be happy with him. And thus, with hands just clasped on high, and a bright smile on his face, this poor man went away to the long embrace of the feet of his Saviour and his God. Thus much Sookheram and others witnessed all through. It was such a death of courage and joy,' says the preacher.

66

About the same time in the same village, died another of our members E named RAJCHUNDER, one of three brothers, all for many years in the church, and sharers with it of many trials at various times. Rajchunder remained a quiet consistent Christian to the last. His end was characteristic of his life. He was troubled with no doubts as to the future; burdened with no care as to his family; but, poor as he was, committed everything into the hands of his faithful Saviour, and died so calmly as to make his teacher thank God, and speak again and again to me of the sustaining power of Divine

grace.

"PONCHONMALÁ,

some fourteen

years ago, was a young Hindoo widow. She gave up caste, came among the Christians, and after some months was married to a young man named Sheetol. She was baptized; and Sheetol became a native preacher. Ponchonmala was all through a quiet well-conducted wife, a consistent Christian woman, and, what one does not always meet with in these parts, a discreet mother of children. She was taken ill with small-pox just after giving birth to a fifth child. Terrible as the disease was, and painful as the peculiar season of it was, all the villagers testify to her patience in suffering, her unyielding faith in the Redeemer, and the last prayerful, peaceful hours of her life. I myself can perceive the effects of this life and this death in the children and in the husband to this day; they lisp out words of prayer morning and evening, and he is as chastened a young man as I know anywhere."

GENERAL.

THE past month has been almost wholly devoid of political interest. The elections being over, and it being doubtful whether Parliament will meet before February, noble lords and honourable gentlemen have been free to pursue their travels on the Continent and to achieve their conquests on the Moors; and about the only thing that has excited interest during the month has been the voyage of the Great Eastern, with its precious freight, which, alas! it has left at the bottom of the sea. At the time we write

the great ship has but just returned. Whether it will make another attempt this year, or whether the cable it has carried will remain among "the treasures of the deep," remains as yet undecided. One thing is certain, that a telegraphic cable will be laid between England and America. No one can be indifferent to the success of an enterprise involving such important results.

Once more England is alarmed at the approach of the cholera. The fearful diseasewhich has already devastated so many countries in the East-appears to be approaching,

slowly but steadily, towards our own shores; and no one can tell how soon the dreadful visitant will make its appearance amongst us. Already preparations are being made for its arrival. Scientific men and medical professors are considering the best way to meet it. The only way to meet it is, apparently, to observe those laws of health, which, during ordinary times, are but too much neglected: and those who have to do with the poor, or who visit neighbourhoods where the poor reside, cannot too earnestly urge temperance, cleanliness, and the careful observance of sanitary laws. When these are observed, all has been done that can be done by man. The rest we must leave, with a calm and trustful heart, to Him who is too wise to err, and is too good to be unkind.

Our own denomination has lost during the month two faithful missionaries. The Rev. W. K. Rycroft has died in the Bahamas, and the Rev. J. Diboll at Sierra Leone. Both losses are heavy to the Mission, and heavy in the fields of their respective labours. "They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

DOMESTIC.

DRUMMOND ROAD, BERMONDSEY.-The foundation-stone of the Baptist chapel, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, was laid by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, on Friday, Aug. 4th. It is intended, with side galleries, to hold about 600 persons, and is being built under the auspices of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, who has engaged to provide £500 towards its erection, £500 more being contributed by friends connected with the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The total cost of the chapel complete will be £1,500, so that the sum of £500 will have to be provided by the friends who will be gathered there for worship. Already there is a preaching-station in the neighbourhood, supplied by the students of Mr. Spurgeon's College, with between twenty and thirty communicants, and a Sundayschool well attended. Within the last two or three years, an addition has been made to the population of fully 10,000 persons, for whom no spiritual accommodation has been provided; the only other place of worship in the neighbourhood being a small iron chapel just erected by the Independents. After singing and prayer, Mr. Spurgeon said, his object in having the chapel built in that neighbourhood was a purely disinterested one. He and his congregation would be as happy in their own Tabernacle, as far as they personally were concerned, if this chapel had never been contemplated; but, when he looked around and considered the spiritual destitution, he felt constrained to strive to supply the need by every means in his power. It had been said that working men would not listen to the Gospel, but he believed that was a libel on them, and he hoped to see this chapel full of them, for he was sure they were attached to the Bible and valued their souls as much as any other class. He then called on Mr. William Olney to read the financial report. He also called on the Rev. J. Offord, of Kensington Palace Gardens Chapel, and the Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, to address the meeting; and then, having laid the stone, and prayer having been offered by the Rev. B. Davies, of Greenwich, the company adjourned to tea at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. In the evening, a public meeting was held in the lecture hall of the Tabernacle, presided over by Mr. Spurgeon, when addresses were delivered by Mr. Cowdy, of Arthur Street, Walworth; Mr. Varley, of Notting Hill; Mr. Davies, of Greenwich; Mr. Genders, of Wandsworth; and Mr. John Olney.

OLD CHAPEL, SHARNBROOK.-On Tuesday, July 11th, the preliminary re-opening services in connection with the above place of worship were held. The old chapel has now disappeared and an enlarged one taken its place. The old building was a pantiled conventicle of the eighteenth century of the most

primitive construction. The restoration and enlargement have been effected in a very pleasing and judicious manner. The style of architecture is of Venetian character; the exterior front is of white brick with coloured arches and cornice; in the pediment will be a clock for the use of the parish. The burial-ground will be enclosed with suitable walls; and the frontage to the street will have iron palisades and entrance gates. The total cost will be about £650. On the day named, Mr. J. Wells, of the Surrey Tabernacle, preached in the morning and afternoon, and Mr. J. Foreman, of London, in the evening, to large congregations. The following ministers also took part in the services Mr. Wyard, of London; Mr. J. Wyard, of St. Neot's; Mr. Willis, of Raunds; Mr. Ward, of Irthlingborough ; Mr. Kitchen, of Ringstead; Mr. Wilson, of Riseley; and Mr. A. Peet, the pastor. A goodly number sat down to dinner, and nearly 500 to tea, in barns kindly lent by J. Gibbard, Esq., and Messrs. Poole and Allen. The amount received, including collections and gifts, was £178 5s. At the close of the evening service the pastor announced that Mr. Ward had given him a promise of £200 towards this £250, and had also presented the church with one of Milner's fire-proof safes for the protection of their deeds. A Bible and hymn book for the pulpit were given, the former by Miss Ward, the latter being purchased with contributions collected by Mrs. J. Fountain. The chapel will be completed by the end of harvest, the congregation, however, worshipping in it on the Sabbath.

BERKHAMPSTEAD.-A new Baptist chapel was opened at Great Berkhampstead on Tues day, Aug. 1st, in place of the old structure erected in 1722. The new chapel is in the decorated style of early English architecture. It contains sittings for 540 persons, whilst the old chapel would only accommo date 390 persons. At the rear of the chapel are large and commodious school-rooms adjoining, of a corresponding style of architecture. The total cost of the chapel and schools is considerably under £2,000, including the site. The opening service on the Tuesday morning was well attended. An excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Burns, from Genesis xxviii. 11-22. A public dinner and tea were afterwards held in the school-rooms. At the evening service there was a crowded congregation. devotional parts of the service were conducted by the minister of the chapel, the Rev. J. Lawton, and the Rev. Mr. Foster, of Wendover. A sermon was preached by the Rev. D. Katterns, of Hackney, from 1 Timothy ii. 19. After the service the Rev. T. Lawton announced that £1,004 had been subscribed to the building fund, leaving

The

The collections

£600 still to be raised. amounted to about £97, of which one gentleman gave a donation of £50.

INGHAM, NORFOLK.-The Baptist Church at Ingham, in Norfolk, have celebrated the entrance of their pastor, Mr. Venimore, on the fortieth year of his ministry among them, by a handsome testimonial, expressive of their esteem for his character, and their sense of the value of his services. The presentation, which had been delayed by the illness of the pastor, took place at the Lecture Hall, Stalham, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at a tea-meeting of the subscribers and friends, John Silcock, Esq., one of the deacons, in the chair. After singing and prayer, Mr. Silcock, in a feeling and appropriate address, presented the testimonial, which amounted to 130 guineas. This munificent donation was suitably acknowledged by Mr. Venimore, who attributed the long continuance of his ministry at Ingham to the fact that he had had, during all the thirty-nine years of its duration, a succession of rightminded and unselfish deacons, only anxious to promote the well-being of the church by cordial co-operation with its pastor. He likewise gratefully owned the uniform affec tion of the church and congregation, and further stated that the number of members added to the church during his ministry was 195, of whom 105 remain. Robert Cooke, Esq., another of the deacons, then presented Mr. Venimore with a book containing a list of the subscribers to the testimonial; and further addresses were given by Mr. T. Slipper, who had taken a very active part in this proceeding, as well as by the Rev. Joseph Hasler, of Neatishead, and Messrs. G. S. Barber, of Sutton; S. C. Cooke, of Horstead; and S. B. Cooke, of Dilham. The pastor closed this gratifying and pleasant meeting with prayer and the benediction.

The

CANTERBURY ROAD, KILBurn. opening services of the Canterbury Road Chapel, Kilburn, took place on the 27th July, when the chapel was well filled. The Rev. J. A. Spurgeon preached. The preachers for the following Sunday were the Rev. J. Burns, D.D., in the morning, the Rev. W. G. Lewis in the afternoon, and the Rev. Henry Christopherson in the evening. On the Monday a tea and public meeting was held in the chapel, when tables were gratuitously provided for upwards of 200 persons. George Axton, Esq., presided. The Rev. T. Hall, the pastor, gave a brief verbal statement of pecuniary matters, after which most cheering addresses were delivered by the Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., J. C. Gallaway, M.A., W. Stott, J. B. Wright, and H. Tarrant, Esq. The Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, M. A., preached on the Thursday, and these interesting services were brought to a conclusion on the following Sunday, by

discourses from the Rev. John Clifford, and the Rev. Joseph Angus, D.D., Principal of Regent's Park College. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was afterwards administered, when Dr. Augus presided, assisted by the pastor of the church. The collections, including the profits of the tea, amounted to nearly £50. The total cost of the chapel, including boundary walls. &c., will be £1,100. Only about one-half of this sum has been raised.

RYE HILL, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.-Recognition services in connection with the induction of the Rev. T. Harwood Pattison, as minister of the above chapel, were held on Thursday, July 27th. At five o'clock a large number of the members of the congregation and their friends sat down to tea. After tea a meeting was held, presided over by S. R. Pattison, Esq., of London, the father of the new minister. The meeting having been opened with praise and prayer, the chairman, in the course of an able address, expressed the satisfaction it had given him that his son had selected the ministry in preference to another honourable and lucrative profession in which he had abundant prospects of success. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev. George Bell, the Rev. Mr. Hanson, the Rev. J. W. Lance, the former pastor of the congregation, the Rev. Dr. Bruce, and Councillor Benson, in the course of which reference was made to the spiritual destitution of some parts of the town, and to the necessity for an increased supply of ministers, and kind wishes expressed for the success of the young minister in his future career. After a suitable address from Mr. Pattison, in reply to the kind wishes that had been expressed on his behalf, and in which he referred to the flourishing state of the congregation, and the unanimity that prevailed amongst the members, the meeting was brought to a close with praise and prayer.

CINDERFORD.--The anniversary services of the above place of worship were held on July 9th, when two excellent sermons were preached by the Rev. C. Stovel, of London, in the morning from Eph. ii. 10; in the evening from the latter clause of Heb. iii. 6. The collections during the day amounted to £22 11s. 7d. On the following Tuesday a tea-meeting was held in the school-room, when upwards of 600 people sat down to the repast, which had been gratuitously provided by the ladies of the church and congregation. In the evening a public meeting was held, when the chair was taken by T. Batten, Esq., of Coleford, and admirable addresses were delivered by the Revs. C. Stovel; T. Jones, of Lydbrook; W. Foster, of Hereford; S. Webb, of Blakeney; aud W. H. Tetley, of Coleford. After the Rev. C Stovel's speech a collection was made, which realized £7 10s. The whole proceeds of the

anniversary services, together with subscriptions, amounted to £120.

ROMFORD, ESSEX.-On the 11th of July, special services were held at Salem Chapel, Romford, the occasion being the fourteenth anniversary, to which additional interest was given by the resignation of the Rev. John Gibbs. In the afternoon the Rev. James Spurgeon, father of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, delivered a discourse from Acts viii. 35; after which, a number of the friends took tea in the adjoining school-room. Subsequently a testimonial of £70 was presented to the retiring pastor, together with a numerously-signed address, and a handsome purse to Mrs. Gibbs. The latter was presented by the hands of one of her former Bible-class students, who alluded in moving terms to the great benefit Mrs. Gibbs had achieved both at Romford and in a former sphere of labour at Millwall. In the evening a sermon was preached from 2 Timothy ii. 19, by the Rev. D. Katterns, of Hackney.

SOUTHWELL, NOTTS.-A public meeting was held in the Baptist chapel, Southwell, on Tuesday, August 1st, to recognise the Rev. James Shaw, late of Whitestone, as the pastor of the church. A large company partook of tea in the school-room. After tea a public meeting was held, which was opened by singing. The Rev. W. Underwood, president of Chillwell College, read a portion of Scripture, and offered prayer. Mr. Cook, one of the deacons, at the request of the chairman, stated the reasons which had induced the church to invite Mr. Shaw to become their pastor, after which the new pastor gave his reasons for accepting the invitation. Addresses were then delivered by the Revs. J. Edwards, of Nottingham; W. Underwood, of Chillwell; J. Morton, of Collingham; W. R. Stevenson, M.A., Classical Tutor of Chillwell College; and W. Wallis, of Calverton. The friends of the cause expressed their full satisfaction with the proceedings of the evening, and look hopefully towards the future.

LEICESTER, VICTORIA ROAD.-The memorial stone of the above edifice was laid on Thursday, August 3rd, by Sir S. Morton Peto, Bart., M.P. The weather proving unfavourable, the trowel was at once presented by R. Harris, Esq., and the formality of laying the stone by Sir Morton was proceeded with. The assembly then proceeded to a shed which had been provided for the occasion, and addresses were delivered by Sir S. Marton Peto, J. D. Harris, Esq., M.P., the Revs. W. Brock, J. P. Mursell, T. Lomas, T. Stevenson, and W. Woods. The following gentlemen also took various parts in the interesting ceremony, Revs. W. Wilkinson, and E. G. Cecil, Messrs. G. Vicars, T. G. Rust, and J. Baines. Notwithstanding the incessant rain, the assembly remained, and

evinced great interest in the proceedings. The amount collected on the spot was £205 10s. The style of the building will be Gothic in its best form, and is intended for the accommodation of a new Baptist church, formed on open communion principles. It is designed to seat 1,050 persons, and the entire estimated cost of erection, &c., is between £7,000 and £8,000, towards which £4,500 are already realized.

PEMBROKE CHAPEL, LIVERPOOL.-On Tuesday evening, August 3rd, a meeting was held in the rooms of Pembroke Chapel, to present a testimonial to Mr. S. B. Jackson, on his retiring from the office of superintendent of the Pembroke Chapel Sunday Schools, which he has held for the last twenty.five years. The chair was occupied by the Rev. C. M. Birrell; and Mr. R. S. Blease, on behalf of the subscribers, presented the testimonial, which consisted of a fine timepiece, by Roskell, surmounted by a most appropriate group in bronze, representing age instructing youth, and accompanied by a pair of exquisite vases in the same material on bases of black marble. Mr. Jackson made an interesting response, in which he reviewed his personal history in connection with Sunday-schools during forty years.

ABERCHIRDER, BANFFSHIRE, SCOTLAND.On Sunday, July 9th, Mr. S. Crabb, from Mr. Spurgeon's College, was ordained pastor of the Baptist church here. The Rev. W. Tulloch, Edinburgh, after the preliminary services, put the usual questions, and having received satisfactory answers, offered the dedicatory prayer. He then preached on the duties of the pastor, to himself and to the people of his charge. The Rev. James Macfarlane, Elgin, then addressed the church on its duties to the pastor. In the evening, Mr. Macfarlane preached, and Mr. Tulloch gave a short address. On Tuesday, July 11th, a social tea-meeting was held. The Rev. S. Crabb presided, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. W. Tulloch and J. Macfarlane, and by Messrs. Alexander and Bodie.

MINISTERIAL

CHANGES.-The Rev. G. Winslow Bannister, late of Regent's Park College, having accepted the unanimous invitation of the church assembled in the Lower Meeting House, Amersham, Bucks (vacant by the removal of the Rev. J. Price to Australia), commenced his stated labours on the fourth Sunday in July.--The Rev. T. Clarkson Finch has received a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Bridport, Dorsetshire, and entered upon his stated labours on Lord's Day, August 6th.-The Rev. H. Hall, of Bacup, has been compelled, on account of ill health, to resign the pastorate of the church meeting in Zion Chapel, Bacup, and has accepted an invitation from the church at Atherton for a period of twelve months.