No. 112.

ΤΟ

FROM THE

CANADA.

REV. J. H. ROBINSON TO THE SECRETARY.

Toronto, Sept. 2nd, 1854. My Dear Sir,-The friends and supporters of our Missions will probably wish to see another communication from this far-off land in your " Notices." It must be observed that, as in commerce, trades, and the course of nature, the religious activity of this country is characterized by its " seasons."

The pe

riod at which I write, if indeed it is proper to use such a term, may be designated the dull season.

From the time of our Conference to the beginning of November there is little moving in our churches. The business of removing to the new circuits is scarcely over when the work of harvesting sets in all over the country; and the labour having to be performed, for the most part, under a burning sun, the people become wearied and exhausted. The means of grace are generally thinly attended, the week-night services are almost everywhere suspended, and a general languor seems to seize on the people unfavourable to the manifestation of zeal and activity in their religious duties. This may seem strange to you in your temperate climate, as it did to me when I first came here. I used to blame the people for their want of energy in the hot weather, and I imagined that I should never succumb to the enervating influence myself. But three years' experience has changed my views. The thermometer at ninety in the shade, and one hundred to one hundred and twenty in the sun, indicates a pressure of heat under which all but the very robust

feel prostrated, and no wonder that we move slowly along the streets, that we seek a reclining position whenever it is convenient, or that there should be a deficiency of that life and spirit which we generally observe in religious duties when the relaxing heats pass away, and the cooler atmosphere of the fall and winter is breathed over us.

This year our summer has been unusually oppressive; much more so than any I have spent in the country. The heat and drought have been alike injurious to animal and vegetable life. In many parts of the country the crops are injured for want of rain, and the Indian corn crop will be very scanty from this cause. Another year of dearness, if not of scarcity is before us, and if to this we add that the cholera has committed serious ravages among us, carrying hundreds and thousands of our population to the grave, every considerate and pious mind will feel that God has a controversy with us, and that it behoves us all to examine our ways and repent, lest a more fearful evil come upon us. The ravages of this disease are specially affecting here if the visitation comes upon us in the summer. A person would be seen moving about his usual affairs in the morning, and carried to his grave ere the shades of evening set in; or he might lie down in apparent health in the evening, and have made his bed in the grave before the rising of the next day's sun. The sentiments of nature, which seem to ask an interval between death and burial-to gather strength for the last sad parting from the forms we hold so dear-can be but little heeded amidst the heats of our summer. Decomposition rapidly sets in, and the fondest heart is soon ready to say "Bury my dead out of my sight."

From the causes named it will be obvious that there is at present little of a remarkable character to communicate respecting the revival of the work of God, or the movements of our churches in special efforts to that end.

Nevertheless, let it be remarked, that in most respects the work is advancing -or, perhaps, I might more truly say it would advance if we had the men to The harvest is ripe, but carry it on. there are few to reap it. All religious bodies in Canada have to make the same complaint-they all want a larger number of labourers in the vineyard. This want was never so distressingly felt as at this moment. I have conversed with several ministers and agents of churches -charged like myself with devising means to carry on the operations of christian bodies-and they all have to tell of the same anxieties, the same failures, the same calls that cannot be attended to, the same plans defeated, and of the same discouragements, and this too amidst circumstances calculated otherwise to confer so much satisfaction, and to inspire so much hope.

How does this happen? There is a reason that is common and abiding, and there is one that is special and temporary. The common reason is that in this country the church cannot compete -at least it does not compete with the world for the talent which the country affords. The sacrifice which a duly qualified individual has to make when he enters the ministry, as compared with his prospects in some-yea, in many other walks in life, is greater than the piety and disinterestedness of many professors of religion prepare them to submit to. Young men of energy and ability are wanted in almost every walk in life, who will be remunerated much more liberally than the church proposes to remunerate them; and hence, whether it is right or wrong-the fact is notorious-that both in Canada and the United States the ministry as a profession is at a discount-and it is consequently difficult to get competent ministers for the ever-widening sphere before us, because the "God of this world" has greater rewards to offer, and greater blandishments to present to a worldly prudence than has the church of Christ. Some will say, this is a proof of a sad want of piety in the young men of our age, and this statement will be made by many with a vehemence equalled only by their tenacity in griping their purse when christian liberality demands an effort. The fact is, the church is on the one hand too stingy, if on the other our rising youth are too worldly. The remedy of our evils demands a mutual concession to truth and piety. It is in

vain to declaim against those who hesitate to place themselves in the ranks of the ministry-while, as in this country, their remuneration is so generally inadequate, and their labours so onerous. To lighten the latter is in many instances impossible, but to increase the former would be comparatively easy. We may affirm then, that one way or another, the world's salvation IS HELD ITSELF!!

BACK BY THE CHURCH

This is the simple truth, disguise it as we may-the church will not let the world be saved.

There is likewise a special reason which may be assigned for the want of labourers in this country at the present juncture-a great social revolution has set in, and is now proceeding among us. It is marked by no bloodshed, no convulsion, and no alarms. It is felt, not as a calamity to the general interests of society, but as a blessing. It has doubled, trebled, and in many instances quadrupled the value of property within the last two years. The wages of artisans and labourers have risen from twenty-five to fifty per cent., while in some places it is difficult to procure such labour at any cost. The expense of living is nearly double what it was when I came to the country; in short, the country is passing from a comparatively poor and plain condition to one of com parative wealth and refinement, and this result has been attained not by the slow and gradual process by which progress is secured in the old country, but by one of those sudden advances which Providence sometimes permits in the condition of individuals and nations.

At first sight it may appear that such a state of things must be favourable to religion, must augment the resources of the church, and diminish the claims of Canada upon the christian liberality of Britain. But while it is undoubtedly true that our pecuniary resources are greater than in past years, and while there is a growing disposition on the part of religious men to sustain the cause of God more liberally than heretofore, yet it will be easily seen that such prosperity and advancement of the country directly tend to dry up our resources as regards our ministerial supplies, necessitate a modification of many of our plans of operation, and impose an amount of anxiety in the management of church affairs, to which the past furnishes no parallel. Plans and agencies adapted to the country when it was new, when there were few centres of population, and comparatively little competition, are tenable no longer. If our object were only to scatter seed by the way side, and then leave it to germinate as it may, and be reaped by whomsoever

may be at hand when it is ripe, we could go on as heretofore. We could traverse the woods, visit the shanties, and do an immensity of good in this way. But if-while we seek to save souls, to visit the neglected, and to follow the pioneer into the woods-we also aim to retain the ground already occupied, and build up a church which will live in future time, it will be easily perceived that our work is but, so to speak, commencing, and that some of its most costly and anxious impulses have yet to be imparted. To build Chapels in our towns, and to provide for these suitable ministers, with adequate remuneration, while at the same time we mission the newer parts of the country, will require every penny that we can get either here or at home, and a supply of ministers much more ample than we have yet been fortunate enough to secure. Relaxation of effort now will blight the work of years of anxious toil during the past; we must therefore either advance or lose the results of what we have already done. An ample recompense awaits us if only we are faithful; but if not, an igominious defeat. Canada, I am sure, will be prepared to do its part; and when the country has adjusted itself, when the excitement, speculation and eagerness after worldly things, always, and in all countries, attendant upon sudden prosperity have sub. sided; and when steady industry rather than random ventures, shall have been found to be the substantial ground of a people's prosperity and happiness; and when, moreover, the church has felt the pressure of its wants as to ministerial supplies, a pressure which it must feel before it will do its duty-we shall have labourers for the vineyard; and this result will be all the sooner realized, if a gracious baptism of the Holy Spirit descends upon us from on high. This will diminish selfishness, enlarge the heart, beget a yearning for the salvation of souls, and prepare men to say "neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God." Ó that God would thrust out the right men for his blessed work. O that men of means would but see how much good they might do to this world, full of immortal souls, if they would but employ a portion, yea only a small portion, of what they possess, in helping the church to employ holy and gifted men in the ministry. Let one and all come up to the great work that wants doing, and let us go up and possess the land, for we are well able.

I am sorry to say that want of men

chiefly has compelled us to abandon one whole district of our work. We were nine preachers short at our last Conference. No less than 13 preachers have resigned or located, and 1 has died since I came here-a comment this on the views I have advanced in this paper. But what must be the harrass of mind, the constant anxiety and toil, as well as disappointment and mortification consequent on such a state of things to those who have to provide for these exigencies? Sometimes I feel utterly discouraged. It seems as if precious time which might be spent usefully elsewhere were thrown away, in a vain attempt to keep our operations going without adequate means. I could wish it were otherwise than that one should be tempted evermore to look wistfully to the period when there can be an honourable termination to existing obligations. Unproductive toil is the greatest drudgery in this world; and human nature must and will resent it.

A remark of a more agreeable character may conclude this communication. Our friends in London are making a great improvement in their chapel. They have added a beautiful portico, bought a new and powerful organ, as well as made other alterations and additions, which greatly add to the attractiveness of the building.. We are to have the re-opening on the 24th of this month, and I hope it will be the beginning, or rather the return, of good days among the people. This chapel was built when my worthy predecessor was here, as was also that in Toronto. He was a fortunate man. He had but to ask and he received. Seven men were sent him in four years-and money I know not how much. I have got a little money, but as yet no man has come to help, and I have been here three years and three months. I am informed that two brethren are on the way, and that is some small instalment of a great account that still remains to be paid off. I remain, Dear Sir,

Affectionately Yours,

J. H. ROBINSON. Since the foregoing was written, Messrs. Dent and Kettle have arrived in Toronto. The following letter from Mr. D. announcing this fact will be read with pleasure :

LETTER FROM MR. DENT TO
DR. CROFTS.

London, Canada West, Sept. 12th, 1854. Dear Brother,-I now take the opportunity to write a few lines to you, to inform you of our safe arrival in Canada, after a voyage of twenty days. For the first eight days we were very ill with sea sickness, and could take

very little food. The first Sabbath I and Mr. Kettle were both too ill to preach. On the second and third Sabbaths we preached five sermons between us. We had one death on board, and I had to perform the burial service, which was to many of us a new and an affecting sight. We had a few other sights which were new to us; for instance we saw a few whales spouting about, and other large fishes of the great deep; but the most interesting sight was the large icebergs we saw. During one day we passed twenty one of them, varying in size from a large house to a long row of houses, and some of them were said to be about 400 feet above the water. The ice was the only thing we saw to give variation to the scene we had been accustomed to so long-that is, sky and water. For eight or nine days we did not see a single sail, and we saw only three sails from leaving the Irish coast to sighting the banks of Newfoundland. We had only three or four rough days during the voyage, but those were sufficient, as they caused no little commotion in the ship, rattling pots and breaking glasses, upsetting the boxes in the cabins, &c., &c. However we arrived in safety at Quebec on Monday, Sept. 4th, at 12 at noon. After the customhouse officers had examined and marked the luggage, it was taken on board a steam-tender and conveyed to the steamboat for Montreal. We left Quebec at five in the afternoon, and did not set foot on shore, as we had no time. We arrived at the city of Montreal at 12 the next day; the boat for Toronto had left, so that we had to stay all night. We went to the Ottawa Hotel, and very comfortable we were; but we had to pay for it. At 12 on Wednesday we took the railway cars to Lachine, and there met the steam-boat which left at 9 in the morning, and arrived at Toronto about 9 o'clock on Friday morning. Soon after we arrived, Messrs Robinson and Brett came down to the wharf; I immediately knew Mr. Robinson, although he is very much altered since I saw him in Nottingham. We were very kindly received in Toronto. Mr. Brett sent Mrs. D- and Ellen to his house in a cab, and I and Mr. Kettle went with Mr. Robinson into the city, and then to his house. We made our home at Mr. Brett's, and Mr. Kettle stayed at Mr. Robinson's.

On Saturday morning, at 7 o'clock, we left Toronto, per steam-boat, for Hamilton, and thence to London by railway, at which place I am stationed for the present,-I suppose until next Conference. Mr. Kettle left us at Paris, for the Waterford circuit. We arrived in London about four in the afternoon,

and were very kindly received by the brethren Plummer and Burgess. We were taken to the house of the Rev. D. Savage, with whom we are to reside, the house being large enough for two families. We should have preferred living alone, but houses are very hard to be met with; and as it will be for only nine months at the longest, we must do the best we can. Mr. Savage is a very agreeable young man, married at the last Conference, and Mrs. Savage is also a very nice person. I preached in the London Chapel yesterday morning and evening, congregations good, singing delightful, the Chapel is to be closed next Sabbath, as it is going to undergo a thorough cleaning and painting, and the friends are putting up an organ. It is to be re-opened on the 24th, by Messrs. M'Clure, Goldsmith, and Dent. I cannot tell you the names of the friends who have inquired after you, for they are so many, and all anxious to know how you are getting on, I recollect one remark of Brother Pacey's-he said, Well, how is Brother Crofts getting on, as we used to call him here?" The friends here would very much like you to come back, but I suppose that will never be, so they must content themselves as they are.

I shall be glad to hear from you the first opportunity you have to write. Give our kind regards to Brother Simon and all our old friends, and accept the same from your affectionate brother,

JOHN DENT.

P.S. The house in which we live is a new one, and not properly furnished. We had a quarterly meeting last night, and laid before it the necessary articles required to make us comfortable. The chairs, tables, sofa, carpet, washstands, dressing-tables and bedsteads, were cast up as to what they would probably cost -the amount was £27, twenty-five of which were subscribed for by the meeting in less than half an hour, and one of the brethren commissioned to get the furniture to-day. They appeared to be the most liberal people I ever saw.

J. D.

NORWICH CIRCUIT.
July 23, 1854.

Dear Brother Robinson, I left Louth, the place of my residence, on the 19th of June, with a horse-load of luggage, and arrived at Brother P. Johnson's on the 21st. I was received by him with the utmost cordiality and friendship; the three days following our time was spent in search of a house to dwell in; on Sabbath I preached to a large and respectable congregation, and had a feeling of good to my own soul, and believe it was generally beneficial.