MIDLAND EVANGELIST MISSION.

WE are glad to inform the readers of the Magazine and friends of this Mission that brother Lacey is now fully employed in this important work, and that he has engagements for some weeks to come. He has spent a month at Belper and Milford, holding four week-night meetings, and three services on the Sabbath: a month at Kirkby, Kirkby Woodhouse, and Kirkby Folly, with meetings nearly every week-evening, and two services on the Sabbath: a week has also been given to Mountsorrel, and a fortnight at Hose and Clawson. Services have also been held at Rothley. At all the places the friends express themselves gratified with the visits of our brother, and speak of his labours as very acceptable and useful. The following sums towards the expenses of the Mission have been received:

The Autumnal Meeting of the WAR WICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Netherton in Oct. The Rev. R. B. Clare, minister of the place, presided. The first part of the morning service was devoted to praise and prayer, and the second part to a paper by the Rev. E. C. Pike, on "Church Membership; its qualifications and duties." The paper was cordially approved, and a general desire for its publication was expressed.

Reports showed-baptized, 59; received, 13; candidates, 18; inquirers, 20; gross increase over last year of 26.

I. Resolutions expressing warm approval of the efforts, successes, and further plans of the Nuneaton church on behalf of a new chapel, and of the Netherton Church on behalf of new school-rooms, were unanimously adopted. The Conference feeling both cases to be worthy of good help, cherishes the hope that its recommendations may evoke the

sympathy of donations from all whom they may reach.

II. The Rev. W. Lees and the Secretary were appointed a deputation to visit non-reporting churches.

III. The following arrangements were adopted for the next Conference. The place to be Longmore Street, Birmingham, and the time the middle of April. A paper to be read in the morning by the Rev. R. B. Clare, "On what is called the higher Christian life." In place of the usual sermon in the evening, it was decided that the ordinance of the Lord's Supper should be administered; addresses to be delivered by the Revs. J. P. Barnett and G. Cosens.

In the evening the Rev. J. Brown, of Nuneaton, preached.

Ll. H. PARSONS, Secretary.

CHURCHES.

DENHOLME.-Our chapel debt, at the commencement of the year, amounted to £470. Through the united and persevering efforts of our friends, the generous aid of the public, we have cleared off the whole amount. To celebrate this joyous event we had a public tea on Dec. 12. Three hundred present. At the public meeting a report of the rise and progress of the church was read, and addresses delivered by Revs. R. Hardy, B. Wood, J. Newsome, etc. The chapel was built in the year 1866, at a cost of some £1,400, and seats five hundred persons. The evening meeting was enlivened by a Service of the "Jubilee Songs," specially prepared by our own choir for the occasion, and which thrilled the audience with delight. We hope soon to go in for a school-room; we have the land, and now we want the money. A friend not connected with us promised us £10 on our raising the first £90. Who will help?

NORWICH-Terms of Challenge altered. -Dear Mr. Editor,-The challenge of my Norwich friend having failed in its original form, I am authorised by that friend to say that he will still double his £10 if two other donors of £5 will double theirs. May I not confidently hope for a speedy acceptance of his generous offer. I have much pleasure in reporting additional evidence of the interest with which our efforts here are regarded by the Christian public of our city. Two young

ladies belonging to another congregation have engaged to collect for the entire support of a Bible woman at 10s. 6d. per week, to labour in connection with our own congregation. The Lord has also graciously provided us a suitable agent for the work-she entered on her labours on the 7th inst. Will Christian friends pray that she may be very successful. It affords me inexpressible pleasure to acknowledge, on behalf of St. Clement's chapel, a donation from my much esteemed native brother, Baboo Daniel Mahanty, Berhampore, £1. Also from our generous friend, F. Bond, Esq., Cuttack, £10; also Mrs. and Miss Bond, £2 2s.

Mr.

as unto Jesus," 10s; and, with special thanks, "a Midland Labourer," 2s. 6d. Hoping for further help, I remain, yours affectionately, GEO. TAYLOR,

Dec. 16, 1873. Somerleyton Street. P.S.-Correction in last month-J. H. Master, not Morton. G. T. HUCKNALL TORKARD, NOTTS.-On Monday evening, Nov. 16, a public tea meeting was held, the trays being given principally by friends outside the denomination. Subsequently a concert was given by the choir, assisted by ladies and gentlemen from Basford. Miss Peel, a member of the church at Osmaston Road, and a professional singer, also rendered, in a most effective manner, several sublime pieces from the best masters. The services of these ladies and gentlemen were entirely gratuitous. The proceeds of the evening amounted to £19 38., which is to be devoted to the building fund, as a larger chapel is felt to be greatly needed. The population is rapidly increasing, and the present building seats only about 350. A suitable site has been secured at a cost of £375, all of which we have paid; and during the past eleven months we have raised, principally amongst ourselves, over £300; but we need help. At this season of the year, when the love of Christ is the natural subject of our thoughts, we pray that that love may constrain some of Christ's redeemed ones to help his struggling cause in this place.

NANTWICH. Very satisfactory services were held on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 22 and 23, the occasion being the first anniversary of the opening of the new chapel. Rev. Dr. Burns preached twice on the Sunday to large congregations. On the Monday evening a tea meeting was held in the town hall, at which over 400 were present. After tea addresses were delivered by Revs. Dr. Burns, R. F. Griffiths, T. Clark, H. S. Payne, Mr. R. Pedley, and the pastor. The proceeds of the services, after paying all expenses, a little over £20.

31

RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT.-The ninth anniversary sermons of Park Road church, were preached by the pastor, Rev. John Harrison; and on Tuesday following upwards of one hundred and fifty friends assembled to tea, after which the Rev. W. Page, B.A., and the Rev. H. E. Arkell, addressed the meeting. The pastor reported twenty-three added to the church during the year; seventy scholars in the Sabbath school; the formation of classes for young men, young women, and for married women, and £100 raised and spent on the school-rooms.

WISBECH, Ely Place.-On Tuesday, Dec. 15, a meeting, presided over by the pastor, Mr. W. E. Winks, was held to celebrate the extinction of the debt on the new church and schools. At the opening services, twenty-one months ago, £1226 were needed to accomplish this object. This sum has been raised since that time, and added to £3200 obtained previously, amounts to £4500 raised by the congregation in six years. account showed that the bazaar held in October last brought into the funds £360. £54 were required by the treasurer to balance his account on Dec. 15, and this sum being raised in the meeting, the rest of the time was occupied by prayer and praise to the Giver of all good.

SCHOOLS.

The

ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH.-A bazaar held to defray the cost of erecting new class rooms was opened on Wednesday, Dec. 9, by religious exercises conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. Clarke, B.A. The sales of that day amounted to £82. The large quantity of goods unexpectedly brought in made it necessary to re-open the bazaar on the following day. The Rev. J. Kendall, Wesleyan, opened the bazaar on Thursday at three o'clock. The sales on this day realised £33, making a total of £115. The cost was about £160; the collections on the occasion of the opening were £25; leaving about £20 only to be obtained. Towards this a considerable quantity of goods are reserved for sale at a subsequent time. The pastor, in closing the bazaar, acknowledged the intense interest which had been shown by the children, amounting in some cases to enthusiasm, and also the indefatigable exertions of the ladies who had met week after week for months past, at the sacrifice of much time, and with great selfdenial to work at the sewing meeting. Their devotion was the secret of the success, which was much in advance of the most sanguine expectations. Considerable liberality had also been shown by many friends, both in gifts and in purchases.

SPALDING. The teachers and friends here have presented Mr. and Mrs. Charles Curry with an electro-plated tea and coffee service as a token of regard and esteem on their leaving for Lynn. For many years they have taken a deep interest in the teaching of the young. Mr. Curry was superintendent of the school at Spalding Common.

The Quarterly Teachers' Conference was held, Dec. 10, preceded by a well attended tea. Short addresses were given by the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., Messrs. Godsmark, Crampton, Limmer, etc. A paper was read by Mr. J. S. Atton, "How can we best secure the attendance of children in our Sunday schools."

on,

kindness of a few friends to whom Mr. P. was known, have had the pleasure of presenting him with a sum amounting to more than £117. [The sympathies of all his brethren in the ministry will accompany our brother in his retirement, and earnest will be our prayers for his recovery.]

PAYNE, REV. CHAS., has resigned his charge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has accepted a call to the Free will Baptist church in Wilton, Iowa, U. S.

WATMOUGH, MR. JOSEPH, of Chilwell College, has accepted a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the church at EDGESIDE, near Manchester, and commences his pastorate, Jan. 3.

MINISTERIAL.

ANDREWS, REV. JAMES A., has resigned the pastorate of the church at Clayton, having accepted a unanimous invitation from the church at Gambleside, and will (D.V.) commence his labours at the latter place on the first Lord's-day in 1875.

HEPTONSTALL SLACK.-Rev. J. Lawton commenced his stated labours here, Dec. 6. On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 12, a short open-air service was held, and our new minister baptized seventeen candidates. The same evening a special meeting was held in the school-room, and the newly-baptized were received to the fellowship of the church.

LONG SUTTON.-On Wednesday, Nov. 25, a public tea and recognition meeting was held in the Baptist chapel to welcome the Rev. G. Towler as pastor of the church and congregation. The day was very unpropitious, but the company, notwithstanding, was large and influential. The Rev. W. E. Winks, R. A. Johnstone, C. Bentley, and the pastor elect, besides Messrs. Sutterby, Goodacre, and Gee, took part in the service.

LOUTH, NORTHGATE. A little more than two years ago Mr. G. Parkes, then a student at Chilwell, was invited to and accepted the oversight of the above church. He laboured earnestly, faithfully, and successfully, until the end of January last, when he was suddenly stricken down by heavy affliction. For some months he indulged the hope he would be again able to resume his loved work, but a short time since, on the adIvice of his physician, he felt compelled to resign his pastorate, and for a time the ministry altogether. His friends, in order to show their sympathy for him in this heavy trial, determined to raise a testimonial, and by the help of other Christian friends in the town, and the

CHILWELL COLLEGE.

MY DEAR SIR,-The friends of the College will be pleased to learn that the first Committee Meeting under the new arrangements has just been held, with many cheering circumstances in connection with the Institution. The only cause for discouragement is the state of the Treasurer's account. I am sure the friends will excuse me pressing the claims of the College upon their liberal support, and as they will now be laying out their plans for another year, I trust they will give our school of the prophets their early and efficient assistance. In many cases I hope subscriptions will be doubled, and collections greatly increased. T. W. MARSHALL. .