4 GREY FRIAR'S STREET CHAPEL, NORTHAMPTON. 14 1 126 It is gratifying to state that the cause of Christ in this place of worship, which a few 62 years ago appeared on the verge of utter extinction, now shows signs of increasing prosperity. The Sunday schools contain nearly two hundred children, and between thirty and forty teachers. The senior boys' bible class during the last year has been instructed in Archbishop Whately's "Lessons on Christian Evidences," and a class of the teachers meets on Tuesday evenings for the same purpose. The efforts recently made in this town to propagate infidelity and atheism by lectures and 71 the distribution of infidel publications, have 84 impressed the managers of the school with 125 the importance of furnishing the minds of the 56 young with arguments to refute the sophisms 39 of impiety, and to enable them to give "an 20 answer to every one that asketh a reason of the hope that is in them." It is also in con47 23 templation to form a class for instructing the 53 teachers and elder scholars in scripture geo122 graphy, without interfering with the religious 27 instruction on the Lord's day. 71 864 At the beginning of last year the chapel was encumbered with a debt of rather more than £400. At the suggestion of a liberal friend in the neighbourhood an effort has been made to remove it, which has been so far successful that on the first Sunday in the present year their esteemed minister (the Rev. Joseph Pywell, formerly of Horton College) had the pleasure of stating that only £180 remained, and, that of this sum promises had been received to the amount of rather more than a moiety. The church and congregation have contributed already to the extent of their ability the sum of £120; they have also received very liberal aid from some of their brethren belonging to the first baptist church in College-street, from persons belonging to the congregational churches, and from members of the establishment. CORRESPONDENCE. ANSWER TO A QUERY ON ORATORIOS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-In reply to the query in your last number, I beg to offer a few remarks on the subject of oratorios. I have long held a strong opinion on this question, and I think it quite wrong that Christians should sanction them by their presence. My objection is to their sacredness. Were they for the performance of sentimental and patriotic songs, VOL. XV.-FOURTH SERIES. I might think that the time of a Christian might be better employed than in listening to them, but I should not feel any conscience as to the songs themselves. It is because oratorios are founded on the most solemn portions of the word of God, that I think it wrong and sinful to resort to them as means of gratification. To a mind that reverences the scriptures as the inspired truth of the Holy Spirit, there is something too sacred, too awful in them, to P sanction their perversion to such a purpose. The portions employed are to be read and pondered and prayed over, that the soul may be imbued with their majesty and awful grandeur, and be filled with that fear of God, and that sense of his presence and government, which these passages are the means of communicating. But to convert them to song, and to bring them forth as a public amusement shocks the mind, as it would have done the captives to sing the Lord's song in a strange land. It was not merely the incongruity of the thing with their mournful condition, but the profanation of those sacred odes which were fit only for the house and worship of the Lord. And it shows either that their captivity had wrought in them a salutary change, and led them to appreciate from their loss those holy joys which they abused in the possession, or that there was a holy seed amongst them whose pious sentiments the words of the psalm express. Indeed, all applications of scripture out of its proper import are to be blamed as irreverent or inconsiderate; such as witticisms expressed in the words of scripture, or commonplace observations on business and the affairs of life, "to point a moral, or to round a tale." Such uses of the word of God take from the reverence and awe which we should feel for that word, given not to be applied to any purpose which we can make it fit, but to teach special truths. He who is in the habit of a devout perusal of the scriptures would almost as soon think of mocking God as of using his word for any purpose but that for which it was inspired. And surely this must tell against using that word for musical diversion, breaking up Heaven's messages of judgment or of mercy into fragments, for solos, duets, and choruses. Another point to be considered is the parties by whom these performances are executed. There is no need to indulge in broad censure of professional singers. It is enough to say of them as a class that they are not supposed to be pious, God-fearing persons. Is it right to put into their mouths the most solemn sentiments of the word of God, to sing for our amusement, when their own hearts have no sympathy with them? It is distressing to have the divine name and word pronounced by men who do not "fear that great and dreadful name," and it never can be right to sanction this impiety by our presence. Then, if we look at the persons who attend these oratorios, they are, according to their appearance, just the fashionable in life, the same as visit the horse-race and the hall-room. Some have professed to receive devout and heavenly impressions white listening to the swelling strains of the musical choir. I am not insensible to the power of music, to its melting and overwhelming influence. The same argument applies to the music of Roman catholic worship. But men deceive themselves as to devotional feeling. It is not the ecstacy of melting and dying away; here the sensibilities may be touched, but the heart unchanged. Right views of God and his truth are the foundation of sound devotion, but these movements of sensuous piety are compatible with gross error and dabasing superstition. It is quite clear that no persons attend a musical festival as a religious exercise, few pray to be prepared to benefit by it, few pray the more for having gone there. If it were true then that some have been beneficially affected, it cannot be right to seek it in a way open to such weighty objections. All that is of true interest to the soul may be found in a way not liable to these exceptions. The business of an earnest Christian is not to seek how near he may go to the world's pleasure, and not be of the world, but to come out and be separate. If the supreme importance of this be felt, there will be little difficulty in settling such questions as the one contained in your magazine. Yours truly, Newcastle on Tyne, 9th Jan., 1852. JOHN GREEN. THE SPIRITUAL WANTS OF DUBLIN. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR BROTHER,-I am anxious to place before you the state of the baptist interest in this city, with the most ardent desire that a gracious God may put into the hearts of some of his people to contribute to an increased agency. The city of Dublin and its suburbs contain a population of nearly 300,000 inhabitants, about four-fifths of this number are Roman catholics, and one-fifth or about 60,000 nominal protestants; there are about twenty parish churches, and twelve or fourteen other episcopal churches supported by voluntary contributions; there are, besides these, five presbyterian churches, eight or nine Wesleyan chapels (including the various sections of that body), the independents have three large chapels, and in the midst of this vast population there is only one small baptist chapel. Again, in connection with nearly all the episcopal churches, there are two (in some places three) clergymen with a staff of paid assistants, such as readers, schoolmasters, visitors, &c.; in the service of one church there are seven or eight city missionaries supported by the society for Irish Church Missions; the Wesleyans have about twelve ministers with their usual active system of agency in operation; the presbyterians are respectable and influential with various schools and charities at their command; the baptists have only one minister without either city missionary, schoolmaster, or other paid agent; nor is there at present any male member whose time is at his command to assist in visiting or aid in any good work-the only brother who could give his time to such a work, and who willingly devoted himself to works of mercy, has been laid aside for some time past by indisposition. It is right to say that several of the members engage in sabbath school teaching, and the deacons visit some of the absent or sick members on the Lord's day, and occasionally at other times. In the name of the Lord I beseech Christian friends to ponder over this state of things! Imagine only one baptist minister in the city of Bristol with a population considerably below that of Dublin; or think of only one baptist minister in all Birmingham! So far as the baptists are concerned Agra is better provided with agents than Dublin! But I feel constrained, dear brother, to place this matter before you, not only from the necessities of the case, but from the consideration that I feel assured God is with us. Since I settled here five years ago our congregations have never been so numerous or so interesting as at present, yet during that period we have lost by emigration, death, and otherwise, more than one-third of our church and congregation. Now we are at peace, and as a church united, and, what is a good test of piety, at our week evening service, which is very interesting, we have double the number in attendance that we had two years ago. During the past year eleven have been baptized and one awaits the first opportunity. Four have been received by letter from other churches, and our clear increase for the year is thirteen. These facts are encouraging, and impress me with the idea that God has set before us an open door-that he is about to revive and bless us. I am, therefore, deeply anxious that the season of harvest should not pass away without an attempt to do the Lord's work. I feel myself utterly incapable of making suitable preparations for the pulpit, attending to the various calls of Christian union and sympathy, and at the same time pursuing a system of visiting from house to house, so as to make an impression upon any one district or locality. Neither is the church at present able to support an agent. In addition to the usual expenses of a church, we have to meet an annual ground rent on our chapel of £36 per annum; our financial affairs, however, are improving, and some of the friends are liberal. I therefore want my Christian brethren to assist me in the support of a city missionary or scripture reader. One generous hearted lady in England supports a reader under my zealous brother, Mr. Young of Cork. Is there no other baptist lady or gentleman to be found, who will in like manner consecrate of their substance to support an agent in Dublin? I hope in God that some one may be found to assist in this good work; or if there be not one, are there not five or ten brethren to be found who will unite in responding to this call from the sister island? or cannot there be found some wealthy respectable church that could send such an agent to Dublin? I assert, without fear of contradiction, that in all Ireland there is not so good a field for a baptist agent as here, the poor Roman catholics are more liberal, more enlightened, and less under the domination of the priesthood than in the country; and there are a considerable number of the working classes of English and Scotch who settle in back streets and lanes, and never attend any place of worship. Many of these would be glad to be invited to the house of God. I entertain the most sanguine hopes, that had I the assistance of two regular visiting agents, with the blessing of the great Head of the church, our nice little chapel would soon be well filled. One advantage which Dublin possesses over the country parts is, that from time to time, we gain accessions from a class both able and willing to support the gospel. Of this class lately we have gained some valuable additions, so that with a little help for a year or two, I trust in our covenant God and Father we should soon be able to render the Baptist Irish Society important aid. If any Christian friends would place their contributions at my disposal for such a work I would engage, with God's help, to see them righteously expended. I have felt myself unable to express the deep anxiety I entertain as to the issue of this appeal, and must leave the matter with you, knowing full well that the hearts of all God's saints are in his hands, and that he can direct them so as to fulfil his own purposes of mercy. I remain yours, In the gospel of our Lord Jesus, P.S. I think my good brother, John Clark of Jamaica, who lately visited us, and entered into the spiritual destitution here, would fully corroborate my statements, as to the necessity for additional agents, and the cheering prospects of success. HAMBURG. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR, A private communication from Hamburg, recently put into my hands, has renewed and deepened the apprehension that persecution (already existing) will too probably extend more widely on the continent. Moreover, our dear brother expresses his urgent need of further pecuniary support for the cause of the gospel, both in Hamburg, and generally in the mission emanating from the church in that city. His exertions, and those of his brethren, are incessant, but the funds of the mission, as well as his own personil resources, are utterly exhausted. Surely it must be the duty, and will be felt the privilege, of British Christians to respond to this appeal; and I hope it will not be deemed presumptuous on my part if I invite combined effort for so unquestionable an object, by offering that, if twenty other friends of the cause will give five pounds each, I will, as soon as one hundred pounds shall have been subscribed, give my five pounds to make it guineas. If friends, willing to accept my challenge, will communicate to me their names, I will appoint some party to whom their cash, with my own, may be paid; and then the total transmitted to the continent. I am, dear Sir, 136, Long Acre. Yours sincerely, EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT. An important meeting was held in the Library at Moorgate Street, on the 19th of January, with a view to the formation of a society for the erection of places of worship in the metropolis connected with the baptist denomination. It had been convened by a circular bearing the names of twenty ministers and other gentlemen, known and esteemed throughout the body. In the absence of Mr. Peto, who was to have presided but was unexpectedly detained on the continent by business, Mr. G. T. Kemp took the chair; and it was determined, on the motion of Mr. Noel, seconded by Mr. Gurney, that it was desirable that a society should be formed. A Committee to draw up a constitution and rules to be submitted to another meeting of the same kind was then appointed. Contributions to the Baptist Irish Society, which have been received more than a week before the close of the month are always acknowledged in the next Chronicle. If at any time the donor finds that a sum which he forwarded early enough to be mentioned is not specified, the Secretary will be particularly obliged by a note to that effect, as this, if sent immediately, may rectify errors, and prevent losses which would be otherwise irremediable. cessity for inflexible adherence to general rules, they give absolute pain. The writer of the account of Mr. Lewis Anderson which appeared in our last informs us that the name of the place at which he was born was not Draivie but Drainie; that the name of the place where Mr. Sutherland, his father-in-law resided was not Kearn of Duffecs but Keam of Duffies: and that the sentence which related to his adoption of baptist sentiments should have concluded thus:"he was gradually conducted by the force of scripture evidence alone to the same conclusions as his recently baptized brethren.” A new penny weekly publication has been started by the Religious Tract Society to be called The Leisure Hour. It is to be illustrated by engravings, and rendered interesting, if possible to readers who do not usually seek recreation in works of a healthy tendency. This will be found difficult, we doubt not, and we are not inclined to add to the obstacles which its conductors will find in their path by the obtrusion of advice: we shall rely upon them that they will not for the sake of pleasing the thoughtless, introduce matter that will be regarded as objectionable by the discreet. Our esteemed brother, Mr. Trestrail, has at length experienced that bereavement which he and his friends have long anticipated. Mrs. Trestrail was released from suffering on Lord's day, January 25th. As discussions on the subject are taking place upon the Continent as well as in our own daily papers, it cannot be wrong to advert to the fact that there is within a short distance from our shores an immense disposable army, immeasurably superior to our own in everything which renders an army effective, and subject to the authority of a reckless adventurer, the main-features of whose policy are secrecy and suddenness. We are not alarmists; we are not frightened; but it is only because we have hope in the tender mercies of an Almighty Father. Were we to draw our conclusions from the probabilities of the case, we should think that England was far, very far from being safe. And who can say that the time is not come that judgment should begin at the house of God? Who can say that the diseases pervading our churches do not require the use of strong remedies? The worldly spirit among us, impeding the pro So repeatedly as announcements have been made that Chapel Cases cannot be inserted in the body of the Magazine, it is surprising that the editor should continue to receivegress of truth, and preventing its legitimate pressing requests to insert such appeals. They are dismissed simply with a feeling of regret that duty should forbid a course to which sympathy would lead us, when they come from ignorant persons; but when they come from gentlemen of high intelligence, perfectly competent to understand the ne effects on society at large, may call for chastisements, the bare thought of which is appalling. It cannot be wrong therefore to speak of prayer-private prayer, and public prayer-as an imperative duty at the present moment, in reference to the condition and prospects of our beloved country. |