Obituary-Sarah Anne Fielding. SARAH ANNE FIELDING was the only and beloved daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane Fielding, of Castle Donington, was born at Cosby Hill, Leicestershire, October 20th, 1847. She was naturally amiable and conscientious, uniformly obedient to her parents, and kind and obliging to all about her. She was never known to tell an untruth, nor to endeavour to conceal a fault when she had com mitted one. Blessed with parents who feared God, she not only felt the influence of religion at home, but was brought early and habitually to attend the sanctuary. She was always serious and thoughtful, and sometimes deeply impressed, particularly under the ministry of the Rev. G. Needham. In January and February, 1860, a series of special services were held at Donington, and many, it is hoped, were brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. Miss F. was amongst the number. Her conversion, though not so remarkable as some, was yet clear and satisfactory. Her sorrow for sin was genuine and deep, and was followed by a delightful assurance of forgiveness. One night as she lay in bed, after long and earnest prayer, she was enabled to look to Jesus as her Saviour, and confiding in his power and love, she felt perfectly safe and inexpressibly happy. Her joy was so new and so great, that she could hardly contain it. Mother,' she said in the morning, rejoice with me, for I have found Jesus.' Having given herself to the Lord, it was her wish to be baptized and join the church; but as she was so young, her parents thought it better that she should wait a little. She readily deferred to their judgment in this matter, but endeavoured none the less to walk worthy of the Gospel. It was not to be expected that the results of conversion would be so marked in her as in some. Her natural disposition was sweet and lovely, and her morality all but perfect. There was very little that was positively bad to be destroyed. Religion had only to animate and 463 adorn what was good. This was done in a high degree. Human virtues were transformed into Christian graces. Her faultless morality was animated with the warmth and glow of a new life, and every feature of her character acquired additional beauty. Such simple and unaffected piety, such meekness and gentleness of temper, such an utter disregard of self, such disinterested anxiety to please and benefit others, are rarely witnessed. She was indeed a burning and a shining light. Her religion was as beautiful as it was precious. All who knew her loved her dearly, and now she is gone her memory is fragrant. On Lord's-day, August 4th, 1862, Miss Fielding was baptized. Those who saw her on that occasion will not soon forget her appearance. She was apparently in good health. The purity and peace of her mind were depicted in her countenance. Several persons remarked that she seemed more nearly related to heaven than to earth. In the evening of the same day she was received into the church, and partook for the first time, the supper of the Lord. To human appearance she seemed likely to continue long, to adorn by her life the profession she had made. But my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. On the following Friday she was taken ill. Hoping a change of air would be beneficial, her parents took her to the sea side, but instead of improving she grew worse. It was found necessary to return immediately. The progress of the disease was now most rapid, and all hope of her recovery was soon gone. Of this she seemed fully conscious, nor was she at all concerned about the issue. She was neither anxious to live nor afraid to die; but seemed entirely resigned to the will of God. She bore her affliction with exemplary patience. She frequently expressed her thankfulness that she had been brought to the Saviour while she was in health. Her confidence in Christ was steadfast to the end. She finished her course on Thursday, July 17th, in the 15th year of her age, by a death that was as peaceful as her life was lovely. Now she is gone 'Gone to an early tomb Gone from the earth away, To bright unending day; Gone to dwell with the good and blest, BAPTISMS. Intelligence. LOUTH, Walker-gate.-On the 2nd of October we were favoured to add to our number by baptism, two believers, and on October 30th, three others. They were all received into the church on Lord's-day, Nov. 2, at the Lord's supper, when suitable counsels and cautions were given them. divine service on Thursday, Oct. 30, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. Giles Hester, of Loughborough. After the afternoon service we had a public tea, which was numerously attended; and, on the following Lord's - day, two sermons were preached by the Rev. William Sharman, minister of the chapel. The congregations on all occasions were large, and the sum of £20 BIRCHCLIFFE.-After a sermon from was obtained in addition to the Acts xviii. 8., on the 16th day of previous efforts of the people. The November, eleven persons were bap-building, which is of the Tuscan tized, and in the afternoon were re-order, is much admired and is conceived into the church. ANNIVERSARIES. SAWLEY.-On Lord's-day, Oct. 26, two sermons were preached in the General Baptist Chapel, Sawley, by Mr.T.W.Marshall, of Loughborough, on behalf of the day school. Collections about the same as last year. BIRCHCLIFFE.-On the 26th of October, the Rev. C. Clark preached two sermons, after which collections were made for the reduction of the debt on our chapel premises. The congregations were very large, and the collections, considering the depressed state of commerce, liberal. OPENING. CONINGSBY.-Our new chapel, which has been in course of erection during the last six months was opened for sidered a great ornament to the village. The design was supplied by Mr. Slight, of Kirton - in - Lindsey, and its execution was entrusted to Messrs. Lee and Johnson, builders, Coningsby. MISCELLANEOUS. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE MISSION TO CENTRAL AFRICA.-A meeting was held at Cambridge, on Monday, November 17, in furtherance of the Oxford and Cambridge Mission to Central Africa. The Vice-Chancellor of the University presided, and the bishop designate, the Rev. Mr. Tozer, was one of the speakers. The Rev. Dr. Jeremie, in an able speech, supported the mission, but condemned the warlike proceedings which had taken place in connection with it. He also condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the recent Intelligence-Miscellaneous. 465 letter of the Bishop of Labuan, | of the Welsh population, and for commending the use of the revolver. many years the services have been The Rev. Mr. Tozer, in the course of his speech, expressed an opinion that in allowing warlike measures to be taken the late Bishop Mackenzie had acted under the advice of Dr. Livingstone. Subsequently the Dean of Ely defended the Bishop of Labuan. He described that prelate as a man of good actions but unguarded words, and expressed an opinion that the letter to which allusion had been made was no criterion of his in tentions. DERBY, Osmaston-road. The letter of Rev. R. Horsfield was read on Sunday morning, November 23, by the pastor, Rev. W. Jones, and he invited the friends present to meet him in the vestry to take into consideration its painful contents. In the evening it was read again, and the pastor informed the congregation that since the morning service a liberal subscription had been made and a weekly sum promised until the opening of Parliament. He invited those present who had not contributed to do so, when a hearty response was made. The sum given during the day amounted to between £27 and £28, and the weekly subscriptions amounted to £10. These donations are in addition to two collections already made, the first of which £26 5s. was sent to the General Fund, and the second of £10 10s. 7d., together with two large packages of clothing were sent to the suffering brethren of our churches. A CHURCH TRANSFERRED TO THE METHODIST DENOMINATION.-It will be remembered that some time since a dispute occurred between Lord Llanover and the Rev. John Griffiths, perpetual curate of Mynyddyslwyn parish, Monmouthshire. The parish is a large one, and in some parts exceedingly populous. Lord Llanover is the proprietor of nearly the whole of Abercarn, which is a village, or rather a small town, in the parish. He has built a church there at his own expense, for the express purpose of providing for the religious wants | conducted in Welsh, as originally intended. Latterly his Lordship's curate received a valuable preferment, and it became necessary to appoint another in his place. This was done, but it appears that before the new curate could enter upon his duties it was necessary to receive the permission of the perpetual curate of the parish in whose cure Abercarn was situated. The Rev. John Griffiths refused the permission unless one service was conducted in English. Lord Llanover demurred to this, and hence the dispute. One of his Lordship's chaplains has been ministering at the church for several months, but finding that there was no hope of an arrangement, Lord Llanover determined to transfer the church to the Calvinistic Methodists under certain conditions. These conditions are that the mode of worship carried on in the Church of England shall be adhered to so far as is consistent with the Calvinistic Methodist creed. Opening services have been held, when the Rev. L. Edwards, B.A., president of Bala College, and the Rev. Thomas Philips, of Hereford, officiated. Lord and Lady Llanover, Mrs. Chancellor Williams, and a number of the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood were present. ALBERTLAND (NEW ZEALAND) CHRISTIAN COLONIZATION MOVEMENT.-The general managers of this movement announce, that owing to an accident to the mail which left Auckland in September, there is no specific news of the safe arrival of the Matilda Wattenbach and Hanover. However, the monthly summary of the August New Zealander has arrived, from which they glean the following interesting particulars with reference to the way in which the movement is viewed on the other side of the water. The first is a letter to the New Zealander of a correspondent who signs himself' H. S. Andrews, Real Estate Agent, Queen-street, Auckland,' who writes as follows: Wattenbach, with the first draft of the Nonconformists' special settlement party, may be looked for. As it appears that the number of the colonists for this special settlement is likely to be greater than was at first anticipated, application has been made to the superintendent, by the agents, to have the Paparoa block added to the land already set apart; an application which entirely met with the superintendent's approval, and which has accordingly been done. The clearing of the roads into the Oruawharo block is being actively carried out, and nothing which is calculated to promote the success of this interesting immigration has been neg. lected, either by the pioneer agents, or by the Provincial authorities with whom they have placed themselves in connection for that purpose. The general managers have no distinct information as to the position of the Paparoa block, but judging from the little they have received about it, they imagine that it lies about twenty miles to the north of the Oruawharo Sir,-In your Wednesday's issue | month, the ships Hanover and Matilda one of your correspondents suggests that an organization be made to welcome the body of Nonconformists who are emigrating to our shores from England, in which suggestion I, with a number of the inhabitants of Auckland and the country, most cordially agree; believing that such a manifestation would be indicative of our good feeling towards them, and the comfort they would feel from at once being legitimately recognized as colonists and friends. To carry out this I will receive the names of all persons feeling interested in the matter, and afterwards call them together to a preliminary meeting-from which will emanate the necessary steps to be taken for accomplishing the object in view.' From this it is manifest, that the pioneer party which left our shores in May last, are likely to receive such a warm and hearty reception from their fellow colonists in that far-off land, as will tend to make their settlement easy and pleasant. A statement in another part of the paper is still more important, as it indicates the block of land set apart for the future settlers :-In another sufficiently near, therefore, to that river to facilitate intercourse between the different bodies of settlers. Missionary Observer. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF RUS- BY REV. T. BAILEY. Berhampore, Sep.16,1862. A FEW days ago we returned from a long and deeply interesting visit to Russell Condah and the adjacent parts of Goomsoor. It was originally proposed that we should go much earlier in the year, but we found it to be impracticable, and it was not until the early rains" had partially subsided that we were able to move. We then received that call which no missionary can disregard, "Come over and help us," and immediately made the few arrangements that It was very pleasant at this remote station thus to find shelter and a home, though like all unoccupied houses, especially in this country, it looked for a time exceedingly wretched, but it gradually assumed a more cheering aspect; we even found a garden attached to it, which though neglected and almost wild contained, amongst a mass of rank weeds, a number of plants and flowers both rare and beautiful-there was a delicate looking pomegranate bearing a solitary fruit, a number of aloes were strong and vigorous notwithstanding the rough weeds that surrounded them; a jessamine was bearing its modest flowers though almost smothered by two luxuriant limes; but more beautiful than all, though almost painful from the power | of association, we found even here, on the very verge of civilization, several specimens of what appeared to be the English rose, the very same in kind that once introduced us to a tender mother's embrace and the sacred precincts of home. The whole district is evidently one of surprising fertility; rice, the main article of produce, reaches a state of the greatest perfection; sugarcane, cotton, and various kinds of oil seeds thrive well. We also saw the cocoa-nut, pine-apple, plantain, arrowroot, capsicum, and other valuable plants and fruits too numerous to mention. But alas! as is too often the case, where nature is most lavish in her favours, the people are to the last degree ignorant and degraded; indeed the town of Russell Condah owes its importance chiefly to the fact that it is situated on the borders of Khondistan, a country peopled by wild and barbarous tribes, where every village has its chief, in some parts of which infanticide is common, and what is more dreadful still, notwithstanding the efforts of the British Government to suppress the savage rite, it is to be feared that even now in the remote districts human beings are offered in sacrifice. It is, however, gratifying to find that, though the Government has abolished the Meriah agency, it has not lost sight of this important subject. Two deputy magistrates have been appointed, also an efficient staff of police to keep constant watch over the people. We are glad, moreover, to learn that the agent in Ganjam to the Governor of Fort St. George is about to make a tour in the ensuing cold season through the whole Khond territory, when his influence will doubtless be exerted to the utmost to bring the people within the pale of civilization. We took an early opportunity of procuring an interview with two men |