sionary from India, should be in- | vited to become the travelling agent of the Society. In our judgment this last step will yet prove itself to be the wisest recently taken by the committee. We have a certain expectation that it will gradually lead to the extinction of those periodic crises in our funds, as painful to the brethren at home as they are disheartening to the heroic band of missionaries abroad; and that it will issue in the much-needed increase of the annual income of the Orissa Mission. We most heartily bespeak for our brother, wherever he goes, a cordial English and Christian welcome, and a zealous and willing co-operation.

On Tuesday evening, the annual meeting of the Home Mission was held in Mansfield-road chapel, Mr. Alderman Felkin, in the chair. The chapel was densely crowded and the meeting was regarded as every way the best yet held for the Society. Revs. C. Clark, of Halifax; W. Lees, of Walsall; J. Alcorn, of Burnley; and S. Allsop, of Whittlesca; were the speakers.

The annual committee meeting of the Chilwell College was held on Wednesday morning, at nine o'clock, in the Mansfield-road school-room, W. Crofts, Esq., of Wolvey, in the chair. The attendance was large, until the time of the public service, when the numbers were gradually thinned. It has long been felt that some change in the time of holding this committee meeting should be made, not only to afford the ministers who usually attend it an opportunity of being present at the public morning service without the unseemly interruption which their late appearance too commonly creates; but also to secure a fuller and less hurried attention to the increasing claims of our school of the prophets. It has therefore been determined to hold the annual committee meeting of the College next year on Monday evening. From the reports of the examiners in classics, literature, and theology, it appeared that the students had been pursuing their

studies with commendable diligence, and in several cases with marked success. The senior student has already matriculated at the London University, and is intending to prosecute his studies in connection with that University for several sessions. Another student has accepted a call to serve the church at White Friars, Coventry. While there will be only one vacancy at the close of the midsummer recess, there were four applicants for the benefits of the institution. It is gratifying to learn from the treasurer of the College that notwithstanding his fears he is able to report that at the annual audit he had some £30 in hand.

At eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning the first public service was held in Mansfield-road chapel. Rev. J. Clifford, B.A., of Praed-street, London, read the Scriptures and prayed, and Rev. Thomas Watts, of Wisbech, preached from 1 Chron. xxix. 5. Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? The discourse was a practical and earnest discussion of the nature, need, and obligation of personal consecration to God. The audience was very large, and the attention well sustained throughout.

In the afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, the second public service was held in the Stoney-street chapel. Rev. W. Dyson, of Long Sutton, conducted the devotional part of the service, and Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., of London, preached from Romans xii. 4, 5. The topics of this fervid and energetic discourse were, the church as the body of Christ, enshrining His spirit and presence, and working out His purposes; the church in its diversity, and unity; the church holy and catholic.

The most deeply interesting meeting of the Association was held at the close of the sermon—the united celebration by the assembled brethren of the Lord's Supper. To relieve the consciences of some brethren and to keep within the letter of the resolution of the last Association-the church at Broad-street chapel invited to the Lord's table the

brethren from the sister churches. The Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., pastor of Broad-street, and classical and mathematical tutor of the Chilwell College, presided-assisted by Revs. H. Hunter, of Nottingham; and Thomas Stevenson, of Leicester. The chapel was densely packed, the seats, the aisles, and the pulpitstairs; the vestries and the organ recess were equally crowded. Upwards of 1,500 communicants were present. A deep and hallowed feeling pervaded the meeting. Some thought of friends far away in the missionary field, and some of those who through faith and patience now inherit the promises. Many a tear of joy trickled down the cheeks of strong and stalwart men, and all hearts burnt within them. The Redeemer was felt to be not simply a memory but a Presence, His promise a living word-there am I in the midst of them. If such joy is possible on earthwho shall measure the fulness of that joy which the saints shall have above? The service closed with part of the hymn,

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The whole of Thursday was devoted to business. The College report was read and adopted. The treasurer announced that £1,000 was still needed to complete the purchase of the Chilwell property, that some brethren who had made promises two years ago had not yet fulfilled them, and that others had been called away to their reward. The College Bazaar, however, which was held in the Mechanics' Hall, and in which Nottingham abundantly showed its well-known good taste and skillhas yielded with its several days' sales, when all expences are paid, £380. The ladies of the town of Nottingham are deserving of the highest praise for the unwearied zeal with which they laboured to promote the success of this Bazaar.

It was the first instance of such a service. It will certainly not be the last.

The Foreign Missionary meeting was held in the evening, J. Heard, Esq., in the chair. As a report of this meeting will be given in the Observer, we may content ourselves by naming the speakers-Revs. J. J. Goadby, of Leicester; Dr. Burns, of London; H. Wilkinson, of Norwich; T. W. Mathews, of Boston. The proposition to get rid of the debt by inviting the aid of 300 ladies, each of whom was to give or collect £5 by next Christmas, was warmly received, and in a subsequent sitting of the Association, at once adopted. Several ladies have already volunteered their services, and we sincerely hope that those to whom the secretary, Mrs. Wilkinson, has forwarded a circular since the Association, will accede to her request.

patriotism and the soundest policy, still less with Nonconformist principles, either to apply for such grants, or to accept them when offered.' Some dissension was expressed from several of the positions maintained; but the letter was adopted, with a cordial vote of thanks to the writer, and ordered to be printed in the Minutes of the Association.'

In reference to the very kind and fraternal sympathy of the Baptist Lancashire Relief Committee in including the churches of our own Connexion in their distribution of assistance during the past winter, the following resolution was unanimously passed: That this Association has heard with great pleasure of the generous aid afforded by the Baptist Lancashire Relief Committee to the General Baptist churches of Lancashire and Cheshire during the recent severe distress; that it offers

The subject of slavery in the Confederate States of America provoked a warm and interesting discussion, the Revs. T. W. Mathews, T. Goadby, J. F. Winks, J. B. Pike, S. Allsop, and others taking part. Afterwards the following resolution was agreed to:

1. That it is with grief and indignation this Association has learned that ministers of religion of various denominations, including Baptists, in the Southern States of North America, have issued a manifesto appealing for sympathy to all Christians throughout the world, in their maintenance of slavery. That this Association do, in the most emphatic manner, record their protest against this most unjust and impious principle.

2. That, in view of Mr. Roebuck's motion to be presented to the House of Commons on the 30th | of this month, for the recognition by this country of the slaveholding Confederacy, it is the duty of this Association to aid the expression of public opinion, by petitioning the honourable House against such proposal.

"That the following petition, therefore, be signed on behalf of this Association by its chairman and secretary, and be forwarded for presentation:

"The petition of the Association of General Baptist churches, assembled from various parts of the kingdom at their annual meeting, held at Nottingham, June 25, 1863,

"Humbly sheweth,

"That your petitioners highly approve of the conduct of Her Majesty's Goverment, in hitherto declining intervention in the present quarrel in America; and entreat

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And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.""

A right loyal and dutiful address of congratulation to the Prince of Wales on his auspicious marriage was also adopted. G. Stevenson, Esq., Solicitor, of Leicester, gave some valuable suggestions in regard to chapel deeds, and their registry, and advised caution in adopting the provisions of Sir Morton Peto's Act. The claims and stability of the National Society for the support of Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers were advocated by Rev. B. C. Young, a deputation, and were ably supported in a lucid speech by Rev. James Martin, B.A., of Nottingham, one of the committee. An address from the Temperance Societies of Notting ham was ordered to lie on the table.

Of purely denominational business the most important of Thursday afternoon's sitting was the proposal to publish by subscription a series of volumes containing selections from the writings of General Baptist authors of the past and the present centuries. The committee appointed to consider the subject made the following report:

'After considering various sugges tions the committee recommend-1. That the series of volumes be published by subscription on the responsibility of the Association or its committee, and that the price do not exceed 3s. 6d. per volume. 2. That the series be completed not later than 1870, the hundredth anniversary of the

denomination. 3. That it be called the "Centenary Memorial Library." 4. That the volumes be assigned as follows:-One to the early General Baptists; one to the Taylors; one to the Deacons, their contemporaries, and immediate successors, including the names of Freeston, Felkin, Orton, Pickering, &c.; one to Mr. Pike and the early mission