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"To the Treasurer and Committee of the Baptist Irish Society. "November 15th, 1864. "DEAR BRETHREN,-I beg leave respectfully to present my resignation of the office of Secretary to the Society whose affairs you conduct, and trust that you will be able to make arrangements for me to retire at Christmas next.

"In tendering my resignation, I have most thankfully to acknowledge the kind co-operation with which I have been favoured during the eight years that it has been my honour to be associated with you. From the Committee in general, and from the venerated and highly esteemed Treasurer especially, I have received such generous and constant support, that I shall ever look back on those years with sincerest pleasure and gratitude.

"It is to this kind co-operation that I have chiefly to ascribe the success with which the Society has not only grappled with its numerous and varied difficulties. but has also very considerably enlarged its operations in Ireland.

"In retiring from office, I feel assured that you will unite with me in acknowledging the divine blessing through which the amount of ministerial agency employed in Ireland has been greatly increased, several new churches have been planted, and many hundreds of persons have been received into Christian fellowship.

"These considerations, together with the hope of still further progress, would have induced me still to remain associated with you in this important mission. "The state of my health, however, requires that I should withdraw from a post the labours and responsibilities of which have already several times occasioned me severe and protracted affliction; and which, not only in my own opinion, but also in the judgment of others, and especially of my medical adviser, would almost certainly be again followed by similar results.

"Be assured, dear sirs, that I am not insensible to the kindness with which you have temporarily relieved me from a portion of my duties, and with which the subcommittee appointed by you agreed to recommend that that relief should be made permanent.

"I could not, however, consent to remain permanently in an office, the duties of which I was not able fully to discharge. And, moreover, the relief so kindly proposed would necessarily involve an increase of home expenditure that might pos sibly call forth expressions of feeling that would prevent me from working on with confidence and pleasure. Thankful as I feel for the kindness with which those proposals have been made, I am, therefore, constrained respectfully, though reluctantly, to decline them.

"In entering on a more retired sphere of labour which the providence of God has unexpectedly opened before me, I hope to be favoured with your continued kindly sympathy and prayer, and be assured, dear brethren, that Ireland and the Baptist Irish Society will always command my most heartfelt regard.

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With sincerest esteem, I am, dear brethren,

"Your greatly obliged and affectionate fellow-labourer,
"C. J. MIDDLEDITCH.”

The above letter having been read, it was resolved unanimously,— "That, in reluctantly accepting Mr. Middleditch's resignation, rendered necessary by the condition of his health, the Committee record with grateful pleasure and satisfaction their sense of the zeal, faithfulness, urbanity, and success with which he has discharged the duties of the secretary's office from the time of his appointment. They assure him of their high respect and cordial esteem; of their earnest desire that his retirement from office may issue in the re-establishment of his health and vigour, and of their fervent prayer that it may please God to spare him for long and useful labour in His cause.

The Committee have adopted measures for the discharge of the Secretary's duties in the interval between Christmas and the Society's Annual Meeting which will, they are assured, be, thoroughly efficient and satisfactory. In compliance with their earnest request, the Rev. F. TRESTRAIL has kindly consented to take the superintendence of the Society's affairs for that period, with such aid as may enable him to do so without interfering with the numerous and responsible duties of his own office. The Committee have much pleasure in making an announcement which will be gladly received by the friends of the Society throughout the United Kingdom.

BALLYMENA.

THE following letter from Mr. Eccles, of Ballymena, will be read with interest by the friends of evangelical truth in Ireland :

"Ballymena, Nov. 16, 1864.

"My dear Brother,-And so I now address you from Ballymena, instead of Banbridge! It startles even myself. How changing is life! Banbridge, the scene of such a struggle, the source of so much real pleasure, my home no more! But I feel I am here in the path of duty. Another struggle is to be made-an earnest, perhaps a protracted struggle; but one, I am persuaded, that the issue will justify.

"I need hardly glance backward. Here, at least, 'looking at the things that are behind' furnishes little encouragement. You yourself know the state in which I have found this cause. I need not, therefore, specify particulars. Thank God, we have a chapel; but while we must, as it were, start anew, there are difficulties in the way that would not have been had the name of Baptist never been previously heard of in these parts. I know it fully. In God's name, I accept the responsibility. The population resembles closely the one in which I have recently laboured, -poor, suffering, and discouraged. Our acquaintance is, therefore, made, on my part, beforehand. I know their case thoroughly. I pity them truly. Oh, how sweet to tell them of the 'Friend that sticketh closer than a brother!'-to point to His long-suffering goodness, His dying love! and from earthly cares and sorrows, to direct the eye of patient hope to the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

"Earnestly do I ask an interest in the prayers of the brethren. Will not the dear friends who sympathised so thoroughly in my efforts at Banbridge, extend the same sympathy to the struggle at Ballymena ?

"You will pray for me, brother. You understand me. Oft have we 'taken sweet counsel together.' The Lord give you many and happy days, and crown you with every real blessing!

"Rev. C. J. Middleditch.

"Yours in Gospel bonds,

"W. E. ECCLES."

BANBRIDGE.

Mr. S. Banks has been appointed to this station, and is well received by the church as successor to the laborious and devoted Mr. Eccles.

£ s. d.

1 10 9

G8 6

0 10 6

1 0 0

1 1 0

1 11 0

3 0 0

1 7 1

Contributions received on behalf of the Baptist Irish Society, from October 19th to
November 17th, 1864.

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Brighton, Bond-street, by Mr. J. Durtnall

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THE MISSION is now truly encouraging. Several of the Churches bid fair to become self-sustaining. The funds now devoted to those places will then be applicable to other important spheres of labour. In the meantime, the Committee have to ask for augmented supplies to enable them to fulfil engagements which the remarkable religious movement in Ireland rendered it incumbent upon them to undertake.

CONTRIBUTIONS are respectfully, yet earnestly, requested; and will be thankfully received at the BAPTIST MISSION HOUSE, 33, Moorgate-street, London, E.C., by THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., the Treasurer; or by the Rev. C. J. MIDDLEDITCH, Secretary.

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