have gathered chiefly from several notices which have been printed since his death.* Mr. Pike was born at Edmonton, near London, in the year 1784. His father was the Rev. Dr. Pike, a minister among the Presbyterians. In his youth Mr. P. received a good classical education. He was for some time an assistant teacher in a school, where he once had among his pupils the late Rev. John Williams, the martyred missionary of Erromango. He afterwards studied for the ministry at Wymondly. He was baptized by Dr. Evans, the person who wrote the "Sketches of all Denominations." Mr. P. after this sought an interview with Mr. Hughes, of Battersea, with a view to unite with the Particular Baptists. In the course of conversation Mr. Hughes perceived that Mr. Pike's doctrinal views were more in accordance with the General than the Particular Baptists, he therefore gave him a note of introduction to Dan Taylor. Soon after this he joined the church of which Mr. Taylor was pas tor. In 1809 he went to Derby, and during the next year he settled there. His ministry was successful from the first, for in the next year galleries were erected in the chapel, and even then the accommodation was inadequate for the hearers. Efforts were made to procure a new place of worship, in a more central situation, but failing in this design, Mr. Pike prevailed on his people to enlarge and repair the old building. At this time the missionary spirit had become widely diffused among the Particular Baptist churches, and Mr. Pike used his utmost efforts to enlist the sympathies and liberalities of his own denomination in this enterprise. He corresponded with the Rev. A. Fuller respecting union of effort on the part of the two bodies; but as this plan was not cordially approved, the G. B. Missionary Society was formed. Mr. Pike was unanimously chosen its Secretary, and, in the beautiful and expressive language of Mr. Underwood, the devotion of the most affectionate parent to the welfare of his natural offspring can scarcely surpass that which he evinced, to the close of his *The principal one of these is one written by Mr. Underwood. life, for this small but endeared society. But while his engagements with the mission greatly taxed his energies, his pastoral duties were not neglected. His congregation and church steadily progressed in number, until the Brookstreet chapel became inconveniently crowded. At length his people purchased the vacant mansion in St. Mary's Gate, and converted it into the largest nonconformist chapel in the town. Here he laboured to the last Sabbath, and it might be said to the last day of his life. The manner of his death we have already described. The scene at his funeral was a meet close to a life so honoured and useful. The oldest resident in Derby confessed that the spectacle was utterly unprecedented. Mr. Goadby, of Loughborough, improved his death on the following Sunday evening to an overwhelming congregation, and Mr. Underwood to almost as many more on the outside, who were unable to gain admittance into the chapel. Some came as far as twenty miles to be present on the occasion. "Them that honour me I wil! honour." Know ye not then there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? With him some of you have for years been acquainted. You remember, as clearly as if it were only a few weeks since, his first visit to Longford, in February 1820. He came to preach the sermons for the Sabbath school. You remember how, in the morning of that day, he preached from the words,-" None of us liveth to himself," &c. In the afternoon from, -"Let him know that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways," &c. And in the evening from, "Will ye also be his disciples ?" In February 1823 he first came, accompanied by Mr. Green, of Barton, to You replead the Missionary cause. member how the friends connected with the place were anxious to hear both the one and the other, and that they preached one after the other in the afternoon. Since that time Mr. Pike has seldom missed coming to our annual missionary meeting; and he has preached in this pulpit some of his best and most powerful sermons. The day of our annual missionary meeting has always been a high day to many of you. But the chief attraction is gone. That "holy man of God" will never appear among you more. To his voice you will no more listen; at his feet you will never more sit. Fathers and mothers in Israel, still cleave to the Saviour whom he preached, and soon you will meet above. Some present have heard him, but hitherto in vain. Many a solemn message from God has he delivered to you. Let memory do its duty, and let conscience speak. He has, as it were, standing on the verge of eternity, drawn aside the vail, and unfolded the dread reality to view. He has told you of the great gulf that will eventually separate the wicked from the righteous. He has made known to you the joys of heaven, and the miseries of hell. He has spoken to you of religion and eternal life, and of irreligion and eternal death. He has asked, what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul? He has made known to you the onething-needful to secure happiness, and how you may possess it. He has explained to you the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. He has answered the question,-What is thy beloved more than another beloved? He has told you of Christ as a Saviour—a refuge as being made unto us of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He has exposed the danger of delay- Go thy way for this time, &c.; and told you of one who chose the good part. He has explained how when the chief Shepherd shall appear the people of God will be recompensed-that they shall walk with Christ in white-and stand in their lot at the end of the days, how the little flock need not fear because it is their Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom. But while some have been cheered and strengthened, others convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and others have been brought to choose the good part, some of you are still unsaved. Another voice is hushed in death-another labourer has been summoned from the vineyard-another guide to young and to old disciplesanother guide to the Saviour has been called home. Yet you are unsaved. Before the harvest is past, and the summer is ended, yield, O! yield, your hearts to Jesus. Christian friends, let us praise God for his goodness in raising up, and continuing so long among us, one so devoted and successful. Let us pray for the family which has thus been bereaved of its head-the church of its pastor- and the mission of its Secretary. Let us anticipate the time when we shall meet the deceased in heaven, and walk with him the streets of the New Jerusalem. Until then, let us emulate his piety, his zeal, self-denial, liberality, love to Christ, and immortal souls. "Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime; Footprints, that perhaps another, Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour and to wait." C. L. CORRESPONDENCE. THE ACADEMY. (To the Editor of the G. B. Repository.) DEAR SIR,-As the Treasurer of the Academy I hope I may be allowed to bring before the notice of your readers the state of its funds, without incurring the charge of unnecessary intrusion. The institution is vital to our welfare, and perhaps there never was a time when its worth was more strikingly apparent. It has pleased the Great Head of the church in his inscrutable wisdom, recently to call to their reward many of our standard-bearers, which has created very serious vacancies in our churches at home, as well as in the missionary field abroad. At our last Association, too, it was painfully felt that we were not doing what we ought, and what we might, in a pecuniary point of view, for the extension of the denomination. But suppose the means are obtained by which to plant new churches in some of our large towns, our mis all human appearance) will be beyond its reach; before doing so, however, I would allude to its recent history. About five and a half years ago the Manchester church disposed of the chapel they then worshipped in, on account of its locality, and (after meeting for some time in a room) with the amount of money raised for the purpose, and the proceeds of sale of former chapel, succeeded about three years ago in erecting a very neat edifice in a good locality, having an excellent school room underneath. The sionaries in the East are crying for a reinforcement, and declare they must have it; and some of our largest and most important churches are destitute of Pastors. The question then very naturally presents itself where shall we look for the required agency? why of course to the Academy, but if all our present staff were at this moment fully qualified they would scarcely be sufficient to fill up the numerous vacancies. Under these circumstances, then, certainly there needs no apology for urging upon our ministers and leading friends the necessity of using most vigor-church's liabilities at that time were about ous efforts to increase the funds, so that £590 of which £540 were taken upon inwe may be able to put more pious and terest, the remaining £50, with great devoted young men under training. The efforts and sacrifices on the part of the balance overdrawn is over £170, which is members and assistance from kind friends, more than it has been at this early period was liquidated in about a year and a half. of the session for several years past; and Our pastor, twelve months after the chapel was opened, had to resign in consequence of ill health, at which time the church was beginning to experience great trials through the loss of members, principally by removal to a distance. Like many others the cause at Manchester had to be sustained by a mere handful of members, all of the working class, and the number of these having been gradually reducing ever since, it has become at the present time almost extinct. The Yorkshire Conference, sympathizing with the church, has granted several sums in its aid, but the whole of the assistance it is capable of rendering is not sufficient to enable the church to sustain a pastor. A few friends connected with another Baptist church kindly promised aid towards this object, but the cause is now so reduced that they see little or no hope of its succeeding. I hope, Mr. Editor, shall be pardoned if I point out where the great deficiency lies. 1st, then, there are some churches who it is generally believed are well able and whose ministers had the advantage of the institution who never contribute at all. 2ndly, there are those who only contribute occasionally, and 3rdly, others who though they profess to be regular allow their subscriptions to be deferred from time to time to a later period, so that now and then they miss a year. Now if these deficiencies could be remitted, our regular income would be considerably increased, and it would do away with the necessity of so many special appeals. May I request in conclusion that all our churches will lay the matter seriously to heart, and resolve that while they continue to uphold the other denominational institutions, the Academy shall have their hearty liberal, and regular support. Begging that if any friends have money in hand they will forward it without delay, THE TREASURER. I remain, sincerely yours, Sawley, Nov. 16th, 1854. Until a very recent period the church, with the aid previously named, has been able to meet all its liabilities, (with great effort) but seeing no possibility of continuing to do so, it sought advice from the trustees, at the same time placing before them a bill of about £30, which the City Corporation had expended in Paving, &c., the street behind the chapel, and over which the church had had (of course) no control. IS MANCHESTER TO REMAIN IN The latter in the church's weak state is ITS PRESENT STATE? (To the Editor of the G. B. Repository.) SIR, Having seen the above question in the Nov. No. of the Repository in connection with the Home Mission General Committee Meeting's Report, and feeling it to be one of very great importance, I thought it would not be amiss to endeavour to make known to the Committee what the present state of Manchester is, not with the view of attempting to enlist their sympathies on its behalf, because in a very short time the present cause (to likely to be the final stroke to the present G. B. cause at Manchester, for, acting upon the advice of the trustees, it has decided to sell the chapel, and has given power to the Trustees to that effect, and in order to this it is now being advertised in the Manchester newspapers. Whenever a sale is effected (which will probably be almost immediately) there is no doubt that then, the Manchester G. B. interest will expire, this is exceedingly painful to the few friends who have struggled with difficulties and been faithful through so many years; but they will have the consola tion of knowing, however, that they have done what they could. I am glad to see the Home Mission General Committee are taking steps in the right direction in regard to large towns, I am only sorry they did not adopt them twelve months ago, as then there might have been hope for the cause at Manchester, and not that it should be allowed to expire while in possession of so neat and convenient a chapel, and with no greater a debt than about £600, including the whole of its liabilities. Hoping you will feel the importance of the question named in this letter, a sufficient apology for my trespassing upon your space so largely, believe me, yours, &c., R. BARGE, Sec. Manchester, Nov. 1854. OBITUARY. MRS. BAILEY.-On the 17th of May, 1854, the General Baptist church, Archdeacon Lane, Leicester, suffered a painful loss in the death of Mrs. J. Bailey. The record of a few reminiscences of her may be generally useful, as well as a source of gratification to the circle in which she moved. In 1828, when the present pastor became the stated minister of the church in Archdeacon-lane, Mrs. Bailey was a regular hearer, and took much interest in the welfare of the cause. Having been baptized several years before, and her spirit and demeanour corresponding with the requirements of the gospel, she was encouraged to apply to the church for fellowship. Her application was readily entertained, and from the time her membership commenced, until the close of life, she was much esteemed and remarkably useful. Being intelligent and communicative, and not burdened with family cares, our sister found a wide and congenial sphere for activity in visiting the afflicted, in religious conversation with hearers and enquirers, and attention to candidates for baptism. When, 18 years ago, it was proposed to erect a new meeting house, she was highly gratified, and entered into the project with characteristic zeal. Already a collector as well as subscriber to the debt that remained on the former place of worship, her subscription list was willingly extended; and with untiring regularity and cheerfulness she continued to assist in this department of service, until the debt on the chapel was entirely liquidated, in the early part of the present year. In the distributions of the Benevolent Fund for the sick poor, Mrs. B. was one of the most frequent almoners, and from its origin, was the Secretary of a Dorcas Society to aid families in times of maternal need. The outlay, in purchasing premises and in erecting the new chapel, was very large compared with the resources of the church, and to assist in removing the debt, we found it expedient to get up a large annual tea meeting. The anniversary of the opening, Christmas Day, was very favourable to this object, and through the discreet and vigorous management of our anniversary committee, of whom Mrs. B. was always one, this day was successfully appropri ated to it. Frequently our friend had taken six or eight pounds in the sale of tickets before the day arrived, and her tray was always well furnished with provision and with guests. The church was sensible of great obligation to our friend for the indefatigable exertions requisite in preparing for and superintending these annual gatherings, but whenever it was exprssed, whether privately or in our social meetings, it was evident that no acknowledgments were desired, and that the height of her earthly ambition was to do "what she could" in acknowledgment of redeeming love. Mrs. Bailey's remarkable activity in carrying out schemes of co-operation for social good was united with exemplary regularity in attending public worship and week evening lectures. Her seat was very seldom vacant, and it was equally remarkable to see her come into the chapel five minutes after the appointed time for commencing the service. With a good understanding, an unfalter ing faith in the doctrines of the gospel, and a lively, active, temperament, the profession of our departed friend, as might be expected, was sustained by a life of cheerful, practical piety. Her conversation on experimental religion was easy and natural; whilst at the ut-, most remove from pharisaic pride, it was free, and much adapted to benefit those who knew less of the Scriptures, and had been less observant of the operations of religious truth. The uniform activity and ardour which distinguished our late friend in religious pursuits, were not attended with neglect or inconsistency in the domestic relations. She was an excellent wife, and a kind mistress. The most rigid disciplinarian could not desire more systematic economy and regard to order and comfort at the family hearth than prevailed in her house. It is not intended to represent her as having no failings, but we believe her to have been a devoted christian, and for a long succession of years her spirit and example were a source of much satisfaction to her pastor, and exerted a very beneficial and genial influence on the church. The affliction which brought our sister to the grave was lingering, and attended with much severe pain. Her spirits were good, her hope firm, and though her usual state of feeling was not triumphant it was tranquil. All the relief that medical skill and natural affection could suggest, were afforded; and the kindness of her friends and of a gracious providence were frequently and feelingly acknowledged. As her end drew near, and the indications of it became more obvious, it was evident that she waited for the Lord's second coming with unwavering faith. The last sentence she uttered was deeply interesting and affecting to all that were present. It was in reply to the remark, "Heart and flesh appear to be failing." Suddenly her rigid, ghastly countenance regained some resemblance to its former self, and a smile passed over her features whilst she gasped, "Yes, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." In accordance with a desire she had expressed her remains were interred in our burial ground at Belgrave. On the evening of the following Lord's-day the event was improved to a large congregation at the Archdeacon Lane chapel, from Heb. vi. 11,—" And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." Baptist church at Melbourne and Ticknall has sustained a serious loss in the removal of Mr. T. Richardson of the latter place. He had for many years held a farm at Ticknall, (which has now passed into the hands of his only son) and in his house ministers and other friends of the cause of Christ have long met with the most kind and hospitable entertainment. In his younger years our departed brother lived with an uncle, who was an active member of the Wesleyan connection, and a liberal supporter of its institutions, and from his example he received an impulse which was useful to him afterwards. He did not become decidedly pious until the thirty-fifth year of his life. but being favoured with an eminently pious mother, and accustomed from his youth to attend on the means of grace, his general conduct was strictly moral previous to his union with the church. It was on Oct. 16th, 1816, having given himself to the Lord in a holy covenant, that he was baptized at Hartshorn, with three others, by his now only surviv ing brother, Mr. John Richardson, near Derby. As a member of the church his conduct was peaceful and unassuming. As a hearer of the gospel he was serious and attentive, and in his attendance at the monthly church meetings and the means of grace generally he gave pleasing proofs of his interest in the welfare of Zion. It was but seldom that the claims of business, however pressing, prevented his attendance at the week evening lecture. In the year 1848 he was unanimously elected to the office of deacon; and in that office he continued, discharging its duties with increasing fidelity and acceptance, until called to unite with the triumphant church. Many who have long united with him in christian fellowship at Melbourne and Ticknall can bear testimony to his un wavering consistency and integrity both as an officer and member of God's spiritual family. Of the G. Baptist denomi nation he was a firm and constant friend, not only contributing liberally to our various connexional Institutions, but also evincing an interest in the welfare of the churches by his frequent attendances at our conferences and associaAs a christian he "walked with MR. THOMAS RICHARDSON. The G. tions. |