expenses incurred in the enlargement of "The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London." In the afternoon Mr. Varley conducted a "Scholars' Service," and delivered a very useful address on "Pearl Finding," which was listened to with great interest. On Monday morning he visited the works of the Midland Railway Company, and gave an address to the workmen on the "Marriage Feast." Mr. Varley's visits to Derby are highly appreciated, and result in the conversion of souls.

LONGFORD, Union Place. - A tea and public meeting was held on Monday, March 11, to liquidate the debt on this place of worship. About fifty trays were given, and the profits of the tea and subscriptious realized about £55. The meeting was presided over by the pastor, Rev. G. D. Richardson, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. Cross, Kelsey, Morris, and Barnett.

NEW BASFORD.-The memorial stone of our new chapel was laid on Tuesday, March 5, at halfpast three o'clock in the afternoon, by Mr. Alderman Herbert, of Nottingham. The day being remarkably fine, a large crowd assembled to witness the ceremony. A considerable number of neighbouring ministers honoured us with their presence, and also a number of friends from our churches at Nottingham, especially from the church at Broad Street. Our own church was a branch of this until a few years ago, and we have been greatly encouraged by the sympathy we have received from the mother church, and from their esteemed minister. The proceedings commenced with a hymn, which was given out by Rev. J. Fletcher. Rev. T. Ryder read the Scriptures. After a brief statement of the history of the church by Mr. J. Edwards, Mr. J. Spendlove described certain memorials contained in a bottle, which he placed within the stone. In the name of the church the minister, Mr. Felstead, presented Mr. Ald. Herbert with a mallet and trowel. Mr. Ald. Herbert having laid the stone, referred, with manifest feeling, to the time, fifty years ago, when he was superintendent of the Sunday school at New Basford, and expressed, in earnest words, his pleasure in being present, and his desire for the future prosperity of the church. The offerings were then collected upon the stone, and amounted to £47, including the handsome donation of £20 from Mr. Ald. Herbert. The dedicatory prayer offered by Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., after which a short, pithy, appropriate address was given by Rev. Dr. Underwood. Another hymn having been given out by Rev. E. H. Jackson, Rev. W. Dyson pronounced the benediction. At five o'clock a greater number than we could accommo

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date at once met for tea in our schoolrooms. After tea a public meeting was held in the Baptist chapel, Pepper Street (kindly lent for the occasion.) Mr. Arnold Goodliffe, of Nottingham, presided. Addresses were given by Revs. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., J. Fletcher, J. Wolfenden, E. H. Jackson, J. Felstead, Mr. T. Hill, Nottingham, and Mr. T. Horsfield, Halifax. The whole of the days proceedings yielded the gratifying addition of £161 to our building fund. Mr. T. Horsfield, Halifax, is the architect of our new chapel; and we believe he has been successful in designing for us a building which, with more serviceable features, will combine as much elegance as its limited cost will allow.

TODMORDEN.-The chapel and schoolroom have just undergone alterations and repairs-a platform has been substituted for the pulpit. The baptistery, which projected inconveniently into the school-room beneath the chapel, has been removed into the school-room. The whole premises have been thoroughly cleaned and painted. The pews in the chapel are stained and varnished, with the capping French polished. The gallery front and platform are two shades of French grey, with the mouldings light pink and gilded. The pillars supporting the front of the platform are light marble, with gilded capitals. The ornamental iron-work round the platform and communion are painted light French blue and gilded. New benches, most of them with reversible backs, have been procured for the school-room. The chapel was reopened on Feb. 28, when the Rev. J. P. Chown preached to a crowded congregation. On the following Saturday a tea meeting was held, for which 120 trays were given. The public meeting was addressed by the Revs. E. W. Cantrell (chairman), J. Maden, W. Chapman, R. Silby, J. Dearden, G. Lord, and J. Constance. The excellent choir connected with the place also rendered efficient service, Mr. J. S. Gill presiding at the organ. On Sunday, March 3, the Rev. E. W. Cantrell preached in the morning, and the Rev. J. Harvey in the afternoon and evening. The chapel was filled at each service. Proceeds of the services, £9 4s. The great difficulty of the friends here is to get land, more of which is needed now, as all the sittings in the chapel are taken; and the school-room, when most economically arranged, will not afford sitting-room for the scholars in regular attendance during the opening and closing services.

MINISTERIAL.

LAWTON.-On the 22nd ult. a largelyattended social tea and public meeting was held in the Berkhampstead Town Hall, on

the occasion of the removal to Louth of the Rev. J. Lawton, more than fourteen years the respected pastor of the Baptist church in this town. The hall was crowded. Lieut. Col. Sanderson presided, and the meeting was addressed by the Revs. H. C. Leonard, M.A., T. Foston, J. Cave, J. Lawton, Mr. Henry Nash, and Mr. John Sanders. The following address, together with a purse of money (£40 12s.), contributed by upwards of one hundred friends of all the local denominations, was presented by the chairman to Mr. Lawton :

Berkhampstead, Feb. 22, 1872. TO THE REV. J. LAWTON.

Dear Sir,-In presenting you with this testimonial, we beg leave to express our sincere regret at your leaving the town, where for so many years you have laboured unceasingly for the general welfare of the people. During your long residence here we have had many opportunities of witnessing your great readiness at all times to engage in every good work, both in your office as a Christian minister and as a fellow-townsman. Your deep interest in the cause of education has been fully exemplified by your connection with the British school, having performed for a lengthened period the duties of hon. secretary to that institution, to the entire satisfaction of those with whom you laboured. The Temperance cause, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Mechanics' Institute have each received your hearty co-operation and earnest advocacy; in fact, we have ever found you with a warm heart, ready to unite in any movement for the public good, always manifesting a thoroughly catholic spirit, and thereby adorning the high Christian principles of your sacred office. Our best wishes for your future happiness you will please accept, with this token of our regard. Signed on behalf of the Committee, Jos. SANDERSON, Chairman. WILSHIRE.-The church at St. Mary's Gate, Derby, has given a very cordial invitation to the Rev. Joseph Wilshire, of Taunton, Somerset, to the pastorate. The invitation was supplemented by a special request from the teachers of the Sunday school. Mr. Wilshire has intimated his acceptance of the invitation, and will probably commence his labours early in May.

THE LATE REV. T. W. MATHEWS. MOST interesting and profitable services were held at Boston on Thursday, Feb. 1, in connection with the unveiling of the memorials erected by the church and numerous friends in affectionate remembrance of the late Rev. T. W. Mathews. Dr. Burns preached a sermon on Acts x. 4, "A memorial before God;" and immediately afterwrads Mr. James Stevenson, one of the oldest members of the church, uncovered the handsome mural tablet, which is of black marble in a setting of red-veined marble, and the inscription thereon was read by Mr. G. F. Bayley, as follows:Vince Malum Bono.

In memory of the Rev. Thos. Wright Mathews, thirty-one years pastor of this church, called to his heavenly rest January 21st, 1871. In him

were blended the Christian gentleman, the scholar, and the philanthropist. His chosen motto expressed his conviction that to "overcome evil with good" is the true philosophy of the gospel, and a sure prophecy of its universal triumph. He being dead yet speaketh. This memorial is erected by the sorrowing and bereaved church. Then the congregation withdrew into the grounds in front of the chapel, and after the elegant granite obelisk was unveiled, which stands eleven feet high, Mr. Bayley delivered an appropriate address, and read the inscriptions on the four sides of the obelisk, which are:

In memory of the Rev. Thomas W. Mathews, thirty-one years pastor of the General Baptist Church, Boston, Erected by his friends and fellow-townsmen, in token of their admiration of his eminent talents and exalted character.

A loving and beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.

Chief among many, yet the servant of all. Departed this life suddenly, at Leicester (where his remains lie interred), January 21st, 1871, in the 73rd year of his age.

In the evening Mr. Bayley, at the Rev. J. Jolly's pressing request, occupied the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. T. Barrass, E. Bott, Dr. Burns, F. Chamberlain, J. Davis, J. A. Jones, and W. Pacey. It was a most impressive and memorable day. Effective photographs of both these memorials have been taken by Mr. J. Starbuck, of Alford.

BAPTISMS.

BOSTON.-Feb. 25, five, by J. Jolly. One upwards of seventy, one sixty-nine, and another nearly that age.

BURNLEY LANE.-Oct., three; March 3, eight, by G. Needham.

DERBY, Watson Street.-March 3, three, by H. A. Blount.

DEWSBURY.-Feb. 25, three, by N. H.

Shaw.

HALIFAX, North Parade.-March 3, two, by I. Preston.

Immersion in the Establishment.-A person seeking admission to the communion of one of the Anglican churches in Halifax, desired to be immersed; arrangements were made by the officials of the church, and the candidate was baptized by the clergyman in the name of the Holy Trinity. LONDON, Commercial Road.-Feb. 25, three, by J. G. Pike.

MILFORD.-March 10, two, by G. Slack. SAWLEY.-March 17, three, by J. Stenson. TODMORDEN.-March 7, seven, by E. W.

Cantrell.

SHORE.-March 3, three, by J. Maden.

REGENT'S PARK COLLEGE.

THE ANNUAL DEBATE took place March 12. Tea, which as usual was provided by the students, was prepared in the dining-hall.

Amongst the visitors present were Rev. Newman Hall, Rev. E. White, Rev. Dr. Landels, and several other distinguished ministers. At seven o'clock the company assembled in the spacious library of the College, which, however, was barely sufficient to hold all the guests. The chair was taken by Rev. Dr. Raleigh, who announced the subject of debate-" Is it desirable that the Nonconformists should form themselves into a distinct political party"—and introduced Messrs. Bailey and Jenkins, two senior students, to read papers pro and con. A lively discussion then followed, after which the chairman summed up, and having made a few remarks put the question to the vote. Owing to the crowded state of the room it was impossible to tell the exact numbers, but the negative was carried by a considerable majority. The meeting, which was in every way a great success, terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

Marriages.

ATKINSON-TURNER.-Jan. 1, at the Baptist chapel, Cemetery Road, Sheffield, by the Rev. G. Hester, Mr. Cornelius Atkinson, of South Street Moor, to Ellen Turner.

CRABTREE-HARWOOD.-March 16, by licence, at Birchcliffe chapel, by Rev. W. Gray, Mr. James Crabtree, to Miss Ann Harwood, both of Hebden Bridge.

HARDY-SPENCER.-March 5, at the G. B. chapel, Queensbury, by the Rev. R. Hardy, father of the bridegroom, Mr. John Henry Hardy, to Harriet, fourth daughter of Mr. Thomas Spencer.

RIDGWAY-HILLER.-March 13, at the Cemetery Road chapel, Sheffield, by Rev. Giles Hester, Edward Frederick Ridgway, one of the secretaries of the Sunday school, only son of Mr. Ridgway, Western Bank, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. George Hiller, Brunswick Place, Broom Spring Lane.

BOOTH.-March 15th, 1872, Mr. Edward Booth, aged 75, for over fifty-one years a member of the General Baptist church, March, Cambs. Our departed friend celebrated the jubilee of his own and his wife's union with the church in Oct., 1870, an account of which appeared in the November Magazine of that year. His end was more than peaceful-it was happy, almost triumphant.

THOMAS HUTTON COX.-A devout man, and one that feared God, he will long live in our remembrance fixed in that clear aspect; his imperfections will be swiftly forgotten, they being in their nature detachable from his real character as the mist from the mountain.

"No more his strength and weakness Shall seem to be at strife,

For death has moulded into calm completeness The statue of his life."

Born in Nottingham in 1834, he was in due time placed for his business training with that most dear man of good memory, the late Thos. Ward, of Ripley. From Ripley he went to Wisbeach, where for two years and a half he was with Mr. Dawbarn, a gentleman who doubtless contributed to his growing moral worth and business ability< and many others in Wisbeach, recalling old associations, are pleased to link with his

name their affectionate esteem. From Wisbeach he went to London, where he obtained a good position in an eminent wholesale grocery firm, which shall be nameless, not without reason, to be inferred a moment hereafter. While there he fixed his affections on Miss Spencer, a pious young lady, related to Mr. Ward and a member of his household. His correspondence with her led him to serious thought about the supreme interests of his soul, but his approach to the cross was darkened and delayed by doubt. At this juncture a tract on "The Principle of Faith," selected by his cousin, Mr. W. B. Bembridge, was the happy means of dispelling the clouds which had eclipsed for him the Light of life. He was then baptized by Dr. Burns, but a necessary time rule of the aforesaid eminent firm precluded his attendance at the Doctor's chapel, which was a considerable distance from their house; he therefore joined Newman Hall's church, attaching a high value to the ministry of the famous pastor of Surrey Chapel. He was also a constant member of the well-known Sunday afternoon meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association, and on occasion a writer of papers read at that assembly of some three hundred young men. The eminent firm, however, requested him to assist their stock-taking on the Sabbath-day, disclaiming all knowledge of religion whenever and

wherever it interfered with their business. With their request Mr. Cox refused compliance at any price. He then began to look round for some quiet country trade, where no such independent views would collide with his own reverence for the pearl of days, and ultimately Mr. W. B. Bembridge arranged to receive him as a partner in his business at Ripley. When fairly settled at Ripley, he married the lady above named, and from that time his natural fondness for retired home-life was very marked, which trait in his character was further developed by his rapidly-increasing family. His older children will probably never forget the sweet and touching pray. ers he was wont to offer for them name by name as they knelt round him at morning worship. After a time he began to take an active interest in the Ripley church and school, in which last he was teacher. two years and secretary for several years preceding his loss of sight. Some three years before his decease, which happened in Oct., 1871, he lost his gentle and affectionate wife, and soon after he began to show slight signs of nervous debility. These symptoms slowly increased in spite of the most skilled advice that could be obtained in Nottingham and London. Partial, then total, blindness ensued, failure of the nerve force, ending in death at that strangely fatal age to so many men of promise, thirtyA man of refined Christian character, commercial talent, and no mean measure of literary taste, we were anticipating for him many useful years in our church work, to which he had become strongly attached; but now we can only tell how we laid him in the vault beside his young wife with affectionate regret, mingled with confident hope that we were bidding him farewell only till the morning-the time of the restitution of all things. He has left five surviving children, nearly all too young to realize their loss; but they will probably never fully know what their father's early death might have meant for them, having found a happy home and parental love in the house of Mr. and Mrs. Bembridge, who have voluntarily undertaken their care and education. The peculiar feature of his illness and dying was that we could discover no increase of religious fervour, such as is often found in men who are passing into the eternal world conscious that their change is at hand. He was certainly not more religious, and not less attentive to temporal concerns requiring his direction on his death-bed, than when his prospect of departure seemed remote. We afterwards found the reason of this-he had no need to be either the one or the other. His diaries showed that he had lived in such daily and close relationships with his God that he had a sure grasp of heavenly

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things, which many men are only groping after and touching now and then. His secret life, as revealed in those private records, was a trustful walk with God; hence it never occurred to him that he had any special preparation to make to be ready for God to take him. So he died modestly and peacefully, not with words of victory on his lips, but with Christ's deep triumph in his heart; watching the slow progress of his own decay, yet so far free from anxiety that he was able to think and plan for others, not knowing that he was doing any great thing. He came to the battlefield for which he had long been equipped and ready, and the enemy was not to be found-there was no foe for him to fight. E. H. JACKSON.

GILL, MRS.-Mrs. Gill was born at Rawtenstall Wood, near Hebden Bridge, March 29, 1814, and died at West Vale, near Halifax, Jan. 6, 1872, aged 57. The Sabbaths of her younger years were spent in connection with the school and congregation of the Baptist chapel, Hebden Bridge; and her education on the week-days was conducted first under the care of the late Rev. H. Hollinrake, and then of the well-known teacher, the late Mr. Joseph Moss, of Hebden Bridge. Those early opportunities were well improved; in her studies she was diligent and successful, and the knowledge then and afterwards acquired was usefully employed during many years. When about 14 she was received into the family of the late Mr. William Sutcliffe, of Heptonstall Slack, where she remained until her marriage. For several years she attended the ministry of Rev. R. Ingham, at Heptonstall Slack, and about the time of his removal to Broad Street, Nottingham, was brought by faith into living union with the Saviour, and (in 1836) was amongst the first baptized by the late Rev. W. Butler, Mr. Ingham's successor at Slack. Her duties as a "pastor's wife" commenced at Burnley, in Jan., 1839. From the first she took a deep interest in the welfare of the young, and was the means of leading many of them into the "path of life." She became the teacher of a select class in the Sabbath school, conducted weekly an "experience meeting" in her own house, visited the sick, assisted in peculiar cases of church discipline and in Sabbath school management, was amongst the most active in committees, and in collecting for special objects at home and for our denominational institutions, and was in every sense one of the wisest, steadiest, and most efficient helpers in the work of the ministry. After eight years at Burnley, she removed to Melbourne, Derbyshire, where she continued fifteen years. During ten or twelve of those

years her labours were as active and manifold as before; but, in the latter three or four especially, her plans were frequently interrupted by personal affliction. On her removal from Melbourne to Shore, the hopes entertained of restored health were speedily realized. Among the hills of West Yorkshire, and within five miles of her native place, her health and vigour mercifully returned. And there a special opportunity was soon presented for the renewal of her labour of love. During the memorable "cotton panic" of 1862, when the mills were closed and many of the people of Lancashire and West Yorkshire were "ready to perish," she took the superintendence of a school for the unemployed, held in the large school-room at Shore. Some seventy mothers and daughters, of ages varying from fifteen to fifty, occupied their time in sewing, knitting, reading, &c.; and during those dreary months she would often sit up till midnight, planning, writing, and cutting out, when she knew that she would be again required in the school-room at nine a.m. next day. Many a time in the toils of that terrible struggle her strength was well nigh exhausted, and she feared she must succumb; but she daily prayed for grace and courage, and was enabled by divine succour to hold on until the buzz of wheels and spindles was again heard in the reopened mills. Removing from Shore to Allerton, she enjoyed tolerable health from two to three years, when signs of physical prostration appeared, and excited serious fears. The best available means were resorted to without success, and it was hoped that the more sheltered position of West Vale would arrest the malady; and though at West Vale she found a deeply interesting sphere of labour-a class of more than twenty young women waiting to welcome her-yet these returning hopes were soon overshadowed; her strength again declined. In her class on the Sabbath she could appear only occasionally, and soon, had to suspend all exertion there and elsewhere. Her last walk was to the house of God. From that loved spot she was absent only six weeks before she ascended to the higher temple. Although too weak for some time to read or pray audibly, she left her room and united daily in domestic worship until within two days of the "time of her departure;" and the fears she had often indulged concerning the struggle of death were found to be entirely groundless. She sunk into a placid slumber, and in the presence of her husband and other friends, without a struggle or a sigh she passed away.

"Life's labour done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies; While heaven and earth combine to say, How blest the righteous when he dies." As a wife, she was affectionate, considerate,

industrious, faithful; as a friend, strong and stable in her attachments; as a Sabbath school teacher, diligent in preparation and punctual in attendance; as a minister's wife, wise in counsel and prudent in her intercourse with friends; and as a Christian, evangelical in her views, distrustful of herself, warm in her love to Jesus, and anxious that in all things He should have the pre-eminence. She often mourned over her own imperfections, and did not often realize ecstatic spiritual joy; but she was "satisfied" in her relations to the living Redeemer, and calmly confided in His finished work. In the house of God she was a reverent worshipper and attentive hearer. Good preaching she highly appreciated. A carefully-prepared, well-arranged, and earnestly-delivered evangelical sermon was to her a rich repast; but if she had to listen to an unmethodical, ill-digested, slovenly pulpit performance from one who ought to have known better, she would sometimes criticize or castigate without mercy. She viewed the Christian ministry as a most honourable occupation, and a successful preacher as one of the most useful agents in the church or the world. Having had no children, she was a stranger to maternal joys and sorrows, but well acquainted with the solicitudes of spiritual travail and the joys arising from the new-born life of the spiritual progeny. She had been personally and actively interested in the birth and baptism of over six hundred persons brought into the churches under her husband's pastoral care. In her manifold engagements among the people she knew how, when the occasion required it, to be affectionately severe in her fidelity, without provoking retaliation or making adversaries. There is no license in saying, in the words of a kind letter of condolence, "She was beloved by all who knew her." At the time of her removal from Burnley, Melbourne, and Shore, she received most cheering proofs of high appreciation and esteem; and although she had spent at West Vale only a little more than four months, young and old had gathered round her, and both before and after her decease evinced in every possible way their affectionate interest and respect. Her readiness for every good work in the church did not seriously interfere with her duties in the household. By a wise improvement of her time, coupled with uniform tact and energy, she sought to make her home one of the happiest, and she succeeded. She was buried at the Baptist chapel, Blackley, near West Vale, Jan. 10, 1872; the Rev. I. Preston and R. Ingham, D.D., conducted the service. On Lord's-day, Jan. 28th, Dr. Ingham preached an earnest and very suitable discourse from texts which had been named by the departed, viz., Is. xxviii. 16,