John Batey giving out the hymn, "Arise, O King of grace, arise," etc. Mr. G. Mainwaring offered the introductory prayer. Several appropriate passages were read from the epistles of St. Paul illustrative of Christian purity, fellowship, and zeal in the service of Christ. Previous to the celebration of the Lord's supper the following resolutions were passed-1. That upon entering into this church state on this, the first Lord's-day evening in the year 1877, we renew our covenant with God by commemorating the love of Christ at His table, in obedience to His command, "Do this in remembrance of me."-2. That it is our earnest desire and prayer, in dependence upon divine grace, "to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

EDGESIDE. The annual tea meeting was held on Christmas-day. About 700 sat down. The public meeting that followed consisted of recitations, dialogues, music by the choir, and one or two addresses. J. Watmough presided.

GAMBLESIDE.-A Christmas tree and sale of work was held at Clow Bridge, opened by Mr. Ashworth Maden, and £49 nett realized. On Christmas-day the annual festival was held. 400 were present. After tea a most enjoyable meeting was held, presided over by the pastor, Rev. James A. Andrews, when a variety of dialogues and recitations were given by the scholars, and a number of songs, glees, etc., by the choir.

HUCKNALL TORKARD, Notts. The usual Christmas meetings were held Dec. 26, when addresses were delivered by Messrs. Buck and Calladine, and the Rev. J. T. Almy, pastor, and the choir, assisted by other friends, rendered Christmas music. The proceeds of the evening, together with some money realized by "Christmas singing," amounted to nearly £53, which will be devoted to the building fund. During the year nearly £700 has been raised for the building fund alone, and in other respects the church has been greatly blessed. The Rev. A. M'Laren has promised to open the new chapel on April 3.

ISLEHAM.-The Sunday school had its first Christmas tree on Monday, Jan. 8. 250 articles of wearing apparel were obtained, besides oranges, apples, etc., making a good beginning.

LEEDS, Wintoun Street.-A new organ, rich and sweet in tone, substantial and chaste in appearance, has just been erected, at the cost of £287 10s., by

Messrs. Wordsworth and Maskell, of this town. Opening services were held on Dec. 21, when the Rev. R. Balgarnie, of Scarborough, preached on "Naaman." On Dec. 24th, when the pastor, R. Silby, preached on "Sanctuary Music" and "Angelic Minstrelsy;" and on Dec. 26th, when an Organ Recital was given by W. Dawson, Esq., of Liverprol. By the collections, a sale of work, and donations since given, the deficiency of about £50 has been cleared off. A considerable sum has also been spent by the trustees in making the necessary alterations.

LINEHOLME, near Todmorden. — Our annual tea meeting took place on new year's day. It was attended by 400 persons. The evening was occupied in hearing recitations and dialogues by the S. S. scholars, and excellent music from our choir. The S. S. reports an increase of twenty-seven scholars upon the year, bringing the total number up to 287. Several of the scholars are earnestly seeking Christ. The Rev. W. Sharman presided.

LONDON, WESTBOURNE PARK CHAPEL. -Our friends will be pleased to know that the Christmas tree and bazaar realized over £200. Our heartiest thanks are hereby given to the friends who so kindly assisted us, and to others who have generously promised to lend a hand at our larger bazaar at or about the time of opening the New Chapel. A church report has been sent to each donor to our "memorial-stone laying." One cheque missed its way, and has not yet been found. In case any friend who sent aid should not get a report let him write us at once, for it is possible his cheque too is missing.

LONGTON.-On Dec. 26 our tea meeting and Christmas tree realized £20 in aid of our building fund. We open our new chapel on Good Friday, March 30. Rev. H. Stowell Brown has engaged to preach on the occasion, and the Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., on the following Lord'sday. Your readers will also see from our advertisement that we intend holding a supplementary bazaar in our new schoolroom on Easter Monday and Tuesday. Contributions in money or goods will be thankfully received.

MANSFIELD. On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 26, a Christmas tree was held, which was thoroughly enjoyed and patronized by the members of the church and congregation. By this effort £20 were added to the building fund. On new year's day many met to enjoy a cup of tea, and discuss the best means for promoting the work of the year. As the present chapel has for a long time been

inconveniently crowded, it was felt desirable by all to commence the new tabernacle as early as possible. Addresses were delivered by Mr. T. Woolley, Mr. Robinson, and the pastor, Rev. H. Marsden.

MORCOTT AND BARROWDEN.-The Rev. S. Peacock, late of Caerwent, Monmouthshire, having accepted the unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the above churches, commenced his labours on Lord's-day, Jan. 7, 1877.

NORWICH, St. Clement's.-On new year's day the annual tea and public meeting was held. The Rev. G. Taylor presided. Addresses by H. Trevor, Esq., Messrs. Cushing, Blackburn, Causton, Claxton, Sayer, and Dent. The speeches were interspersed with several favourite "Sacred Songs."

OLD BASFORD.-The annual church meeting was held here on Jan. 8. Attendance good, and tone cheerful. Eight baptized during the year—a smaller number than the average of several previous years. At the annual meeting in 1876 the church resolved to depend upon the Weekly Offering for the payment of its ordinary expenses; and this resolution, joined to the depression in trade, had caused some friends considerable foreboding about the financial position. On the presentation of the accounts it was satisfactory, therefore, to find that the income was a few shillings in excess of the expenditure. The contributions for the poor at the Lord's supper were also reported to be larger than in any previous year-these having continued to increase so that they are now more than threefold the contributions of ten years ago. still greater increase has taken place in the subscriptions, etc., to the Foreign Mission, which, in the same time have increased from about sixteen pounds to over seventy.

A

SHORE, near Todmorden.-On Sunday evening, Dec. 24 (in place of the usual prayer-meeting), the Rev. J. K. Chappelle delivered his lecture on "Zwingle and the Swiss Reformation." Collection, nearly £5. On Christmas-day the annual gathering took place. Over 400 to tea. The after meeting was addressed by the Revs. W. Chapman, J. K. Chappelle, and several members of the congregation.

STOKE.-Our bazaar held Dec. 28 and 29, for the purpose of reducing the debt on the schools, was opened by the Mayor of Hanley, Mr. R. Cooke. In addition to the usual features of a bazaar, Mr. H. D. Piddock exhibited a series of dissolving views of the Rhine and Swiss scenery, and Mr. Wright gave some chemical experiments. Proceeds, £101. It was quite a success.

MINISTERIAL.

71

ANDERSON, REV. W. M., for twelve years the pastor of the G. B. churches at Epworth and West Butterwick, in consequence of failing health, has resigned his pastoral charge.

ATKINSON, REV. J. H., concluded his pastorate at Hitchin on the last day of 1876, preaching in the morning from Phil. iv. 7; and in the evening from John iii. 16. On the following Thursday a farewell meeting was held, and a handsome centre timepiece, and two side vases under glass shades, were presented to Mr. Atkinson. The timepiece bore the following inscription-" Presented to the Rev. J. H. Atkinson, on his leaving Hitchin, by the members of the church and congregation, in loving remembrance of his seven and a half years' faithful ministry amongst them. Walsworth Road, January 4th, 1877." Mr. J. Perry presided, and bore testimony to the church's hearty love for, and sympathy with, their pastor, and stated that the church had grown from eight to over 100 members, and that 180 persons had been added to the church. The chapel had been built mainly owing to Mr. Atkinson's exertions. Addresses were also given by the pastor, Messrs. Hawes, Harrison, Ewen, and Lockhart, officers of the church, Mr. A. Rawson of the Society of Friends, and the Revs. J. Aldis, J. A. Comfort, and J. Clifford.

HILL, REV. GEORGE, of Osmaston Road Chapel, Derby, has accepted the invitation of the church at South Parade, Leeds.

JOHNSON, REV. C. T.-A social tea was held, Dec. 16, at Coalville. During an enjoyable evening Miss Bettison, in the name of the female teachers and friends, presented the pastor's wife, Mrs. C. T. Johnson, with a very useful and valuable gift in the shape of a Singer's Sewing Machine.

MILLINGTON, REV. W., late of Measham, has been invited to the church at Netherton, and has accepted the call.

ROBERTS, REV. J. T., of Retford, has accepted the pastorate of the church at Great Grimsby, on a very unanimous invitation.

ROBINSON, REV. H. B., of Chatteris, has accepted the pastorate of Ely Place Church, Wisbech.

WATTS, REV. ISAAC, of North Gate, Louth, having accepted an unanimous call from the church at Abergavenny, terminates his ministry at Louth on the second Sunday in February.

BAPTISMS.

ARNOLD.-Seven, by J. Ward. BIRCHCLIFFE.-Five, by W. Gray. DUFFIELD. (From Windley) six, by H. A. Blount.

HUCKNALL.-Four, by J. T. Almy.
KIRKBY.-Two, by J. Smith.

LEICESTER, Dover Street.-Five, by W. Evans.

LONG EATON.-Seven, by C. T. Johnson. LONGFORD.-Four, by E. W. Cantrell. PETERBORO'.-Four, by T. Barrass. QUEENSBURY.-Five, by R. Hardy. SMALLEY.-(From Kilburn), one, by H. A. Blount.

STALYBRIDGE.-Four, by S. Skingle. TODMORDEN.-Three, by W. E. Bottrill. WALSALL.-Six, by W. Lees.

MARRIAGES.

BLOCKLY-HARRIS.-Dec. 25, at the Baptist chapel, Barton, by the Rev. G. Needham, Mr. Thos. Blockly, of Odstone, to Mrs. Harris, of Newton Burgoland.

BENSON-GOODWIN.-Jan. 17, at the Baptist chapel, Macclesfield, by the Rev. J. Maden, Mr. Samuel Wood Benson, to Miss Hannah Goodwin, both of Macclesfield.

CLAMP-WIDDOWSON.-Dec. 25, at the Baptist chapel, Barton, by the Rev. G. Needham, Mr. Walter Clamp, to Miss Mary Ann Widowson, both of Odstone.

FIRTH-NAYLOR.-Dec. 28, at Queensbury, by Rev. R. Hardy, Mr. A. Firth, to Miss Amelia Naylor, both of Queensbury.

HOPKINSON-WAPPLINGTON.-Dec. 25, at the G. B. chapel, Old Basford, by Mr. A. Brittain, Mr. John Hopkinson, of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, to Miss Eliza Wapplington, of Nottingham.

This

MASTIN-BATEMAN.-An interesting wedding took place at the new chapel, Fleet, between Mr. W. C. Mastin and Miss Bateman, both of Gedney. being the first marriage ceremony in the new chapel, the Rev. T. Watkinson presented the happy pair with a beautiful bible, as the presentation of a few friends of the church and congregation. father replied, as did also the bridegroom, after which they left the building amid the blessings of those assembled to witness the ceremony.

OBITUARIES.

The

GRIFFITHS, MRS. FOULKES, wife of the Rev. R. Foulkes Griffiths, died at Tarporley on the 21st of December, having been confined of her third child the previous Saturday. Her death was very sudden and unforseen. The progress of

was

the mother and child being so favourable that her husband left that evening to fulfil an engagement to preach anniversary sermons at Baxter Gate, Loughborough; and on his return the M.D. in attendance brightly reported "all well," a report continued until Thursday afternoon, when, owing to severe local pains -considered painful, but by no means dangerous-the leading county physician was telegraphed for from Chester, and when husband, mother, and nurse were expecting the worst over, the physicians descried "alarming puerperal symptoms," and in a few hours fever finished its gaunt work and slew a loving Christian, an anxious and faithful Sunday school teacher, and a nobly devoted and trustful minister's wife, as she lay in her husband's arms. Never was dying more like going to sleep; and surely there is no illusion, for when the dear ones sleep their Heavenly Father will not forget to awaken them when vigour and health shall again glow in the freshness of life's bright morning of joy. The shock to the husband, who has thus lost the brightest and most joy-giving pearl God had given him, cannot be realised except by few, very few. The funeral sermon was preached on Sunday, Jan. 14, by the Rev. H. Jones, M.A.., D,D., from "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." Mrs. Griffiths was the daughter of Mr. Joseph Aston, of Brassey Green. Born Aug. 22, 1850; married Jan. 28, 1874; and died during the longest night, 1876.

HOOD.-Jan. 11, at New Road, Aylesbury, after a few hours illness, Eliza, eldest daughter of Rev. W. Hood, of Ford, aged forty years. "Absent from the body, present with the Lord.

MASON, REBECCA, We have lost another of our most worthy, consistent, and liberal supporters of the cause of God here. Our sister has suffered very much during the last three years from paralysis. She was not the subject of great raptures. She was more like the calm, deep river than the roaring cataract. Her trust in Jesus was firm. was baptized on May 10, 1827, by that venerable pastor of this church, Rev. R. Compton, whose body lies near that of our departed sister. She had been nearly fifty years a member. Her last words to her pastor were,

'Jesus can make a dying bed

She

Feel soft as downy pillows are." She chose, long ago, the text for her funeral sermon, "I shall behold His face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake in his likeness."

W. E. DAVIES.