first, that education should be religious; and, second, that it should be perfectly free from all Government support or control. He had the strongest dread of the insidious "As a politician, Mr. Ely was decidedly liberal, from a sense of justice, a genuine love of freedom, and a conviction that free institutions are most conducive to the im tion. measure of the present ministry, for bring-provement, happiness, and dignity of a naing the education of the country into Government pay and management, and he gave it every opposition in his power. It even haunted his dying moments: he was often heard, in his musings, to express his alarm at the idea of Dissenters taking Government money; and his dying charge to the Congregational Union, communicated by his friend, the Rev. Thomas Scales, included an entreaty that they would adhere to their principles, and never take a fraction of Government money either for education or religion. Not that he had any undue jealousy of authorities; no man more cheerfully conceded to the civil power all that Scripture sanctions, or to the constitution of his country all that a friend of well-regulated liberty could yield; but his noble independence disdained the degradation of suffering Government to do for the people what the people could do, and ought to do for themselves; and his sagacity foresaw the fatal consequences of the people putting their own sacred and honourable duties into the hands of officials, anxious to get all religion and all education under their influence. He opposed the measure from a deep-seated conviction, that it endangered the interests of civil liberty, of religion, and even of education itself. "Mr. Ely, whilst cherishing feelings of warm charity towards every evangelical community, in or out of the Establishment, and therefore a zealous friend of the Evangelical Alliance, was at the same time one of the staunchest of Nonconformists. He maintained the opinion, that the New Testament sanctions no dependence of the church of Christ on the civil authorities, or on compulsory support; that the blessed Founder of our religion entrusted its maintenance and diffusion to the voluntary zeal of his followers, and to that alone; that the church could not be made in any measure dependent on the State without becoming more or less subject to its control, as well as to its secularizing influence; and finally, that the voluntary system, if consistently acted upon by Christians, has abundant power for the maintenance of the church, and the conversion of the world. "Holding these opinions, he never shrunk from avowing them: on the contrary, he regarded their avowal as a Christian duty; and that duty he discharged in the spirit of a Christian, without bitterness or virulence, but with unflinching firmness. His controversy with the Rev. G. A. Poole, on this subject, was characterized by the most gentlemanlike courtesy and candour. "The best evidence of Mr. Ely's principles and character is to be found in the things he accomplished. When he went to Rochdale, no Independent church existed, and scarcely any congregation. During his stay, 247 members were admitted; and on his leaving, the church consisted of 144 members, and the congregation was numerous. At the beginning of his ministry there, the Sunday-school was exceedingly small; at its close, there were, in connection with his chapel, several schools, containing many hundred scholars. Two smaller congregations, at Smallwood and Calderbridge, were formed as preaching stations, founded and supplied by him. When he came to Leeds, the number of members in the church did not reach 250; at his death they were close upon 500. The exertions of his people in behalf of every good cause were stimulated by his spirit and example to an extraordinary degree. They raised a new chapel, with Sundayschools and a day-school, at an aggregate cost of more than sixteen thousand pounds, the whole of which was contributed without affecting their contributions to other objects. Their liberality towards home and foreign missions was multiplied several fold. In all these efforts Mr. Ely himself set an example of liberality, and used every influ. ence that was legitimate, but none that was otherwise. He conducted all the operations of his people with admirable method, punctuality, and accuracy. He also breathed his own spirit into his ministerial brethren through a wide range of country, and thus extended his influence beyond what it is possible to calculate. "The Rev. John Ely was born at Rochester, in Kent, on the 20th August, 1793. His father, Mr. Daniel Ely, an architect and builder, died when he was young. His aged mother survives him. Mr. Ely received his education for the ministry at Hoxton College, where the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, the Rev. John Blackburn, the Rev. John Alexander, and other eminent ministers, were his contemporaries. He settled at Rochdale in June, 1814, and was ordained in the summer of 1815. After a nineteen years' pastorate in that town, with such success as we have seen, and having declined many other calls to larger spheres, he at length saw it his duty to accept the call from the church and congregation at Salem Chapel, Leeds, subsequently removed to East-parade Chapel. He came to Leeds on the 1st July, 1833, and was designated over the church and congregation in August following. He had, therefore, more than completed a ministry of fourteen years in Leeds, and of thirty-three years at Leeds and Rochdale. He died in the fifty-fifth year of his age, leaving a widow and one daughter. "Mr. Ely's most considerable work was a series of Lectures, chiefly on subjects of Scripture history, which, having been delivered at Rochdale in the course of a winter, he entitled Winter Lectures.' "Mr. Ely's constitution had been shaken by a severe illness in the commencement of the year 1845. A journey on the Continent in the summer of that year considerably re-established his strength. Still he had a presentiment that his life would not be greatly prolonged. During a recent visit to Harrogate his labours were excessive. The immediate cause of his fatal illness was his being thoroughly chilled by performing the funeral of one of his members on Saturday, the 11th of September. Within two hours after his return home he was seized with violent shivering, succeeded by the opposite indications of fever. Internal inflammation took place, which, notwithstanding the most assiduous attention of his medical advisers, could never be subdued. During the week before his death he seemed to be recovering; but on the Saturday he became decidedly worse, and during the last week of his life the disease made constant progress. On Tuesday evening the medical report was so discouraging, that Mr. Ely expected a very early dismission from his mortal labours, and summoned some of his nearest friends. On Wednesday he appeared somewhat better; but on Thursday afternoon he again became much worse, and in the evening he called his family and a number of his friends round his bed, to receive his dying testimony of faith. He lay in extreme debility, and could scarcely unclose his eyes, or speak more than a few words at a time. Yet he was in full possession of his clear and masculine understanding. He addressed his friends with perfect calmness and composure. The dying declaration of such a man deserves to be recorded. Giving one of his hands to one friend, and the other hand to another, he addressed the company as follows:-'It is on the fulness, freeness, and sufficiency of Christ in his person and offices, that I repose my only hope of salvation. This is the doctrine I have preached, and in this I now find my sup port. Should such a man as I doubt? "The time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing!" After a pause, he challenged scrutiny by asking,- Have any of my stronger-minded friends any question to ask me?' They having declared their entire satisfaction with the clear and full testimony he had borne, he said- Have any of my tenderer friends any inquiry to make?' A question being put, he replied -'Be earnest: earnestness,-earnestness.' He afterwards said-'I don't want a scene' -his mind revolting at anything artificial; and after other words of faith and comfort, he lifted up his feeble arms thrice, and said, 'Bless you! bless you! bless you!' Within two or three hours of his death he seemed to awake from a state of insensibility, and exclaimed-' Oh! something new! I can't understand it; but I can rely on pardoning blood.' Those were the last words he uttered; except that on being asked somewhat later, if he was still able to look to Christ as his Saviour, he said-'I am.' The lamp of life burned out gradually, and he sighed away his breath at a quarter before three o'clock on Saturday morning. "And thus, in the full hope of the gospel, passed away from the world this good and useful man-his death being in perfect consistency with his exemplary and holy life. "His removal has created a void which it will indeed be difficult to fill. Seldom, if ever, has an individual died in Leeds more universally respected, beloved, and lamented. "His funeral took place on Friday, 15th October, at the Leeds General Cemetery, being preceded by a most affecting service at East Parade Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, an early friend of the deceased minister. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. Thomas Scales. The attendance of ministers of various denominations, from the town and country, was exceedingly numerous; and several of the most eminent of the Congregational ministers from other parts of the kingdom were present. The chapel was crowded with sincere mourners. "The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, at East Parade Chapel, on the morning of the 17th October." 600 Home Chronicle. AUTUMNAL MEETINGS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION. As announced by us in our October number, the Autumnal Meetings of the Union were held at York, on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of October, Dr. Hamilton in the chair. The attendance, both of ministers and laymen, was large, and the business transacted of a highly interesting character to the denomination at large. The death of the Rev. John Ely, of Leeds, on the Saturday preceeding the meeting, threw a deep and chastened solemnity over the proceedings of the union; which was much increased by the opening address of the chairman, which, we are happy to find, is to be printed. On the evening of the Tuesday, Dr. Alexander, of Edinburgh, delivered a discourse at Salem Chapel, of great power, which is also to be published. His text was-"There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." The Wednesday Conference was a season long to be remembered. Its first business was to pass a resolution of condolence with the bereaved family and church of the Rev. John Ely. This resolution was moved and seconded by the Rev. John Blackburn, and the Rev. J. A. James. A deputation was then appointed to attend the funeral of the deceased, upon the proposition of Messrs. A. Wells and T. James. On the evening of Wednesday, a public meeting was held in Salem Chapel, to advance the cause of British Missions, when Alderman Kershaw, Esq., presided, whose opening address was full of wise and prudent counsels. The Rev. T. James then read an address on the subject of British Missions, in which the claims of the three schemes were amply set forth; after which, the Rev. John Alexander of Norwich, and the Rev. Dr. Halley of Manchester, moved and seconded a resolution touching the more effective and liberal support of these important institutions. Other resolutions, on the same subject, were moved and seconded by the Rev. J. Kelly of Liverpool, and the Rev. N. Hall of Hull; the Rev. J. Blackburn, and the Rev. J. Corbin, of Derby; supported by the Rev. J. T. Smith, of Dublin. The chairman then recommended some pecuniary demonstration on behalf of our British Missions, and the meeting closed at a late hour. On Thursday morning, the subject of education was taken up, when the three following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 1. "It is their conviction, that the education imparted to the young in day-schools, by the various congregations connected with this body, ought to combine religious with secular instruction; and such, in their belief, is the invariable practice. In accordance with their known ecclesiastical principles, the religious character of these schools determines the source from which alone support to them must be derived, and necessarily excludes all aid from the Government. 2. "This Union having, on former occasions, expressed their deliberate views, founded on these principles, on the various measures of the Government in relation to education, see nothing in this supplementary minute to induce the slightest modification in their opposition to these measures; since their objections do not lie against affording information, however ample and explicit, to the Government, and to the public at large, respecting the character and extent of the religious instruction communicated, but against the reception of public money for institutions of a religious character, such as this supplementary minute acknowledges them, by implication, to be, just as the former minute recognized them in express terms. 3. "This supplementary minute is, in their conviction, of most mischievous tendency, inasmuch as it is calculated to ensnare the judgment, by diverting it from the proper question involved in these measures, yet leaving all their objections untouched; while concurrence in it, on the part of Dissenters, would naturally produce the impression on the public mind, that they only sought a decent pretext for availing themselves of the Government money." On the evening of Tuesday, a meeting was held, in Salem Chapel, to explain the principles and promote the objects of the Union, Alderman Kershaw, Esq., in the chair. The following resolutions were passed, as proposed and seconded by the Rev. J. A. James; the Rev. Dr. Campbell; the Rev. J. Gawthorn, of Derby; the Rev. J. L. Poore, of Manchester; the Rev. Dr. Alexander, of Edinburgh; the Rev. A. Wells; the Rev. A. Reed, of Norwich; and the Rev. J. Blackburn: 1. "That this meeting cherishes a deep conviction of the truth and importance of the distinctive principles of Independent churches, and believes that these churches are called, in Providence, to bear a steadfast testimony of their principles for advancing the true kingdom of Christ in the world. The meeting will, therefore, feel encouraged to adhere firmly to those principles amidst all the difficulties and disadvantages at present attending that cause. 2. "That, in the judgment of this meeting, the Congregational Union of England and Wales is an association of Independent churches well adapted to maintain their principles, and to promote their harmony and efficiency as a Christian community. And this meeting, therefore, commends the Union to the confidence and support of the whole denomination. 3. "That the present position and prospects of the Congregational Union are such as to encourage the hope, at this meeting, that, its financial difficulties being removed, and its constitution being rendered more popular, by a general and cordial adoption of the revised rules agreed to at the last annual assembly, its future course will be one of greatly increased prosperity and usefulness." The entire proceedings of the Conference were conducted in the spirit of harmony and love, and were felt to be refreshing by all who took part in them. NOTICE TO WIDOWS. To our dear friends, the widows of pious ministers, receiving assistance from the funds of the Evangelical Magazine, and who are entitled to a grant at the Chrismas distribution of profits, we beg to convey the important intelligence, that their application must be made to the Editor at the Publisher's, on or before the 25th of December. No grant can be made without application from the widows or their friends. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MIDDLETONROAD, DALSTON, NEAR LONDON. This elegant and spacious edifice is the result of the labours of the Rev. Clement Dukes, A.M., and the congregation he had gathered in Philipps-street, Kingsland-road. Circumstances had rendered it imperative to secure another place of worship, and as an entirely new and very extensive town had been recently built within a few minutes' walk of Philipps-street, it was considered desirable, if possible, to settle there. admirable plot of ground, measuring sixty feet by nearly two hundred, with an entrance front and back, was offerred for ninety years, at a small ground rent. Upon this spot a beautiful structure, of the middle pointed style of English architecture, has been erected. Its dimensions, including the two school rooms, are 102 feet by 44. The chapel will seat nearly 1.000 persons, and the school-rooms are arranged for upwards of 300 children; the cost, including all VOL. XXV. An fittings, and law expenses, being about £3,300. The foundation stone was laid on the 2nd of February, 1847, by John Remington Mills, Esq., and the sanctuary was opened on the 25th ult., by the Rev. James Parsons, of York. The evening service was so crowded, that many could not obtain admission. On the following sabbath, the Rev. Algernon Wells, of Clapton, preached in the morning; the Rev. George Wilkins, of Broad-street, City, in the afternoon; and the pastor of the church in the evening. The collections at the opening, including the Lord's-day, amounted to £250. The sum already raised for this important object is nearly £1,900, a large proportion of which has been contributed by the neighbouring churches in the way of public or private col lections, thus exhibiting a beautiful specimen of the results of Christian union, and the vitality and efficacy of the voluntary principle. We trust that many of the wealthy churches in the city and its suburbs will follow the example set by the churches in the Hackney and Kingsland districts, by giving Mr. Dukes and his devoted little church such a collection as will enable them to meet all the demands upon them yet remaining unsatisfied, at a very early date. For the satisfaction of friends at a distance from the site of the new chapel, we may state that the case has the most cordial recommendation of the Rev. Dr. Campbell (editor of the Christian Witness), Tabernacle, London; Rev. Dr. Reed, Wycliffe Chapel, London; Rev. Dr. Burder, St. Thomas's-square Chapel, Hackney; Rev. Dr. Pye Smith, Old Gravel Pits Meetinghouse, Homerton; Rev. J. Davies, do., do. ; Rev. Algernon Wells, Clapton Chapel, Clapton; Rev. T. Aveling, Kingsland Chapel, Kingsland; Rev. J. Jefferson, Abney Chapel, Stoke Newington; Rev. Robert Philip, Maberly Chapel, Ball's Pond; Rev. E. Mannering, Holywell Mount Chapel, London; Rev. Dr. Henderson, Highbury College; Rev. Thomas Lewis, Union Chapel, Islington; Rev. Charles Gilbert, Barnsbury Chapel, Islington; Rev. J. Yockney, Highbury-place, Islington; and by the Hackney and Clapton Congregational Union: that the following gentlemen have consented to act as Trustees, viz, S. P. Arnold, Esq., Church-street, Hackney; R. Chandler, Esq., Mortimer-place, De Beauvoir-town; R. Cunliffe, Esq, Highbury-place, Islington; E. Dukes, Esq., Acton-place, Kingslandroad; John Morley, Esq., Wells-street, Hackney; Henry Rutt, Esq., Upper Clapton; B. F. Smith, Esq., Ivy House, Hackney; Joshua Wilson, Esq., Highbury-place, Islington; and that their principles are such as to demand the liberal aid of all wealthy and intelligent Nonconformists in these days of high church pretension. 2 Y SOCIETY FOR THE EDUCATION OF MINIS- TERS' DAUGHTERS, HIGH We cordially recommend this institution to the attention of benevolent Christians, as well deserving of public support. The following brief statement of the present position of the institution was presented at a general meeting of the subscribers, held at 33, Moorgate-street, London, on Monday, June 21st, 1847. Since the establishment of Dumpton-hall School, as an Institution for the Education of Ministers' Sons, it occurred to the minds of many individuals that an attempt should be made, as soon as practicable, to provide a similar institution for their daughters. For some time previously a private individual had provided part of the expense attendant upon the board and education of six children; but in order to meet the wants of the case, and provide for the very numerous applications which were continually presenting themselves, it was found that something more than private generosity must be relied on. By the kindness of a number of gentlemen, who permitted their names to be enrolled as a committee, the matter has been brought before the public, and with very little personal application, in the short space of six months a sum amounting to nearly 1201. has been received. This amount, although small, gives the committee a hope, that when its claims are fully appreciated, a yet more hearty response will be given, and a most benevolent object will be attained. APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY OF I remain, dear sir, THE WILMSLOW INDEPENDENT CHAPEL. This chapel was opened by Dr. Halley, of Manchester, on Wednesday, 5th May. It is built on the estate of Fulshan, (a very small distance from the village,) which belongs to John Jenkins, Esq., who gave us the land on which it is built, with surrounding ground for a grave-yard, and was the principal subscriber to its erection. It cost 1,000. It has a school-room underneath; and seats 350 persons. It is an elegant structure, built of stone; the style of building is gothic; and while it is an ornament to the neighbourhood, it affords accommodation to a newly-formed church and congrega. tion, which have received signal tokens of the Divine blessing. It is hoped that other gentlemen of property may be induced to imitate the liberality of John Jenkins, Esq. SALEM CHAPEL, GREAT BRIDGE, STAFFORDSHIRE. On Monday, Sept. 27th, 1847, a teafestival was held at the above place, to commemorate the opening of a new, spacious, and beautiful sabbath school-room; which has just been erected and presented to the church and congregation by William Mallin, Esq., at a cost of about 2007. This magnificent gift of this most worthy and liberal man of God, is only one of the many worthy monuments of his devotedness to the glory of God in seeking the welfare and immortal happiness of his fellow-men. The assembly was very large; and the promises given after tea of different sums of money towards the erection of galleries, which are now being put in the chapel, were most gratifying to all present. Several ministers attended on the occasion; and most interesting and effective speeches were delivered by the Revs. John Hammond, of Handsworth; J. Andrews, of Woburn, Beds; J. Raven, of Dudley; D. Prain, the minister of the place; J. Gardener, of Oldbury; and Mr. Page, of Gornal. At the conclusion the Rev. J. Andrews met about two hundred of the young people, who stayed after many had left, and gave them a lecture on the power of an intelligent faith in the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity to develope the moral and intellectual faculties of the mind. The whole |