Christ is needed by preacher and people, by the lofty and the lowly, the wise and the unwise. The multitudes who grope in spiritual ignorance, who stagger under their berlers, who shudder with their fears and woes, who are gliding toward terrible vortices in the giddy wari of business and pleasure, need more of Christ. More of Christ would make that sad home bright, that wavering soul steadfast, that mourning heart glad, that burdened conscience light; would impel to

merciful labours that selfish nature, and make those who stand apart in enmity clasp forgiving hands. More of Christ is what we want in all our. hearts, our homes, our churches, our business, our politics, our schools, our literature, our art, our Government -more of his sweet, holy, courageous, sacrificing spirit-more of his patience, his love, his tender appreciation of man. Yea, we want Him as our own precious Redeemer, whose blood cleanseth from all sin.-Rev. H. N. Powers, D.D.

Connexional Department.

THE CLAIMS OF OUR HOME MISSION. OUR Home Mission has a twofold object-First, to assist feeble circuits, and circuits which are enlarging their borders by opening new interests in villages or neglected suburban populations; Second, to establish new circuits in thriving commercial towns. Both these objects are important, and commend themselves to the judgment of every lover of the Connexion. These are the very ends for which a Christian Church exists, and the faithful endeavour to accomplish them is ever followed by the blessing of God. Our Home Mission has already added three circuits to the Connexion, and has now ten stations under its care, all of them in important towns. It supports 11 ministers, who are doing proper Mission work among the population in the midst of which the Mission chapel is situate. We have 17 societies, with 840 members and 122 probationers. We have 17 Sundayschools, with 287 teachers and 2,316 scholars. These statistics show that our Mission occupies a wide field, and is doing a great work for God and our country. Our success has been very encouraging, and, with larger funds, our progress would have been far greater. Such an institution is much needed in a community of limited expansion like ours, as a means not only of enlarging our own borders, but of spreading the blessings of the Gospel among the myriads who, in all our large towns, are living in wickedness or worldliness, and perishing in their sins. The Home and Foreign Missions are not rival institutions; but, working in separate spheres, both are necessary, and the one complemental of the other. In the ardour of our zeal to evangelize the heathen, we must not overlook and disregard home. Indeed, by increasing our circuits and memberships at home, we increase our means of doing more abroad.

The expenditure last year very much exceeded the income, as, notwithstanding the Home Mission received £454 8s. 10d. from the Foreign Fund, yet the accounts closed with a debt of £305 5s. 10d. Not less than £2,000 per annum is necessary to carry on our enterprises, yet scarcely half this sum was raised last year; but then few

Christ is needed by preacher and people, by the lofty and the lowly, the wise and the unwise. The multitades who grope in spiritual ignorance, who stagger under their bardens, who shudder with their fears and woes, who are gliding toward terrible vortices in the giddy whirl of business and pleasure, need more of Christ. More of Christ would make that sad home bright, that wavering soul steadfast, that mourning heart glad, that burdened conscience light; would impel to

merciful labours that selfish nature, and make those who stand apart in enmity clasp forgiving hands. More of Christ is what we want in all our. hearts, our homes, our churches, our business, our politics, our schools, our literature, our art, our Government -more of his sweet, holy, courageous, sacrificing spirit-more of his patience, his love, his tender appreciation of man. Yea, we want Him as our own precious Redeemer, whose blood cleanseth from all sin.-Rev. H. N. Powers, D.D.

Connexional Department.

THE CLAIMS OF OUR HOME MISSION. OUR Home Mission has a twofold object-First, to assist feeble circuits, and circuits which are enlarging their borders by opening new interests in villages or neglected suburban populations; Second, to establish new circuits in thriving commercial towns. Both these objects are important, and commend themselves to the judgment of every lover of the Connexion. These are the very ends for which a Christian Church exists, and the faithful endeavour to accomplish them is ever followed by the blessing of God. Our Home Mission has already added three circuits to the Connexion, and has now ten stations under its care, all of them in important towns. It supports 11 ministers, who are doing proper Mission work among the population in the midst of which the Mission chapel is situate. We have 17 societies, with 840 members and 122 probationers. We have 17 Sundayschools, with 287 teachers and 2,316 scholars. These statistics show that our Mission occupies a wide field, and is doing a great work for God and our country. Our success has been very encouraging, and, with larger funds, our progress would have been far greater. Such an institution is much needed in a community of limited expansion like ours, as a means not only of enlarging our own borders, but of spreading the blessings of the Gospel among the myriads who, in all our large towns, are living in wickedness or worldliness, and perishing in their sins. The Home and Foreign Missions are not rival institutions; but, working in separate spheres, both are necessary, and the one complemental of the other. In the ardour of our zeal to evangelize the heathen, we must not overlook and disregard home. Indeed, by increasing our circuits and memberships at home, we increase our means of doing more abroad.

The expenditure last year very much exceeded the income, as, notwithstanding the Home Mission received £454 8s. 10d. from the Foreign Fund, yet the accounts closed with a debt of £305 5s. 10d. Not less than £2,000 per annum is necessary to carry on our enterprises, yet scarcely half this sum was raised last year; but then few

circuits did what they could, many did very little, and some societies did nothing. In every place, however small, collections should be made and meetings held, and those friends who have means should help by annual subscriptions. An enlightened regard for the honour and usefulness of the Connexion should obtain for the Home Mission our warmest approval and most liberal support. We seek not proselytes to a Denomination, but converts to Christ; and, in labouring to extend the Connexion, we labour to extend the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Denominational zeal is thus Christian zeal, consecrated by the same holy motives and labouring for the same end. Come, then, to the services of the Home Mission Anniversary. Love to our Zion should impel you to rally round our Home Mission. The perishing myriads of your neighbours and countrymen appeal to you. A voice from the Saviour's throne summons you. Come, then, "to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty;" and come with praying hearts and liberal hands.

SAMUEL HULME.

The above address has been published by the Home Missionary Committee, and is intended to be circulated on the eve of the anniversary services in the various circuits. We propose to append thereto a more extended statement of facts than was compatible with the brevity to which the address was necessarily limited. Every Home Missionary keeps a journal in which he daily enters the work done, whether in visiting members, general visitation in house-row, distributing tracts, or holding meetings; with a full account of any interesting cases he meets with. Some of these records are most interesting, as they show great activity and devotedness in the minister; while others are meagre, lacking incidents, and showing very little proper missionary work. Yet we would not make the journal the sole and absolute basis of a judgment, either as to the competency or fidelity of the missionary, as some men have a keener appreciation of incidents than others, and greater aptitude in recording them. Nevertheless, we hold that the journal is, and must be, a fair reflection of both the man and his work.

No. 1 Station is in a first-class town in the Midland Counties. It includes two chapels; the one which gives its name to the station consists of two stories, the lower being used as a school, and the upper for worship; but externally it answers to no order of architecture, while internally it combines, in repellent quantities, a maximum of ugliness with a minimum of convenience. There is land in front, but scarcely enough for the erection of a chapel of suitable size with the school-room and with the town. But in the large debt upon the estate, we find an almost insuperable obstacle to the erection of a chapel. Yet a chapel must be built or the Mission will be an utter failure. Several churches and chapels have been built in the neighbourhood since we commenced our labours, so that now we are very much in the condition of a besieged fortress, the parallel lines of the invading forces are pressing more and more closely upon us, and unless we build, we shall be compelled to abandon our position in disgrace, and leave the neighbourhood in the hands of more energetic

men.

Many good and noble-minded men are connected with this

Mission, and we hope that God will open their way ere long to the accomplishment of an object on which both the permanence and success of the Mission depend. The following extracts from the missionary's journal show that God finds us work in this district, and does not fail to bestow his blessing :-" Visited a sick member who was happy in the Lord, and perfectly resigned to his will. I conversed and prayed with her. Also visited an aged man who had lived in neglect of his soul. He was confined to a bed of affliction, and seemed concerned for his salvation. I showed him the way of mercy through Christ, and prayed with him; made seven other visits to worldly people, and met my class in the evening."-"Visited consecutively in the neighbourhood of Spoke to the people

of the things which belong to their peace, invited them to the house of God, and was well received. Met with a few cases of great temporal distress, and spoke to them of God as the God of providence, and of Jesus as a sympathizing Saviour. Preached in the evening.' "Visited twelve families consecutively, to whom I addressed the Gospel message, and invited them to the means of grace. Was very

favourably received. One woman, afflicted and unable to leave her house, complained that no one visited her. I spoke to her of the need of salvation, and prayed with her. She expressed a hope that I would call again. Preached in the evening, the attendance being the largest I have yet seen. Preached in the morning in the chapel, again at half-past two in the open air, assisted by brother T.; and at half-past five we held another out-door service. The congregations were good, and the people attentive. In the evening, the chapel was filled. I preached on the 'Great Assize.' At the prayer-meeting, some were under deep conviction. Two who appeared to have been drawn by the open-air services, stayed and requested an interest in our prayers, whereupon about a dozen of us remained to hold a second prayer-meeting, and the penitents found peace with God about nine o'clock."-"Visited fourteen families consecutively, inviting the people to the public services, and children to the Sunday-school. Met with a young woman, who manifested concern for her salvation. In speaking to her, she was affected to tears. I find here, as elsewhere, that the majority of those who absent themselves from public worship, do so for these reasons: the wives, because they have young families, and the husbands through drink and indifference."-" Monday: attended a cottage-meeting in the neighbourhood of L. Sixteen were present, most of them mothers with infants in their arms, who had been invited by three of our female members. After singing and prayer, I read and expounded a portion of Scripture, then entered into conversation with them, and encouraged them to seek salvation without delay. These meetings, held weekly, are likely to be a great blessing to the neighbourhood."

No. 2 Station is in a respectable but slowly-growing town, surrounded by several Yorkshire circuits. The chief friends on this mission have won our confidence by their firm attachment to the Connexion under severe and prolonged trials. Helped by the Mission Fund, and by the liberal gifts of friends in neighbouring circuits, they have emerged from a small, dingy, and inconvenient room, into a beautiful sanctuary, in which, under the Divine blessing, both the