It is now fifteen months since he offered himself as a candidate for believers' baptism and membership with the Baptist Church in New Church Street, Edgware Road, London, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D. This was not a hasty step, but after due deliberation he observed that the important ordinance of baptism was scriptural and right. The mode of worship at the above place was lively and spirit stirring; the preaching evangelical and edifying; and the devotions eminently congenial to his transparently simple, intelligent, and pious spirit. He took great interest in the religious services, especially the prayer meetings, and was very much beloved by his pastor and the church, who deeply feel and lament his loss. useful and especially scriptural who had been brought to Christ knowledge. For this she strove through the blessed Spirit accomearnestly; nor did she strive in vain. panying his agency. She was diligent in her attendance on the means of grace. As a Sabbath-school teacher she took great delight in her work. This led her to be punctual in her attendance and faithful to her class. As a Christian friend she was faithful and sincere. If all acted as did our departed sister there would never be occasion to adopt the mournful complaint of the Psalmist, The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.' That our departed sister had her imperfections we do not deny. These she would often confess and mourn over, and sigh that she did not display more of the spirit of Christ. Of her defects we speak not, nor should we speak of her excellencies, except to magnify the grace of God in her. Christ was the foundation of her hope in life and in death may he be ours. Amen. MR. JOHN FIRTH was early brought to the Saviour, probably before he was nine years old, in the neighbourhood of Halifax, Yorkshire, the place of his nativity. He became identified with the Wesleyan Methodists, and was called by the church and the Divine Spirit to officiate as a local preacher at the early age of fifteen. He usefully and efficiently filled that vocation, while pursuing his secular calling, for about ten years. It is now two years since, in the providence of God, he offered himself for the work of the London City Mission; and on entering this new sphere of labour he most faithfully and assiduously devoted himself to domiciliary visitation, and the holding of numerous meetings for the promotion of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the poor people on his district; and God has given him the desire of his heart. Just before his last illness, he had arranged for a social tea meeting to be held at his own house, for those He had recently become very sanguine as to future usefulness, and in addition to his success in the onerous duties of a city missionary, he had sent a very elaborate and beautiful article to the General Baptist Magazine, entitled, 'God's Fatherhood and God's Home.' He appeared to write (though unconsciously) in anticipation of his immediate arrival there. He was one of the representatives at the last Association in Leicester, and much enjoyed the services. His death was rather sudden and unexpected. On Friday, the 23rd of August, he had an effusion of blood from the lungs, arising from congestion, and after lying in a critical state for some days, the bleeding being stopped, he appeared to be rallying. But having prematurely got up and exposed himself, he was attacked with bronchitis, which shortly hastened his death. The Rev. Dr. Burns, myself, and several brother missionaries visited him in his painful affliction, and we always found him in a most peaceful state of mind, quite resigned to the will of his heavenly Father. He said to me after his first attack, 'I felt so composed and resigned that Obituary-Mr. John Firth. 423 if death had come then I sometimes | ledge. His cheerful disposition and think it would have been best.' An poetic turn of mind rendered him a aged missionary asked him one day, very acceptable public speaker and "Does the anchor hold?' He replied, agreeable companion. His honesty 'Yes, it holds.' He said to me, a few and integrity, even to the degree of hours before his death, when asked simplicity, is seldom equalled, and if Jesus was precious, and if He perhaps never surpassed; hence he supported him then,-‘O yes; He is was a faithful friend, and, as Jonamy precious Saviour-my only hope than and David, we were becoming for salvation.' .... He departed more closely united. However his to his Father and home on Tuesday short, and though at times trying morning, the 17th of September, in and difficult, yet useful career in the 27th year of his age, and was this probationary state has termiinterred on the following Friday, in nated. May we join him in the the Willesden Cemetery, Padding-home of our Father, and pursue toton, in the same grave along with a brother missionary who had died a few days before him. The Rev. Dr. Burns conducted the service, and a large number of missionaries and other friends were present on the occasion. A short and appropriate address was delivered in the chapel, and by the request of one of the deceased's brethren, the ceremony at the grave was closed by singing the hymn 'Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly.' His death was improved on the ensuing Sabbath by his esteemed pastor to a crowded audience, and we hope it had a salutary effect. He has left a widow and two young children, and a circle of friends to lament his loss. May the bereaved ones be sustained by Him who is the Father of the fatherless and the Judge of the widow in His holy habitation.' Our brother Firth had learned that 'Example hath a louder tongue than precept:' Hence he lived as well as taught the religion of Christ. He had an aspiring mind. He only wanted to be thoroughly known in order to be appreciated. He was possessed of talents above mediocrity, and was rapidly improving in general know gether the lofty study and delightful employment of that perfect state, where we shall know as we are known,' and be 'for ever with the Lord.' AN ACROSTIC. JESUS call'd thee to thy mansion, H ence thy soul's anticipation, Faint and feeble was thy body, Lo! the Master, he hath said it- N eeds thee now with him at home! Come up hither, angels 'wait thee, Marvellous his glorious merit, T. HALL. CONFERENCES. Intelligence. THE YORKSHIRE CONFERENCE assembled at Bacup, September 17, 1861. Rev. C. Springthorpe opened the morning service with reading and prayer, and Rev. Mr. Fox, of Rochdale, preached from Psalm cxxvi. 6. In the afternoon the Conference met for business. Rev. J. Taylor prayed, and Rev. J. Sutcliffe presided. The reports received from many of the churches were good. 94 were reported baptized since the previous Conference. The following resolutions were passed. 1.-That we cordially welcome the Rev. J. Alcorn, minister of Enon Chapel, Burnley, into this Conference and district. 2. That we recommend the church at Rochdale to make application to the general Committee of the Home Mission for pecuniary help. 3.-That we grant from the Home Mission Fund to the church at Bacup, the sum of £250 towards a new chapel, to be given as soon as practicable after the £70 now due on the Todmorden chapel has been paid. 4. That as the friends connected with the second church at Bradford are endeavouring to reduce the debt on their chapel, we agree to pay interest on £100 until they have £400 of the principal. 5.-That Mr. Rhodes and Rev. W. Gray audit the Home Mission accounts. 6. That the next Conference be held in the Infirmary-street chapel, Bradford, December 26. 7.-That Rev. J. Alcorn preach in the morning. O. HARGREAVES, Sec. THE LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Fleet, on Thursday, September 19, 1861. In the morning brother Stenson read and prayed, and brother W. Sharman preached from 1 Peter i. 12. In the afternoon the reports from the churches were read, from which we gathered that twenty had been baptized since the last Conference, and that thirteen remained candidates for baptism. The application from the church at Lincoln, for financial aid, was again deferred until the next Conference, for final consideration. A circular having been read from the church at Lincoln, soliciting gratuitous ministerial aid, while their other expences are so heavy, it was resolved, That we sincerely wish the friends at Lincoln success in their attempts to procure gratuitous ministerial aid. The Secretary having reported that he had succeeded in obtaining acceptable supplies for the church at Yarmouth during the past quarter, it was resolved, That the Secretary be requested to assist the friends at Yarmouth in obtaining ministerial supplies during the next three months. That the next Conference be held at Pinchbeck, on Thursday, December 19, 1861, and that brother Mathews be requested to preach in the morning. In the evening an exceedingly interesting thanksgiving service for the gracious harvest,' was held, in which brethren Collin, Martin, Fysh, Baldock, Chamberlain, and the Secretary took part. THOMAS BARRASS, See. THE CHESHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Stoke-upon-Trent, on Monday, Oct. 14, 1861. The secretary opened the morning service by reading and prayer, and the Rev. R. Pedley, of Wheelock, preached from 2 Cor. iv. 7. The Conference met in the afternoon at half-past two, when the Rev. C. E. Pratt, presided. After reading the minutes of the last Conference, the chairman read Intelligence-Conferences. the reports of the churches. So far, as relates to the conversion of sinners, which is the great object for which the church should labour, the reports were not so pleasing as we could desire. Still the prospects appear to promise better things in future. Baptized, 20. Resolved, 1, That the church at Stoke-uponTrent desires to thank the churches of the Cheshire Conference for their sympathy and aid in the reduction of the chapel debt. 2, That this Conference consider the subject of uniting with the General Home Mission at our next meeting. 3, That this Conference hears with pleasure that mainly through the liberality of the friends at Tarporley and Wheelock there is now an attempt being made to introduce the Baptist interest in Nantwich, and fervently prays the attempt may be very successful. 4, That the thanks of this Conference be given to the Rev. R. Pedley for his sermon in the morning. 5, That the next Conference be held at Tarporley, on the second Tuesday in April, and that the secretary be the preacher. 6, That the thanks of this Conference be given to the secretary for his services during the past three years, and that we request him still to continue to serve us. J. MADEN, Sec. THE MIDLAND CONFERENCE met at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, on Tuesday, September 17th, 1861. The ordination service of the Rev. T. Bailey, missionary to Orissa, was held in the morning. The interest felt in our esteemed young brother, and the very favourable weather, drew together a large company of friends from the adjacent churches. The attendance at the Conference in the afternoon was unusually large. Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A., of Derby, prayed, and Rev. R. Kenney, of Burton-onTrent, presided. From written or oral reports it appeared that 176 had been baptized since the last Con 425 ference, that 134 were now candidates for baptism, and that five had been restored to fellowship. After singing the doxology, the minutes of the last meeting were read. 53 Explanations were offered by the secretary about two items of business taken up at the last Conference, touching the Rev. J. Parkinson, of Hinckley, and Rev. D. M. Graham, of New York; and the following case from the General Home Missionary Committee was then discussed: That this Committee, deeming it important that the denomination should put forth more strenuous efforts in Home Missionary operations, yet feeling it impracticable to obtain liberal collections and subscriptions from the churches of the body, until some definite and worthy sphere is presented to their attention towards which their resources may be applied; after serious deliberation, strongly recommends, in accordance with the resolution passed at the Association, held at Wisbech, that a New General Baptist cause be commenced at Liverpool: that we adopt this resolution in the hope that the districts into which the churches of the Midland Conference are divided, will unite with other churches of the denomination not connected with any district Home Mission, in order that this effort may be thoroughly efficient and successful. And that the secretary submit this resolution to the consideration of the Midland Conference, to be held at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, with a view of eliciting its sentiments on the scheme herein proposed, and its hearty co-operation in carrying it out. It was generally felt by the brethren assembled that before the suggestion of the General Home Missionary Committee could be taken up, the different branches of the Home Mission in the Midland district must be welded into one strong society, and it was therefore unanimously agreed:-That this Conference recommends, as soon as it shall be found convenient, a union of the Midland local Home Missionary Societies into one general Society for Home Missionary operations. The next Conference to be held at Friar-lane, Leicester, on Tuesday, December 17th, 1861. Rev. Giles Hester, of Loughborough, to preach. The Rev. J. Lewitt, of Nottingham, preached in the evening. J. J. GOADBY, Sec. BAPTISMS. PETERBOROUGH. On Lord's-day, September 1st, three persons were baptized, two of whom were received into the church. T. B. YARMOUTH.-On Lord's-day, Oct. 13th, four young persons were baptized, by Mr. Barrass, of Peterborough, and were received into the church. BIRMINGHAM.-On the first Sabbath in September, Mr. Harrison baptized twelve persons, five of whom were added to the church at Lombard-street, and seven were belonging to a Baptist cause in another part of Birmingham. This was an interesting service, being the commencement of Mr. Harrison's labours in connection with our senior minister, and the first time of his administering the sac red ordinance. J. S. C. SMARDEN.-October 6th, one was baptized after a discourse from Luke xvii. 17-19. LENTON.-October 6th, six friends put on Christ by baptism. ANNIVERSARIES. WESTON-ON-TRENT.-The anniver sary services of the Baptist chapel in this village were held on Monday, July 1st. A marque having been erected for the occasion, two ser mons were preached by Mr. C. H.. Clarke, of the Baptist College, Nottingham. The congregations were very large. Between the services about 500 persons sat down to tea. The collections were exceedingly good, amounting with the proceeds of the tea to about £30. W. T. COVENTRY.-On Sunday, August 18th, 1861, two sermons were preached on behalf of our Sabbath school, in the Corn Exchange, by Mr. C. H. Clarke, of the College, in the afternoon we had a large congregation, and in the evening the spacious edifice was crowded, many being unable to gain admission. The collection amounted to about £30 including donations of two guineas each from the Mayor, Right Hon. Edward Ellis, M.P., and Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P. J. C. NOTTINGHAM, Stoney street.-- On Lord's-day, September 1st, 1861, and the following day, the anniversary of the re-opening of this chapel was held. Right Hon. Lord Teynham preached on the Sunday. On the Monday, a tea meeting was held in the Mechanics' Hall. The spacious hall was crowded in every part. Addresses were delivered by Revs. H. Hunter, W. Underwood, W. R. Stevenson, G. Hester, and others. Collections, including the proceeds of the tea, all the trays of which were generously givenamounted to £60. SALFORD. On Wednesday, the 18th inst., at the Great George-street Baptist chapel, Salford, kindly lent for the occasion, the Rev. B. Wood, of Bradford, (late of Salford,) preached on baptism, from Hebrews viii. 5. 'See that thou make all things according to the pattern showed thee.' After which he bap- TARPORLEY.-Sermons in support tized the late leading singer of the of the General Baptist Missionary General Baptist chapel, Salford, who Society were preached in the Public a few months ago gave his heart to Hall, Tarporley, on Lord's-day, Oct. the Lord Jesus. [We beg to inform 13th, by the Rev. I. Stubbins. On our General Baptist friends that there the following day, the annual are a few of us meet on a Lord's-day public meeting was held in the afternoon for prayer and exhorta- same place. Addresses were detion, at No. 13, Bedford-street, livered by Messrs. Aston, Brassey, Broughton-road, Salford. We shall Green, Dutton, Hoofield, Hall, and be glad if any of our General Bap-Brooks, from India, and by Revs. tist friends whenever in Manchester C. Swannell (Wesleyan), J. B. Lockwill join with us.] wood and I. Stubbins. Mr. R. Bate, |