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THE " HUMILIATION" DAY AT…

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THE HUMILIATION" DAY AT NEWPORT. In common with most other parts, Wednesday last was very generally and strictly observed in this town, and business was almost entirely suspended. The streets wore a deserted and forlorn appearance, which was greatly increased by the cold and wet weather. The trains on the lines ran the same as on Sundays, and similar regulations were observed, we believe, at the Post-office. At most of the churches and chapels ser- vices took place both in the morning and evening, and we present as complete a record as we were enabled to obtain of the incidents connected with each place of worship. It is, of course, impossible for us to present a report of each sermon delivered, but those which follow afford a fair indication of the spirit which prevailed. We regret that time has not permitted us to obtain notices of ftie services at the places of worship not in- cluded in the following:— ST. WOOLOS. Two services were held at this church, and at both large congregations assembled. The sermon in the morn- ing was preached by the R,ev. E. Hawkins. Vicar, from the 3rd chapter of Jonah, 9th verse—" Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not ?" The preacher reviewed the circumstances ander which these words were used by the Kiug of Nineveh, and suggested that if the king of a heathen country felt himself called upon to proclaim a fast among bis people, a Christian people like ourselves ought to feel a double weight of obligation. He referred to instances in Scripture which authorised services like that in which they were engaged, and which promised that their prayers should be answered if offeied in a spirit of faith, contrition, and sincerity. They were assembled toge- ther on that day to perform a solemn service on a very momentous occasion. A fierce and terrible mutiny had broken out in India, threatening the subversion of our rule and the destruction of our people, and filling every heart with sorrow and mourning. There could be no question that it arose from the source of all wickednesø- from the malignant spirit of evil; but, at the same time, the hand of God was to be observed in it. However dia- bolical the atrocities which have been committed, they cyoMnot bave been perpetrated without the permission of God. They were bound to look upon it as one of those visitations from which the earth, and especially the inha- bitants of this country, are to learn righteousness. They were called upon to examine their ways, and to search narrowly whether they had not studied too much how to increase their possesqions. and too little how to please the Lord. Into the origin of the Indian mutiny it was not necessary to inquire. It was too evident.that the influ- ence of religion and our advanced civilisation had failed to exert its due effect, and there was doubtless blame, and great blame to be attached to them on that ground. The iime must come when the whole subject would have to be fully discussed and thoroughly sifted by those whose duty it was to inquire into it, and measures would have to be adopted which would prevent the recurrence of the cala- mity. The details of the massacres recently committed were horrible in the extreme. Not only upon men, but upon women also, were the most dreadful atrocities prac- tised. Even at that moment their friends might be en- during insults and barbarities from which there were no means of escape. These facts awakened in all hearts feel- ings of the deepest sorrow and regret, and it was proper to acknowledge the calamities as an expression of Go ¡'s dis- pleasure. It was necessary to own, in a humble and devout spirit, the chastening hand of God. They would not, on that day, perplex their minds with attempts to search into the causes of the revolt. Men and measures were not to engage their thoughts. The second caUS2. or the im- mediate instruments, did Dot concern them at that time. There would be some who would feel that the evils in India had arisen partly from their own selfishness-their haughty bearing, aud abuse of the power they possessed over the natives—and these would feel called upon to go through special humiliation. But there was a reason for all prostrating themselves before God, and beseeching him to spare them a repetition of the horrors which now filled them with mourning. Each one had to deplore per- sonal sins, as well aa national offences. When they reflected upon the bounty with which God had endowed them with blessings as a nation, and the evil return they had made for them, they could not but feel that they deserved chastisement. They would not be justified in using more confident language than that of the King of Nineveh c. W 1,0 can tell if God will turn and repent?" But if penitential prayer was offered, they need not fear the result As a. minister of God, he would tell them that their prayers would be answered. He proceeded to advert to the decline of the ancient kingdoms, and of the churches of Greece and Asia Minor, and drew from those facts a lesson for the Christian church of the present day. The present triumph of men's evil passions, dreadful as it wa8 to contemplate, would yet be made subservient to God s purposes. Agonising as must be tbe sufferings now en- dured by their bereaved and wounded countrymen, and inscrutable as was God's permission to savage men to com- n,it those dreadful cruelties, they must submit meekly to his will. He exhorted them to pray earnestly for the speedy relief of their friends from such terrors—for the wounded and homeless now wandering in that inhos- pitable land for those who were in fear and want and • also for the native Christians, who must he sorely tried He also urged them to pray for those anxious relatives who were in doubt about their friends and for 7 who were now sent out to meet ihe foe might have stout and true hearts given tn'fi rpfy mission of those soldiers was dl!\i thera- righteous vengeance' but in tho .Ve88 /° a retribution they would °f ^dreadful thev would W J. e ministers of, he trusted ing' under nor tv, »e^ 08e h°ly banner they were fight- would fin *11 ywere Christian soldiers. They ? PS-V that good might be brought out of all this dreadful affliction and suffering, and that a just and nristian government might be formed.. In the evening the curate, the Rev. Wm. Feetham, preached, and the Dead March was performed. WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPBT. COMMERCIAL STREET. Two services were held at this chapel; in the morning at eleven, and in the evening at six. The morning service was conducted principally by the Rev. J. Mow at, who, nanal opening devotional exercises, read extracts from tbe Missionary Magazine with regard to Indian [flairs. Prayer was subsequently offered by several per- long the evening, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Balshaw, from the 7th verse of the 81st Psalm —" Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; [ answered thee in the secret place of thunder- proved thee at the waters of Meribah." The ireacber remarked; at the opening of bis discourse, that the words of the text were used originally with regard to the Egyptian bondage of the Jews, and the deliverance wrought out for them by God. They were, however, not inapplicable on the present occasion, when they had been called together for humiliation and prayer under the pressure of a great national calamity. The British nation had fallen upon troublous times, and they were now exhorted, as a community, to acknowledge the Almighty's band, and to petition the throne of the Highest that he would work out for their countrymen in India a deliver- ance like that which the ancient Israelites had experienced. It seemed to be the object of the mutineers in India to sweep away every white man and woman from the face of their soil but how fearful was their delusion! -for no greater calamity could befal that country than the extirpation of the British, and the restoration of the former dominion of the sword, wielded by the Demon of cruelty and supersti- tion. Moreover, the present revolt was marked by circum- stances of peculiar atrocity and unparalleled barbarity—so much so, that one who had witnessed the horrors of a Crimean battle-field, who had passed, with harrowed feelings, among the dying and the dead, beholding the tor- tures of the wounded, and listening to their last expres- sions of anguish, and who thought that no misery could exceed that which he there beheld-felt that even these scenes were surpassed by the inhuman butchering of our brave countrymen, and the atrocities perpetrated upon our dishonoured countrywomen in India enormities at which his heart almost ceased to beat-his blood ran cold, and he could only exclaim-" 0 Lord, how long?" The preacher then drew a vivid picture of some of the fearful outrages which have marked the progress of the mutiny, and then, with emphasis, de- manded —" Do not these things require that justice— not vengeance, not revenge—should be meted out to the savage perpetrators of these crimes?" The Bible, also, and that holy religion which we had sought to disseminate in India, had been flagrantly outraged in the course of this revolt; and if the Jews of old were jealous of the honour of their sacred temple—if the Pagan and Maho- medan of our own time were zealous for their systems of evil and superstition, should we look coldly on while & horde of barbarians bade haughty defiance to our country and our country's God ? Still, it must be confessed that England had been unfaithful to her privileges, with re- gard to India. Alas that our countrymen, when a high- way was opened for them in India, should not have been more anxious to take to the people the Bread of Life, than to wring from them a munificent revenue Verily, there is a God that ruleth in the earth, who, when men are unfaithful to their privileges, comes forth from his throne to punish them. He had given to England an exalted position among the nations of the earth. His hand had bren with us in extending our commerce, in speeding our ships, in digging our mines; but there had been too evi- dent a disposition to plume ourselves upon our achieve- ments—to boast of the Great Babylon we have built—as though our own hand had got us the victory. The British nation was now called to humiliation at the recol- lection of past unfaithfulness and if its recognition of God were sincere, He would again come forth to our help. In other times, he had submerged whole navies in the deep, ho had destroyed entire armies, to effect a deliver- ance for those who bad trusted in Him; and still willing to listen to a nation's prayers—to heed the cry of the oppressed-to assuage the griefs of the fatherless and the widow-He would yet appear for our defence, and give victory to our arms, if our trust be in Him. Mr. Balshaw concluded an eloquent address by reminding his audience that the aim of a Christian nation should be to obtain justice, not to grativy a vengeful passion. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL OF ST. MART. The day of humiliation and prayer in behalf of our countrymen in India, was appointed by the dignitaries of the Catholic Church, for Sunday last. A pastoral was received from the bishop urging the congregation at the above church to offer p-ayers, and also to contribute to the relief fund. Masses were in consequence performed, and the Miserere sang, after which, the Rev. Mr. Richardson preached, and earnestly exhorted his audience to contribute to the Relief Fund of the town. A subscription will also be got up among the members of, the congregation for the same purpose. REFORM WESLEY AN CHAPBL, HILL-STREET. A prayer meeting was held here in the morning, and in the evening a sermon was preached by Mr. Bevan.from the 11th chapter of St. John, part of 28th verso, The master is come, and asketh for thee." WELSH INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, HILL-STREET. Three prayer meetings were held in the course of the day, at each of which the Rev. C. Griffiths, minister of the place, presided. TABERNACLE CHAPEL, COMMERCIAL-STREET. In tbe morning a prayer meeting took place, and in the evening the Rev. Thomas Gillman preached from the 93rd Psalm, 3rd and 4th verses-C. The floods hjLve lifted up, 0 Lord, the floods have lifted up their voices the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea The preacher, in expounding his text, said sin was the cause of all human suffering, but warned his congregation from supposing that those who had fallen in the massacres in India, were more sinful than others. He exhorted them not to pray for vengeance—God would avenge the death of his people in his own good time. He had inflicted a severe judgment on his people, but his mercy is very great, and he will hear the prayers offered to him on their behalf. The preacher concluded by im- pressing upon his hearers the importance of personal as well as of national piety. ENGLISH BAPTIST CHAPEL. 1 At this place of worship, Commercial-street, a prayer meeting was held in the evening, and a short address was afterwards delivered by Mr. Metcalf. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. The Rev. J. T.'VVrenford preached the sermons in the morning and evening. In the early part.of the day he took his text from 1st Samuel 2nd chapter, 30th verse, Them that honour me I will honour." He commenced by animadverting upon the traffic in opium carried on by this country, and expressed an opinion that it was highly iniquitous and dangerous. TheBritishgovernment had sup- pressed the practice of sutteeism, and had also abolished the abominable rites of Juggernaut, but the trade in opium was still carried on under its auspices. Referring to the mutiny be said, there was a loud and general cry for vengeance throughout the country, but they should remember the passage—"Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay." At the same time he said he did not doubt that British soldiers would be made the instruments of exacting this vengeance. EBENEZER CHAPEL (wELSH CALVINISTIO METHODIST.) The services here were of an entirely devotional charac- ter. Three prayer meetings were held, and the sum of S4 collected. We understand that it has been recently decided by this denomination to send all the money col- lected for the sufferers in IndIa direct to their missionaries leaving the distribution of it solely in their hands. DOCK-STREET CHAPEL. The Rev. F. Pollard delivered an address in the evening, and two prayer meetings were also held. WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, PILL. The Rev. J. Harding preached a sermon at this chapel in which pointed and frequent reference was made to the atrocities in India. ENTERTAINMENT. The only amusement permitted was the exhibition of Mr. Forrest's Panorama, in behalf of the Relief Fund. The attendance was so very small, that not much above a pound was taken at the doors. The lecturer and pianist Mr. H Von, commenced bis entertainment by saying:- Ladies and Gentlemen,—I cannot appear before you this evening without referring ve.y briefly to the circum- stances under which our entertainment is now to take place. The published announcements have already made you acquainted with the fact that the entire proceeds of to-night are to be handed over to the Relief Fund Cora- mittee. Mr. Forrest determined to take this step in- fluenced by the feelings of pity for our unfoitunate coun- trymen in India by which every one in this room is also affected. It is hoped that an entertainment for so good and charitable a purpose will be no unfitting termination to those more sacred services in which most of you have been engaged to-day. We have no personal interest whatever in the results of this evening. The Relief Fund Committee have been invited to send their own representa- tive to take the ruoney at the doors, and not one penny of it will pass into the hands of any person connected with the Panorama. The little we are enabled to give will bo offered unreservedly and in perfect good faith, and our only regret will be that the amount is not much larger." (Cheers.) B

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