Martell, Giles (W.),Anderson, Broady, Marsh, Atkinson, and Petherbridge. 21 Churches. Increase of members 39. The Circular Letter (by Mr. Clark), The best means of promoting the peace of the churches. Next Association at Rye, first Tuesday and Wednesday in June, 1824.

the Association.

At a Meeting held at Cullompton, Devon, on Wednesday the 17th of September, 1823, Mr. Wm. Winterbotham of Shortwood in the Chair,

It was resolved unanimously,

the Association Fund was discussed. Mr. Winterbotham suggested the propriety of applying it solely in aid of the Widows' Fund, as a mode by which the ministers might most essentially benefit themselves,* by providing for the support of their widows and orphan children, when they should be removed from, the sphere of mortal labour to their reward. The suggestion, WESTERN ASSOCIATION. after the most serious deliberation of This ancient Association of Baptist the ministers present, was most cor Churches having existed, with very dially approved; and other resolu little interruption, for nearly a century tions, connected with the new Assoand a half, was dissolved by mutual ciation were adopted, which are here consent at the last Meeting held in subjoined, for the information of the the Whitsun-week at Chard, Somerset district generally, and of those breshire. The principal reason for this thren and churches who have been forwas, that the Association having grown merly united in the West; and those so large, including more than seventy churches in the neighbourhood which churches, and the place of meeting have not yet expressed their wish to being necessarily so distant from many join the union, might have an opportuof the churches as to render it very in-nity of so doing at the first meeting of convenient, if not impossible, for many of the brethren to attend, the great end of an Association was in a measure defeated, and the pleasure and advantage resulting from such a friendly intercourse of sister churches was rarely to any extent enjoyed. It was therefore deemed advisable to break it up, and form in its stead three or four smaller ones, connected with the principal parts of the District, most eligible from their local situation, as furnishing points of strength and union, such as Bristol, Wellington, Plymouth, and Salisbury or Portsmouth.-It was suggested that such an arrangement might be made as to the time of meeting in the several Associations, that messengers might pass from one to the other; and thus a friendly intercourse be preserved among those who had been so long united, but who, from a painful sense of duty, and a supreme regard to the cause of Christ, agreed to separate from each other.-Agreeably to these suggestions, the friends connected with the Wellington District assembled in that town on the 31st of July, when Mr. Dyer, Secretary to the Baptist Mission, kindly presided, and preliminary resolutions were entered into, preparatory to a more decisive meeting to be held at Cullompton, Devon on the 17th of September following. At the time thus proposed, the ministers and representatives of many of the churches connected with this district assembled, when Mr. Winterbotham of Shortwood was called to the chair. After the resolutions determining to form a new Association for this district were passed the question relative to the application of

I. That in consequence of the dissolution of the Western Association, it is expedient and desirable to form a new one for this district, to be called "THE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION FOR PART OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT."-II. That the preliminaries heretofore read at the commencement of the Annual Meetings of the Old Western Association, be adopted as the basis of this, and read in like manner at the commencement of every Annual Meeting; and that generally the same plan of proceeding be followed as heretofore.

III. That the Association Fund, formed of the Annual Collections of the different churches, be appropriated exclusively in aid of the Fund established for the support of the widows and orphans of Baptist ministers.-IV. That at the Association a standing Committee be appointed for the ensu

* In consequence of the divisions of the Association, the amount of pecuniary aid that could be af forded to ministers with small salaries in this district, if the fund were distributed as formerly, would afford a very small, and therefore inefficient, relief; and this case is generally provided for by the Baptist Home Missionary Society, where ministers employ themselves to any extent in village preaching.

ing year, not to exceed seven in number, (five of whom shall be a quorum,) the business of which Committee shall be to arrange with the several churches the best mode of collecting for the Fund, and attend to any other business of the Association.-V. That the first Meeting of the New Association for this district be held at Wellington, Somersetshire.-VI. That the brethren R. Horsey and Baynes be appointed to correspond with the churches of the late Association, in reference to the most eligible period of Meeting, in order to form a bond of union between them; and that, if there be no obstacle in the way, it is desirable that this Association meet the second week in June, 1824.—VII. That Brother Sharp of Bradninch be appointed to draw up the Circular Letter.-VIII. That the church where the Association is held, shall have the right of appointing two preachers; and the Association invariably appoint a third from their own number; and that Brother Toms of Chard be the preacher appointed for the ensuing year by the Association.

Signed,

W. WINTERBOTHAM, Chairman.

The minister of

ORDINATIONS, &c.

OCT. 1, the Thirty-fifth Meeting of the WILTS and SOMERSET Association was held at Bradford. Mr. Porter of Bath preached in the morning from John i. 14; Mr. Gough of Westbury Leigh in the afternoon from SEPT. 24, upon the dissolution of the 2 Cor. ix. 15; and Mr. Crisp of BrisWestern Baptist Association, was form-tol in the evening, from Phil. iv. 4.– ed at Dock-row, a new one called the The next Association to be at the new SOUTHERN. It is to meet in Easter Meeting-house, Trowbridge, on Easter week, and in September, at the Tuesday, 1824. Melksham to preach. churches in rotation. There is to be a FUND, from an annual collection by each church, and collections at the Easter meeting, one-third for poor ministers, and two-thirds for itinerant preaching. At the spring meeting, there will be Association Letters from the churches, and a Circular Letter from the Association. At the September meeting, the business of the Auxiliary Missionary Society will be attended to. Representatives of the churches, the minister and one messenger. The minister of the church where the Association meets is to be Moderator. It consists at present of 16 churches, viz. Batramsley; Broughton; Foxton; Lockerly; Newport; Pool; Portsea, 6 churches (Dock-row, Ebenezer, Lake-lane, Meeting-housealley, Salem chapel, and White'srow); Romsey; Salisbury; Southampton; and Winchester. New churches will be received into it, unless distance, &c. render it unadvisable. First Association at Batramsley, Easter Tuesday and Wednesday, 1824. The Circular

JULY 21, the Rev. G. Wright was publicly recognized as the pastor of the Particular Baptist Church at BECCLES, Suffolk. Mr. Clarke of Sarsingham commenced with reading 1 Tim. iii. and prayer. In the absence of Mr. Harvey of Horham, who was prevented attending by an unforeseen providential event, Mr. White of Lowestoff stated the nature of a gospel church, and proposed the usual questions. Mr. Goymour of Yarmouth offered the ordination prayer, and Mr. White delivered the charge from 1 Cor. iv. 1. In the afternoon Mr. Gowing of Halesworth prayed, and Mr. Goymour addressed the church from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13, and in the evening Mr. Clarke preached from 1 Peter i. 5. In the course of the morning service, Mr. Kent, one of the deacons, gave an

affecting detail of the trials and vicissitudes of the church for several years past. The solemnities of the day appeared to excite a general interest in the feelings of a numerous audience.

JULY 26, the Rev. Samuel Nicholson was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church assembling in How's-lane, PLYMOUTH. Mr. Horton, of the Square, Plymouth Dock, read the scriptures and prayed; Mr. Nicholson, Senior, of Kingsbridge, introduced the business in the usual way; Mr. House of Dartmouth, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Wilcocks of Pembroke street, Dock, delivered the charge from 1 Timothy iv. 16; and Mr. Dyer, (Secretary of the Baptist Mission, and formerly pastor of the church,) addressed the people in the evening from 1 Cor. xvi. 10. The Wesleyan and Independent ministers of the town and neighbourhood took a part in the devotional services, and the whole solemnity seemed highly to interest the very large and respectable congregations that attended. O Lord, send now prosperity!

JULY 30, a new Baptist Meeting house was opened at KENSINGTON GRAVEL PITS. In the morning Mr. Bulgin (late of Poole) read and prayed; and Mr. Upton, sen. preached from 1 Col. iii. 6. In the afternoon, Mr. Hargreaves read and prayed; and Mr. Ivimey preached from Gen. xii. 6-8, and Heb. xiii. first part of 10. In the evening, Mr. Wilmhurst read and prayed; Mr. Pritchard preached from 2 Chron. vii. 16; and Mr. Robert Upton concluded in prayer. The attendance was very respectable, and the services of the day exceedingly interesting. The church in this place (which was collected a few years ago, by the blessing of God on the joint la bours of Messrs. Upton, Ivimey, and Pritchard,) have met for some time in a room, which being found very inconvenient, the present neat and commodious building has been erected, at the expense of about £700; towards which the sum of £25 6s. was collected during the day; and an appeal will shortly be made to the benevolence of the religious public, to liqui

date the remainder of the debt.

AUGUST 21, Mr. David Davies, from the Stepney Academy, was ordained co-pastor with the aged and venerable Mr. Butterworth of Evesham, in Worcestershire. After Mr. Butterworth

had given a concise account of the ori-
gin and progress of the cause in that
the circumstances
place, related
which led to the union, asked the usual
questions, and received Mr. Davies's,
confession of faith. Mr. Page of Wor-
cester offered up the ordination prayer.
Dr. Newman then delivered an im-
pressive charge to the minister, from
Col. iv. 17; and Mr. Coles of Bourton-
on-the-Water delivered a discourse to
the people, from Phil. ii. 29. The other
devotional parts of the service were
conducted by Messrs. Trotman of
Tewkesbury, W. Davies (student at
Stepney), Price of Alcester, and Wa-
ters of Pershore. In the evening, Dr.
Newman preached again to a large
and attentive congregation, from Luke
xvi. 29. Mr. Franklin of Coventry com-
menced this service with prayer; and
Dr. Newman concluded. May the im-
pressions produced on this day be per-
manent, and lead to much practical
utility!

AUG. 26, a new chapel was opened
for public worship of the Particular
Baptist Denomination in SWAFF-
HAM, Norfolk; and Mr. John Hewett
was at the same time ordained pastor
of the church which has very recently
been formed there. The Rev. J. Wil-
liams of East Dereham began the ser-
vice by reading the 4th chapter of
Ephes. and prayer; the Rev. Mr.
Pickers of Ingham stated the nature
of a gospel church, asked the usual
questions, and received the minister's
confession of faith, &c. The Rev. J.
Kinghorn offered up the ordination
prayer, with imposition of hands, and
then delivered a charge to Mr. Hewett,
from 2 Tim. ii. 1; the Rev. G. Gibbs
from Ezra x. 4; the Rev. Mr. Briscoe
delivered an address to the church,
of Lynn Regis offered up the conclud-
ing prayer; and the Rev. J. Carver of
Necton gave out the hymns. The
Rev. Mr. Briscoe preached in the even-
ing, from Zeph. iii. 16, 17. The con-
gregations were large and attentive,
and we believe it was a day of plea-
sure and profit to many. The church
and congregation, though most of them
in humble circumstances as to the
things of this world, have, neverthe-
wards the erection of their present
less, raised a considerable sum to-
place of worship, which is very plain.
But they will be under the necessity of
making an appeal to the religious pub-
lic for assistance. For this purpose a
case is drawn up, which is cordially
recommended by the Rev. J. King-
horn and the Rev. G. Gibbs.

ΤΟ

THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MR. WARD.