VI. A paper, written by the Rev. J. Maden, of Macclesfield (who was too unwell to be present) was read by R. P. Cook-subject: "The desirability of securing a closer union among the Baptist Churches of this county." The reading of the paper was followed by a spirited discussion of its leading points, and of the following resolutions, of which notice had been given at the Macclesfield Conference, held in October, 1878:

(1.) "This Conference, being of opinion that the influence and recognition of Baptist principles would be greatly extended in this county by the union of all the Baptist churches of the county, resolves to make its Autumnal Session open to all the ministers and delegates of the county churches, and to invite the fraternal co-operation of all the churches in furtherance of this object."

(2.) "That the Secretary be instructed to invite the ministers, and a deputation from each Baptist Church in the county, to an open Session, to be held (by invitation) at Crewe, September 23rd, 1879."

These resolutions were adopted unanimously and very cordially. The Chairman, Messrs. Pedley and Chambers, with Rev. F. J. Greening and Dr. Hodgson, joining in the discussion.

Rev. J. Maden was thanked for his admirable paper; the sympathy and regret of the Conference being expressed towards him and the Rev. W. March at the cause of their absence.

The thanks of the Conference were tendered to the Nantwich friends for their abundant hospitality and attention. ROBERT COOK, Sec. pro tem.

EASTERN CONFERENCE. The halfyearly Conference was held at Spalding, April 3rd. The reports shewed 68 baptized, 21 received, 3 restored, since the last conference, and 20 candidates.

Home Mission.-The committee appointed to consider the place for a new Home Mission Station reported that they had come to no decision, and were requested to keep the matter before them till the next Conference.

The Secretary and the Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., were requested to represent the Conference on the Foreign Missionary Committee during the next year.

In reply to an application from the friends at PINCHBECK it was agreed to commend the case of this church to the sympathy of all who may be able to assist as pulpit supplies while there is no pastor.

The question of forming a Local Preachers' Association was referred to the preachers themselves, and Mr. Atton

was requested to communicate with his brethren in the various churches and report to another conference.

A paper was read by brother H. B. Robinson, on "The claims of our village churches," for which he received the cordial thanks of the brethren.

The next Conference is to be held at Chatteris, on Thursday, September 18th, and brother J. C. Jones is to be the preacher. WILLIAM ORTON, Sec.

WARWICKSHIRE.-The Spring Meeting was held at Nuneaton, April 7th. The morning session opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. W. Lees. The President (Rev. W. Oates) then delivered his inaugural address, in which he pointed out probable causes of the apparently insufficient spiritual prosperity of the churches in the Conference. A vote of thanks was heartily accorded to Mr. Oates.

The Revs. J. T. Greathead and J. Fielding, Independent Ministers of Nuneaton, and the Rev. J. T. Felce, of Attleboro', being present, the President welcomed them in the name of the Conference. The courtesy was suitably acknowledged.

The Rev. E. C. Pike, of Birmingham, brought up the following recommendation from the Association: "That we strongly urge the Conference to arrange for friendly sympathetic visits to the small churches in their area." After considerable discussion it was ultimately resolved - -"That whilst cordially agreeing with the purpose of the recommendation submitted to it, the Conference does not at present see its way to any united action in the direction suggested.

The Business Committee was then elected, and the Conference adjourned for dinner, which was capitally served in the school-room.

The Conference resumed at three o'clock. The following business was done :

1. A vote of welcome to the Rev. W. Reynolds, of Coventry, was unanimously adopted.

2. Business arising therefrom—(a)— The Committe appointed to consider the application from Bedworth presented their report. It was resolved (b) that the report read be adopted-(c)—that the arrangements for forming the friends at Bedworth into a church be left in the hands of the Conference officials and the Bedworth friends.

4. Reports from the churches: Baptized, 38; received by letter and restoration, 16; candidates, 26: inquirers, 41.

5. Resolved that the Revs. W. Lees and E. W. Cantrell represent the Conference on the Home Mission Committee for the ensuing year.

6. The following arrangements for the Autumn Conference were then made: Place, Walsall; time, September;-the precise date to be arranged by the Conference officers and the Walsall friends. Paper: writer, Rev. E. W. Cantrell. Subject, "How can we best utilize the latent gifts of our church members." Preacher, Rev. E. C. Pike.

7. A richly deserved vote of thanks was warmly accorded to the Rev. Carey Hood and his friends at Nuneaton for their attention to the comfort of their guests. In the evening the Conference Sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Millington, of Netherton; and so ended a "good day." LL. HOWARD PARSONS, Sec.

CHURCHES.

ALVASTON, near Derby.-The Derby Baptist Preachers' Association have established a church here. The services are held in the Unitarian Chapel, which has been procured at a merely nominal rental. On Easter Monday our first tea meeting was held. Attendance good. After tea a presentation was made to Mr. George Wright, of Derby, of a pair of gold spectacles, in a properly inscribed case acknowledging the services he has rendered as a village preacher during the past forty-eight years. J. S.

HINCKLEY.-A public tea was held on Easter Tuesday for the restoration fund. All the expenses were paid by one friend now residing at Burton. We have now reduced our debt to £100; the cost of alterations, last year, having been £420.

HITCHIN, Walsworth Road.-A meeting was held on Good Friday, Mr. How, of Luton, in the chair. Rev. G. Wright, Messrs. W. and A. Lockhart, Harrison, Ewen, Warr, Pink, and Perry, took part. Proceeds, £47. "Quite a successsocially and financially."

EAST KIRKBY.-On Good Friday and Easter Monday a bazaar was held in the General Baptist Chapel. The Bazaar was opened by Mr. A. Brittain, of Nottingham. On the Monday night a public meeting was held in the chapel. The place was crowded. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. Prout and Pickbourne of Chilwell College, J. Buck, Mr. Brittain, and the pastor, A. Firth. Mr. W. Richardson presided. Proceeds, £43.

GREAT GRIMSBY-SPECIAL EVANGELISTIC SERVICES were commenced by Mr. C. Inglis on Sunday, March 16, and conducted throughout the two weeks follow

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ing. Every afternoon Mr. Inglis held a Bible reading, and preached in the evening. The attendances were very large, the Theatre Royal being engaged on Sunday afternoons; and the series of services were most successful, many rejoicing in the newly-found knowledge of Christ. The services were preceded by much prayer, and are being followed by a Bible reading, conducted by our pastor, one afternoon a week.

HUCKNALL TORKARD.-Chapel anniversary sermons were preached by the Rev. W. Hillier, Mus. D., April 13. Rev. Dr. McLaren also preached, April 16, from 2 Peter i. 3. Rev. W. Hillier gave a lecture "on the Rights of Man and the Wrongs of Women." Collections, £42 15s.

KIRKBY.-The anniversary sermons were preached by the Rev. T. Watkinson, April 13. Chapel cleaned and renovated. Attendance good.

LONGFORD.-Preparations have been going forward for some months in anticipation of a bazaar, which it has now been decided to hold in July. Owing to the stagnation of trade, there is deep distress in the neighbourhood, and help is greatly needed so that the bazaar may be a success, and the church be rid of the debt on the chapel premises. Contributions in money or goods, useful articles being much preferred, will be gratefully received by Mrs. E. W. Cantrell, or Mrs. G. Cadman, Longford, Coventry.

LONDON, Church Street -The annual meeting of members and friends was held on Good Friday. Rev. D. Burns, M.A., occupied the chair. Addresses were delivered by Revs. J. Fletcher, J. O. Fellows, C. N. Barham, and G. Dibley, Esq. A portion of the evening was devoted to receiving promises and donations of money toward the chapel improvement fund.

LOUTH, EASTGATE-MINISTER'S HOUSE. -On March 26 and 27, a sale of useful and fancy articles was held. An attractive musical programme was carried out each evening. Several scientific novelties, etc., were exhibited in the classrooms. Receipts, £42 16s. ; out of which £10 were voted to chapel funds, and about £30 to form the nucleus around which to gather money for the purchase of a minister's house.

MOUNTSORREL-NEW CHAPEL. - The hope of raising this new place of worship, which has been cherished so long, is now pretty certain to be realized. The friends have laboured earnestly and perseveringly for many years, struggling against many difficulties; the last, and apparently at the time the greatest, was the sum of £300 being in the unfortunate bank at

Loughborough; this, however, we have reason to believe, will not be so bad as at first anticipated. After allowing for a possible loss, the church has realized, say £400, and the expected outlay will be £1000. The memorial stones will be laid on Whit-Monday, one by Thos. Coloe, Esq., Mill Villa, Sileby, the other by John Ellis, Esq., of Burtonon-Trent. Arrangements will be made with the railway company for special fares from Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, and intermediates, and the friends earnestly hope that the importance of the work, the charming scenery of the hills so close to the town, it being also Bank Holiday, to have the hearty co-operation of the members of the various churches in the district. For friends unable to be present there will be an "Absentees Brick," and any sums forwarded to friends Hunt, Preston, or Harrington, address as above, will be duly acknowledged by post card, and reserved for the purpose named. Further announcements will be made by bill.

- The

NOTTINGHAM, BROAD STREET. recognition services of the Rev. J. J. Fitch, late of Lymington, will take place on Thursday, May 15. The Rev. J. H. Atkinson, Professor Gracey, of the Pastor's College, Professor Goadby, etc., will take part. Tea in the large school-room at halfpast five. Public meeting at seven.

WIRKSWORTH.-The recognition services of the Rev. C. Springthorpe as pastor of the church here, were held on Good Friday, April 11. The Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., preached in the afternoon. The Rev. Dr. Underwood presided at the public meeting. Mr. W. Hatfield, senior deacon, on behalf of the church, stated the circumstances under which Mr. Springthorpe had been invited to become their pastor, and gave to him the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Springthorpe, who feelingly responded, dwelt upon his past experience, and gave his reasons why he accepted the invitation.

The

Revs. T. Yates, W. R. Stevenson, H. M. Stally brass, W. Spivey, Messrs. W. Tomlinson, and W. Buxton, gave addresses. The meetings were well attended, and

BUMPUS.-April 5, at Loughborough, Rev. T. Bumpus, Baptist minister, aged 73.

CUNLIFFE, JOHN, of Lydgate. He was converted to God before he had reached the age of twenty, and for more than thirty-eight years was a very useful and consistent member of the Lineholme church. He sustained the office of Treasurer more than fourteen years. He was universally esteemed and beloved for his Christ-like spirit and consistency. He being dead yet speaketh.

GIBSON.-March 26, Miss Grace Gibson, of Greenwood Lee, near Heptonstall Slack, entered upon her lasting rest. She had been a consistent and useful member of the church at Slack for more than fifty years; and for more than forty years has taken a deep interest in the Sabbath school as a teacher and as one of its superintendents. She laid one of the memorial stones of the new chapel which was opened the day after her death. She was very decided in her principles as a General Baptist; hospitable to the ministers of the connexion; and liberal to the various institutions of the Baptist denomination. Her affliction was short, and her death somewhat unexpected. Yet, having been spared so long, being in her 80th year, and having been a consistent Christian for so many years, she was like a shock of corn that cometh in its season. During natural sleep she calmly fell asleep in Jesus, and now sleeps on till the day breaks.

MANTLE.-March 16, at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Elizabeth Mary, eldest daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Mantle, in her sixteenth year.

PEPPER.-March 25, at Belton, in the eightyfourth year of his age, William Pepper. He had been a member forty-four years. He died in faith.

WOODROFFE, MRS. JANE, of Hoton, near Loughborough, widow of the late Mr. Woodroffe, Normanton-on-Soar, died April 6, 1879, in her eighty-first year.

Steamer "Almora," March 10th,

Off St. John's Island,
Two days from Suez.

Through the abounding mercy of our heavenly Father we have been brought thus far on our journey. With the exception of two days after leaving Madras, two at Colombo, and two in the Red Sea, we have had nothing in the weather to complain of. I have suffered much from sea sickness-more than on my former journies which has kept me back hitherto, though it may prove beneficial in the long run. I hope my health has improved in some respects, though I am not yet equal to any work, and have to keep as quiet as possible. My side often troubles me, and ship life and habits are rather unfavourable to some of the attendants of a diseased liver. For the last three days we have had a cool northeast wind, which, though against us, is very bracing and enjoyable. We have, I suppose, now taken leave of the tropics and hot weather, and all our invalids are reaping the benefit. We reached Colombo on Saturday, Feb. 22, and received a kind invitation from Mr. T. R. Stevenson to go on shore and stay with them. My daughters and two young friends stayed with Mr. Ferguson. We remained until noon of Tuesday, the 25th, and much enjoyed the change. Nothing could exceed the kindness of our Colombo friends. To one and all who ministered to us we shall ever feel grateful.

On Sunday afternoon we worshipped in the new Baptist chapel, Cinnamon Gardens. The building is a very nice one, and built on the site that was to have been that of the cathedral. The internal arrangements and fittings up are all that could be desired. Mr. Haig,

The

of the Wesleyan Mysore Mission, a passenger of the Almora, as my substitute, was the preacher. The sermon from "There was no more sea," was a good one, and the whole service profitable. On the Monday we were shown some of the sights of Colombo. We were much pleased with the museum. natural productions of the island were well represented. I was much struck by the thickness of some of the bamboosthree times the size of any I had seen in Orissa. The view from the upper verandahs of the museum is very extensive. On the Tuesday morning Mr. Ferguson would have us take a journey with him some ten miles on the Galle Railway, which runs along the sea beach, and has on the other side cocoa-nut tree plantations. We were delighted with the scenery, as well as the refreshing sea-breezes which passed through the carriage. We passed several pretty villages, some of them Christian-one of these composed of carpenters, who make most of the furniture used in that part of the island, among whom the Wesleyan missionaries have been very successful. They have a large chapel built by the people themselves, recently opened, that will accommodate 700 persons.

What a hideous dress the Singhalese have adopted, with the great comb in front of their head. It is difficult to distinguish the sexes. None of the Baptist missionaries was in Colombo. We called on the wife of one, Mrs. who has charge of a female native boarding school. I forget whether I mentioned that we landed three of our Calcutta passengers at Madras-Sir N. and Lady Chamberlain, and the latter's female attendantand took on board two Wesleyan mis