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existing circumstances, would be abundantly significant.lit Cabinetft -Tiie life of God in us consists in conformity to Christ; nor is the Holy Spirit, as the principal and efficient cause of it, given tcfus for any other end but to unite us to Him and make us like Him! Wherefore the original gospel duty, which animates and rectifies all others, is a design for conformity to , Christ in all the gracious principles an,d qualifications ofhis holy soul, wherein the image of God in Him• •doth consist. His meekness, lowliness of mind, condescension unto all sorts of persons, his love and kindness to mankind, his readiness to do good to all, with patience and forbearance, avo continually set before us in his example. With respect unto them it is required, that the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus, and that we walk in love, as Ho also loved us.—Owen,(Ettattgtlinil lllimre.FORMATION OF A BRANCH AT KILMARNOCK.4(Prom the Kilmarnock Weekly Post')Since the Berlin Conference, a growing interest has been felt in the Alliance. This led to the formation of a local branch in town, of which the following gentlemen take the management: Rev. D. T. Jamieson,president; Rev. James Banks, secretary; Rev. James Campbell, treasurer; Rev. Messrs. Symington, Hamilton, Ramage, Young; Reid, Hurlfordf Gray, Kilmaurs; Orr, Fenwick; with Messrs. David Alexander, Samuel Steven, Hugh Roxburgh, James Thomson, John Arbuckle, and Humphrey Stevenson. The Kilmarnock Branch held its first annual meeting on Thursday evening, the 3rd instant—our Fast-day— in King-street Church—Rev. John Symington’s. There was a large attendance of people, although the church was not filled; and the inauguration was accompanied by addresses, which lent a charm to everything connected with the Association,On the motion of Rev. Mr. Symington, Rev. Mr. Young, Free St. Andrew’s, was chosen to preside. The meeting being opened with the usual devotional exercises,The Chairman said, as he was called to fill the chair at such an assembly, he would humbly state that he did so with the greatest pleasure. He ventured to say it was known to all whom he was addressing, that the ministers of the town had been living on terms of the greatest intimacy and Christian friendship. It had lately been proposed that they should give a public embodiment of that sentiment, by forming themselves into a branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and that, for the purpose of cultivating Christian friendship, helping each other in the work which the Lord had given them to perform in that place. This had been done, and the present meeting was the result,The meeting was then addressed bv the Rev. Messrs. Banks,.Kilmarnock; Robertson, Irvine; and Dr. Patterson, of Glasgow.Mr. Banks treated of the principles of the Alliance, and read the doctrines required to be subscribed by the members, comprehending the great and essential principles of Christianity, and which are contained inthe creed of the principal Protestant denominations in the world. The causes which led to the scheme being formed ten years ago in London, were pointed out in detail. The revivals of Popery, and Infidelity, were the chief antagonistic powers which roused Christians to institute some organisation whereby they might be more effectually baffled. The proposal emanated from Scotland, owing to the eminent position which she held in the Protestant Church. The speaker traced the girdling of our sea coast with a missions: tdzztne agency of the Alliance, that cause also was the fresh impulse to be*____x. *Toattributed, which had been given to the oldest tract society in Scotland, by the employment of colporteurs to travel over the country, and endeavour to supplant the present pernicious. periodicals, issuing weekly from the press, with more moral and elevating publications.Many of the best books on important religious subjects have, during the last ten years, been published by the Alliance, and this was one important feature in the movement, that it gathered together for consultation on every momentous subject, all classes of minds, and all bent their energies to the overpowering of the common enemy. The branch which was formed in Kilmarnock bore the date of 5th November, 1857.-Lb- Patterson gave a vivid sketch of his visit to Berlin, the persons he met with, and the feelings that took possession of him in the various circumstances in which he was placed. He described the dining of the Alliance with the King—the contrast presented to the day when the present King’s father and Voltaire sat inn room (which was visited) and, laughing at the old wives’ fables, speculated on the disappearance of the Bible from the earth. Throughout a somewhat lengthened address, the whole was so interwoven with genuine humour and pleasing incident, that the audience seemed to get more deeply interested in the subject as the speaker moved along.Mr. Robertson, after noting many of the scenes on passing along to Berlin, where stirring events happened 300 years ago connected with the Reformation, confined himself chiefly to a description of one of the meetings of the Alliance. The whole of the address was characteristic. Those who heard, a lecture- on The following is the “ Burschen Life,” by the same gentleman, will have a fbo Earl of Shafte^bslight conception of the way in which he handled his been adjourned to the 8th of February:— ,***' - ‘ _ Whereas it is expedient to extend the act passedin the session of Parliament held in the eighteenth ana nineteenth years of the reign of her present Majesty(t A A #.1 *___ • 11- A T ! U^.i.irr a f T? pi 10 t Oildid, he proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman andthe other reverend gentlemen who had so delighted them with their eloquent addresses, especially to thosA two brethren who came from a distance.The motion was carried by acclamation. The Chair man shortly replied, and the meeting broke up after praise and prayer woro engaged in.A NOVEL EXPERIMENT.(From a Correspondent.)One day last week our attention was arrested bv seeing some placards announcing that Sunday after noon services for the working classes would be holden at the Olympic Circus, Now Cut, Lambeth, and that the first of the seric would be performed iy the Rev R. Robinson, of York-road Chapel (Independenton Sunday, Dec. 6, Wc saw this bill at the door of the Circus, side by side .with others announcing the exhibition of the evening, which was to consist of singing and dancing, the laughing gas, a new ballet c., at the moderate charges for adtnissilt; a of Boxes’ 2d.; pit, Id.” Recovering somewhat from our sur-pnse at these oddly ontrasted announcements of rivalperformances, we fell to speculating upon the kind of reception the minister ould meet with who had thus essayed to beard the lion in his den, and challenge ignorance and sin oven in their own stronghold We felt curious to see how the “lion ” would take it, and whether vice and ignorance would receive their aggressor with respect or scorn—for we know something of the Olympic Circus in its \eek-day garb, and thisknowledge did not tend much to reassure us of the success of the crusade.muOlympic Oltcm99 is situate nearly oppositeAll Saints’ Church, and has for some years past been carried on as a 41 penny gaff” frequented by the lowest of the low, and the most abandoned'of the vicious. The performances have been of a character likely to find favour with such tastes, alike remarkable for their low sentiment, ribaldry, frivolity, and dangerous tendency. The place has been regarded’ by those competent to give an opinion in such matters* as the moral ulcer of the neighbourhood—a mill-stone round the neck of moral and religious progress which counterpoises all the good effected by the educational machinery of our ragged schools and churches. Its exodus has long been prayed for by those who have the welfare of the poor of this neighbourhood at heart, and by many a youth whose first introduction to evil companionship took place within its walls.Here, then, on Sunday, December 6th, the Rev. R. Robinson sent up the first notes of praise, and made the walls echo with immortal truths, to which, it is to be feared, the ears of many of his auditors were equal strangers. The place had a curious aspect, with its gaudy, tattered decorations of flags for a roof, and the cold, damp earth for a floor; with its flaunting gaslights, andlhe light of day struggling through the open windows and the broken tiles; with the “drop-scene” for a background, ^presenting some fanciful picture in some hitherto undiscovered country, painted in every impossible variety of colour; with the stage, but a few hours since in possession of Jack Pudding and family, now occupied by some half dozen earnest labourers in the Lord’s vineyard; with the boisterous levity of last night’s audience now exchanged for earnest and serious attention, no wonder that the opening prayer of the Rev. W. Barker fell upon our ears with unwonted solemnity, or that the scene afforded us much food for after-reflection.The place was well filled, and amongst others present were about 150 boys from the New-cut and other ragged schools; the Rev. W. Barker, of Chureh-street Chapel, Messrs. W. H. Miller, H. Leslie, and J. Cox, together with several of the missionaries of the surrounding district, and other gentleman, being upon the stage.The service commenced with a hymn, after which the Rev. R. Robinson read and explained the fifteenth chapter of St, Luke, illustrating the parable of the Prodigal Son in his own apt and impressive manner. The Rev. W. Barker then engaged in prayer. A short sermon or discourse was next delivered by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, on Christ’s coming to save the lost. The reverend gentleman took the opportunity of improving the occasion by showing the applicability of the words to all classes, characters, and conditions, occasionally addressing himself more especially to the younger portion of hia hearers. Those who are acquainted with the reverend gentleman’s peculiar aptitude for engaging the interest of the young will not need to be told that this portion of his discourse was listened to with more than average attention—in fact, there was a thorough homeliness about the whole J, service that rendered it generally impressive. The Evening Hymn and a brief prayer concluded the service. It was announced that the proprietress had granted the use of the building for these services, which it was contemplated to hold during the winter, every Sabbath-day afternoon, from three to four o’clock, and that the Rev. W. Barker would officiate on the following Sunday.It is unnecessary to speculate upon the good which must positively result from these services. The marked attention with which the reverend gentleman was listened to by above 600 persons augurs that they will be well attended; and that there was a necessity for them no one can doubt. Who shall say that the labour has been in Yain, if even a moiety of the waifs and strays of this neglected neighbourhood shall, even “ after many days,” find the bread thu^11 cast upon the water* ?”THE RELIGIOUS WORSHIP ACTAMENDMENT BILL.subject. It was so full of- poetical feeling, lighted ipby the magic tints of^ a rich imagination, that were ittransferred to paper it would lose much of its beauty.The whole scene was brought before the view, as in apanoramic picture. He concluded his animatedaudresa by wishing “ God speed the Evangelical Alliance.”♦Mr. Symington, on being called on to address the meeting, sc 1 he would give no address. Before discharging the duty he intended, he would read a letter of apology from Rev. D. T. Jamieson. (A letter of apology was also read at an earlier stage of the proceedings, from Mr. Craufurd, of Craufurdland, who had been invited to occupy the chair.) Although they had been three hours together, he never wearied less inany meeting. It had been to him, and he hoped it would be to all, one of the happiest meetings they had yet had in Kilmarnock. On being asked to sign little paper, in conjunction with his clerical brethren m town, ho refused. It was thought strange. The reason was, he had been a member of the Alhance ten years ago, and he was not going to do that which he had already done. After a fewI .wSs.,.8howinS had always been ofI opinion that Christian# should unite more than theyintituled uXn Act for securing the Liberty of Rriigtous Worship :M be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Loras spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this presentParliament assembled, and by the authority of the same,as follows: ...1. From and after the passing of this act, notwitu-standing any powers of inhibition claimed by the incumbent of any parish or ecclesiastical district the population of which shall exceed two thousand by the laetpreceai g census, no inhibition of such incumbent shall avail so to prevent any ordained minister of the United Cnurc\ England and Ireland from conducting or taking P. in any congregation or assembly occasionally mee k for religious worship in any building or .buildmg.usually appropriated to purposes of religious wor p» unless such inhibition shall be contained in some wr sunder the hand of such incumbent, countersignedsealed by the bishop of the diocese within whion soccasional services Bhall be held.The Archdeacon of Lewes ha withdrawn name from the list of Bupporters of “ St. M«r6Me Home.”
Newspaper Details
Christian Times
London, Middlesex, GB
Fri, Dec 11, 1857
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
VA, USA 29 Dec 2019
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