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by the colonial catechists.-We are glad to see that the operations of the Church Missionary Society in Africa are soon to be given to the public in a volume, to be published by subscription, by Mr. Walker of Dublin. -In India and China matters are tolerably tranquil. There is a report of the Emperor of China's death; but as yet it is wholly unauthenticated.But we pass over all points of minor interest in foreign countries, to draw the especial attention of our readers to the destitution of some of the clergy in Upper Canada. The Bishop of Toronto, in a circular, dated Dec. 10, 1844, represents their extreme distress to their brethren; (five there are particularly who have been without any income from the government for two years and a half) and recommends a collection to be made in the churches of his diocese, early this year. It may not be uninteresting to our readers briefly to specify the causes which have produced this lamentable state of things. In 1791, certain allotments were directed by the Imperial Parliament to be reserved from every grant made by government, in the proportion of a seventh, for the Protestant clergy, and called Clergy Reserves. These remained for many years almost unproductive, and the title of the clergy to the Church of England was often disputed to them. Until 1832, the Propagation Society, having a grant from Parliament of £15,000, used to supply their stipends. But, alas! proh pudor! then this grant was withdrawn, the Society became unable to assist them, and the clergy were thrown back on the Clergy reserves. £7500

was estimated as the annual amount required by them, £2000 of which was then drawn from the increased profit of the Reserves. But whence was the deficiency to be supplied? Parliament was applied to, and in 1834 agreed annually to provide, from certain revenues in Canada, the £5500 additional required. But with this proviso, 1st, That every increase in the Clergy Reserve fund should go to liquidate this debt; and 2nd, Where a vacancy occurred, the stipend was not to be continued to any successor, but go to the liquidation

of the same. obviate the sad consequences which would arise from this last proviso, to any clergy who should succeed to the vacancies of their brethren, an act was passed 3rd and 4th Victoria, to secure, at all events, £7700 annually to the Church of England in Upper Canada. Since then six vacancies have occurred, and the fresh ministers, on their appointment, expected that they would receive the accustomed stipend. But this has been withheld, the Canadian government declaring, against the above-mentioned act, that they are not bound to pay any successors to vacancies, but that it is the duty of the Imperial government. The Imperial government, on the other hand, say that is the duty of the Provincial Government, and whilst this question remains unsettled, which it has for nearly two years and a half, five ministers, (one having gone to reside in England) are left in the utmost state of destitution. Could not something be done in England for those who are so deserving our sympathy?

In order, it appears, to

ECCLESIASTICALINTELLIGENCE. -In a convocation holden the 13th February, the Rev. G. Ward was condemned, and deprived of his degrees. An amendment to the condemnation was proposed, approving the censurability of the propositions extracted from "The Ideal," but declining any further condemnatory proceedings. It was rejected, however, in consequence of its irregularity. Numbers for the condemnation were 777; against it, 386. Numbers for the degradation, 569; against it, 511. First majority was consequently 391; the second, 58. The condemnation of Tract 90 was vetoed by the Proctor, and an address, thanking the Proctors for their proposed interference was published; many thinking, (whether right or not is another question,) that a matter demanding the calmest and most prudent deliberation would have been hurried on too rapidly, had it been carried before the house then. The Rev. H. Melville is said to have refused

the appointment to the Ceylon Bishopric. The Episcopal chair will be filled by the Reverend H. Chap

man, Rector of Dunstan, Essex.The persecution of the Protestant converts at Dingle is, we believe, still unabated. Lord Ventry and Mr. Gayer have had threatening letters sent them, and some ruffians actually were found prowling about the house of the former, it is supposed, for the purpose of assassinating him. May God turn the counsels of these desperadoes upon their own heads!-We are happy to be able to report, that Sir Jenner Fust has decided, in a very lucid and able verdict, against the erection of the stone altar and credence table in the Round Church. -We ought to have stated above, that the University, before proceeding in the course which ended so favourably on the 13th, obtained the opinion of some leading barristers as to the extent of their powers in this unhappy case. The Solicitor General and three others decided that they had the power both of condemning and degrading. Sir John Dodson, on the other hand, and Mr. Bethel, who were brought up on Mr. Ward's side, decided against such a power. It is, of course, merely a legal question, but independently of the great weight of those names who are attach

ed to the affirmative side, it does appear to one unskilled in the law of the point, most reasonable as well as most probable, that the University has such powers. Every Society, as such, ought to have, and, if rightly constituted, would have the power of ejecting unworthy members from her body. If she has the power of admitting, surely she must possess that of ejecting. Privileges which a Society brings into existence, she must assuredly be able to disannul, in particular cases.

We have but a few more words to add in our MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. We have much pleasure in stating that Sir A. Agnew is again about to bring forward his proposition at the ensuing meeting of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, for the discouragement of all Sunday traffic on that line. We trust it will be successful.-At Malta, the 28th December, M. Camilleri, lately a priest of the Church of Rome there, was received into the full communion of the English Church by the Bishop of Gibraltar.-Lord Lucan has refused giving a site for the Monastery of the Sisters of Mercy in Castlebar.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
(For the Christian Guardian.)

"He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"-ISAIAH XXI. 11.

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* Is. xxi. 6. † Ps. xlviii. 2, 3, 12. ‡ 1 Tim. iv. 1. 1 John ii. 12.

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* 2 Pet. iii. 3. † Rev. xviii. Matt. vii. 14. § Job xxxv. 10. || Gal. vi. 2. ** Many signs appear to betoken the speedy restoration of the Jews to their own land.

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Received, Letter from Brussels, with many thanks. Also C. L.

More communications from M. N. will be very acceptable.

The Editor is greatly obliged for the valuable letter of "A Thirty Years Subscriber.' He believes the advice regarding the insertion of a sermon is what is most in accordance with general wishes.

He quite concurs in the opinion regarding the peculiar value of well written Biography, lay and clerical. He would be very glad if any of his readers could furnish him with memoirs of the REV. THOMAS JONES, of St. Saviour's; the REV. S. CROWTHER, of Christ's Church, Newgate; or the REV. JOSIAH PRATT. He would be very thankful for a memoir of good old MR. JONES, of Creaton. Our old pillars are fast failing us, and the memory of such men is indeed blessed.

The Editor hopes to arrange for a special department for the young. He knows that many owe their first serious impressions to The Christian Guardian. Judicious obituaries of young persons he will be thankful for.

The Editor has reason to be grateful for the encouragement which attends his outset : and he again repeats, that he shall always be thankful for the advice and contributions of his friends, and above all, their prayers.

THE CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN,

AND

CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1845.

"THE COMFORT OF LOVE.'

PHILIPPIANS ii. 1.

SUFFER a fellow-Christian, dear brethren and sisters in Christ, most affectionately and earnestly to entreat you to be now, more than ever, watchful over your own hearts on the subject of charity-charity to all, but more especially for Christ's sake, one to another; we love one another with a pure heart fervently."

let us

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see that

These are sifting, trying times, times of much necessary controversy for "the faith once delivered unto the saints;" and Satan is watchfully busy to take advantage, in every and any way, of the sad infirmities of our yet remaining corruption. So that if he cannot (because God is with us) lead us away by false doctrines, he will tempt us to sin in the manner of our defending the truth, or in bitterness of spirit against the erring. But most especially doth he ever seek to chill the love that ought to exist among Christ's true disciples; most especially is he busy to divide, and scatter, and harass the flock: creating unnecessary fears and suspicions in one against another; magnifying one another's failings; puffing up some against others; exciting and tempting to wicked and angry feelings, selfishness, pride, emulations; which he well knows are not only destructive to a poor soul's own happiness, but also that they entirely hinder (wherever they prevail) profitable Christian intercourse, edifying conversation, and that "sweet counsel,' and spiritual communion one with another, so touchingly alluded to in Malachi iii. 16. More especially do they sadly hinder all enlargement in prayer, all deep and delightful meditation on the Scriptures, thereby robbing us (for he is a thief and a robber,) of the green pastures and waters of comfort we might else have enjoyed in precious moments of communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now all these rich privileges, both from their delightful nature, and from the solid growth thereby imparted, are the very greatest preservative from error and sin; and, therefore, to interrupt them, is so far to bring us into danger. They who are in the constant habit of listening APRIL-1845.

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