MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. ROCK-SOUND, ELEUTHERA.—It is with pleasure I inform you of the opening of our new chapel. On Sunday, the 21st ultimo, the opening sermons were preached by Mr. Pearson, from Governor's-Harbour. The sermons were excellent, and it was a day ever to be remembered by the inhabitants. The chapel was crowded to overflowing, and many had to leave, not being able to obtain seats. Two collections were made, which reflect great credit upon the poor people of this settlement. The amount realised was £6. 178. 6d. We closed the first Sabbath's services in our new chapel, by partaking of the Lord's supper together. Some wept aloud; some, who well remember when Mr. Turton first came to this place, when they contrasted the past with the present, were led to exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" The chapel is a substantial stone building, sixty feet long, forty feet wide, and sixteen feet high, having thirteen windows and four doors, with a triple roof; and I hope, at the end of the year, we shall find we are not more than £60 in debt. Rev. William Williams, RockSound, Eleuthera. TRINIDAD. The object for which I take up my pen to address a few lines to you at present is, to inform you of the result of the public examination of all the schools at the Port of Spain; which has recently been conducted by His Excellency Lord Harris, and His Honour Chief Justice Knox. I made it my duty to attend on each day of the examination; and it gives me great pleasure now to inform you, that the able manner in which several of the boys in our school acquitted themselves, reflects the highest credit upon them, and also upon their indefatigable Teacher, Mr. Lawrence. Three of our boys obtained very handsome prizes; and a fourth boy bore away, most successfully, the prize denominated by His Excellency the "Champion's Prize," which consisted of a beautifully bound pictorial Bible, and fifty dollars. I need hardly say, that this successful combat will raise our school considerably in the estimation of the more enlightened portion of the inhabitants of the Port of Spain. Rev. W. L. Binks, Trinidad, December 10th, 1850. SIERRA-LEONE.-Many persons are members in our Society now who a few months ago were suffering from the suffocating drought of a slave-ship, and who, one or two months after their arrival in the Colony, were thrown upon their own resources. They have no earthly friends, no parental advice to consult in difficulties; they have to wander up and down without home. How long must it take for such unfortunate individuals to settle themselves, in order to become worthy members of any community! Slave-vessels are still arriving in Sierra-Leone; and those of the liberated slaves that are located in the Colony sooner or later become members of some society, at least some of them; and to refuse them because they are not in circumstances to support the work, would defeat the very object of the Committee, and the supporters of Christian Missions. This is the critical position in which your Mission is placed here, in a pecuniary point of view. This is the reason we have often to report a large number of members when the inis but small. Rev. Joseph Wright, Native Missionary, Freetown, Sierra-Leone, February 20th, 1851. come HARBOUR-GRACE, NEWFOUNDLAND. It affords me great pleasure to have it in my power to inform you that our new chapel was opened for the public worship of Almighty God on the 9th of this month: the Rev. J. Norris, of Carbonear, officiated in the morning; in the evening the service was conducted by myself. Both the services were favoured with the presence and blessing of Him who has said, "Wherever my name is recorded, there will I dwell." The day previous to the Sabbath in question, we had one of the most severe storms of the season, which blocked up the roads with drifts of snow; and the frost was intense: yet, notwithstanding, the congregations were good, and the collections for the local fund of the Mission amounted to £10. Last Sabbath I preached to the sealers the usual annual sermon previous to their taking their departure for the ice; when our beautiful sanctuary (for such it really is) was crowded by a deeply-attentive congrega tion. The word came with power, and I trust will prove the savour of life unto life unto some.-Rev. W. E. Shenstone, Harbour-Grace, Newfoundland, February 25th, 1851. MISSIONARY ARRIVALS, &c. By a letter from the Rev. Walter Lawry, inserted in a preceding portion of this Number, it will be seen that he has safely returned to New-Zealand; and that, almost immediately afterwards, the “John Wesley" took her departure again for the Islands, having on board Mr. and Mrs. George Waterhouse for the reinforcement of the Feejee Mission. May the best blessings of God accompany His servants, and grant them success! Messrs. Rotherham and Clegg have safely arrived in the West Indies, after a protracted voyage of fifty-three days. We have also the pleasure to announce, that information has been received of the safe arrival of Mr. Cannell at New-Providence, Bahamas, on the 15th of March. WE are happy to communicate the following letter from the Rev. William Moister, dated Cape-Town, February 5th, 1851:— 66 I HAVE great pleasure in dropping you a few hasty lines, by the ship Nile," just leaving for England, to inform you of the safe arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Moister and myself, at this place, after a passage of eleven weeks from London. The first part of our voyage was exceedingly unpleasant and somewhat perilous, the weather being very tempestuous. In sailing down the English Channel we encountered one of the most terrific gales I ever witnessed, and were obliged to return to the Isle of Wight to get the ship repaired. From our dear friends in Newport and Cowes we received every mark of kindness; and they united with us in gratitude to God for our merciful deliverance from the dangers of the deep. On proceeding the second time, we experienced very heavy weather and adverse winds, for about a week, off the Bay of Biscay, which considerably re tarded our progress. After this, we were favoured with fair winds, and, on the whole, a pleasant voyage. Captain Day showed us every kindness, and our fellow-passengers were very agreeable. We had the privilege of holding religious service on board the "Einperor every Sabbath; and we trust some good was done. We entered TableBay yesterday afternoon, and on coming on shore we met with a hearty and kind reception from Mr. and Mrs. Ridsdale. The venerable Barnabas Shaw and his truly excellent Missionary wife, as well as Mr. Haddy and Mr. Godman, have been in town to-day to welcome our arrival. Next week we are to hold an adjourned District-Meeting for the consideration of several important matters pertaining to the welfare of the work, the result of which shall be duly communicated. In the mean time, we desire an interest in your prayers. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. WE stop the press to announce intelligence from Graham's-Town to the 22d of February. At that date all our stations in Kaffirland were uninjured, every Missionary remaining at his post, notwithstanding many perils and alarms; and their noble conduct has been rewarded by the faithful adherence of their several flocks. Mr. and Mrs. Spenseley, and Mr. Gaskin, arrived at Natal on the 4th of January. AUXILIARY WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE LONDON DISTRICT. THE Annual Meeting of this Society will be held in the City-road chapel, on Wednesday evening, May 21st. JOHN ROBINSON KAY, Esq., of Summerseat, near Bury, Lancashire, has kindly engaged to preside. For terms of admission, and for the list of Appointments on Sunday the 18th, our readers are respectfully referred to the Cover of the Missionary Notices for this month. LONDON-PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE. WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. JUNE, 1851. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JAMES AKERMAN: BY HIS SON. THE following sketch is written, not for the purpose of eulogising the dead, but to place upon record, for the instruction of the church, an outline of the life and character of one who secured the respect and esteem of his brethren in the ministry, while he was generally beloved by the people committed to his charge, and was favoured, above many, by the great Head of the church, with success in his labours. James Akerman was born June 28th, 1786, at Bromham, Wilts. His father, John Akerman, (of whom an obituary may be seen in the Wesleyan Magazine for March, 1819,) was an exemplary Methodist, and early directed his child's steps to the house of God. Parental training was the means of restraining the son from open transgression, though the work of conversion was delayed for a time. For religious parents the subject of this memoir was ever grateful in after-life; and to their teaching and holy example he attributed it, that from his earliest years he was not left without strong convictions of sin. In a brief account of his early experience, found after his decease, he says, "I well recollect having been convinced, when quite young, of my lost estate; and I was afraid to close my eyes in sleep, until I had prayed that the Lord would have mercy upon me." These convictions were, however, resisted from time to time, until it pleased God to speak very powerfully to him. Against the influence exerted by a remarkable call to repentance he endeavoured to steel his breast; and, amidst ungodly company and worldly merriment, he struggled hard to silence the thunderings of conscience. But the effort was fruitless and vain; for, says he, "I could not shake this thought off, God is angry with me, and I am in the way to hell."” At length he resolved to yield to the convictions of the Spirit by dissevering himself from his companions, and setting out in earnest for the kingdom of heaven. This was the turning-point in his history. Here was the first step taken toward happiness and eternal life. Oftentimes, in after-life, when youthful energy and health were gone, and age had thrown her shadows on his venerable head, did he sing of this important era in these joyous strains : VOL. VII.-FOURTH SERIES. 20 |