Let Zion and her sons rejoice, Behold the promised hour; Her God hath heard her mourning voice, And comes t' exalt his power.
Brother Burchell read several short and very appropriate portions of the word of God, and engaged in prayer. Brother Tinson gave a short address; when he and brother Dendy, with myself, proceeded to lay the stone, which had previously been prepared, and a cavity made, in which was placed a bottle containing a short account of the formation and the history of the church and the laying of the stone, with the coins of his present Majesty in it. After reading aloud the inscription, I placed the medal struck in commemoration of the abolition of Slavery, presented to me on the 7th of August at the City of London Tavern. When this part of the ceremony was completed, which excited intense interest, brother Dendy gave a most appropriate address for about fifteen minutes, and we sang,
Now let the slumbering church awake, And shine in bright array; Thy chains, O captive daughter, break, And cast thy bonds away.
The collection was then made, which amounted, with the one on Lord's day for the same object, to £104. 10s., of our money. I then addressed the multitude assembled, urged upon those who were emancipated an attention to their duties, and having, as I thought, a fit opportunity, as two or three magistrates were present, assured them that I was still the foe of slavery, and the friend of the oppressed; and that, while they acted right, I would defend them, let the consequences to myself be what they might. Another hymn being sung, brother Dexter concluded in prayer. Though nearly 3000 persons were crowded together, the utmost order prevailed, while to me it was truly a happy day.
On the Sabbath-morning (the fifth anniversary of my recognition as their pastor), the ordinance of baptism was administered to seventy-two persons. The place selected was the sea, at the point of a beautiful cove; full 2500 persons were assembled, no unseemly noise was made, or gazing curiosity manifested. We commenced by singing and prayer. Brother Burchell administered the ordinance; it was one of the most solemn seasons I ever had the pleasure to witness. On returning home numerous were the greetings we received from our happy friends; the narrow road was lined for nearly half a mile with them—truly it was a scene I longed that you should behold. Brother Burchell preached in the morning; I received the new members by the right hand of fellowship in the afternoon, and administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which was a solemn season, and rendered additionally so by its being the anniversary of my pastorate among them; which brought to their and to our minds our dear departed brother Mann. At the conclusion I tried to sing the hymn we sung at his death, but they wept and sobbed aloud. Oh, they did love him, they still love him, and he was every way worthy of their love. Brother Tinson preached in the evening; and, rather fatigued in but not of the exercises of the day, we closed our fifth anniversary.
The first stroke of the foundation was struck on the 10th of February, the anniversary of dear Mann's death; it was not done by design, but was purely accidental. The corner-stone was laid on the anniversary of my release from prison, being three years from that period.
HOME PROCEEDINGS.
DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES.
Mr. and Mrs. Quant embarked for Nassau, in the Little Catharine, Captain Kopp, on Monday, May 11th; and Mr. and Mrs. Shotton, for Jamaica, in the Witton Castle, April 28th.