dence of Joseph Haydock, Esq., where it was joined by Mr. and Miss Haydock, who had kindly consented to lay the foundation-stone; John Mercer, jun., Esq., Miss Mercer, and others. The hymn on the 505th page, "Before Jehovah's awful Throne," was then given out by Mr. Edgar, and sung by the friends, when the procession walked in the same order through streets, &c., to the site of the new Chapel, a most eligible one. The Rev. A. Hands then gave out the hymn 665th page, "Great God thy watchful care," &c. The Rev. G. Robinson, engaged in prayer, and Mr. Edgar read the 84th Psalm. Another hymn on the page following. "This Stone to Thee in faith we lay," &c., was then sung. The brethren Place and Beads then in appropriate speeches presented Miss H. with the trowel and mallet. William Hurst, Esq. deposited the vessel containing coins, &c. in the cavity of the stone, when Miss H. proceeded to spread the mortar, knock with the mallet three or four times on the stone, and declare it duly laid in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, adding,-" And may Almighty God grant that in the house to be erected here for His own worship many may be brought to a knowledge of the truth." Three cheers were most cheerfully given for Miss Haydock and one cheer more. The Rev. J. S. Withington made a very neat speech which was listened to with the most pleasing attention. The collection was then made. The hymn beginning with, "Behold the sure foundation stone, &c." was sung, and the outdoor service concluded, by the Rev. Mr. Williams, congregational minister of Harwood, engaging in prayer. The Chapel is to cost about £1,000, and seat about five-hundred persons, with a School Room under it; about £400 is already promised. The Tea and Public Meeting were held in the Independent School Room, kindly lent for the occasion, and were tolerably well attended. The chair was occupied by Mr. Place, who with Mr. Beads, the Revs. A. Hands, J. S. Withington and Williams, Independent, and others, gave a good speech. With a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Williams and Trustees, for the loan of the Chapel; to John Mercer, Esq., for his handsome donation of £100; and Joseph Haydock, Esq., for his handsome donation of £50; and to the Chairman, and others, the delightful proceedings of the day were brought to a close. On the Lord's day following, May 29th, two Sermons were preached in Barton Street Chapel, Blackburn, by the Rev. Samuel Macfarlane of Manchester, in aid of the United Methodist Free Church Home and Foreign Mis sions. On Monday night the 30th, the Missionary Meeting was held in the same place. James Beads, Esq., in the absence of John Place, Esq. was unanimously called to the chair. After a very suitable speech from the chair, Mr. Wm. Lonsdale read the report. The Meeting was then addressed by Mr. Wm. Whittaker, one of our Local Preachers the Revs. S. Ma farlane, J. S. Withington, G. Robinson, and others. The sermons, and meet ing too, I am happy to say were a complete success. The congregations were much larger than at the last Missionary Meeting; the speeches were excellent, and the collection what the zeal and exertions of the Barton Street friends deserved it should be; cards and Missionary Boxes included, nearly three times as much as it was last year. The spirit of the meeting was kept up till a late hour, and the congregation seemed to sit with unflagging interest till about ten minutes past ten o'clock; I hope an impetus is given to the Mis sion cause that will tell upon every Church in the Circuit for good for years to come. JAMES EDGAR. CORNWALL DISTRICT MEETING. THE Cornwall District held its meet ing at St. Austell, on Tuesday, May 3rd. There was a moderate attendance of representatives. The Rev. H. Haywood was elected Chairman, and the Rev. J. Kennard, Secretary. Some preliminary resolutions were then passed, and the numerical returns were entered into. The afternoon was taken up in the examination of young men, who passed very creditably, and were unanimously recommended to the home mission work. It was also re solved that the brethren W. H. Bond, J. Whittles, J. Nicholson, Ambler, H. B. Redstone, J. Cleave, and R. Rogers be recommended for the itinerancy. On the Wednesday morning various subjects were brought before the attention of the meeting, and resolutions passed, of which the following are among the most important:-"That this meeting expresses its desire that all young men engaged in home mission work have a definite period given them, at the termination of which they shall be examined for probation." "That the several Circuits in the District be recommended to do the best they can in making preparation for the reception of ministers in full connexion." "That this meeting desires most respectfully to bring the Temperance Question before the attention of the Annual Assembly of the United Methodist Free Churches of 1864; and recommends that Assembly to take such steps as it may deem prudent or advisable, whether political or otherwise, to do away with the drinking usages of the day, and promote the Temperance reformation." The subject of grants for the coming year, and other financial matters, were considered at some length, and resolutions passed thereon. The religious services were of a satisfactory character. The Rev. R. Bell preached on the Monday night. On the mornings of Tuesday and Wednesday the brethren Finnamore, Beckerley, and Matthews, preached trial sermons, and the Rev. R. Rogers preached on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday evening a public meeting was held, presided over by the Rev. H. Hayward. Hearty thanks were given by the brethren to the St. Austell friends, for their kind and very generous hospitality. CARRICKFERGUS. MR. EDITOR,-As our little station has often come before the Committee and the Connexion, I feel desirous of bringing before your readers what we are doing towards the support of the Mission cause. We have recently held our Missionary Anniversary, and as anything far fetched is generally the more valued in Ireland as well as in England, we thought it advisable to secure, if possible, the services of a stranger on the occasion. We applied to one who has long been a friend and supporter of our missions, Mr. John Dalby, of Leeds, who after some hesitancy, on the ground of inability, consented to come. He conducted the Sabbath services, and addressed the Public Meeting on the following evening. The morning subject was Isaiah xl. 21; the presence of God was felt and His people animated and comforted as the preacher illustrated his subject by anecdotes both useful and of the most thrilling kind. Evening text Daniel xii. 3; our congregations were good, and the collections liberal. The Public Meeting was sustained by the Revs. J. White (Presbyterian), W. Hombleton (Baptist), G. Reeve, and John Dalby, who gave us a humourous and interesting speech, and Mr. Mc. Crevey, Mr. D. Bowman (Wesleyan), most ably filled the chair. The whole of the services gave great satisfaction, and our friends hope for another visit from brother Dalby, and the assistance of the above ministers and friends. The proceeds of the services, with donations and subscriptions, and missionary tree, amount to the sum of £17 18s. 2d., being, I think, the largest amount collected for missionary purpose in one year since the opening of the mission in this town. Our friends think the cause is in a prosperous state, and as our friend from Leeds has a strong desire to come over and help us, we have some hopes of planting our free church flag, in Belfast, which would have the tendency of strengthening our cause here. We have of late been holding street services in the town, which have been attended by hundreds, and some visible good has already been the result. G. R. CHINA MISSION;-DEPARTURE OF 7THE REV. W. FULLER & FAMILY, A MOST impressive valedictory service, in connection with the long anticipated departure of the Rev. W. Fuller, for Ningpo, China, was held in the Grange Road Chapel, Bermondsey, on Tuesday, May 24th. The Revs. S. S. Barton, W. Fuller, and Mr. J. Chipchase, took part in the proceedings, which were both solemn and interesting; those present manifested much sympathy with brother Fuller and the Mission of which it is hoped he will be the founder. On Friday, June 3rd, he and his left England; may God preserve them, and open their way before them in that far-off land. We have received the following communication from the Foreign Missionary Secretary, with a request that we will insert it in our pages; we gladly do so. "Ship, Isles of the South' English Channel. June 4th, 1864. "REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I embrace the opportunity of the Pilot's debarkation to send you a line. We left the East India Docks about eleven o'clock on Thursday Morning, and remained at Gravesend till two o'clock Friday morning, when we fairly set off on our voyage. We are now opposite the shores of the Isle of Wight, have had a fair but strong wind, which has made us all very poorly. I should much like to write our friends a farewell, but am quite unable to do so. My heart is unchanged in the work. I shall enter upon it with the calm determination of a man engaged in a holy and arduous, but a glorious undertaking. I daily give myself to God and China. Oh, that many ransomed ones may stand around the throne of God through our humble instrumentality! I feel, Sir, in accordance with your kind intimation, that the Gospel is that which must ever be kept before the minds of the people, and as God shall bless me, I will endeavour to make everything subservient to this great end. "Please remember us affectionately to all enquiring friends. "We now bid you an earnest Christian farewell. design would cost a great deal more than £1000 to work it out; but in order to render the object feasible, the Chairman, W. H. Cozens-Hardy, Esq., made a very noble offer, which stimu lated some of the friends who immediately increased their subscriptions. Thus encouraged, the design was adopted, and the work of rearing the most beautiful building in the neigh bourhood was commenced, and it now stands an ornament and blessing to the town. The chapel was opened on Good Friday, 1863, when the Rev. M. Miller preached two sermons, which have made his name a "household word" in the Circuit, and created a longing to see and hear him again. The Revs. T. Wheeler, of Norwich; W. Brock, D.D., of London, and others, rendered effi cient aid, in connection with the opening services. The amount raised by the collections at the opening, and for the organ, was £322 19s. 10d. To this we must add £305 14s. 3d., the amount obtained by subscriptions, which makes the total sum received £628 14s. 1d. The entire cost of the building being £1,952 10s. 9d., would (after deducting the amount received, and leaving a debt of £800) leave a balance to be met of £523 183. 8d. Four-fifths of this the Chairman had offered to give; but without solicitation-to his credit be it said he very generously presented the Trustees with the whole amount; whereupon the following resolution was passed unanimously, "The thanks of the Trustees are due, and hereby presented, to W. H. COZENS-HARDY, Esq., for his noble and generous contributions towards the Methodist Free Church, Holt, he having, in addition to other sums, presented the Trustees with the entire balance of £523 18s. 8d." The chapel is secured to the use of the Church according to the provisions of the Model Deed. On Easter Sunday last, our President favoured us with a visit, and preached the first anniversary sermons, when collections amounting to £25 14s. were made on behalf of the Trust Fund. The number of sittings let has increased each quarter during the year; and, as compared with those let in the British School Rooms (where our friends for merly worshipped), the increase is fiftysix per cent. in numbers, and more than ninety-three per cent in £ s. d. The Trustees were happy to find, at their first annual meeting, that they were in a position to pay off four £5 shares, and leave a small balance in hand. In the large vestry, Mr. Beckett has conducted an Essay and Discussion Class for the improvement of young men in Holt. More than thirty members have joined it. During the winter a number of interesting essays and lectures have been given by the members; which afford ground to hope, that many young men will derive great good from the class. A Public Tea Meeting and Soiree, presided over by W. H. Cozens-Hardy, Esq., celebrated the close of the session, when a very pleasant and profitable evening was spent ; speeches, recitations, readings, and singing, were given by the members. As to the support which our missions receive in the Circuit, I am pleased to inform you that thus far the increase over last year is more than twenty per On Monday last, May 16th, the corner stone of the edifice now being erected in Warwick Street, by the members of the Methodist Free Church, was laid_by J. GREEN, Esq., of Hawnes House, Leamington. The ceremony, which took place at four o'clock in the afternoon, attracted a large number of persons. We understand that this spot was chosen because the front of the Church will be plastered, and it was thought desirable that the stone should be exposed to view when the building is completed. The stone, which was very small, contained copies of the local papers, the statistics of the United Methodist Free Church, and some current coins of the realm. Amongst those present we noticed the Rev. C. R. Hopper (the minister of the Church), J. Green, Esq., the Rev. J. Herridge, the Rev. B. Stubbs (Birmingham), Mr. Silversides, Mr. Heritage, junr., &c., &c., and several ladies. A handsome silver trowel, from the establishment of Mr. Bright, jeweller, Lower Parade, was presented to Mr. Green. The trowel, which was enclosed in a morocco case, bore the following inscription :— "Presented to John Green, Esq., on the occasion of his laying the cornerstone of the new Chapel for the members of the United Methodist Fres Church, Leamington, May 16th, 1864." The Rev. C. R. HOPPER commenced the proceedings by giving out Montgomery's hymn, "This stone to Thee in faith we lay, The Rev. C. R. HOPPER then delivered an appropriate address, in the course of which he remarked that they had reason to congratulate themselves, and to be thankful to God their heavenly Father for favouring them with such fine weather. In this respect they had been favoured of Providence, and who amongst them did not desire that the petitions just offered might be graciously answered then and in time to come ?-that the comprehensive and intelligent prayer in which they had just joined, might then and hereafter be answered by the great Head of the Church, whom they had invoked on that occasion? The place of worship which was then in course of erection, was being built for the denomination of Christians called the United Methodist Free Churches. The Body was formed in 1857 by the amalgamation of two distinct bodies-the Wesleyan Methodist Association, which had existed since 1835, and the Wesleyan Reformers, first known about the year 1849. They were one of the liberal sections of Methodists, and their Conference was purely representative. Their Churches were independent and free from all Conferential control. They were at to liberty to manage their own affairs, and were united that they might help each other-that the strong might help the weak. They were congregational in their polity and Church government; and moreover they had one good feature of Presbyterianism-namely, the power to appoint ministers to Churches -a valuable arrangement which others felt the want of and desired to have. It was most important that there should be an Assembly to provide Churches with ministers and ministers Churches. They were Protestant Dissenters, and contended for the right of private judgment in the reading of the sacred Scriptures. They objected to State patronage in religion. They did not, and he hoped they never would, accept State aid in any of their Churches or schools. The rev. gentleman next referred to the doctrines held by the United Methodists. He concluded by saying, he had to perform the very pleasing duty of presenting to their esteemed friend, Mr. Green, a silver trowel. It was an ornament, and a very elegant one, and he would be very pleased for Mr. Green to keep it in remembrance of the interesting ceremony of that day. The rev. gentleman here read the inscription on the trowel given above, and then handed it to Mr. Greeen. J. GREEN, Esq., having delivered a short and appropriate speech, the mortar was put under the stone, and he proceeded to level it with the silver trowel. The stone was then lowered, and Mr. Green, having hammered it with a mallet, applied the spirit-level, and said,-" In the name of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, this stone is laid, and may He come and make His salvation known to His people, break the sinner's heart, and grant many rich and lasting blessIngs. May this house be filled with His gracious presence, and may none that enter it ever enter hell, but may all who come be safely admitted and have an abundant entrance into heaven. I now feel that I must say something about money. I shall be glad to give £25 myself towards the Building Fund, and I should be glad if any one else would do the same. The cheapest thing we have is our religion, and it is the worst paid for. Those threepenny, and fourpenny pieces, and old sixpences, instead of sovereigns! Oh, dear! they will look very bad in a dying hour, and in the day of judgment. Well, it is never too late to mend, and now is the time to begin." Another hymn was then sung, and prayer was offered, and the proceedings terminated. At the conclusion of the ceremony a Tea Meeting, numerously and respectably attended, was held at the Temperance Hall, which was elegantly decorated with flowers and evergreens, and over the platform was a banner, bearing, in large letters, the following words "C :- Jesus Christ the chief cor ner-stone." The chair was occupied by John Cuthbertson, Esq., of London. A hymn was given out by the pastor of the Church, the Rev. C. R. Hopper, and prayer was offered by Mr. Lee, a Wesleyan Local Preacher from Leeds. The Chairman congratulated the Meeting on the auspicious proceedings of that day; and excellent addresses, inculcating brotherly love, and the necessity of zeal in the service of God, were also delivered by John Green, Esq., the Revs. W. Sisterton (Countess of Huntingdon's), B. Stubbs, James Herridge (Primitive), and W. A. Salter (Baptist), Mr. Smith, of Bristol, and Mr. Silversides. In the new Chapel, which was com menced about a month since, and which will be completed in September, accommodation will be provided for five hundred persons. The cost of the site is £1,200, and of the structure £600. The members of the congrega tion have engaged to raise £300, and the residue will be obtained by a bazaar, &c., &c., and appeals to the generosity of the Christian public generally. The architect is Mr. Timms, and the Messrs. Hunt are the builders. ROCHDALE. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW CHAPEL. Yesterday morning, Mr. Oliver Or merod laid the foundation stone of a chapel in Castleton, which, when built, will form one the amplest and handsomest of the religious edifices in the town. The site of the building is Castlemere; and the chapel is designed for the accommodation of the increasingly nu merous attendants and applicants for |