[* We cannot imagine that there will be any loss. All who contribute from religious motives will be delighted with a plan which, in form as well as in spirit, secures, as far as human arrangements can, that the money they contribute shall be under the control of religious men only. We may add, that we most heartily concur in the plan proposed by our brethren, and that the churches of the county in which we write (Yorkshire), will be much disappointed if trivial or technical reasons are allowed to set it aside, or even to postpone its adoption.-ED.]

COLOURED BAPTISTS IN AMERICA.

MR. ASHER'S CASE.

The Civil Questions Committee of the Yorkshire Association have requested our insertion of the following document, which they intend to present to the Association at its Annual Meeting in May, hoping that other Churches and Associations may be induced to avail themselves of the same opportunity to express their views on the same subject.

It is a melancholy fact, that throughout the Free States there is, practically, a conspiracy of the Whites to prevent the coloured population from rising above the condition of servants. In Rhode Island even Quakers will not allow them to join their society, alleging, that they could not denominate Friends those whom they could not treat as social equals.' Baptists and other Evangelical sects fully share this unworthy pride. We may add, what many of our readers already know, that Mr. Asher has come to this country for the purpose of obtaining assistance to defray a debt upon his chapel. From a debt of upwards of £1,200, his own people-all coloured-have reduced it to £800, and this is the sum he wishes to obtain from the friends of Christ in England. He has already received £500. His case is most satisfactorily attested, even the genuineness of the recommendatory signatures being vouched under the corporation seal of Philadelphia. As Mr. A. has beea now detained from his people more than nine months, and is anxious to return to them as early as possible, we hope he will still receive that cordial assistance which his case peculiarly deserves.

The Associated Baptist Churches of Yorkshire, England, to their Brethren of the same faith and order in the City and County of Philadelphia, and in the Free States of North America generally, send christian salutation.

tency of the treatment which our and your coloured brethren receive at your hands, and the strange difference between their treatment here, in England, and in the Free States of the Union. We have listened with interest to his preaching, and he has been gladly welcomed everywhere, both to our pulpits, and to the firesides of every class of society. We think that you, brethren, must agree with us, that we owe a debt to our coloured brethren, which it is not only our duty, but highly to our honour, to discharge; and that in no way can we better discharge it than by shewing to them our love as brethren in Christ, and by avoiding every word or deed, and even suppressing every feeling, which could make them painfully sensible of the grievous wrong which our progenitors have done to them.

Brethren, we are confident that you must, as christians, often feel that you bring no small guilt on your consciences in allowing yourselves to concur with the children of this world in keeping your most injured brethren in Christ at so great a social distance, and in so depressed a condition. If the world can, without compunction, refuse them equal social intercourse, and practically hold them down to SERVITUDE, though not in slavery, it must violate, brethren, your conscience and every christian feeling, to do likewise.

Brethren, we earnestly exhort you to break through these merely conventional, yet sinful habits, and to honour your Master by your treatment of his servants. Be not ashamed of the brethren of Christ because the world is so; but let your light on this subject shine before men worthily of your profession Happy, indeed, should we be to see our Baptist brethren foremost in America, not only in the emancipation of the coloured people from personal slavery, but in the emancipation of free men of colour from social degradation, in educating them, and elevating them by every possible expedient; and foremost, too, in emancipating themselves from a species of pride o irrational, so vulgar, and so unchristian, as that of pride in difference of colour!

Although, brethren, you assign your liberality to voluntary emigrants from Europe as the cause of your inability to aid Mr. Asher's case, we must beg to remind you of two things; first, that coloured men now in America are in the land of their birth, therefore in their home, and that "charity should begin at home;" and next, that their colour attests that they are the children of compulsory emigration, whose ancestors were dragged by yours from their fatherland, and that your fathers' heavy debt to those unhappy emigrants it is surely a sacred duty on your part to repay to their children.

We trust, therefore, that our heartily expressed sympathy with Mr. Asher, will not induce you to send to us other coloured brethren on a similar errand It would assuredly lead to disappointment We hope, on the contrary, it will only stimulate you

to contribute yourselves in aid of your coloured fellow countrymen's spiritual wants, and also to elevate yourselves "to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," by elevating these, His brethren and your brethren, to your own social standing.

We are, beloved brethren,

Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ, (Both your Lord and ours, and theirs also), [To be signed by the ministers and delegates present.]

THE GORHAM CASE.

This important case, the particulars of which we gave in our February Number, is at length decided. As we then predicted, the decision is one which will not seriously offend either the Puseyite or the Evangelical party; for though it orders Mr. Gorham's immediate institution to the "living" of Bamford Speke, it is on the ground that, though Baptismal Regeneration may be the doctrine of the Church of England, still it is one of the doctrines the disbelief of which does not constitute heresy, nor render a clergyman unfit to receive or retain orders. We apprehend, therefore, that no immediate rupture will follow this decision; both parties will retain their position,-indeed, we believe they would have done so had the judgment been different; but surely the whole proceedings-especially the fact of Christian doctrine being decided by an entirely civil authority-must be felt as extremely galling and degrading by earnest men of both parties. When will churchmen throw off the golden chains of connexion with the civil power! when will they declare their determination to regain and defend "the liberty with which Christ has made them free!"

EAST WELLS.

East Wells is a part of the suburbs of the city of Wells, Somersetshire, and the very worst part of it. Some few years since it was notorious for all kinds of vice and depravity, especially on Sunday evenings. It was like a revel or fair, for drunkenness, swearing, fighting, and obscene language; groups were seen sitting by the way-side, and scarcely could any one pass that way unmolested. No one seemed to care for the moral condition of East Wells.

Mr. Mason, late Baptist Minister of Norton Saint Phillip, about four years since commenced his labours in this unpromising district, by circulating tracts, and personal instruction from house to house, preaching three times a week in a very commodious room which he hired for that purpose, and gathered a large Sunday school of poor children. A moral change is now evident in this district, and acknowledged by the church people. Now, on a Sunday evening, the people are wending their way to some place of worship. Mr. Mason has no salary, but his untiring efforts, kind and unsectarian spirit, entitle him to Christian sympathy. He lives in the affections of the poor people and the Sunday school children.

The dignitaries of the church clearly saw the moral change in the people, and began to bestir themselves. A school room, belonging to the vacant residence of the chancellor, was fitted up, and opened on Sunday, January 20th, by the Rev. W. Huxtable, formerly tutor of the Baptist College, Bristol, but now sub-dean of the cathedral, who is, of course, very anxious for the success of the chapel of ease, and, therefore, goes from house to house, informing the people of the new chapel and Sunday school, and presenting a prayer-book gratis to the children who attend. The object of this is evidently to break down the voluntary school. He preaches twice on the Sunday, also on Wednesday evenings, and twice in Lent-week nights. I wish the good man success in all his various charges, and trust, with all his zeal for the State Church, he will remember what he formerly was, and who he then considered Head of the Church. Truth is still the same, and the promises of God ensure success to those labourers who seek the glory of God as the first great object and end of life.--From a Correspondent.

HUDDERSFIELD.

On Lord's-day, March 3rd, the Baptist church formerly meeting in Spring-street, Huddersfield, opened a more eligible and commodious room for worship, over Mr. R. Thomas's academy, King-street, when two sermons were preached; in the morning by the Rev. J. Hanson, Milnsbridge, and in the evening by the Rev. J. Stock, Salendine-Nook. On the Wednesday following a tea-meeting was held in the new room, when about two hundred persons sat down to tea, the trays being gratuitously provided by the members and friends. The meeting was subsequently addressed by the Revs. J. P. Chown, T. Thomas, J. Stock, H. S. Albrecht, J. Barker, J. Hirst, and other friends. The Rev. J. Hanson, of Milnsbridge, presided over the meeting, which was of a highly interesting character, and the room was so crowded that many were unable to obtain admittance. Special services were held on the other evenings through the week. The friends here deeply regret that so important and flourishing a town as Huddersfield should be destitute of a Baptist chapel, and, in their efforts to obtain one, hope to enlist the sympathies of their christian brethren and the public at large.

KIRKSTALL, NEAR LEEDS.

An interesting tea-meeting was held at Kirkstall, Feb. 26th, on the removal of Mr. S. Jones from the village mission to the pastorate of the church at Lumb, Lancashire. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Tunnicliff, J. Foster, H. Dowson, J. Parkinson, W. Clarke, G. Mitchell, R. Hogg, and J. Chisellett; the Rev. A. M. Stalker occupied the chair. A resolution was passed at the close of the meeting expressive of esteem for Mr. Jones, who has successfully laboured for five years in connexion with the village mission.