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GENERAL.

Intelligence.

WE have not yet arrived at the end of what is called the "dull season. "9 It appears indeed to be doubtful whether the "dull "will end, until Parliament meets in February; and if those people are blessed, as we are told they are, who have no annals, England ought to be just now the envy of the world. Only one slight breeze has disturbed the stillness of the last month. A few score of "Fenians," as they are called, have been seized by the police in Ireland, and have been committed for their treasonable practices to "durance vile." The Government appears to have acted mercifully to the poor misguided ignorant fellows, in preventing them from going to lengths which would have been dangerous only to them. selves.

Abroad affairs have been as quiet, almost, as at home. The one exception is the cholera, which continues its ravages in many of the towns and cities in the south of Europe. Thus far England has been preserved from this awful plague. Who will not pray that we may still be mercifully defended from it?

Do any of our readers know a man of the name of Moreton, alias Morton, alias Crouch, alias Brother Maurus-with other aliases for what we know-with fascinating manners, and gentlemanly bearing, pretending sometimes to be a clergyman, sometimes a Baptist minister, sometimes a converted Roman Catholic priest? Such a man is ". wanted" by the police, for stealing a watch at Worcester. Some years since he was baptized by Mr. Noel, and baptized a second time by Mr. Forster, of Stony Stratford: "he devoured widow's houses, and for a pretence made long prayers"; he "left his country for his country's good"; but recently he has reappeared in England as "Brother Maurus," of Father Ignatius's monastery at Norwich, and since then as a clergyman in the city from which he has found it safer and pleasanter to decamp. If such a man should turn up anywhere, the police at Worcester will be glad of information respecting him. We hope, anyhow, that our ministerial readers will be on the alert, and that he will not be baptized any more!

The Baptist Union is to hold its Autumnal Session at Bradford this month. The days fixed are the 11th and 12th inst., and it is requested that all persons desiring hospital

ity during the meetings will address Mr. T. Stead, Belle Vue, Bradford, who will give every information. We hope that the meeting will be as successful as that at Birmingham last year. Every church that can afford it should send its minister as a dele-. gate, and should take care that his expenses are fully paid.

DOMESTIC.

ILFRACOMBE, NORTH DEVON.-The opening of the new school-room in connection with the Baptist chapel in the above town, took place on Wednesday, 23rd of August. Service was held in the afternoon, at which the Rev. J. K. Wood, of Barnstaple, read the Scriptures and prayed; and the Rev. R. P. Macmaster, of Bristol, preached an impressive discourse from Heb. x. 38. A wellattended tea then took place in the schoolroom, after which a public meeting was held in the chapel, presided over by T. Blackwell, Esq., of Barnstaple. After prayer by the pastor of the church (the Rev. J. E. Taylor), a short financial statement was read by him, from which it appears that the expenses of erection were £300, towards which amount there remained to be raised £130 by the opening services and efforts yet to be put forth. The Revs. W. F. Clark (Wesleyan); W. Davey, of Combmartin; T. Brooks, of Wallingford; J. R. Wood, of Barnstaple ; and R. P. Macmaster, of Bristol, then delivered interesting and profitable speeches, which were listened to with evident pleasure. The Rev. J. E. Taylor followed with a few remarks and thanks, and the proceedings terminated with prayer by the Rev. J. R. Wood. On Thursday evening the Sabbathscholars had a tea, followed by the recitation of pieces, singing by a class recently formed, &c. The services were continued on Lord'sday, the 27th, when collections were again made, after sermons preached by the Rev. T. Brooks, of Wallingford. The school-room is much admired for its convenience aud beauty.

MILFORD, HANTS.-On Thursday, September 7, some very interesting services were held in the Baptist chapel in this village (the scene of the first ministerial labours of the late Rev. J. Harrington Evans), on the occasion of the public recognition of the Rev. Francis W. Monck as pastor of the church. In the afternoon the Rev. J. Collins, of Southampton, read the Scriptures and offered

prayer. The Rev. Francis Wills, of Andover (formerly pastor of the church), asked some questions and received satisfactory replies, both from the church and the newlyelected pastor. The recognition prayer was offered by Mr. Wills. Mr. Wills also delivered a faithful address to the pastor, full of wise and appropriate counsels, founded on Tim i. 4, 16. The Rev. W. A. Blake, of Shouldham-street, London, closed the afternoon service with prayer. A tea-meeting was then held in the chapel, and about 200 friends sat down. In the evening the Rev. Francis Wills presided. The Rev. E. Turner, of Lymington (Independent), read the Scriptures and offered prayer. The Rev. W. A. Blake delivered a very excellent address to the church, on their duties and obligations to the pastor, from Deut. 38: 66 Encourage him." Addresses were afterwards delivered by the Revs. J. Collins, W. C. Jones, of Lymington, F. W. Monck, and the Chairman.

RAMSEY, HUNTS.-On Tuesday, September 5th, recognition services were held here in connection with the settlement of the Rev. T. Baker, B.A., late of Ridgemont, as minister of the Great Whyte Chapel. There was a very considerable attendance. After the social pleasures of the tea-table had been duly enjoyed, the chapel was adjourned to. and the chair taken by M. Foster, Esq., of Huntingdon, who in the name of the sister churches in the county, expressed pleasure in the prospect of Mr. Baker's ministry at Ramsey. Mr. Ulleyet Ibberson, the senior deacon, stated the circumstances under which the church had decided on inviting Mr. Baker to become their pastor, and then Mr. Baker declared the convictions and sentiments with which he was prepared to enter upon his work. The Rev. J. H. Millard, B.A., of Huntingdon, and the Rev. T. Lloyd, of St. Ives, spoke of the mutual obligations of people and pastor; and the Rev. T. T. Gough, of Clipstone, under whose guidance Mr. Baker commenced the studying for the ministry, bore testimony to the sterling worth of his character, and invoked the kind co-operation of the church in all his arduous labours, concluding all the interesting engagements of the evening with a fervent and solemn prayer for a blessing on the union thus established.

WISBEACH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE.-The Rev. T. Watts having resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church, Ely-place, Wisbeach, and accepted an invitation from the Baptist church St. Albans, a farewell meeting was held on Monday, August 28th.

Tea was provided in the school-rooms; about 250 persons present; after which, the friends adjourned to the chapel, when a very interesting public meeting was held. Mr. Alderman Wherry, the senior deacon of the church, presided. The chairman, in a most admirable address,

referred to the judicious labours of their es teemed pastor for nearly ten years, and to the feeling of regret manifested by the inhal tants of the town with the members of the church and congregation, that in consequence of his precarious state of health, a change seemed desirable; and in the name of the friends, presented to Mr. Watts a handsome gold lever watch with chain attached, a purse containing twenty guineas, and a beautifullybound pocket Bible, as expressive of their regard and affection. Mr. Watts, on receiving the testimonials, replied in a very impressive manner, after which excellent addresses were delivered by Rev. J. Smith (Independent), Wisbeach, and Rev. J. T. Wigner (Baptist), Lynn, wishing Mr. Watts Godspeed in his new field of labour, upon which he enters the first Sabbath of this month.

TREDEGAR, MONMOUTHSHIRE.-On Monday and Tuesday, August 21st and 22nd, special services were held in connection with the ordination of the Rev. T. R. Edwards, Baptist College, L'angollen, to be the pastor of Siloh Baptist Church, at the above place. On the Monday evening two able sermons were delivered by the Rev. W. P. Williams, of Bedwas, and the Rev. R. Williams, of Hengoed. On the Tuesday morning the Rev. W. Roberts, of Blaina, delivered an address on the "Constitution of the Christian Church"; the Rev. Dr. Prichard, of Llangollen, put the usual questions to the young minister, to which he received most satisfactory answers; the ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. R. Williams, of Hengoed; the Rev. S. Williams, of Nantyglo, preached on the duty of the church; and the Rev. Dr. Prichard on the duty of the minister. In the afternoon and evening sermons were preached by the same ministers. In the afternoon by the Rev. J. Williams, of Nantyglo, and the Rev. W. Roberts, of Blaina: and in the evening by the Rev. R. Williams, of Hengoed, and the Rev. Dr. Prichard.

GILDERSOME, YORKSHIRE.-On Saturday evening, September 9th, a social tea-party was held in the Baptist school-room, Gildersome, to celebrate the third anniversary of the settlement of the Rev. J. Haslam, as pastor. After tea, a public meeting was held, Mr. George Webster in the chair. After devotional exercises, Mr. Webster called upon Mr. Sargent, of Turton Hall, to present to Mr. Haslam a purse containing twenty guineas, as an evidence of the tho rough confidence which the congregation had in him, and of their high appreciation of his self-sacrificing efforts to promote their bes interests. Mr. Sargent then made the presentation, briefly referring to the great good which had been accomplished during the last three years. Mr. Haslam, in acknowledging the gift, said his only object in accepting their invitation three years ago was to raise

there, by God's help, a flourishing cause. And now he felt assured that if a man with pure motives sought the welfare of any congregation, he would not have to mourn over non-success, or that his people were unmindful of his interests. Several other friends addressed the meeting, and the choir sang a selection of Kent's anthems in a very creditable manner.

WOKINGHAM, BERKS.-The Rev. P. G. Scorey, who has been the pastor of the Baptist Church in this place for nearly six years past, has just resigned that charge, in consequence of his acceptance of an invitation from friends at Ashford in Kent, to labour amongst them. On Lord's-day, morning and evening, September 3, he preached farewell sermons, and in the afternoon administered the Lord's Supper. The congregations were large, and the sermons and address to the communicants at the Lord's table were solemn and appropriate. On the following Wednesday about 250 friends partook of tea in the British school-rooms, after which they retired to the chapel, where a devotional parting service was held. Several brethren having engaged in prayer, Mr. Scorey concluded the meeting, delivering an affectionate farewell address. During Mr. Scorey's pastorate at Wokingham a new chapel has been erected and paid for. He leaves the church in a hopefully progressive state, and the separation of minister and people is amicable, and a small token of esteem is presented to him on his leaving.

PROVIDENCE CHAPEL, CANTON.-Services in connection with the recognition of Mr. D. B. Jones, of Pontypool College, were held on the 13th and 14th of August, when the following ministers officiated. On the Sunday, both morning and evening, two powerful discourses were delivered by the Rev. Isaac James, of Beaumaris. On the Monday, at half-past ten, the devotional exercises having been conducted by the Rev. M. Starling, of Mr. Spurgeon's College, a very elaborate discourse was delivered by the Rev. N. Thomas, of Cardiff, on the "Nature of the Christian Church;" then the usual questions were proposed, and the ordination prayer offered, by the Rev. Rhys Griffiths, of Cardiff; after which the Rev. Dr. Thomas, President of Pontypool College, delivered the charge to the young pastor. At two o'clock the ministers and friends met together, when two very suitable addresses were given by the Revs. N. Thomas and Dr. Thomas, after which the friends sat down to tea, purposely got up to welcome the newly-elected pastor. At halfpast six the Rev. Alfred Tilly, of Cardiff, delivered the charge to the church. The meetings throughout were well attended, and were of a most interesting and edifying character.

LOWER WESTWOOD, WILTS.-The opening services of the Baptist chapel, Lower Westwood, Wilts, which is in connection with Back-street Baptist chapel, Trowbridge, were held on Wednesday, August 9th. The opening service was commenced by the Rev. J. Moss, of Trowbridge, reading the Scriptures and offering prayer. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Barnes, pastor of the parent church. Tea was provided in a spacious tent, and a public meeting was held in the same place, at which the Revs. J. Moss, and D. Wassell, of Bath, gave energetic and stirring addresses. Mr. W. H. Hayward and Mr. J. Payne, of Trowbridge, who have been principally engaged in directing the erection of the chapel, also spoke. The building gave great and general satisfaction to the numerous visitors who inspected it, the universal conclusion being that it was well and cheaply built. The total cost is not expected to exceed £130, nearly all of which has been subscribed in Trowbridge, Bradford, and Westwood itself.

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On Tuesday,

August 8th, centenary services were held in the Baptist chapel in this village, to commemorate the hundredth year of opening the present building. In the afternoon an admirable sermon was preached by the Rev. Hugh Stowell Brown, of Liverpool, from Matt. xxviii. 20. A tea-meeting was then held in a marquee in a field adjoining the chapel, as also in the school-room, and about 300 friends assembled. After the tea a lecture was delivered in the chapel by the Rev. H. S. Brown, subject-" Common Sense." The attendance of neighbouring ministers and friends was large, and a liberal collection was made towards some necessary improvements in connection with the chapel. The Revs. C. J. Middleditch, of Blockley; W. R. Irvine, of Ascott; and J. Allen, B.A., of Hook Norton; with the pastor, the Rev. J. M'Michael, B.A., took part in the engagements of the day.

BIRCHES-LANE, DERBYSHIRE.--On Monday, Aug. 14, the corner-stone of a new Baptist chapel at Birches-lane, near Amberrow, Derbyshire, was laid by Richard Harris, Esq., of Leicester, assisted by the Rev. Thomas Lomas, of Leicester; the Rev. G. Needham, of Ripley; and J. Baxendale, of Derby. Under the stone was deposited in a bottle an account of the origin of the church, a copy of "The Baptist Reporter," "The Church," and "The Sword and Trowel." At four o'clock an excellent tea was provided by the members and friends, and after tea a public meeting was held, when Mr. Bembridge, of Ripley, took the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. T. Lomas, G. Needham, J. Baxendale, and Mr. Lomas, of Swanwick. The day was favourable, and

all the proceedings were very encouraging to the friends.

HOLYWELI, FLINTSHIRE.-On the 26th and 27th of August, special services were held at the above place, on the occasion of the settlement of the Rev. Owen Davies, of the Baptist College, Llangollen, as pastor of the Baptist church there. The Rev. R. Jones, of Llanllyfni, delivered an address on the "Nature of a Christian Church"; the Rev. Dr. Prichard, of Llangollen, put the usual questions, which were satisfactorily answered; then the Rev. R. Ellis, of Llanefydd, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. Hugh Jones, classical tutor of Llangollen, preached on the duty of the minister, and the Rev. Dr. Prichard on that of the church. The other services were conducted by the same ministers. Mr. Davies settles in an important sphere with encouraging prospects.

BLACKFIELD-COMMON, HANTS. -- Circumstances having compelled the Rev. J. Light to resign his office as pastor of the Baptist church, Blackfield-common, Hants, a meeting for the purpose of enabling the surrounding ministers and others to bear testimony with reference to bis ministerial and Christian character, and then affectionately to bid him farewell, was held on Tuesday evening, September 5th. After a tea, at which a goodly number sat down, a public meeting was held. The Rev. J. B. Burt, of Beaulieu, took the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. W. H. Bower, of Hythe (Independent); the Rev. W. C. Jones, of Lymington; and the Rev. R. Cavan, of Southampton. During the evening a purse containing a small sum was presented to Mr. Light as a token of respect and esteem from a few friends.

OADBY, LEICESTERSHIRE.-Services have been held lately to celebrate the jubilee of the Baptist church at Oadby, near Leicester, and to liquidate the chapel debt, which was £77. The sum of £41 was privately contributed by friends in the village. The Rev. T. R. Evans, of Countesthorpe, and the Rev. J. A. Pictony M.A., of Leicester, preached, and there was also a public meeting, Mr. R. Harris in the chair. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. A. Picton, M.A., R. Cecil, Messrs. J. Bennett and S. Baines, of Leicester, C. Bassett, of Countesthorpe, E. Gilbert, of Oadby, and others. The collection reduced the sum required to within £6, which was kindly contributed by Mrs. Horspool, Mr. C. Bassett, J. Bennett, R. Harris, and C. Stevenson.

SOUTH MOLTON. DEVON.-On Tuesday, September 5th, the foundation stone of a new

house, intended as a parsonage for the Baptis minister for the time being, at South Molton was laid by T. Blackwell, Esq., of Barnstaple. The house is being built on a piece of ground adjoining the Baptist chapel, on property invested in trust for the Baptist Church. A few persons assembled on the ground at half past two, a few verses were sung, and the Rev. J. Martin offered prayer; Mr. Blackwell then gave an address, and a few donations having been laid on the stone. the Rev. M. Saunders gave a brief history of the Baptists in South Molton.

USK, MONMOUTHSHIRE.-On the 4th of September, Mr. D. Morgan, of Pontypool College, was ordained pastor of the church at Usk. Services such as are usual on such occasions were conducted by the Revs. J. Jones, of Llangwm: C. Griffiths, of Merthyr; Dr. Thomas, of Pontypool; J. Lewis, of Tredegar; and G. Thomas, of Usk. Mr. Thomas commenced his labours here in May. Since that time the aspect of the cause has been improving, and there are cheering signs of future success.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.-The Rev. E. Man. ning, who has laboured during the last fortynine years at Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, has announced his intention, in consequence of increasing infirmities, to resign the pastorate on the first Sunday of October next.The Rev. A. W. Heritage, of Naunton, Gloucestershire, has received a cordial and unanimous invitation from the church at Canterbury, and entered upon his stated labours on the second Sabbath in September. -Mr. John Downie, jun., from the Baptist Association of Glasgow, has accepted a call to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Eyemouth, Berwickshire.-The Rev. E. Jones, late of Trowbridge, Wilts, has received and accepted a cordial and unanimous invita tion to the pastorate of the Baptist church. West Malling, Kent.-The Rev. W. Lione! Green, of Regent's Park College, has accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation from the church at Middleton-in-Teesdale, and has entered upon his labours.-The Rev. W. B. Bliss, of Pembroke Dock, has accepted the invitation from the church at Hemel Hemp stead, Herts, and will remove to his new pas torate early in October.-The Rev. J. Lee, of Moulton, after eleven years of faithful service, has resigned his charge, and accented the earnest invitation of the church at We-ton-by-Weedon, to the pastorate vacant by the death of the late Rev. R. Pyne. He will enter upon his stated labours about the middle of October.

VOL. VIII.-NEW SERIES.

[NOVEMBER 1, 1865.

THE CHURCH.

"Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."

NOVEMBER, 1865.

MEMORY IN ANOTHER WORLD.

BY THE REV. A. MACLAREN, B.A.

"Abraham said, Son, remember!"-LUKE xvi. 25.

very

THAT is a very striking thought, that Christ, if he be what we suppose him to be, knew all about the unseen present which we call the future, and yet that such constant silence marked him in reference to it. Seldom is it on his lips at all. Arguments drawn from another world he has few of. Sometimes he speaks about it, but rather by allusion than by anything like an explicit revelation. This parable out of which my text is taken, is almost the most definite and continuous of his words about the invisible world; and yet all the while it lay there before him; and standing on the very verge of it, with it spread out clear before his gaze, he reads off but a word or two of what he sees, and then shuts it in in darkness, and says to us, in the spirit of a part of this parable, "You have Moses and the prophets-hear them: if these are not enough, it will not be enough for you if all the glories of heaven and all the ghastliness of hell are flashed and flaming before you." And yet, if we are to "prophesy according to the proportion of faith," it will never do that we should leave out altogether references, and such motives as may be based upon them, to a future life in its two departments; only, I think, we ought always to keep them in the same relative amount to the whole of our teaching in which Christ kept them.

This parable, seeing that it is a parable, of course cannot be trusted as if it were a piece of simple dogmatic revelation, to give us information, facts, so as to construct out of it a theory of the other world. We are always in the double danger, in parables, of taking that for drapery which was meant to be essence, and taking that for essence which was meant to be drapery. And so I do not profess to read from this narrative of my text any very definite and clear knowledge of the future; but I think that in the two words I have ventured to take as a text, we get the basis of very impressive thoughts with regard to the functions of memory in another world.

66

Son, remember! -It is the voice, the first voice, the perpetual voice, which meets every man when he steps across the threshold of earth into the presence chamber of eternity. All the future is so built upon and

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