groes. I beg my respects to the ladies; and am, dear Sir,

your faithful humble Servant,

To Mr. Baker.

Sir,

Aug. 1802.

I FEEL myself much obliged to Mr., for sending you to this estate, to begin your system of instructing my negroes in the Christian religion. Such is my opinion of the use and benefit it will be to the happiness of them, and as well to my interest, that I authorize you to look out for some well qualified person of your persuasion, and to employ him to come and reside here, and teach my negroes the Christian faith: I mean the person to be subject to your doctrine. shall encourage and support him in pursuing your mode and precepts as I have seen and heard. J. R. of C-estate, will unite with me in this undertaking, so as to

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I

enable us to join in making the residence comfortable to any good man. At all events, I will insure you a salary, and ground to culti vate. Waiting your success, I am, Sir,

your Friend and Servant, W. H.

To Mr. Baker.

Sir,

Sept. 5, 1802

I AM SO well pleased with the manner you this day used to instruct my negroes in the principles of religion, that I must request you to continue your pious endeavours to convert them to Christi. anity. In conformity to this my request, I desire that my overseer, and all the white people employed on my estate, shall countenance your proceedings therein; and by no means attempt to hinder or molest you, or by any means whatever, keep back my negroes from attending you.

Yours,

R. H.

To the Editor.

SIR, BEING lately present at the exercises of a charity-school, in the west of England, I was much pleased with the method made use of in teaching the children the Holy Scriptures, by the Plan adopted in Dr. Hawker's "Poor Man's Commentary on the Bible;" and, as I conceive, if the same method was more generally practised, it might be useful, I beg leave to communicate it to the religious Public, through the channel of your Magazine OBSERVER.

The Plan of using Dr. Hawker's "Poor Man's Commentary on the Bible," in Schools or Families.

Three, four, or more of the children are employed at one and the same time, in attention to one chapter. The third and fourth, or more of the children, previously to reading the chapter, look out the references; and either fold down the leaves at the several places, or, (which is far better) put into each place a short piece of paper, for the more readily turning to the texts referred to, instantly on their being quoted.

When this service is finished, the

eldest child gives out the chapter intended to be read; reads the contents of it, as in the Commentary; and then the chapter itself, as it stands in the Bible, all thro'. This being done, the second child then reads the first verse; and if there be any notes or observations upon it, the first child reads what they are, and also tells the chapter and verse referred to at the end of the verse. The third, fourth, and fifth children, according as they have found out the Scriptures referred to, read those Scriptures. When the first verse is finished in this manner, the eldest child gives out the second; and so on the same plan is observed until the whole chapter is finished. After which, the eldest child reads the Reflections on the chapter..

Instruction of Young Men. ABOUT fourteen years ago, Mr. J. T. of Hull, was providentially led to direct his attention to that class of young men who have not been taught to write or read; and are above the age of those who attend Sunday-Schools. He opened a room for their reception. Their rapid progress in learning gave him great satisfaction; and he was not without proof that his religious instructions had a blessed effect upon their general conduct. They are chiefly from the age of sixteen to twenty-one. Many of them are apprentices; and others are poor labouring youths, who have not had the opportunity of being instructed in early life; but embrace it now with thankfulness. — The school is conducted as follows: At nine o'clock, on the Lord's Day morning, the school is opened with singing and prayer; and an hour employed in reading, the young men being divided into classes. At ten the school is closed, that each person may go to what place of worship he chooses. At one o'clock, Mr.T. meets about thirty-five of them, who are become truly serious; and after singing and prayer, enquires respecting their progress in religion, and how

far they have been enabled to live in the fear of God during the past week. By his speaking to each individual, he has an opportunity of giving advice suitable to their different states. This generally contimes an hour, and is concluded as it began. At six in the evening the school is re-opened, and the young men read till seven: some part of the Scriptures are then explained to them, in an easy fami liar manner after which, a prayer. meeting is held for about half an hour. Four evenings in the week, during winter, they are taught writing and arithmetic, from six to nine. o'clock; and on the Wednesday evening, some minister frequently gives them a lecture. There are at present 135 youths in the school; and such is the general plan on which it is conducted. May similar attempts be made in other po pulous and trading towns!

On the 9th, 16th, and 11th day's of August last, a Meeting was held at Reeth, of a Society formed for promoting the Spread of the Gos pel, by Itinerant preaching, in the Four northern Counties of England. Messrs. Graham, Ruston, Kay, Whitefield, and other Ministers, vices of those days. were engaged in the several serThe next Meeting is to be held at Kendal, on the second Wednesday of Aug. 1804. Donations, &c. are re ceived in London, by Mr. Fell, Tavistock Street; and J.Neal, Esq. St. Paul's Church-yard.

A Society for the Distribution of Religious Tracts among the Poor, has been instituted at Kendal ; 4005 Tracts have been distributed in the first year. A similar Society is formed at Haddington, in Scotland.

The labours of the Rev. S.Doug, las, of Chelmsford, Essex, having been blessed in the conversion of several persons in Little Waltham, and its vicinity, there being a pros pect of a serious congregation from some villages adjacent, the people were encouraged to erect a Chapel; and upon its completion, a number

of ministers, and others, assembled, September 15, for the purpose of imploring the divine benediction there. Mr. Craig, of Barking, began the service with prayer; Mr. Stevenson, of Castle Hedingham, delivered the introductory discourse, and then preached to the people from Acts xi. 23; Mr. Morell, of Little Baddow, presented the intercessory prayers; Mr. Frost, of Dunmow, delivered a discourse from Gal. vi. 14; Mr. Corbisley, of Abbot's Roothing, concluded.

SEPT. 20. The Protestant Dis. senting Ministers of the Independent denomination, held their Half-yearly Meeting at the Rev. Mr. Mark's, at Weathersfield. Mr. Pritchard, of Braintre, began the service; Mr. Taylor, of Colchester, prayed; Mr. Frost, of Dunmow, preached from Heb. ii. 10, "It became him," &c.; Mr. Craig, of Bocking, concluded. The next Meeting of the Association is appointed to be holden in May, 1804, at Mr. Pritchard's, Braintree. Mr. Taylor to preach.

SEP. 28. The Rev. T. Roome,

Iate Student of the Rotherham Independent Academy, was ordained to the pastoral charge over the Independent church at Sutton-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, lately under the care of Rev. Mr Kirkpatrick. Mr. Hinkliffe, of Alfreton, introduced the service by reading and prayer ; Mr. Phillips delivered the introductory discourse, and proposed questions to the church and candidate; Mr. Burgess, of Chesterfield, prayed the ordination prayer, which was accompanied with imposition of hands; Dr. Williams gave the charge from Matt. iv. 19; and Mr. Boden, of Sheffield, preached to the people, from 1 Cor. xvi. 10. There was a respectable and numerous assemblage of ministers and people; the congregation was peculiarly attentive; and it is hoped the impressions then made will be indelible.

at the above place being too small for the congregation, it became necessary to enlarge it: in conse quence of which it was opened on the preceding evening, when two Sermons were preached, by Mr. Lane, from Psalm 1xxxvii. 3; and by the Rev. Mr. Smelle, of Great Grimsby, from Sam. xvii. 29. The next day, Mr. Griffith, of Lincoln, engaged in prayer and reading; Mr. Clark, of Brigg, preached in the morning, from Ps. Cxviii. 25: after which the sufferings and death of the Great Re.. deemer were commemorated. In the afternoon, Mr. Newman, of Sleaford, prayed; Mr. White, of Mablethorpe, preached from Ps. xxxiv. 10; and Mr. Smelle con. In the evening, Mr. Lane prayed; Messrs. Bean and Grif fiths preached from Ps. cxxii. 1, and Gal. i. 8; and Mr. Thompson, These of Guyhern, concluded. services were well and seriously at-,' tended. The next Meeting is appointed to be at Lincoln, on the second Wednesday in April, 1804. Messrs. M. and R. Thompson to preach on that occasion.

cluded.

THE Tenth General Meeting of the Lincolnshire and Nottingham shire Association, was held Swineshead, according to appoint. ment, Sept. 28, 1803. The chapel

at

OCT. 6- The Union of Christi ans, formed at Bedford, held their Autumnal Meeting at Newport Pagnel. In the public worship at Mr. Bull's meeting house, in the forenoon Mr. Sutcliff, of Olney, and Mr. Morris, of Dunstable, engaged in prayer; and Mr. Morell, of St. Neots, preached from Palin cxxii. 7. In the-afternoon, the friends who had assembled, discussed a practical subject, appointed at a former meeting of this kind. In the evening, Mr. Hennell, of Wolleston, engaged in prayer, and Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford, preached from Prov. ix. 1~6.

OCT. 12. The Rev. Dr. Patoun, late of Collinsburgh, was set apart to the pastoral charge of the congregation in St. Andrew's Street. Chapel, Aberdeen. An appropriate sermon was preached by Mr. J. Hartley, of Dundee, from John xviii. 36. My kingdom is not of this world ;" and a solemn charge given to Dr. Patoun, and the church,

46

THE Rev, William Graham, who has itinerated in Cumberland, under the patronage of the Itinerant Society, since the spring of 1802, having received an unanimous call from the Independent church at Darlington, Durham,. was ordained to that charge, Oct. 26. On this accasion Mr. C. Whitefield preached the introductory discourse, from Acts xiv. 23; Mr. Kay proposed the questions; Mr. Graham delivered his confession, and the church recognized their call; Mr. Caruson offered up the ordination prayer, with laying on of hands; Mr. Hill gave the charge, from 1 Pet. v. 2, 3, 4; and Mr. Cook concluded with prayer. The second service began at seven in the evening, when Mr. Kay prayed; Mr. Cook preached, from Rev. iii. 19. last clause; Mr. Arundel gave an exhortation to the congregation; and Mr. Whitefield concluded with prayer. The house built last year, and opened at the beginning of this, was crowded, and the congregation attentive and devout.

Nov. 8, was opened a new chapel at Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, where the gospel is not known to have ever been statedly preached. At various periods, occasional efforts had been made by Evangelical Clergymen, and Dissenting and Methodist Ministers; and these were revived, within a few years past, chiefly by Members of the Union of Christians, formed at Bedford. Encouraged by their assistance, some respectable inhabitants,

of Godmanchester exerted themselves to erect a commodious place of worship; the foundation of which was formed from the materials of a church steeple, lately

Jan. 2, Feb. 6, Mar. 5,

Apr. 2,

May 7,

June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept 3, Oct. 1,

Nov. 5, Dec. 31

standing, in Huntingdon; and the superstructure from those of a building, originally designed for a playhouse, near Yaxley barracks. The public services, at the opening, commenced with reading the Scriptures and prayer, by Mr. Hillyard, of Bedford; Messrs. Toller and Fuller, of Kettering, preached in the forenoon; and Mr. Hall, of Cambridge, in the evening; Mess. Morell, of St. Neots; Greatheed, of Newport Pagnel; Chaplin, of Bishop's Stortford; and Fearey, of Bluntisham, engaged in prayer. Notwithstanding the unfavourable. ness of weather, the attendance was greatly crowded; as it was also on the following Lord's Day, when the stated ministry of the gospel at this place, was introduced by Mr. Greatheed, and Mr. Smith, a student of Mr. Bull's academy, at Newport Pagnel, who has engaged to preach at Godmanchester, and several places in the neighbour. hood, till Christmas, as an itinerant, under the direction of the Bedford Union.

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Nov. 9, was opened at Leicester, a commodious chapel, intended for the use of the Independent congregation, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Mitchell. In the forenoon the service was introduced by suitable portions of Scripture, and a short appropriate prayer, by Mr. Jacombe, of Leicester; the general prayer was then offered by Mr. Davis, of Wigston after which a Sermon, adapted for the occasion, was preached by Mr. Moody, of Warwick, who also preached in the evening. Notwithstanding the extreme unfavourableness of the weather, a considerable number of hearers attended the solemn services.

Reynolds Brooksbank.