Christian is responsible, according to the added to his valuable life, and that in measure of his abilities and opportuni- some other sphere of usefulness, his la. ties, for doing good to the moral condition | bours may, in time to come, be crowned of the masses around him. In many with still more abundant proofs of the churches he had seen this truth practi- Divine favour and blessing." cally realized, but in not a few instances it was systematically neglected. He gave some very alarming statistics of the spiritual destitution of London; such, for example, as the parishes of Camberwell and Lambeth, where, with a population of 190,000 souls, there was only accommodation for 51,000 persons. The chairman highly approved of the report, and said he had heard on every hand the best accounts of Mr. Wilson's visit, and hoped that, in the providence of God, he would be directed before long to come and settle amongst them, and work out his own scheme in London. The Revs. T. James, J. H. Hinton, J. Kennedy, and other ministers and gentlemen, also spoke warmly in favour of the report. The meeting was most numerous throughout; and it was arranged that Mr. Wilson should pay a second visit to London in the spring, and that the scheme should be fully launched at the meetings in May. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BATTLE Ar a special meeting, held Dec. 8, 1857, the Rev. C. Gilbert in the chair, a letter was read from the Rev. T. Seavill, resigning the pastorate, on account of illness. It was resolved unanimously, "That this meeting receives, with sentiments of the deepest regret and concern, the announcement of the continued indisposition of their beloved pastor. That it desires to express its fervent sympathy with him in the affliction which obliges him to retire from the ministry of the gospel for a time. That, with feclings of mingled gratitude and joy, it congratulates him on the great spiritual success which has attended his ministrations this place, and assures him that, in earnestness and affection, it commends him to the Great Head of the church, praying that his spirit and his body may be in health, that many years may yet be GREAT DRIFFIELD, YORKSHIRE. Mitchell in the chair, when addresses HULL. THE REV. Robert Bowman, minister of Fish-street Chapel, Hull, having accepted a call to become the minister of an Independent church in Melbourne, Australia, on account of the delicate state of his health, preached his farewell sermon on Sunday week, in Fish-street chapel. On the Monday evening, a social tea meeting was held in the schoolroom, at which some 500 persons assembled. After tea, Mr. Bowman took his leave in a very interesting and touching speech. He asinsured them that it was hard to come to the decision he had, and from the time he had signified his intention of accepting the offer, he had been in a state of continual anxiety, and striving to lengthen every hour which had to elapse before his departure. He hoped God's blessing would rest on them. Mr. J. S. Thompson then presented Mr. Bowman with an address from the deacons of the chapel. Mr. Wilbe presented Mr. Bowman with a purse of money. Mr. B. A. Tapp also presented Mr. Bowman with a copy of Dr. Livingstone's work on Africa, another work of the same class, and a beautiful work-box, fully furnished, for the use of Mrs. Bowman. Mr. Duncan presented an address from the Fishstreet Young Men's Association. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Sibree, R. Redford, J. Ollerenshaw, and Messrs. Pool, Wishart, and Hall. SKIPTON CRAVEN, YORKSHIRE. THE sixth anniversary of the Young Men's Mental Improvement Society, in connexion with the Congregational Church, Skipton Craven, was celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 17th, 1857, in the British schoolroom, by the annual soirée, when about 400 persons were present. The report represented the Society as being in a flourishing state. The proceedings of the evening were rendered doubly interesting by a presentation to the Rev. Richard Gibbs, of a silver inkstand and pencil case, as a small acknowledgment of his services as President of the Society since its origin in 1851. BEBFORD, YORKSHIRE. THE Independent chapel in this village. having been closed for a few months, in order to build a gallery and make other substantial alterations and repairs, was re-opened on Friday, Nov. 13th. In the afternoon a sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Sibree. In the evening a public meeting was held, when the chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Hutchin. Suitable addresses were delivered by the Rev. T. Poole, Rev, J. Dickinson, Rev. J. Si ing Sunday three sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Dickinson. The expenses altogether amounted to nearly £90, towards which sum above £70 was raised at the opening services. WORCESTER. THE following services were held in connexion with the ordination of the Rev. W. F. Hurndall, Ph.D., M.A., as pastor of the church assembling in Angelstreet Chapel, Worcester. On Monday evening, Nov. 23rd, there was a preparatory devotional service, at which the Rev. W. A. Hurndall, of Bishops Stortford, presided. On Tuesday, Nov. 24, service was held in the morning at a quarter to eleven, and in the evening at half-past six. In the morning, the Rev. Dr. Redford, the late pastor, introduced the service, taking occasion at the commencement to refer to his own relinquishment of the pastorate, and to express his cordial satisfaction and earnest good wishes in Allon delivered the introductory disThe Rev. H. regard to his successor. course; the Rev. D. K. Shoebotham proposed the usual questions to the church and minister; the Rev. W. A. Hurndall offered the ordination prayer; and the Rev. J. A. James delivered the charge. After the morning service, about 160 friends partook of a cold collation, Alderman Padmore in the chair, when several addresses were delivered. In the evening, the Rev. G. Smith, of Poplar, preached to the people. The attendance was very numerous at all the services, and many ministers from the city and neighbourhood gave, in various ways, proof of their friendly sympathy. KINGSBRIDGE, devon. THE congregation assembling at the Independent Chapel here have been thrown, by an unforeseen accident, into a difficult position. About ten years since it was found necessary to enlarge and alter the chapel. Not long, however, after the chapel was built, a crack in the wall was discovered, which gradually increased, and a few weeks since it was bree, and Mr. J. Hussard. On the follow-found that the opposite wall was bulging out. The place was propped up in the inside, in order to keep it from falling for the present, and the congregation now assemble in the Town Hall. Last month a meeting of the most influential of the congregation was held for the purpose of promise of success. considering what steps should be taken. | importance, and presents considerable R. Peek, Esq., was present, and strongly advocated the place being taken down, and as a proof of his sincerity, offered £50. The building only ten years since cost £500, the whole of which has long been paid off. The Reverend gentleman leaves his present sphere, where he has zealously laboured for seven years, amidst the affectionate regrets of a devoted and united church and congregation. Independent Church and congregation, worshipping in White's-row Chapel, Portsea, held their Annual Tea Meeting in the Beneficial Society's Hall, Kent-street, to commemorate the second anniversary of the ministerial labours of their pastor, the Rev. T. Davey. It was numerously and respectably attended. In the evening, interesting addresses were delivered by various Independent and Baptist ministers of the neighbourhood, which were listened to by an attentive audience. BATH. SERVICES FOR THE WORKING CLASSES, DURING the past two months, services especially intended for the workingclasses, have been held at the different Dissenting places of worship in this city, the various ministers preaching in rotation. It is intended to continue them throughout the winter, on Sabbath after THE sudden and unexpected removal of this promising and useful minister, at the carly age of twenty-seven, has spread a gloom over the whole town in which he laboured with so much acceptance. All classes have felt it and mourned over it. Churchmen and dissenters acknow ledged the loss they had sustained. He possessed a fine and beautiful mind, well cultivated and trained; his attainments as a scholar were of a high order, sound, accurate, and extensive. His piety was deep, earnest, and healthful. His character was without a stain. His gentleness attracted all, and made him beloved by noons. They are very fairly attended by the all; everything about him so transparent, class for whom they are designed. and simple, and real. His conduct was a living sermon on what he preached. His departure was calm, and peaceful, and happy. His last sermon was most powerful and impressive, from Gen. ii., part of the 7th verse-" And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." He died on the 26th November; his younger brother, a student at Spring-hill College, died on the 26th of the previous month. A very large number of ministers followed him to the grave. The Rev. J. A. James delivered a touching address, and on the following Sunday his most intimate friend, the Rev. R. W. Dale, preached his funeral sermon to a large and deeply affected audience. ESHER-STREET, KENNINGTON. ON Thursday, December 17th, 1854, the Rev. J. Marchant was publicly recognized as the pastor of the church assembling in Esher-street Chapel. After the reading of the Scriptures and prayer by the Rev. J. B. Brown, B.A., the introductory discourse was delivered by Rev. R. E. Forsaith, of Royston. The usual questions were proposed, and the recognition prayer offered by the Rev. R. Robinson, after which, the Rev. J. Spence, D.D. gave the charge, and the Rev. S. Eastman closed the service. gagements of the evening. On the following Lord's Day, the Rev. James Hill preached to the church and congregation, and thus concluded services which will be long remembered by all present. The Rev. Messrs. Aylen, B.A., Seaborn, and Harcourt, took part in the en DEATH OF THE REV. E. G. GRANVILLE, VISIT TO THE VALLEYS OF PIEDMONT. A BAILWAY to Pignerol now brings La Tour within a journey of five hours from Turin. The deputation from the Foreign Aid Society arrived at that central station of the Vaudois church on General. Friday, 25th September. Here is the commodious and handsome "Temple," in which 1,000 worshippers of the descendants of the martyrs assemble on the Lord's day. Here is the college founded mainly by the exertions of the venerated Dr. Gilly, containing within its walls from eighty to a hundred scholars and students in the lower and upper classes, of which four only at present are students in theology. Near it is a handsome row of houses, the residences of the professors, chiefly due to General Beckwith, and, in the course of another year or two will be added, to complete the parochial establishment, a house for the resident pastor of La Tour, to be considered as a memorial of the late Dr. Gilly. In the immediate vicinity of the college, is the boarding school (Pensionnat) for girls, conducted by Madlle. Appia, a name interwoven with the history of the Waldenses; on the same premises a number of children are collected into a èhamber, presenting the appearance of one of our so-called ragged-schools. More in the centre of the town is the provisional institution for poor orphans; the number at present is twenty-seven. A new buildng is preparing to receive them, and perhaps, as many more who are waiting for admission. The hospital, through which nearly 300 patients passed in 1856, may be said to complete the religious and charitable institutions in this metropolis of the Israel of the Alps. Within a period of eight years, the Waldenses have established central stations in four of the chief cities of Sardinia; in Turin, Genoa, Pignerol, and Nice. At Turin and Nice commodious churches, with schools, have already been erected. At Genoa, the walls of the new church have risen up to the height of the roof, and the promoters of it only wait for £2,000 more to be collected to be able to finish it. At Pignerol the funds are all provided, and the building is advancing; in the mean time a preparatory missionary work is going on. The descendants of the martyrs of the valleys, who now represent the pure faith of the gospel in the north of Italy, look upon themselves in the light of a missionary people; and they have lately addressed their brethren in the faith in every land in language which shows that they are alive to the responsibility which Providence has reserved for them. They say: "The Vaudois church is not, in our estimation, an establishment destined only to preserve the religious privileges of 23,000 inhabitants confined to some obscure valleys of the Alps; it is a station of evangelization, called by grace from on high to carry the gospel of peace and salvation to twenty-three millions of immortal souls. From the moment that it should cease to recognize the sacred duty which Divine Providence has set before it, in the sad but blessed pages of its history; whenever, in this or in any other responsibility, the children should repudiate the inheritance of their fathers, there would no longer be any meaning or any object in their preservation, except as a monument of the just judgment of God upon churches unfaithful to their trust. The work of evangelization is, then, dear to our hearts. It is a sacred duty, at the same time that it is the most delightful privilege. Our desire openly declared -our decided wish is, therefore, to follow it up to the utmost of our means. Our strength is in Him that is all-powerful; our trust is in his promises-'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' But in what spirit do we intend to direct a work of this kind? This, dear brethren, you who are with us in this warfare, have a right to ask of us; and it is this which we are anxious to let you know. We need not dwell upon that humble-mindedness which we long to put on, and upon that faith which is the mainspring of every Christian work; we need not speak of that spirit of charity which we cherish towards the brethren who work by the side of us, and whose labours awaken in our hearts, and make us give utterance to the sentiments of the apostle, when he says, 'Every way the gospel is preached, and therein do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice;' but what we particularly desire to put before you is first, our own responsibility, and, secondly, the catholicity of the work." The deputation found, in the persons now directing the church of the ancient Vaudois in Piedmont, the words of the venerable pastor Gaussen, at Geneva, verified :-"You will find them to be good, solid men, who are doing God's work in faith and patience." To be continued. |
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