Obituary. Mr. William Lane. with her own brethren in Christ. A few years ago they left Huncote, and came to reside in Leicester, that they might dwell among their own people. None enjoyed the means of grace more than our departed sister, and none more constant than she in her attendance, braving alike the summer's heat and the winter's storm. 27 ing none; and when they are taken out of the world, their removal creates no vacancy. Our worthy brother is greatly missed. There were many features in our departed friend which are worthy of remark. He was a strong, tall, muscular person. Though his mental cultivation was slender, he had a sound, vigorous understanding, a pleasing vein of good humour, and a decided preference for the practical and useful. He was not slothful in business, ferIn vent in spirit, serving the Lord.' all the relations of life, as husband, servant, master, neighbour, and friend, he was exemplary. Some thought him stern and self-willed, but it was for He want of knowing him better. honoured the Lord with bis substance, being ever ready with his purse as well as with his heart, to promote His glory. Over and above his ordinary calling as a member of society, he believed he had a special calling as a He felt he member of the church. had a dis inct work to do in his Saviour's service, and he made his а member of Christ's On all the public ordinances of religion she was a regular, serious, and devout attendant. From the beginning, she loved the place where God's honour dwelleth; and the whole course of her subsequent life was in conformity with this promising commencement, affording a fine comment upon those words of David, 'One thing have I desired, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.' Her Christian life was marked by uniform piety and works of kindness to the poor and needy. She often denied herself that she might have the more to give to others and to the cause of God. Her illness was a gradual decay of nature. She some-calling, as times suffering much pain, yet she was business of his life. church, the enabled to trust in Him who died for While he loved every denomination of her. She was a devoted friend to her Christians, and took a warmer interest minister, and an affectionate wife, asin the denomination to which he besisting her beloved partner to bear the longed, attending its Associations and labours and trials of life. That hope Conferences, still he felt that his main which had supported her through work lay in connection with the Genmany a trying hour, even in her old eral Baptist cause in Wysall, the place age, sustained her in death. She at of his birth and of his residence, and the last quietly and peacefully fell he performed his work there so earasleep in Jesus. nestly, as though it were only in that one field of activity he would evince himself no common Christian. the social prayer meeting he was ever present, and ready to assist. Of the Sabbath-school he was the leading teacher, superintendent, and treasurer. He laudably and successfully exerted himself in procuring supplies for the pulpit from time to time. It was materially owing to his zeal and devotedness, in connection with Mr. George Bowley, that the chapel was erected in the year 1858. In short, under the influence of redeeming love, his time, talents, strength, and resources, such as they were, were consecrated to the interests of the General Baptist cause And now her happy spirit's flown To a world of light and love divine, SAML. WIGG. MR. WILLIAM LANE.-In the small, At Mr. Lane was called away in the bloom of life, and in the midst of his labours. He was, as usual, present at the monthly Wednesday evening service, and apparently well in health. On the following Wednesday he was committed to his grave. A funeral sermon was preached to a numerous and sorrowful congregation, by Rev. G. Staples. Mr. Lane's death, though peaceful and full of unwavering confidence in Christ and his gospel, was not so joyous and ecstatic as that of some Christians. For this two reasons may be assigned. 1. His hopes were never of the exhilirating kind. Of himself he was often distrustful; it was only in respect to the cause in which he was engaged that he was always undoubtingly confident. 2.-He was probably, during the whole time, suffering excruciating bodily pain. Though he said but little about it, it is evident from what he did say, that his sufferings were extreme. And it must have been so, for he had a muscular frame to be shaken down, and such a frame could not, in so short a time, have been brought to dissolution without great suffering. Our departed brother has left an affectionate widow to mourn his loss. BAPTISMS. Intelligence. J. B. LONG SUTTON.-Seven persons were baptized on Wednesday, November 21st. BURNLEY, Enon Chapel.-On December 2nd, four were added to our church by baptism. T. R. S. TARPORLEY. Mr. Aston baptized five believers, December 2nd, after a sermon by Mr. Lockwood. In the afternoon they were cordially welcomed to the table of the Lord. sermons were preached, in the morning and evening by the Rev. C. H. Clark, CASTLE DONINGTON. -On Sunday, of the General Baptist College, NotOctober the 7th, four friends were bap-tingham; and in the afternoon by the tized; and on the 2nd of December, Rev. R. Ingham. On the Monday six, after very suitable sermons by our evening, after tea, a public meeting minister, Mr. Taylor. was held in the chapel, John Crossley, Esq., in the chair. It was stated in the financial report then read, that these services being at the end of the year, and previous reports having begun with the proceeds of the anniversary services, there were in this year's report the proceeds of the services twelve months ago, and those of the present services.' It was also stated that several things in connection with the chapel, that were in an unfinished condition, had recently been completed, or the cost of their completion had been estimated. Also, as on the previous day, the fact of some expense having recently been incurred in cleaning, which was no part of the chapel debt affair, was mentioned. The financial report concluded by stating that after these additions were appended to the £350, about £29 were needed to meet the debt; and all additional, but needed expenditure. In an early part of the meeting it was agreed to make a collection, with the desire and hope of raising this sum of money, £63 having been collected on the Lord's-day. LEEDS, Byron-street.-On Lord'sday, December 11th, 1860, seven persons were baptized, four were heads of families, and one was the last of a household baptized by our pastor. The chapel was crowded. The newly-baptized, with one friend restored, were added to the church. We look on this as but an earnest of future prosperity. ANNIVERSARIES. S. S. HALIFAX. — The sixth anniversary services since the opening of our chapel took place on the 21st and 22nd of October, 1860. On the Lord's-day, Intelligence.-Removals, Miscellaneous. The chairman kindly gave some account of his recent visit to the continent, to relieve anxiety and vacuum whilst the money collected was being counted. On the report shortly coming that the collection was a few shillings more than £30, we immediately, and with deep feeling, sang, Praise God from whom all blessings flow,' &c The addresses of the meeting referred to the gratitude due to God, who about five years ago disposed the Messrs. Crossley to make their generous and stimulating proposal, and who had disposed so many others kindly and generously to aid us in acceding to the terms of that proposal; to the gratitude due to friends near and distant, who had aided us in our now accomplished design; and to the obligation under which the church was now laid, to strive together most zealously for the furtherance of the gospel. The meeting was addressed by the Chairman, by Messrs. Wilson aud Oakes, by R. Crossley, Esq., and by the Revs. Salter, Springthorpe, Gray, Hardy, Taylor, Wood, and Beevers Subsequently a church tea meeting has been held, when praise to God for His goodness was presented, thanks were given to those members of the church by whose special exertions the recent effort had been brought to a successful termination, and exhortations were given to labour with united and greater zeal, prayerfulness, and faith, for the building up of the spiritual temple. We trust that our distant friends, who have kindly aided us, and to whom we could not otherwise so conveniently tender our heartfelt thanks, will accept through the Magazine our grateful acknowledgments for their kind assistMay many still remember us at the throne of grace. R. INGHAM. ance. REMOVALS, &c. 29 THE REV. J. H. WOOD, of Sutterton, has accepted an invitation from the General Baptist Church, at Smarden, Kent, to become their pastor, and will enter upon his ministerial duties there on the first Lord's-day in January, 1861. REV. R. INGHAM, of Halifax, has resigned his pastorate of Parade chapel. We understand that the state of Mr. Ingham's health, according to his own conviction and medical assurance, have led to this step. MISCELLANEOUS. BRADFORD.-A Bazaar for the Liquidation of the Debt on the General Baptist Chapel and School Rooms, Tetley-street, Bradford.-The friends in connexion with the above place of worship, having had to struggle with a debt on their premises for many years past, have formed a resolution to effect, if possible, its entire removal by the end of the year 1861. With a view to accomplish this object it is intended to hold a bazaar a few weeks before next Whitsunday. Any friends, therefore, who may deem it a pleasure to help us, can send any article or articles for the Lazaar to Mr. John Bowker, Dyer, West-gate, Bradford. Any donations thus sent, will be thankfully received, and duly acknowledged. The entire debt is a little under £500, and were it removed, the friends would be in a position to render more help to the valuable institutions of our Body. B. W. B. DONINGTON, Lincolnshire-On the 31st of October last, a tea meeting of an unusually interesting character was held in connection with the Baptist cause in this village. As near as can be ascertained, it is just one hundred years since the chapel was opened, consequently this meeting was regarded as a centenary service. A very large number of friends from Louth, and also from adjoining villages, took tea in the Wesleyan school-room, kindly lent for the occasion. A meeting was afterwards held in the Wesleyan chapel, W. Newman, Esq., of Louth, presiding. A short history of the church was given by the present pastor, the Rev T. Burton, from which we gather that at the time the chapel was built, Mr. James Thornally was minister, who died in 1782, and was interred in the chapel. After his decease, Mr. John Wright, who had been a member at Asterby (the sister church), and an occasional preacher for some years, was called to the pastorate, and was ordained by the Rev. Gilbert Boyce, of Coningsby, in February, 1783. He retained the pastoral office till August, 1802, when he was struck dead by lightning, in the 66th year of his age, and the twentieth of his ministry. Mr. Trolly of Alford, was next called to minister there. His ordination took place in July, 1803, and he continued till 1833, when he removed to Boston. After Mr. Trolly's removal, Mr. Scott, of Horncastle, became the minister, and continued so until 1840. After Mr. Scott, the present pastor, was invited, and having accepted the call, was ordained in April, 1843, by the Revs. F. Cameron and J. Kiddall, and has now laboured there and at Asterby for nearly 21 years. Interesting addresses were also given by the Revs. W. Orton and G. Stevens, and Messrs. Esberger, Milue, and Forman. It was one of the most pleasing and harmonious meetings we were ever at, and will long be cherished in the memories of most present. | LOUTH-A Worthy Example-A purse of gold was presented on Tuesday, December 18th, to the Rev. William Orton, by his church and congregation, as a token of their esteem for him as a minister of Christ. LONG SUTTON.-The friends at this place having enlarged their schoolroom, and fitted up a very comfortable vestry for their esteemed minister, the Rev. G. Hester, at an expense of about £35, made arrangements for holding special services on the 29th November, with the view of entirely liquidating it. The Rev. J. B. Pike, of Bourne, preached a very appropriate and useful sermon in the afternoon, and a large tea meeting was held afterwards in the Corn Exchange. The public meeting at night was held in the same building, and was in every respect a good one. After prayer by the Rev. J. Cɔtton, of Holbeach, the chair was taken by the Rev. F. Chamberlain, of Fleet, and addresses were delivered by Revs. J. H. Wood, of Sutterton, T. Wigner and L. Hull, of Lynn,-Shearer and T. Watts, of Wisbech, J. B. Pike and G. Hester. Several appropriate anthems were sung by the choir. By the blessing of God on the labours of our dear brother, the chapel is uniformly well filled; the church is manifesting life and vigour, and souls are being saved from death. Notes of the Month. ECCLESIASTICAL. Ir we are to believe the prayer of certain petitions now lying for signature, the Established Church is in great distress. Not that she feels her customary Christmas spasm of conscience for the poor curate; not that she is in tears on account of the scepticism of some of her illustrious sons at Oxford: not, even, that she bewails the advance of dissent. She wants more bishops! The present bench, with all their as sistants, are overworked; so think certain clergymen in the diccese of Cov entry and Lichfield, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. There is too much reason to fear that their cry will not be in vain. Missionary societies have been active during the past month. The Church Mission to British Columbia bas held its first anniversary. The Wesleyans have sent out with Rev. James Calvert, to the Fiji and Friendly Islands, six young missionaries and their wives. The Independents have bade adieu to the John Williams, having on board six missionaries, Notes of the Month.-General. 31 bound for the South Seas, and several, certain English and French prisoners, others belonging to the Paris Evange- entrapped under a flag of truce, was lization Society, bound for the Cape. The new Theological College at Manchester, recently started by the Inde pendents, already numbers seventeen students. There have been nearly a hundred applications for admission. The same denomination is seeking to establish a Metropolitan Congregational Union, to promote closer fellowship between the churches, and more energetic diffusion of the Gospel. Baptist Noel, and other ministers, have also set on foot a new society for the spread of religious instruction in some of the darker portions of the metropolis. A newspaper paragraph from the other side of the Atlantic would lead us to infer that Baptists are on the increase in America. Baptisms by immersion are not infrequent in Congregational and Episcopal churches, and in some churches of the Metho- Ireland two years ago.-The Baptist GENERAL. AFFAIRS in China now swallow up a large share of public attention. All England has been startled by the news that the capital of the country, thought to be impregnable, had been taken without a blow, and the emperor's summer palace sacked. But exultation speedily turned into sorrow and indignation, when the account of the miserable barbarities of the Chinese to confirmed. Some score have died ness. most cruel deaths. Let no one talk after this, of the civilization of the Chinese, and their national inoffensiveA treaty of peace has been signed. The French are to have two millions and a half to indemnify them for expenses, &c., and some commercial and religious advantages. The news came through Tartary and Russia. No the treaty have yet come to hand. particulars of the English portion of The French Sphinx has again spoken, this time through Persigny. The laws against newspapers are relaxed, and passports between England and France are abolished. Both measures may lead to great results. Many will now visit France who have not hitherto dared to contend with passport difficulties The two peoples will get to know one another better, and peradventure like one another none the worse. One cannot help smiling when Persigny assures the French people that English laws against newspapers were, a little while back, quite as stringent as French laws now, and, in fact, that of the two, the French are more liberal! The last statement may tickle the vanity of Frenchmen, but the first needs qualifi cation. Ours were laws, and theirs are autocratic decrees of an irresponsible emperor. Gaeta still holds out. Its fall cannot be far distant. Flying rumours tell us that the Pope's chief adviser, Cardinal Antonelli, fears the Piedmontese will be in Rome before the month is out. Louis Napoleon is playing fast and loose with the poor Pope and the wretched Francis. Much talk is now going on in Parisian newspapers about the sale of Venetia to Piedmont. Austria would save her credit, fill her hope it may not prove mere talk. coffers, and prevent the certain carnage of next spring, by striking a bargain at once. In America, affairs are very We |