The Principality

St^DAY-SCIIOOL NION. The annual meeting of this institution was held at Exeter Hall on Thursday evening, the 3rd inst. Every part of That large r j o mc, s usual excessively crowded, and the tame interest as ever'pervaded the whole proceedings. George HITCHCOCK, Esq., took the chair. Mr. W. H. WATSON, one of the secretaries, then read an abstract of the Report, briefly detailing the operations of the Union at home and abroad. Extracts of communications from Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Dctpe- i-ara, Jamaica, Bahamas, Prince Edward's Island, and Nova Scotia, in acknowledgment of the society's help by grants of books, &c., and narrating the progress of Sunday-schools in those places, formed an interesting feature in the Report. During the past year five grants had -been made in aid of erecting or enlarging schools, making a total of 286, amount- tag to 5.3 2. 131 lending libraries had been granted, making a total of 1,957. The library catalogue had been carefully revised, and now contains a list of 600 volumes adapted for teachers and scholars. Lectures had been deli- vered to teachers in the reading-room and at Falcon-square chapel. The statistics of the metropolis were the same as List year, namely: 623 schools, containing 12,642 teachers, Lnd 123,949 scholars. Five new country unions had been formed during the year: and the committee had visited 37 places by deputation, travelling as far as Glasgow, Edin- burgh, and Leith. The funds of the Union arc in a better state than List year, when an appeal was made for help, which had been kindly responded to. The sales of books amounted to £ 9,329, being an increase of £ 578, which was attributed to the extensive circulation of the Bible Class Magasine, which had now reached a sale of 20,000 monthly. The committee had offered a prize of £ 10 for the best Essay li on Conducting Senior Classes, and a smaller prize for a si- milar Essay on Junior Classes. Many other points of inte- rest were also alluded to, especially the recent metropolitan movement for the improvement and extension of Sunday- schools. The benevolent fund amounted to £ 1,249 lis. 8jd. 2 The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. Edward CRAIG, the Rev. Dr. MORRISON, the Rev. J. H. IIINTON, Dr. BBAUMOXT, and the Rev. V. BROCK. The meeting was then thrown into considerable confusion in consequence of a Mr. ROBINSON pertinaciously persisting in addressing the meeting on tectotalism, with a view to append to the resolution an expression of their sympathy on that question. The. feeling, however, was most unequivocally and most unanimously against the introduction of the topic on that fcocasioa.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIEty. On Friday evening, the 4th instant, the jubilee meeting of the Religious Tract Society was held in Exeter Hall, and was well attended; S. M. PETO, Esq., M.P., in the chair. The meeting was opened by prayer, by the llev. W. W. ROBINSON, At.A., insirnbsnt of Christ Church, Chelsea. An abstract of the report wa-j read by Mr. JOXES, corresponding secretary. It gave a brief view of the society's operations during the past year ia the distribution of religious tracts and books in China, t-dam, India, Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, West and S rath Africa, Madagascar, the West Indies, British North America, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Sp jn, Italy, Germany, Hungary, and Russia. After noticing the jubilee contributions, and the proposal to offer several prises, to be awarded to writers of works suited to counteract ta.oM of an unchristian and demoralising tendency, which con- stitute a large portion of the che:ip literature of the day, it pro- Z, ceeded to no dec Ireland as a wi .e held for evangelical labour. In reference to Great Britain the report stated that the grants made to District Visiting, City and Town Missions, Christian Instruction, and kindred societies, for Sabbath-day circulation, soldiers, sailors, emigrants, inmae-i of prisons, hospitals, and ■union h mses, railway workmen, fairs, races, and foreigners in England, Home Missionary agmts, convict-ships, colliers, and miscellaneous objects, amounted to 2,694,00!) publications, of the value of about £ 2,8J0. The votes of committee for li- braries for districts, schools, and union-houses, amounted to 518. The issues from the depository during the year have been 18,223,95-5 making the tot.il circulation at home and abroad amount to about 5)0,000,090, ia about one hundred lanju \ges. Tire benevolent inco-ne 'lias' amounted to £ 4,818" los. 41., the grants to £ 7,578, being £ 2,7-58 beyond ths gratuitous re eipts; the legacies, £ i ,438 and the amount r.iceh'ed fjr sales, £ 14,603 16. 61. The Society's total re- ue'p's, including the sales, £ 59,49-5 3s. 31. The report con- clude 1 by a brief survey of the labours of the past fifty years, and anticioat id the future in faith and hope, while the Society was CQ,ntu"Tlerl to the sytUp ithy, support, and prayers of the Christian 011.11"011, and the blessing of Almighty God. A series of resolutions, adopting the report and acknow- ledging the blessing of G d upon the Society's operations during the pist fifty years, were severally spoken to by the Rev. Charles II raasox, M.A., rector of B irton-le-street; the Rev. W, Airrnua, Wesieyan missionary the llev A. B.ST, of Ge- neva the llev. P. B. Pownn, M.A., of Woburn Episcopal Chip el; the Rev. A. W;JLLS, secretary of the Colonial Mis- sionary Society; the G. S>I:TH, of Poplar; the Rev. R. NESBIT, secretary of the B ).iib,-Lv Tract and Book Society; J. U. HOAII3, E;q. and the llev. \V. Gao3ER, of Chelsea.

TIIS JUBILEE BIVSAKFAST. On \"1 td,uGi\:L\J morning, May 9th, at the early hour of six o'-doek, a larg3 number of the -is and supporters of the Society s it do vn to a public breakfast, at the London Tavern, i:i commemoration of the formation of the Society, on themorn- iug of the 9th May, 1739. So numerous was the attendance, -t,iit the large room eoali not contain the numbers who assem- bled to IHnlke of the repast. After breakfast, the chair was t aken by the treasurer, J. G. IIOATU- Esq., who, together with Mr. JONGS, the secretary; Revs. Drs. SrBisicoa??, HEXDB3- SON, and BUHDF.x the R w. Messrs. Binary, SiiEaM.vx. &e., addressed the assembly. The proceedings of live morning were of:a deeply interesting -character. -Some incidents connected with the formation of the Society, and the contrast between iti s ii-ill beginnings and its present vast operation*, excited the admiration of all who were present. It appears that the Society since ics formation his issued no of in no less til m 110 lan- guages. Mr, Jonas', as well as the Chairman, spoke ia warm terms of the memory of the of the Society, the llev. George B irder, and'adverted to the fact that, from the ltdii- ons Tract Society had sprung the British and Foreign Bibl-s Society.

VOLUNTAEY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. The first annual meeting of this institution was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, on Friday evening, the 4ch instant, and was very numerously attended. tr.W. ALBXA.-VD:;II. Esq., the chairra in, in introducing the /business said T ia obje -tions, originally made to the Govern- •'Tnent' measure,' continue' to apply with all1 their'force. We find tt large portion of the Government money has gone to the o" connected with the most opulent body of t ie ceu.m mity—ths Church of England —and who have, there- fore, the least claim. Seven-eighths of the money have gone to the miscalled National-schools, in which the condition of receiving education is, that the child must learn the Church Catechism and make replies inconsistent with truth, if it be the child of a Dissenter. What is the character of the Church of England schools ? A large proportion are schools in which high-church principles are taught, not a few in which Puseyite principles are inculcated and, latterly, a new society has been formed, in which Evangelical principles are to be maintained. This is the way in which a large portion of the money has been disposed of; and other portions have gone to support Roman Catholic sentiments, and what others I cannot tell (cheers). I will mention one fact, which appears to be an illustration of the unfavourable working of the system. I was recently at Apsley, in which village there has been a British school, con- taining accommodation for the education of all the poor chil- dren. That, however, was not deemed sufficient, by certain portions of the inhabitants, and it was determined to erect a National-school to contain two hundred,—a larger number than all the poor children in the place (hear, hear). To this school E200 was given out of the people's money, by the Com- mittee of Council on Education and when I was there last, I understood there were but fifty children in the school thus newly established. Another consequence of the misapplication of this money is, that, not only has £ 2)0 been applied to the inculcation of the doctrines of the Church of England, but it has withdrawn a certain number of children from the British school, and made it more difficult to support it so that, although the chief patrons are decidedly opposed to it, yet, by the introduction of this new school, they have decided to take Government money for education. I think this is sufficient to show the great importance—if we would preserve the people from taking Government money—of having a society like the Voluntary School Association to expose the objectionable character and workings of the Government measure, and also to give aid to all schools struggling with difficulties in acting upon the voluntary principle (cheers). The SECRETARY then read the report, which stated that- The publication, in 1847, of the Minutes of the Privy Council oa Education gave rise to much diversity of sentiment amongst the friends of edacation. Not a few thought that the aid proffered to schools was a violation of the rights of conscience, because, in a vast number of instances, it compelled persons to assist in the dis- semination of sentiments they believed to be erroneous. Many who entertained views felt they could not avail themselves of the assist- ance of the Government grant, and were induced to supply what they deemed a deficiency by founding a Voluntary School Associ- ation oa the principle of repudiating State assistance. It then referred to the desire of the Association to connect religious with secular instruction, without entrenching upon the peculiar religious sentiments entertained by the parents, and expressed a hope that the Association would be able to enrol amongst its numbers many of those who objected to Government aid. Their numbers would, it was believed, have been larger had it not been for a defective canvass, and the formation of denominational societies. Assistance had been received from all sections of the Christian Church. A Normal School had been founded, and an excellent mister ap- pointed. At present, only five pupils had been admitted, but it was expected that the number which the house could accommodate would soon be completed. Within the last few months, they had received the assistance of a committee of ladies, who would engage in collecting funds for the female branches, and the foundation of a Normal School for female teachers. The committee anticipated the establishment of a Model School for boys at no distant period, and also one for girls, in the neighbourhood. The state of the funds had not hitherto enabled them to render assistance to schools established on the Voluntary Principle, but it was hoped that they would soon be enabled to do so. The report then referred to the colonies, and to the desire of the committee to aid education there —particularly in the V/est Indies—where education was languish- ing, owing to the commercial depression. In some colonies an abortive attempt had been made to introduce the Government system." The Treasurer's account was then presented, from which it appeared that the total receipts amounted to £1,207 18s. 4d., the expenditure to E339 I ls. 9cl., leaving a balance in hand of E863 7s. 7d. The meeting was then addressed by Joseph STURGE, Apsley PELLAT, BUHNET, HINTOX, HEYWOETII, M.P., and Edward MIALL, who said, he had been engaged in the commencement of some few things, and he had been in very small minorities in the support of some few principles: and, if there was one reflection which afforded him more satisfaction than another, it was that which had reference to the doctrine of voluntary education. When the question of education, in connexion with Government aid, came before his mind in early life, he endea- voured to ascertain whether that aid could be rendered consis- tently with the truths which he believed to be in unison with the genius of Christianity and the mind of God. After great deliberation, he was led to the conclusion, that it could not. He had not the slightest fear, however, respecting the ultimate triumph of the principles embodied in this association. He Tcõü.rdcd. tlrxc qUt;tio-n. o±' ,()lu.T1tCtr-i,nn, a:, oppoaccLto Grrvem- ment aid, as one of the testing questions of the age. He greatly demurred to the mode in which the question of educa- tion was placed before the public mind. He did not believe that the people of England were the worst educated people of Europe. With regard even to reading, writing, and arithmetic, he did not believe, taking the people of England generally, that they were very far behind those nations which had adopted a national system of education. He did not believe, that those classes for whom Government professed to interfere would be reached by their interference. Granting that crime was associated with ignorance, he asked, whether those who com- mitted it would avail themselves of any efforts Government could make to furnish them with education ? It ought to be left to the voluntary benevolence of the community. The experience they had had of Government education did not do much to commend the system to their adoption. The fact was, the system was adopted, not with any view to train up the people, but to secure the purposes of the aristocracy,—of a political party. It was impossible, however, that any person of reason could find fault with a system of education pursued on voluntary principle?, and hence he commended to them the interests of this association. Mr. SCOBLE moved That this meeting feels it to be a duty to recommend to the committee to afford, at the earliest possible period, such assistance as may be in its power to the cause of education in foreign coun- tries, and especially in those colonies of Great Britain in which negro emancipation has taken place." The Rev. S. GIVEEX seconded the motion, which was carried. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

BRITISH-AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall, on Monday, the 7th inst., and was numerously attended. The chair was taken by the Earl of Carlisle. Mr. Henry DUXN read an abstract of the report, which stated that, One hundred and three new schools had been opened during the year, providing additional school accommodation for upwards of 10,000 children. Those schools had been planted in seventy-eight different localities, 67 of them in England, and 33 in Wales. Forty- six schools had been temporarily supplied with teachers, under emergencies which cotill nr)t'bo otherwise provided for. Forty-two public meetings had been held, at which the principles of the Society have been zea. advocated. At twenty-two place- lectures had been delivered on the Importance and Necessity of Promoting the Education of the People. The Schools in London and the neigh- bourhood had been, as heretofore, inspected by Mr. Althaus, whohad paid during the year 310 visits, attended 32 public examinations, •iiid 8 public meetings. Mr. Wilks, the agent for Lancashire, had vi iitod VI towi\8, chiefly in Lancashire, Cfheshirc, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Northumberland' in all of which pieces he had zealously promoted the interests of the schools, and the welfare of the Society. Mr. Barton, with, the general objects, had visited IJ9 towns and villages,—chiefly in Yorkshire. Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Salop. Mr. Smith, in addition to his important duties in London, had visited 61 towns, hid held 21 public meetings, and conducted 21 public examinations, lo Wales, 86 schools had been established, and 30 had been opened, either i.i North or South Wales, during the past year. During the year, 12) schools had been aided by grants of lessors. slates, and other material. The assistance hitherto rendered to schools iq the colotics an1 other foreign parts had been continued. The children of Jamaica, Tobago, St. Domingo, of Greece and India, of New- foundland, Po, and New Zealand, had all exoerienced their bounty during the year. The Model Schools had fully main- tained their position and were still overflowing. In the I3oys' S,hool, 919 had been admitted, making the total number received since its commencement, 31,339. In the Girls' School, 4-5') had been admitted, making the ¡jumbor entered on the books since its fi,r.D:.1- tion, 13,294. Nearly 50.000 have, therefore, now received more loss instruct! m in the Model Schools alone. The Normal Schools had been efficiently conducted and numerously attended. Dc. Corn well reported-the admission of 175 students. The Training School for Female Teachers had. been equally prosperous; 36 students were reported in attendance in April last; 111 had been received since. Of these, 8 I had been appointed to schools 21 had withdrawa, and 42 were still pursuing their course." Samuel GURXEY, Esq., the Treasurer; then presented his accounts, from which it appeared, that the total amount re- ceive! during the year was £ 11,561 17s, 10d., the expenditure £11,711 18s. 8d., leaving a balance due to the Treasurer of £ 112 101. The meeting was then addressed by the Bishop of Xonwrcri, W. EVANS, Esq., M.P., Rov. W. ARTHUR, (from Paris,) HeV. T. BOAS, (of Calcutta,) Rev, E. CRAIG, llev, T. BIXNBY, and other gentlemen.

BRITISH MISSIONS. The annual meeting of this institution was held at Exeter Hall, on Tuesday evening, the 8th inst. About 3,000 persons were present. Mr. Alderman Kershaw, M.P., took the chair. The Rev. T. JAMES read the report, which stated that the di- rectors feared that the Churches with their pastors had not yet fully estimated the necessity and importance of the British Mission Societies. In reference to the Home Missionary Society, it stated that,- During the past year, applications for aid had been received from twenty-six towns and districts to all, or nearly all of which, L had the finances of the society admitted, the committee would most gladly have listened. Many of them are stations of the greatest importance, and of much promise. To ten only of these had agents been sent. Should the funds of the society be sufficiently reple- nished by the liberality of its friends, some of these might, at a future time, be reconsidered. Of the ten stations adopted, the committee had reason to believe that the assistance rendered will be only tem- porary, as it was expected that before long they would become self- sustained. Of the grantees, ten, during the past year, had been discontinued two being able to maintain the cause without the continued aid of the society, and the remainder not needing or de- clining the grants which, for a longer or shorter period, had been made to them. There had been labouring, in connexion with the society, during the past year, 123 agents. Of these, 52 were mis- sionaries and 71 grantees, or pastors doing missionary work, and receiving from the society sums differing according to the amount of labour performed. To that number might be added 96 lay preachers, selected by the missionaries with as much care as cir- cumstances would admit, making a total of 219. These minister amidst a population exceeding half a million of souls, in 513 towns and villages, situated in 417 parishes. According to the returns of the agents, who were instructed to give their statistics with the greatest possible care, there were 48,886 regular hearers 197 Sab- bath-scliools, containing 14,462 children, who were instructed by 1,815 teachers. There were also 37 day-schools. There were 232 chapels, and 280 rooms in which the Gospel was statedly or occa- sionally preached. There were 146 churches, with 5,323 members in full communion being an excess over the number of members reported last year of 156. There had been received into the fellow- ship of the churches, during the past year, 528. The agents con- ducted 112 Bible classes, in which were instructed 1,387 young per- sons and others. The number of tracts given or lent was 75,933; and 1,956 copies of the Scriptures had been sold, together with 4,318 of different periodicals. The amount of the receipts from all sources was E6,445 15s. 9d., being f273 13s. 2d. more than last year. The expenditure was £6,932 18s. 10d., being E378 17s. 2d. less than last year, which showed a comparative improvement of £ 652 10s. 8d. But still the expenditure was in excess above the in- come, to the amount of E477 3s. Id. The Irish Evangelical Society next came under review. The Report stated that it had steadily maintained its course for a period of thirty-five years, and had, by its efforts, been the acknowledged instrument of reviving the almost dying spirit of piety in other communions. The success of its la- bours was to be measured, not so much by the number or extent of its congregations, as by the faithful testimony it had borne, amidst gross error and superstition, to the simple truths of the Gospel. It had now in its employ twenty-seven ministers and pastors, and twenty-seven Scripture readers. The plan announced last year for the erection of chapels and schools was progressing to maturity. After many difficulties, a suitable site has been obtained for a new chapel and schools in the important town of Sligo towards the ex pense of the erection of which the people had themselves raised the sum of £ 600. In Castlebar, also, after much fruitless negotiation, it is hoped a similar result was nearly accomplished. The situation for ten schools had been determined, and would be established with very little additional expense to the society. The committee had much pleasure in bearing testimony to the indefatigable zeal, in carrying out this plan, of the Rev. J. D. Smith, of Dublin. Such had been his success, that the sum of nearly £1,000 has been re- ceived for the object. The receipts for the year amounted to C3,701 3s. 4d., whilst the expenditure had been £ 4,188 13s. 7d., leaving a deficiency of E437 10s. 3d. With respect to the Colo- nial Missionary Society, it was stated that, since its formation, it had sent forth from the parent land twenty-three ministers, and had educated for labour in the colonies twenty young brethren, whom God had raised up in the Churches there. It had assisted to sustain more than thirty ministers, who have entered the colonies on their own resources, or who were in the field of labour before the formation of the society, but could not have maintained their ground withoat such aid. It had now on its list of brethren re- ceiving aid thirty-five ministers labouring in the colonies, and eight young men receiving education for the ministry therein. The committee rejoiced to state that the hope expressed at the last annual meeting, that no debt would in future be incurred, had been nearly realised. The income had been £ 3,053 10s. 7d., whilst the expenditure had been £ 3,063 16s. 4d." The Rev. Henry WILKES, of Montreal, said, we have, in all the colonial dependencies of the empire, not only to contend against the influence of Mammon, but against another influence which in Canada is one of great potency, namely, Romanism. You are aware, that originally Canada was a Roman Catholic country, having been settled by the French nation. They planted it with the institutions of Romanism; they were legally endowed with, lands and funds by the French" King .oig^-riai rights were given to the Horn an CaUioUe eccle- siastics that they might possess funds for their missions to the Indians for education, and for what wis termed the cure of souls. These endowments were reserved when our own country took possession of Canada. The Roman Catholics still enjoy them. They are very lucrative, and thus the Ca- tholics are able to present a formidable aspect. Their present income may be estimated at £ 25,000 sterling derived from real estate, besides that which they procure from the various fees of the Church, and other sources whence revenue is obtained. The French Canadian population number about 600,000, and over these the priests have exercised, till comparatively recently, absolute control. The necessary result of Romanism is to engender superstition, and produce bondage of mind. We have also in Canada a large number of our Irish brethren who are Roman Catholics. Considering that Canada is the begin- ning of a great country, we ought to look at these facts, and to ask ourselves, what is our duty in relation to them. This is at once our wisdom and our duty. The Colonial and Missionary Society has accomplished a work of very great value in Canada, and not a little good has been done by our feeble instrumentality in relation to the general aspect of the country. When it was my privilege to leave England, thirteen years ago, at the request of my brethren, as the first missionary agent and pioneer of the Co- lonial Missionary Society, my impression is,but I cannot pledge myself to strict accuracy in this and other statistics,—that there were not more than nine Churches of our order in Eastern and Western Canada. They were in a feeble condition some of them were nearly sunk, requiring much aid to raise them, and others, having been neglected, had died out and were gone. We have now in those provinces about sixty Churches. This is a circumstance for which we ought to thank God and take courage. We have built twenty-one places of worship, and we have raised amongst ourselves, either in money or materials, during this period, £8,000 sterling. It is of great consequence that the work should be carried on by means of a settled minis- try. I am increasingly satisfied that an itinerancy through the country—though better than no ministry—will not accomplish the work you have in hand. The minister must be the centre of influence, and, in order to exert it, he must be domiciled amongst the people. It has been said, Are you not a great deal better off than we are in England, and, therefore, why ask us to help you? It should, however, be remembered, that when parties first settle, there is an a bsorptioI1 over mind and capital, in creating around themselves a homestead, and obtaining the m eans of existence, so that they cannot for a while sustain efficiently the institutions of religion. You must, therefore, help them now, and by and by they will be strong enough to sustain a ministry of their own. An evil sometimes arises from the in- troduction of ministers of different denominations immediately contiguous to each other the result of which is, that there are too many in some fields of labour, while others have none at all. With all these difficulties and trials, however, Canada is yet a hopeful field. It is hopeful, because our resources are great, and we have gone through that process which Australia and New Zealand have yet to pass. We have a self-government— we elect our own Parliunent-w3 have a minister of the Crown, and two parties in the Legislature, and if we do not like the ministry, we turn them out. We have a responsible Government. Australia will have a battle to fight ere she obtains that; but we have fought the battle and won, and now man ige things, I think, tolerably well. Rapid progress is'being made in the business of education. In Upper Canada, in 1842, there were only 927 elementary schools j in 1848, there were 2,464. The amount of boys and girls educated has nearly doubled within the last six years. We find that our Churches are accomplishing a vast amount of good," Our French Cana- dian Missionary Society is formed on broad catholic principles, an I raises £ 1,000 a year for the evangelisation of the French. We are also triming young men for the ministry. Six have been raised up in my Church, anI another very promising youth spoke to me on the subject before I left. Most assuredly it is at once the wisdom and the duty of British Congrega- tional Churches to help in this cause. If those who now form this meeting had been on board the steam-ship America, and seen, as we ploughed the waves with the bow towards Liver- pool —no matter from what quarter the wind blew-the British flag waving in the breeze, the number of emigrant vessels in thp track begging us to report them 'that their friends might know, that they were on their way to the West, you would have felt as I do, that the work in wuich we are engaged is one of thrilling interest. I fear that there were no ministers of reli- gion on board those outward-bound vessels. What is to be- come of the emigrants when they arrive, if the British Churches do not labour and pray for them with enlightened and efficient zeal ? If those Churches will exert themselves, then Churches will rise in Canada as gardens of the Lord's own right-hand planting, and this young nation in her majesty and strength, will come forward to aid British subjects in evangelising the world. Let them, however, be neglected, and they will be- come heathens of the worst stamp they will sink into practi- cal atheism, and live without God and without hope in the world. I thank God for such a meeting as this, and I pray that the cause of British Missions may be largely advanced by the advocacy of my brethren, and by the hearty response of these, the representatives of the Churches. After Dr. MORRISON had pleaded the cause of Ireland, The Rev. Dr. HALLEY rose and said I have to speak for a few minutes on behalf of the Home Missionary Society. I feel that all the arguments of the evening for the spread of the Gospel in Ireland, or through the Colonies, fall back upon yourselves, and are the defence of your own cause. What hope have we for any missions whatever if we allow the mis- sionary spirit to decline in our own country ? What hope for China, for India, for Africa, what hope for any part of the world, unless we maintain the missionary spirit in our own country ? I have often thought of the confidence the first Non- conformists must have had in their principles. Considering their work, they must have felt that their religion could not die. They built those old solid, thick-walled chapels under the impression that they were to last for generations. They built for their posterity they built in the confidence thut their religion was a durable thing; they did not think they were making sick chambers, in which the religion of the dis- tinct should languish, or sepulchres in which their Churches should be buried (cheers). Before the act of Toleration, amidst uncertain and precarious liberties from licenses granted by Charles and James I., Nonconforming ministers were satis- fied with being faithful to their own consciences, and would not suffer that Nonconformity to die. They brought their own children, and devoted them to the work of the ministry among Nonconformists, not knowing what would await them. Cha- pels were raised, when they knew not how long the licenses would last. I see Philip Henry bringing Matthew to London, and placing him at a Dissenting institution at Islington at his own expense, where he found upwards of twenty students, of like miucl, preparing for the ministry. There was also a semi- nary at Newington-green. I believe that, before there was tole- ration, there were more sons of Dissenting ministers training for the ministry, and devoted to it, in the old sense of the word, as Dr. Campbell is to calumny and misrepresentation by his writings,—that is, devoted to poverty and persecution, and, it might be said, death. I believe, that, before 16S8, there were more sons of our Nonconforming ministers training for the ministry than there are at the present moment. What a num- ber of chapels were raised without the appliances of the present day,—raised without having red books to come to London, and going from gentleman to gentleman to beg a guinea, here and there meeting sometimes, but not always, with kind treatment I Some of these old substantial places were endowed, I know not that it was for their good, but the endowment showed that there was confidence in the permanence of religion, or they would not have endowed them with freehold land and houses. That was the old spirit of the Nonconformists. These men have passed from their labours, and they have a great reward. The next race of Nonconformists were decent, quiet, well-dis- posed people, but they rested in their labours before it was time to rest in them they lost much of the missionary spirit. The next race lost it all they went to their comfortable meet- ing-houses, and kept warm family pews, with green or red curtains. They were a quiet sort of people, much respe ted in the neighbourhood. It was believed they had a i-el-igioc of some sort, but they were shy about obtruding it. Doddrhlge and Watts, and a few such men, preserved the evangelical spirit; and, I believe, if the missionary spirit had not arisen, religion would have died among Nonconformists. In my own recollection, Nonconforming Churches have become extinct. I remember some of this class in my younger da}rs. What has become of that once flourishing and illustrious Church, founded by Carroll, to which Chauncey, and Clarkson, and Dr. Watts afterwards ministered ? It was said to be a pleasant garden in St. Mary Axe. There was a lamp, but it was as if hid under a bushel-as if a few people crept and read their way to heaven, without thinking of anybody else. Many of the Churches lan- guished in great lethargy, and passed away. But Churches do not die of apoplexy they die by a lingering disease that creeps over them, so that when they breathe their last, scarcely any one hears the last breath. Nonconformity is too precious, too glorious a thing to die (cheers). Nonconformity cannot be extinct so long as it possesses a true Christian evangelical spirit. These extinct Churches are made the reproach of Non- conformity they are, however, not the reproach of Noncon- formity, but of a cold, lethargic, unmissionary spirit. Parish churches are never extinct—they can be maintained in another way. It is;. tVlA e;ln'1'Y A.f rvn* vlxr^ nlwii w OliUidi becomes useless, it is suffered to die, and a better one is raised in its place. Some parties have visited Manchester to find how many Voluntary schools had become extinct, but I say it is the glory of our system to let bad ones die, that better ones may grow in their stead. The founders of our Missionary Society have gone, but they have left Christian assemblies to do their work. The other speakers were the Revs. CHENEY, SMITH of Newry, Mr. W. MOHUIS, and Dr. MASSIE. The meeting then separated.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION. The Congregational Union, which assembled at Crosby Hall, on the 3th of May, was very numerously attended, and the pro- ceedings full of interest. The Chairman, the Rev. J. PARSONS, of York, having con- cluded his address, the report was read by the secretary, Rev. Algernon WELLS. The Rev. T. BINNEY, in moving the first resolution, said he hoped that an opportunity would be afforded him of speak- ing to many things contained in the report in a future part of the day and he entered into the spirit of the remarks made in the report that a practical thing" was done, if by their meet- ing together they were improved in their intercourse. Love was a great end of itself, and, if the Congregational Union had been the means merely of bringing them together, that alone was an affectionate recommendation to the Association. He thought the Evangelical Alliance made a great mistake, when it met together to manufacture a creed, and was not satisfied with love. Had that Alliance been satisfied to have taken the simplest phrases it could find, and not meddled with the view of laying down nine or ten points, it would have acted more wisely and discretionally, and have done great good. As it was, however, he deemed it an utter failure. lie could love without a creed, if they could not. He liked their meeting, and intended to be present at a conversazione of that Alliance to-night. He believed that many present had heard that their beloved friend, Mr. Noel, preached for him on Sunday morn- ing last. That was the first step taken by that gentleman as pastor so decidedly. Mr. Noel had told him that he never meant to qualify under Mr. Bouverie's Bill. After the resolution had been seconded by the Rev. Dr. B Ulmrm, The Rev. Dr. Monisox rose to move a vote of thanks to the adjudicators on the Ministry Prize EM ;ay, which he did with his customary heart and ability. That the warm thanks of this assembly be hereby given to the adjudicators on the merits of the cornoeting essays for the prize of £ 200, offered for the best Manual or Hand-book for Cundidatef- for the Christian Ministry—the itev. Dr. Burder, the Rev. Dr. Alliot, and the .Rev. James 1'ar5011:[or their iluportéwt and impartial services on this occasion. And the assembly remits the M.S. of successful Esay to the Committee for publication, with hope aud prayer, that it may bo largely and permanently useful." Mr. GODWIN, of Highbury, seconded the resolution. The Rev. Professor STOWKLL, of Rothorham, proposed the next resolution, which was as follows That the three important subjects referred to the Committee by the Autumnal Assembly, held at Leicester, in October last, and on which progress has now been reported,—namely, efforts for the re- ligious good of the working classes, improvement in our Sunday- school system, and increased support (if pastors,—be again referred to the Committee for further action, and for report thereof to the next Autumnal Meeting." The resolution being seconded by the Rev. J, STKATTEK, of Hull (representative of the Congregational Union in Scotland), the meeting was addressed by The Rev. Mr. EYSCHK, of Lyons, who represented the Pro- testant Reformed Church in France. He could not well ex- press his sentiments, but what he said would come from the heart. He felt quite at home. That was a large home,—hisn small one. In France, they had only some half-dozen Con- gregational Churches; their Union-mec in gs. consequently,com- prised only half-a-dozen brethren. When he visited their magnificent seminary near Manchester, and when he learned that they had some half-dozen such, he was struck with asto- nishment. They were rich. The Lord make them grateful' He asked admission for himself and brethren into their Union. The Evangelical Church at Lyons was founded seventeen yer.rs since, by the demission of M. Adoluhe Monod. It founded by iifty persons, who met together to partake of the Lord's Supper in a small room. They now numbered 400, with-.4buv chapels'and one church. Their members were, for the most parr, converted Catholics out of 420 communicants, 300 had former", y been Romanists.