Irish Chronicle. GENTLEMEN, To the Secretaries. Boyle, Nov. 20, 1824. It is with gratitude to a kind Pro. vidence, that I am now able to state that I am quite recovered from my late indisposition, which was occasioned by neglecting a cold, and then venturing to travel too soon. I have preached at three of my usual stations, and inspected some of the schools, which inspection, from various causes, has not been so satisfactory as is generally the case. During the last month the children have been employed by their parents, picking the potatoes, and, in some parts, the measles have been so prevalent and fatal, as to keep even the small children at home. I enclose a paper, given me by one of the teachers, accounting for the absence of many of the children, just to give you an idea of the extent of the disease; and, in the school nearest to the one referred to, three of the children have died, and indeed, considering their exposed state, it is surprising that multitudes do not become its victims. But, another cause of some of the schools having been so thinly attended is, the systematic and continued opposition of the priests; and it has been more explicitly than ever stated by them, that the cause of their opposition is the Bible. This has also been stated, and, in some instances, not in the most courteous manner, at various public meetings of Missionary, School, and Bible Societies, some of whose proceedings you have of course seen. I have been able to attend three Bible meetings lately: the first, in Sligo, which was numerously and respectably attended, and all was perfectly harmonious; the second was in Carrick, where the priest of the town interrupted the proceedings; the consequence of which was, that a public discussion was appointed between three Protestant and three Roman Catholic clergymen, on "the propriety of the universal distribution of the scriptures," which took place accordingly. But this is a mode of warfare that I think will not be pursued by the enemies of the word of God, because, when kept to the point, they have absolutely nothing like an argument to advance in favour of their sentiments. On the present occasion, it must be admitted, that the talent was all on one side, and, consequently, the weak side had not the usual display of sophistry, and jesuitical manoeuvre: but you shall see the whole. I had also the pleasure of attending the Roscommon, Bible meeting, which also went off peaceably: but six priests wanted tickets of admission, which would only be given on their promising not to interrupt the proceedings, which they declined doing; thereby showing, that to disturb the meeting was their object. In contemplating such, and even worse proceedings, what pleasure does the Christian feel in recognising God as the author of the Bible, and his honour as being intimately connected with its dissemination, and the effects it shall produce. Already, this open opposition has, increased the within my knowledge number of readers of the Bible, and of subscribers to the Bible societies. The journals of the Irish readers, which accompany this, will also give additional evidence, that the scriptures are not read in vain, even among the most ignorant and superstitious of their neighbours. Yours sincerely, J. WILSON. To the Secretaries. MY DEAR SIRS, You have, probably, heard that Mr. Hassell has removed from Clogh Jordan to Haverfordwest, where he is expected to continue, therefore I was invited to meet his late charge, to advise them in obtaining another minister. I preached at C. J. yesterday morning, and met almost the whole church after worship: but it is in such a state of disorder, through neglect of discipline, and the funds for the support of the ministry are so deranged, if not entirely dissipated, that nothing definitive could be determined. I have recommended their application to Mr. Hutchinson at Abbeleix, to preach to them once a month, if possible, as he is the nearest minister; to which, I trust, the Committee will have no objection. It is an important station if a suitable minister can be procured, and he might preach at Burros O'Kain, four miles distant, where I had a good congregation yesterday evening; and at Nenagh, eight miles distant, where I also preached last week in the Methodist house, and at other places. The school at Nenagh is doing as well as could be expected, or indeed better, considering that it is composed entirely of Roman Catholic children, and is greatly opposed. 108 were present last Wednesday, and 20 of them repeated the two first chapters of the Epistle to the Ephesians, in a satisfactory manner. Since I last wrote I have visited Cork, Mallows, and Yayhal, and had the plea sure to preach a baptizing sermon for Mr. Briscoe, to a good congregation. Mr. B. is going on very well, and, I trust, a church to the Redeemer's honour will be raised under his ministry. His friends are anxious to do what they can to support the cause, and one of them (Mr. Jones) has exceeded what could have been at all expected; but his heart appears to be greatly set upon having a church of our denomination established there upon gospel principles, and Mr. B. is also anxious to itinerate as much as possible in the neighbourhood, in which I trust he will be encouraged. I left Mr. Clarke at Clonmel, to supply for me yesterday week, when I was at Thurles; and I expect my son preached yesterday, and must next Sabbath also, as I shall not be able to reach home until that is past. It is a peculiar pleasure to me that he is so acceptable to the congregation, that they now come out as freely in my absence as when I am at home; but the week-evening services are obliged to be discontinued, as he cannot leave his business on such days. hope he will go to Bristol Academy by and by; but his apprenticeship is not quite expired, and his constitution is so weakly, that I should be afraid for him to devote himself to close study at present; besides which, his labours in my frequent absence will, I hope, be useful to himself as well as to the congregation. I am glad to be informed, that I am likely to be permitted soon to make the collection in London for our new house. Many have already heard the gospel in it who never attended the former place; and I hope the late public meeting has done good, and will do more in bringing out the people. It is universally approved as a neat erection, and has cost more than £200, which has been paid; and we have contracted for £100 more to complete the concern, when the society will have a good house, and apartments for the minister, who will be required to pay the ground-rent, so that the society will have it entirely free of all charge. I hope arrangements will be speedily made to allow me to collect, for some of the borrowed money is greatly wanted to be repaid, and the contractor cannot go on for want of money. I have obtained more than £100 subscriptions, and am very anxious to be entirely delivered from the claims of workmen, and from the stones and mortar. I expect to preach at Roscrea to-morrow, at Templomore the following evening, at the Hills on Friday, and Thurles next Lord's-day. 1 Thess. v. 25. I am yours devotedly in best bonds, To the Rev. Mr. Wilson. REV. SIR, Collooney, Nov. 19, 1824. I have again to inform you, that in despite of the opposition of the priests, I am frequently invited and received into villages and houses, with an interest which I have not words to describe; and it is delightful to mark the effects, which, in many well authenticated cases, are produced by reading the Irish scriptures, and spreading the knowledge of the Saviour, in the way commanded by himself, and employed by his apostles with suc cess. In the conversion of James Quin, (brother to the school-mistress of Manorhamilton,) the dispensation of divine grace has been prominent, particularly when the visitation is viewed in connexion with his former character. When first I advised him to read and study the holy scriptures, I found him destitute of one correct idea on the subject of religion, and under an influence of enmity against divine truth; but when I visited his place again, and addressed him, I was surprised in perceiving that he was the subject of a marvellous change: bis quickness of perception, of the import and sense of the scriptures, occasionally referred to in our conversation, and the deep sense he expressed of the riches of that grace to which he was indebted, for the happy deliverance he had experienced. Upon the whole, I had reason to conclude, that he had been with the Saviour, heard his voice, and that all things had become new. The day following, he accompanied me to Mrs. Golden's school, and told me that the priest sent for him, to know the cause of his leaving the church of his ancestors, or what fault could he find against so ancient an establishment. "I can," said Quin, “but I do not wish to repeat them, lest you should be offended." "I promise you I will not," said the priest. "In that case," said Quin, "I must candidly confess, that I have been reading the Bible, and could not find that ancient religion you mention contained therein; and, moreover, I have been in the habit of confessing to you, and endeavouring to perform the penance you enjoined, which I found, an excitement to persevere in night and stopped until bed-time, I hope wickedness, considering that when I paid it will prove useful to him. About three or cleared up the old reckoning, I might months ago, there came a poor man to my begin a new one, and have recourse to house from the county of Mayo, who had the same mode of cleansing from sin at no means of supporting himself but by any future period. And again," said he, begging; however, I began to read for "if the ointment heals the soul for ever, him, and shew that there is free redempas you say, and that the same soul is de- tion in Jesus Christ for believing sinners. tained in purgatory until it is redeemed, He attends my house very often since that by the propitiating sacrifice of the mass; time, and, I hope, he has benefited by it, these doctrines are contradictory, and for I can hear that he declares the truth unscriptural; and the poor man, who has to others. A few days ago he went into no money to pay for these masses, may a Protestant house, and the woman of the remain in purgatory through an endless house asked him did Christ die for all eternity. And, at any time, I never be- men; he answered, that he did not die lieved the doctrine of transubstantiation." for those that would die in unbelief. "And what do you believe?" said the priest. "I believe," said he, "the testimony that the scripture gives of the Saviour; that he is the way, the truth, and the life; and that none cometh to the Father but by him." "Now, my lad," said the priest, "I perceive that have discovered the north-east passage to heaven." He met him frequently after wards, and never offered a word on or concerning religion, but passed him with. out speaking a word. you I remain, Rev. Sir, With very high esteem, your faithful and very humble servant, REV. SIR, J. O'BRIEN. To Rev. Mr. West. I did not go from home this month but I endeavoured to be as useful as I possibly could, at night, reading the Irish testament for the neighbours, and as many as came to hear the word of God. I think they find much pleasure in coming to hear the scriptures read, for they generally are talking of what passes at night when they come together themselves. A few days ago there were five or six men digging potatoes in a field, and one of them began to tell the rest of what he heard the night before, and said he, if what I heard Pat Brennan read last night be true, we are all astray, for certainly he proved out of his book, that there is no man on earth has power to forgive sins, and that there is no good in praying for the dead, and several other things that are believed by us, which he shews to be contrary to the word of God. But, in the course of the day, I was passing by the same field, and one of them called after me in order to question me concerning the same discourse again, so I took the testament and read as many passages as I thought sufficient to prove the subject; we parted with each other on good terms; the same man came every REY. SIR, To the Same. Boyle, Nov. 20, 1824. I dated my last from this place, after taking a county, Lutrim, round, and staid at that time eight days in this neighbourhood, in which place, at leaving, I was greatly gratified, it being my native part, and some of my relations living there, many of whom I had never seen, which I found in the most gross ignorance of the plan of salvation: but to Say the truth of them, they were going about to establish their own righteousness, which in every place I travelled, from the commencement, is the rock that they all have split on. About sixteen months ago, this was the state I found them in. I staid some time amongst them, and instructed one young man to read the Irish testament, which, sooner or later, will prove a blessing, when the present storm is over: and though it is but one month since I left this, be assured there is great agitation in every part I travelled since, even in my own part of the country, which is the best governed part of Conaught, or, perhaps, any part of the kingdom. Where the protestants are thinly scattered, their hearts are beginning to fail them for fear, and looking for these things that are coming on the earth, these are of every denomination of protestants, not only the lower order, but some gentlemen, both of ability and fortune, are uneasy, and surely this is not strange, when we see, in every direction, boldly, and barefacedly, and contemptously, every exertion attempted by the people of God, opposed. After leaving this last month I went to Sligo, and was requested by a Mrs. Armstrong, who has a lodge near the sea shore, to call at her place, and that she would collect a number of Catholics to hear the Irish testament read; so she did, and greater attention I never experienced, nor seeming more thankful. But there were some of the ladies present that did not understand Irish, and requested I would speak English. I told them they could read the Bible as well as I; that I would speak my mother tongue, which I was most capable of, and that I thonght of my dear poor simple Irish neighbours, that never heard the word of life before in English or Irish. This pleased them so well, that at the conclusion they begged I would come often. IN à letter to Mr. Ivimey, referring to his new meeting-house, Mr. Davis, of Clonmel, says, "I rejoice that I have been permitted to build such a house for God; and, if you had seen our congregations yesterday, especially in the evening, I think you would have rejoiced with us. It was nearly filled, while I preached from our dear Lord's gracious invitation, Come unto me all ye that labour, &c.'. My soul was happy while encouraging them all to come to Christ, with their burdens of every description; nor could I refrain my tears while dwelling on the grace of our dear Saviour. O that he would give the people to feel the burden of sin, and bring it to himself for relief." From Mr. M'Kuag to Mr. West. Ballina, Nov. 20, 1824. Ir once and again occurred to me, after reading the Irish Chronicle, that some would consider me either as indolent or unwilling to communicate all possible information to you and the public, as in my letters no mention was made of the different places where I endeavoured to preach the glorious gospel of the blessed God, from one end of the year to the other, perhaps I was in error. However, my apology was, that wherever I preached, and however frequently, I was but about my Father's business, and was only in my element, when I found myself perfectly concealed behind the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying to the people, Behold the Lamb of God! and that it would be time enough to acquaint you when there was something done. Eskey will now be mentioned as one of the places where I often preached, where a wonderful change has lately taken place; there was (I was going to say) a resurrection at Eskey within the last few weeks, and the dead continue to rise out of their graves in that neigh bourhood. When brother Wilson introduced me to this place, we preached to thirty or forty careless or indifferent hearers; af ter this, instead of growing attached to me and my preaching, the congregation dwindled away to nine or ten hearers, and four or five of these were readers or school-masters under our Society. In this state Eskey remained for at least twelve months, during which it appeared to me, that no man in the parish felt inclined to read the scriptures, except those that were paid for so doing. The priest and the parson were good friends, as they still are, forgiving each other, if ever they had any cause to differ. He, in consequence of the conduct of our few friends in the parish, who made it their business to meet together to read the scriptures, commenced preaching against them in the church, which led some persons to visit their meeting to see what was going on their, and finding that all were met there to read and pray, the question went round the parish, what harm in reading the scriptures and praying to God? As Mr. S.'s sermons seemed to make bad worse, he made an open attack upon the Baptists, and for eight successive Lord's-days dwelt upon the subject of infant baptism. Meanwhile our friends appointed a week-day even ing, in addition to their meeting on the Lord's-day. Those persons that lived at the distance of two or three miles from Eskey, complained that their neighbourhood were neglected: since. then three other prayer-meetings have been appointed in three different directions from the people of Eskey go to help their neighbours to establish the prayer-meetings around them; and, in return, the people of these little meetings, all of them, come into Eskey to join the large meeting every Lord's day. R. J——, Esq. of Jhas been pleased to make us a present of a house in Eskey to meet in. It will give you some pleasure to hear, that in all my discourses in this parish, I never once took notice of his railing; nay, I felt myself above it, when Christ and his cross was all my theme, which will always be the case till I see Christ and his glory. town, each about two miles from it. The Missionary Herald. BAPTIST MISSION. SUBSCRIPTIONS and Donations, in aid of the Funds of this Society, will be thankfully received by the Treasurer or Secretary, at the Mission House, No. 6, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street. Home Proceedings. OXFORDSHIRE. of water taken from the ocean of depravity; a few souls saved out of a world that lieth in wickedness! By millions upon millions Satan reckons his subjects, and holds them fast bound in the chains iron sceptre reaches from continent to conof ignorance, superstition, and sin; his tinent, from island to island, from sea to sea; his lawless empire comprises the chief part of the population of the world. Under these circumstances, and amidst these facts, duty calls upon us to arise for the help of the cause; neutrality would be criminal, excuses must not be pleaded, no delay must be permitted, no despondency indulged; rather let us buckle on the whole armour of truth, and go forth to the help of the Lord against the mighty! On Thursday, October 7th, the Annual Meeting of the Auxiliary Missionary Society for Oxfordshire,and places adjacent, was held at Chipping Norton. Rev. S. Sutton (late Missionary,) preached in the morning, from Psalm Ixxiv. 20;" Have respect unto the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." Rev. T. Morgan, of Birmingham, preached in the event, from Isa. ix. 4; "For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian." The devotional services were conducted by the brethren Page of Worcester; Price, of Alcester; Wright, of Blockley; Jayne, of Campden, and Coles, of Bourton. The Meeting for public bu- Yorkshire West Riding Assistant Bap siness was held in the afternoon, at which Mr. S. Huckvale, Junior,presided,and was rendered deeply interesting by the statement given by our friend and brother Mr. Sutton; and it is hoped the affecting details were not in vain. But, as stated in the Report, how little has yet been done! A few grains of dust removed from the mountain of guilt; a few drops VOL. XVII. tist Missionary Society. W.G. On the 23rd and 24th of November, the second Anniversary of this Auxilia was celebrated in Leeds. In the evening of the 23rd, and the afternoon of the 24th, the Rev. S. Sutton, lately returned from Moorshedabad, preached, on the latter occasion, in the Rev. R. W. Hamilton's E |