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OUR ARMY AND NAVY WORK.

1. CURRAGH CAMP.-From Sergeant to the Rev. Joseph Webster.January 1st, 1873.-On this day I ought not to forget you, who have proved yourself my best earthly friend. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I shall never be able to pay. We held our Watchnight in our camp infant school-room. Our number was not large, but we all were greatly blessed. God has been prospering His work in different parts of Ireland, and I hope we shall enjoy a large blessing during the year. On the whole, we are doing well in the regiment. There are thirteen consistent professors among us, eight Wesleyans, and five belonging to the Episcopal Church. I trust we shall be kept faithful, and be made useful.

2. LUCKNOW.-The Rev. A. Fentiman, who has gone to supply the place of Mr. Broadbent, writes, under date of October 31st, 1872.-We left Bangalore on the 11th inst., and reached Lucknow on the 24th, after travelling by rail one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four miles. We found the people very kind to us upon our arrival. The congregation is chiefly military, and larger than our military congrega

tion at Bangalore. The Presbyterians have no church or minister here, and they, with the Baptists, march in a body to our chapel. Several officers attend; and, though not enrolled as members of the Society, are active in working for Christ. A few civilians frequent the services; but the civil lines are separated by a distance of three or four miles from the cantonment. I have a class for civilians at the house of Mr. Craven, and the carnestness and zeal of the members is very gratifying.

My old friend and fellow-student, the late Mr. Broadbent, appears to have been loved by all. Persons of all classes and various Churches speak of him in the most affectionate terms: "The memory of the just is blessed." The members of his congregation intend erecting a memorial over his grave. The design has been prepared, and five hundred rupees have been subscribed. More would have been raised, if the subscription had not been restricted to the members of his congregation. We deeply sympathize with his young widow, who was a real helpmate to our late brother, and no less loved than himself.

HOME-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE.

1. SPITALFIELDS. (Globe Road.) From the Rev. R. Culley.-January 8th, 1873.-The work of God is steadily advancing in this mission district. One encouraging proof is the improvement of our Sunday-school. In this I have a select class of young men, in which fourteen have met, several of whom have become Church-members and teachers in the school. We are straitened for room, as we have more than four hundred children on our books. We are vigorously working the Juve

VOL. XIX.-FIFTH SERIES.

nile Home and Foreign Missionary Association on the "Blake plan." I meet about eighty children on Satur day afternoons, and with good results to them and to their parents. Our services are well attended, and on Sunday evenings the congregation fills the chapel. Our contributions to the Circuit funds are now larger each quarter than they were for the whole year before the establishment of this mission.

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2. GREAT QUEEN STREET. (Prince of Wales Road.)-The good work in this important neighbourhood, which was commenced as a home-mission, has made steady and satisfactory progress. It was connected with the Circuit, in the ordinary way, at the Conference of 1869. A good chapel, which does great credit to all concerned in its erection, is now paid for, and a small surplus remains in the hands of the treasurer. The chapel was opened last July, and there is now, on Sunday evenings, an average congregation of nearly nine hundred, with an increasing Churchmembership.

3. SAFFRON-WALDEN.-From the Journal of the Rev. S. R. Williams.-One event during the quarter calls for, perhaps, some distinct record,-the completion of our chapel at Little Chesterford. The success which has thus far crowned our labours demands devout thanksgiving to Almighty God. More than eighteen months ago, after many efforts and disappointments, my predecessor secured a plot of land in the village. Lord. - positively refused to dispose of ground for such a purpose as ours, and others seemed equally unwilling, or afraid, to render us any help. The piece which was afterwards bought appeared to offer a providential opening, of which advantage was at once taken, and immediate efforts were made to secure its release. Our solicitor was instructed to apply to the steward of the manor for the release of the site, and many applications were accordingly made to him; but month after month rolled by, and not one of the communications received any notice. It required a letter couched in very decided terms to bring a reply; and, towards the end of 1871, we received a note of about four lines. Matters now presented a new phase; but for a long time no progress, apparently, was made. This was annoying; and the more so because we had reason to think that clerical influence was exerted against us. At length

our solicitor was obliged to enter upon proceedings to compel a release of the land. The consequence was, that in May, 1872, the required consent was given, and the time fixed.

Having succeeded thus far, we began the erection of the chapel in July; and in the month of November our hopes and toil were rewarded by seeing the little chapel finished. On the 19th of that month it was solemnly set apart for Divine worship. My predecessor, the Rev. J. H. Brown, who was the originator of the movement, preached in the afternoon; and, after taking tea in "the laundry," the last use we made of the old preaching-place,—we held a public meeting in the new chapel, over which Mr. Walter Robson, of Walden, a member of the Society of Friends, presided. Addresses were given by the Revs. W. F. Slater, J. H. Brown, W. G. Dawson, and by Mr. A. Jermyn, of Lynu; all of which were thoroughly adapted to the audience and the occasion, and could hardly fail to do good.

Our chapel will seat about one hun. dred and twenty persons; and the total amount required, including cost of land and legal expenses,-heavy items in our case, is about £270. In order to complete the work, and leave the build. ing free from debt, which we are very anxious to do, we still need about £90.

It is too soon yet to express a decided opinion as to our prospects. Our congregations have certainly improved since the opening, and at times the chapel has been as full as it comfortably could be; and I think I can. trace in some, though I rejoice with trembling, a growing anxiety about personal salvation. The place has not, even in these few weeks, been left without the best consecration of all, -the converting power of the Holy Ghost. I devoutly thank God for this; but we wait to prove a richer manifestation of Divine grace. As thus we wait and pray, in the spirit of appropriating faith, surely “God, even our own God, shall bless us!"

December 6th.-I visited a lone cottage by a wood. It was painful to see such an abode, too much a sample one, of the English labourer. It was scrupulously clean, but it was shattered and draughty. In this habitation there was but one bed-room for the man, his wife, and seven children; though, in addition, there was a scanty space on the ground floor economized for one bed. To get to the sleeping-room a rickety and frail step-ladder had to be climbed. I found the man ill of consumption. He had been a gamekeeper, and contracted his disease by continued exposure to the weather in his night-watches. He was intelligently and calmly resting on the atonement of the Lord Jesus for salvation; and the visit was much blessed to my own soul. One evening on leaving Chesterford chapel, I found a man waiting for me, who had stood in the pelting rain for an hour; who said that he felt miserable, and did not know what to do, and that every word of my sermon was "pitched" at him, I took him by the arm, and slowly trod the road with him in the rain and cold. I pointed him to the Saviour, and under the shelter of a hedge prayed together, he trembling with emotion. May he find his way to Christ!

4. UXBRIDGE. From the Rev. W. F. Faulding.-December 19th, 1872.—A new chapel, the direct result of earnest home-missionary effort, has been erected and opened at West Drayton. It is a simple Gothic building, placed on a site sufficient in dimensions for a school, or for its enlargement, and in a good situation. It is well arranged, and will comfortably seat one hundred and fifty persons. Its cost has been £430, the debt remaining being only £50, which we hope speedily to remove. The opening services were conducted by the President of the Conference and other ministers; among whom was the Rev. J. W. Greeves, whose labours in this

neighbourhood twenty-three years ago are gratefully remembered. Many of the sittings are let, and the probability is that the place will soon become too small for the congregation. We are greatly indebted to the liberality of J. S. Budgett, Esq., for this much-needed place of worship.

5. CHERTSEY, ETC.-From the Journal of the Rev A. Llewellyn, to December, 1872.-Our public services have been well attended. At Chertsey our congregations have increased both on Sundays and on week-days. Souls have been saved and backsliders reclaimed. At Walton my colleague is earnestly and intelligently working, and his Bible-classes are producing the best results. Two new classes of Church-members have been formed. The chapel at Staines has been renovated; we are building a schoolroom there; and we shall shortly pay off the remaining debt Chertsey chapel and school.

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6. COBHAM, SURREY.-From the Journal of the Rev. W. Cornforth, to December, 1872.-At Bookham Common there is a novelty. A good man keeps a Sunday-school there in the open air, during the summer months.

September 8th.-I preached twice in the chapel at Effingham, and in the afternoon at West Horsley, under a venerable oak-tree, to about forty persons. In these places the parish ministers use their influence against us. At one village, where we commenced service in a house, one of these, I am informed, told the occupier that, if it were not discontinued, he would induce the landlord to expel him from his occupation. At another of our places our services have been interrupted; and we now hold them in an inconvenient place. Our work, however, cannot be arrested by this intolerance.

Our congregations increase at Effing. ham. On Sunday evening, October 6th, the chapel was full There is much of

ultra-Calvinism in this part of Surrey, and great indifference respecting religion. People speak of it, patronizingly, as a good thing; but few regard it as the "one thing needful." In Cobham, with a population under two thousand, there are seventeen publichouses. I shall improve every opportunity of preaching out of doors, as many in these parts must be reached in this way, or not at all.

7. BASINGSTOKE.-From the Journal of the Rev. W. P. Ellis, to December, 1872.-It appears that in this important town, Methodism, which has so long been absent, is much needed, and is likely to be successful, notwithstanding narrow Church prejudices, and the cringing dependence of many of the poor on the doles of charities administered by the clergy. There has been since the mission commenced a diligent and faithful visitation of the people in their houses, where admission could be obtained. In several cases there have been rude rebuffs. The congregations in our hired room have considerably increased, and the deep attention of the hearers to the Word preached is encouraging, although threats have been employed to prevent the attendance of some. There is, as John Wesley expressed it more than a hundred years ago, prospect at length of doing some good in Basingstoke." What he added might be justly said of the Sunday services:"A large number of people attended, to whom God enabled me to speak strong words; and they seemed to sink into the hearts of the hearers." Many sick and dying persons have been visited, much to their spiritual profit. The commencement of this Mission is hopeful. The great need is that of a commodious chapel, in which there would soon be found a good congregation.

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8. CREWE. (Hightown.)-From the Journal of the Rev J. H. Hopkins, to December, 1872, it appears that the

efficiency and success of our homemission work continue in an encouraging manner. The congregations increase weekly, and the class, prayer, and band-meetings are well attended. Many have been constrained to join the Church of Christ, and frequent accessions are made to its numbers. Several remarkable instances of conversion are recorded; of some who for many years had neglected public worship; and of others who had been slaves to intemperance; One man, deeply convinced of his sinfulness, at once went to the tavern, and paid off a debt of several pounds; and having found peace with God, followed the minister to his appointment in the country, nine miles, to inform him of the change wrought in him. There is here an earnest and prayerful expectation of abundant blessing.

9. MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.-The Journal of the Rev. W. Jeffries, to December, 1872, shows that this mission, commenced at the last Conference, presents several encouraging features, and gives promise of considerable usefulness. The work is being diligently done. The congregations in the chapel are good, and increasing. A mission-room has been secured, and is frequently crowded, many being found in the assembly who had lived for years in the habitual neglect of public worship. A new class for Church-members has been commenced, and has now fifteen persons in it. A well-attended Bible-class is also instituted, in which the young people appear to be much interested. The people are full of heart and hope. [The Rev. F. Payne also speaks approvingly of the work, and hopefully of its success. C. P.]

10. TYNEMOUTH. (North-Shields.)— The Report of the Rev. George Parker (A), January, 1873, states, that the great advantage of working some of our important watering-places in connection with the Wesleyan Home-Missionary

Committee, has been fully shown here. Six years ago there was a debt of £600 upon the old chapel. By great exertion this debt was removed, and a new chapel, costing about £4,000, was built. By means of a bazaar, spiritedly sustained, and most consistently conducted, the sum of £1,020 has been raised. To this sum two legacies, amounting to £150, were added, for the removal of the debt on the new erection. It is gratifying to add that this object has been accomplished. Thongh the number of our Churchmembers is but small, we exert considerable influence on visitors from many parts of the kingdom, who carry with them into other localities the good influences received at the sea-side by attending the Wesleyan ministry. For the erection of suitable chapels in our watering-places, and the sustentation of our ministry in them, Methodists have ample cncouragement, in past and present success, to continue their exertions. We have established a cottage-meeting: our

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11. SADDLEWORTH.-From the Journal of the Rev. J. Etchells, to December, 1872.-At Wrigley Mill, one of our mission-stations, a chapel was built about four years ago, costing about £1,100. We have just been enabled to secure a grant and loan from the Chapel Committee, which leaves us with a debt of £227. This we are hoping to remove before long. We have here a large and increasing congregation, principally composed of workingpeople. We have an efficient Sundayschool, with an average attendance of ninety children; and a day-school has been commenced in which there are already some fifty pupils. We thank God for what has been done in this place, where, a few years ago, Methodism was little known.

GENERAL RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

[The extracts which appear in our pages under the head of "General Religions Intelligence," are carefully taken from the most trustworthy sources at our command. We cannot undertake, however, to answer for the propriety, in all cases, of their literary style; to guarantee, in every instance, the accuracy of dates, or of the names of persons an1 places; or to endorse all the views which, on particular subjects connected with evangelical enterprise, agents of the various Religious Societies and Committees may advance.]

GERMANY: THE PROPOSED PRUSSIAN LEGISLATION AGAINST THE PAPACY.The Anti-Popery Bills introduced into the Prussian Lower House by Dr. Falk, the minister of ecclesiastical affairs, are calculated to dispel the apprehensions awakened in some quarters by the appointment of Count Roon. They are all that Bismarck himself could have made them. By one of them, the candidates for clerical office are compelled to go through a regular course of university studies, as do the members of the other learned profes

sions; by another, the priests are protected from arbitrary punishment or dismissal, but too often indulged in of late by their bishops; while the third provides that to leave the Catholic (or Protestant) Church for any other henceforth requires only a declaration to that effect before the local judge. The change which is likely to be wrought by these laws will be im

mense.

As regards the one first mentioned, it ought to be explained that whereas, up to twenty-fiveyears ago, students

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