in the evening by the Rev. J. G. Parks; one of our Circuit ministers. The Divine presence was vouchsafed, God, according to His word, was present with His people, and in the prayer meeting after the evening service, two persons, feeling their need of a Saviour, professed to find mercy through the atoning blood. On the following day, the 7th, a Tea and Public Meeting was held, and the chapel was well filled. Samuel Morley, Esq. (whose praise is among all the churches), presided. The Chairman first called upon the secretary to read the Report. The Report contained a condensed history of the circumstances connected with the building of the chapel. The Church was poor in this world's goods (commencing with seven shillings and ten pence), few in numbers, and had it not been for the liberality of friends who came to their help, they could not have begun to build, much less have been able to finish. They had paid over £350 toward the cost; but about £223 still remained to be paid; the friends were desirous of clearing off the debt, and also placing the Chapel on the Connexional Deed; thus securing the Chapel to the Connexion, as is right and proper. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the difficulties the Church had battled with, and through God's blessing overcome; he was pleased to meet them; but while there was a cause for gratitude, there was cause for humility; all must feel that our spiritual state was the test of prosperity; the need of the present was that professing Christians should so live that the world might believe in their sincerity. He thought that Nonconformists, as well as the Bishop of London and his icoadjutors, were responsible for raising the spiritual condition of London. Every member of every Church must work for Christ. Sympathising with us, he would gladly give £50 towards the Chapel debt (which was about £223), providing other friends would subscribe the £73, thus reducing the debt to £100. We are thankful to God and to His people that the appeal was responded to. £ s. d. F. Cuthbertson, Esq. 25 0 0 25 0 0 500 The friends worshipping here made up the deficiency at the close of the meeting. Since the meeting other friends have sent us help; more is expected, so that we hope to reduce the debt to £50, and by September to have our Sanctuary free from debt. To give a detail of the addresses of the brethren who addressed the meeting, would intrude too much on your space. The Revs. W. Reed, J. S. Stanion, Baptist, T. Aveling, Congregationalist; and F. Cuthbertson and W. Best, Esqs., addressed the meeting. IPSWICH. B. S. RE-OPENING OF THE CHAPEL. SOME years ago, through circumstances into the detail of which we need not now enter, our Chapel at Ipswich was closed. For some time, however, the Connexional Committee was desirous of resusci tating the cause in that town; and at its meeting held at Burton-on-Trent, in November last, resolved on the reopening of the Chapel. Brother George Lowndes was appointed to labour there, and entered upon his mission in the latter part of December. The following letter, addressed by him to the Con nexional Secretary, shows that his labours have begun under promising auspices. I "Sir, I have pleasure in enclosing you a short statement of what has been done, and of what is being done, in connexion with our Ipswich Mission. The 20th of December last was to me a day of great anxiety and prayer; found myself in this large town a perfect stranger to all, and without a single known friend. I was intensely anxious as to the probable number who might feel disposed to favor us with their presence and support on the occasion of our opening services. I am happy in being able to say, that the congregations were quite as good as we could reasonably have expected. "Our Walton friends nobly came to our assistance, and their presence gave a little importance to the services of the day. The collections amounted to £2; at each of the services, after making an appeal to the friends, I an nounced, that on the Wednesday following I should commence a class meeting, and on the Thursday evening public service would be held. On the first evening I took four names as members, and on the Thursday evening preached to a congregation of six; since then our numbers have gradually increased, so that now we have twenty-two whose hearts God hath touched, and who have united themselves with us in Church-fellowship. This, I am sure, you will admit gives us great cause for gratitude to God who has so signally blessed and owned our feeble efforts. Our congregations on the Sabbath have steadily increased; so that now we have the body of our commodious Chapel tolerably well filled. Our week night services, considering the infancy of the cause, are remarkably well attended; we have commenced a Sabbath school, and have now got thirty-two scholars and six teachers. This is only a begin ning, and perhaps not a very bad one, considering that the interest which is taken here in Sabbath-school tuition is not very great (at least not so great as in many other districts). I commenced at once my pastoral visitations and canvassing, both for hearers, members, and scholars; and I am thankful to say that by persevering in this duty, and by seeking the blessing of God, much good has been the result. When I entered upon my labours here, the difficulties which presented themselves seemed to be of an almost insuperable character, they were so great and peculiar in their nature; but remembering that nothing is too great for the Lord, I committed the cause into His hands, resolving by the grace of God to do my best, and leave the rest with Him; the result has been we have had God in our midst, blessing our efforts, and instructing us in all things. We owe all our success to Him, and our unceasing desire and prayer is, that God in all things may be 'glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.' "Respecting the future prospects of the cause here, my strong impres sion is, that, notwithstanding existing difficulties, (as I have before intimated)-difficulties of a peculiar nature, arising from the fact of the place having been closed so long, which has engendered somewhat unpleasant feelings in the minds of many people-still I say, my strong impression is, that with care and perseverance there may, and will be raised a good cause here; but this will necessarily be a work of time. "Though Ipswich soil, as you are well aware, is not the most congenial to the sentiments, or conducive to the growth and spread, of Methodism; still there is an extensive field for labor and Christian usefulness; and very much may, and must be done. Our friends of the Conference body, and also the Primitives, are both improving in the state of their Societies, and why not the "Free Churches ?" So far as I have been able to judge, we shall yet discover much sympathy for our cause, and much admiration of our policy and discipline. "In reviewing the whole matter (as we must be brief), we give it as our humble, but firm opinion, that with care and cautiousness we shall ultimately have a flourishing society and congregation here. We have a beautiful Chapel, in one of the best situations in the Town, and every prospect of securing for the Free Churches, in these districts, a respectable and influential centre, which will necessarily secure a respectable and influential circumference; but this, as I observed before, will be a work of time, perhaps some years. "In conclusion, Sir, we commit the whole matter to the hands of God; and while it is to me the subject of incessant anxiety, it is often the source of much hope and joy. Asking for an interest in your prayers, without which all our efforts will be fruitless, I remain, dear Sir, Yours faithfully, February, 17, 1864. Our readers will rejoice with us in the facts stated in the above interesting letter. May God graciously continue to bless the labours of our dear brother. -ED. JAMAICA. ANNOTTA BAY, METCALFE. MY DEAR SIR,-We have just concluded our Missionary services (Mr. Penrose, our deputation), which have been interesting and profitable. At the Bay the sermons were well attended, and the meeting crowded, many per sons having to stand outside. At Enfield, also, the attendance was good. The Rev. D. Pinnock, Wesleyan, helped us at the Bay, and delivered an excellent address. Mr. Trery, our teacher, also delivered a short, but pleasant speech; your correspondent took the chair, and gave a report of the Missions; the Rev. E. Penrose, the ouly stranger, delivered the speech of the evening in both cases. The collections amounted to £3 158. 6d., which, though small, we think good for the time and place. Our friends are now putting forth their best efforts to raise money for the new chapel; and though the amount required is a large one for so small and poor a Church, yet we have hope of its realization. T. BELL. MANCHESTER ;-GROSVENOR LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A SIR,-Some six or seven years ago, there appeared a notice, in your valuable Magazine, of an act of Christian generosity performed by a Mr. Horrocks, of Levenshulme; that, since the Lord had placed him in circumstances to build a house for himselt and family to dwell in, as a token of gratitude, he would raise a building in connection with it, and dedicate it entirely to the service and worship of God. This happy resolution he was permitted to see carried out; and a preaching-room, at Broom Lane, Levenshulme, was immediately entered upon the Grosvenor Street Circuit Plan. Mr. Horrocks had, previous to this, allowed his best room to be used every Sabbath for public religious services. The little Church thus formed and nursed was delighted to be welcomed to its new place of worship. The Lord's commission to Peter, "Feed my lambs," was felt to apply to the friends in connection with the Church, and a Sunday-school was opened, to receive and train up for the future Church such as might be committed to their care. Though small and unpretending the place, yet many and striking have been the witnesses of God's saving power among the people. Not long, however, did the good brother Horrocks live to labour in the place he and his admirable, and truly Christian, wife had so much at heart. The Lord saw best to call His servant home to the imperishable mansion, to be "for ever with his Lord ;" and whilst, in meekness and sorrow, the Church bowed submissively, the remaining ones saw the need of more self-sacrificing labours than ever. A little after this time (providentially, there is no doubt), an old Sunday-school labourer came to reside in the neighbourhood; at the kind and warm invitation of Mrs. Horrocks and son, he and his partner joined heartily with them in the labour which just at that time more particu larly required hands to do it. Repeatedly, since then, has the place been filled to overflowing; as repeatedly have the kind friends of the Circuit urged an extension of our borders; and not until the voice to move forward, came loud and imperative, have we deemed it advisable to take action: the time, however, it is universally be lieved, has arrived. With a Church numbering thirty members, and a congregation of fifty (as many as the place will accommodate), with good prospects of much increase, and to secure to our Connexion those removing from our towns to reside here, a few of the leading members were appointed to form a Committee to undertake the important work necessary in such an enterprise. A most eligible site was chosen; and though owned by a Roman Catholic, and to be sold by an agent of the same creed, the desired object was attained on most liberal terms; but only just in time, as our Conference friends are about building a Chapel, and were anxious to secure the same site. The land now being secured, the deeds signed, the Chapel must go on; so thought the few; to work they went, not without many an earnest and heartfelt prayer for the blessing and guidance of Him whose honour alone they were seeking to promote; and believing "the Lord helps them who help themselves," the few put together their "littles," and raised the sum of £70. With this nucleus, they waited upon the friends in the neigh bourhood, and soon increased the sum to a little short of £200, having, how ever, scarcely touched upon the resources in reserve. The work was now at once proceeded with, under the valuable assistance of Messrs. Whyatt and Redford, architects, of Manchester and Heywood; and, to the surprise of our doubting friends, the 27th of February was announced as the day for laying the foundation stone. That day arrived, and with it the hopes and fears of all concerned, as, notwithstanding the good cause in hand, the morning gave painful indications of disappointment and failure. Hope, faith, and prayer, each took part in that day's proceedings. The waving streamers and flying banners, were soon brought down, and, like our hearts, drooped, as the rain continued to fall; the fire still flickered on faith's altar, and was not to be extinguished, as the following will show. On Saturday afternoon, February 27th, 1864, the friends of Grosvenor Street, and surrounding Circuits, as representative members of our Church, went to the Mechanics' Institution, and, with eight or nine of our minis. ters, formed a large and influential procession from there to the place appointed. At half-past three, P.M., notwithstanding the unpropitious nature of the weather, a large number of friends had assembled to witness the ceremony. The windows of houses adjacent being occupied by many of the lady friends; fortunately, just at the time, the rain partially abated, when the Rev. J. Garside, of Lever Street, gave out that sublime hymn on the 666th page of our Hymn Book, commencing with, "This stone to thee in faith we lay," &c. ; after which he offered a feeling and appropriate prayer. Letters of apology were read by the Rev. W. R. Sunman; one from the Rev. J. Guttridge, President of the Annual Assembly, stating that he was unavoidably absent; also one from Mr. Alderman Chapman, of the New Connexion, Stockport, containing a second donation of £5. SIR JAMES WATTS, of Abney Hall, Cheadle, who had kindly consented to lay the stone, stepped forward, when Mr. Whyatt, on behalf of himself and partner, presented him with a handsome silver trowel, engraved with this inscription: "Presented to Sir James Watte, Knt., on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the United Methodist Free Church, Levenshulme, February 27th, 1864." Mr. A. WHITWORTH, Chairman of the Building Committee, read the contents of the bottle to be placed in a cavity cut purposely in the stone, being a list of names of the building Committee, trustees, and others taking an active part in the work, coins, newspapers, &c. Sir James Watts then, in true workmanlike style, used both trowel and mallet, effectually laying the foundation stone. He was happy to be favoured with the laying of the stone of a Chapel in connection with the United Methodist Free Churches. He did not know of another denomination which came nearer his own (Independent) than they did. He liked the title United and Free; still if the name was all they possessed the Church would fall short of its mission. He continued, let the mind and spirit which were in the Master dwell in you, for after all the name is but the shell. He hoped the building would be raised without an accident, and trusted it would be both a blessing, and an ornament to the village. The Rev. JOHN MANN, our beloved Superintendent, came forward and thanked Sir James for the kind and marked interest he had taken in our Church that day; at the same time informing the audience of the handsome donation of £20 given by Sir James towards the Building Fund. All along the ceremony possessed a tone of interest beyond expectation, which increased as our Superintendent, in his clear, decisive, and telling manner, briefly explained the need of such a place. He dwelt on the title of our Church that had been so favourably referred to, also appropriately alluding to the building in the interest of which we were thus met. He added, that true consecration might take place by the falling of the tear of repentance, the prayer of the broken and contrite heart, the meeting of sinner and Saviour, the dead becoming alive, the lost being found; this, in his opinion, was the right sort of consecration. And though the bishop might never enter it, he hoped there would be the presence of the King of kings, the true worship and adorations of saints, the blessed minis. trations of angels and God's servants, from time to time; there would then be need of no other consecration. J. B. VICKERS, Esq., proposed, and JOHN KIRKHAM, Esq., seconded a vote of thanks to Sir James Watts for his kindness in laying the stone, which was carried unanimously. After the ceremony was concluded, the friends adjoined to the Mechanics' Institution, where about three hundred sat down to tea,-fifty ladies having kindly contributed trays. The meeting afterwards was presided over by our much esteemed friend, John Petrie, Esq., of Rochdale, whose presence and support contributed much to the interest of the evening. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Watson Smith (Independent Church, Longsight), Rev. H. Tarrant, of Derby, Mr. Councillor Runney, and the Rev. John Mann. The speakers were peculiarly happy in their remarks, and many have been the expressions of satisfaction from those who were present. I have already trespassed beyond dis. cretion, and must briefly observe that we are deeply indebted to our kind friends, the choir from Lever Street, for the cheerful and happy tone sustained through the evening. One has said, ""Tis music charms the savage breast;" be that as it may, the performance of the choir charmed the most refined, and being well sustained by the witty and powerful advocacy of our Superintendent, donations were forthcoming most liberally, as, on that day £100 was added to the funds already promised. John Petrie, Esq., gave £10. With this further indication of God's approval, and cheered by the kindness of our friends, we purpose, though few, to prosecute with spirit the labours yet required. The Chapel, when completed, will accommodate three hundred persons on the ground floor, and about thirty in the singer's gallery. The vestries, ap. paratus room, &c., will be built at the back. The design is the early Italian style. The leading features are a square brick tower, with slated spire, eightyfive feet in height, with open belfry. The front elevation, facing Stockport Road, will have a two-lighted traceried stone window, with four-light window underneath; the whole set in a deep recess, with splayed jambs and arch. The various window arches will be formed with red-splayed and blue bricks alternately. Hartley's diamond embossed glass will be inserted in the windows. There will be a platform and communion, but no pulpit. The pews will be commodious and without doors. A portion of the roof timbers will be exposed below the ceiling line, and these, with all other woodwork, will be stained and varnished. The Chapel will be built of machine-made bricks, with dressings of Halifax stone. The Committee purpose, when the funds will permit, to erect detached school, with ample class-rooms, land sufficient for the purpose having been secured. The Chapel, with its entire fittings, heating apparatus, &c., will ecst £1200. The general contract is undertaken by Mr. Thomas Pollitt, of Swinton, near Eccles, and the woodwork by Mr. James Wright, of Heaton Norris. Contributions have been received, and the pledge given that the Chapel will be placed upon the Model Deed of our Connexion. The Ladies of the circuit have resolved upon having a Bazaar, as it is deemed absolutely necessary in the present state of commerce in Lancs shire; unless we avail ourselves of this means, it is feared too heavy a debt would be the consequence. We, there fore, earnestly appeal to the friends of our Connexion, especially those who know us, to assist in this glorious work. Donations, in articles or cash, for the Bazaar may be forwarded to Mrs. Mann, Grosvenor Street, Manchester; Mrs. Vickers, Richmond Grove, Long sight; Mrs. Whyatt, Swan Street, Manchester; and Mrs. Horrocks, Whit ham, Whitworth ; Roberts and Murray, of Levenshulme. As September, the month appointed for holding the Bazaar in our Manches ter Royal Exchange, will soon be here, we urge our good friends to a generous and timely response; leaving our late Superintendent, the Rev. John Guttridge, to speak for us, who, writing, says, "The friends at Levenshulme have striven nobly, and deserve, what I trust they will have, very extensive patronage." W. WHITAM |