tion of human happiness, the source of ever-during joy, the mother of philosophy. The man who can pray truly, though languishing in extremest indigence, is richer than all besides ; while the wretch who never bowed the knee, though proudly seated as monarch of nations, is of all men most destitute.Chrysostom.

SPEAKING OF JESUS.

I FEAR the best of us do not speak of Jesus so much or so frequently as we ought. We do not speak of Jesus before our children in the manner that we ought. We so speak to them of our parents and other relatives, as to interest them, excite desires in them, and so often as to draw out their love; but do we speak of Jesus? Is there not utterly a fault among us on this subject? What is so interesting as the gospel narratives?

What so calculated to affect the minds of the young, as a tender, touching, heartfelt representation of what the Lord Jesus did and suffered to save sinners? We have been surprised, sometimes, to find how little the children of professed Christians know of the Lord Jesus. It is not enough to say, "I give them the Bible, and put religious books into their hands." They should hear of Jesus in a father's manly tones, and they should hear of Jesus in the tender accents of a mother's tongue. They should hear their parents converse of Him as of the most interesting and profitable subject. They hear us speak of ministers, and of church members, and perhaps, on these points, they hear what they ought not. They hear us talk of books, and the occurrences of every day; but if they do not hear us talk of Jesus, the most important subject is omitted.-The Rev. J. Smith.

GENERAL.

THE American news of the past month has been of the most startling character. When we prepare our last number, we expressed our thankfulness for the evidently approaching close of the war. The war is now practically over, and the latest news is that slavery is declared to be extinct through the American continent; but the victory has been won at the cost of the life of Abraham Lincoln, who, as every one now knows, was assassinated in the very hour of his triumph. The assassination of this great and good man has produced a deep impression wherever it has been heard of. In England, the expressions of abhorrence of the crime, and of sympathy with the country which has thus lost its leader, have been universal; and it appears as if the two nations would be brought nearer together through their common feelings on this subject, than they could have been by any other conceivable circumstance after the incidents of the var. President Johnson has succeeded to he place left vacant by President Lincoln. Al ea ly he has proved himself to be a very different man from what he was supposed to be in this country; though it is feared that

he may be more severe in his treatment of the Southern leaders than Mr. Lincoln would have been. The assassin of the President has been shot by his capturers. Those who are charged with having joined with him in his wicked enterprise have been brought to trial before a military court in Washington. Jefferson Davis, who is still a fugitive, has been charged with complicity in the crime, though on what evidence we are as yet uninformed.

The "moribund Parliament" is evidently drawing to its close. In the course of this month, or the next, it is certain that the dissolution will take place, and the country will then be plunged into the turmoil of a general election. Meantime, the liberal party in the House is not doing much to secure the confidence of the liberal party in the country. Mr. Baines's measure for extending the suffrage has been ignominiously rejected-a large number of so-called liberals joining in th adverse vote; and the debate on the Irish Church appears to have been shelved, through the Government declining to give any help to secure an evening for its continuance. Lor! Palmerston has been seriously ill-so ill as to be detained at home for an unusual length of

time. It is evident that, if they are to be successful in the coming contest, the liberal party will have to go to the country with some other cry than " Palmerston for ever!"

Of domestic occurrences, the most startling has been the confession by Constance Kent of the murder of her brother. The young lady, it appears, has been for some time in a "Religious Home" at Brighton; and the general belief is that her confession has been brought about by the influence of her Protestant father confessor, the Rev. Mr. Wagner. Mr. Wagner, who brought her to London, and delivered her into the hands of the police, now declines to disclose what had been made known to him under "the seal of the confessional." To most persons it appears that he has gone too far, or has not gone far enough. Doubtless a court of assize will treat very lightly "the seal of confession." Whether Miss Kent is really guilty of the awful crime she has confessed, a few weeks more will probably declare.

The Annual Meetings of our various societies are over for another year. We regret that we are unable to give a report in these pages of those important gatherings. Never, we believe, were the meetings more largely attended; seldom have they been, on the whole, more successful. For the details we must refr our readers to the columns of The Freeman, or to the pages of "The Baptist Reporter," which contains an excellent epitome of the proceedings. We could wish that these deeply interesting reports were read both far and wide.

DOMESTIC.

REGENT'S-PARK, LONDON.-On Tuesday, May 9th, the tenth anniversary of the opening of Regent's-park Chapel, was celebrated by a tea and public meeting. The chair was taken by Robert Lush, Esq., Q.C., in the absence of Sir Morton Peto. After singing and prayer, Mr. Lush reverted to the history of the past ten years, to the causes of anxiety at the commencement in connection with the establishment of a church, the heavy expenses to be met, and, above all, the cumbersome debt, but he thanked God these had all been overcome. The church was spiritually prosperous, and to-night he had the happiness of saying they were entirely out of debt. The reports were then presented, from which it appeared that 1,068 members had been admitted, 773 of whom were now on the church books. During the year the congregation had raised £5,000 for benevolent and other purposes, exclusive of the income from sittings. The Rev. W. Landels, who was received with cheers, expressed his thankfulness that at last they were free from debt, which had pressed heavily upon them. He lauded the generous liberality of Sir Morton Peto in striking off more than £2,000 of the moiety which they

had agreed to pay, by which they were enabled to achieve their freedom. He concluded by moving the following resolution :-"That this meeting desires to express its high appreciation of the invaluable services rendered to the cause of Christ by the munificent liberality of Sir Morton Peto and Lady Peto, and cordially to thank them for the Christian kindness shown to the church at Regent's-park Chapel since the time of its formation, and especially for having so generously contributed towards the removal of the debt on this place of worship." The motion was seconded by Rev. Dr. Angus, and the resolution was carried unanimously. Deputy-AssistantJudge Payne was then introduced by Mr. Lush, and made a very humorous speech. Other speakers addressed the meeting, which was then closed by singing the doxology.

BATH-STREET, GLASGOW.-This church, which has been without a pastor for the past twelve months, lately gave a unanimous invitation to Mr. T. Henry Holyoak, of Bristol College, which, after mature consideration, he cordially accepted. On Lord's-day, April 30th, the recognition services were held in the usual place of meeting. The Rev. David Young, Baptist minister of Glasgow (late for twenty-four years pastor of the United Presbyterian Church at Kinclaven), opened the morning service. The Rev. John Barnett, of Blaby, Leicester (Mr. Holyoak's late pastor), in a few suitable words invited Mr. Holyoak to give a statement of his experience, belief, and call to the ministry. This was done briefly, but most satisfactorily. The Rev. F. W. Gotch, LL.D., of Bristol College, then delivered the charge. The Rev. Richard Glover opened the evening service, and the Rev. John Barnett preached to the church. On the Tuesday evening a soirée was held in the Merchants' Hall, when between 300 and 400 sat down to tea. Addresses were delivered by the pastor, the Revs. Dr. James Paterson, T. H. Medhurst, David Young, Richard Glover, and J. Mansfield. Messrs. J. Swan, W. Stevenson, and E. J. Scott, office-bearers of the church, thanked the gentlemen present for their kind and hearty assurances and co-operation, especially Dr. Gotch and Mr. Barnett, who had come so far to show their respect and kindly feelings to the pastor and the church. It was stated that notwithstanding the church had been twelve months without a pastor, no loss had been sustained in membership on that account, and that the church entered upon this new era in its history with reasonable hope of a happy and prosperous future. On Lord's-day, May 7th, the pastor opened the new place of worship, which had been painted and decorated for the occasion. It is a pretty, neat, and commodious chapel, seating 500, and was well filled,

SALTASH, CORNWALL.-On Monday, the 17th ult., the ceremony of laying the memo

rial-stone of the Baptist chapel in this borough was performed by J. R. Jeffery, Esq., of Liverpool, in the presence of a large concourse of people. At two p.m. the members of the building committee, together with the mayors of Saltash and Devonport, and a large number of ministers and friends-about sixty in all-sat down to a sumptuous repast, provided by Mr. Jeffery. Luncheon over, the company proceeded to the site of the chapel now in course of erection, and after singing, and prayer by the Rev. T. Horton, Peter Adams, Esq., presented Mr. Jeffery with a silver trowel and mallet, accompanied by appropriate remarks. The ceremony completed, the latter gentleman delivered a lengthy and admirable address, comparing the past history of Nonconformity with our present position and privileges. At five o'clock upwards of four hundred persons took tea, gratuitously provided and presided over by ladies of Georgestreet church, and Saltash, in the Town-hall; and at seven a public meeting was held, at which suitable addresses were delivered by the chairman, Mr. P. Adams; R. Saunders, W. H. Bond, secretary of the Cornwall Railway, J. R. Jeffery, and Thomas Nicholson, Esqrs.; and by the Revs. T. C. Page, of Plymouth, and J. Stock, of Devonport. The contributions were liberal and encouraging. The chapel will be built in the early English Gothic style; length, 65 by 40; capable of accommodating 400 persons, without galleries. The schoolroom below the chapel will be 40 by 40. The cost of the whole is estimated at about £1,800. Two-thirds of this sum have already been paid in or promised; Mr. Jeffery contributing the handsome sum of £500. The church and congregation meet at present in the Town-hall.

CHRIST CHURCH, ASTON PARK, BIRMINGHAM.-On Wednesday, April 19th, this beautiful edifice was opened for Divine worship. The devotional services were_conducted by the Revs. Isaac Lord, J. T. Feaston, and J. P. Barnett. The Rev. Alexander Raleigh, D.D., preached in the morning, and the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel in the evening. Dinner was supplied in the schoolroom, after which addresses were delivered by the Rev. Isaac Lord, minister of the church, who occupied the chair; and by the Revs. R. W. Dale, Charles Vince, G. B. Johnson, W. L. Giles, J. T. Feaston, J. J. Brown, and Messrs. J. H. Hopkins and J. C. Woodhill. On Sunday, April 23rd, sermons were preached in the morning by the Rev. R. W. Dale, and in the evening by the Rev. Charles Vince. Christ Church is a beautiful building in the Gothic style of architecture of the sixteenth century. The chapel has an area of 72 feet in length and 42 feet in width, fitted up with open sittings on the floor and in side and end galleries, arranged

to

accommodate 754 persons. The height of

the tower and spire is 115 feet above the level of the ground. At the end of the chapel, facing the entrance, is a semicircular recess with raised platform, upon which the pulpit and open baptistry are placed; above the platform is a gallery for the organ and choir, and in connection with it on either side are vestries for ladies and deacons, with library and minister's vestry above them. Adjoining the vestries, and with distinct entrances, are schools for boys and girls, each room being 50 feet by 20 feet. The building is of red brick of the ordinary kind; the windows, doorways, cornices, spire, and other prominent parts being of Bath stone, with bricks of various colours. Everything is done without elaboration of moulding or carving, the forms used being the simplest consistent with good architectural effect.

STANNINGLEY, NEAR LEEDS.-On Wednesday, May 3rd, recognition services in connection with the settlement of the Rev. Henry Watts, late of Golcar, as pastor of the church and congregation, took place in the Baptist Chapel, Stanningley. In the afternoon a sermon eminently suited to the occasion was preached by the Rev. J. P. Chown, of Bradford, from Psalm lx. 4. At the conclusion of the service, which was well attended, a public tea-meeting was held in the Primitive Methodist schoolroom, kindly lent for the occasion, when about 300 sat down to tea. The public meeting in the evening was held in the Baptist Chapel, which was well filled, Mr. Joseph Bradley, one of the deacons, occupying the chair. After singing and prayer, Mr. Joseph Gaunt, deacon, gave some interesting details concerning the state of the cause in the past and present, and concluded by giving Mr. Watts, on behalf of the church, publicly, the right hand of Christian fellowship; an example which was afterwards followed by the Rev. J. P. Chown and other speakers. Mr. Watts responded, giving in a brief address a few of the reasons that had induced him to accept the call of the church. Very cordial addresses of welcome to the newly-elected pastor, and of sympathy with him and his congregation, were then made by the Revs. J. P. Chown, of Bradford; Parker, of Farsley; J. Haslam, of Gildersome; A. Ashworth, of Bramley; and J. Harper, of Horsforth, Baptists; G. W. Harris, of Stanningley; and J. Atkinson, of Pudsey, Independents; and E. Browning, of the Methodist Free Church, Bramley.

E.

LINCOLN.-Services in connection with the recognition of Rev. W. G. Armstrong, B.A., late of Berwick, as pastor of the Baptist Church, Mint-lane, Lincoln, were held in the chapel on the 8th and 9th of May. On the Monday evening an impressive discourse was delivered by the Rev. W. Walters, Newcastleon-Tyne. On the Tuesday afternoon, at halfpast two, Mr. Walters was appointed moderator

for the occasion; the Rev. J. Morton, of Collingham, read the Scriptures and prayed; and Mr. Henry F. Freer, one of the deacons, read a brief account of the successive pastors of the church since the beginning of the century, and detailed the steps which had led to the present appointment. Mr. Armstrong then stated the motives which had induced him to accept the office,_and_referred briefly to his doctrinal views. The Rev. J. Cookson, M.A., of St. Benedict's-square Baptist Chapel, offered prayer, and the Rev. S. G. Green, B.A., President of Rawdon College, delivered an eloquent charge on the character of "A scribe instructed into the Kingdom of God." The Rev. J. Baxandall, of Derby, concluded with prayer. At five o'clock about 300 persons had tea in the lecture-hall and upper schoolroom, provided by the ladies of the congregation and their friends. After tea, a large public meeting was held in the chapel, the pastor occupying the chair. The Rev. Mr. Ward (Wesleyan) offered prayer, and addresses were given by the Revs. W. Walters, J. Baxandall, C. Scott, B.A. (Independent), and J. Mather (United Free Methodist). Messrs. Blow, Bawson, Freer, and Barnes also took part in the proceedings, which were closed by prayer from the Rev. E. Metcalfe, Independent.

BETHANY, CARDIFF.-The new and elegant chapel which has just been erected for this congregation was opened on Tuesday, May 9th, by a devotional service conducted by the pastor, the Rev. R. Griffiths. On the following day, the Rev. J. P. Chown, of Bradford, preached morning and evening; and in the afternoon the friends met in the vestry to partake of a collation, which had been generously provided by the ladies of the congregation. After the collation, a meeting was held in the chapel, presided over by Mr. D. Joseph, of Ely Rise, when speeches were delivered by the Revs. Dr. Thomas, Pontypool College; J. J. Brown, Birmingham; J. P. Chown; G. Howe, and Nathaniel Thomas, Cardiff; Mr. Thomas White; Mr. Grant, late town missionary, and other gentlemen. The meeting altogether was a most pleasing one, and broke up about four o'clock.

A statement

was read both morning and evening of the position of the building fund, from which it appeared that the estimated cost of the chapel is £2,800; towards this had been subscribed £1,450, including about £250, the proceeds of a bazaar. There was a mortgage of £1,000, and after the whole of the promised subscriptions had been collected, there would be a deficiency of about £350 to be raised at the opening services. A collection was made after each service, which realized £50 10s. 5d. On the following Sunday the opening services were continued, when sermons were preached by the Rev. J. J. Brown, of Birmingham.

NEW MILL, TRING.-Recognition services

in connection with the settlement of the Rev. R. Shindler, as pastor of this church, were held on Tuesday, May 9th. In the afternoon, the Rev. W. P. Balfern, of Hammersmith, preached an interesting sermon from 2 Thess. iii. 1; after which, 170 persons took tea in Mr. S. Liddington's Malting. In the evening, a meeting was held, under the presidency of T. H. Harris, Esq., of Woodford, who gave expression to his high esteem of the pastor, founded on an acquaintance of some years. A very appropriate prayer having been offered. by the Rev. W. Emery, of Hemel Hempstead, on behalf of minister and people, the Rev. T. Peters, of Watford, addressed the church in a pointed, vigorous, and telling manner. Rev. W. P. Balfern then gave a very affectionate address to the pastor, and the Rev. W. Woods, of Woolwich, followed in an address: to the congregation. After a few words from Mr. Shindler, the Rev. W. Sexton, of Tring, concluded with a warm-hearted prayer. The other brethren who took part in the services, were the Revs. J. Mountford, of Leighton Buzzard; T. Williams, of Aston Clinton; and J. Butcher, of Weston Turville.

The

STONEY-STREET, NOTTINGHAM.-A teameeting, given as a farewell to the Rev. James Lewitt, co-pastor of the General Baptist Chapel, Stoney-street, Nottingham, who was about to leave for Scarborough, ook place in the Mech anics' Hall, on Tuesday, April 27th, and was very largely and respectably attended. After tea, a public meeting was held, when the large hall was crowded to excess, the chair being occupied by Mr. A. J. Mundells. The chairman opened the meeting by kind and appropriate remarks. Addresses were also delivered by the Revs. E. Stevenson, of Loughborough; tW. Jones, of Derby; J. Welch, and W. R. Stevenson. In the course of the evening, a presentation of a time-piece and a purse of 50 pounds, with an affectionate address, was made to Mr. Lewitt by the Rev. W. Underwood; other testimonials were also presented by Mr. Cooper, on behalf of the young men's Bible-class, and the girls' vestry-class; and by Mr. J. Fernyhough, on behalf of the Young Men's Improvement Association. Mr. Lewitt, in affectionate terms, acknowledged the testimonials, and the meeting closed with prayer.

first

GOODSHAW, LANCASHIRE.-The services in the new chapel in this place were held on Good Friday, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. J. B. Chown, of Bradford. On Sunday, the 16th of April, the Rev. J. Jefferson, of Southport (formerly pastor of the church), preached in the morning, and the Rev. C. Williams, of Southampton, in the afternoon and evening. Sermons were also preached on Sunday, the 23rd of April, by the Rev. J. Stroyan (Independent), of Burnley, in the morning, and the Rev. Dr.

Brewer, of Leeds, in the afternoon and evenng. The Revs. P. Prout, Haslingden; R. Maden, Ramsbottom; R. Evans, Burnley; J. Howe, Waterbarn; and W. G. Fifield (pastor of the church) also took part in the services. The chapel, which is built in the Lombardo-Italian style, will accommodate nearly 800 persons, and has been erected at the cost of about £3,150, including the amount paid for land. Previous to the opening, nearly £2,000 had been raised by the members of the church and congregation, assisted by other friends. The collection at the opening services amounted to £132.

GOSPORT.-On Tuesday, May 2nd, meetings were held at the Baptist Chapel, Forton, Gosport, in connection with the ordination of the Rev. James Neobard, as pastor of the church. The morning service was commenced with reading and prayer by the Rev. W. Tidd Matson, Independent minister, Gosport. The Rev. Geo. Short, B.A., of Hitchin, described the nature of a Christian Church. The Rev. C. H. Burton, of Landport, asked the usual questions, after which the Rev. J. Hunt Cooke, of Southsea, offered the ordination prayer. The charge to the newly elected pastor was delivered by the Rev. J. Angus, D.D., of Regent's Park College, London. In the afternoon a numerous company of friends sat down to tea, and in the evening an impressive sermon was preached to the church and congregation by the Rev. A. Tilly, of Cardiff, the Rev. C. J. Moss, Independent minister, Gosport, taking the devotional part of the service. The Revs. H. Kitching and E. G.Gange, of Landport; F.Colman, (Wesleyan), Gosport; and J. D. Bate and F. V. Tymms, of Regent's-park College, also took part in the service.

SHARNBROOK, BEDS.-The laying of the foundation stone for the enlargement of the old Baptist chapel, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, for the ministry of the pastor, the Rev. Alfred Peet, took place on April 14th. Prayer was offered by the Rev. W. Bull, of Wellingborough. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Robinson, of Staughton, and J. S. Wyard, of St. Neot's. Mr. Peet then gave a short history of the church, after which he presented Mr. J. Ward, of Souldrop, with a silver trowel, in the name of the church, congregation, and friends; also a French-polished mallet, a gift of the architect. The stones were then laid by Mr. Ward, and his sisters, Mrs. Deacon and Miss Ward, who placed thereon £200 towards the expenses of the building. About 370 friends sat down to tea in a barn, kindly lent for the occasion. Mr. Bull, of the Tabernacle, Wellingborough, preached in the evening, and the collections of the day amounted to £32 5s. 6d. The enlargement will cost about £600.

BRAINTREE.-A very interesting meeting

of the members of the Baptist Church, Braintree, was held in the schoolroom, on Thursday, May 11th. This church has adopted the method of meeting periodically in different sections for Christian fellowship. This, however, was a meeting of the church collectively as the last of a series for the winter season. After tea, Mr. A. Adkins, on behalf of the members, in an appropriate address, presented the Rev. John Mostyn, pastor, with an elegantly bound copy of "Bagster's Comprehensive Bible," as a token of the unity subsisting amongst them, and of their love to their pastor. Mr. Mostyn feelingly acknowledged the testimonial, and, in the course of his remarks, stated that ninety-nine had been added to the church since his settlement, that new schoolrooms had been erected at a cost of more than £300, and all paid for; and that the cost of the improvements they are now effecting in the chapel and grounds would be met by the time they were completed.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES. The Rev. Charles Kirtland, of Canterbury, has accepted a unanimous and hearty invitation to the Secretariat of the British and Irish Baptist Home Mission, and will enter on the duties of his office on the 1st of June. For the present, correspondents are requested to address private letters to Canterbury, and those connected with the Mission to 33, Moorgatestreet, London, E.C.-The Rev. R. Davies, Bala, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the Baptist Church at Rhuddlan, Flintshire, and commenced his labours with them on the last Sabbath in May.-The Rev. F. Britcliffe, of Birkdale Park, Southport, has accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation of the Baptist church, Skipton, Yorkshire, and commenced his labours on the first Sabbath in May.-The Rev. J. Parkinson, having resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church, Hinckley, Leicestershire, has accepted a unanimous invitation to the Baptist Church, Guilsborough, Northampton.-The Rev. J. R. Jenkins having accepted the cordial invitation of the Baptist church, Rayleigh, Essex, entered upon his labours the first Sabbath in April.-Mr. F. Robertson, late of Regent's Park College, has accepted the invitation of the church and congregation at Potter's-street, Harlow.-The Rev. J. Drew has been compelled, by continued ill-health, to relinquish the pastorate of the church at Trinity-road, Halifax, which he has done to the great regret of the people. The climate of Halifax has proved unfavourable to Mr. Drew's health. He has acceptel the pastorate of the church at Margate.-Mr. D. McCullum, of the Baptist Association of Scotland, has received and accepted a very cordial invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist Church, Cupar, Fifeshire.