ite superstition and folly, which took place at a quiet village in the county of Dorset, will, I think, exhibit the real tendency and nature of this new-fledged superstition, and show to every reflecting man that its priests are willing to take their disciples not only half-way to Rome, but the whole distance. That such follies should be permitted to pass by without censure from the professed heads of the Established Church, proves too clearly that it is far from being what its admirers term it-the greatest bulwark of the Protestant faith in our land. From what our Home Missionaries know of its working in the villages and hamlets of our beloved land, I may fearlessly assert that it is more Popish than Protestant in its influence on the mass of the village population. ness of the Middle Ages. The particulars I have obtained from persons on the spot, so that the accuracy of them may be relied upon. The procession consisted, first, of the churchwarden bearing a large gilt cross; next came a few boys of the school with flying banners; after these came a number of clergymen and collegians attired in their full sacerdotal vestments; and in the rear followed the clergyman of the parish, carrying in his hand a silver dish with the sacramental cup, and accompanied by another clergyman, carrying also a silver dish, which was supposed by the eye-witnesses to contain the sacramental bread. The procession moved forward from the clergyman's house around the school-room, the boys chaunting parts of the Prayer-book as In the year 1843 Mr. R—, a Pusey- they went along. They then proceeded ite clergyman, came in possession of the to the church, where divine service was vicarage of Rampisham, situated in the performed in full cathedral form, accounty of Dorset, about six miles from cording to the rules laid down in the Beaminster. Previous to Mr. R.'s ar- Rubric. A sermon was preached by rival, an evangelical clergyman of the one of the clergymen, and the sacraname of Mudge had officiated in the ment was then administered in due parish as curate for some years, and by priestly fashion. After the service was his instrumentality a few persons were concluded the parties proceeded to Mr. brought to a saving knowledge of the R.'s house, chaunting psalms by the truth as it is in Jesus. Since Mr. R.'s way. Some of the chief persons of the arrival he has made many alterations parish and the strangers who had joined in the parish church of a Popish chain the ceremonies of the day were then racter, which has tended to wean the regaled with a good dinner. After the affections of the people from the church repast was ended, the solemnities of the to which he belongs. He has built a day were concluded by foot-ball and very elegant baptismal font in the jumping in the basket for walnuts and church, with a cross at the top, and apples, &c. the figures of the twelve apostles carved in the body of it. He has also erected, at a considerable expense, a new chancel, containing an altar-piece, a table with a splendid cover of crimson velvet, and two large candlesticks with large wax candles. From the roof of the chancel three elegant brass candlesticks are suspended, which have more the appearance of lamps than anything else. On either side of the chancel there are seats for the choristers to chaunt the different parts of the sacramental service. On Thursday, September 8th, 1847. being the day of the nativity of the Holy Virgin, the opening of this chancel was celebrated by what may be termed a Popish procession, worthy of the dark Thus ended this religious ceremony in solemn mockery, and the ordinances of our holy religion were publicly burlesqued, and held up to the ridicule of the world. Thus it is that pure religion is corrupted by ungodly men entering the sanctuary of God, and substituting instead of God's truth, the traditions of the fathers, and ceremonies of their own devising. The pure and spiritual religion of the cross is made to run up and down the streets, and is mingled with outward show and foolish sports, instead of being sealed on the hearts and lives of men. Now to the point. Owing to these Popish superstitions and invasions, a few of the inhabitants of the village have left the Established Church, and now meet for divine worship in a small room which has been fitted up for that purpose. A few Dissenting ministers and pious laymen have officiated for them at different times, and the attendance is on the whole encouraging. Many more would come provided the chapel were in a better situation and better built. The present room is very damp in winter, and persons are afraid of catching cold by coming to the meeting. It has therefore been proposed by the friends of evangelical truth in the neighbourhood that a new chapel be built capable of seating 200 persons, and that a piece of ground be obtained for this purpose in a more eligible situation than the present. The cost of the building will amount to £300 or £350. Any subscriptions or donations for the above object will be thankfully received by the Rev. A. Bishop, Beaminster, Dorset, Trusting that you will give this communication an early insertion in your valuable Periodical, I remain, &c., A PROTESTANT DISSENTER. Islington, Nov. 2, 1847. PROGRESS OF TRUTH. SIR,-Deem it not flattery when I tell you I highly value your editorial labours, and glorify God on your behalf. We know in part the amount of good the Magazines are already affecting, but time alone will develope the vast amount of benefit rendered indirectly to great numbers who never read them. These heralds of truth are still pouring light into many an isolated spot such as this, where Romanism is nursed and dandled with a deal of gravity and delight. We have a tolerable number of your Magazines circulated in this little town, but I believe the Churchman's Penny exceeds them, because they are bought by the dozen by the wealthy of this locality, who purchase them for gratuitous distribution. Still it will gladden your heart to know that the young are not led blindfolded so much as in days that are past; and this I gather from the grave announcement made from the pulpit of the incumbent of this town on sabbath, the 12th Sept., who said, "it was a lamentable fact, that, out of a population of 2000, only thirteen had given their names for confirmation." This is an encouraging state of things to those who hold the faith in a pure conscience; and especially must it rejoice your heart, because this is the end of your labours, to enlighten the Christian world with scriptural truths. I was much pleased to find you this month directing your cannonade against that monster who lays his snare principally for those just entering their teens. I should shudder to lay my hand on the heads of the deluded victims to this gross superstition and pronounce them moral, much less spiritual "members of Christ;" but I suppose those who are the principals in this Aladdin ceremony only require a repetition of the mystical catechism, and then they can pronounce the benediction, which has always proved fruitless. The number of young people who attend the instruction of the rev. gentleman who officiates at the church cannot be supposed to read your Magazines, because his opinion was freely expressed on the first number of the PENNY, "that it was an infamous publication;" and also one of the rev. gentleman's flock, who distributes a number of the Churchman's Penny free, ventured to put an appendage to the title of the CHRISTIAN'S PENNY by a prefix "UN;" and who of the flock would be bold enough to be seen with these wicked books? But the secret of the matter lies here-the strong light in which the errors and superstitions of the Established Church are set forth in your Magazines. The readers of them are girded for the battle, and are becoming more valiant for the truth, and are discussing these errors with greater freedom and clearness; so that indirectly they are diffusing a leaven that will eventually leaven the lump. Christians begin to see that "to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," is as much a duty as to be "meek and lowly," and that Christian disputation, in the spirit of the gospel, is compatible with Christian humility. My dear sir, thank God and take courage in remembering, that, wherever these messengers of light go, though but one in a village, it may indirectly diffuse much gospel light to a great number, and may help to set the captives free. ONE WHO HAS A FIRM HOPE IN THE DOWNFALL OF THE BEAST. Ventnor, I. W., Sept. 21, 1847. SLAVERY. SIR,-If you think the following worthy of a corner in your interesting work, you can make use of it. It happened under my own observation while proceeding homewards in her B. M. mailsteamer Medway, from the West Indies to Southampton, where we arrived July 8th, 1847. I remain, sir, yours, &c., THOS. G. RIDER. We arrived at St. Thomas', W. I., June 19th, 1847, and made fast to the coal-wharf, when we were immediately boarded by about fifty blacks, men and women, from the deep copper colour to the jet black, very diminutive in stature, and almost in a state of nudity. The women were made by the driver, a coloured man, to carry as many coals as the men, in baskets, about 1 ft. deep and 3 ft. diameter, on their heads, the weight of which almost dragged them down, and the driver hurrying them the whole time. He used them very badly, pushing the poor creatures from the scullery, where they collected to beg any small pieces of meat or bread that had been left on the plates by the passengers: they were almost ravenous, snatching away whatever they could get one from another, and devouring it instantly. We laid here all night; in the morning we completed taking in coals, and had started some four or five hours, when one of the sailors came to the chief officer, Mr. Sawyer, and informed him one of the slaves was on board, and had hid himself amongst some chests of pine-apples, which were on the main-deck. On proceeding there we could just perceive his feet, with He was huddled up in almost an incretheir broad-spreading toes in sight. dibly small place. He was got out, and stated that his reason for leaving was harsh treatment from his driver. He knew no other name than Alexan der, and begged the captain (Andrews) not to land him again. On the voyage home he would eat nothing but a little rice and what butter he could scrape from the plates, which seemed to him quite a luxury, so bad had been their food on shore. He showed a little pride when he was decked out on Sunday with some clothes a passenger had given him. He was allowed to attend Divine service, which was performed every Sunday, in the saloon, by the captain. We brought him to Southampton, and, coming, he made himself useful-more so than I thought he would, being willing to do anything. What became of him after landing at Southampton I do not know; but I have no doubt he liked the prospect of being free in our own happy island, rather than returning to a state of slavery. Perhaps some of your Southampton readers could inform me through the WITNESS or PENNY MAGAZINE, whether they see anything of him there, as I am rather anxious to know the result. The Fragment Basket. NEVER GIVE A KICK FOR I LEARNED a good lesson when I was a little girl, said Mrs. Fairweather. One frosty morning I was looking out of the window into my father's barn yard, where stood many cows, oxen, and horses, waiting to drink. It was one of those cold, snapping mornings, when a slight thing irritates both man and beast. The cattle all stood very still and meek, till one of the cows attempted to turn round. In making the attempt, she happened to hit her next neighbour; whereupon the neighbour kicked and hit another. In five minutes the whole herd were kicking and hooking each other with all fury. My mother laughed, and said, "See what comes of kicking when you're hit. Just so I've seen one cross word set a whole family by the ears some frosty morning." Afterward, if my brothers or myself were a little irritable, she would say, "Take care, my children; remember how the fight in the barnyard began. Never give back a kick for a hit, and you will save yourself and others a great deal of trouble." THOUGHTS OF MATTHEW THOSE lives that are entirely devoted to God's praise are assuredly taken under his protection. What we win by prayer, we must wear with praise. All our sufficiency for our spiritual work and warfare is from the grace of God; and if all be from him, let all be to him. Did we not often pray for mercy when we were in pursuit of it; and shall we think it will suffice once or twice to give thanks when we have obtained it? Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do either by him or upon him? If we would have God hear what we say to him by prayer, we must be ready to hear what he says to us by his word. With respect to those that make God their chief joy, as their joy may be full, so it may be constant, even in this vale of tears. It is their own fault if they are not glad all their days, for his mercy will furnish them with joy in tribulation, and nothing can separate them from it. while he sleeps. Aim high and work hard. Life is worth the living, death worth the dying, because worth the gaining. Quick, ye men of might, in the road of life! Your life is more than half gone already. You are going down the hill, and the shadows begin to fall around you. If ye have aught to do before ye die, do it quickly. The morning has fled, mid-day has passed, and the night cometh. Quick, ye aged men, quick! Once you thought threescore years and ten to be an endless time, and that they could never pass away. They have come, they have gone-and what have they left? The days of pleasure are past, and the days of darkness are here. Have you left any work undone? Have with no preparation for death? Ah, you come to infirmities and trembling sires. Already are the messengers of quick, ye aged fathers and grey-bearded death beginning to tender their ser vices to bring you to the sepulchres of nants of existence struggle for heaven. With the feeble remyour fathers. Work, pray, seek while life lingers, mercy waits, and God is gracious! THE PEOPLE. THE greatest scholars, poets, orators, philosophers, warriors, statesmen, inventors and improvers of the arts, arose from the lowest of the people. If we had waited till courtiers had invented the art of printing, clock-making, navigation, and a thousand others, we should have probably continued in darkness to this hour. DEATH OF REV. JOHN TEN NENT. A FEW minutes before he expired, holding his brother William by the hand, he broke out into the following raptures: "Farewell, my brethren! farewell father and mother! farewell world, with all thy vain delights! Welcome God and Father! welcome sweet Lord Jesus! welcome death! welcome eternity! Amen." Then, with a low voice, he said, "Lord Jesus, come, Lord Jesus!" and so he fell asleep in Christ, and obtained an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of his God and Saviour. TION. A HUGE ENGINE OF DESTRUC-plied the nobleman. "Because," said Mr. Mead, "when you christen a child, you regenerate it by the Holy Ghost; when you confirm a youth, you assure him of God's favour and the forgiveness of all his sins; when you visit a sick person, you absolve him from all his iniquities; and when you bury the dead, you send them all to heaven. Of what particular service, then, can great abilities be in your communion ?" MATTHEW MEAD, an eminent Nonconformist minister, was politely addressed by a nobleman: "I am sorry, sir, that we have not a person of your abilities with us in the Established Church; they would be extensively useful there." "You don't, my lord, require persons of great abilities in the Establishment." "Why so, sir?" re The Children's Gallery. SKETCH OF MISS SUSAN JUKES. her to Ramsgate on the 15th of June, BY REV. JOHN JUKES, BEDFORD. SUSAN showed at a very early period that parental culture was a blessing to her, for it began to produce good fruit in her mind almost from her infancy. From the very moment when she acquired the power to distinguish between things that differ, she manifested extreme conscientiousness. I believe, and so does every member of the family, that nothing would have induced her to say what she knew to be false, or to do what she thought to be wrong. Her delight was in the ways of the Lord. Nothing was so great a treat to her as to attend the service of God: if she had ever any trouble, it was when detained from the sanctuary. At the time when her brother was admitted into the church she wished to share his privilege; and I believe the three desires uppermost in her mind, when her fatal illness fell upon her, were, that she might be allowed to sit down at the Lord's table, to have a little class in the Sunday-school, and a small district for the distribution of religious tracts. The inroads which disease made upon her constitution were much more rapid than we anticipated; we, therefore, had comparatively few opportunities of ascertaining the nature of her feelings towards the close of her life. As advised by our kind friend, her medical attendant, and in the hope that a change would prove beneficial, I took where I remained with her until the 20th. On the 19th I had a conversation with her on the love of God, which will always be treasured up amongst my most precious reminiscences. It was founded on the passage, God so loved the world," &c. I concluded by saying, "Do you believe in the Son of God ?" She unhesitatingly replied, "Yes, I do." "Have you entrusted him with your soul? Have you given him your heart?" "I hope I have." "Then you can say, 'I know in whom I have believed, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him ?”” “ Yes, I can." In consequence of a special summons, I was with her again on the 27th of June, and seeing her so much reduced, I lost no time in speaking to her about her spiritual concerns. Taking her hand in mine, I said, "My dear, you know I am often sent for to see people when they are ill: now, when I go, I am very anxious to ascertain the state of their mind. You are very ill, are you not?" She said, Yes, I am." I said, "I should like to know how you feel." swered, "I feel very happy." "Is your happiness the effect of the gospel upon your heart?" "I believe it is." "Are there any portions of God's word which have dwelt more particularly in your memory ?" "There are some which have dwelt much on my mind both since my illness and long before." "Can you mention one?" "Yes; 'We know that if our earthly house of this She an |