cause for many years had become almost | Baker, B.A., of Ridgemount; T. Potts, extinct; within the last two years a great of Wolverton, Wesleyan; W. Burgess, revival has taken place. It commenced of Stony Stratford, Independent; R. with a few, who, finding that putting a Sole, of Winslow; and J. Minett, of new piece in an old garment would only Stantonbury. Mr. J. Goodman, one of make the rent worse, determined upon the Deacons of the Church, gave an a new and independent course of ac- account of the cordial manner in which tion. Application was made to Mr. Mr. Walker had been received by the Spurgeon; and Mr. Robert Sole, a student Church and congregation, to which Mr. in the College, was sent to preach to the Walker, in a very feeling and appropeople. He continued to visit them at priate manner replied. When the first every fortnight, and then every Sab- friends at this place applied to Mr. bath. The Word was much blessed; sin- Spurgeon's College, the Chapel was ners were converted; believers strength- nearly empty. Mr. Walker was the ened; backsliders reclaimed; and the first student sent to supply the pulpit. place where they assembled became too He was unanimously approved. The strait for them. A new chapel was Chapel is now filled, and twenty members indispensable to give stability and per- have been added to the Church. The manence to the movement. A zealous prospects of both pastor and people are friend to this project was found in Mr. most encouraging; and it was delightful John Neal, of Edgware-road, London, to witness the sympathy with this rea native of Winslow. Henry Kelsall, vival in ministers of different persuaEsq., of Rochdale, was prevailed upon sions from the neighbouring churches. to lay the foundation stone, and on the same day, Mr. Spurgeon preached twice to a large congregation. The chapel was opened on the 15th of September last, when two sermons were preached by Mr. James Spurgeon; and by Mr. T. Ness, on the following Sabbath. The chapel will accommodate 350 persons, and with gas-fittings, vestry, platform, all needful furniture, and lawexpenses, cost £620. Of this amount, £282 remains to be liquidated. Active efforts are being made by public lectures, and other means, to reduce the debt; and it is hoped that others, who may read this statement, will help those who are thus doing all they can to help themselves. Special services were held in the| Baptist Chapel, at Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire, on the 25th and 26th of last month, on the occasion of the settlement of Mr. G. Walker over the Church and congregation assembling in that place. On Sunday, the 25th, two sermons were preached by Mr. T. Ness, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. In the afternoon of the following day, a sermon was preached by Pastor G. Rogers. About 200 sat down to tea after the service, and a public meeting was held in the evening. Our tutor, Mr. Rogers presided, and addresses were delivered by Mr. T. Ness, E. L. Foster, M.A., of Stony Stratford; T. On Wednesday, Dec. 14th, interesting services were held at the Union Chapel, in Aldborough, Suffolk, in connexion with the ordination of Mr. Isaac Bridge, late student of Mr. C. H. Spurgeon's College. Pastor J. P. Lewis, of Diss, asked the questions usual upon such occasions; after which, he offered the ordination prayer. Pastor James Webb, of Ipswich, then delivered an excellent and solemn charge to the pastor, characterized by much earnestness and affection. Tea was provided in the Chapel, at which about 150 sat down. In the evening, a suitable and impresssive sermon was preached to the Church and congregation by Mr. G. Firth, of Saxmundham. A happy feeling of unity and love pervaded both the Church and people, throughout the services of the day. Mr. Bridge, in his address, spoke of the circumstances which led to his visit to that people, and the pleasure with which he accepted their unanimous call to the pastorate. He fully believed the Lord had sent him there. Already a few drops had fallen among them, and they were earnestly praying and waiting for showers of blessing. He desired that all the members of the Church might be brought to feel that a solemn responsibility rested upon them to be found pleading with the Lord for a great bless ing. He was convinced that much prayer had gone forth from the Church on his behalf, and trusted that its benefit had already been experienced. If necessity were laid on him to preach, necessity was also laid on them to pray. Several neighbouring ministers were present and took part in the services, which we sincerely hope were a token for good. Mr. George Rogers has resigned his pastoral charge at Albany Chapel, Albanyroad, Camberwell; and is succeeded by J. De Kewer Williams, formerly of Tottenham. Mr. Frank White acknowledges with thanks the receipt of £1 for his new chapel from "An Unknown Friend." Romney-street Chapel, Westminster, has been re-opened by Mr. Spurgeon in the hope of raising a good interest in that locality. Mr. Morris, preacher. Mr. J. Brown, student, sailed for Rotterdam on January 18th, to preach the Word there for a season. The first wedding in the Tabernacle was celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 12th, between Mr. G. Evans, of Upton Chapel, late student with us, and Miss Hackett, daughter of our beloved deacon, Mr. W. Hackett. Baptisms at Tabernacle for the month of January. Jan. 16th-14; 19th-15; 23rd-13; 26th-20; 30th-20. Total: 82. General Intelligence. HE first week of the past month During the Dr. Twas devoted to special prayer by Campbell past month, our friend Dst the Churches both in London and in the provinces, as a suitable commencement of the New Year. A series of meetings was held as usual at Freemasons'-hall, in connexion with the Evangelical Alliance, at which addresses, embracing a great variety of topics, were given, and fervent prayers were offered. The attendance was uniformly good. A series of similar meetings, in connexion with the same Alliance, was held on the south side of the Thames by rotation at Walworth, Brixton, Clapham, and other parts. These were also well attended, and of a very profitable kind. On Monday morning a special meeting was held, as usual, by the members of the Congregational Board of Ministers, at the Congregational Library. A very beautiful and heart-stirring address was given by Mr. Jones, of Bedford Chapel, Camden Town, which was responded to in a delightful manner by short addresses from Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Binney. Mr. Binney, Mr. Henderson, and Dr. Vaughan conducted the devotions. The meetings of more than usual interest appear to have been in connexion with a Fraternal Association of Baptist Ministers, recently formed at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, of which an account is given in another part of this magazine. honours to which he could have aspired on this side the grave. It was preceded by an ovation, at which many kind things were said by great and good men on occasion of his retiring from the editorial management of the "Christian Witness," and the " Penny Magazine," accompanied by a donation of £500. The chief triumph was yet to come. On Tuesday, the 17th of last month, he was invited to meet at Radley's Hotel about 150 gentlemen, most of whom had united to procure a testimonial of £3000 to be presented to him on that occasion. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided; and was surrounded by many persons of distinction on the side of literary and evangelical movements. The addresses were upon the whole well suited to the occasion. It is pleasing to see so much respect paid to the firm and fearless advocacy of the old-fashioned gospel, regardless of the seeming severity with which it is attended. Dr. Campbell, at a distance, looks like a lion; but he is really a lamb. We would not look upon such a gift to such a man, as more needful than honorary. Neither would we regard it as a compensation for his work. They cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." 66 Notes on the great Delusion of Baptismal Regeneration. FROM A CORRESPONDENT. "FOR Some time past I have felt a desire to let you know how godfathers are sometimes appointed. About ten years ago I occasionally employed a man to serve writs and other legal proceedings. This person, like others I have known, who get their living in this way, was by no means particularly nice in religious matters. Finding he frequently omitted to call at my offices, when expected, I inquired the cause of his neglect, and was much surprised to hear him say that his services were required at Churches in or near the Strand, for standing godfather to the children of poor people. He told me his fee for so doing was 5s. in each case, but he would accept 2s. 6d., or even Is., rather than decline the business. Whatever he received, he gave half to the clerk or the beadle. The notices were sent to him at a public-house in Maiden-lane, Covent Garden. Of course his godsons or goddaughters were never seen heard of by him after the fees for vowing and promising were paid. or This man, I think, is now dead, and therefore legal or strict proof of these facts could not very well be obtained, but I have no doubt in my own mind, there was much truth in what I have stated. Signed T.M. 6 the same morning, Mrs. Knight told witness and the "handy woman," "Mrs. Clarke, to take the two surviving children to the Roman Catholic chapel in the Commercialroad. Coroner: Why were they taken out so soon after birth?' Witness: To make Christians of them-to make angels of them. None of us would go up above if we were not made Christians of.' Coroner: Was the object to make Catholics of them?' Witness: To be sure it was. We need not have taken them to the chapel if it was "Make not for that. The mother said, haste, for fear they would die ; " she did not say, "for fear the father would come back before they were christened." He did not meddle about religion at all. We wrapped the two girls up, and when we got to the chapel, the clergyman came to me and unwrapped the child I carried, and said, 'Oh! it's gone.' It was dying or dead. It was a cold day. Dr. J. S. Belcher said that the girl died from exposure to the cold. It was the most indiscreet thing possible to have taken the children through the streets immediately after birth on such a cold day. The jury returned a verdict 'that the deceased female child was found dying and did die in a Roman Catholic chapel from the mortal effect of exposure through being taken out so soon after birth."" Is this death to be charged on that text of Scripture, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not?" (Mark x. 14, and Luke xviii. 16.) Certainly not, for there was "KILLING A CHILD TO MAKE IT no baptism there-there was no water A CHRISTIAN. AN inquest was held by Mr. Humphreys, Middlesex coroner, on Monday, January 16th, in Cannon-street road, respecting the deaths of two children, a male and a female, the former of whom died from neglect, and the latter from exposure to the weather through being taken to be christened in a Roman Catholic chapel immediately after birth. Catherine Connor, of Red Lion place, Wapping, said that on Wednesday morning she was called to the wife of George Knight, a labourer, residing at King-street, St. George's-in-the-East. Mrs. Knight was delivered of the three children, the two deceased and another girl. They were fine children, but there was no doctor then present, and the boy died almost immediately. The father was a Protestant and the mother a Catholic. At ten o'clock but it was to touch them and to bless them yet priests quote that as their authority for baptism of infants. Or is this death owing to the fact that some people have asserted, that unless an infant is baptised, it cannot be savedthat is, if it should die, it could not go to heaven? Do they think, or assert, that the children above referred to in St. Mark would have been lost eternally if the disciples had succeeded in driving them away? The newspaper report says, "Knight's Children were taken to the Roman Catholic Chapel to be made angels of by baptism." The cold weather made an angel of one, and want of proper treatment, an angel of another of the three. J. C. J. The foregoing Account has been examined by us with the Vouchers produced and found correct, leaving a Balance in hand of two pounds, eighteen shillings, and five pence. January 23rd, 1865. ROBERT ROWTON, WILLIAM PAYNE, Auditors appointed by the Church. The above Account was also read at the Annual Church Meeting, January 25th, and ordered to be entered upon the Minutes. Pastor's College, Metropolitan Tabernacle. PRESIDENT-C. H. SPURGEON.-NUMBER OF STUDENTS, 91. Amount required for Students during the year about £5000; the rest will be devoted to building Places of Worship. Statement of Receipts from December 19th, 1864, to January 19th, 1865. Friends will observe that we have, in faith in God, enlarged our operations. Subscriptions will be thankfully received by C. H. Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Weekly Offerings at Tabernacle, Dec 26 53 1 6 ... ... 10 10 0 Mrs. Leetch, per Mr. M'Vicker Mrs. Simmond's Collecting Box Mr. E. Harle A Friend, per Mr. J. R. Wood Collected in the Hamlet of Bonchurch, Isle of Wight Mr. and Mrs. Spurgeon's Wedding-gift Mr. James Long ... Mr. Nicholson, Annan 12 10 0 1 10 0 200 100 0 10 0 THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL. MARCH, 1865. In a Fog. BY C. H. SPURGEON. HAT Gog and Magog are legitimate sovereigns of our great city of London we will not venture to dispute; but there is a third potentate whose reign is far more real, and whose dominion is vastly more oppressive-his name is Foc. The other day we rode through London at noonday; through London, we said; we meant through a mass of vapour looking almost as thick as melted butter, "with a sordid stain Of yellow, like a lion's mane." A stinging savour of smoke made our eyes run with tears, and a most uncomfortable clinging cobwebby dampness surrounded us like a wet blanket, and sent a cold chill to the very marrow of our bones. Light had departed, and darkness, like a black pall, hung horribly over every street-a dense gloom which could not be cheered even by the lamps which in all the shops were burning as if night had set in. The fog sensibly affected all the organs of our body. "Vapour importunate and dense, It was at once with every sense. Few were the passengers, and those few flitted before us like shadows, or passed shivering by us like wet sparrows looking out for shelter in a heavy rain. It was of no use to be wretched, and therefore we became thoughtful, and condensed a little of the black mist into drops of meditation. Are we not all more or less travelling in a fog through this land of cloud and gloom? What is life? 'Tis but a vapour; and that vapour is often a thick, light-obstructing mist! Of the forms around us in H |