THE ANNUAL ASSOCIATION. 267 The sermon, mon from Acts ii. 47. On Thursday morning, at six o'clock, a special public service was conducted by Mr. Cooper. After an able exposition of the fortieth chapter of Isaiah, he preached On the a forcible and impressive sermon from the last verse of the chapter. stances connected with the meeting on Tuesday morning was, the introduction to the associated brethren of Mr. Thomas Cooper, the Chartist poet, and now celebrated lecturer on Christianity. He was presented to the meeting by his friend and fellow-townsman, Rev. J. F. Winks, with whose church he has lately united. His reception was cordial and sympathetic, the whole assembly simultaneously rising. Mr. Cooper was overwhelmed by the feeling manifested on his behalf, and with deep emotion, responded in an address which touched every heart and drew tears from every eye. The Rev. H. Hunter then offered a most fervent and appropriate prayer, that his connection with the denomination might prove a mutual blessing, and that he might long be preserved to maintain and defend the faith which he had once sought to destroy. On Tuesday evening a large meeting was held on behalf of the General Baptist Home Missionary Society, W. Newman, Esq., of Louth, in the chair. The Rev. E. Bott, of Barton, prayed, and the chair-morning of the same day, various imporman delivered an appropriate address on "The claims of our home population upon Christian efforts." The several reports of the Yorkshire, Derby and Castle Donington, Eastern, Nottingham and Loughborough, and the Cheshire districts of the Home Mission, were presented by Revs. R. Ingham, of Halifax, T. Gill, of Melbourne, T. Barrass, of Peterboro', Thos. Hill, Esq., of Nottingham, and Rev. J. Maden, of Macclesfield, after which, Rev. H. Hunter read the report of the general Home Missionary Committee. From these reports it ap>>peared that valuable assistance had been Merendered to the various stations and churches connected with the Society at Todmorden, Leeds, Holbeach, Peterboro', Sheffield, and other places. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Rev. W. Gray, of Ashby, Mr. Thos. Cooper, and Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M. A., of Nottingham, classical tutor of our college. The spirit-stirring address of Mr. Thos. Cooper, in which he gave some reasons for his recent union with the General Baptist body, and urged, in the strongest terms, the necessity and importance of Home Missionary efforts, was listened to with marked attention, and produced a powerful effect. On Wednesday, the College Committee assembled after breakfast. The attendgance was good, and the business imporistant. At eleven o'clock the public service began. Rev. L. Preston, of Chesham, read and prayed; and Rev. J. Harcourt, of London, preached the Association ser tant business was transacted. After the by the general body of professors, it has been by far too lightly regarded. We are satisfied that a simple and faithful adherence to the authority of Christ, on the part of his professed followers, with regard to the affairs of Government, could not fail to produce an impression on the minds of the ungodly, as to the majestic, unselfish, purity of the gospel morality, of which at present we can form no adequate idea. May we indulge the hope that a closer allusion to the subject than you have been accustomed to give it may, under the Divine blessing, conduce to this result? It would, of course, be idle to expect that the supreme law of unquestioning obedience to the will of the Master should be carried out in the political conduct of those who do not faithfully observe it in the common transactions of their daily life. To how great an extent that law is dishonoured by professors of religion is matter of standing complaint, and deep lamentation and sorrow, among the true disciples of the Saviour. In proportion as the members of our churches, in their private relations, stand manifestly free from all worldly contamination, will they be prepared to act in a manner, consistent with their profession in their public capacity. Personal holiness is the essential requisite in both departments, the devotion, in grateful love, of the entire man to Him who gave himself for us." During the Association, the various reports from the churches were read, from which it appeared that the number of THE BIBLE LORD STANLEY, in his recent despatch of April 7th, 1859, says that all the measures of Government "have been based on the principle of perfect religious neutrality," and "on the exclusion of religious teaching from the Government schools. As a necessary part of this policy, the Holy Scriptures have been excluded from the course of teaching; but the Bible has a place in the school libraries, and the pupils are at liberty to study it, and to obtain instruction from their Masters as to its facts and doctrines, out of school hours, if they expressly desire it." "The proclamation of Her Majesty, on assuming the direct control of the Government of India, plainly declared, that no interference with the religion of the people, or with their habits and usages, was to take place. Now, though in this country there might seem but a slight difference between the liberty enjoyed by the pupils to consult their teachers out of members at present connected with the denomination is 19,362, and the clear increase during the year 602. The following, among other subjects, engaged the attention of the assembled brethren; a memorial in favour of the abolition of the Bible monopoly, agreed to; the National Society for Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers, after its objects were ex. plained by Rev. Jos. Burton, of Birmingham recommended to the ministers and churches a petition to Parliament, in favour of Mr. Dilwyn's Endowed Schools Bill, adopted; and monument, at the suggestion of the Foreign Missionary Society, to be erected in the Derby cemetery, over the mortal remains of the late Rev. J. G. Pike. The sittings of the Association were closed on Thursday evening. The meetings were very numerously attended throughout, and the Association was regarded, both by the chairman and all present, as the most harmonious ever yet held. A spirit of Christian concession and charity pervaded the discussions, and the hallowed influence shed forth by the devotional services impressed all hearts alike. The next Association will be held at Wisbeach, Rev. W. Orton, of Louth, and Mr. Thomas Cooper, to preach, and Rev. J. Salisbury to write the letter to the churches. • Mr. Burton desires us to remind those ministers wishing to unite with this Society, of the desirableness and advantages of entering during the present month.-ED. IN INDIA. school hours, with regard to the teaching of the Bible, and the formation of a class for affording such instruction in school hours to such as might choose to attend it, it is to be feared, that the change would seem by no means a slight one to the natives of India, and that the proposed measure might, in a political point of view, be objectionable and dangerous, as tending to shake the confidence of the native community in the assurances of a strict adherence to past policy in respect to religious neutrality, which her Majesty has been pleased to put forth." "Her Majesty's Government are unable, therefore, to sanction any modification of the rule of strict religious neutrality as it has hitherto been enforced in the Government schools." Religious Neutrality is quite a different thing from complete Toleration. The latter is a wise, just, intelligible, and perfectly feasible policy. The former, in India, OBITUARY. is simply impossible. We cannot, even if we wished it, be absolutely "neutral" in dealing with the religions of India; for they are so intimately blended with false science, and false morality, that we cannot teach the simplest lessons of true science and true morality, without contradicting the false science and ethics of their religious books, and so far far proving the religions themselves to be false. We have thus already infringed "neutrality" by the secular instruction in Geography, Astronomy, and Physics, which has sapped all faith in the native religions; and we have done so still more by a course of legislation which has interfered with the sacred laws of Caste, Inheritance, and Re-marriage of Widows, and has rendered punishable many rites and usages, such as Suttee, the Saugor and Meria sacrifices, and Dhurna, which are not only sanctioned, but are even represented as meritorious by the native religion. Upon what ground do we thus interfere with religious usages? We cannot plead to a Hindoo, as Lord Stanley would suggest, that we act upon abstract principles of justice and humanity antecedent to all existing forms of belief. The proper reason for a Christian nation to assign for thus introducing a new standard of right and wrong is, that 269 It the practices so rendered punishable are condemned by God's Word. is only upon this ground that Government can properly come between a Hindoo and his performance of acts which he, far from considering criminal and inhuman, believes to be acceptable to his divinities. Surely, then, it is unjust to withhold from him, and interdict in the Government schools, the Book by which we condemn him? To place a ban on the Bible is to lay an obstacle in the way of the Gospel, and dishonour our God and our national religion before the heathen. A Paper is now in circulation, with suggestions as to a Petition to Parliament to the following effect, that,— "We, the undersigned, humbly pray your Honourable House to take measures for removing the authoritative exclusion of the Word of God from India, so that none who may be willing be interthe system of education in Government Schools in dicted from the hearing, or reading, of the Bible in School-hours." It is believed the present ministry will yield the Bible question in answer to a clear demand from the country. It is important that the question should be agitated immediately, and petitions sent forthwith to the House of Commons. Should any further information be needed, the Secretary of our Missionary Society will be happy to furnish it. Obituary. ANN WILCOX, of Sawley, was the youngest surviving daughter of Thos and Hannah Elliott. She was born Sept. 26, 1790. Until her seventeenth year she lived in a state of carelessness about her eternal interests. At that period she was visited with a serious illness, during which time she resolved to consecrate herself to the service of God. On her recovery she became a teacher in the Sunday School; and in the month of June 1808, was baptized in the river Trent, by the Rev. W. Pickering, and received into the fellowship of the church. After her marriage she was disconnected with the church for a short time, but, in the year 1821, she again sought its fellowship, and honourably maintained her profession until the day of her death. For the last ten years of her life she laboured under a painful disease, which prevented her from attending the public means of grace. During this prolonged affliction, she maintained а calm and unshaken confidence in God. As she drew near the close of life, the Saviour became in creasingly precious to her heart, and frequently did she express an earnest wish "to depart and be with Christ." Her death was sudden, and at the time it occurred, somewhat unexpected. Her son, as was usual, went to her at an early hour in the morning, and to his great surprise found that she had breathed her last. Her death was improved on Lord'sday, February 6, 1859. The discourse was founded upon 2 Timothy, iv. 6, 7, 8, a text which she had chosen some years before. How desirable to keep in mind the exhortation of our Lord, "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." G.N. JOHN WEBBER.-On Thursday, June 3rd, 1859, John Webber, a member of the General Baptist Church, Isleham, was removed by death, from our fellowship and communion to join the society of the redeemed in heaven, leaving a wife and eight children to sorrow for his loss. Our departed brother was baptized and united with the church at Isleham, on the 3rd of August, 1841, and for nearly eighteen, improved by our pastor, the Rev. T. Mee, years his life has been such as becometh to a very large congregation, from the the Gospel of Christ. 39th Psalm and 9th verse, "I was dumb, I On the same day, and within about an opened not my mouth because thou didst hour of the same time, LYDIA JOHNSON, it." May these repeated visits lead us, as another member of the same church, a church, to seek for a deeper tone of departed this life for a better. On Lord's- piety, that we may stand prepared when day, June the 12th, their deaths were the master calls. Intelligence. CONFERENCES. Rev. THE MIDLAND CONFERENCE met at but the distance, and the inconvenience Sawley, on Whit-Tuesday, June 14th, of getting to the place lead to a discussion 1859. It is just twenty-four years since a as to the desirableness of changing this similar gathering in this village, when part of the plan. It was ultimately agreed: the late Rev. R. Ingham opened the That the next Conference be held at morning service, and the venerable Archdeacon-lane, Leicester, on the third Rev. W. Pickering preached on "Christian Tuesday in September, (20th,) and that steadfastness." Rev. J. Stevenson, M.A., Rev. W. Jones, of Sacheverel-street, of Derby, read the scriptures and prayed; Derby, be requested to preach. and Rev. W. Gray, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, J. F. Stevenson, B.A., of Mansfield-road, preached from Hebrews x. 12, 13. The Nottingham, preached in the Evening. weather was propitious, and the attendance good. Rev. W. Underwood presided over the afternoon meeting, and Rev. T. Stevenson, of Leicester, prayed. One hundred and thirty-four were reported as baptized since the Easter Meeting, seven weeks ago, eleven had been restored to fellowship, and sixty-three remain as candidates. After the minutes of the last Conference had been read, the following business was attended to: J. J. GOADBY, Secretary. THE LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Peterborough, on Thursday, June 9th. In the morning, brother Cotton read and prayed, and brother Orton preached from Jude 3. In the afternoon the reports from the churches were read, and were of an encouraging character; thirty having been baptized since the last Conference, and twenty-four remaining candidates for baptism. 1.-Northampton Chapel Property. The report of the deputation was given. Resolved: That the best thanks of the The Treasurer of the Home Mission Conference be given to the deputation, brought forward the accounts for the and that they respectfully recommend to past year, and reported a balance in hand the Association, the propriety of disposing of £40, occasioned partly by a legacy reas soon as practicable of the Chapel cently bequeathed by the late Miss Temple, property at Northampton. of Coningsby. After a long and earnest conversation it was decided that the balance should be disposed of forthwith, in the following manner : 1.-That £20 be given for the reduction of Peterborough Chapel debt, on condition that the friends there raise £30 in the next twelve months, which they pledged themselves to do. The debt will then be £150. 2.-Case from Ilkeston. A requisition, signed by fifty members of the Church at Ilkeston, was received, asking for the appointment, by the Conference, of a small committee to investigate the recent arbitrary dismission, as they thought, of their late minister, Rev. T. R. Stevenson, and to advise with the friends, so as to effect, if possible, an amicable adjustment of existing dissentions. After a warm 2.-That £20 be given for the reduction discussion, the following brethren were of Castleacre Chapel debt, on condition requested to act as that committee: that the friends there raise £10 in the Rev. W. Underwood, Rev. W.R. Stevenson, MA., Mr. Thomas Hill, Mr. R. Seals, and Mr. J. Ferneyhough. next twelve months. A pledge was given, on their behalf, that this amount shall be raised. The debt will then be £70. According to the plan of holding the Conference for five years, agreed to at It was considered that this disposal of Derby, in January, 1856, the next the balance would be a permanent benefit meeting should have been held at Hinckley, to the funds of the Home Mission. INTELLIGENCE. The following grants were then voted for the ensuing year:-To Castleacre £10. Peterborough £15; Holbeach £12 10; Whittlesea £10, on condition that they procure a minister during the year. Resolved: 1. That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the treasurer, Mr. R. Wherry, and that he be requested to continue in office during another year. 2. That the friends of Whittlesea be again advised to use their utmost endeavours to obtain a suitable minister, and, meanwhile, to labour prayerfully and unitedly, and obtain the best ministerial supplies they may be able. 271 3. That this Conference earnestly recommends the churches in this district to forward petitions to both Houses of Parliament, in support of Mr. Dilwyn's Bill relating to Trustees of endowed schools. 4. That the next Conference be held at Boston, on Thursday, September 8th; aud that Brother Watts, of Wisbeach, be requested to preach in the morning. An interesting meeting was held in the evening, when addresses were delivered by brethren Cotton, Orton, Colman, and the Secretary. THOMAS BARRASS, Secretary. OPENINGS. CEMETERY-ROAD Chapel, SHEFFIELD. | -This place of worship was opened for divine service on Thursday, May 12th, when two powerful sermons were preached by the Rev. H. S. Brown, of Liverpool. On Lord's-day, May 15th, the Rev. W. Underwood, of Nottingham, preached impressive and appropriate discourses; and, on the following sabbath, the Rev. Dr. Burns, of Paddington, delivered two very stirring sermons. On Monday, May 23rd, the opening services were brought to a close by a tea meeting, which was attended by nearly 400 persons. The public services were all well attended, and the collections and subscriptions amounted to upwards of £300. The chapel, which is in the Romanesque style of architecture, is greatly admired for its chaste elegance, extremely convenient arrangement, ample accommodation, and small cost. It has a noble front elevation, with a wheel window, open porch, and arches, and turrets rising to a height of 56 feet. The seats in the chapel are low but spacious. Over the centre porch is a children's gallery, capable of holding some two hundred children, and underneath the whole chapel is a large and airy school-room, in which 600 children may be taught. Altogether this is one of the most complete, comfortable, and elegant chapels in Sheffield, and its entire cost (apart from the land, which is lease-hold) will not be more than £2,600. BEESTON. After being closed for repairing, cleaning, and painting, our chapel was re-opened on May 29th; when two 'sermons were preached by Mr. Clarke, student of G. B. College, Nottingham. Collections amounted to £9 5s. The expenses incurred have amounted to about £25, the greater part of which we have been enabled to pay off T. N. BAPTISMS. ASHBY AND PACKINGTON.-On Lord'sday afternoon, March the 20th, 1859, three young friends were baptized at Packington, and they were added to the church on the first Lord's-day in April. The attendance was large on both occasions. On Sabbath morning, June the 5th, the Rev. I. Stubbins opened the service at Ashby, and the minister of the place preached on the "Baptism of Christ," after which he baptized six persons on a profession of faith in Jesus. They were received into the church in the afternoon of the same day, at Packington. At this service Bro. Stubbins again kindly rendered his assistance by addressing the newly-baptized in a most solemn and impressive manner. The congregations were very large at both places. W. G. A. MANSFIELD-ROAD, NOTTINGHAM.-Six persons were baptized on Lord's-day, June 5th, 1859, after a sermon by the junior pastor, Rev. J. F. Stevenson, B.A. NEW LENTON.-On June 5th, four persons were baptized by the minister, Rev. J. J. Goadby. Two of the candidates were sisters. CASTLE DONINGTON.-Sixteen persons were baptized on the first Lord's-day in June. DERBY, MARY'S-GATE. Forty-four believers were baptized on 5th of June. HINCKLEY.-Nine persons were added to us, by baptism, on 5th of June. Seven of these friends were teachers in the Sabbath-school. HUGGLESCOTE.-We have added nine persons to our church by baptism. The rite was administered on 5th of June. |