and Mr. Ebenezer Smith kindly consented to take the chair, and opened the meeting with some suitable and friendly remarks. A series of resolutions were moved and seconded by the following brethren, belong. ing to different denominations, namely, the Rev. J. H. Muir, Rev. C. Larom, H. Longden, Esq., Rev. J. Macleon, Mr. Walden, Mr. W. Roome, Rev. H. Hunter, and T. H. Hudson. The collections amounted to £6 128. 54d., independent of private dona. tions and subscriptions promised. All the services of the day were of the most pleasing character, and the evening was spent in christian harmony and love. Christi. anity appears in one of her loveliest forms, when brethren of different sections of the Church dwell together in unity, and all hearts are fixed upon the Divine glory, and the good of man. We trust the interesting services of the day will be long remembered, and inspire all our dear friends with activity and zeal to extend the interests of Jesus in this populous town.

The resolutions, which were passed unanimously, gave much satisfaction. Several friends have requested me to send them for insertion in our Repository. I send you a copy of them as they appeared in the Shef. field Independent, and hope they will be acceptable generally to the readers of our periodical. While we cherish attachment to our own principles, we desire to cultivate a spirit of friendship and love towards all the disciples of our blessed Lord.

I remain, dear Sir, yours truly,

T. H. HUDSON.

May 14th, 1842. P.S.-The resolutions adopted at the public meeting were the following:

1. “That this meeting cordially recog nizes as brethren in Christ all Evangelical Churches; and affectionately desires to unite with them as closely as possible in maintaining and propagating the great and distinguishing principles of the gospel.

2. "That while this meeting rejoices in the advancement of real religion among all denominations of Christians, and in the good which has been done by the exertions of the Town Mission, it deeply laments the spiritual and moral condition of multitudes of our own population, and feels the impera. tive necessity which exists for more strenu ous and united efforts for the instruction of the rising generation and the conversion of

immortal souls.

3. "That this meeting gratefully acknow ledges the goodness of God in the success which has accompanied their labours, re. joices in the interesting events of this day, and sincerely desires always to keep in view the great design of all Christian institu

tions, namely, to gather souls from the world into the fold of Jesus Christ.

4. "That the thanks of this meeting be given to Henry Longden, Esq., for his kindness in laying the corner stone; to Mr. Ebenezer Smith, for presiding on the present occasion; to the Rev. T. Smith and his friends, for the use of the school-room; to the various ministers of the Gospel, who have assisted us; and to all those Christian ladies, who have so efficiently presided at our several tea tables, or who have other. wise rendered us help in our important undertaking."

ALFRETON, DERBYSHIRE.-Our arniversary sermons this year were preached on Lord' sday, April 17th, by Mr. Peggs, of Ilkeston. In the morning our friend preached at Ripley, from Job viii. 7. In the afternoon the text at Alfreton was from Col. i. 20, and in the evening from Zech. ix. 11, 12. The congregation was very good in the evening. Collections not known to the writer.

LEICESTER, ARCHDEACON-LANE.-On Lord's day, May 1st, the ordinance of believers' baptism was administered to seven persons. An impressive sermon on baptism was preached on the occasion by our wor thy pastor, from "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you." In the afternoon a very suitable and affectionate address was delivered to the newly-baptized, from, "Lord, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest." After which the pastor of the Church gave to each the right hand of fellowship. We have now twenty-five candidates waiting for admission into Christ's visible Church. "The Lord is doing great things for us, whereof we are glad." We distribute tracts to 850 families. J. C.

ENON CHAPEL, NEW CHURCH STREET, ST. MARY LE - BONE. On Lord's day evening, April 24th, the divinely instituted ordinance of believers' baptism was administered at the close of an appropriate and faithful discourse by our esteemed pastor, from Matt. xxviii. 19, to seventeen candidates on a profession of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The excessively crowded auditory maintained great order and attention, and the hearts of the members rejoiced at beholding so many coming forward to be that it will be the means of causing many on the Lord's side; and we sincerely trust to decide whom they will serve.

CASTLE DONINGTON.-On Lord's day, April 3rd, four persons were baptized at Castle Donington. On Lord's day, May 1st,

THE BAPTIST UNION held its meetings on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, April 25, 26, 28, 29. It was attended by one hundred and forty six ministers and others. The Rev. J. G. Pike, of Derby, presided. The following were the principal resolutions:

"That the Union record their deep sense of gratitude to Almighty God for the favour which he has mercifully shown to the denomination during the past year, as apparent iu the numerical increase of the Churches; which they trust they may regard as a to ken that the energies of their brethren are, with growing zeal and fidelity, put forth in his cause, and as a pledge that yet greater mercies are in reserve for them."

"That the Union most gratefully recognize the goodness of God in having brought the Baptist Missionary Society, amidst so many mercies, to the fiftieth year of its existence, and warmly sympathize in the design of celebrating this period, both by devotional exercises and pecuniary liberality, as a Missionary Jubilee."

"That the Union, retaining a full conviction of the unjust and mischievous char. acter of all ecclesiastical exactions, and ob. serving that Sir John Easthope, M. P., has announced his intention to bring forward during the present session of parliment a bill on the subject of church-rates, declare their cordial assent to the principle on which the said bill is founded, namely, that,' from and after the passing' thereof,'all proceed. ings for the making, assesing, allotting, or levying of church rates shall cease and determine.'

"That the facts, that in 975 churches of the Baptist denomination, there was in the year now reported a clear increase of 9366 members that this augmentation gives an average annual rate of increase of 10 members per church, and that the annual rate of increase in the denomination has tripled itself within eight years-afford matter of devout congratulation and humble gratitude.

"That this meeting records with lively interest the origination, within a short period, of several evangelical Baptist Churches on the continent of Europe; that they recognize with unfeigned joy the grace of

"That this meeting is painfully sensible of the many impediments by which the dif fusion of vital godliness throughout our country is obstructed, some of them arising from physical destitution and suffering, some from oppressive measures adopted by interested powerful parties, others (and the most grievous) from the state establishment of religion, by which independence of thought is in a great measure paralyzed, a fallacious sense of security inspired, and the influence of destructive errors facilitated and confirmed: that, nevertheless, this meeting cherishes a confident expectation that the weapons which are not carnal will be 'mighty through God;' and would encourage all, and the members of the Baptist denomination in particular, to be diligent and persevering in disseminating the good seed of evangelical truth."

"That this Union avails itself of its Annual Session again to record its deep conviction of the unscriptural character of the established churches of this country. Believing all such institutions to have had their origin in the apostacy which took place shortly after the death of the apostles of our Lord, to be repugnant in their nature to the spirituality of the Saviour's kingdom, and to be a fruitful source of social wrong, religious formality, and national scepticism, the brethren assembled feel bound to protest against their continuance. That these views are confirmed by the clearer development of church principles recently furnished by a large and rapidly extending portion of the clergy, a development the more singular and opportune as occuring just at the moment when public attention was specially directed to the constitution and working of the English church. Believing such views to be the legitimate growth of the principles on which the English hierarchy is founded, and regarding them, at the same time, as subversive of the spirituality of the Gospel, and fatal to the souls of men, this Union, as an assembly of religious men, recognizes the obligation under which it is placed strenuously to exert itself for the disenthralment of Christianity from the secular associations into which it has thus been forced. That such exertion is regarded as

a religious duty, devolved upon them by the terms of their Christian profession, and im. peratively demanded by a due regard to the religious welfare of their fellow men. That it be, therefore, recommended to the ministers and members of the Churches composing this Union, to endeavour, by means of lec. tures and the circulation of tracts and other publications illustrative of the voluntary principle, to diffuse throughout their respective localities, and especially amongst the younger members of their congregations, more correct information on the history and principles of Protestant Nonconformity than has hitherto been possessed."

"That the Union embrace with fraternal affection the Baptist Churches which have recently been formed in Hamburgh, Prussia, and Denmark, and they deeply sympathize with those of the last-named country in the sufferings for Christ which they are called to endure; that they regard the persecution directed against these unoffending confessors as in the highest degree disgraceful both to the civil and ecclesiastical powers by which they are either instigated or carried into effect; and that they pray God to count their honoured brethren worthy of this arduous calling, and to fill them, in the midst of tribulation, with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

"That the Union fully sympathize in the universal sentiment of grief and shame that, after the noble act which extinguished slavery for ever in the British colonies, there should be found to exist, in however mitigated a form of servitude, a large number of slaves in our Indian empire, and in the eastern dependencies of the British crown; and that they unite in distinctly demanding, in the name of justice, of human. ity, and of consistency, that the state of slavery shall be abolished wheresoever British dominion may extend."

"That the Union unfeignedly rejoice in the rapid advance of anti-slavery principles in the United States of America, more especially among religious bodies; that they warmly congratulate their brethren on the success with which their exertions have been hitherto crowned, and trust that they will not be moved by the wrath and malice

which their righteous intrepidity has provoked from slave holding professors."

"That the cordial thanks of this Union be given to the Rev. J. G. PIKE, for his kindness in occupying the chair; and to the pastors and deacons of the Churches at Devonshire Square, and New Park Street, for the use of their chapels."

CHURCH RATES.-The recent decision in the Consistorial Court, on the Braintree case, has established the principle that the minority of the parishoners in vestry cannot lay a rate. This has defeated the harpies of the state church. Much has been advanced on the right of the church to this impost. Dr. Lushington, the judge in this court, deliberately stated that this right has no existence, except established by a majority, and is not like tithes, a property of the church. He has these words:→

"The whole of the nation, [he is referring to past days] was of one religion; to profess a different opinion was heresy. To support that religion was a religious duty, binding upon the consciences of all, to secure the performance of rites deemed essential to the safety of the soul. The upholding of the sacred edifice by those bound to uphold it, and the religious nature of the obligation, gave the jurisdiction to enforce it to those courts which arose out of, and were connected with, the religious establishment, the foundation of whose proceedings was pro saluté animæ. The obligation was in personam, and not in rem; it existed indepenently of property, though the extent and degree to which the obligation was to be enforced must be measured by property, or, in other words, by the ability of the individual. Ability included every species of property; it was a direct tax upon none; it was no lien upon land or on stock, nor on one more than another. In those days, however, land and stock constituted the sole property yielding a profit; therefore, land and stock became in practice a criterion of ability; but in ascertaining the ability, other property might be taken into consideration, as ships and stock in trade." This elabo. rate judgment occupied two hours in its delivery.