Our Association Meetings.

UNUSUAL interest was felt in connection with our annual gatherings on account of the place of meeting. For many years past the idea of holding the Association in London has been regarded with fear. Opinions adverse to the metropolis, as a place of meeting, were based upon the experience of our venerated elders, gained in 1858 and 1842, who found that the difficulties of getting the brethren together were small when compared with those of keeping them together. The reason for this appears upon the surface. From twenty to forty years ago a visit to London was the great event in the life of a provincial G. B., and the desire to 66 see the sights" mastered the virtuous resolve to "attend to business." In these days of quick and cheap travelling we have all "done London" again and again, and are proof against the attraction of the "lions," and are only drawn aside from our general assembly on a Thursday to a still more general gathering at such places as the City Temple and the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

The keeping of the house together, when once constituted, was in no small measure due to the admirable arrangements which were made for the comfort and convenience of delegates and others. At no other of our London churches could half the facilities have been afforded which were found at Westbourne Park Chapel, a truly splendid and spacious edifice-the General Baptist Cathedral par excellence—whose architect must have anticipated the requirements of our Association when he planned the exact number of rooms that were needed for every purpose. The "nosebag" policy of providing sumptuous midday meals free of charge to accredited representatives may have proved a trifle magnetic to some who have a care for creature comforts. Although this was a hitherto unheard-of innovation, which will cost somebody a pretty penny, we did not hear a single protest. The offence was condoned as the provisions were consumed. Should the example set prove contagious, churches which intend inviting future Associations had better start a Hospitality Fund at once. Our London friends have won for themselves a good degree by their superabounding hospitality.

Every doubt as to the practicability and advisability of going to London was set at rest soon after six o'clock on Monday evening when one contingent after another put in an appearance, and brethren and sisters from all parts of our Israel came together "to give thanks unto the name of the Lord." The opening Devotional Service was conducted by Dr. UNDERWOOD, who, in the course of the meeting, referred to the fact that only some thirty of the hundred and three brethren who had a recognised position in the last Association held in London could possibly be present this year; some having changed regiments, many having gone over to the majority"-facts these which reminded each one that "the night cometh when no man can work." Prayer was offered by Revs. T. Barrass, I. Preston, J. Lawton, and W. Lees.

By seven o'clock the body of the building was well filled, and a goodly number were in the galleries. The Association Hymn was sung with much heartiness, and prayer offered by Rev. J. Salisbury. Mr. Clifford then uttered a few fitly chosen words of welcome on behalf of GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE, AUGUST, 1878.-VOL. LXXX..-N. S. No. 104.

his friends and fellow-workers, referred felicitously to Mr. Goadby's second election to the presidential chair, and expressed a hope that real and abiding spiritual results might be the issue of the meetings about to be held. PROFESSOR GOADBY, B.A., in rising to deliver his Inaugural Address was rapturously received, and for an hour and a half continued to pour forth a stream of thoroughly digested and admirably expressed reasoning on "Christian Theology and the Modern Spirit." The address, which evoked frequent applause in the course of delivery, and was characterised in a vote of thanks at its close as "timely, able, and instructive" (epithets too tame by half), will be printed in an available form forthwith, and those who do not procure and ponder the echo of these spoken words, will forego a great privilege. Richard Johnson, Esq., was elected to the office of Vice-President of the Association, and Rev. W. Bishop to that of Assistant Secretary.

Not to proceed further on the time-table plan, we adopt the Darwinian method, and select only some of the fittest subjects for remarks.

I. PUBLIC SERVICES.-These were of a specially interesting and inspiring character. There was not a flat note in any of them. They did not flag for a moment. The speaking was of a high order, and a spiritual and practical tone prevailed through every meeting. There was nothing flippant, slipshod, or talky. The words were all "in season" and "fitly spoken." Whether being in the metropolis, and being associated with metropolitan orators had ought to do with such a result does not matter much, the result itself is a matter for rejoicing.

The Home Mission Meeting, which has been growing in importance and favour for several years past, had additional eclat given to it this year by the expectation of an address from C. H. Spurgeon. In the unavoidable absence of the chairman announced (Sir Henry Havelock), the business-like President of the Society, R. Johnson, Esq., took the chair. Mr. Clifford, the pertinacious Secretary, who made known how much he abominates soporiferous reports, submitted his annual statement, which was a record of Home Mission Work actually done in connection with the assisted churches, and an earnest plea that our first great enterprise under the Unification Scheme may, by the liberality of the churches, be made a conspicuous success. The Treasurer, Mr. T. H. Harrison, had not an altogether satisfactory balance sheet to submit, and begged hard that he might receive from each member of our churches, not the annual guinea, but one farthing per month. Surely modesty can no further go. The not exorbitant average of threepence per year all round for denominational extension and home evangelization ought to be reached. Mr. Spurgeon then delivered an address in his most tender, telling, and thrilling style, bristling with points, abounding in wit, flashing with poetic prose, and instinct with that loyal love for Christ and yearning pity for sinners which never fail to move the Christian heart. He was humourously mystified in his endeavours to distinguish between the Generals and the Particulars. He could not, of course, congratulate us upon the largeness of our liberality, and bade us do more and better. Our brother N. H. Shaw, of Dewsbury, had no enviable task in coming after the king; but although he had a somewhat restless auditory he delivered a fresh and forcible speech on the present day need for Home Mission Work.

OUR ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.

287

The Association Sermon was anticipated by many outside our own borders on account of the literary repute of the preacher, the Rev. S. Cox, of Nottingham. In a few prefatory remarks Mr. Cox said he proposed to speak upon the critical question whether a perfect revelation had not been made, although through an imperfect medium. The text was 2 Cor. iv. 7, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." The sermon was clear in conception, comprehensive in grasp, translucent in style, brilliant in illustration, broad in doctrine, and brief in duration, and will live in the memories of those who listened to it because of its náive allusion to the lie and blister theory.

The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, to which all believers were cordially invited, and to which nearly the entire congregation remained, was observed at the close of the sermon. It was an occasion "much to be remembered."

The Foreign Missionary Meeting was held on Wednesday evening, and was not quite so well attended as the meeting of the previous evening. JOHN BARRAN, Esq., M.P. for Leeds, presided, and made a capital speech from the standpoint of a Christian politician. The Abstract of the Report-read by the Secretary, Rev. W. HILL-touched slightly on the points of chief interest connected with our twin Mission in Orissa and Rome; while the Treasurer, Mr. W. BEMBRIDGE, beamed with delight as he told us that it had been his joy to receive the largest sums contributed in any year, and that he had a balance at the bank. The income from all sources has gone ahead of £10,000. We have money. Our want is men. The Committee are prepared at once to send forth two to Orissa and one to Rome. Will not our friends everywhere "Pray the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest." The speaking was well sustained by Rev. R. F. GRIFFITHS, who very courageously and deftly touched upon a few matters of great delicacy, as to the stamp of man needed, and the treatment he should receive while in the field, and when compelled to return home, and the motives which should induce us to give of our substance. Mr. J. VAUGHAN, missionary elect, spoke with much fluency and force on the reasons which had induced him to devote himself to labour for the Lord abroad; he then described, in fervid, graphic style, the state of wretchedness and sin which prevail in the "slums" of our own towns and cities, and pleaded that we would not neglect the heathen and the lost around us. Then came Dr. LANDELS, with a massive and masterly defence of the missionary enterprize, based upon a world-wide survey of what has already been accomplished by means of a very inadequate agency; by men here and there on outpost duty rather than by a general advance and a vigorous assault by the entire Christian host all along the line.

II. CONFERENCES.-The Local Preachers' Conference was held on Wednesday afternoon, when a very useful paper was read by Mr. W. Ashby, of Leicester, on "The Local Preacher and his Work;" also one by Mr. J. Sharman, Nottingham, on "Local Preachers' Associations as a means of extending the denomination." The Sunday School Conference was held on Thursday evening, under the presidency of Mr. J. G. Winks, of Leicester. Papers were read by Mr. Joseph Binns, of Halifax, on "Our Infants;" and Mr. Alfred Towers, of London, on

"Our Senior Scholars." The Rev. J. Maden, opened a discussion, in which several brethren took part.

III, THE CIRCULAR LETTER, written by DAWSON BURNS, M.A., "On the Duties of Christians in Political Life," was read by Rev. J. Lawton. It was a timely and sagacious production, at once asserting the rights of and demonstrating how great are the needs that Christians should exert a moulding, moderating, and preserving influence in social, national, and international politics.

IV. DEPUTATIONS consisting of Rev. J. T. Wigner and W. Brock. from the London Baptist Association; Dr. Underhill from the Bible Translation Society; Rev. Harris Booth and J. P. Bacon, Esq., from the Baptist Temperance Society; were received and listened to with great delight, and suitably responded to by brethren most conversant with the workings of the several societies.

V. BUSINESS SESSIONS necessarily consumed much time; but never was business transacted more expeditiously or carefully and good humouredly. The Reports of Committees were not carried pro forma, as some found out. Wide-awake men were on the alert, and nothing that had not been well matured was suffered to pass. The work done during the year at the College was spoken of highly by the Examiners. The next session begins with a smaller number of students than for some years past. Structural improvements have led to an increased outlay, and there is a somewhat serious deficit on both the ordinary and special accounts. Of this the churches will hear anon. The Rev. W. Evans, who has for some time been associated with the Rev. S. Cox in the Secretariat, will henceforth be sole Secretary. The Building Fund continues to do good service in assisting embarrassed churches to liquidate. All repayments from borrowing churches have been made to date. The Trustees of the old Hymn Book gave in their final report, and by the cordial vote of the Association are to be vellumized forthwith. The Committee of the New Book reported that the work of selection was done, and that they are all but ready to go to press with the BAPTIST HYMNAL, which they expect to be able to publish next November.

Special resolutions were passed with reference to the Sunday Closing, Contagious Diseases, University Fellowships, and the Eastern Question. Arrangements were made to hold the Next Association in Halifax. Chairman, S. S. Allsop. Preachers, J. H. Atkinson and J. T. Almy. Letter Writer, W. Evans. Make a note of the fact that the meetings will be held a week earlier than usual.

THE STATISTICS for the past year showed that 1,175 had been added by baptism, giving a nett increase of 263-not a large gain when distributed over 179 churches; yet a matter calling for devout gratitude to God, especially when some of the larger denominations, and notably the Wesleyans, have to lament a very serious decrease. Six churches were received into the Association.

Votes expressive of gratitude to all who had in any way contributed to the comfort of visitors, and to the success of the gatherings, were very heartily given, and with one final note of praise to God, the giver of all good, the Association of 1878 ended. ROBERT SILBY.

Our Home Mission Work in 1878.*

SOME persons are in danger of thinking the sun has not risen unless he has attained his zenith, and is scattering his radiant light and heat over the whole hemisphere. They have no eyes for the gentle and quiet dawn, The glints of the grey morning fail to arrest their insensitive retina. They revel in glare, and find neither hope nor joy in the serenely diffusive rays of the rising sun. In a spreading and full-blown success they exult: but are stone blind to all the signs of growing life and expanding power. Our Home Mission sun is, we are eager to admit, a long way from its zenith. It is but the first hour of the day. The twilight has not yet passed-and it passes with painful slowness: but the morning cometh; and it is the morning of a day, a real summer's day; a day of brightness, fruition, and joy. Our discontent with our feebleness and irresolution, and lack of enthusiasm, is strong and fixed. Our hearts are warmer in their attachment to our work, and our successes are enough to fill us with gratitude and fire us with renewed zeal.

The history of our work at

MANSFIELD

is a brilliant witness to the large utilities and attractive promise of our organized activity, and a sign that speaks eloquently for our future. The application for help came four years and a half ago from a church that numbered only sixty-four members. Mr. Marsden, grown in the garden of one of our own churches, and then placed in the vitalizing College of Mr. Spurgeon, accepted the pastorate. The chapel was speedily renovated at a cost of £400, and as speedily paid for. A mission branch soon sprouted forth at Mansfield Woodhouse, and now gives reliable evidence of becoming" a fruitful bough." One hundred and sixty-four members have been added during Mr. Marsden's ministry, and the congregations are so large that the people have felt themselves compelled to purchase a piece of ground adjoining the present chapel for the purpose of putting upon it a new and larger edifice. The church says, in a spirit of selfsacrifice and venture, grandly Christian, "This will be a great work for us; but when unsaved men and women are longing to hear the gospel we dare not hang back even from a work attended with so much sacrifice and difficulty." Brethren, may we not, in saying "farewell" to our friends. at Mansfield, pledge you to prove your gratitude to God for the blessing he has so largely given them, by responding to their appeal for help in building their new chapel. Do not fling the application into the waste-paper basket; it comes from your own child, who has, with a noble reliance on God, addressed himself to an enterprise of great pith and moment. No! cheer and encourage his heroic heart with an expression of your generous sympathy, and an "exchangeable" sign of your bountiful support.

LONGTON AND SWADLINCOTE.

The work at Longton is fairly started in its new chapel,-a chapel built at a cost of £2,850, and of which £2,200 have been paid, owing, in no small degree, to the persistent "pegging away" of the pastor.

* Statement made at the Annual Meeting, June 25.