The Bible Christian magazine, a continuation of the Arminian magazine

a young man was converted at the Conference Reception Service, and many were blest under the delivery of the Conference Sermon. The results of the missionary meeting at the Jubilee London Conference, twelve months ago, were visible not only in the formation of this particular China mission, but seen also in the young man, Michael Richards, who is gone as a missionary to the Congo. The ministers of the town, Messrs. Workman, Gillard, and Holmes, and the brethren J. H. Batt, W. B. Reed, and J. Carvath, took part in the service.

On Tuesday we were at Black Torrington Chapel re-opening; it was an enjoyable day. Mr. Shaw, the Independent Minister from Torrington, greatly delighted his auditors with his speeches, and Br. Batt in the afternoon strengthened us with his sermon on Galatians iv. 4-6. There were, of course, crowds of people, and we took the privilege granted of preaching China to them. Mr. Vaughan, of Torrington, took the chair. As the three previous days had been very exciting, Wednesday was a quiet day; and I fear the meeting in South Street Chapel, Great Torrington, rather suffered as a consequence. The sympathies of the people were, however, evidently with us, they coming out in large numbers and contributing nearly £6 toward the funds; but then, Br. J. H. Batt lives here, and Mr. Vaughan. The practical sympathy and kindness of Mr. Vaughan to us was highly appreciated, and will not soon be forgotten. The day following we went to Shebbear. I had had a great blessing here on the Sunday. Old memories were revived. I was converted in the old school-room at Prospect. The meeting on Thursday was not disappointing. The Governor of the College took the chair, and showed how much the Shebbear Circuit, where the Connextion took its rise, had had to do with this mission to China. "The two dear young brethren" were from this circuit, one born there and trained in the Sunday-school, the other converted there. The first sum promised to the mission fund was from the representative of the Shebbear Circuit at the London Conference; and the beloved Foreign Secretary hails from the Shebbear Circuit. Br. Batt, the hearty promoter of this mission, next addressed the meeting, and showed how greatly he was interested in this mission. The brethren J. Dingle, H. Rundle, and T. Ruddle showed their sympathy with the object of the meeting by denying themselves the privilege of speaking, and so gave us time to unburden our hearts. May this meeting bear fruit in years to come. On Friday we came into the Kilkhampton Circuit and had a meeting at Bush. We aimed at entire consecration, and gracious influences prevailed. On Sunday the 27th, Br. Vanstone preached three times at Bradworthy and Woolley. On Monday we attended a meeting at Providence. In the afternoon we had another opportunity of visiting Clovelly, and in the evening we were privileged with the opportuninty of speaking to the people, or the descendants of the people, who had for eighteen months braved wind and stormy tempest, and held their meetings under the "lew hedge," because there was no house in which they were allowed to meet. A privilege it was to speak to such, because God's heroes are they, who are wanted in connection with our China Mission. As we returned after the service, ten miles in pelting rain, to the Circuit Town, we were able to appreciate all the more highly the hardy determination of the Providence people. The day following we were at Bennacott Harvest Festival. Wednesday Br. Vanstone went to Putford. Friday, 2nd October, there was a memorial service in Brownspit Barn. In the year 1816, Grandfather Samuel Thorne, came to this place in company with Great Grandfather William O'Bryan, and preached his first sermon in the old barn, standing on the threshing-machine platform.

Sixty-nine years after a new barn is built, and being in the possession of a relative of the family, the grandson, about to start for mission work in China, is

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asked to preach a sermon, a temperance sermon. The barn was well filled, and in fact some were unable to get in, and so I discoursed on Genesis iv. 9. "The God of our fathers gave us His blessing.” A public tea was provided. Sixty children of the parish, who were teetotalers, had their tea given them, and about 200 friends and visitors also took tea.

At the evening meeting my father presided, and in his opening address he said: "This is an interesting spot. Our meeting has a retrospective aspect. The Christian Church was founded under deep special religious influence. 'When the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven.' When this voice was made the multitude came together and were troubled in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. They marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in his own language wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judœa and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.' Without a minute exposition of these places, it may be remarked they represent much of the then known world. Places as remote as Italy and Central Asia, modern Russia and Africa. One Divine influence pervaded the whole. So the Bible Christian connexion was formed under a deep religious impulse. William O'Bryan had been preaching in various places, but at Shebbear a wave of Divine power passed over the congregation. Why are we met here? In one of his 'rounds' he heard of 'a woman who had preached in Moorwinstow Church.' From Shurnick, Launcells, he came to see Joanna Brooks, afterwards Mrs. Neal, at Holloborough. When Mr. O'Bryan and his friend came, she took down her Testament and read Ephesians vi. 21. He agreed to preach in her house the Tuesday after. It should here be observed that each of the Thorne brothers accompanied Mr. O'Bryan, once, around the Connexion. Their intimate fellowship left an enduring impression of his piety and apostolic zeal which nothing removed. In and after the separation they were accustomed to speak of him as one of the old prophets.' It was the turn of Samuel Thorne to be with him this round. The said Tuesday in February, 1816, Mr. O'Bryan preached his first sermon in Moorwinstow, and the first in what is now the Kilhampton Circuit. There they received an invitation from Mr. Tucker, who owned this farm, and on the Wednesday Samuel Thorne preached his first sermon on the spot where this new barn stands. Afterwards he travelled seven or eight years. He was chiefly instrumental in opening what now constitutes the Ringsash and Barnstaple circuits. He laboured in Camelford, Bodmin, Kilkhampton, Shebbear, and Devonport stations. Then he became Book Steward, and was better known latterly as Samuel Thorne, printer. He died at St. Austell in 1873, as he said in his last words, 'leaning on Christ.' The two strangers slept the night here at Mr. Tucker's. The next day they called, by invitation, at West Youlston, Mr. John Shearm Cottle's, where our preachers have ever since found a happy, Christian home, and I am happy to see, here, on this platform, a gentleman, who I am told is the sixteenth John Shearm Cottle, of Youlston."

Addresses were also given by the Brethren S. T. Thorne, T. G. Vanstone, J. S. Cottle, T. Knight and E. Rogers. The proceeds of the day went towards the debt on the preacher's house at Kilkhampton. But the evening service was largely a farewell service to the "Chinese missionaries."

On Saturday, Br. Vanstone and I went West, he to Penzance, and I to Falmouth for the Sabbath services. We had good congregations and on the Sabbath evening Br. Vanstone had the joy of leading two penitents to Christ. On Monday we were both at Penzance Harvest Festival. Mr. Russell took the chair, and the Brethren T. G. Vanstone, S. T. Thorne, D. Murley and W. H. Alford gave addresses. The collection 2 10s. od. was given to the China Mission Fund. Mr. S. Shortridge, donation £5, Mr. Tancock 1 Is. a year. We also had the promise from our Penzance friends that there should be a monthly prayer meeting on behalf of our mission to China. In my reference to the meeting at Great Torrington I ought to have mentioned that we had a similar promise there.

On Tuesday we came to Porthleven, and I had the pleasure of seeing Br. Smith, my old pastor, and his family. The friends came to hear us in goodly numbers, and listened very sympathetically to our platform utterances.

On Wednesday we travelled to Penryn. The mayor conducted the service, and after we had spoken, Br. Brokenshire moved and Br. Henwood seconded a vote of confidence in us their brethren. The day following, Thursday, we visited Hicks Mill, and had a service which we hope will bear fruit on behalf of the China Mission. Br. T. Verran presided, and Br. J. C. Bassett also took part. A political meeting and a dark night rather made against the attendance. Friday was the 9th October, being seventy years from the day the first society was formed at Lake, Shebbear. On that day the first foreign missionary meeting in the Liskeard Circuit was held at Railway Terrace. The house was packed, the meeting very enthusiastic, the Brethren R. Squire and J. Rawlings were very hearty in their welcome, and the kindly words of Mr. J. Fursman, senior, will not soon be forgotten by those to whom they referred. S. T. THORNE. on Wednesday,

P.S.-The Brethren (D.V.) will leave in the "Pekin " November 4th.