ASHFORD.

Mr. EDITOR,-Allow me to give a description, through the medium of your valuable magazine, of a society which we have established at the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel in this town, and in so doing may it have the desired effect, of stimulating other christian congregations to adopt the same or similar means of usefulness. We have named the class The Young Men's Christian Mutual Improvement Association," and have had lately some very interesting and profitable discussions upon various subjects; some of which are, "Have Animals Reason?" "Is War justifiable under any circumeradicate "Will education

stances?"

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Crime?" "Is Reason sufficient to guide a man right?" together with such subjects as these: "Sincerity," "Humility," "The Seasons," &c.; and the next subject which we shall discuss upon is, "Will the Jews be restored to Jerusalem ?" Our minister is at our head as President, and we have a Secretary and Treasurer, to conduct the business of the Society. We have also in connection with the chapel, a society designated "The Juvenile Missionary Working Party;" where the young ones from our Sabbath Schools, meet together for the express purpose of making clothes and garments for the poor black children of Africa.

A short time ago they had a tea-party, and a very interesting one it was, the room was decorated with flags, on which were inscribed such mottoes, as the following: Faith, Hope, and Charity, together with the requisite christian grace, Patience; after partaking of an excellent tea, in which the little workers played well their part, addresses were delivered, pieces repeated by the children, hymns sung, and after prayer had been offered, the meeting closed, and the children separated, highly delighted with their evening's conviviality. The Treasurer of the society in reading the Report had great pleasure in stating, that there was a balance in her hands to a considerable amount, so that the little ones may go on working with all their hearts for the poor blacks of Africa. I am, Mr. EDITOR,

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, CRADLEY, HEREFORDSHIRE.

The anniversary of this chapel, was observed on Easter Monday, when_sermons were preached by the Rev. L. J. Wake, of Cheltenham, and the Rev. T. Roberts, of Gloucester; and the devotional exercises conducted by the Rev. Caleb Bird, of Margate, the Rev. T. Dodd, and G. Fowler, of Worcester, and the Rev. G, Bearcroft, Leigh Sinton. Numerous congregations were assembled on the occasion, and the utmost attention paid to the sermons which were delivered, Most of our friends will remember that this is one of our New Home Mission Stations, at which the Rev. D. Davies has recently been appointed minister. We are happy to find that he meets with considerable encouragement in his new office of labour, and trust he may be made eminently useful in the neighbourhood. Many friends from Worcester and other parts attended on the anniversary occasion, and the liberal sum of nearly fourteen pounds was collected.

SPA FIELDS CHAPEL.

On Sunday, March 26th, the 75th Anniversary of this time-honoured sanctuary was held; when our esteemed friend, Rev. Jas. Sherman, exchanged pulpits with the pastor in the evening of the day. Few ministers could have occupied the pulpit more appropriately, he having remembered the chapel in its former glory, when the "noble army," who had laboured with the Countess, and who so well seconded her efforts, and the "goodly company" who entered into their labours, were associated in every good word and work for the prosperity of the Connexion, and the College. At that time the Connexion in The London was a praise in the earth. Old Spa is well nigh alone in her glorymay she flourish in the beauty of holiness peace be within her walls, and prosperity within her palaces.

"The man that seeks her peace,
And wishes her increase;
A thousand blessings on him rest."

SPA FIELDS CHAPEL SCHOOLS.

On Easter Monday the Annual Meeting of Old Scholars, who had been connected with the Daily and Sunday Schools, was held, when addresses were given by

the Rev. T. E. Thoresby, who presided; Mr. Hartland; Mr.Seal; some of those who had received advantage from the Schools; and by Mr. Willoughby, who stated that the Sunday School had now entered its Jubilee year, and the Daily School its 72nd year, and suggested feelings of gratitude to God, that the instructions had been blessed in so many instances which had come under the knowledge of the friends; and also stated that recent communications from America and Australia had brought lively and affectionate remembrances of the School and its associations.

"Blessed are they who sow beside all waters.'

"A word spoken in season how good is it!"

Rev. R. Penman, of Taunton, commenced the service with reading and prayer. The Ministers and friends from neighbouring churches, took tea in the school-room. In the evening a public meeting took place, when addresses were delivered as follows: -On "The True Nature of a Christian Church," by the Rev. H. Addiscott, of Taunton ; on "The Solemnity of the Union existing between Pastor and People," by the Rev. W. Lowe, of Wellington; on "The Anxieties and Hopes of the Christian Ministry," by the Rev. H. Quick; and on "Christian Responsibility," by the Rev. W. H. Hines, of Milverton. The Rev. J. S. Spilsbury, of Uffculm, and W. Gamman, of Norton, also took part in the meeting. The services were of a deeply interesting character, and Mr. Short enters upon his labours with cheering prospects of success.

CHESHUNT COLLEGE.

CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION for the Session commencing September, 1854, are informed that their application must be forwarded to the Secretaries before the 12th of June next.

Unmarried men, not exceeding twentyeight years of age, whose piety, moral character, and talent for the ministry, are attested by their minister, and by the leading members of the religious society to which they have been united in church fellowship, are considered as eligible candidates for admission into the Institution. JAMES SHERMAN. Secs. JOHN BRAMALL.

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Sunday School!.

We have much pleasure in availing ourselves of a very appropriate Sermon on the death of W. FLANDERS, ESQ., preached at Surrey Chapel, on Sunday evening, April 23rd, 1854, by Rev. J. SHERMAN, to show our respect and gratitude, as a body, for our departed friend.

From long and intimate connexion with Mr. Flanders, we could say much respecting his great simplicity of Christian character, his attachment to our principles, and zeal to promote our objects, the usefulness and extension of the Connexion,-his liberality to all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ, his especial hospitalities and attention to our Ministers, and other excellences; but we at once refer to the Sermon; only adding, that the preacher utters the sentiments of his brethren in all that he advances, in commendation of the grace of God in our beloved friend, -and that he might have added much more. The text selected by our Brother is 2 Peter i. 14, Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me:" and the Sermon is, with great propriety, dedicated to Mrs. Flanders.

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MR. WILLIAM FLANDERS was born at Downham, in the Isle of Ely, October, 1776. His father held an extensive farm in the fen country, and was devoted to the pursuits of agriculture.

He

Both his father and mother died young -neither of them reaching their thirtyninth year. Mr. Flanders was therefore left an orphan at sixteen-the eldest of five children, to whom he became a second father, watching over them with affectionate assiduity and care. They all died before him. His youth was signalized by many wonderful interpositions of providence in saving his life. On one occasion, while skating, the ice broke under him in deep water. stated that while under the ice his chief auxiety was what would become of his soul-he had risen twice, and death seemed inevitable; but on the third time he had strength enough to cling to a ladder, which some bystanders had obtained and put down the hole into the water. A few moments later and life would have been extinct, but he was drawn up and soon restored to consciousness and health. The event made a lasting impression on his memory, and he often referred to it with the liveliest emotions of gratitude to God.

Of his early training we know but little. It appears, however, that he was much indebted to a pious aunt for her prayers and instructions. From her, by the good Spirit of God, he acquired a great veneration for the Scriptures, a love of good people, and a delight in the ordinances of God, which he never lost. In his conversion to God, there was nothing striking or

R

remarkable. From a constant attendance on the word, "the seed grew up, he knew not how." His conduct had always been moral. Before his decision for God, he was remarkable for abstemious habits, great firmness of purpose, early rising, and persevering devotedness to business. When the religion of Christ gained the ascendancy, all these noble qualities became sanctified to God and his cause.

Some years after having professed his faith in Christ, he was brought into the deepest distress of mind. So deep was his conviction of his state as a sinner before God, and so awful did standing before Christ at the judgmentseat appear, that he lost all inclination for food and sleep-his health began rapidly to give way, and his frame to waste. Relief was however gained, where many have obtained it before, at the cross; and the discipline, though painful, deepened his convictions of the value of the atonement, and fitted him for usefulness in the church of God.

Having been trained to agricultural pursuits, and very fond of country life, he was with difficulty persuaded to forsake them for a residence in London and a lucrative business. Instructed by

one to whom he always acknowledged his obligation, he soon became most successful. The blessing of God upon his regularity and industry was so great, that at forty years of age he retired from business with a suitable compe-` tency. By the judicious employment of his property since he left business, he augmented it into an ample fortune, which he delighted to distribute.

From 1816, the period he left business, he attached himself to numerous religious and benevolent institutions, to all of which he subscribed liberally. The churches of Christ with whom, at different periods of his life, he had held communion, assembling at Sion Chapel, Whitechapel; Spa Fields Chapel; St. Thomas's Square, Hackney; Tottenham Court Chapel, and Surrey Chapel, have witnessed his piety and continued generosity.

Brought up among the friends and

ministers in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, he maintained a fixed preference for the liturgical worship adopted by her ladyship, and for the warm announcement of the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel he had been accustomed to hear from her pulpits. In the affairs of the Connexion, its college and institutions, he took a lively interest. No body of men will feel the loss of Mr. Flanders more deeply, or have a higher sense of his value, than the ministers of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion.

To the interest of the London Missionary Society, a society formed on the liberal principles which were dear to his heart, he devoted his chief attention during the latter years of his life. All connected with that society will bear testimony how cheerfully he contributed to its funds, how anxiously he watched its financial position, and how willingly he devoted his best energies and time to its prosperity.

The religious experience of our dear friend was not that of strong assurance of his interest in Christ. Sustained by a humble, trembling hope in the atonement, the invitations and grace of the gospel, and the unlimited freeness of salvation, he pursued his pilgrimage, sometimes joyfully, but always firmly and perseveringly, to the celestial city. Whatever doubts he had about himself, or his safety in Christ, he had none about the adaptation of the gospel to his condition, and of the willingness of his Saviour to receive him. His prayers were not eloquent in words; but from those who had the privilege of listening to them, we learn that they issued from contrite lips and a humble heart, and were characterized by such warmth, zeal, and love, as often to melt the hearer into sympathy with his petitions. His character was that of a simple, child-like, humble-minded man, enjoying the plain declarations of Christ's gospel, without gainsaying or hesitation. If I were to choose an epitaph, describing his character in a single sentence, it would be that which our Lord gave to Nathanael, "Behold an

Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile."

His usefulness arose not from splendid talents or the power of speech -for he possessed neither of those qualifications- but simply from goodness, purity of attention, amiableness of manner, and promptness of action. Without show or ostentation, he possessed a large amount of practical wisdom, which he improved by its judicious application to things not above his reach-things which he understood, and knew would be for the temporal and eternal good of his fellow-men.

In this house of prayer he has worshipped now for many years. To himself, and his now bereaved widow, the pastor gratefully acknowledges that he Owes much. From the year 1818, just when he had left college, a friendship commenced, and has lasted without interruption till the present time-a period of thirty-six years. The counsel and sympathy of pious and intelligent Christians at that period of a young man's history are very valuable, and by a grateful mind not likely to be forgotten. Through the various afflictions which he has been called to experience during his ministry h re, the sympathy of those two dear friends has been more parental than formal. And it cannot but strike every observer, that it is as singular as painful, that the close of his ministry at Surrey Chapel, and the termination by death of his long friendship with Mr. Flanders, should arrive at the same time. But we shall meet again. and renew that friendship in heaven. Blessed be God for the Christian's hope!

Last Sunday week, April 9th, he was worshipping with us, apparently in his usual health. The sermon was on Christ's observance of the Sabbath, and his corrections of the erroneous notions of the Pharisees respecting works of necessity and mercy being performed on that day. The latter part of the sermon contemplated the eternal Sabbath which the Christian hopes to enjoy, and attempted to rouse the souls of the Church to a more earn

est anticipation and realization of it. The mind of our departed friend seemed overflowing with gratitude for the hope of that end of his pilgrimage. Never can the preacher forget the expression of his countenance, as he took him by the hand and said, "My dear friend, all your morning sermons lately have led.us to heaven. Ah! if we do but get there at last! Who knows but some of us may worship there before long?" Little did he think that on the following Friday he would be in glory, commencing that eternal Sabbath.

During the week, his leg began to show symptoms of swelling, which his medical attendant thought unimportant. and would soon pass away. Though without pain, the swelling advancedstill without apprehension of danger from his medical adviser. His mind was kept in an unusually spiritual state. It seemed by the description of one most interested in his welfare, as if he had a taste of heaven before he entered it. On Good Friday, the 14th, he conversed with his servants on the events which the day commemorated, the death and atonement of Jesus Christ, and affectionately commended them to seek to enjoy an interest in the dying Saviour. During the day he read portions of a book for which he had great partiality (Henry on Daily Communion with God), and expressed himself to his dear wife delighted with the sentiments advanced. In the evening, when he took leave of the family, he entered his room, repeating— "When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies,

I bid farewell to every fear,

And wipe my weeping eyes." When he had finished the four verses, he began another, commencing

"O my Lord, I've often mused

On thy wondrous love to me; How I have the same abused, Slighted, disregarded thee. "To thy church and thee a stranger; Pleased with what displeased Thee; Lost-yet could perceive no danger; Wounded, yet no wound could see." Though he was no songster, he chanted