X. Y.
UNION IS STRENGTH.
To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
I have seen a circular respecting the "Baptist Union." It is a very common remark, that "the Independents and the Wesleyan Methodists are more united than the Baptists." How is this, or why should it be? They are probably more numerous, and this may be owing to unity. Let us look at the counties of Surrey and Sussex. Is there any Baptist interest between Clapham and Horsham? At the latter place there are some general Baptists. Again: are there any Baptists between Croydon and East Grinstead? At Brighton there are some; but take the road from Brighton to Portsmouth, and where will you find any? Not at Worthing, nor Arundel, nor Chichester, nor Emsworth, nor Havant. How is this? Either the funds of the Baptist Home Mission are deficient; or there is a want of exertion. Again: from Wandsworth to Guildford, Godalming, and onward to Portsmouth, are there any Baptists? If there are, it is unknown to me. Again; if you could describe a circle of twenty miles circumference, making Findon, near Worthing, the centre of the circle, where will you find any Baptists, if you except Brighton and Horsham?
Some twenty years since there were a few general Baptists at Chichester; but they have long been extinct. Now, Sir, if there really was that union of heart, of mental energy, of exertion, and of purse, which there ought to be, I might have been spared putting the questions which I have just asked.
Again: at Leeds there is a population of nearly 130,000, and, properly speaking, but one Baptist interest. There is ample room there for several; there is no lack of Independents and Methodists at Leeds. I fear, Sir, that this is only a very small sample of what might be given. I do not think that we so much lack preachers, as funds to support them.
At some places, probably, the preachers might teach a school: although that is not the best way a preacher might be employed; yet, in an emergency, it might be adopted. The subject, however, deserves serious consideration. We want "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether;" and then something might be done. Again: is there that union, and cordiality, and brotherly kindness, and Christian affection, and personal intercourse, between the rich and the poor amongst us, which our Master has enjoined and commanded? I trow not. Until this is effected, how can we expect prosperity and increase? Do we not also want more prayer—secret prayer for each other; social prayer; and, when we pray, that we may love each other, ought we not to do it, "not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth?"
A Baptist of the Old School.
POETRY.
A BROKEN HEART.