other measures are to be carried in the new parliament, the people are resolved to obtain the Stopping of the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday.

By order of the Executive Committee of the Central Association for Stopping

Denominational.

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the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday.

ROBERT WHITWORTH,

T. A. STOWELL, M.A., Hon. Secs.
EDWARD WHITWELL,

J. CHEETHAM, M.P., President.

The next MIDLAND 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.

LONDON CONFERENCE.-The next meeting of the London Conference will be held at Praed Street chapel, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, instead of Tuesday, the 6th. Business at two o'clock. Public service at

half-past six in the evening.

The time of the meetings of the London Baptist Association has rendered desirable the change above indicated.

J. LAWTON, Secretary.

THE FORTIETH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS' UNION was held at Boston on the 23rd July last.

At seven o'clock in the morning the proceedings of the day commenced with a prayer meeting, conducted by Messrs. T. Robson and H. P. Tayton. At 9.30 the Rev. T. W. Mathews, pastor of the church, took the chair, which he retained during the morning sitting. The secretary then read the minutes of the meeting held last year at Gedney Hill, when reports from the whole of the schools in Union were either read or given verbally. The schools as at present arranged in Union are Boston, Coningsby, Sutterton, Gosberton, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Holbeach, Fleet, Long Sutton, Gedney Hill, Gedney Broadgate, and Sutton St. Edmunds. Every one felt cheered by the encouraging news sent up from each school, which shewed all united, prosperous, and happy. The numbers reported were about 1550 scholars and 250 teachers and officers.

The Rev. T. B. Summerfield, of Holbeach, then preached the annual sermon to a very attentive congregation, and seemed well appreciated. After this the

friends took a peep at the lions of Boston before sitting down to dinner, not the least amongst the attractions being the justly famed tower of St. Botolph's church, commonly called "Boston Stump."

At 2.30 the chairman (appointed last year), Mr. A. Godsmark, of Spalding, then took his seat, and delivered a very powerful and earnest address, in which he reviewed the work of Sabbath school teaching during the past year in general, and more particularly as having taken place in the school at Spalding, over which he is the honoured superintendent. It may be within the knowledge of many of our readers that out of the one hundred and eleven members added to the church at Spalding last year, the greater part were Sunday school scholars and teachers, hence the earnestness of Mr. Godsmark's remarks, and the warm way they were appreciated. Then followed an admirable and comprehensive paper on the subject of "Is it right to employ unconverted teachers in our Sabbath schools?" by the Rev. W. Sharman, of Coningsby, which was well received and thoroughly approved of; and he consented to a unanimous request to send it to the editor of this magazine for publication.

Long Sutton was then fixed upon as the next place for meeting in July, 1869. The Rev. W. Sharman to be the preacher; Mr. William Gee, of Pinchbeck, to be the chairman; and Mr. P. Bothamley, of Boston, to write a paper "On the nature of amusements to be provided at our Sunday school treats."

In the evening a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. Godsmark, when speeches on Sabbath school work were delivered by Messrs. Mathews, T. Sharman. W. Sharman, W. Green, W. Gee,

Long, and other friends. Several melodies were sang by Mr. J. H. Moore, surveyor of taxes, and his Tonic Sol-Fa class.

Public breakfast, dinner, and tea were provided by the Boston friends, which gave great satisfaction.

EDWARD WILSON, Hon. Sec.

NOTTINGHAM, Prospect Place.-On Monday evening, Aug. 10, a large number of the members of the church and congregation partook of tea, provided in excellent style by the ladies in the school-room adjoining. Afterwards a meeting was held in the chapel, for the purpose of doing honour to Miss S. A. Tagg, who has kindly and efficiently presided at the harmonium for a period exceeding ten years, but who has now resigned, by presenting her with a beautiful and elegant timepiece in recognition of services so cheerfully and gratuitously rendered. Mr. William West

presided; and after the opening preliminaries, Mr. A. Brittain, on behalf of the church, presented the testimonial, on which was inscribed, "Presented to Miss S. A. Tagg by the members and friends of the church and congregation worshipping at the General Baptist chapel, Prospect Place, in recognition of her services at the harmonium for a period of ten years. August 10, 1868." To which in a kind note she replied, expressing her thanks and the pleasure she has had in conducting the "service of song" in the sanctuary for such a period. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. S. Tagg, W. Gill, G. West, W. Richardson, G. Newton, and W. Bown, expressive of the high esteem entertained for her, and the best wishes of the church for her future welfare. The meeting was of the highest social enjoyment, and a time of gladness to all present. A. B. N.

OLD BASFORD.-The annual services in connection with the Sabbath school were held on Sunday and Monday, June 27, 28. On the morning of the 27th an address was delivered to parents, teachers, and scholars by Mr. Amos Bexon; and in the afternoon and evening two eloquent and impressive sermons were preached by the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., of Spalding. The evening service was crowded to excess. The collections for the day amounted to the noble and unprecedented sum of £25 3s. 2d. On the following day about 150 partook of tea in the school-room, and afterwards adjourned to the new chapel, when a public meeting was held. The Rev. H. Hunter, the pastor of the church, presided. A report of the school's progress was read, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., the chairman, secretary, and four superintendents of the school. One very pleasing circumstance alluded to in the report was that twelve scholars, one teacher, and one who had been a scholar more than thirty years ago, had been added to the church during the year. The total amount realized was £26 15s. 4d. Number of scholars, 371; teachers, 48. W. B.

COVENTRY.-On Lord's-day, Aug. 9, the annual sermons on behalf of the Sunday school were preached by the Rev. H. Cross (minister of the place), in the morning from Solomon's Song, fifth chapter, latter part 16th verse-"This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." In the evening the discourse was founded upon Deut. xxix. 29"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our chil dren for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." The congregations were good, and collections liberal. Considerable interest was manifested throughout the day, it being the last time the anniversary of the Sabbath schools will be held in the old chapel, as our brethren are expecting shortly to remove to their spacious and beautiful chapel and schoolrooms now in course of erection in Gosford Street. "May the glory of the latter house be greater than that of the former," and may the "Lord add unto the church daily such as shall be saved."

BIRMINGHAM, Longmore Street. On Sunday, Aug. 16, services were held: celebrate the third anniversary of the Sabbath schools associated with the above place of worship. Preachers-morning and evening, the Rev. Ll. H. Parsons, pastor; afternoon, the Rev. S. Pearson, M.A., of Ebenezer Congregational chapel. The children glorified their festival in several appropriate hymns, which were rendered with considerable delicacy and effect. They won general commendation, and indeed richly deserved their renown. The congregations were good-in the evening the chapel was very full. Collections during the day, £21 1s. 44d Altogether, the attendances, receipts, and hearty sympathies developed during these services, proclaim modest but steady advance. KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD. On Lord's-day, July 26, two sermons were preached by the Rev. Thomas Mee, of Retford. The congregations were good, especially in the evening, when the chapel was filled to overflowing. The sermons well fitted the occasion. The children's singing, piecesaying, and dialogues, assisted with the choir, rendered the services of a very interesting character. Collections, £7 18s., being a little more than the average.

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EARL SHILTON.-On Lord's-day, July 26, the Baptist Sabbath School held its sixtyseventh anniversary, when two very excellent sermons were preached by the Rev. J. C. Pike, of Leicester. In the afternoon fifteen young persons who had been scholars were presented each with a copy of the holy Scriptures. Congregations good; collections, £9 2s. 2d.-The annual

Lords is entitled to the praise of having put it into better shape than that in which it went to them from the Commons. The Liberation Society Committee allude in complimentary terms to the efforts of the authors of the bill to make it an acceptable as well as an effective measure, and to the readiness with which those efforts were seconded in both Houses of Parliament. They also warmly thank Mr. Hardcastle, M.P., for his services, and refer to those rendered by Sir W. Clay, Sir. J. Trelawny, and others in past times. While rejoicing in the success of the Parliamentary proceedings which have resulted in the abolition of compulsory Church-rates, they express the belief that that success is primarily due to the patient and self-sacrificing exertions of those who, during the last thirty-five years, by resolute resistance in the parish vestries, and by subjecting themselves to distraint, to prosecution, and to imprisonment, have practically abolished Church-rates, or the compulsory collection of rates, in numerous parishes, and have at length induced the Legislature to put an end to the unrighteous system of compulsion throughout the kingdom." They intend to make the provisions of the act widely known, and express a hope that the working of the measure will be characterised by the same spirit of conciliation as has marked its passage through Parliament, and that, as the result, the members of the Church of England will be encouraged to rely unreservedly on voluntaryism for the future maintenance and extension of their Church.

The second measure is the Irish Burials Act, which gives to Irish Dissenters the right to bury the dead in parochial churchyards.

The third is called the West Indies Ecclesiastical Grants Act, which disendows the Church of England in the West Indies so far as the Consolidated Fund is concerned. All existing life-interests will be respected, but henceforth the Epicopalians in these colonies will have to repair their own churches, and support their own clergy.

But the chief event of the recent session has been the condemnation of the Irish Church Establishment by decisive majorities in the Commons, a condemnation which, although disavowed in the Lords, is the harbinger of the downfall of an institution which, for its injustice, as the late Lord Macaulay said, has nothing like it on the face of the earth. Yet for the maintenance of this establishment the Tories and Episcopalians of England are raising their voices and plying their pens, and during the past month some of its infatuated abettors have shown the supreme

folly of trying to get up what they called A Protestant Demonstration at the Crystal Palace. On Monday the 17th, from two to three thousand persons met in the central transept of that edifice, and under the presidency of Lord Fitzwalter-a nobleman almost unknown-passed a series of resolutions. Among the speakers was an exIndependent minister, Brewin Grant, who added to his many former vagaries that of maligning Mr. Gladstone and his liberal supporters.

At

We referred in our last number to the presidency of the Dean of Canterbury at the Centenary of Cheshunt College. this fact, and at the presence of Archdeacon Sandford and other Episcopalian clergymen, the Church Organs have taken the greatest umbrage. One of them says, "It is difficult to control one's feelings of indignation at such an incident," and it asks how Dean Alford could have lost all sense of shame as to see no harm in appearing among such schismatics. What is called "The Cheshunt Correspondence," has arisen out of its centenary, in which Dean Alford took no part until it had, as he supposed, "worked the good" for which it seemed adapted. At length he wrote to the Guardian, explaining that the object he had in view was to promote, by churchmen, a frank recognition of the Christian bodies around them, without any compromise of doctrine, and with no ulterior views. He adds:

"As to the former, compromise of doctrine, I claim to be, as to every Church doctrine, unchanged by fraternization' with those who differ from us. And they on their part stand on the same ground. On the firm maintenance of this principle, all true recognition and union depend. Whether they omit in their worship an article of the Creed, is no matter of mine. They love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ; they are my brethren; I believe the time is come when I am bound to show that I regard them as such.

And as to the latter point, the abandonment of ulterior views respecting them, I have no hesitation in saying that, as I do not expect, so neither do I wish for, any re-absorption of Nonconformists into the Church of England. I believe it would be the worst thing possible, both for ourselves and for them. We are to be 'not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.' And to my mind, His will has been unmistakeably manifested in the free expansion of the Christian conscience as now found among us. It is our duty not to fight against His providence; not to attempt to work our way back to a uniformity which has utterly gone by; but to

surrender our miserable jealousies; to accept, bravely and frankly, the state of things in which God has placed us; to walk, in the kingdom of God, and to the house of God, and in society before the world, hand in hand with our Nonconformist brethren.

Thus only shall we of the Church of England be making safe and wise preparation for the day which must soon come upon her. We may, if we please, lower ourselves by exclusiveness and uncharitableness, so as to become in that day a mere sect among sects; but we may also, and I hope we shall, so lift in our esteem our Christian brethren around us, as to find ourselves, when deprived of the aid of the State, a Church among Churches."

The Dean thus expresses his conviction that events are preparing the way for a separation of the Church from the State, and that such a separation must come."

soon

The Wesleyan Conference has attracted the special attention of outsiders this year on account of what has been done to ascertain the extent of Wesleyan sympathy with the Church of England, and of what has been said by Wesleyan leaders respecting the present position and attitude of the Church. The President's address was so clear and decided as to have closed the question relative to the return of the Methodists to the communion of the Church. And this address from the chair has been strengthened in its influence by a letter addressed to the Chairman by the venerable Dr. Jackson, whose age prevented his presence at the Conference, which he had attended for sixty years in succession. We call attention to a portion of this letter, which has been inserted in the Times Newspaper. Dr. Jackson says:

"Methodism has now passed into a new state in relation to the Established Church of this country. Mr. Wesley, to the end of his life, declared his attachment to it, and recommended to his preachers and people to follow his example. We are now charged with a departure from his principles, and are called upon to become Church people to preserve our consistency. The truth of this charge I absolutely deny. Mr. Wesley was a Protestant to the backbone, and regarded the Church of England as a Protestant Establishment. For years after his death the Conference acknowledged a friendly relation to it in that character, and called upon me some forty years ago to publish, in the form of a pamphlet, a speech which I addressed to them on that subject. To the principles laid down in that pamphlet I adhere at this day, but they do not apply to the ex

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isting state of things. The Church of England is not now what Mr. Wesley understood it to be, and what it has been regarded for the last 300 years. Many of the clergy declare their abhorrence of the very name of Protestant; they revile the Protestant martyrs; they affect Popish forms of worship! they preach the doctrines of Popery, and declare their sympathy with the Church of Rome. At the same time a large and powerful body of the clergy yield only a limited assent to the teaching of Holy Scripture, and deny some of the most important doctrines of the Gospel. A Church which offers no effectual resistance to these enormous evils can expect no sympathy from Wesleyan Methodism. On the contrary, against such errors Methodism is bound to raise the warning voice, from one end of the king. dom to the other. While so many of the clergy are attempting to unsettle the minds of the people of England by the novelties of Rome and of scepticism, it becomes us to put forth efforts more strenuous than ever to proclaim the truths of the Reformation-the pure truths of New Testa ment Christianity-in every town, village, and hamlet in the kingdom. Never was true, earnest, Methodist preaching more needed than at this day. * * * lf I were with you I should perhaps say something more especially on the subject of the amalgamation of Methodism and the Church of England, of which some people of late have had day dreams; but as the thing is legally, morally, and religiously impossible, it is useless to argue the case."

At one of the later sittings of the Conference, a letter was read from Dr. Pusey, on Mr. Coleridge's University Bill, in its bearings not only on Oxford education, but on the interests of the Wesleyans as a religious body. The object of the wily Professor was to excite the Weslevans to oppose this measure, urging that the effect of it, if passed, would be to legitimize the position of pantheists and rationalists, and to acknowledge them among the teachers of our Christian youth. Appealing to the most susceptible side of the Wesleyan character, he says:-"You would not wish your own youth to be so taught." He then asks their concurrence in an effort to bring about the two following changes, if any must be made. First, "to substitute an acknowledgment of the Nicene Creed for subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles." Second, "to found new colleges out of the revenues of the old ones, for the different bodies who hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." This arrangement would certainly admit all Dissenters who are considered orthodox, and at one time it would have been esteemed a liberal one. But its