Intelligence. THE LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE | brethren Mathews, Pike, W. Shar was held at Boston, on Thursday, March 5th, 1863. In the morning, after reading and prayer by the Secretary, brother Orton preached from 2 Cor. iii. 9. In the afternoon written or verbal reports were presented from most of the churches, from which we learned that thirty-seven had been baptized since the last Conference, and that thirteen remained candidates for baptism. The following arrangement was made as to the order in which the ensuing Conferences shall be holden 1863. 1864. Sutterton Spalding March Lincoln Wisbech 1865. Bourne Peterborough Pinchbeck Fleet Whittlesea The case received from Lincoln was deferred till next Conference. Cases from Boston. Resolved 1: That for many reasons, but especially on account of the great distress prevailing in some of the manufacturing districts, we recommend that petitions should be sent from all our congregations in this district to the House of Commons praying for a great reduction in the national expenditure. 2.-That a congratulatory address be presented from this Conference, signed by the Chairman and Secretary, to the Prince of Wales on the occasion of the marriage of his Royal Highness to the Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The next Conference is appointed to be held at March, on Thursday, June 11th. Brother J. C. Jones, M.A., has kindly engaged to preach in the morning. An interesting Home Missionary meeting was held in the evening, when addresses were delivered by man, Cholerton, and the Secretary. N.B. All Home Mission monies for this district should be sent to the Treasurer, R. Wherry, Esq., Wisbech, in time for the next Conference. THOMAS BARRASS, Secretary. COPY OF ADDRESS. 'To his Royal Highness, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, &c., &c. "The loyal and dutiful address of the Protestant Dissenting Ministers and Representatives composing the Conference of General Baptist Churches in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. 'We beg most respectfully to approach your Royal Highness, to present our heartfelt congratulations on the auspicious event of your Royal Highness's marriage with the Princess Alexandra of Denmark. 'We beg to assure your Royal Highness of our loyal attachment to your Person, to that of your August Mother, our most gracious Queen, and to all the Royal Family; and of our fervent prayers that every blessing both temporal and spiritual may rest on your Royal Highness and on all your connexions. We are deeply grateful for the just. and enlightened ideas of civil and religious freedom which have prevailed during the government of your Royal Highness's illustrious ancestors for successive generations. And we ardently pray that your life may long be preserved to uphold the same glorious principles on which the dignity and felicity of rulers, as well as the happiness and prosperity of their subjects, so greatly depend. Signed, on behalf of the Conference, held at Boston, March 5, 1863. Intelligence-Conferences, Baptisms, Anniversaries. THE MIDLAND CONFERENCE will be held at Kegworth, on Easter Tuesday, April 7th, Rev. J. C. Smith, of Leicester, to preach in the morning. Service to commence at a quarter to eleven. THE CHESHIRE CONFERENCE will be held at Wheelock Heath, on Tuesday, the 14th of April next. The Rev. W. Taylor, of Stoke-uponTrent, will preach the morning sermon. BAPTISMS. PETERBOROUGH.-Оn Lord's - day, February 1st, one young man was baptized and received into the church at Peterborough. LINCOLN.-On Lord's-day, February 22nd, six persons were publicly immersed, on a profession of their faith in Jesus Christ, in a portable baptistry in the Corn Exchange, where the church and congregation worship on the Lord's-day. On the following Sabbath were publicly received into the fellowship of the We have special religions services four evenings in the week. Friday evening is set apart for inquirers. These meetings are conducted by Rev. J. Cookson, M.A., whose labours amongst us, and his visiting from house to house have not been in vain. - NORTHALLERTON, Yorkshire. On February 25th, Mr. Stubbings baptized in Brompton chapel, one person on a profession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. W. S. WENDOVER, Bucks.-On Thursday morning, February 26th, we baptized nine believers. The chapel was densely crowded and great solemnity prevailed. On the following Sunday, March 1st, these friends with three others, were received into our fellowship. We have now four other candidates and many hopeful inquirers. SHEEPSHED.-On Sunday morning last, March 22nd, two young friends were baptized by Mr. Lacey, of Loughborough. In the afternoon they were received into the church. The event was one of interest. 149 LOUTH, North-gate.-On Sunday, February 22, two interesting youths received the ordinance of baptism. One the only son of a deacon of the church; and the other, the elder son of the pastor. The angel that redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads. ANNIVERSARIES STALYBRIDGE.-On Lord's day, February 22nd, 1863, two eloquent sermons were preached by the Rev. C. H. Clark, of Halifax, after which collections were made on behalf of our Trust Fund amounting to the sum of £23 5s. LOUTH.-The Annual Missionary services were held here on Sunday, March 1, and following days. The Sabbath services were conducted by an interchange of pulpits. The Rev. W. Orton preaching in the Walker-gate chapel, and the Rev. T. Horsfield at North-gate. The meetings on Monday and Tuesday were attended by Rev. H. Wilkinson, as a deputation of the Society, and were rendered peculiarly interesting by his animated and telling addresses, MISCELLANEOUS. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND A PERSECUTING CHURCH-We are assured by a correspondent that a farm, a few miles from the city of Ely, having come to the hammer, an agent of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners represented to the tenant, who had occupied it for forty years, that if he did not bid against him (the agent) he should not be turned out as long as he lived. He did not bid, but he has now discovered that he must leave; the only reason being that he is a Dissenter, and they are determined that it shall not again be occupied by a Dissenter! A friend writes from a parish in Herefordshire, where a Church-rate is looming in the distance, They have been telling the farmers around that they shall lose their farms if they will vote against the Church.'Liberator. FREDERICK DOUGLASS ON THE LINCOLN PROCLAMATION.-It is objected to the proclamation that it is only an ink-and-paper proclamation. I admit it. The objector might go a step further, and assert that there was a time when this proclamation was only a thought, a sentiment, an idea-a hope of some radical abolitionist for such it truly was. But what of it? The world has never advanced a single inch in the right direction, when the movement could not be traced to some such small beginning. The bill abolishing slavery, and giving freedom to eight hundred thousand people in the West Indies, was a paper bill. The Reform Bill, that broke up the rotten borough system in England, was a paper bill. The Act of Catholic Emancipation was a paper act, and so was the bill repealing the Corn Laws. Greater than all, our own Declaration of Independence was at one time but ink and paper. (Cheering.) The freedom of the American colonies dates from no particular battle during the war. No man can tell upon what particular day we won our national independence. But the birth of our freedom is fixed on the day of the going forth of the Declaration of Independence. In like manner, aftercoming generations will celebrate the first of January as the day which brought liberty and manhood to the American slaves. That this war is to abolish slavery I have no manner of doubt. The process may be long and tedious, but the event will come at last. It is among the undoubted certainties of the future. (Cheering.) It is objected to the proclamation of freedom, that it only abolishes slavery in the rebel States. To me it seems a blunder that slavery was not declared abolished everywhere in the Republic. Slavery everywhere endangers the national cause, and should perish everywhere. (Loud Applause.) But even in this omission of the proclamation, the evil is more seeming than real. When Virginia is a free State, Maryland cannot be a slave State. When Missouri is a free State, Kentucky cannot be a slave State. (Cheers.) Slavery must stand or fall together. Strike it at either extreme, either on the head or on the heel, and it dies. A brick knocked down at either end of the row brings every brick in it to the ground. (Applause.) You have heard the story of the Irishman who paid the price of two spursbut refused to carry away but one; on the ground, as he said, that if he could make one side of his horse go, he would risk the other. (Laughter and cheering.) So I say, if we can strike down slavery in the rebel States, I will risk the downfall of slavery in the border_States. (Cheering.) Speech of Frederick Douglass. Notes of the Mouth. ECCLESIASTICAL. THE mother of the late king Bomba is to be canonized. Would it not be possible, by a little Jesuistry, to make out that Bomba himself was deserving of that honour? Or perhaps his feeble son, the creature of priests, and ex-king, may yet take his place in the Romish catalogue of saints. A very odd kind of pastor certain villagers in Leicestershire have found in Rev. J. R. Redhead, of Thurnby. The Stamford hounds met near the village; some excited villagers rang the Notes of the Month-General. 151 The illuminations on the 10th were universal. Several fatal accidents occurred in London and Manchester through the universe crush in the streets. Seven women lost their lives in the metropolis alone. The want of a sufficient number of police was the chief cause of the accidents. France still busies herself with Mexico. The Gallican court is said to be the most immoral and extravagant of any court in Europe. It is Charles 2nd's over again. The Poles have secured sympathy from all classes in Europe bells without asking the parson, and forced their way into the belfry -the clergyman having locked the door. An action has been brought against them in the Arches' Court, and £30 damages awarded. The poor men had nothing to pay, and are now lodged in Leicester county goal. The vicar of Buxton has refused to bury a young man, the son of the village schoolmaster, because he was not baptized.-A High Church curate in Essex assures the villagers in his neighbourhood that at the last day all frequenters of chapels and conventicles' will stand-Papist and Protestant. In Spain, on the left, and the church-going people will take up their position on the right! Colenso has declined with thanks,' the 'round robin' sent by the bishops, urging him to give up his see. The persecution of Professor Jowett by Drs. Pusey and others, is likely to fall through. GENERAL. THE great event of the month has been the marriage of the Prince of Wales. The arrival of the Princess Alexandra in England, and her 'progress' through London, are not likely very soon to be forgotten. The wedding-day, March 10th, was a general and enthusiastic holiday throughout the country. Even at the coronation of Her Majesty the rejoicings were neither so general nor so hearty. That God may shield the royal pair is the wish of every heart in the British dominions. Beautifully has the Laureate sung in his Welcome,' 'Saxon and Norman and Dane are we, In Switzerland, Belgium, and of course in this country, meetings have been held to express the common sentiment. We regret to find that Langiewicz, the dictator, has been worsted, and is now a prisoner in the hands of the Austrians. Italy during the past winter, while England has been busy collecting money for Lancashire, the natives of the new kingdom have subscribed £100,000 for the relief of the families who have suffered from brigandage. Prussia and her despotic king and ministers are still at open variance. The obstinate monarch is repeating the conduct of our Charles 1st. He must take care the people do not repeat the act of the Parliamentarians. in favour of the release of the A petition Spanish Protestant prisoners, is being extensively signed on the Continent, chiefly in France. It is addressed to the bigoted queen of Spain-Isabella. In a strange fit of economy, the Greeks have recalled their representatives at the But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee, different European courts. At pre Alexandra.' sent no eligible monarch has been found for the classical peninsula. | term of office. If this be true The King of Dahomey has been visited by an English Commodore, with a view of persuading him to give up his inhuman 'grand custom' of massacreing hundreds of human beings on royal birth-days, &c. Commodore Wilmot secured a promise that it should be given up in six months; but no dependence can be placed upon this promise. Even during the Commodore's visit eight men were killed as a little expression of honour. One of the intended victims was fortunate enough to escape to the English ship. The news from America indicates a decided change in the policy of the Northern Democrats. They have agreed to support the Lincoln administration through thick and thin. 'Greenbacks' have consequently risen in value. It is now said that the war will be prosecuted with increasing vigour; and that it is not unlikely, supposing no complete change in the fortune of war occurs, that the struggle will last two years longer, or till the end of Lincoln's there is no hope for Lancashire but by extensive emigration. The distress is still fearful in the cotton districts. The country has been grieved by the recent riots of the Irishry of Stalybridge and Ashton. But for the help of the military, great damage would have been done by the mob. We have no fear that any such scenes will be repeated in other places, except from a corresponding element. It was said, even at the outbreak of the distress, that the only grumblers at the relief were the low Irish. The avowed cause of the disturbance at Stalybridge was the determination of the relief committee to give tickets instead of money. It was found that after the money had been distributed so much drunkenness ensued that the town was every pay-night in an uproar. Some diminution was also suggested and begun in the rate of relief. The rioters have been seeking to stir up the neighbouring towns, but in vain. Marriages and Deaths. MARRIAGES. March 17, at the Baptist Chapel, Sawley, by the Rev. W. Underwood, President of the Chilwell College, Mr. S. A. Bush, Byfield, to Grace, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Parkinson, of Wilsthorpe. No cards. March 26, at Dover-street Chapel, Leicester, by Rev. J. J. Goadby, Mr. William Buskin, farmer, Seagrave Lodge, to Miss Hutchinson, East-street, Leicester. DEATHS. March 11, at Loughborough, Joseph Brewin, for many years an officer of the General Baptist Church, Baxter gate, aged 76. March 18, of consumption, the Rev. Thomas Lovekin, General Baptist minister of Old Basford. March 22, at Torquay, of consumption, William, the eldest son of Mr. W. Stevenson, of Nottingham. Recently, at Pau, in the Pyrenees, Sir James Outram, Indian hero. |