the getting-up of the bazaar, and stated that the result had far exceeded his utmost expectations. The two days' receipts amounted in all to £140 9s. 3d. The performances of Mr. Taylor's string band, which was in attendance on both evenings, greatly contributed to the enlivenment of the proceedings, and to the enjoyment of those present. Altogether, the undertaking cannot but be regarded as having been successful in the highest degree, and this success cannot fail to act as a stimulus and encouragement to yet further and more unwearied effort." Since the bazaar was closed the ladies have sold several of the articles that were left, and I have no doubt but that, before the accounts are made up, this effort will produce £150. This we consider a very good beginning, and all the friends in the Connexion, who know Alnwick, will concur with us on this point. The ladies have done their part well, nor can I close without mentioning the names of Mrs. Taylor, of Fleetham, Mrs. Schofield, and Mrs. Luke, of Alnwick, who, though prevented from taking that active part in the bazaar that others did, yet gave substantial proof of their liberality and heartiness in the cause. T. CLOSE.

BETHESDA CHAPEL,

LIVERPOOL.

DEAR SIR,-It will be in the memory of those who take an interest in the prosperity of our Connexion, that a little more than two years since an effort was made to reduce the debt, beautify, and thoroughly repair this place of worship. To what extent this was realized, the Connexion was informed at the time, in an account of the re-opening services. Those of our ministers who have in years gone by laboured amongst us, would have an opportunity of seeing, during the late Conference, the amazingly altered aspect of the interior.

But some of our friends were not satisfied to have any debt remaining on the estate; and our worthy and energetic friend, Mr. C. Ellison, conceived the idea of a 66 Redemption Fund," which would, if carried out, either altogether or nearly extinguish the debt remaining. Accordingly, at the tea-meeting held in connection with the first anniversary after the re-opening, in Sept. 1861, Mr. Ellison explained his scheme; which was, by subscrip

tions for five years, amounting to not less than £100 each year, to be applied exclusively to the reduction of the debt, and paid over to the mortgagee every half year, the debt should be so reduced, as to be at the end of that period at least insignificant. It was

not lost sight of by our excellent friend that this plan would reduce the amount of interest to be paid from the general income £5 each year. For the convenience of the subscribers, it was arranged that the subscriptions should be paid quarterly, unless by those who preferred otherwise. Our friends most generously entered into the matter; and by numerous promises, varying from £10 to £1 each, and even less, engaged to contribute over £150 yearly.

With the last anniversary services, which were held on October 20th and 21st, we have the gratifying results of the first year's subscriptions to the fund. We are very thankful to be able to state that, although we were greatly disappointed in not having the Rev. S. Hulme to preach for us morning and evening on the Sabbath, who could not possibly serve us through severe indisposition, we had a very successful anniversary. Our muchesteemed ministers preached · the Rev. W. Mills in the afternoon, and the Rev. H. Marsden in the morning and evening; and they served us very efficiently, as the interest with which the congregations listened to their discourses testified-the three collections amounting to nearly £24.

-

On the Monday following we had a tea - meeting. J. Robinson, Esq., kindly presided on the occasion. The Revs. E. Heath and J. Shone (who, fortunately for us, were in town visiting their old friends), with the Revs. H. Marsden, T. Close, and T. Masterman, took part in the proceedings. The treasurer steward of the trust estate, Mr. Preston, read the year's current accounts, which demonstrated that in any year of ordinary expenses, and with the present income, even independently of the diminished amount of interest hereafter to be paid from this source, there would be about £40 to go towards reducing the debt. Mr Ellison, the treasurer of the Redemption Fund, read his first year's statement, which showed notwithstanding drawbacks that were anticipated, and a loss by the death of one of our trustees, Mr. J. Bradburn-£140 17s. 7d. had

been paid in, and that the debt on the chapel had been made £130 less by the payment to the mortgagee of that sum, which would reduce the amount of interest to be paid from the current income next year by £6 10s. It transpired, too, during the meeting, that the money resulting from the Ladies' Sewing Meetings, which has been invested in a Building Society for about four years, amounts to £80 or more at present, and is to be applied to the same important object.

The evident advantages of this plan of reducing a debt by a "Redemption Fund," and the ease with which it may be worked, and the thought that no such plan exists elsewhere in the Connexion, are the reasons why this account is sent for insertion in the Magazine, in the hope that it may stimulate others to a similar effort.-I remain, yours truly, H. WILLIAMS.

REDUCTION OF THE DEBT ON SCOTTER CHAPEL.

THORNE CIRCUIT.

AT a Trustee Meeting recently held at Scotter, it was resolved to make an effort, in connection with the anniversary services, to reduce the debt on the Chapel from £272 10s. to £200. The ministers of the circuit and Messrs. W. Hill and R. Eminson were appointed to solicit subscriptions from the members of our own congregation, it being deemed advisable that application should be made to them only. Great credit is due to these brethren for the promptness with which they undertook this business, and the manner in which they have completed it. On Sunday, Oct. 20th, the Rev. J. Graham preached in the morning, and the Rev. D. Round in the afternoon and evening. The congregations were large, and the collections above the expectations of our friends. On Monday last, the trustees met, when it was ascertained that the effort had been successful; the following subscriptions and collections having been received:

£

8. d.

15 0 0

10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 Q

7 10 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

0 10 0 1 19 1 11 0 4

£74 19 5

Arrangements have been made by which it is confidently hoped that the remaining debt, £200, will be gradually reduced, and at no very distant day wholly extinguished.

Thorne, Oct. 8th. J. GRAHAM.

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new

EBENEZER CHAPEL, BRADFORD. REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,-I hasten to furnish you with a brief account of the opening services of our chapel. Early in this year an account was furnished of the necessity imposed upon us to take down our previous house of worship. On the 22nd of January, 1861, the contractors commenced their work of demolition, and on the 6th of March the first stone of the new chapel was laid. The work progressed steadily through the summer, and we were ready to open in October. The chapel is a handsome structure. It is deemed an ornament to that part of the town where it is built, and has received a much larger amount of public attention and approval than is usual in such cases. Indeed, both the exterior and interior have awakened general admiration. The design is by Mr. S. Jackson, architect, of Bradford, and has done him great credit. The contractors were Messrs. Beanland, who have executed the work to great satisfaction. The building is a mixture of the Palladian and Italian styles of architecture. It has cost nearly £2,200. In Bradford and other places there had been collected, previous to the opening, about £880. The opening services, including the tea-party, have raised nearly £160. On the old chapel there was a debt of about £1,000; so that the burden at this moment is pretty nearly £2,100.

This beautiful structure was dedicated to God on Friday, October 25th. The Rev. Dr. Cooke, of London, preached the first sermon in the afternoon, at three o'clock. The text was Isaiah xliii. 10-13. The congregation, which included several town ministers, was excellent, even at that hour, and the masterly discourse was listened to with deep interest. In the evening, at half-past six o'clock, the Rev. P. J. Wright gave a solemn and weighty discourse on Revelation xx. 11. On Lord's day, October 27th, the Rev. Dr. Crofts preached a seasonable sermon on Psalm xliii. 4. In the afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, the Rev. H. Dowson, Baptist minister in Bradford, preached on Galatians vi. 9. The

discourse abounded with sound sense and profitable instruction. And in the evening, at six o'clock, the Rev. Dr. Cooke gave a massive discourse on Genesis i. 26. The chapel was packed and crowded, and hundreds could not get in. On Wednesday, the 30th, we were favoured with the services of the Rev. John Farrow, Secretary to the Wesleyan Conference. His text was Micah vii. 18. His theme was God's mercy; and he was truly as one that hath a pleasant voice, and that can play well on an instrument. The sermon was replete with beautiful thought, and was very tender and powerful. For Lord's-day, Nov. 3rd, the Rev. Samuel Hulme had been announced for morning and night, but he was prevented from coming by severe illness. The Rev. William Mills most kindly relieved us by preaching in the morning, at half-past ten o'clock. His discourse was founded on Luke x. 42, and was one of general acceptability and considerable power. In the afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, John Nelson spoke on Ezekiel xliii. 12 ; and in the evening, at six o'clock, the Rev. J. R. Campbell, M.A., minister of the oldest Independent interest in this town, addressed a full house.

His

theme was the Good Physician. On Monday, the 4th, nearly 500 persons sat down to tea in the spacious schoolroom; after which, a public meeting was held in the chapel, which was well filled. The chair was agreeably occupied by C. Watson, Esq., F.R.S.A., of Halifax, who has kindly given us fifty guineas towards the expenses of our new erection. The speakers were numerous, and were singularly happy in a successful attempt to render the gathering a season of spiritual profit. Thus was brought to an agreeable close a series of as interesting services as is generally held in dedicating a house to God. I am happy to add that, during the nine months which we have been without a chapel, we have not lost ground, either in congregation or in church members; and that we are having a considerable accession to our seat-holders, not less than one-third more than we had in the old chapel. May this winter prove to us a great harvest of souls! God has lately shaken a few at Pudsey, and constrained them to flee to the Refuge. May the wave of salvation pass through us at Bradford! Amen.

JOHN NELSON.

BIRMINGHAM.

THE Birmingham circuit has of late taken several steps in the right direction. The disposal of Oxford-street chapel, the acquisition of the beautiful chapel in Moseley-street, the building of noble schools and lecture-room at Ladywood, and the opening of new preaching places at Balsall-heath, Aston New-town, and Heath-street, have all tended to infuse fresh vigour into the circuit. It gives me pleasure to report that we are now in the midst of an enterprise which will still further advance the interests of the Connexion in Birmingham. On Monday afternoon, October 28, Sir J. Ratcliff, in the presence of a large assembly, performed the interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a new school and chapel at Heath-street, Winson-green. A large population is gathered in this neighbourhood by the erection of large works by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, contractors for the Exhibition building of 1851. Prior to its being missioned by friends connected with Ladywood Society, there was a population of upwards of 6,000 souls entirely destitute of any religious means. Hitherto our friends have occupied a small and inconvenient room in Heath-street, but their numbers having largely increased, they decided to provide school and chapel accommodation. An appeal was made to the Missionary Committee, which met with a promise of £50 towards the project. Thus encouraged, a subscription was commenced, which soon justified the commencement of building. A suitable site was purchased for £50. The building, which will be 42 feet long by 25 feet wide, is intended to serve the double purpose of chapel and schoolroom; it will seat about 200 children; and the total cost, including land, will be about £350. The ceremony of laying the stone was commenced by the Rev. W. Sharman giving out the 306th Hymn. The Rev. W. J. Townsend read the 84th Psalm, and the Rev. W.Butterworth engaged in prayer. A canister, containing a copy of the minutes of the late Conference, the annual missionary report, a preacher's plan of the circuit, a copy of the Birmingham Daily Post, and some current coins of the realm, were placed in a cavity of the stone; and a handsome trowel, made by our esteemed friend Mr. J. Linegar, bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to Sir J. Ratcliff by the Rev. W.Butter

worth, on behalf of the projectors of the building. Sir John laid the stone with the usual formalities, and afterwards delivered a brief address. The Rev. J. Hudston, of Oldbury, then delivered a short address, explanatory of the principles and views of the Connexion. The same evening a teameeting was held in the Cape school, kindly lent for the occasion by Dr. Dunn, M.D., and who has also generously given £2 2s. to the new building. The friends of the circuit and neighbourhood came up in crowds, and upwards of 230 sat down to tea. Mr. Councillor Lees was called upon to preside, and speeches were delivered by the Revs. R. A. Davis, W. Butterworth, W. J. Townsend, W. Sharman, and Messrs. Bradburn, Ball, Hadley, and Lawson. More than £100 has been already contributed towards the building fund.

The first anniversary sermons of Ladywood Chapel were preached on Sunday, Nov. 10, by the Rev. S. Jackson, of Gloucester. The congregations were large, and the collections moderately good. On the Monday evening following, a lecture was delivered in the chapel by Mr. Jackson, on "Kilham, the Luther of Methodism."

For

the Revs. R. C. Turner and J. Nicholas; on the 28th, in Zion Chapel, J. Halcro, Esq., occupying the chair, and the Revs. R. C. Turner, Dr. Bannister, J. Morrison, J. Parker, J. Black, E. Franks, and W. J. Fennell taking part in the meeting; and at Philadelphia, on the 29th, Mr. Armstrong in the chair, assisted by the deputation and the circuit preachers. The services on the Sabbath, and the meetings during the week, were encouragingly attended, and were of a thorough missionary character. The aid afforded by the deputation called forth the wellmerited thanks of the Sunderland meeting. A vote of thanks was also presented to the ladies (who were engaged as collectors) and to the chairman respectively; and the collections there were considerably in advance of last year. W. J. FENNEll.

MISSIONS-LONGTON CIRCUIT. DURING the current week the Longton circuit auxiliary of the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society has held its anniversary services. On Sunday the Revs. J. Maughan, of Bristol, and W. Longbottom, of Hanley, deputation to the circuit, conducted divine worship in the chapels at Longton and Fenton, and the Rev. C. D. Ward preached at Stoke, collections being made at each service for the mission fund. Public meetings were held also on Monday, at Fenton, presided over by the Chief Bailiff; on Tuesday, at Zion Chapel, Longton, under the presidency of Mr. T. Ford, of Hanley; and at Stoke, on Wednesday, with the Rev. C. D. Ward in the chair. On each occasion the Rev. J. Bate read a report of the society's position and prospects, giving ample and encouraging details of its operations in home, colonial, and foreign fields of labour. Pertinent and powerful speeches were delivered by the deputation, with the addition of the Rev. J. Medicraft at Longton, and of the Rev. C. D. Ward at Fenton. The attendance at cach service was of an improved character, and the financial results exceed those of former years, despite the depression of trade in the district.