the Rules of the Connexion, Summary of Doctrines, Connexional Magazines for December, 1875, Preacher's Plan for the present quarter, the Bolton daily papers, and a parchment containing the names of the Building Committee, the Trustees, and Architect. Mr. George Woodhouse presented the Mayor with a beautiful trowel. In doing so he said "It awoke in him memories of the past. He remembered that when he (Mr. Woodhouse) and Mr. Harwood came on to this estate it was all green fields. To Mr. Harwood and his late partner a great measure of the prosperity of Brownlow-Fold was due. The Committee of the schools had shown great judgment in asking him (Mr. Harwood) to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stone. They could not have asked a more fitting person, and personally he had very great pleasure in presenting Mr. Harwood with the trowel wherewith to lay the stone, and he was sure he would lay it in a workmanlike manner." The trowel bore the following inscription: "Presented to Richard Harwood, Esq., J.P., Mayor of Salford, on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the Methodist New Connexion Schools, Brownlow-Fold, Bolton, December 18th, 1875. George Woodhouse, Architect." Mr. A. Pilling, in presenting a mallet and square to Mr. Harwood, said "That he could endorse every sentiment to which Mr. Woodhouse had given utterance. It afforded him great pleasure to be deputed by the Committee to wait upon Mr. Harwood to ask him to perform that very important office, and it was his pleasing duty to present him with a mallet, square, and level with which to perform the important work of laying the stone. He had no doubt that these implements of masonry would be kept by him as a memento of that important occasion, and the more so because Mr. Harwood and his late partner Mr. Taylor had laid the foundation of that growing village which would no doubt by-and-by be amalgamated with the town of Bolton. Mr. Harwood then laid the stone in the usual way. He then delivered an address to the assembly upon the "Value of Educational Institutions." "He felt that as a large employer of labour in the immediate neighbourhood, and as having taken some share in the management of public affairs in the town of Bolton, he was not out of place in prominently promoting the good work which that day was inaugurated. He spoke of the growth of Brownlow-Fold, the rapid strides it had made within the last twenty years. The number of the houses in Brownlow-Fold was, in the year 1855, 640; in the year 1875 there are 1748, being an increase of 1108 houses. The rateable value of that property was, in 1875, £12,481; in the year 1855 it was £3302, being an increase of £9179. Now, it was manifest that, to keep pace with that state of things, strenuous efforts must be made to provide the means of imparting a suitable education for those who were to contribute to the future wellbeing of that locality. Much had already been done. That day they laid the foundation stone of a new building to help forward that grand National work, a building which could not fail to be a blessing to the people. Might its progress be successful! Might its result, by God's providence, through future generations be such as he knew they and all concerned most fervently desired. Rev. W. Wilshaw, ex-President of the Conference, addressed the assembly, and congratulated them on the undertaking in which they had engaged, and on the prospective work that was before them of educating the rising race and building up the character of the future generation that was to take part in the battle of life around that place. He concluded a most powerful address amid great applause. In the evening a tea-meeting was held in the present schoolroom, which was very tastefully decorated. Mr. Alderman P. C. Marsden (Wesleyan), presided. Stirring addresses were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Crofts, Superintendent of the Circuit and Chairman of the Manchester district: Revs. W. Wilshaw, J. W. Williams, H. Marsden, H. L. Thompson, Alderman Jenkinson, of Manchester, A. Pilling, Esq., and others. RAINTON GATE, DURHAM CIRCUIT. Ir has been a high gratification to our friends during the last four years to be able to report from this Circuit quite a number of efforts in the way of chapel-building, enlargement, and renovation. Though during the latter half of this term the staple trade of the neighbourhood has languished till it has reached a point of extreme depression, the good work has not been discontinued. Some projects of the kind have been constantly or hand, and each one has been brought to a successful completion. In this way the recently adopted division of the Circuit became practicable and safe, and promises to open up the way for yet further advancement and agression. on Our latest acquisition in the New Durham Circuit may now have some mention in our Connexional record. It is scarcely three years since we commenced to preach in Rainton Gate, a village about four miles from this city, with a population of some 1500 persons, amongst whom no place of worship could have been found, except the very unpretentious upper room only to be reached by a broad staved ladder, from the outside of the building) which has been our house of prayer from that time until now. And yet this room will long be precious to many memories, for in it our services were often richly blessed, and the Society grew till it has reached the number of thirty members, amongst whom Methodist social ordinances are prized, and conversions have been no rare phenomena. But other and enlarged accommodation became necessary. And yet there was for awhile but little ground for hope of its attainment. We scarcely dared to look for a word of encouragement from the titled owner of the soil and the mines of the neighbourhood. Our Nonconformity, we imagined, must bar the way of our desires. But to our surprise and joy our appeal gained a hearing, and then it seemed to grow into favour, for a suitable site was granted us at a merely nominal charge, and afterwards the bricks for the chapel were promised and given us; and wonder and thankfulness took the place of apprehension in our minds and hearts as we set about realising our object. At each succeeding stage difficulties cleared out of our way as we confronted them with marvellous readiness. Two or three of our female helpers came forward and obtained, chiefly in smaller sums, upwards of £70 in money and a good number of articles to constitute a sale, as their quota of help. Many a weary mile was walked and scores of days were given to the work. As for the building which came of these cares and toils, we may furnish the notice of the Durham Chronicle of Friday, the 28th of January : "OPENING OF A NEW CHAPEL AT RAINTON GATE, NEAR LEAMSIDE STATION. On Saturday last, the new building which has become so prominent an object in this neighbourhood was duly opened for public worship. As a country chapel, intended for the accommodation of some 250 attendants, it may be pronounced a model of its kind. The handsome rostrum and the arrangement of the neat yet substantial pewing gave its interior a very pleasing effect. The opening sermon was preached by Mr. A. Thompson, of Durham, who delivered a most appropriate and striking discourse. Shortly after the close of the service a tea-meeting was held, at which Mr. Thompson presided. The attendance must have been very gratifying to the friends who had promoted the object, as the chapel was filled to its utmost capacity. Addresses at the meeting were delivered by the Revs. E. Wright, J. E. Walsh, and Jas. Shiphardson, of the Methodist New Connexion; and the Rev. R. Buck, Wesleyan minister. From a report presented by the secretary, it appeared that the probable total cost might come under the sum of £650, and of this amount more than £420 is already obtained. Very hearty thanks were voted to the noble owner of the land and mines of the neighbourhood for the site which had been granted, and for a liberal donation of materials for the building; and the many forms of help by the resident-viewer had a cordial acknowledgment. The gift of £100 by the late Joseph Love, Esq., and of £30 from Robinson Ferens, Esq., were the subject of grateful congratulation. During the following day (Sunday) services were held morning, afternoon, and evening, at which liberal collections were taken for the building fund. The preacher in the morning and evening was the Rev. Edwin Wright, Superintendent of the Durham Circuit, and in the afternoon, John Bramwell, Esq., Recorder of this city. Large congregations assembled, and though the aisles were filled and every part of the chapel was occupied, many intending worshippers were unable to gain admission." Of the opening services we may add that the Rev. J. Milligan, of Houghton-le-Spring, and Messrs. T. D. Stephinson, of Willington, with Mr. George Morrison, of Shincliffe, have yet to preach on succeeding Sundays. The chapel is duly settled on the model deed, and is an ornament to the neighbourhood in which it has been built. Too much commendation for their labours in connection with it hardly can be given to Messrs. W. Naylor and Lee, who, as treasurer and secretary, have toiled so heartily to secure the success we have been enabled to report. EDWIN WRIGHT. Durham, January 29. ALNWICK. BONDGATE CHURCH.-This church is affording "a pattern of good works," which is well worthy of imitation. The site of their church was procured in 1868, and cost, with conveyancing, £130. The building, exclusive of the land, cost £1270. Then came the erection of the school and chapel-keeper's house, on which were expended £190 and £180 respectively. These premises were no sooner occupied, than the congregation provided a new and fine-toned organ, at an expense of £225. Thus this church has raised in the short space of four or five years no less a sum than £2000, besides maintaining their own Christian ordinances and missions at home and abroad. The whole of their premises are entirely free from debta proof of the power of voluntaryism when religious services are rightly appreciated. This congregation has recently shown its care for the comfort of its minister, the Rev. J. Q. Bawden, in having procured him a more convenient house, in refurnishing which about £50 have been spent. We congratulate this church upon its great liberality, and would say to sister churches, "Go and do likewise."-The Alnwick and County Review. BARROW-IN-FURNESS. THE friends of the community will be glad to hear of our welfare here and to learn that the Church is peaceful and prosperous. Owing to the exceedingly depressed state of trade, and the frequent removals consequent thereupon, our members, and others about to become such, have been in no small degree reduced. But we are full of hope for the speedy return of better and brighter days. During the past quarter our Sunday-evening congregation has averaged about 450, for which mark of the Divine approval we feel devoutly thankful. Our weekly offerings are not so weakly as might have been anticipated from the state of things, but together with our class moneys, have realised considerably more than heretofore, and this notwithstanding the scarcity of employment in the neighbourhood and the sadly diminished exchequers of the people. The school is flourishing. M It is a matter worth noting, moreover, that an organ has been purchased and placed in the church. It is not very large, but very sweet and mellow in tone, and while being a beautiful ornament, and, together with the curtains, &c., vastly improving the interior appearance of the place, adds much to the interest of our religious service and renders the same much more effective. Our liabilities, in consequence of the above improvements, will reach £100 or upwards, which by the time this is in the hands of the friends we hope will be properly discharged. Spiritually, we are alive and on the "look out," adding to the church such as should be saved. We lift our eyes to the hills whence cometh all our strength. Barrow, February 7th, 1876. H. E. THE PATERNAL FUND. TO THE EDITOR. MY DEAR SIR,--I am anxious, before the April Quarterly Meetings are held' to submit to my brethren in the ministry, and our people generally, a few thoughts respecting the present embarrassed condition of the Paternal Fund, and to offer a suggestion or two, which, if adopted, will relieve it. It is well known that the fund has been in difficulties for some years. The amounts assessed upon the Circuits in aid of it, though increased year after year, have been insufficient to cover the expenditure. In 1865 there was a balance of capital in hand of £767 8s. 7d., which should have been invested, and the interest only appropriated towards current expenditure; but, under the pressure of a present necessity, £581 12s. 2d. has been absorbed in annual expenditure. This absorption of capital, unhappily, has not relieved the fund, and its difficulties have become more serious every succeeding year. It may be asked, how have these difficulties arisen-how are they accounted for? The answer can readily be supplied. In 1855, there were only 154 children on the fund, at the present time there are 260. The increase in the number of claimants of late years has been far in excess of the increased income derived from circuit assessments. And while the claims have so rapidly increased, two of the ordinary sources of income have been less productive. From 1850 to 1862, the year in which the present scale of allowances to preacher's children was adoptedSpecial donations and bequests amounted to From 1862 to 1874 there was only one bequest of 100 0 0 Shewing a decrease of.... In the same periods the income from the And for the second ...... .... £963 10 0 863 10 0 ..£1535 10 6 1061 14 10 473 13 8 Decrease on both in twelve years of ..£1337 38 It will be seen from these figures that, notwithstanding the recent increase in the number of children, the Paternal Fund would have been more than equal to the demands upon it, but for the serious falling-off in these two sources of income. The book-room may be able to render larger help to the fund in future years than it does now, and bequests may be more numerous and more substantial; but these results are too uncertain to render it safe to depend upon them for more than a fraction of the necessary income. The annual charges upon the Paternal Fund for some years will amount to nearly £1800. And the practical question is, how can this large sum be most easily raised? For many years it has been the custom of Conference to assess the amount required upon the circuits, and raise it by collections and subscriptions. These have recently been pressed with an urgency inconvenient to many of our friends, and so as seriously to interfere with the just claims of the Beneficent Fund. This fund, if its objects are duly appreciated, will be regarded as having as strong a claim upon the generous sympathy of our people as the Paternal Fund. And I doubt not, that but for the special pressure that is put upon them in favour of the children's fund they would subscribe as readily, and as liberally, towards the Beneficent Fund. But note the serious difference at present between the income of the two funds. Last year the public collections in aid of the Paternal Fund amounted to £744 3s. 9d.; private subscriptions, £552 10s. 2d.-total £1296 13s. 11d.; while the Beneficent Fund income was, from collections, £135 4s. 4d.; subscriptions, £246 1s. 3d.-total £681 58. 7d., being £614 8s. 4d. less than the Paternal Fund. This inequality in the increase of these funds would be reduced fifty per cent. in the course of a a single year, were it not that a very general impression exists that a necessity is laid upon us of adhering to our present modes of raising the income of the Paternal Fund. Now, sir, I believe the necessity is not real, but that it can and ought to be removed, and means at once more legitimate and efficient adopted for raising the income required. The allowances from the fund are not an expression of sympathy with the necessities of our children, which may be granted or withheld at pleasure; they are a part of our stipends, and as such are as much a claim of justice as quarterage or house-rent. And being so, the fund from which they are paid should not, to any large extent, depend upon subscriptions which ministers have to solicit or collect, but be duly recognised and provided by our Quarterly Meetings. The great desideratum, as it appears to me, is, that Quarterly Meetings should more distinctly recognise their obligation in respect of the fund; and in assessing quarterage upon their several societies, keep in mind the fact that they are not only responsible for the quarterage and houses of their ministers, but also for a contribution to the Paternal Fund, to average, according to the ability of circuits, from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d. per member. No instructions are required as to the mode of accomplishing this; the one thing necessary is to impress Quarterly Meetings with the thought of their responsibility in respect of the fund, and to incite them to accept and act upon it. I may, however, be permitted to say that I think the object may be secured without disturbing any of our present modes of raising money for the fund. I would not interfere with the public collections; these are a time-honoured mode of assisting the fund, and may be expected to yield from £650 to £700 per annum. Neither would I lay aside the custom of collecting subscriptions in aid of the fund, but I would have it made far less dependent upon these than it is at present, and our friends who subscribe left more free to divide the gross sum they now give annually to our funds, in equal proportions, between the Paternal, the Beneficent, and other Connexional funds. But as the present yield of collections and subscriptions does not cover the expenditure of the Paternal Fund, and as by a more equal division and appropriation of subscriptions the income would probably be somewhat reduced, I beg very earnestly to recommend that the April Quarterly Meetings should make arrangements for raising annually, as part of ordinary circuit income, a contribution of sixpence per member in aid of the fund. With this sum, and the public collections, and such private subscriptions as, without injury to other funds, might readily be obtained, the difficulties of the Paternal Fund would vanish, and the anxieties of ministers respecting it would give place to confidence, hope, and joy. I see nothing impracticable in the suggestion now submitted, and I hope my brethren will not. It simply means an addition of one halfpenny_per month for each member to the amount now paid as quarterage. In a |