567, 608 Kennedy, Rev. John, translation to London, 566 Lacroix, Missionary Journal of the Rev, Mr. Report of a Select Committee appointed to 566 190 40 429 Siberia, 429 . 524 236 43 GLASGOW: PRINTED BY BELL AND BAIN, ST. ENOCH SQUARE. |