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of the race. It ie, therefore, necessary to consider past and present in answering the question, What next? The answer will largely depend on the mental and moral vision. It also involves the prophetic instinct and outlook of the soul. It may give rise to a philosophy of pessimism, as in the ease of Sohopenhaur, who saw only the evil of the world, and pleaded for the extinction of society ; or it may produce a poetic optim-ism, as in Tennyson, who saw ' One God, one law, one element, and one far-off Divine event, to which the whole creation moves.' But the question must be faced in the interests of human advancement. The world is saved by hope, and hope is the power of living in the future.The question must be viewed in the light of two or three facts. There is being witnessed on a large seals the rise of a new spirit in humanity. Man, as a whole, is coming to his own. The common people are saying, ' We have a right to live, a right to work, and a right to think.' They are right. The old social order is chang-ing, giving plane to new. The growing social conscience will not tolerate s social system that produces a deep-seated pauperism, unemployment, and unemployable-nese. It says, 'Let the economics of the country be brought into line with its Christian principles and ideals.' And there is ooming a revolution that will bring land, wealth, and industry into public possession. There is also an ever-increasing protest against the craze for armaments and the building of Dreadnoughts. It is a deepening conviction that a nation's
best policy
is peace, and brotherhood the loftiest ideal of inter-national relations. Then, with regard to religion, a gradual change is taking place in Theology. Truth is eternal—the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. But creeds and forms are the earthen vessels which contain it, and therefore limit it. With advancement ofknow-ledge and
an ever-enlarging spiritual experience, truth takes on new and higher forms. It is expressed, not only in the terms of modern knowledge, but in the mystic phrase of the deeper spiritual life. Religion is no longer a question of external authority. It is seen tobelong
to the structure of human nature. Not acci-dental, but vital, that in which man realises his highest manhood. In Christianity is found the secret anddynamic of the world's millenium.
What, then, is the outlook ? It is well to look at this matter with special reference to the Church and the wid-er movements of the kingdom of God. The problem is
not a new Christianity, but a living, progressive, inter-pretation of it. The old faith, fire, passion, devotion must abide, but, adapted to the changing conditions of life. Christ is still King of kings. The Cross is the abiding altar of prayer and sacrifice. The Gospel is
still the appeal of Divine love to the human soul. Bt t these are not fossilized fixtures ; they are ever-growin g facts in spiritual consciousness. With a faith like thi. , the future is certain. Through the struggle and travail the world moves up to God. In the light of all this, What will be the revival of the future ? Will there le one ? Men of vision can see coming a new and larger baptism of humanity with the Spirit of God. The 1 e may be passing clouds of materialism, but the soul vi I outshine them and assert its essential oneness with tl. e Eternal. Down in the human heart there is a chord tl at vibrates when touched by the finger of truth. It may lid
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494
THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST LEADER,
JULY 22, 1909
understood emotional. Emotionalism is not spi:ituality.That belongs to the sensuous. The emotions lie very near to the passions, and if excited apart from the moral reason, there is great danger. Many so.called revivals are out-bursts of emotion. Not a few professional evangelists appeal to the emotions by harrowing anecdotes. What is the result ? The creation of a greater difficulty. The Church that keeps up its numbers by such spasmodic methods is like a house built on sand. It is true, feel-ing belongs to religion. There cannot be great con-victions and ideals without emotion. But spirituality is deeper than emotionalism. It abides when emotion has passed away. It is owing to paucity of words when spirituality is described as the soul's deep, Divine life— the inner consciousness of eternal reality. Life is too deep for words.
The note of the coming revival will also be distinctly ethical. It will be a passion for juetioe, righteousness, purity, and truth in the relations of life. Methodism has never been indifferent to ethics. But it may have been a little too individualistic. John Wesley was one of the finest ethical teachers of his day. His evangel-ism was a protest against the moral laxity of the clergy and the loose living of his times. But that is not what is meant. The new revival will be a passion for social and commercial righteousness. It will sweep away the refuge of lies in Trade and Commerce, Politics and In-ternational relations. It will not allow Brewers, Sweat-ers, masters who grind down their employees, men who hold property for immoral purposes, to be members of churches, or to occupy any place in civic or political life. It will demand an ethical standard as the measure of worth and condition of entrance into public trust and responsibility. But the social ideal will be the dominant. The new revival will be the outcome of the new social conscience. It will regard society, not as an aggregation of individuals, but an organic whole. It will interpret life not in terms of the unit, but the uni-versal. Its ideal will be, all for each and each for all. In this lies the Church's future. The Church will have to face the problems of life. If it is to capture the masses it must take up their causes and help in their emancipation. It must evangelize socialism and fire it with the passion of the Cross. It must not only cry, ' Cease to do evil, learn to do well ;' but take up the cause of the widow, the fatherless, the oppressed, the ill-housed and ill-fed. This is the mission of the Church. The Church in fellowship with her Lord, has the re-sources and adaptability for the needs of every age. This means that the new revival will be progressive. The heart will be open to every new breath from heaven, and its mind alert to every movement of modern life. It will take in the new knowledge, the new thought, the new spirit of humanity. It will move on with the eternal movement of the soul. And in this it will real-ise that Christianity has in it the progress and glory of all the ages.
But what will be the centre of this new movement ? The Cross l That is the saving force of the world. Sacrifice is the dynamic of human progress.
In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time, All the light of sacred story,
Gathers round its bead sublime.
The new revival is coming l Not by order and arrange-ment. Like the Welsh revival it will be the spontan-eous movement of the Spirit in the souls of men. The pulse of a deeper life is beating through humanity. The signs of the new time are already felt in the hearts of praying men.—Jemxs GRIFFIN.
'Monica of Es •eburn.' By Margaret P. Osborne. Arthur ti. Stock-well, London. 2s. net.
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'The Bible Doctrine of the Sacraments.' By Canon Bee ching, M,A. John Murray. 2e. ad. net.
Tins book consists of six lectures and two sermons, delivered by the author in Westminster Abbey. They are clear and reverent expositions of what the Church of England, in the Protestant sense, teaches concerning the Sacraments of Bap-tism and the Eucharist. Doubtless the learned canon's posi-tions will not be Catholic enough for many of his brother clergy; and on the other hand it would he easy to ask a num• ber of awkward questions. Many of his affirmations are ecclesi-astical in origin rather than scriptural. He accepts interpreta-tions of scripture which recent criticism has seriously shaken. Nor does he allow sufficient weight to the Greek mysteries and their influence upon sacraments: theories. At the same time a large number of Christian people believe what this book expounds, and whether we agree or no, it is necessary to know and here the knowledge is supplied —S. K. S.
ECHOES OF SOUTHPORT
CONFERENCE.
A
Delegate's Impressions.
IF, as is said, ' All things come to those who wait,' it has proved its truthfulness in my experience. For, after being a member and local preacher upwards of forty years, I was, by the District Meeting, elected a delegate to the Southport Con-ference. To say the least, no greater honour eould have been conferred upon me, and no greater joy could possibly have come to any heart than it did to mine, that I, a small, hum ble person, should have my name in the list of representatives to the Primitive Methodist Annual Conference.' Therefore, on June 15th, 1909, I found myself in our beautiful church at Southport. I can assure anyone who has not had such an honour conferred upon them that it is impossible not to feel elevated and dignified, when, however many the hearers, and however crowded the church, you can make your way to a seat specially provided for you—reserved, where no one was allowed to say, ' This is my seat, move up please !" Glorious things are spoken of thee,' ye cushioned seats in the Confer-ence. Another thing, no delegate could by any possibility make a mistake as to which seat was his, for there was the name of the various Districts right before your eyes, so that, if circumstances had been such that you had to run into the meeting, you would at the same time have been able to read the place where you were to sit, to listen, to record your vote, and speak, if by any means you got the opportunity. , I cannot claim to be in the line of 'the house of Aaron,' but rather like his brother, slow of speech. For when I would have supported a motion, or said a few words on some matter before the house, while I was getting ready ' another stepped in before me.' The G.C.D. of our District is a very genial man, and he allowed me to have the very next seat to his own. I must say he treated me with marked consideration and courtesy. Being a novice in Conference procedure, he kindly told me what to do, and even gave a sly hint as to whose name would look well on the ballot papers as the scrutineers came round for our vote for the man whom we thought the most capable of filling the vacant office.
I did not, like ' Uncle Jeremiah ' in Aldersgate, allow my better-half to rig me out in new clothes as he did. I am afraid that had I done so I should have had the feeling of David when Saul dressed him in his own armour, that they were a perfect misfit, and all the other delegates would have detected that I was got up for the occasion. I went there-fore in my old clothes for three reasons: Firstly, I was not afraid to rest my back against the pew for fear of getting them creased ; secondly, if someone at luncheon time had accidentally dropped his knife and fork upon his plate, no drops of greasy matter coming my way would take the nap off them; thirdly, I was most at home in them. Being an old Primitive Methodist I recalled the days when the travel-ling, as well as the local preachers, wore black clothes often-times tinted with green. I remained therefore in the ances-tral line, and, with my umbrella under my arm, could declare, I am bound for the Kingdom.' My old bag, too, that has seen many years of service, had to be requisitioned for this occasion. It has travelled with me to many parts of the country where, by the invitation of friends, I have gone to preach. And it would not have been fair to it to have cast it on one side when I was about to sit in the higher courts, to help make laws, that sometimes get broken by the law-makers themselves; but woe betide that other man who through ignorance breaks them.
The President, Sir William Hartley, is certainly the right man in the right place. Genial, kind, courteous, sagacious, keen, alert, optimistic, generous. He possesses an eye that penetrates your very soul. I no longer wondered that his name is spoken in other countries than our own, as a gener-ous benefactor of the poor and needy, and that many rise up and call him blessed.' The Vice-President, too, I greatly ad-mired. He showed a most beautiful spirit which everybody recognised. For of all the offices to which any man can be called in our Church, that of President, must give him a feel-ing akin to Paul when he was caught up into the third heaven.
Mr. Welford very gracefully took his seat as second man, and as I looked at him I repeated the couplet:—
I They love him most Who know him beet.'
I felt like shouting Praise the Lord,' when the President spoke of being reverent in God's house. This, to my mind, is a matter in which we have most certainly been lacking. I should like a resolution to the effect that any delegate reading a newspaper in Conference, especially the page devoted to Sport, should be made to give for each offence £1 to the Cen-tenary fund. And any woman who is so busy that she has to bring her knitting to God's house, shall be fined in the same way. We are sometimes reminded that the old Prime are too slow. It is possible in these days of hurry and rush, to become too busy, and thus be unable to enter into the spirit of the Master, I Come ye yourselves apart, and rest awhile.'
It was very inspiring to look upon such a vast company who had been won to Christ through the instrumentality of Primitive Methodism. Memories of days past floated before my vision, and I saw old people, and younger ones seeking salvation, and boys and girls consecrating themselves to the service of Jesus Christ. And I could see in the near future visions of better days yet to come to our beloved Church.
In the evening I attended the public meeting at Marsh Side, and was delighted with the splendid building we have there. The surroundings are very beautiful. I said to myself—if through mercy I should live to claim my Old Age Pension— I really believe, that in such a neighbourhood, among such surroundings, I could live and die in peace. The meeting from the very beginning had the real Primitive Methodist ring in it. The chairman kept the meeting in perfect order. He gave a good spiritual tone from the very beginning, and one could tell that he was well versed in the duties of chair-manship. The vice-chairman was genial and hearty. And the story of his early years; of his new clothes, made out of old secondhand ones; and his little tie, for which his mother paid the extravagant price of threepence, that be might at-tend the Sunday school, lent a charm to his address that I
shall not soon forget. Dr. Pigott talked of the past, th
ahtis a Primitive powers of glorious days that lie behind us. Some of the stories remind' ed us of times when we laughed, and cried, and sometim, shouted. And we wished we could put the clock back a hit -and begin over again a new campaign for Jesus Christ. The speaker was a young layman from the North. Though
eye.fa
fearlessness l.eys with t all e hto d clea5sea iee,,yeent , oIrdatidorynoat see hie
Methodist Conference) what were his own convictions, led me to believe, that some day, there would be another p.g. added to the list of M P.'s.
The Rev. E. Dalton, happy himself, tries to make everbody else so, except when they get into a fog over Book room mat-ters. He spoke of the future—the millenial days that are yet to be—and as he warmed to his subject, one could imagine that in his soul there rang the cry,
' There's a better day, There's a better day coming on.'
While he was talking, however, one thing puzzled me. It was this: Every few seconds Brother Dalton put his hand upon his head, and I had to consider why he did this. From his speech we knew his brains were all there; but, alas ! hie hair had gone. If you ask me when ? I cannot tell. If yea ask me where ? I should say small portions of it are in all parts of the connexion. It may be that among his glorious visions of the future he may have beheld a luxurious growth as of other days, and natural instinct guided his hand to feel if it was on its way.
The singing was hearty, and all present entered into the spirit of it. We sung over and over again to old Sagina:—
I My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.' Brother Wilshaw and his excellent wife, who are spending Life's Eventide in this quiet spot, were there. They have done splendid service for ' Christ and the Church.' If we made a distribution of medals for those who have brought the most money into our connexional coffers, I think Brother Wilshaw would come first on the list. Brother Wilson Barrett, who has laboured bard and long, I also saw there. We prayed that these dear friends might realise much of heaven's sun-shine, as they steadily climb the bill of life, till, having reached its summit, they enter through the gate into the city.' As to our dear Brother Whittle, the genial superintendent, he smiled us into the meeting, and he smiled us out:-
' Wondrous joy shone in his face At the thought of being Pastor Many years in such a place.'
The next morning found us at our work again. I can as-sure any one, who does not know, that it is real hard work lis-tening fo a lot of talking, especially when you cannot get an opportunity to say anything. After the usual preliminaries, the names of the ministers who had died during the year were read out. We were glad that the list was not so long as in some years, and that in this matter God has been very good to us. Many eulogies were heaped upon the dear fathers and brethren who had fallen. We were quite sure that our dear comrades had safely ' Crossed the Bar.' But the thought that was uppermost was: Why do we wait until the minister has gone from us before such kind things are said ? I called to mind some lines I read years ago in an American paper:-
' How much would I care for it could I know That when I am under the grass or snow, The raveled garment of life's brief day Folded, and quietly laid away, The spirit let loose from mortal bare, And somewhere away among the stars— How much do you think it would matter then
What praise was lavished upon me, when, Whatever might be its stint or store, It neither could help or harm me more. If midst of my toil, they had but thought To stretch a finger, I would have caught Gladly such aid, to bear me through Some bitter duty I had to do: And when it was done had I but beard One breath of applause, one cheering word— One cry of 'Courage!' amid the strife, So weighted for me with death or life— How would it have nerved my soul to strain Through the world of the coming surge again. What use for the rope if it be not flung Till the swimmer's grasp to the rock has clung? What help in a comrade's bugle-blast When the peril of Alpine heights is past ?
What need that the spurring paean roll
When the runner is safe beyond the goal ? What worth is eulogy's blandest breath When whispered in ears that are hushed in death? No I no I if you have but a word of cheer, Speak it while I am alive to hear '
(To be continued )
Swinton, Manchester
On Thursday evening, July 8th, 1909, the following books were presented to Mr. James Graham on the occasion of his entering our ministry, after spending three years in Bartley College: Dr. Driver's ' Deuteronomy,' Dr. Plummer 's St. Luke,' and Headlam and Sanday's I Romans, all in the Io ternational Critical Commentary series; I Studies in the Life of Christ,' and 'Philosophy of the Christian Religion,' both by Dr. Fairbairn; ' The old Testament in the Jewish Church; ' Religion of the Semites,' and ' Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia,' all by Dr. Robertson Smith ; The Religious Teachers of Greece,' by Dr. James Adam, and ' Studies in the Inner. Life of Jesus,' by Dr. Garvie. The Rev. P. McPhail presided and gave an address on Preaching. Mr. Thos. L. Gun' made the presentation, and be, with Messrs. W. E. hardy an L. A. Gerrard, representing the Church andsC.E. Society,
spoke on the past associations and service of Mr. Graham, who suitably responded.
In! 22, 1909
THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST LEADER.
495
Table Talk.
WE
learn with the greatest pleasure that the President of Conference proposes to make another great gift of books to the ministers and students and to those hired local preachers who Are on the permanent list. Many of our brethren must have longed to perinea those two massive volumes entitled, A New History of Methodism,' recently issued by Hodder and Stoughton, and published at 30e. To a large number however, the price would be prohibitive; and while there was the eager desire to possess such a monumental work, the hunger would necessarily have to continue unappeased. The news will therefore come with great joy that Sir William, after considerable negotiation with the publishers, has de-cided to make an absolute gift of the complete work to all our brethren named.•
A FEW—a very few we believe—of our brethren possess the volumes, and those who are fortunate enough to own them as well as those who have seen the nature of their contents realise with the President that it is highly desirable that the whole of the ministry should have the privilege of knowing at first hand what many of the foremost minds in the Metho-dist Churches, both in this and other lands, have to say about the past and the prospects of the Churches of the Methodist family. The President has already placed the order for the books with the publishers. The volumes will be identical with those already on sale. Necessarily some time must elapse before so great an order for so large a work can be completed. The future recipients may, however, confidently
i
rely upon the volumes reaching them in the November Book Parcels. This gift will rank among the most serviceable Sir William has ever made to the ministry.
• • •
WE
have reason to believe that through Sir William's ini-tiative all the ministers of Wesleyan and United Methodist Churches will also be the happy recipients of the volumes through the generosity of several distinguished laymen of the Churches named.• • •
Tee Missionary Executive has resolved that the Rev. T. Mitchell shall not be allowed to retire from the office of Financial Secretary, which he has filled with some distinction, without some tangible evidence of connexional appreciation. The testimonial is to be made at the meeting of the General Missionary Committee at Birkenhead next week. Contribu-tions will be welcomed. They must be sent before the end of this week to the Rev. EL J. Taylor, 93 Mount View Road, Stroud Green, London, N.
• • •
THE Tunstall Conference officials have lost no time in shap-ing themselves for the Conference of 1910. Already they have their numerous Committees appointed with the detailed duties of each clearly mapped out. The chairman of the Conference Arrangements' General Committee is the Rev. James Griffin, and Conn. J. W. Beswick, of Longton, is vice-chairman. The Rev. James Laugham has bravely faced the arduous and exacting duties of General Secretary, with the Rev. F. H. Edwards as his assistant. The Treasurers are: Mr. W. B. Hackney, J.P., of Stoke; Mr. W. Turner, of Tun-stall; with Mr. George Goodwin, of Tunstall, as Financial Secretary. We trust our friends will experience great pleas-ure in their work. Notwithstanding the great and remark-ably good conferences there have been that of Tunstall will stand out pre eminent among them all.
• • •
IN addition to the usual Committees to which we have now grown accustomed, the Tunstall Committees include one specially appointed to arrange and organise the camp meet-ings on Mow Cop. Of this Committee the Rev. T. H. Hunt is very 'appropriately appointed chairman, with Rev. G. Lee as secretary. The Rev. G. Armitage also serves on this Com-mittee along with the ministers of the circuits embraced with-in the Conference area. The vast success of the 1907 gath-erings on Mow will serve as an excellent precedent for our brethren. We may anticipate that all the excellent features of that historic occasion will repeat themselves in an enlarged form.
• e •
IN making a nomination at the recent Conference, the Rev. Matthew Johnson quoted the words, 'He was the mildest man-nered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.' The phrase has attracted much attention, and not a little discussion has arisen at to its authorship, especially in literary circles. In one case, where not fewer than twenty ministers were present, the words were attributed to Shakespeare and to Stevenson, the latter having, it was stated, used it in his 'Black Arrow.' The interesting point, we are able to set at rest, for Mr. John-son informs us that the words are Byron'e, and may be found in his Don Juan, canto III, Stanza 41.
• • •
THE church at Southport has again the promise of addi- tional benefactions. Daring the Conference, while the Col-lege report was being considered, the President intimated his intention to put two stained glass windows in the College, chapel at his own expense, and then drawing the attention of the Conference to the memorial window, the generous gift of Mr. S. Hall, in the Conference church, Sir William in an aside said that that church in which they were assembled would also be distinctly improved if a few more stained glass windows were placed therein. Those who know the inner working of the President's mind detected the idea in process of completion that has now come to fruition. Dunng his year of Presidency Sir William has announced, through the Rev. J. T. Barkby, hie intention of inserting five such windows in Church Street church, two on either side and one in the facade. Mr. R. Anning Bell, who designed the window pre-sented by Mr. Hall, has already been commissioned to prepare designs and to complete the windows within a year.
• • •
Toe Rev. J. Ritsun has recently delivered the Hartley Lee- tare on' The Romance of Primitive Methodism' at Abersychan, Pontypool circuit.' The lecture is a very telling story, and should be heard by the people on many of our circuits. The topic was happily selected by Mr. Riteon, and his volume is a
The Battle is the
Lord' s.
By Rev. M. Johnson.
Tye Metes is not yours. bat Goes."-2 chronicles ex. Ia.
Teem comes to most of us at times the consciousness that the Christian life is a warfare. We are called to wrestle, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. The demand is urgent for vigilance, courage, and endurance. The form of attack and the methods employed differ with every age, but the foe is the same and his object unchanging. Like JehoesPhat in this old world story from the Chronicler, of Israel, there come times when the heart of the true man is filled with fear. Like him we fully comprehend the peril of the situation, and are apt to be appalled at the danger which threatens. In such circumstances we shall do well to follow his example, and with all the energy we can command, endeavour to lean back on God. That is not only the dictate of religion but the instinct of commonsense. Temptation, trouble, and conflict should bring us to God. Yet how often this fact is ignored, and God is blamed for the disaster that ensues.
In thus turning to God there came the vision to Jehoeaphat and his people. How full and hopeful it was I They saw the supremacy of God and His faithfulness to his covenant to Abraham. The covenant gave them God as their God and the land as their land, and they pleaded the promise that He would hear them in his house. Besides all this there was also the recognition of their own helplessness. How pathetic their confession I We have no might, neither know we what to do.' Alas, how often similar words are wrung from the hearts of good men and women to-day as they behold the circum-stances in which the Christian Church finds itself placed ! Indifference, unsettledness, worldliness, the craze for amuse-meat, arrested progress, and the coldness, not to say apathy, prevalent almost everywhere are enough to wring from all true hearts the cry, We have no might, neither know we what to do.'
This condition of heart may be one of the greatest factors leading to improvement and advance. There is a vital connec-tion between complete victory and perfect self-despair, if like the men of Judah we throw ourselves upon God, for
' In man's most dark extremity Oft succour dawns from Heaven. They looked up. Our eyes are upon Thee.' The prayer was short, but it ended in rest. Praying faith is good, but resting faith is better. It is that which secures triumph. ' Oh, rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee thy heart's desire.' The response to their faith was an immediate Word from the Lord. That is the usual order. Trouble, concern, seeking the Presence, power to pray the prayer of faith, and then the Divine promise straight from God. The word was unaccompanied by any betterment of circumstances, yet it possessed incomparable value. The medium of its communication is most suggestive. The word came not by means of some great ecclesiastic in the Jewish Church. It was not given to the High Priest, nor to the other Priests, but to a humble Levite, the man of all others in con-nection with the Temple who had the most lowly and ordinary duties to perform. He became the channel through which the Divine communication flowed to his own race. It is not great talents, or accomplishments, or social position that con-dition God's employment of us. The humble Christian, faith-ful to the simple round, the common task, may become the vehicle of Divine communication. This is a privilege to which we all can aspire. The simple member, as well as the leaders and officiale, may enjoy this great honour. We must, therefore, recognise our individual responsibility. Not great mentality, but the great faith of a humble, devoted soul le the condition of our being used by Him.
Let us remember whose the conflict really is. The battle is not yours but God's. It is simple truth, and one which every man will admit, yet how apt it is to be forgotten. How often have we all forgotten it I This is the reason why dis-couragement, helplessness, ineffectiveness and despair become so easy and so ruinous. There is so much to do, and we have so little power, skill, enthusiasm for the task The foes are so numerous, resourceful, and fascinating that they appeal successfully, to eye and ear and heart, and what are we against all this ? Take courage, oh soul of mine, for the message of the Levite is for thee. Thus eaith the Lord unto you, fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Do not
minimise the difficulties of the struggle, neither must we
ex-!aerate them. The open secret is this—the battle is the Lard'
s.
e they presented themselves before Him. En g
rd's. Assured that God Himself was in the message of the
toThe result was glorious. There quickly followed the rising
wen feet and the loud shout of praise. The Perfect trans-zermation wrought by that hour of prayer was marvellous. How near they felt God to be to them now I How devoted and trustful, and confident they became I Their worship led natural
r to the splendid audacity of faith. No change had ta`en P ace in their circumstances, the change was in
them-es
ue,lves.ii„,Earlysie the morning they rose to march against theW
ronging as the went. triumphantly glorious. Yesterday in themselves.' They all is glory. Yet the only difference is ey know God better, they have his word, didtithrat7 rest upon it. That
ie
the grand secret of power forvaluable contribution to the literature of Primitive Methodism. But the lecture is better heard even than read. In its pub-lished form, through the special offer of the 2s. 6d. volume for le, it is sure to find a wide constituency, but we sincerely hope arrangements will be made for the lecture to be repeat-edly re-delivered. The story gains from the author's personal interest and the blend of thought and passion which are in-evitably somewhat lost in the printed page.
• • •
THROUGH the 'kindness of Ald. Abram Peel an opportunity was recently afforded a deputation representing the Bradford Central Hall debt reduction scheme of meeting the Dudley Hill trustees, at his home at Birkenshaw. After tea had been partaken of the case of the Central Hall was fully considered, and as a result £50 has been promised to the fund.
THE various Committees which had in hand the arrange-ments for the Southport Conference have met during the past week, and in every case the reports presented were most satis-factory. The Missionary Committee will have about £210 to hand over to the General Missionary Treasurer, which is by a very large sum the highest amount ever raised on Confer-ence Missionary Day. The handbook will yield just over i2t) net profit. £105 has been paid over to the Local Infirmary. On the General Account there will be a nice surplus to hand over to the Centenary Fund. In every way the results are most gratifying, and the members of the General Arrange-ments Committee fittingly closed their meeting with the Doxology.
o • •
THE Conference is annually distressed by the number of churches without Suiday schools. A school is imperative to the future success of a village cause, and Primitive Metho-dism must adopt the policy all the Churches are following in attaching a school to each Society, however small it may be. Flaxton, on the York First circuit, shows how it can be done. This school has never exceeded seven scholars, but it is fully staffed, and holds a successful anniversary, a few young f olk being borrowed for this event. Four of the scholars are from one family, end to their mother is mainly due this plucky and successful effort to give Primitive Methodist children a re-ligious training under the auspices of their own Church.
•
•
•
THE new school-hall at St. Albans has been opened with most cheering prospects. The trustees had the rare good for-tune to secure Dr. Peake for the opening services. His ser-mons both on Saturday and Sunday were highly appreciated. They were a rare combination, highly intellectual, deep'y spiritual, and withal full of simplicity. In the Sunday even-ing prayer meeteven-ing the Dr. was at his best. His earnest ap-peal for a giving up of sin, and a full surrender of life to Jesus Christ will not readily be forgotten.
•
THE Rev.
J.
Goldthorpe, who ministered for many years in Hull and Grimsby, is rendering excellent service in South Wales. Under his ministry Pontypool circuit is full of activ-ity and bids fair to lead the District in Centenary enterprise. He is throwing himself heartily into the young people's move-ment. On closing his year of office as President of the Pon-typool C.E. Union he was heartily voted to the chair of the Welsh National Council. _ The year will entail considerable labour and travelling, but we are sure the new President will serve the Union well and also creditably represent our own Church. By an interesting coincidence, Mr. Goldthorpe suc-ceeds Mr. C. J. Youngs, one of our prominent local preachers in Cardiff.• • •
Tna first Nonconformist burial took place on Thursday in the historic churchyard of East Gilling, where Lord Fairfax and other leaders of the Parliamentary forces in the Civil War lie buried. After a service in the Primitive Methodist chapel, the cortege, headed by Rev. T. Graham and Mr. C. Watson, passed through the village. At the church gates, the proces-sion was joined by the vicar in his surplus, who, at the request of the officiating minister, closed the service at the graveside with the benediction. Until ten years ago Gilling had no per-manent Free Church place of worship.
• • •
GREAT surprise and regret were caused by the intimation in our last issue of the death of Mrs. Herridge. Though she had reached en advanced age she was remarkably healthy and active up to within a fortnight of passing away. The grief of the family and friends is intensified by the fact that she was taking a keen interest in the church now being erected at Bournemouth in memory of her husband, the late Rev. James Herridge. She was present at the stonelaying on Whit-Monday, and it then seemed moot likely that she would live to see the building completed.
• • •
IN the recent death of Mrs. Mary Boffey, which took place at Bulkeley, in the Nantwich circuit, the church has lost a woman of a remarkable type. Mrs. Boffey was 72 years of age, had been a member from childhood, and had held the offices of society steward and class leader at Bulkeley for very many years, which offices she held at the time of her death.
Methodist Emigration.
WE are asked by the ' Methodist Emigration and Passenger League ' to say that by the action of the Methodist Confer& ce in the various Colonies they are now brought into closer con-tact with those Churches, and can absolutely ensure a cordial Methodist Welcome in every Colony, and many other countries among the recent developments conducing to this result are : The New Zealand, Qaeeneland, Victoria and Tasmania, West-ern Australia, and New SouthWales Conferences by resolutions heartily approve of the League and will co-operate with it.
Canada :—No New Conference action, but private arrange-ments are made for a great part of the fares to be advanced to suitable Domestics, and situations secured before sailing. The League also assists applicants to secure Assisted passages to various Colonies and foreign countries wherever they are granted—no charge being made for services. Handbook and further particulars will be sent on application to the Secretary, Methodist Emigration League, Norwich.
495
THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST LEADER.
JULY
2,
Igoy
Methodist Conferences at Lincoln & Plymouth.
WESLEYAN CONFERENCE AT
LINCOLN.
By Rev. W. Wakinshaw.
Welcome, Thrice Welcome.
IVITEI the possible exception of Cornwall, Lincoln is the most Methodistic county in England. As the birthplace of Wesley it has a peculiar right to proffer hospitality to the spiritual descendants of the man who in Mr. Birrell's phrase contested' England for Jesus Christ. The comparative smallness of the city is the only conceivable reason why the visit of the Con-ference to Lincoln has been eo long delayed. But now that a precedent has been established it may be taken for granted that the old place will now be securely lodged in the regular list of Conference towns. Greetings have rained upon us from every quarter of the sky. The Mayor is a Wesleyan and the Sheriff is a Congregationalist. Arrayed in robes and chains that outshone the glory of Solomon, they scaled the giddy heights of the platform and gave us their civio bene-diction. Later in the day their greeting was embroidered with all the charms of a garden party. The day after Mr. Charles Roberts, the Temperance stalwart who represents the city in Parliament, and his wife, repeated this delightful form of the open-air treatment in the Castle grounds.
But the welcome that will specially interest the readers of this journal cane from the Free Church Council and the representatives of the other Methodist Churches. As might be expected the irrepressible Primitive was well in evidence: in the person of the Rev. John Hall, the secretary, who read the address from the Council; in the shape of the Rev. Joseph Riteon who delivered the greetings of our Methodist allies. It was an able, genial, and much appreciated deliverance. One of the most loudly cheered passages was that in which he held out the olive leaf. Mr. Riteon distinctly assured us that so soon as terms could be arranged Prime and Wesleyans would readily and effectively unite.
Fallen Veterans.
At the brief opening session on Wednesday night the death of four of the noble veterans of the Legal Hundred was re-ported. Thomas McCullagh, Dr. Rigg, John Jackson, and James Pratt had all finished their course since last Confer-ence. The Revs. W. S. Tomlinson, J. W. Crake, A. H. Vine, and J. Critchison were the four chosen, on the ground oil seniority, to fill the vacant places.
The New President
is the Rev. William Perkins and, ecclesiastically, he dwells am mg his own people. That is, he has not fraternised with other Churches like his predecessor, Dr. J. Scott Lidgett, and, therefore, is not so widely known outside his own communion. But inside the fences of his own fold he is known far and near, and is highly regarded. He ie one of the quarternion of soldiers who are sentries at the Mission House. As his name suggests, Mr. Perkins is a Welshman, and his inaugural address had all the fire and sparkle that we associate with the Deltic fringe.
The Storming of London.
The chief business transacted on Thursday was the
organi-sation of a new and sustained attack on the irreligion of the
capital of the Empire. At present the assailing forces are mustered under the standards of the London Mission, the Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund, and the Home Mission Fuud. Just as the War Secretary has disbanded the Militia and the Volunteers and marshalled the Territorials, so the Conference decided to supersede these various agencies and blend them into one new and effective force. The scheme was accepted with practical unanimity, and among those who gave it their benediction were Sir W. Howell Davies, M.P., and Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P.
The Regions Beyond.
Friday was consecrated to the consideration of Foreign Mis-sions. There was no outbreak of generosity such as has distin-guished one or two recent Conferences. But the Centenary of our Missionary Society draws nigh and will be celebrated four years hence. To prepare for and to make this commemora-tion more than a mere feast of trumpets, the Rev. William
Caudle, one of our most gifted Indian pathfinders, was set
apart for special service as organiser. That is, he is to be the
Ge.,rge Armstrong of the Wesleyans in their foreign field of
operations.
John Shakes Hands with Fritz.
Another valuable bit of work was done on Friday. Three
or four ministers and laymen, such as Sir W. Howell Davies, M P., Dr. Tacker, and Sir Percy W. Bunting, who had been concerned in the recent tour of English pastors in Germany,
carried with enthusiasm a most cordial resolution in which the hand of our Teutonic cousins was warmly gripped.
Ministerial Colleges.
The most hotly debated subject up to Saturday afternoon has been the future of our Colleges for the training of stu-dents for the ministry. We have four—Richmond, Didsbury ( Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), and Handeworth (Bir-iniagham). During the year a very influential Committee
has sat to consider the subject, and their report was submitted on Friday by Dr. Workman as the Convenor. The proposals recJintnended, or suggested, were many and drastic. They
involved changes in the statue of the students, the position
of the House Governor, and the setting apart of one of the Colleges (Headingley) for first year's men only. The cry To your tents, oh Israel I' soon rang through the Confer-ence. It was a battle royal between what maybe described
as the academic and the popular forces in our Church. The dividing line was by no means strictly drawn: But on the
uue side, in addition to the Convenor, were such scholarly men
as Dr. Scott Lidgett, Professor Moulton, of Manchester, and Dr. Barber, of the Leys School. Conspicuous among their opponents were such popular champions as Messrs. Dinedale T. Young, of Wesley's Chapel, and Samuel F. Collier, of the Manchester Mission. We have been reminded recently that Sir William Harcourt's Budget was accepted by the Lords though it only passed the Commons by a majority of four-teen. We never attempt such legislative exploits in Wesley-anism. It is no use attempting changes that have to be submitted to the Synods and the Quarterly Meetings for approval unless these changes are backed by something ap-proaching unanimity. There was such a sharp conflict of opinion, there were so many issues involved, that after a keen and prolonged dismission on Saturday, it was finally decided to remit the whole subject to a new Committee of fifteen ministers and as many laymen, with Dr. Barber as the Con-vener.
Social
Service.
Other reformers were more successful than Dr. Workman. Among them was the Rev. Samuel E. Keeble. He is the architect and inspiring genius of the Methodist Union for Social Service. He told us that he had only once previously addressed the Conference in a ministry of thirty. one years, that by the way, was last year, when he was voted into the Legal Hundred. In a very able and convincing speech Mr. Keeble moved that training in social science should form part of the curriculum of our theological students. This was seconded by the Rev. E. J. Braileford in a few telling sentences and after some slight opposition was passed with much en-thusiasm.
' Feed My Lambs.'
Sunday School affairs were introduced by the Rev. J. Williams Butcher, and awakened unusual interest, because following the routine business, were proposals for the recon-struction of this department of the Churoh's work. The scheme was greeted with a chorus of benedictions. One or two croakers who raised their protests were heard with manifest impatience. The plan in its entirety was heartily approved, and like all new legislation, will next May be sub-mitted to the Synods for their judgment.
Rapid Progress.
After the complex question of the colleges had been settled the carefully sifted reports of the various departments were happily and rapidly accepted. Several of these reports did not contain matters of special public interest, but the annual balance sheet of the Temperance Committee, presented by Secretary Sharp, had two significant items in the profit and loss account. Deep regret was expressed at the rejection of the Licensing Bill by the House of Lords, and hearty thanks were accorded to Sir William P. Hartley for his gift to every Wesleyan minister of a copy of ' Alcohol and the Human
Body, by Sir Victor Horsley and Dr. Mary B. Sturge.
Honoured Commoners.
Three Members of the House of Commons were decorated on Saturday. Mr. Runciman, by 376 votes, was placed at the head of the sixteen laymen, who are annually elected to a seat for three years in the Conference, and Mr. Ebenezer Parker also received one of these blue ribands of the connex-ion. Mr. Ernest H. Lamb was appointed treasurer to the Temperance Committee in succession to the late Sir J. Bam-ford Slack, who worthily filled the post for many years.
The Work of God.
After routine business had been despatched on Monday morn-ing we spent a most refreshmorn-ing hour in considermorn-ing the work of God. The ex-President began the conversation and was followed by Mr. Charles Pearson, Liverpool, Rev. John E. Wakerley, Mr. Geo. Royle, Bedford, Sir John S. Randles, M.P., Dr. Allen, Gipsy Smith, Mr. G. H. Chapman, Manches-ter, and Rev. S. Chadwick. All the speeches were weighty and the words of Gipsy Smith were surcharged with tender-ness and power.
The Terms of Membership.
The church was crowded to the door when Rev. J. E. Waker-ley tabled the proposals in membership. Mr. Moses Atkinson moved a series of resolutions and was seconded by Mr. T. L. Pearson. Rev. G. A. Bennett, B A., submitted an amendment which Sir R. W. Perks, M.P.. seconded, practically asking that no change be made. Finally it was decided unanimously on the motion of Lieut. Col. Demise that the whole subject be remitted to a commmittee of thirty.
When chapel affairs were under discussion a strong reso-lution was passed condemning frivolous and vulgar amuse-ments on our premises.
A Foreign Missionary Festival was held on Monday after-noon in the Arboretum.
UNITED METHODIST CONFERENCE
AT PLYMOUTH. .
(By
our Special Correspondent.)
THE
second annual Conference of the United Methodist Church was opened in Ebrington Street, Plymouth, on Tuesday, July 13th.Induction of President.
Dr. Townsend, the retiring President, welcomed the new President, Rev. W. B. Lark, to the chair. This was a fitting election, for it was in Plymouth where he came to know Christ as his personal Saviour, and from whence he entered into the ministry. In his presidential address he referred to the universal unrest in religious, social, and political realms. The day has come,' said he, ' when the privileges of the few
ence that there was a danger that not only the chaff bet good wheat might be swept away.' The closing part of the
t address was a greeting to the other Methodist churchea our own Church the President remarked, With loving. dialitythey, too, greeted their sister—the Primitive Methodist Church. They thanked God for the work she had done and which she was now doing, and they desired most sincere) yd
nominated for the position that the financial task which she had set herself in connectio with the Centenary celebration might be crowned with au ° cess.' The address was an excellent delivery, and will belong.
Packer rh esvaatird nito.
remembered
T he R ey . GbyeotrhgeeseP
of President Designate, but in view of his impending super annuation and the arduous duties of the Presidential ogle; he was compelled to withdraw. The Rev. H. T. Chem,' Foreign Missionary Secretary, was then nominated for the
position, and ultimately elected.
Missionary Work.
that
Wednesday was Missionary day, when at the morning see eion a very hearty welcome was accorded to returned tau;
sionaries. One of the most interesting items of the report w • the result of an interview with representatives of the A.4;
thington trustees relative to the establishment of a medical
mission in East Africa. They promised a grant of £500 on
condition that the committee expended an equal sum, and
farther they would contribute £100 for three years in aid of
the Medical Missionary's Salary.
Mr. H. Blyth, of Great Yarmouth, wrote requesting he be allowed to contribute the whole of the £500. The Ladies' Auxilary meeting was presided over by Lady Duck.
worth. The report showed that the total income was £9939s. Oid. The report of the late Bible Christians' Women's Missionat
League showed an income of £746, of which the Portsmouth District had contributed £287 12s. 9d. Addressee by rak. eionaries' wives revealed many interesting facts of success in the various mission fields of the connexion.
The Missionary Secretary's report stated that the tote]
number of members on these foreign missionary stations is 20,340, an increase of 367. The mission staff in China con-sisted of 19 missionaries, 6 doctors, 4 educationalists, and 8
lady missionaries. In Africa 3 missionaries, 1 educationalist,
2 agriculturalists. 6 additional missionaries had this year been sent out to China. The total income for the United Kingdom was £15,518, leaving a deficit of £2,443.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ward promised £100 per year for five years on condition that the missionary staff in China be M. creased. Mr. and Mrs. Binns also gave £100 each for one year. Messrs. R Mallinson offered £100 on condition that Conference raised the remainder of cost in sending the new missionary secretary, Rev. C. Stedeford, on an official vieit to
the mission field. The offer was enthusiastically received.
Colleges and Schools.
The college reports were dealt with by the Rev. E. Holyoake stating that the Ranmoor Oollege account showed that while there was a balance of £31 4e. 11d. at the beginning of the year, it ended with an adverse balance of £294 5s. 6d. There had however been an item of expenditure of £261 on the re-draining of the college an 1 0 atbaildinge. It was decided to continue the schools at Ashville, Edgehill and Shebbear—ai at prosentconstituted—pending a report by a special commit-tee appointed to go into the question and in view of difficulties
existing. In connection with Shebbear college the confere.ice
adopted the recommendation of the ex-Bible Christian College Committee, and Advisory Committee—viz., that it was unad. visable that it should be planed upon an educational trust in order to secure the continuation of Government grants.
Changes of officials takes place at Shebbear and Edgehill. At the former place Rev. W. R. R. Bank well (Birmingham)
succeeds tha President as Governor and Mr. M. J. Roonsfell,
of Plymouth, takes position of headmaster vacated by M.. Ruddle. At the latter place Rev. W. rreffry takes the position
of Governor in place of Rev. W. B. Reed. Fraternal Greetings and Methodist Union.
Greetings were brought from the Wesleyan Church by the Rev. F. R. Duggil; Primitive Methodist Church, Rev. E ton; Wesleyan Reform Union, Rev. T. G. Harper; Methodist Church of Australasia, Revs. W. S. Shapley and W. Jefferies. Methodist Union was the keynote struck by all the speakers, and, if the opinion expressed could have been regarded es universal, then Methodist Union would be a fact at no dlo tent date. The Wesleyan delegate half regretted he had mandate to coquet with them with a view to the inclusion_l the Wesleyan community in this union of Methodism.' The
Rev. E. Dalton said he was amongst those who thought that at no distant future there would be but two great bodies of
Methodism. They, too, hoped for the day when there,/v be but
fraternal of feeling.
The
Church. They must cherish that
The Rev. T. G. Harper said it was a matter of personal re-gret that the Union could not carry their churchPeestowwhardic:
amalgamation. He hoped that the spirit of Union was growing, might eo ripen that they, the United IVIdetulinodi. would open their door again and give them an oppo re-considering their position.
speakable joy of watching a union in
The Rev. W. Jefferiee, from Australia, said he bad the un- the Methodist Church had become o'ne,wfhoircihn they had but one Methodist Church. He believed the day
dawning when they would realise the union of ethrinct:cwoomde to be only preparatory to the greater union whila m: as they realized more and more the spirit of their put it into their daily lives.'
Deputations were also received from U.K.A. ao. the Conference.
Free Church Councils. Rev. S. B. Lane replied n d btehhe .1 foes° If
THE
KARIII
are lemons for their beentlial_,Tlit. workmainhip, clorebin, to go
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world the winnowing fan was being usedORGANS
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Rev. A. W. Bagnall.
grLY 22, 1909
THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST LEADER.
C17
OF William Clowes it has been well said that nature, training, and grace alike fitted him to rank high amongst the Men of the Morning a century ago. We can eaeily detect these same forces operating in the lives of many of our young ministers to-day, amongst whom we gladly give the subject of this sketch a place.
Mr. Bagnall is a native of Wedneshury, in Staffordshire, and bears a name revered in that town because of the services rendered by his father, Mr. David Bagnall, who served for thirty years on the School Board, and a few years on the County Council—besides which, the claims of his church have not been forgotten, inasmuch as he has been circuit steward— class leader for over fifty years, and Sunday school superin-tendent for fifty-six years, which position he still holds. Only the gathering shadows of eventide have made resigna- tion of several offices imperative. The reward of delegation to District Meeting three times (once Vice-President), and twice to Conference has been well merited, but the greatest joy to himself and Mrs. Bagnall (who has been a mother of exemplary devotion and Christian character) has been to see two sons called from their home into the ministry, and a daughter (Mrs. G. T. Tarberfield, of Aleager) enter into part-nership with the ministry.
No wonder that his eon Arthur soon found his home and church training leading him forward, and at eighteen years of age he was a local preacher, whilst at various times he served as Sunday school secretary, C.E. secretary and president, and sec retary of the Nonconformist Teachers' Institute. The call to the ministry came to him as a Divine call, and it is typical of his tireless devotion to the task nearest at hand that he secured a high position on the Reserve List, and accordingly was designated immediately for active service. After spend- ing a year as assistant to Rev. H. Roe, at Watford, Confer- ence sent him to Horncastle.. Two years later be accepted so invitation to Crowle, where he finished his probation. Both places were loth to part with him, and have since in- vited him to return as superintendent. His greatest test came when the Conference of 1900, owing to certain difficul- ties of stationing, found the important Eaton circuit without a superintendent minister, and sent him there straight from probation. If difficulties didn't make the man they at least proved him, and his sterling service in that circuit gained for him widespread admiration, and the sincere attachment of every place on the circuit. Indeed since his residence there he has re visited every place on the circuit for specials, and receives repeated requests to book ahead During his stay the circuit called out another minister, built a minister's house at South Bank, and secured land for another at Eaton. He was soon recognised for wider service, and was elected upon the Eaton School Board. proving himself a useful mem- ber until the Boards were abolished. Then in 1903 he was elected as vice-president to the important Cleveland and South Durham C.E Union, this being the highest honour possible under that Union, as the presidency has always been held by an ex-National President. After a four years' stay at Eaton he removed to Shildon for what proved to be another four years' successful ministry. Here he twice served as secre- tary of the Free Church Council, and once declined the presi-dency of the same, whilst his public work on behalf of the Progressive candidate at the 1906 General Election won great esteem for himself and the Church he stood for. At the Conference of 1908 he removed to Leeds Second circuit as second minister, after refusing numerous other calls to im. portant superintendencies, but he feels that God was leading him thither, and already the united labours of the Rev. W. Tingle and himself have told for good in a circuit where misfortunes and bereavements have left a dark trail. Thrice he has been delegate to District Meeting, and already he has enjoyed the honours and responsibilities of a Conference representative.
_ As a preacher he is always fresh, practical and vigorous. business ability and tact are unquestionably good. His devotion to the young is ever ready for an opportunity to ex-press itself, whilst his urbanity of temper, his never failing courtesy, and his sympathies which reveal him as the posses-sor of a heart as large as the ocean, yet as light as its spray,'
have often f nabled him to round off the angle of strife into perfect calm.
To ignore the part played by Mrs. Bagnall in circuit work would be extremely unkind. Almost everything that has been said about Mr. Bagnall's qualifications can be equally attributed to his good wife. Amongst the young people she has rendered yeoman service, working up and sustaining large Society and school classes, and generally assuming the Spiritual leadership of the people conjointly with her hus-band. In sick visitation her name has been as ointment poured out, and as public speaker and soloist she has proved to be ever ready and always effective. The Temperance cause has found in her a champion, both as a vice-president of the B.W.T.A., and as a popular speaker in its interests.
DR. R. F. HORTON AT BISHOP
AUCKLAND.
Re-Opening of Central Church.
Tag officials of the Central church, Bishop Auckland, have again given striking evidence of their enterprise and devotion in connection with the renovation of their church. Having secured the services of Dr. R. F. Horton, they determined to make the occasion worthy of their distinguished visitor, and are to be congratulated upon raising the entire cost of renova-tion by their re-opening services, which, in spiritual power and financial success, surpassed all previous efforts. This beautiful church, commonly designated the ' Primitive Metho-dist Cathedral of Durham,' is of simple Gothic design, and is now amongst the most handsome of all the churches in the denomination. The interior has been treated with 'Maresca' of a deep, biscuit tint, which harmonises well with the stone and wood-work. The wall behind the choir is the only part of the church which receives decoration. Across the whole of this wall, and over the window, is the inscription, in pure Roman type, '0, send out Thy Light and Thy Truth.' In the centre is a large Maltese cross, with a circle of gold surround-ing it, and lines of gold across the centre. The wall spaces on each side of the window have been decorated with panels representing the four Evangelists. These have been designed and executed by Mr. J. M. Yorke, a member of our Tunstall church. The whole effect as one enters the church is one of light, but rich harmonious. colouring. The work of renova-tion was entrusted to Mr. J. Cottrell, of Bishop Auckland, and presents a fine illustration of the transforming power of genuine art.
The re-opening services commenced on Sunday, July 4th, when the Rev. B. A. Barber, superintendent minister, preached appropriate sermons on ' Temples not made with hands' and 'The Prayer of the Universal Heart.' In the afternoon a musical service was ably rendered by the choir, Mr. G. Lake presiding: On July 6th the Rev. W. Younger, of Harrogate, under whose supervision the church was built, preached and lectured in characteristic style, the subject of his lecture being ' Grit, Gumption, and Go,' Mr. R. Brown, J P., occupying the chair. The services on July 11th proved a fitting climax to the series. Dr. Horton's visit had been awaited with eager expectancy, and so large were the congregations that many were unable to gain admittance. At Dr. Horton's request, the
Revs. B. A. Barber and W. H. Campbell, circuit ministers, assisted in the services, which were made memorable by in-tense spiritual fervour. On both occasions the audiences fell at once under the spell of the preacher's charming personality, and listened with rapt attention to yearning appeals directed not so much to the intellect as to the heart. As one sat under this cultured saint, the conviction was irresistibly born that here was a man who had oome from the secret presence of God charged with his message, and which must be delivered in such chaste and simple language that not even the most illiterate could fail to understand. 'The Necessity of an Atonement,' based on the familiar text, ' For He bath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all,' was the subject of the morning's discourse, in which the significance of the world's central tragedy was strikingly unfolded.
The text of the evening sermon was taken from Galatians ii. 21, ' Who loved me.' Discussing each of the three words separately, Dr. Horton examined and appraised them, and then pieced the words together in the hope that each mem-ber of the congregation might prove to be the ' me ' referred <