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in our day than it was when the Chelsea | watchful eye. The contents of the present Bun-House was one of its favourite resorts.

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WE are increasingly thankful to be so ably represented in our Nonconforming Periodical literature. Time was when our position was very different. gain, too, in this respect, has proved a strong bulwark in defence of evangelical truth. We can now meet our enemies in the gate, whether they assail our church-polity, or the foundations of our hopes. The "British Quarterly" has done its part nobly, and continues with increasing vigour and success to prosecute its arduous undertaking. Upon all subjects involving the best interests of humanity and religion, the editor keeps a

number will show how wide is the range of subject treated in it; while a reference to the articles themselves will prove the amount of well-directed literary labour bestowed upon them. 1. "THE PHILOSOPHY OF KANT." This, if we mistake not, will be found the most lucid and comprehensive account of Kant's philosophy in our language. 2. "RURAL AND FOREST LIFE IN AMERICA." 3. “THE AUTHORITY OF THE SABBATH." A very able and discriminating essay. 4. "THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE." 5. “RUSSIANS AT HOME-PAST AND PRESENT.” Let those who are enamoured of Russia read this. 6. "PRESENT ASPECTS AND TENDENCIES OF LITERATURE." A paper full of seasonable warning. 7. “OCK FOREIGN POLICY-WHO IS TO BLAME?" This is a political disquisition worthy of our age and country, to which our statesmen would do well to take heed. 8. "OUR EPILOGUE ON AFFAIRS AND Books." Some of the critiques in this department are full of important truth. We are glad to find ourselves one with the editor of the British Quarterly in our estimate of Mr. Maurice's late work on Sacrifice.

With Dr. Vaughan we entirely concur in his estimate of the present war: "Never," he observes, "since the world began has the sword been unsheathed in a more righteous, a more humane, a more Christian cause, than by Great Britain in the present struggle." p. 217.

MR. JAMES TAPLIN

Obituary.

was born at East Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, in 1776, and thence, with his parents, removed to Portsea; here he associated with youths of dissipated character, through whose baneful influence he was led into the paths of sin. His parents being members of the established church during the early part of their residence at Portsea, adhered with rigid

tenacity to its ritual; on the settlement, however, of the Rev. John Griffin as pastor of the Independent church in Orangestreet, they were induced to attend his ministry. This circumstance was the commencement of a new era in their history; from this period their spiritual life began; they received the truth in the love of it, and consecrated themselves to the Lord. Their Christian principles and

character, and inculcation of Christian | day, and the soul quickened into renewed precepts, made a deep impression on the vigour, would often exclaim, "I will mind of our departed friend. Previously trust and not be afraid, for the Lord averse to the very semblance of religion, Jehovah is my strength and my song, he now began to see and feel its excel- he also is become my salvation." lence and reality. His heart was, by the influence of parental counsel and example, preparing for the reception of the truth. A sermon preached by the Rev. John Griffin was the means of his conversion to God. From a voluminous diary kept through a series of years, it is delightful to trace the dawning of Divine light in his mind, through its growing brightness unto the perfect day.

In 1805 he was received into church fellowship, and commenced a career of devotedness and usefulness, which for forty years never relaxed. His correspondence was extensive, varied, and edifying. His talent for letter writing was well sustained, and adapted to that station in society in which he was destined to move; always ready with his pen to perform acts of condolence, or commendation of that love which passeth knowledge. In this way his leisure hours were amply occupied, when self might plead indulgence, and the wearied frame claim cessation after the day's activity. It was remarkable with what uniformity of purpose and studied precision all his leisure was filled up; some very striking instances of doing good in this way frequently came to light. His position in Her Majesty's service, as an officer in the sail loft at the Dockyard, Portsmouth, brought him in contact with naval men of all grades; and despite of rank, of depraved habits, or disrelish for serious things, the responsibility attached to him as a professed Christian he conceived outweighed all other considerations; hence, sowing the seed by all waters, the result was left in the hands of God.

His experience, like most of God's people, was varied; his soul had to strive and struggle against the world of sense; and the deeper it penetrated into the mysteries of God, the greater and more painful did his deficiencies appear; but through the appointed means of grace, and closet communion, (his constant practice,) strength was apportioned to the

VOL. XXXIII.

He was the father of a numerous offspring, and there were times when domestic cares pressed with unusual severity, and disturbed the even tenor of his mind; but an unfaltering trust in the Divine procedure and promises, mitigated grief, and allayed anxiety, so that he was enabled to bear up with a patient and cheerful endurance. He remarks in 1817,-"Were it not that I firmly believe in the immutability of Jehovah, and that his purposes are all wisely arranged respecting me and my family, what despair would seize my soul! It is in proportion as I am enabled to exercise faith in the sovereignty of God, and in the wisdom of his arrangements, that I can feel my support under the trials and afflictions of the present life. O Lord, enable me in patience to possess my soul, and doubtless I shall see that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me; my times are in thy hands, and with thee alone would I leave all my concerns, both for time and eternity."

Passing over many interesting entries in his diary well worth perusal, we find that in the year 1838, he was called, in the course of events, to fill an appointment in her Majesty's Dockyard, Woolwich. This change, though attended by a pecuniary benefit, could not compensate for the privation of social friendship, of family ties, and of religious communion with old and beloved worshippers. The place where he had spent his youth and manhood, where he had brought up a numerous family into reputation and usefulness, where lie the sacred ashes of those whom his affections held dear, seemed now to be essential to his life and comfort.

While enduring this privation he thus writes to her who had long shared his joys and sorrows:-"It will be enough for you to know, that I am as comfortable as it is possible to be in a strange land, &c.," and he adds, "Remember me to all my Christian friends in the church with

H

whom I have often taken sweet counsel.
Oh, I cannot forget King-street, with all
its powerful ties :

There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns.'

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long been connected at Portsmouth, which
quickly summoned his return, to occupy
its highest post, a position for which he
was admirably fitted by education, expe-
rience, reputation, and length of service;
but of which he had long been deprived
through that kind of government influ-
ence which in his time marked and stig-
matized a man of public spirit and ele-
vated consistency of conduct. He saw
and acknowledged in this movement the

I would say to all my dear friends at
King-street, Walk circumspectly,' 'Pray
without ceasing;' 'Live near to God;'
'Watch against the influence of the
world;' Remember the time is short;'
tell them I desire an interest in their
prayers,' &c. His stay at Woolwich | hand of a kind Providence.
was happily brief; circumstances occurred
in the department with which he had

(To be concluded in our next.)

Home Chronicle.

MONUMENT TO DR. WARDLAW.

Glasgow, 11th January, 1855. (To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.) DEAR SIR,-I have to thank you for inserting my letter in the Magazine for December regarding the proposed monument to the memory of Dr. Wardlaw, and for the very cordial manner in which you have recommended this matter to your numerous readers. In furtherance of the object will you favour me with space just to say that Mr. John Henry, of the firm of Messrs. E. Henry and Sons, Manufacturers, 59, Friday-street, London, will be happy to receive any subscriptions that may be handed to him in aid of the object in view, and at the same time to mention that the Committee here have no intention of begging for subscriptions, while they will gratefully receive anything which may be spontaneously given

and enlargement, was re-opened for Divine service on Sunday, October 22nd, 1854, when sermons were delivered by the Rev. H. F. Burder, D.D., late of Hackney; and by the Rev. Wm. Woodhouse, of the Adelphi Chapel, Hackneyroad. On the Thursday following, the Rev. Dr. Reed, of Wycliffe Chapel, preached. With the additional sittings the place is calculated to seat 600 persons. The increasing population in the immediate vicinity of Victoria Park, prompted this endeavour to provide chapel accommodation for the inhabitants, and promote the diffusion of evangelical truth.

The church worshipping there is believed to have originated at or about the period of "the ejection of the Nonconformists," and has been preserved in existence during all these years.

The first "place of meeting," which can be authenticated, was Monkwell

With great respect, dear Mr. Editor, street; afterwards they occupied Founvery truly yours,

WILLIAM S. PATON.

The Editor fervently hopes that many of the friends of the late Dr. Wardlaw in the metropolis, will avail themselves of this notice.

PARK CHAPEL, BETHNAL GREEN.

THIS place of worship, which had been closed for several weeks, for alterations

ders' Hall chapel, City, and about a quarter of a century since they removed to the present locality. On the church records, in the register of pastors "fallen asleep," occur among others the wellknown names of Brooksbank, Porter, Toller, and last of all, Stephen Mummery.

From the deep interest we have long felt in this important sphere of labour,

and from our personal knowledge of the present esteemed pastor, the Rev. E. F. Woodman, we trust that now a larger measure of the Divine blessing may rest upon both minister and people.

Chapel, may be owned of God as in past years, to the conversion of souls and the edification of those who believe through grace. J. B.

HOPE CHAPEL, WIGAN, LANCASHIRE.

ON Wednesday evening, December 6th, a meeting of the congregation and friends of Hope Chapel was held in the Public Hall, King-street; the Rev. W. Marshall presiding. Above 430 sat down to tea. The cloth being removed the chairman rose, and after congratulating the meeting on the prospect of spending a pleasant and profitable evening, stated briefly the order of the proceedings, and then called upon Mr. Baines, the secretary of the church, who read a report of the progress of the different societies connected with Hope Chapel, during the past year. In addition to the liquidation of the debt on the chapel to the amount of £1182, which was effected in 1852, and subsequently the purchase of the groundrent, it was stated in the financial summary that the following amounts (irrespective of what is raised for the regular maintenance of religious worship) had been contributed to different objects during the year. For educational purposes, £62; for the London Missionary Society, £17 10s. ; for the purchase of ground-rent, £52; for the Chinese New Testament Fund, £16 13s. 4d.; for the Society for Religious Purposes, £18 10s.; for the Dorcas Society and Benevolent Fund, £14 10s. ; for the Patriotic Fund £30. Mr. Baines having concluded his report, the meeting was addressed by the Revs. J. Marshall, of Oover; J. Mann, M.A., of Birkenhead; A. Stead; H. Oldfield (Wesleyan), of Wigan; Wm. Roaf, D. Blyth (Presbyterian), and Mr. E. Clarke. At the close of the proceedings, thanks were cordially voted to the Pastor, the Rev. W. Marshall, for his services in the chair, after which the benediction was pronounced. It was a meeting of a peculiarly fraternal and friendly character, and the hope is, that the preaching of the word, and the various instrumentality employed at Hope

THE REV. W. R. Noble, of New Bexley, near London, having been compelled to relinquish his sphere of labour from illhealth, arising from unsuitableness of climate, has accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation of the Congregational church assembling in Batter-street Chapel, Plymouth, to become their pastor; and entered upon his stated ministry there on the first Sabbath of the New Year.

NEWPORT, MONMOUTH.

GREAT Dock-street Independent Chapel, Newport, Monmouth. On Tuesday evening, Nov. 21st, 1854, a public teameeting, very numerously attended, was held in the spacious school-room behind the above chapel, to welcome the Rev. F. Pollard, on his recent settlement as pastor of the place. The room was most tastefully fitted-up with a profusion of evergreens and autumnal flowers, illuminated lamps in the midst of wreaths being exhibited in different directions. A large number of ministers and members of other churches, from both the town and neighbourhood, were present to join in the welcome. A number of speeches admirably adapted to the occasion were delivered. The meeting was a most happy one, and will long be remembered, with devout thanksgiving to God, by all present. Mr Pollard commences his ministry in the above new and beautiful structure with every prospect of success. Already the congregation has considerably increased.

TO THE FRIENDS OF NEGRO EDUCATION.

OURS is emphatically the age of education-an age in which the demand for popular enlightenment meets with general acceptance. All classes of religionists and politicians are agreed as to its social benefits, and few dispute its moral advan

all eyes. Upon it are suspended the hopes of downtrodden and enslaved humanity. If they are allowed to sink, the cry that emancipation is a failure cannot but be confirmed; and infidelity will denounce our Christianity as effete and powerless. Whilst, if we listen to the demands of their case, and furnish them with the means of retrieving their position, rescuing themselves from their present difficulties, we shall not only avert so sad a calamity, but shall also crown with success the work of other days.

To achieve this is within our power, and may be effected at a very trifling cost. A few hundreds per annum, for five or six years, will accomplish all that is required. The lack of education is the felt want of Jamaica at the present time. It is proposed, therefore, to affiliate to the Calabar Institution (an institution established for the training of a native ministry) a Normal School for the education of native young men, to fill the office of dayschool teachers, without regard to denomi

tages. Arguments on these points are
now happily superfluous. The experiment
has been made, and the home-results
attest its success, whilst the diversified
educational apparatus still in operation
augurs well for the future intellectual ele-
vation of the millions in these isles. But
amongst the teeming masses that people
our Foreign Dependencies, comparatively
little has been done to expand the minds
of those converted to Christianity. And
in none of our colonies have we had op-
portunity or encouragement to do more
than in the Island of Jamaica, the arena
on which has been wrought out the ex-
periment of negro emancipation. The
British churches have obtained for the
people of that land the blessings of civil
liberty, given them the aids of the gospel,
and furnished them with numerous edu-
cational appliances adapted to insure their
elevation. But all that has hitherto been
done in the way of tuition in that inter-
esting island has been done for its people,
and not by them. Their teachers and
missionaries have been Europeans, quali-national distinction.
fied in this country; and no steps have
hitherto been taken to normally train a
race of native youth for scholastic work.
This neglect has now to be repaired;
and the circumstances of Jamaica render
it imperative to provide at once for this
necessity. For the ravages of repeated
pestilences, &c., have been such as to
have placed anything like an adequate
provision for their educational wants ut-
terly out of the people's power. They
positively lack the resources requisite to
overtake their own social and religious

wants.

Facts familiar to all attest this. Their position, therefore, involves an important crisis. They have reached a point from which, unless help be promptly afforded them, they must sink in the scale of intellectual and moral life. Enough has been done by British philanthropy to render it incumbent on us to do for them this one thing more to give them the means of conducting, to a successful issue, the efforts that have already been made on their behalf. Their existent attitude is the result of vast expenditure and untold anxieties. Towards it are attracted

The grounds on which this arrangement is urged, are- (1.) The necessity of multiplying day - schools, and consequently day-school teachers. (2.) The difficulty that is found in obtaining teachers of decided piety and suitable qualifications. (3.) The importance of having a training establishment in a locality centrical to a large number of Christian congregations, on the north side of the island. (4.) And the facilities that are likely to be afforded to such an establishment, by its connexion with the theological institution, are these :—(A) A library, already collected, comprising upwards of two thousand volumes. Buildings suitable for class-rooms and school-rooms, and for the board and lodging of from six to fourteen normal school students, in addition to those now on the foundation of the institution. (C) An economical arrangement in housekeeping expenses. The cost of twelve students would involve only the additional expenditure of one-half the cost of six. (D) The superintendence and services of the resident tutor of the theological insti

(B)

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