We may draw many inferences from such a fact. The first and most obvious, perhaps, is the proof it furnishes that no amount of meanness and worthlessness in the body holding given doctrines is sufficient to deter a bold and honest man from avowing his sympathy with those opinions.

Another is, that seeing truth is such a powerful magnet as to draw to itself the right metal. When God's good time comes for trying its properties, it will be as well, despite all that is disagreeable in its associations, to stick to it in a word, to wait a little longer.' But, to my mind, much the most im portant consideration is,—of what practical use to the Connexion can the pos session (if I may use such a term in reference to a man as strikingly peculiar for the independence of his mental movements as for his genius,) of such a man be made?

Here is a man of extraordinary thinking and oratorical powers: a great master of public debate: well versed in the control of promiscuous audiences: accustomed especially to address with powerful effect mass s of the working classes (the class in England most diffi. cult to be get at): familiar with their habits of lite, modes of thought, their prejudices, sympathies, weaknesses, and virtues: an unflinching teller ont of what he believes: a most orthodox believer (even tried by that strictest of all, the General Baptist standard,) now, can we, as General Baptists, set him anything to do?

Do not imagine, Mr. Editor, that I am insensible to the immense value of the work which Mr. Cooper is now doing, or that I would wish to impress a less catholic character upon his very important labours. God forbid! I think he is accomplishing a task for which God has especially raised him

I remain, dear Mr. Editor,
Yours most obediently,
FREDERICK STEVENSON.

Nottingham, May 16.

DISMISSING ELDER SCHOLARS. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine.

MY DEAR SIR.-As reference has been made by your esteemed correspondent A. N. to this subject, I beg your per mission to insert a brief reply.

All Sunday-school teachers will admit the desirability of retaining their scholars to as advanced an age as possible, but they may hold various opinions as to how that can best ba accomplished. A. N. complains of a recent dismission of twenty scholars from our Sunday-school, and thiuks it an error. Now, I think upon enquiry, A. N. will find that where such is the practice, provided always the schools are efficiently conducted, that those are the schools wherein scholars are retained the longest. To receive honourable dismission from an institution in which many happy years have been spent, is an aim of praiseworthy ambition, and is often the occasion of much spiritual good, and of ever-enduring impressions. I presume there are not many schools in which scholars are retained longer than in our own, one in the list referred to by A. N. being 22 years of age, and many of them between 20 and 22; and yet such dismissions have long been our practice, and have many times, if not always, been a source of good. I hope there are not many teachers of senior classes, who would, as A. N. fears, lose his

227

am happy to reply that, either from the solema admonitions at the dismission, or the practice of what I have above recommended, accompanied by the divine blessing, several have since been added to the church, and others are candidates for baptism, I believe all except one, so that instead of being scattered,' they are nearly all 'gathered' into the church,

MRS. LYON, the beloved wife of Rev. J. Lyon, of Chatteris, Cambs., died November 29th, 1859, in her 65th year | She was sustained by the faith and hope of the gospel, as long as reason held its throne. Delirium and rest lessness prevailed during the last week of her life; but the end was peace. She was a genuine Christian, and strongly attached to the General Baptist Connexion. As a young disciple, she was baptized by the Rev. J. Binns, of Bourne; and was successively a mem. ber of the churches at Bourne, Stamford, Barrowden, Whittlesea, and Chatteris It is fit a short record of Charlotte Lyon should be found in the General Baptist Magazine, for next to the Bible no other book was so constantly read by her with interest. Many readers will now recall the features, the friendships, and active services of the departed. Jesus loved the over-anxious and troubled Martha, as well as the contemplative Mary. And Jesus loved the sensitive, and sometimes over-anxious subject of this record. For her domestic comforts and merciful surroundings, and God's unspeakable gift, she habitually presented in the closet and at the family altar, the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. In English History we have a touching record of one who having lost an only son, never smiled again. In 1852, the only child of the departed, Sarah Jane Wade, a blooming, promising girl of sixteen, was rather suddenly snatched away. Though there was hope in her death, the loss of her darling

I am, Dear Sir, Yours truly,

B. B.

| child produced a deep, deep sorrow of heart to the mother: and some have said that a marked alteration was visible in that countenance which death has now changed, and that from that time she walked mournfully before the Lord Rev. J. Jones, of March kindly officiated at the grave in the Dissenter's Cemetery, where now rest in hope the mother with the child; and on Sunday, the 11th of December, he preached in the General Baptist Chapel au instructive and consolatory funeral sermon, from 2 Corinthians v. 6, 7, 8.

ANN WADDINGTON, whose maiden name was Isherwood, was born at Gisburn, in Craven, Yorkshire. Her father was a pious man, a member of an Independent Church, and brought up his daughter in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. During her youth she worked at the occupation of weaving at home, and served in gentlemen's houses. She was an early scholar in the Sabbath-school. When twentysix years of age, she was married to Jonathau Waddington, a mason, with whom she lived happily for twelve years, and who died suddenly. She had an only child, a daughter, who now lives to mourn her loss. Most of the time of her widowhood was spent in keeping the house of D. Peckover, Esq., of Wood Hall, near Bradford. She died, after a short illness, on June 28th, 1859, aged fifty-one. A funeral sermon was preached by Rev. B. Wood, of Bradford, from Luke xiii. 11-13.

CONFERENCE.

THE WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE Was held at Wolvey, on Monday, May 14. 1860. The Rev. R. J. Langridge, of Nuneaton, preached in the morning. In the afternoon, the Rev. J. Knight presided at the business meeting. Eight churches reported. There have been

twelve additions since the last conference, and there are twelve candidates The reports from the cburches were some of them of a very encouraging nature. A case was brought forward from Nuneaton of an unusual sort. First, the question was asked, Which is to be considered the Church, when a majority of members withdraw from worship in the customary rented building, and meet for worship in another rented building, the minority holding separate services, and no formal with drawal or exclusion on either side has taken place?' In the course of the discussion, which was irregular and warm, it appeared that disputes of another kind lay at the bottom of the question, and it was resolved, "That the Revs. J. Knight, T. Goadby, and Mr. Crofts, act as arbitrators in this matter: and that each party at Nuneaton be requested to appoint from its number six persons to represent its case to the arbitrators.' The first question was not answered by the vote of the Conference, but every one appeared to decide that the question itself was absurd, and that the church was one until a formal separation had taken place. After a conversation upon the subject of the Weekly Offering, introduced by the secretary, at the request of the Conference, it was resolved, That the next Conference be at Longford, on the second Monday in September; that the Secretary be the preacher; and that he be requested to give in his discourse an exposition of 1 Cor. xvi., 1, 2, and the principles and advantages of the Weekly Offering."

THOMAS GOADBY, Sec.

LONDON, Præd street. The annual mission sermons were preached on Lord's-day, April 29th, in the morning by the Rev. J. B. Pike, of Bourne, and in the evening by the Rev. Isaac Stub bins. On the following Monday, a public meeting was held. Capt. Fishbourne, R.N, presiding. There was a good attendance at each of the services. The collections, subscriptions, &c., amount to £56 1s. 4d, of which £20 has been realised by the Juvenile Society.

SHEFFIELD, Cemetery - road, — On Lord's-day, April 29th, the first anni versary sermons of the Cemetery-road Chapel were preached by the Rev. Dr. Burns. The congregations were good, in the evening quite filling the chapel. The sermous were excellent, and the collections amounted to upwards of £31.

HUGGLESCOTE SABBATH AND DAY SCHOOLS.-On Lord's-day, May 6th, 1860, two sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Salisbury, on behalf of the above schools, when the liberal sum of £32 was collected.

REMOVALS.

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THE REV. W. TAYLOR, of the Baptist College, has accepted an invitation from the Church of Castle Donington and Sawley, to become their minister, and is expected to commence his labours after the Midsummer vacation. J. B.

MISCELLANEOUS.

LOUTH, North-gate.- Bazaar.—On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 10th and 11th, a bazaar was held in the large school-room, to aid in the purchase of a new organ. The room was tastily arranged. Evergreens interspersed with artificial flowers were suspended over the stalls in graceful festoons. Articles in every conceivable variety were exhibited for sale. The visitor saw the most recherche productions of feminine manipulations and taste, with mingling specimens specially prepared' of the chemist, the coachbuilder, the confectioner, the clothier, the manufacturer of shoes, the photographer, the coal merchant, &c. The piano was played at intervals during the days, and in the evenings the members of the Musical Union, and other accomplished musicians favoured the company with some of their finest performances. The attendance was eminently satisfactory, and the proceeds amounted to upwards of £80.

SAWLEY-Opening of New Schoolroom. These services took place on Lord's-day, April 29th, 1860. Mr. C. H. Clarke, of the College, preached in afternoon and evening. On the following day, Dr. Burns, of London, preached in the afternoon, after which about 300 friends partook of tea in the new room, the trays being kindly given. In the evening a public meeting was held, when a selection of sacred music was performed, interspersed with addresses from Dr. Burns, Messrs. W. Taylor, C. H. Clarke, and B. Walker, Esq. The services were all well attended and the collections liberal. The new property comprises a spacious school-room and house for the teacher of the day-school; besides a considerable addition to our burying ground, which was much needed. The cost,

including the expence of enfranchising the ground (given by Mr. W. Bennett, together with a donation of £100), new trust deeds, school furniture, &c., is about £430, towards which there has been subscribed, including profits of tea meeting and collections, the handsome sum of £280, leaving a debt of about £150, which we hope still further to reduce. We wish gratefully to thank our friends who bave kindly helped us, and pray that the divine blessing may abide with us.

CASTLEACRE, Norfolk - Testimonial to the Rev. J. Stutterd-On Lord'sday, May 6th, our beloved pastor, the Rev. J. Stutterd, concluded his fourteenth year of pastoral labour amongst us by preaching our Sunday-school sermons, and closed the services of the day by preaching his farewell sermon to the church and congregation, from the words of the apostle, Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.' The chapel was crowded to suffocation: the place was a Bochim.

On Monday, the 7th of May, a farewell tea meeting was held, when a numerous company sat down to tea, after which a public meeting was held, Mr. Brock, of Great Dunham, iu the chair. Spirit-stirring addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Kingdon, of Necton; Mr. Henry Vince, of Swaffham; and Joshua Love, Esq., M.D, after a long and affecting speech in the name of his fellow-townsmen, presented to the Rev. J. Stutterd a purse of gold, as a token of the esteem in which he was held by Christians of all denominations. Both Churchmen, Wesleyans, and Baptists subscribed to the token which was afterwards augmented by a sum of money voted by the Castleacre Burial Society, of which Mr. Stutterd was the founder and president from its commencement. The Castleacre Young Men's Improvement Society has also lost a valuable friend. His removal is deeply lamented, for he has precisely fulfilled the charge given at his ordination,- Put the brethren in mind of these things, and thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ.

W. S.

THE COLLEGE LIBRARY.-The library has lately been increased by the receipt of upwards of thirty volumes, bequeathed to it by the late Rev G. Judd, of Coningsby. Also by the following gifts:-Kurtz's History of the Old Covenant, 3 vols., presented by the Rev. J. Martin, BA, Nottingham. Alford's Greek Testament and other works, by the Rev. W. R. Stevenson. M A., and seventeen shillings in money, by J. Lilly, Esq, Wisbech.

THE COLLEGE. At a committee meeting of the college, held at Loughborough, May 7th, invitations to the two senior students, Messrs. Taylor and Towler, were submitted for consideration, when it was resolved to recommend Mr. Taylor to settle over the church at Donington and Sawley; and Mr. Towler over that at Barrowden and Morcott. They are expected to commence their labours about the first Sabbath in August.

Applications from four young brethren to be admitted to the College were considered, and the usual preliminary steps are being taken in order to a final decision respecting them. report concerning Mr. Kendall, who was put on a further probation at the last meeting, not being favourable, it

The

was resolved that his connection with the College should at once cease.

The treasurer's report of the state of the funds showed, that while the account at the bank was largely overdrawn, the balance against the College was less than it usually has been at this period of the year. Promptitude in making the collections, and in for warding them when made, is greatly to be desired.

TODMORDEN VALE CHAPEL, PEOPLE'S COLLEGE. Testimonial to Rev. T

-

Horsfield.-On Monday evening, May 7th, the young people of Vale College honoured their president with a testimonial of their esteem and regard. The following address will best explain the circumstances and occasion of it:Presentation Address. To the Rev. Thomas Horsfield.

'Dear Sir,-For some time past we have felt it our duty to present to you some token of esteem for the excellent