Correspondence-Contributions Received. tian kindness, that far beyond its money value, has carried joy to many desolate hearts and homes. The 'blessed God' must have beheld it with delight. The one hundred pounds a week, that I said was needed has been sent. This amount will be required, I do hope, but a little longer. As we are fully sensible of the sacrifices our brethren have to make to raise that sum, and the unavoidable hindrances it throws in the way of their churches, and of some of our important institutions, we will not receive a fraction more than is absolutely necessary for the present distress; and as trustees for the suffering poor, it shall still be our anxious concern to alleviate the largest amount of sorrow with the sums placed in our hands. Yours truly, RICHARD HORSFIELD, Newton Grove, Leeds, P.S.-I have received a kind letter this morning from S. Pewtress, Esq., Secretary, of Camden-road chapel Committee, enclosing cheque for £14 12s. As Camden chapel, under the pastorate of the Rev. F. Tucker, is connected with the other section of Baptists, this handsome expression of fraternal sympathy is very grateful. Nottingham, J. Heard, Esq., ... ... ... 23 £ s. d. 14 5 0 1 0 0 7 5 9 four remittances £10 each. 40 0 0 Boughton, per Mr. Robinson 1 10 0 Berkhampstead, Rev. J. Lawton, Congregation £13 11s. 6d. Hitchin, R. Johnson, Esq. School 13s. 6d. M.C.E., Wisbech post mark... 0 10 0 Queenshead, per Rev. R Hardy 3 12 9 Halifax, per Mr. Wilson Northallaton,per Mr Stubbings 0 8 Nottingham, (Stoney-street,) per Rev, H. Hunter Nottingham, (Mansfield-road,) per W. H. Booker, Esq. 23 6 0 Knipton, per Rev. R. Pike 350 Colwell, Isle of Wight, per 15 0 0 20 13 3 0 0 Mr. Robins 1 10 0 Audlem, per Mr. Thursfield Louth, per Rev. W. Orton 4 0 London, (Commercial - road,) per Rev. T. Goadby, Congregation £10 17s. School £2 6s. 1d. Barton, per Rev. E. Bott London, Miss Germain Gosberton, per Rev. A. Jones, Congregation £2 78. 7d, School 12s. 7d. Received in a dress in a package of clothing ... ... Long Sutton, per Mrs. CartSutton St. James' School, per wright Mr. Musk Clayton, per Rev. W, Salter ... Coalville, per Mr. Cholerton Whitwick, per Mr. Cholerton Great Yarmouth, per Rev. J. F. Winks 2 10 6 325 302 0 12 0 240 078 2 68 4 15 0 1 12 0 1 1 0 Loughborough, (Wood - gate Tarporley, per Mr. Dickenson 1 10 0 £113s 4d. £115s. 5d. £13s. 8d. 4 12 5 Loughborough. (Baxter-gate,) per Mr. E. Stevenson, jun., £1 9s. 7d., £1 19s. 11d., £1 15s. 6d., and School 58. 5 10 0 Rothley, per E. Stevenson jun. 100 Birmingham, per G. Cheatlejun. Congregation £16 88. 4d., ... 50 0 0 Leeds Byron-street chapel 20 17 6 per Mr. Holmes, £7, £7 5s. 14 5 0 ... 20 14 6 7 11 6 7 17 9 £ 8. d. Norwich, per Rev. H.Wilkinson 5 10 0 Peterborough, per Rev. T. Barrass, £7 2s. 4d, £1 2s.. 8 4 4 The Committee have also received a number of packages of clothing, &c., as well as some provisions, most of which have been assorted Melbourne, per J. Earp, Esq. 8 10 0 and sent. The rest will follow this Leicester, (Dover-street,) per Rev. J.J. Goadby, £4 12s. 3d. week. 6 12 3 ... G. T. WOODSON, Treasurer. J. C. Pike, £2 7s., £2 1s. Holbeach, Rev. F. Chamberlain 610 6 Barrow-on-Soar, per Mr. Gray 1 0 0 Mr. Baldwin 1 0 0 Long Whatton, per Mr. Draper 1 18 0 Lyndhurst, per Rev. R.Compton 2 10 per Mr. Short Market Harborough, per Rev. FOR THE DISTRESSED. To the Editor of the General Baptist DEAR SIR,-I was obliged by your inserting my last note, and am glad to tell you, that it has brought to our ladies' meeting a large amount of really hard work; made delightful to us, however, by the consciousness that we were affording relief to many distressed followers of the Lord Jesus. In the list below, we have great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of a large number of bales, hampers, boxes, barrels, and packages, representing many thousand valuable and useful articles that have passed through our hands, and are now being worn by hundreds of sufferers. In Mr. Horsfield's last visit, he found that many of the poor children could not go to their beloved Sunday-school for want of shoes and clothes, and that many do go in apparel too bad for decency. Womens underclothing, flannel, and Grantham, Stamps 2s. 7d., 2s.3d. 0 4 10 childrens clothes, are needed to a Seven Oaks, Miss Felkin Broughton, per Mr. Underwood 2 3 0 ... 1 8 6 439 18 10 Amount previously advertised 155 0 1 £594 18 11 Correspondence-Cotton District Distress. Clothing, &c., received up to 19th December, from Derby, St. Mary's Gate, per Mrs. Stevenson. Osmaston Road, Rev. W. Jones. Peterborough, Rev. T. Barrass. Wisbech, R. Wherry, Esq. 25 | that if all our distant friends knew, as we know, the agonizing scenes which abound around us none could then be apathetic. All would feel it their duty to alleviate this unlooked-for and spreading distress, as far as each congregation can, and as every individual is able. The utmost liberality is sure to fall short - far short of our pressing requirements. It is pain Derby, Osmaston Road, Mr. F. ful to consider that we represent Earp. Downham, Mrs. Mawby. localities in which hundreds of sufferers are Christian people,_and one with ourselves as General Baptists. By the kind sympathy and aid already afforded many have been soothed amidst their sorrows, and we know that the poor recipients are truly grateful. We trust that our Denomination will more than ever emulate the praiseworthy doings of other religious bodies in money, clothing, bed covering, provisions, &c. The insuring of sufficient supplies for steady relief, through the Committee appointed at the Leeds Conference, we now earnestly urge and recommend. RICHARD INGHAM, Todmorden Vale. O. HARGREAVES, Burnley Lane. JAMES MADEN, Gambleside. Holbeach, Rev. J. Cotton. Measham, Mrs. Orgill. Hose, Messrs. Stevenson and JOHN LORD, Mantle. Deacons, JOHN MITCHELL, S Todmorden. In all making sixty-eight Con- JOHN HEAP, Deacons, signments. THOMAS PRIEST, Stalybridge. receivers in numerous letters, we are much pleased and encouraged. But some of our worthy correspondents are rather too exacting. Questions and particulars not decidedly important we cannot attend to. We cannot be always writing, nor must we dip into the fund to pay helpers. We have to fag ourselves, in addition to other duties and engagements; duties and engagements which, of themselves, are heavy enough for ordinary mortals. We are anxious to act as judiciously and impartially as we possibly can; and we hope that at last our account will be rendered without any grief to either you or ourselves. The alacrity to relieve distress evinced by so many of our Midland friends deserves commendation, and must be pleasing to our Lord. And as to the poor recipients, we are glad to say that all is very satisfactory as regards religion. By their pious resignation and fortitude, the ministers and others are daily and deeply affected. Every one's testimony is, "Who can think without admiring? The exemplifications of deep-toned personal piety, in strange alliance with hunger and wretchedness, are really surprising. None but Christian heroes and heroines can suffer thus. The fine gold of precious faith is not concealed by their roughness and simplicity. We know and rejoice that priceless nuggets are there, and that He who as a refiner sits, knows better than we do how His work should be performed. 'Blind unbelief is sure to err, God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.' But again let me advert to their present sad temporal plight. The woes of their pinched, hungered, destitute condition, who can tell? How unlike their former selves. Think of them as they were. Look at them now. Mothers! mothers! men don't claim to have such sympathies as you. Whilst you pity the distressed parents, you'll feelacutely for their little ones; they clamour for bread, and you will not withhold it from them. Remember that when your utmost is done, you'll only partially alleviate parental pangs. Sabbath School Superintendents! you, if you will, can lend a helping hand. I, like some of you, am a veteran, and know your power. A number of the Midland schools have done nobly already, and will yet do more. Why not every one? State and reiterate to your classes the affecting fact, that a large proportion of our poor sufferers are Sunday School teachers and scholars, such as themselves. While other communions of God's people are doing asthey ought, are we to be less sympathetic? Are we to be less self-denying? Are we to be less energetical than they? G. T. WOODSON, 10, Francis-street, Leeds. 19th December, 1862. Treasurer. Correspondence-Letter from Rev. T. Gill, Shore. this district, and find myself in the midst of such distress as I never before witnessed, will you oblige me with a small space for a few words concerning it. 27 Eight tract tears from stones. In our own church and congregation every family is injuriously affected by the failure in the cotton supply. The average condition of the sufferers is getting worse weekly. I believe one half of our members need, and if sufficient assistance could be obtained, should have systematic weekly relief. Among these are several families who, on account of technical difficulties and local usuages, can get no help from the parish, nor from local Relief Committees. These, therefore, who are among the most respected and deserving, depend for help entirely on Christian friends in London, Lincolnshire, the Midland Counties, and other parts of the Connexion. Many thanks to the indefatigable Secretary of the Leeds General Baptist Relief Committee,' Rev. R. Horsfield for his thrilling letter in your last issue, followed by the facts on which it was based. I first read it in silence until my progress was arrested by blinding tears, then tried to read it aloud to members of our domestic circle, and in that effort was repeatedly interrupted by choking emotions. Some may say, that was weak and unmanly,' in reply to which I have only to add, that if they could see what I witness daily, and know what I know, they would change their verdict. The most affecting circumstance connected with Mr. A few of our churches, I learn, Horsfield's letter is its truthfulness, have divided their contributions as corroborated by every well-in-between the Leeds General Bapformed minister and reader in these tist Relief Committee' and the localities. May that timely appeal 'Manchester General Relief Comto their Christian kindness and mittee;' and some have sent all liberality secure a united and well- to the latter fund. But now that sustained response from all the they have more ample information friends in the congregations of the about our fearful state, we may hope favoured districts of the Denomi- the mistake will not be repeated. nation. No pen can adequately The most urgent need in clothing pourtray, and none but God will at present is for under garments, ever know, in its wide extent and such as shirts, stockings, petticoats, peculiar severity, the distress from shoes, &c., or material for these. the midst of which I write. Many But all, and more than all the of the most deserving studiously churches can do, in money, clothing, conceal it, until drawn out by kind &c., is required to meet the case. and pointed questions from sympathizing friends. This applies both to the cupboard and wardrobe. The calm christian heroism with which it is still borne, by many who have been suffering from nine to twelve months, is as surprising as it is praiseworthy. Within six miles of Shore are seven General Baptist churches, containing an aggregate of 1080 members, and 1880 Sabbath scholars -and on the Lord's-day in these congregations, the pale faces and emaciated forms of men, women, and children present an appeal which, to use a figure, might ex Were I in a different position I should say a little about the trying circumstances of the pastors of these suffering churches. I am glad that the Midland Conference has thought of this matter, and kindly appointed suitable brethren to attend to it. May their exertions meet with hearty sympathy and complete success! Permit me, ere I close, to say, after fifteen years of continual intercourse, that there is not in the Connexion a more sincere and earnest 'minister's friend 'than Mr. Earp, of Melbourne. The Midland Conference has appointed him and his respected colleagues to a mission worthy of |