Correspondence.-Union of General and Particular Baptists. 147

Old Sarum to Manchester, might ap-| pear to the members of the House of Commons an insignificant movement; but it ushered in Schedule A, gutted the House of its old members, and revolutionized the country. I think this proposition a great fact in the same sense. It shows the direction in which public opinion is moving, and is, in all probability, indicative of other greater events following in its train, pregnant with the same spirit, and more momentous in their character and consequences.

But from the very fact of it being a great question, considerable difficulty arises as to its management in a public oral debate. Some speakers, inspired with the grandeur of the principle, will be in danger of becoming vague, sentimental, rhetorical, disorderly, and pompous. Others, setting their faces as flint against the introduction of anything but business (in the strict Association sense of the term,) will be, I fear, liable to offend their brethren by peremptory enforcement of some of the statutes of the synod, (known only to a few wise heads,) moving the previous question, and endeavouring in baste to quash the discus ion by violence. For, as any one will see who has paid much attention to the subject, it is an affair partly of principle and partly of business.

In order that such a misadventure may be avoided, I would take the liberty humbly to suggest to the authorities of that august assembly, the General Baptist Association of 1861, that something like the following order be adopted in the discussion:

I. As a matter of Christian principle, is the union desirable?

2.-If so, by what arrangements may it be most expediently consummated?

It is obvious that the sense of the body on the first proposition ought to be arrived at first. In the event of it being hostile to union, all the trouble and time required for considering arrangements for carrying it out will be saved.

Moreover, this portion of the discussion will embrace all that can be said bearing upon the accordance of the measure with great general principles of Christian conduct: such for

instance, as brotherly sympathy, consistency, agreement in opinion, order, and decorum. This, if sustained with a creditable degree of ability and good feeling, I hope will not be quite so dry a wrangle as we are sometimes con demned to hear, 'dragging its slow length along' for an hour or two, in which there is no more allusion to Christian sentiment than to the signs of the zodiac, and when the great mystery to the representatives after the division, is to know whether they have voted for the motion,' or the amendment.'

Supposing the desirableness of the union to be affirmed, the senate may then address itself to the practical measures by which it is sought to be carried out. To what extent these would involve the amalgamation of some of the corresponding institutions in each body, might then become a subject of consideration. Colleges, missions, and magazines, with their respective merits, would be brought into comparison, and though the ordeal might prove searching, I believe all would be the better for the criticism. Let us hope it would prove a great outlet of wise suggestions, practical skill, brotherly kiuduess, toleration and fertility in council, and Christian courtesy.

I own myself an advocate of union. But I will not, without your permission, go at large into the argument, but leave your pages to be occupied by the labour of abler pens.

As a specimen, however, of the feeling which, I believe, is spreading amongst sincere Christians, I shall beg to be allowed to quote a circumstance described to me in a letter from a friend a short time ago. He says,

'We are having the pleasure of seeing Christ's cause extend here by reducing the number of chapels and societies. I have intimation that one entire church is preparing to jom our own, aud come under my pastorate, and that not from distress and weakness, but from conviction and affection.' a subsequent letter, he informed me, the union had taken place, the old chapel had been given to the British and Foreign School Society, and a large new meeting-house built, in which all

In

worshipped with pleasure and una- | their dead in parochial and other pub

Obituary.—Miss. Catherine Thirlby.

grounds, with a religious service conducted by ministers chosen by the friends of the deceased.

That your petitioners have long and strongly felt the necessity of such a measure, in consequence of the attitude not unfrequently assumed by clerical incumbents in relation to the interment of Dissenters, and more especially in relation to the interment of persons unbaptized.

Your petitioners therefore pray your Honourable House to pass the said bill into a law.

And your petitioners, &c.

DIRECTIONS TO BE OBSERVED.

149

At least one signature must be on the sheet of paper on which the petition is written. For other signatures, several sheets of paper may be pasted or stitched together.

Every person may sign who attends even occasionally at the place of worship.

When completed, the petition should be folded up like a newspaper, and enclosed in an envelope open at both ends.

Petitions may be sent to any member of Parliament post free, if inscribed'Petition to Parliament.'

Petitions intended to support the second reading of Sir Morton Peto's bill should be forwarded at the latest

Every person whose name is attached by the 22nd of April. should sign his own name.

Obituary.

MISS CATHERINE THIRLBY.

There

are times in the experience of us all when we are the subjects of painful and of bitter bereavement. At such an hour, when some beloved one is taken away, in whom our hopes, our affections, and our joys in this world were garned up-at such an hour, what can give comfort? The dead cannot speak, the living cannot comfort; when the mere worldling comes and tries to speak comfort, we could wish that he were many miles away. At such an hour only the Bible can comfort, and we find a comfort in its words, a power in its lessons, a music in its hopes, and a grandeur in its consolations, that makes all else appear poor and empty, and worthless in comparison. The Bible teaches us, that our friends in Christ, though lost to sight, are supremely blest above.

In that great cloister's stillness and seclusion.

By guardian angels led,

Safe from temptation, safe from sin's pollution,
She lives, whom we call dead.

These beautiful lines express the hopes
and consolations of Mr. and Mrs.
George Thirlby under their sad and
distressing bereavement in the death
of their beloved daughter. She was
born at Widmerpool, September 4th,
1842, and died at Rempstone, Novem-
ber 11th, 1860, and was therefore little
more than eighteen years of age at the
time of her death. Anxious that she
should have a religious education, her
parents placed her in the school of
Mrs. Taylor, at Kegworth, where she
appears to have gained the esteem of
her school fellows, some of whom con-
tinued to correspond with her up to
the time of her death. By the diligence
she displayed in her studies, and her
general good conduct, she gained the

'There is no death: what seems so is transition, esteem of her instructress, who took This life of mortal breath

Is like a suburb of the life Elysian,

Whose portal we call Death.'

'She is not dead-the child of our affection,
But gone into that school,

Where she no longer needs our poor protection,
But Christ himself doth rule,'

the liveliest interest in her welfare. Nor was this interest cherished and displayed in vain. Mrs. Taylor was instrumental in ber conversion. About this time, writing home to inform her parents that she was striving to

both by our young friend and her parents. As her end approached she desired that her death, if consistent with the Divine will, might take place on the Sabbath day, a desire which was granted. She gently breathed her last on the Sunday morning, thus exchanging the earthly for the heavenly Sabbath. On the following Friday, a beautiful day, her remains were com. mitted to the silent tomb, in the General Baptist graveyard, Rempstone, and a funeral sermon was preached at Leake, to a numerous congregation, from Phil. iii. 20. 21. Miss Thirlby was greatly endeared to all who knew her, while she was the joy of her parents and the pet of her brothers and sisters. Nor is it to be wondered at. She seemed intent only on doing right. Gentle, amiable, and kind, but unobtrusive, she seemed to pursue the even tenor of her way without observation. She was fond of singing, and among her favourite hymns is the one commencing,

gain a literary prize, her father replied | kindness which was warmly appreciated, that he was pleased to hear of her diligence in her studies, but he prayed above all things that she might obtain the pearl of great price, Christ in her the hope of glory. She immediately rejoined that she had found the Saviour, and wishing to be baptized in His name, asked whether they would like her to submit to the ordinance at Kegworth or Leake. As she had been led to the Saviour at Kegworth, they advised her to be baptized there, which she seemed inclined to; accordingly on the first Sunday in June, 1858, she, with one of her schoolfellows, was baptized and added to the General Baptist Church at Kegworth, then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Taylor. On her return home from the Kegworth school, which she always thought of with pleasure as her spiritual birth-place, Miss Thirlby united with the General Baptist church at Leake and Wymeswold, exemplifying the Christian character and giving promise of usefulness. But in the spring of 1860 she caught cold-a cold which terminated in consumption. During her illness, which was lingering and painful, she often feared lest she was deceiving herself, and wished to be plainly dealt with. Again and again she examined the ground of her confidence, but again and again she found herself built on Christ, the right and only foundation. Perhaps if there were more of this self examination among us by the only standard, the Bible, we should be safer and happier. We should take nothing for granted where eternity is at stake, but be anxious to know ourselves that we may not be deceived or deceivers. In her illness dear Miss Thirlby expressed a desire to see Mrs. Taylor, whom she loved not only as her literary teacher, but as the instrument in the hands of the Holy Spirit in leading her soul to the Saviour. Mrs. Taylor paid her a visit, a

BAPTISMS.

'Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb!
We love to hear of thee;

No music's like thy charming name,
Nor half so sweet can be.'

Another favourite hymn thus concludes.
Then let me mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day,
And sing with rapture and surprise,

But

His loving kindness in the skies.'
She was deeply interested in the General
Baptist Foreign Missionary Society,
and often walked six miles to collect as
many pence in aid of its funds.
her work is now done, and she is gone
to receive her reward. She was the
first in the family to profess the
Saviour, and she was the first the
Saviour called to Himself. So may
we live, so may we die, our works
following us, and then peacefully and
evermore rest from our labours.

'Asleep in Jesus! peaceful rest,
Whose waking is supremely blest.'

Intelligence.

QUORNDON AND WOODHOUSE.- On Lord's-day, December 23rd, 1860, after

G. S.

a sermon by Mr. Staddou, from the words of the Saviour, Follow me,' Mr. Joshua Bailey baptized two young

Intelligence.-Anniversaries, &c.

men at Woodhouse. On Wednesday
evening, January 30th, 1861, the Rev.
J. C. Pike preached at Quorndon, from
John xiv. 21; and Mr. Staddon bap-
tized seven friends, (among the can-
didates were three of Mr. Pike's
children) These were all received into
the fellowship of the church on the
following Sabbath. We are happy to
add that we have seven or eight mere
now waiting to follow them through
the water to the fold.
J. S., Q.

MACCLESFIELD.-Since our last report we have had several baptisms; on Lord's-day, September 4th, 1860, two persons were baptized; December 2nd, three; February 3rd, 1861, seven; and on February 24th, two.

W. G.

W. B.

151

our esteemed friend Mr. W. Stevenson, which had been subscribed for by the members of the church and congregation, as a mark of their respect in anticipation of his removal from amongst them, to reside at Manchester. The presentation was made by our pastor, after which the meeting was addressed by Messrs. Barton, sen., Storer, Bennett, and G. F. Cole.

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

LEAKE, WYMESWOLD, AND WYSALL The annual missionary meetings were held March 4 h, 5th, and 6th. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. I. Stubbins, Brooks, Staples, Stevenson, Marshall, and Hoe. The attendance was unusually large, much interest was excited, and the collections were liberal. The meetings were preceded by two admirable missionary sermons on Sunday, March 3rd, by Rev. I. Stubbins.

TICKNALL-A sermon in behalf of the foreign mission was delivered in the Ticknall chapel, by the Rev. T. Gill, on Lord's-day, February 24th. On the following Tuesday evening, excellent addresses were delivered in the same place, by the Revs. J. Salisbury of Hugglescote, Charles Burrows of Measham, Messrs. John Adcock of Melbourne, Wesleyan, and W. Brooks, from India. On the Wednesday, a similar meeting was held in the Baptist chapel, Hartshorn, when the same brethren, Mr. Adcock excepted, again gave addresses. Rev. T. Gill presided on both occasions. The attendance was very good at all the services, and collections for the mission equal to last year. It was stated that the church at Melbourne and Ticknall had raised during the past year over £65 for the mission.

MISCELLANEOUS.

MACCLESFIELD. Our anniversary sermons were preached on March 3rd, 1861, by Mr. T. Cooper, in the morning and evening in our own chapel, and iu the afternoon in the large room of the Macclesfield Sunday-school, very kindly leat for the occasion. The congrega- CHESHAM.-On Wednesday, March tions were very good, and notwith-13th, 1861, we held an interesting standing the very depressed state of tea-meeting. About 130 were present, trade in the town, the collections amounted to more than £21.

DERBY, Sacheverel street Chapel.— On Monday, January 14th, the annual tea meeting was held, after which a presentation took place of his portrait to

and others came in afterwards. Our esteemed pastor, Rev. I. Preston, presided, and gave an address, in which the goodness of God to us as a church was reviewed, and some kindly admonitions given. Mr. Bunker then