needed, and are usefully carried on. The influence of that under the care of Jane Phillips is shown by the fact that she and her husband have been denounced from the altar by the Roman Catholic priest, who, in warning the people not to send their children to them for instruction, stated that the effects of their teaching are to be seen in the people's houses; that twenty years after they would spring up, and that the people did not know what would follow from it. SUNDAY SCHOOLS are maintained at BALLINA, BALLYMONEY, BANBRIDGE, BELFAST, CONLIG, CORK, CURRAGH, MOATE, and TUBBERMORE. At the last of these places the school presents a very gratifying and hopeful aspect it numbers 160 scholars, and is conducted with great efficiency. Having given these statements respecting the operations of brethren now labouring in the field, the Committee have to report the removal of one who has been taken away from service on earth. The Rev. Wm. Thomas, who became an agent of the Society in 1815, and successively occupied the stations at Limerick, Moate, and Parsonstown, and was also engaged much in itinerant preaching, was compelled by infirmity and affliction to retire from active service in the year 1852, and in the month of February last was called to his reward. The Committee cherish a pleasing remembrance of the devotedness and zeal with which their departed brother long laboured in the cause of his Lord. In the review of the year that has now closed the Committee would gratefully acknowledge the measure of divine blessing with which the Society has been favoured; nor would they fail to recognise with satisfaction the amount of sympathy and support rendered by their constituents. Still they cannot be insensible to the difficulties of the Mission, nor to the smallness of the funds placed at their disposal. They have the fullest confidence that the divine blessing would be bestowed far more abundantly if the faith and devotedness of the churches of Christ were more enlarged. Ireland in her darkness needs, and with her capabilities would well repay, a far greater amount of effort and liberality than is now expended upon her. The Committee cannot resist the conviction that the Society does not occupy the place in the sympathy and solicitude of the British people which an institution intended to promote the welfare of the Irish people ought to have. Most gladly would they adopt any measures that would secure the aid of the Christian public, or transfer the management of the Society to men in co-operation with whom the churches of the land would render the supplies required. They do not think that effort for Ireland should cease; they have desired to direct that effort in the manner that seemed most likely to be attended with success: but still the support they have received has been very partial and limited. In resolving on the effort now to be commenced in Dublin they have been greatly influenced by the opinion frequently expressed, by some of the individuals and churches most able to supply the needful funds, that it was only necessary to adopt some such means in order to enlist the sympathies of the Christian public, and to obtain adequate support. In accordance with the representations that have been made, they have ceased to expend the funds of the Society in some places and modes of effort that were judged to be unlikely to render any proportionate return, and they have directed their attention to a sphere of action that is acknowledged to present a very hopeful prospect. It now remains to be proved whether support, that had been withheld on the ground that the efforts of the Society were being wasted on places and modes of effort that could not yield any adequate return, will be rendered in aid of an evangelical ministry in a place of large population and of proportionate capabilities. Should that support be liberally and heartily rendered, they will be ready to adopt the same mode of action with regard to other cities and large towns in Ireland. They would not be unmindful of the example of Him who went through many of the villages of Judea; but they would also blend with this order of itinerant labours in behalf of the scattered population of the land, the practice of the apostles in bringing the ministry of the word to bear on the multitudes who crowd the chief places of commerce. In either case they would remember the need and the sufficiency of that power from on high by which alone "the solitary place can be made glad," and "great joy" can be caused in the "city" where Christ is preached. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., or the Secretary, the Rev. CHARLES JAMES MIDDLEDITCH, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street; or the London Collector, Mr. W. F. CARET, 1, Vernon Terrace, Portobello Road, Kensington Park; and by the Baptist Ministers in any of our principal towns. CONTRIBUTIONS, Received in behalf of the Baptist Irish Society, from March 21 to March 29, 1858. Goodings, W., jun., Esq. 1 1 0 Marlborough, Mrs. Athlone, by Rev. T. Berry Benson, Captain, Staff P.M. Boate, A., Esq. Browne, J. H., Esq. 026 Cannon, Miss Jane' Castlemaine, Lady 0 10 0 Caulfield, Mrs., The Moor Turner, Mrs. Woolley, Thomas, Esq. Banbridge, by Mr. John Jemison- Buyne, Mr. Valentine 020 026 63 2 . 0 1 0 0 5 0 Dalton, G., Esq. Dundas, L., Esq., J.P. Drake, Mr. English, Mr. Robert Flemming, A., Esq. Handcock, Hon. C., J.P. Hetherington, Dr. Heany, Mr. Holton, John, Esq. Holton, William, Esq., J.P. Johnston, Mr. Robert Hare, Mrs. Johnston, Mr. John Judge, Mr. Robert Lynch, Mr. McManus, Dr. McNamara, Mr. Marsh, Mrs., Clonbonny 050 0 2 6 026 036 026 050 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 060 010 Manning, Mr. O'Donnel, Lady Poe, Mr. Potts, Mrs Potts, W., Esq., j.P. Peek, Mr. Poyntz, Dr. 0 1 0 0 2 6 0 1 0 050 0 2 0 010 Crory, Mr. J. Dunnaghan, Mr. T. Dunbar, Miss, The Glen Ballina Atkinson, Miss Bourke, Misses 0 2 6 Boyd, C., Esq. Bredin, Mrs. 0 10 0 Hamilton, Rev. W. Hamilton, Mr. W., jun. Hamilton, Mrs. E. 0 5 0 0 2 6 Hamilton, Mrs. 050 Swaine, Jonah, Esq. Walker, Miss Walsh, Mr. M. Wood, Captain Woods, Mr. E. 026 050 Joynt, H., Esq. Acknowledged previously Moate, by Rev. T. Berry 0 5 0 0 5 0 Joyner, Mrs. Malley, Miss 026 Malley, Miss A. 8 9 6 McCullock, Mr. C. Pavey, Mr. Thomas Adamson, Jones, Esq. Bagnall, Mrs. McDonnell, Mr. E. Pettigrew and Co., Messrs. 050 050 0 10 0 026 0 10 0 1 0 0 100 Bagnall, Miss Bagual, Abraham, Esq. . Bagual, Master John House Barlow, Captain 00000 5 0 0 10 0 Spraull, Mr. J. Carrickfergus, by Mr. James Wea therup A Friend Birney, Constable Burgess, Thomas, Esq. Card, by Mrs. Ardall Collection Clibborne, Thomas, Esq. 0 5 0 Clibborne, William, Esq. 0 2 6 Daily, George, Esq. 0 2 6 Fetherstone, Theobald, Esq. 0 26 Glanville, Mr. Thomas 0 2 6 Greene, Mr. James Alexander, Mr. James Hamilton, Mr. William 006 006 0 5 0 The thanks of the Committee are presented to the ladies at Loughborough Park, Brixton, for a parcel of Clothing for Mr. Berry by Mr. William Dickes. Also to a friend at Hammersmith for a parcel of Magazines and Books. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. JUNE, 1858. THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. Ir is unnecessary to prove that the Christian ministry is a Divine institution. While the duty of preaching the gospel devolves upon all believers, it is an apostolic plan that there should be in the Church, and sustained by its gifts, men entirely devoted to the ministry. Experience has confirmed the wisdom of the appointment. Where devout men have given their entire energies to the work, God has made them and their churches vehicles of good, while all attempts to substitute "mutual edification for a regular pastorate have, except in special cases, proved failures. All history shows that no man can adequately discharge the office of a public teacher unless it occupy his chief attention, that his intellectual and moral qualifications cannot be too high, and that ministers and people are mutually profited by the law which requires his maintenance from those to whose edification he consecrates his life. There are two extremes to which the Christian Church is prone, that of unduly magnifying, and that of depreciating, the ministerial office. We see the former in the admission of claims to apostolical descent, an exclusive right to administer ordinances, a sanctity of person derived from the sacredness of office, and ministers deemed a priesthood officiating at a Christian altar. We discern the latter in their inadequate stipends, the little interest felt in their efficient training, the inclination to ridicule weakness and resent fidelity, and the disposition of some to surrender the ministry as an institution unsuited to the gospel and to the times. The former treat their ministers as demigods, the latter as slaves. The former offer them incense, the latter prepare a scourge. For the ministers of the one class flattery "spreadeth a snare," the teachers of the other have their spirits broken by unkindness and neglect. When the apostle describes religious teachers as 'the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God," his language, correctly interpreted, defines their character and work as removed from these extremes. "Minister" means servant. The article is wanting in the original. "Minister" in this, as in many other passages, denotes not one who fills an office in the Church, but one who sustains a personal relation VOL. II.-NEW SERIES. 2 F |