| Dear BROTHER. I am requested to forward to you some account of Torquay Chapel, which was opened for Divine worship the ninth and eleventh of March, 1849. It is now seventeen months ago that this house of God was commenced, and the Lord has brought his servants through a multitude of difficulties. The day appointed for the opening brought several friends together at seven o'clock in the morning, pour out their souls to God in praise and prayer to Him who is good. At eleven, Br. Jas. Thorne preached with his usual alacrity and energy. It was a mighty discourse, and the Lord Jehovah was in his word to bless the people. Praise seemed to dwell on every tongue, particularly on those of our friends, who while the chapel was in course of erection, had known many a fear; but now, bless the Lord, they had realized that for which they had prayed, and which they had long needed. I cannot refrain from saying, my own in soul was much blessed with such a sense of God's eternal faithfulness and love, as will never be forgotten. I thought, if this shall be the place where precious souls shall be born for heaven, (and I see no reason to despair of this, but every thing which promises it,) then will the great end be answered for which this sanctuary of God is built. In the evening the Rev. G. Barnley, Wesleyan, preached from Acts vi. 7. He dwelt much on the origin and effects of the gospel. He spoke with great plainness and fluency, the word came with power; it was a blessed season. Our bills announced a Public Tea Meeting to be held in the chapel, in the afternoon, at five o'clock; but for better accommodation it was held in "the temperance hall," where 150 friends of various persuasions sat down to tea. On Sunday Br. Thorne preached in the morning and afternoon; these services, like the former, were attended with a special sanctifying power from the Divine presence. Some wept, while others shouted the praises of the Lord. How easy it is for a man to preach when the influences of the Holy Spirit are felt in his heart. The evening service was conducted by the Rev. W. Hurry, Independent. His subject was "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world!" It was delivered with much plainness and force, and the Lord was pleased to seal his own truth. A young lady who had been under conviction for several weeks, and feared she never should be saved, laid hold by faith on the Lamb of God, and proved the truth of the text, that he does take away sin, and went home happy in a Saviour's love. This evening Br. Thorne spoke with good effect in the Abbey Road Independent chapel. Union among Christians is apparently more appreciated and sought for in this town, than in any other where my lot has been cast. We have a branch of the Evangelical Alliance here, and God is blessing it to the good of his people. A monthly meeting is held, which brings members from the respective chapels into one place, and here they sing together, pray together, speak together, and forgetting their petty differences, are united in heart, and the Lord Jehovah is in the midst. I presume our world would be much better, and our churches would be blessed with showers of blessing, were ministers and members practically to carry out the precepts and purposes of Christ; "This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you," Again, "That they all may be one, thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." The want of unity among various denominations, and the want of love among brethren, have been the great source of evil, and a barrier to the prevalence of the gospel of Christ; and until these are removed, the triumphs of the Lord Jesus will never be achieved. The pages of the Bible Christian Magazine, or of any other periodical, may be filled with articles headed, "Do we understand it?" "Can we understand it?" "Shall we ever understand it?" "We do not understand it." But until that mind which was in our beloved Redeemer be better cultivated, and a deeper tone of piety be found among Christians, we shall never understand it. Let the ministers of Christ be united, to build, not a mere section of the church, but the great temple of our God, and let all the followers of the Lamb stand forth and witness to the world the power of Christianity, then, in all certainty, the word of the Lord will have "free course and be glorified" in the salvation of the thousands and millions of Adam's race. But to return, there is one thing in connection with the chapel which in gratitude I desire to record. W. Wilson, Esqr. gave a pleasing recommendation to our petitions, and a handsome donation. He also came to the opening, and most liberally assisted the collection. I speak of this, not to the praise of man, bat to the praise and glory of Him who has given us favour in the sight of the people. The chapel is 25 feet by 22 in the clear, fitted up with wood floor, pannel seats, and forms, and a very neat pulpit. The cost of building . . . . . . . £192 Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Standing debt . . . . . . . . . . £140 But for the strictest economy in building, the debt would be much more. The chapel is located where a place of worship is much needed; and the seats are nearly all let. May this house of God be the birth-place of thousands of precious souls. Amen. JAMES BENNETTS |