double our present numbers. I hope the next Conference will leave Mr. Booth without a fixed circuit, so that he may go through the Connexion as an evangelist; and I doubt not, if he retain his piety and dependence upon the Divine Spirit, God will abundantly own his labours in every circuit he may visit.

My principal object, however, in this paper, is to inform you that during the present month we have had a fortnight's consecutive revival services, conducted by Mr. Booth. A short, but solemn and pointed, address was printed and extensively circulated in the district. The immediate locality is not, as you are aware, yet inhabited. Every evening during the first week a prayer-meeting was held, and a short address given by Mr. Booth on the second Sabbath; and on every evening during the ensuing week, except Saturday, he delivered a most appropriate discourse, which was succeeded by a penitent meeting. It may be said of the entire series of services, that they were, indeed, "times of refreshing," and the only regret felt, at the close, was that they had terminated. The results have been most blessed and satisfactory; about thirty members have been added, some of whom have joined our other societies. The older members have also been quickened; and I believe the good effects of these services will be found. after many days. I remain, dear Sir, yours truly, JOSIAH BATES. Hackney, Dec. 16, 1854.

PROVIDENCE CHAPEL, MONKWEARMOUTH.

THE opening services of the above place of worship were commenced on Sunday, November 5th, when three excellent sermons were delivered to crowded congregations; in the morning by the Rev. T. Cartwright, and in the afternoon and evening by the Rev. T. Rowland, of Newcastle.

On the following Sabbath, November 12th, sermons were preached morning and evening by the Rev. G. Steward, of Newcastle, and in the afternoon by the Rev. M. Baxter, of this town. The congregations were crowded equally with the preceding sabbath, and the friends were highly delighted and profited. The collections were rather below my expectations, amounting only to £18 8s. This was doubt

less owing to the depressed state of trade. The whole of the shipwrights of Sunderland had been on the strike for three weeks previously; and, considering that we have only a few poor people of our own on the north side of the water, no rich friends with their bank notes, or a single grain of the precious dust from the diggings, to sustain the collections, the friends think we have done exceedingly well. On Monday, the 13th of November, a tea meeting was held in the chapel and school-room-the tea was gratuitously provided by the ladies-the proceeds of which amounted to £12 11s. A public meeting was afterwards held in the chapel, presided over by William Harty, Esq. Speeches were delivered by the Revs. T. Cartwright, J. Morris, J. Mathison, and W. Green, and Messrs. T. Cooper and W. Huison, all of whom, in the course of their addresses, congratulated the friends of the New Connexion on their successful effort in the erection of a neat and commodious place of worship in Monkwearmouth. The chapel is a plain and substantial brick building, without a gallery. The length outside is 59 feet, and the width outside 38 feet, with palisade in the front. The height, from floor to ceiling, is 18 feet, lighted from the ceiling with good effect, and a platform instead of a pulpit. There is a double row of pews in the centre, thirty-two in number, and capable of holding five persons each; all the rest are free-seats with backs. It will comfortably seat 360 people. There is a school-room and vestry, 44 feet long and 15 wide, with a wood partition between them, which can be taken down when needed, and thrown into one large room, together with a small yard. The expense of the building will be about £650. £150 has been raised by subscriptions and collections, including a subscription of £20 from our esteemed friend Jos. Love, Esq., of Willington Hall. There is no mistake about our having two substantial chapels more in this circuit than we had twelve months since, and it is hoped that the spiritual state will bear some proportion to the improved accommodation. T. G.

BURY, ROCHDALE CIRCUIT. ON Sabbath, Nov. 19, sermons in behalf of our mission were preached in our chapel at Bury, by the Rev. 9.

C

Smith, of Bolton. The public meeting was held on the following day, when J. C. Kaye, Esq., was called to the chair, who opened the meeting in a very appropriate and interesting manner. The report was read by Mr. Reynolds. Speeches of the first order were delivered by the Revs. T. W. Ridley, J. Relph (Wesleyan), W. Roseman and J. Dickinson (Independents), S. Smith (Primitive Methodist), W. Jenkinson, Esq., of Manchester, and Mr. Harston, of Heywood. The collections were in advance of last year. May the spirit of missionary zeal be increased in all our churches.

It will also be interesting to know that our friends at Bury have lately improved their chapel. It had long been in a very comfortless and miserable state; it is now put in a state of thorough repair, inside and out. It has been painted throughout, and a new floor laid down under each of the side galleries; new iron gates have been put up at the entrance, and our friends, evincing their connexional loyalty, have caused a large stone to be inserted in front of the chapel (replacing the old and rather questionable one) having the name of METHODIST NEW CONNEXION CHAPEL engraven in bold characters. The chairman at our missionary meeting expressed his pleasure at the altered appearance of our place of worship, feeling convinced, he said, that the efforts which had been put forth were "indicative of a living church." It was re-opened Sept. 24, when sermons were preached in the morning by the Rev. J. Mather (Association), in the afternoon by the Rev. R. Hardy (Wesleyan), and in the evening by the Rev. T. Allin. The collections and subscriptions realized the sum of £46, thus covering the whole of the expenditure. I hope that our cause at Bury will yet rise above all its difficulties, and become a praise in our Zion.

WM. REYNOLDS.

SHEFFIELD SOUTH.-Two appropriate and excellent sermóns in aid of our missions were preached in the Park Chapel, Lord's day, November 5, by the Rev. C. Hibbert. On the evening following a public missionary meeting was held in the same place, when the chair was occupied with great efficiency by Mr. Fenton. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. C. Hibbert, J. Flather, T.D. Crothers,

J. Good, and Messrs. Warriss and Marsden. Notwithstanding several adverse causes, the attendance presented a pleasing increase on preceding years. The interest was well sustained, and the collections highly creditable. As the result of these services, several collectors have commenced soliciting subscriptions with the most laudable energy, and have been very successful.-J. F.

MR. MARTIN'S LETTER. The following beautiful letter from our excellent friend W. Martin, Esq., was read at the public meeting held at Lynn on the occasion of consummating the union of that circuit with our Connexion :

Altrincham,

October 29th, 1854.

My dear Sir,-Your esteemed favour inviting me to be present at the public meeting to be held to-morrow at Lynn, in celebration of the union of your church with the Methodist New Connexion, is duly to hand. I very much regret that pressing business-engagements preclude the possibility of my being with you on that interesting occasion. The step you have taken commends itself to my judgment and warmest approval, and most sincerely do I pray that your new church relationship may be crowned with the richest tokens of God's approval and blessing. I fear it is too much to hope that every member of your circuit approves the union you have contracted with the New Connexion. If there are any who dissent, suffer me to ask for them your indulgence and sympathy, for while majorities have a right to rule, minorities have a right to be respected. Here we do not see eye to eye in everything-this blessedness is reserved for heaven.

Let

me entreat you to manifest towards the brethren who differ a spirit of earnest charity, "and above all things have fervent charity among yourselves." The religion of Jesus Christ is pre-eminently a religion of love. You may possess a church polity of the most perfect kind, but if there be not love to work it, there can be no vitality. Suffer me to remind you that the eyes of many churches will be open upon you. Let them see that you are worthy of your high vocation. Set them an example of meekness, zeal, liberality, and faith. Let every member be impressed with a deep sense of his own individual responsibility to the

world, to the church, and to God, to cultivate personal holiness; for we should never forget that it is the lukewarmners and unfaithfulness of individual members that go to swell the aggregate of a church's crimes. I regret to learn that a little misunderstanding has arisen between your circuit and the General Wesleyan Reform Committee. I beg you to judge them tenderly. That their interference was wrong and uncalled for, I am sure; but that it was dictated by right motives, I am equally certain. They were anxious to serve you and our great movement, and in their anxiety to accomplish these, they stepped a little out of their proper functions. But "to

err is human, to forgive divine.” In conclusion, I would say, in the words of the Apostle Peter,-"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," And now, my dear sir, with earnest prayers for the

VERY DEAR SIR,-My dear Brother Bootman gave to your readers some few remarks on our motives in uniting with the Methodist New Connexion in the November Magazine, I write just to give a brief view of our present position.

The committee who acted on behalf of the Circuit having communicated with the Annual Committee on the propriety of our being immediately organized, they consented to send the Rev. P. T. Gilton to spend a month on the circuit. In October Mr. Gilton commenced his mission, and during four successive weeks preached every evening, and twice each Sabbath, to delighted audiences. The result of his visit has far exceeded our expectations. It was by no means improbable that among such a number of persons there should be some variety of opinion; but, to our great delight, amidst many efforts of an opposite nature, the whole of the objectors did not amount to a score, and even this number, we are assured, will not leave us on account of the union.

I assure you, Sir, that the openness, candour, and faithfulness of the Rev. gentleman won for himself and the cause many friends. Inquiry was courted, questions were invited, and as readily received a satisfactory reply; and as the brethren visit these places, they hear one unbroken expression of gladness that we have now adopted a constitution so liberal, and regret that we did not adopt it before.

Our esteemed friend Mr. S. Henn is now spending three weeks with us, and the Lord is doing a great work among us, souls are getting converted, and the church is being stirred up; our prayer is, Lord, send the shower on us, and through the whole Connexion. I am yours in Christ,

Nov., 1854.

J. L. FISH, Circuit Steward.

MEMOIR OF MR. BUTCHER, OF LONDON.

RELIGIOUS character has a twofold utterance; it discourses with words of eloquence and wisdom of

greater worth than gold or rubies, while we behold it living, moving, and acting before our gaze; and when its earthly embodiment has passed from before our natural eye,

it assumes a form which haunts our fancy, and continues to reiterate the lessons it taught us before. It is well to listen to the teachings of the Christian while living, and it is wise, when he has passed away to his Father's house, to avoid his failings, and to imitate all that was Christlike in his actings. Such is our duty and our privilege with regard to him whose Christian portrait we would delineate in this paper.

Samuel Butcher was born in the city of Worcester, on September 22nd, 1782. Of his parents we have little or no information, except that Samuel, being the only son, was the object of his mother's fondest love. Early in life, he relates that he was the subject of the strivings of God's Spirit, and he tells us that on one occasion, when quite a child, an uncle talked with him about the eternal world, and that this conversation left impressions upon his mind concerning heaven and hell that no future events could erase; and he often related in after-life that he could remember the time when and the place where, under religious impressions, he retired to pray; and never amid earth's ever-changing scenes could he forget that fond mother kneeling by his side ere he retired to rest, and praying for the temporal and eternal welfare of her beloved child. But, notwithstanding the impressions which appear so early to have been made upon his young and plastic soul, Samuel grew up under the influence of a depraved heart, and a sinful world, and when but a youth manifested a remarkably headstrong and wilful disposition. At the age of fifteen he left the home of his master-he was then bound apprentice-and enlisted for a soldier; but his mother tracing him to the north of Scotland, bought him off, and he again returned to his native town. He now settled down quietly, was steady, imbibed a love for religion, and was regular in his attendance at the house of God; but, unfortunately, some wicked man came to work with him in the same shop, and influenced Samuel to join him in a course of wickedness, which

resulted in his indentures being cancelled and his enlisting again for a soldier. Providentially, he came to London to join his regiment, where he met with some pious comrades, who took him with them to Methodist means of grace, and while sitting in Queen-street Chapel listening to the gospel proclaimed by Mr. Benson, of blessed memory, the word entered his heart, and he ceased to rebel against his God; and with many tears and prayers he sought until he found the salvation of his soul. He now at once, in his eighteenth year, gave his hand to the people of God, joining the Wesleyan Methodist Society. Soon after this period he was attacked with a serious fit of illness, and was sent to the hospital. While there his fond and faithful mother again found her way to his side, and, procuring for him leave of absence, took him down to Worcester, and nursed him until he was again restored to health. About this time he became acquainted with a pious young woman, a member of Society, to whom he was shortly afterwards married in London. Concerning her, he writes, that after eleven months' matrimonial felicity, she died, leaving him a widower with a sweet babe only four days' old."

From this time until a more recent period we have some difficulty in tracing the history of our departed brother. It appears that his religion taught him the habits of economy and industry, and that having the privilege of working at his trade he saved a little money, again visited Worcester, and again entered into a matrimonial engagement. With this his second wife he lived happily and harmoniously. During her life he left the army and commenced business in London, and of her he wrote, in his brief diary, as follows:"Since I last wrote here I have lost my dear wife: she was taken away January 12th, 1829, after being my constant companion in both my tribulation and my prosperity for twenty-four years. Perhaps few have seen more changing scenes than we, and the constant fortitude and patience with which she bore

our afflictions, and the gratitude she expressed when passing through brighter scenes, certainly endeared her, and her memory is, and ever will be, dear to me. I am very thankful to the God of all grace, on her account, for the great peace she enjoyed her resignation to the divine will was truly astonishing. I pray God my last end may be like hers, for surely the grace of God was magnified in her death. All glory to God."

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Our brother was once more, as it were, left alone in the world, a large family were growing up around him, and the anxieties of an increasing business pressed heavily upon him. He had a high estimate of the blessedness of domestic felicity. He had no cause to regret his former matrimonial engagement; and about the year 1830 he was united to the one who, after alike sharing his sorrows and joys for near twenty-five years, still lives to mourn his absence from her on earth, and to hope for an uninterrupted union beneath the cloudless skies of heaven.

During the agitation which prevailed in the Wesleyan Church, about the year 1835, our brother felt it to be his duty to leave that body, and to unite himself with the Methodist New Connexion, of which he continued a devoted member until his death. Respecting this important step he writes in his diary, January 21st, 1835:-"This will be a day to be remembered by me perhaps to all eternity. I have taken a very important step. I have been an unworthy member of the Wesleyan Connexion for about thirty-five years, and have been very much joined in spirit to that body for which I feel the highest esteem; but I cannot countenance the unscriptural, unreasonable, and uncharitable conduct of some of the ruling men in that lovely society towards a certain party in the north of England. My soul was grieved to hear of the sad havoc made in the societies at Manchester, Liverpool, and elsewhere, where, instead of endeavouring to make reconciliation, our preachers in

general-thank God there are a few exceptions-have manifested a most hostile feeling to certain members, because they wish to think for themselves, instead of that long-suffering and merciful disposition which should so eminently characterize thechildren of God. After very mature deliberation, I have joined a people for whose Church discipline I have ever felt the most cordial affection, to whose ministers and members I feel much attached, with whom I hope I shall grow in grace, and that we shall be a means of helping each other on in the good way.

Subsequently our brother's course was, comparatively speaking, a smooth one; although he had anxieties peculiar to his circumstances and his station, yet was his heavenly Father merciful in all his dealings with him. During the last five years his health failed, and gradually and gently the Lord let him down into the arms of death. During all this period his confidence in God failed not, and often since it became apparent that his stay could not be much longer here have we heard him tell with a grateful heart of the goodness and tender care of his heavenly parent towards him. Since first we found our way to his bedside, we have regularly visited him, and never have we heard a murmur come from his lips. Ofttimes he was anxious relative to his religious experience, and feared now and then that he had not that amount of religious joy he thought it his privilege to realize, but he ever fell back for hope and confidence upon the glorious atonement of Jesus, and the great and precious promises, yea and amen to them that believe. As his latter end approached, and the close of his earthly pilgrimage drew nearer, his peace and calmness of soul seemed more unbroken and constant. On the morning of his death he requested to know the time; his dear wife replied that it was 4 o'clock, when he responded in reference to his expected departure, "The chariot wheels are a long time coming." About three hours after