Whitsuntide Autumn Christmas .... Whitsuntide Autumn Christmas Whitsuntide Autumn Christmas Whitsuntide Autumn .... .... .... ...... Dewsbury. 1870. Gambleside. Denholme. Todmorden. 1871. Queensbury. Vale, Todmorden. Bradford, Infirmary St. Birchcliffe. The Secretary having stated that Mr. Booth, the senior deacon of his church, was suffering under severe affliction and unable to attend to any business, and that he desired to resign the office to which the Conference had done him the honour of appointing him, that, namely, of being the treasurer of the Home Mission fund, it was moved and seconded, and carried unanimously 4. That this Conference regrets to hear of the serious illness of Mr. Booth, and hereby records its deep sympathy with him in his affliction. 5. That the Rev. R. Ingham be, and is hereby, appointed treasurer of the Home Mission fund in the room of Mr. Booth until next Whit-week. 6. That a SPECIAL CONFERENCE be held at Halifax next Easter Tuesday; and that the Secretary be, and is hereby, instructed to invite all the churches in the Conference to send to the meeting as many delegates as possible. The Conference to meet at 2 p.m. 7. That the Rev. R. Hardy, of Queensbury, be, and is hereby, respectfully requested to read a paper at the Special Conference on Easter Tuesday on the subject of "EDUCATION." 8. That the Rev. T. Gill, of Allerton, be, and is hereby, respectfully requested to read a paper at the Special Conference on Easter Tuesday on the question-" WHY ARE WE, AS A DENOMINATION, NOT MAKING GREATER PROGRESS?" 9. That the next Conference be held at Lineholme on Whit-Tuesday; and that the Rev. J. Stapleton, of Edge Side, be the preacher. The Conference was not largely attended, but the fraternal intercourse of the brethren was both pleasant and profitable. J. ALCORN, Secretary. THE HOME MISSION. THIS question has often been asked by This, ye friends and supporters of General Baptist aggressive movements, is Intelligence. what we are doing. Are we worthy of your confidence and help? CHARLES CLARKE, Secretary, LOUGHBOROUGH, Wood Gate, -Our annual members' tea meeting was held on Tuesday evening, Jan. 21, when we had a very happy and numerous gathering. All the tables, which filled our large schoolroom, were fully occupied, and were liberally supplied with the various accom. paniments of a well-furnished tea. After the tables were cleared and removed, the friends again assembled, and under the presidency of the Rev. J. T. Gale, our esteemed pastor, the evening was spent in the most pleasing and profitable manner, a spirit of true Christian kindness and brotherhood seeming to pervade all hearts, and thus leading all, as with one heart and one mind, to strive together to promote the general happiness. Our pastor and several other friends delivered animated, cheerful, and useful addresses, embracing valuable suggestions to promote the future usefulness and prosperity of the church. The retrospect of the year shewed cause for devout gratitude to God. Pleasing additions have been made to our numbers, our debt has been cleared off, our general finances improved, a spirit of harmony has prevailed, and our Sunday school has enjoyed considerable spiritual prosperity. Several members of the choir sang a selection of anthems at intervals, concluding with the well known "When shall we meet again?" For their services they received the cordial thanks of the meeting, as did also the committee of management, and the ladies who had presided at the tea tables. B. B. TROWBRIDGE, Wilts. The customary watch-night, or annual midnight service, to commemorate the passing out of the old year and the coming in of the new, was observed at the General Baptist chapel, on the evening of the 31st ult. There was a large congregation, as, in addition to the regular worshippers, a number of persons from other religious denominations were present on the occasion. Several members of the church took part in the devotional services, after which the minister preached from Deut. xxxii. 29, on At "the voice of the ending year calling to a consideration of the end of life." the close of the sermon, a few minutes before twelve, the whole of the congregation knelt down for silent prayer, until the striking of the clock announced that the old, year had passed and the new year had commenced. The pastor then offered a fervent prayer for himself and his people, and pronounced the benediction. A general shaking of hands then took place, accompanied with hearty congratulations and good wishes for the new year. The solemnities of this midnight service appeared to make a deep impression on all present, which it is hoped will never be forgotten. BARTON FABIS. The church at this place having a debt of £350, including the amount on the new chapel at Desford, it has been resolved to clear off the entire sum during the current year. To further this object it is intended to hold a bazaar at Barton in or about the first week in July; and, while not wishing to interfere with more pressing claims, it is believed that there are many friends who would be glad of the opportunity of rendering a little help to this "mother church." Contributions of articles or money will be thankfully received by Mrs. Thos. Deacon, Mrs. Haywood, and Mrs. Hill. Letters should be addressed, "Barton Fabis, Atherstone;" Parcels, "Per Midland Railway, Bagworth Station, near Leicester," or to the care of Messrs. Winks & Son, booksellers, Leicester. COALVILLE AND WHITWICK.-Our annual church meeting was held here on the last day of the old year, when the members took tea, and the year was reviewed. The public collections during the year amounted to £104 6s., which include collections for Home and Foreign Missions, Leicester Infirmary, widows and orphans, Sunday schools and chapel anniversaries. The number added to the church during the year has been twenty-two, and the nett increase eleven; and during the three years of the present pastorate the additions have been eighty-five, and the nett increase of members fifty-seven. In accordance with the recommendation of the united committee of both congregations, a resolution was passed appreciative of the labours of the pastor, and adding ten pounds to his salary. W. S. On BIRMINGHAM, Longmore Street. Monday evening, Dec. 30, the annual congregational tea meeting was held in the school-room, which was very appropriately decorated for the occasion. After tea, the chair was occupied by the pastor, Mr. Parsons, and addresses of acknowledged pleasantness and wisdom, urgency and effectiveness, were delivered by Mr. Harrison (minister of Lombard Street chapel), Mr. Hotchkiss (minister of Legge Street chapel), Messrs. Sanders J. Chew, J. Zair (Wycliffe Church), H. Selmes, J. P. Warner, and G. Cheatle (Longmore Street chapel). The enjoyment of the friends was materially enhanced by the performance of vocal and instrumental music. The meeting, which throughout was eminently merry and practical, terminated about 9.30. NORTHALLERTON. - Interesting services were held in the General Baptist chapel on Sunday, Jan. 12. The Rev. H. Rowson, of Masham, preached, and collections were made for the Home Mission. On the following Monday we held our annual tea meeting-two hundred and thirty persons were present. After tea a public meeting was held in the chapel. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. P. W. Grant, Darlington; H. Rowson, Masham; M. Dawson, Bedale; W. Stubbings (Baptists); T. Waterhouse (Wesleyan), R. Crookall (Independent), J. Nichols (Primitive Methodist), and G. Dowson, Esq., Wartaby. The trays were given, and the proceeds for the chapel debt were £10 9s. LOUGHBOROUGH, Wood Gate.-A deeply interesting service was held on Lord's-day evening, Jan. 5, in connection with our Sunday school. Our pastor, Mr. Gale, preached an earnest and impressive sermon to the young from the words, "Buy the truth and sell it not;" after which he left the pulpit for the table pew, where were assembled nineteen senior scholars, who received from his hands, in the name of the teachers, a very handsome copy of the Scriptures with marginal notes and references, and were honourably dismissed from the Sunday school. Each recipient was suitably and affectionately addressed in words of wise counsel and encouragement. The average age of these nineteen young friends was twenty years, and the average time they have been in the school ten years; and it is a cause for much thankfulness that twelve of them are already members of the church, and several others are inquiring the way to Zion. B. B. NORWICH, Priory Yard.-We held our annual tea meeting on New Year's day. The school-room was beautifully decorated for the occasion by our young friends. Over a hundred persons sat down to tea, after which a most interesting meeting was held. The room was well filled, and appropriate addresses were delivered by the Rev. R. B. Horne; Messrs. Dearl, Smith, Chaplin, Barber; J. W. Dowson, Esq., and the pastor of the church. Some excellent pieces were sung by our choir, Miss Gooch presiding at the harmonium. Allusions were made by most of the speakers to the late painful bereavement sustained by Mr. Clare in the loss of his wife, and great sympathy was expressed. LOUTH, Eastgate.-On Lord's-day, Jan. 12th, the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., of Spalding, preached two excellent sermons in the Eastgate Baptist chapel, on behalf of the Sunday school connected with that place of worship. Though the weather was unfavourable, the congregation in the evening was very good, and the collections were sufficient for the requirements of the school. On the following day a public tea was provided in the school-room, which was well attended. After tea earnest and appropriate addresses were delivered by Revs. J. C. Jones, M.A., W. Chapman, and C. Payne, and by Mr. Newman and Mr. Dicken. Notes on Public Events. CHURCH WORK AMONG OUR AMERICAN BRETHREN. FROM the Christian Freeman, edited by Dr. Graham and Mr. F. W. Dunn, we glean a few items of intelligence which our home friends may be glad to see. The new paper itself, the Christian Freeman, is, after the first volume, considerably enlarged, and thus has become a great success. A fine chapel at Manon, in Ohio, has been opened free from debt, by the exertions of its pastor, the Rev. S. D. Bates. The building is pronounced very elegant, the audience room being frescoed, the seats are all cushioned, the floor all carpeted, and a good organ is in its proper place. Professor Dunn, whose stirring discourse at Loughborough association in 1866 will be long remembered, preached at the "dedication" of the church, where his sermons were highly appreciated. 53 In Indiana the General Baptists have held their eighth annual association. The union contains twenty-five churches, with a membership of 1480. They are said to be growing rapidly, new church edifices are being built, and an Institute is in course of erection at Oakland city. In the Shenandoah valley churches are being formed, and the services of a Miss Dudley are believed to be of more advantage to the mission than those of any two missionaries on the Sabbath! Hillsdale College has had fewer students in 1867 than before, but the decrease is in the ladies' department, and is a ground of surprise. The Free Will Baptist Quarterly has completed its fifteenth volume, and the prospectus for the sixteenth volume is issued, stating its literary and theological character. Notes on Public Events. LOYALTY to one of the best of Queens induces us to begin our monthly notation of leading events by a reference to the publication of Her Majesty's Diary. At first a private circulation of it was all that was contemplated; but Mr. Helps, who read the manuscripts, humbly suggested, and then effectually pleaded, that the Diary should be published without any restriction. The Queen's consent lays all her subjects under increased obligation to her, and the work will tend to exalt her still more highly in popular esteem. Its revelation of her true character, and the view which it affords of her ordinary life, whilst gratifying our curiosity, excite our admiration; for they show what she has been as a woman, a wife, and a mother, as well as a monarch. God save the Queen! The precautions everywhere taken to prevent any further outrages by the Fenians have been successful. There have been many rumours of violence, but no actual instances of it. The pacification and improvement of Ireland are engaging the most earnest thought and discussion among all grades of patriots and politicians; and it may be hoped that the Allwise Ruler will inspire their anxious counsels, and bring the important end to pass. The Irish National League are renewing their efforts in favour of the repeal of the legislative union, and a declaration from Limerick, together with some letters of Dean O'Brien and other Catholics, have been issued, which say that English statesmanship has not the power to remedy the ills of Ireland-that a great change is coming on-and that if the clergy do not lead the people to rational liberty other guides will lead them to ruin. When "the prophets prophecy falsely, the priests bear rule by their means." The most important assembly, probably, which has ever been called together on the subject of National Education took place in Manchester about the middle of last month. The conference resolved, almost unanimously, to request Messrs. Bruce, Egerton, and W. E. Forster to re-introduce into Parliament the Bill of last Session, or to support any government measure of similar principles. Having decided in favour of compulsory rating for educational purposes, on the first day of meeting, the conference, on the next day, considered the question of compulsory attendance at school, and agreed in the policy of enforcing the attendance of neglected children." 66 The Compulsory Church Rates Abolition Bill, bearing the names of Mr. Gladstone, Sir G. Grey, and Sir R. Palmer, proposes that no proceedings shall be taken to compel payment of any church rate hereafter made, but that a vestry may make a voluntary rate towards any purpose for which church rates have hitherto been made. And no person is to have a vote as to the assessment or disposal of the fund who has not paid the amount for which he is assessed, or some voluntary contribution of equal amount. The unsatisfactory character of this Bill has been faithfully shown in a critique upon it in the Nonconformist. Among many articles just written on that old grievance, the Irish Church, the two most noticeable are those of Mr. Arthur Arnold and Professor Maurice. The former proposes another scheme for the better appropriation of the Church's revenues, to which he applies the incongruous epithets of "public, national, and sacred." The Times, in publishing this scheme, and slightly favouring it, suggests certain "little difficulties" in the way of its adoption. The article of Professor Maurice in the Contemporary Review bears just testimony to the worth of many Irish prelates and clergymen, in past and present days, but considers that after three centuries' experience we may pronounce the Irish Establishment a failure, and he looks upon its fall as inevitable. A religious gathering has been held at Philadelphia to promote union among the various Presbyterian bodies in the United States. Some half-dozen of these, containing 780,000 communicants, 6,761 ministers, and 5,444 churches, agreed to form themselves into one body, under the name of the United Presbyterian Church of America. After this decision had been come to the convention was visited by a large deputation from the American Episcopal Church, headed by Bishop M Ilvaine. To his paternal address Dr. Hodge replied in a strain which drew tears from nearly all eyes. The meeting has been pronounced as one of the most remarkable which has ever taken place in the Christian church. It may be very long before any such steps toward Christian union are followed in England, but something a little akin to the spirit of fraternity is just now transpiring. A series of papers on the Apostles' Creed, our common faith, is being MRS. BATEY. contributed by dignitaries of the Established Church, and by Presbyterian and Dissenting Divines, representatives of religious parties in the United Kingdom, which, it is hoped, may be helpful in bringing about more visible oneness among Christians at home. We are glad to find that the Committee of the Evangelical Alliance is preparing for the press an octavo volume, for the small charge of seven and sixpence, containing the inaugural discourse at the Amsterdam conference, and all the papers read thereat by men of distinguished position in the churches and universities of Christendom. A volume of greater value, or more adapted to the present times, at about half the usual price of such books, has seldom been published. Notwithstanding the recent failure of Garibaldi and his co-patriots to rescue Rome from the hold of the Papacy, neither the Pope, nor his obtrusive protector, the French Emperor, have much reason for feeling secure in their mutual occupation. A long poem, addressed by Garibaldi to Victor Hugo, while displaying great literary ability, shows the hopeful views he still entertains for his country, and the feelings of indignation which he cherishes toward those whom he regards as its worst enemies. The poem closes with something prophetic in reference to Napoleon: "A little while his shameless scheme prevails; The Wesleyans have lost two of their most eminent men. Dr. Hannah, aged 76, who was theological tutor of Didsbury College from 1842 to 1867; and the Rev. John Scott, aged 75, who was principal of the Training College, Westminster. Recent Deaths. AT 102, Great Portland Street, London, aged 57, Mary Eliza, the beloved wife of the Rev. John Batey, Special Missionary and afternoon preacher of Craven Chapel. Her death is deeply lamented, not only by her bereaved husband and children, but by a large circle of Christian friends, especially of the Ladies' Amicable and other societies connected with the church. It is remarkable that she died a member of the church over which the late Dr. |