in the style of a dissertation or treatise; but the resolution which has been moved, and which I have the honour to second, provides amply for that by the suggestion of a friendly revision. It is not therefore because I do not cordially approve of that document that I say I rise with reluctance, but because I am unaccustomed to extemporaneous addresses, and because I have a strong objection to public addresses and speechifications in general, being rather apt to speak unadvisedly with my lips. More especially I feel an objection to rise on the present occasion, because to address such an audience as this I feel myself to be utterly unworthy. At the same time, Sir, when called upon my legs, I must take the liberty of expressing the satisfaction which I feel in being present at this assembly. Seven or eight years have elapsed since I had the pleasure before, and it gives me great gratification to observe the new aspect which this Union has assumed, and the great objects which it contemplates, and I doubt not will ultimately effect. (Cheers.) While I am addressing you, I will take the liberty of expressing myself for a moment, in my character as a delegate, with regard to the Home Missionary Society. It was a matter of deep interest to us to hear of the meeting at Birmingham. Though not present I was exceedingly delighted, as indeed were all my brethren, with the report which was brought to us by our respected brother, Mr. Roberts, of Melton. Nothing could be more adapted to excite pleasure in our minds than that report. On receiving the last circular from the Secretary of the Union, I must say there were amongst us considerable misgivings as to the altered nature of the proposed Home Missionary Society. I am satisfied that if my brethren were present on this occasion, such misgivings would be in a great measure removed. What has dropped from Dr. Leifchild, with what we know of the Congregational principles, and the decided character of those gentlemen who have the management of this Society, will remove altogether from our minds any misgivings on the subject; and I cannot doubt that my friends in Leicestershire will have reason to rejoice in the union of the two institutions. Concert is power, union is strength; and it is by co-operation only, christian, intelligent co-operation, that great effects can be produced. The resolution was put, and carried unanimously.

It was then announced that the delegates from other bodies would now have an opportunity of addressing the meeting.

The Rev. JOHN YOUNG, M. A., one of the delegates from the United Secession Church of Scotland, spoke as follows:

first

Mr. Chairman, my respected brethren and friends, I did not expect that the Deputies from the United Secession Church would have been called upon to address this meeting. I had imagined that as we Presbyterians are the least, we should have been the last amongst the thousands of Israel. I owe it to your courtesy, Mr. Chairman, and to the kindnesss of this meeting, that I now occupy this place. A countryman opposite me, whom I should be glad also to call a personal friend, but I have not that pleasure, remarked that he needed your forgiveness for appearing before you without having premeditated an address. I am sorry, because it may seem disrespectful to this meeting, but it is actually true, that I am in the same position; and there is only one thing that reconciles me to it, and that is that we have already been in this room so long, and there have been so many interesting addresses delivered, that I believe if I had come here with any premeditated speech, it would have been out of my head long ago. (A laugh.) Sir, I beg to thank you personally for the high gratification which I have derived in being present at this meeting of the Congregational Union : it has been indeed a feast of souls and a flow of love. (Hear) I have been delighted with the expressions of christian charity, and the sentiments respecting christian union that have been uttered on all hands; and I beg to reciprocate, not in my own name, nor in the name only of my fellow-delegate, the Rev. Mr. Redpath, but in the name of that body of Christians to which we belong, to reciprocate your expressions of warm, and cordial, and fraternal sympathy and regard. (Cheers.) I believe that, with the exception of Mr. Redpath, I am the only Presbyterian in this room, and yet I do not feel alarmed. I feel that I am in

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the midst of brethren; and the truth is, that for the last dozen years my actings have been so much with Congregationalists and Congregational ministers, that, on the north of the Tweed, I am supposed to be more than half an Independent myself. (Laughter.) When a respected friend sitting near me whispered, after the eloquent, able, and stirring address which we heard from the chair, that there would be need on our part for the exercise of christian charity, after the very tolerable and wholesome lecture on Congregationalism we had heard at the commencement, I did not in the least degree sympathise in his remark; I did not feel that there was any call for the exercise of extraordinary charity. I believe, Sir, that I speak the sentiments of many of the most enlightened of the Presby terians of Scotland, and I believe, though it may seem presumptuous to say so, they are, after all, more enlightened when they cross the Tweed. (Laughter.) I believe I speak their sentiments when I say, that we rejoice in your success, heartily rejoice that the primitive five in the Assembly of Divines, to whom you have referred, have been multiplied into two thousand (cheers ;) and I say, with all my soul, let the mathematical ratio go on; let the two thousand become four, and the four eight, and the eight sixteen, and the sixteen thirty-two. (Loud cheers.) I believe, Sir, that there is more union between moderate Presbyterians and moderate Independents than many of us imagine. I know that, north of the Tweed, they strongly think that your Congregational Union is a tolerable approximation to Presbyterianism; and I am quite sure, in reference to those of us who are south of the Tweed, that we are far nearer to Congregational principles than those on the north (hear); and between the two I cannot but anticipate that the time is not far distant when the form of government, whether Independency or Presbyterianism, will not be, as it is to a great extent, a term of communion, and will not be a line of separation between Christians. (Cheers.) Sir, as you have heard addresses delivered for two or three years past by the delegates from the United Secession Church, it will not be necessary that I should explain to this meeting the nature of that body. Allow me just to say, however, that the number of our congregations is about four hundred; and in every one of the pulpits of our church-I am bold to say it, and entertain a perfect convic tion that I speak the simple fact-nothing but the pure, true gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. (Cheers.) Our doctrines, indeed, are precisely the same as your own there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and I believe in us all. (Cheers.) May God hasten the period when, more completely, we shall see eye to eye, and when the cause of division in the church shall be done away. I may refer for a moment or two, Sir, to the revivals that have taken place in Scotland. (Hear.) I suppose the general subject is known to most who are present in this room; and the ministers and churches belonging to our denomination have participated, at least to some small degree, in the happy influence and effects of these revivals. In some of the larger towns of Scotland protracted meetings have been held for six, seven, eight, or even ten days in succession, and some of our largest places of worship, one in a certain town, capable of containing, I think, 2000 people, has been crowded every evening of the week. The effect, as might be imagined, has been of the most happy and gladdening kind. Sinners have been converted to God; the people of God have been stirred up to greater fidelity, greater holiness, and greater devotedness to his cause.

The question of the Bible monopoly is one in which we have taken a very active part. It may be known, perhaps, to the fathers and brethren here present, that the monopoly of the Bible, which so long existed in Scotland, has at length been removed. Monopoly is an evil and a curse in all cases; but is the worst evil and the greatest curse in the case of the Word of God. (Hear.) The most strenuous efforts were therefore made, when the period of the old patent terminated, to prevent its being renewed. It has not been renewed; and now, although by a somewhat circuitous method, all denominations have the privilege of printing the Bible themselves. I hold in my hand a letter from the Rev. Dr. Thompson of Coldstream, who has taken an

active part in this question. The letter refers to the proposition made in Scotland, that a contribution should be set on foot for the purpose of purchasing stereotyped plates of the three editions of the Scriptures-a school Bible, an octavo Bible, and a large quarto Bible. You will be surprised when I name the price. It is intended that the common edition of all be sold as low as 1s. 2d. a copy. (Hear.) In addition to this, it is proposed to publish parts of the Bible for the use of schools, and for other purposes, in the shape of tracts; and it is calculated that the four Gospels may be published for three halfpence a copy, the Acts of the Apostles for one penny, and the entire New Testament for four-pence halfpenny. Mr. Chairman, we cannot but look for great results from this. The statements of the Word of God will be more freely and universally circulated; the streams of life will as it were be unloosed, and will flow over our country, gladdening and fertilizing many a desert and barren spot. (Cheers.) Before I sit down, may I be permitted to allude for one moment to the controversy on the voluntary principle. (Hear.) The Presbyterians of Scotland, if backward in other matters, have been forward enough, some would say too forward and too violent in this. They have not been wanting in efforts to disseminate truth on this subject. (Cheers.) Strange to say, however, the question has been now almost taken out of their hands, and the Established Church is itself doing the work better, and, I believe, in a way which will more speedily terminate the question, than it could have been done by any efforts of ours. What may be the effect of Lord Aberdeen's Bill on Dr. Chalmers, and others connected with him in the non-intrusion controversy, it is not proper to predict, but it seems not unlikely that it will lead to a large secession from the established church of Scotland, headed by Dr. Chalmers himself, and entirely upon the voluntary principle. (Cheers.) Sir, we believe that it is God's work, and that God will accomplish the work by the instrumentality of those who may now be called the advocates of this principle. (Hear.) "He will cause the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath he restraineth." But, Sir, I have detained you too long in these remarks. I beg again to express the cordial and warm sympathy which, in common with my brother Redpath and the church to which we belong, I feel in the successes and triumphs of the Congregational Union. The Rev. Dr. URWICK, of Dublin, having been introduced to the meeting as the representative of the Irish Congregational Union, spoke as follows: My dear christian brethren, I can assure you that it is with heartfelt pleasure that I find myself amongst you this day in the recognition of our common brotherhood in the great fundamental doctrines of the gospel- those doctrines which are recognized by a scattered few in Ireland, equally with yourselves; and not only so, but in the recognition of the great principles of congregational church order held by us as held in common amongst you. But, Sir, the pleasure which I have in appearing amongst you, is in no inconsiderable degree subtracted from by the circumstance, that I am charged to act as the delegate of the Congregational Union of Ireland; for it devolves upon me a very important trust, which I feel myself ill qualified to fulfil. But, Sir, I must say that I come fully warranted and charged to express to you, Sir, and to our dear brethren assembled here, the representatives of our two thousand churches in Great Britain, our most cordial love, our perfect confidence, our earnest prayers for your prosperity in the Gospel of Christ. (Cheers.) The time which I have to occupy is so short, so very short, that I scarcely know, Sir, how to fix my mind upon any particular point or train of thought. However, let me tell you, my dear friends, that in appearing among you, I have my mind exonerated from a load which I at one time feared would press upon it in consequence of the possibility of some little discrepancy of opinion, I hope I need not say discrepancy of feeling, between some of us on the western side of the Channel and some of you on the eastern. I come here as the representative of the Congregational Union of Ireland. That Union, Sir, is in its formation of a date prior to your own. At the very outset it was organized upon the model of the Congregational Union of Scotland,

taking missionary efforts as part and parcel of its doings in the country. Myself, and one or two others, demurred for several years to acquiesce and to fully concurr in the plan. Five years ago, however, it was so pressed upon us by brethren from your side of the water, as well as by brethren in our own country, that we could withstand it no longer, and our Union consented to act as a home missionary throughout the length and breadth of the land. I shall not enter into the state of our mission, further than to say that we never had so much promise of success, by the blessing of God, in our days, as we have at the present time. (Cheers.) It is proposed by the Committee of the Irish Evangelical Society, that that Society and the Congregational Union of Ireland should work conjointly heart and hand; and I believe it will be so settled. For what we want, Sir, is not the power of management. (Hear.) I do not know whether any of my brethren have had much experience in the matter; but they have more or less; and I am sure they will bear me out when I say, that there is so much responsibility and labour connected with the possession of the power of management, that any man who is solicitous of any thing like personal ease and domestic comfort, would desire to get rid of it as soon as he possibly could. (Laughter.) But, Sir, the Congregational Union of Ireland have taken their stand before Ireland as a home missionary body. We have avowed our principles throughout the length and the breadth of the country; our agents have gone forth with their placards for the Independent Home Mission; we have been received, notwithstanding that we have avowed our principles in this distinct and public manner, by people of different denominations. I have in my pocket a letter which, to my great astonishment, I received from a clergyman of the Established Church, expressing, in the very strongest terms, his approval of the agency and the efforts of the Independent Home Mission; and not only giving that approbation for himself, (he is a curate,) but likewise embodying in this expression of approval, the sentiment of the rector of the parish also. (Cheers.) I could mention other instances, but I will not detain you. But then, Sir, our Home Missionary effort requires to be upheld and supported, in order to work-that it may work in unison with the churches of our land. I know not whether it has been felt by the friends of this Union-it has been felt by me and others in Ireland-that, in order to have a thoroughly satisfactory, effectually-worked Union, we must have something to do. (Hear.) Now, Sir, in Ireland we have not the great public questions to take up which are agitated here, or, if we have, we have scarcely power or prominence enough to take them up in a manner to render them any degree of service, and therefore it has appeared to us, that really if we surrender the working of the missionary machinery, we might as well break up the Union altogether. Now, Sir, I make these remarks not for the sake of diverting attention from the Irish Evangelical Society. As I understand the matter, that institution will concur with us, and supply us with means in addition to what we now raise for carrying on our little efforts-little in comparison with what I trust they will be-for the evangelization of Ireland. I trust that you will now do your duty, and that you will endeavour to pay off that great debt which has been contracted in the neglect of the moral welfare of Ireland. (Hear.) I intend no impeachment of what my dear brethren have been doing in England: but I say this, agency is short; we want agency of a kind adapted to the country. (Hear.) This we want, this we must have. We require that a stand should be made for the gospel, and a stand for our principles, by men who are competent to make that stand, and who, not only by personal worth of character, but likewise by powers of mind, by information, and by general qualification for the work, will be able to make that stand, and to present those principles in such a manner, as will have weight and influence with the country. (Cheers.) Let me clearly and distinctly state, that in making these observations, Í have intended nothing to the prejudice of any institution; but I believe, Sir, that in proportion as work is done for Ireland, Ireland will repay the toil. (Cheers.)

The Rev. Dr. VAUGHAN, of Kensington, then rose, and said :-Mr. Chairman, having intended to make some observations with regard to the union of the Irish Evangelical Society with this body, perhaps I could not take a more convenient opportunity than the present. Our brethren and friends are aware that the Irish Evangelical Society has been carrying on its operations in that country for more than a quarter of a century, during which period it has originated a number of Independent congregations. It has, however, been thought desirable that the brethren in Ireland should have encouragement, cordial, harmonious encouragement, from brethren on this side of the Channel in the efforts which they are making on behalf of that country. We were inclined to this by the confidence which we had in Dr. Urwick and others on that side of the Channel-a confidence which has not been misplaced. (Hear.) I have thought it right to call attention to this, inasmuch as there has been something which had the appearance of collision in reference to this department of labour. I am very happy to say, that I think, by a very moderate share of christian feeling, this may be avoided, and I am sure that whatever I can do towards that end, I shall be extremely anxious to accomplish. God knows, brethren, that we have enough to do without quarrelling with each other. (Hear.) We have enough from those without, and it is the duty, the solemn obligation, of every man to endeavour to bring the hearts of Christians into greater union of effort for the maintenance and extension of our principles. As to the part that I have agreed to take in reference to that Society, my brethren have persuaded me that I might be useful in the position which has been assigned to me, and it has been more from deference to them, than from any inclination of my own, that I have promised to do what I can towards the object. I am very happy to think that there will not now be any collision in the working of the Society, and my chief object in addressing you is, to remove any impression which may have gone abroad on that subject. A very solemn responsibility rests upon this Union with regard to its two great objects and the labours of our body in Ireland. You had better never have taken us into connexion with you at all, if you do not mean to become our regenerators. (Hear.) You will only be proclaiming your own weakness, your own shame-proclaiming it on the house-tops, in the presence of the three kingdoms, if those two Societies do not become far different from what they have been. Let this be my concluding observation, that consistency and every obligation requires that we should go to our respective spheres of labour determined that this department of usefulness shall be quite other than it has ever yet been, under God's blessing, as the effect of our greater attention, labour, and liberality. (Cheers.)

The Rev. J. BLACKBURN said :—Before we proceed to hear the other members of the deputation, allow me, Sir, to ask an audience for our valued friend, Sir Culling Smith, who, though not delegated to us, is with us this day, in a very agreeable transition state, and as a warm friend to our Home Missionary Society. (Hear.) Ile desires an opportunity of expressing his feelings in reference to that subject. (Loud cheers.)

Sir CULLING EARDLEY SMITH, Bart. then addressed the meeting, as follows:Dear friends, I shall endeavour to contract into a very short space the few observations that I wish to make. I am sure that I cannot at all equal the impression made by previous speakers; I shall only endeavour to exceed them in the brevity of my observations. Dear brethren, allow me to congratulate you upon the manner in which you are taking leaves out of the books of those who are opposed to you. I rejoice, amongst other things, to witness to-day the establishment of the United Church of England and Ireland. (Cheers.) I rejoice also, dear friends, in seeing that you are about to adopt with energy the theoretical principle of Dr. Chalmers, that you design that no part of our country should be unvisited and untraversed by your missionary efforts. (Hear.) I equally rejoice in the tone which has pervaded the speeches of those who have preceded me, and that you have entered a decided protest against dissent, for I say that Dr. Vaughan has been appointed one of the Secretaries of the Irish Evangelical Society.