Monthly Chronicle. A FEATURE OF THE PRESENT AGE. That God is making use of every species of instrumentality to take up out of the way all remaining obstacles to the conversion of the world," this (it has been justly remarked) is the remarkable feature -the type of the present age of christianity. The gospel has fought its battles with paganism, popery, and infidelity. It has now come to its active era. It is passing out from the schools of philosophy to the scenes of practical reform. It is revealing its energies to advance the social state. It is clearing its way for conflict with vice-to succour the poor-to relieve the miserable-to deliver the oppressed-to recompense the governments of the world, not by political alliances, but by the intelligent free-will of the renovated masses,-and to fill the earth with righteousness and peace! -- "Let us, then, know our obligations and our privilege, and qualify ourselves more adequately for the labours and responsibilities which the divine providence is imposing. The field is opening before us; we are already entering upon it. How extended-how diversifiedhow glorious!-full of the materials of thought and study,-full of enterprize, encouragement, and reward. We are acting for a great stake, compared with which the interests of this life are as nothing. To be anywhere but on the side of an active, advancing christianity, is to oppose ourselves to God's great end in the government of the world, and incur the severity of his condemnation." We are summoned to new and yet greater effort. Nor is there any class of men on whom our exertions would bear more favourably, or extensively, than our seamen, No men yield more readily to the principles and motives of the gospel,-no men more justly appreciate its blessings, or more cheerfully obey its precepts. There is no class of the community in whom "the gospel would contribute to a greater intelligence, or liberality, or devotedness; for to them the world is spread out for observation ;-their sources of information open in every clime; and their characteristic generosity and nobleness of spirit need but the direction of religious principle, to become the spring of the most disinterested and wide-spreading beneficence." Their influence would be felt, not only on all the institutions of domestic life, and the progress of general civilization, but, above all, on the universal propa gation of christianity. In their habits and condition, has been one of the greatest obstacles to the progress of the gospel; let this be removed in their own conversion to the faith, and not only have we a clear and open highway for the advancing chariot of divine truth, but an additional impulse is given to its movement, and onward it passes with increasing rapidity, majesty, and glory! AGENTS' MEETING-HELD ON FRIDAY EVENING, 10th JULY. Amid the feelings of delight which are awakened in hearing the record of what is being done among our seamen, it is truly distressing to learn the morally degraded circumstances in which thousands and tens of thousands of them are still to be found. There is a loud and urgent demand for an increased agency both at home and abroad. To secure this, we earnestly solicit the intercessions and liberal support of all whose hearts are fixed on the glory of Christ, in the final renovation and happiness of the world! AGENTS' REPORTS. CAPT. PRYNN.-Senior Thames Missionary.-I desire, with humility and thankfulness, to record the goodness of God towards me, during the past month, in the midst of my multiplied labours. I am still found in the land of the living, and am feebly endeavouring to point poor sailors to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. My time, as usual, has been engaged in the visitation of the shipping on the river, and in the various docks and canals, with a view to draw attention to the things of God. I have been generally well received, and in many cases invited to call again. Sometimes I am thus accosted, "Well, father, we are glad to see you once more, what good news have you to tell us?" To one asking this question I was led to reply, "Why, my dear brother, Christ Jesus died for sinners,-that's good news." "Yes," said the sailor, "I wish to know he died for me." 66 Only believe on his name," was the reply, "and this The tear blessing shall be yours." started from his eyes- he could no longer refrain,—but, seizing my hand, said," Sir, come below, and pray with us;" there being but little ship's duty going forward, this request was complied with, we knelt down, five in number-I engaged in prayer, and then a sailor followed. Two of those sailors appeared to be much affected, and I hope the impression made will be attended with the divine blessing. Many pleasing instances of good have presented themselves to my notice during the past month; and this seems to be highly necessary, for I have not been without many difficulties in my path, yet thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been enabled to board about 270 ships; conversed with about 1000 sailors afloat; about 250 at the various boarding-houses, inviting their attention to the Sailor's Chapel; ships have been obtained for the agents in the Lower Pool; tracts and SAILOR'S MAGAZINES have been circulated. I have held fourteen services afloat, where 308 sailors have attended and heard the word of God read and expounded; thirty-seven out of this number have engaged in prayer; and many, it is to be hoped, have by those means received real benefit. The great day of eternity alone will unfold the gracious results. Much conversation has been held with sailors, just arrived from America and other ports; and I have been much pleased, to find several who are desirous to flee from the wrath to come. With those, as well as many others, I have freely conversed on the things relative to their eternal happiness. The sailor's boarding-houses have been visited on the Sabbath mornings, and occasionally in the afternoons; and many sailors have been induced to attend the means of grace; thus our labour amongst those men has not, we trust, been in vain, Six Libraries have been furnished to Cronstadt, Calcutta, Mauritius, Berbice, Demerara, and Odessa; three Bethel flags have been supplied to captains of ships, going to foreign ports. I have been pleased to hear, that the meetings on board of ships in Long Reach, and on shore at Greenhithe, have been well attended; and appear calculated, through the divine blessing, to be rendered very beneficial. We are encouraged to look for the things pertaining to salvation. Five new Bethel ships have been obtained, and eight captains have espoused the cause, not known to me before; may the Lord add unto their number many more, of such as shall be saved! MR. ROWLAND.-In reporting my labours among seamen on the Thames, during the last two months, it appears that I have holden twenty-two meetings afloat, besides others ashore; affording an opportunity to no less than 454 sea men to hear the word of eternal life. In attendance, we had sometimes thirty, sometimes seventy, and even eighty hearers. I have seen twelve captains or more present with their men at the service of God. It has often been most pleasing to my mind to hear masters and men, after the meetings are over, express their gratitude for such opportunities of hearing the gospel. One evening a captain addressed me, saying, 'Before the week is over, you must come and hold a meeting on board my ship, for I want her to be numbered among the Bethelites.' Among many delightful services, one in particular will be long remembered : it was the dedication of the 'Lady of the Lake,' Captain Griffiths, to the Bethel service. Although there were but two ships in the tier, yet the captains and the men came in boats from other tiers, (with some from shore,) amounting to upwards of eighty souls. The Rev. D. Jones, of Moorfields, assisted on this interesting occasion. I am happy to report, that I have met not a few sailors who have recently joined the church of Christ, and are now walking worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called. Most of our meetings have been held on deck, under cover; and while showers of rain have fallen over our heads, I have hoped that on these occasions the 'doctrine' of the gospel has dropped as the rain,' and that the 'speech' of the minister 'distilled as the dew, and the small rain upon the tender herb,' softening the hearts of some hardy tars, and transforming them into the image of Jesus Christ. Visiting of Shipping.--I have, in the course of my visitations, boarded upwards of 900 ships, and distributed many thousands of tracts, magazines, and other religious pamphlets, which were most gratefully received. I have reason to believe that they are attentively read, and by the blessing of God are the means of spiritual improvement to many. I have met with sailors of different nations, and have conversed with those that could understand me, on things pertaining to the salvation of their immortal souls; and hope that, under God, those silent visitations have been the means of promoting the best interests of those unto whom they were paid. One morning I had a long interview with the mate and crew of -, who seemed to be pious men; the mate said, that, lately, they were detained at Ramsgate for five weeks; and, that they had attended regularly on the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Chapman, to their spiritual edification, both on the week evenings, and on the Lord's-day. He further stated, that the Sailor's Room in this place is much too small to contain the sailors and fishermen, with their wives and families, that attend,that they had a sailor's prayer-meeting every night they were there. Facts like these are most encouraging. Sailors' Lodging Houses.-It is with much regret I report, that the individual, who kept the most respectable Sailor's lodging-house, within my district, has removed to the country, and that one of these houses, in which I used to hold religious services, (of the inmates of which I had entertained a hope that they were becoming moral characters,) has relapsed into its former degraded condition! Oh! the depth of depravity and abomination these houses exhibit! However, my visits, even to these dens of wickedness, are, in most instances, kindly received, and the tracts thankfully aecepted. INTERESTING SERVICES AT LONG REACH. In consequence of recent regulations in reference to the colliers coming to the port of London, each vessel is now detained for several days in Long Reach; and not unfrequently there may be seen there from one to two hundred ships, with from one to two thousand men on board, with but little to occupy their time or engage their attention. It was therefore deemed adviseable to direct a special effort to this interesting scene. And we have now the satisfaction to state, that for the last two or three months, one or other of the agents of the Society has gone down and held services on every alternate Lord's-day-one afloat, and two on shore-of which the following is the report : MR. BENSON.-According to request I now give you some of the particulars of my visits to Greenhithe Station. On Lord's-day, May 10th, I held a meeting on board the E. and S. Captain Robson; twenty-two present, with several others who could not leave their ships, listening. The smallness of the number was from the seamen not knowing of the meeting, but having announced the services at the Wesleyan and Independent chapels for the afternoon and evening-there was a goodly number on both occasions. The chapels were quite crowded. There were about an hundred and fifty ships in Long-reach; and when it was intimated that the services were to be regular, and periodical, much feeling was morning was held on board the Zillah, Captain Jackson, who, in every sense of the word, treated me gentleman-like, and with very cordial feeling expressed himself honoured by such a service. On this occasion there were present between thirty and forty-among whom were five ladies. The service was of a very interesting character. I announced preaching at the chapels on shore in the afternoon and evening. Not only Iwas there this service on board the Zillah, but another was held, at which Captain Stephenson presided, and two others in the afternoon and evening. Still there was a very good attendance on both occasions on shore. There were about 200 ships in the Reach, and upwards of 1000 men; it appears the ships lie there nearly a fortnight. They come up in constant succession. This appears a very important station, as the men are in general unoccupied while in the Reach. Some have expressed a wish that a station could be regularly supplied; and, although there may be some difficulties to surmount, yet it is not altogether impracticable. MR. PALMER. An arrangement having been made three months since, with brother Benson and myself, for us to visit the seamen at Long-reach, every other sabbath, on Lord's-day, the 12th of July, I was there for the third time. Ships to the number of from 150 to 200, lie at anchor in this place, and generally remain from two to three weeks, with about 100 at Northfleet; but the vessels are continually changing and giving place to others, according to the orders which they receive from the authorities of the river Thames. In Long-reach the ships form an exceedingly pleasing and delightful sight, extending the distance of three miles in length, and as close together as convenient and safe. I have succeeded in obtaining vessels for Bethel services or meetings, as near as possible to the centre of the fleet, for the accommodation of them all, and preached each Lord's-day, at 11 o'clock in the morning, after which an announcement was made of the services in the afternooon and evening at the Independent and Methodist chapels on shore, where the captains and men have repaired. The Rev. Mr. Taylor, Wesleyan superintendant of the district at Gravesend, has kindly united with us, as also the Rev. Mr. Harris, Independent minister of Dartford. Our visits have been beneficial not only to seamen, but to the inhabitants of Greenhithe also, and have led to the adoption of a sabbath morning service, which was not held before, either at the Methodist or Independent places of worship. The attendance of seamen from the ships is most encouragingly increased at both chapels. At Greenhithe (for I make a point of directing them to each place, that no unpleasant feelings may prevail on the minds of either denomination,) I have seen near a hundred sailors in even one of the chapels. Last sabbath evening both chapels were filled, (a most unusual circumstance,) and christian friends spoke of extending the means still farther. I think if a tent could be obtained, and fixed on shore, midway of the vessels in Long-reach, and the Bethel flag were hoisted there, and services were held during the summer, in the afternoon and evening of the sabbath day, three hundred seamen would attend, many of whom, at the present time, are immoral and depraved. The godly captains and seamen are so much pleased with the present efforts employed, that they very much wish they might have services every sabbath, instead of once a fortnight, and intend forwarding a joint request for this purpose to the Committee. At present many seamen from that part of the Reach nearest to London, go to Dart |