ST. JAMES'S FREE CHURCH,

EXETER.

THE REV. R. S. Short, of Hereford, has been induced to remove to Exeter, to fill the vacant pulpit there.

The sphere of labour is very extensive,and a Church on the principles of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, much needed, to counteract in some measure the Puseyite principles and practices of the place. We understand, during the short time our esteemed brother has been here, he has met with very considerable encouragement; and we doubt not but under God's blessing, the congregation which has now for some years been established, will continue to flourish. Our new Hymn Book has been introduced for public worship, and we believe is greatly approved.

BATH.

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, VINEYARDS.-The annual sermons on behalf of the Countess of Huntingdon's Sick Man's Friend Society were preached on Sunday, the 2nd of January, by the Rev. G. L. Herman. The Society has now been established 70 years; its object is the visiting of the sick poor indiscriminately, avoiding all religious distinction. The

persons appointed make weekly visits, administering proportionate relief; at the same time endeavouring to give the most suitable religious instruction. The number of visits made during the past year were 1,405, and the relief distributed amounted to £83 17s. About 300 persons were visited, many of whom, by the timely aid of the Society, were prevented from applying to the Union for relief; eighteen of these recipients have since died, but a

large number still need the aid afforded by the Society.

THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINDON'S SUNDAY SCHOOLS.-The annual teameeting in aid of the funds of these schools took place on Tuesday evening, February 5th; the Rev. G. L. Herman in the chair. After tea, Mr. W. Frost made a report, from which it appeared that the schools were in a flourishing condition, there being 500 scholars in the three establishments, under the superintendence of 58 teachers. They had also to report a balance in hand. The speaker then presented the chairman, in the name of the members of the congregation, with a purse containing £41, as a token of their estimation of his arduous labours among them. The rev. gentleman returned his heartfelt thanks for this unexpected recognition of his labours, hoping that if he partook of their carnal things, they would partake of his spiritual things. Appropriate addresses were also delivered by Messrs. J. Morris, J. W. Templer, E. Hancock, J. L. Howell, &c. The meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. G. L. Herman. The proceedings of the evening were agreeably interspersed with a selection of sacred music, well rendered hy the choir of the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, under the direction of their able organist, Mr. J. Evill.

BRIGHTON.

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, NORTH-STREET.-An extremely interesting service was held in the Puget Schools on Monday evening, the 28th ult., to which the teachers invited the parents of their Sunday School children. The school-room had been very tastefully decorated with

flags and festoons of evergreens, &c., for the occasion, presenting a very animating scene, when the well-filled tables were crowded with the happy and grateful parents, for whom the teachers had made these preparations. The chair was filled by that long-tried friend of the cause of education, J. Hey Puget, Esq. The parents were much benefitted by some of the most stirring speeches it has been our good fortune to listen to for a long time. Between each of the speeches a very agreeable change was afforded by some of the more musical of the teachers, who sang such simple and interesting pieces as "The Thanksgiving Hymn," &c. Some very able addresses were given, and touching incidents related by the Rev. A. Creak, the Rev. John Figgis, and Mr. Brand, while the sound practical remarks of the Chairman kept up the most pleasant tone throughout the whole meeting. One of the parents, from the body of the room, proposed, in a very grateful speech (and it was seconded and carried unanimously with cheers), "That the parents present their hearty thanks to the teachers and superintendents of these Sunday Schools, for their kind and disinterested labours on behalf of their children, and for their kind entertainment of this evening.'

This vote of thanks was very heartily responded to by one of the superintendents, Mr. George D. Sawyer, who reminded the parents that while the expression of their thanks was undoubtedly most agreeable to the teachers' feelings, and their hearty co-operation with the teachers was most earnestly desired, yet there was some far higher motive than the acquirement of man's praise ne

cessary to sustain teachers for twenty, five-and-twenty, and thirty years-as was the case with some of the teachers in these schoolsin such a trying work, as the voluntary education of children, with all their constitutional playfulness, frivolity, and even obstinacy; the satisfaction of believing God's smile to be resting upon them in their work, and his blessing following their efforts, could alone be found sufficient to keep the teacher permanently to his work. The meeting was concluded with a very cordial vote of thanks to the esteemed chairman.

We say, most heartily, to all engaged in these earnest and laborious efforts, "Go on and prosper!" G. D. S.

GLOUCESTER.

THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, ST. MARY'S SQUARE.-The fifteenth anniversary of the Sabbath School connected with the above place of worship, was celebrated on Sunday, the 20th of January, 1861, when sermons were preached; in the morning by the Rev. Thomas Haines, of Cheltenham, and in the afternoon and evening by the Rev. Professor Griffiths, M.A., Dean of Queen's College, Liverpool. The congregations were numerous, and the collections most liberal. On the following Monday, a public teameeting was held, when about 350 persons sat down; after which a lecture, on "Popular and Fashionable Scepticism," was delivered by Professor Griffiths, to a crowded congregation. The lecturer, by his eloquence and power, rivetted the attention of the audience for upwards of two hours. The friends who availed themselves of the opportunity to hear this distinguished

preacher and lecturer will not soon forget his visit to Gloucester.

The readers of the HARBINGER will be pleased to learn that the Sabbath School at St. Mary'ssquare, is in a most flourishing condition, and that the late anniversary has been the most successful for many years. The teachers and friends have been greatly encouraged by the sympathy and help afforded them this year. As the proceeds of this anniversary, after all the expenses are cleared, the sum of £20 will be added to the funds of the school.

BRISTOL.

The

ON Wednesday, February 6th, the annual meeting of the friends of the Sabbath School connected with the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, was held in their large school-room, which was decorated in such a manner as to reflect great credit on the teachers. Rev. J. Cort presided over the meeting, and stated the objects of the meeting to be the City Mission and the Sunday School. Both these institutions were in a prosperous state, and the contributions for their support were considerably in advance of those of the preceding year. The Revds.

Hartland

and H. Dickie, with Messrs. J. Parry, H. O. Wills, and Clark, of Cheddar, delivered appropriate addresses, and the meeting separated, each stimulated to renewed exertion in their work.

ST. IVES, CORNWALL. LADY HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL. The annual meeting in connexion with the above chapel was held on January the 30th, 1861, when 350 persons were present. The chapel was filled with an attentive audience, and addresses were delivered

by the Rev. J. Smedley, the Rev. J. Rodman, the Rev. J. C. Harris, and the Rev. S. Thompson, pastor of the church and congregation. The Rev. J. Smedley, being called to occupy the chair, observed-"I well remember the remarks of your much-esteemed pastor, which he made at the last annual meeting, when he had been with you just twelvemonths. He said he had been with you in much weakness and in many fears, but his hope was in God. From all I have seen and heard of you from time to time, and from what I see tonight, I am sure his hope has not been disappointed. God has already made him a blessing to this town, and he will still bless his labours in our midst. He may now cast away his fears and still hope, for God is still with you, and I believe you will see still brighter days.' The Pastor being called upon to speak, said-" It is true I have had many fears. These arose from the low state of the cause, from the neglected and dilapidated state of the chapel, and from the fact that in the midst of this weakness and dilapidation you were left to your own resources, after having been helped for many years. But God has been with us; our congregation has much improved, our empty pews are filling, members have been added to the church, and, by the help of a few of my private friends, you have, during the past year, expended about £30 on the chapel. It is true we are not yet up to what may be considered a self-sustaining point, and much still remains to be done to the old chapel; but let us remember that God helps them who help themselves. Let us all pray, and believe, and live, and give according to the requirements of the Gospel, and this cause will not

only become self-sustaining, but it will, with other churches, help to sustain the Redeemer's kingdom." Encouraging addresses were delivered by the other speakers, and all present appeared highly delighted with the proceedings of the evening.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

TEA-MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION.—The minister and managers of our chapel in this town invited the members of the congregation to join them in a social tea-meeting, at the beginning of the year, in order to lay before them a statement of the operations and funds of the various societies connected with the chapel. The meeting was presided over by the minister (the Rev. G. Jones), and addressed by Messrs. Strange, Finch, Waghorn, Baguley, Croft, and C. T. Dodd. Information was then supplied of the chapel income, the Sabbath schools, the separate service for children, the Tract Society, the Missionary Auxiliary, Building Fund, and the weekly offering, which has been substituted for the usual quarterly collections, and found to work well, although not so well as it would have done if all the members of the congregation had joined it. The value of this mode of contributing was well stated by J. Finch, Esq., in an admirable address on the power of littles, when combined, and proving that if all united, and gave on the average one penny per week each, there would not only be enough to meet all incidental expenses, but a large surplus would remain to be expended in further improvements in the chapel, and to augment the minister's income. The several financial statements

being added together, were found to amount to more than £600. The friends dispersed soon after nine o'clock, having enjoyed an evening of pleasant social Christian intercourse.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COLLECTORS AND SUBSCRIBERS OF THE AUXILIARY MISSIONARY SOCIETY.— This meeting was held in the new School-room on Monday, the 21st of January. The auxiliary has collected during the past year the sum of £54 13s. Od. Several articles have been made for the Bazaar, and the numbers of weekly subscribers greatly increased during the year by the efforts of one or two zealous friends of the Mission.

ISLINGTON CHAPEL.

ON Sunday, January 27th, the church-service was resumed in this place of worship, after having been closed for the necessary alterations. The Rev. B. S. Hollis being ill, the service was conducted in the morning by the Rev. T. E. Thoresby, of Spa Fields, and in the evening by the Rev. J. Dobson, formerly of Orange-street chapel.

The Church at this chapel was first gathered by the Rev. Thomas Wills, chaplain of Lady Huntingdon, and one of her earliest and most useful ministers. He was assisted by the Rev. E. Jones, who, like Mr. Wills, was also minister of Silver-street chapel; the liturgy being read in both chapels until after Mr. Jones' death, when it was laid aside by the Independent minister who succeeded him. The liturgy is now resumed. The restoration occasioned the opposition of a few persons only to the usages of the Church, on the ground of their being "Independents." It was