unite; but to attempt their union by other bands would at once divide and scatter them.

If it is supposed, that such union as is possible to churches so free, and so jealous of their freedom, must be very feeble and useless: this is a mistake. For such objects as are appropriate to the Union, it has strength and efficiency. Its meetings present occasions for happy fellowship among the brethren assembled. In them interesting and important questions can be discussed -intercourse with other bodies of Evangelical Christians can be maintained-movements for promoting the truth and the cause of Christ may be originated. In a word, the public spirit, the united efforts, the general interests of the Congregational churches, have been greatly advanced by this Union, during the thirteen years it has been in existence and operation, while there is every prospect that its future course will be yet more efficient and salutary.

It

Next to its assemblies the Union finds the press its most effective means of usefulness. has, therefore, published a series of tracts and declarations suited to the times, and designed to vindicate and to benefit the churches. It has issued a Hymn Book, which has been very extensively approved and adopted, and a revised edition of which is now nearly ready for the press. It puts forth annually a calendar or year-book full of information equally interesting and valuable to the body. Under its auspices two volumes of Historical Memorials of the denomination, have been put forth, and a third, and concluding volume, is now ready for publication. This work is a compilation from rare documents and treatises, illustrative of the principles and of the early history of the Independent churches of this country.

And now the Union sanctions and promotes the publication of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, intended to advocate the principles of the Independent churches; to diffuse intelligence of their affairs; and to promote enlightened interest in their great cause, and in their common welfare. It will follow, as a matter of course, that the Committee of the Union will employ the CHRISTIAN WITNESS for publishing its proceedings and for advancing its objects. Every thing will be attempted, indeed risked, to secure success for this organ of denominational interests. Cheap in price; replete with matter; popular in character; earnest in tone of thought and feelings on great truths and interests-the aim will be to make this Witness bear such a testimony as must be heard, regarded, and welcomed to the greatest possible extent amongst all who think, and read, and feel on the vital and sacred principles dear to consistent Congregationalists.

In this first number of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, it is wished to give a general view of the constitution, objects, and operations of the Congregational Union. Future numbers will present detailed and contemporary intelligence of its movements and interests. The recent

EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT of the Union is in itself of immense importance, of immediate urgency, and at the same time well adapted to illustrate the character and usefulness of this extended association of the Independent churches. The Union holds two general meetings in each year-its Annual Assembly in London every successive May, and an adjourned meeting of the same in the October following,

in some principal provincial city or town. Five of these autumnal meetings have been already held successively at Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Leeds. At each of these meetings a goodly number of Brethren has convened, and most favourable opportunities have been obtained for discussing general questions of deep interest and importance to the churches.

When the meeting assembled at Leeds in October last, the subject most requiring attention was that of General Education. In the preceding session of Parliament, the pernicious bill for regulating Factory labour and education, introduced by Sir James Graham, had been happily defeated solely by the energetic and unprecedented efforts of the friends of religious liberty, though opposed by a rare combination of all political parties, and of all parliamentary interests in favour of the measure. It is impossible to estimate too highly the value of this triumph. By it we have been rescued from incalculable social, educational, and religious evils. But the opponents of that bill were not opponents of education, nor did they doubt or question that education in England most urgently requires to be both extended and improved. What, therefore, they would not allow the Government to do by force and injustice, they felt bound to do by voluntary, benevolent effort. The Episcopal church first began to move its great power, and to draw upon its immense resources for voluntary education. The Wesleyans followed, acting with great vigour and wisdom through their own Connexional plans and arrangements; and proposing within the next ensuing seven years to raise two hundred thousand pounds, and to originate seven hundred new daily schools.

It was, therefore, time for the Congregationalists to move for an object of which they had long been the consistent and zealous advocates. The subject was largely discussed at Leeds; a central committee to proceed with measures for moving the whole denomination to combined and vigorous efforts, was appointed; this committee found it necessary to invite to a conference in London delegates from all churches that might concur in appointing representatives for the purpose; on the 13th and 14th of December, this important meeting was successfully held a numerous and influential body of delegates assembled-many most important points affecting the great questions of general education, and of the course to be adopted in advancing its interests by the Congregational churches at the present juncture, were discussed, and determinations taken thereon-a subscription was commenced which already exceeds twenty thousand pounds-and the Central Committee was sustained in carrying forward the work till May next, when more public proceedings, and a more extended basis of operations, are contemplated.

Thus the importance and value of such an organization of the Congregational churches as the Union presents, has been made evident. And now the work must be done! Let every reader of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS put his hand to it! Sunday-school Teachers, it is your work! If you would retain your children in your sabbath-schools, you must protect them in really good daily schools, from influences that will otherwise deprive you of them.

If you

would really advance their religious education as it ought to be advanced, you must provide for them efficient instruction in general knowledge through the week. Whoever can give money, or contribute labour and influence to this great work, it is expected that he now should do his duty.

Another illustration of the nature and value of the Congregational Union is supplied by the BRITISH MISSIONS connected with it-so called because of their national character-so called to appeal to patriotic feelings, interests, and obligation-so called because prosecuted in the British dominions in England, Ireland, and the Colonies. The societies for British Missions are the Home Missionary Society, the Irish Evangelical Society, and the Colonial Missionary Society. They are grouped together, that they may present the unity of a great and common, though varied object; and that their friendly connexion with each other may facilitate and strengthen appeals to the churches for their joint interests and support. They are affiliated with the Union, that they may on the one hand receive whatever advantages can be obtained from the influence, proceedings, and councils of its annual assemblies; and that on the other hand, they may render assistance to the Union by completing the idea and extending the practice of united action and fellowship among the churches. But these societies are not so connected either with each other, or with the Union, as in the least to affect or impair the complete independence of each. They have, and observe, their separate constitutions-the subscribers to each elect its committee and officers in open annual meeting-the Committee and officers of each, so elected, manage its affairs without interference of any kind from the Committee or officers of either the Union, or of the other affiliated Societies. They unite for mutual help in general appeals and counsels, not to invade each other's rights and liberties.

The connexion of these Societies with the Congregational Union was also intended to give them, in the most unobjectionable manner, a denominational character. The Home Missionary and Irish Evangelical Societies were not originally constituted on a Congregational basis, but were formed and supported by Christians of various communions agreeing in the great principles of Evangelical truth; and for many years worked well on that basis and plan. But times changed. Dividing influences sent the men of Israel each to the tents of his own tribe. United action in missions, among the people of the British Empire in all its parts, became less and less practicable. The Union of various denominations in these Societies became little more than a name. Moreover, the importance of the distinctive principles of Congregationalists grew more evident from the altered state of general opinions and interests. They could no longer be held in abeyance. A public, an open testimony to them became necessary for the sake of the great doctrines of grace, with which their practical connexion had become manifest; therefore, with a peaceful, cordial unanimity, these Societies connected themselves with the Congregational Union. Colonial Missionary Society was connected with the Union from the first. It in fact grew out of the proceedings of the Union, especially its deputation to America and the Canadas. It

VOL. I.

The

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would have been utterly impossible to prosecute missions in the British Colonies on any united plan. There, if possible, the separation of religious bodies is more complete, there competition is more eager than in the Parent Land. sides, how could Congregationalists, with the glorious results before their eyes of colonization in New England, conducted strictly on their own principles two centuries ago, do otherwise than abide by, and propagate their church polity, as well as their doctrinal faith, in every British Colony to which they might gain

access?

May successive numbers of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, through long years to come, publish and record the peace, the progress, the triumphs of British Missions!

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE Home Missionary Society was formed in London in 1819. It was a fact well known to multitudes, that in the great majority of instances, the 11,000 parishes of this country had no preaching of Christ and Him crucified. In the Established Church there were not at that time more than 1,500 ministers who were supposed to be Evangelical in their sentiments, out of the 12,000 clergy in that establishment! The efforts of other denominations did not supply the deficiency. A new agency was required; and that was supplied by the formation of the Home Missionary Society.

The work undertaken was one of the noblest that could engage the attention of British Christians. It commenced at a time when no similar plan was in operation for the whole of England. The object was to introduce the gospel into the destitute districts of this country, where it was either not preached at all or inadequately supplied. Believing that at that time what is called the neutral principle would induce various denominations of Christians to forward this scheme of Christian benevolence, the Society did not assume a denominational aspect. Many years, however, had not passed away, before nearly every Christian community had formed a similar society for spreading the gospel at home, according to its own views of Christian truth and church polity. And as the Home Missionary Society had, by the current of events, been left almost entirely to depend on the Congregational churches for support—as its agents, and the churches formed through their instrumentality, were Congregational, and as the associations co-operating with it belonged to the same body of Christians, it appeared to all parties, as there was no rule against it, that a more intimate connexion should be formed with the churches of that order.

This desirable object was carried into effect in May, 1840; when at the annual meeting, held in Exeter Hall, it was connected with the Congregational Union of England and Wales. This event has not altered, in any respect, the object which the Society had originally in view. The religious principles of the agents are the same as at first-the churches formed are the same, as to their church polity-and the salvation of sinners is still sought, as infinitely superior to all other objects. At the same time a pledge is given by this more intimate connexion with the Congregational churches, that those views of the nature

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of Christ's kingdom, which they hold to be scriptural, are firmly maintained-while those stations on which churches of Christ have been formed, are not permitted to be deprived of their pastor because Evangelical curates may be appointed to parish churches. In cases, however, where no church is formed, and where Evangelical instruction is sufficiently supplied from other quarters, the directors occasionally withdraw their agents, and send them to more destitute districts.

The Society, since its formation, has gradually extended its operations. Since 1840 its stations and agents have greatly increased. Two classes of agents are employed in carrying out the designs of the Society. The first consists of those who are exclusively devoted to missionary work, under the immediate direction of the Society, and of those County Associations which are connected with it. Of these agents there are 74. The other consists of pastors, who receive grants from the Society, on condition of supplying the villages around them with regular means of Christian instruction. The whole number employed is 150. These two classes of agents occupy 150 principal stations, and preach, besides, in 512 out-stations. The population among which they labour, or which is in the immediate neighbourhood, amounts to 600,000, of which number, about 50,000 regularly attend their ministry, and assemble, on the sabbath or on week evenings, in 247 chapels and 415 rooms of different kinds. These places of worship are situated in 499 parishes, in most of which no Evangelical clergy labour; while in many of them there is no gospel preached by any other denomination. Were it not, therefore, for the agents of the Home Missionary Society, there would be, most probably, the total absence of all scriptural instruction-the neglect of public ordinances by the people, and consequently the danger to which those are exposed who perish for "lack of knowledge." While, however, the preaching of the gospel is the primary object which all the missionaries keep constantly in view, and which, during the past year, God has greatly honoured, by the conversion of more than 600 souls, it is by no means the only one to which their attention is directed. Hence they have established Sunday - schools and Bible classes, and have circulated many thousand copies of the Scriptures. Also, when the Spirit of God blessed the word, Christian churches were formed, and immediately Christian Instruction Societies commenced operations. Through this agency many hundred thousand tracts have been distributed. All these schemes of usefulness have been in actual operation for a number of years, so that there are now 218 Sundayschools on the stations of the Society, containing 13,445 children, who are instructed by 1,756 teachers. In addition to these the missionaries have 110 Bible classes, containing 1,400 pupils. Besides the stations in which there is regular religious service, the missionaries visit villages, in which the influence of the clergy and their friends keeps all the cottages closed against them, and preach, during the summer, in the open air, and during the winter circulate religious tracts.

Notwithstanding all the difficulties with which the Society has had to contend, the results of its operations have been very encouraging. The state of things during the past year has been already given. A sentence or two will, there

fore, be sufficient to give the aggregate result. It has introduced the gospel into hundreds of villages where it was previously unknown. It has been instrumental in the conversion of thousands of individuals-many of whom have died in the faith of Christ. It has collected together converts in many places, and united them in Christian fellowship. It has erected through means of its agents many chapels, which are secured by trust deeds to the people worshipping in them, and to the Congregational denomination. The Society claims no control over them. On all the stations the same kinds of moral instrumentality are employed, that are to be found where Christian churches are active and prosperous. The Society has stations in thirty-four counties of England.

But while there is abundant cause for gratitude to God, on account of what He has done by means of the Society, there is an immense field of labour yet to be occupied, a large part of which the Congregational churches are bound to cultivate. There are also circumstances, some of them peculiar to the present time, which require the serious and solemn consideration of every friend of his country.

1. There are at least 8000 parishes still without the gospel in the Established Church.

2. Notwithstanding all the exertions of Evangelical Denominations, many hundreds of the above parishes are at this time destitute of the Gospel.

3. Great numbers of the clergy are now actively diffusing what true Christians believe to be deadly error.

4. The people would at present welcome the pure gospel of Christ sent to them by the hands of good men. The opposition that is met with by the missionaries does not come from the people. In ninety-nine cases out of every hundred it comes from the clergy, and from those who are influenced by them.

5. The opposition in many parishes is so great, extending even to persecution for righteousness' sake, that were it not for the Home Missionary Society, the preachers would be compelled to withdraw from their stations, and leave their chapels, rooms, schools, and hearers to the mercy of Puseyite clergymen-a consummation at which some of them are now strenuously aiming.

6. The applications for missionaries have been numerous during the past year. The Directors have been obliged to decline most of them on account of the state of the Society's funds. The expenditure last year was £1500 beyond the regular income, which deficiency was providentially met by a legacy recently received.

7. It should also be borne in mind that when Home Missionary operations succeed all other Christian institutions in England are benefited by the success. Cover Britain with churches composed of converted men, and you secure efficient help for attempting the conversion of the world. Let home objects be forgotten, or inadequately sustained, and injury will be done to Ireland, to the colonies, and to the heathen.

The churches of Christ must do more for Home-not less for the heathen- but more for England. And this increase of aid should begin without delay. While Christians are delaying, sinners are perishing. Every day's unnecessary hesitation in seeking the evangeliza

tion of Home, sees the departure of a thousand souls into Eternity-the far greater proportion, it is to be feared, dying in unbelief. Is there

a Christian heart that can be insensible to a consideration like this? His neighbours-his countrymen dying by thousands, while he has never united with others in trying to save them from destruction! If such is really the case, the golden rule must be forgotten here; the command of Christ is surely disobeyed! That many members of Congregational churches have not duly considered this subject, is undoubtedly the case. The sum contributed during the past year, exclusive of legacies, to the Home Missionary Society, and to County Associations having the same objects in view, was under £15,000. If we estimate the number of church-members and hearers at 750,000 adults, it will not amount to one halfpenny a month from each individual, for the evangelization of England.

to

But if only 100,000 persons contributed to form the sum above named, it would amount to no more than three shillings for each person in the year. As, however, many subscribe far more liberally, we are obliged to conclude that not one seventh portion of the denomination in this country give any thing to spread the gospel through the destitute parts of their native land. There is, however, reason believe that much of this want of sympathy for their countrymen arises from unacquaintance with the necessities of Home, and probably Societies have not diffused among the people. sufficient information. Pastors have much in their power. They can alter this state of things to a considerable extent. Deacons of churches can greatly strengthen the hands of their ministers in this important matter, while the zealous private members of the churches can act on the minds of their fellow Christians, and excite pity for their perishing countrymen. The monthly Statement of Facts in this publication will, it is hoped, furnish materials for consideration, and greatly promote the important objects of the Home Missionary Society.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THIS Society has lived and laboured for the benefit of Ireland nearly thirty years, and has been the honoured instrument in the hand of God of pouring celestial light into many dark minds, and of promoting a revived spirit of evangelical religion amongst some nominally Christian communities, on whom its influence has been indirectly brought to bear. For many years it maintained a strict neutrality on all questions of church polity; but in the year 1840 it was adopted by the Congregational Union of England and Wales as one of the branches of British Missions; and its future support was thus devolved on Independent churches exclusively. It now employs thirty agents as Pastors, Missionaries, or Scripture Readers, who labour in at least two hundred towns and villages, containing a population of 200,000 persons, most of whom are Roman Catholics. Some of the agents are engaged in extensive itinerating tours during the summer months, and have had the gratification of being listened to by large multitudes who have assembled to hear the words of

life from their lips in market-places, burialgrounds, fields, and on the sea-shore; and there is reason to believe that, by these labours of love, many have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son.

All the brethren who fill the pastoral office visit towns and villages within their reach, more or less frequently, according to their respective distances, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ; and most of them have schools in connexion with their own congregations. The Scripture readers are engaged with constancy in visiting from house to house, in districts of town and country, teaching the people much on the principle of City or Town Missionaries in this country; and their journals furnish pleasing evidence that God has rendered their visits the instrument of instruction, of conversion, and of comfort to the souls of their fellow-creatures. Some of the agents preach and teach in the Irish language, and are welcomed by the peasantry of the south of Ireland wherever they go; and no power of priestly authority is sufficient to deter large assemblies from listening to the gospel, when proclaimed in the tongue in which they were born.

The income of the Society during the past year, exclusive of Legacies, amounted to £2353 6s., but an increase on this of at least £500 per annum is indispensable, in order to the efficient working of the Society. The Committee have just adopted the resolution of employing two individuals to act as colporteurs, in remote districts, who will enter on their labours of circulating the Bible and other religious books at a greatly reduced price, without delay, and there is every reason to hope that this kind of agency, which has been so remarkably blessed of God in France and in Belgium, and which appears equally well suited to meet the present circumstances of Ireland, will receive tokens of the Divine approval, and be the means of extensive benefit. Other persons will be engaged for this work, and other plans for advancing the moral regeneration of Ireland will be acted upon as soon as the state of the funds will admit.

In subsequent numbers of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, the Secretaries will have pleasure in presenting such extracts from the journals of agents, as will prove to the friends of the Irish Evangelical Society that in supporting this Institution they are upholding an instrumentality well adapted to effect the salvation of man, and on which God is causing his blessing abundantly to rest. In the meantime it is important that the Independent Churches of this country should know that the altered circumstances of the Society, effected by a recent dissolution of its connexion with the Irish Congregational Union, has not diminished the claim it has on their steady and growing support, but that on the contrary it has strengthened that claim, inasmuch as the Committee is burdened with a debt of several hundred pounds, due by this Society to the Irish Union, in consequence of the Liverpool agreement. To aid in liquidating this, and to assist the general objects of the Society, Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, T. M. Coombs, Esq., Ludgate-street, or at No. 7, Blomfield-street, by the Rev. Thomas James, or the Rev. George Smith, the Secretaries.