hallowed those traits of character which in life, gained their love; has given them a grander beauty and a sweeter charm, and has also revealed many bright features which the familiarities of common life seemed aforetime to hide from their view.

No stronger proof could be afforded of the deep and sincere respect of the church than was given when the news of his departure to heaven was made public. Each one could say, I am distressed for thee, my brother: very pleasant hast thou been to me.' And of the respect of the people in the immediate neighbourhood we had full evidence in a chapel crowded to excess to hear his memorial sermon, preached by his pastor.

In his death, a wife loses a loving, cheerful and kind husband; but may the Lord God of Hosts fulfil his promise and be a 'husband to the widow; a son misses a good, considerate and endeared father; a pastor, a dear and valued friend; his fellow-deacons, a faithful brother; the church, one of its most earnest and active spirits. May the God of all consolation and grace, grant unto each the aboundings of bis love and help, so that each may do his work well by the Spirit of God, and thus be prepared to join our brother in the general assembly, and church of the first-born.' T. London.

CONFERENCES.

The day was propitious, and many delegates and friends from the neighbourhood were present at the afternoon meeting. The Rev. R. Kenney, of Burton-on-Trent, prayed, and Rev. T. Stevenson, of Leicester presided. From written or verbal reports it appeared that the churches comprising this Conference had enjoyed an unusual measure of prosperity during the past quarter; 183 had been baptized, 17 restored to fellowship, and 214 now remain as candidates, being the largest number of baptized or candidates for baptism ever reported at the Midland Conference. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary. The following is the order of business attended to :

Several amendments were proposed and debated; but Mr. Earp having kindly withdrawn his motion, the following resolution, (being an amalgamation of two amendments, one by Rev. J. F. Winks, and the other by Rev. W. Jones) was unanimously agreed too : That this Conference desires again to bring before the attention of the Association the painful fact that a considerable number of our churches are known to do little or nothing for the Institutions of the Body, imparing its efficiency, and retarding its progress; and that as such conduct amounts to a neglect of the moral obligation which is implied in such union, this Conference requests the Association to take into its serious consideration the adoption of the following resolution:-That such churches as do not contribute to the Institutions of the Body shall have no power by their delegates to vote in the disposition of the funds of such Institutions, nor in anywise to exercise control over their affairs.

the main obstacle to a settlement of the present unhappy differences was a pecuniary one, it was agreed: (1) That the Committee previously invited by this Conference to attend the Ilkeston case be respectfully requested to remain in office a little longer, with a view of suggesting to both sections of the church an equitable distribution of their pecuniary obligations. (2) That the further discussion of this case be deferred till the Whitsuntide Conference.

3. Case from Carley street, Lei cester. Mr. Winks having announced that, after twenty years labour he had been compelled through ill health to give up speaking to the friends at Carley-street, except on the first Lord'sday in the month; and the church having asked the advice of the Conference, it was agreed: That we recommend the friends at Carley-street to confer with brethren Stevenson and Wigg as to their future course.

4. Collection for Incidental Conference expences.-The Secretary having reported that the money collected at the Leake Conference, for incidental expences, had been long exhausted, it was agreed that a collection should be made at the next Conference.

5.

Vote of thanks to the Clergyman of the Village-The clergyman of Sutton Bonington having kindly allowed our friends the use of the National School-room for dinner and tea, the following vote of thanks was unanimously agreed to:-That the ministers, officers, and representatives of the General Baptist Churches of the Midland District, assembled at Sutton Bonington, on Tuesday, April 10, 1860, desire to present their respectful thanks to the Rev. Robert Meek for his courtesy and Christian kindness in granting the use of the National School for their accommodation for refreshments.

The next Conference will be held on Whit-Tuesday, May 29th, at New Lenton, Nottingham; the Rev. J. Salisbury, of Hugglescote, to preach in the morning. Service at eleven o'clock.

A missionary meeting was held in the evening.

J. J. GOADBY, Sec.

187

THE YORKSHIRE CONFERENCE 28sembled at Gambleside, on Easter Tuesday, April 10th, 1860. The morn ing service was opened by Rev. R. Horsfield, of Leeds, and Rev. T. R. Stevenson, of Burnley, preached from Acts xvii., 16, 17. In the Afternoon, at 2 o'clock, the Conference assembled for business, Mr. Lockwood opened the meeting with prayer, and Mr. Maden presided. The reports of the churches were then read, from which and 13 candidates remain. it appeared that 73 have been baptized,

During the last year the church at Allerton has cleared off a debt on the chapel and premises, amounting to £300. The church at Birchliffe has reduced their debt £127. Burnley Lane has raised above £200 toward a new chapel. The church at Burnley has raised, by bazaar, £100. Leeds, Byron-street, for chapel improvements, £200. Rochdale reduced their chapel debt £100. Halifax reduced their debt £300, as in several former years. Todmorden Vale has cleared off a chapel debt amounting to £230. The total amount raised for chapel debts in the Yorkshire district during the last year cannot be less than £2000.

The following resolutions were adopted :

1.-That the secretary make a special appeal to all the churches in the district, asking help by Whitsuntide, towards the reduction of the Home Mission debt, on the Todmorden chapel.

2. That it be a rule of the Conference that any minister recently come into the district be desired to preach at the next ensuing Conference.

3. That the secretary prepare a petition to the Commons House of Parliament against the Bill for the sale of wines by confectioners, and that be sign it on behalf of the Conference.

4. That the thanks of the Conference be given to the Rev. T. R. Stevenson, of Burnley, for bis excellent sermon.

The next Conference to be held at

Heptonstall Slack, on Whit Tuesday, Mr. Salter to preach in the morning. T. HORSFIELD, Sec.

THE NORTH DERBYSHIRE CONFERENCE met at Kirby Woodhouse, on Good Friday, April 6th, 1860. There being no stated Minister, brother A. Brittain, of Nottingham, was chosen to preside. Sixteen were reported as baptized since the last Conference, and eleven as candidates. These were, Belper, one baptized; Crich, one baptized; Hucknall, two baptized; Kirby, one candidate; Ripley, eleven baptized, and ten candidates; Sutton, one baptized. After the doxology had been sung, and brethren Severn, of Hucknall, and Argyle, of Ripley, had offered prayer, business was proceeded with. 1.-It was agreed that the establishment of an " Aged Ministers' Fund, suggested at last Conference, be again deferred for consideration at the next Conference.

2-That this Conference re-assert its conviction of the desirableness and urgent necessity of Home Missionary effort, regularly sustained; and that the ehurches in the Conference be requested to send the views they may entertain on this subject, or any suggestions they may be prepared to make, to the next Conference.

3. As appointed at last Conference, the secretary wrote to the churches a short time before the Conference met, requesting them to send either delegates or reports. Five, however, neglected to do so-Belper, Langly Mill, Smalley, Wirksworth, and Milford.

4. That this Conference express its opinion as to the proposition intended to be brought by brother Earp, of Melbourne, before the next Association, viz:-That whilst sympathizing with brother Earp in the object he has in view, and regretting the evil he seeks to remedy, it seems to us the adoption of his plan is undesirable, and would be injurious to the denomination. It is but right to state there was a minority of the contrary opinion.

5.-The next Conference will be held at Duffield, on Monday, August 6th, 1860, to commence at two o'clock, A revival meeting will be held in the evening.

remained, entered into friendly com versation on various subjects, doctrinal and practical, bearing on the welfare of the churches, and closed the interview by singing and prayer. W. SHAKSPEARE, Sec.

THE CHESHIRE CONFERENCE sembled at Tarporley, on Tuesday, April 10th, 1860. The Rev. J. Gardner opened the service in the morning, by reading and prayer, and the Rev. C. E. Pratt preached from Ecclesiastes ix. 10. The meeting for business commenced at two o'clock in the afternoon, when Mr. Joseph Aston was voted to the chair. The reports of the churches were not so pleasing as might have been desired. Baptized ten. We hope, however, that the prospects of the churches generally are encouraging, and we have reason to expect better things in future. After some deliberation upon the letter from the brethren at Congleton, it was resolved,

1.-That the money collected for the cause at Congleton be given to the Rev. J. Gardner, for his past labours in that place.

2. That the thanks of the Conference be given to the secretary for his article on Our Conferences.'

་

James Maden, Sec.

BAPTISMS.

ALLERTON.-We baptized three, on Sunday, April 15th.

BEESTON.

On Lord's-day, March 5th, after a sermon by brother J. Plowright, Bobber's Mill, one friend was immersed.

STALYBRIDGE.-On Lord's-day morning, April 1st, the ordinance of baptism was administered by the pastor to seven candidates. The congregation was large. In the afternoon the newlybaptized were received into the church.

LEICESTER, Friar-lane.-On Lord'sday, April 1st, four persons were baptized. One of the candidates had been a hearer of the gospel for more than fifty years. The Rev. J. C. Pike preached in the morning and baptized; and in the afternoon the newly-baptized were received into the fellowship of the church by Mr. Wigg.

LEICESTER, Dover-street.—Five persons were baptized on the 15th of April.

J. M.

PETERBOROUGH. On Lord's-day, April 1st, eight persons were baptized.

BRADFORD, FIRST CHURCH.-Since our last report we have baptized as follows:-Dec. 4th, one; Jan. 1st, ane; Feb. 5th, two; March 4th, three; April 1st, two. B. W. B.

MEASHAM.-On Lord's-day morning. April 15th,ten candidates were baptized. The newly-baptized were received at the Lord's table in the evening. The attendance at both services was unusually large.

ANNIVERSARIES.

189

MELBOURNE.-The annual sermons on behalf of the Sabbath-school were preached on Lord's-day, April 8, 1860; by Mr. Thomas Cooper. The chapel was crowded, and the collections amounted to upwards of £24.

PETERBOROUGH.

On Lord's-day, April 15th, two sermons were preached in the General Baptist Chapel, Peterborough, by Thomas Cooper, to large and attentive congregations. Collections were made for the reduction of 16th, about 220 persons partook of tea the chapel debt. On Tuesday, April in the assembly room, after which Thomas Cooper preached. The whole of the services were interesting and instructive, and we trust will result in the glory of God. The Home Mission having promised £20, on condition that we raised £30, we are thankful to be able to state that by the aid of some friends at a distance, in connection with our own subscriptions, collections, and tea meeting, &c., we have realized the sum of £50 instead of £30, thus reducing our chapel debt to £130. We are deeply anxious that this debt should be entirely removed within twelve months from this date, and shall be grateful to receive subscrip tions or promises in furtherance of this important object.

THOMAS BARRASS.

LEICESTER.-On Sunday, March 25, two sermons were preached at the reopening of Dover-street Chapel, after being closed two Sundays for cleaning and painting, by Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., Coventry. The money for cleaning and painting having been readily subscribed a few weeks previously, the collections, which were good, were in behalf of the chapel anniversary. On