of Scripture, have been men of the heartiest piety, eminent for purity of sentiment, and glowing with devotion. To say nothing of living divines, one hardly knows, of Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Howe, Edwards, Watts, Doddridge, Leighton, Hall, Neander, whether we are most to admire their diligence in study, or their constancy in prayer; and it may not be presumptuous to declare, that they would not have been so eminent in either, if they had not been eminent in both. The gifts of genius, and the acquisitions of scholarship, are seen to the highest advantage in the light of humble piety; and the fire of devotion never burns more like the flames of heaven than when it kindles the costly offering which a cultivated intellect lays, with penitence and self-abasement, on the altar of God.

"You will understand hereafter, if not now, that by acts of devotion I mean much more than the engagement of the heart in prayer, even that prayer which seeks the guidance of the Spirit. Along with this, there must be the spontaneous yielding of the mind to the Spirit's guidance, that His light may be followed while it is employed: the surrender of the soul to His authority; sympathy with the holy purpose of His impartations; a delighted complacency in those views which He unfolds; a dedication of our entire nature to the active out-working of the principles of which He is the advocate; a calm, yet fervent and energetic, consecration of every power of intellect, every thrill of emotion, every ray of knowledge, to the benevolent objects of religion. Oh the blessedness of a familiarity, beyond the compass of language to describe, with devotion such as this! to have our feeble lamp illumined by the light that radiates through the temple above! to explore the depths of wisdom with the warmth, and tenderness, and elevation that speed the progress of the spirits near the central seat of God, in their discoveries of ever-expanding truth! to penetrate the mysteries of grace with the humility of a child, and the vigour of a seraph, with the contrition of penitents, and with a martyr's love! To what sublime heights of Christian Theology might we not hope to attain, if sighs and struggles and entreaties were mingled with our most patient studies! I beseech you, omit nothing that gives acumen, solidity, and expansion to your intellectual habits; but let the spirit of devotion be the cherished life-glow of the whole. The hours

that are hallowed in solitude are the renewings of your strength. You will rise from them with the bounding joy of an eagle soaring to the sun."

Such, then, in substance, is the Address of Dr. Stowell, which shows in what spirit and with what object he has entered upon his Academic functions, and sure we are that the statements here

given will communicate the most intense satisfaction to our readers, and at once beget among the Churches generally the confidence which is necessary to the prosperity of the College. Such is the man of whom the Committee of the College has made choice for this high and responsible duty, and this manifesto, were it necessary, will abundantly and admirably vindicate it. Happily, however, no such vindication is required, since we believe, and we are assured we have accurately expressed the general opinion. We commend him and his colleagues and the cause to the prayers and kind offices of the Church of Christ.

NORTHERN CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE SONS OF MINISTERS AND MISSIONARIES.

SIR,-I shall be happy, through your kindness, to lay before the readers of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS 8ome account of this Institution, the existence of which is probably unknown to many of them, and known to others only by name. I think we may warrantably affirm that we have not been guilty of obtruding our affairs and claims either frequently or offensively before the Christian public, but, as a Committee, have laboured, in a quiet, unostentatious manner, to maintain the interests of the school, and to diffuse its benefits.

It is now almost twenty years since its formation. During that period it has received to the enjoyment of its educational advantages, the sons of our Christian pastors in all parts of the kingdom, and of our devoted missionaries in various quarters of the globe. Its object, as originally announced, was "to provide a religious, classical, and commercial education on economical terms." Its managers confidently appeal to the history of the past, and to the results which have been achieved, as satisfactory proof that its benevolent design has thus far been pursued and accomplished; and they have the grateful acknowledgments of both parents and pupils to the same effect. From missionaries especially, in China and India, in Polynesia and the Western Indies, they have had repeated assurances of the value which they attach to this Institution, and of the confidence they feel in placing their beloved children under its protection and care.

The number of missionaries' sons who have received, and are now receiving their education here, is about forty.

The Committee can point to nearly twenty of their former pupils who are already engaged

in the Christian ministry, or preparing as students, in different colleges, for the sacred office; several of whom appear with honour in the calendars of the London University, or of other Universities. They have also marked, with unfeigned satisfaction, the useful and honourable career of many who, in various professions and in places of great trust and responsibility, are acquitting themselves with much credit and success. Not a few, it is believed, have become members of Christian Churches; and some, called to an early death, have left pleasing evidence that they were prepared to serve and shine in a higher sphere.

The usual number of pupils in our Institution is about forty-sometimes under, but generally above. These are boarded and educated, from year to year, at an expense to their parents of Fifteen Pounds; and, in many instances, the sons of deceased ministers, whose families were left in necessitous circumstances, have been charged only Ten Pounds per annum. These terms, it is obvious, must be very inadequate, and leave a large amount to be provided by the Committee to meet all payments for rent, taxes, salaries, &c., in addition to the household expenses of a family of fifty persons. This, indeed, is our main difficulty. Often have we been afraid that our doors must be closed, and the Institution abandoned for want of funds. We have had two or three crises of this kind; but when our existence was perilled, generous friends have appeared, and special efforts have been made to avert so serious a calamity; and, through the goodness of God, we still have "a local habitation and a name."

The word Northern, in the designation of our school, serves to distinguish it from the valuable Institution at Lewisham; but while established on a different basis, it is just as open and accessible as that is to pupils from all parts of the kingdom; and at least thirty out of the forty counties of England have availed themselves of the privilege. At the present time, of the forty boys in the school, eleven are from Yorkshire, seven from Lancashire, thirteen from the other counties, and nine from various parts of the field of Foreign Missions.

But while the benefits of the school have extended so far, and in that extension we rejoice, especially in the good service thus rendered to the families of Christian Missionaries, as yet our Committee have derived a very small amount of pecuniary aid from the Churches and congregations of our order that lie without the two counties of York and Lancaster. Yorkshire alone, and from the first, has generally furnished about three-fourths of the whole benevolent income; and Lancashire the larger portion of the remaining part.

It might reasonably be expected, that congregations whose ministers participate the benefits of our Institution, would feel called upon and disposed to join in its support. And so, probably, they would, if a deacon of the Church, or some influential friend of the pastor, would make the appeal on its behalf; the minister himself regards the matter as personal, and shrinks from it as too delicate for his interference. surely the obligation lies somewhere, if we knew how to reach, and turn it to account.

Yet

Even a small contribution from such quarters where the ability to do more may be wanting, would be welcomed as a grateful recognition. Upon the friends of missions and missionaries our Committee feel they have a strong and interesting claim; and to their kind and generous hearts they make an earnest and confident appeal. In that separation from their families which in some situations is almost inevitable and which for many important reasons is most desirable, the missionaries often tell us in their letters that it is "a special relief and solace that they have in England such a school as Silcoates for their sons, and as Walthamstow for their daughters, and that they view it as cause for devout thanksgiving to God."

In our Report, a copy of which I forwarded to you some weeks ago, it will be seen that to our excellent treasurer, Robert Milligan, Esq., we owed £290 18s. at our last anniversary, and also that our annual income falls much below our expenditure. I am anxious that this balance should be paid off, and that our ordinary income and expenditure should be equalized; and I have determined, so far as God shall enable me, that no efforts shall be wanting on my part to accomplish these objects.

I have still another desire and aim in reference to this Institution. We want a building of our own, adapted to the purposes of a public school; not ornamental and costly, but plain and commodious; which shall be at once a guarantee for its permanence, and a means of transmitting its benefits to the generations following. I have long cherished the hope, and I now feel increasingly anxious that it should be realized, and to see at least the auspicious commencement of a work so truly important, and on many accounts so much to be desired. Our day has been distinguished by many noble acts of Christian liberality. We have men, and women too, of large and generous hearts, who have given freely as God has blessed them. Our chapels, our colleges, and our schools, will be lasting memorials of their piety and public spirit. Happy indeed should I feel in the prospect that "the Northern Congregation School" would have its own modest and appropriate edifice, sacred to religion and education, standing in the midst of them to receive to its privileges the sons of future pastors, and to retain for its successful maintenance the sympathies, and charities, and prayers of the Evangelical Churches of our land!

In conclusion, permit me to state that the office held so long and so honourably by Dr. Munro, is now filled by his brother, Mr. Daniel Munro, A.M., a scholar of distinguished merit, and an able and successful teacher in other schools previously to his appointment here.

Commending our School, its tutors and pupils, and all its interests, to the blessing of the Most High, and to the kind sympathies and prayers of all who may bestow their attention upon this appeal,

I subscribe myself, Mr. Editor,
Yours with sincere esteem,
THOMAS SCALES.

Silcoates House, Wakefield,

Feb. 14, 1851.

No ordinary interest has been excited by the Article which appeared in our last Number, on the subject of the pecuniary contributions of the church and congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Morgan, Belfast. In that Article we expressed a wish to know somewhat of the social circumstances of that people, that it might be seen how far it was to be taken as offering an example to churches of average dimensions and circumstances in England. Just as we were about to write to Dr. Morgan, on public grounds, to solicit this favour, the Rev. John Weir, Presbyterian Minister, of River-terrace, Islington, kindly transmitted to us the following letter from Dr. Morgan to himself, in reply to one which he had been prompted to write to the Doctor on seeing the Article in the CHRISTIAN WITNESS. We are alike obliged to him and to his friend, Dr. Morgan, for the generous courtesy which has so promptly and so fully met our wishes, and enabled us still further to promote the good of the churches. Dr. Morgan's letter, addressed to Mr. Weir, runs thus:

MY DEAR SIR,-I am much obliged by the trouble you have taken in the matter of our Congregational documents. I have seen the WITNESS, and read the remarks of the Editor. I feel grateful that he noticed us at all, and especially that he has expressed himself with kindness, though in some respects with disapprobation. It occurs to me to suggest, that as he now sees he was in error when, some time ago, he represented us all as "twice dead," he ought now to infer that he may be in error when he describes us as "enslaved." No one who knows our state would read his remarks on our slavery without a smile. Dr. Chalmers visited us, and after acquainting himself with our ecclesiastical condition, pronounced the opinion that there was no church in the United Kingdom so happily circumstanced as ours. He found us endowed, yet free. In point of fact, the Government of the country never attempted once to interfere with our most perfect liberty; and we have had the experience of about two hundred years. Let Dr. Campbell come over and see us. I will give him my pulpit, and introduce him to our ministers, and afford him all the opportunity he desires to know our real state. And I undertake to say, that, however he may differ from us in sentiment respecting endowments, he will be constrained to say we are freemen. I know somewhat of the English Dissenters, and I hold the opinion that their state is one of slavery compared with ours,I mean that of their ministers.

But you say the Doctor wishes for facts touching our congregation and its circumstances, and

I come to these. To state the matter generally, it is as follows:

1. The congregation consists of four hundred families.

2. These are in various conditions of life, but generally, they are commercial. A fourth may be regarded in the class of merchants; a half in that of shop-keepers; a fourth in those of operatives and servants. This is a very loose and general calculation.

3. We have no rich men, retired from business, and independent of commerce. There are a very few retired from business and who have a competency, but not one rich man in that class.

4. I cannot explain the generosity of the congregation on any other than the three following grounds: (1) The people being generally commercial, have money, more or less, in their hands. (2.) They give almost universally; the exceptions are very few in which little or nothing is given. (3) But, above all, I think there is a deep sense of duty in the matter of contribution. To give an example from two classes. As to the rich, many parents give, at a collection, £1 for each member of the family. In this way, seven hands in a pew will lay £7 on the plate. I know examples, however, of £20 and £10 laid by one person on the plate, and this done yearly. As to the poor, I called to see two servants who had been absent for some time with the family in England, and so missed As I was coming away, they said they wished then to give their contributions, and handed me £2. It is THIS UNIVERSAL GIVING, the poor and the rich together, that makes up our collection. I do not think there are more than half a dozen who can be said to give very large sums. I know one of £50 annually to one of the missions; but there is no other that I know of approaching to it. are the only thoughts which occur at present, and as I have come to the end of my paper, I close.

several collections.

Belfast,

11th Feb. 1851.

These

Truly yours,
JAMES MORGAN.

Although the first half of this letter does not refer to our object, yet, in justice to Dr. Morgan, we have given it entire. The reader will observe the indirect allusion of the respected writer to the Regium Donum, and to British strictures on the Irish Presbyterians for receiving it. Having spoken to this point, however, in our last, we shall not at present refer to it, further than to say that no community in the world stands less in need of it than the flock of this most efficient pastor, Dr. Morgan, and that nothing can be more preposterous than for a people so comparatively opulent, and so exemplarily liberal, to receive public money, while they are annually giving of their own proper good, to ten times the amount, for the cause of Christ, religion, and

humanity, at home and abroad. It is very much as if a wealthy tradesman should sustain the character of parish pauper, receiving with one hand the miserable dole of the overseer, and with the other distributing, from his own ample funds, most splendid donations on every side! We have no taste, however, for any discussion upon it at present. It is a very insignificant affair, compared with the great object of reforming the financial condition of the universal Church. We must really look on the church of Dr. Morgan as entitled to occupy an honourable place among those churches that are going a great way, in point of benevolence, towards presenting a model to Christendom. In spite of the Regium Donum, we are the subjects of a deep admiration of him and his people.

The reader will not fail to mark the lessons supplied by this valuable epistle, and among them, to note, with special approbation, the fact of the universality which characterizes the act. The idea of servant-girls scorning to profit by their absence, when collections are making, at the expense of the cause of God, is beautiful in the extreme, and supplies a lesson from which many people in better circumstances may profit. How lovely are such exhibitions of Christian conscience! This universality is the great thing that is wanted to give effect to the movements of Christian philanthropy. It is, in reason and in Scripture, a great binding duty, and ought to be taught as such to the Church of God.

Another thing comes out, with striking effect, in the letter: the practice of giving in proportion to means. This is another great defect in the bulk of the churches : by large numbers it is generally overlooked. Men have been known to profess Christianity, and to rejoice in a fortune of a hundred thousand pounds, while their very housekeepers have actually been known to contribute more to the extension and the maintenance of the ordinances of religion than their monied masters. Such conduct as this is neither consonant with reason nor with Scripture. The Divine command is not only that every one shall give, but that each shall give

as the Lord hath prospered him." At times, acting upon this rule, it may turn out that very little indeed will be given no matter; the principle, not the amount, is what the Lawgiver has looked

at.

How long will it be till rich men duly consider these words? Is it not clear, beyond all doubt, that many of them come greatly short of aught even

approaching to a fair compliance with the Divine command? How is this? Is it ignorance, or is it obstinacy? If ignorance, it should be enlightened; if obstinacy, it should be corrected.

It will further be seen how great a stress Dr. Morgan lays on the fact of the contributions of the people being mainly regulated by principle. Their business forms no small part of their religion, and their religion a chief part of their business. They carry on trade and perform manual toil for God. The strength of the case seems to turn upon this. When the collection is made, there is no dunning: he neither threatens, coaxes, nor declaims them into a momentary feat of liberality. As we understand the matter, nothing is said at all on the occasion of a collection. The modest writer of the letter has abstained from enlarging on this matter; but we have been favoured with a communication, which purports to have been written by a traveller, and strikingly illustrates the whole question. The following are extracts :

Many have asked how it is that such large sums of money are obtained in this place for religious objects. As I had the opportunity to be present on a recent occasion, when £320 were laid on the plates, and have learned by particular inquiries something of the plans pursued there, I feel that a service might be rendered to the cause of religious generosity by describing what I have seen and learned. At eleven o'clock, a large congregation assembled; the text chosen was, Mal. iii. 10-12. From these verses the preacher delivered a discourse on the subject of Christian generosity-first explaining the duty of religious contributions, as there enjoined, and then enforcing it by the many and powerful motives contained in the text. He showed what had been demanded of the Jews, and what is now required of the Christian, particularly dwelling on the Apostolic rule, "On the first day of the week let every one lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him "--remarking on it that it contains three great piinciples for religious contribution, namely, that every member of the Church was expected to give in proportion to his means, and that all should do so under the impression of the sacred associations of the Christian sabbath. But the discourse bore chiefly on the motives which should urge to religious contribution; and not going beyond those in the text, the preacher noticed the promise of prosperity to those who discharged the duty-the tendency of the duty itself to form habits favourable to prosperity-the abundant and special assurances of the Divine blessing to all who used their property for Him-the confirmation of these remarks by the history of nations and individuals-the condescension of God in inviting His people to "prove Him" by this test-and the special claims which now arose from the goodness of God in the past season-as well as the connection of such a cause with the highest spiritual and eternal interests -the salvation of souls, the honour of Christ, and the glory of God. The design of the dis

course was apparent-to prepare the minds of the people for the duty before them, that they might not merely give to the cause of God, but do so in a high, holy, and generous spirit. And that this was gained was felt at the time; and the result abundantly confirmed it. At the conclusion of the service, the announcement for the collection in the afternoon was made, followed by a request that none should be absent from the service on account of having nothing to give. The preacher affectionately urged all to come. Those who had no money could give their prayers, and the penny of the poor was as acceptable as the pounds of the rich; and he concluded the whole by beseeching all to come in the spirit of prayer to unite in thanksgiving and offering to the Lord.

At half-past one the congregation met again there appeared to be none absent, and the countenances of that large assembly seemed to say they met to do something. The text was Phil. ii. 5, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." I regret that I can but briefly refer to the preacher's eloquent appeal.-Having shown that by the mind of Christ was meant his benevolence in saving sinners, he proposed to illustrate that benevolence, and apply it to the subject of missions to the heathen. This was done by showing with what devotion of spirit Jesus looked forward to this work from eternity -what obstacles he surmounted in order to effect it, through what humiliation and sufferings he passed-how he staked his glory on the accomplishment of it-and what were the issues he anticipated from it. Thus did the preacher bring out the "mind of Christ," and thus he appealed to his hearers to exhibit the same. This was a novel but powerful argument for missions, and was felt to be most effective. I remarked that nothing was said in the discourse on the subject of giving to the cause of God. That had been done in the morning, and there was not even a reference to it. When he sat down, the collection was made as usual, and some of the collectors found it difficult to make room on their plates for the bank-notes deposited. No emptied plate was presented at each pew that the poverty of the poor man might be seen, or the wealth of the rich man displayed. I never witnessed a more silent and unostentatious offering. On inquiry, I learned it was the custom of many heads of families to furnish every member of their house with bank-notes, greater or smaller, hence in many pews every hand stretched forth to the Lord. The effect of this training on young minds must have a powerful influence for good. The result is ресиliarly interesting, On the plates being brought in and their contents reckoned, it was found that there were only 9s. 74d. in copper; £49 10s. 4d. in silver; £270 in gold and bank-notes; making in all £320. There were one or two bank notes of £20, several of £10, a greater number of £5, and the rest £2 and £1. This was a happy result, but it is to be remembered it was not an unusual one; what occurred on that day takes place annually, and has been continued for many years. But was it always so in Belfast? By no means. I have heard it said, when Dr. Morgan first came to Belfast, some twenty-two years ago, it was suggested to him that he should go to England to beg money to liquidate the debt on the Church. And when he attempted, in the first year of his ministry, to obtain a collection for that object, all he got

Another feature is noticeable-the universality with which the members of the congregation give. From the highest to the lowest the habit prevails. These large collections are not so much by munificent donations from a few, as by generous contributions from all. Servants have often been known to lay a sovereign on the collection plate. An impression has sometimes prevailed that there is extraordinary wealth in the congregation, but I am informed this is by no means the case. There are other congregations where there is a larger number of rich men. There are not more than a few persons in it that are independent of their daily business. There are many merchants, no doubt, but the uncertainty of their resources is well known. From all I could learn, the generosity which has surprised so many is simply the result of good instruction. It is a fine example of the power of the Divine Word when brought to bear on the conscience of the people. I trust the example will be efficient in leading many to go and do likewise. Long may it continue to be set! The congregation have earned a character which it is to be hoped, for their own sake and that of the community, they will be careful to maintain. What I have written is not to flatter or applaud any, but to serve what I consider to be a good cause-the duty of honouring the Lord with our substance and with the first-fruits of all our increase.

This valuable letter shows that the thing is gone about in a very interesting but simple manner. Nothing can be more rational or scriptural: it presents a beautiful portrait of a Christian church. Happy the minister who has succeeded to train such a people, and happy the people who have enjoyed the ministrations of such a pastor! Long may the union continue, for their mutual comfort, the good of the world, and the Divine glory!

In bringing forth these facts, we think we have performed an act which may turn out to be no inconsiderable service to all the interests of the Church of God. The whole system of her Financial Economy is in a defective, unsatisfactory, and, we may add, lamentable condition. The matter is by no means rightly understood; the bulk of the people are untaught concerning it, and but few have made the matter a study for themselves. It is too generally a thing which has but little connection either with reason or with conscience. It is, from beginning to end, altogether chanceable, without principle, without thought; and the result is most disastrous to the interests of the Gospel and the progress of the kingdom of Christ.