At Old Harbour, more recently, I with equal | valuable partner, and the speedy gratification administered the sacred ordi- removal of Mr. and Mrs. Fleming, nance of Baptism to 30 more; two of whom, his condition is very solitary, and from their respectability, are likely to be a considerable acquisition to our Society. Numbers (chiefly young persons) are constantly adding to our congregation, and all connected with us seem fast awaking from their lethargy. "I assure you I have been often obliged to exclaim with astonishment and gratitude, "What hath God wrought!" MONTEGO BAY. A PLEASING instance of the value in which the labours of Christian Missionaries now begin to be held, occurs in a late communication from Mr. Burchell. He informs the Society, under date of January 24, that a gentleman who had previously shewn him much kindness, having recently purchased an estate in the parish of Westmoreland, was very desirous that a Missionary should be stationed there; and to facilitate the accomplishment of his wishes, he had authorized Mr. B- to make an offer of premises, situated on the estate, for a sum not equal to one-third of their original cost, and proposed to add, as a free gift in addition, twenty acres of land adjoining. The station is described as most eligible, being in the centre of nearly 50,000 negroes, among whom no Missionary has yet 'entered. The sole condition on which the offer is made, is that a Missionary station be formed there. Should this be neglected, or discontinued, the premises are to revert to the donor, Limited as are the finances of the Society, it was felt that such a generous proposal, according so intirely with the object we have in view, could not but be thankfully accepted. Instructions to this effect have, in consequence, been sent to Mr. Burchell; and ere long, we trust, this new station will be occupied as. diligently, and as successfully, as those previously existing on the island have been. HONDURAS. By the return of our worthy friend, Captain Whittle, of the Ocean, from Honduras, we have received some pleasing intelligence from our Missionary, Mr. Bourn. Although, by the loss of his he has been visited by sickness too; he has laboured and not fainted, and some indications are granted him that his exertions have not been in vain. He writes, under date of the 11th of January last. one My congregation was never better, if so good as at present, especially on the Sabbath morning; there appears a considerable degree of attention, and some real good appears to be doing. Three free negroes, brother, and two sisters, not less than 40 years of age, give very pleasing hope of a change, besides a number more who are promising. Those who have been already baptized stand their ground well, and give stronger proof of a work of grace. The first convert, whose name is John Morrell, bids fair to be of great assistance to me as a native preacher; perhaps, all things considered, equally so as a European Missionary. In point of natural gifts, and those gifts evidently under the powerful influence of divine grace, I do not expect to meet with another of the sons of Africa to surpass him. He has, evidently, on account of the change wrought in him, been a loser as to this world, and had to encounter considerable persecution; but all seems to do him good, and to lead his heart nearer to God in Christ. He is continually employed, though without any remuneration; and even while doing to the utmost, or beyond his power for the chapel, in preaching and conversing among the people in different directions, and evidently with a degree of acceptance and power. He said the other day, when he and I were visiting the people at a place called Charlotte Town, where are about 500 people, and where we have preached twice during the week, that he could feel contented to live upon bread and water, if he could do any good among that people. It is pleasing amidst some trials to behold the powerful effects of divine grace. Help me to thank God for this instance of his goodness! O that it may be the first fruits of an abundant harvest in this part of the world!—Our first convert is very sanguine in his expectations of good being done, and thinks true religion will spread and prevail in this place, and none will be able to stop it. Since the new year entered, we have set apart one day in the week for fasting and prayer that God would pour out his Holy Spirit upon his word, that it may have free course, run and be glorified. We have also entered into some fresh regulation respecting the Sabbath school. Contributions received on account of the Baptist Missionary Society, from April 20, to May 20, 1826, not including Individual Subscriptions. FOR THE MISSION. £. s. d. 15 8 Montrose, Society for Missions, Schools and Tracts, by Mr. James Dow, Sec. 10 ........ ........ Kent Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Parnell, and Rev. W. Groser, viz. Ashford....... Borough Green... Canterbury Chatham Cranbrook... Eyerton.. ..... 100000 13 19 13 3 5 11 Acknowledged before, Expenses, &c. ... ...... Poole, Subscriptions, by Rev. John Shoveller ......... ......... ....... ......... Walworth, Moiety of Missionary Collection at York-street Chapel, by Camberwell Female Auxiliary Society, by Miss Gutteridge, Treasurer Watford, Subscriptions and Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Young, (including £3. 9s. 1d. for Female Education) 141 8 4 .Donation. 20 5 400 800 ........... Canterbury, Subscriptions and Donations, by Mr. Christian ........ ...... TRANSLATIONS. Edinburgh Bible Society, by Rev. C. Anderson ... .......... TO CORRESPONDENTS. The thanks of the Committee are returned to Mr. Turnbull, of Loughton, for 13 Volumes of the Baptist Magazine; Mr. Epps, for 10 Vols. do.; and Mrs. Allen, of Frome, for Sundry Volumes of Periodical Accounts. Taylor, Green, and Littlewood, Printers, 15, Old Bailey. BAPTIST MAGAZINE. JULY, 1826. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOSEPH HARRIS, [Extracted from "A Sketch of the life, members of the established church in which communion they both continued till within a few years past, when his father was baptized and became a member of the Baptist church at Beulah, a branch of Llangloffan, Pembrokeshire, of which latter place the son had also been an honourable member and preacher, previous to his removal and settlement at Swansea. MR. JOSEPH HARRIS was born in the Parish of St. Dogwells, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in the year 1773. Of his parents it is only necessary to observe here, that his father filled the office of Deficient in some respects of farm-bailiff to a lady of property correct information on the subject, in the neighbourhood; his income, I cannot speak as to his general however, did not allow of his edu- deportment, or the bias of his discating his children in any other position during the important period branches of knowledge than are of youth; but from what has been usually attained. by children at an said above, we may infer that early age, and in retired country his habits were retired, and conschools. Notwithstanding these sequently his morals less cordisadvantages, possessing an ardent rupt than if he had mixed more thirst for knowledge, it was the largely with those of his own age practice of young Harris to read and circumstances. Though rewhatever came in his way, and to siding at a distance of several this habit may doubtless be attri- miles from Llangloffan, he was acbuted the variety and extent of customed to attend the preaching general information he evinced, of the gospel there on the Lord's and which he nobly consecrated day, and occasionally at other to the cause of religion, and to times; but what were his views of that of the literature of his coun- himself as a guilty sinner, or the try. So devoted was he to read-suitableness of the gospel as a ing, and the acquirement of know- remedy, or at what precise time he ledge, that it has been said, his first tasted that the Lord was grafather frequently corrected him cious, I have not been able to asrather severely for his attachment certain; it appears, however, that to his studies:-this, however, did when about nineteen years of age not produce the effect intended, he put on the Lord Jesus Christ by for when he could obtain a new baptism, and was received in the book, he would (as he was em- church by the late venerable H. ployed during the day by his Davis, at Llangloffan. That he father,) sit up whole nights to make was enabled to adorn the profession himself acquainted with its con- he had made, may be concluded tents. His parents were professed from his being soon considered as VOL. I. 3d Series. U |