168

2 0... 5 4

0

0

Yearly total £1,938 6 0

Fifteen brethren have had their allowances increased: one, 3s. 6d. per week; one, 3s. per week; twelve, 2s. per week; and one, 1s. per week. 32 were added to this list of annuitants; eight at 6s. per week; fifteen at 5s. per week; eight at 4s. per week; and one at 3s. per week.

Working Expenses.-These amount to £384 28. 8d., and consist of the usual items. Secretary's salary, £145; postages, £25 3s. 6d.; rent of office, £30; magazines for honorary members, £85 6s. 2d.; advertisements, £39 4s.; printing yearly reports, £18 88.; other printing, £11 7s. Coals, gas, stationery, fittings for new office, &c., £29 14s.

The balances in hand amount to £1,156 13s. 7d.

to

Income.-The benefit members have paid in entrance fees, £261 10s. 6d. ; fines, £2 12s. 6d. ; quarterly subscriptions, £1,374 1s. The honorary members' subscriptions and other free contributions have amounted £1,144 17s. 7d. Legacies and special donations, £1,017 8s. 7d. The dividends on investments, £340 17s. 3d. Profit on the LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE, £47 19s. 3d. A nett increase of income as compared with the preceding year of £221 1s. 3d.

Magazine.—Our organ, The LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE, is still published by our valued friend, Brother Philip Parker, at our new office, 24, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, whither we removed last September, when, perforce, we had to give up our old quarters at 19, Exeter Hall, in consequence of the purchase of the

Hall by the Young Men's Christian Association. The Editors still invite the contribution of articles by friends of the Association, who can minister to the edification and instruction of the brethren.

Mr. Wild's Gift.-The Treasurer distributed this last Christmas to those who had previously received it, but he is anxious, and the Committee are very desirous of furthering his wish, that all the annuitants should be placed on an equal footing in this matter. The readers of our Magazine will have observed a special statement of the position of the Fund, and an appeal made in the April number of this year, by desire of the Committee, to augment this Fund by an additional £1,000, towards which sum our Treasurer has generously promised £100; and it is earnestly desired that the whole amount may be speedily raised, so that all our annuitants may be gladdened by this extra Christmas cheer.

New Annuitants.-Applications for permanent allowances have been made from different parts of the country every month, and they have been reported in the Magazine. The following abstracts are selected as specimens of the cases relieved::

A

Brother J. B., of P., aged 70, a local preacher thirty-nine years. sawyer, but unable to follow his occupation. Has a wife aged 69, who has been laid aside by paralysis for several years. They have three children, but receive no help from them. About 7s. per week is their only income.

Brother J. A., of B., aged 59, a local preacher thirty-five years, has a wife aged 60, and four children, one of whom helps occasionally. Was a coal miner, but his health is completely broken down.

Brother R. W., of P., aged 63, a local preacher thirty-eight years, has a delicate wife aged 56, and ten children. He has been an engine driver, but extreme deafness and heart disease of long standing cut him off from that.

Brother R. S., of S. S., aged 74, a local preacher forty-seven years. Now quite blind, so is his wife; two daughters live at home, and the earn

ings of the elder are the main support of the family.

Brother J. E., of G., aged 70, a local preacher thirty-eight years, a widower with one child. Has been a jobbing tailor, going about from house to house to work at his trade at 2s. per day and his food; but for the last two years his sufferings from general chronic rheumatism have prevented him from doing anything, and he has had no other means of support than our sick pay.

Brother W. C., of B., aged 68, a local preacher forty-six years. Has a wife in delicate health aged 74, also two children unable to help. He was a labourer, and used in his best days to earn 15s. per week; he also received 2s. per week beside from another source, but now, on account of double hernia and other ailments, he can only occasionally earn a shilling or two.

Brother T. H., of M., aged 60, a local preacher thirty-five years, a widower. He has one son, who having a sickly wife and child cannot help him. He is by trade a cabinet maker, but obliged to give up his occupation on account of internal disease and hernia.

Brother H. H., of S., aged 62, a local preacher thirty-nine years. Is a breaker of stones on the highway at 8s. per week when able to work. Wife aged 61, and six children. He fell down in a fit while breaking stones, and has been ill ever since.

Brother J. B., of W., aged 64, a local preacher 45 years. Has a wife aged 51, and five children, who are unable to help him. He is a labourer, who used to earn 14s. per week, but now,

disabled by sickness, can only earn a few shillings occasionally. One testimonial of him said that "he, by the grace of God, has led many souls to Jesus, although not much of a preacher."

Brother J. H., of C., aged 70, a local preacher twenty-seven years. Has a wife aged 62, two children, and sixteen grandchildren. Has been a farm labourer, suffers from palpitation of the heart, and receives 2s. 6d. per week from the parish as outdoor relief.

Brother J. K., of C., aged 72, a

can

local preacher fifty-one years, and a leader forty-eight years. Is a shoemaker. He has a wife aged 64 and eight children, none of whom assist their parents. The local secretary says, "his life's work is nearly done, he can now neither work nor preach."

Brother D. S., of W., aged 70, a local preacher fifty-one years. Has a wife aged 76 and eight children, but no help from any of them. Our brother used to earn 22s. per week in a timber yard, but has been obliged to give it up. He suffers from rheumatism, and has no income whatever.

Brother S. L., of B., aged 71, a local preacher forty-two years. Is a ship's smith, but being incapacitated from work earns nothing. He has a wife and seven children. One son pays his rent, one child has been an invalid seven years, the rest cannot help their parents. Applicant suffers from constitutional weakness and rheumatism. The local secretary considered this "a model case."

Brother J. H., of D., aged 72, a local preacher twenty-four years. Is an agricultural labourer, who has earned 148. per week, but the infirmities of age have diminished his strength and rendered him unable to do a full week's work. His wife, aged 72, is a hopeless invalid. He has four children, all of whom have families, and cannot help their father. He suffers from heart disease. Has worked on the same farm for thirtythree years, for a master who has sympathised with him and helped him, and some help he will still afford.

Is a

Brother J. C., of H., aged 69, a local preacher forty-two years. framework knitter, earning only a few shillings per week; has a wife aged likewise 69, in feeble health. Has been a member of the Association thirty years. Suffers from hernia and chronic rheumatism, so that when at work his left arm has to be supported in a sling from the ceiling.

Brother J. P., of L., aged 65, a local preacher forty-six years. Tailor by trade, but unable to work except earning a few shillings occasionally. He suffers from bronchitis. His wife is dead, and none of his five children can render him any help.

Brother J. C., of W., aged 84, a local preacher sixty years. Has 2s. 6d. per week from the parish, out of which he has to pay 1s. for rent. He has no relations to help him, and can earn nothing.

Brother W. M., of B., aged 74, a local preacher forty years. Is a widower, and has five children, with one of whom he lives, but none can help him. He was a small farmer, but owing to bad seasons has been quite ruined. Is earning nothing,

and has no source of income.

His

Ori

Brother W. H., of Y., aged 81, a local preacher fifty-two years. wife is dead. He has one son. ginally a tailor, but latterly cultivated about thirty acres of land. Owing to bad seasons has lost all his savings, which amounted to about £200, and is now quite destitute.

Brother R. W., of L., aged 68, a local preacher fifty years. Was by trade a travelling hawker. Suffers from sciatica. Wife aged 76. Has five children, one of whom allows his father 2s. 6d. per week.

Brother G. R., of H., aged 65, a local preacher forty-nine years on one plan. Was a hosier's warehouseman. Suffers from hard and difficult breathing. His wife is 60 years of age, and she suffers from broken health. They have seven children, but none can render assistance.

Brother C. J., of O., aged 60, a local preacher thirty-eight years. Is a widower. Has four children, who cannot help their father. Was a ganger on the railway, but lost his right leg in September, 1879.

Has a

Brother W. F., of H., aged 65, a local preacher fifteen years. wife aged 65, and three children, who are unable to help. Is a shoemaker by trade. Suffers from a bad cough, failing eyesight, and affection of the back, through constant bending of the body.

Brother G. A., of D., aged 73, a local preacher fifty years. His wife is dead, and all his six children are too poor to render him any help. Is a shoemaker by trade, earning 2s. per week. Suffers from failing eyesight and deafness.

Brother E. L., of W., aged 69, a local preacher forty-seven years. Has

a wife aged 77, and three children, who cannot help. Is a shoemaker, but has not been able to work for three years, and has no income. Suffers from gradual loss of sight, bent fingers, and rupture. Has been a member of the Association from its commencement.

Brother E. B., of B., aged 78, a local preacher fifty years. Has seven children, but none can render assistance. A farm labourer. Suffers from gravel.

Brother T. S., of M. R., aged 72, a local preacher forty-four years. Is a widower with three children, none of whom can assist their father. Is a tailor by trade, but can earn nothing. Suffers from failing eyesight, heart disease, and general incapacity.

In concluding the review of the work of the year, the Committee would very gratefully render thanks to the Giver of all good for the measure of success that has attended the work of the Association in the past. They are thankful for the oneness of thought and feeling that pervades all the meetings held in its behalf. They are grateful to the Circuit Ministers for their kind sympathy everywhere evinced. They feel, however, that yet greater success is practicable, and would be ensured if all its members in simple dependence upon the guidance and grace of God would steadily persevere in the prosecution of the work of making known the principles of the Association to the friends of Methodist Local Preachers. Again and again has the declaration been made by some who have proved fast friends, "Hitherto we have been in entire ignorance of your very existence." The Committee feel that this reproach ought to be taken away; and to this end they ask the members now gathered together to see to it, that in their several circuits throughout the country they make known the work that is being done, and leave no effort untried to secure the adherence of Local Preachers themselves, and the augmentation of the numbers of Honorary Members. And to the loving hearts of Christian friends they would earnestly appeal for increased help, reminding them of the gracious assurance of the Master Him

Bro. Milsom suggested that the account of Bro. Berry's visit to Australia should be embodied in the Report.

Bro. Benson suggested that the amount granted to each annuitant should be stated in the cases.

Bro. Amphlett moved that the Report, as read, be accepted, adopted, and printed. Bro. Beavan suggested the omission of half the cases reported. Bros. Towne, Rose, Dr. Aldom, Cossons, Redman, Mason, Carter and Raper took part in the discussion; and, after Bro. Johnson had replied to the criticisms, Bro. Amphlett's motion was carried unanimously.

Bro. Dr. Aldom nominated as President for the year, Bro. S. M. Johnson, of Sheffield. Bro. Hume nominated Bro. J. S. Dyson of Thurgoland; but in deference to Bro. Dyson's request, who declined to be put in competition with Bro. Johnson, the nomination was withdrawn,

Bro. Rose, of Aylesbury, nominated Bro. John Carter as Treasurer.

Bro. Durley nominated Bro. Thos. Chamberlain as Honorary Secretary. Bro. Harding, of Sydenham, nominated Bro. A. R. Johnson as Co. Honorary Secretary.

On the motion of Bro. A. R. Johnson, seconded by Bro. Cossons, it was unanimously resolved to elect three Trustees.

Bro. J. Carter nominated Bro. S. D. Waddy, Q.C.

Bro. Durley nominated Bro. Thos. Cole.

Bro. Harding, of Shaftesbury, nominated Bro. J. Dyson, J.P.

Bro. Amphlett recommended Bro. H. K. Atkinson as new member of Committee. Bro. Harding, of Sydenham, did the like for Bro. J. B. Allen, and Bro. A. R. Johnson did the same for Bro. Captain Smith.

The General Secretary informed the meeting that by pure inadvertence he had omitted putting the name of Bro. Redman on the voting papers, but he had been duly nominated at the proper time. It was, therefore, unanimously resolved that Bro. Redman's name be put upon the list.

The voting papers were distributed, and Hymn 480 was sung.

After an interval, the Scrutineers reported that the following elections were unanimous :

President- S. M. Johnson.
Treasurer-John Carter.

Hon. Secretaries-Thos. Chamberlain, A. Russell Johnson,

Trustees-S. D. Waddy, Q.C., Thomas Cole, J. Dyson, J.P.

Bro. Madder, in vacating the chair, was thankful that the lot had fallen upon Bro. S. M. Johnson to carry on the work which it had been his greatest joy to participate in. He had to present him with the President's Bible, which to him had been such a source of comfort, when he had been overwhelmed in reading the load of letters that came to him day by day. This Book he had taken with him wherever he went, and sought counsel of his Father in heaven, and had ever found the grace he needed. Not the