I thought, Mr. Editor, (though not as under- and improved position. They were surrounded by ministers of every denomination, headed by a venerable judge, and supported by a crowded assembly of their fellow-citizens. I confess, I had my suspicions that after all it might turn out to be but a politico-religious excitement; and in every little tumult that the crowded state of the meeting occasioned, was ready to Dublin, April 22, 1846. AN ENGLISHMAN. fear that I should see orange handkerchiefs waiving, or be startled by the outbreak of the kentish fire. But the reading of the xviith of John, after a short collect, the universal joining of the assembly in that sweet hymn of Watts's, "Come let us join our cheerful songs," with the unusual appendix of "Glory honour, praise, and power, &c." the solemn attention paid while a Clergyman of the Diocese of Dublin engaged in prayer; and the clear, and pre-eminently Christian exposition of the objects of the Alliance, with which the learned judge opened the business part of the proceedings, scattered all my fears to the wind. The venerable form and pious sentiments of the Rev. James Haldane Stewart, of Liverpool, held the meeting in deep and serious attention; and the manly eloquence and honest arguments of the Rev. James Tod Browne, of the Church of Scotland, also from Liverpool, stirred up the liveliest interest, and elicited warm and hearty applause. One of the hearers, unable to repress his feelings, cried aloud, "God bless you!" which, if it could be called an interruption, was the only interruption to the good order and sober quietness of the entire proceedings. The hour of TEN had passed away, and many more speakers were in reserve, while the audience did not seem disposed to stir, when a suggestion was made upon the platform, that the meeting should adjourn till this evening, and the assembly broke up, after a few lively sentences from the Rev. Dr. Cox, of Hackney: 'Surely," thought I, as I retired with the crowd, "Ireland is a chamelion;" last week I should have depicted her as "black" as jet" this week, I have seen her already in all the varied and brilliant "hues of the rainbow." I must see further into this matter; and intend re-visiting the Round Room again to night; in which, by the way, I begin to feel almost as lively an interest, as if it were Exeter Hall itself. Apropos to this chamelion country-as we were breaking up from last night's meeting, I observed a number of gay sparks, and finely dressed ladies, pouring into the Rotundo, and suspected that they were fashionable folks, who had come too late for the meeting. But, on inquiry, I found that they were gathering for a ball! Without waiting for to-night's meeting, Yours, IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting will be held (D. V.) on Tuesday the 12th. inst, at Finsbury Chapel. The chair will be taken at six o'clock precisely. The Committee have great reason for thankfulness, when contemplating their operations for the past year. Their agents generally have been assidiously pursuing their work, and in most cases with evident tokens of the divine approbation. The Gospel has been faithfully preached by the ministers and missionaries, in some instances to considerable numbers, amongst whom were to be found not a few Roman Catholics -the Scriptures have been perused in the cabins of the poor, by the readers, whose duty it is to visit from house to house for conversation and prayer, and they have generally been well received and listened to with evident interest and great thankfulness; the young have been interested in Sabbath and day schools; Tracts have been distributed, and Bibles circulated. The pleasure the committee have felt is, however, mingled with deep regret that they have been unable, for want of adequate funds, to avail themselves of opportunities for introducing the gospel in districts to which they have been earnestly invited. It would require an augmentation of their income, of at least £500 per annum, to send agents to those parts of the country, from which the cry has been heard, "Come over and help us!" And, in addition to those spheres of labour which they have been specially invited to occupy, they cannot look on the entire country without the most heartfelt sorrow that, compared with the necessities of the case, the efforts to evangelize the people should be so feeble and so few. Surely seven millions of our fellow-subjects who are enslaved by the tyranny of the "Man of Sin,"-who are debased by the superstious rites and practices of the apostate Church of Rome, and who are wholly aside from the "simplicity that is in Christ," present a spectacle which ought to excite the pity, and call forth the strenuous efforts of British Churches and British Christians to enlighten, and to save them. If it be thought a sacred duty to send the Gospel to India, Africa, or the islands of the South sea, our own empire, our fellow-subjects to whom we can have such immediate and' direct access, ought not to be neglected. And yet how insignificant are the efforts made by all denominations of Protestants, to diffuse among the inhabitants of the sister land, the knowledge of Christ, and salvation by him. Sympathy is excited, and properly excited, by the threatened famine of the "bread that perisheth ;" and it is our unquestionable duty, binding alike on all classes, to put forth the utmost energy to save the hungry from absolute starvation. But the famine of the word of life is as much more fearful as the soul is more precious than the body, and the interests of eternity more important than those of time. The committee would therefore respectfully, but earnestly, entreat every individual who peruses these lines to ask himself whether he has done all he might have done, all he could have done, all it was his duty to do, to remedy this fearful state of things. An honest reply to such inquiries, the committee believe would lead to greater effort, to more prayer, and to increased contributions, that the Scriptures may be circulated, and the Gospel faithfully preached throughout the length and breadth of the land. ROMISH MISSIONS.-Letters from Rome state that the Propaganda have resolved on establishing a new apostolic mission" in the interior of Africa. Its operations will extend to the source of the Niger, and will consist of a bishop, a member of the Propaganda, and a member of the Society of Jesus. Six Roman Catholic missionaries recently left Paris for Macao. "The Lord sometimes makes himself known to children. Take the following example:-A boy of about fifteen years of age had been awakened by the preaching of the gospel. Prayer and the reading of the Bible constituted his chief joy. Unhappily his parents were worldly, and far from approving or exhorting him to cultivate these fine feelings: they laughed at him, and turned all into ridicule. Suffering such constant persecution, the poor child began to relax, neglected prayer, and forgot his Saviour. But his Saviour did not forget him, but spoke to his heart the language of love. The child recognised his voice, saw the enormity of his sin, and was penetrated with a sincere repentance. He turned again to his Saviour, and found true peace. How much more happy should I have been,' said he, if I had continued to walk in the right way! Of how many pleasures have I voluntarily deprived myself! The opposition of his parents has diminished; he has been able to establish family worship, and when he keeps the flock either in the fields or the wood, he always carries, as his companion, either the Bible or some religious book." "Sornay. We have now fifty-eight pupils in our schools, forty-one boys and seventeen girls. Almost all have hitherto brought their parents to our meetings on Sunday. One day, four of the children ran quickly into a house which they had to pass in their way to school. What are you looking for, my children, ?" said the owner of the house. 'We are looking for nothing,' replied they; we only came to hide ourselves from the priest, who is carring the good God to a sick person. We know that his good God has no power, but if we did not kneel to it, he would preach about us the next Sabbath.' We have sixty-seven The extraordinary work of God is still adults in our school, the greater part of advancing. The inhabitants of different whom, although Roman Catholics, attend our reunions on Sunday. Three sick towns, villages, and hamlets, in several departments of France, are eagerly attend-persons, who are Roman Catholics, have ing the preaching of the gospel where evangelists and colporteurs have been sent, and are praying for their visits where they have not yet penetrated. EVANGELICAL CONTINENTAL SOCIETY. The friends of the Romish Church are straining every nerve to uphold their seductive system and hinder the spread of the truth; the friends of the Saviour should surely be equally prompt to enter that "wide and effectual door" which he has opened for the proclamation of the simple" truth as it is in Jesus." The following extracts, from communications lately received, will serve to convey some impression of the efforts made to spread the gospel in France: sent for me to see them." I St. E-, a colporteur, says, "This morning, after praying, I called on the priest. What have you here?' said he. showed him my books and Testament. He said to a little boy, "This is a good book, you ought to get it.' A man came up and asked him if my Testaments were good. He replied, they are excellent.' On quitting me, he said, 'Sell as many as you can; go to the school, perhaps they will buy some there.' I went away with joy, blessing God. The inhabitants are quite astonished at all this, because the preceding cure had forbidden them to buy any without first showing them to him." AN IRISHMAN'S PLEA FOR HIS FATHER-LAND. UNDENIABLY, the Emerald Isle has claims-strong, numerous, pressing claims-upon the sympathies of British Christians, upon whom Divine Providence has showered his munificent blessings, and enriched with the knowledge of the Gospel of the grace of God. All we would require is, that those whom Heaven has made the privileged recipients of its best and brightest gifts, should cheerfully and extensively give of their worldly substance, in order that the "unsearchable riches of Christ" may be conveyed to their far less favoured fellow-creatures in the sister land, who are perishing through lack of knowledge, sunk in the depths of priestly superstition, and utterly unacquainted with what concerns their never-dying interests. 66 British Christians! You are not called upon to abandon your avocations in life, to forsake your country, and your friends, and to devote your energies, for the benefit of those who are walking in darkness, and in the shadow of death;" although, for no higher, holier, and nobler object, could such sacrifices be made. But you are called upon to consecrate a portion of your substance to the Lord, for the promotion of his cause, and the honour of his service ! You are called upon to aid, to support, to sustain, the missionary who goes on his message of love, and embassy of peace-bearing the olive branch of concord in his hand, and the sweet notes of salvation and free grace on his lips! You are called upon to enable devoted Christian ministers, whose hearts throb for Ireland's spiritual destitution, and burn with the Saviour's love, to go to the "help of the Lord against the mighty," to endeavour to overthrow the citadel of Satan, to pull down the temple of Antichrist, and annihilate his reign ! The claims which Ireland has upon the sympathies of the British nation, was admirably, pungently, and eloquently set forth at the recent Anniversary of the "Irish Evangelical Society," by one of its former secretaries, the Rev. GEORGE SMITH. For the gratification of our readers, we take a brief extract from Mr. Smith's animated speech :— "I think," said that gentleman, "there is no country under heaven that has such a strong claim upon the attention, and sympathy, and good-will, of English Christians, as Ireland. Considered in its geographical position, closely related to this country-its population coming in contact with the people of our own land-the multitudes of Irishmen emigrating, as they do, to this country-manning our fleets, and recruiting our army-so long as VOL. II.. S they shall be requisite, helping to reap our fields, and to carry out the magnificent projects of our manufacturers-we cannot be supposed to be indifferent to the mental and eternal welfare of these individuals. Ireland, considered in topography, presents many beautiful objects, on which the eye of the naturalist may look with delight. Her hills and dales, her green swards, her running streams, her mighty rivers, all present objects of attraction worthy of examination and thoughtful contemplation. The Irish are not the foolish people that many persons imagine them to be. They are gifted by the God of nature; they have readiness of speech, rapidity of thought, beauty of expression, and terseness of wit; an undying fund of humour, and a large amount of noble feeling and good-heartedness, that might well endear them to English hearts. But, when we proceed further, and ponder their moral state, we find there is no country with which we are acquainted, that presents so many features on which we are compelled to gaze with painful emotion. We behold the people bowed down by despotism, and deprived of the consolations of pure and undefiled religion; for, of all the evils that afflict that country, I am fully of opinion, that the most fearful is the maintenance of Popery there. I believe that has darkened the understanding, demented the mind, and bound the souls of the people, living in the midst of that land. We cannot view this condition without being affected as patriots, moved as Christians, and stirred up as advocates of liberty, to do all we can to remove the evils that have so long existed in that unhappy land. Shall we make efforts to propagate the Gospel abroad, and shall we not put forth similar efforts, with a view to lift up the Gospel, and purify and redeem the hearts of our fellow-subjects, who are found in Ireland? If we shall neglect the duty in the one case, and discharge it in the other, we shall be found guilty of inconsistency." We cannot contemplate the low spiritual condition of Ireland, without feelings of intense pain, and increased anxiety. Will not the consideration of seven millions of immortal beings, actually enslaved by a foreign potentate, and utterly unacquainted with the blessed, saving doctrines of revealed truth, produce emotions of deep sorrow and bitter anguish in the bosom of every Christian patriot, and genuine believer? Truly melancholy are the state of things in unhappy Ireland! Dark and murky is the moral atmosphere of this sea-girt isle, although presenting to the eye of every beholder the most pleasing of prospects, and the most delightful of charms. Pity it is, that a land so especially favoured by nature, so renowned for its picturesque scenery, the fertility of its soil, and the salubrity of its climate, should be so extensively impregnated with the impure seeds of superstition, and be so lowered in the scale of nations, which, at one period, was the pride and glory of the civilized world, and cherished for her piety and profane learning, by all the enlightened kingdoms of the earth! Pity it is, that a country, which once blazed with the flame of Divine Truth, and was irradiated by the light of literature, should become all but totally eclipsed by soul-destroying error, and polluted by the basest and most corrupt of systems! Pity, that a people so brave, and so gifted, should submit to the galling yoke of Rome's spiritual despotism, or become the serfs of Priest or Pontiff! We are constrained to ask Fallen Ireland, wilt thou lie For ever thus profaned-degraded? We trust, we pray, that such will not be the case; for, after all, we anticipate better and nobler days for Ireland. The Sun of Righteousness is already dawning upon this fated land; and we discern a few bright clouds amid the thick darkness which prevails, as "a light to lighten the nation." Already are the altars consecrated to demons crumbling to the ground, and the shrines, dedicated to Papal, or Pagan, rites, are demolishing. The lamp of God's word already is illuminating many, who, until recently, have been envelloped in sable night, and the people are beginning to "see great light," and to rejoice therein "with joy unspeakable." Priestly influence is mightily decreasing, and the kingdom of Antichrist is tottering to its very centre-giving indications of approaching ruin, and sudden destruction from the presence of the Lord. There is, on the one hand, much opposition manifested, on the part of Rome's emissaries, towards the dissemination of the Gospel of Christ in Ireland. Whilst, on the other hand, there is an increasing anxiety evinced, on the part of the people, to become acquainted with its blessed contents. This is an omen for good. No matter what amount of opposition Popish Priests may bring to bear, the word of the Lord must ultimately triumph. Weak are the mightiest attempts made to subvert it. Powerless is the strongest arm raised to overthrow it. All the united forces of earth and hell combined against it, cannot check its progress. Persecution, the most relentless and protracted, has assailed it. Tyrants the most despotic and powerful, have endeavoured to destroy it. The pens of the most sagacious infidels have predicted its downfal, and maligned its doctrines; but it has victoriously triumphed over every trial to which it was subjected an evident proof that its origin is divine. Kingdoms the most enduring will perish. The mightiest cities, that once were the glory of our earth, are now no more. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass away!" Give British Christians! we would again summon your aid, and enlist your sympathies for Erin. O consider, we intreat you, her destitution. Her children require the "bread that perisheth"-but they need much more that "bread which endureth to everlasting life." Send them the Gospel, and faithful ministers, to tell them of a Saviour's love. Look at the missionary field abroad; but neglect not that at home-do not pass by Ireland. but Ireland the Gospel, and she will become one of the brightest luminaries in the religious world, and form one of the richest jewels in the Redeemer's crown. Give but Ireland the Gospel, and all her real or imaginary grievances will be redressed. Give but Ireland the Gospel, and millions of grateful hearts shall offer the incense of fervent aspirations for the British people. Give but Ireland the Gospel, and as long as eternity itself endures, will the remembrance of British philanthropy be indelibly engraven on the hearts of her converted children! AMICUS VERITATIS. CHINESE PROVERBS.-Diligence What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence. Duty. Take up all duties in point of performance, and lay them down in point of dependance. Duty can never have too much of our diligence, or too little of our confidence |