are desirous of coming forward, but cannot yet see their way plain to do so, although we hope that through grace they are the Lord's. The schools keep up; the Bible class is well attended; and the young people are very active in tract-visiting, and collecting for the London Missionary Society, which has been better supported during the last year than could have been expected, considering the pressure of the times. The visit of Brother Fowler, to plead the cause of the Sierra Leone Mission, was truly welcome, and would have been more so, had it not been made at a season when all here are engaged. May the God of all grace pour upon us His Spirit, then shall we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, whilst with one heart and one mouth we shall glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all honour and praise, now and for ever. Amen."

MIDDLETON.-The Rev. W. G. G. FELLS remarks:-"We have nothing remarkable to state. Whilst we would be thankful for the means of grace, we long for a better attendance, and for the outpouring of the Spirit, that signs may follow in the conversion of sinners. Continued prayer for it, we trust, will be answered in God's time. Believing the vision is for an appointed time, may we have grace to wait in the diligent and persevering use of means. Some of our friends have been deprived of meeting with us for months, by reason of affliction, and others have been removed by death and want of employment; and the high price of provisions has a depressing influence. May God appear as the God of providence and as the God of grace. In the course of the year, a few have been admitted into the church, and those who have believed through grace for many years bear testimony to the application of the Gospel to their hearts, at times, which we regard as an evidence of the gracious presence of the Lord with

us.

We are at peace amongst ourselves; this we feel to be a blessing. Cottage preaching is still continued; may Divine power attend it. The Sabbath school, which was very low at the beginning of the year, has increased, and is still giving signs of improvement. During the winter months, one evening in the week is devoted to the instruction of the scholars in writing, &c. The engage

ments of the evening I commence and conclude with singing and prayer. Minister and teachers are united in the good work. The teachers, by their prayers and labours, manifest a concern for the souls of the children. I hope that we may not only still increase in numbers, but that Christ may be formed in the hearts of the young, that they in future life may become friends of the cause of God; and thus may our school prove a nursery to the church and congregation. 'God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us.'

PRESTON.-The Rev. CHARLES LEE writes:-"We have reason to be thankful that, throughout the year, there has been a slight gradual improvement perceptible, so that the congregation, though still a small one, is better than it was at the close of the previous year. Three new members have been added to the Christian church, and a fourth was proposed at the last church meeting for admission, while several others are giving evidence of the work of grace having

commenced in their hearts. The Sabbath

schools are in a flourishing condition; 150 young persons being in attendance on the Lord's day, and the staff of teachers being augmented in number, and altogether more efficient. Evening classes for writing and arithmetic have been instituted, which are well attended, and which, it is hoped, will prove of great utility to the pupils in their future duties and engagements in life. Death has entered the congregation and the school

repeatedly during the year, and removed persons in age and in youth from our midst, and thus we have had the admonition reiterated which we so often forget, Brethren, the time is short,' Upon the whole, notwithstanding it has been a year far below the average in Preston for trade and all external circumstances, which incidentally affect religion and the service of the sanctuary, I believe there has been some real progress made, and I desire to feel grateful to the Giver of the increase."

MANNINGTREE.-The sermons on behalf of the Sunday School were preached on March 9th, by the Rev. J. Thomas, B.A. The children sang their hymns remarkably well. The chapel was crowded in every part; and the collections were beyond expectation.

SPA FIELDS CHAPEL.

A complete report of the several Institutions of this venerable place has just been published, from which it appears that everything about "Old Spa" is now thus far apostolic, "done decently and in order." The chapel never looked so respectable, so imposing. Like "the eagle," and one now supports the reading desk, it has "renewed its youth.' And a very commodious school-room is attached to the chapel, the debt incurred by which is being rapidly liquidated. We really do expect and demand an unusually large conference meeting this summer to "fill this wider space,' and may the whole Connexion renew its youth as "Old Spa" has done. It needs a renewal, as this same report sets forth, alas! we fear too clearly! What we mean will best appear by a quotation from the forcible preface which forms the introduction to the entire document, written by another hand—a hand which, if it has not written truthfully ought to be taken in hand, for it deals some heavy blows, as the reader will perceive. Speaking of the report, the writer says, "its chief value consists in the faithful record of the principal events" which have come to pass" in the history of a place so memorable in the revival of religion, during the close of the last, and the commencement of the present century. It is important that the facts should be known, as to who stood firm in the day of past trial, such as Alderman Challis, Dr. Harris, Rev. J. Sherman, Mr. Ashmore, and Mr. Blundell, in taking the responsibility of renewing the lease; and, also, the unaccountable part which the trustees of the Connexion played a few years ago, in declining that responsibility. I call particular attention to that paragraph of the Report which speaks of Mr. Oldham's intention as to Spa Fields Chapel and Congregation: that intention was known to the trustees of the Connexion; and the statement in the Report leaves, on my mind, a most painful impression,-that, in fact, they have been unfaithful. The interests of theConnexion demanded that Spa Fields Chapel should have been strengthened and sustained. The trustees, on the contrary, did all in their power to extinguish it; and the only reason why they did not, was, because they could not. In the effort, which is so fully described in the following pages, I asked the trustees for £100. to help to defray the

necessarily large expenditure, and they— REFUSED! The greatest service such men can do, both to the cause of Christ and to the Connexion which they hold down, and which they have well-nigh ruined, is, to resign. If they will not do the work, let them heed the patient, persevering, earnest, prayerful, remonstrance and entreaty of the assembled ministers, managers, &c., in District Meetings and Conference, and stand out of the way, that others may do it."

Can all this be true? then the premises warrant the conclusion, of course the report itself is from the pen of that indefatigable levite of the temple with whose name all readers of the Harbinger are familiar, and to whom the Connexion and Spa Fields in particular are more indebted at the present time than we can trust ourselves to say. As we read what the Rev. D. Jones said in his funeral sermon for the Countess, we are instructively ready to say the "Samuel' with which God has favoured the congregation at Spa Fields is surely none other than this same F. W. W. The passage we refer to is this, "We have lost a great mother in Israel, but the God of Israel lives. If he take away a Moses, he will give a Joshua. There is no loss at the hands of God. If he take away an Eli, he will soon favour his church with a Samuel. If he take away an eminent Elijah, behold in his hand, for the comfort of his church, Elisha, with a double portion of his spirit. The work is his, and remember it is your honour and comfort to trust in him. The burden is his, trust in him, and he will carry it on, and will bless and comfort you.'

The

And in saying all this we are rendering honour to whom honour is due. priests would have a far pleasanter and more useful time of it were they more generally favoured with such Levites. And we are sure the energetic pastor of Spa would be the first to say this witness is true. All who take pleasure in the historical documents of the Connexion will do well to obtain and ponder this luminous and voluminous report. And once more we say to this venerable Bethel, which was called Luz at the first, "For our brethren and companions sakes we will say peace be within thee."

Spa Fields Chapel is an imitation of the celebrated Pantheon at Rome and was meant and used at first as a place of public amusement.

Sierra Leone.

Some friends of Africa in this country having expressed a wish to be made acquainted with the relative position and general aspect of affairs at the several chapels of the Connexion in Sierra Leone, we hope the following particulars will be found both interesting and satisfactory to them, and all our readers.

The colony of Sierra Leone consists of a peninsula on the west coast of Africa, being about thirty miles in length from north to south-east, and thirteen in breadth

from east to west. It is bounded on the north and west by the Atlantic ocean, on the east by the Sierra Leone and Bunce rivers, and joined to the African continent on the south-east. The towns for the most part are situated not far from the shore.

FREETOWN.

The capital of the colony, stands at the north-east angle of the peninsula, at the entrance to the Sierra Leone river, and contains a considerable population. Zion chapel is situated at the eastern part of the town, is built of stone, and is capable of accommodating about 700 hearers. From the efforts of the congregation at this place have originated all the other chapels of the Connexion in the colony. The gospel has been faithfully preached here, and God has greatly honoured the zealous labours of the native ministers who have so long declared to their countrymen the wonderful works of God. The number of church members is 204, and there are at present 15 candidates for christian communion. The sabbath school attached to the chapel has been well attended by children and adults, but competent teachers are very much wanted. The day schools are in a flourishing condition. Of boys, the average attendance has amounted to 70, and of girls 75; making a total of 145. The gradual increase in the attendance of the children gives satisfactory proof of the general improvement of the school, and of the confidence their parents have as to its management.

HASTINGS

Is situated about twelve miles to the south of Freetown, and not far from the shore of the Bunce river. Here we have a Connexion chapel, with an encouraging

congregation. The number of church members is sixty one, but we regret to state that at present there is no school established. Suitable teachers are wanted, as well as an efficient leading man to reside among the people.

ROKELLE

Stands on the line of road leading, in a southerly direction, from Freetown to Waterloo, and at about 4 miles distance from Hastings. There is a commodious chapel, which is well attended, and a society consisting of seventy-five members. There is also a day school containing upwards of forty children, which is in a progressing condition, and the cause of Christ among the people generally presents a cheering aspect. On the same line of road, and at about the distance of a mile from Rokelle, is another station called

JONES' ISLAND.

In this part of the colony a considerable number of liberated Africans are located, to many of whom the preaching of the everlasting gospel, under the divine blessing, has been the means of leading them to the Redeemer for salvation, so that they have not only been delivered from slavery by the British laws, but have become free men in Christ Jesus. At this station a number of persons have been admitted to church membership in connection with those at Rokelle. There is no religious society at either of these places, except that belonging to the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. About three miles farther still, in a southerly direction, is

WATERLOO.

This town is next in size and population to the capital. Here are Three Connexion Chapels. The Old chapel, at which two weekly religious services are held, one on the Sabbath the other on Friday evening. The Second Road chapel, which stands a short distance out of the town, but still being a branch of Waterloo station. The principal chapel, which is a large stone building, occupies a site near the centre of the town, and will hold about a thousand persons. At a very early period after the formation of this town, several native preachers belonging to the Connexion, preached the glad tidings of salvation to numbers of their sable countrymen, who were willing to