MAY MEETINGS. The May Meetings, on the whole, have been satisfactory. All the societies, those of the Conference Methodists excepted, are in a state of perfect peace, enjoying the confidence alike of their constituents and of their Agents in the foreign field. One thing characterises them all,-a desire to lengthen their cords and strengthen their stakes, while all feel that both stake and cord are too feeble to admit of further elevation or extension. More men are wanted, and men of the proper description. We have said men, not but that money also is necessary; but it is to be assumed that if the men are forthcoming, funds for their transfer and support will not be wanting. It is particularly desirable, therefore, that the subject should come nearer to the heart of the churches. There is more of the spirit of prayer required both in town and country. At a recent meeting of the Directors of the London Missionary Society, this subject was gone into with considerable fulness. It was stated by more than one of the ministers present, that the spirit of missions in many cases, even within their own sphere of action, was not now what it was some five-and-twenty years ago. The discovery of the duty of evangelizing the heathen was then but recent; its importance was, therefore, the more impressively realised, and men made haste to return to the path from which their fathers had departed; but having placed their foot upon it, they were satisfied there to stand and look about them. stated that the number of men of thoroughly missionary spirit-the Bogues, the Wilkses, the Waughs, the Hills, and others of a former age among the ministry,-were not numerous, and that amongst the laity, the abundance was not greater, and the conclusion arrived at upon the whole was, the necessity of a fresh Baptism of the Spirit of the Lord. It was STATISTICS OF MORTALITY. The Registrar-General has just issued a huge and most interesting sheet, entitled, "Causes of the 420,977 deaths registered in the year 1847." This Table shows the diseases fatal to males and females at twenty-four periods of life. Thus, for example, phthisis was fatal at the age of 20, and under 25, to 3,521 males, 3,899 females; at the age of 25, and under 30, to 2,983 males, and 3,683 females; from which it will be seen that in both cases, but especially in the latter, the mortality greatly predominates amongst females. The Table ranging from one year to 95 and upwards, exhibits an affecting document, on which the moralist will meditate with solemn interest. As he sees how life tapers away as it advances, he will be reminded of the lapse of his own hours, of the advances of the period which will lay him with the dead. The mortality from all causes, in the first year, is terrible, amounting to 213,076 males; 207,901 females. It diminishes, while life advances, until at 95, and upwards, it descends to 302 males and 538 females, again curiously showing the superior longevity of the female life, amounting to nearly half over males. METHODISM. We have observed that Methodism forms an exception to the general tranquillity which so happily reigns throughout the various denominations. This fact is now so generally known, and the causes of it so well understood, that it is unnecessary here to enlarge upon it. Three or four years back, moreover, the subject was discussed at length in the columns of this Magazine, and the present state of things confidently predicted as the inevitable result of principles then existing, and courses then adopted. The prediction has been at length, and very soon, fulfilled. The following Table, given by the Conference themselves, reveals the lamentable state of things in that wide-spread community. It will be seen, that the defection is co-extensive with the Denomination-that with one insignificant exception, not only has there been no progress, but actual decrease-a decrease amounting absolutely to a very considerable community. Total 296,333 12,023 171 56,023 Nett decrease 55,852 Such is the state of a denomination, the more sanguine Heads of which were accustomed in their social circles to exercise themselves in calculating,- How long it would require for Methodism to absorb all nations, and to cover the world! There is an end to these visions; and now the calculations, if matters do not take a turn, will rather be, How long it will require to annihilate a once numerous, zealous, generous, laborious, and useful Denomination. We do earnestly hope that concessions will be made and tranquillity restored, and that the Body will once more be blessed with a baptism from on high, fitting it for fresh enterprises in the work of evangelization. SLAVERY. The great conflict of human liberty goes happily on, both in America and in England. In the latter country divers bodies have given emphatic public expression to their abhorrence of the traffic. Letters from Ohio, of the 18th of April, state that Brazil had declared the Slave-trade piracy, but gives no details. This is good, forasmuch as Brazil was heretofore one of the prime strongholds of the infernal traffic. The Americans happened to have taken their Census at the same time with ourselves, and the results, as bearing on slavery, are instructive. The substance is given thus: Free States; free inhabitants, 13,533,328; slaves, 119. Slave States: free inhabitants, 6,393,757; slaves, 3,175,783. Districts and territories: free inha bitants, 160,824; slaves, 3,687. Total population, 23,267,498; representative population, 21,833,625. The whole number of representatives is 233. Now this is a dreadful picture! It will be seen that the Free States have just slaves enough among them to pollute the atmosphere and to stain their fair fame, while in the Slave States there is, in round numbers, actually one slave to two freemen. Poetry. MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS. BY AN AUTHOR OF 1599. My mind to me a kingdom is; Such perfect joy therein I find, As far exceeds all earthly bliss, That God or Nature hath assign'd! Though much I want that most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave. Content to live, this is my stay: I seek no more than may suffice; I see how plenty surfeits oft, And hasty climbers soonest fall; Mishap doth threaten most of all. No shape to win a lover's eye: Some have too much, yet still they crave; I little have, yet seek no more; They are but poor, though much they have, I laugh not at another's los8, No worldly care my mind can toas, I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend, I joy not in an earthly bliss, I weigh not Croesus' wealth a straw For care, I care not what it is; I fear not fortune's fatal law: My mind is such as may not move For beauty bright, or force of love. I wish but what I have at will, I wander not to seek for more, I like the plain, I climb the hill, In greatest storms I sit on shore, And laugh at them that toil in vain To get what must be lost again. I kiss not where I wish to kill; I feign not love where most I hate ; I wait not at the mighty's gate: The court nor cart I like nor loathe; My wealth is health and perfect ease; My conscience clear my chief defence; I never seek by bribes to please, Nor by desert to give offence. Thus do I live, thus will I die ! Would all did so, as well as I. Religious Entelligence. ORDINATION. ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE.-On Good Friday, April 18th, the Rev. William Thomas, of Rotherham College, was ordained to the pastorate of the Congregational Church, Rycroft, Ashton-underLyne. For more commodious accommodation, the services were conducted in Albion-street Chapel, which was kindly lent for the occasion by the Minister and Deacons. The Rev. John Raven, of Salford, Manchester, read the Scriptures, and led the devotions in prayer; the Rev. David Jones, of Booth, near Halifax (Mr. Thomas's late pastor), delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Ogden, the senior deacon, then briefly stated the way in which the church had The been led to invite the young minister. Rev. R. Calvert, of Hyde, asked the usual questions; the Rev. J. Sutcliffe, F.S.A., of Ashtonunder-Lyne, offered the ordination prayer; the charge to the minister was given by the Rev. W. H. Stowell, D.D., President of Cheshunt College, and formerly Mr. Thomas's tutor at Rotherham; and the Rev. Dr. Clunie, of Manchester, closed the solemn service by prayer. In the evening, the Rev. R. Roberts, of Staley Bridge, read the Scriptures and offered prayer; and the Rev. J. Glendenning, of Huddersfield, preached the sermon to the people. The Revs. R. G. Milne, M A., of Tintwistle; S. Dyson, of Upper Mill: T. G. Potter, of Marple Bridge; J. Buckley, of Penistone; R. Moffatt, of Sowerby Bridge; and G. Shaw, of Rotherham College, took part in the services of the day. Between the morning and evening services, upwards of two hundred ministers and friends dined together in the preaching-room, Rycroft. In The origin of the infant cause at Rycroft is a pleasing instance of the way in which Congregational Churches ought to be multiplied in populous districts. The people worshipping here, originated from the Independent interest at Albion Street, the east end of the town. taking their departure from that place, the object they had in view may be said to have been of a twofold nature;-first, to disseminate more widely the principles of Congregationalism at this, the west end of the town:-and, secondly, by thus leaving the parent place, to provide more accommodation for parties who have been long pressing for sittings, but who could not be accommodated for want of room. For these reasons, on the 7th of May, 1848, an amicable separation took place; when eighty-six members of the church, together with a goodly number of the congregation, resolved to commence the new interest. Accordingly, on the evening of that day, the Rev. J. Sutcliffe, F.S.A., pastor of the parent place, opened the upper room of the Rycroft British School, as a preaching-room, by holding a prayer-meeting, and giving an appro. priate address; hoarseness and a sore throat prevented him from preaching; and from that time regular services have been conducted in the morning and evening of every Lord's day. The members were formed into a distinct church on Sunday, January 14th, 1849, when the Rev. J. Sutcliffe again officiated; seventy-nine members were present on that occasion, four were sick, and three were absent. Since then they have been supplied by the two Colleges at Manchester aud Rotherham, together with the neighbouring ministers occasionally, until the commencement of the present year, when Mr. Thomas began his settled ministrations with very encouraging prospects of success; and so far his labours have been blessed even beyond expectation. The church now numbers 112 members. The congregation also has so increased, that the preaching-room, which will seat 510 adults, is getting nearly full; and the scholars in the Sunday-school amount to 640. CHAPEL DEBT LIQUIDATED. ON the last week in May, 1851, services were held and collections made in Chapel-street Independent Chapel, Salford, Manchester, for liquidating debts connected with that place of worship. Also, to celebrate, with thankfulness to God, the delightful measure of revival and prosperity which He has recently granted to the congregation assembling in that sanctuary. On Sabbath-day, May 25th, sermons wer preached by Dr. Halley and the stated minister, Mr. Raven, after which about £44 were collected. On Tuesday evening, May 27th, a most impressive and useful discourse was delivered by the Rev. John Angell James, of Birmingham; a crowded assembly of ministers and many influential friends from all the congregations of the same denomination in the neighbourhood, and of other sections of the Christian church, listened with delight and edification to that faithful servant of God. Such a demon stration of esteem for character and usefulness Chapel-street Chapel Vestry, COLONIAL MISSIONS. THE designation of the Rev. J. Hamer, minister of the Independent Church, Middleton, Lancashire, to Auckland, New Zealand, took place in Grosvenor Chapel, Manchester, during the month of May last. The Rev. T. James, Secretary of the Colonial Missionary Society, gave the introductory statements; the Rev. Dr. Vaughan offered the designation prayer; and the Rev. Mr. Binney gave the farewell address to the Rev. T. Hamer. On Saturday evening, May 31st, at a public tea-meeting held in the school room adjoining the Independent Chapel, Middleton, Mr. Hamer took an affectionate leave of his beloved people. E. R. Brown, Esq., occupied the Chair. Speeches were made by the Chairman, Deacons, and several members of the Church; expressive of their high estimation of the character and abilities of their beloved pastor; of the rapid advancement of the Independent cause during his three years' residence among them; mingled with many regrets at his departure, and prayerful wishes for his future success and happiness. A purse of gold was presented to Mr. Hamer by Mr. R. Wright, the senior deacon, accompanied with a speech of great tenderness and affection; with a written testimonial of commendation from the Church, Congregation, and Sabbath-school Teachers. Mr. Hamer and his family left London in the Cashmere, on the 12th of June. The Union Chronicle. CHRONICLE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES: OF THE BOARD FOR GENERAL EDUCATION: AND OF THE THREE SOCIETIES FOR BRITISH MISSIONS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNION. THE ORGAN OF THE UNION AND THE SOCIETIES. BEST MEANS OF CALLING FORTH THE TALENT OF THE CHURCH FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. given to some, all experience assures us that the best expectations would, to a large extent, be certainly fulfilled. A Paper read at the Annual Meeting of the Congregational Union, May 16th, by the Rev. J. H. Godwin. MR. CHAIRMAN,-I have endeavoured to comply with the request of your Committee, simply from a conviction that the subject which they wished to bring under your consideration was one of great importance, on which it was very desirable to obtain the opinions of our brethren, and in respect to which it might be very useful to leave on the minds of many the impression which the discussion of the subject in this assembly is likely to produce. The question I am directed to lay before you is this, "What are the best means of calling forth the talent of the Church for the work of the Ministry?" It will not, of course, be expected that I should furnish a satisfactory answer to this inquiry. My business is that of a pioneer,-to open paths in which others may go forward, or from which they may immediately turn, if they happily can discover any better way. Before noticing the replies which may be offered to this question, it may not be improper to say a few words on some things which it seems to imply. The question, no doubt, arose from the persuasion that the object which it describes is desirable, that the talent of the Church should be thus employed, that so the power of the Ministry would be increased; and the prosperity of the Church, and the progress of religion be promoted. These things are perhaps so obvious as to require no support. We need not turn to the pages of history; we have merely to look around us. Where men of intelligence, kindness, religious earnestness, and general fitness for ministerial duties are seen to labour, results most encouraging and delightful are usually witnessed as the fruit of their labours. Hundreds, it may be thousands, unite in thanksgivings to God, for the grace bestowed on one, probably through the prayers of many, certainly for the welfare of many. The office of the ministry has hitherto been one of the characteristics of Christianity. We believe that Divine Wisdom has been manifested through all ages of the Church's history, in this appointment of our Lord; and we see no reason to suppose that any social change will ever supersede his institution. If in all our cities and towns there were a sufficient number of ministers, possessing the qualifications which God has But if the condition of the Church depends much on the character of the Ministry, is not the reverse also true, that the character of the Ministry depends much on the condition of the Church. If the peculiar services of religion were deemed superior in dignity to all other pursuits, and supreme importance was attributed to whatever respected men's spiritual nature, and all objects were appreciated by their relation to Christ; if such a state of thought and feeling prevailed in the Churches, and was manifested in word and deed, would not the sure consequence be that the most highly endowed among our youth would be pressed onward to the work of the ministry. Commonly it is by the diligence and success of those who are already engaged in any particular work that a general interest in the work is excited; and then the spirit, thus widely spread, supplies continually new labourers for the work. Is it not so also with the Ministry? If the youthful talent of the Churches is not in due measure given to the Ministry of the Gospel, must it not be because a due estimate of the honour and worth of the Ministry is not diffused generally among the members of the Churches. The question also implies that the object described is, at least in part, within the sphere of human agency, that something may be done to secure the consecration of the most suitable persons to the ministerial office. Those who have suggested to us this inquiry were not unmindful of the dependence of the Church on Him, who gives pastors and teachers for the work of the Ministry. But they, no doubt, considered that we are often required to seek what God is ready to bestow, and that no good is less his gift because consequent on the means which he enables us to employ. Some indeed have thought, because ministers must receive their appointment and preparation from above, that men have no more to do in this matter than in lighting up the luminaries of heaven. But ministers are terrestrial bodies, and therefore are subject to the laws which affect all God's earthly gifts. The requisite elements can proceed only from Him; the continuation may, in some degree, be determined by us. He only can give life, we may check or cherish its development. Talents are entrusted to the community, as well as to individuals; and with both there may be either neglect, and consequent privation; or culture, and an abundant increase. In a few instances we may find the combination arranged, without men's purpose, of every thing that can favour a preparation for the Ministry. There is mental capacity, and wealth to supply the means for its best discipline; devotedness to the service of Christ, and the facility for new attainments, which is the privilege of youth; the possession of spiritual power, and the consciousness of its kind and measure; the heart's own preference for the Ministry, and the sympathy of friends who regard it as the noblest destiny; the example of those who have experienced both the difficulties and discouragements attending their work, and the help and comfort which are afforded in it. Now, where all these things meet together, it is not easy to see what more remains to be accomplished in this matter. But it is not very often that such combinations are made for the Church; more frequently they are left to be made by it. What is wanting in one place is to be supplied by what is furnished from another. Divine Providence presents occasionally patterns of all the arrangements most beneficial to man; and human prudence and piety are exercised in copying these arrangements, that similar advantages may be regularly enjoyed. Thus, to return to the particulars which we have mentioned, there may be given to some large capacity for acquiring knowledge, and power of thought and utterance; but there may not be given the affluence requisite for the full improvement of these gifts. This is no uncommon case. Now, where there are the spiritual gifts, which, if associated with the material, would make it the duty of any one to forsake other pursuits, and to seek a preparation for the Ministry, there will be the same obligation, though these gifts are separated, and the wealth needed is given to other members of the body of Christ. But the obligation does not rest now with the individual alone. The prolonged education which religious teachers require, not less than other teachers, has usually involved considerable expense. The general extension of education, which makes the higher education of ministers more than ever indispensable, has not made it more accessible to the poor. As most of the followers of Christ have always belonged to this class, so most Christian ministers have, in this at least, been successors of the Apostles. The most eminent in the present day, and in former times, were endowed by God with the internal requisites for the Ministry, but not with the external. They were educated by the Church, which would not have received the advantage of their ministry, if it had not first supplied the means for their preparation. Is there not reason to suppose that many have passed their days in comparative obscurity, who, if favoured with aids to mental improvement, would have shone as lights of the world. Their lot may have been happy to themselves, and their service acceptable to the Lord, but the Church has lost the benefit of their endowments and their labours. It may be that the highest ability is sure to attract notice, and the highest energy to overcome difficulties. But ability and energy somewhat below the highest order are not so common that their loss may be viewed with indifference. If poverty be not a disqualification for the Christian Ministry, should there not be some system for affording to young men, of approved character, the opportunity of proving and improving their powers? This has been done by the liberality of individuals occasionally, and with much success. But it has not been done regularly and extensively. Could not some arrangement be made whereby any young men, deemed suitable for the Ministry, might for six or twelve months pursue preparatory studies; from which, if their progress was satisfactory, they would advance to a college course: if otherwise, return, mentally enriched, to the prosecution of their former engagements? It has been noticed, with some regret, that the number of young men from the more affluent classes, who seek a preparation for the Ministry among us, is not large. There are many who receive in childhood the instruction which others have to seek in later years; but these early advantages do not, so much as might be desired, yield fruit for the service of the sanctuary. Several causes may be assigned for this. Where school studies have been laid aside for a few years, there is sometimes a great indiaposition to resume them. Perhaps there is the remembrance of no little pain and toil, without the remembrance of much pleasure or profit. It may be that only the general advantages of mental discipline were secured, and these, though the most important, are not the most readily referred to their proper source. Subsequent habits may have improved the judgment and taste, without producing a corresponding improvement in the powers of arrangement and invention, and the most obvious result of a better education may be a greater sensibility to faults and deficiencies. The commencement of a college course, however needful, appears, in these cases, to be a retrograde movement. Such persons are apt to conclude that the question respecting the Ministry has been settled for them; that if this had been their appointment, their present religious sentiments and convictions would have been formed before the scholarship they once possessed passed from them. But the assurance may be given that the advantages of early training have not been altogether lost, though there be not now the power to translate and demonstrate as formerly. All that has been forgotten may be learnt again much more easily, because it has been learnt before. The aptitude for literary studies, which custom once gave, custom will again restore. Yet certainly it would be much better if these partial losses were not incurred. If school studies were continued rather longer than they usually are, aud were afterwards maintained, as they should be by all who value a good education, youthful scholarship would be preserved and improved; and a few years given to business, instead of separating for ever from the Ministry, might be found perhaps one of the most important parts of a preparation for its duties. When opportunities and examples for religious activity were less abundant than they are now, there might exist in many, latent powers of usefulness, unknown both to themselves and |