Poetry-Be Just and Fear Not. bility, or impartiality, or some other | ness. On the other hand, there is a positiveness of character not unfrequently mistaken for hardness, selfishness, arrogance, querulous 345 All The positive man has a purpose in life, and in all questions of great interest firmly plants himself on one side or the other, and will make himself unmistakably felt, whether the decision be for him or against his cherished view. matters of public interest engage his best powers, and find him either an earnest advocate or an active persistent opponent. Men will call him hard names, and some will heartily hate him. But then he is a force in the world, and all there is of science, art, education, government, is attributable to him. While he lives he is the only useful element in society; and after his death, even his enemies will rejoice at his virtues, and vie with his friends in their efforts to perpetuate his memory among men. Correspondence. CHILWELL COLLEGE. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR BROTHER,-Please to admit the following intelligence respecting the next session at the College. The session will be opened by a public service on September 8th. Our venerable and valuable friend Mr. Heard will preside. An essay will be read by Mr. Greenwood, (who has just passed his first examination for B.A.) The students will be addressed by the Rev. C. Clemance, and the visitors by the Rev. S. Cox, of Nottingham. As many of the bazaar goods remain unsold they will be exposed for sale on the College premises in the afternoon of the day. Tea will be on the tables at five o'clock. The attendance of friends near and distant will be gratifying to Yours truly, W. UNDERWOOD. THE REMOVAL OF MINISTERS. To the Editor of the General Baptist MY DEAR SIR,-Will you kindly allow me through the medium of your Magazine to suggest a plan to the Denomination with a view to obviate what I have long thought to be a difficulty in the removal of ministers? It is a well known fact that there are many churches without pastors, and there are also many pastors BAPTISMS. ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH. who, in their present spheres of labour, are not quite so comfortable as is to be desired, but who feel a delicacy in speaking to anyone on the subject lest their position should be thereby rendered even less useful and agreeable. Having frequently thought over the subject, IÎ have arrived at the conviction that this state of things might be remedied by the appointment of a small committee of very judicious men (say three ministers and two laymen), to whom application might be made, strictly confidential, and their duty would be just to hint to ministers applying, that such a church might be suitable for them, and, to churches, that some suitable ministers were probably removable, and thus put parties into communication with each other. I doubt not the tendency would prevent much of the unpleasant feeling which frequently arises from the too prolonged stay of ministers in a sphere where their usefulness is doubtful. I merely throw out this as a suggestion, and am aware that without care diffi culties might arise; but I feel fully persuaded that if the committee be a judicious one there would be nothing to fear. If some of your correspondents who have wiser heads and larger experience will improve upon this suggestion, so that some plan can be adopted, I feel sanguine that good will result from it. I remain, my dear Sir, Intelligence. Since our last report the following baptisms. have taken place: March 8th, five persons; March 29th, five others; May 17th, five; June 28th, twelve. C. C. ISLEHAM.-On Lord's-day, May 3rd, eight friends were baptized by Anniversaries, Miscellaneous. WALSALL.-On July 26th, fifteen converts were baptized by Mr. W. Lees. LEEDS BAPTIST MISSION TO THE UNCONVERTED. On Lord's day evening, July 26th, ten believers were baptized in South-parade chapel by the Rev. W. Best, B.A. Seven of the candidates were the result of Mr. Stutterd's unceasing toils at Woodhouse Car mission station. ARMLEY.-July 30th, at Armley, near Leeds, another mission station, five females were baptized by the Rev. Jabez Stutterd. Three of the candidates were the daughters and two the granddaughters of a clergyman of the Church of England, now living and labouring as the rector of a large parish near Leeds. W. R. BIRMINGHAM. On the 26th of July, after a sermon by Mr. Harrison, from the words, 'One baptism,' five persons were immersed, and on the following Lord'sday were added to the church. Two of this number were formerly members of a congregational church in this town, and had been led to yield to the command of Christ, as the result of searching the Scriptures in reference to the ordinance. J. S. C. ANNIVERSARIES. FLECKNEY.-On Whit - Tuesday, May 26th, our Sabbath-scholars had their annual treat. In the afternoon they greatly enjoyed a walk with the teachers and other friends to Saddington reservoir, and, on their return, were regaled with plum cake and tea, followed by nuts and sweetmeats. A social party of teachers and friends afterward took tea together. In the evening we had a public meeting in the chapel. Suitable and solemn addresses were delivered by Messrs. | 347 Hedges, Sharman, Riley, and Fidler, of Leicester; and G. Coltman. The devotional exercises were led by B. Gamble and W. Fidler. A few days previously we held an open air service, namely on May 17, when some 200 listened attentively to the gospel message, and tracts were freely distributed. G. C. LONG WHATTON AND BELTON.— On Lord's-day, July 12th, two sermons were preached in the Baptist chapel, Long Whatton, by Mr. W. Richardson, of Nottingham, in behalf of the Sunday-school. On August 2nd, two sermons were preached in our chapel at Belton, by Mr. T. W. Marshall, of Loughborough. The weather was ceedingly fine on both occasions. Congregations good. Collections at Long Whatton, £6 8s. 6d. Collections at Belton, £4 16s. 2d. ex W. W. SMARDEN.-Missionary Services.On Lord's-day, August 9th, Rev. H. Wilkinson preached in behalf of the Foreign Mission. In the evening, a missionary meeting was held instead of a preaching service. The labours of brother W. were highly appreciated and enjoyed, and were accompanied by a gracious influence. Collections, &c., between five and six pounds. The missionary meeting on Sabbath evening was a somewhat novel feature; but we would recommend its adoption by small churches in agricultural districts, where there is a difficulty in gathering a week-evening audience. MISCELLANEOUS. the hearts of our earnest workers, | to violate an ordinance which God has fenced round with peculiar care; and then ask for countenance and encouragement in so doing.' and has given pleasure to our friends generally. The total amount now realized, including £124 paid for the new site, is £448. When we have £200 more in hand we judge it will be practicable for us to commence the building, which some feel anxious to see. Hence we go to work again. Who will help us? SECRETARY OF THE LADIES' WORKING SOCIETY. MR. H. G. GUINNESS.—Mr. Henry Grattan Guinness has become a Plymouth Brother, and has renounced the title Reverend.' The Londonderry Standard says: 'Having relinquished for the time the Baptist communion, Mr. Guinness has now commenced in this country a propagandist mission in connection with the "Plymouth Brethren," to whom he had attached himself in Canada, as our readers are aware, and during the last week or two he has been addressing meetings in Belfast for the Presbyterians to the contempt of the religious public, as a set of the worst heathens he has ever met with under the guise of professing Christians.' AN ESTABLISHED CLERGYMAN ON LAY PREACHING.-The following is from a pamphlet, entitled, Lay Preaching in the Suburbs and Elsewhere,' by the Rev. E. Cree, M.A., incumbent of Upper Tooting (J. and H. Parker):-'Amongst the many subjects of the day which a clergy-seeming purpose of holding up man is bound to notice, there is one whose close relationship to the ridiculous forbids its treatment from the pulpit, and which must therefore be discussed in some such way as the present. It is that of amateur or lay-preaching; an evil of the most pernicious consequence, which has been endeavouring for some time to work its way into the favour of the public, not only in the suburbs of the metropolis, but in several other parts of the country. It is true the name of preaching is kept in the background, as likely to offend right-minded Christians, but much ingenuity is spent in describing the performance, so as to give the veritable idea of preaching without the name. Sometimes it is briefly said, as on a card of invitation sent to me, and now before me, "Addresses will be given." At others it is said that "Meetings will be held for the delivery of addresses by laymen on religious subjects." This roundabout language, betraying so plainly the consciousness of wrong-doing, may be briefly interpreted to mean that certain lay brethren, forgetful of their proper position in the Church, intend to undertake a very important ministerial work, without troubling themselves to seek a commission so to do at the hands of the elders of the Church; they intend to commit the sin of schism, and sacrilegiously BAPTISM OF AN INDEPENDENT MINISTER.-On the 3rd ult. the Rev. John Douglas, late of the Independent College, Manchester, was baptized on a profession of faith in Christ by the Rev. R. H. Carson, at Tubbermore, North Ireland. Educated a Presbyterian, Mr. Douglas was led, through reading the writings of the late Dr. Carson on the subject of Church Government, to abandon that body and unite himself with the Independents, and coming afterwards to study the same author on Baptism, he ultimately decided on joining the Baptist body. He is, we understand, a young man of very considerable promise. BIRCHCLIFFE, Centenary Services.— On Thursday, July 30th, services of a most interesting nature were held at Birchcliffe commemorative of the formation of the General Baptist interest in Yorkshire one hundred years ago. The day was very fine, and a large number of people came together. The morning service commenced at half-past ten. Rev. W. Salter, of Lineholme, Notes of the Month-Ecclesiastical. 349 was read suitable portions of Scripture | distinguished the founder of the and prayed; and Rev. R. Hardy, church, and which have ever been our of Queensbury, (formerly called boast and glory as Protestant DisQueenshead) preached an appropriate senters.' This resolution sermon from the words, The righteous seconded in an able speech by Rev. shall be in everlasting remembrance. R. Horsfield, of Leeds, who referred He referred especially to the name, to Dan Taylor and to his excellent wife the person, the doctrines, the life Betty in a very amusing and interestand labours of Dan Taylor, as being ing manner, showing how, in many worthy of remembrance by all who ways, she was truly his 'help-meet.' have succeeded him in the great After an excellent tea, which was work. We need not, perhaps, re- provided for the friends in the member to do all that he did, but school-room, and for the ministerial we should seek to have more of that brethren in the minister's house, devotedness to the cause of Christ another public meeting was held. which so eminently characterized After singing and prayer, the Rev. that servant of God. At two o'clock R. Hardy, in an interesting speech, a public meeting was held. The referred to some of the fellowpastor of the church presided. He labourers of Dan Taylor as being expressed his pleasure at seeing so worthy of remembrance. The Rev. many present, but regretted that T. Gill, of Shore, then moved a the state of his health prevented resolution bearing on the future, him taking that part in the pro- expressive of our need of Divine ceedings of the day which he had assistance, more earnest exertion, hoped to do. He had always in- and more frequent prayer, in order tended to have prepared a brief to yet greater success. Short history of the church for the oc- speeches were then made by Revs. casion, but found himself obliged P. Scott, of Brearly; J. Dearden, to relinquish the work; and, hence, of Archview; M. Fox, of Rochdale; he had pleasure in saying that his W. M. Hunter, of Cross Lanes; friend and brother, Rev. C. Spring- and W. Salter, of Lineholme. All thorpe, had kindly engaged to supply expressed their pleasure in meeting his lack of service in this matter. with us, their sympathy with the Mr. Springthorpe then entered the church and pastor, and their hope pulpit, and after expressing his that both might yet for a long time deep sympathy with both pastor and labour happily and prosperously people in this time of affliction, together. A collection was made delivered in substance the address at the close of the afternoon and which will be found in the first part evening service towards liquidating of the Magazine. Rev. R. Ingham, the debt on the premises. The of Vale chapel, next addressed the doxology was sung, and a brief meeting. He moved a resolution prayer offered by the pastor, and expressive of 'gratitude for the thus terminated one of the most past, and of firm adherence to those interesting days ever known at principles of Nonconformity which Birchcliffe. Notes of the Month. ECCLESIASTICAL. THE German Baptists have held their sixth triennial Conference at Hamburg. The sittings began on the 8th of July, and lasted nine days. They were held in the Baptist chapel in Böhmken Strasse, |