SUNDAY-SCHOOL

ANNIVERSARY AT MONTREAL.

The above meeting in connection with the Quebec Suburbs N. C. Church, Montreal, was held on the 4th September, and was one of the most interesting of the kind that we ever have had the pleasure of attending.

We had a large attendance of both teachers and scholars, and all evidently seemed to participate in the pleasure of the occasion. The business of the evening was opened by a short address from the esteemed superintendent, Bro. Rogers, whose labors in this department reflect the highest credit upon the office he sustains, and also upon our church in this city. Bro. McClure then delivered a very suitable, as well as highly interesting and instructive address; after which Bros. Wright and Seymour spoke.

Premiums were then awarded according to the system adopted in the school, viz., of proportioning the value of the premium to the number of tickets possessed by each scholar at the end of the year; thus instituting a faithful practical index to the state of the school.

The result, in this case, was of the most pleasing and satisfactory natureevery scholar having received a respectable premium.

The young friends were then regaled with cakes and fruit, and after singing a number of Sunday School tunes, the meeting terminated, all being highly gratified with the proceedings of the evening. J. C. SEYMOUR.

Montreal.

[The following article from the Canadian Evangelical Witness, while strikingly depicting the crisis through which Canada is now passing, faithfully represent the claims of the mission on the liberality of the churches even in seasons of privation and suffering. That representation applies as legiti mately, and with equal force to our churches at home. Let it therefore be calmly and prayerfully considered by all who profess regard to the glory of God, and the salvation of their fellows; and while cries of help are heard in the horrid scenes so diabolically enacted, and so heroically endured in Asia; and in the thrilling accounts brought by Dr.

Livingstone from Africa; and in the destitude, yet imploring condition of other parts of the heathen, or partially christianized world, let us determine that, with the Macedonian Churches, (2 Cor. viii. 2.) "Their deep poverty shall abound to the riches of their liberality."]

THE TIMES AND MISSIONARY EFFORTS.

The season is now approaching when our missionary efforts for the present year will commence. The state of the commercial world has induced almost every public print in the country to offer advice to all classes as to the course of conduct required in a period of such almost unexampled depression, as we are now passing through. Economy and industry are urged upon all persons in the management of their business and domestic affairs. It is now clearly perceived that only by the utmost care and effort, can even the most prosperous and secure hope to pass unscathed through the severe ordeal which awaits us during the coming winter. Although we, in Canada, have not yet been called to experience the same sad revulsions which have passed, and are still passing like a whirlwind over the United States, we still have our share of the difficulties to contend with, which the financial disorders of the times have created.

Agricultural produce is now reduced to a price unremunerative to the farmer; and in many parts of the country the harvest has been entirely unproductive from the ravages of the wheat destroyers, which have invaded some of the fairest portions of our country. The number of farmers is not small who will not only have no wheat to sell, but will even have to purchase the needed supplies for themselves and their households. Add to this the low price which is likely to rule for whatever is brought to market, the serious pecuniary obligations incurred when times were brighter, and the extreme scarcity of money to meet those obligations, now that times are altered, and all must confess that the prospects before us are anything but cheering. Thousands of persons will be thrown out of employment, wages will be reduced, and the capability of many persons to meet the claims of benevolence, will be thereby diminished. These are gloomy predictions, but the most sanguine minds have uttered or indorsed them, and only the thoughtless or inexperienced can ignore them.

The cause of God dwells in and acts

upon and by the elements surrounding it. When business is restricted, credit shaken, and worldly prospects blighted, the cause of God feels the effect of the storm, and is often hindered by the cutting off of its wonted supplies. The question is, shall it be so in this instance? Are we so exhausted that nothing is left us to do good with? Is the Church so bereft of means that its operations must be stopped for want of supplies? The answer must be-no. Abundance yet is left whereby to honor God, sustain his cause, and even to advance upon the years of prosperity which a kind providence has permitted us lately to experience. A word of exhortation and warning, however, may not be unsuitable.

And, first, it may be expected that in some instances the cause of God will be the first to suffer. Retrenchment, in times like these, too often begins at the house of God. Dress, furniture, luxuries, and needless expenses of various kinds, will be untouched and unretrenched, while the cause of God will, in these instances, suffer. "All men have not faith." What is given by some even in the best of times, is given rather as an investment, from which an ample return is expected, than as an expression of gratitude and homage to the giver of all good. When the investment seems not to be profitable, when worldly prosperity does not apparently correspond with the money given to religious and benevolent objects, the investment is w thdrawn, or diverted into more profitable channels. There will be examples of this kind. "I cannot afford," will be a pet excuse with many; it will meet the missionary collector, and the missionary deputation, in their labors, and will chill and discourage them. This excuse has been heard at all times from some; it will be heard from more now, since it will seem to come with a better grace, and will be less liable to be questioned.

But let us not be censorious or querulous. There has been so noble a generosity in our circnits for some years past, that we cannot suppose the chill of the present season will have contracted its breadth, or destroyed its warmth. If penuriousness will have its exhibitions, so will faith and disinterestedness. Some cannot probably give as much as formerly, or so much as they would wish, but others will nobly come to the rescue, and save the funds from embarrassment.

The wealthy must consider this a time of special urgency upon them. At no time and in no country, does this class give in proportion to their less fortunate fellow-christians. Some noble exceptions there doubtless are, but as a

class, the wealthy do not contribute in proportion to the amounts given by the poor. At a season like this, every one favoured by the enjoyment of large means, should consider there is a special call addressed to him. He has bread enough and to spare. His income and means are not consumed in the supply of his daily wants. He can afford to double his contributions without suffering from the extra effort, and we hope that our next year's report will exhibit an array of names and figures of this discription, and thus evince a noble determination on the part of our more affluent members, not to let our mission fund fall off, even in "troublous times."

Another feature in this subject is, that earnest industry will be needed in all our circuits to reach every available means of help. A Missionary Meeting should be held in EVERY PLACE where we preach; and why not in many places where we do not preach. Let us appeal to the public on the broadest possible scale. Deputations must prepare themselves for a little extra trouble and inconvenience. More time than crdinary need not be consumed in the work, although twice the ordinary number of meetings may be held. Let a meeting be held at two in the afternoon, and another the same evening at a different place; thus a far larger amount of work may be done in the same time. Friends may also exert a large amount of influence privately. Let a Missionary Report be sent to distant acquaintances, accompa nied by a note requesting a donation to the fund, and considerable sums may be realized by this method from parties who conld not otherwise be reached. No doubt the year will try our faith, and tax our exertions to the utmost, but willing minds and loyal hearts will surmount the difficulty. Let each resolve to be prepared for the exigency. Let every one especially pray himself into a right temper of mind upon the subject. Let us all guard against the plausible excuses which selfishness, unbelief, and bad examples may suggest, that we may show to the world that we are not to be deterred from our God-like aims, by commercial difficulties or "hard times."

IRELAND. BELFAST.

Nov. 3, 1857.

My Dear Sir.-I should feel great pleasure in communicating with you could I report this Station to be in a satisfactory condition, knowing that such a report would gratify and encourage yourself and the friends of our

Irish mission generally. But the untoward circumstances which arose a few months before the close of last year, have exercised, and still to some extent, exercise a baneful influence. As the result, I have to lament the absence of hearty co operation on the part of several who are identified with us, and the existence of estrangements and animosities, which, though not prevailing in the same degree as they were when I entered on my labours here, still operate so as to deprive me of assistance, which I should, under other circumstances, secure, and for lack of which we are suffering, especially in the Sabbath School. It is with pain that I make these statements, but I cannot withhold them; assured as I am, that any report from this station from which they were excluded, would be untruthful and deceptive.

Yet, are there some things which ex. cite hope, and stimulate to efforts. A very decided and encouraging improvement has taken place in one Sabbath morning congregation, and the Sabbath evening congregation has been at least doubled. These improvements are to be attributed principally to open air services which I have conducted on Sabbath evenings, on Belfast Quay. My average congregation at those services has been upwards of five hundred, and though some Roman Catholics have been present at them, there has not been the slightest interruption. The whole of those who have assembled, have conducted themselves with the greatest propriety, have manifested a becoming seriousness, and have paid the most marked attention to my addresses. The good seed thus sown in the hearts of many hundreds, a large proportion of whom were persons neglecting public worship, will yield, I trust an encou raging harvest. For some who have seen the reports of open air services published in Belfast newspapers, a congregation of five hundred, many appear small. Those persons will be better able to judge, if when they see the next report of a large open air meeting, they divide the number said to have been present, by five: that will give the number really assembled. I speak what I know.

During the last quarter, six persons have united with us in church fellowship, and they promise to become useful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. Recently we have made arrangements for the better working of our cottage meetings, nine of which are conducted during each week. In this department of usefulness valuable assistance is rendered by Mr. A. C. Bevington, who with exemplary diligence and zeal, devotes himself to the management of the

Dear Brother, -My labours on this Circuit are abundant, as you will see by the plan I forwarded you with the October schedule. There are fifteen preaching places, including the two chapels, and several of them between four and five Irish miles distant. I have reason however to be thankful to a kind Providence, that my health has been hitherto equal to the work. The long journeys and bad roads will make the labour much more severe in the winter; but I must cast this care, with all others, upon Him that careth for me.

Respecting the state of the circuit, we would wish to speak with much caution, as all exaggerated reports must be offensive to the God of truth, as well as unfair to the directors of the Mission. While, then, there are a good many things to depress, there is much to cheer and encourage. The congregations, with a few exceptions, are remarkably good, and the people generally serious and attentive. The prayer-meetings are mostly well attended, and the brethren who conduct them are watching for souls. The Sabbath Schools are in active operation, and are zealously worked by the superintendents and Teachers. Mr. Nicholson has commenced Sabbath evening preaching at Broomhedge, which will, we trust, under the Divine blessing, tend to promote the increased prosperity of that society.

I may also mention some temporal circumstances which are of a gratifying character. The Dean of Ross, the Agent of Lord Hertford, has most generously given us the ground on which the Broomhedge Chapel property stands, at a nominal rent of one shilling a year. This is a most pleasing termination to a matter which has been a source of anxiety for years. Our Annual Missionary Sermons were preached in August, by the Rev. Mr. Graham of Belfast, and the collections were considerably in advance of last year. We are to have our Sabbath'school sermons next Lord's day, and the Sabbath school committee are making vigorous preparations for a successful effort. The Missionary Collectors are also working hard; and although that is a department of much

PRIEST HILL.

October 12th, 1857.

My Dear Sir,-Perhaps a brief statement in addition to the schedule may not be unacceptable.

Sabbath 4th inst. we had our quarterly Lovefeast, which was one altogether out of the common order. Some have said they have not known one to compare with it for several years.

During the past quarter I have witnessed a few interesting cases of conversion; but as a few have been dismem. bered it will account for our numbers standing about the same.

Our Sabbath school is in a good and flourishing condition, conducted by an efficient staff of teachers, and cannot fail by the blessing of God, to furnish material for the Church in days to come. Several are now preaching the Gospel who acknowledge that they were brought to God through our sabbath school in this place; and recently from its ranks Brother Thomas Carlisle has gone to preach the Gospel in the Truro Circuit.

Our Sabbath school anniversary has just been held, and its collection amounted to nearly three times what it has been any former occasion. We have also been painting and cleaning the Chapel, and a communion is about to be put up, which, when finished, will not only be useful, but add completeness to the house of God.

Yours truly,

Rev. T. Allin.

J. CHADWICK.

BALLYCLARE.

October 6th, 1857. My dear Brother, -My circuit extends from Woodburn in the east, to Ballymoney in the west, a distance of about forty miles. Along this long track we sound the meritorious name of Jesus in the places opened for the Gospel with which my orbit is studded. Many stubborn objects stand in hostile array against us from various quarters, but the Mediatorial angel of the Covenant makes good his promise, “Lo I am with you alway."

Our friends in Portglenone justly complain that one sermon in the four weeks is not sufficient to keep alive the work of God in their souls, nor to perpetuate a growing Church in that place; and when 1 am absent a sabbath from

Ballyclare the withering effect are manifest, especially as our local preacher, Mr. Conolly, lives at a distance of six miles, and must return the same day to attend to his secular business on Monday morning at six o'clock; and twelve Irish miles in one day is too much for a man between sixty and seventy years of age. Moreover, he must disappoint Ballyclare on sabbaths when the weather is inclement, and we have no other local preacher in any part of the circuit.

Some salutary effects have resulted from Mrs. Seymour's labours among the juvenile and much neglected ranks of Ballyclare. No one seemed to care for the rising generation in the populous neighbourhood of our dwelling place. Mrs. S. commenced a little meeting every Monday evening, and gathered in a considerable number of those running wild and uncultivated. At first they were rude and unmanageable, and took little interest in her efforts to do them good; but by her inflexible perseverance she has brought a goodly number under the power of the Gospel in all its great elementary principles. In order that religious exercises might not be a repulsive task, she allowed each one during the week to select a portion of scripture, a hymn or psalm, as the child thought proper; and the next evening to stand up and repeat what had been committed to memory. In these exercises they take a growing delight; and it is thrilling to a pious heart to hear voices formerly addicted to swearing, and songs, and falsehoods, praising God with heartfelt delight, and repeating the sacred scriptures glowing with the beauty of heaven. A number of men have formed a little band among themselves, and in good weather go into the corner of a field, and hold a prayer meeting; and when the weather is wet they go up to a garret, and are listened to by their parents with inexpressible delight. The light of truth is dawning upon their intellect, may it shine more and more unto the perfect day.

I have preached in the street in Ballyclare, and on a mountain side a few t mes in summer, which effected some good. Many were in attendance who would never think of entering our chapel; perhaps some of them may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The Sabbath School has dwindled to some extent, as the Presbyterians have raised one just before our door; still we hold on our way, and some of our best friends interest themselves in the moral culture of these lambs of the flock.

I have visited town and country extensively, which has cheered and animated many downcast drooping souls.

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In answer to your enquiries about this Station, I have pleasure in assuring you that our affairs are wearing a hopeful aspect; and that we are certainly advancing towards consolidation and prosperity. The past few months (from the opening of our new and excellent chapel,) have witnessed many and heavy demands on the attention and liberality of our friends. Here so few had to accomplish so much, sacrifice was indispensable; and it has not been withheld. We have but just now completed an effort in which the true sisterhood of mercy," have been our chief helpers; and upwards of £70 have been obtained by it, for reducing the debt on our chapel. That such strivings together are somewhat absorbing in their influence, and not unfrequently interfere with close attention to the more spiritual demands of the Church and the age, is a sufficiently notorious fact; but in this respect we have much to occasion gratitude. It has not been forgotten, that the building up of a holy temple of confederate believers is our leading obligation.

Our prayer meetings have become more important in our estimation; and are better attended than heretofore. The week night services too, have improved most pleasingly in this respect, and a growing feeling of deep anxiety about the possession of deep personal piety; and the beinging of the afar off to Christ is most manifest in our ordinances. Nor have we conversed, and enquired, and pleaded in vain. There are those to whom the word of God has been clad with power. Though great things are yet in prospect, only the tokens of their bestowment are given. Often of late have we said, the best of all is, God is with us? We have a fine field for exertion here, as but a short distance from the back entrance to our

chapel, is one of the most densely populated and necessitous of the districts of this city; and it is our purpose to spare no mode of effort to bring these dwellers in darkness to a knowledge of the light of life.

I remain, my dear Sir,
Yours. &c.,
EDWIN WRIGHT.

Rev. T. Allin.

WAKEFIELD.

According to request, I send you an account of the present state of this Mission. Though so great and sudden are the changes taking place as to produce almost constant alternations of

Our

hope and fear. Both public worship and our private means are generally well attended, but stormy weather, and the distances at which some reside, have frequently a great effect on our congregations. Our attendance at the sabbath morning service will average from fifty to sixty, and in the evening from ninety to a hundred, the bottom of the chapel is free, and in the gallery, which will accommodate seventy or eighty persons, sixty-four sittings are now let. great want is a more commodious place of worship. In the Church we need more Christian unity, and consequently more cordial co-operation in our labors. Our present number of members, though we have lately lost five by removal, is thirty-four, among whom are a few whose intelligence and piety would do honour to any Christian community. I have, I believe, the confidence of all; and should health be continued, I trust to leave Wakefield improved and improving. And could I be followed by a young man of ministerial ability and active habits, much good might be done, under the Divine blessing, in this populous borough.

I remain, with great respect, yours in the best bonds, C. ATKINSON.