fellowship which are regarded by many as more liberal and more consonant to the requirements of Christian charity. But hitherto the arguments of their opponents have failed to convince them. Their study of the word of God, the light in which they read the history of the early church, the considerations by which those who are unfriendly to their views usually seek to support their own notions, have only served to confirm them in their adherence to what they, like their fathers, receive and reverence as sentiments and practices which have the sanction of the apostles and early Christians. If the contrary could be proved to them to be scriptural they would rejoice, and no longer expose themselves to the opprobrium which some connect with their opinions. But as yet this has not been done to their satisfaction, and for this reason they regard it as their solemn duty to think and act as they do. It is not that they wish to be singular, or illiberal and uncharitable; they are only concerned to maintain what they conceive to be "the truth as it is in Jesus," and in contending for which they are contending for the faith as, they believe, it was delivered to the saints. The stand they make in the maintenance of their principles is for the truth's sake. On this account, it is with pain and with a sense of injustice that they find their views and conduct stigmatized as "narrowness." They feel that this reflects on some of the founders of the body, whose character for strong intelligence, patient inquiry, caution in forming their opinions, together with firmness in maintaining them, and large-heartedness, stood high while they lived,and is revered in the memory of multitudes now they are dead. It will not, it is presumed, be denied that Strict Baptists are not without reasons that justify, to themselves at any rate, their stand on this question-reasons which many eminent men have considered both cogent and conclusive. A generation back, or more, these views were the subject of a controversy, carried on through the press by two very able champions of their day, Robert Hall and Joseph Kinghorn, whose praise is in all the churches; Hall advocating Open, Kinghorn Strict Communion. Many thought that Kinghorn had the better of the argument. The present race of Strict Baptists believe that he had, and that he has proved satisfactorily that their views are most in harmony with the teaching and requirements of Christ. This being their conscientious belief, fidelity to truth and conscience, after much consideration of New Testament teaching and practice, de

66

mands in their judgment the continued maintenance of their principles. If this be "narrowness," it is, according to their mind, the "narrowness" of the New Testament, of Christ and His apostles, the authors of the plan on which they act-a 'narrowness" for which they are not responsible. But they do not by any means concede that they are inferior to their opponents in charity and catholicity of spirit. They can and do most truly and cordially say, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." They love all who "hold the Head," but they love the truth more. They are found allied in works of piety and mercy with all the followers of the Lord Jesus of every persuasion, and second to none in their cordial co-operation with them in promoting the present and highest welfare of mankind. But they regard baptism as the Rubicon of Christianity, the divisional line which separates the church from the world, and over which all are to pass who would come out of the world and join themselves to the Saviour's visible church. Believers' baptism they regard as of divine appointment, and if obligatory at all, universally so; and they cannot, therefore, approve of the practice of those Baptists who administer the rite in some cases and omit it in others, treating all alike, whether they have submitted to the ordinance or not. This is not, however, in their view, an instance of "narrowness," or illiberality, but it is homage to what they sincerely believe to be the truth. They believe that they can admire the exhibition of Christian charaċter wherever displayed, and at the same time decline to identify themselves with the errors which they conceive both pædobaptists and open Baptists hold and practise. Are all creeds to be abjured, and a blind subservience yielded to prevailing errors, lest we should be charged with being narrow-minded sectarians? It is sometimes

said, "Do Strict Baptists wish to impose their views on those who conscientiously differ from them?" No, they do not; neither do they wish to sacrifice their views of truth to please them. They are responsible to the Lord for the way in which they sanction the administration of the ordinances, and they dare not act in a manner which appears to them false or recreant to their solemn convictions. To conclude, in the words of an eminent Baptist, we say, "For our part we feel confident that, to be consistent, the Baptists must either act on the plan of Strict Communion, or relinquish their peculiar views of the ordinance in question." W. JARROM.

CONFERENCE.

The LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE Was held at Fleet, on Thursday, Nov. 23, 1871.

In the morning the Rev. J. A. Jones read and prayed, and brother Robinson preached an admirable sermon from 1 Cor. xiii. 2.

In the afternoon, after prayer by brother Staddon, the reports from the churches were read, from which we gathered that 46 had been baptized, 41 received, and 14 remained candidates for baptism.

The committee appointed to arrange about Gedney Hill Chapel, presented a very favourable report, to the effect that, on payment of fifty pounds, the chapel and small plot of land adjoining would be enfranchised and conveyed to Trustees selected by the church. Resolved,-"That the thanks of this Conference be presented to the committee (and especially to brother R. Wherry) for their services."

The application from the friends at Fleet for help in carrying on the cause at Holbeach, was considered, and £10 voted for the present year.

Centenary Fund.-Resolved,-"That we strongly urge the churches in this district to aid in raising the amount to complete the Centenary Fund."

International Arbitration.-Resolved,That we cordially sympathize with the proposition which Mr. H. Richard, M.P., is about to introduce into the House of Commons, having for its object the establishment of a permanent system of International Arbitration." This resolution to be sent to Mr. Richard.

Education.-Resolved,-"That we emphatically protest against the appropriation of money raised by rates to the payment of fees for denominational education." This resolution to be sent to Messrs. Gladstone and Forster.

Next Conference.-"That the Rev. J. R. Godfrey be requested to preach at the Conference at Peterborough on June 6, 1872."

A home missionary meeting was held in the evening, in which brethren Chamberlain, Hackett, Godfrey, W. Sharman, and Barrass, took part.

THOMAS BARRASS, Sec. pro tem.

CHAPELS.

LOUTH, Northgate-Bazaar.-Our Bazaar was held in the Town Hall during the last three days in November, and it proved to be a success throughout. The stalls were beautifully arranged, and the entire proceeds amounted to £225. On page 378 of

Magazine 1871 it is stated that we have repaired the lower part of the chapel. This is a misprint. It should be re-pewed. We have taken out the entire lower part, raised the floor about a foot, and re-seated it, the seats rising about an inch and a half one above another, and the side seats placed slant-ways. When a few unfulfilled promises are realized, we shall have raised about £545, a larger sum than has ever been raised in one year since the church has had an existence. We thank God and take courage.

MACCLESFIELD.—A new and valuable harmonium has just been placed in this chapel. The Rev. Isaac Watts preached at the opening, and on Tuesday, Dec. 12, a musical entertainment was given to discharge the remaining liability. A. Bury, Esq., Ex-Mayor, presided. The choir, aided by a few friends, performed selections from Handel, Haydn, Mozart, &c. Interspersed among the proceedings were readings by the Rev. Isaac Watts, W. Hilton, and M. Clarke.

WEST VALE, near Halifax.-The second anniversary was held, Nov. 18, 19. On the former day, Saturday, tea was provided in the school-room. At the public meeting addresses were given by Revs T. Gill, chairman, J. Parker of Halifax, and Messrs. J. Bottomley, J. Horsfall, J. Dempster, and E. S. Brooke. On the 19th the Rev. J. Parker preached in the morning, the resident minister in the evening, and collections were made. The church in this place is quietly progressing. Three additional deacons have been elected, making the number six. Cottage prayer-meetings established in different localities, and the brethren classified on a plan for prayer and exhortation. The improvement in the congregation is very considerable.

WALSALL.-Anniversary services, Oct. 29. Preacher, Rev. W. Lees. Collections, over £37.

ARRAND-Richard Arrand was born at Belton, in the county of Lincoln. He united with the Primitive Methodists, and became a class leader and a local preacher in that body of Christians. One Sabbathday one of their travelling preachers was sprinkling a child, and made some statements quite contrary to God's inspired word. This led our departed friend to search prayerfully the records for himself, and finding infant baptism to be all a delu. sion, he felt it to be his duty to resign his offices amongst his former brethren. This led him among the General Baptists, with whom he united, and was baptized in the canal at Godknow Bridge, near Crowle, by Mr. Chamberlain, then one of the assistant preachers at Epworth. Our departed brother was afterwards useful as a Baptist assistant preacher, supplying in his turn the pulpit at Butterwick, Epworth, and Crowle. Our brother was a consistent praying man. One Sabbath-day, about a month before his death, having attended our afternoon service, and returning home he fell down on the road in an unconscious state; but he rallied for a time, and was able to meet his brethren at the Lord's supper the first Sabbath in September. Other attacks followed, and after much severe suffering he died, to be for ever with the Lord, Sept. 16, 1871, aged 76 years, having been a member of the Crowle G. B. church for upwards of 38 years. J. S.

COOK.-William Cook, a member of the church, Crowle, Lincolnshire, was born at Luddington, in this county. He was the child of a praying mother. The impressions he received in childhood were never forgotten. Apprenticed in Crowle to a wheelwright, he got connected with bad companions, and hastily emigrated to America, where he resided for fifty years. One day he was invited by a companion to

attend a FREEWILL BAPTIST camp meeting. The text of the preacher was, "I have a message from God unto thee." The word went with power, and with the Holy Ghost, and much assurance; and he who went to mock returned to weep and pray. Shortly afterwards he was baptized by the Rev. John Crandle, a Freewill General Baptist minister, at Moncton, in the county of Westmoreland. About three years ago he returned to his native county, and united with the church at Crowle, where, after a long and painful illness, supported by the promises of the gospel, he fell asleep in Jesus, August 11, 1871, aged 76 years, having been connected with the church of Christ in England and America 33 years.

"The joys that from thy favour flow
Shall bloom beyond the grave.”

J. S.

Cox.-Oct. 2nd, 1871, at Ripley, Derbyshire, Thomas Hutton Cox, aged thirtyeight, leaving five orphans.

GRIMLEY.-June 18, 1871, after a very brief illness, Miss Kate Grimley, aged 18. She was baptized on August 23, 1868, by the Rev. J. Jolly, now of Boston, having been led to religious decision through his instrumentality. Her state of mind on the day of her death was indicated by several attempts she made to sing one of our hymns expressive of trust in Christ. The suddenness of her death was a great shock to her friends, especially to her widowed mother. Her great characteristic was a bright, cheerful spirit, which has made her loss very keenly felt in the circle in which she was immediately known. She was followed to her grave by the teachers and scholars of the Sunday school. GLOVER. - Nov. 17, at Birmingham, Catherine Glover, in her seventy-sixth She was one of the first scholars in the Sunday school at Hugglescote. At

year.

the age of sixteen she was baptized, and became a member of the church under the care of the Rev. Thomas Orton. When twenty-three years of age she was married to Mr. Joseph Orton, the eldest son of her pastor, and in about five years was left a widow with two children, the elder of whom is now Rev. William Orton, of Bourn. After about ten years of widowhood, she was married to Mr. John Glover, a warmhearted Christian man, whose death preceded her own about four years and a half. She was a woman of good natural ability, of sincere and unaffected piety, and though her trials were numerous and severe, she maintained an unblemished reputation and was enabled to trust in God her Saviour. During the last few years of her life she had several paralytic seizures, which resulted in mental aberration. In all her wanderings of mind, however, she felt the preciousness of the Saviour, and His name sometimes seemed to act as a charm. One day a Christian friend found her distressed by fancying there were certain moneys she could not find, when he said, "But you can find Jesus, Mrs. Glover, can you not?" At once the bright intelligence returned, and she said, "O yes. Jesus —

'Jesus lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly;""

and a few hours before her departure she said, "Jesus is near. He was once a long way off, but he is near now-very near.' The shrinking from death, which had troubled her during a great part of her life, was entirely gone when the deepening shadows gathered around her. Her end was so peaceful that it can be as truly said of her as of the first Christian martyr"She fell asleep."

PERRY.-Miss Mary Perry was born at Derby, Nov. 17, 1794. In early life she experienced the joys of true religion, and at the age of eighteen was baptized in Brook Street chapel, Derby, by the late Rev. J. G. Pike; and though experiencing much opposition from her nearest friends, she persevered, in the strength of her Saviour, and overcame their hostilities, and continued a faithful and honourable member of the G. B. church, St. Mary's Gate, Derby, for the long period of fiftynine years, until the close of her life. Some are still living who remember her being the devoted superintendent of the Young Women's Class at Brook Street, and afterwards at St. Mary's Gate. Many of her scholars were added to the church. She was a firm friend to the Foreign Mission, and for many years a zealous collector for it. Her attachment to the house of God was fervent, and it was her delight to be present: she truly rejoiced when additions were made to the church. She

was held in much esteem by an extensive circle of friends. During a portion of her later years she suffered from cataract, which was successfully removed by White Cooper, Esq., London (occulist to the Queen), and it afforded her much pleasure to be again able to read the word of God. Her last illness was long, but borne with patience and resignation to the divine will. On one occasion she said to an esteemed friend she knew she was trusting a faithful God, who would never leave her. She said, "I am resting on the rock Christ Jesus;" and repeated that beautiful hymn commencing "Jesus I love thy charming name." A few weeks before her death she was informed by her physician that he had done everything for her he could possibly think of, but he was afraid that her end was With calmness she replied, "I am not afraid to die; all will be well;" and she was quite resigned to go when the Lord pleased. On a very recent visit she said she longed to be with Christ; the grave had no terrors for her. In this state of mind she calmly fell asleep in Jesus, Oct. 11, 1871, in her seventy-seventh year. In her will she has left the following legacies to the cause of Christ (duty free)— St. Mary's Gate Chapel, Derby The Poor of St. Mary's Gate Church Junction Street Chapel, (a branch of St. Mary's Gate Church The Gospel Hall, Derby G. B. Foreign Mission G. B. Home Mission G. B. College, Chilwell

near.

...

£350

25

50

20

50

10

10

£515

W. W.

PICKARD.-Mrs. Mary Pickard, who died Nov. 29, was born at Longford, Warwickshire, in the year 1776. At the early age of fifteen she was converted to God, and put on Christ by baptism, and was admitted a member of the G. B. church in her native town. For eighty years she maintained her Christian integrity, and was never known to lose her confidence in God. Like Paul, she could say that she knew in whom she had believed, and felt fully persuaded that He was able to keep that which she had committed unto Him against that day. As she drew near the shores of the eternal world she felt Christ to be increasingly precious to her soul, and said she longed to get home. She maintained her faculties to the last, and exulted in the prospect of her dissolution. She was interred in the Baptist burying-ground on Sunday, Dec. 3, by the pastor of the church, the Rev. G. D. Richardson, to wait till the morning of the resurrection, when she shall

"Burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in her Saviour's image rise."

She died as she had lived, in the faith of the gospel, aged 95 years.

TO INDIA VIA THE SUEZ CANAL. LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REV. W. HILL.

OUR brother, Mr. Hill, continues the narrative of the voyage commenced last month by Mr. Miller. It will be seen that our friends have been "in perils of waters," but the good Providence of God conducted them in safety to the shores of India.

THE SUEZ CANAL.

This canal runs almost in a direct line from north to south, and is cut across the sandy tract of land which separates the Mediterranean and Red Seas. As salt water lakes exist inland, it is supposed that in some former period of the world's history the two seas were united, but that, in the course of ages, the waters of the seas have receded. Be this as it may, it is certain that for many generations the Isthmus of Suez has been regarded with intense interest.

With a view of

uniting the two seas, and opening a water communication between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, a canal between the Nile and the Red Sea was commenced by Rameses II. (Seostris) at about 1300 years B.C., and was completed by Darius at about 500 years B.C. Though much connected with this canal is involved in obscurity, and different opinions have been entertained with regard to certain parts of its course, yet it is declared to have been partially destroyed in the eighth century of the christian era.

In the year 1799 the canal scheme was revived, and a survey was made of the Isthmus of Suez by a scientific commission attached to the French army. By this commission it was stated that the level of the Red Sea was about thirty feet above the Mediterranean. By subsequent surveyors a declaration was made to a similar effect. But in 1847 a survey was executed by a commission of French, German, and English engineers (the last being represented by Robert Stephenson), when it was declared that the work of 1799 abounded with errors,

and that the difference between the level of the two seas was immaterial. In 1853 a careful examination was made by another French engineer, by whom it was stated that the level of the Red Sea was about five inches higher than the Mediterranean. In 1855 a concession was made to M. de Lesseps, to construct a canal between the two seas. Even by distinguished engineers, the scheme was declared impracticable, and certain to result in failure. Despite, however, the discouragements he received, and despite the unforeseen difficulties which presented themselves as the work progressed, M. de Lesseps prosecuted his undertaking, until at length he was permitted to see, not only the waters of the Red Sea uniting with those of the Mediterranean, and so turning Africa into an island, but also largesized vessels pass from one sea to the other. What the future of this great enterprise may be it is impossible to foresee; but should the canal be maintained and improved, it will probably revolutionize the water communication between western and eastern nations.

In entering upon his work M. de Lesseps could obtain no supplies whatever in the immediate neighbourhood, not so much as a bit of stick, or stone, or a drop of fresh water. Not only had skilled workmen to be imported from Europe, and common labourers to be impressed from the interior of the country, but all that they required for food, clothing, and shelter, had to be provided for them, and that too where locomotion was so difficult. To bring water-sweet-within the reach of camels, a fresh water canal had to be first dug, and from this the camels were made to carry water to other parts of the works for forty or fifty miles. For the consumption of the thousands of work people water had thus to be provided, and I was informed that the cost of this article alone was immense; that it actually cost as much as beer or wine would have done in England. With other articles in proportion, it will easily be seen that the canal must have cost a large sum.