antly induced to do, owing to the increasing infirmities of old age, being now in his eighty-fourth year. Our venerable brother has stood long and well in the Christian ministry and held fast by the precious truths of the everlasting Gospel. May his remaining days on earth be specially sig nalised by much sweet fellowship with God, until called up to the glory-world to be with Christ the Lord for ever.

On Wednesday, January 3rd, being their usual New Year's tea and social meeting, Mr. W. Farmar, senior deacon, in the name of the church and congregation, presented the retiring pastor with a purse of seventy-one sovereigns as a token of their affectionate regard. Mr. Austin, in suitable and feeling terms, acknowledged this expression of kindness on the part of his beloved and attached friends. The meeting, which was numerously attended, was subsequently addressed by Messrs. Garwood, Bradley, &c. May the Good Shepherd speedily send a man after His own heart to succeed good John Austin as pastor at Pentside, Dover.

ZION CHAPEL, HIGH WYCOMBE. AGAIN we have to record the goodness of God to us a church. On the last day of the year Mr. Herring baptized five more, making sixteen since June. Five have been added to us from other churches

during the year. But we have to deduct seven for deaths and removals, which leaves us a net increase of fourteen. On New Year's-day we had a thanksgiving meeting. Our brother Herring took the chair, and several brethren gave us words of cheer. We had a large and profitable meeting; which will be long remembered. Lord has owned and blessed our various efforts, heard our prayers, and given prosperity. Parents have seen their children putting on Christ, having testified to the church the power of grace in their hearts.

The

We are making an effort to purchase the school-room. We have had the free use of

it for sixteen years. But we want to put it in trust for the church. Reader, will you help us? We are not a wealthy or large body, or we should have made a move before. R. COLLINS.

HADLEIGH.

THE members' annual tea-meeting was held at the Baptist Chapel, on Wednesday, December 27th, when a goodly number of friends partook of tea, which was followed by a well-attended public meeting at 6.45, under the presidency of the pastor (Mr. B. J. Northfield). Brother Double invoked the divine blessing. After introductory remarks from the chairman, the meeting was further well sustained by appropriate addresses from brethren F. Hitchcock, R. Kersy, and W. Watson, each speaker making reference to the removal, by death, of our beloved brother, Sewell, since the last annual meeting, whose absence we greatly felt. Allusion

was also made to the peace, prosperity, and unity experienced by the church. During the evening the pastor was presented with a gift of money, expressive of the love and esteem of the people, which was affectionately and gratefully received and suitably acknowledged. The singing of that beautiful hymn, "For ever with the Lord,' &c. and prayer by brother Keeble, brought a happy and profitable meeting to a close, much to the satisfaction of

A LITTLE ONE.

"

RISHANGLES, SUFFOLK.

IN the commencement of the past year the church and congregation in this place held their several New Year's services for the purpose of praise and prayer. These meetings and the blessings attending them are still fresh in my memory, nor will they soon, I think, be forgotten by many. Truly it was good to be there; it seemed like no other than the House of God and the very gate of heaven. The great subject of the prayers offered upon that occasion seemed to be "Revival." Many earnest heartbreathings were unitedly put up into the ears of the Lord God of Sabaoth for revival in our midst in spiritual things. This petition has been very notably and markedly answered by our most gracious God during the year that has just closed. We have had the outpouring of the Spirit from on high, our Sabbath days having proved especial seasons of refreshment. Through the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, eleven persons have been brought to Christ, have publicly testified their love to His name, and been baptized, on the confession of their faith, in the name of our Triune God. Of this number the greater part have been called to bear the yoke in youth, thus

giving the morning of their lives to Christ. Four of them from their childhood have been Sabbath-school teachers. In another case, three out of one family have been called the mother, her eldest son and his wife. The other three are mothers of families, two of whom had been secretly following Jesus for many years. Others

we have who are evidently waiting for the moving of the waters. Truly this has been, and still is, very heart-cheering to our beloved pastor, who, for so many years, has faithfully proclaimed the Word of salvation. Our earnest prayer for him is that he may be long spared to come in our midst in the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ; that further additions may be made of those who are saved. To the Lord alone power belongeth, and to Him alone shall be the glory. M. A. A.

CROUCH HILL BAPTIST CHAPEL, N.

Mr. Hy. Dowson, Pastor.

THE church assembling here have recently been called to suffer affliction in the person of their beloved pastor. It is well known by his many friends that for some time past his sight has been so bad as to prevent reading of the Scriptures on the Lord's day, and also needing a kind hand to lead him to the pulpit. By the blessing of God on a recent operation by a most skilful oculist, Mr. Dowson is now able to read and conduct the worship of the sanctuary, although not fully restored to sight in both eyes.

The little flock are grateful for this partial restoration. They are not numerous, but are united in love one to the other; there is yet room for Christian friends who value a true Gospel ministry, founded on New Testament principles.

WM. JACKSON.

CLARE, SUFFOLK.

On the evening of Wednesday, December 20th, 1882, we were again favoured with a baptismal service. Our pastor preached from the words, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." One of our brethren, and newly chosen deacon, baptized a young man upon a profession of faith; our brother is the husband and son of members. Al

though the weather was most unpropitious a good congregation assembled who evinced an almost breathless attention while the simple yet beautiful rite was administered. The past year has been a year of mercy to us at Clare. Several have been added by baptism, while many in our midst, we hope, will shortly be constrained to do likewise, Our esteemed pastor, Mr. Thomas Hoddy. now in his seventy-second year, is still enabled to preach the unsearchable riches of a precious Christ. And that an increased manifestation of spiritual results may follow, is the prayer of

ONE WHO LOVES ZION.

HAILSHAM, SUSSEX.

THE annual meeting of the Baptist Sundayschool was held on Tuesday, January 2nd, when a most interesting service was held. About 400 friends met to witness the annual distribution of prizes to the children who had gained, by attendance, lessons, and behaviour, the greatest number of marks during the year. Seventy-four children, out of the 230 on the books, having reached the standard number of marks required for the extra prizes, were each presented with a handsome volume; the total number of prizes amounted to ten pounds. The meeting was enlivened by the singing of a number of pieces by the children and teachers, under the leadership of Mr. Andrew Head, Miss Bray presiding at the harmonium. Short addresses were also given by Mr. Joseph Nunn (the pastor), Mr. James Green, superintendent, and Mr. James Daw.

But the chief interest of the evening was the presentation to the pastor, Mr. Nunn (who for twenty-two years has laboured among the people), of a purse containing £46 16s. 6d., collected mostly in small sums from the congregation. Mr. James Green, in well chosen words, presented it.

Mr. Nunn, not having heard the least rumour of the matter, was taken by surprise, and said he hardly knew how to find words to express his thanks for such a token from them of their esteem. Knowing the circumstances of the members of his congregation, such a sum from them was more than £200 from some congregations. After a few more words of thanks he sat down, when another surprise awaited him. One of the scholars came forward and,

mounting the platform, presented, from the scholars, six volumes of the " "Treasury of David." Mr. James Daw, speaking for the boy, said the books had been bought with money contributed by the children only, also that every one that contributed had been born and entered the school since Mr. Nunn became pastor; also that he (Mr. Nunn) had held nearly every child in his arms and asked God's blessing to rest upon it. This present Mr. Nunn seemed most pleased with, but the purse of money he should have to consider how best to use it to God's glory. He thanked the children most heartily for their present.

The cause has been in a very prosperous and united state during the ministry of Mr. Nunn, upwards of £900 have been spent in buying ground, building and enlarging schoolrooms, and improving chapel; and, by the blessing of God, the place is entirely free from debt, and the congregation give freely towards defraying all expenses connected with the chapel; and the best of all is, "God is with us.

EDEN CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.

IN taking a review of the past year we have very much cause for thankfulness. Our God has been pleased to bless us, so that the unity of the Spirit has been kept in the bond of peace. Love has been without dissimulation, and our charity one towards another has abounded, inasmuch as our charitable institutions have been well supported, the debt we had contracted upon the chapel has been entirely cleared off, the ministry of the Word by our Brother Jull has been owned and blest to the souls of God's living family, and thirteen fresh members have been added to the church since the commencement of 1882. Surely here is abundant cause for gratitude to our God for His indulgent goodness towards us!

Our annual tea meeting was held under very encouraging circumstances on the 2nd of January, when we were surrounded by a host of loving hearts and happy countenances, who had gathered together to testify their affection for the cause of God. An excellent tea was provided, which all appeared to enjoy; then we had a public meeting, to which numbers came who could not be present at the tea. Our

pastor was chairman, and after singing, reading, and prayer by our Brother Beall, the senior deacon, in the name of the church and congregation, presented the pastor with a beautiful purse, containing £20, as a proof of their love and affection towards him as their minister. Notwithstanding the vicissitudes through which the church had passed, and the changing circumstances that were continually surrounding them, the good old-fashioned truths of the Gospel were as dear to them now as they were to their fathers when the late revered and honoured servant of God, John Foreman, first preached to them in old Eden; and the people rejoiced that in their pastor, Brother Jull, they still found an able, a powerful, and sweet exponent of those same glorious truths.

In thanking them our brother seemed deeply touched by such a mark of their love and sympathy; and, as the Master had blessed the Word amongst them, and had blessed him in the delivery of that Word to them, and they had given him such a token that the Word of Truth he was favoured to deliver them was so appreciated by them, it would act as an incentive to him still to lay himself out in the work of the ministry on their behalf, for their benefit and spiritual advantage.

The superintendent of the school, Brother Ginn, then read a report of the school, giving us a full insight into its workings, from which we gathered that there is a good lending library attached; a full staff of earnest and prayerful teachers; that the school is numerically good, and still increasing; and that there are no lack of funds to support it. To our minister, and to us as a people, these things are surely most encouraging, and we would say, with the Psalmist, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!" Our Brother Deeks then gave us an address fraught with good counsel and good wishes, after which our Brother Wilson gave us much encouragement in looking forward to the future, as God had so abundantly blessed us in the past. The singing added to the enjoyment of the evening. After a vote of thanks to the ladies, our very happy annual gathering was brought to a close with prayer by the chairman.

JOSEPH FAVELL.

PROVIDENCE CHAPEL, UPPER STREET, ISLINGTON.

some

A VERY interesting and profitable meeting was held in connection with this cause on Wednesday, January 3rd. In accordance with a custom of many years' standing, the members of the church and of the congregation assembled together at a New Year's social meeting. After tea, of which a goodly number partook, the pastor presided over a happy and large gathering of friends. After a hymn had been sung, the pastor read Psalm lxxxvii., and Brother Jinks earnestly implored the divine blessing. In his opening remarks, Mr. Reynolds said that, though the year just closed had been an exceptionally trying one for him, in person, family, and church, he felt he could thank God and take courage. He was cheered by the presence of such a number of friends. For three years the Lord had enabled him to preach and live among them, and those years had been marked by the divine blessing. There were present who, during that time, had been brought by divine grace from darkness to light, and some who had only recently rejoiced in Gospel liberty. The additions to the church had not been so numerous during the past year as they were in the two previous years, but still the Lord had not left them without witness. What they needed was to pray with one heart for more seals. Before the pastor sat down, he read the annual report of the Tract and Benevolent Society, from which, it appears that this good institution of the church is only two years old. It is very useful in carrying the Gospel into the courts and alleys of the neighbourhood, and in relieving cases of distress. Out of this society has sprung the monthly sermon to young men, which Mr. Reynolds delivers on the last Sunday evening in every month. One of the visitors was grieved to see such a number of young men breaking the Sabbath in his district. So he solicited his pastor to preach a special sermon to young men. This was tried, and now a number of young men assemble on the last Sunday in the month. May the Lord meet with them. The balance sheet of this little society, as read by the treasurer, Mr. White, showed an income of about £15 for the year, and a balance on the right side. After this business had been disposed of, short addresses were delivered by Brethren Willey, Adams, Dickens, Joyce, Peacock, Stiff, and Swanson. These

addresses were very good, being full of Christ. Brother Chapman closed the meeting with prayer; and, about half-past nine, we sought our homes, with hearts brimful of holy mirth. A MEMBER.

KEPPEL STREET.

THE sixty-fifth annual meeting of the Sabbath-school was held on Tuesday, January 16th, the pastor, M. J. Styles, presiding. The reports, which were read by Messrs. H. Cooper and J. W. Simms, witnessed to the sound condition of the institution; and hearty and appropriate addresses were delivered by Messrs. Anderson, Box, Wilson, Halford, Timothy Harley, and J. R. Wakelin, the esteemed superintendent, to whose faithful and assiduous labours so much of our success is under God to be attributed.

BETHESDA CHAPEL, IPSWICH.

WE commenced the first Sabbath this year under favourable circumstances. The Lord has again appeared for us and answered our prayers, and we now write to record His goodness and mercy to us as a church and people. We received six into communion on that day-two sisters and one brother by baptism, one sister and one brother from churches of the same faith, and one brother from that vortex of confusion, contradiction, and division, Plymouth Brethrenism. Our good brother told out before the church how the Lord had delivered him from their erroneous principles. One of the lady brethren met him after he had left, and asked him where he was going to attend now. He said, 'Bethesda." She warmly replied, "The devil has blinded your eyes But our dear brother persists in believing that God has graciously opened them. One of the sisters who were baptized was from the Ranters. The Lord had commenced a work of grace in her heart, but she could not realise peace. A friend asked her to come to Bethesda. She did so, but did not like what she heard at first; still she felt compelled to continue to come, and one day, when the writer was preaching from Isa. xxviii. 5, the Lord was pleased to roll eternal mercy into her soul, and then she wept as pardoned sinners do, and

felt the blood of sprinkling too, and now she blesses the Lord for directing her steps to Bethesda. The other sister who was baptized was brought up in the Church of England-very High Church-wore the cross, and attended that vile place, the confessional; but God had mercy upon her, and said "Live!" unto her, and the result was an anxious inquiry how to get rid of her sins and how to obtain mercy. She found no peace, no rest; she was persuaded to come to Bethesda. She came, listened, thought it seemed to suit her case; she came again and again, but old connections were strong. Influence was brought to bear to prevent her coming; was told that if she did come to Bethesda it would place her beyond the reach of all mercy; yet she still came; and one Thursday evening in November, 1881, when the writer was preaching from the words "God be merciful to me, a sinner," the Lord answered her prayer, loosed her bonds, scattered her fears, and filled her with joy and peace in believing, so that she could and did say―

"Thy love was great, Thy mercy free, That from the pit delivered me."

Our brother who was baptized was the child of many prayers, went deep into sin, tried hard to go to hell, and seemed to care for no one; but one day an arrow was levelled from heaven through the instrumentality of our departed Brother Poock, and it stuck fast, made a running wound that sometimes ran in the night; but byand-by the Balm of Gilead was applied, the wound was healed, and he felt his soul was saved, and received a knowledge of salvation by the remission of his sins, so that in our brother is a part fulfilment of "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children." One verse he heard Brother Poock repeat was sweet to him then, and is still precious to him now :

"Indulgent God, how kind

Are all Thy ways to me,
Whose dark, benighted mind
Was enmity with Thee;

Yet now subdued by sovereign grace
My spirit longs for Thine embrace."

I look upon the facts I have been stating as illustrating "All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me." W. KERN.

EBENEZER, RICHMOND STREET, BRIGHTON. ABOUT 300 gathered here on Lord's-day night, December 31st, 1882, and spent the last hour-and-half of the outgoing year in devotional exercises-the pastor, Mr. Gray, presiding. The New Year was ushered in, as the Old Year was ushered out, while the exalted strains of the well

known hymn, "All hail the power of Jesu's name, were being sung. The

pastor read the first seven verses of the 4th chapter of 1 Peter; and in a number of short addresses, followed by hymns suited to the remarks, gave prominence to several hallowing subjects. The Eternity of God; the unchangeableness of our Saviour Jesus Christ; the brevity of life; the total dependence of man upon the Lord; the happiness of departed saints; the pilgrimage of life; and the last day, were severally spoken of, and vocalised in Divine song. The hymns were interspersed with prayers suited to the occasion, which proved a refreshing and soul-elevating time.

From January 1st to January 6th prayer was made night by night for special benefits from the holy heaven of the God of Zion. The meetings were well-attended, lively, interesting and soul-cheering. On Tuesday, January 9th, the annual New Year's gathering was held. Nearly 200 took tea; and upwards of 300 were present at night. Mr. Gray presided, and addresses were given by Mr. Payne, Mr. Masterson, and Mr. Read. The remarks of both speakers and chairman were consonant with the character of the meeting; church and school sharing the time between them. Various hymns were sung, and the psalmody class rendered three anthems in a sweetly effective manner. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen."