last year of her life, yet it held, as with a giant's grasp, all the great and precious promises which are so well calculated to support the soul in affliction and in prospect of dissolution. I visited her only a few days before her departure, and she said, "God is with me;" and repeated many times the glorious promise, using the very form in which St. Paul puts it in Heb. xiii. 5, "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Her end was peace.

H. O. C.

MR. JOSEPH ROBINSON, grocer, West-gate, Huddersfield, departed this life, very unexpectedly to his family and to his numerous friends, November 8th, 1858, aged fifty-three years. He had been unwell for a few weeks, and we all thought that he was recovering, but on the Wednesday he was taken worse, on the Sabbath following he was alarmingly ill, and on the Monday evening, November 8th, he expired. His illness was such that little conversation could be held with him after the Wednesday. But when his dear partner said to him, "Father, is Jesus precious?" He replied, "Oh yes." He was pre-eminently a just man; and to him might, with the greatest propriety, be addressed the words of the Psalmist, "The memory of the just is blessed." For more than thirty years he has been connected with our Sabbath school in High-street, His devotion to the interests of the school were so great that his loss can scarcely be repaired. He was also a trustee of our High-street chapel, and the treasurer to the trust estate, in which office he rendered most essential service. Mr. Robinson ever welcomed the ministers of our body to his house with a smile, or a pleasant word, and ever sought to promote their comfort. For order, punctuality, dispatch, and foresight in every

thing connected either with the trust estate or the Sabbath school, Mr. Robinson was a model man. We have, indeed, lost one, in him, whom we could ill spare; but we murmur not, "because God did it." H. O. C.

MRS. ANN HAIGH, of Huddersfield, departed this life November 11th, 1858, aged fifty-eight years. She had been a member of our society at High-street chapel for upwards of twenty years. She ever took an active part in our Dorcas meetings; and when the effort was made to lessen the debt on Highstreet chapel, now nearly two years ago, by the young ladies' sewing meeting, she, with Mrs. Arthington, took the principal burden of management. Her name was unintentionally omitted in the account which my young friend sent to the Magazine of our sale. I am sure he will feel glad to see the omission supplied. Mrs. Haigh was a truly pious woman, but often desponding toward the end of her life in consequence of the diseases which preyed upon her frame, and which terminated in death. She was very active in the teetotal cause; nor was she less active in the cause of the salvation of her fellow-creatures. We have now members among us who were first induced to attend the prayer-meetings, &c., by her kind and warm invitations to lead a new life. We have often seen her in agony when speaking of those who knew not God, or when praying for their conversion. Her husband, and family, and the church were ever upon her heart; for the former she has offered many prayers for their conversion, and for the latter she ceased not to pray that it might prosper. May her prayers be answered! Pleasant, indeed, will it be to me to meet Mrs. Haigh in the realms of bliss.

H. O. C.

THE following statement of the doings of our good friends at Leeds will give pleasure to all who rejoice in the welfare of our Connexional institutions. After the liberality so recently manifested in the building of their magnificent chapel, the generous donations presented in the

subjoined list evince a love for God's cause worthy of the position held by our friends at Leeds, and worthy, too, the example of other parts of the Connexion; and if this example be faithfully followed, our success is certain. We wait with some anxiety to know what our

friends at Hanley, Halifax, Huddersfield, Ashton, London, and other places, will do in this good work; but the effort, to be successful, must be universal, and one circuit must not wait for the stimulus of another, but all must do their duty, and rejoice in the opportunity of doing it. We are sure our friends will read with much delight the opening of the magnificent school at Higher Hurst, also the revival at Hanley, and the good doings at Yarmouth, Hunslet, &c. To God be all the praise!

LEEDS EFFORT FOR THE CHAPEL FUND.-To the Editor,-Dear Sir, -You will, no doubt, be glad to hear that the friends at Leeds have subscribed so handsomely for the special effort to the General Chapel Fund, after the noble effort they recently made at the opening of their new chapel. The subscription list now amounts to upwards of ninety pounds, and we have no doubt but the amount will be upwards of one hundred and twenty pounds when all the friends have been seen. We trust that other circuits will follow the example of Leeds circuit. If so, the liberal subscriptions promised by Messrs.Love and Whittaker will be secured to the Chapel Fund Committee. Our Hunslet friends have arranged to have a tea meeting for the above purpose on the 27th instant, when, we trust, the sum already promised will be very much increased. I shall have much pleasure in communicating the particulars of it at the earliest opportunity. I give you a list of the sums already promised, and remain, yours respectfully,

HENRY DIXON.

14, Park-square, Leeds,
January 15th, 1859.

Messrs. H. and S. Dixon, £20; Messrs. J. G. and T. Heaps, £20; Messrs. Fairburn and Watson, £2 2s.; Mr. Seth Slater, £5; Mr. John Hirst, £1; Mr. W. S. Jones, £1; Mr. Benjamin Butler, £1; Mr. Jas. Mallinson, £1; Mr. James Ward and family, 15s.; Mr. H. B., a friend,

£2; Mr. Thomas Laycock, £3 3s. ; Mr. George Emmott, £1; Mr. J. E. Willey, £1; Mr.Thomas Walker, 10s.; Mr. D. T. Moss, £1; Mr. F. A., a Friend, 10s.; Mr. Thomas Edmondson, £2; Mr. John Ripley, £2; Mr. Thomas Parker, £3: Mr. W. O., a friend, 10s.; Mr. Henry Arnold, £1; Mr. J. K. Darby, £2; Mr. Frederick Evans, £1; Mr. William Walker, £1; Mr. Levi Law, £1: Mr. John Gowing, 10s.; Mr. Benjamin Wainman, £1 1s.; Mr. C. T. Tiffany, £5; Mr. B. Musgrave, £1; Mr. Joseph Steele, £2 10s.; Mr. S. H. Spence, 7s. 6d.; Mr. B. Jeffreys, 5s.; Collected at Woodhouselane chapel, about £8; making a total of £93 3s. 6d.

LEEDS CIRCUIT. THE TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUNSLET CHAPEL.-On Sunday, December 19, sermons were preached by the Rev. T. Griffiths, of Hunslet, and on Sunday, December 26, by the Rev. H. O. Crofts, D.D., of Huddersfield. The collections amounted to the very liberal sum of £100 10s. 3 d. On the three following days the ladies' annual bazaar was held in the large school-room adjoining the chapel, under the patronage and superintendence of the excellent lady of Mr. Alderman Blackburn, efficiently assisted by other ladies of the society, well known as liberal supporters of our cause. The tables were furnished with a great variety of useful and ornamental articles, and a refreshment stall was provided for the accommodation of the friends. The room was also tastefully decorated with evergreens, mottoes, and banners, which gave beauty and liveliness to the whole. The proceeds of the three days amounted to £118 13s. 11d., making a total of £219 4s. 24d., being a considerable advance on the previous year. After the vigorous and successful efforts which have been made by the friends for the last twelve years, the Connexion may reasonably think that the debt on our chapel premises would be nearly extinct. Such would have been the case had they not continued to enlarge and improve the property. During the period of the Rev. J. Maughan's ministry, the school and vestry accommodation was greatly enlarged and improved, at a cost of several hundred pounds; and perhaps, with the exception of our

magnificent premises at Hanley, we have now the most convenient vestries and school-rooms of any I know in our community. The last year only, ending at Christmas, the trustees expended about £570 in painting, repairing, altering, and beautifying the whole premises, and in building a good substantial and convenient house for their minister. So that, while they have paid off a great portion of the debt, they have been improving the establishment. There is only one thing more which can be done, to occupy the whole ground and render the premises complete that is, the enlargement of the chapel to the full extent of the land. When that may take place heaven only knows; but the heavens do rule, and they are ruling. We have had during the last few weeks of the year about forty sinners and backsliders hopefully saved, most of whom have commenced meeting in class. Therefore we cannot tell what may happen in the course of time, and one may venture to hope that our excellent superintendent will have the pleasure of seeing such an event during the period of his administration.

T. G.

NEW SCHOOL AT HIGHER HURST, ASHTON CIRCUIT.-A noble instance of educational generosity and zeal, by one of our own members, it is now our pleasure to record. In the village of Higher Hurst, the New Connexion has existed since the year 1808. The late John Whittaker, Esq., was one of the earliest and truest friends of the Hurst society, and throughout the whole period of his life, he evinced a commendable anxiety for the education of the young, and the social elevation of the people. By his influence, a Sunday School was commenced in the year 1812, and then a Day School in the year 1820, and at his death he left the interest of £100 for the former. The work thus begun has steadily progressed; in number and influence the schools have increased, until at present the Sunday School numbers more than 800 scholars, and more than 200 teachers, and in the Day School there are upwards of 150 scholars, with a master, mistress, and pupil teachers, under government inspection. For some time past increased and improved accommodation has been required; the old school became too small and inconvenient, and thereby the efficiency

of the institution was much impaired. But how could the want be supplied? Whence should spring funds to meet the requirements of the case; to build a school of sufficient dimensions, and in harmony with the chapel? Few of our own friends were prepared to undertake the responsibility, and all but an insuperable difficulty stood in the way, when John Whittaker, Esq., stepped forward, and nobly engaged to build a school entirely at his own expense. On the 10th April, 1857, the foundation was laid by Mr. Whittaker, and during eighteen months the building was gradually reared, until at length the finishing stroke was given, and the time arrived for a formal inauguration. The school occupies a prominent position in the village, being situated opposite the chapel, at the top of a new street from Hurst to Ashton, and in close proximity to all the other principal streets. It is surrounded with a strong stone wall, and massive iron palisading, with two gates in front and two entrance doors at the back. The structure is entirely built of stone, in the most substantial manner; the wall stone being from the neighbourhood of Dunford Bridge, and the dressings of doors, windows, and quoins, from the Saddleworth quarries. The architects have selected the domestic style of the thirteenth century. The general plan consists of a centre room, with transepts and two wings, the gables of which project beyond the line of the main building. The roofs are high, and have been relieved by dormer windows. From the centre of one of the transept roofs a bell turret rises. There are also two ventilating shafts, which thoroughly ventilate the whole building. The centre part, exclusive of the transepts, is 76 feet by 42 feet. There are six class-rooms, two of them 21 feet by 15 feet each, and the other four 15 feet by 12 feet each, all in immediate connection with the schoolroom, and entering therefrom by folding doors. There is a row of columns down the centre of the building, and the roof is partly open, the spandrils of the principals being filled in with tracery. The height is 22 feet. The infant school is entered from a lower level, and has a gallery over for the children, or for adults on special occasions. This gallery opens into the centre part of the general schoolroom by sliding doors. When the folding doors of the class-rooms, and the

sliding doors of the gallery are thrown open, showing the entire length, 106 feet, by 42 feet in the narrowest part, the appearance is very effective. There is also a kitchen and wash-house, in which the girls will be taught cooking, washing, &c., for which ample arrangements are made. The lavatories and hat and cloak rooms are conveniently situated. Large play-grounds are provided for the separate use of both sexes, with the usual conveniences.Cost of the building, &c., independent of land, about £3,500. The architects are Messrs. Haley and Son, of Manchester.

After some hesitation Christmas day was appointed for the opening celebration. A tea and a public meeting upon a large scale was desired, and arrangements were accordingly made for suitable provision, the sale of tickets, the fitting up of the room, and the entertainment of the expected multitude. Many hearts were beating with hope and gladness; young and old, rich and poor, were happily united in desire and effort; and though a pouring rain came down during most of Christmas-day, it had little influence in damping the ardent feelings of teachers, friends, and scholars, or in preventing a social gathering which, for magnitude and order, has not its equal in the history of Hurst. The walls, ceilings, and pillars of the large room, were gaily decorated with rosettes, flags, and banners. "Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might," was tastefully engraven, and affixed to the singers' gallery fronting the platform, the gallery being in the centre on one side, and the platform in the centre on the other side of the room. On each side of the platform were excellent imitations of vases filled with artificial flowers, and on the platform table was an elaborately wrought flower-stand containing a choice selection of natural flowers. The inhabitants of the village looked, spoke, and acted as upon a high festive occasion, while a number of personal friends of Mr. Whittaker's, and a number of the friends of the Connexion from Ashton, Manchester, Stockport, and other places, were present to mingle in the auspicious ceremonial. Not least among these was our esteemed friend John Ridgway, Esq., of Hanley, who had partially recovered from his severe affliction, and whose presence among us was hailed with joy. At half-past four, about 1,150 sat down to

tea, at one time, and in one room, and so excellent were the arrangements that perfect order prevailed, and entire satisfaction was experienced. After

tea the Rev. T. Cartwright commenced the meeting by giving out a hymn, and the Rev. C. Hilbert engaged in prayer. On the motion of Mr. Cartwright, seconded by Mr. S. Ogden, John W. Whittaker, Esq., took the chair, and spoke in the following manner :

:

The Chairman said it gave him great pleasure to meet so many sympathizing friends and strangers, and to greet so many familiar and unfamiliar faces upon that happy and long looked for occasion. Delighted as he felt, however, he must crave their indulgence, as for some time he had not been in the enjoyment of his usual health. He would in the first place most heartily bestow upon all around him, the time-honoured greeting of "A merry Christmas and a happy New Year." His father, as they were doubtless aware, was not a native of the village, but came over from Oldham in 1806, followed by about fifty hands -a large number in those days. Whilst resident in Oldham he had taken an active part in the management of St. Peter's School at that place, and on settling at Hurst he took sittings in the Methodist New Connexion Chapel at Ashton. In 1808, the Rev. Mr. Mallinson, an eloquent minister stationed in the Ashton Circuit, first preached at Hurst, effecting great good and converting many who had, up to that time, loved the ways of sin, and chosen darkness rather than light. Divine service was also frequently performed in the warehouse of the Old Mill, by Wesleyan and other ministers, thus showing how great was the regard his father entertained for his work-people. Those were not peaceable times. When Methodism was first introduced into the village it was difficult to hold prayer meetings or other religious services without being molested, opposed, and annoyed in many ways by the inhabitants. Bitter and rancorous disputes would often occur, threatening breaches of the peace. In 1812 the old chapel was opened by the Rev. Mr. Oakes, and for some time it also served for the purposes of a Sundayschool. Some old garrets were length set apart for the purposes of a school, by his father, who for some time, by his example and liberality, enabled infant Methodism to continue

at

in a flourishing condition. He had worthy and able assistants in his arduous task, in the persons of Mr. John Shaw and Mr. John Raw-names familiar to all; and it was well known that if anything gave his father peculiar pleasure, it was the Sunday-school. He was ever on the watch to promote its success, and was never lacking in encouragement to the managers. (Hear, hear.) In 1828 the school was removed behind the mill, on the site where a shed was at present being erected. In 1835 the foundation stone of the school, which had been occupied up to the present time, was laid by Mr. Whittaker. In 1845, as the village had rapidly increased, there was found a great deficiency in chapel accommodation, and the present chapel was erected to meet that deficiency. It had done so, and was so much appreciated by the inhabitants that it had to be enlarged. The idea of building the school had not been of sudden growth, but had been long maturing, and it was only that evening that it had become a reality, and they had realized the fact of having opened it. He wished it to be distinctly understood by the large assemblage before him, that his motives in erecting that school were pure and disinterested. He had not built it to secure temporary fame, nor even for the benefit exclusively of the present generation; the school would remain as a glorious monument when his family were no more. In doing what he had done he had not exceeded his duty, and even thought he had not done enough; but what had been done would be for the benefit of posterity, and many would be taught and trained within those walls to act a useful part in life. Like young and tender plants, they would receive careful culture in the nursery of the school, then, transplanted to the church, adorn it for awhile, and at the close of their mortal life be removed to glorious mansions in the skies, there to sing the praises of their blessed Redeemer for ever. The question might be asked, "What have you built the school for?" He answered, "For a Sunday-school." As long as the Methodist New Connexion exists as a religious body, so long is the school at its disposal; and at the same time it is to serve the purpose of a dayschool for the village and neighbourhood.-(Applause.) As a day-school it was open to all; from whatever part they might come they would be ac

cepted and received with a welcome.(Continued cheering.) He would place over it a master who would do justice to his scholars, and faithfully discharge his duties. He also had long had an idea of teaching young females the art of cooking within its walls. It was a necessary branch of knowledge, and the idea was too good to be lost sight of. There were many other little matters that had occupied his attention, and when duly matured they would be attended to. He then went on to remark that in taking possession of that school the old school was set at liberty. Could it not be turned to some use? Could not a reading-room, supplied with good papers, be established in it? -(Cheers.) Could not a library, and a free library, too, be connected with that reading-room?-(Loud cheers.) He thought all those plans were feasible ones, and their accomplishment a possible thing. He could wish to see an evening class for the instruction of the youth of the village in the common rudiments of education established in that old school. Those were objects he trusted he and his brother would be able to carry out. In conclusion, he must say that, whilst they had prospered, they had been favoured with a class of hands without their equal in Lancashire. (Applause.) Look at the number of cottages on his left and on his right, built by the hands themselves. Those men did not waste their time and spend their earnings at the public-house. They furnished examples worthy of imitation to their fellowworkmen, whether in Hurst, Ashton, or elsewhere. He trusted that the new building would prove of great benefit to the village, and, if so, he should be amply repaid for any expense he had incurred. (Cheers.)

The meeting was afterwards successively addressed on the subject of education and its relation to the interests of the church and the welfare of the nation, as also on the noble specimen of Christian generosity the erection of such a school presented, by the Revs. H. Piggin, C. Hibbert, J. G. Rogers, B.A., John Ridgway, Esq., Revs. J. Poxon and T. Clifton, and Mr. T. Marsland. The Rev. T. Cartwright moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. J. Coop, and passed with acclamation:-"That this meeting would unite in hearty congratulation and thanks upon the completion and opening of this large and