however, adhere to principle-let organization come by spiritual life, for spiritual life would not come by organization. Let them preach Christ first, then would come that discipline which could be suited to the circumstances under which each Christian community might be placed. So it had been in the Primitive Church, and so it would be still in those countries where everything was now unsettled, and where they would now, for the first time, go and preach the Gospel at all. Looking at the continent now, it appeared to him that the evangelists were in a similar

position as the first Christians were, when they were scattered about after the persecution of Stephen, and that their duty was now, as then, to go and preach the word everywhere. The agents of the society must go forth and preach the word everywhere in the room, in the school, as in the chapel-and they must bring men's hearts to Christ; and having done that, then would be the time to form them into that kind of society, which was properly designated a church, wherein all its living members are united to one great Head.

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW BISHOPS OF VICTORIA AND PRINCE RUPERT'S LAND.

(From the Record of May 29.) CANTERBURY, TUESDAY EVENING. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury having appointed this day for the consecration of the bishops designate of Victoria and Prince Rupert's Land, a large number of prelates and other dignitaries of the Church assembled at the cathedral shortly after ten o'clock, whilst the Cathedral Close was crowded with visitors anxious to be present at the solemn and interesting ceremony.

Many years have elapsed since a bishop was consecrated in the metropolitical Cathedral at Canterbury, although in earlier times the ceremony was seldom performed elsewhere.

The main reason for the ceremony of consecration taking place at Canterbury Cathedral to-day, is the recent establishment of St. Augustine's Missionary College, in this city. It was thought appropriate that the two new bishops, being strictly speaking, missionary bishops, the setting apart of them to their high office should be performed near to the College founded for the express purpose of raising up a body of efficient missionary clergy.

His Grace the Archbishop of Can

terbury occupied the throne, and there were present the Bishops of Winchester, Salisbury, Worcester, St. Asaph, Bishop Coleridge, Warden of St. Augustine's College, and other prelates; the Very Rev. William Rowe Lyall, D. D., Dean of Canterbury; the Venerable James Croft, M.A., Archdeacon of Canterbury; the Venerable Benjamin Harrison, M.A., Archdeacon of Maidstone; the Hon. and Rev. J. E. Boscawen; the Rev. Lord Charles Thynne, M.A.; the Rev. Dr. Spry, the Rev. Dr. Russell, the Rev. Francis Dawson, B.D.; the Rev. Henry Venn, B.D.; the Rev. Ernest Hawkins, B. D.; the Rev. John Thomas, M.A.; the Rev. Richard Davies, M.A., and a large number of clergymen from all parts of the country.

Full choral service was performed, and at its close the archbishop took his seat within the rails of the communion-table, which stands on a commanding ascent at the eastern end of the cathedral.

The Right Rev. George Smith, D. D., of St. Mary Hall, Oxford, Bishop Elect of Victoria (HongKong), and the Right Rev. David Anderson, D.D., of Exeter College, Oxford, Bishop Elect of Prince Rupert's Land, were then introduced to the Archbishop, and the usual preliminary formalities having been pro

ceeded with, the two bishops designate retired. Up to this time they were vested in their rochets, the Episcopal habit without the lawnsleeves, &c. After the lapse of a few minutes, during which time perfect silence reigned throughout the sacred edifice, the bishops designate returned habited in full episcopal robes. The remaining portion of the Consecration Service, as set out in the Book of Common Prayer, was proceeded with, and the Archbishop, by the imposition of hands, admitted Dr. Smith and Dr. Anderson to the office of bishops in connexion with the English Church.

From an official statement with regard to the rise, progress, and state of the Missions in that vast territory, it appears that the new diocese of Prince Rupert's Land, over which Bishop Anderson will preside, will probably comprise the whole of the territory which was granted to the Hudson's Bay Company by a charter from Charles II., in the year 1670. This territory extends from the frontier of the United States in north latitude 40 to the limits of exploration northward, and from the western boundary of Canada to the Pacific. Its superficial area is about 370,000 square miles, and its total population about 103,000. The country, for the most part a vast plain, is varied by a succession of lakes and rivers, and is intersected by the great chain of the Rocky Mountains, stretching from north-west to south-east. The native Indians, who seek a precarious subsistence by hunting and fishing, live in wigwams or tents; and there is nothing that deserves the name even of a village in the whole territory. In 1811, an agricultural settlement was formed on the banks of the Red River, to the south of Lake Winnipeg, by the Earl of Selkirk. When Governor Semple was sent out in 1815, he was specially requested to report to the Company whether any trace was to be found of either temple, or worship, or idol, and whether it would be practicable to gather the children together for education and for instruction in agriculture and other manual employment. In his answer he said

that no place of worship of any sort was to be seen, and most feelingly expressed his anxiety for the immediate erection of a church. In 1820 the Company was enabled to send out the Rev. James West, B.A., as Chaplain to the settlers. He was accompanied by a schoolmaster, who was supported by the contributions of the members of the Company and other friends. Two years afterwards the Church Missionary Society was induced by the representations of Mr. Benjamin Harrison and Mr. Nicholas Garry, two of the Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company, to found a mission in their settlement. The Rev. D. T. Jones, M.A., was accordingly sent out in 1823, and found on his arrival that a church had already been built by the exertions of Mr. West. A second church was completed in 1825, and in the same year the Mission was strengthened by the accession of the Rev. William Cockran, M.A., and the Rev. Messrs. Cowley, Smithurst, and Hunter, were successively added to the missionary body. Such is a brief outline of the history of the Mission, when the Bishop of Montreal, disregarding all considerations of personal inconvenience, undertook a journey and voyage of 2,000

miles to visit it.

The Bishop of Montreal has sent to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the following particulars relative to his visit to Prince Rupert's Land

"The total population of the settlement was 5,143, of which rather more than half are Roman Catholics, and all the rest members of the Church of England, for no body of Dissenters has ever established itself there. The soil, which is alluvial, is remarkably fertile, and a particular farm is mentioned, which had borne an abundant crop of wheat for eighteen years in succession, without ever having been manured. The blessing, therefore, of plenty is vouchsafed to the natives and settlers; that is, abundance of produce for the satisfying of their own wants, but without any market or means of export. They have also horses, cattle, and sheep, in fair proportion. The settlement extends for

fifty miles, along a strip of land, on both sides of the Red River. It contains four churches, built at short intervals from each other. The number of the members of the Church of England at the time of the Bishop's Visitation was 2,345, and of these no fewer than 846 were confirmed by him during his visit. Frequent services were of course performed during the seventeen days of the Bishop's stay, and he mentions that the largest congregation which met him amounted to about 500, while the smallest did not fall short of 200."

The Rev. Dr. Smith has prepared an interesting account of his new diocese, and his plans respecting it. He says:

"The island of Hong-Kong, as a dependency of the British crown, and the seat of an English Bishopric, involves no common responsibilities and claims. Situated off the coast of Canton province, and within ninety miles of the provincial capital itself, it labours indeed under the disadvantage of being in the vicinity of a Chinese population who have been long accustomed to regard with dislike, and to treat with contempt, the subjects of European nations. The Chinese immigrants to the new colony are also likely to be for some time composed of the least respectable portion of the inhabitants of the adjacent mainland. A motley population, attracted from different parts, and formed of heterogeneous elements, presents also considerable difficulties, from the variety of dialects spoken by them. But, notwithstanding these disadvantages, arising from the character of the population and the diversity of dialects, Hong-Kong presents facilities in point of permanency and centralization not easily obtainable elsewhere, and as a scene of educational measures of a high order and on a large scale, may be considered as the most eligible locality for a central base of indirect missionary operations in China. There are, however, two highly important objects, for the prosecution of which the British settlement of Hong-Kong presents great advan

tages. These are the training of Chinese evangelists, and the use of the press for Christian purposes. I. With regard to the first of these, it may be observed that the peculiarities of the Chinese language, the complex variety of its written symbols, the number of its spoken dialects, differing in various parts as much as the different languages of Europe, and the great difficulty of a foreign student attaining the delicate intonations essential to a perfect pronunciation, all point out the great importance of a native agency as the grand desideratum and hope for Christian missions in that country. II. In regard to the second object, it is obvious that the Christian press is destined to become an agency of extraordinary value for propagating the Gospel in China; and Hong-Kong is a desirable and convenient locality to be made the fulcrum of this moral lever. Although the spoken dialects are very dissimilar in different districts, the written characters-being the symbolical representatives of ideas, and not alphabetic combinations of sounds-are everywhere the same. The holy Scriptures and Christian books, translated into the Chinese character, will therefore be understood everywhere by the educated portion of the Chinese race. The ability to read is very general in Chinese cities; and none but the poorest classes neglect the education of their male offspring. Both these objects, however, the Christian press, and oral instruction by living teach ers, must, as far as possible, be blended together in their due proportions. An Episcopal College, of which the Bishop of Victoria is to be ex-officio warden, is now about to be established at Hong-Kong. The special committee of the China Bishopric Fund having succeeded in raising, from voluntary sources, the necessary endowment for the newly constituted see, have also directed their attention to this important object, and have taken initiatory measures for obtaining contributions towards the Episcopal College. The commencement of such an institution already exists,

in a school erected under the superintendence of the Rev. Vincent Stanton, the Colonial Chaplain, at an expense of nearly £3000, to which he himself contributed the munificent sum of £1000. Mr. Stanton having been informed of the probability of a bishop being speedily nominated for Hong-Kong, has recently written to the trustees in England, in whom the building is vested, expressing his wish that it might be made the foundation of the proposed Episcopal College. He states that the ground and building are in every respect excellent; that there is abundant room for separate buildings, or an enlargement of the present building; and that the house is well situated for the present residence of the bishop. The opportune transfer of this building is a valuable commencement; but increased funds will be required to enlarge it to the scale contemplated. A debt of £643 is due on the present building, and £3000 more, at least, will be required to erect apartments for the tutors, and for an increased number of students. The neeedful sum, therefore, for originating the institution, and supporting its current expenditure for the first year or two, cannot be estimated at less than £5000. Independent of this building fund, there will be required a permanent sustentation fund, in the form of annual subscriptions. For a portion of this annual expense the founders of the college look to the liberality of British residents in China, who have never shewn themselves reluctant to support any charitable object which has commended itself to their approval. It is also deemed no premature nor unreasonable expectation to hope that her Majesty's government will assist, with an annual pecuniary grant, an institution which will have an important influence in improving the tone of international intercourse between the subjects of the two countries.

But it is believed that the support of the college will mainly devolve on Christians residing in Great Britain."

Dr. Smith and Dr. Anderson purpose starting for their distant dioceses in the course of a few weeks. Both the right reverend prelates will be accompanied by clergymen, schoolmasters, and catechists.

THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. It appears by the Report of the Sustentation Committee, just presented to the Assembly, that there has been received by the Association for the year 1848-9, a sum of £84,365 8s. 10d., and from donations and individual subscriptions £2,549 14s. 6d., making a total of £87,115 3s. 4d. The revenue of the previous year was £88,996 9s. 5d., and the present accounts show, therefore, a diminution of £1,881 6s. 1d., but there has to be added to it bank interest, which raises the total to £87,485 4s. 7d. There are payments to be deducted for general management of the business-printing, advertising, Assembly's expenses, produce of sanctioned churches, home mission, and other charges, a sum of £3,777 7s. 3d., leaving available £83,707 17s. 5d. There are also to be deducted from the widows' fund-representatives of ministerspayment of ministers to Whitsunday, and other purposes, leaving the net amount to be paid to ministers, £77,516 2s. 3d. The number of ministers to receive stipend from the fund last year was 596, and this year it is 623, making twenty-seven of an increase to be paid out of last year's dividend. Although the decrease in the revenue of the year is inconsiderable, yet, in consequence of the extension of the Church, the stipends must be diminished this year from £128 to £122. The sum received for the "schemes" of the Church was £49,214 19s.

AMONG the facts which, during a long course in the service of my gracious and adorable Master, have come under my own observation, and, which, I trust, with His blessing, may be made useful to my readers, are many connected with races, and gambling, and the various other evils associated with the race-course. I was for ten years placed in a position where those evils-and their name is Legion, for they are many were necessarily brought before me in all their enormity. One friend whom I respect and love, perhaps above all other friends on earth, has, on several occasions, requested me to put them together, and to publish them. He well knows the high opinion in which I hold his judgment, and that any request of his comes almost as a command upon me.

I fully propose to publish a volume of facts on this subject, at no distant period. I have much to say on the crying evils of the whole system, and facts are the best arguments. A few of them, in the meanwhile, I shall now bring before my readers.

I could cite the testimonies of others to prove the evil of races. I could refer to brother-clergymen at Epsom and Doncaster, who have spoken to me in decided terms of the effects produced by them, in both those well-known places; but I confine myself to the city of Chester, because I can speak from my own experience, and record facts for the truth of which I can myself vouch. The crime, the sorrow, the ruin, the Ideaths which I have witnessed; the lamentations which I have heard, are not to be forgotten; and I would add, with all Christian gentleness, but with all Christian faithfulness, they must not be kept back. I can well conceive that many who defend and promote the evils of which I speak, have been ignorant of these things: but I have not been ignorant, and at the risk of displeasing some kind and friendly persons, who I fear do not desire to have their eyes opened, I must record my faithful testimony. Perhaps there is no place in England in which the evils of the race-course are so mixed up with the population of the place as

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