obtained in various ways is obvious: in towns the numerous services and meetings held will go far to supply the need for pastoral visitation; but my own experience in the country is, that a pastor who does not visit' loses power. Our own pastor, who does visit, starts about 3 p.m., spends an hour in one home, takes tea in another, another hour in a third, another in a fourth, and perhaps takes supper in a fifth, before returning to his own house. Admitting that a sermon is worthy of three or four days' hard work, is it necessary that this time should always be given by the pastor. Many men in business could find time to put together thoughts which would be extremely helpful to their brethren, who cannot find time to visit them; and the time which could thus be utilised by the pastor would be immense in removing the mountain of labour under which he now groans; but under present arrangements even a Gladstone may do no more than read the lessons; and if he were an Independent, or Baptist, he would not be allowed to do that. I know men in our own and neighbouring churches who are more eloquent and better cultured than their own pastors, who are gladly listened to away from home, but may not speak in their own church; and a few months ago a friend of mine was asked by his minister to occupy a neighbouring pulpit, in order that the minister there might be free to fill his own. If our

pastors would now and then allow their pulpits to be filled by members of their own churches, by their own testimony they would gain at least three clear days whenever this was done."

That word about "Gladstone" not being allowed to read the lessons in an Independent or Baptist church is, I hope, very much too strong. I am acquainted with not a few places where the pulpit door has had the lock off for years, and the so-called "laity" have had free access.

VI. THE INCOME OF PASTORS.-We gather from a note being issued by the Sustentation Fund of the Presbyterian Church, that it barely yields £200 a year for each minister. That is the minimum received by their pastors. I wonder what is the minimum income of the pastors of Baptist churches! Would it amount to one half of the above? I fear not. I have the most thoroughgoing disrelish of the minister who makes his pay a determining element as to the sphere and character of his work; but the church that permits its pastors to subsist on a bare pittance, and to be harrassed with domestic cares, deserves the severest reprobation.

VII. THE REVISION OF THE ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT is completed, after 85 sessions and 337 days' work. It was commenced in 1870. It is hoped we shall not be long now before we have a sight of it.

THE BIBLICAL MUSEUM. Old Testament. Vol. IV., pp. 384. By J. Comper Gray. Price 4s. 6d. Stock.

WE have so often and so warmly eulogized this Museum, that it is only necessary to say that another compartment is now added, containing the Kings and the Chronicles, and is as richly stored with manifold and interesting treasures as any other part of the spacious building. All who have been over the other rooms will cheerfully pay the extra sum to wander through this, under the guidance of the able and familiar cicerone, the Rev. J. C. Gray.

BAPTISM DISCOVERED. By John Norcott.

A new edition, corrected by C. H. Spurgeon. Price 1s. Passmore & Alabaster. READERS who have Mr. Spurgeon's delight in the literature of Puritan days will find special enjoyment in this brief

treatise. Others may object to its numerous divisions, and its want of a flowing style; but all will recognize its genuine power, its pith and point, and its exhaustive treatment of the passages bearing upon baptism. We read the first chapter at a baptismal service, and its racy, vigorous, and solid material, was greatly appreciated. It is also published at sixpence in paper covers.

THE TEACHER'S STOREHOUSE AND TREASURY, Vol. II., (Stock), is a periodical we have several times commended in its monthly issue. Complete and bound up it forms a mine of valuable ore for working Sunday school teachers.

THE EVANGELICAL ALMANACK for 1879, (S. W. Partridge & Co.,) is published at sixpence; is rich in information, seeds of thought, and religious stimulus.

CONFERENCE.

COALVILLE.-The friends of the British school had a grand day on Nov. 25. A room has recently been fitted up for an infant school, which now being filled with scholars, argues well that a great need has been supplied, and that the provision in this department is appreciated by parents. To aid in defraying expenses, the Rev. J. Clifford, M.A., preached in the afternoon; and in the evening lectured on "Education out of school." Friends came from far and near, and showed their unabated regard for Mr. Bertenshaw and his work after eighteen years efficient service. The Revs. J. Salisbury, M.A., J. Brownson, G. Needham, Josephs, and W. Wootton, took part in the services. The tea in the afternoon was given by several friends, and £25 was received during the day.

LINEHOLME.--Chapel anniversary, Nov. 17. Preacher, Rev. W. Sharman. Congregations good. Collections liberal.

LONDON, Borough Road.-The Recreation Society now numbers eighty members, and is doing much good to the young people. Open-air preaching, and the advocacy of temperance, have been steadily pursued this summer. The Mission is doing well. The church has sustained a heavy loss in the death of Mrs. J. V. Smart, who presided over the Mothers' Meeting in the Mission Hall, and was much beloved by all who knew her. At the annual social tea on Nov. 27, G. L. Turney, Esq., J.P., who attended the first anniversary of the chapel, delivered an interesting address; and J. Underwood, Esq., presented the pastor, in the name of the subscribers, with a purse containing twenty pounds.

LONDON, Worship Street.-A tea and public meeting was held, Oct. 28. The pastor, W. H. Smith, presided. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. C. Means, and Messrs. Marten, Rollinson, Offen, and J. Smith (father of the pastor), all members of the church. The attendance was large, and the spirit enthusiastic,

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Nov. 4th an inaugural meeting of the Finsbury Mutual Improvement Association" was held. Addresses were delivered by the president, W. H. Smith, and the secretary, Mr. Offen, setting forth the objects of the society, and an entertainment was given by the "Finsbury Choral Society. Fifty-five have joined the Society.

LONGTON. We held our annual tea meeting, Oct. 14. The trays were given. 220 were present. Net proceeds, £15. The Mayor of Longton presided; and the after meeting was addressed by brethren March, Field, Dunnett, and Springthorpe.

LOUTH, Eastgate.--Anniversary services Nov. 17, when Rev. S. S. Allsop preached. After a public tea the next day, Mr. Allsop lectured on "Hymns and Hymn Writers." On Monday, Dec. 9, a happy social meeting of the church and congregation was held. After tea addresses were delivered by brethren W. Barker,

BROWN, REV. JAMES, has, on account of failing health, resigned the pastorate of the church at Clayton, near Bradford, which he has held for three years. Thirty have been added to the church in that time; £500 of the debt paid; and 4,200 square yards of land secured for building purposes, and enlarging the grave-yard. His address is, 24, Camden Passage, Islington, London, N.

MANNING, REV. J, was recognized as the pastor of our church in Freeman Street, Grimsby, Nov. 29. A goodly number sat down to tea. Councillor Jackson presided. Addresses were given by the newly-elected pastor, Messrs. C. Leachman, G. Cooling, T. Shipman, C. Emerson, C. Tartellian, and T. Stephenson.

ROBERTS, REV. R. Y.-On the occasion of Mr. Roberts leaving Portsea for the pastorate of the church at Belgrave, Leicester, he was presented with a testimonial by the members of the Portsea Island United Missionary Union, of which Mr. Roberts had been Secretary for the past

five years. ness to his consistency and earnestness and ministerial efficiency. A watch was also presented to Mr. Roberts, and a salver to Mrs. Roberts, by a number of gentlemen connected with Portsmouth. The following inscription was placed upon the "Presented to the Rev. R. Y. watch, Roberts in recognition of his public usefulness in Portsmouth during his ten years residence. Dec. 10, 1878."

The testimonial bears wit

UNDERWOOD, REV. A., M.A., has resigned the pastorate of the church at Burton-on-Trent.

WOOD, REV. W.-The public recognition of the Rev. W. Wood, as pastor of our church, Infirmary Street, Bradford, were held Dec. 14. The services commenced with a welcome tea meeting given by the ladies of the congregation. Over 200 persons were present to tea. Mr. James Rhodes, the chairman, gave a brief history of the church and its ministers, and after expressing his earnest wish for their present and future prosperity, called upon Mr. H. Sharp, one of the deacons, to read the correspondence that had passed between the church and Mr. Wood. The newly-chosen pastor then addressed the meeting, stating that he should preach an unadulterated Gospel, that he should not be disheartened by difficulties, and that above all things he should exalt Christ. Other addresses were given by the Rev. G. Edmondson, J. A. Andrews, B. Wood, W. Fountain, W. Jones, S. Whittaker, and T. Robertshaw.

NADIN-NADIN.-Dec. 2, at the Baptist Chapel, Macclesfield, by the Rev. J. Maden, Mr. Samuel Nadin, to Mrs. Selina Nadin, both of Macclesfield.

WILLIAMS-MACMILLAN.-Oct. 17, at the Baptist Chapel, Cuttack, Orissa, by the Rev. J. Buckley, D.D., Thomas Watkin, second son of the late Thos. Williams, Esq., of Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, to Rosamond Clementina, eldest daughter of John Macmillan, Esq., Executive Engineer, D.P.W., Bengal, and late of Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland.

OBITUARIES.

SHAKESPEAR, JOHN, died at Netherseal, Nov. 25, 1878, aged 78. Our deceased friend was an "old disciple." Baptized at Measham, April 18, 1824, and received int the church by the late Rev. Joseph Goadby, of Ashby-de-laZouch, under whose ministry he was brought to a knowledge of the truth. He was one of the oldest subscribers to the G. B. Magazine, having taken it for more than half a century. Truly denominational, he was also catholic in spirit. He was unostentatious and unobtrusive, and to strangers appeared somewhat reserve; but to those who shared his friendship, open-hearted, genial, and kind. By his industry and perseverance he not only brought up a large family respectably, but secured a competence for his old age. He possessed many sterling qualities, and was highly esteemed by those who knew him best. J. G., A.

WATSON, MARTHA, was born Jan. 24, 1850, at Coningsby, and died at Hastings, Nov. 2, 1878. She was a true Christian. In early youth she accepted the Lord Jesus, and joined the Coningsby church, in whose fellowship her mother had been for many years, and with which her sister shortly after united. In her daily avocations at Coningsby, Melton, and Hastings, she acquitted herself well, securing the esteem and confidence of those who knew her, and especially of those who knew her best. She was exemplary, not only for her cheerful piety, but in this respect, that she united herself with a Baptist church in the different places in which she lived, becoming a member both at Melton and Hastings, and so gave the cause of Christ the benefit of her presence, usefulness, and zeal. Her employer at Hastings, Mr. Metcalf, in whose establishment she occupied a responsible position, entertained a high opinion of her, and bore the most pleasing testimony to the general excellence of her character, expressing, at the same time, a fear that it would be difficult to find one to fill her place so well. As a member of the church, and as a teacher in the Sunday school, she was esteemed and beloved. The most satisfactory and comforting expressions from the teachers and children of the school, and from Mr. Barker, the pastor of the church, were received, after her removal, by her friends at home. Her illness came on suddenly, and it was short but severe. She bore her sufferings with the utmost patience, and gave the most pleasing evidence of "joy and peace," and strong consolation," in the solemn hour and article of death. Her decease reads a solemn lesson to the healthy and strong. Such was she. She had scarcely ever ailed anything. Was the strongest in the family. Had never looked so well as during the last summer and autumn. But in such an hour as she thought not, the Master came and called for her. It reads, also, a solemn admonition to the young-for she was young-and it teaches them that they cannot, and should not, presume on length of days, but in early life, as did she, come to decision in religion, and stand ready, ever ready, for that change which all must undergo, and which they may be called to undergo sooner than they think. The conduct of Martha Watson, too, is an example and encouragement to the young members of our churches in going from home, to connect themselves with Christian churches of a similar faith and order, and endeavour to make themselves useful. The subject of this brief notice did so: and she was useful. She was useful in the school and in the church; and she was useful among the young ladies of the establishment, one of whom became a follower of Jesus through her instrumentality.

W. JARROM