Baldwin and Marshall, of Lough- | Association had been discussed, borough. but had been dismissed, from the apparent impossibility of finding time for such a service in the three days usually allotted to the annual gathering. The subject was again introduced, and the following brethren took part in the discussion: On Tuesday morning, the devotional service was resumed, the Rev. C. H. Clark, the newly appointed minister of the place, presiding. At ten o'clock, the Rev. J. C. Pike, of Leicester, took the chair, and read a very admirable address. TheT. W. Mathews, R. Kenney, H. bicentenary commemoration, the Hunter, J. F. Stevenson, B.A., T. position of Baptists 200 years ago, Watts, J. B. Pike, J. Lewitt, W. when Grantham was in Lincoln jail Chapman, J. F. Winks, Dr. Burns, and Bunyan was in Bedford jail, R. Hardy, and W. R. Stevenson. the events in the neighbourhood a The subjoined resolution was ultihundred years back, when the Rev. mately adopted: That we recomDan Taylor first went forth to mend the church where the Annual preach, and the duties of the Association is held to invite the churches at the present hour, representatives and members of with other matters of general and sister churches to unite with them connexional interest were very ably in the celebration of the Lord's discussed. Passing reference was supper during the sittings of the also made to the following ministers Association; and that the time of who have been called to their re- the celebration of the Lord's supper ward during the past year:-the be, immediately after the sermon Revs. S. Wigg, of Leicester; J. Kid- on Wednesday afternoon.' The indall, of Louth; T. Scott, of Norwich; creased bribery and corruption at parand J. Knight, of Wolvey. A vote liamentary and municipal elections of thanks was unanimously awarded was brought before the notice of the the chairman for his address, which Association by a resolution from will be given entire in the Minutes. the Lincolnshire Conference, and it The Rev. T. W. Mathews, of Boston, was agreed:-'That as there is was then appointed Vice-chairman; reason to believe that bribery at and the Rev. J. Clifford, B.A., of parliamentary and municipal elecLondon, Assistant-secretary. Be- tions has lately rather increased fore the regular business of the than diminished we recommend annual meeting began, a resolution our ministers occasionally to make was passed cordially welcoming any this misdemeanour the subject of ministers and members of other their public reprehension.' A pedenominations in the town who tition was also adopted against the might desire to attend the sittings. compulsory attendance at the Esta The business opened by the re-blished Church of the children of ception of a new church in Lanca- Dissenters at National Schools; shire into the Association. The copies of the petition to be presented adjudicators for the Association to the House of Lords by Lord prize for the best Catechism upon Teynham; and to the House of ComGeneral Baptist Usages and Non-mons by F. Crossley, Esq., M.P.,conformist Principles' presented The petition is as follow:their report. Several manuscripts had been forwarded, and the prize was unanimously awarded to the Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., of London. The Catechism will be published at the low price of one penny, and is expected to appear in August. On previous occasions, the subject of a united celebration of the Lord's supper during the sittings of the 6 6 TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UN- SHEWETH, That there are certain day. schools, called National Schools, in Home Missionary Meeting, &c. all parts of England and Wales, receiving aid from the Parliamentary grant, to which the children of Dissenting parents are not admitted, unless they will attend the Sundayschool; and, in many cases, the services of the Established Church on the Sunday. That your petitioners look upon this rule as unjust in its character, and oppressive in its operation. That especially in country districts, where there is only one public school, this rule is productive of great hardship-Dissenting parents having no alternative between withholding their children from school altogether, or being compelled to have them attend the Sunday-school and the services of the Established Church, and thus to be forcibly separated from them in the services of Divine worship, and at other times during the greater portion of | the Lord's-day. That your petitioners, as taxpayers, are contributors to the grant from which the National schools derive this portion of their revenue, and they submit that they are therefore entitled to all the advantages of that grant without violence being done to their consciences, or restrictions laid down as to what Sunday schools, and places of worship, their children shall attend. That your petitioners beg to remind your Honourable House that the rule has been severely condemned by Her Majesty's Commissioners on popular Education; but that, notwithstanding, it is still in force in a large number of State-aided schools. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your Honourable House to make provision that no school, in which the above rule shall be in force, shall, in future, receive any portion of the Parliamentary grant for Education; and that, on proof being given, that the Committee of Management of any schools has adopted the above rule, that portion of the Parliamentary grant, to which it would otherwise have been entitled, shall be immediately withdrawn. 283 'And your petitioners will ever pray.' The annual meeting of the Home Missionary Society, was held on Tuesday evening, G. W. Stevenson, Esq., of Halifax, in the chair. The general report of the society was briefly given by the Rev. J. F. Winks, in place of the Rev. J. Holroyd, who is suffering from extreme prostration. The Rev. T. Barrass read the report of the Eastern district;-J. Earp, Esq., of Melbourne, the report of the Derby and Castle Donington district, which has helped to support the church at Leeds; the Rev. J. F. Winks, the report of the Nottingham and Loughborough district, which has long assisted the church at Sheffield-now seeking to become independent; the Rev. R. Ingham, the report of the Yorkshire district, which has aided the churches at Rochdale, Todmorden, and Bacup; and the Rev. J. Maden, the report of the Cheshire district, which has helped the church at Stoke-uponTrent. The Rev. I. Stubbins then gave out a hymn; and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Lewitt, on the importance of towns as home missionary spheres; by the Rev. J. Maden, on individual effort; by the Rev. J. W. Beevers, on spiritual power, the great want of modern churches; and the Rev. E. Stevenson, of Loughborough, on the claims of the rural districts. The whole of Wednesday was devoted to public services and annual committee meetings of the Chilwell College and the Foreign Mission. The morning service was opened by Dr. Burns. The Rev. W. Jones, of Derby, preached an excellent and appropriate sermon from 2 Tim. iv. 6-8. The words were regarded as recording an example of rare courage and fidelity in a Christian minister; of completeness in his life, and calm hope in view of his death: and of joyful anticipation of heavenly reward. The Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., of London, closed the service with prayer. In the afternoon, the devotional exercises were conducted by the Revs. J. Cotton, of Holbeach; Roberts, successor of the Rev. E. Mellor, of Square church, Halifax, moved, and the Rev. I Stubbins seconded the next resolution, which was: 'That this meeting acknowledges, with gratitude, the many tokens of God's favour vouchsafed to this and other Evangelical missionary societies through the past year, and regards these as calling upon all true Christians to put forth more strenuous efforts for the diffusion of the glorious Gospel throughout the world; and upon the friends of this society in particular, to remember how plenteous is the harvest presented in the province of Orissa.' We cannot but regret, that the extreme length of some of the preceding speeches prevented our esteemed and beloved brother Stubbins from speaking more than a few minutes. The votes of thanks to the chairman, committee, officers of the society, and all its other active friends, were moved by Mr. W. Brooks, the superintendent of the missionary press in Orissa; and seconded by the Rev. J. F. Stevenson, B.A., of Nottingham. and R. Kenney, of Burton-on-Trent, and eloquent speech. The Rev. W. and Rev. Farmer Chamberlain, of Fleet, preached a scriptural and practical discourse from 1 Thes. v. 2. The public missionary meeting was held in the evening. In the unavoidable absence of John Crossley, Esq., mayor of Halifax, who had consented to preside. J. Earp, Esq., of Melbourne was called to the chair. After prayer by the Rev. J. Alcorn, of Burnley, and an appropriate address by the chairman, the Rev. J. C. Pike, the secretary, read a brief and interesting abstract of the report. In the absence, through illness, of R. Pegg, Esq., of Derby, the treasurer, Rev. J. C. Pike also read the cash account for the past year. The total expenditure had been £4,918 6s. 8d.; and the total receipts £4,541 11s. 9d.-leaving a balance due to the treasurer of £376 14s. 11d. The heavy additional expences also necessarily to be incurred in the return to India of our brethren Stubbins and Brooks, with their families, call for the most strenuous efforts of all friends of the Orissa Mission. The Rev. Giles Hester moved the first resolution, in a very able speech The whole of Thursday was deThat the report, an abstract of voted to business, that connected which has now been read, be re- with the Chilwell College taking ceived and printed; and that this precedence. The Rev. J. Lewitt read meeting, while commending our the report, which was ordered to beloved brethren, Stubbins and be printed. Only one student had Brooks, to the Divine blessing, retired, Mr. C. H. Clark, and three rejoices that their return to India applications had been received. The will SO increase the society's reports of the examiners were strength in that country, as to admit satisfactory; and thanks were voted of two missionaries being stationed to them for their services. The at Russell Condah, with a view to examiners for the ensuing year the establishment of a mission among are, in theology, the Revs. W. the Khonds, an effort which appears Jones and R. Kenney; in classics and peculiarly important and seasonable mathematics, the Revs. J. F. Steat the present time, from the fact, venson, B.A., and J. Martin, B. A., that the Government has discon- of Nottingham; and in general litetinued the agency for the suppres-rature, the Revs. J. J. Goadby, W. sion of the Meriah sacrifice, having nobly accomplished its work of mercy in putting an end to the horrible human sacrifices, which had, for ages, prevailed among the tribes inhabiting the mountains of Goomsur.' The Rev. C. H. Clark seconded the resolution in a brilliant : Chapman, and Mr. C. T. Bishop. From the cash account, read by the treasurer, Mr. T. W. Marshall, of Loughborough, it appeared that the receipts were £670 118.; and the expenditure £633 7s. 9d.; leaving a balance in hand of £37 3s. 3d. The cost of the new College pre Summary of the Business of Thursday. 285 century. mises was, £2,900: and during the year there had been subscribed and collected towards this, £1,623 15s. 11d. Votes of thanks were given to the secretary and treasurer, who were requested to continue in office for the ensuing year. The Trust-Deed of the Chilwell College, was read, together with the emendations of a sub-committee, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted: That having heard of the method in which the Chilwell property is proposed to be settled, namely, for promoting the doctrines which constitute the basis of the association of churches of the New Connexion of General Baptists, founded in the year 1770, this Association desires to express its approval of the course pursued.' The best thanks of the Association was also given to brethren T. W. Marshall, W. Mallett, W. Bennett, and W. Underwood, for the admirable manner in which they had negotiated for the Chilwell property. The late Mr. Booker, of Nottingham, was united with the above named brethren. An early effort should be made for paying off the remaining portion of the debt on the College. It is proposed to hold opening services at Chilwell at the commencement of the next session in September. The friends at Nottingham were requested by the Association to get up a bazaar to be held during the sittings of the next annual meeting. The treasurer will be glad to receive any additional subscriptions towards defraying the College debt. The following resolution was passed: That the churches of our Connexion be affectionately requested to make collections on the 24th of August of the present year, on behalf of the Col-gelical sections of the Baptist lege Purchase Fund, and for the extraordinary expences of the Mission.' An interesting discussion arose on the desirableness of publishing selections from the writings of General Baptist authors; commencing with Thomas Grantham, and continuing to those of the present The Bicentenary Building Fund, about which several letters have already appeared in our pages, was discussed. The Association, however, did not feel itself to be in a position to entertain the question. The effort to raise a new chapel at Lincoln was recommended to the generous liberality of the churches. The chapel registration committee, through one of its members, recalled attention to the report published in the Magazine for October, 1861. The whole question was remitted to brethren G. Stevenson, T. Stevenson, and J. J. Goadby, to be reported upon at the next Association. The The Association letter was read at twelve o'clock on Thursday. subject was:- What practical measures can be proposed for effecting a closer union between the two evan body?' F. Stevenson, Esq., of Nottingham, having declined to write the letter, the Rev. J. B. Pike, (at the request of the business committe), very kindly consented. Mr. Pike received the hearty thanks of the Association for his very able letter. The question: Can we, as Dis for their sermons; to the chairman and minute secretary, for their services; and to the friends at Halifax for their very kind and hospitable entertainment. Before the chairman closed the sittings with prayer, the secretary announced, that twentyfive churches had sent no report; that 1,986 members had been added to our churches, by baptism, restoration, or letter, during the past year; that 1,304 were lost by death, removal, &c.; and that the clear increase was about 700, or nearly one-seventh more than last year; and about one-half more than two years ago. The sittings closed at six o'clock on Thursday night. senters, consistently avail ourselves | to brethren Jones and Chamberlain, of the aid provided by the new code for education?' was proposed; but not discussed. The pages of the Magazine are, however, open to those friends who may wish to have this subject ventilated. A fraternal letter was read from the 17th Triennial Conference of Free Will Baptists in America, and the Rev. W. Underwood was appointed to reply. The next Association will be held at Broad-street, Nottingham; the Rev. J. C. Jones, M. A., of Spalding, to be the chairman: the Rev. T. Watts, of Wisbech, to preach the morning sermon; or, in case of failure, the Rev. E. Burton, of Portsea: Dr. Burns to preach the afternoon sermon; or, in case of failure, the Rev. J. H. Wood, of Smarden. The subject of the letter to the churches to be:-' Is it consistent and proper for Nonconformists to accept government aid for secular education?' The Rev. W. Underwood, to be the writer. The thanks of the Association were given A free conference was held after tea, when several interesting topics were discussed; amongst which, the best means of conducting meetings for religious enquiry, and of bringing young people in our large towns to religious decision, were the most prominent. THE NEWBURYS: THEIR OPINIONS AND FORTUNES. A GLIMPSE OF BAPTISTS IN ENGLAND TWO CENTURIES AGO. CHAPTER X.-THE PRISON GREETING. 'Do, pray, let me in!' implored a woman, time-after-time, as she smote her fair hands at the nail. studded outer-door of the Newgate prison. 'Do, pray, there's a good man, for the love of God!? The warder was as stern and terrible as fate. He had heard her knocking and entreaties every time, but did not so much as choose to ask her what she wanted, or even open the wicket to look at her. 'What a shame!' cried bystanders as they came up to see what was the matter. And such a handsome passionate pleader too,' the better portion of them thought but did not dare to express-knowing as honest hearts do, under any habiliments, that compliments to a person in dis tress are worse than comfits to a hungry starving man. O let a poor woman in, for Jesus's sake! I bring food for my husband. Have ye no pity-no wife and dear ones of your own?' Still the gaoler vouchsafed no voice or sign. A sturdy youth in the plain garb of an apprentice, now joined the group of bystanders, and perceiving the situation of affairs, pushed to the front, seized a stone that lay close at hand, and made such a hammering at the door that fairly frightened the poor woman whose importunities had been unheeded. 'Mercy, good sir. You'll make him violent.' He should let you in, then,' |