The Banner of the Truth in Ireland.

JANUARY 1, 1870.

OBITUARY.

REV. ALEXANDER DALLAS.

RE this publication is in the hands of our readers, there is probably not one of them who will not have heard with heartfelt sorrow of the irreparable loss which the Society for Irish Church Missions, in common with the whole Church in this country, has sustained, in the removal by death of the beloved and honoured father and founder of our Missions, the Rev. Alexander Dallas, Rector of Wonston and Honorary Secretary of our Society. It is not merely that an aged saint has been called to his rest and his reward, full of years and honours, like a shock of corn fully ripe; nor that a parish has been deprived of a devoted pastor, who has left the impress of his Christian influence on many a heart and in many a home; nor that the cause of Christ has lost a noble champion for the truth, who could be ill spared in days of conflict like these ;-but it is that the great missionary cause has to mourn the removal of one who was eminently a leader in the Lord's army, a man raised up to assert a great principle, which he carried to a noble practical issue, and which finds its expression in the work of the Irish Church Missions, the progress of which is recorded in these pages.

The Irish Church Missions was emphatically the child of Alexander Dallas, and the humblest agent in the body, and, perhaps it is not too much to say, almost every child in every Mission-school, felt it an honour to be associated with one whose earnest fidelity and genial sympathy pervaded every department of the work. He who is permitted in deep sorrow to pen these few lines, will be joined

by every other labourer in our beloved Mission, when he expresses how often he has learned lessons too deep to be forgotten, from the noble qualities, both of heart and mind, of him whom God has taken to Himself-qualities which shone nowhere more brightly than in the sweet confidence of the happiest of homes, where Mr. Dallas was as much beloved for that gentle and affectionate disposition which adorned his private life, as he was for the manly courage which he displayed in his public career.

We hope in a future number of the BANNER to present more in detail a review of the remarkable personal qualities, as well as the many public services, of our departed friend, and to seek to trace the secret of that mighty influence for good which he so largely exerted, and the lasting benefit of which so many live to enjoy. It must suffice us now, writing as we do, under the first impulse of this deep sorrow, to content ourselves with recording the particulars of our friend's removal.

Though Mr. Dallas had all but reached the ripe age of fourscore years, and had been for some time, in a measure, laid aside from active labours, yet it pleased God so far to restore him, that during the course of last summer, he was permitted to pay a lengthened visit of inspection to the Mission-field of the Irish Church Missions in Ireland, and to develope a scheme for the future carrying out of the work, in which he displayed an acquaintance with detail, and a vigour and grasp of thought, equal to his days of greatest activity, and which the Committee treasure and will seek solemnly to carry out, as a precious legacy of their leader's wisdom. In the mysterious providence of our All-wise God, however, when we had thought Mr. Dallas would have been spared some years to the Church and to this cause, a sudden attack of bronchitis prostrated him as in a moment, and on Sunday, the 12th of December, the happy spirit of Alexander Dallas was freed from the trammels of a corruptible body, to enter on a glorious Sabbath of eternal rest, in the presence of the Saviour in whom he trusted, and whose love and grace he delighted to proclaim, and to await a rich reward in that day of the glorious consummation which was the centre of his hopes and the theme of his latest testimony, when the Lord our God shall come, and all his saints with Him. May we have grace to follow our honoured friend and father, even as he followed Christ; may the Society which he was the means of forming ever be faithful to the principles of its founder; and may our gracious God, the Lord of the harvest, raise up many more such faithful labourers in the Missionfield, both at home and abroad-men endued with the same fidelity, and men who shall be blessed with similar success!

ANNIVERSARY PRAYER MEETINGS.

My soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him." THE unhappy state of Ireland, the urgent call for an extension of the Missionary operations, and the great loss which the Society has sustained in the sudden removal of its venerated Honorary Secretary, the Rev. Alexander Dallas, at a time when his ripe judgment and extensive experience of that island were greatly in requisition, are circumstances which forcibly point us to our duty to wait only upon God.

A Central Prayer-meeting will be held (God willing), in the IRISH CHURCH MISSIONS OFFICE, 11, Buckingham Street, which is close to the Charing-Cross Station, on FRIDAY, the 14th of JANUARY, at HALFPAST TWO o'clock, at which all, who can do so (ladies included) are affectionately invited to be present.

Friends at a distance are asked to unite by assembling for prayer in their local auxiliaries, Those to whom this privilege is denied, by secret communion in their own chambers.

"LABOURING FERVENTLY IN PRAYERS."

The introduction of the Gospel into a country where it has, either, never before been promulgated, or has long been suppressed, is the introduction of a mighty agent, because the power of God goes with it. The Missionary, or Scripture-Reader, seems to go forth upon a hopeless task; but they alike know what they are about, and Who it was who said, "Lo! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.”

Again, we know that the advancement of the kingdom of God in any country, often seems to be linked with organic changes in its institutions. But, what we desire especially to bring before our readers, and the friends of the Irish Church Missions, just at present, is this important fact, that united, and persevering, and believing prayer is always the forerunner of manifested and enlarged blessing. The history of the Old Testament Saints is often very short and concentrated. "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him" (Gen. v. 24). Here we have condensed into one short sentence whole volumes of man's biography. And so also in the New Testament, of Epaphras it is not said that he was a Boanerges, or an Apollos, but that he always "laboured fervently for the Church in prayers" (Col. iv. 12). Now we may bless God in modern times for our Romaines, Newtons, Venns, Scotts, Bickersteths, and Henry Martyns; but what we now want is a multiplication of men like Epaphras, who laboured and agonized in prayer for God's cause and truth-an army of the

*We may now add, Dallas's.

Lord's remembrancers. True, this work courts not the eye of man: it is quiet, secret, and unobserved; but it is higher than angelic service. But then it must be believing prayer. "I never considered it possible," said the excellent Judson, "that God should do anything but what He has promised in his Word." "Do, Lord, as Thou hast said!" Plead his promise, and expect an answer. Alas! how little is God trusted. How often are his promises almost thrown aside as dishonoured bills!

Again, fervent, persevering prayer for a Mission or individual Christian working for the Lord, greatly deepens our own interest in that work or person. When drawn out in heartfelt prayer for such, we as heartily rejoice in their growth and prosperity.

It is important, however, to remember that we can offer no acceptable prayer for the cause of God's truth in Ireland, except on the basis of a completed salvation, through an all-sufficient sacrifice; and unless we have heartily accepted and appropriated this salvation for ourselves, we cannot be fervent, or real, or persevering, in our efforts to recommend it to others. In other words, there must be a personal transaction between the Lord Jesus Christ and our own souls, before there can be any prayerful or believing effort to bring the souls of those still in darkness to His feet.

Ireland has neither been tranquillized nor pacified, nor made happy. The dark and deadly shadows of Rome still cast their blighting and deadly influence over that unhappy land. That, "Christ died for the ungodly," is the one and only message which, when preached in faith, and prayer, and love, can bring back to the Divine allegiance the rebellious soul of man. For, first, the poor misled Irishman must be made a good soldier of Christ Jesus, if ever he is to be the loyal subject of Queen Victoria.

What we ask then of our friends, especially at this time, is earnest, persevering, believing, and, where practicable, united prayer, that both our agents and converts may be enabled, by God's grace, "to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free." That, whilst they are bold and uncompromising in their maintaining of God's truth, they may exhibit much love to souls, and tenderness, and sympathy, forbearance, and gentleness towards those who are still out of the way. For these, in every land, are man's best canonicals; and because those who wear them, have been much in the King's ivory palaces, their garments shall bear a sweet savour of the myrrh and cassia, which, whilst it gladdens their own souls, shall carry a subduing and softening influence and power to all around them.

In the circular of the Irish Church Missions, headed "United

Prayer for Ireland,"* our friends will find a very valuable outline of what-1. We should gratefully acknowledge and praise our God for having accomplished by its instrumentality. 2. What we should ask for at the throne of grace for the time to come. May we ask then in fervency and faith, expecting to receive, because HE WHO IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE, HAS PROMISED!

THE WORK IN DUBLIN.

THE Secretary has received the following letter from the Rev. H. C. Cory, reporting on the present state of the Society's Dublin Mission:"MY DEAR FRIEND,-Our valued friend Dr. MacCarthy having been a little laid aside from his ordinary work, and having gone abroad for needful change, it has fallen to my lot to take charge of the Dublin Mission during the past two months; and I am thankful to say there has been much to encourage us. In spite of the great excitement in the public mind from the events which are happening in Ireland, our Schools and Institutions have maintained their wonted activity, and have been carried on with undiminished success. Indeed, we feel, in some of the Institutions, the difficulty really is to meet the demands which are almost daily made upon the Committees to receive urgent cases which are continually presented for admission. Undoubtedly the prejudices of Roman Catholics must be greatly broken down, when they can come, as they often do, to myself and others, urging us to receive Roman Catholic children into the Schools; and this while they are fully acquainted with the character of the work and the nature of the instruction imparted. I often remember with pleasure the words of one Roman Catholic woman, to whom I said, 'Don't you think we shall make your children heretics ?' 'As long as you make them, sir, no worse than you are yourself, I shall be well content,' was her characteristic reply; and I have lately met many such nominal Roman Catholics. Our Institutions being so crowded at this moment is a proof that the bigotry of many has disappeared before the genial influence of Christian kindness and Christian truth.

"The same remark applies to all our Dublin Schools. It is delightful to witness the bright intelligence of so many young people, and to see them going out into life as well-instructed Protestants, and useful and loyal members of society. Is it not sad, when the social problems of Ireland are so occupying the minds of statesmen, that these palpable facts should often pass unnoticed?

"The subject of the Pope's Ecumenical Council is, of course, the *To be had on application to the Secretary.