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"A gentleman having called the preceding autumn, to obtain aid for hiring a missionary in Tennessee, I thought I would go and introduce him to our congregation; and we called first on Squire L- as he is the richest man in town, although I had little hope of success from that quarter. He put us off, as usual, with an account of his numerous family expenses, the frequent calls upon him for money, the duty of seeing our own church free from debt, and our clergyman well provided for, before we assisted others, and concluded with his old, threadbare proverb, " Charity begins at home." We then called on his neighbour, Mr. S a man of considerable wealth, and no children to inherit it. He read the paper, said that it was a deserving object, but that he felt too poor to contribute. He coloured slightly as he said this, and then, as if ashamed to give nothing, and anxious to rid himself of such troublesome visitants, handed us 25 cents, (two shillings,) and we took our leave. with various success; some gave cheerfully and liberally; others grudgingly, and not a few declined altogether. Our last call was on Mr. R

the shoemaker; we found him, as I expected, busily engaged at his work. He received us kindly, made inquiries about the state of the church in Tennessee, which showed that he felt a lively interest in the subject, lamented his inability to do much, but said he would do something. He then stepped into the house, and returned immediately with two dollars, which he begged my companion to accept as an expression of his good will. Knowing him to be what is called, in the language of the world, a poor man, [though in gospel phrase he is eminently rich;] I asked him how he contrived to subscribe to each one of our benevolent institutions, to take a weekly religious newspaper, to contribute liberally to the support of our clergyman, and yet have so much to spare for a distant church? He told me, it was easily done, by obeying St. Paul's precept in 1 Cor. xvi. 2. In other words, he was systematically charitable. He made it a point of duty always to consecrate a portion of his weekly income to

the Lord. "I earn," said he, "one day with another, about a dollar a day, and I can, without inconvenience to myself or family, lay by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes; the amount is thirty cents a week, (half a crown.) My wife takes in sewing and washing, and earns something like two dollars a week, and she lays by ten cents of that. My children, each of them, earn a shilling or two, and are glad to contribute their penny; so that altogether, we "lay by us in store" fortyfive cents a week. And if we have been unusually prospered, we contribute something more. The weekly amount is deposited every Sunday morning in a box kept for that purpose, and reserved for future use. Thus, by these small savings, we have learned, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The yearly amount saved in this way is about twenty-five dollars; and I distribute this among the various benevolent societies, according to the best of my judgment." Now this man is a consistent Christian, a bright example of Christian benevolence. He looks upon his little earnings as a talent lent him of God, a part of which should be sacredly appropriated to his service."

In the same "Missionary Tract," it is stated, that the Treasurer of the "Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society," on April 10th, received 477 dollars and 41 cents, of which 5 dollars are the avails of needle work by four little girls, from four to eleven years of age, for the church at Jacksonville, Illinois; and 35 dollars from the Sunday school of St. Luke's church, New York; 15 of them in redemption of a pledge for the education of an Indian child, named Levi Silliman Ives, in honour of their former rector, now the excellent bishop of North Carolina.

In our own country, we have likewise many charac ters distinguished for Christian beneficence, Mr. John Lloyd of Nelson square, London, who died in June, 1835,

*A dollar is equal in value to about four shillings and six pence, and a cent to one half-penny English.

was a liberal contributor to the cause of religion, under the signature L. He was civil engineer, employed at the government dock yards. He retired from business four years before his death, devoting his large fortune to the glory of God, and the good of men, both at home and abroad. More than £12,000 are known to have been distributed among different societies under the letter L; nor was he unmindful of them in his will, having bequeathed to the Missionary Society £4000; the Home Missionary Society £4000; the British and Foreign Bible Society £3000; Religious Tract Society £3000; the Southwark Sunday School Society £1000; Surrey Chapel Benevolent Society £1000; the Christ church Surrey School in Marlborough street, £500; the London Hibernian Society £500;* in all £29,000! What an example to wealthy Christians! and how much good may such an individual be instrumental in communicating to the church and the world! The concealment of his name in the numerous donations bestowed in his life-time, arose from his retiring habits, and a desire "not to let his left hand know what his right hand did," and a hope that others would follow his example.

The Rev. Richard Knill, in the Evangelical Magazine for November, 1835, mentions a Welsh gentleman who has 200 sovereigns ready to be given for introducing more of the piety and talent of our churches into the work of the ministry; and a minister, once a student at Homerton, who proposes to assist four, six, or eight students in their preparatory studies, gratuitously. In the same number of this Magazine, Mr. Rathray of Demarara, mentions that the negroes are beginning to make monthly contributions for the purchase of Bibles, and other religious purposes, and that their first monthly collection amounted to 123 guilders, or £8 15s. and that they make a point of giving something for their children. A woman, says Mr. R., gave me 34d. one day, saying, "This is for Jane, a child about two years old; I give

* See Evan. Mag. for August, 1835.

with the other people for Kitty and Yaha, when we gave the money to Jacob; but I had nothing to give for Jane; and, Massa, take this for her." This idea, suggested by poor negroes, of giving a sum for every child of the family, deserves the consideration and imitation of thousands of those who are better instructed, and who move in a far higher grade than the despised sons of Africa.

The name of Thomas Wilson, Esq., which stands in the front of most of our religious and philanthropic institutions, will recall to the mind of every one acquainted with that respected gentleman, the many hundreds and even thousands of pounds he has generously devoted to the rearing of chapels, to missionary and other benevolent purposes, the effects of which will be felt and appreciated in future generations, and "many will rise up to call him blessed." For, to those whom God has enlightened in the knowledge of the true use of wealth, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." In addition to his many other munificent donations, he has lately given £100 to the New Chapel, Albany street, London. G. F. Agnes, Esq., well known for his benevolent plans and exertions to promote the best interests of British Seamen both at home and abroad, has likewise distinguished himself by his liberal contributions to various religious and philanthropic objects. In addition to his labours and donations in behalf of the "British and Foreign Sailor's Society," and as a member of the committee of the New Australian Colonization Association," he has lately subscribed £50, in behalf of the mission to the colony to be planted in the south-western quarter of New Holland.* Various similar instances of British generosity might be stated were it expedient, although it is much to be regretted that their number is so small.

It is one of the hopeful signs of our times, and a prelude that "God is about to appear in his glory to men" -that Christian churches and congregations are now beginning to come forward with far more liberality, than

*Evan. Mag. for Dec. 1835.

formerly, in the cause of missions, and of the extension of religion both at home and abroad. The churches under the inspection of the Rev. Dr. Brown and Mr. Gilchrist, in Edinburgh, and of Drs. Mitchell, Hough, and others in Glasgow, have lately distinguished themselves by raising from five to eight, or ten hundred pounds annually, for domestic and foreign missions, besides affording a handsome support to their respective pastors. The church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, Glasgow, is said to have raised for such purposes, during last year, no less than £1700, besides supporting their pastor.

Mr. Williams, missionary from the South Sea Islands, in one of his interesting addresses to the public, on a late occasion, stated, that a certain congregation in England, mentioned to him with a certain degree of satisfaction, as if it had been a great and unlooked for effort, had raised the sum of £50, during the preceding year for missionary and other purposes, besides maintaining the gospel among themselves. He told them, they ought to do much more; for such an exertion did not amount to a half penny a week, to every individual. They began to bethink themselves on the subject, and next year raised, without much difficulty, above four hundred pounds. Mr. Williams also stated, that, at a late public breakfast, in a certain town in England, a sum of nearly £200 was collected in a few minutes, from a very limited number of individuals-one subscribing £20, another £10, another £5, &c. with the utmost frankness and animation.

The following experiment in behalf of missions, deserves attention, and might be tried, in reference to any philanthropic object. Mr. Clayton, of Walworth, proposed to his congregation, that a thousand of them should take up the subject, and each of the thousand subscribe one farthing a day to the missionary cause. This was recommended to be done immediately after morning prayer, that as soon as they rose from their knees, they might make an offering to the Lord of one farthing. This will raise more than a guinea a day, and conse