ON the 7th of August, at the age of fifty, Mrs. Skinner, a very amiable and highly esteemed member of the Wood Gate church, Loughborough, slept in Jesus, and passed through the portal of death "to the mountains of myrrh and to the hills of frankincense" in the land of immortality. Her place in our earthly sanctuary is now vacant; never again will she join in our Sabbath worship here, or cheer her pastor by listening with intelligent and devout attention, and with the kindliest feelings of Christian affection, to his public utterances. All who knew her admit that her consistent Christian life proved her to be a humble and sincere disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was not one of those fussy and officious persons who are ambitious to secure public attention, and to have their good deeds heralded by a trumpeter; she was of a modest, quiet, retiring disposition, and courted privacy rather than publicity. Her gentleness, her womanly affection and sympathy, her kindly and courteous demeanour, proved her to be a studious imitator of the meek and lowly and loving Jesus, and endeared her to all who knew her best. From the commencement of their acquaintance she was an attached and steady friend of her minister, and often did she assure him that she derived comfort and blessing from his ministry. To the very last she expressed her gratitude for the spiritual help he had been enabled to render her by his public ministrations and private conversations. He can cordially sympathise with her bereaved and afflicted relatives and friends, for by her death he feels that he has lost a very kind, sympathing, and true-hearted friend and sister. For many years she was a teacher in the Sunday school, and in that capacity was exemplary, useful, and esteemed. She was also an active member of the Benevolent Society, and as a member of the church her conduct was blameless and worthy of imitation. If all who profess the name of Christ were as pure, as peaceable, as affectionate, as sympathetic, as courteous, as truthful, as humble, as considerate of the feelings of others, as active in the Lord's work, as attentive to the public means of grace, as careful to give none offence, and as destitute of vain-glory and self-seeking, as was Mrs. Skinner, there would be no lukewarm or unholy professors of Christianity-there would be no divisions and heartburnings among brethren-the churches would be lights in the world, and "the word of the Lord would have a free course and be glorified." She was not of a sanguine temperament, nor was her nature of the most emotional kind, and hence she was never filled with ecstatic joy in prospect of the bliss and glory of heaven, but she quietly trusted in the finished work of her Divine Redeemer, and looked for the mercy of God unto eternal life. Often did she mourn that she had done so little for the Saviour, and that she was so far removed from her ideal of what a Christian should be; and never did I detect in her conversation the least taint of the spirit of self-laudation and vain boasting a spirit which is utterly repugnant to the genius of Christianity. On recovering from the shock she received on learning that her illness would prove fatal, she bowed submissively to the will of God, and patiently anticipated her approaching end. She was very grateful to all her friends for the kind attentions she had received at their hands during her affliction, and when the last moment came she closed her eyes, and without a struggle or a groan, she gently fell asleep in Jesus. Farewell, dear sister, we will fondly cherish the remembrance of your Christian goodness, to help us in our work and warfare on earth, and we shall anticipate the time when we shall meet again where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." J. ALCORN. "WISDOM when in power And wisest, should not frown as Power, but smile -Tennyson's Harold, Act I., Scene 1. Reviews. SEVEN WONDERS OF GRACE. By C. H. Spurgeon. Passmore and Alabaster. THE second volume of "Spurgeon's Shilling Series" has the special charm of dealing with sacred biographical subjects, added to the usual interest attached to anything from the mind of the Metropolitan Tabernacle preacher. Manasseh, the Dying Thief, Saul of Tarsus, the Philippian Jailor, and Onesimus, are themes exactly suited to the spirit of Mr. Spurgeon. They are triumphs of grace, in which his yearning for the salvation of all souls finds satisfaction. In the conversion of such unpromising men he exults, and traces the workings of God's grace in their hearts with admirable skill. This series ought to outdo in popularity its predecessor. LIFE AND DEATH. By Edward White. E. Stock. CONSISTS of a series of letters written in reply to the sermons of Rev. J. Baldwin Brown on the "Miserable Doctrine of Annihilation, or Conditional Immortality;" and, considered as a reply, they are masterly, crushing, fair, and informing. Readers who were charmed with Mr. Brown's rhetoric ought to bring themselves under the calmer and steadier guidance of Mr. White and Mr. Minton before they allow rhetoric to exercise over them the functions of logic. As a manual for inquirers on the doctrine of "Conditional Immortality," this collection of letters will be extremely serviceable; but it will be well for all interested in these questions (and who are not?) to remember that it is a far nobler thing to "awaken conscience than to entangle intellect in doubtful disputations." CHRISTIAN SONGS. By Philip Phillips. Sunday School Union. THE name of the compiler of this hymnal will be a sufficient passport to a wide and increasing circle of singers: and especially in the case of the present issue, intended for prayer and revival meetings, Young Men's Christian Associations, and religious work generally; for no one has so fairly earned the title of the "Gospel Singer" as Philip Phillips. Ninety different authors are represented by some of their choicest work, and the collection is as rich in variety as it is admirable in choice and arrangement, and as classical, in the main, as it is evangelistic, and shows equal taste and skill in the music and in the hymnody. DENN'S THEOLOGY. By a Ploughboy. Book III. THIS volume is an investigation of those portions of the Catechism of the Council of Trent bearing upon the Eucharist, the Church, the conditions of receiving Grace, "Venial" Sins, Purgatory, communicating under both kinds, and the Mass. It fairly and fully exposes the inconsistencies, falsehoods, and evil effects of Roman Catholic doctrine, and will be useful to those who have to controvert the positions maintained by the members of the Papal Church. The work needs better correcting for the press. THE LIGHT OF LIFE: EVERY CHRISTIAN'S DUTY IN NEW TESTAMENT WORDS. Compiled by R. J. Ellis. Stock. A MANUAL of Christian Duty in the language of the Christian's text book is not so difficult to construct as it is to follow. Indeed one might make such books by the hundred, and yet find little aid in the practise of a solitary precept. Still it may be that some will obtain help from this classification of Christian duties, and the presentation in one view of all the teaching of our law-book thereupon. At least this may be said of Mr. Ellis's work, the classification is simple, and the collection of scripture texts complete. How I BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND A BAPTIST. By A. M'Craig. THE writer recites, in a simple and argumentative way, the circumstances attending his conversion from sin to holiness, and from pædobaptism, as taught in the Free Church of Scotland, to baptism as it is set forth in the New Testament. The recital is interesting, and its circulation will do good. It may be had of the author, Offord, Hunts. "OH God! I cannot help it, but at times -Tennyson's Harold, Act III., Scene 2. MIDLAND BAPTIST UNION. THE Annual Meeting was held at Sawley Sept. 11. At 10.30 a.m., after an introductory devotional service, conducted by Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., the Rev. S. Cox, President, delivered a very able and timely address on "Science and Theology; or the Reasonableness of the Cardinal Verities of the Christian Faith." A very hearty vote of thanks was passed, and the hope expressed that in the Expositor the address will receive the earnest attention of the young men and women of our churches. The report was read by Rev. W. Woods. The Union comprises 122 churches, and 15,433 members. Reference was made to the appointment of Rev. James Manning as Evangelist, and the encouraging results of his labours hitherto. Subsciptions had been received amounting to £102; and the committee, believing that the requisite funds would be in due time forthcoming, recommended that Mr. Manning be engaged for a further term of service. For the four weeks beginning Sept. 30, Mr. Manning will be employed at Melbourne, Birches Lane (near Wingfield, Derbyshire), Duffield, and Old Basford. A resolution was then passed to the effect that the Midland Union be affiliated with the larger Baptist Union of Great Britain, and subscribe two guineas annually to its funds, and appointing the Revs. E. Stevenson and R. Caven as representatives at the forthcoming meetings at Newport. Reference being made to the fact that Mr. Bennett, of Sawley, who, under the circumstances, would have been foremost in shewing hospitality to the friends assembled, was at that time lying seriously ill, the Union passed a resolution of sympathy; and, at the request of the President, the Rev. J. Clifford offered special prayer on behalf of our afflicted brother and his family. The company then adjourned for dinner in the school-room, after which the remaining business was disposed of. The fine morning having turned to an exceedingly dull and rainy afternoon, obliged the friends to forego both the intended walk by the Trent and visit (to which they had been invited) to the grounds of the liberal-hearted clergyman of the village. At 3.30 service was held in the chapel, when the Rev. E. Medley preached from 1 Cor. xv. 58. Then followed tea, and at 6.30 the Rev. R. F. Griffiths preached from John xx. 1-8, on the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus as the pledge and pattern of our own. The attendance at these meetings was not large; but in spite of the unfavourable weather all present seemed glad that they had come. The Sawley friends were unwearied in their efforts to promote the comfort of their visitors, and received, as they merited, very hearty thanks from the brethren and sisters. The place of meeting next year will be Woodgate, Loughborough. The President elect is the Rev. J. W. Thew, and the preacher the Rev. F. B. Meyer, B.A. W. R. STEVENSON, Secretary. LINCOLNSHIRE AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE S. S. TEACHERS' UNION. THE forty-ninth anniversary commenced, at Fleet, July 5, with a prayer-meeting at seven a.m. The Rev. T. Watkinson, took the chair at ten, and the reports were read. At eleven Mr. Abraham Swan, of Derby, preached the annual sermon from Luke v. 5, and afterwards received a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive discourse. At 2.30 Mr. Charles Faulkner, of Sutterton, presided, and the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., read the paper, part of which appears in this Magazine, and the thanks of the meeting were given to the writer. The next meeting to be at Boston, on the last Thursday but one in July, 1878. Mr. Thomas Sharman, Chairman, he being the Founder of this Union, and the year 1878 being the Jubilee Year. Mr. Fred Jones, of Chilwell College, to be the preacher; or, in case of failure, the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A. Subject of paper, "Class, or School Discipline, and how to secure it;" writer, Rev. A. J. Robinson. The Monthly Correspondence of schools to be as follows:-High Street, Boston, to be with Spalding; Long Sutton with Witham Green, Boston; Gosberton with Fleet; Coningsby with Gedney Broadgate; Sutterton with Pinchbeck. The evening meeting commenced at 6.30, and was addressed by the Revs. Mr. Harcourt, G. Towler, T. Watkinson, A. J. Robinson, and Messrs. Godsmark and Fysh. JOSEPH BEST, Hon. Sec. CHURCHES. CHURCH REGISTER. CLAYTON, near Bradford.-Our bazaar, just held, has realized the handsome sum of £560 towards the reduction of the debt of £890 upon our Sunday and day schools. The bazaar was opened by Mr. A. Illingworth, late M.P., who contributed, besides an interesting speech, a donation of £20. The Revs. R. Hardy, B. Wood, W. Smith, the pastor, J. Brown, and others, took part in the opening proceedings. Friends from the neighbourhood gave their generous help, and, together with the exertions of the promoters of the bazaar, secured a success which will never be forgotten. CRADLEY HEATH-APPEAL FOR HELP. -This church is in a state of pecuniary embarrassment, owing to the "badness of the local trades. There is £270 mortgage on the chapel. The principal sources of its revenue are derived from the iron and chain trades, which have been in a state of depression for some years, and the workmen have scarcely been able to supply the wants of their own households, and have, therefore, however willing, had nothing to spare for the cause of Christ. Under these circumstances we confidently appeal to the sympathy and assistance of our sister churches of the General Baptist denomination. On behalf of the church, SAMUEL PRIEST, Deacons. This appeal is endorsed, from knowledge of the local circumstances, by Revs. E. C. Pike, B.A., (Secretary of the Association), W. Lees, of Walsall, G. W. Tooley, T. Lewis, and W. Millington. I shall be glad to take charge of and transmit any help to our friends.-ED. FINCHLEY.-Sermons on behalf of the building fund of the new chapel in East Finchley were preached, Aug. 19, by the Rev. J. Batey and T. Hill, and Aug. 30 by J. Clifford. All the congregations were good, and the collections at this, the first anniversary, inclusive of subscriptions, etc., since the opening, amount to £57, reducing the debt to £113. It is intended to hold a bazaar next Easter still further to reduce the debt. Goods or money will be gratefully received towards this object, which may be sent to Miss Batey, 22, Vernon Terrace, East End, Finchley, London. Will the friends, and these are many, who desire the extension of the denomination in the suburbs of the metropolis, kindly help us? LENTON.-Anniversary sermons were preached by the Rev. E. Hall Jackson, Sept. 9. Tea and public meeting, Sept. 397 10. Addresses by the Revs. W. Dyson, F. G. Buckingham, E. J. Silverton, and the pastor, J. Parkinson. Collections, over £19. STANTON HILL, near Mansfield.-The little cause established here was originally connected with Sutton Ashfield, but the friends feeling the need of a place of their own purchased a piece of ground and built a commodious school-room. They are now building a chapel, the Memorial Stones of which were laid July 9th, by Mr. W. Bennett, Sawley, Mr. H. Hill, Nottingham, and Mr. W. Ashby and Mr. J. G. Winks of Leicester. A tea meeting was held in a large tent erected for the occasion, and after tea a public meeting was held, presided over by A. Goodliffe, Esq., of Nottingham, and addresses delivered by Rev. W. Millington, Messrs. Ashby, Winks, Law, and Cotes. Proceeds of services and contributions, nearly £100. MINISTERIAL. A PASTOR'S SILVER WEDDING.-The Rev. T. Barrass, pastor of the Queen Street Church, Peterborough, having completed the twenty-fifth year of his pastorate, special services were held in honour of the event Sept. 5th. In the afternoon the Rev. H. B. Robinson, of Wisbech, preached a sermon to a large congregation, which contained a graceful compliment to the pastor, and an earnest appeal to his congregation for a more thorough devotion to God. At half-past five a public tea was held in the schoolroom, which was crowded, about 500 being present. At seven o'clock a public meeting was held, and the chapel was crowded. The Rev. T. Barrass presided, and said "Twenty-five years ago their number of members was 30; since then, 529 had been baptized; 201 received from other churches; 14 restored to fellowship; making a total of 774. There had been dismissed 159, excluded 30, withdrawn 33, removed to various places and out of the country 85, died 63: total 370. The present number of church members on the books was 404. During the twenty-five years the following sums had been raised-For the Westgate chapel debt and alterations, £700; for the New Fletton chapel, about £500; for Stanground chapel, £30; for the Queen Street chapel and renovations, £4,600, of which sum £100 was still owing. Received from the sale of Westgate chapel, £750. Last year the sum collected for all purposes was £831. Twenty-five years ago they had in the Sunday school 60 scholars, and nine teachers; but now they had three schools, 556 scholars, and fifty-eight teachers. Those statistics were faithful records of their condition. The pastor and the deacons also had worked together with unbroken peace. So far as he knew no unkindness had ever passed between the pastor and the deacons, or between the deacons themselves. He could not remember a single instance, and that he held to be a matter for the devoutest thankfulness. Then, if they asked him how it was that the church had thus been preserved in peace, he could tell them that it was by not pressing the right of a small majority. When differences had arisen, they had prayed about them, talked about them, until they could meet together about them. That ought to be the guiding principle of a free church." Addresses were given by Revs. W. Orton and A. Murray, and then Mr. S. C. Colman, on behalf of the church, presented to Mr. Barrass a purse containing £120, a valuable timepiece, and a study table. Mr. C. Roberts, jun., presented an address in the name of the school. Mr. Barrass warmly thanked the donors, and addresses from Rev. H. Watts, Mr. Pentney, D. Dawson, and Mr. C. Roberts, sen., concluded a most interesting and memorable meeting. ROBINSON, REV. A. J.-On Friday, Aug. 24, a few friends met to show, in a practical way, their sympathy with the Rev. A. J. Robinson, who nearly the whole time he has been in Holbeach has had some member of his family ill, and has just lost one by death. Miss Holt, in the name of the subscribers (who represent nearly every denomination in the town), handed a purse of money to the pastor, at the same time assuring him that he had the sympathy and best wishes of many in the town. Mr. Robinson is open to supply vacant pulpits with a view to the pastorate. AVERY, MR. W. J., has received and accepted a most hearty and unanimous invitation to the post of assistant pastor in the Praed Street Church, meeting in Praed Street and Westbourne Park Chapels. Mr. Avery commences his work, Sept. 30, the day of the Dedicatory Service in Westbourne Park Chapel. BAPTISMS. BRADFORD, Tetley St.-Thirteen, by B. Wood. LEICESTER, Archdeacon Lane.-Five, by W. Bishop. LEICESTER, Dover Street.-Two, by W. Evans. LONDON, Commercial Road.-Five, by J. Fletcher. LONDON, Praed Street.-Six. PETERBORO'.-Four, by T. Barrass. Skingle. WIRKSWORTH.-Five, by W. E. Davies. SCHOOL SERMONS. EAST KIRKBY.-Aug. 5. Preacher, A. Firth. Collections, £18. MARRIAGES. BENNETT-CRAWFORD.-Sept. 4, by licence, at the Baptist Chapel, Kegworth, by Rev. T. Yates, Francis, eldest son of Henry Bennett, Hill-house, Loughborough, to Mary Jane ("Pollie"), second daughter of George Crawford, Spring-house Farm, Kegworth. DARBY-WINTERTON.-Sept. 16, by licence, at the Baptist Chapel, Barrow-on-Soar, by Mr. J. Stenson, of Sawley, Mr. William Darby to Miss Eliza Winterton, both of Barrow. This being the first marriage in the new chapel, an elegantly bound Bible was presented to the newly-married pair. OBITUARIES. BELLAMY.-Elizabeth Bellamy, the oldest member of the Eastgate church, Louth, fell asleep on May 29, aged seventy-four years. Her conversion was one of the firstfruits of the ministry of the Rev. T. Kiddall. She was baptized on the 11th of January, 1829, in the quaint old village chapel at Maltby. Her life was a quiet one; but she found opportunities to engage in various works of unobtrusive Christian usefulness. She was no stranger to trouble; often her sky was overcast, but at evening time it was very light. Shortly before our sister passed away an old familiar friend asked, "Do you know me ?" She looked intently, and answered, "No." "Do you know Jesus?" The reply was instant, "Yes! and He knows me." "Are you right for heaven ?" "I hope so." "Is Jesus with you?" "Yes: and I want no one else. I am right for glory." Having left this beautiful testimony to comfort sorrowing relatives and friends, and confirm the faith, and encourage the hopefulness of those with whom she had been for so long a time united in Christian fellowship, our much beloved, and now much missed sister, passed away to be "for ever with the Lord." OAKES.-At Halifax, Aug. 9, in his sixtyeighth year, Mr. Thomas Oakes, who will be known to many of our readers, having, in former years, been a prominent member of North Parade church. He was baptized in 1827, and for many years held the office of deacon. In 1871 he united with the church under the pastorate of Dr. Mellor. He was also a local preacher, and for a long time he was Superintendent of the Sunday school, and to the last maintained his interest in the young. RATCLIFFE, MRS.-Addendum.-In the "notice" on page 274 no reference was made to the cheerful and continuous efforts of Mrs. R. in connection with her husband, to establish the G. B. cause at Magdalen and Stowbridge. For nineteen years she made her house, every week, into a comfortable chapel, as well as giving a cordial Christian welcome to her fireside to any of Christ's servants who came to supply the pulpit, and that at a time when her health was so delicate, and family cares so pressing, that most women would have shrunk from such additional labour, but which to her was only a labour of love. WALKER.-Mrs. Ann Walker died Aug. 24, aged eighty-five, having been a member of the G. B. church at Arnold for nearly sixty years. Her mental and physical powers remained strong and vigorous to a good old age, and she was able to attend the house of God until about a month before her death. In sickness she was cheerful and resigned, and died in the faith of Christ. A large concourse attended her funeral, and testified their regard for her memory. |