elected for another year.-Treasurer, Mr. H. Webster Earp, Melbourne; Secretary, Rev. C. Clarke, B.A., Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

4. The Rev. Thomas Goadby, B.A., was appointed to represent and speak on behalf of the Midland Home Mission at the forthcoming Association.

5. Resolved, That this Conference, representing 59 General Baptist churches in the Midland Counties, with an aggregate membership of 9,027-churches that have uniformly contended for the freedom of religion from State patronage and control, views with satisfaction the large and repeated majorities by which the House of Commons has declared its opinion in favour of the dis-establishment and disendowment of the Established Church in Ireland. That a petition in favour of the Suspensory Bill introduced by Mr. Gladstone be adopted by this Conference, and signed by the Chairman on its behalf, and that it be sent to T. Tertius Paget, Esq., Member for South Leicestershire, for presentation to the House of Commons. (Mr. Paget presented the Petition on the 5th of June.)

6. The Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A., gave notice that at the next Conference he should call the attention of the Conference to the fact that so large a number of the churches sends no report to the Conference, and that he should move a resolution thereupon.

7. The Rev. J. T. Gale was prevented through illness from reading his paper on "National Education." Resolved-That we express our sympathy with our brother, our hope that he may speedily recover, and our desire that he will read his paper at the next Conference.

8. The annual collection for defraying Conference expenses was made, amounting to £2 18s. 3d.

9. The next Conference will meet at Lenton on Tuesday, Sept. 15; the Rev. J. P. Tetley, of Burton-on-Trent, to preach in the morning; in case of failure the Rev. J. H. Lummis, of Swadlincote.

C. CLARKE, Secretary.

THE YORKSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE CONFERENCE assembled at Heptonstall Slack, on Tuesday, June 2.

At the morning service the Rev. N. H. Shaw, of Dewsbury, read the Scriptures and prayed; the Rev. J. Stapleton, of Edge Side, preached an evangelical sermon from Rom. ix. 5-" Christ, who is over all, God blessed for ever"; and the Secretary concluded with prayer.

In the afternoon the Rev. C. Springthorpe, pastor of the church, presided, and the Rev. J. Maden, of Gambleside, offered

up prayer. From the reports of the churches it appeared that a hundred and twenty had been baptized since the last Conference, and that twenty-three remained as candidates for baptism and church fellowship.

After the doxology was sung, the following business was transacted. It was moved and seconded, and carried unanimously

1. That the minutes of the two previous Conferences now read be, and are hereby, approved and confirmed.

The Secretary having informed the Conference that the Secretary of the Association had written to him requesting to know in what town in Yorkshire the Association could be accommodated in the year 1869, it was resolved unanimously—

2. That the Secretary be, and is hereby, respectfully requested to write to the General Baptist church in Sheffield, and inquire whether they will undertake to entertain the Association next year.

It was also unanimously resolved

3. That provided the friends at Sheffield decline to receive the Association next year, our two churches at Bradford be, and are hereby, respectfully requested to give it a cordial welcome, and make provision for its accommodation.

The Rev. R. Ingham, treasurer of the Home Mission fund, having stated that it afforded him pleasure to be able to report that the churches had supplied him with more money this year for the objects of the Home Mission than they had done for some time previously, and that as he had other onerous duties to perform, he trusted the Conference would allow him to relinquish his present office; it was resolved

4. That the cordial thanks of this Conference be, and are hereby, tendered to the Rev. R. Ingham for his past valuable and efficient services as treasurer of the Home Mission fund, and that he be reappointed for the year ensuing.

It was also resolved

5. That as we are unable at present to pay the whole of the £50 which we promised to the friends at Enon, Burnley, to assist them in the reduction of their debt, we now grant them £20 as an instalment.

The Dewsbury committee having reported that the friends in that town desired to be supplied with a sufficient sum of money to enable them to purchase an eligible plot of ground on which to erect a chapel, it was resolved

6. That we hereby respectfully request the Dewsbury Committee to ask the Committee of "the Chapel Building Loan Society for the Yorkshire and Lancashire Districts" to advance them £50 in order that they may pay it as a deposit for the

land which the friends at Dewsbury are anxious to secure.

It having been stated that £420 would be required for the purchase of the plot of land in Dewsbury on which the friends there desire to erect a chapel, notice was given

7. That next Conference would be requested to guarantee the interest on the money which may be expended on said purchase.

Notice was also given

8. That next Conference would be asked to request the churches to supply statistics at each Conference by which it should be known to what extent they increase or diminish in numbers.

Notice was also given

9. That it would be proposed at next Conference that in the year 1869 we celebrate in this district the Centenary of our denomination.

The Rev. W. Gray, Secretary of the Home Mission, having stated that he had no report to submit to the Conference, but that he would prepare one for the Association as soon as he had all the requisite materials, it was resolved

10. That the cordial thanks of this Conference be, and are hereby, tendered to the Home Mission Secretary for his past services, and that he be reappointed for the year ensuing.

It was also resolved

11. That the cordial thanks of this Conference be, and are hereby, tendered to Mr. D. Wilson for his past services as Conference Treasurer, and that he be reappointed for the year ensuing.

It was moved and seconded, and carried unanimously

12. That we cordially welcome the Rev. Jas. Maden, junr., of Shore, into this Conference and district.

It was also resolved

13. That the autumn Conference be held at Halifax, and that the Rev. Jas. Dearden, of Lydgate, be the preacher.

As we were obliged to leave for the train before the evening meeting commenced, we have since been informed that the Rev. W. Taylor, of Leeds, read an excellent paper on the question, "The best means of promoting the spiritual prosperity and extension of the denomination." After a friendly and profitable discussion of some of the topics handled in the paper, it was resolved

14. That the cordial thanks of this Conference be, and are hereby, tendered to the Rev. W. Taylor for his excellent paper, and that we respectfully request him to allow it to appear in the pages of our Magazine.

It was also resolved

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The CHESHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Macclesfield on Whit Tuesday, June 2.

The morning service was opened by the Rev. R. Kenney, of Wheelock Heath, and the Rev. W. March, of Stoke-upon-Trent, preached from John i. 16.

The Rev. R. Kenney presided over the business meeting in the afternoon. The reports from the churches were encourageing; the number baptized since the last Conference was twenty-five.

It was resolved:-1. That the Rev. W. March be the Secretary of this Conference in the place of the Rev. J. Maden, who has now removed to Shore, near Todmorden.

2. That the Secretary acknowledge the receipt of the Rev. J. Maden's letter containing his resignation of the Secretaryship of this Conference, and tender to him, on behalf of this meeting, our warmest thanks for his long and efficient services as the Secretary of the Cheshire Conference.

3. That the church at Audlem, which now seeks for pecuniary help from the Home Mission fund to support the pastorate, be requested to consult the Rev. R. Kenney, Messrs. R. Pedley, jun., and Jos. Aston, the Committee of this Conference, who are to aid the Audlem friends if it be necessary in devising means for prolonging their present engagement (which is for six months) with their newly-elected pastor, the Rev. W. L. Evans, late of Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

4. That the case of Congleton be investigated by the Conference committee, so that it may be fully reported at our next meeting.

5. That Mr. R. Pedley, jun., Treasurer of the Home Mission, be requested to give an annual statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Society; and that each church in the Conference be strongly recommended to make yearly collections on behalf of its funds.

6. That the next Conference be held at Wheelock Heath, on Whit Tuesday, 1869,

and that the Rev. R. Kenney, of the same place be the preacher.

7. That the cordial thanks of this Conference be given to the Rev. W. March for his sermon in the morning.

WILLIAM MARCH, Secretary.

The LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Bourn, on Wednesday, June 10, 1868.

In the morning Brother Staddon read and prayed, and brother Payne preached from Gal. v. 11.

In the afternoon prayer was offered by brethren Taylor, Winks, Mathews, and Heath, and the reports from the churches were read, when it was found that one hundred and ninety-nine had been baptized since the last Conference, and thirteen remained candidates for baptism. Fifteen had been received from other churches. Much joy was expressed that our friends at Spalding had been so richly blessed.

The Treasurer presented the Home Mission accounts for the past year, and reported a balance in hand of £15 11s. 8d.

Resolved-1. That these accounts be received and passed.

2. That the following grants be made for the ensuing year-To Holbeach, £10; to Lincoln, £20.

3. That the application from the church at Whittlesea be postponed till the next Conference.

4. That brethren Mathews, King, W. Sharman, Payne, and the Secretary, be a Committee to inquire as to some other suitable sphere for Home Mission effort in this district.

5. That the thanks of this Conference be presented to brother R. Wherry for his services as Treasurer, and that he be requested to continue in office another year.

6. That the Secretary be appointed to represent this district at the Home Missionary Meeting at the next Association.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the condition of Gedney Hill chapel property had met, but were not prepared with a definite report.

Brother W. Sharman having offered suggestions for the improvement of our Conferences, it was resolved, "That brethren Mathews, Payne, W. Sharman, and the Secretary, be requested to consider these suggestions and report to the next Conference.

Cases for the Association.

That we recommend the following cases for consideration at the next Association:

1. That a petition be sent from the Association against the imposition of Poor Rates on Sunday Schools, and that brother

Mathews be requested to prepare such petition.

2.

That the next Circular Letter be "On Gambling."

3. That at some sitting of our Associations, there be time given for the consideration of our Sunday Schools.

4. That there be a column in the Minutes in which the number of our Local Preachers may be inserted.

Resolved, That we think it desirable that members of our churches when leaving the neighbourhood, should be furnished with a letter attesting their membership, that it may serve them as an introduction to ministers and Christian friends in other places.

That the next Conference be held at Boston, on Thursday, November 26th, and that brother Staddon be requested to preach in the morning.

That the next midsummer Conference be held at Spalding.

In the evening brother Winks preached from Matt. xxviii. 18, 19, 20, and Mark xvi. 15, 16. THOMAS BARRASS, Secretary.

THE GENERAL BAPTIST ASSEMBLY.

THIS ancient meeting was held on Tuesday, the 2nd June, at the chapel in Worship Street, London. It was attended by a smaller number of the ministers belonging to it than usual; but there were more representatives, so that the aggregate number was about the average of recent years. A very pleasant feature was the attendance of some brethren of the New Connexion, whose presence was regarded as an indication of kindly feeling between long divided portions of the General Baptist body.

The letters and returns from the churches reported several baptisms, as at Dover, Peckham, Worship Street, and Portsmouth; and there were others expected at Worship Street, Portsmouth, and Trowbridge. After the reading of the letters, the Assembly adjourned till the afternoon.

The public service began at eleven. The Rev. J. O. Squiers, of Collumpton, read the Scriptures and gave out the hymns, Dr. Underwood, President of Chilwell College, offered the general prayer, and the Rev. E. R. Grant, of Portsmouth, preached from Gal. vi. 9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." The sermon was a very admirable one, and practical in its character it was listened to with great attention.

In the afternoon sitting the reports of the Committee and Messengers were read, and the accounts of the several funds con

nected with the Assembly. In Mr. Mean's report he reverted to the past history of the General Baptist body, of which he had given a more succinct view in his report in 1866; giving now a fuller account of the rise and formation of the New Connexion in 1770; of the return of Dan Taylor to the Assembly in 1784, as representative of the Leicestershire Association; his subseqent appointment as Chairman (repeatedly), Preacher, Writer of the Letter to the Churches, and, in conjunction with Sampson Kingsford and John Evans, as correspondent with some General Baptists in America; and his final withdrawal from the Assembly in 1803, since which time the two bodies have been entirely separate. Mr. Means then stated his belief that the time for an approximation was come; and asked why brethren of the New Connexion should not come again as representatives of the Leicestershire Association, if still in existence, or of whatever organization has superseded it; and why the Assembly should not welcome them. He further suggested that the Assembly should take the initiative in this return to closer relations, by sending a message of Christian brotherhood and regard to the coming General Baptist Association at Derby. He did not believe that matters were ripe for a re-union, though he devoutly hoped a time would come for that; but he felt assured that such a kindly message as he suggested would not be uncourteously rejected.

This report was very attentively listened to; and the result of it appeared in the following resolution, which, after some discussion, was passed almost, if not quite unanimously-"That our brethren J. C. Means, S. Martin, and J. Martin, be appointed to convey to the approaching General Baptist Association at Derby, the expression of our interest in their Christian welfare, and our desire for the interchange of friendly offices between the two parts of the General Baptist body."

Another resolution expressed the gratification of the Assembly at the growing influence of those principles of religious liberty which General Baptists had ever held, as manifested by the support given, both in the legislature and the community at large, to Mr. Coleridge's Bill for the further opening of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford; to Mr. Gladstone's Bill for the Abolition of Compulsory Church Rates, and to the proposition of the same gentleman for the dis-establishment of the Irish Church.

In the evening a public meeting was held, at which several addresses were given on the subject of the influence of State Establishments of Religion. J. C. M.

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NOTTINGHAM BAPTIST PREACHERS' UNION. -The eighteenth annual meeting of this society was held in the Mansfield Road school-rooms, on Whit-Monday, June 1; Mr. J. Plowright in the chair. There was an excellent attendance of the brethren and of representatives from the village churches, and a deputation from Derby and Loughborough. Reports, written or oral, were supplied from most of the stations, the general tone of which was encouraging. The ordinary business having been despatched, the brethren adjourned for tea in the lower school-room, where a welcome refreshment was well served up. On resuming business votes of thanks were presented to the Mansfield Road church for the loan of rooms, to the retiring officers of the Union, and to the deputation. Mr. J. Plowright was elected president for the ensuing year; Mr. W. Richardson, secretary; and Mr. J. Lawrence, treasurer. The remainder of the evening was occupied in discussing a variety of questions relating to the "Baptist Village Preachers' Association," when the following resolutions were adopted: First, -That brethren Plowright and Brittian be a deputation to the Derbyshire quarterly meeting, to be held at Milford on Whit-Tuesday. Second, That a general committee be convened in Derby on June 24 to organize the proposed association. Third,-That a report of the proceedings of this meeting be sent to the Magazine and Christian World newspaper. The next quarterly meeting will be held at Eldon Street, Sept. 7; a public service in the evening, and brother J. Edwards to preside. W. RICHARDSON, Secretary.

HYSON GREEN, near Nottingham.-The General Baptist chapel at this place having been closed two Sundays in order to lay down a baptistry, erect new pews, and thoroughly clean both chapel and schoolrooms, was re-opened on Whit-Sunday,. May 31, when the Rev. S. Cox, of Mans. field Road chapel (of which Hyson Green is a branch) preached in the morning, and the Rev. C. Forth (who is supplying the pulpit this year) in the evening, after which the liberal sum of £7 1s. 94d. was collected towards defraying the expenses incurred in the renovation. Upon examination of the accounts it was discovered that the disbursements would amount to about £42, towards which the members and friends had raised £20, and this, added to the collection, would leave a deficit of something like £15. Towards the liquidation of this debt the kind assistance of distant friends is solicited, who are quested to address-Mr. Thos. Pilkington, 31, Alfreton Road, Nottingham.

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FORNCETT.-Thanksgiving Tea Meeting. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Our annual Whit-Monday tea meeting was a time of special rejoicing. From the commencement of the General Baptist cause in this place, not only great inconvenience, but much annoyance, has been endured on account of the mortgage on the chapel and cottage. During the last year strenuous efforts have been made, and the entire burden is removed. Our very poor friends could do but little, but that little was cheerfully done. A few friends who knew the necessity of the case have practically sympathized with it, especially our esteemed friend Mr. Matthews. The public meeting was addressed by some of our own friends, who were followed by brethren Evans, of Wymondham, Clare and Brooks, of Norwich.-Our tea meeting at Moulton on June 4 was of a most gladdening character. The chapel and tent were crowded, and the attention most serious. "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

SCHOOLS.

PINCHBECK.-Jubilee Services.-On Sunday, May 24, Rev. W. Chapman, of Louth, preached two appropriate and impressive sermons on behalf of our Sabbath school, and in the afternoon gave a suitable address, more especially to the young people. Congregations were excellent. Collections larger than had been known for several years past. On the following day the teachers and scholars assembled in the chapel, and, after a brief address, walked in procession to a spacious marquee, where an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was provided for them, which they appeared thoroughly to enjoy. The afternoon was spent by our young friends in innocent rural games. At five o'clock tea was provided, of which about three hundred friends partook; and afterwards the scholars were regaled with tea and buns. The evening meeting was held in the chapel, our beloved pastor presiding. After singing and prayer, our esteemed friend, Mr. T. Sharman, of Spalding, one of the founders of the school, gave a very interesting report of its rise and progress up to the present time; and while we listened to the account of the difficulties of various kinds that teachers of Dissenting and especially of Baptist schools had to contend with fifty years ago, we thanked God that we live in better times, but we hope we did not forget our greater responsibilities with our increased facilities. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Revs. J. Taylor, of Sutterton, W.

Chapman, of Louth, J. Bevan, P. Strutt (Independents), J. A. Jones, of Gosberton, and J. C. Jones, M.A., of Spalding. Our pleasure on this joyful occasion was increased by having with us two of the founders of the school, viz., Mr. T. Sharman, and Mrs. Newling, mother of Mrs. Jones, of Spalding. We united in our songs of thankfulness to our heavenly Father for all His mercies, and in our prayers for still greater blessings than we now enjoy

BROUGHTON.-On Lord's-day, June 14, two sermons were preached on behalf of the Sunday school by the Rev. W. Bailey, of Wymeswold. The congregations were good, and the collections amounted to £4 10s. On the day following a tea and public meeting was held in the chapel. Though our school is small, the general interest felt in it was markedly manifest in the very considerable exertions made by many friends in the decorating of the chapel. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, which was further enlivened by the singing of several appropriate pieces by the choir, which consists for the most part of the scholars in our school.

LONGFORD. The annual school sermons were preached on May 10, by Rev. J. W. Kiddle (Independent), of Coventry. Collections, £20.- Sermons on behalf of Bedworth branch school on 24th May, by Rev. W. Wootton, of Wyken. Collections, £9 10s. Prizes, furnished by the teachers, given on the occasion to the value of £4. -Sermons for Sowe branch school on the 31st May, by Rev. S. S. Allsop. Collections, £8 10.-The annual school festival was celebrated at Longford on June 15, towards which £10 was specially contributed, and the day was much enjoyed. Total number of children in the three schools about 600; amount raised for school purposes this year, £51.

LONGFORD, Union Place.-The annual sermons on behalf of this Sunday school were preached on May 24, by the Rev. H. Cross, of Coventry. Day fine, and collections £10 6s.-the best for several years.

ALLERTON, near Bradford.-The annual sermons in behalf of our Sabbath school were preached to very large congregations by the Rev. T. Gill, resident minister, on Lord's-day, May 31. The collections

£26 Os. 6 d., were about £5 in advance of those of last year. The number of scholars (190) is larger, and the prospects of the school more hopeful than at any former period.

IBSTOCK.-The annual sermons in aid of the above school were preached on Lord'sday, June 14, by the Rev. J. P. Tetley, of Burton-on-Trent, to unusually large congregations-the collection amounting to