BRAMLEY CIRCUIT.

OLIVET CHAPEL, STANNING LEY.

OPENING OF A NEW ORGAN.

THE Church and congregation (and their friends), in connection with the above neat place of worship, have just completed their efforts for the erection and opening of a new organ, which renders the place additionally attractive and handsome in appearance, and promises to have a good effect in drawing persons to the house of God. The opening services, which have been exceedingly well attended, and, in every sense of the word, a great success, were held as follows:

On Good Friday, March 25th, two sermons were preached by our old friend, the Rev. Wm. Griffith, of Derby. The congregations were very good and respectable. Many friends, who remembered the campaign of 1849 and following years, were glad to see and hear him once more.

On the Sunday following, March 27th, we were favoured with the services of the Rev. S. S. Barton, of Rochdale, morning and evening, and the Rev. R. Holmes, of Rawden, in the afternoon. To those who know these gentlemen it will be unnecessary to say, that we had, on each occasion, a very superior and profitable discourse. The congregations, afternoon and evening, were especially crowded.

On Monday evening, March 28th, we had a Tea and Public Meeting; about four hundred persons were present at Tea, and several young ladies having exerted themselves very considerably in seeking for subscribers to the Tea, it was not only made interesting, but productive, as the following figures will show. The Tea was held in the school-room, and the Public Meeting in the Chapel, which

was

well filled. Mr. J. Harrison was called to take the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. S. S. Barton, H. Cook (Primitive), E. Parker (Bap tist), and E. Browning (Circuit minister). An efficient choir, under the leadership of Mr. Senior, of Pudsey (Mr. J. V. Roberts, of Stanningley presiding at the organ), contributed greatly to the interest of the occasion by the superior manner in which many pieces were sung and played.

The services were brought to a con clusion on Tuesday evening, March 29th, by an excellent sermon from the Rev. J. P. Chown, of Bradford, the Chapel being again well seated. It will, doubtless, be interesting to some of your readers to give some particulars of the organ. It has two full sets of keys, compass, from CC to G, fifty-six notes.

The Great Organ contains the fol lowing stops :—

1. Open Diapason thro'
2. Stop Diapason Bass
3. Claribella Treble
4. Viol de Gamba
5. Principal
6. Fifteenth
7. Flute

Pipes.

56

12

44

44

56

56

44

It has three composition pedals for drawing and closing stops on the Great Organ. It has horizontal bellows, double feeders, and inverted ribs. The swell is on the Venetian principle.

The organ is enclosed in a good substantial deal case, in style of architecture corresponding with the Chapel, grained, oak-varnished,__and etched

with gold. The Open Diapason is in front of the case, and gilt with deep gold. The latest improvements in organ building have been introduced. The maker of the organ is Mr. Henry Hopkinson, of Birstal; the instrument has been thoroughly tested in every particular since its completion, and competent parties declare it to be a most excellent one. There is not a single exception taken to it by any person, and the friends are highly gratified in finding it give such great satisfaction. Everything between the organ builder and the Committee has been agreeable and harmonious, and the latter consider they have made the best selection they could by any means have made. The price of the organ is £160, and for compass, power, and sweetness, we believe it cannot be surpassed at or near that price. A few words about the proceeds, and the writer has done. From the first of our entertaining any thoughts of an organ (and that is not quite six months ago), we determined to meet all the expenses proposed to be incurred in the erection and alterations. But at that time we only thought of going to about £80; when we came, however, to look about and make enquiries, we deemed it desirable to go to more than twice the amount at first contemplated, in addition to which we have gone to great expenses in alterations, having made a very handsome platform-pulpit in front of the organ, and in unison with the organ front in design and construction, with four handsome pilasters at the angles, each surmounted with gas-lights of an imposing appear ance, and other alterations which add to the effect. Those alterations, with the cost of the organ, make the total outlay about £215. The whole sum has, however, been more than covered by the liberality of our friends, as the following statement will show :

Contributions Collections at Opening Clear Proceeds of Tea

Total.

£235 6 7 It will thus appear that there is a balance of £20 6s. 7d. over and above meeting all expenses. It is only right to state, that the exact amount may vary a few shillings, but there is every probability that the above is not more than the clear gain which will be realised in addition to all the costa. The balance will be appropriated to the reduction of the Chapel debt, which is an object we never lose sight of, and shall ultimately wipe away.

JOSEPH HARRISON.

BRIGHTON,

ON Tuesday, March 22nd, 1864, the Rev. Joseph Wilkins, minister of Queen Square Baptist Chapel, Brighton, kindly delivered his highly popular lecture (for the second time) on the "Wanderings of the children of Israel," in the Railway Institution Reading Room, in behalf of our New Chapel Building Fund; the two lectures realized £4 10s.

On Sunday, the 27th of March, we were favoured with a sermon from the Right Hon. the Earl of Kintore; his lordship gave us an explicit, earnest, and pointed address, from Matt. xxvii. 25. The noble Earl also preached one of our Missionary Sermons, a few weeks ago.

We are glad to inform the friends of our beloved Connexion, that the Church and congregation, in Brighton, are actively engaged in the laudable enterprise of raising funds for the purpose of erecting a Chapel and school, in the north end of the town. We are encouraged in this great undertaking by the united efforts of our own friends and the promised aid of others. We shall require much help and extensive sympathy before such a desirable object can be accomplished; yet, we believe that it will be afforded; our trust is in God. JOHN STAFFord.

DOWNHAM.

MY DEAR SIR,-If you think the following will interest the readers of our Magazine, you will oblige by inserting

it. We have just been holding the fourth Anniversary of Mount Tabor Chapel. On Thursday, March 24th, we were once more honoured with the presence of our worthy President, the Rev. John Guttridge, who gave us his valuable and instructive Lecture on "The Bible and Modern Discovery." The chair was occupied by J. G. Wales, Jun., Esq., and the audience listened with rapt attention and lively interest, for nearly two hours, to the facts and arguments presented by the lecturer. On Good Friday afternoon the Chapel was well filled by a respectable audience, to listen to a sermon from the Rev. J. Guttridge. At five o'clock a Public Tea was provided for nearly two hundred people in the chapel and adjoining schoolroom, and at seven o'clock the Rev. gentleman again preached to a crowded audience, many persons being unable to obtain admission. The sermons were full of rich thought, powerful arguments, and eloquent appeals.

On Easter Sunday we were favoured with the services of the Rev. R. Chew, who preached two sermons full of plain, practical, and earnest truths. This is the first time Mr. Chew has occupied our pulpit, but the impression he made was, we trust, lasting and enduring (I mean in the highest sense). On the whole this has been the most successful anniversary we have ever held; the attendance never was so good, and the proceeds were more than £4 in advance of last year.

Our Quarterly Meeting was held on the 30th ult., at Stowbridge, when dinner and tea were generously provided for the brethren by our brother, Mr. John Hutson. The meeting was most pleasing and encouraging; finances were found improving, our Circuit debt is gradually diminishing, and we trust will soon be dead, never to have a resurrection. Our esteemed minister, the Rev. Joseph Thompson, who is labouring with us earnestly and harmoniously, was unanimously invited to stay another year. He at once consented; we rejoice that the clouds of darkness have vanished, and we can once more live in peace, work in harmony, and labour in love. Praying that our beloved Connexion may everywhere be blessed abundantly.

I am, Sir, Yours, &c.,
W. BENNETT, Jun.

IPSWICH.

-

DEAR SIR,- Our first Public Tea Meeting in connection with the cause here was held on Easter Monday, March 28th, and the whole of the proceedings were a decided success; though the weather was most unfavourable our ex pectations were more than realised. One hundred and twenty sat down to tea, after which the friends adjourned to the chapel, and the meeting held was an exceedingly interesting one. W. Clarke, Esq., one of our Baptist friends, took the chair, and gave an address remark. able for its geniality, kindly feeling, and Christian sympathy for all sections of Christ's church. This was practically shewn by our friend before the meeting closed (and I may remark that this is not the only instance of this gentleman's kindness to our cause). Our highly esteemed and valued friend, the Con nexional Secretary, also favoured us with his presence on the occasion, and gave a very clear and lucid exposition of the constitution of Free Church Methodism, such, indeed, as evidently gave great satisfaction to the meeting. One of the speakers particularly alluded to the great pleasure with which he had listened to the statements of our worthy Secretary. The Rev. J. Gay addressed the meeting, and spoke feelingly of the unmixed pleasure he had derived from the fact of our chapel here having been re-opened. He strongly urged upon the friends the importance of cultivating harmony of thought, unanimity of feeling, kindliness of expression, and united action in all their religious movements. Mr. J. Poock also spoke of the delightful influences of Christian love and fra ternity, as manifested (or as it ought to be manifested) by all God's people. He came to our meeting intending to be happy and he had not been disappointed. He hoped sincerely that such an opportu nity, as he then enjoyed of mingling in the society of the members of the United Methodist Free Churches, would soon occur again. Other ministers and friends favoured us with their preserce and sup port. A collection was made during the evening, which gave great satisfac tion. The meeting was brought to a close shortly after ten o'clock, when many expressions were exchanged indicating the great amount of pleasure and delight which the meeting had afforded

to all present. Best of all, the spirit and presence of our Master was felt in our midst. GEORGE LOWNDES.

LINCOLN:

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW FREE METHODIST CHAPEL, SILVER STREET, LINCOLN.

Ox Good Friday the interesting cere mony of laying the foundation stone of another new chapel in Lincoln was performed by Mr. James McLintock, of Providence Villa, Barnsley, at three o'clock in the afternoon. Addresses were also delivered by Rev. J. Mather, of Bradford, on the distinctive principles of the body, and the Rev. J. Myers, of York. At the close of the ceremony Mr. McLintock deposited £5 on the stone: £5 from Peter Whitehead, Esq., was also placed there by the Secretary; and the children and other friends made up £20. Afterwards the Company adjourned to the Corn Exchange, where 1,000 persons partook of tea; the whole of the provisions were given by the ladies of the congregation, thirty-nine trays being most liberally supplied, and sufficient donations towards the same object to have provided ten more. In the evening a densely crowded meeting took place, when, enlivened by the Chairman's happy face and pleasantries, and thrilled by the eloquence of the Revs. J. Myers, Mather, and Cookson (Baptist), the meeting was deeply interested, and will be long remembered by all who had the happiness to join in its sacred festivities, -the collection at the close amounted to about £8. On Sunday, April 3rd, the Rev. W. Reed, of London, preached two eloquent and impressive sermons in furtherance of the same object, to large audiences, and on Tuesday evening the Rev. J. Adcock, of Leeds, brought these services to a close by preaching in the same room : the wea ther proving unfavourable, this service was only very moderately attended. Mr. Adcock has, however, made an impression which will not be lost, and as he will be a near neighbour in the coming year, his services will be looked for again. The total net receipts will be about £85, and this will be supplemented by 10 per cent. upon this amount by two of our number. The chapel will be a handsome and commodious structure to seat 850, with ample

accommodation for classes and other vestries, and is contiguous to large new school-rooms, which, with the proposed increased accommodation, will give ample room for 500 scholars, giving separate rooms for senior classes and infant Schools. The contract is set for £1966, with materials of the old chapel.

LIVERPOOL.

FOR three or four years past, we have found it more profitable and convenient to separate our Missionary Services, and not hold them, as formerly, in all our Chapels on the same day. Accord ingly, sermons were preached in Scotland Road, Herculaneum, and Wavertree Chapels on Sunday, February 28th, by the Rev. Joseph Garside (of Manchester), Rev. Henry Watts (Methodist New Connexion), Revs. E. Boaden, A. Crombie, and J. Roberts, Circuit Ministers. A Public Missionary Meeting was held in Scotland Road, on the Monday evening following, presided over by Mr. James Radcliffe, and though the rain descended in torrents, there was a larger attendance than for years past. On Tuesday evening, a meeting was held in Herculaneum Chapel, when Mr. Henry Beckett took the chair; and on Wednesday at Wavertree, Mr. John Cox presiding. A most hopeful and animated feeling characterised these meetings, and too much praise cannot be accorded to the friends connected with these Chapels, who, notwithstanding the many local demands pressing upon their liberality, exhibited the liveliest interest and the most unswerving devotion to the great cause of Missions.

On Sunday, April 3rd, the Annual Missionary Sermons were preached in Rus. sell Street Chapel, by the Rev. William Griffith, of Derby, to large and respectable audiences. On Monday evening the Annual Missionary Meeting was held in the same chapel, presided over by Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., ex-M.P. for Derby. We expected also the presence of the Right Hon. Lord Teynham, but his Lordship was obliged to leave town. On the platform were the the Revs. Wm. Griffiths, S. S. Barton (Foreign Missionary Secretary), Henry Watts (New Connexion), E. Bouden, A. Crombie, R. Collinson; Drs. Townson and Burrows; Messrs. John Ashworth (of Rochdale), J. Russell, R.