Watch, lest in dark temptation's hour, Intelligence of Churches, &q. Observer, Oct. 1, '71. LETTER FROM W. HINDLE.-Dear Bro. King,-In the good providence of God I arrived safe in dear old England after a rather long but very fine passage over the big waters. I am thankful that I am much better in health than when I left Melbourne, so that I may be of some use in the good work during my stay in this country, but I shall need to be careful, avoid too many meetings, and keep myself from overtaxing the brain. I trust that with care and the blessing of our Heavenly Father, I shall be able to work in the great harvest field for many years to come. I arrived in London on Saturday, August 19th, and spent the Lord's day following with the brethren at Camden Town and Chelsea: and a very happy day we had in the Master's service. I preached in the latter place, to a very attentive company. It was very refreshing to meet with old friends, who are more than ever dear to me because of their love to the Saviour and their steadfastness in His cause. I have spent two Lord's days at Blackburn, having good meetings. I visited the brethren at Manchester and Southport. In each place I have received a warm and cheering welcome, and I feel sure that these social meetings have been a real blessing to all who were present. I cannot doubt but that impressions have been made upon the hearts of many, that will bring forth fruit to the glory of God. We had a happy day at Wigan, yesterday, with the brethren in the morning, and in preaching the grand old gospel at night. We have a tea meeting to-night, and I think there is good reason to expect that the blessing of God will rest upon these efforts, and that precious souls will be won to the Saviour. I feel the more confident of this, because there appears to be a more earnest and prayerful spirit amongst the brethren in this district. May this spirit be largely increased throughout all the churches, until one earnest cry shall go up to God for a revival of His work in the hearts of all His children, and until one hearty, united and continued effort shall be put forth by all the brethren, in every church and in every place, for the conversion of sinners. In concluding, allow me to salute all the gospel labourers in Great Britain who may read the Observer, MANCHESTER.-Within the past few weeks we have had a feast of good things, and as it is out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, so we desire to express thankfulness to the Lord for the seasonable visits and labour of dear brethren. Lord's-day, August 6th, previous to the Annual Meeting, we were cheered by the presence of Bro. Ellis (being his first visit to our city), his earnest and faithful address to the church in the morning, and his powerful appeal to the world in the evening and following evening will be long retained in our heart's memory; feeling assured that the teachings of the Saviour, as presented by him, had brought one or more almost to a decision, we prevailed upon him to return to Manchester the Lord's-day following the Annual Meeting; the result was that two yielded to the Lord, and Bro. E. had the satisfaction of immersing them on the Wednesday following into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The next Lord's-day, August 20th, Bro. King was in our midst. Opportunely and seasonably was his. visit. His teachings on the Lord's-day and during the week tended greatly to settle in the minds of the brethren matters of importance that had long been under consideration. On Lord's-day, September 3rd, Bro. Strang paid us a farewell visit, on his way home to commence his labours with the church at Glasgow, &c. The searching, earnest, loving discourses he delivered, together with his friendly visits and the blessing of God, yielded fruit of which he may hear in days to come. Bro. Adam having by this time reached Manchester to commence his labours, we determined, at once, and without delay, to give him a hearty welcome, so that on Wednesday evening, September 6th, he found himself surrounded with a goodly company of brethren, at a social Tea Meeting, enlivened by the presence of Bro. Strang, Bro. Hindle (just returned from Australia), a Bro. Neill (lately, from New Zealand), and brethren from the neighbouring churches of Stockport, Ashton, Oldham, &c. It was indeed a happy re-union, and we made melody in our hearts to the Lord. Bro. Harvey presided. Bro. Strang gave the keynote: "How beautiful upon the mountain tops are the feet of them that bringeth glad tidings, &c." Bren. Evans and Ferguson caught the spirit, and gave a few spirited go on thoughts. Bro. Neill made our hearts glad with the effects produced by the proclamation of good tidings upon the mountains and in the plains of the Antipodes. Bro. Perkins then addressed a few stirring and earnest words of welcome and encouragement to Bro. Adam, and formally introduced him to the Meeting and to the church. The burden of his intelligent and well-pointed remarks were: "I desire to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Bro. Hindle wound up in a telling and happy strain, delivering good news to thirsty souls, from those who had gone out from us to distant parts, and especially of one dear brother (M. Green) whom he had laboured with side by side in that distant colony, and of whom he spoke in terms of the highest worth, as a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. Inasmuch as Bro. Green was first brought to a knowledge of the truth amongst the brethren in Manchester, and commenced his labours here, we ought, he contended, to rejoice in the Lord, and take courage. Bro. Hindle laboured to infuse fresh life and vigour into the soldiers of the cross in his hearing. So we separated joyous in spirit, after singing together the hymn "We speak of the realms of the blessed, But what must it be to be there?" W. P. HUDDERSFIELD.-We have been favoured with a visit from Bro. D. King, who remained with us the week following the Annual Meeting. His stay was peculiarly acceptable, succeeding as it did, the excitement and interest of the preceding week. On the Lord's-day evening he spoke to a large audience, on "The Gospel," Mark xvi. He also gave addresses on the Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Bro. D. Scott was with us the two following Lord's-days and kept up the interest. His energetic labours, including considerable out-door speaking, were appreciated by us all. We wish his visit could have been continued longer, feeling sure it would have been attended with substantial results. G. H. S. ROCHDALE.-A few disciples of the Lord are scattered about the suburbs of this DERBY.-The Church here is gratified by the immersion into Jesus Christ of the husband of one of its members, brought in through the labours of Bro. Adam. R. M. A SPANISH CONVERT.-Mr. Knapp, writing from Madrid, Spain, says: "I have just baptized a remarkable case. A young man of talent, speaking French, and knowing Latin, Greek, and Hebrew fairly, a writer for the papers, came to us, and after He studied with D'Aubigne in Geneva ; some three weeks' probation was received. but after a few months, perceiving that Protestantism, as he said, was only a sort of patched-up Romanism, and did not at all agree with the Bible, he abandoned Geneva, owing to a discord with his Professors on the subject of Christian Baptism. He has lived at Barcelona and Madrid all the time, in ignorance of our church, or of the existence of such a church anywhere. By a providence he met Bro. Calleja in the cars, and thus heard of us, came, and was baptized. He had lost much of his interest in religion, seeing that neither Catholic nor Protestant followed that which Jesus taught, and this fact, that no primitive Christians existed, was a sore trial to his faith. He is now clear and happy." FREEMAN. AUSTRALIA. Hindmarsh.-Since last report two have been added to the Church in this place by faith and baptism, one from the Plymouth brethren, and one restored.-THOMAS PORTER. Reeve's Plain, May 22.-Since our report in the February number of the Christian Pioneer eleven have been added to the Church, seven by faith and baptism, and four by commendation. W. Hotham, Melbourne, May 23.-We have to report fifteen additions to our number since the last notice in the April number of the A. C. Pioneer. Four of the above were received by letter from sister Churches, and eleven by submission to the requirements of the Lord Jesus. M. .W GREEN. Maryborough, May 2, 1871.-Since the last communication from here (in February) we have not had any additions. The congregations continue encourageing, and our Bro. Jas. Wright labours with acceptance. We have much to contend with, but have confidence in the truth, and are assured if we are but faithful good will result. GEORGE HESKETH. Beechworth, May 8, 1871.-I have much pleasure in intimating that since my last report four more have been added to the Church here by faith and baptism, and that we are living in pease and harmony, and are unitedly striving for the faith once delivered to the saints. J. INGRAM. Forester's Hall, May 22, 1871.—So far, this month, only one has been baptized a fearful falling off in numbers converted. Our audiences have been better this month, and we are sowing seed in hope of reaping after awhile. There seems to be a quies. cent state throughout Melbourne, religiously speaking. Let us hope that many will count the cost and act accordingly. O. A. CARR. Observer, Oct. 1, '71, at present exist, of a rich harvest being reaped in this district. There are also other districts lying around us, into which we desire to carry the standard of Zion, and proclaim the tidings of great joy, although we have been prevented as yet, by necessary causes. May God give us strength to overcome, and crown our labours with success. THOMAS FERGUS. The foregoing news from Australia and New Zealand is from the PIONEER for June. Obituary. ELIZA CROZIER, wife of E. Crozier, of Wednesbury, aged thirty-six years, has Immersed into fallen asleep in Jesus. Christ in 1868, she continued faithful to the end. During the last few weeks her sufferings were considerable, but calm steadfast confidence in the Lord continued to the end. C. F. THOMAS JONES, of Rossett, aged sixtyeight, expired suddenly, from the breaking of a blood-vessel, September 4, 1871. He had been in the Church nearly forty years, and many years a deacon. He was at the Lord's table the day before his death. Being always ready in person and in means to aid the Lord's work; his removal will be severely felt by the Church here. W G. ROBERT RICHARDS, departed this life August 22, 1871, aged forty-six, after many months of failing health, leaving a wife and large family. He had been in the Church from its earliest formation in this town, and maintained a steadfast attachment_to_the truth of Christ. G. L. JOHN PEPLOW, of Shrewsbury, fell asleep in Jesus, August 13th, 1871. He was one of the members who formed the church at its commencement, in 1840. EDITORIAL. THE first eleven pages of our present issue are commended to the reader's special attention. They contain remarkably clear testimony, from a Clergyman of our Established Church, to leading truths advocated, year after year, in our periodical literature. Taking into consideration the quarter from which this present testimony comes, its clearness and extent, we consider that the sentences we have reproduced should be circulated, far and wide, by those who contend for a return to the good old paths of apostolic simplicity. We have, therefore, under the title, "A Voice from the State Church in favour of the Primitive Church," reprinted the address in question; for particulars, see cover. Are we correct in concluding that the testimony thus produced is most weighty and worthy of extensive circulation? Those who so think will, no doubt, make reasonable effort to place it in the hands of persons likely to be advantaged thereby. Observer, Nov. 1, '71. THE UNION OF CHRISTIANS & PRESENT DAY MOVEMENTS. THE question of Union is forcing itself more and more on the attention of Protestant Christendom-the stern "logic of events" pushing even the lethargic and the faint-hearted into rapid advances of the bigoted denominationalism of the past. The marvelous decadence of Papal authority and influence in the old world, accelerated by the decree of the Pope's Infallibility, which has driven many of the noblest minds in the Roman Catholic Church back to the catholicity of anti-papal times, and is leading to a rivival of ancient Catholicism, and which has divorced the sympathies of even Catholic governments from the Church, so that her own children refuse longer to grant her political consideration and insist on relegating her authority exclusively to spiritual affairs, has opened the way, in the very heart of Popery, for Protestant enterprise; and furnishes fields of activity for the lovers of the Bible and the friends of civil and religious freedom which might well task the combined energies and zeal of the entire Protestant world. Spain, Italy, Austria, and now the Catholic portions of the German Empire, are largely freed from the ecclesiastical control of Rome; the interdictions of the past are lifted away, and Papal anathemas have lost their terror; and French imperialism-Rome's best protection-is in a worse plight than even the Pope's temporal sovereignty. On the other hand, the rapid growth and bold encroachments of the Papacy in America, with its shameless avowal of the most despotic doctrines of medieval times, call for a united opposition; and this conviction, slowly and reluctantly formed by repeated outcroppings of grasping ambition and the bold denunciations of free schools, free speech and free conscience, has been intensified by the New York riots, the timorous policy of Catholic ecclesiastics towards the rioters, and the bloodthirsty spirit breathed by several Irish Catholic papers since the date of that disgraceful affair. Not one meeting has been held by Catholics to purge themselves of suspicion of sympathy with the spirit of the mob; and the significant reticence of Catholic pulpits, compels the conviction that, whatever may be the honest indignation of intelligent Catholics, the ecclesiastical authorities do not mean to range themselves on the side of law and freedom. It is not surprising, therefore, that the question of union among Protestants should excite unusual attention. The weakness of Protestantism is in her sects-the impossibility, owing to the prevalence of the sect-spirit, of concentrating her sympathies and forces in any grand enterprise such as is needed to take possession of the fields that the Papacy is vacating in the old world, and to confront the solid and growing forces of Catholicism in the new. We have been watching the various developments in behalf of union with eager attention. For years the union of the people of God has been our plea. It was the special object of the Reformation plead by the Campbells and their associates at a time when the plea was ridiculed in Protestant pulpits as Utopian, and the object condemned as impracticable and undesirable. Gradually it has gathered adherents and made its power felt, and the unfoldings of Providence, during the last half-century, have turned the hearts of good men of all parties away from the controversies of the past to grasp new and living issues more in consonance with the spirit and aims of primitive Christianity. The authority of creeds has waned. The dominion of sects has crumbled. The sacredness of hierarchical pretensions is no longer conceded. Christianity, in public estimation, has become less a body of speculative doctrines, less a question of ecclesiastical policy, and more a life; and just as this phase of it looms up into import Observer, Nov. 1, '71. ance and sacredness, the evils and mischiefs of the sect-spirit become apparent. But while we rejoice in every advance into clearer light, we are far from satisfied with any of the recent movements towards union. They are none of them up to the plea which the Disciples have urged for fifty year past. Let us see: Leaving out the claim of the Roman Catholic Church to unity-a unity which rests on tradition, and is maintained only by the surrender of soul-freedom to the claims of human authority as embodied in councils and popes-the various pleas for union on the part of Protestants may be thus classified : 66 1. The Ecclesiastical. This is the plea of the Episcopalians. They present the church-a ministry and sacraments of unbroken succession, through which has been a continuous flow of episcopal grace for the world's salvation and ask all believers in Christ to believe in this One Holy, Catholic Church," and accept of the sacraments from her true ministry. We do not hesitate to say that this plea cannot succeed. Apart from the danger of interposing the church between the sinner and his Saviour, and making questions of ecclesiastical polity questions of central importance, it is evident that this thing of apostolic succession is a figment, and that the hierarchical pretensions of this church can never command the assent of the larger portion of Protestants. 2. The Denominational. Perhaps if we were to say the sectarian, it would more sharply define the position; but it might be regarded as offensive, and our purpose is not to offend. It purposes a union of denomi nations, as such, on some common denominational basis, as in the union of Old and New School Presbyterians, and the proposed union of Methodist sects. While we rejoice in all such movements as a tribute to the cause of union, it does not need to be argued that it is entirely too narrow and too meagre to be recognized as Christian union. It results simply in a more powerful sect, on a sect-basis, and does not even propose to be catholic enough to meet the demands of Cristians at large. 3. Another phase of the Denominational. This proposes to continue the denominations as they are, each retaining its peculiarities, and new ones being admitted as fast as they can fight their way to recognition; but all agreeing to a mutual recognition as branches of the Church of Christ, and uniting in all undenominational enterprises on a common footing. This is a popular phase of the union doctrine, because of its professed liberality, and because it leaves sectarian pride untouched. It is but a counterfeit presentment of union. All who are read in the history of parties are aware that so long as party pride and ambition remain unsacrificed, a hearty union is impossible. If sects decrease in number, it will be on Darwin's principle of Natural Selection, whereby the stronger triumph over the weaker, presenting only a grander type of sect; but that in any lawful spiritual evolutions such sects will ever develop into one holy catholic church of Christ, is about as vain a dream as the development of man from monkeys. In both cases there is a chasm that has never been bridged. We may rejoice in the decadence of sectarianism which allows of the co-operation of sects, but it is too feeble and shallow to meet either the demands of the New Testament or satisfy the awakened conscience of the religious world. The New Testament knows no such denominations. As the love of Christ takes possession of men, these denominational differences become distasteful; and as they had their origin in circumstances no longer existing, and a plea for existence in necessities of the |