chapel. You descend out of the vestry to the pulpit. The chapel is calculated to seat about 1500 persons, exclusive of the children. Such was the interest occasioned by the opening of this chapel, that, though it is unusual for our proceedings to obtain public attention, a paragraph appeared in each of the colonial papers, the transcript of one of which will render further description unnecessary.

"We are happy to have it in our power to state, that the opening of Providence New Chapel, in Charles Town, took place yesterday, under the most favourable auspices. The Rev. Mr. Raynor, (Wesleyan) opened the service in the morning, and the Rev. Mr. Wray in the evening. The latter gentleman preached in the forenoon, and the Rev. Mr. Taylor at night. Several other ministers officiated. The services, both morning and evening, were very respectably and numerously attended, especially the latter, two or three hundred persons being unable to obtain seats on that occasion; and the congregation were edified by appropriate discourses from the reverend gentlemen who officiated. Many distinguished individuals were present on both occasions, and his Excellency the Governor attended in the evening. The collections amounted to 739 guilders.

"The chapel, which has thus auspiciously been consecrated to the religious instruction of our fellow colonists, and which is still undergoing some finishing strokes, is a neat, substantial, and commodious building. It is capable of seating 1600 persons, but, on an emergency, may contain upwards of 2000. It is lighted up with lamps for evening service, and all the appurtenances of pulpit, &c. are furnished in that neat simplicity of style which accords so well with the unpretending devotion of the meek and lowly Christian."

The cost of the building has amounted to about 40,000 guilders; or, if you calculate gratuitous labours and superintendence, it exceeds £3000 sterling; and, from the increased value of labour and materials, it is considered that its equal could not now be erected under £5000. The whole of this sum, excepting about £90, have been entirely liquidated by the liberal and persevering efforts of the people themselves. The £400 which they had borrowed of the Missionary Society were repaid in 1838. In the discharge of the debt, one instance, among others, deserves to be especially recorded, as illustrative of the liberality of the slave, under the influence of divine love. This man, of unexceptionable christian character and usefulness, one Sabbath followed me into my house, after the morning service, and said, "Minister, I want to speak with you alone." As soon as we had retired, he began to empty his pocket of dollars; and, as he returned his hand again and again, he said, "This money I had put to keep for sick time or old age, when I want money to keep me; but, so long as God's house is in want, I cannot keep it; I must help God's house first. God so good for we, I cannot keep it when God's house want it." On counting the money, I found 48 dollars, 2 guilders. Another instance, illus trating the principle on which this surprising people collect money for the cause of God, should not be passed in silence. At a meeting of the church members belonging to one estate, held among themselves, a question was proposed, "What can we do? God requires

us to give as we have ability, and he will not accept what we are able to give, if it be not given with a willing heart." This principle being laid down, each said what he would give, and a time was appointed to gather their offerings. But one of them offered a sum that every one knew was not equal to his ability. Seeing this, they considered the law of Christ was infringed, which says, "It is accepted according to that a man hath," and therefore they could not think it right to take it. Upon this he offered to give more; but it seemed to them evident that this increased offer was reluctant and constrained, and therefore they dared not take it, as against that law, "It is accepted, if first there be a willing mind." They pointed out to the man his sin, in either case. Full of trouble, the poor man brought the money to me, and explained the whole matter.

Such was the increased spirit of liberality amongst the negroes from 1834, when the apprenticeship system was introduced, that the net income of the station, instead of being 10,000 guilders, exceeded 12,000; in 1835, 13,000; and, in 1836, the same sum; so that in the three years nearly 39,000 guilders were raised. This is exclusive of gratuitous labour, and of those sums which had been raised and expended at our different branch stations, with which we make it a point not to interfere, in order that each station may be able eventually to act entirely for themselves.

From the close of 1836, though we had peculiar trials of a character we had not anticipated, we had also a state of prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, which we had not before realized. From hence we no more required the assistance of an auxiliary to aid in the support of the ministry. Our branch stations began to multiply, and our day schools, which the year before had been fitted up for boys and girls, became free from debt.

Our day school-rooms were fitted up in the old chapel, after the new was opened; each 50 feet by 20; a part being reserved for other uses, and which has since been occupied as the Guiana Bible Depository, for Demerara and Essequibo. After deliberation, it was agreed that we could not accept the Government Educational Grant on scriptural principles, and were therefore left to our own resources, and we succeeded beyond our expectations. To avoid the expense of an European teacher, Mrs. Ketley took entire charge of the girls, and, with the assistance of a coloured young man, I took charge of the boys' school, while my esteemed sister conducted the infant school. By a small sum, regulated by the ability of the parents, we were enabled to discharge the few expenses connected with the management of the schools; while the kindness of some of our friends in England, and small grants from the Tract Society, supplied us with presents and clothing for the children. Since our return home, the liberality of the Society of Friends, through the kindness of Joseph Sturge, Esq. has enabled me to send an European teacher to superintend the school-Mr. George Burford, from the Borough Road Institution. It is proper, however, to observe, that, without counting on the kindness of friends at home, the people, having formed a committee to provide for the school, had agreed to remit £50, with a request to send to them a suitably qualified schoolmaster.

Among the young men who were members of the church, not fewer than nine were occupied in the entire work of instruction, either among us or on the plantations. For whatever dislike the colonists might entertain toward us as a community, our members are sought after and valued as teachers on properties, when the proprietors or attorneys can obtain from their pastor a testimonial of their fitness.

One of these young men had been solicited by the labourers of Plantation Vlessagen to become their teacher. They had also obtained leave of the proprietor to allow them to fit up a part of the coffee logie on the estate, for a school and master's residence. This being granted, they made their contributions-obtained the materials -employed workmen-and supported, to their ability, the teacher and his family, who are self-denying, persevering, and content with little.

After a few months, this very proprietor ordered the teacher to quit the estate in twenty-four hours. Providentially a room near was obtained for hire, and every thing removed into it within the specified time. This circumstance led to the erection of a schoolhouse upon a piece of land granted by R. M. Jones, Esq. of Plantation Lodge, which was first opened on the 2d March, 1839.

Besides this station, another has been commenced about sixteen miles up the Demerara River. Another of my valued young friends being engaged on a plantation in that vicinity, had frequent oppor tunities of visiting it. The people wanted a chapel built. The principles on which we proceed having been explained, they united their efforts, and began to build. The individual referred to had been dismissed the estate where he was employed as teacher, because he had been the means of discovering the oppression inflicted on the Hill Coolies. On this account he suffered many privations. His wife is, like himself, a pious and useful individual.

We have, also, other young men besides those employed as teachers on the plantations, who not only assist in the schools, but take part in supplying some of the minor stations. On several plantations we have been permitted to hold evening worship since the abolition of slavery, where those connected with our little society for biblical and general improvement address the people alternately. On three of those plantations the emancipated negroes have erected for themselves small places for worship. On two others, they are allowed part of the logie of the estate to worship in. On one, where these privileges are not allowed, two families have agreed to render the partition, by which their rooms are divided, moveable, to form a place large enough for meeting; and on another, a member has fitted up his own house for the same purpose. The freedom of the slaves is a blessing, fully appreciated by them, and of which they have shown themselves worthy. The 1st of August, 1834, which gave but the name of freedom, was kept by them as a day of holy convocation, in all sobriety, and with devout thanksgiving, in a way that might challenge any civilized community in Christendom to imitate. They bore patiently their disappointment, until August, 1838, when complete emancipation was effected; but what did we then witness?

Excess, and rioting, and drunkenness? Nothing of the sort! Nothing approaching to it! The people of the whole province kept the 1st of August as a Sabbatic day-a day of holy convocation. Not a voice was heard in the streets-not a drum was heard, not a dance was kept, not a quarrel transpired, as far as I have heard or known. Such a day I never witnessed, and as such an occasion cannot again transpire, never expect to witness. Many of the negroes brought their first month's earnings as an offering to the Lord. Four hundred guilders were in this way given to liquidate the chapel debt; and afterwards hundreds more were given in token of gratitude. The first anniversary of freedom was kept on 1st August, 1839, as a day of holy and devout commemoration of that event, when in Providence New Chapel, 1500 negroes assembled to hear a devoted black brother bring to remembrance "How great things the Lord had done for them."

As to the financial aspect of the station, in no previous year has it equalled the year of final emancipation; for while in 1837, only 12,000 guilders were raised, in 1838, 20,500 were brought into the Lord's treasury. It is true that 9,000 or 10,000 was the result of a bold effort on the part of the people to liquidate the debt; but while it is adduced as a standing evidence of the great liberality of bond and free among us, I feel it to be a peculiar privilege to bear witness that this noble effort was made, not by an appeal to the world, but to the church and among themselves-an appeal which was responded to with a spirit of readiness and great personal sacrifice, which alone could produce so surprising a result; scarcely should we be justified, therefore, in anticipating its re

currence.

Besides an auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, we have recently formed the George Town Missionary Society, to aid, first, in the support of our present out-stations, until they shall no longer need help, and then to extend our operations, on Congregational principles, as far as God shall enable us, not to Guiana only, but that the entire southern continent may hear of the salvation of Christ.

The increase of the church during these periods is also a matter for praise; for, exclusive of deaths and removals, in 1834 it advanced from 227 to 258 members; in 1835 to 288; in 1836 to 343; in 1837 to 391; in 1838 to 426; in May 1839 to 467, and which has since attained to near 500; to which, adding those belonging to our branch stations, will make a total exceeding 750 members. But mere numbers in church fellowship we deprecate, unless they be, indeed, one in Jesus Christ. A bare increase of numbers might make a minister tremble, when he thinks of " the wood, and the hay, and the stubble” that the day of solemn trial shall consume! But our members generally, but especially those belonging to the plantations, exercise a watchful jealousy over each other that fails not to console their pastor's mind, and would, if told in detailed instances, afford pleasure and profit to sister churches. Their jealousy lest the only rule of faith should be infringed-their care that consistency should mark the conduct of their fellow members-their anxiety that no law of Christ should be broken, especially in relation to marriage-their discrimi

nation as to the state of character necessary for admission to the external ordinances of religion, as Baptism and the Lord's Supperall tend to my comfort and joy before God, that his word has not been ministered in vain, and that God is glorified in the midst of them.

To proceed further to detail the progress that has marked the adult classes, both on the Sabbath days and through the week; and the manifestations of the divine blessing with which they have been favoured since my absence; the manner in which God bas raised up gifted brethren to supply my lack of service, especially a black brother, who is able to preach in the great assembly to the edification of Europeans, as well as others; though all these might gratify, yet, lest they should weary, I forbear.

On taking a review of the whole, feelings of unfeigned and almost unmingled gratitude are realized; and I am constrained to give thanks unto him whose is "the kingdom, and the power, and the glory."

Their present position as a church, rests on their conviction of the supreme authority of Christ in relation to all that concerns his church, and they have therefore adopted and deliberately adhered to the principle of Congregational churches, a principle which leaves them unfettered in all respects, as being "under law to Christ" alone-left to his word as their only rule of faith, discipline, and duty, and uncontrolled by any authority merely human.

It is, therefore, the clear maintenance of this principle in application to their temporal as well as spiritual concerns, which places them in the situation which they at present occupy in relation to the London Missionary Society, as announced in its Report of 1838.

To secure, in all respects, the undisturbed enjoyment of their liberty in Christ, they have deputed me to this country to arrange with the Directors to have the chapel premises put in trust, and have paid our passage hither and guaranteed our needful support. The completion of their object is now in progress, carrying out in this instance the design of the venerable founders of that Society, as expressed in its "fundamental principle."

And believing that the British churches will rejoice to hear of the progress, as well as the beginning of our Missionary labour, I purpose, for their information, to avail myself of the kindness of the Editor of this Magazine, to correspond with him on the state, prospects, and progress of the work amongst us. And allow me to claim an interest in the supplications of all who pray for Zion's prosperity, for my beloved church, with its branches, its extending labours, and myself.

JOSEPH KETLEY.

It is due to the Directors of the Missionary Society to state that they submitted to the last annual meeting a resolution, by which they were empowered, with great wisdom and justice, to accede to the wishes of this interesting community. Mr. Ketley is now, therefore, on his passage to Demerara, having happily effected the object of his visit.- Editor.