should be added some knowledge of History, especially Ecclesiastical, and of Geography. The subjects would diversify, as well as extend, the range of study, and form an agreeable relaxation from more laborious reading-while they would much conduce to the object aimed at by the Directors, and desired by the public, namely that Home Missionaries should go forth to their work with minds informed, enlarged, and disciplined by well directed study.

"7.-The Directors further contemplate in placing their Students with Pastors qualified to superintend their education and moral training,-watchful care to form character-wise advice on temper and conduct-judicious counsel on the course to be pursued in order to secure success amidst the actual difficulties of the Home Missionary work-all which the Directors would desire to be superadded to a holy watchfulness for improving the Students during their course of education, in fervent piety, and entire devotedness to the cause of Christ. And as the Directors intend that the first six months spent by candidates for the work, under ministerial care, should be probationary, they will desire of their brethren with whom they are placed, the most vigilant observation during that term, in order to obtain a thorough insight into their characters and qualities; and will confide in them faithfully to advise the Directors to retain none of whom they do not entertain most satisfactory opinions and hopes.

"8.-All that has been stated by the Directors on the training in knowledge and character of the brethren who are to be employed under their patronage, in the Home Missionary work, proceeds on the opinion, in which they are sure you will concur, that the difficulties of that work are great-that much simplicity and ardour-great love of souls and eminent piety-holy deadness to the world and to human applause-together with sound practical sense and knowledge, are necessary to success in it. And that therefore a very serious responsibility rests on all engaged in the acceptance or training of brethren for this most necessary, but most difficult, undertaking.

"If you can, Dear Sir, at all entertain the proposal of the Directors, that you should receive under your care a number of their Students, it will be quite appropriate, as well as altogether agreeable to them, that you should freely express your opinions on this scheme of training for them, thus generally sketched. The desire of the Directors is to arrive at the wisest conclusions and plans in relation to a matter of so much importance.

"It will complete the information they have to offer of their own plans, to add, that they do not feel able to propose a longer term of instruction for the pupils you might receive than three years.

"Then should you entertain favourably this proposal, the Directors perceive there will be various subordinate matters requiring discussion and adjustment between you and them.

“ As, 1.—The terms of remuneration for your services, and of payment for the Student's support.

"2.-The question whether you could receive them under your own roof, or only at lecture hours.

"3.-The important point of an adequate Library for the use of the Students -whether you possess or would procure a sufficient range of authors, receiving a suitable consideration for the use of them-or whether some other mode of providing this essential supply must be adopted.

"4. To what extent you could employ the young men at suitable hours in actual Home Missionary work, such as, village preaching-visitation of families with tracts, or for coversation in sickness, &c.-Sabbath-school teaching-conducting of prayer meetings-adding your advice and superintendence on these subjects and efforts, in order to prepare them for the wise and efficient prosecution of the actual labours of their future course.

"This may suffice, Dear Sir, to place the subject in general before your mind, and to open correspondence with you upon it. The Directors await your reply at your earliest convenience. Most happy will they be to find you coincide in their plans, and consent to their proposal. The example of the venerable Cor

nelius Winter has proved how happy and successful a pastor may be in forming the characters and training the minds for eminence in the ministerial work of a group of youthful candidates for that sacred office, to whom he may be more than even 66 guide, philosopher, and friend."

"Note. It must be added, to complete the information on this subject necessary to be laid before the Meeting, that the respected Minister to whom the foregoing letter was addressed, submitted to the Directors, among other suggestions, the proposal, that those Students, in whom there was evidently taste and talent for such an acquirement, should be encouraged to qualify themselves for reading the New Testament in the original Greek, by making use of those facilities for that purpose which render a sufficient knowledge of the language attainable without the previous study of the classics. This proposal commended itself to the Directors as judicious and beneficial, and they could not therefore withhold from it their sanction."

The Rev. JOHN BURDER, M. A. of Stroud, proposed—

"That this Meeting cordially reciprocates those feelings of confidence, and desires for co-operation, which have induced the Directors of the Home Missionary Society to submit for its consideration the plan for the education of Home Missionaries now read; and will proceed to the discussion with an earnest desire that its deliberations may assist their beloved brethren in this very important affair."

After a few remarks, congratulating the meeting on the prosperous state of the Union, the Rev. Gentleman continued-We are to consider what are the qualifications required for the work, and in what way those qualifications may be secured. The qualifications required for the preaching of the gospel depend, in some measure, on the sphere which a man is destined to occupy. It is not at all essential that all ministers of the gospel should be deeply read in class cal literature. I conceive that, while classical studies are extremely useful, and while a considerable knowledge of them is required in some departments of ministerial labour, yet the importance, or rather the essential use, of those studies, is very much overrated; I mean, not absolutely, but comparatively. That they are in themselves highly serviceable, there can be no doubt; but I do think they sometimes take the place of more important matters. I am sure there is many a man who leaves the national seminaries of Oxford or Cambridge a fine Grecian or exact mathematician, who, as respects the education of the mind, is a dunce compared with the average character of the ministers who go forth from our own colleges. But, whilst it was not essential that there should be any considerable measure of classical knowledge, he thought it extremely desirable, in the case of a Home Missionary, that there should be a very respectable measure of attainment in English literature. Piety is of course taken for granted; but as to outward things, the man who speaks in public should be able to speak correctly, grammatically, and in such a way as would lead his hearers to perceive that he had had a proper training. Now, if the man be qualified, I care not in what way he has obtained his qualification. I should be sorry, therefore, to have a resolution which should say that no man could be fit for the work who had not been trained at an academy or college. We know that many of our most gifted and eminently useful ministers never had an academical training. But then the larger number of our Agents will not have it at all, unless they have it in this particular way. The Reverend Gentleman then went on to refer to the different plans which had been proposed, having for their object the education of home missionaries. The one which had been at length resolved upon was this-that ministers should be chosen to undertake the education of five or six young men, to complete their studies, and to prepare them for the work for which they were intended. He thought this plan, on the whole, far the most feasible, and likely to be far the most efficient of any that could be adopted. I am sure, (continued the Reverend Gentleman,) a very large number of the Agents of the old Home Missionary Society were useful men; I think the services of some of them have been very much underrated; but, at the

same time, I think it would be far better for many of them if they could have the training contemplated in this document-better, not merely for their public services, but for the intercourse of life. There is a certain-I will not call it gentility-but a certain training of the habits connected with the training of the mind, that marks the man from the clown. I do think that, by the adoption of this plan, every feature of our Home Missionary operations will become far more efficient than it has been at present.

The Rev. J. HUNT, of Brixton, in seconding the resolution, said he was sure that there was much more ignorance and spiritual destitution in the country than was generally supposed. They had been endeavouring to ascertain the state of the county of Surrey, the next to the metropolitan, and had discovered, that in twenty-two parishes of that county, containing a population of fifteen or sixteen thousand inhabitants, there was no evangelical instruction by any denomination whatever. What did they want to meet these necessities, and to render Home Missionary operations effective? They wanted men, and men of a particular cast, to go into the villages; not men of high mental culture, nor men of great natural gifts; but one gift they should possess, in addition to personal piety and natural endowments - they should be apt to teach. More would be done in a country village by a warm-hearted address, by a few plain truths, stated in a plain mannner, than by the most eloquent sermon that could be delivered. These being the kind of men that were wanted, how, he would ask, were they to be obtained? In order to carry on Home Missionary operations, pastors should encourage plain, simple-hearted men, whose heads were full of gifts, and whose hearts were full of grace, to preach the gospel in the villages. "I need not say to you, Sir," addressing the Chairman," that I commenced my career in this way; and if I had not first been sent to deliver the gospel in simple language to the villagers, I should never have had the honour of addressing this assembly." He, (Mr. Hunt) quite accorded with the plan of education that had been proposed. He thought it went quite far enough; for, if young men went into the higher branches of literature, they would soon become dissatisfied, and wish to be pastors. A great error had been committed by many Associations, in encouraging young men who were Home Missionaries to settle down as pastors, instead of fulfilling the duties of an evangelist by preaching in different places during the week, as well as on the Sabbath. Such brethren ought not to expect to be ordained as the settled pastors of villages; there were not funds sufficient in the first instance to sustain them, and therefore they must take a wider and more extensive range.

E. BAINES, Esq. M. P. for Leeds, then rose and said-Will you allow me to say, that I think the gentleman who has spoken has committed an error, when he referred to the danger arising from the possibility of Home Missionaries becoming pastors. He says, that he himself was formerly a Home Missionary, and that now he has become a pastor. I must say, I think he has proved, by his judicious observations, that he is now a very worthy pastor, whatever he was before. And I think the plan proposed has this advantage-that it will frequently supply eminent pastors from the ranks of Home Missionaries; that is, in my opinion, one of the chief excellencies of the scheme. I very much approve of the observations of my reverend friend as to young men being puffed up with the idea that they can raise congregations in villages, where the field is not sufficiently capacious for that purpose. That is an error into which it is an unhappy circumstance when any of the Missionaries fall. I must say, that the plan proposed for the education of Home Missionaries commends itself very much to my mind. I think it is a plan conceived in wisdom, and calculated to impart great efficiency to the scheme of the Home Missionary Society. It is, in my opinion, the very thing that has been wanted from the first, and I believe that from its adoption the most happy results are likely to flow. I congratulate -but I ought not to occupy your time-I congratulate the meeting on having such a plan before it. Who may have been its deviser I know not; but this I will say, he had a well regulated mind, very well adapted to form the means of

carrying out his original conceptions. It gives me very great pleasure to meet you thus in your convocation. I am sure the object is a noble one; I hope the result will be equal to the expectations that have been formed. I have travelled two hundred miles for the gratification of being present on this occasion, and I must say, I have found already a very adequate reward.

The Rev. Dr. MATHESON then announced to the meeting the name of the gentleman who has been first applied to, and who has consented to undertake the important duties of a tutor, namely, the Rev. JOHN FROST, of Cotton End, near Bedford. He, (Dr. M.) would say nothing of his qualifications, except that they were very satisfactory, and that, in addition to the advantages of a good library, he was a gentleman who would devote all his energies to the promotion of the work. They were all aware, however, that he was but one of several who would be required to engage in the same important service.

Several other gentlemen having spoken upon this subject, and the whole of the clauses having been gone through,

The Rev. J. PORTER, of Wareham, after a short address, cordially approving of the object, moved

"That this Meeting approves generally of the plan for the education of Home Missionaries, now discussed, and directs that it be inserted in the printed Minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting, accompanied by such suggestions as, in the course of the present discussion, seem to have been received with the general approval of the Meeting. This Meeting confides to the Committee of the Union the preparation of such suggestions for its printed minutes, and respectfully recommends them, when thus digested, to the consideration of the Directors of the Home Missionary Society."

The Rev. Mr. GEAR, of Bradford, briefly seconded the resolution.
The Rev. ALGERNON WELLS then read the following

"Observations and Resolution on the most Effective Plans for the Support of British Missions.

"So far as the plan of uniting the several societies organized by the Iadependent Churches, for the spread of evangelical religion, in England, Ireland, and the Colonies, with the Congregational Union of England and Wales, in order to consolidate those efforts, and give them additional vigour and efficiency, has been tried, it seems to promise happy results.

"There seems now a general and growing attention on the part of our pastors and churches to the spiritual necessities of their countrymen and fellow subjects. The wisdom and obligation of directing their first efforts to spread religion among the British people, begin to be more than ever strongly felt by them. It can no longer be concealed or overlooked that in favoured England, in papal Ireland, in too long neglected colonies,-multitudes, millions of our own people, are in a state of awful spiritual destitution-and that they, by virtue of their near relation to British Christians-as subjects of the same realm-people of the same tongue, and blood, and history, have the first and strongest claim on their sympathies and efforts. While it is clearly perceived and forcibly felt that to mul tiply Christians, and to plant churches among the British people, wherever found, is the most sure and effectual course to promote all the grand, expansive objects of Foreign Missions, whose field is the world.

"But to excite ardour in a great work is but part-shall it be said that it is but the smaller part?-of what is needful for its accomplishment. To guide ardour, so that it may work according to wise plans, and pursue steady and vigorous exertions, is no less necessery, no less difficult, than to awaken it. The Independent churches are prepared for efforts in British Missions, they are anxious to be engaged in them-how shall their rising zeal be so guided as to be at once encouraged, and turned to the best account?

"It seems wise to present the work to them, so that it may appear truly great that there may be before them a noble object. For this reason the appeal is made for BRITISH Missions. The BRITISH people, in three of the most important

divisions of the empire-England, Ireland, and the Colonies-are grouped together as presenting at once the greatest necessity for the efforts of the Independent churches, and the strongest, nearest claims upon them.

"It is judged that this work should not only be pleaded for, openly, in our congregations at large, but also brought distinctly before the churches. The sanction of churches for these movements will be valuable. There are very strong grounds for special appeals to members of churches, in that character, on behalf of the religious interests of their own country. In that country they enjoy all their religious liberties and privileges. They owe a debt of obligation, as well as of affection, to the land of their birth, and of their spiritual as well as of their natural lineage. They have openly professed to be the servants and disciples of Christ. They have entered fully, by their own voluntary act, into the army of his faithful followers. Their professions, their position, their privileges, bind on them the duty of being first in efforts to extend their Master's kingdom. It is the duty of church members, before and above all other persons, to labour for the glory of Christ, and the good of souls.

"For this threefold object it is thought that every church should have its distinct organization to obtain funds-its annual and weekly subscriptions, its donations, its collecting cards-with brethren and sisters regularly appointed, whose office and duty it shall be to obtain these contributions in regular course.

"Further, it is not deemed too much to hope that once in every year this great cause should be pleaded from the pulpit-if possible by all the churches simultaneously, on a concerted day-to as great an extent as possible, each pastor pleading for his own country, with his own flock. Thus, where, from any causes, an organization may be impracticable in a church, there may be at least a collection; and where there is an organization, it may be stimulated and sustained by a public discourse, and its proceeds augmented by a public collection once every year.

"It is wished to give the most open opportunity to all the churches and their pastors, and not less to individual brethren, to follow their own preferences as to the application of the funds they may obtain or contribute. Let all the products of these varied efforts be therefore applied to the several departments of labourto England, to Ireland, or to the Colonies-in such proportions as the contributors shall direct.

"These proposals, strongly pressed, because felt to be indispensable, are not intended to supersede, but to assist the efforts of the Committees of the Societies labouring for England, Ireland, and the Colonies, for obtaining funds. Their deputations and appeals will still be needed in conjunction with the best system of general organization and effort that can be devised; but unsustained by some such general scheme of contribution, they must be inadequate. Let our pastors plead for the cause; they have influence with the people; their people have confidence in them. Often their appeals will obtain more than those of any stranger. Let deputations occasionally visit the churches. They will bring with them new intelligence-new views of great subjects. They will give impulse— they will plead with power. Their occasional efforts may be, in their place, as needful and as useful as are the more regular influence, and frequent appeals of the pastors. Let our deacons, too, co-operate. They have their legitimate influence. They can more generally and effectually set an example of liberality than the pastors. Yet where the pastors can, they ought to stir up the liberality of the people by deeds as well as by words. Their duty is, according to their ability, to give as well as to plead for the cause of Christ."

The Rev. J. REYNOLDS, of Romsey, moved the reception of this paper for discussion, which, he said, was so obviously excellent that it could not require any observations on his part to commend it to the approbation of the meeting.

MALACHI FISHER, Esq, of Blandford, seconded the resolution in a brief address, cordially approving of the object.

A conversation then took place as to the time for making the collections throughout the country on behalf of British Missions.

N. S. VOL. IV.

5 Y