MARY FARMER.

Mary Farmer, of Sheffield South, was called to her reward soon after her classmate Mary Brown. Owing to circumstances she could not control, she had been prevented from mingling with the people of God as she desired. Her faith in Christ was strong, her life was consistent, her end was peace. J. F.

MARY BROWN.

Mary Brown, of the Sheffield South Circuit, February 26th, aged 61, died in great peace. A further account in our next number.

MARTHA STALEY.

Martha Staley, of Ashton, sleeps in Jesus. She had been a member of our church many years, was well known, and highly respected. Our ministers have lost a kind and sincere friend, for our sister was given to hospitality, and held the preachers of the gospel in loving esteem for their work's sake. She delighted in spiritual conversation, loved the habitation of God's house, and was exemplary in her attendance at the class meeting. Not long before her death she was heard to remark :-"I could do with a class meeting every day." Her decease was unexpected. She was

present at my class on the Monday, attended the preaching on fast day, was taken ill on the Thursday, and died on Friday, March 23rd, in the fifty-first year of her age. In the short space of a few days, she was in the church on earth, on a sick bed, and in heaven itself. May all her children follow her along the path of holiness to a purer world. P. J. W.

life, happy in the prospect of endless bliss, through the merits of the Saviour, whom he dearly loved. He had been a member of our church about forty years. He was for many years a class leader, leading singer, and chapel keeper at Hucknall Torkard, of which place he was a native. For the last seven years he was the chapel keeper of Parliament Street Chapel, Nottingham. He rendered, also, efficient service as a class leader, and in the prayer and band meetings. He was a good man, and universally respected by the preachers, members, and congregation of Parliament Street Chapel.' His health had been failing for some time; but he kept his house only for a short period, and somewhat suddenly exHe was pired on the above date. ready for his change; and we doubt not is now inhabiting the building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." H. O. C.

SAMUEL STREET.

On the 2nd of April, 1855, Samuel Street, of New Radford, Nottingham, departed this life in the 67th year of his age. Upwards of thirty-five years he had been a member of our society at New Radford. Twenty years ago he was appointed a class leader; and continued faithfully to discharge the duties of his office until October, 1849, when he was seized with paralysis, which completely prostrated his physical energies, and confined him to his house until the day of his death. He bore his long and heavy affliction with exemplary patience and resignation to the will of God. He found Christ unspeakably precious in his last hours, and departed this life in the blissful hope of dwelling with Christ in heaven for ever.

ANNE NICHOL.

H. O. C.

Anne Nichol, aged 46, of Sheffield South, was called to be with Christ shortly after midnight of Wednesday, April 11th. Her life was a most attractive and harmonious exemplification of the riches of divine grace. Her sufferings for some time previously to death were the most excruciating to which the human frame can be subjected, but these were endured as only the power of God in Christ Jesus can enable fallen man to pass through the

valley of the shadow of death. An extended memoir may be expected. Sheffield. J. F.

MRS. TAYLOR,

On the 14th of April, 1855, Mrs. Taylor, of Mount Hooton, Nottingham, departed this life in the full assurance of faith in the 78th year of her age. Thirty-three years ago, she was converted to God, chiefly through the efforts of her own daughter, Mrs. Shipman. The mother and daughter

both became members, on the same day, of our society in Nottingham. She was a truly devoted Christian. For thirty-three years she adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour. She felt the utmost pleasure in attending the means of grace, both public and social. Age and infirmities, however, kept her at home for the last few years; but whenever we visited her, we found her happy in God, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ." H. O. C.

PRESS of matter this month forbids Connexional us to expatiate on topics. We can only direct attention to the intelligence in this department, some items of which are of special interest.

The conversion of precious souls in the Mossley and other circuits will delight and encourage our friends. Our esteemed brother, Mr. Booth, is still zealously pursuing his special mission, and we hear good accounts from Dudley East, Bradford, the Potteries, and other places, of which regular reports will, we trust, be given in a future number. Earnestly do we hope that this glorious work will continue and spread through the entire Connexion.

The friends at Paddock and Batley have done themselves great honour, and conferred important benefits on the Connexion by their liberality, the interesting accounts of which will gratify all the lovers of our Zion.

Our esteemed friend, John Wood, Esq., of the Park, Nottingham, has handed us a note which evinces his love to the cause of God, and his purpose that the institutions of the Connexion shall share in the prosperity with which God has blessed him. We hope a gracious Providence will favour him and his partner with the richest consolations and blessings. The following is the note to which we refer :

HELP TO THE BENEFICENT
FUND.

The Park, Nottingham.

DEAR SIR,-The treasurer of the Beneficent Fund has done credit to. himself in stating and enforcing the claims of the fund to the careful consideration of its supporters and friends. I therefore propose to increase my annual subscription from two pounds to three, and also to give a donation of fifty pounds, to be paid at or before the approaching Conference.

Yours most sincerely,
March 30, 1855. JOHN WOOD.

LONDON CIRCUIT. OPENING OF HOLYWELL MOUNT CHAPEL, FINSBURY.

WE have great pleasure in publishing, for the information of our numerous readers, the following particulars, furnished by one of the circuit preachers:

The opening services of the above chapel commenced on Tuesday the 6th March when a united circuit prayer meeting was held, under the presidency of the Revs. W. Booth and H. Downes. Many friends from all the societies were present, and whilst one and another supplicated the blessing of God upon the church leaving and the church entering, a gracious influence prevailed, and all were led to exclaim, "Master, it is good to be here."

On Thursday the 8th, we were favoured with the services of the Rev. James Bromley, of Bath, who delivered a most delightful discourse from Deut. xxix. 29, which was listened to with marked attention by all present.

On Sunday, March the 11th, the opening services were continued, the Rev. W. Cooke occupying the pulpit in the morning, and the Rev. W. Booth in the evening. The evening congregation was exceedingly numerous, and in the prayer meeting at the close, several penitent seekers of salvation professed to obtain the pardoning love of God through the merits of a crucified Saviour.

On the following day we held a social tea and public meeting. The weather was most unpropitious; a very heavy storm of snow and rain falling in the afternoon prevented many of our friends from attending; nevertheless, about 130 sat down to tea, and many more arrived afterwards in time for the public meeting, which was well attended and well conducted under the presidency of Josiah Bates, Esq.

At the commencement of the meeting, the audience were agreeably surprised by the unexpected arrival of William Martin, Esq., of Manchester, who was greeted with a most enthusiastic and cordial reception. After singing and prayer had been offered by the superintendent preacher, the Rev. P. T. Gilton, Mr. Bates delivered an introductory address, and in a most neat and appropriate manner, referred to the wide sphere of labour and usefulness which the immediate neighbourhood presented for Christian enterprise, and expressed his earnest wish that God would bless the undertaking of the Methodist New Connexion in that locality.

The Rev. P. T. Gilton, after paying a just tribute of respect to the minister and church lately worshipping in the chapel, and offering a public reception and welcome to the friends (Reformers) lately worshipping at Bowl Court, Shoreditch, and who have united themselves to us at Holywell Mount, gave a brief exposition of our doctrines, showing their identity with those of the parent body, and that we are really and truly Reformed Wesleyan Methodists.

The Rev. H. Downes, in responding to the call of the chair, stated, that had time and circumstances permitted, he should have hailed so favourable an opportunity of advancing his reasons for joining the New Connexion, and .entering the ranks of its ministry, but remembering that Mr. Cooke, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Booth had to follow, he should simply content himself with

wishing God speed to the undertaking, and assuring them that in connection with his brethren and the church, his utmost energies would be devoted to promote its success.

The Rev. W. Cooke then proceeded to address the meeting, and for an hour and a quarter was listened to with marked attention. We cannot attempt even an outline of his speech. All that the limits of this communication will admit is, that it was a most masterly defence of our system and polity from those scandalous attacks which have recently been made in certain quarters, by unprincipled and designing men.

William Martin, Esq., was received with great enthusiasm, and after ministering a severe but justly merited castigation upon the editor of the "Wesleyan Times" newspaper, and expressing his high admiration and approval of the polity of the New Connexion in a lengthened address, he urged upon us afresh to dedicate ourselves to God, and by seeking copious effusions of the Holy Spirit, to be prepared as a body to enter those openings which Providence was evidently unfolding, and he felt assured that better days were yet in store for us.

The Rev. W. Booth, after a few words of greeting to his London friends, proceeded to give a detail of his recent labours in the Staffordshire Potteries, and the revival of the work of God in connection therewith. He recited numerous pleasing instances of personal and family conversion which he had witnessed. After a few words from Mr. Rabbitts, the meeting concluded with prayer. We were happy to recognize Dr. Oxley, Mr. Browning, and other friends from the Reformers, on the platform and in the meeting.

con

On the following nights of the week special religious services were ducted by the Rev. W. Booth in the chapel, and several sinners, we trust, have been brought to a knowledge of the truth.

Sunday, the 18th, closed the opening services, the pulpit being occupied by the circuit preachers; morning, Rev. P. T. Gilton, evening, Rev. H. Downes. The congregations were good, and we feel that we have every reason to thank God and take courage. We have got officers appointed, and with a church of forty-five members to commence with, we trust to go on and prosper. H. D.

our

PADDOCK is a thriving suburb of the town of Huddersfield. Its population is now about five thousand, and with a prosperous trade would rapidly increase. Our community has had an interest here, in one form or other, from the commencement of its existence; nor in the earliest times was it unsuccessful in its endeavours to win souls to Christ. Many, it is to be believed, by its instrumentality have been brought to know Him whom to know is life eternal. In the Magazine for 1813, under the title of "A Singular Monument of Grace rescued from Oblivion," there is an interesting account of William Farrand, who died at Paddock, November 19, 1807, in the ninety-second year of his age. It appears that he was brought to God in his eightieth year, and that his conversion was owing to the circumstance of his having lent his cottage to a few of our members for the holding of a prayer-meeting. At the time of his conversion he was unable to read, but so great was his desire to become acquainted with our hymns, and the word of God, that he determined to

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learn, and soon surmounted every difficulty. When he had gained this object, his chief employ was to read, and sing, and pray; to adore, and praise, and rejoice. The writer of the account, who I think was Mr. Mort, describes how he found him, a poor old man, ninety years of age, and almost blind, clad in rags, alone in a small cottage, with scarcely a bed to lie upon, and but one stool on which you could sit, with the small pittance of half-acrown a week, and no one to wait upon him; yet patient, resigned, tranquil, and happy. His countenance was always expressive of heartfelt joy. The good man, amidst all the wretchedness of poverty, smiled at the dreary scene. You would have thought him in the height of prosperity, and creation pouring all its treasures into his lap. Whenever I called, I found him exactly the same. I never remember to have seen a happier Christian." In. the same happy frame of mind the good old saint expired. Some of his last words were

"Not a cloud shall arise to darken the skies, Or hide for a moment my Lord from my eyes."

For many years our friends at Paddock held their religious services in a private house. In the year 1824, however, when the late Rev. John Henshaw laboured in the Huddersfield Circuit, a public movement was originated for the erection of a school. On Easter Monday of that year, Mr. Henshaw, along with David Beaumont and Thomas Hawkyard, commenced canvassing the village and its neighbourhood for subscriptions towards this object. The result of their day's effort was the attainment of upwards of £60; and the project thus auspiciously begun, was favourably carried on for a time, but before long it received a serious check. Some of the parties who at first were most forward in the work, and pushed it on until the building was begun, and had made some progress, then deserted it, and caused such dissension that the building was discontinued. Eventually it was re-commenced and completed through the fidelity of a few, who determined to stand by the undertaking at all hazards. The school was opened in 1825, and immediately a goodly number of children were collected within its walls on the Sabbathday, while undoubtedly the instructions there given have been blessed of God to the salvation of many.

Soon after the erection of the school the friends began to feel a desire for a separate place of worship. They considered that a chapel would not only give more convenience for worship, but also be the means of greatly increasing the congregation. Various plans and arrangements to accomplish this object at length issued in the enlargement of the school. Indeed, this became necessary from the attendance of scholars, as well as to meet the wants of the adult population. This enlargement was carried into effect in 1836, when the room was made twice its original size. While, however, the friends were thankful for this addition to their accommodation, it did not leave them so satisfied as to wish for nothing more. They felt as if they could not be content, until, as one of our esteemed ministers expressed himself, "they had a chapel wherein to put the church." This desire gaining strength and becoming very general, a weekly or monthly subscription was entered into, and donations also solicited from the inhabitants. The moneys raised by these means were

paid into the hands of our esteemed friend, Mr. Joseph Robinson, of Huddersfield, who for the time being acted as treasurer. When the Conference was held in Huddersfield, in 1839, a few. spirited friends got up a tea meeting in the Philosophical Hall in behalf of the fund thus forming. Afterwards a money-club was entered, and in order to meet the periodical calls of the club, a number of friends agreed to give subscriptions to the amount requisite. But now a season of trial befell those engaged in these praiseworthy efforts. In consequence of the agitation attendant on the expulsion of Joseph Barker from our community by the Halifax Conference, many who had supported this project withdrew their subscriptions, and became the opponents of the cause to which they had formerly belonged. Some time previous to this the members at Paddock had been formed into an independent society, which made those who were true to the cause of righteousness and truth to suffer still more from this disruption. They were, however, kept from fainting in the day of adversity; and in due time patience and perseverance had their reward. But scarcely had one difficulty been overcome before another occurred, and disappointment followed disappointment in a very remarkable manner.

A

Eight or nine years since the prospects had so brightened that many thought it time to arise and build. site was supposed to have been secured, and arrangements were completed for the laying of the foundation stone, when within a day or two of this ceremony being performed, information came that the plot of ground granted by Sir John Ramsden's agent could not be occupied by us. The why and the wherefore of this disappointment we pass over in silence. The parties to whose influence it was traceable, might for a time rejoice in what they had done, but in the final result of this proceeding we have great cause for thankfulness and joy. However, this was a heavy blow to our friends, and for a long time they had to hope against hope for years passed away ere there was any prospect of obtaining another site. About three years ago, under the direction of the Rev. J. Stacey, Sir J. Ramsden was memorialized on the subject, and to the unspeakable joy of the friends, the response was a grant of the most suitable plot in the whole village,