Crooks and other Sheffield friends. In the afternoon, about 160 persons sat down to tea in the Wesleyan schoolroom, kindly lent for the occasion. Mrs. Dawson, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. J. Needham, Mrs. Battley, Misses Clarke and Staniwell presided at the trays. Valuable aid was rendered in preparing for the bazaar and tea-meeting by Messrs. T. H. Capes, Dawson, Butterfield, Jefferis, and Meggett. In the evening the chapel was crowded, our friends having come from all parts of this wide circuit to hear the Rev. W. Cooke, D.D., and were deeply compensated by the profit they enjoyed in listening to the discourse which he delivered. On the Friday evening following, a selection of sacred music was performed in excellent style by a choir of singers from Hull, to whom our warmest thanks are due for their gratuitous services. Mr. Carr, of Hull, presided at the organ, with great ability, on that occasion, and also on the following Sabbath, when the Rev. S. Walker preached in the morning to a large congregation, and the Rev. J. Graham in the evening, the chapel being crowded in every part. We have realized Making a total of £178 1s., and leaving a balance of £13 1s. in the hands of our treasurer. Our effort, therefore, has been a successful one; and while great credit is due to all our friends for the united and spirited manner in which they have worked out this result, it is but simply just to say that our success is mainly attributable to our excellent friend, Mr. Jones, whose exertions have been beyond all praise. Mr. T. H. Capes has undertaken to act as organist gratuitously, and we hope that our new instrument, while it aids us in the singing of praise, will attract some into the sanctuary, where they will hear words by which they may be saved. J. GRAHAM. Thorne, Sept. 26th. [We were much delighted with our visit to Epworth. The chapel is both commodious and beautiful, and the school is in good keeping therewith. The premises altogether are worthy of the Connexion, and of the upright and heroic man of God whose name and character they commemorate. It is just to add that our intercourse with worthy friends at Epworth has left a deep impression of their kindness and their love to the cause of God.-ED.] CONCERT AND LECTURE AT CHESLYN HAY. ON Tuesday evening, 30th September, the public of this neighbourhood enjoyed a great treat in the British-school. The Rev. T. Mills, of Wolverhampton, delivered his lecture on the "Creation." Selections from Haydn's oratorio were sung by an efficient choir, vocal and instrumental. The lecturer first spoke for about twenty minutes, when the choir took its turn for about the same time; and this alternation of eloquence and music, of instruction and harmony, was repeated again and again, until three delightful hours had passed. At the close thanks were voted to the leoturer, the choir, and the chairmanMr. Crutchley. The entire proceeds are to be devoted to the renovation of the chapel.-B. D. P. MALIN BRIDGE, SHEFFIELD NORTH CIRCUIT. A SPECIAL tea-meeting was held on Wednesday, August 27th, in conneetion with the Malin Bridge Society, the object of which was to present Mrs. Brearley (late Miss Walton) with a testimonial of their affection and esteem. Mrs. Brearley had been connected with Malin Bridge nearly three years as organist and member, during which time she secured the esteem of all by her exemplary piety and general Christian deportment. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. G. B. Fox, passed a high eulogium on her sterling moral worth. Other speakers were warm in their appreciation of her Christian character, as well as of her qualifications as a teacher and organist. The presentation (s handsome Geneva watch and guard) was made by Mr. T. W. Ward, who, with much emotion, expressed not only his own personal regret, but that of all the society, at parting with her. The presentation was made, not as a reward, nor as an obligation for her faithful and voluntary services, but simply as an evidence of the esteem in which she was held. Mrs. Brearley warmly thanked the friends for this CHAPEL EFFORTS AT TIPTON. DURING the last twelve months our Tipton friends have been exerting themselves in a most energetic and praiseworthy manner for the good of the trust estate. When we commenced our labours here, the outbuildings of the estate were in a very dilapidated condition; neither was the chapel fit to worship in. It was therefore necessary that efforts should be at once commenced, in order to secure the comfort of the congregation, and remove some formidable difficulties in the way of spiritual prosperity. It was considered advisable, in the first place, to take down the back premises, and rebuild them. This was done at an outlay of about £40, which amount was nearly met at the time by a special effort of the friends. Our attention was next turned to painting and colouring the chapel ; though others were wishful that another should be coupled therewithnamely, the reduction of the chapel debt, which was £1,130. After both objects had been fairly discussed, the friends agreed to get up a bazaar to raise the means. The bazaar was held last June, and succeeded much better than the friends had expected. The following statement shows the patronage with which each stall was favoured: 719 The chapel-the sum of £24 6s. re-opening took place on the 14th of this month, when we were favoured with the services of A. Pilling, Esq., of Bolton, who preached morning and evening, giving great satisfaction to the friends, the writer taking the afternoon service. Also, in the morning of Sunday, September the 21st, our venerable friend, the Rev. T. Allin, of Longton, preached a most excellent and effective sermon from 1 John iv. 10; and the Rev. W. Willan, of Stourbridge, with characteristic zeal and effect, preached in the afternoon and evening. Additional to the fore-mentioned efforts, a soirée was held on Monday, 29th, attended by not fewer than four hundred people. As the provisions were gratuitously supplied by the friends, the proceeds-including a donation of 10s. from Mrs. D. Fletcher, and another from Miss Ellis of 5s.were £20 13s., making a total of £169 19s. 1d. The public meeting was of a very high order, well calculated to stir up the zeal and promote the spiritual welfare of the church. It was presided over by Mr. W. Barlow, of Pensnett, in a very able and efficient manner, and addressed by the Revs. J. Williams, Superintendent of the Wesleyan Tipton circuit; E. H. Davies (Congregationalist); J. Hudston, J. Walsh, J. Shaw, of Birmingham; the writer, and Mr. E. W. Bailey. Miss Dudley presided at the organ, and Mrs. H. Burch delighted the audience with a choice selection of sacred music. The meeting terminated at about nine o'clock, with a vote of thanks to the chairman, when the people retired, apparently glad for an opportunity of thus socially and profitably spending the evening. Having previously stated that the entire amount realized by the several efforts is £169 19s. 1d., it may now be shown how it has been expended: £ Paid off Chapel Debt.............. 100 0 Total ...... ....... 200 00 It will be seen from the above statement that the deficiency of income to meet the expenditure is between £30 and £40. This we hope to realize by special efforts between now and next March, 'so that we may then be able to meet our engagements with the painter, who has kindly engaged to wait till then for a portion of the contract. With these improvements, it is now hoped that the church will unitedly strive for that spiritual advancement by which believers are not only edified and quickened in their own souls, but the outstanding masses drawn under the influence of God's word and Spirit, so that they may be won from their ungodliness, and become children of the living God. I am happy to say that there seems a willingness to work for this, especially among the young men, a noble band of whom God has been pleased to bring into the church, M. COTTON. September 30. LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW CHAPEL AT HUNWICK LANE ENDS, IN THE DURHAM CIRCUIT. FOR Some months past we have had a small, though interesting, cause, in a village known as Hunwick Lane Ends, the centre of a new and increasing colliery population, situate about midway between Bishop Auckland and Willington. During the summer we rented a room, which, though small, was the best to be obtained in the place. Here the ordinary preaching services and a Sunday-school have been held, which has been frequently crowded almost to suffocation; and it appears almost incredible, that as many as seventy children have been gathered into, and taught within, such prescribed limits. Not only have outdoor services been held, but the novel sight of a Sabbath-school taught in a green field has been many a time witnessed. The society, though small, numbers fifteen men and women, of earnest, ardent piety-alive to God, and having a burning zeal for the salvation of souls. Many precious seasons have been held in the inconvenient preaching room. On a Sabbath lately-under the ministry of two of our local preachers, Mr. R. S. Hume and Mr. S. Hacker-that room became the birthplace of five souls, who are now numbered with us as probationers for membership. Under the leadership of an energetic friend-Mr. John Brown-it was resolved to have a chapel; and though generally poor, the necessity for increased accommodation, and a noble spirit of Christian enterprise, prompted the friends to put their shoulders to the work. A piece of freehold ground in the best part of the village was obtained, and a plain and neat chapel built of stone, with windows of obscured glass, and the internal fittings oak-stained, and capable of seating about two hundred persons, will shortly be completed, and be settled on the model deed of the Connexion. The entire cost of the chapel, including land, will be under £250, towards which our generous friend, Joseph Love, Esq., voluntarily offered to give £50, on condition that £100 be raised locally. The offer has been gratefully accepted, the £100 will be raised, and the chapel placed in easy circumstances, and we trust will soon be free from debt. The ceremony of laying the corner-stone took place on the 27th of September last. On the occasion our respected superintendent -the Rev. T. Smith-having commenced the service by announcing the 306th hymn, and prayer being offered, Robinson Ferens, Esq., of Willington Hall, proceeded to lay the stone, which was done in a thorough workmanlike style; after which he delivered a suitable address. The Rev. T. Smith, in a lucid speech, gave the history, polity, doctrines, &c., of the Connexion; and the interesting service concluded with prayer, offered by the Rev. J. Cullin. The out-door service having terminated, was followed by a tea-meeting, held in a large tent provided for the occasion. After justice was done to the excellent provision prepared by the ladies, the tent was transformed into a lecture hall, and a public meeting was held, under the presidency of Mr. T. D. Stephinson, of Willington, when spirited addresses were delivered by Messrs. W. Wain, Harkinson, and W. Wain, jun., and the Rev. J. Cullin. The proceedings of the day have left on the inhabitants generally an impression highly favourable to the talents and zeal of the ministers and leading friends of the Methodist New Connexion. May God use them and the chapel for his glory! T. D. STEPHINSON. Willington, Oct. 14th, 1862. |