THE WORLD OF PRAYER: OR PRAYER IN RELATION TO PERSONAL RELIGION. BY Dr. D. G. Monrad. Edinburgh: T. and T Clark. THE chief merit of this book is that it treats a hackneyed subject with singular freshness, signal ability, great thorough. ness and spiritual force. The Introduction discusses the relation of prayer to doubt, to the development of the inward life, and to active, helpful, service. Next the imitation of Christ is described as the study and aim of the Christian; and in His life, prayer ever held anfall encompassing place. His apostles, too, were like Him. Therefore our author discusses all those passages in which Christ and the early saints are represented in prayer. The remainder of the book treats of the function of prayer in the culture of the soul; the sources of hindrances to prayer; the matter and the manner of our prayers; the modes of self-deception in prayer; and the divine response to our supplications. The treatment is more practical than philosophical, more encouraging and sustaining to believers than curative for sceptical doubters but no one can read it without increased faith in and desire for fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. THE HOMILETIC QUARTERLY. January, 1880. R. D. Dickinson. Price 2s. THOROUGHLY maintains its high standard of exegetical and homiletical excellence. Some of the ablest expositors of the day enrich its pages with their work. The number for January continues the Symposium on Church Creeds and Mental Freedom; Drs. Pressensé, Vance Smith, and McGregor, taking part in the discussion. Various portions of Scripture are expounded by Drs. Morison, Pope, Blackie, Brice, Lindsay-Alexander, Payne-Smith, and others. Altogether this issue is one of great worth, rich in information, in suggestion and stimulus. We heartily commend it to all engaged in expounding the Living Word. HOMILIES ON CHRISTIAN WORK. By Chas. Stanford, D.D. Hodder and Stoughton. Price 3s. 6d. Ir was our happiness to hear most of these stimulating and refreshing addresses, the majority of them having been delivered in furtherance of the work of the London Baptist Association. The desire to see them, as well as hear them, has increased on each occasion in which Dr. Stanford has favoured us with his exquisite talk. They are extraordinary addresses; rich and poetical in conception; strong and practical and earnest in thought; all aglow with a deeply spiritual love, and a fervent personal regard for Christ; as full of beauty as they are of force; and as much fitted for quiet meditation as they are for the most robust and manly activity. The book is a collection of diamonds whose myriad facets all reflect the light of heaven on the path of life. 66 MILK AND HONEY. Sermons to Children, by J. Norton, D.D. Higham. SERMON literature is, no doubt, abundant; but sermon literature for children will admit of immense additions, if only they are of the right quality. Preaching to children" requires better, severer thinking, than preaching to the up-grown and the cultured, and only the best-trained minds are able to do it well. This volume is the product of such a mind. Dr. Norton thinks clearly; thinks in figures; arranges his thoughts neatly and naturally; selects familiar words; chooses his illustrations wisely; in short is, in these respects, a model-preacher to the young. His sermons are short and strong, clear and cogent, pleasant and profitable. Whoever has to preach to children, and wants to know "how to do it," let him send to Mr. Higham for this timely volume. MARY HAZELDINE'S DESK. By Mrs. H. H. B. Paul. Hodder & Stoughton. 18. ONE of Mrs. Paul's most effective stories. An orphan child goes to live with a rich uncle and is exposed to manifold troubles through the contemptible purse-pride, and irritating jealousy of his wife and children. But Mary has been trained in Christian goodness and wins her way to their hearts by meekness and self-forgetfulness, and finally becomes their friend and supporter when a reverse of fortune overtakes them. Young and old alike will be held spell-bound by this tale. FLORAL CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR. Jarrold and Sons. Price 1s. a dozen. THE words on these cards are by the authoress of "Hymns for Quiet Hours;" and they are well calculated to refresh faith, and to fit for renewed service. They themselves breathe a trustful and loving spirit, which seems to be intensified by the beauty of their floral setting. Church Register. Information should be sent by the 16th of the month to 51, Porchester Road, Westbourne Park, CONFERENCE. London, W. The next LANCASHIRE and YORKSHIRE CONFERENCE will be held at Bethel Chapel, Infirmary Street, Bradford, on Wednesday, January 28, 1880, at eleven o'clock. The Rev. J. T. Roberts, of West Vale, will read a paper, subject, "The Theatre." Discussion to follow. Reports of churches will be received at the close of the service. The afternoon session will commence at 2.30, and the Home Missionary Meeting at 6.30, to be addressed by Revs. J. Parkinson, J. H. Smith, and W. Sharman. A collection at the close for the Mission. J. S. GILL, Secretary. CHAPELS. CHATTERIS. Anniversary services, Nov. 26. Preacher, Rev. J. T. Brown, of Northampton. Speakers at night, Revs. J. T. Brown, R. S. Latimer, H. B. RobinNett proceeds, nearly £10. son. COALVILLE.-A bazaar to reduce a debt of £450 on the church property was held November 25, 26. Notwithstanding "Hard Times" and inclement weather, £200 was taken. The pastor and friends heartily "thank God and take courage." GRIMSBY.-Anniversary services were held, Nov. 16, the pastor, the Rev. J. Manning, preaching. A tea meeting took place on the 18th. The pastor presided at the gathering afterwards. The review of the year's work was most cheering. Addresses were given by Mr. Councillor Jackson, Rev. J. Fordyce, M.A., G. Smith, G. Barlow, and Messrs. Stephens and Cooling. HATHERN.-NEW CHAPEL.-The Memorial-stones of our new chapel were laid on Wednesday, Nov. 3, by the following, Mr. T. Wilde, Miss Coddington, Mr. B. Baldwin, and Mr. F. Fuller. The chapel will cost £460, and it is hoped to have it ready for opening in the spring. It will seat 300; and the school-room is so arranged that we can make room for another hundred. LEEDS, Wintoun Street. - We celebrated our chapel anniversary, Dec. 23. Sermons on the Sunday by Rev. J. Cole, and on the following Monday a public tea meeting was held, after which several addresses were delivered. "What is a Christian Church?" Rev. J. Bell. "Why should we Unite with the Church?" Rev. J. Cole. "Qualifications for usefulness in the Church." Rev. J. Hillman. "Are we responsible for success in Christian Work?" Rev. J. Smith. "The true motive and end of service for Christ." Rev. W. Sharman. J. Town, Esq., presided. "This anniversary," said one of the oldest members, "is the best we have had for several years." LONDON, Church Street.-Home Mission sermons were preached, Nov. 30, by Revs. J. Fletcher, and D. Burns, M.A. LOUGHBOROUGH-Baxter Gate Chapel Jubilee.-The final meeting in connection with the effort to liquidate the debt was held, Oct. 28. The following is a summary of the statement presented by the secretary, Mr. G. Adcock. Receipts, by subscriptions, £274 13s. 64d.; tea meetings, £80 8s. 24d.; collections, £188 18s.; bazaar, £163 1s. 2d.; concerts, £19 9s. 4d.; voted from church funds, £59; from school funds, £10; legacy, £30. Total, £825 10s. 3d. Remaining debt, £560. The following resolution was unanimously passed-"That the effort to liquidate the debt be now suspended, and that a committee be appointed to take the necessary steps towards the complete restoration of the chapel." MOSSLEY. The annual school tea meeting was held, Dec. 13. 170 to tea. The report stated that the number of scholars last year was 29; this year, 54; teachers last year, 4; this year, 9. A church of fifteen members was formed in Feb. The Rev. S. Skingle was invited to the pastorate; he accepted the call, and the number of members now stands at 39. A sale of work (of goods left at the bazaar) took place the same day, and realized £10. SUTTON.-Anniversary services were held, Nov. 23. Rev. D. Thomas (of the Congregational Church), and the Rev. T. Howard, the pastor, preached. Both the attendance and the collections were good. TODMORDEN. -Evangelistic services, under the direction of the BAPTIST UNION, have been successfully conducted by the Rev. F. Smith and D. Russell during the fortnight beginning Nov. 22. Mr. Parker, of the Pastor's College, also helped. Nearly one hundred converts are reported. Spiritual life is quickened; backsliders restored. The churches at Roomfield and Wellington Read heartily ALLSOP, REV. S. S., late of March, was publicly recognized as pastor of the church at Zion Chapel, Union Street, Burton-on-Trent, Dec. 2nd. 260 friends sat down to tea, after which the public meeting was held. Councillor Ellis presided. Mr. James Bannister gave a statement of the incidents connected with the invitation. Mr. Allsop replied, and alluded to his acceptance of it, to his residence and work in March for eleven years, and also his call to the ministry. Revs. E. Stevenson, T. Goadby, B.A., J. T. Owers, and E. W. Cantrell gave addresses. JONES, REV. J. F.-A tea and coffee service was presented to the Rev. J. F. Jones on the occasion of his marriage, by the pastor and officers of Church Street Chapel, London, with their cordial and best wishes, on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The MARSDEN, REV. H.-We record with real and deep regret that our brother Marsden has been compelled, for the sake of his health, to resign his pastorate at Mansfield, and go to Australia. His six years and a half work at Mansfield form a strong and cogent testimony to his real goodness, beautiful character, hard work, and genuine Christian power. church is thoroughly in love with him; and their union has been an increasing joy and an increasing success. A presentation has been made to Mr. Marsden of £100. Dr. Elliott presided, and made the presentation in terms expressive of the high position Mr. Marsden has won in the town, and the warm regard he had secured in the church. Addresses were also given by Revs. A. Frith, R. Jackson, F. G. Buckingham, J. G. Tolly, and A. W. Worthington. Many of our readers will follow our friend with their loving sympathy in his quest for health, and pray that the Lord will graciously restore decaying physical vigour, and spare and bless His servant for many years. PERRIAM, REV. A. C., commenced his ministry at Ilkeston, Dec. 14, having received a unanimous invitation to the pastorate. WATMOUGH, REV. J.-At a largely attended meeting held Nov. 24, at Edgeside, the Rev. J. Watmough, late pastor of the church, was presented, by his friends of the church and congregation, with Cassell's new and illustrated edition of Matthew Henry's Commentary, together with a silver penholder and pencil case combined, as tokens of respect and esteem. At the same time, Mrs. Watmough was presented with a groupportrait picture of herself and her Sunday school class (30 in number), which is elegantly framed, and bears the following inscription:"Presented to Mrs. Watmough by the select class of females of the General Baptist Sunday School, Edgeside, Newchurch, as a token of esteem and respect, on her leaving the neighbourhood." The presentation was made by Mr. Thomas Fielding, one of the deaIcons of the church. The Rev. John Howe presided over the meeting. BAPTISMS. BURNLEY, Ebenezer.-Eight. Enon. Fourteen (a son and daughter of the late pastor, Rev. W. H. Allen), by J. Turner. CHATTERIS.-Five, by F. J. Bird. DERBY, Osmaston Road.-Four, by W. H. Tetley. HOSE.-Eight, by R. B. Wallace, LEICESTER, Dover St.-Three, by W. Evans. MEASHAM.-Six, by Mr. Adey. MOSSLEY.-Three, by S. Skingle. SPALDING.-Eleven, by J. C. Jones. TODMORDEN.-Eight, by W. March. MARRIAGE. INSLEY-ROBINSON.-Dec. 5, at Lombard Street Chapel, Birmingham, by the Rev. E. C. Pike, B.A., Charles Insley, of Shackerstone, Leicestershire, to Agnes Robinson, of Balsall Heath. OBITUARY. JOLLY, Mrs.-Dec. 16, 1879, Emily, the beloved wife of the Rev. John Jolly, of Boston, fell asleep in Jesus, aged thirty years. "God's finger touched her, and she slept." ERRATUM.-In December, 1879, p. 492, col. 2, line 16, erase the word assistant. THE MISSIONARY OBSERVER. JANUARY, 1880. The Support of Home and Foreign Religious Objects. In some quarters the notion exists that Foreign Missions are carrying off too large a proportion of the funds raised for religious objects. Hence we sometimes hear a comparison made between the amount raised for the Foreign Mission and that raised for some other denominational institution-as the College, the Home Mission, or the Building Fund. In advocating home projects, speakers have sometimes magnanimously told their audiences that they have no sympathy with people who would neglect home work to send the gospel abroad; and as the impression made upon some minds has been that too much is being done for the heathen abroad, and too little for "the heathen at home," the stingy and penurious have been furnished with an excuse for keeping their money in their pockets. Without replying that the people who are doing most for abroad are, as a rule, the very people who are doing most for home; or, that it is a mistaken policy to suppose that people will do more for home by encouraging them to do less for abroad; we venture to think that when comparisons are made, they ought, in all fairness, to include the whole facts of the case. Simply to quote the total amount raised for Foreign Mission objects, and then to set against this the amount raised for some single department of home work, is not to state the whole case. The proper way would be to take the sum total raised for religious objects, and then to state the amount expended on work at home, and the amount on work abroad. Were this plan adopted, we think the inevitable conclusion must be that the amount expended upon foreign objects is sadly too small. To many people so numerous and so pressing are home claims, that the spiritual necessities of one thousand millions of heathens appeal in vain for help. "The fact is," wrote the Secretary of one of our churches recently, in reply to a communication about foreign mission services, "there are so many public meetings, and so many special services, that it is exceedingly difficult to arrange a date for your services. We have already had to give up some projected meetings on this score, and appear likely to have to postpone others.' Then, after mentioning "in all probability the only opportunity we shall have this year," he adds, "If these dates will suit you they shall be kept open so far as our own place is concerned, though it may happen that some concert, meeting, or entertainment may be held at the Mechanics' Hall, the adjoining building to our chapel." We give this extract, as it brings into view some of the great difficulties against which Foreign Missions, in the present day, have to contend. Not only have the demands upon the Christian public for religious and philanthropic objects at home-as day schools, Sunday schools, ragged schools, orphanages, tract and Bible societies, hospitals, temperance societies, etc.-greatly increased; but the amusements, entertainments, or recreations of the present day have come to monopolize no small proportion of the time, the energy, and money of our church members. While admitting fully that amusements are lawful and necessary; that they must, and will, be had; and that it would be unwise and useless to attempt to check or suppress them altogether; yet, on the other hand, is it not possible for amusements to be so multiplied, pursued, and abused, as to become injurious to spiritual health, appetite, and usefulness? To what extent prayer meetings, week-night services, and other means of grace have been affected by the entertainments of the day, and to which the largest audiences are attracted, we leave others to judge. In our opinion, however, these entertainments have seriously affected the attendances at missionary meetings, and have drawn off funds from mission objects. What with cricket, football, bicycling, boating, dancing, dramas, concerts, penny readings, services of song, lodge meetings, chess, cards, picnics, railway trips, smoking, drinking, flower-shows, art and other exhibitions, the reading of tales and novels, etc., many Christians seem to have but very little time or disposition for missionary meetings, and very little money for the cause of Christ in heathen lands. Entertainment, ENTERTAINMENT, seems to be the cry, aim, and most popular " institution" of the present day. Into whatsoever town you enter, this word is almost certain to catch your eye. Not only is it visible on walls and in shop windows, but it is often posted up at the front of our chapels. The other Lord'sday, for example, when the writer went to preach on behalf of the Foreign Mission, the only bill posted outside the Baptist chapel was one announcing an "entertainment" in the Wesleyan school-room. The bill announcing our mission services was relegated to the chapel lobby, where it was concealed during the week, and could only be seen after the door was opened on the Sabbath morning. Granting, however, that the above is an exceptional case, yet is it not a fact that greater interest is often shewn in mere entertainments than in the salvation of the heathen; and that the more sensational the entertainments are made the more popular they become? Moreover, is it not also a fact that the increased number of home schemes of a religious and philanthropic character of the present day, have a tendency to divert attention and funds from foreign objects? What proportion of the funds raised for religious objects are expended at home, and what abroad, we must reserve for consideration on a subsequent occasion. |