VIII. It is a bad example.-If the State open places of recreation to the public on the Sabbath, there cannot be a doubt that its example will be extensively followed throughout the country; and if there is any truth in the points just noticed, this must be a bad, a very bad example. Government is obviously bound to pause and consider the consequences to which the adoption of the proposed course would inevitably lead. Were we to consider the subject in a strictly religious aspect, and to appeal to Scripture, many more reasons might be adduced. These, however, are surely sufficient. The expecta tions so confidently cherished of great good as the result of such Sabbath recreation, we regard as delusive dreams. But though the opening of these places of resort were to empty every beer-shop and public-house in the land, in the face of such objections, it could not be right. The elevation of the lowest grades of society is the grand problem of the day; and well does it deserve all the attention Government can bestow, and all the resources Government can legitimately command; but it is an egregious mistake to suppose that the conversion of the Christian Sabbath, either in whole or in part, into a holiday, will do anything whatever to bring about this great result. Nay, such a change would only multiply indefinitely the numbers of those who form the dregs of society, and sink still deeper in the mire of sensuality and wretchedness those who are already degraded. To exchange our religious Sabbath for a holiday would be to blot out the sun from the social firmament, and supply its place by an earth-lighted taper. We believe in the power of truth, and the progress of humanity; and for this very reason, we believe in the perpetuity of a religious Sabbath. It is the most powerful institution on earth for the elevation of man. Past history attests the fact. When everything else has failed, the Christian Sabbath has succeeded in clothing the moral waste with verdure and beauty. Let it be introduced into the darkest region of the earth, and the barbarian will lay aside his rudeness, and the savage his ferocity. Law will take the place of anarchy, and order arise out of confusion. Wherever it has gone, it has been the pioneer of light, and liberty, and happiness. And the history of the past will be the history of the future. The regeneration of the world, come when it may, will be effected, in great measure, by the Christian Sabbath. It will be the morning star of the Millennium. It can never be abolished. It may be despised, trampled upon, and, for a time, altogether crushed, but it cannot be destroyed. Its evidence can never be disproved. The conscience of man attests its obligation; the experience of the past bears witness to its benignant character; and the Word of God invests it with Divine authority. So long as there is a conscience in man, a Bible on earth, and a God in heaven, it cannot perish. And it will be universal as well as perpetual. From east to west, and from north to south, it will yet be found witnessing for God, and showering down blessings upon man. The dawn of the weekly Sabbath, as it passes from meridian to meridian round the circumference of our globe, will yet say to each sleeper, " Awake and worship." The notes of evening praise chanted in the one hemisphere, will not have died away till they are caught up and prolonged in a morning hymn at the most distant part of the other. In the confident anticipation of the advent of a universal Sabbath, we may take up the words of the song in which the angelic choir celebrated the advent of its Divine Author, and say, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will towards the children of 66 Australia. GEELONG, THE following account of the progress and prospects of the Congregationalists in Geelong, is taken in substance from the Geelong Advertiser of Thursday, September 21st, 1854, and will be gratifying to the friends of Colonial Missions in this country, while it affords an earnest of the happy results which may be expected from welldirected Christian efforts in that important and rising colony: The newly erected Congregational Chapel, which stands in M'Killop-street, exhibits a very handsome exterior, and will form another important addition to the public buildings of Geelong. Its outward dimensions are 84 ft. by 45 ft.; the interior, 70 ft. by 42 ft. It is calculated in its present state to accommodate VICTORIA. 600 persons, and when galleries are added, about 1000. The opening services took place on Wednesday, September 13, 1854. The Rev. W. B. Landells, formerly of Sheffield, now of Collingwood, preached in the afternoon, and the Rev. Dr. Cairns, of the Free Church, Melbourne, in the evening. The Rev. Richard Fletcher, late of Manchester, preached in the morning and evening of Sunday, September 17th, and the Rev. J. Tait, of the Free Church in Geelong, in the afternoon. The collections amounted to £82. On Tuesday evening, a tea-meeting was held, attended by 600 persons. The pillars were ornamented with the sweet wattle in blossom, the tables decorated with the flowers of the season, and amply supplied by the ladies of the congregation. After the repast a hymn was sung, and the Rev. Richard Fletcher arose and addressed the meeting. "Christian Friends, I have been deputed by the ladies of this church and congregation, to present in their name, to your esteemed pastor and chairman, the Rev. Alfred Scales, this Holy Book (Bagster's Comprehensive Bible, elegantly bound). They well know, sir, your labours are not light, nor have your trials and difficulties been few. They pray that you may be sustained by the Holy Spirit in all your efforts. I have much pleasure in presenting you with this mark of their esteem. Your father, the friend and companion of Ely and Hamilton, of Raffles and M'All, is numbered among my friends and fellow-labourers, as also was Dr. Simpson, your grandfather. My own sons were associated with you in college life; but little did I think that I should have been called to the ends of the earth, to co-operate with you in this great work. May your teachings be from that pure word, and the richest blessings from on high will crown your labours." Mr. Scales in reply, said, "I should be unworthy of my position this evening, if I did not feel the kindness shown to me by my friends on this occasion, and the very kind manner in which their valuable gift has been presented. I trust never to forget that my teachings must be in accordance with the word and spirit of God. This is a festive occasion, but it is also a solemn one, as the opening of a place for the benefit of our fellowmen, and though it does not forbid pleasantry, yet deep reflection and earnestness are especially suggested to us by the engagements of this night. I feel much the encouragement given us by the presence of so many persons here this evening. I have ever felt how desirable it is that all evangelical Christians should co-operate in carrying forward their great work. Ministers of other denominations were expected to be present; Mr. Tait and Mr. Love are both unavoidably detained in Melbourne, and Mr. Harding has sent me a note, enclosing a guinea, but owing to an engagement at a distance he cannot be present. Mr. Hewlett, therefore, must represent this night all the absent evangelical denominations." Mr. Inglis, the secretary, then read the following report: "Nearly four years ago the Independent Chapel, Myers-street, was opened to supply the urgent wants of the body, and it was the first building erected by them in Geelong for public worship. Through the changeful period of three years it struggled for existence; at the end of which time, Mr. Scales accepted an invitation to settle as its pastor. Scarcely had he begun his labours when it became abundantly evident that our limits were far too narrow. The chapel, which was from the first intended only to afford temporary accommodation, was filled to overflowing. Meetings were held to consider our position; subscriptions were entered into, and land purchased on which to erect a more spacious edifice. Meantime the church under Mr. Apperley had succeeded in roofing in and bringing this building to a considerable state of forwardness. At this critical moment, suggestions were made for the union of the churches, and the erection of a suburban place of worship, instead of building another large chapel in the adjoining street. These suggestions resulted in the purchase of a site in Pakington-street, Ashby, better known as the Melbourne Road, by the Committee of the Home Mission of the Congregational Union of Victoria, on which a new chapel is in the course of erection, aided largely from our common fund. To that sphere of usefulness, Mr. Apperley and a portion of his church will remove; while the church from Myers-street, and a portion of the church formerly connected with Mr. Apperley, will occupy this building. The cost of the land and building, and pews as now finished, is The contribution towards the new chapel in Ashby, as above £ s. d 6,300 0 0 500 0 0 £6,800 0 0 "It may easily be conjectured that it was no light task to provide a sum to meet this large outlay; but by unremitting endeavours, aided by some handsome contributions, the greater portion of this large sum has been collected. Mr. Apperley travelled to Tasmania and to Melbourne, collecting subscriptions, and the members of his church gave liberally, and collected assiduously. Mr. Scales also visited Melbourne, representing our position to the Home Mission Com.. mittee and others, and received a large amount; his church also subscribed liberally, and disposed of the property already referred to in this report. Collected in Tasmania, £193; in Melbourne, £975 . Ditto in Geelong, and sale of property in Myers-street, etc. Ditto at Opening Services Sums promised, which we have every reason to believe will be paid Leaving a balance of This debt, so far as regards immediate payment, has been further reduced by a mortgage for . £ s. d. 1,168 0 0 1,500 0 0 "This statement shows that there has been a new chapel erected in Ashby, nearly free from debt; that this large and commodious structure has been almost finished, and that besides our obligation for the mortgage, we are under liabilities to the amount of £637, beyond our own means at present to meet. We present this report to the Christian community, in the earnest hope that, seeing how successfully we have worked and given in this matter, they will aid us in the removal of our present liabilities." Mr. Inglis continued, "By an unpremeditated coincidence, I have this day read the report of the Myers-street Chapel. On a similar occasion, we could not dare to hope, however fondly we might wish, that in four short years we should have been called toge ther to celebrate the opening of such a large and noble structure. I rejoice to see so many of those who initiated the first chapel in communion here, true to their principles, furthering the great cause. We ask you to aid us in the removal of the liabilities; but we are fully conscious that though every shilling was paid, our work has only begun. The labours and anxieties of a Christian church cannot be counted in money value, and may be little known, though their influence may be widely felt." Alderman Bright, in proposing that the report be received, said, "In my public capacity I see many reports, but few, or none, are so satisfactory as this. Last January twelvemonth, I was unexpectedly called to lay the foundation-stone of this edifice, and I cheerfully undertook such a good work. I see in this effort a noble triumph of the Voluntary principle. Many of the churches who take the State aid have larger debts. I shall not ask you to clear off the whole, but I certainly shall ask you to clear off the £637. It is scarcely a pound each; give according to your means, and I have no doubt it will be easily accomplished." The Rev. R. Fletcher spoke in commendation of the efforts made there, and elsewhere throughout the colonies, to sustain and extend the interests of religion. The Chairman having then announced that a collection would be made, one of the friends intimated that should £450 be contributed, he would give another £50. Messrs. R. Clarke and J. Rattray urged all present to do their best, and prove the sincerity of the challenge which had been given them. The sum of £392 was soon reported, with the assurance that the balance would be made up. The Rev. Thomas Odell, and R. Smith, Esq., of Melbourne, then addressed the meeting, which was closed by singing and prayer, when the large concourse dispersed, highly pleased with the meeting and its results. From accounts by the last mail, it appears that the congregation had doubled itself since the opening of the chapel; that all the pews laid out at the first were occupied; and that they were setting out twenty more at the sides. It is also stated that Mr. Apperley and his friends have entered upon their new place at Ashby, and are likely to go on prosperously. Mr. Scales was expecting an early visit from a Missionary from the South Seas; and he and his people purpose to make it the occasion of establishing at Geelong an Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society. Essays, Extracts, and Correspondence. WAR AND PEACE: THEIR COST AND PROFIT. PEACE has been so long enjoyed, that its blessings have come to be viewed as a matter of course, and War has been placed at such a distance, that its essential horrors are lost in darkness. This state of things involves danger in relation both to politics and religion, since the interests of both are bound up in Peace, which ought, therefore, to be, above all things, precious in the estimate of citizens and Christians. Where War rages, there can be no advancement in regard to either. Peace is God's best and greatest gift to man. What is the Gospel but peace? It is so designated by the Eternal Spirit. The Messiah himself is designated the Prince of Peace, and his people the children of peace. When the angelic host announced the birth of Emanuel, they sang it to the sentiment, "Peace on Earth and Good-will towards men.' The glorious Milennium, to which the people of God look forward, will be emphatically a reign of peace, when there will be nothing to hurt nor destroy. This doctrine, in a time of War, is fraught with consolation to the Christian portion of a troubled world; more especially is this the case with those whose calamity it is to live in lands which are the seat of war. They, and they only, understand experimentally the terrific import of the word, War! We Englishmen are, happily, beyond any other European people, familiar with peace, while we know less than any other people of the miseries, the crimes, and the havoc of War! Among the first of the few blessings that come out of an evil so tremendous is, the lesson which it brings home to the hearts of men, testifying to the mercy which England and Europe have so long enjoyed. Setting aside spiritual, moral, political, and commercial considerations, the mere cost is an affair of the most frightful magnitude! The expenditure of even a short campaign suffices to waste more substance, and destroy more life, than would have served to diffuse the blessings of intellectual culture over half the globe! amount of expenditure in both these respects, incurred by England, France, The Turkey, and Russia, during the last few months, is frightful to contemplate. The number of millions sterling is astounding! We doubt if, all things considered, the aggregate be much short of £100,000,000!—it is probably more. As to men, the pick of nations-men in their prime, sound in mind and body that have perished on the bloody field, or through disease, or the inclemency of the weather, it is no exaggeration to set them down at the figure of half as many thousands as we have stated millions sterling! We believe full 50,000 men belonging to the various Powers have gone the way all the earth! of Here, then, is a sum of money more than double the aggregate of what has been raised for the propagation of religion and the maintenance of the institutions of humanity in the British Empire for the last half century; and as to men, the numbers who have fallen in the field of Missions, victims to the climate or other circumstances, are comparatively but a handful. These facts supply materials for serious reflection to every portion of the Church of Christ. With what vigour do the nations of this world wage their military conflicts! How feebly and how languidly is the spiritual enterprise, which has been carrying on during eighteen centuries, conducted! How fierce the cry for the adoption of more decided measures in the former! How few deign to utter an accent of complaint or regret as to the latter! To preserve human liberty, even the liberty of remote Allies, with what prodigality is England pouring forth her treasure, and the blood of her best sons! How little-and with what difficulty is that little raised-is she appropriating to the liberation of the globe, from a tyranny inconceivably worse than that of the Czar, and to the salvation of hundreds of millions of fettered souls! This is the time, we conceive, to glance at the collective efforts of the Church of Christ,-efforts which, notwithstanding their comparative feebleness, are yet a good beginning, the cheering first-fruits, the glory of our land, and an example to every Christian nation. The following Table, which is substantially accurate, will supply materials for reflection, comparison, and contrast. May the day soon come when the Church of God Society for the Suppression of Mendicity Sailors' Orphan Girls' School 24,463 10 6 £1,109,376 6 10 How vast the sphere of these multifarious and multiform operations! How great the blessings which have therefrom resulted! How insignificant the cost at which these mighty and manifold works have been carried on! All the means which will be ultimately required for purposes of evangelical effort, and consequent civilization, will be but as dust in the balance compared with the cost of this world's conflicts. The foregoing Table presents a beautiful spectacle, reflecting the highest credit on the Protestantism of England. When once the other nations of Europe shall have come to share her Gospel knowledge and spiritual sentiment, and to join with her in the great work of Gospel propagation, it will be seen that the moral emancipation of our race is at hand. That glorious spectacle, however, cannot be realized until the spirit of War shall |