he is capable of writing, "Dissenting societies are not churches at all, but clubs"; and again, with a refinement of eloquence and a copiousness of figure which merit special eulogy, he adds"Dissenting ministers are merely gastaps, unconnected with the main. Their ministrations can have no more value than grace without meat, a shell without the kernel, or a knife without the blade." The gas-tap theory of a dissenting ministry is charming; but scarcely so charming as the reverend Principal himself, who is connected with the great national gasometer, and is a specimen of what a dissenting minister's "ministrations" might develop into if only he would consent to use the gas manufactured at Westminster. Not that this is the worst product. Time was when little besides suffocating marsh gas came from this same source, and everything that was free, and noble, and manly, was poisoned by its deadly fumes. But judging by this Carnarvon light, the 'gas" is still far from the requisite purity and strength. Evidently he cannot see his way to respectful speech and gentlemanly behaviour, and somehow or other the bishops are mostly in the dark when questions of humanity and justice are to be settled at Westminster-not even one of them being able the other day to record his vote for the abolition of the brutalities of "pigeon shooting matches"; whilst the Archbishop of Canterbury has declared the "eastward position is legal"-this ordinarily clearsighted person not being able to see that the decision of the Courts is exactly contrary. If this is what comes of being connected with the main, it is evidently a good thing for the nation that there

66

are

some "ministrations". more than half of those carried on in the kingdomindependent of the impure and inadequate supply of the great national gasometer.

VI. MR. GLADSTONE'S APPEAL FOR IRELAND.-Saturday night, August 18th, will be memorable in the great statesman's history, for a speech, so lofty in tone, rich in pathos, fervid in true feeling, and Christian in its intelligence and spirit, that nothing better was said on the following Sunday in any of the churches or chapels of the land. It is matchlessly beautiful in its thorough manliness, essential chivalry, and intense sympathy. It was an appeal to the Irish party of antipathies and defiances and insults; but it was not impatient or vehement, retaliatory or weak, but full of compacted manly strength and Christian tenderness. Alas! it had little

effect on those to whom it was addressed; but the measure of its worth is no more in that than in the puerile misinterpretations and false charges of the incapable soul that loaded his pen with sneers in the evening Globe of the following Monday.

VII. IMPORTANT PETITION AGAINST THE OPIUM TRADE.-Mr. Arthur Pease, M.P., has presented to the House of Commons a petition against the Opium Trade signed by nearly ALL (231) the Protestant Missionaries in China, which begins thus:—

"The petition of the undersigned Missionaries and Ministers of the Gospel in China humbly sheweth:

"That opium is a great evil to China, and that the baneful effects of its use cannot be easily overstated. It enslaves its victim, squanders his substance, destroys his health, weakens his mental powers, lessens his self-esteem, deadens his conscience, unfits him for his duties, and leads to his steady descent, morally, socially, and physically."

After pointing out the connection of the British Government with the trade, its rapid increase, and that of the native growth of opium, the injury done to commerce and to the work of Christian Missionaries, &c., the petition concludes with the following prayer:—

"Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Honourable House will early consider this question with the utmost care, take measures to remove from the British treaty with China the clause legalizing the opium trade, and restrict the growth of the poppy in India within the narrowest possible limits. Your Honourable House will thus leave China free to deal with the gigantic evil which is eating out her strength, and will at the same time remove. a great hindrance to legitimate commerce, and to the spread of the Christian religion in this country. We also implore your Honourable House so to legislate as to prevent opium from becoming as great a Scourge to the native races of India and Burma as it is to the Chinese; for our knowledge of the evil done to the Chinese leads us to feel the most justifiable alarm, lest other races should be brought to suffer like them from the curse of opium."

VIII. LITERARY HONOURS.-In the examination lists of the Whitworth Scholarship the name of W. Ernest Dalby, son of Mrs. Dalby, matron of the College, appears second in the honour list. This entitles him to a scholarship of £75 per annum for two years. His brother, Frank Dalby, has recently passed the Cambridge Junior Local Examination with honours in the second class.

ILLUSTRATIONS AND MEDITATIONS: OR, FLOWERS FROM A PURITAN'S GARDEN, DISTILLED AND DISPENSED. By C. H. Spurgeon. Passmore & Alabaster. SIMILES, metaphors, and parables carry a long life. They are the teaching of exhaustless and abiding Nature, and of the permanent elements in human life, and appear in different nations and in different ages with perennial freshness. Much of the charm of the gospels is in their wealth of illustration, and the teacher that has the greatest facility in originating or gathering metaphor has the readiest access to, and the widest influence on the minds of men. Thomas Manton, through whose exposition of James we travelled with real pleasure and lasting profit twenty years ago, was such a teacher, and Mr. Spurgeon has in this volume given a new setting to the expositor's similes, expanded and moralized upon them, infused a devotional element into them, and made a book charming in its figures, racy and stirring in its appeal, and devout and practical in its spirit. It is easy to imagine with what delight Mr. Spurgeon's skilled hand treats such sayings as the following"The key rusteth that is seldom turned in the lock," "It is easier to crush the egg than to kill the serpent," "There is a time for the trumpet as well as the pipe," "When the sun is gone all the candles in the world cannot make it day.'

THE DISRUPTION, AND OTHER STORIES. By W. Nicolson, M.A. Stock, London; Gemmell, Edinburgh.

THE "other stories" are "Dr. Chalmers" -an address on the occasion of his centenary, brief but full, eulogistic but discriminating, sympathetic but strong; "John Bunyan"-an old and familiar theme treated with vivacity and vigour; "Savonarola""-a translation of Dr. Karl Hase's account of the great Florentine Reformer, and a "gem of purest ray serene"; "Swedenborg"- -a critical essay extending over one hundred and fifty pages, marked by singular penetration, firmness of grip, and soundness judgment on the life and work of that great allegorizing genius, old bachelor, industrious metallurgist, poet, theologian, and seer; "The Theology of Experience" -a rendering into English of a richly suggestive paper by Dr. Franz Theremin ; and forming, along with "The Philosophy of Religious Revival" (an essay which undeniably merits the high epithet of a

of

philosophy) and Christian Science," a fine exposition and a complete defence of Christianity in its attitude towards science.

The essay which gives the name to the volume is not the best or fullest, but it fixes with accuracy the place of the disruption" in the historical development of Scottish life, and interprets its promise for the future. The wide learning, strong thinking, and extremely high ability characterizing these essays render them nourishing in an exceptional degree.

BAPTIST WORTHIES.-ROBERT HALL. By W. Landels, D.D. Baptist Tract Society.

THE sixth sketch in "the series of distinguished men who have held and advocated the principles of the Baptist denomination" is devoted to the character and career of Robert Hall. The incidents of his history are related in a simple and attractive style; the qualities of his character, his undoubted oratorical genius, agonizing work, genuine humility, transparent sincerity, and penetrative earnestness, are set forth with discrimination and ability. Hall is compared with Chalmers, Irving, and Punshon, in sentences full of good sense; and the general estimate of Hall's work is formed with care and stated with wise restraint. Our young friends should secure all the numbers of this cheap and useful series.

THE TREASURY: A COMPANION TUNE BOOK TO "PSALMS AND HYMNS FOR SCHOOL AND HOME," WITH ADDITIONAL CHANTS, &c. Compiled and edited by Joseph B. Mead. Haddon & Co. MR. MEAD is to be cordially congratulated on achieving a triple success in a difficult work that of concentrating "the excellencies of all standard collections" of church and domestic music in one volume; of setting in sweet and tuneful harmonies the "favourites" of religious song; and in wedding to words of varying strain and feeling, appropriate and expressive tunes. The range of choice is very extensive, and the collection is adequate to every variety of metre. Brightness, fulness, ease, and sweetness are the features that will commend the "Treasury" whenever it is used alone, and some of its high-class compositions will render it a valuable supplement to others already in use Its price will doubtless facilitate its use to a large degree.

THE BAPTISTS AND QUAKERS IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 1560-1700. By J. Jackson Goadby, F.G.S. Fisher Unwin. THIS is not so much a "bye-path" in Baptist history as a full description of the course Baptists took in Northamptonshire from 1560 to 1700. There can be no doubt it is the result of immense labour; and to us Baptists "of the General interest

sort" it is of "particular"

for that our religious ancestors had "an early foothold in the county is beyond question. Moulton (of which William Carey was once pastor) and Peterborough are churches of that order which date back to the days of the Commonwealth, and there is every reason for supposing that other churches besides these existed at that period." Very much curious and rare information is collected in this pamphlet. We offer hearty thanks to the author for this most valuable contribution to Baptist history.

By

CHOICE SAYINGS. BEING NOTES OF EXPOSITION OF THE SCRIPTURES. Robert C. Chapman. London: Morgan & Scott, 12, Paternoster Buildings. THE following extracts show the character and quality of this book:-"To be. a true witness for Jesus, I must be much in His company, hear His voice, and observe His ways. How can we know the character of one with whom we have but little intercourse?" "Every wish that the Holy Ghost breathes into the soul of a believer is a voice which enters into the ear of God. We ought to go to God with our matters as altogether His." "As a vessel takes its shape from the mould, so should our will be formed in the mould of the will of God: then shall we have everything our own way." As a book of "morning thoughts" or suggestions for meditation it is fitted to do real good to many minds.

OLD FRIENDS AND NEW FACES. By G. Wilson M'Cree. National Temperance League, 337, Strand, London.

IT was high time a true word was spoken on behalf of the Christian principle and Christian motive of the founders and early workers in the great temperance reformation. This hurrying age forgets its benefactors; and applauds with echoing shouts any new worker who has audacity enough, not merely to claim the credit of the harvest of a half century, but also to traduce the character of the brave men who ploughed the soil amid the sneers and contempt of the onlookers, and sowed temperance seed amid wintry storms of neglect and opposition. Canon

Wilberforce and R. T. Booth are good men; but they are not the first Christian teetotalers by tens of thousands—and though it is good of them to come in and help carry the harvest, there is no need to misrepresent the workers of twenty, and thirty, and forty years ago. We are sorry it should be necessary for Mr. M'Cree to state this, but since it is necessary we welcome his pamphlet, and urge its extensive circulation as a matter of justice to those who are gone, and of inspiration and help for those who must still carry on the fight against the intemperance of the land.

THE PULPIT TREASURY. Edited by J. Sanderson, D.D. E. B. Trent, 757, Broadway, New York.

A BETTER monthly for preachers and students we have not seen; nor is it likely that one can be conducted on a better method. It reaches a singularly high range of inspiring and suggestive power, presents a beautiful combination of exposition and sermon, of biography and debate, of practical hints and devotional fervour. A wide circulation in this country would be a large and increasing benefit. It deserves unstinted commendation.

THE LORD'S PRAYER. By C. Stanford,

D.D. Macniven & Wallace, Edinburgh. ALTHOUGH one of the most familiar themes, yet the fresh thinking, spiritual fervour, wide reading, quick sympathy, and rare power of concise expression of Dr. Stanford issue in an exposition attractive for its sparkling vivacity and vigorous freshness, and rich in stimulus for faith and hope and prayer. "The Household Library of Exposition" can scarcely have a more helpful member.

THE NUMBER "SEVEN" IN SCRIPTURE. Compiled by S. A. Blackwood, C.B. Morgan & Scott.

THIS is not an exposition, but a compilation of all the passages in the Testaments in which the number seven occurs. Mr. Blackwood says: "We must surely acknowledge that a Divine design has caused this particular number to be so frequently employed, and to enter into the composition of the books of the Bible,-books written by so many hands and at such various periods. Whatever other object the Divine Author of the Bible may have had in view in making such frequent use of the number, it seems to be generally believed, for one thing at least, that it was intended to convey the idea of completeness, or perfection. Its first employment on the occasion of the completed work of crea

CONFERENCES.

The EASTERN CONFERENCE meets at Louth on Thursday, Sept. 13th. Rev. J. Bentley will preach at 11 a.m., in Northgate Chapel. The representatives will meet at two in the same place. A public meeting will be held in the evening in EASTGATE CHAPEL in support of the HOME MISSION. Chairman, Rev. Wm. Orton. Speakers: Revs. J. C. Jones, M.A., J. Jolly, B.A., T. Barrass, and S. H. Firks. C. BARKER, Sec.

CHAPELS.

HALIFAX.--The friends at North Parade have raised a fund and sent their pastor, Rev. Watson Dyson, for a tour to Switzerland and the Rhine for a month. The party consists of six, all from North Parade Church.

new

HEADCORN.-We have just succeeded in clearing off the debt on our school, built less than twelve months ago, and our little cause is being gradually consolidated. On Sunday the baptism of eight, a larger number than ever before known in Headcorn, created great interest.

LONGFORD, Salem.-The chapel, which has been closed for six weeks for painting, decorating, and other improvements, was re-opened Aug. 12th, when the Rev. Jno. R. Parker preached. Collections, £16 13s. The cost of the improvements amounted to £180, and from what has been received by friends of the pastor, and raised by friends connected with the place, a very small amount will be deficient. Mr. Punshon, an architect of Coventry, made the drawings, and Mr. Watts, of Longford, superintended the work, which has been done well, and which is greatly admired by all who have seen it. This commodious village sanctuary reflects the highest credit upon the people.

SCHOOL ANNIVERSARIES. EDGESIDE.-July 29. Preacher, Rev. W. March. Collections, £34.

BIRMINGHAM, Longmore Street.—July 22 and 23. Preacher, Rev. Carey Hood, of Coventry. Mr. Terrell gave an address to parents and scholars in the afternoon. On the Monday a tea meeting was held, followed by a public meeting. W. J. Nichols, Esq., presided, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. C. Hood and E. W. Cantrell, and others.

MINISTERIAL.

CANTRELL, REV. E. W., has removed to Chilwell Place, St. Paul's Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

RUSHBY, REV. C.-On Aug. 11 a meeting was held to commemorate the marriage of the pastor, Rev. C. Rushby, of Stalybridge, with Miss L. A. Smith, of Ashby. After tea, the Chairman, Mr. T. Hardy, alluded to the meeting held more than two years ago to welcome Mr. Rushby. They were now gathered together to welcome Mrs. Rushby. He asked them to do it in the grand old Lancashire fashion. Mr. John Broadhurst (the oldest male member) said, they could not allow this opportunity to pass without showing their love and esteem in a practical way. On behalf of the church and congregation he asked Mr. Rushby to accept the pianoforte on the platform as a memento of the occasion. Although the instrument was a valuable one, it only represented a small part of the love and esteem in which he was held. The inscription, engraved on

solid silver, said no more than all felt. Mr. G. Hopwood, on behalf of the young men, presented an illuminated address on vellum, handsomely framed. Words of

352

DEWSBURY.-Two, by G. Eales.

EAST KIRKBY.-Seven, by G. Robinson.
HEADCORN.-Eight, by J. A. Andrews.
HITCHIN.-Five, by F. J. Bird.
KIRKBY WOODHOUSE.-July 29, thirteen, by S.
Harvey (two Wesleyans). August 12, eight,
by A. Shacklock (one a Wesleyan).
LONDON, Bethnal Green Road.-Eleven, by W.
H. Smith.

LONDON, Church Street.-Two, by R. P. Cook.
Praed Street.-Eight, by W. J. Avery.
LOUGHBOROUGH, Wood Gate.-Two, by C. W.
Vick.

MOSSLEY.-One, by J. Whitehead. NOTTINGHAM, New Basford.-Four, by W. R. Stevenson.

NUNEATON.-Three, by D. Asquith.

MARRIAGE.

BARKER-SCARR.-Aug. 13th, at Wellington Road Chapel, Todmorden, by Rev. F. Cunliffe, Mr. Alfred Barker, of Hulme, Manchester, to Miss Betsy Scarr, of Todmorden.

OBITUARIES.

BURTON, HARRIET, relict of the late Thomas Burton, minister of the Asterby and Donington churches, passed to her eternal rest on the 22nd of July. For the long period of sixtyfive years she had been an honourable and consistent member of Northgate Church, Louth. She had never been known to be absent at other places of worship when her own was open. Her influence as wife and mother was very great, and her children and grandchildren bless her memory for the cheerful and holy example she set them, some of whom mainly through her loving words were led to the Saviour. Of her it may truly be said, "She hath done what she could."

HALL, ALFRED, an old and worthy member of the church at Osmaston Road, Derby, died at his post on the morning of Thursday, June 28th. A native of Loughborough, and connected with a good General Baptist family there, he became a resident in Derby many years ago, entering the service of Mr. Johnson, watchmaker and jeweller, and remaining in that service for a period of over

thirty years. He was a good man, kind, gentle, and faithful in his daily life. His genial temper and obliging disposition gave him great favour with all the people with whom he had to do. His church membership was all that could be desired, attentive, consistent, earnest, and sincere. In the domestic circle he was greatly beloved; in his daily business he was thoroughly trusted and esteemed, and all who knew him admired his fidelity and respected him for his personal worth. His end, though sudden, was peaceful; and amid the sorrowful regrets of many friends his mortal ashes were laid to rest in the Old Cemetery at Derby, on Monday morning, the second of July.

SANBY.-At Southport, on the 23rd July, Mr. Kemp Sanby, late of Linden Mount, Mapperley Road, Nottingham. Mr. S. was for some years a member and a deacon of the church at Woodborough Road, but he will be more generally known and remembered by the older ministers and friends as the leading deacon of the then united churches of Fleet and Long Sutton when under the pastoral care of his father-in-law, the Rev. Thomas Rogers. His sons desire to record, with gratitude to God, his peaceful and painless departure, in his 88th year. Just before entering into rest he repeated, with his usual distinctness and deliberation, the lines

"Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;"

and lastly

"Cover my defenceless head

With the shadow of Thy wing."

He was interred at Southport, beside the remains of his only daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Hill Halford, whose decease was noticed in these columns, only a few months since.

WHERRY, JANE ELIZABETH, died at Peterborough, June 27th, 1883, after a very prolonged illness, borne with exemplary patience. She was the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Halford, and the grand-draught, on the maternal side, of the late Rev. J. Binns, pastor of the church at Bourne. She was brought up in a Christian home, and was led to consecrate herself to the Lord in early life. She was baptized and received into the fellowship of the church, at Whittlesea, and gave herself to active Christian labour. She was united in marriage to the late Mr. John Wherry, and sympathized with him in his desires and efforts to promote the spiritual good of the neighbourhood in which he resided. She never seemed to grudge any labour that she could do for Christ, and always gave a hospitable welcome to pastors and Christian friends who visited her home. The prosperity of the cause of Christ was a source of abundant joy to her. She was sorely tried by domestic bereavement. About ten years ago Mrs. Wherry was received into Queen Street Church, Peterborough. Her desire was still to work for Christ, but He called her to suffer; and for many years, her sufferings were heavy. It was a sore privation to her not to be able to attend "the services of the sanctuary," but she was divinely sustained. She remembered, with joy, past privileges, and derived both pleasure and profit from the hymns with which she was familiar, and the word of God which was her delight. To the last she retained her confidence in the Lord Jesus, and her hope of a home above; and in relation to her many sufferings, was heard to say, "He hath done all things well." She died at the age of 73 years, and was interred in Peterborough Cemetery. Her funeral sermon was preached by her pastor, from Psalm lxxiii. 26. T. BARRASS.