interruptions, some of the books which, as candidates for the ministry, they are expected to study, are ill-adapted to awaken the interest, and keep alive the attention, of illiterate people. One of our young brethren lives on a solitary station; and though the other two reside in the house of the Superintendent, they enjoy but little of his society, owing to the necessity which exists of his being in the country, when they are at home. Thus, without great care and extraordinary diligence on the part of the Superintendent, they are prematurely thrown on their own scanty resources, and are left to fabricate and follow such plans of study as they may happen to prefer; greatly, it is to be feared, to the injury of their intellectual povers and ministerial usefulness. Having to preach only in cottages, or in chapels not much larger than cottages, to a simple and uneducated people; having comparatively no ministerial rivalry to excite them; and being, by circumstances, deprived of the seclusion necessary for pulpit preparation, they are in some danger of becoming superficial in their plan of preaching, or of falling under discouragement in the prosecution of their unaided efforts at self-improvement, and the acquisition of necessary knowledge. As a means of preventing these evils, of giving the young men a fairer trial, and of securing the Connexion against the liability of having untried men admitted into the Itinerancy, I would humbly suggest, that, instead of four, they spend only two years, in the islands; or at the utmost three; and that, during their stay, they be required to communicate quarterly with the Theological Tutor of the Wesleyan Institution, on the general subjects of ministerial study and labour. Having said so much, I ought to add, that I have introduced this subject at the request of the excellent young men who are at present in Shetland; and who, according to their opportunities, labour to be "workmen who need not to be ashamed." The six brethren who are stationed in the Shetland District have no fewer than seventy preaching-places on their respective plans; and from the paucity of their number, taken in connexion with the localities of the country, and the stormy nature of the climate, it must be apparent that they cannot visit the different stations otherwise than at remote periods; and that to keep up the congregations, Local Preaching is absolutely necessary. God has given to us a few men of deep piety and good natural abilities, who fill the offices of Exhorters and Local Preachers; but their poverty is such that they can neither purchase books to read, nor decent clothes to appear in, nor pay the boat-fares which are charged at the ferries they have to cross on their way to their appointments: and, as their rent is paid out of the proceeds of their fishing, they are obliged to sus pend their evangelic labours for several months in the year, to the great injury of the congregations, schools, and classes. Now if the annual grant to the District were so increased that the sum of £30 might be distributed among five of these excellent men, they would then be able to visit the surrounding societies during the greater part of the year; much to the joy of the regular Ministers, and the increase of the work. What renders some arrangement of this kind the more necessary, is the fact, that the Dissenters have Lay Teachers in several parts of the field, who by the little contributions of the people, and occasional supplies from "Congregational Unions," are enabled to devote most of their Sundays to village preaching; and some of them, in their eagerness to establish the orthodox pronunciation of their shibboleth, descend to schemes of proselytism which the regular Pastors of their own body would despise. I regret to state, that disputes about fishing affairs, and the trespassing of cattle, are but too common in Shetland; and our own societies are not always exempted from their agitating influence. Some of the Preachers, with a laudable desire to reconcile brethren, have attempted to arbitrate in these matters; but for want of local knowledge, or because of the disputatious character of one or other of the parties, they have seldom succeeded in effecting a lasting reconcili ation; and instances have occurred in which whole families, conceiving themselves to be aggrieved, have withdrawn from our communion, greatly to their loss and our reproach. After consider ing this subject with some degree of attention, I would advise that the brethren abstain from judging in such cases; and that they do not even permit them to be discussed in the Leaders' Meetings, unless they imply a manifest breach of Christian morality. Lairds are by usage, if not by office, judges in all disputes between their tenants; and our wisdom is to leave them in the full enjoyment of their unenviable prerogative. The I am afraid an impression has gone abroad, that any Preachers will do for Shetland; and that men of slender abilities, provided they are warm-hearted and pious, are really preferable to Ministers of greater talents. My unwavering conviction is, that this is a mistake; and that a new infusion of godly energy, and of ministerial talent, is necessary to recover the Mission from the temporary depression into which, by various means, it has fallen. The Lairds are shrewd, inquisitive, and intelligent men; and to retain their esteem, and that of their families, the Missionaries must possess general knowledge, and be well versed in history, and the various branches of theology. The people also are distinguished by a strong vein of common sense. They are continually applying for the explanation of difficult passages of Scripture, and the solution of cases of conscience; and if they discover ignorance in the man whose lips should dispense knowledge, they are sure, in their surprise and grief, to make it known; and in proportion as it is known it will operate to his disadvantage. They have formed a high estimate of ministerial qualification; and are disposed to give double honour to the good and faithful Minister of Christ, who proves himself "a workman who needeth not to be ashamed;" but they will not long esteem a ministry that is either feeble or unfaithful, or which is not sustained by a life of dignified moral rectitude. The great majority of the inhabitants have a strong predilection in favour of the established Church; and unless our Ministers preach better sermons than are to be heard in the kirk, display greater pastoral diligence than the Ministers of the kirk, and prove, under God, instrumental in bringing those who hear them to a saving acquaintance with the truth as it is in Jesus, they will not, for any length of time, submit either to the discipline or the reproach of Methodism. Our work in Shetland is the same as in all other parts of the world, namely, to bring the people from sin to holiness, and from resting in forms and opinions, to an experimental knowledge of the power of godliness. To effect this we must, like our fathers in the Gospel, possess deep piety, and an intimate acquaintance with the workings of the human heart, and with the sublime and awfully-important verities of God's holy book. While our ministry is characterized by prayerfulness, scriptural intelligence, awakening energy, and laborious diligence, God will own us, and the people will be given to us in thousands, as the hire and the seals of our ministry. But if in Shetland, or in any other part of the wide world, we restrain prayer, rest satisfied with former successes, bury our talents, and merely aim at mediocrity among the other denominations, God will disown us, and the people will desert us. A few days before I left Shetland, five men came from Stronsay, in Orkney, a distance of one hundred miles, in an open boat, over one of the most stormy seas in the world, for the sole purpose of carrying back one of the Lerwick Ministers, that they and others might hear the Gospel from his lips. They said, addressing Messrs. Catton and Breare, "The seed sown by you in February has taken root; the persons admitted on trial continue to stand fast; and though the Secession Minister has been preaching against the Methodists ever since, the people generally long for another visit. Our commission is, not to return without one of you; and whilst we shall be ready to sail in an hour, we are willing to wait days, if you cannot accompany us earlier." After some time spent in necessary arrangements, Mr. Breare went with them, nothing doubting, but that God would prove himself anew to be "no respecter of persons," by granting his Holy Spirit to those who so earnestly sought to "hear words whereby they might be saved." In a letter, detailing the particulars of his visit, which I have had from him, he says, "Had you seen the joyful countenances of the people when I arrived, and heard the hearty welcomes with which I was received, you would have been highly interested. I preached on Friday, the 29th of May; and on Sunday, the 31st, I held three public services, besides meeting the society, and conducting a prayer-meeting. During the five ensuing days we had frequent services, but nothing special took place; only my constant cry was, Lord, give us a token for good; and show that thou hast sent me to this place.' Saturday, the 6th, was the sacramental fast; and we resolved to make it a day of humiliation before God. I preached at eleven o'clock, A. M., and afterwards spoke to each member of the class. I found many of them unpardoned, but all earnestly breathing after the blessing of justification. After an interval of about twenty minutes, we met to hold a prayer-meeting; and then it was that the presence of the Lord came down, and filled the place. I felt confident that God was about to work; and, as a means of preserving order, I placed two forms for the weeping penitents; one on the right, for the women; and another on the left, for the men. All kneeled down, and all appeared in carnest for salvation; we prayed, and at intervals I exhorted. Such a sight was certainly never seen in Orkney before. On one side was the husband, on the other the wife; here were a father and three sons; and there a mother and three daughters; all secking redemption through the blood of Jesus. We sang, Come. Lord, the drooping sinner cheer, Diy God, my Saviour, come away!' Several of the men prayed, and I pointed the mourners, individually, to the Lord Jesus. The first who obtained pardon was a young man of twenty-two years of age; and while we were praising God on his behalf, a young woman joyfully broke out in praise with a loud voice. Her husband was on the other side, deeply distressed. I encouraged him; and in a short time, he and two others obtained the blessing. And whilst we were sing. ing, God made bare his arm, and ten individuals entered into the liberty of God's children. I wept for joy, to see heaven beaming in the countenances of those who, two hours before, were in bondage and sorrow. I was indeed overwhelmed; and cried, O Lord, thou hast surpassed my utmost expectations.' We sang, 'Tis love' 'tis love thon dieds for me; After which I requested all who had been made happy, to stand up; when fifteen persons presented themselves, as having been made partakers of God's pardoning love in that meeting; besides one who had received the same blessing under the word, in the morning. The next day, being the Sabbath, I preached three times, and administered the Lord's supper. We were favoured with much of the presence of the Lord; and five others found peace with him. The last Sabbath I spent with them was June the 14th. It was a blessed day; and I trust the little leaven will work till it has leavened the whole lump." Since the letter of which this is an extract was written, two Ministers have been appointed to Orkney, and the adjacent coast, by our Conference; and from their faithful labours we anticipate cheering intelligence. My In concluding this account, I have only to remark, that though I undertook the task of visiting these interesting islands, with fear and trembling, yet Ï have had great pleasure in the duty. In my journeyings by sea and land, I was preserved from the appearance of danger, and from even the shadow of fear. My strength was according to my day, and a delightful sense of the divine presence cheered me in all my ways. intercourse with my brethren was profitable; my communion with the people was sweet; my privations were not worthy of being named; whilst my mercies call for shouts of praise, and a life of entire devotedness to God. In the islands I saw nature in her wildest and sublimest forms, society in its primitive simplicity, and piety prospering amidst the sterility and impediments of the deepest poverty. Happy shall I be if the statements furnished shall in any degree tend to endear the Mission to the Wesleyan community; for sure I am, that God has by the instrumentality of our Ministers wrought a work in Shetland which is both "great and honourable." PETER MOWAN, London, November 11th, 1835. ERECTED OR ENLARGED. "Within the last five years ten new chapels have been built in this Circuit; namely, at Thetford, Methwold, Mildenhall, Beck-Row, Icklingham, Bridgham, Exning, and the three above named. And the Wicken chapel is now in a course of enlargement. These chapels are, in general, substantial and commedious buildings; and larger in proportion to the inhabitants of the towns and villages in which they are erected, than the chapels in our agricultural Circuits generally are." METHODIST CHAPELS LATELY IN the Thetford Circuit :-"On the 27th of September a new chapel was opened at Croxton by the Rev. John Reynolds, and Mr. James Fison. On the following Friday and Sunday a new chapel was opened at Lakenheath, by the Rev. Henry Turner, of Downham, and Mr. Fison; and on the following Thursday and Sunday a new chapel was opened at Burwell, by the Rev. James Cook, of Norwich, and Mr. Fison. The services were interesting, and the collections handsome. The chapels have been well attended since; and all, or nearly all, the pews are let. TEMPLEMORE, in the county of Tipperary, in the Roscrea Circuit : "On Wednesday, November 4th, a new Wesleyan chapel was opened in this town; when two sermons were preached by the Rev. Robert Young, of Leeds. The congregations were large, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, and appeared to be deeply impressed. The proprietor of Templemore, Sir Henry Cardin, and other respectable gentlemen, in a manner highly honourable to themselves, have aided in the erection of this chapel. The collections at the opening were liberal. An additional Wesleyan chapel in a county distinguished for insubordination, and where the Protestant population is so thin, cannot fail to excite a special interest in those who rejoice in the spread of scriptural Christianity." CHAPEL DEEDS. IT is generally known that the Deeds of Chapels, in order to their validity, are required by an Act passed in the reign of George the Second, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six months after they are executed. It has therefore been concluded that all the Chapel-Deeds which have not been thus enrolled are of no value; that the property to which they relate is insecure; and that such Deeds may be violated with impunity. This, however, is a mistake. An Act passed on the 25th of July, in the year 1828, giving validity to the Deeds in which this and other formalities had been neglected, up to that period. So that the Act of George the Second, which requires the enrolment of Deeds within six months after their execution, only applies to the Deeds which have been made since the 25th of July, 1828. Every Deed which was executed before this period, if it be unexceptionable in other respects, is valid, notwithstanding the omission of the enrolment. The following is the Act in question. It will be seen that it peremptorily requires the due enrolment of every Deed to be hereafter executed. Anno nono Georgii IV. Regis.- An Act for remedying a Defect in the Titles of Lands purchased for Charitable Purposes. Cap. lxxxv. [25th July, 1828.] WHEREAS by an Act passed in the ninth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, and intituled "An Act to restrain the Disposition of Lands whereby the same become unalienable," it was amongst other things enacted, that after the twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, no manors, lands, tenements, rents, advowsons, or other hereditaments, corporeal or incorporeal, whatsoever, should be given, granted, aliened, limited, released, transferred, assigned, or appointed, or anyways conveyed or settled, to or upon any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, or otherwise, for any estate or interest whatsoever, or anyways charged or incumbered by any person or persons whatsoever, in trust or for the benefit of any charitable uses whatsoever, unless such gift, conveyance, appointment, or settlement of any such lands, tenements, or hereditaments were made by deed indented, sealed and delivered in the presence of two or more credible witnesses, twelve calendar months at the least before the death of such donor or grantor, (including the days of the execution and death,) and were enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next after the execution thereof, and unless the same were made to take effect in possession, for the charitable use intended, immediately from the making thereof, and were without any power of revocation, reservation, trust, condition, limitation, clause, or agreement whatsoever, for the benefit of the donor cr grantor, or of any person or persons claiming under him; but it was thereby provided, that nothing thereinbefore mentioned, relating to the scaling and delivery of any deed or deeds twelve calendar months at least before the death of the grantor, should extend or be construed to extend to any purchase of any estate or interest in lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to be made really and bona fide for a full and valuable consideration actually paid at or before the making such conveyance, without fraud or collusion; and it was thereby enacted, that all gifts, grants, appointments, assurances, transfers, and settlements whatscever, of any lands, tenements, cr other hereditaments, or of any estate or interest therein, or of any charge or incumbrance affecting or to affect any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, to or in trust for any charitable uses whatsoever, which should at any time after the said twentyfourth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, be made in any other manner or form than by the said Act was directed and appointed, sh uld be absolutely and to all intents and purposes null and void: And whereas the said provision contained in the said recited Act, in relation to the purchase of any estate or interest in lands, tenements, or hereditaments, for a full and valuable consideration, was only intended to prevent such purchases from being avoided by reason of the death of the grantor within twelve calendar months after the sealing and delivery of the deed cr deeds relating thereto: And whereas it has notwithstanding been generally apprehended that the said last-mentioned provision was intended wholly to exempt such purchases from the operation of the said Act, and in consequence thereof the formalities by the said Act prescribed, in relation to the conveyance of hereditaments to charitable uses, have in divers instances been omitted on purchases for a full and valuable consideration, and by reason of such omission the title to such hereditaments may be considered defective: And whereas it is expedient that provision should be made for remedying such defect in manner hereinafter men tioned: May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that where any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or any estate or interest therein, have or has been purchased for a full and valuable consideration, in trust or for the benefit of any charitable uses whatsoever, and such full and valuable consideration has been actually paid for the same, every deed or other assurance already made for the purpose of conveying or assuring such lands, tenements, or hereditaments, estate or interest, as aforesaid, in trust or for the benefit of such charitable uses, (if made to take effect in possession, for the charitable use intended, immediately from the making thereof, and without any power of revocation, reservation, trust, condition, limitation, clause, or agreement whatsoever, for the benefit of the grantor, or of any person or persons claiming under him,) shall be as good and valid, and of the same effect, both for establishing derivative titles, and in all other respects, as if the several formalities by the said Act prescribed had been duly observed and performed. II. Provided always, and be it further enacted, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend to give effect to any deed or other assurance heretofore made, so far as the same has been already avoided by suit at law or in equity, or by any other legal or equitable means whatsoever, or to affect or prejudice any suit at law or in equity actually commenced for avoiding any such deed or other assurance, or for defeating the charitable uses in trust or for the benefit of which such deed or other assurance may have been made. III. Provided also, and be it further enacted, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to dispense with any of the said several formalities prescribed by the said recited Act, in relation to any deed or other assurance which shall be made after the passing of this present Act. INDIAN LOVE-FEAST. THE following is the experience of some of our Indians at the Rice-Lake Mission, expressed at a love-feast which brother Jones and I held there some time ago. The language is very simple, but the sentiments expressed in that language sufficiently prove that the light of divine truth has illuminated their minds and changed their hearts. They spoke in the following order :— Chief Yellow Head.-"Brothers and sisters, I arise before you and the Great Spirit, to declare to you how thankful I feel that the Great Spirit has spared me to see this day and this love-feast. My greatest desire is to get safe to heaven, and there to be for ever happy with all those who have gone before. I always feel very thankful to the Missionaries, who first told me and my people the way to the Great Spirit. I will always listen to their words, that I may know all about Jesus. I am happy in my heart this day. I hope to meet you all in heaven. This is all I have to say." Emma Ramahsega said, "I am very happy in my heart this day. The Great Spirit has done much for me, in bringing me out of darkness to see the way to heaven. I am glad to see our Ministers, and to hear their good words. I will try to be faithful as long as I live." Chief Big Shilling.-"My dear bro thers and sisters, I am happy to see you this day. I am happy every day in my heart. I will trust in Jesus as long as I live. This is all I have to say." Captain John. "My brothers and sisters, I am glad to feast with you this day. I thank the Great Spirit for what I feel in my heart. I will never let the Great Spirit go out of my hands, but will hold him fast as long as I live. He has done much for me,-I who was once all |