by the Rev. M. A. Garvey, who being well acquainted with the state of things in the sister kingdom, had been requested to attend and to assist the Committee by such suggestions as his information might supply.

The Deputations of the two Societies having retired for the evening, a lengthened conversation was held with the Rev. M. A. Garvey, in which much important information was elicited. Thus terminated the sitting of the first day, having been continued, with short intermission, upwards of eleven hours.

The second day was occupied by your Committee in conference with the two Deputations, of whom information and suggestions were sought, apart and in company with each other, and in consultation among themselves as to the course to be recommended. Many valuable suggestions were elicited; and the representatives of the two Societies finally took their leave of the Committee, evincing a cordial disposition to co-operate on such terms as the Committee might deem it desirable to recommend.

Your Committee assembled again on the morning of the third day, when they proceeded to compare the views which its members had been led to form, and to embody the suggestions that had been previously thrown out in a connected scheme. These deliberations conducted them to the unanimous adoption of the following plan to be proposed for future operations connected with the two Societies:

"That the Irish Evangelical Society and the Congregational Union of Ireland, so far as the latter acts as a Missionary Institution, be amalgamated under the designation of the Irish Evangelical Society, in connection with the Congregational Unions of Ireland, and of England and Wales.

"That the object of such Society be the diffusion throughout Ireland of evangelical religion on Congregational principles, and that all churches contributing to its funds be entitled to representation, and all individual subscribers to membership.

"That the management be vested in two Committees, one sitting in Dublin, the other in London.

"That the Dublin Committee shall be nominated by the Congregational Union of Ireland, and the London Committee by the Congregational Union of England and Wales, such nominations to be submitted for final confirmation to an annual general meeting of the Society in London.

"That the two Committees shall possess coordinate powers, and transmit to each other copies of all minutes; all questions coming before the one being referred for confirmation to the other, and no arrangements of any kind being regarded as final till the sanction of both Committees shall have been obtained.

"That the Dublin Committee, having the immediate supervision of the agents and stations, all ordinary official correspondence, connected therewith, shall be conducted with that Committee, their arrangements and decisions being subject in every case to the discussion and approval of both Committees. Special communications may also be addressed to either Committee, which shall be imparted by the one to the other.

"That each Committee shall have its Treasurer and stipendiary Secretary; and, in order

to secure prompt dispatch of business, the one Committee shall meet at the commencement, and the other in the middle, of each month.

"That the accounts be so kept as to bring the whole of the receipts and payments into the London Treasurer's annual report; and that all payments to agents or stations be made by the Dublin Treasurer.

"That it be the office of the London Secretary to prepare the annual report of the Society, subject to revision by both Committees.

"That the following suggestions be offered in reference to the practical operations of the Society:

"1. That a rigid scrutiny of the stations occupied by the two Societies, and of the agencies employed in them, be instituted, under the supervision of a visiting Committee, unconnected with either of the existing Committees, but appointed and aided by both.

"2. That concentration be recommended in preference to diffusion.

"3. That it be seriously considered whether the perpetuation of a Collegiate Institution in Dublin be not on the whole undesirable, involving as it does a large cost, and rendering it a point of honour to find stations for the students; a thing which, in other cases, has been observed to work in many ways injuriously.

"4. That the occupation of the great cities and towns of Ireland by competent ministers, to whom liberal salaries shall be guaranteed, is one of the likeliest means of giving efficiency and permanency to evangelical Congregationalism in that country.

"5. That the erection of commodious places of worship, could it be effected without entailing much debt, is of great practical importance.

"6. That the operations in large cities might be greatly facilitated, by the appointment of Christian Instruction agents, to aid the ministers.

"7. That the establishment, where practicable, of daily as well as sabbath-schools, is to be strongly recommended."

Such is the plan which the Committee appointed by this Union, with a view to the harmonious co-operation of the two Irish Societies, recommend; and, as they have endeavoured at once to consider all the requirements of the case, and to embody as far as possible, the suggestions of the two Deputations with whom they conferred, without sacrificing the real interests of Ireland's evangelization, or wounding the feelings of parties, on either side of the water, so deeply interested in this object; they confidently hope that their labours will not be in vain. If union is strength, separation, and above all, alienation, between the two Societies, which will, it is hoped, henceforward become one, would be worse than weakness. In a field so vast and difficult, and with resources and agencies so limited, co-operation is of pre-eminent importance; without it the energies of zeal will be wasted, and the work must languish, if it do not utterly fail; and the confidence of those to whom both Societies must look for support, must in the end be utterly forfeited. So unlovely a spectacle as that exhibited in the division and strife of parties professing the same principles, and the same object, will expose them to the scorn of the world. From agencies conducted in the spirit of rivalry, it may be expected moreover that the Head of the Church will withhold his blessing, and then all effort

will be ineffective. Your Committee renew the expression of their confident hope that the concentrated energies of the friends of Ireland's evangelization, on both sides of the channel, will be now put forth in the spirit of mutual love and lively faith; and that the blessing of the God of peace will give efficacy to their work of faith and labour of love. S. MORLEY, Chairman.

The Rev. Thomas James presented and read the brief Report on the affairs of the Three Societies for British Missions, which was adopted on the motion of the Rev. J. R. Campbell, of Edinburgh, delegate from the Scottish Union; seconded by the Rev. Mr. Boaz, pastor of Union Chapel, Calcutta, as follows:

XII. That the brief statement on the affairs of the Three Societies for British Missions now presented has been heard by the Assembly with much concern, as showing that their operations are not extended and invigorated from year to year as the wants of the British people, and the character of the present times, so urgently require. And while this Assembly hopes that proposed alterations in the executive and in the annual meetings will prove beneficial, and that some special efforts to remove the arrears of the Irish Evangelical and Colonial Missionary Societies will be speedily and effectually made, yet it is the judgment of this meeting that nothing but increased and general support from the English churches can render the British Missions equal to their great and arduous work.

Brief Statement of the Affairs of the three Societies for British Missions, presented by the Conductors thereof, to the Seventeenth Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, Tuesday, May 11, 1847.

BRETHREN,-Your British Missions claim at this time your most serious attention. These three important Societies were affiliated with your Union, that they might receive benefit from the connection. One principal method by which their association with you can be made advantageous to them, is to secure for them thereby a favourable hearing amidst the brethren assembled in meetings like the present. The Conductors of these Societies bespeak the thoughtful attention of the Meeting to the statements now to be made.

Its

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The Home Missionary Society presents an aspect not greatly different from that of last year: it has no remarkable new features, yet is its cause full of solemnity and interest. work is becoming every year, at once, and in equal degrees, more difficult and more necessary. As Ecclesiastical influences become more decidedly anti-evangelical, and more actively hostile to religious freedom, your labours are needed in proportion as they are more opposed. This determined hostility will henceforth be armed with double power, by resources both of money and of influence derived from the Government scheme of education. It will now be a struggle indeed to maintain your village congregations and village schools. You will have before you no alternative but to sustain them with augmented vigour and liberality, or to abandon them altogether.

The income of the Society for the year has not fallen below, it has somewhat exceeded, that of the preceding year; yet the expenditure has been greater than the receipts by about eleven hundred pounds, thus hastening the final ex

tinction of the Society's share of Mr. Hill's munificent legacy. In two or three years this resource will be exhausted,-when either the income of the Society must receive a regular increase of more than a thousand pounds per annum, or twelve or fifteen missionaries must be withdrawn from their labours.

The Directors have been engaged in arrangements and negotiations for the appointment of one sole Secretary to conduct the affairs of the Society. As yet their correspondence with the gentleman whose name has been proposed, is incomplete and confidential; but they hope to bring the affair to a decision before the Annual Meeting on the 18th inst. Should Providence guide to the selection of a well qualified man, it is hoped that both economy and efficiency will be thus promoted.

Irish Evangelical Society. The movements in this branch of your British Missions have been this year more stirring and influential.

First came dire famine and misery over that wretched land, making extraordinary demands on English pity and bounty. The Congregational churches made your Society their almsmen to the noble amount of between nine and ten thousand pounds. The Committee has laboured, by counsel, correspondence, and deputation, to administer and distribute this large sum to the best advantage. Its concern has been to make its distributions so gradually that they may last till next harvest; to apply the money so that it may yield the greatest amount possible of real relief; and to manage this affair throughout so as to increase, in every legitimate and unobjectionable manner, the religious influence and usefulness of the agents of the Society.

Then came the proposal at Plymouth for mediation between the Committees of this Society and of the Congregational Union of Ireland, which the Committee cordially hailed, and for the success of which it has already used, and will continue to employ, its best efforts. The recommendation on the Money question has been received, and complied with. The advice on plans for future operations, when received, will be considered with a determination to comply with, and carry into effect, as far as possible, every proposal for harmonious co-operation with the Irish Congregational Union. If concord and vigour in Missions jointly conducted by the two bodies can be realized, it will be indeed a blessed and joyful result.

The Connaught Mission is a very hopeful undertaking. By itinerant readers and colporteurs, a very extensive and effectual scattering of the seeds of religious light and knowledge may be accomplished. The Committee has been cheered by the receipt of four hundred pounds, specially devoted to this object, through the bountiful liberality of a lady, who offered half that amount on condition that other friends could be induced to contribute an equal sum, which was happily accomplished. No time will be lost in giving effect to the intentions of these donors, by adding to the number of agents employed in the Connaught Mission.

Finally. The anxiety of the Committee is very great to introduce into some of the chief towns of Ireland, and to sustain adequately in those stations, able ministers,-brethren qualified to do honour and service to the cause of evangelical Protestantism in the pulpit, through the press, and in the general movements of society,-such

brethren as could not be obtained or supported for the work in those places without liberal aid from the Irish Evangelical Society. This movement is essential to the success of your cause in Ireland. Cork and Limerick are now waiting the co-operation of the Committee for the accomplishment of this object for the respective churches in those two cities.

The Colonial Missionary Society is in a less satisfactory state than the other two branches of your British Missions. Its income has proved less by more than eight hundred pounds than that of the preceding year. The claims on it for new and most promising enterprises have been, during this most unpropitious financial year, unusually numerous and urgent; and to reject these proposals has been as painful as it has been unavoidable. Some vigorous and liberal measures must be promptly devised and executed for this Society, the object of which stands not indeed above, but on an equality with, those of its two affiliated sisters. Together the object of your British Mission Societies is noble and important in the highest degree. What can exceed in interest our labours to spread our principles in England, Ireland, and the Colonies?

Two or three practical suggestions must be added:

First, The Four Hundred Pounds specially contributed for the Connaught Mission must be held sacred for that object alone. Deducting that sum, the receipts of the Irish Evangelical Society for the year have fallen below the expenditure something above Three Hundred Pounds. The Committee has borrowed and paid to the Congregational Union of Ireland, upon the adjustment recommended by the Plymouth Committee, a sum approaching Six Hundred Pounds. Thus that Society is in arrear more than Nine Hundred Pounds. The debt on the Colonial Missionary Society exceeds Six Hundred Pounds. Thus, in a round sum, Fifteen Hundred Pounds will be required to relieve those two Societies from the incumbrance of actual debt. New special efforts, made upon general appeals to the churches, are found very injurious. Moreover, this is no time to ask extra contributions from the churches in the villages and small towns of our land. Could not this required amount of Fifteen Hundred Pounds, put together as one application, be raised by our more wealthy churches and brethren, without the need of great publicity and urgency of appeal? A willing mind and united effort would make light work of this proposal.

Secondly, The cause of British Missions requires to be advocated in the presence of our pastors and chief brethren whenever assembled. Any dissatisfaction with the conduct of them should be stated in reply, that if there be faults, they may be corrected; if there be misapprehension only, it may be removed. Now, would not the vernal and autumnal meetings of the various Associations afford favourable opportunities for such advocacy and explanations? Would brethren at those meetings receive deputations from the British Mission Societies, not then and there to solicit contributions, but to make statements, and to effect arrangements for obtaining aid at other and appropriate opportunities? Might not a British Mission sermon or meeting, without collection, be often an addition to the services of an Association meeting, equally pleasant and advantageous?

Thirdly, Should not the more powerful churches in various parts of the country possess a distinct organization in aid of British Missions, gathering together, and making regular, the various subscriptions and other contributions at present obtained irregularly and with difficulty? In London various churches have adopted this plan with great advantage. Coupled with the general adoption of the October Collections, such auxiliaries would secure for your cause constant and sufficient supplies.

May God give this great and good work favour in your eyes!

The Rev. Algernon Wells then presented and read the proposed Revision of the Constitution of the Union, modified by the Committee appointed to that service in the former session of the Union, according to what appeared to be the general wish of that meeting. After discussion and further amendment, the revision was adopted on the motion of the Rev. J. Haydon, High Wycombe; seconded by the Rev. Henry Bromley, of London, as follows:

XIII. That the Revision of the Constitution of this Union, as presented with modifications by the Committee appointed in the session of Tuesday last, and as further amended in the present discussion, be adopted.

It was found impossible to give adequate attention to the scheme for Deferred Annuities to aid in the support of pastors in their declining years the consideration of this important subject was therefore by consent postponed to the next Annual Assembly.

Moved by the Rev. Professor Smith, of Rotherham; seconded by the Rev. T. W. Davids, of Colchester; and adopted:

XIV. That the services of the Committee and Officers of the Union during the past year are acknowledged by this Assembly with approval and thanks; that the Treasurer and Secretaries be requested to continue in their respective offices; and also that the Committee be reappointed with the following changes: instead of the Revs. Dr. Burder, Morison, and Reed, and the Rev. Messrs. Burnet, Freeman, Gilbert, and Woodwark, the Rev. Messrs. Allon, Dukes, Kennedy, Townley, Viney, and Wilkins: also instead of Messrs. Thomas Piper and Edward Swaine, Messrs. James Carter and Frederick Clarke.

Moved by the Rev. John Tippets, of Gravesend; seconded by the Rev. John Sibree, of Coventry; and adopted:

XV. That at its rising this Assembly do stand adjourned for a meeting to be held at York on such days in October next as may be agreed on between the brethren in that city and the Committee of the Union.

The Rev. Professor Smith, of Rotherham, closed the session with prayer.

At table, after refreshment, it was moved by the Rev. A. Wells; seconded by the Rev. J. Blackburn; and adopted with the utmost cordiality, and with entire unanimity:

XVI. That this Assembly would express in the strongest terms its grateful sense of the ability and kindness with which Dr. Hamilton has presided over all its proceedings, and assures its beloved brother of the high regard and honour in which he is held by all present, and of the earnest desires they feel for the long continuance of his life, labours, and usefulness as a pastor and an author.