and was a child of God through faith in Christ. Our dear friend had, during the course of her Christian pilgrimage, much personal and family affliction. Yet her faith stood in the power of God. She was enabled to realize the Divine presence; therefore was not burnt by the fire or overwhelmed by the waters, but was enabled in patience to possess her soul, and rejoice even in tribulation. For the last two or three years, on account of a poor state of health, and residing at a greater distance from the chapel, Mrs. Webster was not able to associate with her friends in Christ as formerly, yet she was enabled to keep up her intercourse with heaven, and enjoyed fellowship with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Her last affliction was short, yet she was not taken by surprise; the blessedness of watching was hers; her mind was remarkably calm, it was perfect peace. A few hours before her death, she spoke with confidence and animation of her acceptance with God and her prospects of glory, and died after an illness of two days, January 19th, aged 62 years. Leeds.

Č. J. DONALD.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR, of Burslem, departed in the faith of Christ, January

13th, in the eighty-eighth year of her age. She had been a member of our community fifty-five years. She was a native of Scotland, and a steady attendant on the various means of grace. She has been heard to say that she never deliberately neglected her class meeting, and that she frequently plodded through the snow to it. She told some of our friends that she longed much for death, and that she had a blooming hope of heaven. It was cheering to see so old a disciple strong in faith, and ripe for her heavenly home. A. LYNN.

BURSLEM CIRCUIT.-Thomas Massey, Esq., died December 17th, 1857, aged seventy-six, relying on the precious atonement of Jesus. He had been a member nearly forty years. He was a trustee of our Burslem chapel, and a cheerful supporter of the cause of God. Previous to his nervous affection, he was remarkably punctual in attending the means of grace, and he filled offices in the church with prudence and punctuality. He was a peaceful, retiring follower of the blessed Saviour, and has now doubtless obtained the end of his faith-the salvation of his soul. His last moments were very peaceful. A. LYNN.

AGAIN are we called to drop a tear over departed worth. In our last number it was our painful duty to record the death of several very excellent lay friends; some suddenly snatched away from domestic bliss, cheering prospects, and a sphere of usefulness; and others whose labours and consistent piety for more than half a century had placed them among the venerable fathers of our body, were called away ripe and ready for their glorious exit. We mourn their departure; we feel as if the loss of each friend made the earth more desolate, more like a wilderness to us who are left behind. This month the unsparing foe has invaded the ranks of our ministry, and laid low two of our beloved standard bearers, the venerable William Jones, and the meek and

gentle-spirited Thomas Ridge-the one hoary with age, and the other in the palmy period of the ministerial life, but both greatly beloved and esteemed for their Christian excellences. May Jehovah soothe the bereaved widows and their families, afford them rich consolation, and sanctify the admonitory events to us all-stimulating each to diligence and zealous labour, till the Lord shall call us hence.

Our Connexional intelligence for this month is not very abundant, but we rejoice to know that in some circuits the work of God is advancing. The gracious work at Stourbridge will gladden every heart, and greatly encourage the devoted brother who has been labouring there with deep anxiety and excessive toil ever since his appointment. At

My dear Sir, I doubt not you will rejoice to hear that the Lord is still with us, and blessing and prospering us at Yarmouth. Praise his precious name. Our congregations and numbers in the church continue to increase. I think I told you in my last that we had let forty-six fresh sittings this quarter. I have had quite a run for hymn books; but what is more glorious, last Sunday week we had ten penitents crying for mercy, and eight or ten more at the communion rails last Sunday night. "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." We have near a chapel full of people in the afternoon.

I am, yours affectionately,
WM. PACEY.

At St. John's, in the Lynn circuit, and in some parts of the Bradford circuit, a good work is going on. In the two London circuits there is a gradual improvement. At Brighouse and Elland, in the Halifax South circuit, many souls have been brought under a gracious influence; and in Halifax North circuit our friends have just opened a Sabbath school, which, for magnitude and accommodation, is an honour to themselves and to the Connexion. We have no doubt it will prove a great blessing to the neighbourhood, and an important auxiliary to the church worshipping at Salem. From Bristol, Huddersfield, Bilston, and Ripon circuits we have also cheering news. O that the Holy Spirit may be abundantly poured out in every part of the Connexion!

UNOSTENTATIOUS BENEVOLENCE. A few weeks ago a note came to our hand from a friend, inclosing five pounds, to be applied to the relief of our poor members in the Bradford circuit. We wish such gifts were more frequent. They would greatly facilitate the visits of our ministers to the dwellings of the pious and uncomplaining poor. A minister's resources are but scanty, and it is hard work to visit families in distress and have nothing wherewith to relieve them. This should

not be. Those who, in the good providence of God, are furnished with ample means, should help our poor members in the hour of pinching poverty and deep distress; and if they have not time to distribute their own alms, our ministers would gladly be the dispensers of their bounty. We give the letter below.

Dear Sir,-If you would not think it too much trouble I should feel obliged if you will undertake to hand £5 to the Rev. James Candelet, for distribution among the poor members of the several congregations in the Bradford circuit, during the pastoral visitations of himself and his respected colleague. The only condition I wish to make is, that you keep my name perfectly secret and confidential.

For some years past it has pleased my heavenly Father to call upon me to pass through heavy tribulation, loss of health, loss of property, &c., but, blessed be his name, not loss of peace of mind; and now, seeing he has tried me—(he has, indeed, brought me out of the furnace, I trust, somewhat purified)— blessing me in my business, prospering the work of my hands, and is restoring me to moderate health, I desire at once, although at some little sacrifice, to offer a trifle on his altar, as a portion of "first fruits," I trust, the love of Christ constraining me. I remain, dear Sir, Yours very truly, A FRIEND.

Jan. 30th, 1858.

A NECESSARY HINT.-The time is now approaching when our ministers will have to make their call on friends for their annual contributions to our several Connexional funds. We know, from experience, this is a time of both great anxiety and labour. We hope our friends will, as far as possible, kindly facilitate this task, by meeting the appliIcation with a bland smile and a generous response. A gloomy, repulsive look at such a time renders the burden ten times heavier, and putting off the contribution to a later period increases the labour of the minister, and often hinders him from completing his preparations for the Conference in time to fill up his schedules for the district meetings. It is true that the times have been try

ing, but our contributions to the cause of God should be the last to suffer curtailment. Our rules require that the lay delegates to the last Conference should assist our ministers in this duty. It would, however, lighten the burden of both, if our friends could send their contributions; but if this be not done, a second application should be superseded. The funds of the Connexion are the funds of our people, and the labours of the minister in collecting them ought to be highly appreciated as a gratuitous act of kindness, and be rendered as easy and pleasant as possible by the cheerful and generous responses of our friends.

STOURBRIDGE.-My dear Brother,You will be rejoiced to hear good news from Stourbridge. The state of things in the town, as you well know, has been most discouraging for some time. Chapel difficulties and divided sympathies have rendered it no very pleasant task for a minister to prosecute his labours; and some, who have preceded me, have left the circuit with a burdened heart, under the apprehension that they had laboured in vain, and spent their strength for nought. But, praised be the Lord! some of these discouraging circumstances are happily removed, and we have a strong conviction that Stourbridge will yet rise, and become prosperous as a circuit.

Part of the good news which I have to tell is in relation to the improved state of our chapel trust. Some of your readers will be aware that our chapel at Stourbridge was built by shareholders. Several persons in the town sympathizing with the liberal principles embodied in our system of ecclesiastical polity, and anxious to establish our Connexion in Stourbridge, built a plain but neat and commodious chapel, investing sums of money for the purpose in the form of £5 shares; with the understanding that not more than five per cent. interest should be paid for the money thus invested. For the first two or three years the income from seat rents, school, and other sources, enabled the trustees to meet the payment of interest; but subsequently, by the occurrence of untoward circumstances, many who were once so warm in their attachment, and so zealous in promoting the

interests of the cause, became disaffected, and, as a consequence, shareholders had to sustain loss, and others who remained were much disheartened. I am happy, however, in being able to inform you that our chapel is now placed on a different basis. The chapel committee having been informed of the state of affairs, generously offered to grant £300, on condition of the debt being reduced £1000. That offer, I am happy to say, has been accepted. And instead of a debt of £1450 resting on the premises, paralyzing exertion, and exciting apprehension that the chapel must inevitably be sold, and the few stanch friends that remained scattered in different directions, the property is now settled on a new trust, with a debt only of £450. The deed of conveyance was prepared under the inspection of the esteemed secretary of the chapel committee, the Rev. W. Ford.

The case of Stourbridge chapel, and one or two others with which I am acquainted, have fully satisfied me that the share system, however it may answer in other enterprises, in the erection of places for religious worship is neither the most profitable investment pecuniarily to the parties concerned, nor the most desirable course to be adopted in order to answer the great end contemplated, namely, the furtherance of the gospel. The worthy men who invested their money in the erection of Stourbridge chapel did so from the best of motives. But the fact that during the last sixteen years they have lost simply in interest of money not less than £700, and, in addition to this, in order to meet the offer of the chapel committee, and thus to place the property on the trusts of the Connexion, have resigned claim to one half of the principle, will make them pause ere they venture upon another such investment. So much then for the improved state of our chapel trust.

But I have yet better news to tell, Mr. Editor. Since the commencement of the present year, I am happy to say we have had cheering indications of spiritual improvement. A few who have attended our ministry for years have begun to think more seriously respecting their spiritual condition, and have, I believe, first given their hearts to the Lord, and then to the church. But the 31st of last month (January) was a day long to be remembered. To meet the heavy and unavoidable legal expenses incurred by the transfer and

settlement of the chapel, we had secured the services of an old friend, the Rev. W. Wilshaw, to preach two sermons at our Ebenezer; and not only had we encouraging collections of money, but, best of all, a goodly number of hopeful conversions. O, sir, it would have rejoiced your heart to be there. There could not have been less than 150 at the prayer meeting—and such a scene! husbands were there praying for their wives, and wives were there praying for their husbands; children were there praying for parents, and parents were praying for children. Those who have been connected with our chapel ever since its erection, state that in their most prosperous days, they never witnessed anything so exciting and glorious as the scenes which they witnessed that evening. At the close of the prayer meeting, seventeen individuals retired into the vestry and recorded their names as having obtained peace with God. "All glory be to the Lord Most High!" And this delightful work, allow me to add, Mr. Editor, has been going on ever since. On the Monday following, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was one of the largest prayer meetings we have had for years, and several were in a penitent state. On the Tuesday evening, having just commenced cottage preaching at Old Stoinford, Mr. Dykes took with him a band of praying men, and some were there seeking the Lord. On the Wednesday following, a fellowship meeting was held in the schoolroom, when two others found peace. On the following Sabbath, eleven others recorded their names as having obtained spiritual good. And thus, sir, is the work progressing. Our prayer is that the work may continue to spread till every part of the circuit

"Catch the flame,

And all partake the glorious bliss."

I may also add, that for the last four months or more we have had a steady improvement at Brettal-lane. Several who, by total abstinence, have been rescued from habits of dissipation, have happily yielded also to other and higher influences, and have given themselves to our little church. And, sir, it is delightful now to visit Brettal-lane. Where a few months ago we had a congregation of only some five or six on a week evening, we have now a regular congregation averaging from twentyfive to thirty persons. A new class has

ST. JOHN, LYNN CIRCUIT.-The wise man says, "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." We have a striking_illustration of this in the case of Jacob, when informed that his son Joseph was "yet alive," for whom he had mourned about twenty-two years. When Joseph's brethren told their father "all the words of Joseph which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived; and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." If the intelligence of Joseph being "yet alive" was so reviving to the aged patriarch, surely the tidings of sinners, who were dead in trespasses and sins, being quickened into spiritual life, must prove very animating to every Christian, however distant his location from the scene of this spiritual resurrection. With this impression, and at the request of my esteemed superintendent, the Rev. D. Sheldon, I hasten to furnish your widely-spread readers, Mr. Editor, with the following gratifying facts:

St. John is the name of a village situated about six miles from Lynn. A few years ago, Methodism in this parish was almost defunct, and the Wesleyan chapel was closed. Our people, however, were induced to put the name of the place on the plan, and preaching was commenced in a cottage. At length the old chapel was procured at a yearly rental, and the congregations slightly improved. For some time the cause continued very low, and the place was designated "Greenland," as descriptive of its cold, lifeless state. However, through the instrumentality of the Rev. C. Bootman, who was then labouring in the circuit, Mr. Joseph Stockdale, an extensive farmer, was brought to a knowledge of the truth, and joined the society, his excellent wife having pre

viously done so, and thus things began to assume a more cheering aspect. The cause now advanced slowly, but surely. Shortly, two more respectable farmers, namely, Messrs. James Johnson and Richard Humphrey, with their wives, cast in their lot, and added strength and stability to the rising interest. The Lord put it into the hearts of these friends to establish a day school for the instruction of their farm labourers' children and others; accordingly, they set about the good work. Mr. Johnson's father built a commodious school-room, and a master was secured at a respectable stipend. This school-room also serves for a Sabbath school, which is in a flourishing condition. These additions and improvements took place under the superintendency of the Rev. T. Smith, and when the present ministers came into the circuit they found that the society at St. John consisted of eighteen members.

No material improvement took place till the 7th of October last, that being the fast day, on account of the war in India, when the writer of this preached at St. John in the morning, and also on the following Sabbath, afternoon and evening. The congregations were unusually good, and in the prayer meeting, after the last-mentioned service, two young men found peace with God. One of these, a most dissolute character, was impressed on the fast day, and resolved to lead a new life. The good work thus begun has continued to the present time. It has spread among masters and servants, young and old, a great many have been saved, and the society now numbers about fifty members. Praise God! "This is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes." Mr. G. Fysh, local preacher, and master of the day school, has been assiduous in his efforts to carry on this glorious movement. He has become leader of a new class, and his estimable partner, in connection with Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Stockdale, conduct another, which consists of females only. Three weeks of special services have just been held, with pleasing results. The following brethren officiated, and rendered eminent service:-Messrs. Hardy, William, Johnson, Creak, and two or three in the immediate neighbourhood. The writer also preached four successive evenings. Many hearts were smitten, many tears were shed, many cries were beard, and some penitents

found "the pearl of great price." A gallery has been erected in St. John's Chapel, solely at the expense of Mr. J. Stockdale. Every sitting is let

both above and below. On the Sabbath the place is crowded with anxious hearers.

At Runcton a few conversions have recently taken place. At Bircham a week's special services have been held, and about six souls brought into the church. At St. German and at Pentney similar efforts are now being made. In Lynn the arm of the Lord has been made bare in the conversion of sinners. On the 24th of last month, three penitents came to the penitent form, and six found the Lord. Our congregations are good, and some of our classes are well attended. It would give me great pleasure, Mr. Editor, to be able to state that all our societies in this extensive circuit are as active and prosperous as those mentioned above. Some of them, I regret to say, are very low. Deaths and removals have thinned their ranks; but we are praying, believing, labouring for better days.

I may just add, in conclusion, that in November last we held a course of missionary meetings, and were assisted by the Revs. T. G. Robey and T. Rudge. We had good meetings, and realized an increase for the missionary exchequer at all the country places. At St. John, £7 were raised, being more than three times the amount of the preceding year.

JAMES WHITE.
Lynn, February 4th, 1858.

REVIVAL AT HORSFORTH, BRADFORD CIRCUIT.-Horsforth has long been a barren spot in the Bradford circuit. It has pleased the Head of the Church to hear the prayers and crown the exertions of a faithful few, whose steadfast adherence to duty is beyond all praise. Through a series of special services the Divine favour has been graciously manifested, and about fifty souls have been hopefully "added to the Lord." Many of these are married people, or persons arrived at mature years; the remainder being_young people in connection with our Sunday school. So prosperous has the Horsforth society become by this glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that the members, both new and old, felt impelled by a sense of gratitude to show their affection to the Rev. F.