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MISSIONS IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Faulkner, dated St. John's, Newfoundland, February 15th, 1850.

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By the mail which conveys this letter you will receive the sad intelligence of the destruction, by fire, of our chapel at Harbour- Grace, early on Thursday morn ing, the 7th instant. The usual weeknight service had been held on the previous evening. It seems the fire originated near the stove; burning embers probably coming in contact with the floor: the fire smouldered until about half-past four A. M., when it was perceived that there was a glimmering light in the chapel. The alarm was at once given; but the flames shortly afterwards burst forth, and, notwithstanding the exertion employed to save the building, in less than an hour and a half that "holy and beautiful house" was consumed to ashes. was the neatest, best-proportioned, and best-conditioned chapel belonging to this Mission at the present time. There was not a farthing insured upon it, and there is a debt of £100 due upon it. What our poor people there will do, who can tell? Between seven and eight hundred in number, without a chapel, without a school-room, or any suitable place in which to worship God! With the exception of a few, the people are poor, and can do but little towards the restoration of the chapel. Our noble friend, John Munn, Esq., has given £100 himself, and his lady £100. Several others have come forward with liberal offers, according to their means. And we purpose holding a public meeting in our chapel here, to express our sympathy, and give our aid to meet this distressing emergency. But with all that can be done there must be aid from other quarters, or the chapel cannot be rebuilt on a scale suited to the importance of the place, and the wants of the people. The former building was fifty feet long, by forty feet in width, had front and side galleries, and was finished throughout. Last year, the roof was newly shingled, and the chapel painted without and within. The cost of a similar erection would be from £700 to £800. May the Lord undertake for this distressed portion of his heritage!

I must now advert to matters pertaining more immediately to this Circuit; and I am glad to have little but what is cheering to communicate. On the evening of the 23d ult., a Missionary Meeting was held at Portugal Cove, in this Circuit, the first that ever took place in that settlement. The Meeting was ad

dressed by the Ministers on the Station, and by James J. Rogerson, Esq., and Messrs. Rogers, Creed, Marsh, and Woods. The greatest interest was excited throughout a large congregation, and the collection at the close of the Meeting realised the cheering sum of £13. After the regular proceedings of the Meeting had terminated, an intercsting and animated conversation ensued, relating to the destitution of religious ordinances which still exists in this island, particularly on its northern and western coasts; and the sum of £60 was at once subscribed to enable the parent Committee to send one Travelling Missionary, without delay. Since then various meetings of the office-bearers, with several other leading friends of our Society here, have been held; and the result is, that they now send to you a guarantee for the entire support of one such Missionary for four years. The persons whose names are attached to it, are men of good and increasing means. And their desire is that the Missionary may labour, under the direction of the District-Meeting, on the northern part of the coast. By the next mail it is intended to send a memorandum, to assure you that his passage to the island shall be without cost to the Society. Then, again, the guarantees are well acquainted with the spiritual destitution which they thus seek to relieve, being connected, by business transactions, with the people in Bonavista and Green Bays. It will be remembered, that last year our Circuit-Steward, James J. Rogerson, Esq., sent to you a donation of £20 toward this same object. Mr. Rogerson, who is a merchant of influence and growing means, has taken the lead in the present movement. His intelligent and earnest piety gives promise of his becoming a great blessing to our cause in St. John's, and throughout the island. It is also suitable to be mentioned here, that for the last two years petitions have been forwarded to the District-Meeting from the inhabitants of Green-Bay, in places which the Twillingate Missionary cannot reach, earnestly praying for the appointment of a Missionary to them, and promising to give as much as is in their power toward his support; which affords nearly a double guarantee that the Missionary now sought will be supported without charge to the General Funds of the Society. While

this is being done, I am glad to say that the proceeds of our Auxiliary Missionary Society for the town and Circuit are likely to be in advance of last year. But our people cannot feel it right that while caring for the Heathen of other lands, they should neglect the Heathen of their own. They believe also, that the Funds of the Wesleyan Missionary Society ought not to be made chargeable, on account of Newfoundland, with any amount beyond what they at present bear; and hence the noble effort which

it is my pleasing duty to bring under your notice. Dear Fathers and Brethren, on both parts of our coasts there are hundreds and thousands who are wholly destitute of the means of religious instruction; many of them uttering imploringly the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us." Do send them a suitable Missionary, and the parties whose names are affixed to the guarantee will pay over to the Chairman of the District the amount required for his support.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

CRADOCK, SOUTH AFRICA. It is with pleasure that I transmit to you a short account of the opening of our new chapel in this place, on the 8th of July. Excellent and appropriate sermons were preached on the occasion; in the forenoon and evening, by the Rev. John Ayliff, of Fort-Beaufort; and in the afternoon, in the Dutch language, by the Rev. John Taylor, Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. The services were numerously attended, not only by the inhabitants of the village, but also by the English farmers residing in the neighbourhood. Liberal collections were made at the close of each service. On Monday evening, July 9th, the friends sat down to tea, which had been gratuitously provided by the ladies of the congregation. After tea, the meeting was addressed by the Rev. John Ayliff, who gave a sketch of the history of our Mission in Cradock, from 1839 to the present period; and also by Mr. M. R. Every, from Graham's Town, James Collett, Esq., J. B., Dr. Armstrong, Rev. R. B. Taylor, and Rev. John Taylor. The latter gentleman, whose Christian and catholic spirit is well known, alluded, in the course of his remarks, to the amount of debt yet remaining on the chapel, and observed, that a strenuous effort should be made to reduce it as much as possible. This he practically enforced by a donation of a sovereign towards that object. This example was immediately followed by others in the

meeting; and a considerable sum was collected or promised during the evening towards the object named by Mr. Taylor. The sums collected at the various services connected with the opening amounted to £108. 2s. Od. The chapel is built in the old Gothic style of architecture, after a design (slightly altered) by the Rev. John Wilson, of Port-Elizabeth.

It is not profusely, but tastefully and neatly, decorated. The Wesleyan Methodists of Cradock have made noble efforts to raise and complete this "house of prayer," and have been kindly assisted by their Christian friends of other denominations, to whom their best thanks are due. Nearly all the sittings are already taken; and the congregation is considerably increased. It is hoped the Lord will further bless us with an increase of church members, and revive his work. For this we pray.-Rev. George H. Green, Cradock, Albany District, Cape of Good Hope, August 9th, 1849.

PORT-ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA.-In my last communication to you I stated, that there were signs of a hopeful character in this Circuit; and I am happy to be able to inform you now, that we have continued to improve in a very delightful manner. The attendance on the Sabbath-day services is much increased; and in the evenings, especially, the congregations are large. Rev. John Wilson, Port-Elizabeth, South Africa, October 24th, 1849.

DEATH.

Ir is our painful duty to announce the death of the beloved wife of the Rev. H. Hanson Turton, Wesleyan Missionary in New-Zealand. Mrs. Turton died in great peace, at the Mission-house, New-Plymouth, on the 21st of October last.

LONDON-PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1850.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. JAMES ALSOP,

OF HULL:

BY THE REV. JOSEPH FOWLER.

OUR deceased friend was born at Wensley, near Matlock, in the year 1783. His parents strictly attended the services of the Established Church, and taught their son to observe the form of godliness; a practice to which he adhered, after he became an apprentice in a family in which his religious observances exposed him to ridicule. Soon after the expiration of his apprenticeship he removed to Hull, and entered an establishment which employed a considerable number of young men, few of whom possessed the knowledge or fear of God. Consequently, the reproach which he had already endured, on account of the singularity of his character, was not in the least degree abated. But his spiritual privileges were greatly multiplied. Under the ministry of the late Rev. Thomas Dykes he was fully awakened. He felt and confessed his need of a Saviour; and, at a subsequent period, when receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the hands of the same faithful Minister, he was greatly edified and comforted. In this state of mind he retired to his closet, and, while engaged in prayer, obtained a knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins; the Spirit of adoption being sent into his heart, crying, "Abba, Father." From this time he walked in the light and liberty of the children of God. Though strongly attached to the ministry of Mr. Dykes, and regular in attendance at church, Mr. Alsop was also accustomed to frequent George-yard chapel in the evening of the Lord's day; and he often acknowledged the instruction and profit which he derived from sermons heard in that hallowed place. His devout spirit, as indicated by his demeanour in the house of God, soon attracted attention; and, at the invitation of a friend, he gladly availed himself of a privilege of which he had long felt his need, united himself to that section of the church known by the name of Methodists, and received his first token of membership from the Rev. Samuel Taylor in the year 1805. Soon after this public confession of Christ, he wrote to his parents, informing them that he had been made a partaker of experimental religion, and that he had joined the Wesleyan Society. He hoped to gladden their hearts by this communication: but, alas! such was their ignorance of spiritual things, that 3 M

VOL. VI.-FOURTH SERIES.

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