near at hand, might appoint a committee on the subject:-1st, to raise a fund by collections and subscriptions to be lent without interest; 2nd, the fund to be available for churches who are intending to erect new chapels, or enlarging old ones; 3rd, the committee to approve the site and plans of the chapels to be erected or enlarged; 4th, the churches who borrow to pay back the sum borrowed by yearly instalments; 5th, the churches obtaining the loan to make an annual public collection for the general fund. Yours truly, NON-ATTENDANCE OF SISTERS AT THE CHURCH MEETINGS. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Sometimes a sister has said to me, 'Oh it is only a Church Meeting. I don't think I shall go. They can do as well without me, as with me.' I judge this must be a widely prevalent feeling in many places; and in some it has prevailed so far and so long, that non-attendance has become the rule, and a sister at a Church Meeting would be deemed eccentric, and would feel herself almost an intruder. This practice comes, I fear, of evil, and leads to more. Allow me, dear Sir, a few lines on this matter; which, I hope, may conduce to correct this abuse. I am somewhat more concerned for the perfection of our churches at this particular juncture, when, on occasion of the Bicentenary commemoration of our noble conscientious Nonconformist forefathers, we are necessitated to view Christianity as exhibited among ourselves, in contrast to that exhibited elsewhere. 1.-It is certain that the sisters were present at the Church Meetings in primitive times. They were members; and the whole church' is supposed to be 'come together;' many are prophesying but the women are to be silent; silent indeed but present. It was not supposed that they would say, 'Oh the church can get on as well without us as with us. 1 Cor. xiv. 23, 31, 34. In 1 Cor. xi. 16, Paul tells us that the churches of God had not the custom of having women in their assemblies with heads uncovered; but that implies something very different from the modern custom of their not being at the Church Meeting at all. That women were customarily present, may be inferred from the entrance of Sapphira into the meeting. Acts v. 7. This was no doubt a Church Meeting, for money matters were being managed at it, which could scarcely have been brought into public worship, or any as semblage of unbelievers. A similar inference may be drawn from Acts i. 14., and 1 Tim. ii. 11. If the sisters be the ear of the church, and the brethren be the tongue; still let not the tongue say to the ear, I have no need of thee;' nor the ear say, 'I am not the eye, I am not of the body; they can do as well without me, as with me.' 2. The non-attendance of sisters is unreasonable, as well as unscriptural. Are they not of the church? Are they not as capable of feeling an interest in all its concerns as the brethren are? And how can they feel that interest, if they be not present? In the reception of candidates, is it not of importance that they should concur as well as the men? How else is the fellowship of the spirit to be maintained in the body? And are not women subject to the discipline of the church, as truly as the men? 3.-Would it not be criminal to deprive the sisters of whatever edification is to be found in the meet ings of the body of Christ? And are they not blamable if they thes deprive themselves, and by their example discourage others? 4.-But I fear, dear Sir, here is just the sore point. There is no The Secret of Good Missionary Meetings. 223 edification at the Church Meetings. | ficient; while in the other, hundreds The tongue of the church has are requisite to supply the wants of nothing to say, that is worth listen- a whole province, literally perishing for ing to by the ear. Though it be the bread of life. just then, that they are pre-eminently assembled in the name of Jesus; Matt. xviii. 20; to do work for Him; to bind and loose on earth, what is to be bound and loosed in heaven; there is nothing edifying. It is like a club settling accounts; not a church acting in the name and spirit of Jesus. Nay, it is well, if there be not an occasional manifestation of self-will by some Diotrephes, or other human passion. If this be the case no wonder the sisters keep away. Worse than this, The spirit, like a peaceful dove, I would respectfully urge all churches to invite the restored presence both of the One and of the other. Without them the church is chilled. Jesus' sake. M. B. DEAR SIR,-Occasionally it has been ur privilege to be present in lifferent parts of our Connexion at he Annual Missionary Meetings, and I have been much impressed with the difference in the general spect of affairs presented at such easons. Sometimes the anniverary services are regarded as a natter of course affair; little effort being made to excite public interest r increase the congregation. I cannot better describe it than as xactly opposite to those busy preparations, excited feelings, and rayerful aspirations, witnessed in some of our village churches in reerence to their Sunday school ermons; and yet in the one case, an average of £20 per annum is suf The bright side of the subject is more agreeable than the dark. Ι will therefore give your readers an instance of the former. On the occasion referred too, the weather was on the whole propitious, though on the Sabbath evening the rain fell heavily. The pressure of the times was also severely felt in that neighbourhood, and it was feared there would be a falling off in the collections. All the services were well attended, especially the Missionary Meeting on Monday evening. On the Tuesday evening, a delightful tea meeting was held, at which 250 sat down to tea, the profits of which nice little sum for the Oriya fount amounted to nearly £7, besides a of type. Not only were the meetings well attended and the collections year, but there was so much good several pounds in advance of last feeling, such a hearty good will in all that was said and done, that it was good to be there. Both speakers and hearers were constrained to confess the Lord is in our midst.' The inquiry naturally arose in one's mind, What has contributed to make these meetings good ones ? Throughout the year there had been a steady co-operation of the people who had a mind to work.' The collectors had been diligent, and the missionary spirit had been kept alive by earnest prayer in the pulpit, the prayer meeting, and at the family altar. A number of ladies had, through the year, met once a month to make up articles for a missionary box, the contents of which were disposed of for the benefit of the Mission. Between the services on the Sabbath I was requested to visit a poor woman, confined to her bed and suffering from paralysis. With a countenance beaming with love to Christ and His cause, she said, 'I have been so reckoning upon this Missionary Anniversary. should love to have been there; but my Heavenly Father has willed ་ I otherwise, and I know it's best.' On the following day, I called on another old lady, residing in a very humble cottage. To the friend who accompanied me, she said, 'I cannot get to the chapel this year, but I want you to put this sovereign on the plate to-night, as my mite to the good cause.' Coming away I incidentally heard that the Sabbath morning prayer meeting was set apart to ask for the divine blessing on the coming Missionary Services, and it was remarked that these prayers were characterized by a holy fervour. As I bade adieu to these warmhearted and zealous friends, it was with the conviction more than ever testing on our minds, 'verily the Lord is a prayer-hearing God." Yours truly, S. E. N. SUPPORT OF DENOMINATION INSTITUTIONS. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-I beg, through you, to remind the churches of the resolutions passed at the last Association in reference to the support of our denominational institutions, viz: 1st, That there be added to the statistics in the minutes a tabular statement of the sum contributed by each church to the support of each institution. 2nd, That the resolution of the Wisbech Association, 'That the Association regards it as the duty of all the churches in the body to support the three recognized institu tions of the denomination, be printed in connection with the statistics year by year.' It is hoped the different secretaries of our institutions will assist in carrying out the above decisions by having their accounts in readiness to present to the Association. As a considerable number of our churches have adopted the weekly offering system, a word or two as to the success or failure of the plan in their annual report might be very serviceable. Yours affectionately, Intelligence. CONFERENCES. THE NORTH DERBYSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Milford, on Good Friday. There being no minister at Milford, the Rev. T. Yates, of Wirksworth, was requested to preside. After the minutes of the last Conference were read, the reports of the churches were given, from which it was ascertained that twenty had been baptized, and twenty-four remain as candidates. Moved 1.-That we accept the resignation of our late secretary, and regret that he should so far have changed his sentiments as to necessitate his removal from us. 2.-That we appoint the Rev. T. J. E. Yates, of Wirksworth, to be the secretary of the Conference. 3. That in reply to the Duffield case, the Conference deems it more orderly for one church not to receive a member from another with out the usual form of dismission. 4. That we recommend the church at Tagg Hill for admission into the Association. 5.-That we deeply sympathize with our friends at Crich under the painful circumstances through which they have passed, and recommend them still to adhere to the doctrines assuredly believed among us. 6. That a committee consisting of brethren Yates, Watts, Taylor, Argile, Pike, and Jennens, investigate the case respecting the Belper chapel deeds. Intelligence-Conferences. 7. That brother Yates be requested to attend the Midland Conference in behalf of the same. 8.-That we appoint a committee to confer with the churches at Belper, Milford, and Duffield, as to the desirableness of uniting in maintaining a minister, and that it consist of brethren Yates, Stevenson, Watts, and Pike. 9. That the next Conference be held at Langley Mill, on August 4, 1862, and that brother Needham, of Ripley, preach in the evening. A revival meeting was held in the evening, in which the following friends took part, viz: Yates, Renwick, Needham, Taylor, and Woolley. Both the Conference and evening meeting were better attended than usual, and a very excellent spirit prevailed throughout. GEO. NEEDHAM, Sec. pro. tem. THE YORKSHIRE CONFERENCE assembled at Lineholme, on Good Friday, April 18, 1862. In the morning Rev. T. Gill, of Shore, read the Scriptures and prayed, and Rev. Mr. Finn, of Todmorden, preached from 2 Cor. v. 20. In the afternoon the Conference met for business. Rev. W. Salter, minister of the place presided, and Rev. John Sutcliff opened the proceedings by prayer. The attendance was large and the reports of the churches were very good. Baptized since the last Conference, at Birchcliffe 24; Bradford, Tetley-street, 6; Bradford, Infirmary-street, 2; Burnley, Enon chapel, 12; Burnley, Ebenezer chapel, 11; Clayton, 3; Gambleside, 16; Halifax, 21; Lineholme, 2; Queenshead, 7; Rochdale, 5; Stalybridge, 3; Todmorden, 8; in all 120. The number of candidates reported was indefinite. After singing the doxology and the reading of the minutes of the previous Conference it was resolved: 1. That the minutes of the last Conference, after substituting the word Bacup for Todmorden in the second minute, be accepted. 225 2. That we most cordially welcome the Rev. T. Gill into this Conference and district. To this resolution Mr. Gill replied in very feeling and affectionate terms, referring to his ministry at Burnley, his connection with the Conference about fifteen years ago, and to the many affecting changes which had transpired during that period. 3. That we thankfully accept of the £50 generously resigned by the Bradford second church, in order to enable the Conference to help the friends at Rochdale. 4.-That the £50 resigned by the friends at Bradford be given to the church at Rochdale as follows: Whitsuntide 1863, £20; 1864, £15; 1865, £10; 1866, £5. 5. That the Dewsbury case be referred to the next Conference. 6. That we recommend the ministers of this district to bring before their churches and congregations with more than usual prominence during this year, the secession of about 2,000 ministers from the Established Church of England, in 1662, and that we recommend the distribution of such treatises and tracts as may be published which are deemed appropriate and likely to be useful. 7.-That as the church at North Allerton has sent no report to this Conference for sometime, we request the secretary to write to them a letter of inquiry. 8.-That the church at Edgeside be received into this Conference. 9. That the next Conference be held at Heptonstall Slack, on WhitTuesday, and that the Rev. T. Gill preach in the morning. O. HARGREAVES, Sec. THE MIDLAND CONFERENCE was held at Beeston, on Easter Tuesday, April 22, 1862. The Rev. R. Kenny, of Burton-on-Trent, read and prayed, and Rev. W. Taylor, of Castle Donington, preached from 2 Thess. iii. 1. Brethren pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. At the afternoon meeting, Rev. T. Lovekin, of Old Basford, and thought that help might be rendered to our brethren at Grantham in another way. It was therefore agreed: That brethren T. Hill, E. Barwick, and G. Truman be requested to advise with the Grantham church, and to assist them in obtaining ministerial aid for their pulpit. 5. The Freeman Newspaper.Approving generally of the princi prayed, and Rev. W. Underwood, president of the Chilwell College, presided. From written or oral reports it appeared that 172 had been baptized since the last Conference, that there were 181 candidates for baptism, and that six had been restored to fellowship. After singing the doxology and reading the minutes of the previous meeting, Rev. J. F. Stevenson, of Nottingham, ac-ples advocated in the Freeman newsknowledged with deep feeling the paper, and of the spirit in which it vote of the last Conference in regard is conducted, and desiring for it a to himself. The following is a wider circulation: Resolved, that we summary of the business:stronglyrecommend it to the churches comprised in this Conference. 1. Case from Knipton.-In answer to a letter asking advice as to the renewal of the trust-deed, the Conference agreed: That the old committee on the Knipton case, with the addition of Mr. W. Booker, Nottingham, be re-appointed, namely, Messrs. Aldridge, Mallett, and W. Bennett; and that the trust-deed be prepared as soon as possible. 2. Case from Carley-street, Leicester. -A letter was read from the deacons of the church at Carley-street, asking advice on the calling in of £150 borrowed on their school-rooms and cottage. After some discussion it was agreed: That brethren B. Gray, of Leicester, Noble, of Belgrave, Hawley, Harding, Harvey, and J. C. Pike, of Leicester, be requested to act as a committee of advice on this case, and as the case is urgent, to meet together as soon as practicable. 3. Coalville, and the Bicentenary.Shall the evening meeting of the next Conference, to be held at Coalville, be devoted to some commemoration of the Bicentenary? It was agreed: That as the arrangement of the evening meeting at the Conference is always left with the church where the Conference is held, we recommend the friends at Coalville to use their own discretion in this matter. 4. Case from Grantham. The friends at Grantham asked to have their case recommended to the Lincolnshire or Midland Home Mission for pecuniary help. Conference felt that but little would result from such recommendation, The The next Conference will be held at Coalville, on Whit - Tuesday, June 10, Rev. Giles Hester, of Loughborough, to preach; or in case of failure, Rev. W. Chapman. Rev. J. F. Stevenson, B.A., of Nottingham, preached in the evening. J. J. GOADBY, Secretary. THE WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Walsall, on Monday, May 12, 1862. At the morning service brother Harrison, of Birmingham, read the Scriptures and prayed, and brother James Goadby, of Ashby, preached from 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, &c. Brother Cheatle concluded with prayer. In the afternoon brother Lees presided, and brethren Derry, of Austrey, and Marshall, of Walsall, conducted the devotional exercises. The condition of the churches was in some respects peculiar. Of the nine churches composing the Conference, in a short time, only three will have over them a settled minister. The additions by baptism were, however, very encouraging. There were reported as baptized at Austrey seven, and nine candidates; Birmingham fifteen, and ten candidates; Longford thirteen, and three candidates; Union-place, Longford three, and three candidates; Nuneaton twelve, and ten candidates; Walsall nine, and six candidates. Total baptized fifty-nine; candidates forty-four. |