Intions and the Plan of the Society, now submitted to this Meeting and approved. 9. That these Resolutions, signed by the Chairman, be advertised in such of the Daily Newspapers, and receive such other publicity as the Committee shall direct. THOMAS WILSON, Chairman. 10. That this Meeting present their thanks to Thomas Wilson, Esq. the Chairman, for his attendance this day, and for his conduct in the Chair on this occasion. N. B. A general receiver of stolen goods has been apprehended. The police officers found in his house a great number of chapel clocks, books used in public wor ship, quantities of stair carpeting, candles, candlesticks, tables, gowns picked in pieces to avoid detection, and every species of property which might be expected in such places. It was soon discovered that a great part had been stolen from the Chapels in Queen-street, Hale-street, Keppel-street, Poplar, and New Road. The prisoner will be tried at the ensuing Quarter Sessions. TO CORRESPONDENTS. S. H. desires our answer to the followchurch has a few members, who reside ing Query. "A pastor of a Baptist five miles from the chapel; the word is preached regularly to them where they live; their pastor preaches to them one Lord's day in every month; members of other churches, of the same faith and order, reside in the same place; but some obstacles at present prevent the immediate formation of a church. Would it be wrong, and contrary to the order of the churches, for their pastor to administer to them the Lord's-supper when he visits them, as a preparatory step to the formation of a church in that place; and would it be wrong for the members of other churches, who reside at an equal distance from their respective churches, to unite with them in that ordinance?" ANSWER. We do not hesitate to give it as our opinion,that the pastor referred to would be perfectly justifiable in administering the ordinance to them, and they in uniting with him in it.-EDItors. Poetry. LINES TO THE MEMORY OF MR. JOHN PELHAM, Of Quarry House, Frindsbury, Kent, who died at the Age of Seventy-two. THE village bell tolls out the note of death, And through the echoing air the length'ning breath, With awful pause reverberating deep, Spreads the sad tidings o'er fair Quarry's steep. It tolls, whilst in the mouldering bosom of the earth There o'er the brink inevitable stands, Drawn by the conq'ring tyrant's stern commands, There, lost in future time's vast range, veil'd with a robe When not one radiant sparkling orb is seen, Turn, weeping muse, to Quarry's lovely spot, Where young-ey'd Fancy led my infant years; To chase my sorrows, and repel intruding fears. But now, alas! my sire is dead, and smiles give place to tears. Shall draw, with winning beauty and with artless wiles, J. P. Irish Chronicle. THE Readers of the Magazine are respectfully requested to observe the facts stated in the letter of Mr. William Moore, which afford such pleasing evidence of a divine blessing attending the reading of the Irish Scriptures. The letters also of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Thomas, present encouraging accounts of the condition of the Schools. The Committee regret that they have been compelled to refuse increasing the number of Readers and Schools, on account of their funds being exhausted: they hope, however, the exertions of their kind friends in different parts of the country, will soon enable them not only to support the present expenditure, but even to increase it, as "there is yet very much ground to be possessed." The congregation for the propagation of the faith at Rome begins to be seriously alarmed at the progress of scriptural education in Ireland. What they say of the manner in which we raise our funds may furnish Irish Protestants with a profitable hint. There are many among them who have not yet contributed, that could well afford to give a penny per week, and much more, to an object which bids fair in the best sense to emancipate" their Roman Catholic neighbours. POPISH BULL. ANOTHER "Brief" has been lately received from the Holy See by the Roman Catholic Prelates of England and Ireland. It is dated "From the Palace of the Propaganda Fide, Rome, 14th August, 1820." It is expressed almost in the same terms as that printed in the Chronicle for February last; and breathes the same determined hostility against what it denominates "Schools of a Bible Society which have been set up in almost every part of Ireland; upholden with the resources and by the patronage of the higher anti-Catholic gentry"-"who make use of Bibles rendered into English by that Bible Society, and pregnant with errors; those teaching having in view the sole object of seducing the youthful population, and eradicating from their hearts and affections the truths of the orthodox faith: wherefore, it is indispensably requisite to make every possible effort, in order to recall the useful sort from the pernicious schools; and to admonish the parents, that they are not, by any means, to suffer their offspring to be led into error. However, for avoiding the snares of the adversaries, nothing appears more fitting than the setting up of Catholic schools, wherein to educate the poor and the peasantry in a course of moral instruction, and reputable learning. Perhaps it might be said, a fund cannot be provided. As to this point, you will have naturally gained a lesson from those very seceders from the right faith; for we are told, they ask individually from the people at large, a penny subscription by the week, for the support of those mentioned schools. What should hinder the Catholics from doing likewise ?" Times Newspaper of Oct. 19, 1820. From Mr. William Moore, dated REV. SIR, Ballina, Sept. 19, 1820. After so much labour, and the great sums of money expended, it is natural to expect that great things should be done; and so there are, though comparatively small; but yet greater than many serious men ever thought to see accomplished in their day. Clouds of superstition are vanishing, and that in every_direction where the gospel is sounding. I am very seldom in my own native part of the country; but I have been there about fifteen days, when I went to the barony of Corran. And what must be both surprising and gratifying to all concerned, when I was at home on the 8th instant, which is the great Lady day, and the greatest holy-day in the year, between eleven and twelve o'clock I was going to visit a young woman at the point of death, and to my surprise, in every direction, I saw the whole neighbourhood at their labour of every kind; a sight I never before saw on that day. As I was looking and meditating, I met one of our converted men. "Patrick," said I, "this is a strange sight in this neighbourhood." "It is," said he; " but do you know the reason?" He added, "The reason is, the Testaments you distributed amongst them; and though you think there is but little good done, you are much mistaken; for though there is no outward profession of faith in the gospel, be assured, there is a diligent search after truth, and that is the reason you sce no respect paid to this day; and if you live one year longer, you will see them laughing at the priest. William," continued he, "this day five years, if I had worked, or permitted any of my family to do any thing except wickedness, I really thought I should never enter the kingdom of heaven, unless I confessed, and by great penance made atonement and you have great cause of thanksgiving, that you have been the instrument of bringing me and my wife and niue children out of that gulf of darkness. But come," said he," and I will show you a still greater wonder." We walked down towards the chapel, and there he pointed out to me the tradesmen at their work, not 100 perches from the chapel door. "There," said he, "there you see the priest saying mass to the sticks and stones for all that are present with him!" (there were only a few superstitious old men and women, perhaps not a dozen). "Now," said he, you nor I ever saw before, on a day of this kind, that the chapel would contain half the number assembled: and I hope and pray, I shall see the day when it will be totally deserted." Another marvellous occurrence I shall mention, where my son lives, who is one of the sabbath readers. A neighbour of his, that often frequented his house, and was very intimate with him, came where he was working in the field, and desired my son to sit down. He said, he found himself very unwell, and there was an impression on his mind that he should soon die; but, said he, that is not what gives me uneasiness; for, alas! I do not know what will become of my soul! My son said, I wonder, so often as I have read and explained the plan of salvation, that you are in doubt. Oh! said he, that is my reason for coming now: I did not heed as I should; and now, said he, bring your book. He read and explained until the man told him, that though he came with a troubled mind, he was going off with a joyful heart; and that it would be no uneasiness to him if he died before next day. They parted, and the man joyfully praising his Redeemer, went to his house, sat down on a chair, and, before an hour had elapsed, died; and thus escaped the mark of the beast: which, if it had been ima gined he was near death, whether he would or not, would have been forced on him: so that, from the exertions which have been made, there is a spirit of inquiry hitherto unknown. Some that had the free liberty of the scriptures from their infancy, but who had only read the dead letter, are now examining the spirituality of the word. Others, who had the scriptures but from year to year, not opening them, are now in diligent search. Others, that are not of ability to purchase, are beseeching to get Bibles-but in large print. If it is the Lord's pleasure to grant peace, notwithstanding the great distress and oppression of the poor, and opposition of the priests, we may confidently look for a great increase." It is now ten days since I left home, and it would take me ten days more to attend every place where I have invitations, though it is the first time I ever took this tour, not previously knowing the face of any man. I now, to the praise of my heavenly Father, know many that cannot speak one word of English, clearly explaining the gospel plan of salvation to their darkened neighbours. A man from my own place told me that he had been to see friends ten miles off, and that there was as great difference between his own neighbour. hood and my place as if it was not the same country, and urged me to make an attempt to get amongst them. In every direction, so far as we can extend, we are gaining ground; and the Society may be assured, that their prayers and bounty in a great degree have the desired effect. W. MOORE. Inclosed is a correct return of the 57 schools under my inspection for the present quarter. With respect to most of them I have the satisfaction of saying, they were never in a more flourishing state, as to the number in attendance, or the progress of the children. In some situations my most sanguine expectations are more than realized; as by the combination of several favourable circumstances, the children have been enabled to remain longer than usual in the schools: the consequence is, a very respectable proficiency in writing and arithmetic, and a large portion of the scriptures committed to memory, with, of course, the probability of a more extensive acquaintance with their contents. In proof of this remark, I refer you to Nos. 30 and 45 in the list, where you will observe, that in the former there are fifty, and in the latter fifty-four in the reading class, which always means reading the scriptures. sent when I last saw it; it is situated in a very barren spot, and I may add, in a very exposed one, with respect to opposition; I however, ventured to place it there, relying much on the prayers of its supporters; for I have the pleasure of personally knowing that some of them are wrestling Jacobs; and I have the assurance, that "the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." This declaration of what influenced my conduct in appointing the school where I did, will, I am sure, not be made in vain. I must now notice the preaching, which is a work that if it were possible would increase upon me; and in reference to which I can unfeignedly say, that I am ready to weep in consequence of your last letter putting almost a negative on my repeated request for assistance in this work. What! can there not be found a pious, zealous, and well-qualified man in the British dominions, and sup As these and similar effects are resulting from the system of education pursued, it is not surprising that jealousy in a certain quarter should exist, nor that opposition should be manifested. This • monster still shows his head, and has recently extended his merciless arm to some of the distant schools; but you will perceive by the journal of H. that he has received a check from an unexpected quarter, and which is likely to be of great use in that part of the country. In two or three other places there is an arduous struggle for conquest maintained, and sometimes the schoolmasters show a disposition to capitulate; but the terms cannot be agreed to, not being honour-port for such an one; to assist in preachable to our king and his cause; a fresh attack is then made, some fall in the conflict, but others appear to be invulnerable. Before I finish this statement I must not forget the "Congregational Schools," as it is due to their worthy supporters to have them distinctly noticed. The "London Alie-street Female School" is kept by a young woman of excellent character, belonging to the Methodist connexion. When I last inspected it, there were present 19 readers and committers of the scriptures, 37 spellers, and 27 in the alphabet class: more than half of these had begun to use the needle. The Harlow Female School" is, as I have before described, situated at the foot of a mountain, where sterility is the characteristic of the natural, moral, and intellectual world. It is kept by a poor lame widow, who is a Roman Catholic, but desirous, for her own sake, and the youth about her, of doing all the good she can. Here were eighteen readers, twenty-six spellers, and twenty-five learning their letters. Of this number, twenty-four were employed in various ways with the needle, six of whom, probably, never had one in their hand ing the gospel to thirty congregations of from sixty to one hundred and twenty persons, in a dark, superstitious, and bigotted part of Ireland? Such is the character of the multitude in the sphere of my exertions; and yet a greater number of congregations and persons might be collected to hear the gospel, than is here specified. I have recently spent a month in Sligo, and its neighbourhood, preaching almost every day, and yet could not comply with all the requests that were made: I preached in four places where I had never preached before. Another preacher might be stationed in Sligo, to preach in it, or its vicinity, every day, without interfering with the respectable Independent congregation there, and without abridging the labours of my highly esteemed friend, their zealous pastor. Hoping and praying that He, whose labourers we profess to be, will increase our numbers and our usefulness. I subscribe myself affectionately yours, till this school was opened, nor twelve of Letter from the Rev. William Thomas, to them a book. the Secretary, dated Limerick, September 16, 1820. the Lord saved me, he has still some work for me to do. Within this month I have not been at home three nights, but have been continually employed, travelling, preaching, expounding the scriptures, and inspecting the schools. I am happy to state, that the schools have made great improvement; and, considering the hurry of the harvest, false reports, and in some instances sickness, their progress and numbers have exceeded my expectation. The Killurm School is the only one which I could wish to have done better, owing to the persevering opposition of the priest and his agents. The masters and readers have been very diligent, and have conducted themselves with propriety: this they know is indispensably necessary. The first school I inspected this month was Honum. It is situated on the banks of the Atlantic, near Loofshead, seventy miles west of Limerick. There is no land conveyance within fifty miles of it, and it is exceeding difficult and dangerous to get to. I was a day and a night in an open boat, tossed on the tremendous billows of the Atlantic; but the people are the objects of compassion: they are almost wild, and scarcely a word spoken among them but Irish. I was here in consider able danger, as some person had reported I came to brand, and take away the children for the King's use. There was no civil or military protection within twenty miles of me, and I might have become the victim of the people's rage; but the Lord saved me. I laboured for a week among them, preaching, and expounding the scriptures, and the lying reports fell to the ground. The master is a good Irish scholar. I charged him to read the Irish Testament to the people. There is only one poor Protestant family in the parish, who live at the Lighthouse, and no church within twenty miles of them. There are sixty children in the school, fourteen of whom are reading, the rest spelling: most of whom never saw a letter before the school was established. In nine other schools in Clare, there are upwards of five hundred and fifty children. I was greatly pleased with Thomas Rutledge, the master of Anghnish school; not only with the great number of chapters which the children repeated, but also with their reading, writing, arithmetic, and cleanliness, and the great improvement they have made in about five months. If there was no more good done than this, it is a sufficient recompense to the Society for what they have spent on the county of Clare. All parties in Nenagh acknowledge the blessed result of the school, in which there are three hundred and thirty-seven children. Mrs. Bennett, a lady who superintends it, is indefatigable in applying for subscriptions, &c. and has provided a school-house. The children of the Scarriff Norwich Female School have made great improvement: there are fifteen reading, eight of whom repeated forty-two chapters; the other fifteen are spelling, and the children are taught to work neatly; but the mistress complained that they had not enough work to be fully employed. The Tomgrany Norwich Female School has thirty-two children, four of them reading: the rest are small, and are spelling. 1 The Kilfinan Sunday and Day Schools are doing well. I preached at Kilrush, fifty miles west of Limerick, in the county of Clare, to a pretty large congregation. I preached at Mount Shannon, in the county of Galway, to a house full of people; and though I could scarcely get a place to preach in when I went, yet after sermon I was invited to come again by those that refused me, promising that I should get their house: the people are very poor there; I shall visit them again as soon as possible. It is situated twentyfive miles north-east of Limerick. I preached also at Scarriff, at New Market, at Ennis, twenty miles north-west of Limerick. This was in the Court-house, to about two hundred and fifty people, principally Roman Catholics, who were very attentive; at least the greater part of them. I required Divine strength to stand up here, without a single friend. But I was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and I let them know I was not; for with all boldness I did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, as far as I knew it, to the extent of my ability and strength. And may the Lord Jesus grant, that his grace may be sufficient for me, and his strength made perfect in my weakness. When I came out of the Court-house the night was dark, I was in great danger from the violence of the rude fellows of the baser sort. I preached also on board a ship in the Shannon, and in Kilfinan, in the county of Limerick. I am, my beloved brother in Christ, |