FL14365829

[MS 54-55]

in you & by you! Perhaps you may be made more effec-
tually useful if you are compelled to work with Heathen
for your Bread, & to converse with them in the humble cha-
racter of a private Xtian, than if you had worn the more
splendid Title of an Apostle from the London Missionary 
Society. If he has Work for you to do, he will support you
in it; tho' he may sometimes permit Appearances to be
gloomy, in order that you may beir more exclusively
dependent on him, & that his Hand may appear more evident
in every favorable Interposition. I trust I shall not cease to
pray for you; & could I otherwise assist you I should be exceed-
ingly glad do it.

Many changes have taken place at Manchester since
you left us. The Scotch have separated from Morley Street, with 
a new Chapel & are just settled with an all faithful Gospel Ministry.
The late Minister at Morley Street, Mr Smith has been obliged
by indisposition to resign his Charge; & on Wednesday next I am
engaged, with Mr Parsons of Leeds to preach at the Settlement of
their present pastor, Mr Bradley. The Ministers at New Windsor,
formerly connected with us, are formed into a separate Church,
& appear to be increasing. All these changes seem to turrn out for
the Furtherance of the Gospel. We have great Reason for Thankful-
ness at Cannon Street. We are very well attended. I trust there has
been a Revival lately among us. At every Church meeting we
have generally some addition to our Church. I mention these things
I hope with Humility & Gratitude, because know the information
will be pleasing to you. Your old Friends Mssrs Hanson, Lees,
Hisson, David Crabb &c are still in the Church militant; & well.
I do not know whether I told you that Mr Lees is a very useful
village Preacher. He & Hisarn have been lately chosen to the Office
of Deacon among us.

I cannot tell you all the Good that appears to be going on in
Scotland. The two Messrs Haldanes are indefatigable in the Service of
Xt.[Christ]. Mr Ewing, who has separated from the Kirk, is astonishing in
abilities of Zeal. At the expense of Mr Haldane he has now, I believe 

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not less than fifty students under his care. His former Course of
students have already come out, & are laboring successfully in
different parts of Scotland & Ireland. A Tabernacle is now opened,
& conducted on the Independent Plan of Discipline, at Edinburgh,
for the people who formerly assebled at the Circus; & another
is now building at the other Extremity of the Town. - At Glasgow
a Tabernacle is opened, crowded hearers & the Erection of another
is in prospect - At Forth, Dundee & Aberdeen; similar places of Wor-
ship are built & crowded, & much Good I believe is done & doing at all
of them. At several other places large congregations are collected by the
Itinerant Labors of Mr Haldone & those who supply for him; & they
are anxiously desirous of clothed[?] Ministers to come & settle among
them. Two of our animated English Ministers have accepted
an Invitation to settle in Scotland. One, a Mr Stevens, who was
formerly on the Stage, is at Aberdeen. The other, a Mr Little, late
of Hanley, is at Perth. - Very great Success appears
to accompany the Labor of the Catechists in Scotland.
They go from Place to Place to establish Schools for reli-
gious Instruction which they attend in Rotation - I think
this is a Plan which you might adopt with perhaps
the greatest probability of solid usefulness. But circumstances only
abound, with Prayer to God for Direction, will suggest better Plans than
I can form on mere speculation at a Distance.

It is hardly worth while to inform you that last May, I had the
painful Honor of preaching before the Missionary Society at their
annual meeting. I was [Indecipherable] distracted in the prospect, especially
during the preceding week but God graciously relieved me about
three quarters of an Hour before the Service commenced. All my anx-
iety was removed; & I [Indecipherable] the Sermon with the greatest [indecipherable]
-poruse; & got  through without being confounded. The Directors [Indecipherable]
to me almost miraculous. "That the Word of the Lord may [indecipherable] free
course, & be glorified, even as it is with you", was my Text. O that
you may see it rapidly [Indecipherable], & eminently glorified on that vast
Continent where you now abide[?]. It would gladden my Heart exceedingly
to hear that you were successfully employed in the service of your Master.
It is a Mercy that you labor for one who knows & accepts the Will.
Mrs Foby - Mrs Shanon, Lees, Hiram & all of your old Friends unite with
me in praying that Grace, Mercy & Peace from God our Father & from
the Lord Jesus Xt, this the Influences of the Spirit may rest upon you.

Yours most affectionately 

W. Hodge