of much work which requires doing, and doing with all possible speed."

Rev. J. H. Lummis spoke on "The Deficiencies and Wants of our present Sabbath School System."

The following resolution was also passed:-"That this Union, on the grounds alike of Christian principle and ordinary commercial fairness, begs respectfully to urge upon the Baptist Union the desirability of taking steps, at the forthcoming autumnal meeting, to secure some adequate provision for the widows and orphans of deceased Baptist ministers."

Rev. J. W. Thew preached in the evening.

CONFERENCES.

The next half-yearly CHESHIRE CONFERENCE will be held at Macclesfield on Tuesday, Oct. 12, Rev. W. March to read a paper on some religious subject, or to preach a sermon, in the morning, at eleven o'clock; Rev. R. P. Cooke to preach in case of failure. Business at 2.30.

W. MARCH, Secretary.

The autumnal meeting of the WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE will be held at Nuneaton on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Paper in the morning by the Secretary. Church business in the afternoon, for which the churches are earnestly requested to furnish full reports. Sermon in the evening by the Rev. H. W. Meadow, of Coventry. Visitors to the Conference will have an opportunity of seeing the new chapel, and of congratulating the Nuneaton friends on their enterprise and success. A day's outing in the country, pleasant sights, pleasant greetings, and pleasant fellowship, ought surely to secure a large attendance.

LL. H. PARSONS, Sec.

The EASTERN CONFERENCE was held at

Peterborough Sept. 16. After prayer by the Secretary an able sermon was preached by brother J. C. Jones from Jer. vi. 14. Reports showed 95 baptized; 21 received; and 44 candidates.

Home Mission Work.-A conditional grant of £10 was made to the church at Fleet for HOLBEACH. The sum of £25 was granted to the church at NORWICH to assist in the payment for their chapel, making the entire grant £200. Brother Taylor was requested to speak as the representative of this Conference at the Home Missionary Meeting at the next Association.

Conferences in 1876.-April, Northgate, Louth; Sept., Long Sutton. At the

CASTLE DONINGTON.-The chapel in this place, which was closed in January for repairs and improvements, was reopened on Aug. 25th. The Rev. G. W. M'Cree preached afternoon and evening, and the collections amounted to £105. On the following Sunday the Rev. G. Hill preached, and nearly £30 was collected. The services were continued on Sept. 5th by the Rev. Jos. Pywell, of Stockport, and on the Monday evening were closed by a lecture from him on the Baptist party's visit to Rome. About £25 was raised by these services, making a total of £160. The bazaar held last year, in prospect of the improvements, yielded about £200. The pecuniary result of the effort made has given pleasing proof of latent life in one of the oldest of our midland village churches.

Anniversary

HUCKNALL TORKARD.services were held, Sept. 5 and 6. The pastor, J. T. Almy, preached on Sunday. On Monday a public tea meeting was held, which was attended by an unusually large number. Mr. Piggin presided at the public meeting. The addresses being delivered by the Revs. H. Holyoake, J. T. Almy, Messrs. Buck, Calladine, and Beswick. The proceeds of the services, amounting to £63 will be devoted to the building fund, We acknowledge the following sums for the building fund received, through the Magazine, Rev. J. Clifford, M.A., £1; Mr. A. Fryer, £1. On On Monday, Sept. 13, R. Hinmer, Esq., delivered a very interesting lecture on a visit to Japan. J. Nall, Esq., presided. Mr. Hinmer also brought a donation of £25 for his father.

The

KILBURN, Derbyshire.—Our bazaar was held, Sept. 7 and 8, and has realized, along with collecting cards, £92. committee heartily thank every helper. The debt of £40 is cleared off, and the remainder is a "nest egg" for a more commodious place of worship.

LEICESTER, Friar Lane.-On Sunday, Sept. 12, chapel anniversary sermons were preached by the Rev. George Hill; and on Monday, Sept. 13, the annual tea festival was held. Rev. J. C. Pike, pastor, presided; and addresses were delivered by Revs. Ll. H. Parsons, S. Lambrick, T. Stevenson, W. Bishop, and R. Caven, B.A., on subjects given to them

by the pastor. Selections of sacred music were very efficiently rendered by the choir, including solos by Miss Shaw, Mr. A. J. Shaw, and the organist, M. A. H. Blankley. The substantial tea was wholly provided by Mr. G. Stafford, a deacon of the church, of which about 500 persons partook. The proceeds, including the tea, collections, and one or two subscriptions, amounted to about £100.

MANCHESTER, Hyde Road.-Anniversary sermons were preached, Sept. 12, by Mr. Ryan, and the Rev. J. Sutcliffe, late of Stalybridge. Collections, £3 1s. Monday, 13th, a members' tea meeting was held, and addresses were given by brethren Ryan, Petie, and Don. Mr. Worsley in the chair.

MORTON-NEW CHAPEL.-The memorial stone of a new chapel at Morton was laid on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Morton is a village of about 1,000 inhabitants, and about two and a half miles north of Bourn. The doctrines of the General Baptists have long been held in this neighbourhood. As early as 1646 there were members residing in Thurlby, Langtoft, Witham-on-the-Hill, Bytham, Hacconby, and Bourn. A century and a half ago Morton was the residence of Mr. Joseph Hook, who, for forty-nine years, was the minister of Bourn and Hacconby. The old church book contains several entries of baptisms in this village; and in 1723 it is recorded that a marriage took place "in Mr. Joseph Hook's house at Morton." The Rev. Joseph Binns was ordained pastor of the church at Bourn, April 19, 1796; and the record states that "at Morton the hearers became so numerous that the usual place of preaching would not hold one fourth of them, and he preached in the open-air in the summer of 1798." After this time preaching was continued in various dwellinghouses till about thirty years ago, when the Lord put it into the heart of Miss Jane Redmile to build a preaching-room at her own cost. In this place the gospel has been regularly preached, a Sunday school has been conducted, and a goodly number have become believers in Christ. For some time the place has been too small for the congregations, and much anxiety was for some time felt about finding a suitable site for a new building. A plot of ground was at length found and purchased for £70; a plan has since been obtained from Messrs. Horsfield & Son, Manchester, and a builder has entered into an engagement to erect the chapel and school-rooms for £675. The laying of the memorial stone was a great event in the village. The weather was favourable; a goodly number of persons came

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together. A devotional service was held at two; and at half-past three the friends assembled at the appointed place. The first prayer, dedicating the ground to the service of God, was offered by the pastor, Rev. W. Orton; an address was then delivered by Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., after which Mr. Wherry, the senior deacon of the church, performed the ceremony of laying the memorial stone. A second stone was laid by our venerable friend, Miss Redmile; and a number of bricks were also laid by various friends, on each of which a contribution was placed. The offerings amounted to upwards of £32. Tea was served in the barn of Mr. Gibson, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Mr. Charles Roberts, the second deacon of the church, took the chair, and delivered an appropriate address. Addresses were then given by brethren W. R. Wherry, E. C. Pike, J. C. Jones, T. Barrass, and W. Bishop of Bourn. It was sad to miss two friends who were members of the committee, but who had both been suddenly called away before the commencement of the work which they desired to see. The day will long be remembered as one of hallowed enjoyment; and from many a heart the prayer will ascend, "Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord!" "O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity!"

NOTTINGHAM, People's Hall. - More than eighty friends, members of the church at Stoney Street, including the treasurer and secretary of the church, and twenty-eight teachers of the Sunday School, have left Stoney Street and engaged the People's Hall as a temporary place of worship, with the view of being formed into a church, and ultimately building a chapel.

NORWICH.-Rev. G. Taylor gratefully acknowledges the following donations on behalf of their present need. Rev. W. Miller, Cuttack, £2 2s.; Mr. J. G. Hapton, £1 9s.; W. Grimes, Esq., Castlethorpe, 10s.; other sums, 15s. 6d.

SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD. PROGRESS. Our friends in this town are making an effort to establish a branch cause at Stanton Hill-a new colliery district in the immediate vicinity-and special services have just been held to raise funds towards building a chapel. On Sunday, Aug. 22, Mr. W. J. Avery, of Chilwell College, preached twice, and on the following day tea was provided, after which a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. Arnold Goodliffe. Addresses were given by the Revs. H. Marsden, W. W. Robinson; Messrs. John Craig, of Toronto, Canada; F. Shacklock, and W. J. Avery.

On Sept. 5, two sermons were preached in a tent at Stanton Hill, by Mr. John Smith, of Derby. On the afternoon of the following day the Rev. George Hill preached. In the evening a tea and public meeting was held; Mr. S. Lane presided, and addressed by Rev. H. Marsden, Messrs. F. Shacklock (Kirkby), R. Fletcher, and W. J. Avery. The financial statement, made by the secretary (Mr. Toon), was satisfactory and inspiriting. At most of the services and at the meetings the attendance was very large.

BOOKS FOR POOR PASTORS AND LAY PREACHERS.-Having a number of theological books to spare, I shall be happy to give a few volumes to our brethren who need such aid. Applicants must state their absolute inability to buy books, and that they are in constant preaching work. They must pay carriage, and state how they are to be sent. I will send post card, and give titles of books I have selected, so as to avoid their having duplicates. Preference will be given to abstainers from intoxicants and tobacco. The parcels will be sent about the end of October. J. BURNS, 17, Porteus Road, W. CANTRELL, REV. E. W., of Todmorden, has accepted the pastorate of the church at Longford.

SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD.-Seventeen, by A. Crossland. Sermon by W. J. Avery, of the College.

WALSALL.-Nine, by W. Lees.

MARRIAGES.

BENSON-WELLINGS.- August 9, at Macclesfield, by Rev W. Evans, Mr. J. H. Benson, to Miss Phoebe Wellings, both of Macclesfield.

COE-HAMMOND.-Sept. 19, at the G. B. chapel, Fleet, by Rev. T. Watkinson, Mr. Robert Coe, to Sarah Jane Hammond, both of Gedney, near Fleet.

HENSON-TAGG.-Aug. 24, at the Baptist chapel, Lenton, by the Rev. J. Parkinson, assisted by the Rev. F. Henson, brother of the bridegroom, Rev. H. Henson, of Bulmer Tyr, Suffolk, to Mary Leedham, second daughter of Mr. S. Tagg, Gas Works, Radford.

SNAPE-THIRLBY.-Sept. 16, at the G. B. chapel, Castle Donington, by the Rev. W. Underwood, D.D., James Snape, Wednesfield, Staffordshire, to M. J. Wells Thirlby, of the former place.

Obituaries.

CROSS.-Elizabeth Cross, once a member of the Beeston church, but for several years an invalid, confined to her room, died on the 5th of Jan. last, at an advanced age. Her patience and cheerfulness amidst the languors of declining nature greatly relieved the toil of prolonged attendance upon her, and made the work of pastoral visitation a pleasure.

PICKERING.-Elizabeth Pickering died at Castle Donington, July 2nd, aged 71. She was the widow of Mr. James Pickering, for many years a deacon of the church at Donington.

SEALS.-Ada Seals, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Robert Seals, of Nottingham, died at Sawley, Aug. 19th, aged seventeen. Her sickness was short, and her death unexpected. Only nine days previously she was received into the Sawley church by Dr. Underwood, who also officiated at her interment in the General Cemetery Nottingham.