continued night of sorrow, "the day dawned, and the day-star arose in his heart." He was enabled to believe with the heart unto righteousness, and Christ was made of God unto him "wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption." The Spirit itself bore witness with his spirit that he was a child of God. Although living at some distance, he and another person agreed to join the Wesleyan society in Kilsyth, which then consisted of thirteen members, and they received their notes on trial from the Rev. W. Illingworth, in March, 1833. Having tasted that the Lord is gracious, they manifested their desire to do good to the souls of others by establishing meetings for prayer, which were much owned of God, and the society soon increased to thirtyfive.

A Sunday-school, also, was established, and two prayer-meetings were held every week to supplicate the divine blessing on the children. On one of these occasions, Mr. Alexander Patrick, a Local Preacher from Airdrie, having explained the plan of salvation, and afterward engaged in prayer, one of the boys found peace with God; the following morning one of the girls received the same blessing. The next time the children met, reference being made to the fact of the conversion of two of their number, the rest were earnestly exhorted to seek the same salvation; the power of God was present, both to wound and to heal. Sighs and tears expressed the emotions of their hearts; and before the meeting closed, twelve professed to have found peace and joy through believing.

This was on the last Sabbath in February, 1835. On the following Thursday, the parochial fast was observed; and as all labour was suspended, there was a prayer-meeting in the chapel; and in the course of the day, eight persons entered into the glorious liberty of the children of God. In the evening Mr. Patrick preached; and while he was at prayer, one, and then another, were constrained to cry out, "What must I do to be saved?" Before they separated, thirty-two were enabled to rejoice in the possession of conscious salvation. Within a very short space of time, upwards of eighty were converted to God; and the Rev. Peter M'Owan and the Rev. James Mitchell spent several days there, in preaching, and visiting from house to house those who had recently been gathered into the fold of Christ. Although some of these did not continue to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, yet the steady and consistent

piety of by far the greater number, has been the occasion of great joy. The names of thirty of them are, at this day, in our class-books; some have fallen asleep in Jesus; and others have removed to different parts of the country. To the progress of this great work, it will readily be believed, there were "many adversaries." Some thought that our meetings were marked by irregularity and confusion; and yet it not unfrequently happened, that many who from various motives attended the preaching of the word among us, went away with the conviction that, after all, we were not so far wrong as they had been led to suppose. A free, a full, and a present salvation was preached; the dif ferences of human character were accurately distinguished; a direct application was made to the hearts and consciences of the hearers; and, by the blessing of God, the seed sown was not unfruitful. Indeed, many persons who did not at this time connect themselves with us in religious society, nevertheless received serious impressions which never wore off. Generally speaking, when a house was thus visited, the divine influence rested upon more than one individual; the husband and wife, and one or more children, have been seen mingling their tears and prayers at the throne of the heavenly grace; and when the mother of a family has been converted to God, she has been instrumental in bringing the whole household to the saving knowledge of the truth. The man who, for years, was the terror of the village, has become the guide of the anxious inquirer, and is frequently employed in administering consolation to the sick and dying; and we rejoice to number among the obedient servants of the Lord, the aged sinner, whose locks had grown grey in sin; his house had been notorious as the haunt of dissipation, but it is now no less remarkable as the place where many souls have been truly brought to God. Such was the state of things up to the year 1837. About this time, an aged woman, in connexion with the Relief congregation, but who had experienced her first spiritual good among the Methodist 8, finished her course with joy. Her peaceful and triumphant end produced a great effect upon the minds of many. At the same time, a reviving influence had also been felt in the established Church, under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Muthill, Perthshire; and in all the churches of the village there was a great increase of deep and powerful religious feeling. A Total-Abstinence

Society, also, having been formed, and conducted on strictly religious principles, many who had connected themselves with it were led to unite themselves to the church of Christ. A number of special prayer-meetings were commenced by the members of the Relief Society. Those of the established Church followed their example; and public worship, which had only occasionally been celebrated on Sabbath evenings, was now regularly conducted by the respective Ministers.

In May, 1838, some Ministers of the "Congregational Union for Scotland" formed a Society, and, in the early part of the summer of 1839, began a series of open-air services on the Sabbath mornings, which were made exceedingly useful. Thus, an energetic and simultaneous effort to carry forward the good work of God was made by all denominations of Christians. For a whole year before "the o'erwhelming shower" descended, there were twenty distinct prayer-meetings every week among the members of the established Church, ten or twelve among the Relief congregation, nine among the Independents, and eighteen among ourselves; and an expectation of something remarkable pervaded the minds of all. When it was known that any Minister was coming to the village, who, in his preaching, gave prominency to the doctrine of the witness of the Holy Spirit, the Wesleyans were accustomed to appoint a special meeting for prayer on his behalf, and then, in the spirit of expectation, to attend on his ministry.

But it was on the 23d July, 1839, that the event most remarkable in the history of the late revival took place. On that day it had been appointed for the Rev. W. Burns, jun., son of the Minister of the parish, to preach a farewell sermon in the market-place, before his departure, as a Missionary, to a foreign land. The weather was unfavourable, and the congregation adjourned to the church. The text chosen was Psalm ex. 3; from which it was shown when it might be considered to be a day of God's power, and what the people of God would be willing to do in that day. It was, indeed, a time to be remembered: the serious countenance, the falling tear, the death-like silence; all indicated the approach of the mighty rushing wind. But that was the most interesting and solemn moment, when the youthful Preacher, with hands clasped, and eyes lifted up to heaven, in an agony of prayer for the Holy Ghost to descend

upon the people, exclaimed, "O come! come!" and, being strengthened in faith, "He is coming! He is coming!" Suddenly a voice was heard from among the congregation, "He is come! He is come! Hallelujah! hallelujah! Glory be to God!" This ran like electricity through the whole assembly of fifteen hundred persons; and the scene which succeeded will not admit of description. Here was the formalist, of fifty years' standing in the church, shaking from head to foot, and crying aloud for mercy. There the cry was heard, "What must I do to be saved?" while others, in exultation, were exclaiming, "Behold, God is my salvation!" An Elder, who was endeavouring to direct and comfort his aged mother, was seized by the convincing power of the Spirit; and, with a voice which, had it not been seen whence it came, could scarcely have been believed to be human, cried out, "O Christ, have mercy on my soul! break this hard heart!" Those persons who had themselves passed through similar exercises, embraced the opportu nity of suggesting such observations to those who were in a state of mental distress, as seemed most appropriate; although many, who might have been expected to come forward, were so confounded at the sudden and unprecedented occurrence, that they appeared for a time utterly at a loss. Presently, one ran to the manse with tidings of what had taken place in the church; when one of the Ministers, ascending the pulpit, gave a few words of advice, sang, prayed, and dismissed the congregation. But, although they left the church, many persons would not and did not go home, till God had blessed them. The vestry (Session-house) was filled with penitents; other places in the town were opened for them; and scenes were witnessed that day in Kilsyth, the like of which had not been known within the memory of any then living. Since then the good work has been going on; all the churches have been greatly owned of God; the places of worship have been well attended, and numbers have found the Gospel to be the "power of God unto salvation." We ourselves have at present eight Class-Leaders; and the fol lowing statement from the Circuit schedule-book shows the progressive increase of the society for the last few quarters :September, 1838, number of members, ninety-six; December, one hundred and nine; March, 1839, one hundred and eighteen; June, one hundred and sixteen; September, one hundred and fifty;

December, one hundred and sixty-six, and eight on trial.

The room in which we worship is much too small for us; nor can we have the use of it many months longer. It has therefore been decided to build a chapel, which will be settled on the Methodist plan. The intended erection is to contain about three hundred and fifty persons, and the cost to be £250. We have engaged to raise £160; but this will be done with great difficulty, on account of

the extreme poverty of the people. In order to lessen the expense, there are to be no pews, but only benches. I must not omit to notice, that a most acceptable present of books, from the Wesleyan Book-room, has been made to the society, by Mr. Carr, of Brighton. The Rev. Mr. Illingworth, of London, and the Rev. Peter M'Owan, of Manchester, know our circumstances well.

JOSEPH HUDSON.

THE Committee of the General Chapel-Fund are of opinion, that at no period have the important benefits and claims of this Fund been better appreciated than at present. The large amount of chapel debt which has been liquidated by its means, in all parts of the kingdom, has drawn general attention to the principles and operations of this noble institution; and the steady increase of its resources, and the amount of contributions to the Centenary Fund, -in very many instances avowedly for the special help of this great homecharity, attest a growing conviction of its importance to the welfare and prosperity of Wesleyan Methodism.

The Committee beg once more to urge the importance of the objects contemplated by this Fund, by making an extract from their First Report, drawn up by the late Rev. Richard Watson, the zealous advocate and friend of the infant institution. The whole Report is worthy of frequent perusal.

"Perhaps it is not easy to fix upon a case more truly worthy of Christian sympathy and kind assistance, than that of a chapel deeply involved in debt. The anxiety of Trustees for themselves and families; the burdens constantly laid upon societies and congregations, preventing often the increase of both, and thereby pressing down the growth of that natural aid which every chapel is supposed to possess within itself; the perplexities and complaints in which Ministers are involved, rendering the places of their labour irksome to them during their stay, and abating that satisfied and home feeling which is so essential to the spiritual and vigorous discharge of their duties; and, to crown all, the debates, and want of union and attention to the spiritual concerns of societies, which are

produced among the leading officers and friends of a society so circumstanced: these evils will be effectually removed by the maintenance of the Chapel-Fund, and the relief it will afford. Opportunity will be given to infant societies to strengthen themselves; the confidence of Trustees will be felt by congregations; union will be promoted; the ministry exercised with much greater comfort and success; and hope, the animating principle of exertion, be then a rational and salutary feeling, and spread an enlivening influence over Ministers and Trustees, over societies and congregations."

Such important benefits have already accrued in numerous instances; and the Committee rejoice in the prospect of still more extensive, immediate, and permanent advantages to the interests of Methodism.

The amount of subscriptions, collections, and donations for the current year, is £5,602. 10s. 8d. At the last Conference, the sum of £379 was distributed in grants to forty-three chapels, towards their annual deficiencies; and the balance was paid to the Treasurers of the Loan-Fund for the payment of interest on loans, and for the reduction of the principal.

The Committee would draw the attention of the Connexion generally to the following summary of the relief afforded by the Chapel-Fund :

The Fund was instituted by the Conference of 1818; and the amount of collections, subscriptions, and donations received up to the present year, is £99,342. 10s. 2d. Relief has been given to distressed chapels, in order to assist in making up annual deficiencies, in 1,049 Grants, to the amount of £20,578. 7s. In 1827, the Conference authorized the Committee to raise

Jeans to the extent of £5,000, to be repaid by instalments of £1,000 per annum. Ten cases were thus relieved to the amount of £5,014. 178. A second loan of £5,000 was raised in 1829, to be repaid in the same way. Under this loan, and by the surplus of the General Chapel-Fund, thirty cases were relieved to the amount of £5,655. From these resources, the Committee had been enabled, up to the year 1832, to apportion £20,000 as Final Grants, the Trus

tees having raised £31,000; thus extinguishing debt to the amount of £51,000. The Conference of 1832 authorized the Committee to raise a loan of £40,000, the whole of which was obtained in the course of two or three years. The Treasurers' accounts of the payment of Final Grants, and of the amounts raised by the Trustees, have appeared regularly in the Annual Reports. The following is a statement of the

Total amount of Loan System......
Total amount of Annual Grants
Grand total of the operations of the
Chapel-Fund, exclusive of the
Centenary Relief-Fund......

The Treasurers of the Loan-Fund have repaid about one-half of the loans; and the annual amount of £4,750 is absolutely required, to enable the Committee to meet their engagements in reference to the remainder. It is therefore obvious that the exertions of the Preachers and friends on behalf of the General Chapel-Fund are as much needed as ever. The total amount of the loans, viz., £40,000, has been expended already, in the relief of the most urgent cases of distress; and the regular resources of the

* The cases not yet completed are transferred to the Chapel-Relief Committee, according to the direction of the Conference-See MINUTES, 1839, page 107.

Raised by

Trustees.

Grants of Committee.

Total Debts

extinguished.

£53,301

£43,865

£97,166

1,360

1,360

913

670

1,583

55,574

44,535

100,109

31,000

20,000

51,000

£151,109

20,578

20,578

Chapel-Fund, together with legacies and special donations, form the only direct means of meeting the interest, and paying off the remaining principal, and of affording relief by Annual and Final Grants to those cases which may remain unrelieved after the exhaustion of the means of the Chapel-Relief Committee.

A very important part of the business committed to the supervision and care of the General Chapel-Fund Committee is the erection and enlargement of chapels : a subject of the greatest importance to the future welfare of Methodism. It would appear that, notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts made throughout the Connexion during the last year, especially

in the actual payment of upwards of £100,000 to the Centenary Fund, an unprecedented number of new chapels have been erected. The Chapel-Building Committee have sanctioned the erection of 116 new chapels, and the enlarge ment of 19, making a total of 135; a number considerably greater than in any former year. The estimated expense of these chapels is £69,347. The amount of subscriptions and collections, £41,351. The amount of final debt allowed by the Committee, £37,302. The estimated income, £4,244; being something more than an average of 11 per cent. per annum upon the money borrowed. Were the Committee to be guided only by past experience, arising from acquaintance with so large a number of cases of embarrassment, they would be led to pronounce this average too low for the generality of Trusts. They, however, trust and believe that there is now more systematic attention, vigilance, and care in the general management of chapel affairs than formerly; and they hope that an increased spirit of mutual oversight, sympathy, and co-operation will go far to prevent those distressing embarrass ments which our past history has fur nished. Yet they must impress this remark, that it is exceedingly desirable, if not absolutely necessary, for the present and future safety and comfort of every Chapel Trust, that, exclusive of ground-rent, the income should yield fifteen per cent. upon the amount of debt. Ten or eleven per cent. will be required to defray the interest and unavoidable incidental expenses; and there ought to be a surplus of four or five per cent. for the gradual liquidation of the principal, and for contingencies. If possible, no more debt should be allowed to remain apon Trust property than it would actually produce if disposed of by sale.

In the county of Lincoln, and in some parts of Cornwall, a considerable number of chapels have been built, or others enlarged, during the last year; but in almost every instance, prudence and liberality have been so happily and honourably combined, that no pecuniary embarrassment can reasonably be anticipated. The Committee are deeply anxious that the same spirit of zeal and prudence may spread through the whole Connexion. They are of opinion, that by the prudent erection of commodious chapels in large towns, the cause of God may be greatly helped, and not hindered. They may adduce the case of Leeds, where the two largest chapels in the Connexion have been erected within a few years,

without any increase of chapel debt in one instance; while in the other, the Trustees have been enabled to give £800 towards the erection of a new chapel in an important village in the Circuit, where such a building was greatly needed; but, without such aid, the friends could not have attempted its erection.

The Committee would call the special attention of the Superintendents of Cir. cuits to the regulations of Conference, which require that as soon as a chapel is opened or re-opened, an account, according to the printed schedule, of the actual cost, and of the amount raised by subscriptions, &c., shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Chapel-Building Committee. The same regulations require the Chairmen of Districts to forward the Annual Schedule, containing all the above particulars in reference to new chapels in the District. Great negligence has occurred in some instances, and great carelessness in others. Accounts of only eighty cases have been received by the Secretary during the past year. Yet when it is remembered how much the future comfort of Trustees in the wellworking of this large annual increase of Trusts, depends upon the wisdom and care of the Building Committee in giving their sanction to the various applica tions; it will be seen that these arrangements are of essential importance, as furnishing a large amount of facts by which they may more safely form their decisions. Much as has been accomplished in these respects, it is obvious that much remains to be done. It depends chiefly upon the wisdom, vigilance, and firmness of the Building Committee, whether the future history of our Chapel Trusts shall be as the past; and whether, and how long, our present exertions shall be needed for the removal of enormous and overwhelming debts. In their efforts to prevent the recurrence of such calamities, the Committee must be aided by the Superintendents and Trustees. Extraordinary occasions of embarrassment will occur; but with the amount of dear. bought wisdom which the Connexion has gained, under ordinary circum stances, our future career need not be impeded by these serious difficulties.

On this subject, so important to the welfare of the Connexion at large, and especially to the work of God in particular places, the Committee beg to furnish a few remarks and suggestions.

The Committee would first offer a caution against an undue eagerness to enlarge an old, or to erect a new, chapel.