A few years ago a religious society was formed about nine miles from Nelson, adopting our views of baptism, through the exertions and under the guidance and instruction of a Mr. Horne. As, however, they differed very materially both in doctrine and discipline from the baptist churches generally, those of our denomination who reside at Nelson itself did not associate with them. Mr. Horne wrote to England, stating that a baptist church had been formed in the colony of Nelson, and that he thought they would be able to support a young minister who was without incumbrance.

This statement was inserted in the Baptist Reporter, and in consequence, Mr. Dollamore, pastor of the baptist church, Bedall, Yorkshire, was induced to proceed thither at his own expense. Mr. Horne also procured from the governor a grant of land in Nelson, for the use of the baptist denomination. Shortly after Mr. Dollamore's arrival, the society in the country was dissolved (and I suppose this to be the one whose statistics are given in your last number), and the few baptists in Nelson offered to do what they could to support Mr. Dollamore if he would remain and endeavour to raise a church and congregation. To this he consented, and had been with them six months at the time of the date of Mr. Daniell's letter, Nov. 16th, 1851, during which time they had raised £30 towards his support. A church was formed consisting of thirteen members, to which three had been added by baptism. They had had the use of a school-room for religious services; but had commenced making subscriptions for the erection of a chapel on the ground granted by the governor. Mr. Daniell says, "We believe Mr. Dollamore to be a very suitable person for our settlement: his preaching is acceptable, and I trust that he will prove a true gospel minister. He earnestly requests his friends to do what they can to procure pecuniary assistance to enable them to defray the great expenses necessary in the founding of their cause."

Mr. Crisp of Bristol, Mr. C. Daniell, Melksham, and Bell, Budden, and Co., 2, Jeffery's Square, St. Mary Axe, have consented to receive the donations which any feel inclined to make towards the object.

HOME.

BAPTIST UNION.

At the Annual Session of this Body, some account of which was given in our last, the following resolutions were passed on some of the subjects which occupy public attention at the present juncture.

On the Introductory Discourse. That the hearty thanks of the Session be given to their honoured brother, Dr. Cox, for

the appropriate and impressive address with which he has favoured them; and that, in giving utterance to their feelings, the Session desire to declare their attachment to the great principles which have been explained and enforced, and their hope that when, at length, "instead of the fathers shall be the children," the same principles may be maintained, not only unimpaired, but with even greater fidelity, simplicity, and power.

On the Denominational Statistics. That the Session look with a devout and affectionate interest on the partial yet extended view of the Denomination which is presented by the returns now laid before them. They cherish lively gratitude to God that he has vouchsafed to that part of the body from which information has been received, a clear increase of 6,444 members,a pleasing evidence that the Denomination is, as a whole, progressive, and not bereft of that Divine blessing which has so long been granted to it. They feel, nevertheless, with serious pain and humiliation, the facts, that it is scarcely by more than one-half of the reporting churches that any clear increase has been enjoyed, and that no inconsiderable number have suffered an actual diminution. They desire anew to engage themselves, and their beloved brethren throughout the country, to a solemn consecration to the work of the Lord, and to fervent prayer for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit upon their flocks, and all the labours of their hands.

Persecution of Baptists in Europe.

That the Union contemplate with growing anxiety the almost universal attitude of the European governments in relation to religious liberty. Not only are the rights of conscience generally trampled on without scruple by the Roman Catholic powers, but they are also scarcely less flagrantly violated by Protestant governments. Especially have severe restrictions been imposed upon, and numerous hardships been suffered by, the baptist congregations in various parts of Germany, as in Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Prussia.

That the Union cannot but make common cause with their beloved brethren who thus unjustly suffer, for whom they feel the warmest affection and the deepest sympathy; and that memorials be presented in their name to the respective governments of Prussia, Mecklenburg, and Hanover, earnestly soliciting for the baptist congregations an uninterrupted liberty of worship.

Popular Education.

That the session, regarding with unabated interest the great subject of popular education, feel it their duty to express their sentiments in relation to the two schemes to which birth has lately been given in the city of Manchester, and to which the attention of parliament has been drawn-viz., the Man

for enabling local districts to provide free schools.

Concurring with the advocates of both these bills in the desire to promote the education of the people to the utmost possible extent, the Session can by no means concur with them in the assumption that the resources of voluntary action are exhausted; they believe, on the contrary, that these resources are capable of a much larger development, and that, aided by a wise application of the lights supplied by experience, they are fully adequate to afford all the assistance which the advancement of national education requires.

it their duty, at the present time, to make a fresh declaration of their sentiments, and thus to co-operate with the efforts now in progress, for obtaining the repeal of the act of parliament by which that endowment is conferred.

The Rev. J. H. Hinton read the report of the committee, together with a letter from himself to the session appended to the report, intimating his intention not to resume office; also an audited abstract of the Treasurer's Account, showing a balance due to the Treasurer of £35 5s. 10d., and a balance due to Mr. Haddon of £37 0s. 8d.

The report having been received, before proceeding to any other business the session entered on the consideration of the facts thus presented to them. After an extended con

The session wish to do full justice to the attempts which have been made to relieve the proposition of a school-rate of what has been called the religious difficulty, on the one hand by including, and on the other by excluding, religious instruction of every kind; but they cannot be satisfied with either of these methods. To compel-as a rate on the former principle would compel-every man to support every creed, not only those most opposite to his own, but also those most opposite to one another, cannot but be unrighteous in itself, and intolerable to a conscientious mind; while to exhaust education at large of the religious element-which would be the result of a school-rate on the latter plan-would be to deprive it of a vital and plastic power, not only important but essential to its utility.

Upon these grounds the session would have felt it their duty to oppose both the bills referred to, had their position and progress in parliament required it. Under present circumstances they have only to commend this subject to the attention of the churches, and to engage their earnest co-operation in promoting, by the most enlightened and zealous efforts in their power, popular education on the voluntary principle.

The Maynooth Endowment Act. That the Union having, upon many occasions, and with uniform consistency, recorded its disapproval of the appropriation of public money to religious objects of eyery kind, and having also protested in particular against the endowment by parliament of the Roman

ministers and others present guaranteeing the payment (within two months) of sums amounting to £74; and as numerous suggestions had been thrown out in the course of conversation, as to modes by which the Union might be rendered an object of greater interest to the churches, a committee was appointed to consider by what means the usefulness of the Union and its increased acceptance among the churches might be promoted, and to report thereon. In order to receive the report of this committee, the session resolved to adjourn at its rising to Wednesday, April 28, at ten o'clock.

The appointment of this committee was moved by the Rev. Dr. Steane, and seconded by the Rev. Owen Clarke, of London; and it consisted of the following brethren: Revs. Dr. Acworth of Horton College, Dr. Burns of London, C. Birrell of Liverpool, J. Pottenger of Newcastle, B. Evans of Scarborough, and S. Green of Shacklewell; R. B. Sherring, Esq., of Bristol; J. M. Hare, Esq., of Hackney; and E. B. Underhill, Esq., of London, with the chairman and secretaries.

On Wednesday morning, April 28, 1852, the session having met, pursuant to adjournment, at the Mission House, the Rev. J. II. Hinton presented the following document :

"The committee appointed to consider by what means the usefulness of the Union, and its general acceptance with the churches, may be promoted, and to report thereon, met at the Mission House, April 26, 1852, and report

do not see that they can beneficially make any recommendation."

It was then resolved, that the report of the committee be received, and the secretaries directed to act in accordance with it.

The Rev. J. H. Hinton then intimated his acceptance of the office of joint secretary for the ensuing year.

The following resolutions also were passed :

1. That the thanks of the session be given to George Lowe, Esq, treasurer, and to the Revs. E. Steane, D.D, and J. H. Hinton,M.A., the secretaries, for their attention to the business of the Union during the past

year.

2. That the thanks of the session be presented to the Rev. Dr. Cox, for his kindness in presiding over its proceedings. The session was then dissolved.

BIBLE TRANSLATION SOCIETY.

The twelfth annual meeting was held in New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, April 28th, G. T. Kemp, Esq., in the chair. After devotional services, the Secretary, the Rev. Edward Steane, D.D., read the following report.

The Bible Translation Society, though comparatively a feeble institution and supported by a small income, has been privileged to do a great work. It sustained the translators of the Word of God at a time when others deserted them, and it has subsequently carried on, not only without diminution, but at an increased ratio, the production of copies of the sacred scriptures in the languages of the East. The Committee cannot refrain from expressing the hope that the denomination will uphold it, so long as the circumstances in which it originated shall continue o deprive the learned labours of our missionaries of that support to which they are entitled from the Christian church at large.

The brethren at Calcutta have, through God's rich mercy, uninterruptedly pursued their work through the past year in all its departments.

On

In the Bengali language the revision of the Old Testament has been completed, and a new edition carried through the press. this important work great labour has been bestowed, no effort or cost has been spared to improve the translation wherever it appeared defective or capable of improvement. It has been the constant aim of our brethren and the burden of their prayer, that the rendering given might in all instances present to the mind of the reader the genuine meaning of the Spirit of God: wherein they have failed, they express their hope that they shall be forgiven; and where they have succeeded, to God alone they give the glory. Of this edition 4500 copies have been printed, of which

2000 copies were appropriated, at their request, to the use of the Calcutta Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. The New Testament in Bengali has been revised to the end of the 1st Epistle of Peter, and printed to the 5th chapter of Romans. It is intended to publish an edition of this New Testament in 16mo., a size considerably smaller than any in which it has yet appeared for the benefit especially of the young native Christians, and it is expected that they will be willing to purchase it at a moderate price.

In consequence of the demand for the Bengali scriptures, and the necessity, therefore, of giving much time to them, but little progress has been made in the Sanskrit. The New Testament, however, entirely re-written from the middle of Romans to the end, was finished in October. Of the Old Testament, the first volume, comprehending the Pentateuch and the book of Joshua, was completed towards the close of 1848, and the second volume has proceeded to the 11th chapter of the 2nd book of Chronicles. The nature of the work, and the desire of securing as large an amount of accuracy in the translation and typographical execution as possible, have necessarily rendered the progress slow; but it is the abiding conviction of the brethren engaged on the work that correctness is of vastly greater importance than rapidity of execution; and that, in such a work neither time, labour, nor cost should be spared to secure the largest amount of accuracy within their reach.

In the Hindusthani the edition of the New

Testament, in the Arabic character, has been finished; and that in the Roman character is advancing. The reprint of the Persian Testament has also been completed.

The distribution of the last year, in the various languages has amounted to 32,821 copies.

The Committee have had the gratification of voting towards these important works the sum of £1400, being £100 more than last year.

Among the receipts of the year the Committee have to mention with thankfulness the donation of £100 by a friend of the Society who desires to have it acknowledged in the following terms :-" From a plain Scotsman, on the completion of his 70th year, who in this case is his own executor, and who begs to recommend to others to take this pleasure, in all cases where they can do so without serious inconvenience to themselves." They have also to report with similar acknowledgments, the receipt of £200 from W. B. Gurney, Esq., " from a fund placed at his disposal by the will of the late Mrs. Priestley."

The entire receipts of the year have been £1877 8s. 3d.

It was then moved by the Rev. A. Arthur, Edinburgh; seconded by the Rev. J. Stent, Hastings :

That the Report now read be adopted, and printed under the direction of the Committee.

Moved by the Rev. H. Dowson, Bradford; seconded by the Rev. W. Walters, New Park Street, Southwark :

That this meeting contemplates with devout

thankfulness the important service which the Bible Translation Society has been the instrument of rendering in the translation of the Word of God into the principal languages of India, and its circulation among the myriads of its vast population, and deems it of the greatest moment that the Society should be vigorously sustained.

Moved by the Rev. J. Russell, Blackheath, seconded by the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, London :

That the following gentlemen be the Officers and Committee of the Society for the ensuing year,

Treasurer.

G. T. KEMP, Esq., Spital Square,

Secretary.

Rev. EDWARD STEANE, D.D., Camberwell.

Committee.

Rev. J. ANGUS, M. A., London.

Rev. W. B Bowes, London.

Rev. W. BROCK, London.

Rev. J. BURNS, D.D., London.
Rev. J. H. HINTON, M. A., London.

Rev. J. HOBY, D.D., London.
Rev. J. LEECHMAN, M.A., London.
Rev. W. H. MURCH, D.D., London.
Rev. R. W. OVERBURY, London.
Rev. J. RUSSELL, London,
Rev. I. M. SOULE, London.
Rev. W. WALTERS, London.

Rev. J. AcwoRTH, LL.D., Bradford.
Rev. H. Dowson, Bradford.
Rev. C. M. BIRRELL, Liverpool.
Rev. J. J. BROWN, Reading.
Rev. G. H. DAVIS, Bristol.
Rev. C. J. MIDDLEDITCH, Frome,
Rev. J. P. MURSELI, Leicester.
Rev. G. GOULD, Norwich.
Rev. I. NEW, Birmingham,
Rev. T. F. NEWMAN, Shortwood.
Rev. J. G. PIKE, D.D., Derby.
Rev. W. ROBINSON, Kettering.
Rev. F. TUCKER, Manchester.
Rev. J. WEBB, Ipswich.
Rev. T. WINTER, Bristol.
S. LEONARD, Esq., Bristol.
J. H. ALLEN, Esq.

J. L. PHILLIPS, Melksham.
C. BURLS, Esq.:

S. JACKSON, Esq.

J. Low, Esq.

G. Lowe, Esq., F.R.S.

T. PEWTRESS, Esq.

G. STEVENSON, Esq.

E. B. UNDERHILL, Esq.

S. WATSON, Esq.

Travelling Agents.

Rev. GEORGE FRANCIES, 61, Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth.

Rev. MANOAH KENT, Shrewsbury.

MILL YARD, LONDON.

The Seventh Day baptist mecting house in Mill Yard, having been closed for four months, during extensive repairs and improvements, was re-opened on the 7th of April, and the anniversary of the opening of

VOL. XV.-FOURTII SERIES.

the original meeting-house, erected on the present spot 159 years ago, was also celebrated. The sermon on the occasion was preached from Rom. xiv. 12, by the Rev. Joseph Turnbull (independent minister, and formerly president of Wymondley College), Dr. Murch, and the Revs. W. H. Black, B. Mardon, and J. O. Squier took part in the service. At the request of friends present, the Rev. W. H. Black gave a short account of the history of the church, from the year 1657, when it met in High Street, Whitechapel, to the present time, taking especial notice of those members who suffered martyrdom and fines and imprisonments for withstanding severe persecution, lived to see conscience' sake, but some of whom, notthe days of toleration, and to become great benefactors to the church. The service was well attended, and it gave great pleasure to all present to witness persons of almost all denominations of Christians, churchmen and dissenters, joining together to celebrate the anniversary of this ancient church.

SUNNYSIDE, LANCASHIRE,

The opening services connected with the new baptist chapel, Sunnyside, were held on Friday, April 9th, and Lord's day, April 11th, 1852.

On Friday morning there was a public meeting for supplication and thanksgiving, when the Rev. Abraham Nichols, pastor of the church, offered the first prayer, followed by the brethren Abraham Nuttall, and George Douthwaite. At half-past ten, the Rev. H. S. Brown, M.A., of Liverpool, preached, and also at six in the evening. In the afternoon, the Rev. J. E. Giles of Sheffield preached. The brethren Howe, Mitchell, and Williams assisted in the devotional exercises of the day.

On Lord's day at nine o'clock the teachers and scholars assembled in the chapel, when addresses were delivered by Mr. George Douthwaite, and Mr. Robert Haworth. At half-past ten and half-past two

sermons

2 T