the minister and friends owning such chapels; and also concerning the Dissenters Chapel Bill now before Parliament: but no resolutions were adopted in either case.

4. The next Conference is to be at Wimes. wold, on the third Tuesday in September; Mr. Smith of Hinckley, was appointed to preach on "the ultimate triumphs of the Gospel." Mr. Ferneyhough of Nottingham will preach in the evening.

The public services at Hugglescote were well attended. In the morning Mr. Goadby of Leicester, read the Scriptures and prayed, and Mr. Pike preached; Mr. Buckley gave out the hymns. In the evening Mr. Derry of Barton, delivered a useful discourse.

J. GOADBY, Sec. pro tem.

3. The people meeting at Grove Street, Halifax, applied for organization into a separate Church, and admission to the Conference in this capacity. Mr. John Ingham reported the proceedings of the committee. It was agreed that brethren James Hodgson, R. Ingham, G. Tunnicliff, and R. Hardy, be added to the committee, and that the committee endeavour to reconcile this people with the Church at Haly Hill, and if they cannot succeed, that we cease our exertions on the behalf of this people for the present.

4. The following is a deputation to employ their exertions to obtain the amount of salary for Mr. Tunnicliff, that he may be still retained at Leeds, Messrs R. Ingham, F. Smith, T. Tunnicliff, T. Gill, H. Hollin rake, W. Butler and Jonathan Ingham.

5. An application was made to change the Christmas Conference, which was postponed till the next meeting.

6. It was requested that collections should be made to reduce the debts on our chapels. The secretary and treasurer's reports will be called for at the next meeting.

7. The treasurer for the Home Mission, was desired to pay the interest of the debt on the Premises at Prospect Place, Bradford.

8. Mr. J. Hodgson is desired to accept the office of treasurer, for the H. M. station at Leeds, and to advance a quarter's salary to Mr. Tunnicliff.

9. The statistics of the Churches are as follows. At Leeds they have baptized two, and they have four or five inquirers.-At Bradford they hope for an improvement.They have baptized at Clayton, six males and six females, and they have as many inquirers. At Allerton they have a few candidates for baptism.-Five have been baptized at Queenshead, and there are several inquirers. They have a few enquirers at Halifax, and have baptized seven since last meeting.-At Birchescliff they have baptized ten.— They are peaceable and prosperous at Heptonstall Slack, and have baptized nineteen.- At Burnley their state is healthy, and they have baptized nine.

W.

4. As a little money, for the reduction of the debts on chapels, has been paid to the treasurer, a committee was nominated to as. sist the secretary and treasurer in its distribution, viz., James Hodgson, W. Butler, T. Gill, J. Greenwood and W. Jackson. Crabtree, the secretary, and Laurence Ingham, the treasurer, received the thanks of the meeting for their services the past year, and they were desired to continue in office the year ensuing.

The following are the statistics of the Churches. There were no reports from Leeds, Bradford, Allerton, Queenshead, and Birchescliff. At Halifax the congregations are increased; there is one candidate for baptism, a few inquirers, and one person has been called to preach. There is no retrograding change at Heptonstall Slack, and there are above twenty approved candidates for baptism.-At Shore, they have baptized four and restored four; the congregations are as usual, and there are a few

inquirers. They have excluded several at Lineholm, but the Church is in a peaceable state, and the congregations are good. There is no material change at Burnley.

Mr. W. Butler preached in the evening. The next Conference, to be held at Clayton, on Tuesday, the 13th of Aug. 1844. Mr. W. Butler to preach in the morning, and Messrs Gill and Tunnicliff, in the evening.

DERBYSHIRE CONFERENCE. -The next meeting of this Conference, is held at Smalley, on the first Monday in August, and not at Ripley, as inadvertently stated. J. PEGGS, Secretary.

ANNIVERSARIES.

STAMFORD.-On Lord's-day, May 19th, three sermons were preached for the Sabbathschool. Those morning and evening by Mr. Pentney; that in the afternoon by the Rev. T. Islip. On Monday May 20th, a public tea meeting was held. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Smith, of Whymondham, Islip and Pentney, of Stamford; also by Messrs. Forbes, Brooks, and Chapman. Collections, with the profits of tea, £5. 5s.

KIRTON, Notts. The annual sermons for the liquidation of our chapel debt were delivered in this place, by Mr. Burrows, of Alfreton, on Lord's-day May 26th.

An

interesting tea-meeting was held on the following evening. Impressive and useful addresses were delivered by a Wesleyan and Independent minister-Mr. Wood, of Mansfield, &c. Collections, £5. 10s.

On Lord's

LONGFORD, Union Place.· day, June 9th, two sermons were preached on behalf of the Sabbath-schools connected with the above place, by the Rev. John Styles, D. D., late of Brixton, near London, when £14 was collected. The services were much assisted by the performance of sacred music by the choir of the place, under the able leadership of Mr. Lot Cantrill.

DERBY, St. Mary's Gate. — In our last we announced the probability of £200 being realized at this anniversary. We are happy to announce that it is now proposed to raise £1000 during the present year, and that upwards of £600 are already promised towards the chapel debt.

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will exalt him," Ex. xv. 2; and Mr. Hodges, town missionary, closed with prayer. the evening Mr. Hunter preached from, "Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name," Psa. cxxxviii. 2. Mr. Elsey, and Mr. Plowright, conducted the devotional services. On Wednesday morning Mr. Edmonds, of Nottingham, preached from Heb. viii. 12, and in the afternoon from Psa. lxxii. 15. The assembly being too numerous to be accommodated in the new chapel, Mr. Phillips, of Southwould, preached in the old chapel. In the evening, addresses were delivered by Messrs. Davis, Phillips, and Ward. On the following Sabbath, the fragments were gathered up, that nothing might be lost, after sermons by Mr. Elsey, and Pickness, from Nottingham, when the whole amount of the collections were found to be £106. 14s. The chapel is a very beautiful Gothic building, erected on the estate of T. North, Esq., and at an actual outlay of more than £500. The collection is to be devoted to the fitting up of the interior of the chapel. The dimensions are thirty-six feet by eighteen, and being built of stone, and on the declivity of a hill, it forms a beautiful object to the surrounding country. The liberal proprietor of the estate, purposes to take down the old chapel, and build a school-room upon the site of it. The Lord raise up many in our country and throughout the British empire, of whom the Church may gratefully exclaim with the Jewish elders of old, "He loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue."

BAPTISMS.

A FRIEND.

AT BERKHAMPSTEAD AND AT CHESHAM there have been recently important additions to the Church. The time of united communion between the two branches, (Whit-Sunday,) was hallowed and delightful.

NON CHAPEL, ST. MARY-LE-BONE.— On Lord's day morning, July 2nd, the sacred rite of believers' baptism was administered to ten persons, by our respected pastor, after delivering a faithful and appropriate discourse, from John xi. the latter clause of the 26th and 27th verses. The greatest attention and order pervaded the congregation. In the evening, the newly-baptized surrounded the table of the Lord, and were received into the Church by the right hand of fellowship. We sincerely trust a good and lasting impression was made, and that many may be constrained to "go and do likewise." We rejoice to add that we have several inquirers and candidates.

ILKESTON.-The ordinance of believers' baptism was administered at this place, on Lord's day, June 2nd. The place selected was Moors-bridge, on the western side of the town, and the place was found very con

venient. The attendance was very numerous and orderly. Some handbills were very readily taken by the spectators. D.

WHETSTONE.-On Lord's day, June 9th, eight females were baptized, after a sermon by Mr. Goadby. The chapel was crowded. Mr. Tyers preached in the evening.

KIRTON, Notts.-On Lord's day, May 26th, two were baptized by Mr. Stubbings, after an appropriate sermon by Mr. Burrows, of Alfreton; one of the candidates was a lady, who surmounted considerable obstacles in order to follow the Lord fully.

HEPTONSTALL SLACK. On Tuesday June 18th, fourteen were baptized, and on Thursday the 20th, seven submitted to the sacred rite.

QUENIBOROUGH.-On Lord's-day, April 28, 1844, nine persons were publicly baptized in the Bapist chapel, Syston, (which was kindly lent for the occasion). In the morning the Rev. J. Jones, pastor of the above Church, preached a very excellent discourse from Rev. xvii. 14, "And they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Mr. J. Hawley, of Leicester, then delivered an address and immersed the candidates. Mr. Hawley preached in the afternoon a Queniborough, and Mr. Reeve, in the evening. J. H.

1844, a tea-meeting was held in the schoolrooms connected with the General Baptist chapel Fleckney, when about 100 persons were present. The whole of the proceeds of the tea were applied to the liquidation of the debt on the above rooms. A very large and respectable audience assembled in the

chapel, when brother J. Hawley, of Leicester, presided, and several very interesting and appropriate addresses were delivered by brethren W. D. Smith, J. Bowman, Miller, W. Deacon, T. Stanion, and Rev. S. Wigg, of Leicester. This was the largest and most interesting tea-meeting we have ever enjoyed at Fleckney. As it is proposed to pay off our debt by next June, we trust our friends will help us. G. C.

SPECIAL PRAYER FOR AN INCREASE OF MISSIONARIES.-The suggestion of the com

mittee, that allusion should be made to the importance of prayer for missionaries, on special prayer-meeting should be held on the the first Lord's-day in June, and that a following Monday evening, we are glad to say has been attended to by many of our Churches. We trust their prayers will not be in vain. At the chapel it is our privilege to attend, the pastor delivered a discourse in the morning, on the considerations which called for special prayer on this account. In the evening he delivered a short discourse on the obligations of Christians to diffuse the Gospel; after which several brethren offered prayer, and one gave an address, the whole congregation remaining and taking a deep interest in the proceedings. On the following evening an unusually large number attended, when suitable Scriptures were read, and special prayers were offered for this X. Y. important object.

Dr.

Madeira. A heretic sentenced to death. Kalley writes, under date May 4th, "Last Sabbath two persons when going home from my house were taken prisoners, and committed to goal, where they now lie, for not kneeling to the Host as it passed. On Monday a third was imprisoned on the same charge. On Wendesday several were mauled with sticks, and some taken by hands and feet as in procession, and carried into the church and made to kneel before the images. On the 2nd of May, a girl brought me some leaves of the New Testament, telling me, with tears, that her own father had taken two, and beat them with a great stick, and then burnt them. On the same day, Maria Joaquina, wife of Manuel Alves, who had been in prison nearly a year, was condemned to death. The counts against her were, that she denied the doctrine of the Trinity and the virginity of Mary, and maintained that the sacramental bread is bread, and that images should not be venerated. She was sentenced to die. Other instances of persecution are mentioned

Number of Evangelical Churches in the United States. From Baird's religion in America, we extract the following summary:-"The Episcopalians have 1,164 Churches, 1,033 ministers, 105,745 communicants, and about 712,000 of the population.

The Presbyterians and Congrega. tionalists 8,111 Churches, 5,411 ministers, 751,803 communicants, and 4.350,000 of the population. The Baptists, 8.561 Churches, 4,375 ministers, 622,478 communicants, and 3,523 000 popula tion and Methodist, 25,134 Churches, 4,112 ministers, 935,418 communicants, and 5,400,000 population "

The Free Church has left undone many things which it was her imperious duty to do. She has not prepared a constitution liberal enough to admit the female members to the right of voting for a pastor. She has not taken any very deliberate steps to purify her communion. She has not repudiated the connexion of slavery with the Churches of Amercia, but rather winked at it. And above all, she has not disclaimed the principle of a Civil Establishment of religion. These things are much to be regretted, but light grows gradually upon the mind, and ere long it is to be hoped, that the Free Church will see clearly, and have the moral courage to act out her convictions.-Correspondent in the Patriot.

A Constable at Uxbridge has been fined £16 for neglecting to execute eight distress warrants for Church Rates!

The Dissenters' Chapel Bill, as it is called, will in all probability pass into law before this number appears. It secures the present unitarian holders of Chapel property and endowments in possession, even though the property was created by professed trinitarians, if there be no creed or doctrinal sentiments expressed in the trust deed. The occupancy of the property for 25 years it is to secure a title. There has been much opposition to the bill, and many petitions have been presented from various places Churchmen and Wesleyans joining with orthodox dissenters. But there have also been numerous petitions in its favor from Catholics and Unitarians, and some from orthodox Dissenters.

Baptists in Denmark. - Mr. Monster, under date April 27th, says, "The government have not yet decided what to do with us, and we live in continual suspense. What is now the greatest trouble to us is, the cruelty practised by the police, in forcing children from their parents, and bringing them to the State Church to be sprinkled This practice has lately caused the death of a child twelve months old. It was so alarmed, that, through crying, it became ill, and

*Of these he estimates 47,217 Free-will Baptist. VOL. 6.-N.S.

died a few days after; still the police demand to be paid for this forced baptism." Since then Mr Monster has been cast into prison, and his wife has been threatened. He is forbidden to write a letter to any one!

Oldenburg. In a letter to Dr Hoby, C. Weichardt says, "I have no doubt but you still remember the short visit you made to the chruch in our town, in company with our brother Oncken, of Hamburg. He no doubt informed you, that during several years we had been persecuted on account of our meetings. Many times our goods have been seized. A short time since I was obliged to pay twenty golden crowns, and now I am anew condemned to pay a fine of forty crowns; or eight Prussian Louis d'ors, and not myself alone, but at the same time another of our poor brethren, a baker, is fined thirty-seven and a half crowns; this will reduce this poor family to a most pitiable condition. Notwithstanding all the opposition of his enemies, Jesus, the great Shepherd, does not fail to gather his sheep, which shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of his hand. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Remarkable Providence-"After a most dangerous illness in his Majesty's service I was invalided at Madras, and procured a passage in a line of battle ship for England. After my goods and chattels were on board, the ship was suddenly ordered to sea, while I was making a little excursion from the presidency. I got back to Madras, just in time to see the vessel sail from the Roads, while two of my brother officers, more prudent then myself, had wisely in all human prudence, taken up their berths on board, and were now on their voyage to Europe; while I was left destitute on a foreign shore, in sickness and in poverty! After surmounting various difficulties and repining for months on account of my misfortunes I at length reached my native soil. The line of Battle Ship foundered at sea, and not a human being of the crew or passengers survived to tell the tale! From that day till this (now nearly thirty years ago) I have always hailed an apparent misfortune, as the harbinger, if not the actual agent of some providental benefit or escape.-Dr. James Johnson, Physician Extraordinary to William IV.

The John Williams, a new Missionary Ship, belonging to the London Missionary Society, set sail on Wednesday, June 5th, for the South Sea Islands. A valedictory service was held at Finsbury chapel. The Missionaries, Brown, Philip. Gill, Sunderland, and Powell, addressed the meeting and Mr Sharman delivered the valedictory address. The Missionaries and their wives were accompanied in the Star steamer to the ship at Greenhithe on Wedensday morning, when after a short service and an address by Mr Binney, the ship sailed to Gravesend, accompanied by the packet and her crew.

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New Exposition of an old parable.-In visiting a school in this neighbourhood, a proud, intolerant, and exclusive ecclesiastic, desired the children to read the parable of the good Samaritan; and when they had read, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead," he bid them stop, and inquired, "Who do those thieves represent?" Of course the lads made no reply. After repeating the question, he condescended to say, looking at the master with a frown, conveying silent rebuke, for neglecting to instruct the children in this important point, "They represent the Dissenting and Wesleyan ministers of the present day;" and from this circumstance he took occasion most solemnly to warn the boys against false teachers and the sin of heresy and schism.-Correspondent in the Wesleyan Chronicle.

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