W. J. AND J. SEARS, PRINTERS, IVY LANE, ST. PAUL'S.

THE Committee for the conduct of this unpretending periodical, beg to thank the supporters for the encouragement they have received from the m during another year. They beg, also, to express their acknowledgments to several faithful and constant correspondents. Would that all the brethren in the Connexion, the Ministers and Managers of our Churches, were as thoughtful and early in forwarding interesting information, as some of their number. But we look for great improvement with the New Year. Every one then turns over a new leaf. Let us mind that the next page is better than the last. It only remains to be said, that THE HARBINGER still needs a larger measure of support. Without such a medium of communication, our African Mission, as well as our own particular interests as a Connexion, would seriously flag. Every one says, You must go on with the HARBINGER. We say, We are determined to do it, if all our friends will quit themselves like men-we had rather say, like women, for they are our strength. They can help us out of our difficulties at once. Say, ye daughters of Zion, who venerate the excellent Lady Huntingdon, and love her Lord, will you help us to make this HARBINGER what its name imports-the earnest of a revival in the churches which still bear her worthy name-the means of propagating the glorious Gospel which it was the one aim of her life to spread ?

Will you? Then give us information-ask us questions-offer us suggestions get us subscribers-pray for our success. And let none of our brethren in the Ministry or the Management be offended, that we thus crave— what we have never craved in vain-the help of the Sisterhood.

We make no rash promises about the future. As experience gives wisdom even to the simple, and we are conscious of a desire to do better, we bespeak confidence. Fare ye well!

Nov. 23rd, 1852.

All Communications to be addressed to the Editor of the Harbinger, Ward and Co., Paternoster Row.

THE HARBINGER.

JANUARY, 1852.

ADDRESS FOR 1852.

THE British Population is fast becoming a nation of readers. Already the power of the press is proverbial. Like every other power in the hands of man, it may be wielded for good or evil. We fear, at the present, the evil predominates. Myriads of cheap serial publications,―popularizing infidelity, scoffing at most things sacred, and appealing to the worst passions of the people-fly over the land weekly, and enter our cities, large and small towns, villages, and even hamlets. They arrive towards the end of the week in time to do their deadly work on the Lord's day; and inflict irreparable injury wherever they go. If "the land be as the garden of Eden before them, behind them it becomes a desolate wilderness."

The Pulpit alone cannot cope with this evil,-the Press must be its auxiliary; and that to an extent which Christians generally have not thought of. As British Christians our obligations in this respect are instant, imperative, and absolute.

As members of a religious Body, which has hitherto occupied no doubtful position either in the defence or the spread of Christ's holy Evangel, it were dishonourable to shrink from a bold and earnest part in the coming conflict and labour. Our former laurels-not yet faded-will be our disgrace if we do not win more.

As a living Connexion we must have a Magazine. It is essential not only to our prosperity, but even to our existence. A Magazine which our ministers write and our people read. In which the latter may be also welcomed to express their opinions. A Magazine which shall circulate freely among

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the whole community, evoking and diffusing a sentiment common to all its members. We wish that sentiment to pervade and give unanimity to all our efforts, and that those efforts be worthy of the noble objects we profess to seek. Then shall we be in harmony with the administration of God's kingdom on earth-and help in our measure to exalt the glorious, only Saviourto make the household of faith the temple of the Holy Ghost-and to commend the "common salvation" "in all the world to every creature."

In pursuing these objects we need a Magazine that will not be ashamed of our Methodism, but rather glory in it. We shall be glad, if again, we hear "the shout of a king in our camp."

We would fain hope a brighter day, than we have seen for a long time, is about to dawn upon the Connexion. Is it too much to expect that a well-conducted Magazine may be the Harbinger of that day? We have ventured to call our New Magazine,-entering upon the third year of its career-by that name, and our earnest prayer is that it may not prove a

misnomer.

The Harbinger will contain an article on some topic of importance to the Connexion. Another on the chief subject of the day. A third or more on those matters which are always of interest to the Church of God. Its pages will contain extracts from the old Divines-ingots of gold which enrich a man for eternity. There will be a column for the young. And if we can get good poetry we will publish it. The Magazine will be the only organ of Connexional intelligence both for England and Sierra Leone.

this department to hold a prominent place in its pages.

We wish

No Magazine can be complete without its "Review;" to this we shall devote as much space as our limits will allow. We promise it shall be impartial.

The success of the Magazine will depend mainly for support upon our own Body; and we earnestly entreat our Ministers, Elders and Deacons, Sunday School Teachers and Members of our Churches and Congregations, to become Subscribers, and to promote its circulation as far as they are able.

Let us all start afresh with the New Year, and let our united prayer arise to the "God of all grace:-"Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of our hands establish thou it."

T. E. T,