the table for the discussion of its various contents at subsequent sittings.

On the evening of this day the Rev. W. J. Townsend preached an excellent sermon on 2 Cor. x. 5. Also, on the same evening, the inaugural meeting of the Connexional Band of Hope was held in Mount Tabor Chapel, under the presidency of our excellent friend, Mr. Joshua Pollard, of Bradford, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. George Hallatt, G. Grundy, W. Wilshaw, T. Guttridge, F. Jewell, Mr. E. H. Rabbits, &c. The meeting was large in attendance and influential in character; and it is sincerely hoped that the movement now begun under the auspices of the Conference will successfully advance, and contribute no little to the diminution of one of the greatest hindrances to the spread of religion in this country.

The

On Wednesday morning, at seven o'clock, the Rev. J. F. Goodall preached, to the delight of those who heard him, on 2 Cor. iii. 18; and, at the accustomed hour, the business of Conference was resumed, when, after the usual devotional exercises and attention to several matters which occupied the Conference for a considerable time, the Rev. Dr. Cooke read the Report of the Book-room Committee, which stated that the sale of large and juvenile magazines was about the same as last year, the number of the former printed being 2,700, and of the latter, 15,500. Three editions of the hymns had been printed during the year, namely, 15,000 32mo; 3,500 16mo, in double columns; and 1,100 small post-octavo. The total number of hymns sold was 20,670, being 1,179 more than in the preceding year. Psalmody and Chant-book had also had a larger sale of 263 copies. A new edition of 2,000 copies of the abridged rules had been printed; 2,079 had been sold, being 470 copies more than in the preceding year. The miscellaneous business of the year had been about the same as in the preceding one. The cash received during the year amounted to £1,445 16s. 11d.; cash due at the Conference for the current year, £1,747 12s. 7d., making a total of £3,193 12s. 5d. of net cash as the amount of business done. The net profits on the whole year amounted to £694 13s. 3d., being £267 4s. 1d. more than in the preceding year, and £84 17s. 8d. more than the highest amount ever realised by the Book-room in the most prosperous year of its existence. The profits arose from three sources; first, on account of the increase of business, though that was not very large; second, the large reduction of debt and the proportionate reduction of interest; and, third and chiefly, the fact that all the hymns, tunebooks, Psalms, and juvenile hymns, were worked off from stereotyped plates, thus saving the expense of setting up the type (Hear, hear). In conclusion, Dr. Cooke said his labours as the editor and book steward were now closed. He had spent twenty-two years of the most important part of his life in that department of labour, and nearly forty-four years in the ministry. In retiring from public life he was thankful to a gracious Providence for having spared him so long in active service, and his thankfulness was accompanied with the double satisfaction that he retired at a period when the institution had become again buoyant and prosperous, and he laid down his editorial pen in perfect harmony, not only with the Committee and the Conference, but with all his brethren in the Connexion.

The Report was adopted, and it was resolved that £500 of the profits should be appropriated to the funds of the Connexion. A committee was subsequently appointed to determine how the £500 should be appropriated, and it was ultimately decided to apportion it as follows:-to the Beneficent Fund, £231; to the Paternal Fund, £150; and to the Contingent Fund, £119.

The following brethren were elected trustees of certain bequests which have been made, or which may hereafter be made to the Paternal Fund, viz. the Revs. A. McCurdy, C. D. Ward, J. D. Crothers, W. Longbottom, Henry Piggin, B. Turnock, with Messrs. H. Atherton, F. Jackson, Joseph Tipping, Edward Firth, and T. Fenton. It will be the business of these brethren to invest such sums as are above-named, so as to secure them as permanent capital of the fund-an arrangement which has long been needed.

The subject of the Liquor Traffic occupied the attention of the Conference before the close of the afternoon session, and the following petition was ordered to be presented to the House of Commons :"Your petitioners are sorrowfully impressed with the fact that a large amount of intemperance, poverty, immorality, and crime arises from drinking on Sunday; that special facilities are offered for the carrying on of the traffic in intoxicating drinks on that day; and also, that by the attractions presented by the beershop and public-house great numbers of the working classes absent themselves from Divine worship. They would also urge upon you the consideration that in Scotland the Forbes Mackenzie Act has resulted in a very large diminution of intemperance and crime, and also that in a house-tohouse canvass, which has been made of more than 200 towns and villages in this kingdom, more than 346,874 householders have pronounced in favour of stopping the sale of intoxicating drinks on Sunday, whilst only 59,781 have pronounced against. Your petitioners would humbly and strongly urge that the Bill for this purpose brought before the House of Commons by Mr. P. Rylands should at once pass into law."

On the evening of this day, nine brethren who had completed their term of probation, were publicly ordained to the work of the ministry by the "laying on of the hands of the presbytery" and prayer. This service always awakens very great interest, and so it did on this occasion. South Street Chapel was full; and the proceedings throughout were regarded with profound, sometimes with breathless, attention. Our young brethren testified as to their conversion, present Christian experience, and call to the ministry, in a most admirable manner; after which the President presented each of them with a copy of God's Word, accompanied by a brief and pertinent address; and then, all kneeling, and the hands of aged ministers being placed upon their heads, the President offered earnest prayer on their behalf. We have attended many such services, but we do not recollect one more thoroughly pervaded by gracious influences than this. May all our young brethren then set apart to the work of the ministry be the honoured means of winning multitudes of souls to Christ!

The Rev. A. Hallam was the preacher on Thursday morning at seven o'clock, and preached an earnest discourse, founded on 1 Thess. i. 3.

During this day our greatly beloved brother, the Rev. John Taylor, was made a supernumerary for one year, this course being rendered absolutely necessary on account of the impaired state of his health. We sincerely hope, and would most earnestly pray, that our brother may find complete restoration to vigour during his year of rest, and may be comforted throughout the period of his enforced retirement by Him who "comforteth them that are cast down." The Report of the Chapel Committee was read by the Rev. W. Baggaly, which was a cheering document, showing that £19,177 had been spent by the Connexion during the year in the building of chapels and schools, the liquidating of chapel debts, chapel improvements, &c., &c., thus proving that the spirit of enterprise in the Connexion has not diminished. Before the close of this day's deliberations, the Rev. Dr. Stacey and the Rev. W. Baggaly read lengthy resolutions on the subject of union with the Bible Christians, which were ordered to be printed immediately, in order to a full consideration of them on the next day.

At seven p.m. a large congregation again assembled in South Street Chapel to hear the charge to the newly-ordained ministers by the ex-President, the Rev. C. Hibbert, which was pronounced an excellent discourse, and, we are happy to say, is to be published in this magazine.

On Friday morning, the Rev. Moses Cotton preached a good sermon from John xiv. 16.

The whole of this day, as also of Saturday, was occupied with the exciting question of "Union." On both days there was a large attendance of members of Conference, while every seat in the gallery from which the Conference could be seen was occupied, among the spectators being several ministers of various denominations. The interest in the debate on this subject was maintained to the close. Nor is this to be wondered at: for a finer display of logical acumen, of varied research, and of oratorical power was never exhibited at any of our Conferences than was then afforded; and although many of the speakers were, in opinion, "wide as the poles asunder" from each other, yet "opponents" on each side acknowledged, and seemed to be proud of, the skill and power of the gladiators on the other side. To give even a brief resumé of this magnificent discussion in these pages would be impossible, as it consisted of more than twenty speeches, many of which were of considerable length, and one or two of them being of inconsiderate extent. It is enough to state that Dr. Stacey's resolution was carried by 71 votes to 35, and affirmed two principal things-viz., "That the scheme of federal union with the Bible Christians, which during the year had been suggested by the Annual Committee, was, in the present state of Connexional opinion, inexpedient; and that fraternal communication and mutual service should be continued in such forms and on such occasions as may present themselves, and as may tend to a better acquaintance with each other of the two denominations, in the hope that, if such be the will of God, a closer and more substantial union may in time be effected.” Thus ended the first week's work.

Sunday, June 19th, was a bright summer's day—such a day as one always likes the Sabbath to be-and to the members of the Con

ference, at least to some of them, it came with special brightness, coming as it did after six days of exhausting deliberation. At South Street, a prayer-meeting was conducted by the Rev. W. Butterworth, at six o'clock; and at seven o'clock our good friend, the Rev. John Addyman, preached a soul-strengthening sermon on Phil. iv. 11. At half-past ten o'clock the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. James Ogden, who preached a thoughtful sermon on Dan. vi. 10; and at six in the evening by the Rev. James Thorne, who, with the Rev. F. W. Bourne, had come as a deputation from the Bible Christian Conference to ours. Mr. Thorne's sermon was founded on the good old text, 1 Tim. i. 15, and was described as being "food for the soul." In the afternoon the South Street School was visited by the Revs. P. T. Gilton and J. Stokoe and Messrs. H. Webber and J. Moss.

At Scotland Street the Rev. J. C. Watts preached a stirring sermon on 2 Sam. v. 24, and in the evening the Rev. C. D. Ward preached, on Heb. vii. 25, a sermon full of rich evangelical truth. In the afternoon the Conference lovefeast was held in the same place. This always attractive service drew together a very large congregation, who were held to the place two hours and a half. The speaking was rich and enriching; and not a few will look back upon that service with abounding pleasure. The services at Broomhill were conducted in the morning by the Rev. T. Rider, who preached a beautiful sermon on 1 Kings xvii. 16; and in the evening by the Rev. J. Medicraft, who discoursed on the time, manner, and purpose of the advent of the Son of God, from Gal. iv. 4, 5. Services were also conducted again in various chapels, both of our own and of other denominations, as on the previous Sabbath.

After the refreshment of the Sabbath, we were girded with strength for further deliberative work. At nine o'clock the sessions of the second week commenced. On this day, our friend Mr. Atherton presented his financial report of the Foreign and Colonial Missionary Society, in doing which he expressed his regret that, in retiring from his office of treasurer, he was not able to leave the Society in so favourable a position as when he took office. The Connexion, he said, had been extending its fields of labour, but the means had not increased in proportion, so that there was a balance due to him. The income for this year, however, was £345 in advance of the previous year; from which it is greatly to be desired that we go on to still greater things. A most cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the justly-esteemed treasurer, who retires from his office, which he has filled so well, accompanied by the prayers and benedictions of all who know him. May God long spare him to go in and out among us! By a universal vote our worthy friend, Mr. Wadsworth, of Macclesfield, was elected to the vacant office; and our earnest wish is that both the duties of the office and the income of the Society may "multiply and still increase," and that thus his joy in holding it may abound more and more. During the day, a resolution, expressive of sincere pleasure in having had the presence of the venerable and Rev. James Thorne and the Rev. F. W. Bourne as a deputation from the Bible Christian Conference, was passed with great cordiality and with perfect unanimity, and was suitably responded to by the Rev. Jas. Thorne, soon after which the brief afternoon session

was closed, and the members of Conference wended their way to Broomhill Schoolroom, where the great Conference tea-meeting was appointed to be held.

With a finer day for our festive service we could not have been favoured, which was of signal advantage to the vast numbers who had to wait either for the "second or third sitting down," or who, having been fortunate enough to be among the earliest visitors, had to wait two hours before the meeting could commence. To such the fine weather was a precious boon, enabling them as it did to enjoy the charming scenery of the neighbourhood. Besides, there were special attractions. Our very excellent friend, Mark Firth, Esq., had kindly thrown his extensive grounds open to visitors to go in and out at pleasure. The almshouses, too, which with princely liberality he has built and endowed, at a cost of £24,000, as homes for nearly fifty of the Lord's poor, were open for inspection; while our beautiful College buildings and grounds close by were equally accessible through the kindly courtesy of Dr. Stacey and his excellent wife. Never had our friends such grand accessories to the ordinary treat of the teameeting; and, so far as we can see, they will not have such another, until the Sheffield Conference shall have come round again.

The arrangements for the tea reflected the greatest credit upon all concerned. Everything was good and abundant; and, in addition to the ordinary provision, the eye was gratified with bouquets of beautiful flowers, while for each of the early visitors a small nosegay was provided. We fancy our good brother Fox, the model chapel-keeper, was in his glory that evening.

After tea, the public meeting was held in the spacious and spotless chapel, which, soon after the commencement, was crammed with an attentive and highly enthusiastic audience. The meeting was

opened by singing the hymn

"Come, all whoe'er have set

Your faces Zion-ward,"

which was sung not only "skilfully" but with a "loud noise," after which our dear old friend, the Rev. C. J. Donald, offered prayer, which elicited many a hearty "Amen." The master cutler of Sheffield, Mark Firth, Esq., took the chair, having been introduced to the meeting in fitting terms by the superintendent of the Sheffield West Circuit, the Rev. J. B. Armstrong. In his opening address he said that that was the proper time to take a review of the past year, as well as to look at the prospects of the coming year. Looking back, they had again to regret, as they had in the previous year, a decrease of numbers. There must be a reason for this, and it behoved them to inquire and seriously to consider what were the reasons. One reason amongst others, and perhaps the chief reason, was the great excitement that had prevailed regarding the union question during the past year. This had so taken up the time and attention of both ministers and laymen in some of the circuits, that the time and talents which would otherwise have been devoted to the work of the circuits and the Connexion, had been given to this absorbing question. The subject had now been disposed of, and he trusted that all excitement would be allowed to subside, and that each and every one would with good heart and