purposes. The sum named was larger than the sum collected ten years ago by no less than £300. Rev. J. Clifford gave the Secretary's Report with all his customary eloquence and force. While gratefully recognizing the increased interest taken by the Connexion in Home Missions since the unification scheme had been adopted, as shown in the Treasurer's Cash Statement, the Report urged the churches to far greater liberality, in order that the Society might undertake more thoroughly the work it contemplated in the large centres of our home population. Rev. J. Turner, in his maiden Association speech, was well received, and fully merited the favour with which his remarks were heard. He chose for his subject "A vigorous Home Missionary Society as the best answer to the negations of modern thought." Rev. J. F. Jones spoke on the general purposes of the Society, and specially dwelt upon its declared work of planting churches in destitute districts. It was not their aim merely to collect congregations and make converts, but to gather these together in church fellowship, and make them new centres of Christian usefulness. Rev. G. W. M'Cree followed, and in the course of a most effective address referred to the spiritual needs of the metropolis, and the conditions of success in our efforts to reach the masses. Incidentally referring to the Chairman's remark on the Northampton election, he said that when a free constituency elected a man to serve as its representative in Parliament, that man, whatever his opinions, had a perfect right to sit in the House of Commons, and whoever said otherwise had not grasped the principle of thorough civil and religious liberty.

Wednesday was a very full day for those who conscientiously attended the whole of the day's proceedings. The first service, at seven o'clock, was the Conference of Local Preachers at Woodborough Road Chapel. Mr. R. Pedley, of Crewe, presided, and Mr. J. Smith, of Derby, read a paper on the "Qualifications of the Local Preacher." Rev. W. Bishop, in opening the discussion, read another paper on the same subject, so that the audience had the advantage of hearing the subject treated from the lay and the ministerial points of view. Useful discussion followed, in which several brethren took part.

The Sunday School Conference, held in the Free Methodist Church, was as largely attended, as interesting, and as vigorously conducted as ever. Mr. J. Bennett, Mayor of Leicester, occupied the chair; Mr. John Rogers, of Nottingham, read a paper on "The Sunday School and the Church: their mutual relations." The paper laid down the proposition "that the Sunday school has shown better results for the money and labour bestowed upon it than any other department of church work." The writer of the paper had prepared a printed list which exhibited the statistics of fifteen Nottingham churches in respect to the additions made to their membership during the last few years from the Sunday schools and from other sources. These statistics showed that from 37 per cent. to 100 per cent. of the additions come from the Sunday school. The severity of the strictures passed upon the church, and specially upon the ministers, called forth some strong expressions of dissent, and evoked a very lively discussion. The time of the first Association Sermon having arrived, the Sunday School Conference was brought to a close, after having proved that the zeal for this work is by no means likely to die.

Mansfield Road Chapel was crowded to hear the sermon of the Rev. E. C. Pike, B.A. Rev. W. Lees conducted the devotional exercises;

PUBLIC SERVICES.

289

and the preacher delivered an admirable sermon, memoriter and with considerable advantage, on Eph. ii. 4–7.

In the afternoon Stoney Street Chapel was filled to overflowing for the observance of the Lord's Supper. Rev. S. Cox conducted the

service, and Rev. W. Orton delivered an address.

At night the public meeting of the Foreign Missionary Society was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Broad Street. The first and only disappointment in the public engagements of the week was here experienced in the unavoidable absence, through illness, of the Chairman. The extent of the regret, both at the event and at its cause, will be judged when we remember that the Committee had announced Mr. Samuel Plimsoll to preside. Councillor Lindley, however, made a good substitute. Mr. Hill, the Secretary, gave us an abstract of the Report, which, however, was found to consist of but two sentences-the first and the last of the large Report. This may be an abstract, but it is not a summary of the Report. Yet the meeting was well content! Rev. J. H. Atkinson dwelt at length on the Italian Mission, and sharply criticised the critic who, in a recent number of the Contemporary Review, had cast considerable contempt on the results of mission enterprise in Italy. Rev. Dr. Manning passed a very high eulogy on the financial management of the Society, stating that while the average amount of working expenses of philanthropic societies was twenty-five per cent., the General Baptist Missionary Society only spent eight per cent. He commended the Society for the concentration of their efforts and for their admirable choice of mission fields. Referring to the growing alienation between the English and the Hindoos, Dr. Manning urged the extended influence of the one bond of love springing from the recognition of our common brotherhood in Christ. Mr. Bembridge then gave his Cash Statement, which showed that, notwithstanding the bad times, there had been an increase in the amount contributed by our home churches. Rev. Charles Rushby, missionary elect, then briefly stated the reason why he felt called upon to go to work in India, stating that it was not so much from personal choice as a sense of duty. Rev. W. Evans was the last speaker, and in the course of a telling speech, he showed that the religious sentiment in man gave him the highest inspiration, and was the great promoter of good work in the world.

The second Association Sermon was preached on Thursday morning, in Broad Street Chapel, by Rev. Wm. March. Taking for his text Eph. iv. 11-13, he gave, to a good congregation, an able and thoroughly practical discourse.

The last of the public services was the reading of the Letter by Rev. Isaac Preston, on "Christian Fellowship in connection with Church Life: its importance, and the best means of its promotion." The mutual suitability of writer and topic to each other will be admitted by all who know Mr. Preston, or who may read or hear the letter. The observations were most timely, and the suggestions wise.

Our friends at Mansfield Road well merited the thanks of their very numerous guests for the considerable efforts they had made for their comfort and convenience. The proximity of the Mechanics' Institute was taken advantage of to increase the needful accommodation and by the constant change in the places of meeting, ventilation was made possible before they were again in use.

:

The Association at Work.

BY REV. W. J. AVERY.

By this we mean the Association, with an agenda of some forty items before it, and every delegate conscientiously determined, be there fine weather or the reverse, to apply himself diligently, by the moving of resolutions, by "speaking to the point," or by "silent vote," to the despatch of business. Our recent sessions at Nottingham were signalized by just such an abundance of work to be done, and by an equal readiness to do it, so that not even the most popular of our public services seemed to awaken a deeper interest on the part of representatives, than did the meetings for "receiving reports and taking action." Indeed, so large was the amount of "business done," that we cannot attempt to give a full sketch even of that which might fairly enough be designated important.

THE SECRETARY'S STATEMENT

placed before us facts that should yield at once encouragement and stimulus. Our nett gain of membership is shown by the following comparison of additions and reductions::

The Secretary's criticism of these figures is so obviously just that further comment is needless. Four losses by death from our ministerial ranks are reported. 1. George Crooks, after thirty-three years service at Killingholme; 2. James Greenwood, of Barton, whose five years pastoral history is a record of devout earnestness; 3. James Brown, late of Clayton, who has followed his Master, through protracted suffering, to the eternal joy whilst yet in early manhood; 4. W. S. Harcourt, who, after three years spent in retirement, has gone to the reward for twenty years active Christian occupation. Of those non-ministerial brethren whose decease has taken place within the year, mention is made of G. F. Bayley. His pleasing countenance was sadly missed at this Association, and the loss of his gentle energy will long be felt.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

It is to be regretted that considerable delay was occasioned in the presentation of the report from the "Ministers' Reception and ListRevision Committee," mainly through the inattention of some Conference Secretaries to Clauses 3 and 4, Section IX., of our "Constitution and Laws." This, however, will scarcely occur again. The changes that have been effected are somewhat numerous.

THE ASSOCIATION AT WORK.

BOARD OF REFERENCE.

291

The trio who were appointed at Halifax to prepare recommendations for united action in the settlement of ministers, presented a scheme, which was ordered to be printed. The adjourned discussion of it was looked forward to with a keen interest, and when it actually came on, there was certainly no lack of vigour in feeling or in speech. Mr. Clifford offered an alternative scheme, and suggested that we are not yet "ripe for legislation," and that therefore the whole question, with the two proposals, should be referred to a_Committee elected upon the principle of Conference representation. From that Committee we shall have some definite plan next year, and meantime we may expect such a treatment of the subject in our Associational organ, as will tend to educate us up to the point of deciding what shall be done.

The bringing-up of a report from the

SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE

gave rise to discussion upon our "standing orders." The opinion was expressed that sufficient time is not allowed for the Sunday School Conference on Wednesday morning, and by some, the practical utility of our Wednesday afternoon Communion Service was openly called in question. With commendable despatch, these points were referred to a Committee for investigation. No sooner, however, was this course agreed upon than the Local Secretary urged the necessity, in view of the growth of our Association, for making definite regulations as to the extent to which sleeping accommodation shall be provided for visitors. At Mr. T. Goodliffe's request this matter was referred to the same Committee.

It was pleasing to learn that the Sunday School Conference was a conspicuous success, and that it continues to grow in popularity and usefulness. By a collection at its close, for the proposed Sunday School in Rome, £17 10s. were realized.

DENOMINATIONAL LITERATURE.

The statements made by the Editor of the Magazine, the Trustees of the Baptist Hymnal, and the Board of Publication were very gratifying. It is particularly a matter for congratulation that the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., as Secretary, should be able to report a surplus of £200, which sum was readily voted in equal amounts to our College and to the Home Mission.

Others of our institutions deserve to be mentioned, but space forbids that the business pertaining to them should be reviewed here. The Year Book is sure to be full of interest for the evidence it will give that the Association suffered no work to pass unnoticed.

INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP.

Upon the presentation of a letter from the Free Will Baptists of America, it was resolved that a deputation should be sent to their forthcoming Conference. Revs. J. Clifford, M.A., LL.B., and Dawson

Burns, M.A., were appointed for this purpose, and a Committee was formed to secure the funds necessary to "frank" these brethren on their journey.*

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

received a large share of attention, and resolutions bearing upon them were passed with great unanimity. Correct views were expressed, of course, upon "The Sunday Liquor Traffic," "The Traffic in Opium," "The Parliamentary Oath Qualification," and "Local Option." Perhaps the most important of these motions was that (carried with enthusiasm) approving of the principle of religious equality as asserted and applied in the appointment of the Marquis of Ripon.

It was arranged, upon the report of "the Committee to prepare suggestions for

NEXT ASSOCIATION,"

that we should accept the invitation of the church at Norwich; Rev. . Dawson Burns, M.A., to be the Chairman, Revs. W. Bishop and W. Sharman the preachers, and Rev. E. W. Cantrell the writer of the Letter.

It was apparent from noon on Thursday that no business would be left for Friday, if by any stress of effort it could all be finished that evening, and this resolve of the Officers of the Association was fully accomplished. The delegates "stuck to it" well, and "kept a House" of considerable strength. The customary votes of thanks were passed with no less sincerity and appreciation because so high a rate of speed was attained. And when, at 9.50 p.m., the final stroke had been given, all joined in song and prayer to render thanks for the divine favour which had attended our gatherings.

A SHOWER OF IRON.

PROFESSOR SILVESTRE, of Catania, has reported the following interesting particulars concerning a phenomenon lately observed in Sicily. During the atmospheric disturbance foreseen for the month of March, 1880, the influence of which was felt in Sicily, with rapid variations of the barometer, there was observed in Catania, for a few hours during the night of the 29th to the 30th March last, a fall of metoric dust, accompanied by rain. This dust, besides having the red colour, mineral and organic particles and minute infusoria frequently observed before on similar occasions was this time especially interesting, because it contained a considerable quantity of iron, either in a pure metallic state, or in metallic particles surrounded by an oxydised crust. The fragments were of sizes varying from 1 to 10 hundreds of millimetres; some were of an irregular, others of a perfectly sperical shape, as if they had been suddenly fused. All were immediately attracted by the magnet. This fact (discovered for the first time in dust gathered on board a ship in the Indian Ocean on the night of the 24th to the 25th of January, 1859, and afterwards confirmed by the illustrious Professor Nordenskjöld on the Vega in the Artic and other seas) is of immense importance to physical and geological science, as proving that iron, which is not known in a pure metallic state on the surface of the earth, is to be regarded as of extra-terrestrial or cosmic origin, establishing a link between the earth and the chaotic material dispersed over the universe; and as being also in strict relation with the phenomena of aerolites and meteors. In conclusion it may be remarked that the dust which fell in Sicily only differs in the size of its metallic particles from a shower of aerolites.

* Cf. "Scraps."