IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 I^i2^ ill 150 "^ ill US Ki u 1^ I— M M 1.8 U 111.6 VQ /: /A '^ Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 J. «v 1. •"^ V> • (meaning "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre Image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ► signlfie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signlfie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvbnt Atre filmds A des taux de rAduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cllchA, il est fllmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent le mAthode. ata elure, a 3 ax 1 2 3 i 2 3 4 5 6 I PHMHP • ft-' lb V ^0VASC0TJ4 PROVINCE HOUSE ,:',,,si^*wt^- '••^■ppw-- a "Si.' I,' ■ «isiBgr«s ' .r''* ct- »i. 43^ft£ VI^ 94*. r" 4 ' ~#4 w,»^-V.«^.^ . s V V ft ■.:¥m > US"-^ ■■ww rnTi g rii< i ,i|!|f i rBi i r A Letter, &c. Christian Buethren and Friends — The usage of your Church preventing a Pastor from being present at any of its Meetings for the transaction of business, has placed me in a considerable difficulty. Some things are needful to be said to a Church which cannot properly be stated from the pulpit ; such aie the contents of this letter. I might, it is true, leave these things unsaid, but that would neithei be just to you, nor to my own reputation ; I might have called a Public Meeting, which would probably have been the most popular, as it certainly would have been the most exciting step; but, on the whole, I have preferred the calm, deliberative mode of addressing you from the Press. You can review the whole affairs I have to discuss, while that portion of the public who may feel interested in our matters, may read it too. Bap- tists have nothing to conceal ; publicity is their very life ; in Religion there is sin where there is concealment. In former days, and in other Countries, Pastors have had to address their people on the persecutions they have endured from the world. Such is not my case. During my twelve- month's residence among you, I have not met with a single act, word or look from any one connected with any class of Chris- tians differing from ourselves, to give me a moment's pain. The Clergy, Legislators, Prof^essional Gentlemen, Merchants, and all other classes in this City and Province, have manifested towards me and my family all possible courtesy and kindness. Persecution, so far as I know, is not to be found in any Deno- mination apart from our own. Neither have I to complain of you. Christian Friends, as a body. Nine-tenths of your number, or even more, have con- tinued to show me the same url >nity and cordial kindness, which marked your first intercourse with me. I do not blame the whole of you for the faults of a few, and protest ag|iubt any remarks I may offer, as implicating the character of tb& Church i l*^^:#.J" J in Granville Street. My charges are only against a few per- sons^alas that they are so inlluentia ,-and that hitherto the.r acts have too often been regarded as the acts of the whole body. Nor am 1 about, in this fetter, to go into the scenes or the history of other days. I have neither the disposition, nor the oSn ity for it. ^The Records of the Church in Granville Street have never seen. 1 have often requested to examine them and that favour has been as often promised, bu I have feen no other book than the one began in January last Per- haps withholding the Records may be wise. It might have Su m instrucdon, b.it certainly could have imparted no plea- S to have read the full account of the origin of the body- r details of the removal of i^V^Tr^cLt^r ofThe without exception, against the wishes of the Church, or of the arrears of salary still due to at least one of them. 1 cannot St bultStL contents and the omissions of thej.d Record, would be equally instructive ; sorae of you have to d me quit Efficient to prevent my feeling any very deep regre^ «"/,7"^. of mv loss The things with which we have now to do ar thoTe% ;-day;and I detail these matters important c.rtainl: to us, I now, with candour, and, 1 trust. Christian feeling, ^ro- ^'^When attending the Baptist Triennial Convention, in Phila- deK? in April, 1844, an estimable Minister from New Bruns- tkk told me somewhat of the importance of the position of the Baptist Church at Halifax, and the desirableness of its possess ine a Pastor of standing and influence, and urged me much to consider its claims on i^yself. My reply to him was, bat I hud mher arrangements in pfospect, but that if the Baptists of Hali- fax thou-ht proper to invite me, I might, perhaps, pay them a "Months r^oUed on, I heard no more of t, nor thought o It more. I was just about to settle down in New York when I received a letter from the Rev. James N. Granger, M. A., Pastor of the Church at Providence, R. 1., founded b^ the inimorta Roger WiUiaras. The following are extracts, printed, like a» other documents, from the original :— Providence, Oct. Mh 1844. Rev. and Dear Sir, — • . . „^„„:„™ 1 have been constrained to make some enquiries concerning vour present plans for labour among us. One of my Church Members, (the Revd. Mr. Douglass, Do- mous invitation to become the Pastor of the Baptist Church, in 1 ~ ^"kt~--' -a g:-J. »" - T.;iwn « ■«» r Halifax, Nova-Scotia. After a good deal of hesitation he felt a Ws duty to decline, and to continue his hbours in the less con- 8i^cuous,but not less Christian field, n which he has hitherto been emr"oyed. He ha. to-day received a k*ter from the Revd. Dr Siey, lately Pastor of the Church, and now Prec.dent of Acadia Colle/e, urging him to reconsider h.s determination, setting forth the great destitution of Ministers in the Province, the great importance of the post, and the fearful consequences to the Church, and the denomination there, which he tears will follow if Mr. Douglass persists in his determination to remain in ^\^r*iris of course exceedingly pained at this representation, and while he still regards the claims u'pon him here as imperative, Ts "ran ever desirous of doing all in his power, to provide hem sooLith a minister. He called on me to-day,and showed me Dr. Crawley's last letter. It occurred to me, that you might be willing to visit them. I have no doubt from what I know of the%pfe,that if you would go there in the next steamer, with etters of introduction from Mr. Douglass and Rev. Drs. Wayland and Caswell, you would be cordially received and your visit result m their desiring your residence among them.^ ^ ^ * * * Pardon me for intruding upon you with this business. The rising interests of the Baptist Church in Nova-Scotia, awaken my concern and gratitude, and lead me to desire to see an able man in the Capital. - May I hear from you at some future day.'' ^ Very respectfullv. Rev. Dr. Belcher. J^^es N. Granger. Mv first impression was decidedly againsta visit to Halifax.-- The invitation did not come from the Church, and 1 considered ' that if I went 1 might properly be regarded as an intruder--un- sent for. My ministering brethren in New Vork, told me that m America it was very common for ministers to introduce themselves fo Churches; and thought, though they kindly wished me_ to re- main in New-York, that I must lay aside a portion of my English S cy in such matters. At length I consented to visit Prcvi- dence and see the ministers there on the subject. The Rev. I. F Bill who happened to be in New York, at the time, exceed- Liy urged my Foceeding to Halifax ; and on the 18th Oct of ast year, I arrived with private letters to leading «»embersof the Church here frona the Rev. Dr. Caswell, the Rev. I. E. BiUjnd th^ Rev. Mr. Douglass. I was received with the utmost cordial- ! f >'^„^^5ggip*-4 ^.' 6 i{)' ; tny coming seemed to he regardedjike (he visit of an nnge ; and all considered it as a striking answer to the prayers they had offered for a Pastor. 1 must he pardoned, Christian friends, if I ask you now to read some " Testimonials." I hope I am not presenting them to you from any feeling of vain glory. They were, in each case, given without solicitation, and indicate, in my humhle judgment, the confidence my honoured hrethren in England and the United States reposed in me. 1 would not have intruded them on your attention now, hut that I have heen lold hy a Reverend Brother in my own Study, that I never could co-operate with my Breth- ren in England, or in the States, and therefore was compelled to come 10 Nova-Scotia ; while another Reverend Brother in the Country is reported to have described me as a " despicable crea- ture, utterly unfit for Christian fellowship." The first document I shall lay before you is the dismission of myself and Mrs. B. from tl^e 2nd Church at Greenwich. To any baptized Church of Jesus Christ meeting in the United States of North America, or elsewhere, the Church of Christ meeting in Bunyan Chapel School and Lecture Room, Green- wich, England, sendeth Christian salutation. Dear Brethren, — This is not the first time we have been called to lessen our numbers by dismissing dear friends to churches in your happy land, but we have never done it with feelings so painfully oppressive as now. Our beloved friend, the Rev. Joseph Belcher, D. D., has, af- ter a faithful, affectionate, and disinterested discharge of the pastorate among us, from the commencement of our church in April, 1838, resigned his pastoral charge, and has requested with his beloved wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Belcher, a dismission from our communion. With unfeigned grief we accede to the request. — Our heavenly Father calls to the duty, and we therefore obey. May the seep conduce to the glory of God, and the comfort of our friends. We rejoice that our beloved brother needs not "letters of commendation from us." His standing in our denomination is known to not a few of the most emment brethren of your coun- try, nor is our sister less entitled to our Christian esteem ; and we need therefore only say that no event connected with this jseparatioD lessens the confidence we have ever reposed in our valijed friends. Long may they live among you to enjoy and to diffuse many blessincs. : Believe us to be, dear Christian fi icnds ^ the bonds of faith and love, jM Yours most cordij Signed on behalf of the ^ John lywoSFORD, whole church, by order ( Chairman, of the church meetings C Thomas Turpie, September l\ , lQ-^3. ^ Deacon, And 12 members. Perhaps it would be unnecessary to trouble you with the re- solutions of the church on the same evening on my resignation of the pastoral oflice ; they were of the same general character, but at this moment I have mislaid them. I will endeavour to recover them, and they shall then be at your service. The next document to which I must ask your perusal is the one signed by the Rev. Drs. Murch and Steane, and the Rev. J. H. Hinton, A. JVI., Secretaries of the Baptist Union, a body which comprises nearly one thousand of the Baptist churches in England. I print it from the original ; its publication by the Union, may be found, with my answer, in the Annual Keport of that Body for 1844, pp. 34, 35. London, October 12, 1843. The Committee of the Baptist Union having bi ?.n informed of the intention of their esteemed brother, Joseph Belcher, to pro- ceed with his family to the United States, they take the occasion of expressing, with much pleasure, their conviction of the un- blemished character with which, both as a christian and a miais- ter, he quits his native land — their cordial estimation of him as a friend and fellow labourer in the gospel — and their high sense of the valuable service he has rendered to the Baptist denomination in England. They further desire to recommend him to the frank reception and cordial regard of their fellow Christians generally on the other side of the Atlantic. Signed by direction of the Committee, W. H. Murch, ^ Edwahd Steane, > Secretaries. J. H. Hinton, ) The following was furnished to me, like all the others, without solicitation, from the ancient society it describes, composed of 60 Baptist ministers, forming one portion of the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations, well known as the only society of English Dissenters who have right of access to the throne. i B -mmmmmmat^ • ^ ^•P I' % 'A The Board of Particular Baptist Ministers residing in and near the Cities of London and Westminster, to the Baptist Mtmster^ of the United States W America, Dear Brethren — Wo are informed that our Brother, the Reverend Joseph Beicher, on whom one of your Universities has recently con- ferred lh« degree of Doctor of Divinity, intends shortly to leave this Country, and seek a residence among you. V e cannot allow him to depart, without commending him cordially to your fraternal regard. During the last twelve years he has heen a Member of this Board ; and by his regular attention to public business, especially to the statistics of our Denomination, to which he has devoted much time and labour, he has rendered valuable services, which we gladly acknowiedge. It is our ear- nest prayer, that the; blessing of God, our Father, may rest upon him and his household, direct his future movements, and make him eminently nseful among the Churches of your land. We doubt ;iot ihat you will receiva him kindly, as a servant of Jesus Christ our Lord,— both youis and ours. Signed on behalf of the Board and by its direction, John Kingsford, * Chairman, William Groser, Secretary, London, October 31, 1843. The following will speak for itself :— London, Nov. nth, 1843. Mr Dear Brother,— , u .u The Baptist Irish Committee on being informed the other evening of your intention to leave this Country for America, re- solved, that in their name I, as their Secretary, should give you this expression of their most cordial esteem. They have acted with you with great pleasure. Many of them have known you intimately for many years. I, as you are aware have so known you fo. more than twenty years ; and we all unite m ex- pressing the fullest confidence in your Christian integrity— and in • By way of explanation of the name of thi. '""«blt Mmiater occurnug b >th h«« and as Chaumin of the Church Meeting at Greenwich. .t«ay ^^ "^"^''^< \^''\"'l!'^„}^^ll instance, he was invited to preside at a Meeting, to the Church of deep and fr^^*^^""^! •s being the Pastor of the nearest Churel, " of the tame faith and order j and he presided -t the Meeting of the Boord in pursuance of a standing rule, that at the ordinary Meeting, the wnior MiDbter pre«int thall ocoupy the Chair. He is the oldeit Membar •! the Board, Wing united with it in 1802. Ifll ^ u IJ^H r w l^^l 1 b ■H F ^ Bwl r : y v^^^^^^V. SI 11 ■^■'li^HP^liP 9 % the likelihood of your being extpMivH^ful m the land to which yoa go. May God'« mere: guide fO«r way, appoint the S^unds^ofyour habituion, and cmiaenay Meas you .n whatever aepartmeiit ofChrisuan usemlnees may occui j- your hands and ^ wilUnly add, I write this officially, bu^with n.y entire per- sonal concurrence, and in order that .t may ^^^^^ y^/" ^"/^ ^^J in which such a testimony can be useful. Show it where ana when you please. lam. My Dear Brother, Very truly yuurs, Samuel Green. Rev. ^PPH Belcher, D. D. The Committee of the Baptist Home Missionary Society also furnished a like Testimonial, but as it was addressed to the Board of i... kindred Institution in New York, it is not now m my poS- ''Tnmy add to these Testimonials. ^K facts that for twelve out of the thirteen years I resided in I ..a.cm, 1 was annually eleced a member of the Committee ot the Society to ^^ "ch 1 h.^e ust referred: that for eleven successive years 1 was elected ^secretary of the Baptist Union from which I at last retired as my own act with the ^unanimous and corclial thanks of that Body for he services I had rendered; that for seven years I «f ^^^ ,^" *^« Committee of the Baptist Irish Society, and tha of all the.c Committees, together w-th those of the Baptist ^mon, and t^ie three Denominations, I was a member when I left ^.ng^fn^, as 1 wasalso from its commencement on the Direction ot the Bruish and Fore-gi. Seamen's Society. I hope I have proved that 1 could work with my Bit^thren in England. And oOuIl' i work with them in tne United State. ? Be it re- membered, that 1 did not settle there, being m .he States only a Tv months. Yet was I invited as the result of the lestimon.a^ kn'uded to above, to a seat at the Board of the American Baptist Home Mission Society in New York as also at the Board of the American and Foreign Bible Society, ot both which invitations t availed myself more than once. One of the largest and wea.tluest Churches' in that City sent me as a delegate to represe.it them at the Triennial Convention at Philadelphia; and the Hudson I^r ver AsBociation, the largest Body of the kind m tue Jm^d States, comprising about 12,000 members, appointed me m l«^, B / I jijiiJg'*Ti^ff»'" 'f ■ii3mAi*m*mms»mmm.} • f*-'*>»&»»««-»--«f»ir. i~»»»~i-*»*#*i«s^wiN* vJBpsp^^^iPra.'^si^ ''"=*-' ■ 1 1.\ \ s l^mOSPRI 10 the Annual Meetings of the Home Mission, and the American and Foreign Bible Societies in Pro- vidence in April last, which delegation for obvious reasons, I could not fulfil. I h0pe that these with similar facts, such as an invitation to the Pa$torate of one of their Churches before 1 vi- sited Halifax, and art invitation to fill an important office in one of their Great Denominational institutions after that event, will prove that I really could work with my Brethren in the States. If doubt may yet exist, it may perhaps be removed by the follow- ing document from the Rev. Dr. Wayland, the well known Pre- sident of Brown University. " It gives me great pleasure by this note to introduce to my friends in Halifax and elsewhere my friend the Rev. Dr. Belcher. I had the happiness to form the acquaintance of Dr. B., in Lon- don, some years since, where I found him intimately associated with our best brethren in the Dissenting Ministry, and highly esteemed by them. Among his friends are numbered the Rev. Drs. Harris, Cox, Hoby, Styles, and others whose praise is in all the churches. I have had the pleasure of still further acqnainrance with Dr. B. since his residence in this country, and I cheerfully testify to the high opinion I have formed of his intelligence, ami- able character, and moral worth. F. Wayland." Brown University ^ Oct. 15, 1845. These documents were, by the church in Granville Street, deemed satisfactory, and I shortly afterwards received the follow- ing communication : — "At a meeting of the members of the Granville Street Church in Halifax, on Friday, the 1st November, 1844, it was resolved That ihe Deacons and Committee of the Church be directed to express to the Rev. Dr. Belcher the high sense the church entertains of his kindness and consideration, in under- taking a long and inconvenient journey at so late a period of the year to supply their wants, and that they offer him the cordial thanks of the church for this instance of his Christian regard for their welfare. Resolved unanimously. That the Deacons and Committee of the church be directed to confer with Dr. Belcher, and ascertain from him whether it will be in accordance with his wishes to take upon him the Pastoral charge of this church for one year, or such other time as may be mutually agreeable, and in that case to agree upon such salary as may be competent to hia suppori, and within the means of the church to aiford. t \ The brethren who waited on mf^th^f^ communication will recollect that in answer to it, while I stated that I could not but be gratified with the confidence thus reposed m me, yet 1 was by no means inclined to incur the very heavy expense of removing a large family from New York, and furnishing a house, with the prospect of perhaps not more than a year's residence ; 1 proposed That we should go on as we were proceeding for a few weeks, or a month or two, and that if at the end of that period they were prepared to invite me to settle with them, with an understanding that should anything hereafter make a separation desirable, a lew months notice might dissolve the connection. With the idea ot my permanent settlement all appeared to be de ighted. Ihey were satisfied— more than satisfied, and apparently waited with difficulty even for a few days, when the Cou.mittee who had been some months before appointed to obtain a pastor waited on me with the following documents. : — Halifax, Wh November, 1844. Dear Sir — In the name, and on the behalf of the Granville Street Baptist Church, at Halifax, we are directed to request that you will accept the oversight of their Church, as their Pastor, and to beg that you would, as soon as convenient, favour them with an answer to such request. . ^ , , i ui^^ ♦/> The Stipend which the Church feel themselves enabled to offer their Pastor, is £250, Currency ; and, in case of your acceptance of the Pastorship, they are desirous that it should commence from the beginning of the present month. We enclose a copy of the Resolution unanimously passed by die Church at their Meeting on Monday evemng last, and are, Dear Sir, With much respect, and Christian affection, Very sincerely yours, J. W. Nutting, Deacon, \ Edwd. G. W. Greenwood, Deacon, James C. Hume, M. D. J. W. Johnston, Deacon, James Coffin, Deacon, Jno. Whitman, David McPHERsrw. ■■.A. To thf, Rkv. Dr. BELcAtfR? Committer. SSSiS^-.. .mmsmmsm. i^ At a Meeting of the Granville Street Church on Monday evening, the 11th November, 1844. ,. „ i u It was unanimously ilesolved, That the Rev. Joseph Belcher, D. D. be invited to accept the Pastoral charge of this Church, with the proviso suggested by Dr. Belcher, that in case of either party hereafter wishing to dissolve the connection, three or six monthP notice to that effect be given, and that the Deacons apd Committee communicate to Dr. Belcher, the Resolution ot the Church- . , . • ,N (A true copy of the original,) J. W. Nutting, Deacon. Whatever view may be taken of this subject, my dear friends, by some, the whole world will believe that you were in earnest, aid will hardly know what to think of the deacon, who thus carrte to me with these documents, containing his own signature, vi^ho now solemnly assures me that he voted against the call, stating that the salary could not be raiseJ. The difficulty, however, is partially removed when he states that the pecuniary engagements between a church and its pastor are not binding as those between one tradesman and another ! Alas for me, 1 believed the writ- ten and the viva voce statements of these gentlemen. 1 really thought, from the indications all around me, that the hand of God Was in the matter ; and as all were very urgent for a reply, 1 read from the pulpit as follows : — ,, . «. ^ ^ ^ Halifax, N. S., Nov. 16, 1844. To the Baptist church meeting in Granville Street, Halifax. t)EAR Christian Friends,— , ,, i Your cordial and unanimous resolution, adopted on the lltt> instant, iavitin-^ me to the pastoral office over you, has been con- veyed to me by the hands of the beloved brethren who compose your Committee. It has awakened feelings of deep interest, and 1 trust fervent prayer. Such an engagement, solemn in its cha- racter, and followed by results reaching through all time, and connecting themselves even with eternity, may well excite^ emo- tions which cannot be described to any, and can only be lelt by few. , ^ Permit me, dear brethren and sisters, to congratulate you on the unanimity which has marked your conduct, and on the spirit of Christian piety and activity which 1 hope is reviving among you. To a request given under such circumstances, to which 1 humbly trust you have been led, in answer to fervent P/ayer, by the Great Head of the Church, 1 cannot give a refusal, vvhatever I may possess of talent, of labour, and of religion, is Willingly and x cordially placed at your service, ^oold that the offering were more worthy! May the gracious Master we serve accept the dedication ! , , j- i In accepting your kind invitation, 1 rely on your cordial co-ope- ration, your continued prayers, your christian sympathy ; and 1 feel assured that I shall not be disappointed. May our union tend to the glory of Him w' o died for our redemption, -the wellare of all w'ho compose the church and congregation and their fami- lies ; and .he highest interests of the inhabitants of the city in which we dwell. ^ ,-,, • • cc .- I am, dear friends, vours in the bonds of Christian affection, ' ' Joseph Belcher. Here then was apparently a settlement of a Pastor with a peo- ple on which the eye of a Christian might rest with complacency. The congregation inc eased-the Church was enlarged--money, I was assured, came in more freely than at any former time, and things seemed to promise continued happiness and increasing ^'The'^^ere, however, I was fully aware, two sources from which danger might arise. It was on all hands admitted that the Denonm^ation, both in the City and in the Province, had too much mingled itself with party politics ; you yourselves were divided on these points :-my views entirely accorded wi h rny wishes, and I resolved to maintain an entire neuirahty oil all such topics. This harmonized, as I understood, with the desire of all, though 1 always had some fears about the heartiness of a few m the arrangement. / have kept my pledge, and have never ex- pressed al opinion on any party question of a political character. The other difficult which I saw might arise was connected with the fact that an opinion prevailed-whether well-founded or not I did not know, that the whole affairs of the Church had been managed by a very few persons and that many were on that accoum greatly dissatisfied. I was again and aga n assured by the leading persons in the Church tha happiness and success depended, under God, on my acting m the Church entirely independently of all the influence P««^^«f ^V^^J /he^'v- i saw the difficulty here, but resolved, as ar as I might b. *ble, fearlessly but affectionately to declare, and as far «« Pf^^;;? to X right; In my utter inalnlity to cope with these two dii^olties !^tability which would bethe lot of every «^-n "nd«5«^«^*° ^haB arisen «ur pr^entj trials. Let us Bee how they have MrrKliniltt- .. _ '"inlhe motrtti of Aprd arrived iz3iege. That aid they had generously ren- dered ; but some how or other he was not very comfortable in his visit. The pulpits were not thrbvvn open to him so generally as he expected ; the politics of the Body there did not accord with his own ; the modes of transacting business in their public So- cieties did not resemble the Association of Nova Scotia. He came back disliking England and EngUshmen. He has never stated to the public, either at the Annual Meeting or from the Press, any of the particulars of his visit. I am told, however, that every thing the Ministers hear of England " disgusts" them, and that they are sure that every tiling thyy do is superior to any thing that can be done by Englishmen. This may be very true ; one only wonders how, under such circumstances, they can con- sent to take money from England. The time came on for the Association to hold its Annual Meet- ing. On my way to it, I was told by the Rev. gentleman, to whom I have just referred, then and still the Moderator of ijie Body, that I could not have, nor ought to have an opinion about any thing ; and it was impossible that having resided m the Pro- vince, but some eight or nine months, I could know anything about the Denomination. I ventured to differ from this view of the matter, and intimated that 1 was not thus to be put down.— By the assembled Brethren I was received with the utmost cor- diality—invited to preach, placed on no less that seven Commit- tees for the transaction of present business, though never at the instance of the moderator or officers— and in every case when a proposal originating with me was put to the vote it was carried. It is true that my two favourite objects have since been both de- feated. The one was the Registration of Births, MaK'n-;s^ and Deaths. The facts connected with the origin of this measure were not all known, nor the high patronage it had met with ;— and so after the measure had passed, Mr. Moderator said " it would not work." An officer of the Association declares in theChristian Messenger of July 25, that it " did not (I have reason to believe, although no objection was made to it in passing) receive the most, perfect approbation, on account of some difficulty apprehended in its practical details ;" and the parties who conducted the printing of the Minutes have settled the whole affair. They give the resolutions correctly, but omit the " forms" said to be " here- unto annexed." The other measure in which I felt great inte- rest was the circulation " ofthe best^productions of the venerated fathers and founders ofthe Baptist Churches m the father-iaiiu ; the Association appointed me to collect subscriptions for thii V t c J J \ i. " (v- • \ «urDose-bui when I received a letter from ihe Rev Dr. Davies ff7ondon staiing that two volumes were in the Press, one of i ln«i W ^ "Early Tracts and Documents on Rehgi- '^"^Trtv" Ind the o her "The Ancient Church Book of ous Liberty ^"^ ;^" j^J^^t^^, ^^ ,he Editors of the Christian fheir S the letter was kept for several weeks, and then re- ur eH thinin imation that they could do nothmg w.th it. wiUmv naturally be asked why all this counterworkmg of Plans which had been approved by the body. My friends said lie others .hat a ep^aJ^^ i„,o ,wo or more parts n,.ght be oldest and most excellent men of the body :— " 1 he ^^^^^^ ^^^^"^ R^nJisrLociation has, if 1 mistake not, become too rigid and ? ^n n t Sacter as one, to be made two on any other pr.nci- flunn Lt '^^^^^^^^ Advocates of division have started ii: late Sh^^^^^^^^^ dissever now; -d -ppose all too laie. ►^"^^^ , ,, nrelim panes fixed, what uoth other <=°»-""hrb bw of dis eSo^ Where shall it ainn ? ,s gouig to stfikfi the b ow 01 a .^ Amherst Where '^ "^ •>« t%t rf W o cr„ sfand and look on unmoved willing lor It to ^<; ',''"«'. .''"enough ,o talk about feelings, ra- .ocvd\:ioii ^''-Christian Messenger, Jwne 27, p. ^04. * ^o" hat 1 could not approve of this l-?^-f ;;;-;h;;;^.g^t '«; "^^^ proceed from a learned professor ot ^^^'^"^g^* ^^^ ^'^'^ l^the as- :::^:^^^i^^^^^^ whole histo., of the denomi. nation, ever existed many years. proposed that 1 had the misfortune too, to object, when it was prop would "lead to jealousies ; and all my reading ol eccieB,u.».«. «.=- SM' 16 \ tory shews me that such aSiefinblics have never been held without evils arising from them, and therefor^ have our fathers and breth- ren always been oppc«ed thereto. Nor was this all. In the meeting of the Foreign Missionary Society, I did object to the interference of the Committee in the choice of a missionary's wife. 1 thought that each man likely to be employed in such an office must be competent to such a duty for himself. If I am vm)ng in this view, I am not alone ; for I can find in no report of any Missionary Society in the world a passage at all resembling the one which appears in the present year's " Report of the Committee of the Nova Scotia Baptist Fo- reign Missionary Society." On yet another point whs I somewhat determined in my opi- nions. My English views and feelings made me aware of the importance of exact and full accounts of the receipts and expendi- tures of Public Money. I did urge in the Domestic Missionary Meeting, the importance of a full report of the transactions of the Committee — detailing the labours of its Agents — giving full particulars, where and from whom each and every pound of its income was derived, and in what way it had been spent. I know that, in all Countries, there is very properly great sensi- tiveness in the public mind on this subject; and I feel it very important that the utmost transparency should be shewn in auditing and publishing all such accounts. No allegation of the want of funds to do this, will satisfy the public. The only way to obtain ample funds is to publish vvlience they came, and to show how properly and usefully tiiey have been spent. But I fear that I committed even a greater sin than any of these. I was requested to speak at the annual meeting of the Education Society. I did so, and took the opportunity of ridi- culing both the principle and the amount of the Government grant to the College. I wished that the Government would at once and forever withdraw all such grants, and leave Education and Religion both alone. I thought it degrading, that a body of Christians like the Nova Scotia Baptists, consisting of nearly a hundred Churches, and more than nine thousand Members, should accept the paltry sum of £250, currency per annum, froni the State, thus recognizing the principle of an Establishment; and could only justify them in taking it on the ground of insist- ing on perfect equality among all classes; which, however, we have not, as one of the Colleges has very much more than we receive. Nothing was said to me on the subject, but the speeches — »_ J :i i:_ ii-- J, Ti/f . . ^n _ //J*-.. jt_ J J— r_ u:_ui.. atr. ucs\:: ;uuu ru in«j " iViUiUlCS" as "jor liic -mui)!, puinji iiui^inj animated and gratifying character ;" and though I paid a sub- ^ / / H \1 scription of 20s. in June, which w^lBlylSffiwledged in the CkrisUan Messenger of June 27, I have not the honor of a place in the list of Members published in August. I jejoice in the interest taken by the Baptists of this Province in Uplcation ; but regret the shackles they have placed on their own efforts. Acadia College is the only Baptist institution in the world which has ^ portion of its governors appointed by the state. It is quite right that Government should take care of the expenditure ot the sums voted bv it ; but alas, for the Baptists who are thus linked in with the State ! How much wiser our brethren in Calcutta a few years since, who when asked by the Governor General of India what Government could do to aid them, nobly replied, "My Lord, we only ask to be let alone !" I very deeply regret these differences from my honored breth- ren, but I make no apology for them ; for English Baptists cannot help thinking for themselves. Baily, one of their enemies, de- scribed them two centuries ago, " as a people very fond of re- ligious liberty, and very unwilling to be brought under the bondage of the judgment of any other." I confess to being numbered with those who rejoice in such a character, and claim for myself a right to differ from others, while I freely concede to them, in all such things, a full and free right to differ from me. Perhaps the statement I have now made will account, whether satisfactorily or not I will not say, for a variety of matters which have indicated the displeasure of my Brethren who take the lead in the affairs of the Denomination. They do not yet know me ; and a longer acquaintance may possibly bring us nearer together, I wish well to every Baptist Institution in the Pro- vince, and only ask that they shall be conducted on the great principles of the Denomination to which they belong. Let me now dismiss public business, and return to Granville Street. ^ Notwithstanding all this abroad, I hoped yet to be happy with my own people ; the prospect, however, soon began to be cloud- ed. It was felt exceedingly important lo build a vestry and school room. The proposal was popular, one of the brethren Was ap^ pointed to enquire after some land adjoining the chapel, and I hoped to accomplish the undertaking without adding to the pre- viously existing debt upon the chapel. In the mean time, com- munications were constantly being printed in the local newspa- pers relating to the trusteeship of the building;— calhng upon me to discountenance the political preachit>g of my brethren,---and complaining of collections being made for public objects, and not being paid to the parties appoirited to receive thern. Some of these papers I imagined to proceed from partj? poliuca c I f: 18 aitd wh^fo blame rea!!y atlaehed, I was wiiimg *o attribute it ra- ther to tbe want of eonwderation than of intention to do wrong. You are witnessea thiii I neifer replied to them. Their tendency to injure usfilowevcF, could not be disputed ; and so much the more as no <^er rcligioua denomination, so far as my information extends, is ever thus attacked by the public press. The time however, now came when I could no longer be deaf. Whenever I spok« ^ reofiey, I was told the Chapel was private |»operly, and that no subscriptions would be forthcoming till it was secured to the Church and congregation meeiin*; in it. i CBqwired about the matter, and at length ascertained that the place, in equity, would be ruled to belong to the Baptist Denomi- nation, but not a word of its being secured to the Church and con-^ gregoHdn meeting therein. In a word, I learnt that the Trustees might again do what they did some yeats since— dismiss the con-^ gregatibn and Church meeting in the place, and obtain another Minister, and raise another congregation. I could not but sym- pathize with the mass of the people, and 1 said to a leading gen- tleman, whose quiet influence is almost proverbially great, " the Chapel, really, must be put in trust ior the Church and coiigrega- tion." His mild and courteous reply, uttered with emphasis, was, " Dr., you take you/ salary as long as you can get it." No one wh6 knows that gentleman could mistake this. Nothing more has been done about building a Vestry and School Room. But, alas, another calamity was pending. One of my son» •who had in England learnt the profession of a Printer, and who had also been encouraged by the Church to which he belonged to engage in the Ministry, had been residing with me from the time my family arrived in this City. He had often preached among you with acceptance, and promises were made to him of influence being exerted lo secure the Pastorate of some one of the destitute Churches in the province. Months, however, elapsed, and he was at length told this could not be done. He resolved on turhing his attention again to his profession. He was offered an engagement in the office of a newspaper which it seems is of what at^ called liberal sentiments, or of views opposed to those of the trustees of the Granville Street Church. With ilie arrangement I had nothing to do— I was not consulted— and if I had beeny I could have given no opinion which would not hive (fended one party or the other. I ivas sUent, and he accepted the proposal. One would have supposed that no third party had anything to do with such an affair, and certiinly no reasonable ««kj.Tv Mffviiif! hnya t%vnnntoA thnt T should havo b66n called to suf" fer fnwa it. JSut the gentleman to whom I just now referred, tol<| i! i ^. i ' ne that " such an engagement wodMi cut JuBfll ©ff from tht ie- nomination, and would injure me"; 8Krthtr^«« trustees i«4 that ♦♦ he would not contribute £ — a j«af to Dr. Bekher s flUf* port if his son was to be employed h^ the o|>p(»wg ^litical pww tv"— a third of these gentlemen wrf|B OB tH^ wry day the c i- iagemeHt was publicly announced, iptotiiBlted to a gentleman io London that my pastoral enga|W^t mM shortly cla«e ; whde the lady who seems to regard it al W^tuiy to make ihe first announcement of a pastor's removal to him, caoie to me with the comfortable assurance that " I was ruined." Wild it be said that I mu^ be mistaken, and that such tllHngi could not be true ? Such a supposition must in some quarters be cherished, for who among you is not constantly hearmg that ti^ f^^^iSK'^Kki'MS^^^^'fMM^'^- '. i >l ,Of course indN^*' ««>W not be brought beterr the church .» to /^-ourSfMd «».« other meth; =h the Church feel themselves enabled to offer iheir Pastor is £260 curreiKv" and every one knovis that the properly connected wihtte Church's largely increased since that date, by the »oces. Z„ If nearW thirty merhbers. some of whom have been blessed, fn "hi R.^d pro idence of God, with a competency *h.ch "aises ihtm far^bove poverty Away -'h"" '-^^P^^ -^;!: inconsistent alike with tiuth, and wiih honour. The g'eat ihing the on V tb ng here wanted is a systematic collection and app^-r tnmenVof fLds; but thodgli more ">- «- ,f /-J/™",^ have again and again submitted such plans, it has "een uireny wi houfavail. Here, and here only is the source of all you p^ cuniary difficuUies. The people have been f" ^ J»^> !^"/'^^ w'lllin', nav, mxiousbj desirous to. contribute all that might be r«eded ?°' the support of every interest connected with the place, but they have not had a fair opportunity. r..,„„^» .hat no 1 Learning « day or l« cx^mmttnicatlons h«v^ Teichcd me from mcHBieii of tho r'lurch and ccngr-^gation, and others, ull breathklf ♦•JJirit of greai kiudncss tohiyself jiersDual.y, and to xiy MNib^ «Wottg you. And whilo these i«pre»*»oii« of regard call for my !>eae»t gratitude, they awaken my most in- tense anxiety. They WW*, beyond all controversy, that my re- movai from Grwif iUe SkhJet, at the preseut time, would mevitably ruin the church thew; and though many -ery kina and libera offers of help to bupport a cause eisewhare have been made, 1 leel chat the violation of unity among the Baptists of this city wo«»ld be a calamity, the effects of which woiild be felt fer and wide, and o'Jght, therefore, if possible, to be avoided. 1 trust, my dear brethren, that the prosperity of the causa ol Christ is dearar to me than life itself; and I am ready to give some small proof of my regard to it by making a sacrifice oil ita behalf. The evils among us, a? it appears to me, admit ot an easy recnedy. I therefore Leg to submit the following propos«- tions i-"^ 1. That, in accordance with the wish so frequently and gene- rally expressed, the chapel be invested in trust (or the use of the church and congregation now meeting therein ; iu the same way as other Baptist chapels in the Province are su secured; lull in- demnity iMjing given, as now, for the payment of the mortgage and other debts thereon. 2. That no political opinions, nor any expression oi them, be allowed to have any influence whatever on church fellowship, or the maintenance of Christian intercourse among the members of the church. , , . , .. 3. That on condition of these proposals being heartily com- plied with, I am prepared for pome time to come to sacrifice £2o per annum of ray present sala-7, r.r even, if need be £60, hoping that a slight literary effort will make up the deficiency. Trusting that these proposals will be met in the same «j»fit of kiriintJis in wbioh they ire made, and waiting the decision of the a> "x^Ssw s of the church, ram, dea« brethren, very affectionately, your pasUir, And servant in the Gospel, " Joseph Belcher. It might have been hoped that this communicatioii wouW haM bee».appr«w^d ; bus what was done ? To ikHi htm I bafv« recei- ve4 no f eply ^ it. The chuida again met^ani agw« were enter- however, with considerable difficulty two committees weie »p* \' x\ \\ S3 ^. ih. Arst to ■scMtain whelhet tlie Mibuctibera would and the other to le»in from the «"f*",X.".he church and ere the JH.P^':,- '«'';/rn1u »h^ e^^^^^^ '^'"iZ "that nmly everT-ubscriter » willing to continue h« S'tLlr-n-t^ltrtondil^/XSJHtJlU^^^^^ ^fled h"..e not deemed it -"^r^j ^o Procef^^^ ^^^^^Z meeting of the church, .son ''?"<^' '^^ "^,'''Tn9t the ttu,H=ee. rrctttafre reXL'n'o"; the f^^^^^^^ rnirtf.rdXnrr:="^^^ SJj'^ViK^ :n^'r^aon^Thr.^%.e>;^Granv:>^ ll'^^^herei^thoraild^^^^^^^^^^^^ saying nothing at all of the P^^J j,^^ y°"Jp,,_4nd yonder again h r p«-«.*oMom!.: to tin.eL .he history of .he Denom.- "X-rhrprSff J,- founded on -i;Bnpu.t Pri^i- p,e„ and in the -me of th^ Bap..^^^^^^^^^^ ttnl^^«, chui^ch no trustee., no couneris. no •»?«^«rV h»" « ^j. 3 trustees, no COUDCua, uv "^Y ii r_- ««J •;« rpadv C>df . Whes are friendly with all those, and are ready ^^^^^l^^H^Liii^^tmub ^^^^^^^u^g^^^^^^ fc*lWMi TT!z53MSStm HlBMMKr^ Pl'?"''." ■* • ^W^^^^^^^^ » y^^^^S!*r!8i)^«(ii.„,ui« nf Halifax And if this be indeed the decision of the BfP''^'^f "» '^^^ and the friends of perfect religious freedom in Nova Scotia 1 will submit to it with what grace of f«'8"^"°" . 7^" L** " place myself before my adorable Master, and "W« »PP^»' '° him as to the purity of my motives, in coming '» Hf'f^^' '» "" cordance with what appeared to be His will, and as to the solemn and enUre surrender I made of whaiever I possessed, derived from the studies, the experience, and the leputalion of a ministry of more tTan a quarter of a century, to the advancement o His : u'rin this Province. I will implore His guidance for myself a„d His blessin.' on you. At fifty one years of age I have no lime lor diputationrand'ifl have ji.w seemed 'Vf^^^ris^be: use I different to that in which I have heretofore s ood.it is because 1 ?eel ha he occasion has loudly »"d imperatively called for t _ Melanclhon could not have done the work ol John Knox in Sc tland," d the timid Cranmer could not have a mini^er^^^^ the reproof given to Harry the Eighth by La ™!^J; lYh' lort ably delightful to speak of the happmess f P f'^' '?;^, X.s ance and loveliness of Christian meekness, and the lorjcveness ofTniuries and still more delightful ,o practice them ; but there : e " re'whcn the watchman of lY'^^Tl.TZJ'r^i the task, shew the people of God their sin , and declare to the world ihat these sins do not spring from "f g'""- . „ ,., Is then, the cause of Christianity among the Baptists in m^^^^^^ hooeless 1 In GmnviUe Street, on fe present plalform, tluU c^Ccan J prosper. Public spirit •^^"''^^^f ^'S'^'e shackled, disdpline cannot be discharged ; "» P""^^„7„^„ cons cannot evea meet each other once m ^^J 7»'»''(*2hr?s° pastoral influence or labour can be exer ed. The laws o Ohrist demaua a runner anu nuuci op-- ?---= — - - ... *y* all who I am aware of the influence exerted in opposition W all wno •■\1 # n. \ '\ ■^red tQt bers of, depenn e Cha- though. for any se high out the lout re- men in Halifax, icotia, I I will ipeal to „ in ac- I solemn derived ministry i of His self and lime for attitude scause I for it. — Knox in inistered Linspeak- iniport- ■giveness but there r painful re to the n Halifax ornif thai jedora is md Dea- 3, and no of Christ i/(- ft '■ > all who wffmm^mmf 25 /^entoject to the. arrangements of the gentlemen, wbP«w»m to I Hot theaffairs of the Church ;—ll«mw that no small portion ice talent and the wealth is on that sidey-I aianot Jgaoraatj., ktrmer struggles to hring abotJt a different state of things ani,, ,c failure of such attempts ;-r4attd I caanpl be sjirptised ^tXh^r Jmidily and the fear felt by not d few who sigh foC; the: lil- 'eresls of piety, holy IVeedom, and the happiness i of mail. ^ uU '» Btitthe subject has another side. .:N«ti a few of you d^tre') your freedom, and cart achieve it ; soores if riot hundreds Q^^ap- ' ti^iB in this City are not, and never will be assoQkted with Granville Street Chapel ; our principles are not unpopular ^^^8^ our neighbours J every other Denotninatipn of GhwstiaB^are bbth . peaceful and prosperous ; and alargeand rapidly iticFeasipg.p(l>^; pulation inviteS bur labours, and promises, with the Div'me We8^ sing, richly to reward it. J • /)i. 't!-'" And if I yenJure to recommend another Baptist Ghurchui ,. Halifix, and tho erection ofi another Chapel, .what ;thleiil ^l**tift money question 7 Well, the debt on . Granville Stxpt Ghapel'i now isiCl.oQO, and to maW it suitable foe a Baptist place it wants a Vestry and School Room; these are indi$|>ensahle tou prosperity, and would cost at least £300. besides an annual pay- ment of ground rent op which they would ^tand. For tt^is^^l^QO ground might be secured— School and Vestry Roorns occup^mg fhe whole basement, and a Chapel 70',ieet by 50 might be erected, well pewed, with a deep front gallery, baptistry, gas lights^ ai^d all other conveniences. .,..■, «' L ' -^ a « But where," asks my very cautious friend, *[ wtier^ i9 tfte money to come from V A very necessary and a very wise ques- tion. Let us look at it. I put out of the question all considera- tions of large donations, 1 say nolhit\g this, reasonable as it might seem-let us ^PV ^rr a yej-y rouqlk,, smaiier ?c^le,and see what ^sht be don? for ^ qhape\,the ftr^tst J ik'mi that without difficulty^we inight find r^on^mmmO year. 100 persoi^i tp give a penny per week ' ■ 60 at tw'tJpi^ce pfer week ..», t. 20 at seven ._ Wit • cfUartM .. ; - .- »i.«ii * j**"!"***?^*.™^' ?""f ^'^^ p?!:i.t !tr mii frtoMlb «t|(M}Mt Dwominat>0«)s i.'. the yeais' result would be £21 13 4.. 21 18*4. tP give a penny per wee^ , .u= j.».- .».^ :- -- . ^ .:; BOl.BR'O. Het* it ■ turn total of £324 6 4. r* "!.^ y,«l!»wt*.»«»«w«i»«(Mw>«r-'*T''^^^ rr^S^ / i i \ Li 20 Look at it again and again, and see if there be anything u. sonable or impracticable in the plan ; and ask whether we si ^ hare young men and young ladies enough to collect it 1 \ V only think of 20 young people collecting five shillings a wt °i each, here is £260 at once. Shall the plan be tried 1 As Yaakee would say, " I guess it will." But some of you have long since been ready to exclaim, ** Our chief difficulty will be to support the Pastor ; and if Granville Street, with its numbers and its wealth catinot do that, bow can a smaller and poorer body do if?" Be not alarmed, dear friends, that whole matter has been carefully looked at ; and again we will, if you please, have recourse to arithmetic. And again: we say nothing of large subscriptions — those sources and supports of undue influence — we ask none to oppress them- selves or their families ; we only ask that all shall do something, and that this something shall be done on the Scriptural plan, once a week. Because I would calculate too highly, I have underta- ken in the following table to shew you what can be easily don« by a congregation of 240 persons only. The iollowing proposal, then, is for the support of the Pastor, and is, of course, in addition to the subscriptions for the Chapel. lOO Subtoriban at one penny per week eeeh, will produee UDuiny to do. at two pence 40 do. at three pence SO do. at seven pence hair penirf SO do. at one shilling and three pcna* loo Quarterly Subteriptioni, in additioo to the Weekly SubMriptioB*. as Pew Runts, of Ss, 6d. eieh CoLeotioos on 46 Sabbaths in ^the year, laaviof el*- SsbbftUit.CK otber objeets, at J^l per Sabbath Making an aoDual toUl of jCSO? 3 4 . A sum exceeding the Pastor's present salary. Could this be done? Of course the sums might be paid quarterly, monthly or weekly, as each Subscriber chose ; but to render the plan efficient, payments must be regular and prompt. On this plan not a few of our Chapels in England have been, lo a great extent built, and in this way are the Pastors sustained. Indeed, in our own City, a very short time since, in another Communion, more than £70 was collected within a few weeks in pennies. Let me be well understood. I propose to pi-each no sew doctrines ; to introduce no new system of government different to that adopted by our Brethren generally throughout the world ; '\8Bge$ mil Dot warrant; t avow an attaobroent towards all £ a. n. SI IS 4 SO 0^ 26 9S 10. «6 «0 46 lathing u. er we si t it1 \ lings a wt ried 1 As to exclaim, astor ; and if V i^not do that» not alarmed, ly looked at ; to arithmetic, hose sources ppress thera- lo somethings ral plan, once lave underta- I easily done of the Pastor, r the Chapel. SI IS s« 26 S9 10. <6 O 40 ' r 46 e X.9A1 a 4 ., ight be paid :nose ; but to 'and prompt, d have been, ors sustained. 26, in another a few weeks ^ach no new nent different It the world; nl and 8aDt!it t towards* all L I \ I7l /.stians, and readiness to co-operate with them in the advance- nent of the great interests of Christianity. ^ • Titmebe^ U understood. I am no politician. I am neither L*t me pe v >ti unuciaiuuu __,,^:ej vvithh gher matters k conservative nor a liberal. I am o^^^^P^®'^ jj", .f-^d cannot Ln those which concern states ^^^^ go^^^f^ j^/p'j^^^^^^ come down" to discuss their nieasures The "an pastor ^ dabbles in party po tics, commits, m my view, nigu "^«»°" 'Sst the kingdom of heaven, to which he owes the most entn^e Let others act how they may, he " ""°*' '" ,"° Pj'P ,, .u^^ ^e house to house to teach and to P'ea'h.^""' fj?""' uZ^md u> attend to the claims of souls, penshing souls, " '•ome^ana abroad, and to subserve the highest '«"««' l'^%?"po X^h Let each of you do what seems to him right in no S matters. "Act^he citizen as becometh the gospel of ""£1 'llalTet'oe t'well understood. What I oropose is teSeach^fyo° and that all others who arc desirous of rondlv for the erection of a chapel, ii na™es euuugu L°.?i; Lnt in to iustify a commencement, 1 will announce the time nhw of meiS f- the appointment of trustees, for secunng QraiJIille Street. What you do 1 entreat you to do quickly.- « The king's business reqmrelh haste. _. -^^ oHhe banks, in the names of trustees «° »>* «PP°'"f .onsent^Aat ing, from which it should bo drawn °"ly, X^S the cKaprf and 4,ees, say 12 or 1_6 in n«?be ^'houW holdjie^^^^^^^^ 9 f -OJtaMAipiwMNMttAllWMWisSNtiy \ H V »-"»«*■.'• 'im&^^ I*.* ^., 28 's^ .refigifous pi)ceedlngs of tl^e saicT <^Qrch. AfirvQW» ^oIViP•^^ml^!a.^. e^f.«mo%i "laiiLPpt, a^aid ic^Wpoov^nM^^. very ,^p^k^m^^^md , n?«S^4.i^;thi^-.ca^^)>Wqj*'4ftt ?t^ge|^^^ber of,s«)^lUn(V(?wt^|i ! iSM,:we wilf ,venl«fe<4P Hope, jviths hmi sums tha» ^ny Ii.; szm^'M note?, running-". Pqa|.;^M-^i,- liM 'you^fi^%r f^^feu < down Thy riarae for one shilling a week for ^h^ ^^a«?r ►^w* $»»;i^ scfipS'oMo the,pastoW supjpof? i§ si?£pi^Ge w^pbly^afil jliejS^B^r^ to.Salen3( chapel-^ihope tQ^^3^:?«^eekly-.h/(lb i<- ■V^-;;^-^^ ''-^ 01^ *be: r^^i^ jr^cr^?»ing pplwiatiQfi. pjf ^is^ci^^. c^Jqmm,^ effort:. 'i^qlaseX. J iBQH^^8J»W^?^f1^^' ^'^'^^ ^-mfma " Ana,now.ifje will de^ kijaPM^.Mfc "PX K \. fl ss» vamimu-^" ■•«■ I ■l £ ■