and attached friends, Rev. John Stough- the Rev. J. Ely, Dr. Morison, Professor Scott, and other eminent men, most of whom have fallen asleep. Dr. Tidman and some few others of his early friends survive. We may ere long give a brief memoir of our departed friend. Diary of the Churches. Jan. 13.-Arundel, Sussex. A public recognition service was held in Trinity Chapel to welcome the Rev. T. Dewey as pastor. C. New, Esq., the Mayor, presided, and the meeting was addressed by the Revs. E. Paxton Hood, R. Hamilton, R. V. Pryce, LL.D., W. Bean, A. Jones, H. H. Cullis, T. Sainsbury, and H. Rogers. Jan. 20.-Mallow. A meeting was held in the Independent Chapel here for the purpose of presenting a purse of Sovereigns to the Rev. W. Fox, pastor of the church. The Rev. Mr. Manly delivered an address, and Mr. Murray presented the testimonial. Jan. 22.-Heckmondwike. The reopening of George-street Chapel took place, when sermons were preached morning and evening by the Rev. Enoch Mellor, M.A. The cost of the enlargement is upwards of £1,000. Jan. 23. Christian Instruction Society. A meeting of this society was held in the Congregational Library, Finsbury. The chair was occupied by J. W. Buckley, Esq., and after prayer had been offered by the Rev. F. Wills, and an address by the chairman, the secretary, the Rev. W. O'Neill explained the object of the meeting. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. W. Tyler, W. Woodhouse, G. Rose, and others. It was resolved to call a conference, to be held in some central place, to consider the best means for increasing the efficiency of the society. Jan. 26.-Bitterne, Hampshire. The opening of the New Congregational Chapel was celebrated. A meeting was held in the chapel, presided over by the Rev. H. H. Carlisle. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Sherratt, J. Skinner, and Messrs. Nash, Taylor, Yonge, Stroud, and Fryer. Jan. 27.-London Congregational Chapel Building Society. The annual meeting of this society was held at the Congregational Library, Eusebius Smith, | Esq., in the chair. The Rev. C. Gilbert, the secretary, read the report, and the Revs. J. H. Hitchens, Dr. Vaughan, Dr. Tidman, G. Martin, and J. Pulling, addressed the audience. Jan. 27.-Bocking. A testimonial was presented to the Rev. S. T. Williams, who has lately resigned his charge as assistant minister at the Independent Chapel. The testimonial consisted of a handsome gilt timepiece and a pair of gilt candelabra, with forty volumes of books. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. T. Craig, and addressed by Messrs. J. D. Burder, E. G. Craig, J. Saunders, J. Brown, &c. Feb. 3.-Lightcliffe. A meeting was held in the school-room of the Independent Chapel for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to the retiring minister, the Rev. J. Hoyle, B.A. Titus Salt, Esq., presided, and the Revs. Drs. Campbell, Fraser, and Professor Creak, M.A., spoke on the occasion. The testimonial consisted of a purse of a hundred sovereigns, which was presented by A. S. McLaurin, Esq., on behalf of the church and congregation. Croydon. The new Congregational Chapel, Selhurst-road, was opened, when the Rev. J. Fleming preached in the morning, and the Rev. T. Aveling in the evening. On the following Sabbath the Rev. F. Stephens and the Rev. J. Davies preached. Feb. 5.-Leeds. Mr. Samuel J. Whitmee was ordained to the work of a missionary in connexion with the London Missionary Society at East Parade Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Turner described the field of labour, the Rev. W. Thomas read the Scriptures and offered prayer, the Rev. W. Hudswell asked the usual questions, the Rev. G. W. Conder offered the ordination prayer, the charge was given by the Rev. E. R. Conder, M.A., and the Rev. J. H. Morgan concluded the service. Feb. 10.-Young Men's Christian Association. The Annual Meeting of the members of this association was held this evering in Exeter Hall. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided. The Rev. H. J. Cummins offered prayer, after which Mr. Shipton, the secretary, read an abstract of the report. The Revs. C. Prest, Canon Stowell, E. Bayley, and Mr. Smithies, addressed the audience, and after an address from the Chairman, the proceedings were concluded with prayer. A Feb. 10.-Lozells, Birmingham. new Congregational Chapel was opened this day for the Church and Congregation attending the ministry of the Rev. J. T. Feaston. The Rev. Dr. Vaughan preached in the morning, and the Rev. W. Landels in the evening. The devotional exercises were conducted by the Revs. G. B. Johnson, R. D. Wilson, W. F. Callaway, J. P. Barnett, J. J. Brown, and R. Ann. The total cost of the building is above £3,000, about £2,500 of which has been already raised. Feb. 16.-Penistone, Yorks. The Rev. J. Willians was publicly recognised as pastor of the church and congregation assembling for worship at Netherfield Chapel, Penistone. The introductory discourse was preached by the Rev. R. Bruce, M.A. The Rev. R. Skinner received the minister's confession of faith, and offered the dedicatory prayer. The charge to the minister was delivered by the Rev. D. Loxton, and that to the church and congregation by the Rev. Thos. France. The Revs. J. Cummins and H. Robertshaw, and others, took part in the proceedings. Newmarket, Flintshire. The ordination of Mr. Joshua Davies took place. The service was commenced by Rev. Isaac Jones, the questions were asked by Rev. W. Rees, the ordination | prayer was offered by Rev. L. Everett, the charge to the minister was given by his former tutor, the Rev. M. D. Jones, and the Rev. Hugh Pugh preached to the people. PASTORAL NOTICES. THE Rev. H. D. Jameson, late of Billericay, has accepted the invitation of the church at Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. The Rev. John Basley has resigned the pastorate of the church assembling in Wardour Chapel, Soho, London. The Rev. D. K. Shoebotham, late of Dudley, has accepted a call from the church at North Malvern. The Rev. J. Hoyle, B.A., has resigned the pastorate of the church at Lightcliffe, near Halifax. The Rev. Dickerson Davies, M.A., has removed from Eldad Chapel, Guernsey, to Richmond Chapel, Manchester. The Rev. James Price has resigned the pastorate of the church at Hemel Hempstead, owing to severe indisposition. The Rev. J. Collier, M.A., late of Huddersfield, has accepted a call from the church at Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury, The Rev. R. H. Craig, late of Armagh, has accepted the invitation of the church assembling in Neckinger Road Chapel, Bermondsey. The Rev. W. J. B. Roome has become pastor of the church, Coventryroad, Birmingham. The Rev. R. Clapson has, in consequence of ill-health, resigned the pastorate of the church assembling in Glenorchy Chapel, Exmouth. The Rev. D. G. Watt, M.A., late of Manchester, has accepted the invitation of the church at Week-street Chapel, Maidstone. JOHN ANGELL JAMES.-MEMORIAL TABLET.-The following is the inscription on a mural tablet recently erected in Carr's-lane Chapel, Birmingham :-"To the memory of John Angell James, who was for fifty-five years pastor of the church assembling in this place, and whose mortal remains await the resurrection at the foot of his pulpit. He preached the Gospel of Christ to two generations of men, not with eloquence of speech only, but by a life which reflected with constantly-increasing lustre the image of his Lord. The harmony between him and his flock was never once troubled during his long pastorate, and their love and veneration for him no words can express. His writings exhort to faith and good works wherever our language is spoken, and have been translated into many other tongues. His exertions mainly rescued Spring-hill College from extinction and raised its new hall at Moseley, and whatever institution had for its object the glory of God or the welfare of man found in him a zealous advocate and liberal supporter. All good men loved him, for though firmly attached to the Congregational denomination, he loved the Universal Church better than any section of it, and ever laboured to restore its unity. This house of God, rebuilt to contain the multitudes who thronged to hear him, is his true monument. He was born at Blandford Forum, June 6, 1785, and died Oct. 1, 1859." THE Missionary Magazine AND CHRONICLE. SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING ON BEHALF OF MADAGASCAR. A SPECIAL MEETING on behalf of the Missions of the London Missionary Society in Madagascar, was held on Tuesday Evening, February 17th, in Freemason's Hall. The chair was taken at half-past six by the Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G. The large Hall was well filled. The proceedings were opened by the singing of the hymn, “All hail the power of Jesus' Name," after which prayer was offered by the Rev. A. McMillan. The REV. DR. TIDMAN said,-My Lord, I am instructed by the Directors to present to this Meeting a very brief statement of the history, operations, and prospects of the Society's Mission in Madagascar. It will occupy, I hope, not more than fifteen minutes, and as it extends over forty-five years, you will not think that excessive. BRIEF HISTORICAL STATEMENT OF THE MISSION. Among the earliest enterprises contemplated by the Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society, the introduction of the Gospel into the Island of Madagascar was one of the most important. The population of the country exceeding Four Millions, the debasing and cruel character of the prevalent superstition, the degradation and social wretchedness of vast masses of the people, all combined to present the most urgent claims for the exercise of Christian zeal and merey; and five and forty years since they commenced the efforts which they had long before contemplated for carrying into effect this benevolent design. In the month of March, 1819, Messrs. Bevan and Jones, Agents of the Society, landed in the Island, with a view to permanent labour; but, within a few weeks the former of these devoted men, and his wife and child, were removed by death; the wife and child of his associate also died; while the solitary survivor was so utterly prostrated by disease as to be compelled for a season to return to Mauritius. Undismayed, however, by these calamities, Mr. Jones, who had in the meantime been joined by Mr. Griffiths, proceeded, in the autumn of the following year, to Madagascar, and through the kind offices of the British Resident, they were perVOL. XLI.-1863. N mitted to settle at Antananarivo, the capital, with the entire approval of Radama the King. Encouraged by the favourable intimations of Divine Providence, the Directors made vigorous efforts to extend their labours, and, from the year 1818 to 1828, they sent to Madagascar fourteen labourers, consisting of six ordained Missionaries, two Missionary printers, and six Missionary artizans. But, at the expiration of eight years from the establishment of the Mission, Radama, who had proved its active and faithful friend, died, and he was succeeded by the late Queen, whose reign of cruelty and terror extended to the month of August, 1861. During the fifteen years of their residence in Madagascar, the Missionaries laboured with unwearied diligence and zeal; and the results of these labours must command our highest admiration. The number of Schools they established amounted to nearly 100, containing 4000 scholars; more than 10,000 children passed through these schools, to whom were imparted the elements both of useful nstruction and religious truth. Elementary books were provided for the pupils ; and a large proportion of these were distributed among the people, who acquired the art of reading without attendance on the Schools. Two large congregations were formed at the capital; and nearly two hundred persons, on a profession of their faith, were admitted to Church-fellowship. Preaching stations were established, also, in several towns and villages, at a distance from the capital; and many services were held weekly at the dwellings of the native Christians. Two Printingpresses, sent out by the Society, were in constant operation, and besides School books and Tracts, printed and put into circulation, a Dictionary of the Language was prepared and printed in two volumes. Above all, the whole of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were translated, corrected, and printed in the Native language-a language which had been first reduced to a written form by the labours of the translators. Towards the close of 1834 the coercive and persecuting measures of the Queen were brought into full and fatal operation. All Christian instruction was prohibited in the schools; the congregations dispersed; the observance of Christian ordinances strictly prohibited; and even the possession of the Sacred Scriptures was attended with heavy penalties. And, as an aggravation of all their other sorrows, the Christians beheld their faithful Missionaries compelled to abandon their much loved work, and themselves left as sheep without a shepherd in the midst of ravening wolves. During the quarter of a century following the expulsion of the Missionaries, direct communication with the Christians in the capital was very difficult and perilous. Nevertheless, letters were occasionally exchanged with the sufferers, and in the year 1838 six Christian refugees escaped to Mauritius, and subsequently visited England, where they were most kindly entertained by the Directors and friends of the Society. They returned to Mauritius in the year 1841, where they found a home with not a few of their Christian brethren who had also sought a refuge in that island. In the years 1853-54, and 1856, the Rev. William Ellis, at the request of the Directors visited Madagascar, and on the last occasion he was permitted to remain a month in the Capital, where he had frequent opportunity of intercourse with the native Christians with their pastors and teachers, and afforded them much useful counsel and encouragement under their heavy sorrows. A graphic and affecting picture is given of the sufferings of the Malagasy Christians in the following extract of a letter from one of their number, in which he describes his own personal and domestic afflictions, but it is equally applicable to multitudes of persecuted believers. The letter was addressed to Mrs. Johns, the widow of a faithful Missionary, who formerly laboured in the Island : : "BELOVED MOTHER-When I lay hold on this paper, and pen and ink, to write to you, my heart and all within me is moved. I have much to say to you. I wish to tell you of the sorrows that have befallen us. Very great was the persecution which drove us into the wilderness. They sought to put me to death. I was accused of praying to the ancestors of the English, and also of teaching the people to do so. They sent officers, and many besides, to take me up, and they took all the people they found in my house, and my wife Rabodo also. My children, servants, and everything I had in my house, they took away as a forfeit to the Queen. They bound my wife Rabodo, and flogged her from morning until night, to make her tell who were her companions. She fainted, and they left her to recover a little, and then flogged her again. But she refused to give up the names of any, so that they were astonished, and said, ' She is a Christian, indeed.' Failing to get her to tell who were her associates, they put a heavy ring round her neck and round each ankle. They also fastened these rings together by heavy iron chains, from the neck to the ankles, and then bound her to four more Christians. Five others were also bound together; and there was a third party of sixteen also bound together. Every Sabbath day, for seven months, they placed these three parties before the people, that they might see how they were punished for keeping holy the Lord's Day. At the end of the seven months they separated them, and sent five to the east; of these, two died, and three still remain. The other party of five they sent to the north; of these, four died, and one only remains; and the sixteen they sent to the west; of these, five died, and eleven remain. My wife Rabodo was among those they sent to the west. She was left in bonds, and died on the 4th of March, 1859. Yes, she died in her chains; her works follow her. They pursued me for four years and three months, seeking to put me to death; but the Lord watches over the afflicted, and will not give the enemy to rejoice over them. My children they have sold into slavery, and my property they have taken; so that I have now no house to dwell in or land to live upon. What has befallen me is too hard for nature; but precious are the riches in Christ, and in Him light are the sorrows of earth." The Rev. William Ellis, during his visit in the year 1856, collected much authentic information respecting the faithful confessors and heroic martyrs of Madagascar, of which the following is a concise summary. manner. The first Christian martyr suffered in 1837, and the second in the following year. Three or four years afterwards nine at least were put to death in the most cruel In 1846 the sufferings of the people were extreme; but the most severe of all persecutions was that of 1849, in which fourteen were cast over the granite rocks of the capital and dashed to pieces, while four other victims belonging to the nobles of the country, were burnt alive; and so lately as 1857 twenty-one were stoned to death. But though doubtless others in greater numbers suffered martyrdom, we have not learned that any were apostates; on the contrary, they met death in its most appalling forms, not merely with calmness and courage, but with joy and triumph, singing the praises of the Redeemer with their latest breath. |