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hope that this clandestine mode of sending "States" to the Association is as exceptional as it is immoral. We say immoral, for it is a grave ecclesiastical offence-a sin against the whole church, as well as a dastardly assault on the reputation of particular members whose conduct is reflected upon. ED.

Intelligence.

BURTON-ON-TRENT-Farewell Tea Meeting and Presentation.-On Monday, Dec. 2, a farewell tea meeting was held in the General Baptist school-rooms upon the occasion of the retirement of the Rev. R. Kenney from the office of pastor over the General Baptist church in that town. At the appointed time a large number of the members of the church and congregation assembled at the tea table; and after the tea a still larger number assembled in the chapel to hear the addresses of the Rev. R. Kenney and the ministers of the town who had kindly engaged to be present. The chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Tetley, late of Long Sutton, who has just succeeded the Rev. R. Kenney at Bu.ton, and the meeting was addressed by the Revs. W. Thomson (Presbyterian), E. Browning (Free Church), and Messrs. Bellamy, Healey, and Dickinson. The other ministers of the town would gladly have been present, but were prevented by previous and imperative engagements. Kind messages were received from two of them-the Revs. W. Aston (Independent), and J. Nowell (Wesleyan). The members of the church, anxious to testify in a substantial manner their affectionate regard for their retiring pastor, and desiring to make some public acknowledgment of the benefits received fram his ministry during a period of eighteen years, had purchased a silver tea service with the proceeds of a private subscription, which they intended to present to him at the meeting. The chief piece of the service bore the following inscription"This Tea Service is presented to the Rev. Richard Kenney by the members of the General Baptist church, Burton-on-Trent, as a token of their esteem and regard upon the occasion of his retirement from the office of pastor over them, Dec. 2nd, 1867." To the great disappointment of the congregation, and to their greater grief when

they learnt the cause of this disappointment, the Rev. R. Kenney was prevented by illness from being present, a telegram to this effect being received just before the meeting. Under these circumstances Mr. G. Hirst, the senior deacon, received and responded to the presentation in the name of Rev. R. Kenney. Judging from the kind things said by the speakers, and the evident feeling pervading the meeting, Mr. Kenney has left behind him in Burton a name and an influence which will not soon be forgotten. It was very apparent that the testimonies borne to his character and work were not the mere common place expressions of such occasions, but that they came from full hearts. J. P. T.

LONDON, Commercial Road.-The Sixth Anniversary of the pastorate over this ancient church of the Rev. Thos. Goadby, B.A., was commemorated on Tuesday, December 10th. A number of friends met for tea, and after tea Mr. Goadby, with the deacons and others, addressed the meeting. The speeches were of much interest, and the congratulations of the friends were hearty and spontaneous. It was stated that at least seven reasons existed for thankfulness and encouragement on the part of pastor and people. One was, the chapel which six years ago was burdened with debt was now entirely free, Mr. Goadby having obtained £300 from generous friends abroad, and stimulated the church and congregation to raise the remainder amongst themselves. In addition to this a church debt of £120 had been paid off during the past year, notwithstanding the depressed condition of trade and the impoverished state of the neighbourhood, and a fund had been started for the thorough cleansing and repainting of the chapel. Other reasons for encouragement were, the good feeling existing among the members of the church, the harmony and unanimity pervading all meetings for business, the spirit of earnestness and prayer that had been awakened and was spreading among the people, the deep in

terest felt by the young in the work and service of the Lord, and the gradual filling up of vacant places caused by the unusually large removals of the past two or three years. Practical and earnest counsels were given in relation to the work of the church in the future, and the hope was expressed that another year would see the chapel renovated, well-warmed and well-lighted, and the church advancing with renewed zeal and devotedness upon its career of usefulness and prosperity.

SPALDING.-Re-opening of Chapel.-Our chapel, after being closed about three months for repairing, altering, and beautifying, was re-opened on Dec. 1st by our pastor, the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A. Considering the inclement weather the congregations were good, and the collections exceeded £18. On the next day the entire costs of the alterations, about £123, were obtained. After tea a public meeting was held. Mr. Jones presided, and thanked the friends for their liberality toward the cause, and their affection toward himself; after which addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Staddon and J. Bevan, and by Messrs. Ward, Shakespear, and Sharman.

T. H. W.

REV. J. C. JONES, M.A., SPALDING.-We have been requested to state that our brother has decided, after much anxious thought, to remain in his present sphere of ministerial labour, and that he will continue to devote his usual share of attention to his school. As he has declined the invitation from the church in Osmaston Road, Derby, we wish him more abundant usefulness in his old sphere, both as a pastor of the people, and as a trainer of youth.

THE REV. THOMAS CLEMENTS, of New Basford, is about to leave his present charge, and is open to an invitation to any vacant church. His address is Mosley Street, New Basford, Notts.

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NOTTINGHAM, Stoney Street.-On Lord'sday, Dec. 1, we baptized eight, and they were received into fellowship on the evening of the same day.

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STOKE-UPON-TRENT. On Wednesday evening, Dec. 11, after a sermon from Acts ii. 41, three candidates, one male and two females, were baptized by the pastor.

BURTON-ON-TRENT.-On Sunday, Dec. 1, the Rev. J. Tetley baptized two young friends, and same day received them into the church.

TODMORDEN.-Dec. 12, Thursday evening, eight were baptized by the Rev. J. Finn, and received into the church on the following Sunday.

RETFORD.-Nov. 24, one, a Sabbath school teacher, by Mr. Mee.

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The Treasurer has great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of £50 from Mrs. Pegg, of Derby, being the amount which the late Mr. Pegg promised to give when that sum would free the premises from all encumbrance; and as it has been paid before the conditions have been fulfilled, he trusts that those friends whose promises have not yet been paid will kindly favour him with the amounts as early as possible.

At the College Committee Meeting, Dec. 3rd, Mr. Fletcher reported that he had received an invitation from Vale, Yorks., to commence his ministry at the close of the present session; and the sanction of the Committee was given to his acceptance of the call should he feel it his duty to accept it.

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The application of a candidate for the College was received, and arrangements were made for his preaching trial sermons and passing the usual examination. letter of condolence with Mrs. Pegg, of Derby, and an acknowledgment of her late husband's great liberality to the College, was appointed to be written by the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A.

After transacting the usual business of the Committee, in a harmonious and pleasant manner, the brethren separated about halfpast four o'clock, having dined at one and commenced business at two.

If any churches or individuals, contributing to the support of the College, have not yet received the last Report, the President will be glad to be informed of the fact. In half a score instances where nothing appears in the Tabular List, given

in the Year-Book," as having been contributed, monies are acknowledged in the Report. A little more general extension of a readiness to assist the College funds is desired at the same time it may be thankfully stated that very few of the churches, except the weakest, fail to render some support.

The President has been asked by several friends the price of the New Books he mentioned in the last Magazine, but no one has yet presented a copy of either. A post office order for a sovereign would enable him to procure both.

The dearth of suitable candidates for the College at the present time induces us to ask our brethren to encourage young

men of piety and ability in their churches to devote themselves to the ministry of the Gospel.

WEEK OF PRAYER-The Evangelical Alliance, in prospect of the great responsibilities of the new year, invites its members to unite in exhortation and prayer during the week beginning with Sunday, the 5th of January. The subjects are similar to those suggested in previous years commencing with the Person and Work of our Lord, and ending with Christian Charity. May this annual call be heartily accepted by large numbers of devout people.

Notes on Public Events.

FOR Some time past we have been "dwelling in the midst of alarms." The excitement caused in certain of our larger cities by the execution of the three Fenians in Manchester, showed itself most openly in a series of funeral processions on Sundays. The one in Dublin was deemed most dangerous, and three of its leaders have been subjected to legal proceedings.

On Friday, Dec. 13, an atrocious outrage was committed in London. A barrel of gunpowder was conveyed into a narrow street, of which the wall of Clerkenwell prison formed one side, and being ignited, blew down about fifty yards of the prison wall. But what was more serious, the explosion shattered the houses on the opposite side of the street, broke the furniture in them into fragments, injured many of their occupants, and caused the death of some. The design of this diabolical act was to give an opportunity for Col. Burke, and another notorious Fenian under confinement there, to make their escape. But the prison authorities, having had secret information that some such object was contemplated, took the precaution to change the hour of exercise in the yard, and thereby defeated the purpose of these lawless wretches. During the following week rumours were rife of simultaneous attacks being meditated on all the armouries throughout England; and small casks of powder secretly deposited for murderous ends were discovered in several public places by the vigilance of the police. A report was also current that Fenian privateers have been seen in the Channel, and that ships of war have been sent out against them. The greatest attention has

been paid to the sufferers by the outrage in Clerkenwell, and Her Majesty the Queen has shown her solicitude for them by sending presents of fruits for their use.

In addition to these direful occurrences the public mind has been distressed by tidings of a great catastrophe at Newcastleon-Tyne. Several cannisters of a new kind of oil called Nitro-Glycerine had been placed in a building belonging to the White Swan Inn, near the centre of the town, and being considered a dangerous thing, the town authorities determined to remove it. Their final decision was to convey it to a hollow place, called the Town Moor, about a mile distant, and there to empty it on the ground. This perilous stuff in its liquid state is said to be more hurtful than powder, but when solidified by cold or confinement, a single stroke will cause it to explode with a violence at least a dozen times greater than the same bulk of gunpowder. Some time ago a Liverpool vessel at Panama was blown to shivers by this newly invented oil! In the present instance, after emptying all that was liquid from the cannisters, it was found that something heavy still remained in some of them. And on examination it was ascertained that a portion of the oil had crystallized. The cannisters were broken, and a piece of the solid matter was detached by the sheriff, Mr. Mawson, a practical chemist, with a view to analyze it. But at that moment a hideous tragedy occurred. A sudden explosion inflicted frightful injuries on the sheriff, and the town surveyor, who was with him; while it tore five other persons limb from limb! Both

these gentlemen expired on the following day from the effects of their injuries.

From Abyssinia the news up to Dec. 7 was considered favourable. The advanced brigade had safely arrived. Landing was easy, the people friendly, the weather was fine, and the troops were well. King Theodore had destroyed by fire Debra Tabor, the place where some of the prisoners were confined, and was intending to march on Magdala.

Dr. Livingstone.-The despatches just received from Her Majesty's consul at Zanzibar confirm the account given by Sir R. Murchison at the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, of the highly probably safety of Dr. Livingstone. The place where "the white traveller" has been seen is said to correspond exactly with the point which Dr. L. ought to have reached at the time indicated, according to the instructions with which he was furnished by the Council of the Royal Geographical Society.

The Irish Church is attracting increasing attention. A Lay Declaration against it as an Establishment has been nu. merously signed by peers, noblemen, members of Parliament, and other eminent persons.

The various Presbyteries of the United Presbyterian Church are beginning to discuss the question, and some of them have passed strong resolutions upon itthe purport of which is, that the establishment of episcopacy in Ireland is unscriptural and unjust, and that its disendowment would remove one of the chief causes of discontent among the people.

The Press is speaking plainly on the same topic. The Northern Whig thinks the untenable position of the Irish Establishment is becoming more apparent, and that the sincere friends of the Church will act wisely in adopting the voluntary principle.-Blackwood betrays much uneasiness, and pronounces it in imminent peril; confessing that when the Irish Establishment falls, those of England and Scotland will soon follow it.-Even the Record admits that "events hasten rapidly to a time when the question of endowments will form the political struggle of the day."

Notices of Bills for either the abolition or modification of Church Rates were given by no less than three members of the House of Commons before its prorogation.

Sounder views on National Education seem to be gaining public favour. From Earl Russell downwards, the speaking and writing tends to greater agreement of opinion on this vital question; and we

hope the day is not very distant when all will admit, that the secular power in the State must limit itself to what, for distinction's sake, we call secular education. The churches are quite competent to undertake the religious part of the work, and it is their business, not so much to make scholars, as to make Christians.

The Rev. Newman Hall returned from America in the Cuba, which arrived at Liverpool on Dec. 15. He preached and lectured incessantly during his visit, and has come back in good health and spirits.

Dr. Selwyn, after declining the offered bishopric of Lichfield, has been induced to accept it. Steps are being taken to deprive Dr. Colenso of his bishopric in Natal, and to appoint a successor.

Distressing intelligence from the Figi Islands states that the natives of the Navosa tribe have barbarously murdered a Wesleyan Missionary, the Rev. T. Baker, and six or eight of his attendants, one of whom, when he saw Mr. Baker smitten down dead, stopped to kiss his body, saying, "We will die with our missionary."

Miss Mackenzie, sister of the late bishop of that name, is trying to raise funds for founding a missionary bishopric among the Zulus.

Mr. Spurgeon's new orphanage is receiving general support from the United Baptist churches.

Mr. Gladstone, when at Oldham a week ago, received addresses from two large Co-operative Societies. On his inquiring whether intoxicating liquors were included among the provisions dealt in, he was told that they were not allowed to be sold in any of their meeting rooms, even by parties who might elsewhere trade in them. But the fact which seemed most to interest him, and which is worth being made known, is that in the Oldham District nearly all teetotallers are also co-operators. The fellowship of temperance with cooperation is both suggestive and assuring.

Rochdale, however, seems the chief centre of co-operation. A theatre which can hold 2,200 people has just been opened there, which cost £6,000, the shares of which were mostly taken up by working

men.

Mr. Cook, of Leicester, formerly one of our village missionaries, but now known as the Excursionist, is arranging for a tour to Palestine, and hopes to spend the Christmas of 1868, with his party of ladies and gentlemen, in Jerusalem. We are happy to read the thoroughly Christian sentiments which he has published in connection with his proposal.

Marriages.

STEVENSON-GROCOCK.-Nov. 21, at the Baptist chapel, Pepper Street, New Basford, Mr. Alfred Stevenson, of Carrington, to Miss Susan Grocock, of Woodthorpe.

JARROM-GRANT.-Nov. 30, at the Independent chapel, Long Sutton, by the Rev. Josiah Miller, Joseph, son of Joseph Jarrom, Esq., of Leicester, and grandson of the late Rev. J. Jarrom, who was nearly

SARAH CLARE,

forty years minister of the General Baptist chapel, Wisbeach, to Betsy Ellen Grant, youngest daughter of Francis Grant, Esq., of Long Sutton.

TILLER-BARLOW.-Dec. 6, by license, at the Baptist chapel, Sawley, by Mr. J. Stenson, the Rev. W. Tiller, Congregational minister, to Miss Lucretia Witney Barlow.

Recent Deaths.

THE beloved and lamented wife of the Rev. R. B. Clare, minister of Priory Yard, Norwich, fell asleep in Jesus on November 20th, 1867.

Her precious remains were deposited in a vault at the Rosary on the 27th, by the Rev. G. Gould, who delivered a most impressive address to the numerous friends and members of the church who were present.

Her death was improved by the same gentleman on Lord's-day evening, Dec. 8, who preached from 2 Thess. iv. 13, 14.

During the service the following statement was read by Mr Gould to the large and weeping congregation present.

Our departed sister, whose loss we this day most unfeignedly deplore, was in her early days led by divine grace to dedicate her heart to the Saviour; and in every changing scene of her life she adorned the doctrine which she professed in a most honourable and amiable manner. Her mind was stored with the best of principles, and her heart powerfully felt their influence. In the nearest relationships of life she has left a testimony behind which will not be easily forgotten.

As a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother her loss is indeed unspeakably great, and will be long regretted. The church has lost a pious, ornamental, and one who would have been a useful member. But the time of her continuance among us was so short, and attended with so much bodily weakness and suffering, that her real worth could not be known by many of her fellow-worshipers when she was called to join the great company of the Redeemer before the throne in heaven.

She loved, and was deeply interested in the people among whom the Lord had called her husband to labour as their

pastor. In her last hours she desired her kind love to be given to them all, mentioning as many by name as her strength and memory would permit.

The circumstances connected with her death are most affecting. Her health had been declining for the past twelve months, but no one supposed her end was so near; and hence the stroke came with awful suddenness upon us all, but especially to her sorrowing husband, who was from home preaching and holding missionary meetings on behalf of the General Baptist Missionary Society when she was seized with the attack of hemorrhage from the lungs which terminated her mortal existence. Through the thoughtful kindness of one of his deacons (Mr. Enoch), sending a conveyance for him in the middle of the night, he arrived home in time to spend between two or three hours with her before she bade adieu to all whom she loved on earth. She was perfectly sensible till within a few moments of her departure. She spoke of her end with great calmness and resignation.

When her attendent entered her room with a light, she said, "O Lizzy, I have been very naughty, thinking about many things which I ought not. I want to

leave all in the hands of my Heavenly Father, but my mind wanders, and I think of my dear husband and children, what they will do when I am gone; but now you have brought the light my thoughts turn to the Sun of Righteousness. O may He illuminate my drooping heart! I shall soon be at rest in heaven, then why should I trouble about the things of earth? My Saviour will do all things well. I commend my dear children to the all-wise God."

At another time when her friends sympathized with her in her sufferings,

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