may induce them to go hand and heart in the matter.

In another matter, too, we have had some success. We had but three honorary members on our books; we have this year increased the number to ten. As far as this increase is concerned, our best thanks are due to Mr. E. Rush, B.A., of Cleandon College, Northampton, for the efforts he has made in laying the matter of the MUTUAL-AID ASSOCIATION before some of the more influential friends, and thereby inducing some to enrol their names as honorary members. hope still to increase the number. The anniversary services were held on the 9th and 10th of July.

We

Sermons were preached on Sunday the 9th, by Mr. J. Towne, of Melton Mowbray, in the morning, at Grafton Street chapel; in the evening, at Gold Street chapel; the weather being somewhat unfavourable, the congregations were not so large as they otherwise would have been. The collections were for the morning, £2 16s. 1d.; for the evening, £3 14s. 24d. On the following day the public tea-meeting was held, when about 120 sat down to tea; after which, the public meeting was held in Grafton Street chapel.

The meeting commenced by singing and prayer, after which Mr. Thomas Wetherell was called upon to preside over the meeting, who, in his opening remarks, said, it was the first time he had been amongst us, but was quite willing to do what he could to assist us, as he was quite sure it was a good and a noble cause. He was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and had often thought that the local preachers were his greatest enemies; for, he said, as soon as he had got some useful young men in the school as teachers, then the local preacher laid hold of them, and thus he could never keep any of them long in the school. However, he felt determined to go on in the good work.

Mr. Lenton was then called upon to read the report, who stated that this branch had always been a somewhat expensive branch to the general fund. During the past year £24 14s. had been paid to superannuated members; £13 12s. 6d., or thereabout, for sick

ness; and £6 for death. (Since the meeting was held there has been another death.)

The Secretary, making a rough calculation, said, he should think that, from the first payment made for sickness in this branch, which appears to have been about January 1851, to the present time, there cannot have been much less than £600 expended.

The meeting was then addressed by Revs. Richard Brown, Thomas Crofts, and W. C. Williams, also by Messrs. J. Towne, Thos. Hind, V. Matthews, J. Kightly, J. Lenton, Thos. Cooper, and H. Smith. The speeches were all well delivered, and well received by the audience.

Mr. Towne, in replying to a vote of thanks, said, that he had been very happy amongst them; he was sure he had been treated with marked kindness and courtesy: he had been highly honoured, too, since he had been in Northampton, for he had been treading in the footsteps of great men; he had He seen things rare and profitable. had been to see the new town-hall, which, for its beauty, architecture, and sculptured work, has scarcely its equal in England: he had seen most of the churches and chapels in the town; he had visited the chapel where Dr. Doddridge preached, and had sat in the same old arm-chair that he used to sit in. He had been to see the village and church where the celebrated Rev. James Hervey lived and laboured ; also the village where that great man Carey was brought up, and where he first began to preach that gospel which he afterwards preached with such success as a missionary in India. So he thought he ought to go back a better man than he came he hoped he should do so.

The doxology was then sung, the benediction pronounced, and the meeting terminated. J. L.

GLOUCESTER BRANCH. "BE not weary in well doing" is a motto which we should do well to act upon under any circumstances. It has been very beneficial in this circuit in reference to our efforts in behalf of the Local Preachers' Association. The Secretary of this branch has laboured hard since the commence

ment of the Association to promote its interests, and has now the happiness of seeing that his efforts have not been in vain.

A few years ago the number of members in this branch was reduced to four, one of those living a considerable distance out of the circuit. There are now eighteen, and five honorary members.

By constantly keeping the subject before the friends, and a good deal of the prejudice which formerly existed having died away, we have at last enlisted a considerable amount of sympathy on behalf of our noble association.

This will be observed by referring to the amount which has been raised in this branch during the last quarter.

One of our venerable friends, who has recently gone to his reward, while on his dying pillow, requested his dear partner, after his departure, to give to the Association the sum of ten pounds. His wish she has carried out, and the amount is now in the hands of the Treasurer.

We would say to each of our wealthy friends, especially in country places, where they are dependent on local preachers to supply the pulpits, "Go thou and do likewise."

Many of our friends are now taking a lively interest in the welfare of our association.

The society at Birdwood, a village about six miles from Gloucester, where a local preacher of something like forty years' standing has lately gone to reside, has taken the initiative, and on July 24th a tea meeting was held in the Wesleyan Chapel there, the proceeds of which, £4 11s. 10d., were presented to the Association.

After tea, a public meeting was held, Mr. James Coleman, of Westburyon-Severn, a sincere friend of local preachers, and an honorary member and liberal supporter of the Association, in the chair.

In commencing the meeting, he spoke in very high terms respecting the self-denying labours of local preachers, and the great benefit he had derived from their pulpit ministrations and the intercourse it was his privilege to enjoy in their company during the hours of the Sabbath day.

It had always been his delight to support the local preachers, both by his prayers on their behalf and also by any pecuniary assistance it was in his power to render; and since he had known the Association he had contributed towards its support, and he hoped to continue to do so to the end of his life, God being his helper. He then called upon the Secretary to give a statement of the origin, objects, and progress of the Association.

The Secretary commenced by referring to the letter of Brother F. Pearson, which first called attention to the subject, and which ultimately resulted in the first meeting of delegates, held in Freemason's Hall, London, in October, 1849. He then referred to the hallowed feeling which pervaded that assembly, and which will never be erased from the memories of those who attended it. After describing the objects and principles of the Association, he gave some statistics as to its progress. He then referred to the good which had been accomplished in our own branch. Some sick, aged, and infirm members had been supported during their affliction, and by its funds had been saved from a pauper's coffin and a pauper's grave.

The Chairman then called upon Mr. Samuel Priday, an earnest sympathiser with local preachers and an honorary member of the Association for several years past.

After speaking in regard to the efforts of the local brethren, which he had witnessed now for something like forty years, he spoke in very feeling terms respecting the objects of the Association.

He commenced supporting it because an idea had got abroad that if it was carried out, the income of the travelling preachers would suffer by it.

He begged to differ from that. He believed that while it was their duty to see the travelling preachers well provided for, it was also their duty to provide for the local preachers, especially in old age and infirmity; and since he had supported the Association he had contributed much more largely to the support of the travelling preachers than previously.

Mr. Chapman next addressed the meeting. He said that he felt himself to be in a false position, not being in the habit of addressing public meetings. This much he would say, it was only very recently that he had heard that such an association was in existence. He felt much pleasure in sup: porting it, and from this time would become an honorary member.

Brother Wm. James referred to the honour he felt at having been appointed the delegate to attend the Annual Meeting in Manchester, in 1863. He should never forget the pleasure he felt in being present with his brethren on that occasion. He thought it was the duty of the Methodist public to support the Association by pecuniary contributions, but it was much more important that the local preachers be supported by their earnest, persevering prayers. They required spiritual help. Only local preachers knew the weight of their responsibility. He referred to the Magazine, and recommended his hearers to become subscribers for it.

Brother Thurston felt himself much edified and blessed while sitting in that meeting. His thoughts had gone back nearly forty years since he first occupied that pulpit, and expressed his gratitude for the kindly feeling shown towards him by the friends to whom he had ministered the word of life.

The Doxology having been sung, Brother Smith engaged in prayer, and the meeting terminated.

The friends were highly pleased with this their first meeting in the circuit, of which they intend holding a succession in other places.

R. C. S.

GENERAL COMMITTEE.

THE monthly meeting was held at Brother Wade's 2nd, Merton, Surrey, on Monday, August 14th.

Present:-The President, Brothers Cuthbertson, Wade 2nd, Harding, Wade 1st, and Creswell.

The meeting was opened with prayer.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary reported that there

had been five deaths in the month. One of these had been upon the sick fund for 726 weeks, and had received £98 68. Another was an annuitant, aged 86, who had been on the sick fund for 619 weeks, and had received altogether £123 88. Another was also an annuitant aged 74, who had received relief for 377 weeks, amounting to £60 10s. So that these cases showed clearly enough the advantages of the Association.

There were 64 members upon the sick fund, and ninety-eight annuitants. Brother H. of S. aged 75, applied for an annuity. He had no other resource for the support of himself and wife, and the local committee recommended him for the full allowance. It was ordered that he have 3s. weekly.

Brother Harding offered the use of a chapel at Perry Hill, Sydenham, for sermons and a tea meeting. It was arranged that the president and Brother Salisbury would take part in these services accordingly.

An order was drawn upon the Treasurer for £24 11s. for Magazines for honorary members, &c.

There being so small a number of the Committee present, the remaining business was ordered to stand over to an adjourned meeting.

ADJOURNED MEETING.

Present.-The President, Brothers Durley, Sims, Parker, Chipchase, Cuthbertson, Harding, Wade 2nd, Salisbury, Wade 1st, Jameson, and Creswell.

After prayer, the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The meeting unanimously re-elected Brother Creswell Secretary on the former terms.

Some arrangements were made for the receipt and payment of moneys by the Secretary and Treasurers.

Brother Salisbury undertook to consult with the officials of Poplar chapel, and do his best towards the holding of a meeting there in behalf of the Association in October next.

The meeting was closed with prayer.

The next meeting will be held at Brother Chamberlain's, Thames Street, Windsor, on Wednesday, 13th September. Dinner at 1, tea at 5 o'clock precisely.