twice he was secretary of the Conference; and twice president; the latter taking place in 1840 and 1851. For many years Mr. Kinsman stood in the front ranks of our ministry, being associated with such honoured names as James Thorne, William Reed, William Courtice, J. H. Prior, R. P. Tabb, Francis Martin, and Matthew Robins. He laboured in his Master's service so zealously, that on two occasions his health gave way, necessitating early retirement from active work, his superannuation taking place in 1857. It is often harder to suffer than to do the will of God, but our dear friend found that He who helps in "the labour of love," also sustains and comforts "in the patience of hope." In all his afflictions, and in all the sorrows of life, Mr. Kinsman was the same man, he had the same love to the Saviour, the same confidence in God, and the same gentleness of spirit. After the death of Mrs. Kinsman, March 24th, 1880, he made haste to arrange all his temporal affairs, feeling sure that his own race was almost run. Nothing was left undone, his house was fully set in order, and death to him was no surprise. Bro. Kinsman's character will bear investigation, from every point of view, as a man and a citizen, as a husband and a relative, as a Christian and a minister, in health and in affliction, in labour and in rest, in life and in death. A more God-fearing, conscientious and upright man has never adorned the annals of our denomination than Richard Kinsman.

J. DYMOND.

CEPHAS BARKER.

WITH what a shock of surprise and pain will the tidings have gone throughout the denomination, and beyond it, of the sudden decease of Brother Cephas Barker. Points of resemblance will suggest themselves to many minds between the departure of this good and gifted servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the death of Dr. Chalmers. It was in the night, when asleep, and without conflict, or a sigh, that he passed away. After a Sabbath of full service, which was gone through, however, not without pain and inconvenience, our brother, having retired to rest, fell into, what was apparently, a peaceful sleep; and next morning at about six o'clock, he was found to have slept the sleep of death. Br. Barker had preached morning and evening on Sunday, November 13th; and, after the evening service, had administered the Lord's supper. The services throughout the day were seasons of remarkable power and refreshing from the presence of the Lord. It is said that Br. Barker was at his best, particularly in the evening; and to those who were privileged to sit under his ministry, the services of that day especially, will be a precious and prized memory. He had not,

it would appear, felt well in the morning, and he went into the pulpit against the counsel of his good wife, who advised him, under the circumstances, not to attempt to preach. In the afternoon he rested well; and, though not free from pain, went through the evening service with much liberty and power. Afterwards the pain in his chest became acute, and it was not until eleven o'clock, when the remedies administered had relieved him, that he fell asleep. Early next morning the sad news was telegraphed to some of the principal ministers and friends throughout the Dominion that Bro. Barker was dead.

Br. Barker was, on his return from England, appointed by the last Conference in Canada, pastor of the London Centre Circuit, Ontario, and superintendent of the District. In his decease, the Circuit of which he was minister, has lost a pastor whose place it will be difficult to fill, and, as is widely acknowledged, the denomination a servant and leader of great ability, piety, and influence. He entered the ministry of the English Conference in 1838, and has rendered the Connexion forty-three years effective and valued service. The success of his labours in this country drew the attention of the executive towards him as a suitable brother to take the superintendence of our work on Prince Edward Island; and shortly after the conference of 1856, he left England to fulfil that responsible undertaking. "Mr. Barker laboured on the Island for eight years; his superior abilities and determined spirit soon lifted him head and shoulders above his fellow labourers, and constituted him a tower of strength to the denomination. In some of the political and educational reforms of the Island, Mr. Barker took a very active part. By many in that province he will be long remembered as the friend of the oppressed, and the stern and indefatigable advocate of the rights of the working class." Br. Barker was three times president of the Canadian conference. In 1866, the denominational weekly newspaper, The Observer, was commenced, Br. Barker being appointed Editor; and the Book-room business in Bowmanville started under the same management. For fourteen years Br. Barker continued to fulfil the incessant and varied duties of this responsible position with ability, energy, and fidelity. How well he served in the home department of our work during the year of his visit to England, will be fresh in the memory and affection of our friends everywhere. By his visit and intercourse with us in our Circuits from Kent to Cornwall, the loved recollection of friendships and christian communion, a quarter of a century before, was revived in the breasts of many old and long standing members amongst us; and numbers who met him then for the first time, learnt to regard him as a great man, and good, and a man of unwonted power in the pulpit, and on the platform, of con

secrated gifts, and deep religious fervour. The help he rendered our work last year, and the blessing attendant on many of the services conducted by him, will keep the memory of Cephas Barker green in the home country, throughout the present generation of our people.

The funeral took place on Wednesday, November 16th, the fifth anniversary of our brother's second marriage. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London, Ontario, amid universal and profound expressions of sorrow and respect. An address was given by the President of the Conference, Br Pascoe, in the Horton Street Bible Christian Chapel, which was that morning the scene of the most solemn and impressive service ever held within its walls. The edifice was filled to overflowing. The pulpit, walls, and front of the organ gallery, were draped in deep mourning. The ministerial brethren, E. Roberts, H. J. Nott, W. Kenner, J. Kenner, W. Quance, and J. J. Rice, acted as pall-bearers.

Our friends will, we trust, remember in their prayers Mrs. Barker, known to many in England; Mrs. Bain, Br. Barker's only surviving child; and the bereaved church also. Among the papers in Canada that contain notices of Br. Barker's decease are, the London Advertiser, the Free Press, the Statesman, the Christian Journal, the West Durham News, the Ontario Reformer, the West Hope Guide, the News, the Post, the Sentinel Star, and the Coburg World, all of which pay high tribute to his ability, practical energy, sound judgment, and firmness of purpose. He was a vigorous writer, a preacher of eloquence and power, and emphatically a worker. Resolutions of an eulogistic and appreciative nature have also been passed by various bodies and committees of public men, civil and religious; all showing what a loss Christian and philanthropic movements in Canada have sustained in the death of Cephas Barker.

Perhaps the last letter Br. Barker wrote to England was received by Br. Penwarden. It was dated November 8th. Speaking in it of his work at Horton Street, he says, "I have a heavy up-grade to travel, but we are getting up, and I hope to reach the summit, and then--." Little could he have thought what, in less than a week after he wrote those words, the "and then--" would reveal to him. He quickly reached "the summit"; and then came, as sudden as a vision of the night, the reward and the rest and the glory. "And he was not for God took him."

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."-2 TIM. iv. 7.

Rebibals.

NEWTON ABBOT.

Ar a recent Sunday evening service, conducted by the Pastor, Br. J. Luke, eight persons found peace.

SOUTH PETHERTON.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-About nine months ago a blessed revival influence broke out at one place on this station, where about forty persons have been converted to God, principally children; one half have joined our church, and some have joined other churches. There has been a continuance of that influence up to this time, and five other places have been visited by the same power. Several have come to the Saviour, and found peace through believing.

COR DENING.

HELSTON.

Ar Bethel, a small place near Helston, prayer has been answered, and the reviving influence felt. During three weeks of special services over thirty have professed conversion. And such were the power and glory sometimes felt, that it was impossible to hear anyone in particular praying. We were, as an old man said to me a few days since, "in a bath of glɔry." In some instances the distress was great, but the victory was greater.

KILBURN.

JAMES CORY.

We have just held three weeks' special services with fairly good results. The first week was for the Church, being kindly assisted by Miss Leonard, an Evangelist from the Methodist Episcopal Church, America, whose special forte is the bringing of believers into the clear and conscious possession of Holiness by the exercise of faith, many saw (the method), believed, possessed, and rejoiced. At the same time that believers were at the altar pleading for purity of heart, penitents were kneeling by their side crying: "God be merciful to us sinners." The next two weeks were devcted to general revival work, and nearly every evening we had penitents. I should say, however, that before we began our special meetings we had a few converted. One, an old man who celebrated his 72nd birthday a fortnight after his conversion. In our Monday evening prayer meetings a young woman found peace. In the Sunday-school, too, the Spirit has been at work. Last Sunday night (Dec. 4th), at the Church Meeting and the Lord's Supper the names of twenty-five were read as admitted on trial, and eight were received by the church into full membership. A young man was converted at the close of the ticket renewal. We had a splendid congregation, the area of the chapel being full. Many are asking for seats, some of whom prefer our humble earnest services to those of other and more pretentious places of worship. Many thrilling scenes have been witnessed. Our cup has been full and overflowing, and we have laughed and cried for very joy. Let our friends know that ours is not a starched and dried Bible Christian Society here at Kilburn. Warmer hearts I have seen but few. The Lord hath done great things, whereof we are glad.

Kilburn. M. BROKENSHIRE. "DEAR AUNT,-I hope you are quite well. We have had some beautiful meetings. Many souls have been "consecrated" to God. Praise the Lord, for I

am one. I have felt so happy since. I hope and trust that I shall keep so throughout my lifetime. Praise be to the loving God for what He has done for our little chapel."

(I give this verbatim as written by a converted Sunday-school scholar, twelve years of age). M. B.

Chapels.

PROBUS.

New Bible Christian Chapel at Probus.-For fifty years past the Bible Christian community have had a place of worship at Probus, but some few years ago, through removals and other circumstances, the cause of this Society at that place dwindled and became almost extinct. After a time, however, several persons belonging to the denomination, and connected with the village, felt very anxious to reorganize the branch of the Bible Christian Society in that place. This very laudable desire was at once acted upon, and a site for the erection of a new place of worship was secured. Willing hands were found to help forward the good work, some of them giving their labour, and others carrying the building material free of cost. The chapel, which is situated at the lower part of the village, will accommodate about 120 persons, and when all the details have been completed, it will cost £150, of which sum two-thirds have already been obtained. At the opening services the Rev. J. Tremelling (Pastor of the Circuit) preached.

A public tea followed in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, the tables being presided over by the following ladies ;-Mrs. Heard, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Tonkin, Miss Collins, Miss Toms, Miss Chapman, Miss May, Miss Lindon, Mrs. Yelland, and Miss Fugler. Subsequently a bazaar was held in the reading-room; there were many useful and fancy articles collected and brought together for sale, and were an indubitable evidence of the great interest they felt in the prosperity of the Bible Christian Society in their midst. The stalls were under the management of Mrs. H. Williams, Mrs. Rickard, Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Tremelling, Misses Heard, Miss Heard, Miss Taylor, Miss Davies, and Miss Edith Williams.

A public meeting was held in the evening, when there were present, the Revs. J. Tremelling, V. H. Culliford, W. F. James, and D. Smith. During the course of the evening it was stated that one gentleman had given a clock, and Mrs. Tremelling had contributed a handsome Hymn-book for the use of the pulpit, and another had given, or was about to give, a Bible for the same purpose. The Truro Bible Christian Choir attended the meeting, and sang some beautiful anthems, for which they were heartily applauded, and received a cordial vote of thanks.

The whole of the proceedings were entirely satisfactory to all concerned, and great praise is due to Mr. Williams and his indefatigable coadjutors for their successful zeal and efforts.

The opening services were continued on Sunday, when the Rev. S. Pollard, of Mevagissey, preached two sermons, and there were crowded congregations.

PORTSMOUTH.

Stamford Street Chapel.-The nineteenth anniversary of the above place was celebrated on the 16th, 17th, and 18th ultimo. On the 16th, two sermons were preached by the Circuit ministers to good congregations. On the 17th, a tea was provided, and given, by several of our lady friends, to which about one