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Part X. (5d.), (Morgan and Chase); and the "Bible Student," being the Magazine published under that title for 1870; now published in a collected form in one vol. (Hodder and Stoughton).

From books it is not unnatural to descend to things which make books, namely pens. Macniven

and Cameron, of Edinburgh, send us a box of the "Phaeton Pen,"

and request that it may be "noticed." The pen is a very good one, as we can certify from its use. It is a steel pen, but so constructed as to be very flexible a quality which steel pens do not always

possess.

Connexional Department.

GRAISELOUND.

THORNE CIRCUIT.

DURING the winter of 1869 we were visited in many parts of this circuit with a gracious outpouring of the Spirit of God, resulting in the conversion of many souls. Graiselound was one of the places thus visited. Here we had a small chapel with a society of over twenty members. The number, however, has been increased, so that now we have nearly forty meeting in class. Increased attendance at the public services rendered additional chapel accommodation necessary; so that the question of enlarging the old chapel, or taking it down and building a new one, had to be considered. The latter plan was adopted, and Mr. George Harris, who some years ago paid the debt off the old chapel, again came forward to the help of the people by promising, if the friends would take the old chapel down, he would enlarge and rebuild it at his own expense. To assist Mr. Harris in this work, the friends, of course, were only too willing; so that, during a few fine days of last June, the old place was removed from the site it had occupied since the year 1835. Mr. Harris gave additional ground, so as to allow the new chapel to be 36 feet by 24, making accommodation for nearly two hundred people. No sooner was the old chapel taken down than the new one was begun, and this entirely under the manage

ment of Mr. Harris. He bought his own materials, employed his own labour, and found his own money, and so built a neat, comfortable, red-brick Methodist chapel; leaving the trustees only the expense of palisading, painting, putting up the spouting, with a few other incidental things.

The new chapel was opened for Divine worship on Wednesday, the 12th of October, when a sermon was preached in the afternoon by the Rev. T. Smith, president of the Conference, followed by a teameeting held in the granary of R. Cunningham, Esq., kindly lent for the occasion. After tea a public meeting was held in the chapel, presided over by Mr. J. C. Leadbeater, one of our circuit stewards. The meeting was addressed by the president-whose sermon in the afternoon, and speech in the evening, were of an eminently useful character, and highly appreciated by the people-the Revs. M. Cotton, J. Walsh, Messrs. E. Snowdon, J. Brownlow, and R. Kelsey. At the close of the meeting, the writer proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Harris for his liberal gift, which was enthusiastically received by the friends. Votes of thanks were also given to Thomas Taylor, Esq., who, though not belonging to us as a denomination, gave £5 during the day; to R. Cunningham, Esq., for the use of his granary; and to the ladies who had gratuitously provided the tea. The services

were well attended, considering that the day was very wet and stormy.

On Sunday, the 16th of October, two sermons were preached by Mr. C. Thorpe, of Fishlake, and the concluding one on the following Tuesday evening by the Rev. W. Thomas, of Hull, who was on a visit amongst his old friends in the circuit. A collection was made at the close of each service, which for the attendance was considered good. Had we been favoured with fine weather on the day of opening, and on the following Sunday, there is little doubt but that as much money would have been raised as would have enabled the trustees to have paid off every penny of debt at once. The sum raised was about £18, which, with a few pounds of seat rents, would make some £23. This sum being below what was needed, Mr. Harris proposed that we should give it to him, and he would find as much more as might be required, and see that the chapel is finished off as it ought to be, without the trustees having a penny to find. Thus the old debtless chapel of Graiselound, made SO by the liberality of our friend Mr. Harris, has given place to the new one, which owes its equally honourable and debtless freedom to him. May God bless our good friend Mr. Harris, and fill his soul with that "lively hope" which alone can give him an assurance of a place in that heavenly temple, from which, when once in, he shall go no more out for ever!

Before putting down my pen, I may just say that it has pleased God to reward hard toil and much prayer with blessed results in this circuit, as the following simple statement will show. Our October returns of 1869 stood at 256 full members, with three on trial; for October, 1870, there are 300 full members, with 32 on trial.

"So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." MOSES COTTON. Epworth, Nov. 18, 1870.

A WELCOME TO THE REV. J. H. ROBINSON. CHELSEA, LONDON THIRD CIRCUIT. FOR several reasons our mission services this year were invested with special interest. First, we had as our deputation one who has but recently returned from Canada -our largest field of missionary enterprise-where he has spent nineteen years in arduous and successful toil. He is, moreover, the editor-elect of the English Conference, and is just entering upon what, we hope, will be for him a still wider and more fruitful sphere of usefulness and honour. Such a deputation would have been a favour at any time; but on this occasion it was peculiarly appropriate, for Mr. Robinson not only brought with him the novelty of the visitor, but the interest of one who was coming to take up his residence among the Chelsea friends, and share with them the joys of Christian communion.

After due consideration, both on the part of the Book Room Committee and Mr. Robinson himself, we are happy to say that the neighbourhood of Chelsea has been fixed upon as a suitable place of abode. Whilst it is hoped that the atmosphere will not be unfavourable to the editor's health, it is confidently believed that his presence and help in connection with our society here will be of special service to the Connexion.

Few can adequately realize the prolonged and trying crisis through which our Radnor Street interest has had to pass during the last three or four years, in the successive removals of some of its most able and influential friends, and in the thorough draining of both its executive and monetary resources. It is not needful to enter into the details of this trial, nor would we imply that Mr. Robinson can be expected to make up all that is wanting for the society to flourish as in the past; but there can be no doubt that his counsel and sympathy, together with the prestige of his residence amongst the

inhabitants of Chelsea, will be a well-spring of encouragement to our much-tried and faithful friends, and help them better to tide over their present difficulties.

In this feeling it was thought desirable to hold a public teameeting in connection with the usual missionary services, and to make it the opportunity of giving to Mr. Robinson a public greeting and welcome. The effort was a thoroughly successful one-the tea was over-crowded, and the chapel was well filled in the meeting afterwards. Charles Cuthbertson, Esq. (Wesleyan), kindly took the chair, and seemed to be quite at home with us. In the report the secretary urged the necessity of our trying to increase the subscriptions, and said it was satisfactory to know that the school was determined to double the sum realized by it last year.

After a few words from the Rev. J. Gibson in explanation of the double character of the meeting, the Rev. T. J. Hamerton, in a short speech of great force, dwelt on the need of a thorough-going "enthusiasm" in missions. Dr. Cooke, who was very warmly received, said he had yielded with pleasure to the request of the Chelsea friends, that in their name he would address a few words of welcome to the Rev. J. H. Robinson. He spoke of the work achieved in Canada under the superintendence of Mr. Robinson, of the pleasure he felt in knowing that a minister of such high gifts was succeeding him; and then, taking him by the hand, whilst the friends expressed their gratification by hearty applause, he fervently wished for Mr. Robinson both success and happiness in his new sphere of editorship, and in all his relationships with the circuit in which he was fixing his home.

Mr. Robinson, in a very lively and humorous strain, which was well appreciated and enjoyed by the meeting, replied to the kindly and cordial observations of Dr. Cooke, and thanked the friends for their very hearty greeting. He

hoped he should find happy Christian fellowship with them; he loved the class-meeting, and should always try to attend it when he had the opportunity; and he would be glad to use whatever influence he had in promoting the cause of God amongst them. In a long and interesting address he described the nature and success of missionary work in Canada, and by facts, statistics, and incidents which were very instructive and pleasing, brought the minds of his audience into thorough sympathy with the spirit of missionary enterprise.

It is satisfactory to add that the collections are in advance of last year, and to the sum thus raised there will be, in addition, the profit of the tea-meeting. Altogether the result of the effort is very encouraging: the missionary spirit has been fostered and developed; and the members and friends went away with the strong determination -in accordance with the urgent appeal of Mr. Robinson, in his sermon on the Sunday eveningto " build up the walls of Zion," and seek a larger "supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." That Spirit will give the "people a mind to work," will infuse into them the loving earnestness which will make their work a joy, and will pour out upon them such a rich summer of dew and sunshine, that their work will prosper and be made a blessing to all that come to worship with them. May they pray for that Spirit!

Nov. 28th, 1870.

ECCLES,

J. GIBSON.

MANCHESTER SOUTH CIRCUIT.

THE second anniversary of the above trust estate has just been held. Two admirable sermons were preached on Sunday, October 16th, by the Rev. George Packer, of Southport. A social tea-meeting was held on the Saturday following; R. Hankinson, Esq., solicitor, Manchester, presided. Addresses were delivered by the Reys. J.

Bate, J. Orme, Councillor Jenkinson, Messrs. Holmes, Jones, Peace, and Buckley. The collections

and tea-meeting have yielded the sum of £21, which is a much larger sum than has been got before. At the meeting Mr. Jenkinson observed that the chapel was without a clock, and

he generously offered to supply one, which he has since done. The choir enlivened the meeting with appropriate singing and music, and all felt in the meeting such a power of blessing as to be greatly encouraged for the future of this interesting and promising J. O.

cause.

Miscellaneous Articles, Inecdotes, &c.

MONTHLY RETROSPECT.

FOREIGN.-All Europe is shocked at the continuance of the war between France and Germany. There have been gleams of light athwart the lowering, darkening sky, which led many to hope for an armistice which would be the first step to the speedy restoration of peace; but those gleams have speedily disappeared. Hope dies in despair. The war goes on with all its horrors, and we have reason to fear that it is becoming more desperate, relentless, and cruel on both sides. War is always savage, even though waged in the name of civilization, and baptized with the holier name of Christianity. Atrocities that make humanity shudder are now frequently reported, and both sides seem to be equally culpable. The French peasantry, whose houses are rifled and farms plundered, whose all of worldly property and means of subsistence is taken from them, very naturally, in their exasperation, turn freeshooters, and kill every straggling German that they meet with. The Germans, on their part, shoot down every armed peasant without mercy, and burn the village, and hang the mayor in every town which is proved, or even suspected, to be the residence or harbouring-place of francstireurs, or free-shooters. Thus cruelty begets cruelty. But worse still, the wounded in many instances have been savagely butchered as they lay in mortal pain on the battle-field, and the ambulances have been fired on by combatants on both sides, and kind-hearted men who have been engaged in removing the wounded have been shot down. Thus, in the year of grace 1870, war exhibits the inhumanity and ferocity of pagan times. Surely all good men will cry mightily to God, exclaiming, in bitterness of spirit, "O Lord, how long! This protracted conflict has produced in this country a good deal of indignation and remonstrance, some ingenious casuistry, and many contributions, more or less valuable, to what has been designated, for the sake of convenience, the ethics of war. Because France was originally wrong, is she necessarily wrong throughout? Because Germany was right in the beginning, is she necc3sarily right until the end of the war-a war in which she seems to threaten the annihilation of her rival's power and independence? In the course of any undertaking the spirit in which it is pursued may undergo a radical change, entirely changing its moral character. For instance, the defensive may become the aggressive. Does not the attitude of Prussia in reference to Alsace, Lorraine, Paris, and Luxemburg indicate such a change of attitude? We fear so. The exceptional character of this war is seen, amongst other things, in the fact that the inhabitants of fashionable Paris are driven to eat the flesh of animals hitherto accounted unclean. The inter-dependence of the nations and the remoter evil consequences of war have both received fresh illustration in the singular fact that, through the disasters of France, there has been a cessation in the

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demand for Cashmere shawls, and consequently the thousand looms of Umsitur, in far-away India, are silent, and the weavers there are starving.

It cannot be expected that the work of God will progress in France while that unhappy country is suffering under so direful a scourge. Yet French Protestantism is asserting its vigour in various ways. Evangelical committees have been formed to aid in the noble mission of the relief of the sick and the wounded soldiers. Swiss and English Christians have sent their generous contributions. The Consistory of Orthez-a town at the foot of the Pyrenees-decided last month that, in view of the national anguish and suffering, a day of prayer and humiliation should be observed in the Reformed Churches. Some Protestant ladies have distributed tracts among the soldiers of the garrison in a town in the south of France, and "it is a remarkable circumstance," writes one of these ladies, "that all the soldiers whom we address love to hear of salvation, and turn their eyes to the Divine Redeemer. Some wept, and said, 'Ah! we have need of a Saviour!"" Some new chapels have been opened in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux, in the presence of a large number of pastors, and amidst much enthusiasm. Moreover, the question of Church and State alliance is beginning to be discussed amongst French Protestants, and the probability is, that if a Constituent Assembly be convened and a Republic maintained, there will be a free Church in a free State. For sixty years or more-that is to say, since the reign of Napoleon I.both Protestantism and Catholicism have been endowed. The Reformed Church has been united to the State, and its pastors had the same official status as Catholic priests. Yet Popery was largely in the ascendant, and the yoke of State control has long been irksome to the Protestants, and now there is a loud cry for "liberty." In Algeria the separation between Church and State has already been accomplished. All pastors in France not belonging to the National Churches are included in the call for military enrolment. This is a sore trial to the Free Churches. Let us hopə that the God of Love will compassionate this poor, afflicted nation, and that peace may speedily be restored.

In Italy the work of evangelization progresses, and most deeply interesting accounts are received from the neighbourhood of Lake Como, testifying to the abundant fruitfulness of Miss Burton's labours there years ago. In Val Intelvi her name is cherished with affectionate respect by the numerous converts from Popery. Since the Italian occupation of Rome the Bible has been freely sold upon the public streets, a thing which could not be done, strange to say, under the government of a professedly Christian bishop. God's Word was a prohibited book in the realm of the so-called Vicegerent of God. The Pope is exceedingly restive under his altered circumstances. He protests energetically against the Italian occupation and co-sovereignty, but, with worldly shrewdness, has remained at the Vatican Palace, and the Italian Government has dealt most liberally with his Holiness by guaranteeing him sovereign rights, independent postal and telegraphic service, and an income of £130,000 per year. This is pretty good for the descendant of the fisherman, and it implies considerably more than spiritual sovereignty. He falls easily. The people of the Roman States are glad of their freedom, as the plébiscite which, by-the-bye, was taken on the Sabbath-amply testified. The Jesuits are in great disfavour amongst the citizens of Rome, and their schools have been closed. The Italian Government have passed a reactionary law to the effect that "whoever does anything in Rome to offend the religion of the State, or to excite the people to despise it, may be fined £80, and imprisoned for one year." It also prohibits the introduction of any books or journals which may offend the Roman Catholic religion, or its head the Pope. Though the city has been formally merged in the kingdom of Italy, yet there is one code of laws for Rome, and another for the rest of Italy. This is anomalous in itself,

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